Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-01-02
REVIEW OF THE World WAR AND OTHER
HISTORY MAKING EVEhTs0f YEAR 1917
Entrance Of United States Into Conflict Outstanding Development Of
Past Twelve Months-PoItica Upheava In Russia Affects
Strugge-Britsh and French Smash Teuton Lines
on West Front-Austro Germans Launch
Drive Against Italy,
By DONALD F. BlcGs.
United States Declares War.

On April 2, President Wilson ap-
peared before a joint session of con-
gress and called for a declaration of a
state Of war with Germany. On April
4, the senate passed a resolution. de-
claring the existence of q state of war.
The resolution was adopted by the
house OF representatives April 6 and
was signed by the president the same
day. At@the same time 81 German
owned vessels in American ports were
seized by the government. Cuba de-
clared war on Germany on April Z.
The following day, Austria Hungary
severed diplomatic relations with the
United States. ::
The British forces on the west front
began the first great offensive of 1917
on April g.. penetrating the enemy po-
sitions north and south of Arras to q
depth Of from two to three miles.
The French forces launched an Of
fensive against the enemy on 25-mile
front between scissors and Reims,
April 16, and after three days fighting
reported the capture of more than IT,
600 prisoners.
The first American casualties in the
war were reported April %, when the
armed American tank steamer Vacuum
was sunk by a submarine and several
American gunners were lost.
American Fleet In Action.
1t was learned on May 16, that
squadron Of American destroyers un-
der Rear Admiral Simms had safely
crossed the Atlantic and had been pa
trolling the seas in war service since
May 4.
The United States army draft bill
became law May 10 when President
Wilson affixed his signature to the
measure and issued a proclamation fix
ing June 5 as registration day.
During the early part Of June grow
ing unrest in Russia began to attract
the attention Of the allies. On June 1,
workmen and soldiers seized Kron.
stadt, the Russian fortress defending
Petrograd, and repudiated the provis.
ional government. On June 8, the
American commission to Russia, head
ed by Elihu Root, and the American
railroad commission, headed by John
F. Stevens, arrived safely at Russian
possession Of Kronstadt yielded to
negotiations and recognized the pro-
visional government.
In the meantime the American prep
arations for the war were proceeding
rapidly: On June 5, nearly 100000
men Of military age registered for mill
stary service under the selective draft
law. On June g. Major General John
! J. Pershing, who had been selected to
head the American expeditionary
/ forces in France, arrived with his staff
Fin London. On the same day Wash
ington reported the safe arrival in
France of 100 American aviators, the
first American fighting forces to reach
that country.
King Constantine Dethroned.
A solution Of the Greek situation,
which had endangered the operations
Of the allies in the Balkans, was reach
ed June II when on the demand Of
France, Great Britain and Russia, King
Constantine abdicated in favor of his
second son, Prince Alexander, who was
known to be favorably inclined toward
the allies. London reported another
big raid by Zeppelins on June ID, in
which 1877 persons were killed and
many injured.
The subscriptions to the first Ameri-
can Liberty loan closed June Is, the
loan being oversubscribed by $780,
/ 100000.
On June 26, it was announced that
the first contingent of American troops,
under command of Major General ST.
bert, had arrived safely in France.
The new Greek cabinet, headed by
Eleutherios Venizelos, went into Office
on June ~ and two days later the new
government severed diplomatic rela.
tons with Germany, Austria-Hungary,
Bulgaria and Turkey.
On the first of July, the Russian
forces, under the personal leadership
of War Minister Kerensky, electrified
the allies by launching a powerful Of
ffensive on an 18-mile front in Galicia,
capturing many strongly fortified
towns and taking thousands of pris-
roners. For two weeks the Russians
scontinued to advance along a front
tthat widened to 100 miles, but on july
10 the Russian offensive collapsed and
|sturned into a rout, when many Rus
sian regiments mutinied and fled.
Kerensky succeeded Prince Lvofr as
premier of RUSSIA on July 20.
+. The first political crisis in the Ger
man cabinet during the war resulted
ON July II in the resignation of Chan,
eellor Won Bethmann .Hollweg and the
appointment as his successor of DIR.
:Georg Michaelis. On July %, Siam
sdeclared war against Germany, and
aAustria-H Hungary, bringing the number
of the allied nations to sixteen.
r, British Launch Great Offensive.
T., The. British launched their second
great offensive of the year on the
Flanders front on July 81, attacking
ion 20mile front from Dixmude to
Warneton, after three weeks of In
tense artillery preparation. The Brit
lsh forced their way into the German
lines to depth Of two to two and
shalf miles, taking ten villages and
more than 5000 prisoners. -
Pope Benedict, on August II, trans
mitted peace proposals to all belliger-
ent and neutral governments.
The italian forces opened a grand
offensive on August 10, attacking on
a. front 40 miles long from Tolmino to
the Adriatfc sea. On August Is, tho
italians captured Monte Santo. an Aus