The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1917-04-27
THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
The last week has seen perhaps the
bitterest and most sanguinary struggles
of the aZar in northern France. The
earlier weeks of the retreat and conse-,
quent drive were marked by battles at
comparatively distant points and timeS.
1t is now apparent that the Germans
have ended their voluntary retirement
and that they will give no more terri
tory only upon co,apulsion. The battle
lines arenow close 'to'edch other again
but neither party appears to have gone
want of time, perhaps because in the
long experience This; sort OF defence has
become loss lulpresuRble Now, the al
lies have gathered Sc great a number of
cannon that the Shells. Gestroy faster aud
deeper than spades car dig.
The results of the We..k have proven
favorable to the entente asilcs, they
having made advances .oc.h in front of
the British and French, lnough thiS
week the most of the EeEtng has been
in front Of the foru.rr. MheLher pui-
posely or not, so far the two allied
forces seen, to be taking tu.as OF about
a week each Thus giving each time 10
''organlze" the ground gained and 10
rest their men and to bring forward the
heavy artillery. What 1t has cost TO de
fend them, what the sangunary results
of counter-attacks, will not he known
until later, if ever fully known. But all
reports ale to the effect that the Ger
mans are now resisting mosl desperately
the advances of-the entente allies.
Reports say that Germany is about
organizing an expedition by land and
sea Tor the purpose OF reaching Fetro-
grad. The observer would tth,nk tina.
! just now the Germans wouldrn ioout
all available forces to stop the ententes
in France. Perhaps such demanstra tion
is intenned to influence the new govern
ment IN Russia to,make aseparate peace
Just what conditions exist in Russia
at,the present are somewhat ambiguous
as nothing definite appears in the pap
ers. Perhaps in this. ease "no NEWS is
good news" though it is certain that
Germany is exerting all possible pres
sure particularly on the working classes,
to make separate peace. A separate
peace with Russia, would practically be-
countercheck to the entrance of our
country into the war and practically be
gin the war over again, because then
Germany would have It's pressing food
question settled by supplies from Russia,
just as the ententes have been held up.
by the supplies from the United States.
The results of the submarine war s1 !
cept in isolated cases are not.nGw known
as the censor evidently holds back t.ts.t
news. But we kncw that ships are ssil
clearing as usual for British ports from
this country with loads OF provisions and
munitions.
In our own country, every thing is be-
ing pushed hard for preparedness and
the boys are volunteering in large mum
bers already. Congress is debating on
the values and expediency between g
volunteer system and the draft with al
strong probability of passing a limited
drafting system, with perhaps a yol-
unteer connection
1t is quite possible, though perhaps at
this time not very probable, that the
new army may have TO do some prepara-
tory drill manouvers in Mexico, before
they 60 to France.
History repeats itself and the wars Of
the crusaders are being Reproduced in
Palestinea and its locality whore the en-
tente armies.are driving the rstreating
1 Turks northward from Bagdad.
The American liner, 'Mongolia" on
her way. .toa British port sunk : Ger
man submarine by rife gunfire from .
trained crew. The statehent BY the
captain q the liner is complsts Ia de-,
tail and appears accurate and suthsntic.
Thus the drst shot q the war wass firsd
]. 81 April 18th. which - no answer