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Start of WWI
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia which was the start of WWI. They declared war after Serbia rejected the terms in an ultimatum after Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo. Archduke Franz was the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. In the ultimatum, they were demanding that all anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia be taken down and let Austria-Hungary conduct its own investigation into Archduke's murder. -
Lusitania
A German submarine sank the passenger Liner Lusitania. The Lusitania was a British passenger ship built for transatlantic passenger trade. It was carrying 1,959 passengers and was going from New York to Liverpool, England. Of those 1,959 passengers, 1,195 died, including 128 Americans. -
U.S. Declares War on Germany
The United States declared war on Germany. They join France, Great Britain, Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Italy. One of the reasons that led up to declaring war was when Germany sunk Lusitania killing 1,198 passengers, including 128 Americans. Another reason was because American businesses and banks had loans to the Allies and if they didn't win they would not get their money back. -
Richard Bliss going to Army Medical School
Richard Bliss talked about how he got to the barbershop to get a shave and breakfast. He then went to the Army Medical School and they told them he had been assigned to foreign services and had to get another physical examination. He had to get a smallpox and typhoid vaccine and he was also underweight. He might be thrown out because of it and might be sent to a training camp. -
People being sent out
Bliss talked about how officers are arriving there every few days and are being sent to New York to embark at the end of three weeks. Also, there was only one person that was sent to Russia. He said he was under prospective orders for foreign service and he would go all right unless he didn't pass the physical exam. He also was feeling a little sick from the vaccine he got. -
Stars and Stripes
The Stars and Stripes began to be published. Second Lieutenant Guy T. Viskniskki is the first editor of this newspaper. This was a military newspaper that was published by the United States government. It reported matters concerning the members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their communities on those serving outside the U.S. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The treaty was with the Central Powers and it was ending its participation in World War I. As a result, Russia lost major territorial holdings, a third of its population majority of its coal, oil, and iron stores. The total loss came up to some 1 million square miles of Russia's territory. -
Promotion
Bliss said that he expected that he would be home in time for Catheirnes wedding on April 21st. He also has received his promotion to Captain. The commission will be sent to his parents. When he gets back home he says he wants to go on trips and go fishing. -
Germanys Final Attack
Germany began its final attack of the war. There were about 6,500 German guns and 3,500 heavy mortars going against the British Third and Fifth Armies on the Western Front for five hours. The area was 150 square miles, which was the biggest barrage of the entire war. German troops had advanced more than four miles and had almost 30,000 British casualties. -
Battle of Cantigny
A two-hour artillery attack was happening on Cantigny. The French covered the air, artillery, heavy tanks, and tactical teams of flamethrowers to help the U.S. go through the village held by the Germans. At the end of the day, the Americans took 100 German prisoners. The next 72 hours the Americans in Cantigny went under seven counterattacks from the Germans but America was still in control of the village. This was America's first battle that they won during the war. -
America Attacks St. Mihiel Salient
America's first army attacked the St. Mihiel salient. This attack gave Americans opportunities to use their forces on the Western Front. This battle was the first major use in the war of the U.S. Army Air Service. They attacked the Germans while they were withdrawing so the Germans were poorly prepared, which gave an advantage to the Americans attacking. -
American attack
Bliss talks to his mom asking if the papers are full of news about the American attack. He also tells her that the French people are very pleased and that it is progressing finely. He is replacing a medical officer who is sick in a hospital in England. He is anxious to get home when the war is over and he expects that he will land in New York -
Attack at Meuse-Argonne
Allied forces began the attack at Meuse-Argonne. There were 700 allied tanks with infantry troops beside them advancing against German positions. In the end, the Allies captured more than 23,000 German prisoners. This was the final offensive of the war. -
End of WWI
Germany signed the Armistice ending WW1. It was signed at Le Francport near Compiegne. After more than four years of fighting, the war finally ended. It left nine million soldiers dead, 21 million wounded, and at least five million civilians dead from disease, starvation, or exposure. -
Going home
Bliss talks about how nurses at Lawrence were saying how bad the influenza was and that 3 of his friends died from it. He tells his mom how frightened he was when he was in the front. He can't wait till he gets home to see his family. He also talks about how damp and rainy it has been for the past few days.