Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-11-20

shipping, thus carrying to Germany he
war of starvation that Germany had
planned for her
United States Neutral.
The United States in the meantime
had proclaimed its neutrality. Italy.
| though member of the triple alliance.
was holding Off on the ground that its
alliance with Germany and Austria
were for defense and not of of
Tense. Ii was not until May of 1915
| that she got into the war and then on
the side of the allies. BY the end Of
| 1914 Japan was in with the allies and
Turkey with the central powers. Fight
ing was in active progress in Belgium
and France; on the Russian German
and Russian-Austrian fronties. The
government of France had been re-
moved to Bordeaux. But the Ger
mans were still 65 miles from Paris.
May I, 1915, the passenger liner
LusisSuaia was torpedoed without warn
ing and sunk by a German submarine
off the coast of Ireland This outrage
against humanity Mortified civilization.
Germany, however, celebrated the
sinking. To the world she sought 10
defend her action by asserting that the
Lusitania was armed and that she car
ried munitions of war She was not
armed and she did not carry munitions
of war, Many Americans felt there
after that the entrance Of the United
States into the war was inevitable.
February %, 1916. the German crown
princes army began the attack on Yer
dun which was TO blast a way to Paris.
The bombardment of Verdun was the
heaviest artillery fire of the war.
II was here that the French said
They shall not pass" And the
Germans did not pass The French
saved Verdun by communicating prac-
tically ever motor vehicle in Paris and
rushing reserves to the great fortress.
The devotion Of its garrison, the in
tensity and persistence of the German
attack and the dramatic dellverance
have made the name Verdun known
the world over.
June 8 Lord Kitchener, the British
war hero, was lost on the British cruis-
er Hampshire, together with most of
the crew. He was on secret mission
for the allies. 1t was afterward
charged that he was betrayed by the
Russian czarina, who furnished the in
formation which led to the sinking Of
the cruiser by German submarine
July the German submarine
Deutschland arrived In Baltimore.
She carried valuable cargo and took
valuable cargo back to Germany. She
claimed to be a merchant vessel and
was treated as such by the United
States. The main purpose, doubtless,
was to impress America with the Ger
man submarine; the sinking I'm Octo-
Der by German submarines OF six mer-
chant vessels off Nantucket, Mass,
was presumably part Of the same plan.
Germany was getting ready for her
forthcoming announcement of unre-
stricted submarine warfare.
September IA the British introduced
into war a new engine of destruction
the tank" In brief 1t is a heavily
armored body, armed with guns on
Caterpillar" instead of wheels. II can
thus travel over almost any sort of
ground and crush its way through most
obstacles. The caterpillar tractor is
an American invention. originating In
Peoria. ILL.,; the adaptation of harm
less tractor machinery TO a destructive
war engine was done In secrecy by an
Englishman. The tank proved genu-
inc surprise and has played no small
part in the war, together with lighter
and faster tanks called "whippets"
The Germans also soon produced
tanks, but apparently have never
been able to hold their own with those
of the allies. One of the most strlk-
ing exploits of the war was the ex-
plot of an American sergeant who
rode into action perched on the top
of an American tank.
Collapse of Russia.
The close of the year 1916 was mark
ed by the resignation of Premier Her
bert Asquith of Great Britain and the
acceptance of the premiership by
David Lloyd George; q new cabinet in
France and new commander in chief.
General Nivelle; the practically com
plete defeat Of the armies of Rou-
mania, which had Joined the allies.
and peace proposals from Germany to
the allies through the United States.
xx-ff
and she wanted peace on terms of her
own making.
The spring of 1917 saw the collapse
of Russia, collapse undoubtedly
brought about by Germany through in
trigue and for her own purposes. II
began March II with revolution in Pc
trograd. March - Car Nicholas alb
dicated. March % America recognized
the new Russian government repub-
lie. Since then Russia has been a
chaos. Russia Is one of the big prob
lens confronting the allies. They can
presumably put an end to the reign of
anarchy, murder and pillsec. he re-
generation Of the nation +, tremen-
dous undertaking.
October of 1917 was marked by the
collapse of the italian Isonzo front
This collapse was also due to German
propaganda and intrigue. Taken alto
gather the year 1917 was not one Of
cheer for the allies.
America Goes In.
And yet the turning point Of the war
was reached in 1917 For the United
States had entered the great world
conflict. Germany stands convicted