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life the trenches were m t apparent to the young men who had to live in the mud and bl day in and day out The dispatches nt back to their home countries s ke only of glorious victories ing won and of the im­ rtance of fighting until the wicked enemy would surrender uncondition­ ally. The only moral cour of action at this int would have en for the nations involved to have o ned peace negotiations and put an end to the slaughter. But th sides were convinced that they were totally in the ght and that they would s n win a decisive victory. No negotiations were held and the slaughter went on
e War in 1915
During 1915 there was almost no movement on the weste front, though th sides gan using ison gas and despite enormous casualties, such as the 4 , men lost when the French gained only three miles at the cond battle of Artoi veral important events did hap n during 1915, however.
The first was the German announcement on February 4 of a subma­ rien bl kadeofGreatBritainOnMay7,theGermans nkthe itarua off the c st of Ireland, with a l of 1198 live including 139 American Despite ing a pa nger liner, the ship was l ded with munitions, in­ cluding guncotton which expl ed when the U- at's torpedo struck it, causing the ship to sink much faster than it would otherwi have done with a con uently increa d l of life. The US. nearly came into the war at this time, but finally the Germans gave promi s that no liners would sunk in the future without warning and without me provision fro the fetyofnon ombatant Th a uranceswerer nablywell ob rved for the next year.
In May and June the Austrians and Germans launched a great offen­ sive in Galicia The Ru ian army by this time was suffering from chaos in its supply lines and lacked rifles, artillery, ammunition and clothing. e offensive continued through the summer. Ru ia lost Poland and Lithuania and almost a llion men. Strong op sition to the war and to the gove ­ ment for continuing the war was ginning to develop in Ru ia
On May 23 Italy, which had originally en allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary, declared war on the Dual Monarchy. England and France had made cret agreements with Italy that it would receive the South Tyrol from Austria The two Allies al a eed to sup rt Italy in preventing the Po from taking diplomatic steps for the conclusion of h tiliti The Italian intervention was not a great military succe -the