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.
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.