The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-08
PUSH ITALY BACK
American Declaration HeartenS
Hard Pressed Defenders.
BOlsheviki in Coup to Seize u.
s. Goods at VIadivOstOk.
ARMIES idle ON EAST FRONT
British Advance ON Jerusalem,
Capturing Town of Hebron.
Send 1,5OO Bolsheviki Troops to
Grab VladivOstOk Supplies.
ARMIES idle ON. EAST FRONT
(By the Associated Press.)

Americas declaration of war on
Austria-H Hungary comes at a moment
when the italian northern front be-
tween Asiago and the Brenta is being
hard pressed by an Austro-German
army under Field Marshal Conrad Won
/ Hoetzendork. The adoption of the
declaration by congress with only one
dissenting vote and its signing by
President Wilson late yesterday prob
ably will be a great moral help to the
people of Italy and especially to the
heroic troops in the Trentino.
In four days the invading Austro-
Germans have forced the Italians
back an average of three miles on a
ten mile front. But the advance was
gained at a great cost in casualties as
the Italians fought desperately every
foot of the way and at some points
preferred to die rather than to sur
render or retire. In addition to los
ing Monte Sisemol, three miles east of
Asiago, the Italians, according to Ber-
lin, have given up 1000 additional
prisoners.
Line Not Yet Broken.
Altho superiority in number and ar
t1llery has forced the Italians to re-
treat. the defense line has not been
broken and there is yet ten miles of
mountain to fight thru before the
foothills around Bassano are reached
The operation has Strengthened out the
Italian line. which now runs from
Monte Caberlaba just south of Asiago
across the Ronchi and Frenzella val
leyS to FoZa and east to the Brenta
The Italians are holding the invaders
near the Brenta and the latest Aus
tro-German gains have been made
only around Asiago.
There is a lull in the fighting
around Cambria and the Germans
nave made no attacks in force against
the new British positions North of
La Nacquerie, British troops captured
German trenches. improving the line
IN this neighborhood. Berlin reports
successful fighting around Graincourt.
u IS estimated from British headouar-
ters in France that at least 250 o0o
German troops took part in the latest
operations in the Cambria sector.
Capture Jerusalem Outpost.
Hebron. southwest of Jerusalem has
oeen captured by British forces. If is
reported that all American citizens in
Jerusalem, probably all Jews have
been removed from the citv II is
not indicated whether the Turks are
eVacuating all the civilian population
or only part of it.
GUNS are silent and soldiers are idle
I Slohs the entire length of the eastern
'front.' from the Baltic to the <Rlaclx
sea, the Rumanians under the force
OF circumstances having Joined the
russians in their armistice negotia-
lions with the central powers The
RUSSIAN government announces that
the negotiations have been halted for
seven days to give the allied coun
tries opportunity to express their at
tltude toward the negotiations.
Meanwhile it is reported that 1900
BoIsheviki troops have arrived at
ViadlVostok. Whether these came
from Petrograd or are units from
SIBERIAN towns is not disclosed. Vladi-
vostok holds much war material ana
other supplies shipped from the
United States, Japan and other allied
countries
kerenslzy in Siberia?
The temporary independent govern
rneht IN Siberia has chosen Former
Premier Kerensky as minister of ms
tice.
General Korniloff is reported to
nave Joined General Kaledines. the
1oSsack reader, around whom most of
the leaders of the old provisional CO.,
eminent have gathered.