The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-03-24
GREAT WAR EVENTS DEVELOP
ING,

The war news from the various
sectors in Europe and Asia has been
replete with interest and Importance
during the past week. The Germans
have effected a retirement movement
along large portion Of the western
front in northeastern France, and the
French and British armies have close
ly pursued the retreating enemy and
occupied more than $50 square miles
of territory that has been in the pos
session of the Germans ever since the
early part Of the war. Two entire
provinces of France were nearly
cleared of enemy troops by this move
ment, and it was considered probable
that the invaders intended to with
draw to the Belgian frontier.
It is claimed on the part of Ger
many that the withdrawal of it's
forces has been entirely voluntary
and for strategical reasons; that the
lines of defense will be shortened and.
Strengthened, thus releasing a con-
siderable force of troops for. often
sive operations, and that the plans OF
the French and British for spring
offensive have been anticipated and
checkmated by this unexpected
stroke of military strategy, attributed
to the genius and influence of Gen.
Won, Hindenberg, who recently visited
the western front and made careful
study of the situation and conditions
there.
The French and British, on the
other hand, ridicule the idea that the
enemy has willingly abandoned an ex-
tensive section where so much time
and labor were expended in construct
ing an elaborate and costly system OF
Notifications intended to be all but
impregnable, and the advancing ar
mics are said to be filled with en-
thusiasm and delight by the forward
movement and relief from the monot-
ony of prolonged trench warfare. 1t
is reasonable to infer, however, that
the German hosts will bring their sup
posed retreat to a halt on ground of
their own choosing, and there is an
Imminent probability that one Of the
greatest battles Of the war may be
fought there within the next few
days, if indewit1t tas''not already in
The Russians TnaP ersia and British
in Mesopotamia continue their victor
ious advances against the Turks. The
Russians have crossed the Persian
boundary into Turkish territory and
seem likely to effect an early juno
tion with the British army in pursuing
the retreating Turks up the Tigris
river above Bagdad. A large force of
Turkish troops may thus be caught
between the advancing British and
Russians.
There has been fighting recently in
the Macedonian region, near Mona
stir, and a general resumption of
activity on all the fronts may be ex-
pected with the passing of winter.
The Teutonic submarines continue
to sink numbers of vessels in differ
ent parts of the war zone, but there
is no indication as yet of this menace
to neutral and belligerent commerce
accomplishing or even approximatlng
the results so confidently predicted
for it by the German government.
Shipbuilding has received a great I'M
petus in number of countries, IN
GLIDING the United States, and it Is
becoming apparent that vessels can
be constructed and put into commits
sion faster than hostile submarines
can destroy them, and with the in
creasing facilities for resisting and
capturing undersea craft, the ham
pering of commerce upon which Ger
many places her main reliance for
successful termination Of the war bids
fair to lose its efficacy and peter out
in the near future.