Mexico Missouri message., 1917-11-08

forms the southern extremity of the
Hindenburg line, and can enfilade the
crown princes troops that still hold
the northern edge of the plateau that
parallels the Chemin des Danes. Tie
German line running north TO the for
est of st. Gobain is in danger, and II
this gives way, the enemy would have
to give up his present front from
Chavlgnon to st. Quentin.
In this operation the French cap
tured Fort de la Malmaison and other
strong positions and routed some Of
the finest troops in the German army,
taking more than 5000 prisoners and
n great number of guns. The French
aviators did especially good work dur
ing the battle, flying at very low al
titude and breaking up with their ma
chine-gun fire several German attempts
to counter-attack.
The first French smash was made
on Tuesday, and again on Thursday
Petain's forces struck hard, driving
the Germans from Monkey mountain
and other strong positions and advanc-
ing to within eight miles of Laon. The
number OF prisoners was increased to
1900.
Another Advance In Flanders.
The British, in Flanders, with the
French cooperating, pushed forward
about a thousand yards on front of
mile and a half on Monday, taking
some important positions and getting
aStride the Ypres-Staden road. The
Germans made desperate attempts to
recover the ground, but succeeded in
regaining only one farm at the edge
of the Houtholst forest.
On Saturday the French and Bel
gians made remarkable advance
across the flooded marsh lands of
Flanders under heavy fire and occu-
pied the Merckem peninsula south of
Dixmude.
All week the allied aviators made
destructive raids behind the German
lines, dropping many tons Of explO-
sives on munitlon works, lines of COM
munication and other military estab-
| lishments.
| Kerensky Attacked In Russia.
| ments in Russia were unsatisfactory.
Though the fleet succeeded in keeping
the German sea forces out of the Gulf
of Finland for the time being, the
enemy completed the occupation OF the
islands at the mouth of the Gulf OF
Riga. The civil population of Reval,
Kronstadt and In part of Helsingfors
was removed, and the government pro-
ceeded with its plans of moving TO
Moscow. The worst of the news, how
ever, was that the council of soldiers
and workmen had adopted resolu-
ton declaring the salvation of the
country lay in the conclusion of peace
as soon as possible and that all power
must pass into its hands, and accusing
Kerensky of openly favoring the kaiser
and seeking to give Petrograd into his
hands. Furthermore, the council has
given to its delegate to the coming con
ference of the allies in Paris instruc
tiOns that cannot fail to be dlspleasing
to the other allies. They cover the
whole ground and would result In G
peace in some respects more German
than Germany itself dares to hope for
Another source of anxiety to the al
lies, Great Britain especially, is Ire
land. With the able assistance of Ger
man agents, the militant Sim Feiner
are becoming more defiant every da!
until now the whole west part of tn
island is said to be on the verge o
. open rebellion. Several of the con
spirators have been arrested in tn
United States and others in Ireland.
. Germany Loses Zeppelin Fleet.
Germany, rldiculously indignant a
, the promises of reprisals for her muI
, derous air raids, threatened that ''fo
! every brick which falls from peacefU
[ German homes whole rows OF building
will be overthrown In Paris" The
4 she sent big fleet of Zeppelins owe
3 England, their bombs killing "a pei
r sons. From there the monster airship
E sailed across to France to punis
. Paris. But the Frenchmen were awak
: and such an army of aviators an
q storm of antiaircraft gunfire met tn
! invaders that four of them weI
brought down and three others WEI
partly disabled and fed. One of tn
Zeppelins was captured unlnjured an
! as 1t is of the latest type 1t has been a
interesting object of study.
Preparing for Two Years More.
Although Americas land forces hay
d not yet begun TO participate In the CO..
o hict. II becomes more apparent dali
e that we will take commanding pa
D In the war. Great Britain and Franc
!. make IT plata that they rely on ii
$ United States to clinch the. victor
{ and Uncle Sam is girding up his lOiI