Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-01-23

Washington.-The final report Of
Gen. John J. Pershing rs commander
IN chief of the American cxpeditionary
>orces in Europe was made public by
SAYS in effect. although not in terms,
tha, the American army won the war.
1t Was this spirit of determination
aur!atinS every American soldier"
sass General Pershing. referring to the
Mcusc.ArgOnne battle. that made It
impossible for the enemy TO maintain
.he struggle until 1919"
The report In its more important de-
tails is as follows:
In order that the reasons for many
important decisions reached In the
early history Of the American expe-
dictionary forces may be more clearly
understood and the true value Of the
American effort more fully appreci-
a,ed. 1t is desirable to have In mind
the main events leading up to the
rimc Of our entry into the war.
ie1+-Although the German drive
If 1914 had failed In it's immediate
purpose, yet her armies had made
very important gains. German forces
were in complete possession of Bel.
sium and occupied rich Industrial re-
gons Of northern France. embracing
one-fourtccnth Of her population and
about thrcc-fourths Of her coal and
iron. The German armies held a
strongly fortified line 4GS miles In
length. stretching from the Swiss
border to Newport on the English
channel: her troops were within forty
eight miles Of Paris and the initiative
remained in German hands.
In the cast the rapidIty Of the Rus
sian mobilization forced Germany.
even before the battle of Marine. TO
send troops 10 that frontier. but the
close Of 1914 found the Russian arm
les elected from East Prussia and
driven back on Warsaw.
The entry OF Turkey into the war,
because OF the moral effect upon the
Aosiem world and the Immediate con.
slant threat created against allied
communications with the Far east.
ied to an effort by the allies In the
direction Of the Dardanelles.
Allies Helped by italy.
's1a--'laly Joined the allies in May
ana gave their cause new strength,
hut the effect was more or less offset
"heh Hulsarin entered on the side OF
The central powers.
Inc threatening situation on the
russian front and In the Balkans was
s'iii such That Germany was compelled
10 exert an immediate offensive effort
ID those directions and to maintain
oh!v defensive attitude on the west
"rh front. German arms achieved
s"lkihS series of successes In the vicin-
~ oi the MaZurian lakes and In
"'''cIa. capturing Warsaw. Brest-Li.
'o'SR and wilma. The central powers
"E"rr"n Serbia and Montenegro. Mean.
"hi'e the Italian armies forced Aus.
ira 10 use approximately onc-half her
strength against them.
IN The w"st the French and Brit
~" launched offeIsives which cost the
herman armies considerable loss but
NC obJectircs were limited and the
meet vas local. The DarIanelIps ex.
petition. having failed in its mission.
vas Withdrawn In January. In Meso-
Po'alhia the allied operations had not
D'eH successful. Although the British
.,'c' ma established Its superiority on
VI" sea, set the German submarine
"''chAde had developed into a serious
'"''"c' T." allied shipping.
Russia Still Powerful.
., ''o-~Gcrmnny no doubt believed
"''' her advantage on the eastern
l'oht at ;hc close Of 1915 again war
""'a an offensive IN the west, and
~ attack against verdun was ac.
,"",u'hgly launched IN the spring Of
'' hut Russia was not yet beaten.
~, n"' early In June, aided at the same
D'' Wy tho threat Of an Italian often.
s'' N the west, she begun the great
a'Nc ID Galicia that proved so dis.
'S,rous TO Austria.
hounania, having entered on the
"e o. The allies. undertook a promls.
;' s offensive against Austria. The Brit
u a." aud French armies attacked along
y" ' Soinmc. Germany quickly returned
Saw. i've defensive in the west, and In
c,s p'en'Dcr initiated campaign In the
w.. winch. before the close of 1916,
=, ~ unfortunate for Russia as well
eS Roumania.
=, N'"a OF 1917--Retaining on the
.",, 'rh front the forces considered
al, , 10 Tor the tinaI conquest Of Rus.
10 germany prepared to aid Austria
" offensive against Italy. Mean.