New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol. 8, Pt. 2, No. 1, July 1918Various
History
New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol. 8, Pt. 2, No. 1, July 1918
Various
World War, 1914-1918
Military activity superseded everything else during the month under
review. Europe shook with the roar of battle. From May 27 to June
15 fully 3,000,000 men were engaged in deadly conflict along the
battlefronts of France, with a ghastly toll of blood, while in Italy
along a front of 100 miles more than 2,000,000 joined battle on June
15 and were furiously fighting when this issue went to press. The
third German offensive, which continued for three weeks, did not break
the front, nor did it divide the Allies, nor were the Channel ports
reached, nor was Paris invested. In all these respects the drive
failed, but important new territory was won by the Germans, and they
claimed over 85,000 prisoners and an enormous amount of booty; the
Allies declared that the failure of the Germans to obtain any of their
objectives, coupled with the frightful price they had paid in killed
and wounded, the shock to the army morale, and the disappointment in
the enemy leadership, operated practically as a German defeat almost
approaching disaster.
American co-operation in the war became profoundly significant
during the month. The announcement was authorized early in June
that more than 800,000 Americans were in France and that American
soldiers were occupying important sectors on the front. Their
brilliant stand on the Marne and at Belleau Wood, where they were
victorious over crack Prussian divisions, created great enthusiasm
throughout this country and evoked warmest encomiums from all the
Allies. It was announced that American forces were holding a sector
on German soil in the Vosges. It was understood that United States
troops were crossing the Atlantic at the rate of nearly 40,000
a week, and that with the steady gain in shipping facilities an
American Army in France of 1,500,000 was assured by Oct. 15,
1918. There was evidence that the Germans had realized the gravity of
American intervention, and that their great offensive was based on
the fear that ultimate defeat awaited them unless they could obtain
immediate victory.
The offensive launched by the Austrians in Italy on June 15 was their
most ambitious undertaking during the war. It was reported that they
had 1,000,000 men engaged and 7,500 guns. At the end of the fourth day
it was generally felt that the offensive had failed, as none of the
objectives was obtained.
There were no important military activities on any of the other fronts.
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