Military activity superseded everything else during the month under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.
German submarines invaded American waters late in May and within three
weeks torpedoed twenty vessels, among them several steamships. There
was no panic; the only effect was a fuller realization that the country
was at war, with a marked speeding up of recruiting and a deepened
determination that the war should be waged until victory was won.
The raid caused no pause in the steady flow of troops to Europe. The
submarine sinkings materially diminished in European waters, and the
completion of new tonnage by the Allies during the month outstripped
the losses by thousands of tons. It was clear during this period that
the United States had attained its full stride in building ships,
airplanes, and ordnance.
The growing importance of aerial warfare was universally recognized
during the month, and the deadly efficiency of air squadrons in battle
was demonstrated as never before.
The Russian situation became no clearer, though there was a growing
impression that the Bolsheviki were steadily declining in power, while
the forces of order and moderation were strengthening. The movement for
intervention by Japan in Siberia gained momentum, but Washington gave
no indication of giving its assent. The German progress into Russia
continued, yet there were signs that the Ukrainians were resenting
German methods and were becoming a troublesome factor to the invaders.
The Germanization of Finland and the other Russian border provinces
proceeded apace. In the Caucasus the Turks continued to acquire new
power over former Russian territory, and the spread of Turanian
dominion was advanced.
Austria-Hungary was in a ferment during the month, and there was every
indication that the Poles, Czechs, and Slavs were working in harmony
and were threatening the existence of the Dual Empire.
In Great Britain, Italy, and France political matters were quieter,
and a better feeling prevailed than for many months, while in our own
country there was more war enthusiasm and less political discord than
at any previous time in the nation's history.