Throughout the balance of the year the advantage was greatly on the side of the Germans, for the latter part of the year saw the beginning of the crushing of Roumania, which had entered the war August 27 on the side of the Allies.  Bucharest, the capital, fell to the Germans December 6; Dobrudja, January 2, and Focsani, January 8 of the ensuing year, 1917.  The crushing of Roumania was accomplished almost entirely by treachery.  The Germans knew the plans of all the principal fortifications; the strength and plans of the Roumanian forces, and every detail calculated to be of benefit.  The country had been honeycombed with their spies prior to and during the war, very much as Russia had been.  It is quite evident that men high in the councils of the Roumanian government and in full possession of the military secrets of the country were simply disguised German agents.

Between July and November had occurred the great battles of the Somme during which the Allies had failed to break the German lines.  The Austrians in June had launched a great attack and made much progress against the Italians in the Trentino.  The principal offsets to the German gains during the last seven months of the year 1916 were the Russian offensive in Volhynia and Bukovina, and the counter drive of the Italians against the Austrians.  The Russians captured Czernovitz June 17, and by the end of the month had overrun the whole of Bukovina.  The Italians drove out the Austrians between August 6 and September 1, winning August 9 the important city and fortress of Gorizia.

Submarine incidents important to this government were not lacking during the latter half of the year.  The German submarine U-53 suddenly appeared October 8 in the harbor at Newport, R.I.  The commander delivered letters for the German ambassador and immediately put to sea to begin ravages on British shipping off the Nantucket coast.  Among the five or six vessels sunk was the steamer Stephano, which carried American passengers.  The passengers and crews of all the vessels were picked up by American destroyers and no lives were lost.  The episode, which was an eight-day wonder, and resulted in a temporary tie-up of shipping in eastern ports, started numerous rumors and several legal questions, none of which, however, turned out finally to have been of much importance, as U-53 vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, and its visit was not succeeded by any like craft.  It is not improbable that the purpose of the German government in sending the boat to our shores was to convey a hint of what we might expect if we should become involved with Germany.  October 28 the British steamer Marina was torpedoed with a loss of six American lives.

The straining of President Washington’s advice and the Monroe Doctrine were again evident throughout the year.  President Wilson in an address before the League to Enforce Peace, May 27, had said that the United States was ready to join any practical league for preserving peace and guaranteeing the political and territorial integrity of nations.  November 29 our government sent a protest to Germany against the deportation of Belgians.