Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-12-29

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Germans on the west front did not de-
velop, but Won Hindenburg'S concen-
tratiOn OF troops and heavy cannonad-
ing of the entente lines continued.
The British and French made all pos
sible preparations to Withstand the ex-
pected attack and their commanders
seemed quite confident that 1t would
be repulsed. At the same time. the
seriousness Of the situation is not de-
MED. Though the allies are numer-
icaly superior to the enemy there
since they do not know in what sector
the blow will be struck they cannot
concentrate their strength in that re-
gion until the offensive has begun.
With the Withdrawals from the Rus
sian front and the calling out of the
younger classes of reservists, the
kaiser is officially reported to have 154
divisions in France, only one division
short of the force he massed there
last July for the great operations
against the French.
Italians awe way slightly.
Bloody fighting was kept up in Italy
and the Austr0-GeTmans made further
desperate attempts to break through
into the Venetian plain between the
Piave and the Brenta, in the direction
of Bassano. They succeeded at great
expense. in taking some positions and
1000 prisoners at Mont Asoleone, but
Mont Grappa the key to the defense
in that region was held tenaclously
by the Italians. The French and Brit
ish troops sent to that front got into
action and proved of valuable assist
ance. On the lower Piave the enemy
renewed his attempts to force a cross
ing, without marked success. The de-
fensive system of the Italians in this
flooded region is said to be very clever
and the pontoon bridges Of the Aus
trians are destroyed as fast as built
For months there has been moth
Ing doing" on the Macedonian front,
but the recall of General Sarrail. com
mander of the allied armies at Salon
iki. and the appointment of General
Guillaumat, who led the French in
their brilliant operations in the Yer
dun sector last summer. may mean
that some interesting news from
Macedonia can be expected soon. The
Bulearians, despite extrayagant peace
claims recently sent out. are about
ready TO quit the war. and Austria
Hungary was tired Of II long ago
though somewhat heartened by the
drive into Italy. The Turks were hard
hit by the loss of Jerusalem, and al
together it would seem that good
time is approaching for an offensive
in the Balkans
British Public Angry
Two events aroused the ind' guatlon
of the British press and pnbfc The
first was another successful German
attack on shipping ia the Eorth sea
IN which one British and ave neutral
merchantmen. q British DESTROYER and
four mine sweeUers were sunk. The
convoy was on its way from Scotland
70 Norway The success ~ the rsIf
has given rise 70 sharp criticism 81
the naval authorities The second
thing 70 exasgerate the English was
another air raid Tuesday night About
twenty German planes crossed 90 the
Kent and Essez coasts tn six groups
aud FIVE ~ them vurceeded In reach
ing London and dropping Bombs Ten
persons were Killed and 70 Injured.
Several of the Riders sserc shot down.
The American navy met with paIn-
f1l loss when the submarine Fl was
rammed and sunk by Ghe submarine
F-3 m home waters during n FOG.
Nineteen members Of the crew lost
their lives
Secretary Of state Lansing, In con
junction with the Argentine govern
ment. gave out t7enslations Of n lot
more Of the secret correspondence be
tween Count Luxhurg. former German
minister ar Buenos Aires. and the Ger
nan foreign Office II shows coUclus
lively that Germany was intriguing 70
set Latin America against the United
States. II was expected In Washing
ton hat his disclosure would result
quickly ia a declaration Of war against
Germany nv Argentina the congress
and people Of the latter country being
not likely to pat up much longer with
the pro-CermauiSm Of President ri
eoyen.
The anti-lQucr forces Of Auler7 n
won their greatest victory on Mond "
when the house adopted the Wet n
resolution submitting 70 tie states s.
constitutional amendment providing
for the suppression of The liquor traffic
one wear after the ratification ~ the
. amendment by 80 state leCtS-atnres
The senate already had adopted sim
liar resolution. Is