Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1918 — WORLD’S EVENTS IN SHORT FORM [ARTICLE]

WORLD’S EVENTS IN SHORT FORM

BEST OF THE NEWS BOILED DOWN TO LIMIT. ARRANGED FOR Note* Covering Most Important Happenings of the World Compiled In Briefest and Most Succinct Farm for Quick Censumption. European War News Nineteen British merchantmen were gunk by mine or submarine in the last week, according to the admiralty statement Issued in London. Of these 13 were vessels of I,GOO tons or more and sir under than tonnage. Three fishing craft also were sunk. The French authorities at headquarters In France consider that the total number of the enemy now facing the French, British, American and Belgian troops, or held in reserve, aggregates 2,840,000 men. • • • The Spanish steamer Ceferino has been sunk by a submarine near Ferro island, one of the Canary group. All the members of the crew were saved. They were towed by the submarine to the port of La Estaca. in tlie Canaries, •ays a dispatch from Madrid. German airplanes bombed Nancy, killing several civilians and wounding a nqmber of others, the Paris war office reported. Commenting on the recent speech of the Austro-Hungarian foreign minister, Count Czemin, in reply to President Wilson, Premier Lloyd-George said in the house of commons In London that when it came to the real substance of the demands of the allies Count Czernfn was adamant. The government, he added, did not recede in the least from Its war aims, as they had been stated. It was no use, he said, crying peace when there was no peace. • • • i The Austrians renewed their attacks on the northern front west of the Brenta river, but were held in check by the Italians. The Austrian columns were torn to pieces by the Italian artillery and the attacks were stopped, says the official report Issued in Rome. • • • Polish forces which recently revolted from the Russian army, under the leadership of Gen. Dovbor jfousnltsky have captured Smolensk from the bolsheviki, according to advices from Vienna forwarded to London by the Exchange Telegraph correspondent at Copenhagen. Approximately $150,000,000 has been | advanced to contractors on war work by the war credits board. Secretary Ba- | ker announced. This includes money for production of clothing, food, equipment and small ammunition. • • • Russia has declared the state of war to be at an end and has ordered the . demobilization of Russian forces on all fronts, according to a dispatch received at Amsterdam dated at BrestLitovsk on Sunday. • • • The British announced in London that 15 British merchantmen had been sunk by mine or submarine in the last week. Of these ten were 1.600 tons or over and five were under 1.600 tons. Four fishing vessels were also sunk. • • • Domestic Wage increases approximately 33 1-3 per cent, and which Secretary Lane hurriedly estimated wouhl_cost the railroadsi Tintuially. were asked by J. A. Franklin, specking for 251,000 members of shop unions, at the hearing. • * * Will II: Hays <>f Sullivan. Ind., is the new chairitntan of the Republican national committee wlio will conduct the war political moves of tiie national party organization. lie was elected by acclammation at St. Louis. Fred W. Upham of Chicago was elected treasurer. Col. Edwin P. Thayer of Indiana was unanimously elected sergeant at arms. • • * Ralph G. Foley. Company G, One Hundred and Thirtieth infantry, was murdered by two negro prisoners at Camp Logan?” Houston. Tex., of whom he had charge. * * • When their airplanes crashed In a collision 200 feet above the ground at Memphis, Tenn.. T. C. Rogers and P. B. Cooley, United States flying cadets, were instantly killed. Increased prices for “victory bread,” which will make its official appearance on February 24, are not justified, in the opinion of Herbert C. Hoover, according to a telegram from him made public by the federal food board at Mbw Tort * • • Lieut. Peyton C. March, Jr., son of Major General March, acting chief of tke United States army, who was injured at Hicks field, died later at Fort yorth, Tex. Lieutenant Wray and C&iM Porter at the same field were kfflad when their plang fell.

Washington Fuel Administrator Garfield suspended the Monday closing order, but left the way open to put it again Into operation If It appears that this would be necessary. - • ♦ . * * While the White House was debating the so-called “alien slacker" bill, Chairman Flood of the foreign affairs committee declared that the next call is not likely to be operative before May or June. • • • A supreme director of operations is to be created for the American army, i This announcement was made by the war department in explanation of the recent reorganization of the general staff Into five divisions. * * * Chairman Harris of the federal trade commission gave his resignation to President Wilson. Mr. Harris will run for the Georgia senate seat hgainst Senator Hardwick. • « • The administration bill, already pased by the senate, appropriating $50,000,000 for ship-building housing purposes, was passed by the house at Washington. ". * * * Major General Barnett, chief, of the marine corps, whose term expires soon, will be reappointed, Secretary Daniels announced. • * • A silk service flag with a star In honor of his son was presented Speaker Clark In Washington by women of Cleveland, through Representative Emerson. * * • Secretary of War Baker in his weekly review of the European war made public, notes that German re-enforce-ments brought from the Russian front are piling up against the western line. Back of these are additional Austrian troops withdrawn from the Italian and eastern sectors. • « • It was semi-offlcially announced that the chiefs of two of the five divisions of the newly reorganized general staff corps of the army have been named by Secretary of War Baker. The divisions are: The purchase and supply division, to be headed by Brig. Gen. Palmer Pierce; the storage and traffic division, to be headed by Maj. Gen. George Goethals. • • * The compulsory food card may have to come in the United States. Appearing before the house agricultural committee Herbert Hoover declared the allied demands on this country for food are far greater today than had been contemplated. Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, pledged labor’s unqualified support to the shipbuilding program. He was called before the senate commerce committee to tell his organization’s attitude. America is now facing “the final tackle” between the things she “has always been opposed to and the things she stands for,” President Wilson told a delegation of farmers. The farmer delegation sought exemption from the draft of farmers. u. S,—Teutonic War News

Five American soldiers are believed to have been killed, four are missing and one was wounded when an American patrol was ambushed in No Mifii’s Land at night by a superior force of Germans, says a dispatch from France. Means have been found to make troop transports unsinkable by submarine. according to a statement made by William L. Saunders, viee chairman of the naval consulting board, in an address at a dinner of the University of Pennsylvania alumni in New York. ♦ * * A general reorganization of the general staff of the army was announced by the war department. The new plan ; provides for five main divisions. Each i division wlll _be jualer jui_asslstant chief of staff. • • • Foreign Chancellor Bonar Law, replying to criticisms of the government’s home : policy in the house of commons in London. declared that as a result of national service co-operation 820,645 additional men had been placed iu the ■ overseas forces during 1911. Lord Robert Cecil, a member of the ministry, announced in the house of commons in London that the British government was giving great attention to a “league of nations.” He added that he himself had prepared a scheme for it. • • • The death of Abdul Hamid, former sultan of Turkey, from Inflammation of the lungs, is announced in a dispatch received at Amsterdam from Constantinople by way of Vienna. A state funeral will be held. The Central News of London says that although Gen. Sir William R. Robertson. chief of the Imperial staff at army headquarters, has neither been dismissed nor has resigned, he may vacate his post at an early date and take a position of high influence if he cares to do so. Emperor William’s personal headquarters are to be transferred to Spa, the Belgian watering place near the Prussian frontier, according to statements in the German press. The emperor expects to take the cure there.