XXXVI. Continuation of the Italian Counteroffensive 276 XXXVII. Minor Operations on the Austro-Italian Front in Trentino Offensive 283 PART VI.--RUSSO-TURKISH CAMPAIGN XXXVIII. Russian Successes After Erzerum 292 PART VII.--CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA AND PERSIA XXXIX. Renewed Attempt To Relieve Kut-el-Amara 307 XL. The Surrender of Kut-el-Amara 318 XLI. Spring and Summer Trench War on the Tigris 326 XLII. Russian Advance Toward Bagdad 330 XLIII. Turkish Offensive and Russian Counteroffensive in Armenia and Persia 335 PART VIII.--OPERATIONS ON THE WESTERN FRONT XLIV. Renewal of the Battle of Verdun 340 XLV. The Struggle for Vaux Fort and Village--Battle of Mort Homme 348 XLVI. Battle of Hill 304 and Douaumont--The Struggle at Fleury 361 XLVII. Spring Operations in Other Sectors 371 XLVIII. Battle of the Somme--Allied Preparations--Position of the Opposing Forces 377 XLIX. The British Attack 382 L. The French Attacks North and South of the Somme 387 LI. The British Attack (Continued) 392 LII. The Second Phase of the Battle of the Somme 401 PART IX.--THE WAR IN THE AIR LIII. The Value of Zeppelins in Long-Distance Reconnoitering--Naval Auxiliaries 412 LIV. Aeroplane Improvements--Giant Machines--Technical Developments 418 LV. Losses and Casualties in Aerial Warfare--Discrepancies in Official Reports--"Driven Down" and "Destroyed" 424 LVI. Aerial Combats and Raids 427 PART X.--THE UNITED STATES AND THE BELLIGERENTS LVII. War Cloud in Congress 433 LVIII. The President Upheld in Armed-Merchantmen Issue--Final Crisis With Germany 439 LIX. The American Ultimatum--Germany Yields 449 TWO YEARS OF THE WAR. _By Frank H. Simonds_