Gilpin observer., 1919-01-02

was announced that American over
seas or on the way numbered 1,O1e, ,115
The United States on July Z agreed
to allied action in Russia and prepare
tions 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 Murman coast Of Russia had
thrown of bolshevik rule and invited
aid from the allies. During July the
first reports came from Russia of the
execution of the former czar by a local
soviet and these reports later were
confirmed.
General Foch opened the second
phase Of his counter-offensive on Au.
gust 8 when surprise attack was
launched on 2O-mile front in Picardy
the allies gaining seven miles at some
points and taking 1000 prisoners. The
following day Haig's men gained 13
miles In Picardy and the next day the
French. attacking on 2O-mile front,
wiped out the Montdidier salient.
Foch Hammers Foe.
Then followed 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 a re-
treat from the Lys salient.
On September IL, the First Amerl-
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 1S, launched 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 27 had lost $4,000 men in
prisoners. In the meantime the allies
smashed the Hindenburg line along a
22-m1le front in the st. Quentin sector,
and 1t was announced at Washington
that the United States now had 1,750,-
600 men across the sea to aid In crush
ing the crumbling armies of the enemy.
The first decisive break in the ranks
Of the central empires came on Sep
tember q, when. General Malinoff,
commander of the Bulgar armies
which were routed before the advanc-
ing Serbs and French, asked for an
armistice. On September 30 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 a panic as they saw their allies
crumbling. Prince Max, who had now
become German chancellor. addressed
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 -on
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 retreat
on long line from Laon as far east
as Argonne.
Germany sent another note to Pres
ident Wilson on October 10, accepting
the latter's IA peace principles and
urging the president to transmit its
proposal for an armistice to the allies.
Prince Max assured the president that
by reason Of constitutional changes
the existing German government spoke
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 military
commanders and must guarantee the
continued supremacy of the allied
arms.
The answer Of the allied armies to
the German peace proposals was to
deliver still harder blows at the retir.
ing enemy. In the north the Belgian
army. led by King Albert co-operat.
ing with the British, began to sweep
the Germans from the Belgian coast.
On October II the Gormana waro ,....