Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-27
-Four Years War in Review
The Big Vital Things That Have Come Pass Since Austria
Directed Her Declaration of Hosities Against Serbia,
july 27, 1914 up 10 the Present Moment.

twelve months of alternate hope and
concern for the powers of the Entente
Alliance
1t was on July 2S, 1914, that Austria
declared war on Serbia. beginning the
great struggle. During the past twelve
months there have been occurrences that
In some aspects have been of even greater
inport in their influence upon the world
than those in the preceding period. kus-
sia's collapse, the Italian defeat last
autumn. the stupendous drives of the
Germans against the allied armies. and
the wonderful defensive operations that
have again and again checked the enemy
when success for him seemed near at
hand have held the world hrcathless
Rut. transccnding the significance OF any
event i'm the actual theatres OF thc war
America full participation IN the con-
hict. involving the transportation over
seas of more than q million men 10 en-
gage in il must remain tor all time lnc
Great outstanding feature OF the tour'h
1.aar of the struggle. II is upon America
that the entente IS relying Tor the INC"
and resources to turn the tide.
wear ago the number of American
troons going to Europe had not begun to
assume large proportions. \ lew regulars
ard some National Gtiardsmen had been
sent 10 Franco. but most Of the big mill
tary training camps were still being built
and tho men selected As the first con
tjncrnt "a he called To the colors were stlll
IN citizens clothes tntll the tiEst day
az August Of 1917 the total number Of
American soldiers taken overseas was
II Q67
Soon after that date the movement OF
troors was accelerated. clhousands "er
dlsnatchcd across the Atiantlc, during
The winter months but Il was not hniii
the great German offensive was starter
late IN March of 1918 that the movement
began 10 assume really noteworthy pro
portions The figures for the months
from Auc |. 1917 to July L 1918. follow
August. 1928: September 32,523;
ortoher. rs. 80. November. 23,0l6; De
ccmhcr. 4S $40. January. 46,776; Feb
vuqrv 4SO21. March. S3,Sll; April.
II-3l2; Nav. 24t.3i5. June. 276.3S2.
on July /. 1918 there were l4,64i
american marines III France. bringing
rhe total number 81 American troops IN
that country and Italy up to l.ol9ll5.
AMERICAN SOLDIER 4 FIGHTER
During the recent fighting in France
tho work of the American soldiers las
cofnnaIed favoIahlv with that oi other
+--htirr men in the world They have held
.er;ars here and there along the front.
Fbev are in AlSace and northward IN
,he Lorraine sector The famous -.
NIibjeI sector is held by Americans who
are nostcd also on the line along the
heights Of the Meuse East Of Rheims
hoy took part in the nGhtlng durng the
mast pha,e of the German oiiclslve.
vF1ile in the Chateau ImeIrN sector they
held Their line IN vital region against the
utmost fury Of the Ieutonuc onslaught
North Of Chateau ThierrY Americans
i.aIraI ~ stop the drive Of the Germans
in the early davs of juno: and IN the
>a,nrne sector. 1t Cantigny and Grlvcsnes
,bcv have gwen proof OF their soidlerlN
The Allies have been called upon to
face two great offenslves DUNG the past
vear The trst Of these came last Octo-
her in Italv and the second. in France,
beren on Mach u The German drives
IN France. while separated by periods
Of from few davs 10 several weeks, have
been considered as different phases of
Inc same offensive The abortlve Aus
,rian attack against Italy in June also is
looked upon as merely another attack
against the western front and not as a
distinct mtItalN operation
But these offenSIves perhaps never
would have been begun had II not been
for the collapse of Russia during the past
winter. German and Austrian troops.
released from the Russian front, were
taken to France and Italy 10 swell the
masses of men hurled against the Allies
in the western threatre Of operations.
As long as Russia remained IN the fight
She held great numbers OF IeutonIc
trooDs in the Last. and her withdrawal
f1om the war exercised q fundamental
influence ON the course OF It's develop
meut.
SITUATION YEAR AGO.
The wear opened with the fortunes OF
var apparently favoIlng the Entente.
The British had forced back the Germans
to the famous Hindenburg line. The
French had established themselves firm
IL along the Chenin des Danes, north
Of the Aisne The echoes Of NeIdun were
still ringing the knen Of German hopes
In that sector of the battle area The Ital-
ians were holding their lines along the
Isonzo. The reIuvenated Russian req
rnent of July first mad crrled the war far
into the Austrian defences Ia Bukowlna
and Gallcla-
Through August and September. 1917.
ha,lsted by the war and quiet settled
down along the lines from the gates of
the Carpathians 10 the Baltic. Stories
were heard of determination Of German
and Russian troops but assurances came
from Petrograd that Russia would stand
true 10 her allies.
PAIL OFFENSIVE IN ITALY
The German and Austrian high com
nands had no illusions as 70 further
RI,ssian beIligereney There came to the
Allies reports that the Central Empires
were taking the pick Of their force from
the Russian front and concentrating them
for drive against some part Of the line
IN the western theatre Then came
intirnations that the blow Was aimed
against Italy.
The storm broke al Caporetto on Oct
26 and almost Immediately the whole
Italian line was thrown into disorder
Pouring through the passes where in some
instances dlsaffected Italian troops held
nseitions. the Germans and Allstrians
made progress which from the first was
alarming. BY wise gcneralship, the Italian
line was withdrawn from the Isonz0 II
paused at the Tagllament0 and then re-
tired further until il rested on the Piave
almost within sight Of the domcs Of
Venice. Here the Italian army reformed
liz columns. consolidated its positions
bv withdrawing from the Rhactlan noun
tsins To the AsiagO plateau and assisted
by the French relnforcements brought 10