Denver labor bulletin. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-19??, 1918-08-10

Attic there have been recent politi-
cal developments which indicate that
Germany has begun to back down"
in the matter of annexations, it cannot
be said that peace is in sight in the
immediate future.
Germany has not yet felt the mill
tary might of the United States, but
there is every indication that the high
er statesmen in Berlin and the more
conservative of the militarist leaders
in the German army command have
begun to take serious alarm at the
vast war preparations which America
is making.
Big Events Have Marked Year.
Political and military events of ire
mendous Importance have marked the
past year of warfare
Germany, taking advantage of the
DISCRIMINATION i'm the Russian army
and the chaos precipitated in Russia
/ by the Bolshevik regime, concluded
peace treaties" with the Bolsheviki
and the independent government of
1 Ulrainia, and then forced Rumania
/ into a similar humiliating agreement.
Following this, Germany began an
organized campaign to get control of
all Western Russia from the Arctic to
the Black Sea A treacherous pact
was formed with the pro-German ele-
ment in Finland and an Austro- Ger
man army of invasion was sent into
| Ulrainia.
There is a strong loyal faction in
Russia that has not yet given up
hope of rescuing Russia from beneath
the iron heel of Prussian military
domination and an allied army has
been landed in Northern Russia TO
help it out.
Changes in Battle Fronts
In the military field there have been
numerous changes in the battle fronts
during the past twelve months, and
the first half Of the present year has
been marked by some of the most saw
age fighting of the entire conflict
Roughly, the changes may be grouped
as follows:
Western Front-In Picardy the
British gained a brilliant success in a
surprise tank attack in front of Cam
brai late in November last and al
most drove into Cambria itself, but
this and previous gains were wiped
began on March 81, when the Germans
lunged forward about thirty miles in
an effort to take Amiens. They were
held in front of Amiens. A similar
situation existed in Flanders. The
British had made n splendid advance
in front of Arras and around Ypres,
but in the second German offensive
this year, which began on April 9,
the British had to yield considerable
ground. The Germans took Armen-
there's, Bailleuil and a number of vii
lagos. gaining approximately ten
miles at some points, but their effort
to break thru to the channel was COM
pletely frustrated. On the Aisne river
front the French had launched n sue
cessful drive that compelled the Ger
mans to fall back from the rocky
road known as the Chemin-des- Danes
during the last few days of October,
1917.
Third Great Blow Launched.
On May 81 of this year the Ger
on the western front, striking in the
sector of the Aisne. The French and
British were compelled to retire across
the Aisne and eventually to fall back
TO the southern bank of the Marine.
The Germans gained from twenty TO
twenty-five miles, but this offensive
proved another costly failure, as they
had evidently hoped to break thru
toward Paris.
The Germans delivered their fourth
1918 offensive between Montdidier and
tie AiSHt river, WneTe tney gained n
few miles, extending their lines toward
Compiegne, which they tried in vain
to capture. Scissors fell to the
Boches, however. On July Is the
Germans again struck for Paris,
launching n great offensive on a fifty
mile front, from Chateau-Thierry to
the Argonne forest. Americans bore
the brunt Of heavy fighting in the
drive and distinguished themselves for
their gallantry. In the sector where
the all-American forces faced the Ger
mans the Teutons got across the
Marne, but were quickly driven to the
northern bank.
Further east the Germans suain-
tanned their hold on the southern
bank and in four days had advsnced
about seven miles in the direction
Of Epernay, one Of their chief local
detectives. Americans reinforced the
French in the Champagne and helped
to repulse the enemy in that zone. At
the time this was written the allied
lines were holding everywhere, but
the Germans were making desperate
efforts to pocket" Rheims and COM
pei the French to retire from the high
ground south of that city. Such a
retirement by the allies would enable
the Germans to straighten and shorten
their lines. This was the fifth big
German offensive Of the year on the
western front, but the first few days
Of fighting seemed to doom 1t MS a
failure