Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

WHAT THE I \8TF-D STATES WAS DONE. -r? ?umrruirv or t.rvat Event* Since tlie Conflict Began Pour Years Ago. Washington. July a?.?Events bis with* the fate of nations have marked th?; fourth year of the war which now comes to s clone. It has been a twelve months of alternate hope and concern for the powers of the entente ? thane*. il was on July 28. 1914, that Aus? tria*, declared war on Serbia, begin - nine; the great struggle. inning the past twelve months there have been opourrences that In some aspects have been of even greater Import in their influence upon the world than those In the preceding period. Russia's col Is pre. the Italian defeat last autumn, the aiupendoua drives of the Germans aguiiMtt the allied armies, and the Wonderful defensive operations that Sieve again and again chcoked the en? emy when success for him seemed near ax hand have held the world bceathh mh. Hut, transcending the Significance any event in the actual theatree of the war, America's full part led pat loo in the conflict. Involving the transportation overseas of more thee a million men to engage u< It must rempln for all time the great outstanding feature of the fourth year of the struggle. It is upon America thai the ertsnte is relying for the men and resources to turn the tide. A yeaj- ago the number of American troops going to Europe hud not begun to assume large proportion*, A few regal u-n .and some National Guards men had bean eent to France, but meet of the big military training oasnpe were still being built and the men selected as the first contingent to be called to the colors were still in citlsens' clothes. I ntll the first day of August or If 17 the total number of American soldiers taken overseas was 28.887 Boon efter that date the movement of troops was accelerated. Thousands were despatched acroes the Atlantla, during the winter months, but it was net until the great Gorman offensive wne st ?i fe i late In March of 1918 that the 'movement began to assume really noteworthy proportions. The figures f*sr the month* from August 1. 1917 to July 1. I hit, follow: August. 18.321: Sept. 32.523; Oc tsjfeer. 88.2?*; November. 28.018; De cember. 41.848; January. 48.778; Feb? ruary. ?H.8J7; March. 83.811; April. lasf.212; Msy. 244.346; June 276. 882. uk July l. 1918. there were 14,644 Asnei4can marines In Frsnce, bringing the total number of American troops In that country and Italy up to 1. OIMIB. 4 kUX Isg the recent righting In Asm ? the work of tho American sol ihers has compared favorably with that of other fighting men In the world They+have held sectors here and there along the front. They are In Alsace end northward in the Lorraine sector. The famous St. Mihlel sector is held by Americans, who are posted also on the line along the heights of the Meuee. East of Rheims they took pert In the fighting during the last phase of the German offensive while In the ( hateau-Thierry sector they bald their line In a vital region against the utmost fury of the Teuton? ia onslaught. North of Chateau Thierry, Americans helped to stop the drive of the Hermans in the early days of June; and In the Sommc sec? tor, at Cantigny and Grlvones they have given proof of their soldierly quslttles The allies have been called upon to face two great offensives during the past y*ar. The first of these came fcsst October In Italy and the second, in Trance, began on March 31. The German drives in France, while sep? arated by periods of from a few days to several weeks, hive be. n consider? ed as different phases of the same of? fensive. The abortive Austrian at? tack agstnst Italy In June also is look? ed) upon as merely another attack against the western front and not as a dlstln. t military operation. Mut these offensives perhaps never would have been begun had It not been for the collapse of Russia dur? ing the past winter. German and Aus? trian troops released from the Rus? sian front, were taken to Fiance and Italy to swell the ma**c* of men burled sgnlnst the allies In the wes? tern theatre of operations. As long as lieesie remained in the light she held Street numbers of Teutonic troops In the East, and her withdrawal fron, the wai eiercia. d I f und.? mental ln tluenee on th*? course of Its develop? ment Situation a Year Ago. The year Of* m I with the fortunes of s/ar apparently favoring the en tetkte. The British had forced back the dermans to the fnmosst Binden? hurg line The French had estah lished themselves ttrmlv along the Chemm dee Dames, north of the Aisne. The echoes of Verdun were still rlng tsg the knell of German hopes In that eector of the battle area The Ital? ians 8fOf8 holding their lines along the Isonso. The rejuvenated Russian regiment of July First'' ha.i carried the Wat fai info i fie Ansfnan defenses In Ihiknwlna and Halhln Through Ausust and September 1817. there fame rumors thit RttOSj Was eshSUSted hv the w ir .ml QOlOt settled down a Ions; the line from the gTAte* Of the I it p . I hi i ns to the Baltic Sttorlc* were h'?ard of fraternisation of Herman S8sf Russian IfOgnS but assurance* came from Petrograd that Rusaia would stand true to her allies Full Offensive In It ah The German and Austr' ?n High Commands had no Illusions as to fur? ther Russian belligerence There csme to the allies reports that tin- Central Empires were taking the pick of tfcetf force from the Russian front and concentrating them for ?* drive against some part of the line in the western theatre. Then came Intimations that the blow was alined against Italy. The storm broke at Ca poretto on Oetober and almost Immediately the whole Italian line was thrown lnt?i disorder. Pouring through the pOSS? es. where In some Instances dlsaffcct gd Italian Hoops held positions, tin Oermaus und Austrlans made progress which rrom the tlrst wua alarming. By wise generalship, the Italian line wan withdrawn from the Isonzo. It paus? ed at the TaKllamento and then re? tired further until it rested on the Piuve, almost within sight of the domes of Venice. Here the Italian army reformed its columns, consoli? dated its positions by withdrawing from the llhaettan mountains to the Aslago plateau and, assisted by the French reinforcements brought to that battlefront, stood at bay. Kassian Collapse. Kvents in the meanwhile had been moving swiftly in Russia. On No? vember 1, while the offensive against Italy was under way, Alexander F. Kerensky, then the Russian premier, announceci that Russia was worn out by the war and that the allies must shoulder ihe burden thenceforward. Seven days later Kerensky was de? posed by the Holshevikl. The fall and (light of Kerensky was the signal for Germany and Austria to enter into peace negotiations with Russia. On November 30 the Bolsheviki announc? ed that Russia was out of the war anil proposed lhat all the allies join in negotiations for an armistice. Kassian tfhd Oerman representatives met at Brest-Utovsk on December 22, and terms of peace were exchanged. No progress was made with the nego? tiations, and the conference was brok? en up on January 11. In the meantime, a new republic had sprung from the side of Russia. It was Ukraine, a ter? ritory extending along the Rumanian and Galletun frontier from the Black S*?a northward to Cholm, In ancient Poland. With this republic, the Cen? tral empires made peace late in Jan? uary. ' The failure of the Bolshevik author? ities to reach any agreement with the Germans resulted in the renewal of hostilities on February 18, Und the German armies moved forward once more. Brest-Idtovsk Trcnty. This brought about a renewal of the peace negotiations, and at Brest Utovsk the Bolsheviki were given to understand that Germany would rec? ognise the kingdom of Poland, the re? public of UkvnJaa), the independence of Finland, and the separate govern? mental status of Lithuania, Esthonia and Uvonta. Turkey, as an ally of the Central powers, was given a great area to the east of the Black sea. including the regions of Bafum. Kars and P.rlvan. With the announcement of the final signing of the treaty between the ltolshevikl and Germany, the allies gave up hope that Russia would re? main in the conflict, and at once they began to strengthen their lines against the coming of the great German offensive by which Berlin and Vienna hoped to force the entente na? tions to make peace. Rumania Capitulates. With the great part of her terri? tory occupied by the Germans, Aus trians and Kulgarians. with her gov? ernment driven from Bucharest to Jassy and with the Russian Bolsheviki openly hostile toward her, Bumania found herself In a critical situation. Rumanian t roops during February and March c dvanced Into Bessarabia, a part of the new Republic of Ukraine, but they were hemmed in by the ene? my forces ani obliged to withdraw. At last, on May 6, Rumania signed a treaty of peace with the Central Pow? ers. By this treaty Rumania lost the province of Dobrudja, on the south side of the Danube, which she had re? ceived after the Balkan war, and ugreed to a rectification of her wes? tern frontier. Economic concessions ulso were made under pressure from the Teutonic alliance. Peace Tcntatives, The period between December 1, 1917 und March 1, 1918, may be call Dd the period of peace tentatives. It Is true that before the end of the summer PODC l'.enediet made an ap? peal to the warring nations to enter into peace negotiations, the basis for pourparlers being the restoration of Belgium and Serbia and the return to Germany of her lost colonies. This appeal, made on August it* was an? swered by President Wilson on Aug? ust 29. when the president announo l d that the German government as constituted could not be believed and that the United States was ready to enter Into negotiations when the Ger? man people showed they desired tee and when they spoke through any authority which would be repre? sentative of them. The German answer to the Pope's appeal reached the Vatican on Sep? tember 11, it expreened hope that further warfare could be averted through the good ollices of the Pope, but deellraid tO enter into any engage? ment to meet what the allies had de? clared to be their minimum war aims. German Peace Offer. German efforts to secure a peace which would leave to < lei many all the fruits of her victory gained through ROOnea'l collapse, and with Belgium and large portions of Prance to bO used as pawns ut the council table, began with the address of Count Cnernln, IhOg Austrian foreign minister, at nrest-idtovsk, on i>e camber If. The keynote of the ad? dress was general peace without an ncx.itions and indemnities. On January I, President Wileos nddresetnf CowgfOSO, sold that the United Motes moot Know tot whom the German rub t I WOTS Speaking. The address was a complement to an address made on Januar> '> b\ David I.'av.i GrmK". the Krltish premier. To these addressee: reply was mode bj imperial Chancellor von Hertlinv of ciermony, and Cotwl Coemirk Tin latter was pacific and conciliatory in lone, While the former, alluding lo "the IpOd Gennan sword." showed h' speaking for the militarists of th? < lermanlc powers. ' T'Hir Principle" I nunclated. To I hoes replies there was rejlondoi bs President U/tlson, who on I'e't ruary 11. again addressing congress, laid down whit have comt to be , known as the "Poui Principles" Up on which pence <an be bused Rrleflj th?**e principles were. Final settlement must be based nr. essential Ju?*t Ire. ' Peoples aid provinces ate not to be battered about like chattels. Every territorial settlement must be for the benefit and in the interest ol the populations concerned. And well-dellrted national aspira? tions shall be met with the utmost satisfaction consistent with the fur ture peace. Pope Benedict, in a pastoral letter issued at Easter, made another appea for concord among the. peoples of th( world, but it brought forth no tangible results. At the Pope's behest, prayers for peace were offered in Catholic churches throughout the world on St. Peter's day, June 28. In April there came revelations from Paris that Emperor Charles of Austria had written letters to Prince Sixtus of Bourbon, a relative. In these communications the Austrian monarch conceded the claim of Franc* to Alsace and Liorraine and hinted that peace overtures would be welcom? ed. As the result of this, Count Czernin. the Austrian foreign minister was re? moved from office. The most recent addresses on the subject of peace have been delivered in the German Reichstag, one by Dr Richard von Kuehlmann, the foreign minister; and the other by Imperial Chancellor von Bertling. The form? er's sensational admission that the sword by itself could not bring peace resulted in his resignation, and von Hertllng's address voiced the senti? ment that as long as the allies weve intent upon "destroying Germany," the war must go on. Tin? Enemy Offensives. Last winter it became known that the Germans were massing forces on the western front. Reports came that large units were trulnlng behind the ?^nes and that new and more terrible engines of war than had been known before were to be used in German ef? fort to break the allied lines, crush their armies and force them to make peace. The drive was well advertis? ed and even the place where It was to be launched was known tVlth compar? ative certainty. On the morning of March 21, the Germans began their attack from the vicinity of.Arras, on the north, to La Fere, on the south, and centering their heaviest columns against the British forces, under General Gough, at St. Qu?ntin. Staggering before the impact of th" blow, the British army fell back rap? idly. For eight days the Germans pour "d through the old allied line in an effort to crush the British and drive ;.i wedge between them and thr French, who wore holding the lines to the south. Then came a period of re? action and the Germans came to/ a jdop. They had driven ahead for thirty-five miles, along a front ex lending more than fifty miles before they were halted Hardly had their legions been held before Amiens than a new offensive was begun in Flanders on April 2. It swept the British back through Armentieres, but did not break their lines. The British, with the French who were rushed up to the front, stopped the Germans after they had reached the hills southwest of Ypres. There, on April 9, the Germans suf? fered a terrible defeat that halted their offensive In that quarter. , Foch In Supreme Command. In the midst of the drive in the sec? tor toward Amiens the allied nations look u vitally important step. They named General Ferdinand Foch, ?hero of the tlrst battle of the Marne, generalissimo of the allied forces on the Western front, which includes all the line In Italy as well as in France. F.ven the Murman coast, in northern Rusia, has been held to be under his command. After a period of quiet, the Germans attacked once more, this time on the Alsne river, and In seven days they reached the Maine at Chateau-Thier? ry, making a penetration of about twenty-eight miles. At the Marne they vvere checked and the impetus of the blow was broken. With hardly a day's pause for re? organization of their forces, the Ger? mans again attacked, choosing the s.ctoi between Montdidler and Noyon, on the southern side of the salient driven into the allied line during the March offensive, as the stage of their onslaught. This offensive ran for live days and was Mopped north of Com piegnc after losses which were de? scribed as unprecedented had been in? flicted upon the Germans. From June 14 until July 16 the Ger? mans were engaged In shifting their forces and then they again struck. This time the line of attack was from Chateau-Thierry eastward, around to the north of Rheims and then down the Vesle river to Prunay and from that village eastward to Mnssigncs. This attack at the ( lose of the year de? veloped Into one of the most am? bitious of the German strokes. German forces crossed the Marne over a wide front, but were unable to make ground against American troops near Chateau-Thierry, and could not advance rapidly further oast. They did, however, forge ahead on the north side of the Marne and be? tween that stream :in<1 the mountain of Rheims, it appeared for o time that they might reach Kpcrnuy. Then General Foch struck a count? er blow, which is still in progress. Vmerican and French troops attacked the Germans between Fonteney, on the Alane west Of Bolssons and Boi leau. on the Clignon northwest o' Chateau-Thierry. So sudden and pow? erful was the blow that the Germans fell back rapidly until their reserves could be hurried up. The rapid advance of the allies however, so menaced the German forces further south that on July I!? the enemy began a retreat across the Maine. <m Sunday. July Iii, French and Americans entered I 'bateau-Thier? ry and > pressed on after the retiring Oermona Sine?' that time the allies have gain? ed slowly, but steadily, not only south of Soiasons but also north of the Marne and between thnt river and Rheims. There are indications that a German retreat from the salient is now under way. Italians Stan I Finn. On June |B, the Austrlans began a drive against Italy. It was a fail ure. The Austrlsns crossed the PlOVe, but on the west bank met with MAY BK MAKING HEADY FOR [M POHTANT BATTLED Bcliind Apparent Lull in Straggle Around Alsne-Mnme Snlient stage May be. Set for Hard Test ol Strength. Washington, July 26.?Behind tin apparent lull in the struggle around LhS Alsne-Marne salient today, the high command of the Allied and Ger? man armies may be setting stage foi the decisive battle of the war. In hat event it seems more than likely to observers here that the fourth an? niversary of the beginning of tie world conllict will see a Hume of fight? ing raging from east of Rheims to the North Sea; but with the crucial conllict in progress somewhere just north of the historic Marne where the itrmans have twice tasted the bitter nest of defeat. There is nothing as yet in unofficial reports, however, nor in official ad? vices so far as known, to show the pian of General Foch. Flickers of lighting have occurred to the north that may have more than local signifi? cance behind them. There is some evidence of a feeling here that the :ime has not yet come when a uulli vient army has been assembled in Trance to warrant passing definitely to offensive tactics. It was recalled today that Genoral March recently in? dicated to members of congress that this was not to be expected until later in the year. The situation has chang? ed greatly at the front since then, however, and only developments there will show what decision has been made. Officers here have watched the bat ;le of the last eight days closely for its wider significance. At llrst it ap? peared that the lierce counterattack launched by General Foch on the wes? tern side of the Alsne-Marne salient was intended only to offset tho Ger? man effort to encircle Rheims and further exploit the menace toward I'aria. As success followed success for he Frunco-American troops, however, and as first the Italians and than the Krttish Joined in the struggle, the nature of the operation changed. It vas clear that the tables had been turned on the enemy and that the nut? cracker tactics he had attempted to apply to Rheims were in turn being applied to his armies within tho sa Pent. The enemy was quick to realize his .langer. Behind a stubborn rear guard he drew back across the Marne and today he was apparently still stiug uling northward out of the depth cf the pocket in which he had been 'aught To save his advance forces here, reserves have been called to .told apart the jaws of the great trap until the armies of the crown prince could escape. Yesterday, the advance of the Brit? ish northwestward from the region of 'Iheims aroused hope among officials here that the allied forces might he d>le to spring the trap. The lull today however, seemed to indicate that Geh* i ral Foch was not prepared at this ?ime to press his advantage to his full power in that direction. The pocket is not as yet sufilciently nar? rowed at the top to prevent withdraw? al of the German armies falling hack from the Marne, many Officers believe. That the main pressure of tho allied troops today was rather against the blirnt apex than against the extended fJdes of the salient, was taken as an indication that the supreme com? mander was bent more on forcing his opponent out of the pocket than to 'rap him in it. From this general view of the bat tit thus*far, some officers drew th< ?oncluslon that within another day or wo at most, events would show clear? ly the purpose. If he is confident i hat he now has the men and tho re? sources at hand to warrant challeng? ing the enemy to light it out to a t nish, they expect to see new and tre? mendous battles break out on both .s.dcs of the salient, south of Solssons : nd of Rheims. The lull today might cover the shitting of allied reserves for development of the successes al? ready won. On the other hand, it was pointed out, should General Foch feel that he should still wait the coming of more American troops \o give a decided preponderance in numbers, these of? ficers anticipated he would continue to harry the retiring enemy flank and front, exploiting his present victories to the fullest possible extent and force tlie enemy to decide upon making a stand. When that line was reacln 1 or approached, however, a sudden transfer allied offensive tactics to the Ficardy or more, probably the Flan? ders front would be natural it was s lid, while the lighting on the pres? ent active front below the Aisne would die down to raids and local ac? tions. That the enemy has it in.his power to refuse a decisive struggle and to continue his withdrawal until his line has been straightened out and his , tlanks protected most olllcerawho dis such stubborn resistance that prog reSS was impossible. Slowdy the Aus? tria ns were driven back toward the river, and then the Piave. swollen by rains in the mountains, completed the overthrow of Austria's hopes. After suffering terrible losses the Austriaus retreated to the eastern bank of th Plave from the Montello plateau h. the Adriatic. Minor Operations. I Among the year's operations of comparatively lesser Importance were the British drives in Palestine ami .Mesopotamia; the Turkish advanci in the Caucasus; the French and Rai fan Offensive In Albania; ami the lighting In the German African colo i nh s. \ Jerusalem Wait captured by tin . ihitish on December 10, and shortly L iterward the fall of Jericho was an nounced, since the faking of Jeri? cho the British forces In Palestine have not been active on the offensive. General Mamie led the British I trOOpS into Bagdad on Mareh II. and shortly afterward died from cholera j His forces pushed further up Ihc Tlgri; I Ii vi i ii the intense heal of summer tor nutated operations, CUSSOd the situation today believed. They were equally confident that he could bring on a pitched battie by halting on a selected line. The pres? ent withdrawal, it was thought, prob? ably was directed towards a tentative line, where a sufficient stand would be made to test out General Foch'.s plans and tliat line should be reach? ed and defined in the lighting of the next day or two. As the situation now stands, the Vital necessity for th German is to protect his exposed Hanks at Soissons and before Rheims. Massed reserves are now holding these fronts. If the line is withdrawn sufficiently from the A.sne-Marne salient, however, to flat fen out the front the danger of tlank assault will pass and new disposition could be made. Similarly, the, advance of the Franco-American forces in the region of Soissons, or the Franco-British west of Rheims, it is argued, must be made on a wide enough front to in? sure no exposure of Hank to sudden enemy blows that might upset the whole scheme. AMdKS CAPTTRE 30,000. Total Number of Pi Isoners Captured in Counter-Offensive. Paris, July 27.?The total number of prisoners captures by the Allies since the start of the counter-offen? sive is placed at thirty thousand by the Havas News Agency. The Americans discovered north of Chateau Thierry emplacements of the German super-cannon which bom-, barded the towns behind the front and perhaps Paris. AMERICAN CASUALTY LIST. NEW SUBMARINE RAID. British Freighter Attacked Off Atlantic Coast. Three South Carolinians Mentioned In Report. Washington, July 27.?Army casual? ties number one hundred and sixty eight and include three South Caro? linians: Captain Henry 15. Bunch, Jr., of Clarksville, wounded, degree undetermined; Privates Harley C. HuxfOrd, of Russellville received wounds and Galico Trouty, of Elko, died of disease. Last Thursday afternoon during a thunder and lightning storm Mr. J. L. SegO.ro had one of his farm horses killed and another ho.se and a cow New York, July 27.?A German | stunned, and a negro, Frank Poag, submarine attacked a British freighter^! on Mr. W. J. Josey's place adjoining, off the Atlantic coast early today, ac? cording to reports in local insurance circles. The wire said wireless calls were heard. had a mule and cow killed by light* ning. The mule and cow that were stunned have recovered.?Blshopville i Vindicator. "A *w***><tfMe gwan 4 Ten War Commandments For the French People and for Our People PARIS, Jul y21.?The economic and 1 social section of the League of Patriots, with headquarters in Paris, 4 Rue Ste. Anne, his distributed a leaflet, urging the French to endure without complaint the restrictions Imposed upon them in the interest of their country. The following is a copy: "(1) Do not forget that we are-at war. In your smallest ex? penditures never lose sight of the interests of the native land. "(2) Economize on the products necessary for the life of the country: coal, bread, meat, milk, sugar, wine, butter, beans, cloths, leather, oil. Accept rations. Ration yourself as to food, clothing, amusements. t M(8). Save the products of French soil, lest some day you de? prive your father, your son, your husband, who are shedding their blood to defer.'1 you. *"(4.) ?' the products that France must buy from foreign countrie ,o not drain reserves of gold, which arc indispensable to vie' 11 , Waste nothing. All waste is a crime which imperils the national defense?prolongs the war. M(t). Buy only according to your needs. Do not hoard provis? ions; your sei fish n ess raises prices and deprives those of smaller means of thing indispensable to existence. "(7). Do not travel unnecessarily. Reflect that our trains are, before all, destined for the transportation of the troops, the feed? ing of the population, the needs of our national production. ??<s). Do not remain idle. According to your age and your abil? ity, work for your country. Do not consume without producing. Idleness is desertion. "(it). Accept without murmuring the privations which are im? posed upon you. Retlect upon the sufferings of those who are lighting for you. upon the martyrdom of the population whose hearths have been devastated by the enemy. "(10) Remember that victory belongs to those who can hold out a quarter of an hour the longest. "That France may live, she must be victorioua" tS National Bank of Sonrter ESTABLISHED 1889 J. P. Booth, Pres. W. J. Crowton, Jr., Cashier * Agfa; 3g&s|b THF F IRS ? V- 'i>MALewtj i e -i t?i , i III Iii .ill it r4W,' ? Buy One Each _ Dffy! The First NaBnal Bank SUMTER, S. C. 4 u ? ??Ml Wt?H'ltt??W44flll HI I >> >>????*?? H ******* NIlTION?BMOPS??TttlluLllrt' or SVMT^R. THE fastest growing bank in this section. Three new accounts a day for the rest of the year, is tbc pace we set?and we arc trotting them. Wo want your business and have the ser? vice vou need. Th8 National Bank of South Carolina i CG. ROWLAND. President. F. E. HINNAST, Cashier. ^??MHHHIIItl?^TmHHMI?HMIHH|MM^^ i t ? Building Material and FeCct Stutfs Rough ami Dressed Lumber, Lime, Cement, Plaster, Diiek, Shingles, Mouldings, Ktc. All kinds of Feed for Horses, Tows, Hops and Poultry. We solieit vonr pat rename. Booth & McLeod, Inc. rWio'A&i [