Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-08-01

discussion or permanent peace uutu inc
end of the war.
In January President Wilson revived
interest i'll the subject of peace by out
lining a plan for a peace league, max
ing peace without victory" consent
of the governed" and "world Monroe
doctrine" the fundamentals for world
peace While the whole world was
discussing this turn of affairs Germany
informed neutrals on Jan. 81 that SUBJ
marine warfare would be more ruth
less than ever. Three days later the
German ambassador was given his
passports, and the president informed
congress of the break and its causes.
Ambassador Gerard received his pass
ports at Berlin Feb. 5, and on the 10th
Germany, through the Swiss govern
ment, proposed negotiation of the new
dispute. This the United States de-
clined unless the new submarine order
was withdrawn.
After Won Bernstorff sailed and Ge-
rard was out of Germany the state de-
partment disclosed a German plot to
involve the United States with Japan
and Mexico. War measures followed
rapidly. Congress expired March 4
without indorsing the presidents "arm-
ed neutrality" policy. A special session
meet April 2, and meanwhile the pres
ident ordered armed guards placed on
our merchant ships voyaging e'Coad.
On April 6 congress formally de AIRED
war. Then followed a CONSUMPTION law
to create armies, loans to the allies
one Of $2,0OO,0OO,000 to the nation by
the people-the dispatch of war vessels
to Europe under command Of Rear ADJ
miral Sims; also Of Major General
Pershing, to prepare a base for the
American contingent already represent
ell on the firing line in France by de-
tachment bearing the Stars and Stripes,
on May 25.
The Russian Setback.
During the efforts to secure diplo-
matte peace Russia stood firm. The
duma rejected Germany's proposals, and
the imperial government Endorsed Will
sons peace league note. Russian sup
port Of Roumania had never been
strong and entirely dropped away in
the winter. 1t seemed that Russia was
powerless. A revolution in which the
troops and their generals figured depos-
ed the car the middle of March, and
there began a state Of military indeci-
sion and inactivity while factions con-
tended for political control at Petro-
grad.
Early in February the German retro
grade began north Of the Somme. Ba-
paume and Peronne, the goals of
months Of bloody struggles, yielded the
middle of March to the allies led by
Nivelle and Haig, and shortly the Ger
mans turned and began to resist Wig
orously all along the front. Special
reasons was Berlin's explanation of
this great and mastery retreat. Fur
ther withdrawal was forced by British
attacks on the Ypres salient and at
Messines in May and June.
Western Entente Powers Pressed,
The entrance of the United States
as an ally led to an announcement by
British and French commissioners sent
here for conference, among them Mar
shall Joffre, that the resources of Eng
land, France and Italy in men, money,
food and munitions were at low ebb,
and Russia must be considered as vir-
al, tn1 = " u
force. These frank disclosures caused
surprise and deep anxiety on this side
of the ocean, the more so because the
ruthless U boat operations, which be-
gan in February, had been more de-
structive than expected by the allies,
although their toll had fallen far short
of Germanys estimate-1,00O,O00 tons
per month. The destruction of freight
ships varied from. week to week dur
ing March, April and May, but the to-
tai was so great as to forebOde disas-
ter unless the evil was speedily sup
pressed.
The entente's money problem was
quickly solved by affording heavy cred
us " pay hoh thCii SuppiiCS bhoNShS
here. A commission. headed by Elihu
Root, repaired to Russia to swing the
weight of the United States on the
side of the forces in authority who
favor a continuance Of the war on
Germany. The response to calls for
troops and immense war funds and
the successful registry for the draft,
followed by the safe arrival of a large
expeditionary force in France, led to a
reaction during June from the misgiv-
ings and uncertainties which had pre-
vailed for weeks.
Notable among the closing events of
the third year of war are the renewal
Of attacks upon the Austrian fronts by
Italian and Russian armies. The Ital-
ian movement began early in June and
had for its object the recovery of posi-
tons in the Trentino, which the Aus
TRANS had captured In their great
spring drive of 1916. At the close of
June the Italians suffered a severe
check.
July opened with a strong Russian
offensive on the line of the Dniester,
aimed at Lemberg. This was renewal