After the first onrush had been checked trench warfare was introduced, the line extending through Belgium, the north-east corner of France, Lorraine and Alsace, and thence to the Swiss frontier. Meanwhile, Lord Kitchener, realizing that the war must of necessity be a long and exhausting one, had commenced his great task of building up an army fit to take its stand with those of Continental Powers. There was a noble response and thousands of recruits were quickly trained and drafted out to play their part in the great adventure.
AFTER THE MARNE.
The relative positions of the Armies in 1915 altered little from those taken up after the battle of the Marne, but there were many historic events during that trying year—the capture by the British of Neuve Chapelle, the two battles of Ypres (in the second of which the Germans introduced poison gas), the heavy campaigning in the Argonne, the bombardment of Rheims, the French offensive in Champagne, and the British offensive at Loos.
During the winter of 1915-1916 Germany’s initial hopes of success began to grow less rosy. The British Army continued to grow; Italy and Rumania joined the Allies; and on almost every side the Central Powers began to feel pressure. The outstanding events during this period included the smashing by the British of an onslaught from Messines Ridge and the repulsing of an advance towards Albert. There was terrific fighting at Verdun (where the French displayed heroic qualities), and the great Allied offensive on the Somme. There was also a British victory on the Ancre, and “tanks” made their initial appearance.
ON THE WAY TO VICTORY.
One of the most tragic events of the war occurred on June 5th, 1916, Lord Kitchener being drowned while on his way to Russia. Politically there were happenings of great importance, one of the principal being the resignation of Mr. Asquith as Prime Minister and the acceptance of office by Mr. Lloyd George, whose work as Minister of Munitions had brought him into much prominence in matters relative to the conduct of the war.
Early in 1917 the United States, after long deliberation, threw in her lot with the Allied cause, followed by Central and South America. Later Greece, chiefly through the influence of Venezelos, compelled King Constantine, the friend of Germany, to abdicate and enter the war on the side of the Allies; while China and Siam followed the example of Japan and protested practically against German lust for world power. Throughout the year there was heavy fighting on the Western front. In April the British captured Vimy Ridge, in June they annexed Messines Ridge, and in November took part in a magnificent episode at Passchendaele. By these operations they became masters of commanding positions, and for the first time the feeling was encouraged that the Allies were on the way to victory.
GERMANS’ LAST BID FOR VICTORY.
One of the most noted successes in 1917 was that at Cambrai on November 20th, while in October the French brought the famous ridge road, the Chemin des Dames, within their lines. “Unrestricted” U-boat warfare was commenced by the Germans early this year, and was a source of considerable anxiety to the Allies. Internally Russia was in the throes of revolution. The Czar abdicated on March 15th and a republic was proclaimed on September 15th. This was followed by the Bolshevist coup d’état on November 8th, and an armistice on the Russian front on December 6th.
The winter of 1917-1918 was in the nature of the calm which precedes the storm. On March 21st, the Boche made his last desperate bid for victory, attacking on a 50-mile front between the Scarpe and the Oise. Results unlooked for by the Allies were the outcome. Peronne was captured in three days, and on March 25th the Germans had reached their original line of July, 1916, on this sector. This, for the Allies, was the blackest moment of the war, inasmuch as it brought within the range of possibility the achievement by the enemy of his original plan—the capture of the Channel ports and the consequent domination of British shores.