Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-01-05
THE WORLD WAR.

Il
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 10
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 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 ia the overthrow of
Gar Nicholas and eliminated during
the closing months of the year In Il
conference.-the 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 oil.
Tectly responsible for the entry Of the
United States into the war; the Brit
ish olfensiyes on the west front, first
in the Arras sector, later in Flanders
and stlll later on the 85-mile front be
tween Arras and st. Quentin the Ital-
Ian offensive against Austria from
TolminG to the Adriatic and the sub
sequent offensive of the Germans and
Austrians against Italy, which resulted
in the 0verrunning of northern Italy
by the Teutonic allies.
The entry of China, Cuba, Brazil.
siam and other countries into the war
on the side OF the entente allies. the
overthrow of King Constantine OF
Greece on the demand of France and
her allies and other events important
In themselves We're overshadowed by
the greater developments Of the year.
American Peace Effort Fails.
As the year opened the only military
movements Of Importance in progress
were those aimed by Germany and her
allies 10 complete the aunihilation of
Roumania and attention was conferred
upon the request that had been made
by President Wilson that the various
bellgerent nations state the terms up
on which peace might be discussed.
The replies seemed To preclude any
further action by the United States rs
n 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 10
enforce peace ut the close Of the pres
ent war
On January 81, Germany announced
the Inauguration of ruthless submarine
warfare
President Wilson acted promptly,
seyering diplomatic relations with
Germany on February 8.
The Cunard liner Laconia was sunk
without warning on the Irish coast
February % with the loss of Is lives,
- A
t-n.
On February %. II was announced
that the United States government was
In possession of communication ad-
dressed by the German foreign minis
ter to The German minister ut Mex
leo City. instrueting him TO pro-
pose an alliance between Germany
and Mexico. and 10 suggest that
as soon as war with the United States
was certain, the president of Mexico
communicate with Japan Offering "a
mediate between Japan and Germany
AS reward Mexico was promised gen.
eral financial support from Germany
and the reconGg"st Of lost territory ii
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
The United States department Of
state announced. March T.. that f
had determined TO place armed guard.
upon all American merchant vessel.
sailing through the German war zone
March IA, 1t was learned that tn,
American steamship Algonquin ha,
been sunk without warning by Ger
man submarine On the same ia,
-hina severed diplomatic relation
with Germany and seized German mer
chant ships in the rarbor at Shanghai
Gar Nicholas Dethrored.
On March Il. the Russian revou
tionary movement, which had begul
with food riots and strikes, eliminate,
in the abdication of Gear Nicholas bot
for himself and his son. Pending tn
meeting Of a constituent assembly IN
government was vested In the execr
tive committee of the Duma and
newly chosen council of ministers Wit
Prince Lv0ff as premier.
The German forces on the we,
front, on March II, began a Sener,