The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-28

It was on July 2S, 1914, that Austria de- clared war on Serbia, beginning the great struggle. During the past F months there has been occurrences that in soma respects have been of even greater inn port in their influences upon the world than those in the preceding period. Rus sias 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, transcendng the significance any event in the actual theatres of the war, America g full patt3c, patton in the con fhct involving the transportation over seas of more than 1.000 000 men to engage in it must remain for all time the great outstanding feature of the fourth year of the struggle. It is ap0n America that the entente is relying for the men and resources 10 turn fhc tide
 A year ago the numher of American troops going to Europe had not begun 10 assume large proportions. A few reg usaF and some national suardsmen rad been sent 10 France, but most of the big military training camps were still being built and the men selected as the first contingent to be called 10 the coors were still in citizens clothes. Until the first day Of August of 1917 the total number of American soldiers taken over seas was 26,967.
 M0YEM ENT ACCELERATED
 Soon after that date the movement of troops was acceuerated. Thousands were dispatched across the Atlantic during the winter months, but ii was not until the great German offensive was started late in March of 1918 that the move ment began to assume really noteworthy proportions The figures for the months from August l, 1917, to July l, 1918 fol- low:
 August, 1893; September. 9. .52s: octo- ber $. .25e: November. ZS,0l6. December 4&s4o January, 4s.776; February. 4s,oH; March, SS,Stl April 117.22; May. PA, ,Si5; June, 276,2s2
 On July l. 1918. there were 14.s44 Arneri- ican marines n France. bringing the to tai number of American troops i'll that country and Italy up to 1,019,l15.
 During the recent fighting in France the work of the American soldiers ha: compared favorably with that of othel fighting men in the world. They have held sectors here and there along the front They are in Alsace and Rorthwarc r the Lorraine sector. The famous St MThiel sector is held by Americans, win are posted also on the line along the heights of the Mouse East of Rheims they took part in the fighting during th' last phase of the German offensive, whii' in the Chateau Thierry sector they helf their line in a vital region against th utmost fury of the Teutonic onslaught North of Chateau Thierry Americans help to stop the drive of the GerInan in the early days of June; and in tn Somme sector, at SantGay ant czrivesnes they have given proof of thei soldierly qualities.
 TWO GREAT OFFENSIVES
 The allies have been called upon t' face two great offensives during the pas year The first of these came last DC tober in Italy, and the second, in France began on March H. The German drive in France, while separated by period of from 8 few days to several weeks have been considered different phase of the same offensive The abortive Aus trian attack against Italy in June als is looked upon as merely another attac against the western front and not as distinct military operation.
 But these offensives perhaps neve would have begun had it not been TO the collapse of Russia during the par winter German and Austrian troops, re
  taken to France and Italy to swell tn masses of men hurled against the al lies in the western theatre of operaton' As long as Russia remained in the hgf she held great numbers of Teutonl troops in the east and her withdrawa from the war exercised a. fundaments influence on the course of its develop Nent.
 SITUATION A YEAR AGO
 The year opened with the fortunes war apparently favoring the-entente Tn British had forced back the Germans the famous Hindenburg line The Frenc had established themselves firmly alon the t4herain- -des- Danes north of tn Aisne. The echoes of Verdun were sti ringing the llnell of German hopes that sector of the battle -rea. Tn Italians were holding their lines aion fire Isonzo The rejuvenated Russia -regiment of July First'' had carried U war far into the As-=--.an defenses Bukowina and Galicia
 Through August and September lsi there came rumors that Russia was e,