The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-05-25


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the designations of Minister of War
Guchkoff and of Generals Brussiloff
and Gurko who declined to serve when
their orders were subjected to the APP
prevail of committees of soldiers
These designations were followed
speedily by that of NJ. Paul Milukoff
as minister of foreign affairs. He left
the cabinet altogether. Tereschtenko
succeeded him, and Kerensky, who
was minister of justice, became min.
lister of war and marine.
Following the retirement Of Pro-
fessor Milukoff, who is disliked by the
radicals, 1t was officially announced
that the government, the executive
committee of the duma and the coun-
Gil of workmen's and soldiers dele
gates had agreed on these three card
inal points: The unity Of the allied
fronts; the fullest confidence of the
revolutionary democracy in the recon
structed cabinet; a plentitude of pow
ers for the government.
This sounds encouraging, but the
fact remains that the army is disinte-
grating, owing to the preoccupation
of the individual soldiers with the land
division, the food shortage, their fa-
tigue and other personal matters.
The United States began giving con-
crete aid to Russia on Wednesday,
when Secretary McAdoo gave 10 its
charge d'affaires S100,000,000 of the
allied loan, with the specification that
the money be spent in this country
under the supervision of the treasury
department. The American mission
to Russia, headed by Mr.. Root, was
! given its instructions, but it cannot
reach Petrograd for about two months
Belgium got share of the loan
when Mr.. McAdoo handed it's repre-
sentatives a credit for $45,000,000.
Italian Offensive Begun.
With the passing of winter condi.
tons Italy began vigorous offensive
on Monday, attacking the Austrians
along the entire IsonZo front. The
enemy fought back sturdily, but was
forced to give ground in the region of
PLAYA, north of GoritZ. In this Italy
is only anticipating n grand assault
which the Austrians had been prepar-
ing to make. The fighting continued
throughout the week with varying for
tunes, the Italians slowly pushing
their way toward Trieste, their OBJ
jective.
Released temporarily from the ne
cessity Of guarding strongly the east
ern front. Germany brought from
there to France a large number of
them into the struggle against the
British and French. General Haig's
men are now confronting greater en-
envy forces than ut any time in the
past, but before the week ended they
were In full possession of Bullecourt
the village for which the Germans
fought so desperately because it pro
tected Queant the southern end Of IN
important line of defenses.
On the French front the most violent
fighting was about Laffaux mill, posi-
ton even more important than Bulle
court. Again and again the Germans
made desperate attempts to regain
this ground. but the French repulsed
them with terrific losses.
Many burning villages behind the
German front north and south of st
Quentin indicated an intention of the
Germans to carry out a further re-
tirement. st. Quentin itself has beer
burning for some time.
General Petain on Tuesday was APP
pointed commander In chief Of the
French armies in FRANCE. General Nj
velle was given command of n group
of armies. and General Foch became
chief of staff of the war ministry. Pc
tain gained fame and high popularity
by his defense of Verdun.
In Great Britain, too. there was n
shake-up, general staff for the navy
being formed in response to the at-
tacks on the admiralty. Admiral Jel-
leo heads the staff.
A gratifying decrease in the number
Of vessels sunk by submarines, was
reported by the British admiralty.
Whether this is due to the increasing
attacks on Zeebrugge by sea and air,
or to the recent destructive fire at the
Wilhelmshaven wharves, or to the
large number of U-boats caught in the
British nets-reported to be between
so and 100-is not known outside of
Germany.
The United States lost one of It's
most distinguished and honored citi-
zens In the sudden death Of Joseph
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