Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1920-01-30

Washington.-The final report Of
Gen. John ]. Pershing as commander
In chief Of the American expeditionary
forces in Europe was made public by
the secretary Of war. Gen. Pershing
says In effect, although not in terms,
that the American army won the war.
1T was this spirit Of determination
animating every American soldier"
says General Pershing. referring to the
battle, ''that made it
impossible for the enemy to maintain
the struggle until 1919"
The report in its more important de-
tails IL 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-
ated, it is desirable to have in mind
the main events leading up to the
time Of our entry into the war.
1914EAlthough the German drive
Of 1914 had failed in it's immediate
purpose, yet her armies had made
very important gains, German forces
were in complete possession Of Bel
GUM and occupied rich industrial re-
gions Of northern France, embracing
one-fourteenth of her population and
about three-fourths Of her coal and
iron. The German armies held
Strongly fortified line 46S 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 east the rapidity Of the Rus
sian mobilization forced Germany,
even before the battle Of Marine. to
send troops to 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
Moslem world and the immediate con-
slant threat created against allied
communications with the Far East.
led to an effort by the allies in the
direction of the Dardanelles.
Allies Helped by Italy.
1915-1taly joined the allies May
and gave their cause new strength,
but the effect was more or less offset
when Bulgaria entered on the side of
the central powers.
The threatening situation on the
Russian front and in the Balkans was
still such that Germany was compelled
to exert IN Immediate offensive effort
In those directions and to maintain
only defensive attitude on the west
ern front. German arms achieved a
striking series Of successes in the vicin-
ity Of the Mazurian lakes and in
Galicia, capturing Warsaw, Brest-Li-
tovsk and Wilma. The central powers
overran Serbia and Montenegro. Mean
while the Italian armies forced Aus
tria to use approximately one-half her
strength against them.
In the west the French and Brit
ish launched offensives which cost the
German armies considerable loss; but
the detectives were limited and the
effect was local. The Dardanelles ex-
petition, having failed in its mission,
was withdrawn in January. In Meso-
potamia the allied operations had not
been successful. Although the British
fleet had established it's superiority on
the sea, yet the German submarine
blockade had developed into serious
menace to allied shipping.
Russia Still Powerful.
1s16-Germany no doubt believed
that her advantage on the eastern
front at the close of 1915 again war
ranted an offensive in the west, and
her attack against Verdun was &C.
cordingly launched in the spring Of
1916. But Russia was not yet beaten.
and early in June, aided at the same
time by the threat Of an Italian often
sive in the west, she began the great
drive in Galicia that proved so dis
astrous to Austria.
Roumania, having entered on the
side Of the allies. undertook a promis-
ing offensive against Austria. The Brit
ish and French armies attacked along
the Somme. Germany quickly returned
to the defensive In the west, and in
September initiated campaign in the
east which, before the close Of 1916,
proved unfortunate for Russia as we'll
rs Roumania.
Spring Of 1917-Retaining on the
eastern front the forces considered
sufficient for the final conquest of Rus
sia, Germany prepared to aid Austria
n an offensive against Italy. Mean