Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-04
MEANS FOIH-MILE ADVANCE
SINCE; TAXING or FHt.SNDN

sINtF. TAKING OF FIsESNBN
The taking OF Frcsnoy. which fell to
the lot Of the intrepid Canadians who
thus are shown to have pushed back
the German line four miles since their
gallant capture Of the Vimy ridge
gives them the added honor of having
cut their way through tho famous
JI!ndcnhurg line.
Tho Germans suffered severe losses
in the attacks alon: the line. and
also lost hundreds or men r.adc pri.-
oncr by the Eri,ish
Wednesday. in champagne the
French again bit INTO the German front
east of Mort Iiaut and mad. prisoner
more than 200 Germans. In the Avo-
rour, wood in the Vcrdun sector
they also invaded enemy trenches
Thursday spirited artillery du"ls were
IN progress along the Aisne rr.i Cham
pagre fronts. but the infantry remained
IN their trenches
The operations on the other fronts
continue OF minor character, as com :
pared with the offensive on The front
in France
That Russia intends To stick With
hcr allies Throughout, TIE war has
again been Vouchsafcd by the ncw pco-
Nisional government. In notes to the
RUSSIAN representatives abroad. the
soverumen, says tha; the change in
the rcGimc in Russia cannot anorI a
prctcNt for any slackening lpon the
part Of Russia in the common struggle
of all tho entente allies.
BRAZIL DRAWS STEP
NEARER TO WAR
Rrazil. has drawn one step nearer
TO war with GERMANY and now is one
of three countries which arc lowering
on The brink Of tho maeistrom which
has convulscd o-thirds of the world
Norway and China arc the two other
countries which may shortly be added
10 the cver-leng tn eninc list OF Ger
many's foes.
Two events have happened in Brazil
which may easily form the impetus to
the last remaining step on the road
TO war. DR. Lauro Muller. Brazilian
Foreign Minister. has rendered his
resignation on the eve Of the day Sc,
for the Brazilian Congress to decide
whether the republic shall draw its
sword. Dr Muller has been persistent
~ reported as il not actually pro-
German, at least a firm opponen, Of
hostilities between Brazil and the Tcu-
tonic empire His resignation COIN
cldcs with an order by President Braz
OBTAINING the dismisscd German min
lister. The order was issued on receipt
OF news from Berlin that the Brazilian
minister in Germany has been refused
permission to leave the country
The possibility OF Norway's entrance
to the ranks of tho allies is based on
the havoc wrought among the Nor
wcgian mercantile marine by German
submarines. Norway. prior to the war,
fourth among tho worlds scafaring
nations. has suffered so heavily from
the ravaGcs of the U-boats that her
shipping is actually threatened with
extinction. The bitterness among the
Norwegians over German war methods
is growing rapidly. and many voices are
urging that she could not be worse off
as belligcrent. and might find con-
ISOLATION, if peace came in the ranks
with the allies.
PRESIDENT RELUCTANT
TO TAKE FINAL STEp
All reports from China agree that
tho advocates of war arc in "A ina jorty
at PekIng. but apparently the Prcsi-
dent is still reluctant to take the fate
full step. It has been reported that
Japan was unwilling that China should
enter tho struggle. but the Japanese
Foreign Office has officially denied this
In the meantime, the entire situa-
'ion In Europe remains obscure through
conflicting reports and the extra
ordinary efforts OF the censors. especial
lN In the realms OF the central powers.
CONTINUED on Second Pagc.)