Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-01-04
REVIEW Of THE WORLD WAR AND OTHER
HISTORY MAKING EVENTS OF YEAR 1877
Entrance United States Into Conflict Outstanding Development of
Past Twelve Months-POtCal Upheaval in Russia Affects
Struggle-Brtish and French Smash Teuton Lines
on West Front-Ausro- Germans Launch
Drive Against Italy.
Ey DONALD F. BIees.

the United States were further strain
ed March Is by the receipt of reports
of the sinking of three American
steamers, the City of Memphis, Illi-
nois and Vigilancia, fifteen of the lat
ter's crew being lost.
On March 81, President Wilson is
sued a proclamation calling congress
in special session on April 2.
The American steamer Healdton
was tOrpedoed without warming March
%, 21 men including seven Ameri-
cans. being lost.
United States Declares War.
On April 2, President Wilson ap-
peared before a joint session of con-
gress and called for a declaration of
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, stria-Hungary
severed diplomatic relations with the
United States.
The British forces on the west front
began the first great offensive of 1917
on April 8, penetrating the enemy po-
sitions north and south of Arras to a
| 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 H.
600 prisoners.
The first American casualties in the
war were reported April 2S, when the
armed American tank steamer Vacuum
was sunk by submarine and several
American gunners were lost.
American Fleet in Action.
1t was learned on May 16, that a
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 a law May IS when President
Wilson affixed his signature to the
measure and issued proclamation fix
ing June as registration day.
On May "a, announcement was made
of the torpedoing of the British trans
port Pennsylvania on May 4, with a
loss Of more than 400 lives. On May
%, a great German air raid on the
southeast coast of England caused the
death of 76 persons and the wounding
of 174.
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 Johr
f. Stevens, arrived safely at Russian
ports. On June Z, the Russians il
possession of Kronstadt yielded tt
negotiations and recognized the pro
visional government.
In the meantime the American prep
, arations for the war were proceeding
rapidly. On June 8, nearly 10,OOO,OOC
men of military age registered for mill
! tary service under the selective draf
law. On June 8, Major General JohI
( ]. Pershing, who had been selected t.
t head the American expeditionar,
J, forces in France, arrived with his stat
: in London. On the same day Wash
lngton reported the safe arrival il
! France of 100 American aviators, tn
5 first American fighting forces to reacl
: that country.
: King Constantine Dethroned.
: A solution Of the Greek situation
; which had endangered the operation
y of the allies in the Balkans, was reach
/ ed June II when on the demand @
S France, Great Britain and Russia, Kin
o Constantine abdicated In favor of hi
o second son, Prince Alexander, who wa
'. known to be favorably inclined towar
l. the allies. London reported anothe
y big raid by Zeppelins on June 13,
n which 157 persons were killed an
many injured.
e. The subscriptions to the first Amer
ID can Liberty loan closed June Is, IL
10 loan being oversubscribed by $75C
1t 100000.
n On June 26, 1t was anr )unced tn;
a the first contingent of Amt rican troop
u under command of Major General S
bert, had arrived safely in France.
is The new Greek cabinet, headed /
n Eleutherios Venizelos, went into off
~ on June 81 and two days later the ne
u government severed diplomatic rel
tions with Germany, Austria-Hungar
of Bulgaria and Turkey.
il On the first of July, the Russi:
ds forces, under the personal leadersh
lis of War Minister Kerensky, electrifi
le. the allies by launching a powerful {
he fensive on an 1S-mile front in Galici
ad capturing many strongly fortifi
er- towns and taking thousands of pr
nv oners. For two weeks the Russia
ms continued to advance along a fro
er- that widened to 100 miles, but on Jr
al. 10 the Russian offensive collapsed a
turned into q rout, when many R,
In sian regiments mutinied and fiji
un Kerensky succeeded Prince Lvoff
ed premier of Russia on July 20.
,th The first political crisis in the G.
he man cabinet during the war result
he on July IA in the resignation of Oh;
,u- cellor Won Bethmann-HOllweg and I
n appointment as his successor of ]
itb Georg Michaeiis. On July % Si
declared war against Germany, q
est Austria-Hungary, bringing the numl
raj of the allied nations to sixteen.
ON British Launch Great Offensive.
ing The British launched their secC
re- great offensive of the year on I
Flanders front on July 81, attack
md on a 20-mile front from Dlxmude
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ny flying with the eagerness of a yoI
| pirI and so r1Did w0s her TnOvprne