Evening star., 1918-12-31
History of the World for the Year 1918

the war preparations botb In france
and at home. It became apparent that
the war had developed into a race
between Germany and the United
States, Germany hoping to be able to
strike the decisive blow before the
United States could muster sufficient
the allies.
On March 81 the long-hera1ded Of
fensive Of the Germans was launched.
A terrific blow was delivered against
the British lines on front Of more
than fifty miles, extending from the
River Disc, near La Fere, to the
Sensee river. about Croiselles. The
British, outnumbered but fighting
desperately, were forced to fall back.
Wave after. wave of the finest Ger
man troops were hurled at the British
lines, and in a few days had advanc-
ed fifteen miles. The British 9TH
Army, at the point where it touched
the French lines. was routed. and for
time the allies faced disaster. The
Germans continued to push SOUTH
ward, and at the end Of fifteen days
had advanced forty-seven miles from
Amiens. Here the advance was
halted, partly through the exhaustion
Of the Hun armies and partly through
throwing many divisions OF French
reserves into the battle to support the
hard-pressed British. In the mean
time, on March 20, the allies, facing
catastrophe, at last agreed upon a
unification of command, and General
Foch, the brilliant French leader. was
placed in supreme command OF all the
allied armies.
Small units Of Americans had taken
part in the terrific battle. and their
valor,- especially, in the st. quentin
sector, was highly praised by the
French. On March 29 Gen. Pershlne
formally placed all available amer Gal
Foch.
When the German drive finally was
halted, Just short Of the objective at
which the German command was ann
ing, it was estimated that the Ger
mans had lost 400 ,000. men.
A few days after the launching OF
this drive Paris was bombarded by
mystery" gun, which it was known
was at least sixty-two miles away
On March 20. Good FRIDAY, inis 10 dons
Paris church, and seventy-fve wor-
ShiperS were killed.
April 6, the first anniversary OF
Americas entrance into the war, founo
this country throwing every resource
into the struggle. President Wilson,
third liberty loan drive announced
that the policy of the United States
would be force, force to the utmost,
until the enemy cried enough. AT
the Same time the real rush or Amerl-
can troops to France began.
On April 10 the Germans shifted
their attack and began the second
phase of their Offensive drive
against the British in Flanders. with
the channel ports as the objective.
Here again the British were forced to
give ground, but there was no break
such as occurred earlier on the Somme
front. The British and the Portuguese
were swept back along the River Lys.
Gen. Iiaig, the British commander-In-
CHIEF. called upon his men for a su-
prene effort, i'll his famous statement
in hicil he declared that we are
fighting with our backs to the wall.
The Germans took the Messines Ridge
British below Ypres. But the Ypres
defenses held firm, and in the west
the Germans failed in their effort to
reach Hazebrouck. The terrific drive
spent itself. and the Germans had
failed to threaten the channel ports
seriously.
In the meantime. on April IA. Amer
lean troops had engaged in stiff bat
tie with the Germans north Of st. MI
hiel. meeting an infantry attack with
the bayonet. On.April II picked Ger
man storm troops attacked the Amerl-
cans in the Toul sector and were
whipped in a hand-to-hand engage
ent.
On April ee the British navy exc
cuted one of the spectacular feats Of
the war, blocking the channel OF zee
brugge, a German submarine base.
During the next month the Germans
continued their intermittent attacks
hot and the FLANDERS
fronts. but made little progress. On
May 81 they renewed the offensive
with a powerful attack between the
Aisne and the Marne. This was IN
many respects their most powerful
offensive, although its extent was
much less than that of the Somme. In
a day they swept over the Chemtn-
des-Dames, on the heights north" OF
the Aisne, andscrossed the river IN a
rush. Next they took scissors and
reached the vesle. On they went to
the Marne, extending their front on
the river from Chateau Thierry to
IerneuiI, and threatening Rheims In
their advance. The drive was halted
with the Germans occupying a front
sixteen miles wide on the Marne. Ine
path to Paris had been blocked. out II
was admitted that the situation was
critical.
In the meantime the Americans had
won attention on May % by taking
Cantigny. on the Picardy front. in a
brilliant attack. The Germans made
several determined attempts to retake
Cantigny, but failed.
On May 25 German U-boats peaan
operations off the coast OF the United
States, sinking eleven ships. At the
same time Admiral Sims reported the
sinking of the transport President
Lincoln, with the loss of twenty-three
members Of the crew.
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