Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-05

. . . 80
The widely advertised German. blow at Petrograd
has not yet been struck. Circumstantial stories were told
Of the gathering Of great land and sea forces along the
Baltic for q movement for the isolation, IL not the cap.
ture of the Russian capital. but for a week or ten days
nothing has been heard from that quarter which would
indicate that such \ movement was In progress.
.
Since the first of May the interior Of Germany ha.
been a sealed book to the rest Of the world. The Ger
man censorship has always been severe, but Of late 4
has been almost absolute. May 1 has been marked fol
years by great labor demonstrations throughout western
Europe. and as that day approached this year evidences
Of domestic unrest in Germany accumulated. The wal
has borne heavily on all classes in Germany. The fact
pertaining to the war have been concealed from the
people as carefully as possible, and there are vast multi
tudes Of Germans who know nothing Of the recent Ger
Daan reverses. They have been fed on stories Of grea
German victories. But as time passed, stories Of victories
proved far from filling to people who were restricted II
their food and in their freedom, and who were compelled
to fear the war burdens that have been imposed on al
Germans. Stories Of victories without any visible evil
dences of the fruits Of victories became monotonous
and expressions Of dissatisfaction became louder anG
more frequent. Great riots were predicted for May day
The German government, determined to conceal from
what was going on within the empire, closed every ave
tho outside world as far as possible all knowledge o
nue. Of communication. From such information as ha1
much riottng in Germany on. the first Of May. Tina
is about the extent Of our knowledge. How extensive
these disturbances were and how successfully they wer'
suppressed. the world has not yet been told. "
Early in the week the German chancellor was SEIZED
uled to make a new peace speech in the German parlia
ment. Then it was announced that the address hat
been postponed. and 1t Is yet undelivered. There are re
ports of extreme popular dissatisfaction with Won Beth
mann-Hollweg, who is popularity held responsible for thu
distressing conditions which prevail throughout the EN-
pire. On the other hand, it is reported that the Junken
party has resented what 1t holds to be the too peaceful
attitude Of the chancellor, and has demanded that he ex
press himself publicly in favor Of the conclusion of peace
only on the conditions which have been insisted on h.
the Junkers. one OF which is the absolute retention o
Belgium as a German province. Bor the sake Of ultt
mate peace 1t is to be hoped that such a public state
ment is made by an official representative Of the German
government. for such an expression will serve to max
1t clear to all persons, and to doubling Americans es
peotally, that this war must go on until Germany i
whipped so thoroughly that even her most bunptiou
statesmen will not talk Of emerging from the war vic
tortous.
In Russia the new government appears to hav'
been making progress in harmonizing some discords, ant
affairs have a more peaceful appearance than at the be
ginning Of the week. Trouble threatened for a time be
cause Of the declaration by the foreign minister, Miluk
of. that under no circumstances would Russia consen
to a separate peace with Germany. Representatives o
the army and labor groups are reported to have resented
not the declaration itself, but the fact that it was mad
without their approval, The foreign minister was VISITED
by a large delegation which demanded his resignation
but he stood his ground manfully. reiterated his con
vtcton that a separate peace was unthinkable, state
the reasons for his position, and, according to the re
ports. sent his hearers away modified. il not enttrel!
satisfied.
. .
The submarine menace Is the thing which 10 givynt
the allied governments more trouble than any other
No person Of standing anywhere outside Of German,
doubts the ultimate victory Of the allies. That victor!
IL already foreshadowed by the utter inability Of thu
German armies to stop the advance of their enemies ii
those sections where the Germans have been more strong
ly tntrenched, and where they have the greatest masse
Of men. But to continue the tight as 1t must be contin
ued II it is to win, enormous quantities Of war materia
will be needed for a long time. Much of that materia
must be obtained from this side Of tho Atlantic. And
in the meantime, the people of Great Britain and France
must be provtsioned. How to keep enough ships in serv
Ice to meet the demands upon them while submarine
are sinking them ut a terrible rate is the most perplexint
problem Of the war.
The United states is arranging to contribute heh
share to the protection of the trade routes. Arrange
msnts are being made for the building by the United
States Of 900 small wooden ships which will be placed
in service a. f%reighters as fast as they can be completed
A large number Of small, swift submarine chasers are also
being contracted for. By dividing the tonnage up among
q large number Of small units the risk will be minimized
and by ustng tho small motor boats which are to be
built for service against the submarines the work can b
more effectively done.
The administration at Washington has. 1t is report
ed, definitely decided to send to Europe an expeditionar,
force. probably q division Of $4,000 men. whenever tina,
can be done most advantageously. This course has beer
opposed on military grounds by the army general staff
It has been urged, chiefly on sentimental grounds. by the
French visitors. And 1t has been urged on grounds OF
sentiment and Of political utility, by the secretary OF
state and others Of the administration group. The actua
benefit which such an expedition can bring to the allie,
is naturally very small. But the other consideration
outweigh those of q strictly military character, in the
opinion Of the president. and the men are to be gent
The time Of sending them VIII depend 90 whep the allie.
believe that q sunncient number Of ships can best b
spared from tho handling Of freight to perform tho nee
essary work Of transportation.
G.fl..t - |#,a s...s
LAYING IN FUEL
Il r#&4A -A ...> RN~~ q. h.o1r,x>i z>.>-l>n
on . railway haul Of several hundred miles for its fue
supply. Until the line 10 reached beyond which the lig
mite fields are accessible. the supply for Nprth Dakots
lcouss from Duluth. q straight rail haul Of from 500 Il
II zoo miles. Two trunk linen epan that distance and 4