During the winter 1917-1918 the Verdun-Argonne front remained quiet,
but the year 1918 opened with ill omens.
Russia gave in and Rumania, left to struggle alone, was forced to
terms.
The Germans reckoned in 1918 to make an end of the Allies. They
attacked successively in Picardy, on the Chemin des Dames, in front
of Compiègne in Champagne. But whenever these attacks succeeded in
driving small salients in the line, the front was at once reunited
and the enemy fell short of victory. =On July 18th=, a decisive move
was reached when the Allies in their turn took the initiative.
[Illustration: AFTER THE STRAIGHTENING OUT OF THE CHÂTEAU-THIERRY AND
AMIENS SALIENTS (JULY-AUGUST 1918).