Middletown transcript., 1917-05-12

be John F. Stevens, who was CHIEF
engineer of the Panama canal com
mission before General Goethals.
There was no great change in the
fighting line in France during the week
The French and British both made
some gains and consolidated the posi-
tions they had already won. and the
fierce artillery duels continued. day
and night. But the Germans brought
up more and more of their reserves
and contested every inch Of ground. 1t
seems probable that they will continue
to give way slowly in order to save
their men, and st. Quentin may be
evacuated before long. The bloOdiest
fighting of the week took place at Ar
leux and Oppy, east of Arras. where
the British were attacking.
The British began another drive on
Thursday, attacking on 12-rnile front,
both north and south of the Scarpe
river. Despite desperate resistance
by the Germans they took a number Of
important strategic positions, including
the town of Fresnoy. The Germans
are constructing a new emergency line
OF trenches from Queant, north to
Drocourt, and trying to hold the Brit
ish back until it is completed.
In Mesopotamia the Turks were de-
feated by General Maude's troops on
both banks Of the Shatt-el-Adham and
driven back into the Jebel Halnrin
hills. From Constantinople came the
surprising news that the city Of Mush,
in Turkish Armenia, had been evacu-
ated by the Russians and occupied by
the Turks. Petrograd has not con-
firmed this announcement.
Recruiting Speeds Up.
Recruiting for the regular army was
satisfactory last week, and the navy de-
partment announced on Tuesday that
the enlisted personnel was S7,0So. or 80
more than the maximum strength of
the navy under existing law. The pas
sage of the army bill with the selec-
tive draft feature, the prospect that
American troops would soon be sent to
France and Colonel Roosevelt's rous-
ing address in Chicago all contributed
to help the recruiting campaign.
A great strike of union bakers in
Chicago alarmed the big city by the
lake and incidentally attracted the at
tention of the federal authorities be-
cause most of the strikers are of Ger
man birth or parentage, and might be
taken into custody as alien enemies
There were intimations also that the
government might take over the opera
ton Of some of the large bakeries be-
cause the naval training station at
Great Lakes is dependent on the city
for its bread supply. Fortunately for
all concerned, the strike was ended
Friday through the efforts of United
States District Attorney Clyne.
In New York two Germans were ar
rested with picric acid bomb in their
possession and confessed to plot to
blow up "big Wall street institution"
and commit other outrages to affect
the stock market for speculative pur-
poses.
Capt. Franz Won Rintelen was put
on trial in New York as the agent
through whom Germany is alleged to
have expended more than $50O,OOO in
an effort to abrogate foreign policies
Of this nation and to corrupt American
labor
Another German, Baron Alhard Won
dem Busche-Muench. said to be a cous-
in of Count Won Bernstorff, was arrest
ed in San Francisco as an enemy alien.
The United States government on
Thursday took two important steps in
the effort to reduce the high cost of
foodstuffs. The first was the an
nouncement that the United States and
Canada had agreed to cooperate in
regulating the price Of wheat in all
North America. This is to be done
in such way that increased produc-
ton will be stimulated and the price
to the consumer steadied by the guar
of minimum price to the
producer and the prevention of specu-
Iation by middlemen.
The second step was the introduc-
ton of bill in the house giving the
president the widest possible powers
In dealing with foodstuffs, clothing,
fuel and other necessities Of life.
Guatemala has joined the enemies
If Germany by severing diplomatic re-
ations and the Chilean minister to
Germany has demanded his passports.
3razil's early entry into the war is
'orecast by the resignation of DR..
4auro Mueller, the Brazilian foreign
minister, who has been attacked as
,eing unduly friendly to Germany.