The midland journal., 1917-04-20

Flying corps, composed of Americans,
has been put into American uniforms,
and is flying the Stars and Stripes.
Great Drive by the British.
In France q tremendous battle was
going on all the week. The British
took the offensive on Easter Sunday,
following vast operations of their avi-
ators. After a concentration of big
gun fire that smashed the German
trenches and completely isolated their
occupants from relief, the British in
fantry attacked on twelve-mile front.
From south of Lens to point south
east of Arras they swept forward with
bayonet and grenade, and there was
no stopping them. Many thousands of
prisoners were taken. Strategically,
the most important feature of this
great drive was the capture of Vimy
ridge a feat accomplished by the
Canadian troops, who for months have
been entrenched on its western slopes.
This ridge was the prize for which the
French fought in the battle of Artois,
and it had been stubbornly held by the
Germans. Below it to the northeast
lie the plains of DouaI and Lens with
the network of railroads that connect
the manufacturing and mining towns
of the industrial region of northern
France.
Farther to the south the French are
holding firm, and between Ypres and
the Channel preparations have been
made to resist IN expected drive by
the Germans. In Mesopotamia and in
Asia Minor the British and Russians
continue to push the Turks to the
west. On the Italian, Balkan and Rus
sian fronts weather conditions have
prevented any extended operations.
Anxiety About Russia.
Russia is causing the entente allies
much anxiety just now, for the labor
element there is intoxicated with its
new liberty and is seriously hamper
ing the provisional government by its
demands that 1t be allowed to direct
affairs. A considerable group of radi-
cal socialists has declared in favor of
separate peace, and Germany Is
dickering with these men. The gov
ernment, backed by the greater part
of the military forces is doing what it
can to counteract these efforts, but
money Is scarce and disOrganization
prevails. The United States, it is ex-
pected, will step into the breach ny
giving financial assistance and sending
commission of railway experts to
solve the transportation tangle that is
holding vast quantities of munitions
at Archangel.
Reports of the British admiralty
show a slight decrease in the number
of vessels sunk by German submarines
during the week. In order to circum-
vent the partial U-boat blockade, the
United States government has decided
to build fleet of 1000 wooden ves-
sells for foreign commerce, and on
Wednesday President Wilson formal
Iy asked General Goethals to take
charge of the construction of these
ships. The shipping board has $780,
600, 900 at its disposal for this purpose,
and 1t is believed that by the end OF
summer ships can be turned out at the
rate of 100000 tons month.
Concrete evidence of our virtual al
lance with the entente powers was the
arrival in an American port of Brit
ish and French warship, followed on
Thursday by the first war council be-
tween the United States and the allies.
British Vice Admiral Browning and
French Rear Admiral Grasset con-
ferred with Secretary Daniels and Ad-
miral Benson concerning the patrol of
the Atlantic by the American fleet.
War councils of greater moment will
follow in few days, for British
commission headed by Foreign Secre-
tary Balfour and one from France led
by former Premier Viviani are now on
their way across the Atlantic. The
highest American officials. including
President Wilson, will participate in
the conferences with these commits
| sions.