The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-07-28
. VENTS big with the fate of ma
n A. L. L,

comes to a close. 1t has been a
twelve months of alternate hope
and concern for the Powers of the
Entente Alliance.
1t was on July 2S, 1914, that Aus
tria declared war on Serbia, begin
ming the great struggle. During the
past twelve months there have been
occurrences that in some aspects
have been of even greater import
in their influence upon the world
than those in the preceding period.
Russa's 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,
transcending the significance of any
event in the actual theatres of the
war, Americas full participation in
the conflict, involving the transpor
tation overseas of more than mil
lion men to engage in it must re-
main for all time in the great out
standing feature of the fourth year
of the struggle. 1t is upon America
that the entente is relying for the
men and resources to turn the tide.
A year ago the number of Amer
lean troops going to Europe had not
begun to assume large proportions.
f.,,r ,.acr,,I1rc aud national
guardsmen had been sent to France,
but. most Of the big military train
inpnamps wcrf still being built and
the men selected as the first con-
tingent to be called to the colors
were still in citizens clothes. Until
the first day OF August OF 1917 the
total number of American soldiers
taken overseas was 2G,967.
Soon after that date the move
ment of troops was accelerated.
Thousands were despatched across
the Atlantic, during the winter
months, but il was not until the |
great German offensive was started
late in March of 1918 that the move
ment began to assume really note
worthy proportions. The figures
for the months from August I, 1917,
to July |, 1918, follow:
August 1898; September, 81, ,525;
October, $3.50; November 25,0l6;
December, 1880; January 46,T6;
February 1907; March, 1881;
April ll7,2l2; May 244,545; June
276, 6,3S2.
Americas First Million ,
On July |, 1918, there were 1904
American marines in France. bring Z
ing the total number of American ,
.roops in that country and Italy up r
o 1,0l9ll5.
During the recent fighting in
France, the work of the American
soldiers has compared favorably
With that of other fighting men IN 7
he world. They have held sectors f.
lere and there along the front. They r
re in Alsace and northward in the +,
-orraine sector. The famous st. -
Iihiel sector is held by Americans, r.
Who are posted also on the line
long the heights of the Mcusc. a
cast of Rheims they took part in -
he fighting during the past phase q
{ the German offensive, while in q
he Chateau-Thierry sector they o
eld their line in a vital region f,
gainst the utmost fury OF the leu n
onics onslaught. North of Cha al
eau Thierry, Americans helped to u,
top the drive of the Germans in =,
nc early days of June; and in the Il,
omme sector, at Cantigny and Gri- G.
esnes, they have given proof OF AZ
leir soldierly qualities. te
The allies have been called upon
, face two great otfensiyes during
lie past year. The first of these RI,
lmc last October in Italy an dthe g.
,cond, in France, began on March pr
|. The German drives in France, 70
hile separated by periods of from sb
few days to several weeks, have p,
zen considered as different phases q,
tn same offensive. The abortivc =,
ustrian attack against Italy in =,
lne also is looked upon as merely M
lother attack against the western he
ont and not as 4 distinct military ~
,eration. NJ
But these offens;ves perhaps new ne
would have been begun had It
" been for the collapse OF Russia mr..
iring the past winter German and .;d
nstrian troops, released from the re-,
issian front, were taken to France ,c,
d Italy TO swell the masses of men or,
rlcd against the allies in the west ais
n treatre Of operations. As long IN,
Russia remained in the fight she
Id great numbers OF Teutonic
pops in the east, and her with 1oI
avail from the war exercised d cal
ndamental influence on the course 7.
its development. the
Situation a Year Ago apI
The year opened with the for ter
1es Of war apparently favoring for
. entente. The British had forced OF
ck the Germans to the famous tur
line. The French had ME
ablished themselves firmly along Is.
Chemin des Danes. north of the son
,ne. The echoes of Nerdun were der
i'll ringing the knell of German 90,
that sector of the battle area. The be
lians were holding their lines on Sta
the lsonzo. The rejuvenatcd Rus tiat