The Washington times., 1918-11-11


ruptfng the triple entente, composed
Of France, Great Britain and Russia,
proclaimed unrestricted. submarine
warfare, and on February the
United States severed diplomatic re-
lations.
On March IL the world was cleo
trihed by the Russian revolution and
about the same date the Germans re-
tired upon the west front to the Hin
denburg line.
United States Declares War.
On April the United States de-
clared war on Germany, and, with
military spirit and resource hardly
suspected even within her own bor-
ders, began preparations such as no
nation had ever attempted.
Within two weeks OF the declara-
tion of war, American warships had
and for establishing Austrian control
throughout the Balkan peninsula
War Flames Through Europe.
The next week spread the flames
of war throughout Europe. On July
81 Germany sent uItimatums to Rus
sia and France, and. on August 1 de-
clared war on Russia On the same
day France began mobilization. and
Italy declared its neutrality, although
bound by treaty to Germany.
On August ., Germany occupied the
independent duchy of Luxembourg and
demanded that Belgium permit the
passage OF troops into her territory.
On August 3, Belgium refused the de-
mand, and Germany declared war on
France and prepared to invade Bel
gium. The following day German
troops stepped upon Belgian soil and
Great Britain declared war, much to
the surprise of the German leaders,
who believed that the unrest in Ire
land and India, the bitter party and
suffragist struggles and her possession
OF what the Kaiser termed "only
contemplate army of mercenaries."
would not allow OF her participation.
On August 4, also, the United States
realizing that a great war was upon
Europe declared her neutrality.
/. Germany had made her plans well.
To any military man versed in the
arts OF conquest and with a full reali-
zation of the unpreparedness Of the
countries opposing the aggression of
the central powers, it appeared that
the finely equipped and drilled Ger
man army would take Paris almost
overnight. But at this very dawning
OF the great struggle was to occur
what will probably always live as one
of the most desperate and courageous
feats of military arms ever performed
by q small nation. For Belgium, con-
sidered a mere stepping-stone by the
German military chiefs, interposed
herself as the stumbling-block which
was to halt the rush OF the Hun hordes
until the armies OF France and Brit
ain were in the fields leading to Paris.
BeIgians' Heroic stand.
The Belgian cohorts stood fast at
the forts of Liege and, because the
German siege guns were wanting, held
UP the German advance from August
to August o. They bitterly con-
tested every foot OF ground for the
days following, and it was not until
August 20 that Brussels fell and the
forts OF Namur were not occupied un-
til August "a
These days will always live as the
days when the allies gave promise to
the world that autocracy should not
dominate the liberty-loving peoples.
No greater courage and bravery has
ever, been shown than that OF the
Belgian. French, and British forces in
their dogged retreat following the
desperate battle OF Mons-Charleroi.
But the German wave rolled onward.
until the situation became so threat
ening that on September the French
government was removed temporarily
from Paris to Bordeaux. Three days
later Marshal Joffre, swinging his
forces from one flank to the other.
struck the extended German lines.
and in the historic conflict on the
Marne drove back the invaders to
the River Aisne. and established lines
which were to endure until near the
close OF the great struggle.
During the remainder OF the year
Germany was held at bay. Both at
the User. in Flanders. and in the
first battle OF Ypres, her efforts to
reach the Channel ports were frus-
trated. Serbia likewise held the
Austrians at bay. and the Russians.
although they lost in East Prussia,
drove the German armies back in
Poland, Turkey meanwhile had en-
tered the war.
Early in 1915 Germany began her
submarine warfare, despite the ef-
forts of the United States to effect
an agreement as to the methods OF
naval warfare. Russia overran Ga
licia early in the year. but the opera
tions on the western front did not be-
gin until April II, when Germany
sought to break through in the sec
ond battle OF YprSs. The attempt
failed. although the invaders for the
first time used asphyxiating gas and
hurled their legions against the Brit
'tsh and French lines for a month.
LusItanIa II sunk.
The first blow struck by Germany
at Americas neutrality came May
when the Lusitania was sunk, ia OF
the 1,l54 victims OF the outrage being
Americans. On May % Italy entered
the war. On the eastern front Ger
many gained, and in September held
the French. who sought to break
through on the Champagne front in
the west Late in the year Serbia
and Poland were overrun, the year
closing with the expose OF the un-
neutral activities OF Boy-Ed and Won
Papen, German officers attached to
the German embassy at Washington.
Late in 1918 the British attempted
to take Constantinople by a campaign
on the Gallipoli Peninsula The at
tempt failed, although in a later in
vestigation it was found that the
British were on the eve of victory
when they evacuated
The outstanding feature OF the year
1916 was the defense Of Verdun by
the French, when all the world stood
aghaSt at the tremendous losses OF
life in modern warfare and when tn q