The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-07-30
FOURTH YEAR OF WAR ENDS

lv 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 we're heard of fraterniza.
ion 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
Commands had no illusions as to fur
ther Russian belligerency. There came
to the Allies reports that the Central
Empires were taking the pick of their
force from the Russian front and con-
centrating 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 Caporetto on
Oct. 26 and almost Immediately the
whole Italian line was thrown into dis
order. Pouring through the passes,
where in some instances disaffected
Italian troops held positions, the Ger
mans and Austrians made progress
which from the first was alarming. BY
wise generalship, the Italian line was
withdrawn from the Isonzo. It paused
at the TagliamentO and then retired
further until 1t rested on the Piave, al
most within sight of the domes of Ven
ice. Here the Italian army reformed
it's columns, consolidated its posi-
tions by Withdrawing from the Rhae-
tian mountains to the Asiago plateau
and, assisted by the French reinforce
ments brought to that battlefront,
stood at bay.
RUSSIAN COLLAPSE
Events in the meanwhile had been
moving swiftly in Russia. On Novem-
! her |, while the offensive against Italy
was under way, Alexander +. Keren-
sky, then the Russian premier, an
nounced 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 and
flight Of Kerensky was the signal for
Germany and Austria to enter into
peace negotiations with Russia. On
! November 30 the Bolsheviki announc
ed that Russia was out OF the war and
proposed that all the Allies join in ne
gOtiatiOns for an armistice.
Russian and German representatives
met at Brest Litovsk on December %
and terms OF peace were exchanged
No progress was made with the nego.
tiatiOns, and the conference was brOk.
EN- up on January IL. In the mean.
time, a new republic had sprung from
! the side of Russia. II was Ukraine, n
territory extending along the Ruman,
ian and Galician frontier from the
Black Sea northward to Cholm, in an
cient Poland With this republic the
Central Empires made peace late II
January.
The failure OF the Bolsheviki au
thorities to reach any agreement will
the Germans resulted in the renewa
Of hostillties ON February IS, and tn,
German armies moved forward one,
more.
BREsT-LlTovsk TREATY
, This brought about a renewal of tn,
peace negotiations. and ut Brest- Lit
, ovsk the Bolsheviki we're given to un
, derstand that Germany would recog
nize the kingdom OF Poland. the re
public of Ukraine, the Independence o
Finland. and the separate government
al status OF Iithmania, Esthonia an
, Livonin. Turkey. AZ an ally of tn
, Central Powers. was given grea
{ area to the east OF the Black Sea- IL
, Guiding the regions of Batum, Kar
. and Erivan.
| With the announcement OF the fins
= signing OF the treaty between the Bo
: sheviki and Germany. the Allies CAV
}. up hope that Russia would remain |
I the conflict, and at once they bega
3 to strengthen their lines against tn
g coming of the great German offensiy
4 by which Berlin and Vienna hoped
force the Entente nations to mall
r. peace.
It RuMANIA cAPiTuLATEs
+. With the greater part OF her teri
;, tory occupied by the Germans. An
n trians and Bulgarinns, with her go
y ernment driven from Bucharest to ia
d sy and with the Russian Bolshevi
n. openly hostile toward her, Ruman
la found herself In a critical situatio
At Rumanian troops during Februa
10 and March advanced into Bessarabl
he a part of the new Republic OF Ulsrain
II. but they were hemmed In by the en-
a -