Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1917 — BIG ALLIED DRIVE STILL CONTINUES [ARTICLE]

BIG ALLIED DRIVE STILL CONTINUES

Situation in Russia Is Cause of Grave lipprehension CONGRESS REMAINS DORMANT .Colonel Roosevelt May Yet Be Permitted to Take a Division of the Army to France. The French and English forces .continue to make steady gains on the German lines on the western front, and Queant, a strategic point [at the southern extremity, was virtually pocketed by the British at I latest reports' It is estimated that the Germans have lost 200,000 men on the French front in the last two weeks.

: Apprehension is felt both by the allies and in this country over the situation in Russia, where the Turks and Germans are said to be bartering for separate peace. On the other hand, Austria, the chief ally of Germany, is very anxious to end the war and has made peace overtures to England, it is said, which may be accepted. Congress has not yet passed any of the army, war and shipping bill legislation except that providing for the |7,0f10,000,000 war fund. The espionage hili, with the newspaper censorship stricken out, was passed by the senate Monday night by a vote of 77 to 6.

Expansion of the regular army to ■ the full war strength of 293,000 men has been ordered. This will re- ■ quire 118,455 more men to bring to , required strength. The conscription bill has not yet passed both houses. The Roosevelt : volunteer plan to instruct, the conferees of the houst; on the army bill to restore the senate amendment, to ; permit Theodore Roosevelt to lead a | division to France, was passed in I the house Saturday by a vote of 215 ito 278. It is expected that this provision will remain a part of the new law providing for the great army. It is by no means certain, however, that Roosevelt will lead his division to France under its terms, because the amendment does not direct the President to accept the division; it merely authorizes him to do so. All the weight of the President's expert advice is against it, because of the fact that the army would be an unseasoned one. •