The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-07-30

Events big with the fate of nations
have marked the fourth year OF the
war which now comes to close. IL
kna been a twelve months OF alternate
hope and concern for the Powers OF
the Entente Alliance.
It was on July 2S, 1914, that Austria
Ncr.ared war or Serbia, beginning the
hseat struggle. During tn" past twelve
months there have been occurrences
that in some aspects have been of eY'
en- greater import in their influence
upon the world than those in the pre-
ceding period. Russia's collapse, the
italian defeat last Autumn, the tupen-
(lous drives of the Germans against
tho Allied armies, and the wonderful
defensive operations that have again
and again checked the enemy when
success for him seemed near ut hand
held the world breathless. But, tran
Bcending the significance any event in
the actual theatres of the war, Ameri-
cas- fun participation in the conflict
Involving the transportation overseas
Of more than a million men to en-
gage in II must remain for all time
the great outstanding feature Of the
fourth year of the struggle. It is up-
on America that the Entente is rely
ing for the men and resources to turn
the tide.
AMERICAS PART
A year ago the number of American
troops going to Europe had not begun
20 assume large proportions. A few
regulars and some National Guards
men had been sent to France, but most
Of the big military training camps
were still being built and the men Sc
lected as the first contingent to be
called to the colors were still in citi-
zens' clothes. Until the first day Of
August of 1917 the total number of
American soldiers taken overseas was
26,s67.
Soon after that date the movement of
troops was accelerated Thousands
were despatched 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 movement began to assume really
noteworthy proportions. The figures
for the months from Aug /, 1917 to
July l. 1918, follow:
August, 1898; September, 32,523;
October. 3S,259; November, 23,O16;
December, 48,S40; January, 4G,77G;
February. 4S,O27; March. S3,S11; April,
117.212: May. 244 4,345; June 276,3s2.
On July !. 1913, there were 1864
American marines In France, bringing
the total number of American troops
IN that country and Italy up to 1919
l15.
YANkS SHOW STUFF
During the recent fighting In France
the work of the American soldiers has
compared favorably with that of other
fighting men In the world. They have
held sectors here and there along the
front. They have in Alsace and north
ward In the Lorraine sector. The fam
GUS St. Mihiel sector is held by Ameri.
cans. who are posted also on the line
along the heights of the Meuse. East
of Rheims they took part In the fight
tng during the last phase of the Ger
man offensive. while In the Chateau
Thierry sector they held their line in
vital region against the utmost fury
Of the TeutOnic onslaught North OF
Chateau Thierry, Americans helped to
stop the drive Of the Germans In the
early days of June; and In the Somme
sector, at Cantigny and Grivesnes
they have given proof of their soldier
ly qualities.
BIG oFFENslvEs
The Allies have been called upon tt
face two great offensives during Tho
past year. The first OF these came las
October In Italy and the second, II
France. began on March 81. The Ger
man drives I'm France while separated
by periods of from few days to sev
eral weeks. have been considered a
different phases of the same offensive
The abortive Austrian attack agains
Italy In June also IL looked upon a
merely another attack against tn
western front and not as distnc
military operation.
Hut these oifensives perhaps neve
would have been begun had Il no
been for the collapse of Russia dul
ing the past winter German and Aui
!. trian troops. released from the Russia
front. were taken to France and ltal
10 swell the masses of men hurle
against the Allies In the Western the;
tire OF operations. Az long AK RUSS
remained In the fight she held grei
plumbers OF Teutonic troops In III
East. and her withdrawal from III
war exercised n fundamental inf