II. 4. Battle off Falkland Islands-Admiral Sturdee (Eng.) sinks Von Spee's fleet (Dec. 8).1 The Year 1915 in the War. A. Declarations of War. 1. Italy breaking away from triple alliance with Austria and Germany, declares war on Austria (May 23). 2. Bulgaria (entering on Germany's side) declares war on Serbia (Oct. 14). 3. England declares war on Bulgaria (Oct. 14), as result of Bulgaria's move against Serbia. 4. Russia and Italy declare war on Bulgaria (Oct. 19). B. Military campaigns. 1. In West. (a) Allied offensive in France (Jan.-April) deadlock, unbroken by battles of Neuve Chapelle, Champagne, the Labyrinth, and Lens, in Artois. (b) German offensive-second battle of Ypres :in the Argonne-(May-July)-deadlock unbroken. 2. In the East. (a) Austro-German invasion of Poland checked before Warsaw by Russians (Feb.). (b) After reaching Carpathians Russians expelled from Galicia by Von Mackensen; Germans having come to the aid of worsted Austrians (May-June). (c) Von Hindenburg's drive through Poland and northern Russia, to swamps before RigaRussian ammunition and other supplies give out (Aug.-Sept.). 3. In the Balkans. (a) Austro-Bulgarian invasion of Serbia-Serbia crushed, overrun, and occupied (Oct.-Nov.). 'Long before this time German commerce had been driven from the ocean. (b) Allies fail at Gallipoli, and establish base at Saloniki, in Greece (Feb.-Dec.). 4. In Asia. (a) Turks invade Persia-opposed by RussiansGerman plan of "Mittel Europa," Berlin to Bagdad control clearly revealed. (b) British expedition in Mesopotamia frustrates the realization of this plan. 5. In Africa. (a) All Germany's colonies in Africa taken by C. Naval Engagements. 1. Dogger Bank (Jan. 24), German squadron badly crippled, in attempt to surprise British fleet. 2. British and French naval attack on Dardanelles (Mar. 18-May 27), in conjunction with Allied army, fails. This failure was a surprise to the Germans and Turks as well as to the Allies, and Ambassador Morganthau tells us, could have succeeded, if the Allies had only known the condition of defense at this early stage. Later, when their armies tried so hard, it was impregnable, due to guns, fortifications and other supplies that had come from Germany. 3. Small Russian victories on Baltic and Black seas. 4. Internment (in neutral ports) or destruction of German commerce destroyers. (The Emden and other commerce destroyers had wrought great havoc with neutral and Allied shipping.) 5. German submarine sinkings become a menace to Allies. III. The Year 1916 in the War. A. Declarations of War. 1. Germany declares war on Portugal (Mar. 9). 2. Austria declares war on Portugal (Mar. 15). 3. Italy declares war on Germany (Aug. 27). 4. Roumania declares war on Austria-Hungary (Aug. 27)—thus coming in finally with the Allies. 5. Germany, Turkey, Bulgaria, declare war on Roumania (Aug.-Sept.). B. Military Operations. 1. In the Balkans. (a) Montenegro and northern Albania overrun by Bulgarian and Austrian armies (Jan.-Feb.). (b) Allied army at Saloniki, Greece, takes offensive and captures Monastir, in Southern Serbia, from Bulgarians (Nov.)-checked from further advance by subsequent downfall of Roumania and Russia. (Italian, French, Serbian, Albanian, English all in this army.) (c) Roumania (after espousing cause of Allies) rashly attempts to overrun TransylvaniaAustrian territory claimed by Roumania-is invaded and crushed by the combined drives of Von Mackensen and Von Falkenhayn (Aug.-Dec.). Her complete prostration, however, would not have occured but for the treacherous betrayal by the Russian pro-German war minister Sturmer. This, indeed, was the major cause of Roumania's downfall. 2. In the East. (a) Russian (Grand Duke Nicholas) attack upon 3. On Italian front. (a) Austrian invasion of Italy (May-June)-Aus trian territory in Trentino recovered, and 230 sq. mi. of Italian territory captured, but Austrians fail to gain Venetian plain. (b) Italian counter-offensive (June-Aug.)-regains most of territory just captured by Teutons and reaches Gorizia, only a few miles from Trieste; but is definitely checked on Carso plateau. 4. In Asia. (a) After an expedition undertaken without sufficient support, Gen. Townshend's (Br.) army surrenders to Turks at Kut-el-Amera, although it had advanced to within 18 miles of Bagdad (April 28). (b) Three separate Russian expeditions against Bagdad routed by Turks (Jan.-May, July and Aug.). 5. In the West. (a) First battle of Verdun (Feb.-July)—German (c) French counter-offensive at Verdun (Oct.- 6. In Africa. (a) All but a small mountainous part of German East Africa, the last German colony in Africa, overrun by British and Belgian colonial troops. C. Naval Operations. 1. Battle of Jutland (May 31)-German attempt at surprise of British fleet fails, but both sides lose sev eral vessels. Germany more cautious with her fleet after this. 2. German submarines and commerce raiders inflict great damage on British, French and neutral shipping, and involve Germany in trouble with U. S. Germany promises (with some reservations) not to sink American ships without warning (a hollow promise, as afterward shown). IV. The Year 1917 in the War. A. Entry of United States into the war (April 6, 1917). 1. Causes (see Chapters VII and XIII). 2. Vast Preparations by United States. (a) Army and navy programs. (b) Selective draft (June 5). (c) Airplane program. (d) Merchant shipping program. 3. Financing the War. (a) Liberty loans-Loans to the Allies. (c) War Savings Stamp campaigns, prepared for 4. President Wilson's leadership and War messages. 5. The President's fight for unrestricted powers of administration. 6. Effect on Allies of United States' entry into the War. 7. Fighting German propaganda and spies in United States. B. Other declarations of war. 1. United States declares war on Austria-Hungary (Dec. 7). 2. Cuba declares war on Germany (April 7). 3. Panama virtually enters war against Germany (April 7). 4. Brazil declares war on Germany (Oct. 26). 5. China declares war on Germany and Austria (Aug. 14). |