Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-24
R7 MERCHANTMEN
SUNK DURING WEEK
rs Over 1000 Tons Each-9 I'm
der That Figurc-Also 3
Fishing Craft.
THE BRITISH STATEMENT.
German Prediction That England VIII
he ION Her Knees. by juno 1 Not
Likely to Come True.

London, May 2S.--Thc sinking OF is mer
3chantmen Of more than 1.6nC tons is re-
ported in the weekly shipping statement
Nine vessels of less than 1.Go0 tons and
.ehree fishing vessels also were sunk.
This weeks figures Of vessels sunk by
eubmarines show that the allied navies
|are keeping up the good work OF the pre-
vious fortnight and the American unit.
although still a small one, shares the
credit for excellent work. Not only are
the sintings being kept at fairly low fig
lures. but the offensive against U-boats
also continues to show favorable results.
ffhe actual figures in this respect. how
.ever, are not known
Tho British admiralty this week wears
= pleased smile at the mention of the
submarine campain. for the results of
the naval work in the past two weeks are
regarded as readily indicating an impor-
tant victory yer the Germans. The
German naval people throughout the
early months of the ruthless U-boat war
freely predicted that England would "bc
on her knees by June l. and gloomy pic
lures were painted of grim famine cer-
Ia in by that date for the people of Great
Britain and France.
June is almost here, and German
victory in the submarine warfare seems
a constant improvement in the methods
| of the allies in opposing and suppressing
T'-boat activity, and these methods have
become more and more successful with
Ilonger days and finer weather increasin z
familiarity on the part of the shippers
Of merchantmen with the methods of ma
val control. An admiralty official. speak
| ing to the Associated Press said:
Tho American dcstroyers are playing
no small part in the anti-submarinc war,
and our officers have expressed the great
est enthusiasm at the spirit, enterprise.
acumen and quick wittedness with which
the American unit has taken up its work.
1t is the old American doctrine of keep
ing everlastincly at it.
The Germans. who at first said they
| would strip us of our tonnage by June I,
have now advanced the date to October,
and we arc confident that when October
comes they will he under tho same neccs
sity OF advancing the date again"
WAR SUMMARY.
Inclement weather is holding Field Mar
shal Hag's men to their trenches along
the Arras front and tho expected recon-
mencement Of the offensive with the
object of clearing out the Germans from
tho little sector Of tho Hindenburg line
they still hold west of Bullecourt has not
vct started. IT is probable, however that
with the lifting of the clouds the artil
. lcry bombardmcnt will begin again anC
the infantry will be loosed against TIL,
Germans in an endeavor to complete the
tactics which will place the entire British
. front in alignment for the next step or
their program-the smashing of he Dro
court-Queant switch line and an advance
eastward toward Douai.
The infantry also was active Wedncs
day along the French front. where tn,
Germans bomba rded heavily the new po
sitions captured by the French Tucsda,
night cast of Chevrcus and on the Cali
fornie and Vauclerc plateaux. The mum
her of prisoners taken by the French il
400.
Likewise in the lsonZo sector OF tn,
Austro-Italian theatre the nfantr.
activity apparently has given way almos
entirely to artillery duels of the creates
intensity. The Rome war office reports
the Italians have recaptured, after sew
cral days Of heavy fighting, positions th
.Austrians had wrested from them Mon
day night in the Travignolo valley o
the Trentino front.
The situation in Russia still bears
promising aspect. AS an indication tina
Russia will stand firmly with her allie
and that the military situation is bright
ening Is the start on tour to all tn
military fronts of NJ. Kerensky, the ne,
minister of war, who is on record n
favorable to the prosecution of the wa
until victory over Germany is secured.