In the earlier chapters are sketched the main events of the great war up to the end of the year 1917, when the history of the Negro in the conflict became the theme.  It remains to give an outline review of battles and happenings from the beginning of 1917 until the end of hostilities; culminating in the most remarkable armistice on record; a complete capitulation of the Teutonic forces and their allies, and a complete surrender by them of all implements and agencies for waging war.  The terms of the armistice, drastic in the extreme, were largely the work of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, commander-in-chief of the Allied armies.

Early in 1918 it became evident that England, France and Italy were rapidly approaching the limit of their man power.  It became necessary for America to hasten to the rescue.

Training of men and officers in the various cantonments of America was intensified and as rapidly as they could be brought into condition they were shipped to France.  The troop movement was a wonderful one and before the final closing of hostilities in November there were more than 2,000,000 American troops in Europe.  The navy was largely augmented, especially in the matter of destroyers, submarine chasers and lighter craft.

Our troops saw little actual warfare during the first three months of the year.  Americans took over a comparatively quiet sector of the French front near Toul, January 21.  Engagements of slight importance took place on January 30 and February 4, the latter on a Lorraine sector which Americans were holding.  On March 1, they repulsed a heavy German raid in the Toul sector, killing many.  On March 6, the Americans were holding an eight mile front alone.

On March 21 the great German offensive between the Oise and the Scarpe, a distance of fifty miles, began.  General Haig’s British forces were driven back about twenty miles.  The French also lost much ground including a number of important towns.  The Germans drove towards Amiens in an effort to separate the British and French armies.  They had some successes in Flanders and on the French front, but were finally stopped.  Their greatest advance measured thirty-five miles and resulted in the retaking of most of the territory lost in the Hindenburg retreat of the previous year.  The Allies lost heavily in killed, wounded and prisoners, but the Germans being the aggressors, lost more.

While the great battle was at its height, March 28, the Allies reached an agreement to place all their forces from the Arctic Ocean to the Mediterranean, under one supreme command, the man chosen for the position being General Foch of the French.  On March 29, General Pershing placed all the American forces at the disposal of General Foch.

The Germans began a new offensive against the British front April 8 and won a number of victories in the La Basse canal region and elsewhere.  The battle of Seicheprey, April 20, was the Americans’ first serious engagement with the Germans.  The Germans captured the place but the Americans by a counter attack recovered it.