Licking Valley courier., 1917-09-27
Tvs REVIEW OF
The PAST WEEK
Field Marshal Haig Opens New
Offensive in Belgium
East of Ypres.
MAY CUT OFF U-BOAT BASES
Germans Start Another Lot Of Peace
Rumors-Kerensky Proclaims Rus
sian Republic But Must Curb Ex-
treme Radicals-Labor Troubles
In the United States.
BY EpWARp w. PIcKARp.

Following the usual devastating ar
tillery fire, great attack on German
positions In Belgium was begun by the
British forces early Thursday morning.
The offensive, the fercest of recent
: y Lshs, embraced wide front east of
j pos is5 d iHsSst -das egSting,' w1Ttli-
will be known as the battle of Menin
road, resulted in big gains for Field
Marshal Haig's troops, especially In
the important sector between the
Ypres-ROulers railway and HOllebeke.
The Germans resisted desperately and
the British were compelled to advance
over ground covered with water-filled
shell holes, barbed-wire entanglements
and fallen trees and In the face of
murderous machine-gun fire from the
many small concrete redoubts that
have to a considerable extent, replaced
the German front line trenches. But
the British heavy artillery had done
its work WELL and the TOmmies pushed
ahead, slaughtering the enemy or driv-
Ing them far back.
The Germans naturally knew the at
tack was coming, but could not foresee
Just where II would he made. Ialg's
selection Of the field for this offensive
indicates that he intends TO try to
force Ruprecht of Bavaria away from
the Belgian coast and to cut Off the
German U-boat and airplane bases
along the shore between Zeebrugge
and Nleuport. Such u move by the
British has been looked forward to for
q long time.
Italians Getting Ready.
The Italians seem to he gathering
themselves for another leap at the
throat of Austria, and their generals
declare they must and will administer
10 the foe decisive defeat In the field
and then they will be in n position ia
continue their advance on Trieste, and
perhaps on Lalbach. Meanwhile actlv'
fly In the Trentino has increased and
the Latlns hit the Austrians there sew
eral times last week. That the latter
have called on n're-enforcements wher
ever they could get them is evidenced
by the presence Of Turks among thu
prisoners taken by the Italians in re
cent days.
Along the French front the few
changes of the week were at the eX
pense OF the crown princes forces
That fatuous young man is stln try
ing TO recover the patenus of tn
Aisne and the lost positions near Yer
dun and sacrifices his soldiers witt
prodigalIty.
German Peace Rumors.
That Germany intends TO make neN
peace proposals before many month
becomes increasingly evident, Lns
week saw the sending up Of sewers
"trial balloons" from Berlin, lncludln
nm industrlously spread report thu
Great Britain had suggested terms, an
story that the kaiser would sutrel
der Belgium and restore 1t. Thes
feelers met with no sympathetic +,
sponse by the allies. Great Brltai
fatty denied the alleged peace offeI
Premier Painleve reaflrmed France
determination to continue the war III
III Germany gave up Alsace-Lorralr
and pledged reparatlon for the dar
ages she has caused; and Ameri'
went steadily ahead with Its tremen
GUS preparations.
The German papers are permitted
the censor to discuss the pence rumo
freelyk probably to prepare the peop
Ter some move by the government b
neither the German nor the Austri'
government seems to be yet In q
proper mood to command any consl
eratlnn from the allies, which are ,
on their guard.
The pope, IL Is reported, win SCI
out new peace proposals to the bell