The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-01-22

was announced that Americans over
seas or on the way numbered 1.019,1 15.
The United States on July agreed
to allied action in Russia and prepare
tons were begun for an allied military
expedition into Siberia. On the same
day Count Won Mirbach. German am
bassadOr to Russia. was slain at Mos
cow. On July 8 1t was announced that
the Thurman coast Of Russia had
thrown off bolshevik rule and invited
aid from the allies. During July the
first reports came from Russia of the
execution of the former czar by local
soviet and these reports later were
confirmed.
General Foch opened the second
phase Of his counter-offensive on Au-
gust when a surprise attack was
launched on a 2O-mile front in Picardy,
the allies gaining seven miles at some
points and taking 1000 prisoners. The
following day Haig's men gained IL
miles in Picardy and the next day the
French, attacking on a 2O-mile front,
wiped out the Montdidier salient.
Foch Hammers Foe.
Then followed a series Of sledge-
hammer blows on all portions of the
front. all fitting into the general
scheme Of attack worked out by the
master mind of Foch. On August 20
Lassigny fell and the former Somme
front was restored. British and French
armies, aided by American units, con-
tinued the Smash on the Somme front
and on August 80 the Germans were
hurled across the Somme. The British
took Bapaume and were close to
Peronne. Roye fell to the French and
dozens of small towns were wrested
from the invaders. Further north the
British smashed the Hindenburg line
and forced the Germans to begin re-
treat from the Lys salient.
On September IL, the First Ameri-
can army, under the direct command
of General Pershing, began brilliant
action which wiped out the difficult
st. Mihiel salient in three days. The
Americans took 10000 prisoners in
this action.
Serbian, French and Italian forces,
on September 10, launched a big drive
against the Bulgars in Macedonia. AL
most simultaneously the British broke
the Turk lines in the Holy Land. The
Turkish army was shattered, and by
September q had lost $4,000 men in
prisoners. In the meantime the allies
Smashed the Hindenburg line along n
22-mile front in the St. Quentin sector,
and it was announced at Washington
that the United States now had 1,75O,-
600 men across the sea to aid in crush
ing the crumbling armies of the enemy.
i The first decisive break in the ranks
Of the central empires came on Sep
TENDER 81, when General Malinoff,
commander Of the Bulgar armies
which were routed before the advanc.
ing Serbs and French, asked for an
armistice. On September 80 Bulgaria
accepted the armistice terms pro
posed by the allies and surrendered
Internationally.
Teutons Move for Peace.
Turkey moved for peace on October
4 and the German people were thrown
into panic as they saw their allies
crumbling. Prince Max. who had now
become German chancellor, addressed
. a note to President Wilson, asking that
steps be taken Immediately to conclude
! an armistice and to open peace negO.
, tiations. President Wilson answered
by asking whether he spoke for the
people or the then rulers of the empire
and whether the proposal was based
, on an acceptance Of the presidents IA
peace points. Meanwhile the drive or
, the west front continued, and the Ger
, mans were driven from much ground
, that they had held since 1914. The
, Hindenburg line was smashed at many
points. Pershing's men broke the foes
main line of defense west of the Meuse
, and after days Of bitter fighting clear
!. ed the Germans out of Argonne forest
. The Germans were forced to abandon
, the Chemin des Danes and to retrea
. on long line from Laon as far cas-
8 as ArgOnne.
Germany sent another note to Pres
ident Wilson on October IL, acceptin,
the latter's IA peace principles ant
urging the president to transmit It.
:, proposal for an armistice to the allies
: Prince Max assured the president tina
by reason Of constitutional changes
!, the existing German government spok
for the people. President Wilson re
, piled two days later. rejecting the Ger
man proposals, declaring that any arm
istice must be granted by the militar,
:. commanders and must guarantee tn
continued supremacy of the allie,
arms.
:. The answer Of the allied armies t
= !, the German peace proposals was t
= deliver still harder blows at the retil
: ing enemy. In the north the Belgia
: army, led by King Albert, co-operat
= ing with the British, began to swee
the Germans from the Belgian coas
70 On October II the Germans were dri,
! en- from Ostend and Bruges and th