Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-03
THE WORLD WAR.

the great nations of the world, togeth-
er with many Of the smaller ones, are
still at death grips, with less prospect
of an early peace than was thought to
exist year ago.
Undoubtedly the greatest develop
ment of the year was the entrance of
the United States of America into the
conflict The throwing Of the tre-
mendous resources and man power of
the American republic into the balance
on the side of the entente allies, In the
opinion of military experts, has more
than offset the advantages gained by
Germany and her allies during the past
twelve months and has made possible
the continuance Of the conflict until
time when a definite military decision
can be obtained.
} There have been a half dozen or
more outstanding events In the past
year. Some of these have been Of
purely military significance and others
have been occurrences of political ma
ture which have had far-reaching eff
feet upon the titanic conflict.
Chief among the political upheavals
of the year was the Russian revolution
which resulted In the overthrow OF
Gear Nicholas and eliminated during
the closing months of the year In a
counter-revolution which practically
eliminated Russia from the ranks of
the nations opposed to the central pow
ers. From q military standpoint the
chief events of the year have been
the launching Of the German ruthless
submarine campaign, which was dt-
rectly responsible for the entry Of the
United States into the war; the Brit
fish offensives on the west front, first
in the Arras sector, later in Flanders
and still later on the 35-mile front be-
tween Arras and st. Quentin; the Ital-
ian offensive against Austria from
Tolmino to the Adriatic and the sub
Sequent offensive of the Germans and
Austrians against Italy, which resulted
in the overrunning Of northern Italy
by the Teutonic allies.
The entry of China, Cuba, Brazil
Siam and other countries into the wal
on the side Of the entente allies, the
overthrow Of King Constantine Of
Greece on the demand Of France ant
her allies and other events important
in themselves were overshadowed b.
the greater developments Of the year
American Peace Effort Falls.
AS the year opened the only military
movements of Importance In progress
were those aimed by Germany and hel
allies to complete the humiliation o.
Roumania and attention was centere(
upon the request that had been madt
by President Wilson that the various
belligerent nations state the terms up
on which peace might be discussed
The replies seemed to preclude an.
further action by the United States n
a peacemaker, but on January % Pres
Ident Wilson in an address before tn
senate laid down the principles whicl
he declared should guide the Unite,
States in participating in league t
enforce peace at the close of the pres
ent war.
On January 81, Germany announces
the Inauguration of ruthless submarin
warfare.
President Wilson acted promptly
Severing diplomatic relations wit
Germany on February 8.
The Cunard liner Laconia was sun
without warning off the Irish coas
February % with the loss of 13 live'
including those Of two American won
en-.
On February %, 1t was announce
that the United States government wa
In possession Of a communication az
dressed by the German foreign minis
ter to the German minister at Me-
leo City, instrueting him to pre-
pose an alliance between German
and Mexico, and to suggest thf
as soon as war with the United State
was certain, the president of MexiC
communicate with Japan, offering
mediate between Japan and German
As a reward Mexico was promised gel
eral financial support from German
and the recOnquest Of lost territory
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
The United States department {
state announced, March II, that
had determined to place armed guar(
upon all American merchant vesse
sailing through the German war zon
March IA, 1t was learned that IL
American steamship Algonquin hs
been sunk without warning by Ge
man submarine. On the same de
China severed diplomatic relation
with Germany and seized German me
chant ships in the harbor at ShanghG
Gar Nicholas Dethroned.
On March Is. the Russian revol
tionary movement, which had begr
with food riots and strikes, culminatt
in the abdication of Czar Nicholas bot
for himself and his son. Pending Il
meeting of a constituent assembly Il
government was vested In the exec
tive committee of the Duma and
newly chosen council Of ministers wi
Prince Lvoff as premier.