The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-07-27
YEARS RECORD
IN WAR GIVEN
CONCISELY
Outstanding Feature Was
Active Participation of
United States
TWO BIG OFFENSIVES
MET BY THE ALLIES
Russia's Detection Was the
Cause of Tremendous
Burden

Events big with the fate of nations
have marked the fourth year of the war,
which now comes to close. 1t has been
IL months of alternate hope and con-
Germ for the powers of the entente alli-
ance.
1t was on July %, 1914, that Austria
declared war on Serbia, beginning the
great struggle. During the past IL
months there have been occurrences that
in some aspects have been of even great
er import in their influence upon the
world than those in the preceding period.
Russia'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 breathless.
But, transcending the significance of any
event in the actual theatres of the war,
Americas full participation in the con-
flict, involving the transportation over
seas of more than a million men to en-
gage in it must remain for all time the
great outstanding feature of the fourth
year Of the struggle. 1t is upon America
that the entente is relying for the men
and resources to turn the tide.
A year ago the number of American
troops going to Europe had not begun to
assume large proportions. A few regu-
lars and some national guardsmen had
been sent to France, but most of the big
military training camps were still being
built and the men selected as the first
contingent to be called to the colors were
still in citizens clothes, Until the first
day of August of 1917 the total number
of American soldiers taken overseas was
26,o67.
Soon after that date the movement of
troops was accelerated. Thousands were
despatched across the Atlantic during
the winter months, but it was not until
the great German offensive was started
late in March of 1918 that the movement
began to assume really noteworthy pro-
portions. The figures for the months
from Aug. l, 1917, to July l, 1918, fol-
low:
August, 1898; September, 32,523; 0c-
tober, 3s,259; November, 23,Ol6; Deem
Der, 4s,s40; January, 46,776; February,
4s,027; March, 1881; April, 1l72l2;
May, 244,345; June, 276,Ss2.
On July |, 1918, there were 1854
American marines in France, bringing
the total number of American troops in
that country and Italy mp to l,0l9,ll5
During the recent fighting in France
the work of the American soldiers has
compared favorably with that of other
fighting men in the world They have
held sectors here and there along the
front. They are in Alsace and north
ward in the Lorraine sector. The famous
st. Mihiel sector is held by Americans
w HD dIt DOsltu dlSO bli bIlt tlIIG diOUH
the heights of the Mouse. East of Rheims
they took part in the fighting during the
last phase of the German offensive, while
in the Chateau Thierry sector they held
their line in vital region against the
utmost fury of the Teutonic onslaught
North of Chateau Thierry, Americans
helped to stop the drive of the Germans
in the early days of June; and in the
Somme sector, at, Cantigny and Griyesnes
they have given proof of their soldierly
qualities.
The allies have been called upon to
face two great offensives during the past
year. The first of these came last Octo-
Der in Italy and the second, in France
began on March 81 The German drives
in France, while separated by periods of
from few days to several weeks, have
been considered as different phases OF
the same offensive. The abortive Aus
trian attack against Italy in June also
is looked upon as merely another attack
against the western front and not as q
distinct military operation.
But these offensives perhaps never
would have begun had it not been for
the collapse of Russia during the past
WlibtlE 0OiAldH dliu 1ilblt lth b1DOpH
released from the Russian front were
taken to France and Italy to swell the
masses Of men hurled against the allies
in the western theatre of operations. As
long as Russia remained in the fight she
held great numbers of Teutonic troops in
the east, and her withdrawal from the
war exercised fundamental influence on
the course of its development.
Situation a Year Ago.
The year opened with the fortunes of
war apparently fayoring the entente. The
British had forced back the Germans to
the famous Hindenburg line. The French
had established themselves firmly along
the Chemin DIES Danes, north of the
Aisne. The echoes of Verdun were still
ringing the knell of German hopes in
that sector of the battle area. The Ital.
isns were holding their lines along the
1sonzo The reiuvenated Russian "regi,
ment of July l" had carried the war far
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES