The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-27
Events Big with the Fate
OF Nations Have Marked
Fourth Year of Great War
CONTINUED From Page One.)

y
Tf.; Situation a Year Ago.
The year opened with the fortunes
of war apparently favoring the en-
tente. The British had forced back
the Germans to the famous linden
burg line. The French has establish
ed themselves firmly along the Chem
in des Danes, north of the Aisne. The
echoes of Verdun were still ringing
the knell of German hopes in that sec
tor of the battle area. The Italians
were holding their lines along the
Isonzo. The rejuvenated Russian
regiment of July First" had carried
the war far into the Austrian defenses
in Bukowina and Galicia.
Through August and September,
1917, there came rumors that Russia
was exhausted by the war, and quiet
settled down along the lines from the
gates of the Carpathians to the Bal
tic. Stories were heard of fraterniza>
ton of German and Russian troops
but assurances came from Petrograd
that Russia would stand true to her
allies.
Fall Offensive in Italy.
The German and Austrian high COM
mands had no illusions as to further
belligerency. There came to the allies
reports that the central empires were
taking the pick Of their force from
the Russian front and concentrating
them for drive against some part
Of the line in the western theatre.
Then came intimations that the blow
was aimed against Italy.
The storm broke at CappOretto on
October 26 and almost Immediately
the whole Italian line was thrown in
to disorder. Pouring through the
passes where in some instances dis
affected Italian troops held positions,
the Germans and Austrians made pro-
gress which from the first was alarm
ing. BY wise generalship, the Italian
line was withdrawn from the lsonzo.
It paused at the TagliamentO and then
retired further until it rested on the
Piave almost within sight Of the
domes of Venice. Here the Italian
army reformed its columns. consoli-
dated it's positions by withdrawing
from the Rhaetian mountains to the
Asiago plateau, and, assisted by the
French reinforcements brought to that
battlefront, stood at bay.
.- Russian Collapse. 80, 3.
Events in the meanwhile had been
moving swiftly in Russia. On No
vember l, while the offensive against
Italy was under way, Alexander F.
Kerensky, then the Russian premier
announced that Russia was worn out
by the war, and that the allies must
shoulder the burden thenceforward.
Seven days later Kerensky was de-
posed by the BOlsheviki. The fall ana
flight of Kerensky was the signal for
Germany and Austria to enter peace
negotiations with Russia On Novem.
Der 80 the .Bolsheviki announced that
Russia was out of the war and pro-
posed that all the Allies join in nego-
tiatiOns for an armlstlce.
Russian and German representatives
met at Brest IitOvsk ON December ~,
and terms of peace were exchanged.
No progress was made with the ne
gotiations, and the conference was
broken up on, January IL, In the
meantime, a new republic had sprung
from the side of Russia. 1t was
Ukraine, territory extending along
the Rumanian and Galician frontier
from the Black sea northward to
Cholm, in ancient Poland. With this
republic. the central empires made
peace late in January.
The failure of the Bolshevik author
tiles to reach any agreement with the
Germans resulted in the renewal OF
hostilities on February 49,. and the
German armies moved forward once
more. +s.g
5rest litovsk Treaty.
. This brought about a renewal of the
epace negotiations, and at Brest Lit
ovsk the Eolsheviki were given to
understand that Germany would rec
ognize the kingdom- of Poland, the re-
pubic of Ukraine, the Independence of
Finland, and the separate government
al status of Lithuania, EsthOnia ana
Livonia. Turkey. as an ally Of the
central powers, was given great area
to the east of the Black sea, including
the regions of Batum, kars and En-
ivan.
With the announcement of The final \
signing of the treaty between the Boz.
sheviki and Germany. the allies gave
up hope that Russia would remain ii;
the conflict, and at once they began
to strengthen their lines against the
coming Of the great German offensive
by which Berlin and Vienna hoped to
force the entente nations to make
peace.
Rumania capitulates.
: With the greater part of her terri
tory occupied by the Germans, Aus
TRANS and Bulgarians. with her gov
eminent driven from Bucharest to
Jassey and with the Russian Bolshev-
Xxi openly hostile toward her, Ru-
mania found herself in critical situa>
ton. Rumanian troops during Febru
airy and March advanced into Bessar,
abba, part of the new Republic of
Ukraine, but they were hemmed in
by the enemy forces and obliged to
withdraw At last. on May 6, Ru,
mania signed treaty of peace with
the central powers:
BY this treaty Rumania lost the pro
vince of D0brudja, on the south side
Of the Danube, which she had received
after the Balkan war, and agreed to
!. rectificatiOn of her western frontier
Economic concessions also were made
under pressure from the Teutonic al.
lianc r." ...@ ST.. !,
Peace Tentatives. .
The period between December L.
1917 and March J., 1918. may be called
the period OF peace tentatives. It is
true that before the end of the sum.
mer Pope Benedict made an appeal to
the warning natinns to enter intn