Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-17
SOME CHARACTERIZE EFF.
FORT AS GERMAN
PLOT Il
HURRY WAR PLANS
NATIONAL GUARD WILL BE IN
READINESS FOR FRANCE be.
FORE SNOW FLIES-l. W. w.
AND ALL PRO-GERMAN AGlTA-
TORS ARE TO BE PROSECUTED.

Washington, Aug. 17.-While Pres
ident Wilson and his cabinet carefully
digested Pope Benedicts peace sug-
gestion the machinery of the army
and the navy was advanced to top
notch speed today. II Germany has
looked with apprehension on the war
preparation of the United States--as
officials say is known despite the pub
lie efforts of her high commands to
belittle 1t in public statements--that
feeling must be strengthened by the
developments of the last few hours.
Among the real war moves that have
taken place it is possible to make
public only very few. Others must
remain shrouded in secrecy until they
actually are in effect,
Those which may be told the public
includes;
Approval by the President of Ger.
tain plans which will make the navy
more efficient factor in the war and
especially in curbing the German
submarine menace
Assignment by the President and
Secretary of War of the best brains
in the army-including all ranking
major generals and those just pro-
moted---to active duty with the field
forces. This means that the national
guard will be ready for France long
before snow flies and that the new
4 national army, first increment, can
take its places in the reserve camps
in France before the spring drive
comes II the war goes on
Sharp curbing of the |. w. w. and
all pro-German agitators who have
planned to interfere with the manu-
facture of munitions and war supplies
including the lumber for the great
war aerial fleet, and announcement
by the department of justice that es.
: piOnage laws are to be enforced. the
word from the White House to 60
ahead.
Officials GENERALLY believe that the
proposals as suggested by the pope
are not in such shape that they can
be accepted by the United States as
has been pointed out In these dis
patches the President Is certain of
his speeches already is on record in
opposition to restoration of the
status quo ante But in view of the
accompanying suggestions made by
His Holiness. II Is idle to declare
that the entire peace movement will
prove a failure. The President will
reply directly to the Pope. 1t Is said
. In doing so he will be able to review
all OF the reasons for the entry of the
United States into the war In do.
ing SO he will outline the war aims
, of the United States. BY doing this,
, officials say the door will open should
either Austria or Germany have in.
, spired the present peace suggestions.
for them to tell the Vatican how far
they would be willing to go to meet
the terms of the United States.
It is that very fact that inclines Of
icialdom to some degree of hopeful.
ness. There is a strong undercurrent
for peace everywhere in the world
1t is especially evident in the Teu
tonic countries. 1t must be taken in.
to consideration at all times. And even
:. though the present peace suggestions
are failures they will have forced an
official recognition that is certain tC
:, fully into the foreground during the
= coming months
!, London. Aug. 1.-THE first days
/, fighting in the new Anglo-Frencl
:, drive in Belgium along ten milt
= front has pressed back the German
= lines at some points more than mile
10 The Germans struck back furious
ly and violent fighting was In pro
eress all night, but the British ant
French soldiers held all the import
ant positions they had won.
= Dispatches from the front toda,
, stated that more than 1000 Germal
prisoners had been captured.
The new British front In Wes
" Flanders now lies east of Bixschoote
II Langemarck and St Julian. crossin
the Ypres- s-Roulers railroad at a poin
vi just west of Ionnebeke, Thence
a. stretches in southerly direction
along the range of hills in the West
80 hoek sector. crossing the Ypres- Menu
)p road in the Veldhoek district
st While one British army was dri'
ing against the Germans In Belgium
another was thrusting against tn
German positions defending the north