The evening leader., 1918-07-27

\
have marked the fourth year of the
war which now comes to a close. II
has been a twelve months of alternate
hope and concern for the powers Of
the Entente alliance.
It was on July %, 1914, that Aus
tria declared war on Serbia, beginning
the great struggle. During the past
twelve months there have been occur
rences that in some respects have been
of even greater import in their infiu-
ence upon the world than those in the
preceding period. Russia's collapse,
the Italian defeat last Autumn, the
stupendous drives of the Germans
against the allied armies and the won
derful defensive operations that have
again and again checked the enemy
when success for him seemed near at
hand have held the world breathless.
But, transcending the significance of
any event in the actual theatres of the
war Americas full participation in
the conflict involving the transporta-
/ tion overseas of more than million
men to engage in it must remain for
all time the great outstanding feature
of the fourth year of the struggle. 1t
lis upon America that the Entente is
relying for the men and resources to
turn the tide.
A year ago the number of American
troops going to Europe had not begun
to 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
26,967.
] Soon after that date the movement
of troops was accelerated. Thousands
were despatched across the Atlantic,
during the winter months, but it 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 August /, 1917,
to July 1, 1918, follow:
August, 1928; September, 32,523;
October, 38,259; November, 23,016;
December, 4S84o; January, 46,776;
February, 4S,027; March. 83,S11;
April, 117,212; May, 244,345; June,
I; 276,382.
| On July /, 1918, there were 14,644
\ American marines in France, bringing
the total number of American troops
in that country and Italy up to 1 ,019,-
1115.
+ During the recent fighting in France
the work of the American soldiers has
compared favorab'y with that of any
other fighting men in the world. They
have held sectors here and there along
the front. They are in Alsace and
northward in the Lorraine sector. The
| famous st. Mihiel sector is held by
Americans, who are posted also on the
| line along the heights of the Meuse.
East of Rheims they took part in the
| fighting during the last phase of the
German offensive, while in the Cha
! teau Thierry sector they held their
| line in vital region against the ut-
most fury of the Teutonic onslaught.
North of Chateau Thierry Americans
! helped to stop the drive of the Ger
mars in the early days of June; and
in the Somme sector, at Cantigny and
Grivesnes they have given proof OF
their soldierly qualities.
The allies have been called upon tc
face two great offensives during the
past year The first of these came
last October in Italy and the second
IN France, began on March 81 The
German drives in France, while sepa-
rated by periods Of from few days
to several weeks, have been consider.
ed as different phases of the same of.