The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1920-01-15

WASnluStun.-1ne Nllut report VI
Gen. John J. Pershing as commander
In chief of the American expeditionary
forces in Europe was made public by
the secretary of war Gen. rershing
says in effect. although not in terms,
that the American army won the war,
at was This spirit of determination
xnimating every American soldier"
says General PcrSlling, referring to tie
Meuse- Argonne battle. that made it
impossible for the enemy to maintain
the stru":.e 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 eXlr.
dictionary forces may be more clearly
4nders,""l and the true value Of the
Americas effort more fully apprec
ated. il is desirable to have in mind
the main events leading UP to the
time of our entry into the war.
t914--Although the German drive
OF 1914 had failed in its immediate
purpose. yet her armies had made
very important gains German forces
were in complete possession of Bel
xium and occupied rich industrial re-
gions of northern France. embracing
one-fourteentiI of her population and
about three 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.
III the east the rapidity of the Rus
sian mobilization forced Germany,
even before the battle OF Marine. to
send troops to that frontier, hut 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
Mosleln world and the immediate con-
stant threat created against allied
, communications with the Far East,
led to an effort by the allies i'll the
direction nf the Daruaneiles.
Allies Helped by Italy.
1915-ltaly joined the allies in May
and gave their cause new strength.
but the effect was more or less offset
when Bulgaria entered Oh the side OF
she central powers.
1.-THE threatening situation ON the
Russian front and in the Balkans was
still such that Germany was compelled
to exert ar immediate offensive effort
tn those directions and to maintain
only a defensive attitude on the west
ern front. German arms achieved
striking series of successes in the vicin-
tY of the Maynrian lane> and IN
Galicia. capturing Warsaw. Brcst-Li-
tOvsk and wilma. '.-.lc 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-
pedition, having failed in its mission,
was withdrawn in January. In Meso-
potamia the allied operations had not
been successful. Although the British
neet had established its superiority on
the sea. vet 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.
,rapted an offensive In the west. ana
her attack against verdun was &C.
~ordingly 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 ohen'
slve in the west. she began the great
drive In Galicia that proved 30 dis
astrOus to Austria.
Roumania, having entered on the
side Of the allies. undertook promls'
lns offensive against Austria. The Brit
IN and French armies attacked along
- Somme. Germany quickly returned
% the defeasIVe In theKest-an min
1eptember Initiated . campaign Id the
at which, before the close of 1915.
aroved unfortunate for Russia ~ well
= Rouminia.
epe,ns q .1st7-Rstaining on the
s n6aforn frunt the forces considersd
Deemt foe the Anal conquest Of Rss-
- 0ornaay prepared to aid Austria
6san e1bsaAve against Italy. Mean