Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1917-01-05

InueS TO increase In spite OF the havoc.
The worlds normal increase in popu-
lation is 10000 day. or about 12,0oO.-
600 year.
The whole world faces hunger. The
principal food crops were partial fall
ure almost everywhere last summer
and experts say that by the end Of next
spring the surplus will be almost down
to zero, most dangerous condition,
for supplies are never well distributed
enough to allow a wide margin with
out causing famine somewhere. The
warning nations feel the pinch the
most, but prices are dlstressingly high
for necessaries of life In almost every
corner of the globe.
The year sees two new combatants
plunged in the maelstrom of war
Portugal and Roumanla. The twelve
month began with the conquest of tiny
Montenegro and ends with the leu
ton sweep over about two-thirds of
Roumania.
On the last New Years day Henry
Ford was returning from his peace
argosy fiasco. On this New Years
Official proposals for peace parley by
the Germanic powers have been re
ceived and refused by the entente lead
ers.
Nineteen hundred and sixteen has
brought compulsory military service
and later compulsory civilian service
TO Great Britain, the nation which had
boosted of the greatest personal lib
erty" in the world. Australia has vot-
ed on compulsory service In a nation
wide plebiscite and decided against
the measure. Canada contemplates
compulsion. The advocates of univer-
sal liability to military training and
service in the United States see their
cause growing stronger by reason of
the lessons abroad and the sad results
of the National Guard mobilization
along the Mexican border.
America and Neutrality.
In every neutral nation the war has
brought new domestic issues to the
fore. The American presidential cleo
ton was won by Wilson with the
slogan: "He kept us out of war"
Many times in the last twelve-month.
however, it appeared that the presi-
dents effort to avert hostilities would
fail. Germany's terms on the Lust
tania sinking settlement were accept
ed February 8, but the destruction of
the Channel ferryboat Sussex and 9TH
er merchantmen from time to time pro
voked fresh outbursts of hostility
against the Teutons. The submarine
crisis in congress came at the end Of
February and the beginning of March,
when the Gore and McLemore resolu-
tons, in the house of representatives
and senate respectively, were cast into
the discard, and the president was up
held In his stand.
The failure of the entente to give
Germany knockout blow this sum.
mer resulted in upsetting the govern
ments of the three greatest entente
powers, Great Britain, France and
Russia. while Joseph Joffre, who had
led the armies of France ever since
the beginning of the war, gave way to
the younger Robert Nivelle, a figure
which the Homeric struggle at Yer
dun had thrown into the limelight.
On February % the ear visited the
Russian Duma for the first time In
history.
In recalling the historic events Nf
the year the Russian advance in Asia
Minor and the capture of the big cities
of Trebizond and Erzerum should not
be left out.
It appeared that the MuscoviteE
would sweep on to the Dardanelles,
but they were soon brought to stand
still and pushed back in the South,
where the Turks, on April 20, cap
| tured the whole British garrison of
Kut-el-Amara, on the Tigris river.
Then, too, Italy became larger fac
tor in the war this year. The Aus.
| TRANS attempted a great offensive on
| the plains of northern Italy from the
| Tyrol. but Count Cadorna quickly
shifted forces to meet them by motor
car, drove them back to their former
| positions and soon afterward began 0
victorious advance against Goritz ant
the Carso plateau.
Three Big Revolts.
Three important revolts took place
against the recognized governments OF
the warning nations. The Easter rev
olution in Ireland was put down In 6
few days. President Pearse and othel
leaders. including Sir Roger Easement
were executed and the Irish question
was left much as before.
In southern Arabia the natives, IN
der the leadership of the Shereef o
Medina, rose against the Turks, cap
tured the Moslem holy city of Mecca
beat Off attacks and proclaimed new
kingdom, which is now asking rec
ognition at Washington and elsewhere
Pro-ally Greeks set up the stand
ard of opposition to King Constantin
and the Germanic powers. and ON Ser
TENDER % Eleuthertos venizelOs, tn
most able Greek of modern times, LEI
Athens to lead them. Lloyd-Georg
announced to the house of commons 4
his historic speech of December Is