Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1917-06-09

Trieste, though the forward move
ment slackened considerably and much
of the time was given to consolidating
the positions already won, and beating
off the furious counter-assaults of the
Austrians. The Italians captured San
Giovanni, one Of the key defenses of
Trieste, and it was reported that all
nOncOmbatants had ben ordered to
leave the latter city, indicating that
the Austrians did not hope to hold pos
session of it much longer. The evident
plan Of the Italians was to move on
Trieste along the coast Of the Adriatic,
avoiding the mountainous country far
Their north and obtaining the aid Of
British warships. Northeast of Cor
itZ the Italians made some further
progress. The achievements of the
Italian soldiers in this offensive are
truly wonderful, when the nature Of
the country and the strength of the
opposition are considered, and their
bravery and high spirit are unsur-
passed.
In France there was violent artil-
lery firing through the week, and the
combats in the air were numerous and
spectacular. Again the allied airmen
| demonstrated their superiority over
| those of the German army. The Brit
ish aviators have been especially &C.
tive, and in night flights have dropped
many tons of explosives on military
establishments of the enemy far back
| of the lines.
The lull in the activity of other
arms on the west front was taken to
presage another big offensive, and this
| time it is predicted that the Germans
are preparing a tremendous effort to
smash France before American troops
can help her.
Another marked decrease in the
number of British ships sunk by sub
marines is noted in the weekly admir-
atty report. Among the vessels lost
were hospital ship and an armored
cruiser. Spain and Norway were fur
Their aggravated by the sinking of more
of their vessels.
The Brazilian chamber of deputies
authorized the revocation of the de-
cree Of neutrality, and the senate fol-
lowed this up by authorizing an alli-
ance of Brazil with "other states to
defend the American republics against
the world"
To Organize Farm Labor.
The department Of agriculture an
| nounced the governments detailed
| plan for the organization Of farm Ia
| Dor. The work already has been
| started in 40 states. The plan pro-
vides for strictly local handling of all
labor problems that can be adjusted
locally. The fundamental unit of the
organization is the community man"
who, with the assistance of such COM
mittees as he may appoint, canvasses
his own neighborhood, finds out what
farmers need help and what men are
available for supplying the local need.
If, after all local adjustments have
been made, there remains either
deficit or a surplus of labor, he reports
to the county man." whose business
it is to effect adjustments in his coun-
ty. The county man, in turn, reports
and deficit Of surplus to the Estate
man." who canvasses the situation for
the state as a whole and reports to
the department Of agriculture.
The finance committee of the senate
spent the week in revamping the war
revenue bill. In the house the food
survey bill, the lesser of the govern
ment's two food measures, was passed.
On Thursday the house by vote Of
184 to IA, returned the espionage bill
to the conference committee of the
two houses with instructions to elimi-
nate the press-censorship section on
the adoption of which the president
had been insistent. The senate al
ready had voted against the provision.
The house was Influenced considerably
by charges that the administration
health conditions in the navy, and 1t
was shown later that the senate had
kept secret report Of Surgeon Cen
eral BREASTED describing the epidemics
in the navy and the primitive condi-
tons under which the medical officers
were forced to labor.
Two destructive tornadoes swept
through central Illinois, the towns OF
Nation and Charleston being the
worst sufferers. About 300 lives were
lost, and the property damage was
enormous. These storms were fol
lowed by others farther south in the
Mississippi valley that killed about 7(
more persons.