The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-01-04
REVIEW OF THE WORLD WAR AND OTHER
HISTORY MAKING EVENTS Of YEAR 1877
Entrance Of United States Into Conflict Outstanding Development of
Past Twelve Months-PoicaI UpheavaI Russia Affects
Strugge-British and French Smash Teuton Lines
on West Front-Austro- Germans Launch
Drive Against Italy,
BY DONALD r. BIGGS.
THE WORLD WAR.

After three and half years of the
most sanguinary fighting in history
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 a 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 ire
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 a
time when a definite military decision
can be obtained.
There have been q 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 a 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
Gar Nicholas and eliminated during
the closing months of the year in a
counterrevolution which practically
eliminated Russia from the ranks of
the nations opposed to the central pow
ers. From a military standpoint the
chief events of the year have been
the launching of the German ruthless
submarine campaign, which was de
rectly responsible for the entry of the
United States into the war; the Brit
fsh 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,
on the side of the entente allies, the
ovei throw of King Constantine of
Greece on the demand of France and
her allies and other events important
in themselves were overshadowed by
the greater developments of the year.
American Peace Effort Fails.
AS the year opened the only military
,fs in,
were those aimed by Germany and l,er
allies to complete the humiliation of
Roumania and attention was centered
upon the request that had been made
by President Wilson that the various
belligerent nations state the terms up
ON which peace might be discussed.
The replies seemed to preclude any
further action by the United States SIS
a peacemaker, but on January % Pres
ident Wilson in an address before the
senate laid down the principles which
he declared should guide the United
States in participating in league TO
enforce peace at the close of the pres
ent war.
On January 81, Germany announced
the Inauguration of ruthless submarine
warfare.
President Wilson acted promptly,
sevefing diplomatic relations with
Germany on February 3.
The Cunard liner Laconia was sunk
without warning off the Irish coast
February % with the loss of 10 lives,
including those of two American wom-
en-.
On February rs, it was announced |
that the United States government was
in possession of communication adj |
dressed by the German foreign minis |
ter to the German minister at Mex |
leo City, instructng him to pro- !
pose an alliance between Germany |
and Mexico, and to suggest that |
as soon as war with the United States
was certain, the president of Mexico
communicate with Japan, offering to
between Japan and Germany.
AS a reward Mexico was promised gen.
and the recOnquest of lost territory in
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
The United States department of
state announced March u, that it
had determined to place armed guards
upon all American merchant vessels
sailing through the German war zone.
March IA, it was learned that the
American steamship Algonquin had
been sunk without warning by Ger
man submarine. On the same day
{ lima severed diplomatic relations
with Germany and seized German mer-
chant ships in the harbor at Shanghai.
Gar Nicholas Dethroned. II
On March 10, the Russian revolu- /
tionary movement, which had begun
with food riots and strikes, eliminated I
IN the abdication of Car Nicholas both
Tor himself and his son. Pending the
meeting of constituent assembly the I
government was vested in the execu- ]
tive committee of the Duma and |
newly chosen council of minister's with s
.'rince Lvoff as premier.
The German forces on the west
'front.', on March II, began a general
retirement on a front of 80 miles from I
south of Arras to scissors. falling {