Craven's Part in the Great War

by John T. Clayton

The Allies prepared for a great effort. In England the military age was raised to 51; General Foch was appointed commander-in-chief of the Allied armies; there were effective naval raids on Zeebrugge and Ostend; a million Americans were shipped to France; and by the beginning of June the German advance had been checked.

THE ARMISTICE.

The last German offensive began on July 15th on a 50-mile front before Rheims. It failed and was converted into an Allied victory. Thenceforward the Allies achieved victory after victory. At every point the enemy was forced back, Flanders was evacuated, a wedge was driven into the Boche line at Sedan, and along the whole line from Ostend to Switzerland the German position was so desperate that the Kaiser, faced with disaster in the field and naval mutiny and revolution at home, asked for an Armistice on October 6th.

Austria sued for peace on October 20th and surrendered to the Allies on November 3rd, while Turkey, having been granted an armistice on October 30th, threw down her arms subsequently. Following the proclamation of Bavaria as a Republic, and the renunciation of his throne by the Duke of Brunswick, and the suspension of payment by the Berlin banks, the Kaiser sued for peace. On November 9th he and the Crown Prince abdicated and the armistice terms of the Allies were accepted by the Germans two days later.

BRITISH TROOPS IN OTHER THEATRES.

Apart from the operations on the Western Front British troops figured in many historic battles in other theatres of war. In the ill-fated expedition to Gallipoli the soldiers of the Empire showed an undaunted spirit and came near achieving what was regarded by many as an impossible task. Much the same spirit under even more trying circumstances was displayed in Mesopotamia and other parts of the Far East, as is evidenced by the recapture of Kut and the taking of Baghdad. German influence in far waters was destroyed by the seizure of German New Guinea and Samoa; while a great blow to German colonization schemes was dealt by the conquest of East Africa and the Cameroons.

THE FALL OF RUSSIA.

The record of Russia during the war and since provides one of the most tragic episodes of the great struggle. One of the first Powers to accept the challenge, Russia accomplished much in the early days of the war on the Eastern Front, and was of invaluable assistance to the British and French armies by engaging the attention of large numbers of German forces. Insidious treachery, however, brought about the downfall of what had hitherto been regarded as a mighty empire. During the winter of 1916-1917 the effect of this treachery began to be felt. The civilian population had for long suffered many privations, and the troops had been sent into battle badly armed and insufficiently fed. Demands for representative government were ignored by the Emperor, swayed by the pro-German Empress, who was under the influence of the notorious monk Rasputin. In December, 1916, the monk was murdered; on March 15th, 1917, the Emperor abdicated and was subsequently murdered; and the Empress and her children are said to have shared a similar fate. A new and democratic government with Kerensky at the head had a short reign, and ultimately, in November, 1917, Russia, under Trotsky and Lenin, who were, it is believed, in the pay of Germany, was given over to the horrors of Bolshevism.

THE CAMPAIGN IN ITALY.

Serbia was invaded by the Austrians and Germans in October, 1915, and the campaign was conducted by the Central Powers with characteristic ruthlessness. Rumania fought gamely, but eventually had to yield under the Treaty of Bucharest, and Montenegro was also quickly disposed of. The Austrians were thus established in Northern Albania and were led to take up an offensive in Trentino. This was begun in May, 1916, and honours were first with one side and then with the other until in October, 1917, with the help of the Germans, Austria forced the Italians to retreat to the line of the Piave. British and French troops were sent to the assistance of Italy, and the invaders were disastrously defeated, being swept back across the Piave.