Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-01-04
REVIEW Of THE WORLD WAR AND OTHER
HISTORY MAKING EVENTS Of YEAR 1877
Entrance Of United States Into Conflict Outstanding Development Of
Past Twelve MonthS-PoitcaI UpheavaI in Russia Affects
StTugge-BrHiSh and French Smash Teuton Lines
on West FTont-AuStrO-G Germans Launch
Drive Against Italy.
BY DONALD F. BIGGS.
THE WORLD WAR.

After three and a half years Of the
most ~sanguInary fighting In history,
the great nations OF the world, togeth-
er with many Of the smaller ones, are
still Mt death grips. with less prospect
Of an early peace than was thought 10
exist a year ago.
Undoubtedly the greatest develop
mCnt OF the year was the entrance Of
the United States Of America into the
conflict. The throwing Of the ire
mcndous u and man power Of
the American republic into the balance
gu 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 n
time when n definite military decision
Gun be obtained.
There have been n half dozen or
more outstanding events In the paSt
year. Some Of these have been Of
purcly military significance and others
havc been occurrences Of n political ma
tnrc which have had II far-rcuChing eff
feet upon the titanic conflict.
Chief among the political uphcavals
Of the year was the Russian revolution
Czar Nicholas and eliminated during
the closing months Of the year In II
counterrevolutl0n which practically
eliminated Russia from the ranks Of
the nations opposed to the central pow
crs. From II military standpoint the
chief events of the year hive been
the launching Of the German ruthless
submarine campaign, which was d.
rectIy responsible for the entry Of the
United States into the war; the Brit
tsh offenslves on the west front, first
I'm the Arras sector, later in Flanders
and still later on the 35-mlle front be-
tween Arrns and st. Quentin; the Ital-
Ian offensive against Austria from
Tolmlno to the Adrintic and the sub
scQuent offensive of the Germans and
Austrians against Italy, which resulted
In the %oyerrunnlng OF northern Italy
by the Teutonic allies.
The entry OF China, Cuba, Brazil,
SLAM 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 were overshadowed by
the greater developments of the year.
American Peace Effort Falls.
AS the year opened the only military
movements Of importance in progress
were those aimed by Germany and her
allies to complete the humiliation OF
Roumanla and attention was conferred
upon the request that had been made
by President Wilson that the various
Oelllgercnt nations stnte the terms up
on which peace might be discussed.
The replies seemed to preclude any
further action by the United States SIS
n peacemakcr, but IN January 30 Pres
idcnt Wilson in an address before the
senate laid down the principles which
he declared should guide the United
States in participating in II league to
enforce peace ut the close of the pres
cnt war.
ON January 81, Germany announced
the inauguration of ruthless submarine
warfare.
President Wilson acted promptly.
%scvering diplomatic relations with
Germany on February 3.
The Cunard liner Laconla was sunk
without warning off the Irish coast
February % with the loss of IL lives,
including those of two American wom-
EN-.
On February IS, It was announced
that the United States government was
In possession of II communication ad-
dressed by the German foreign minis
ter to the German minister at Mex
leo City, in~struCting him to pro-
pose an alliance between Germany
and Mexico, and TO suggest that
~ soon MS war with the United States
WAS certain, the president of Mexico
communicate with Japan, Offering to
mediate between Japan and Germany.
As a reward Mexico was promised gen
eral financial support from Germany
and the r%econquest of lost territory In
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
The United States department OF
state announced, March L., that II
had determined to place armed guards
upon all American merchant vessels
sailing through the German war zone.
March II, 1t was learned that the
American steamship Algonquin had
been sunk without warning by Il Ger
man submarine. IN the same day
China severed diplomatic relations
with Germany and seized German mer.
chant ships In the harbor at Shanghai.
Gar Nicholas Dethroned.
On March 10, the Russian revolu.
tionary movement, which had begun
with food riots and strikes, eliminated
In the abdiCation of Car Nicholas both
FOR himself and his son. Pending the
meeting of a constituent assembly the
government was vested in the eXecu.
tive committee of the Duma and a
newly chosen council of ministers with
Prince Lvoff as premier.
The German forces on the west
front, on March II, began a general
retirement on a front of So miles from