Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1917-08-06
twilight Sleep Vinng Wednesday and Thursday

Scene from "Twilight Sleep" at
During the early months of the year
the submarine dispute between this
country and Germany quieted down
a u boat brought the war into west
ern Atlantic waters by sinking neu-
trail ships off Nantucket shoals in
October but the German pledge to
safeguard neutral lives was observed.
On December 12 Germany and her
allies, Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey,
proposed peace negotiations, naming
the United States as one of the inter
mediaries. On the Sth President
Wilson sent a note to the beligerents
asking them to name their terms.
Meanwhile the allies replied to Ger
many, declining a conference, and
Germany replied to Wilson, evading
the question of terms and putting off
the discussion of permanent peace
until the end Of the war.
In January President Wilson re-
vived interest in the subject Of peace
by outlining a plan for a peace league,
making peace without victory" !"
consent Of the governed" and a
world Monroe doctrine" the funda-
mentals for a world peace. While
the whole world was discussing this
turn of affairs Germany informed
neutrals on January 81 that subma-
rine warfare would be more ruthless
than ever. Three days later the Ger
man ambassador was given his pass
ports, and the president informed
congress of the break and its causes.
Ambassador Gerard received his pass
ports at Berlin February 5, and on
the 10th Germany, through the Swiss
government, proposed negotiation Of
the new dispute. This the United
States declined unless the new sub
marine order was withdrawn.
After Won Bernstorff sailed and
Gerard was out of Germany the state
department disclosed German plot
to involve the United States with ia
pan and Mexico. War measures fol-
lowed rapidly. Congress expired
March a without indorsing the presi-
dents armed neutrality" policy. A
special session of the new congress
was summoned to meet April 2, and
meanwhile the president ordered
armed guards placed on our mer-
chant ships voyaging abroad. On
April congress formally declared
war. Then followed a conscription
law to create armies, loans to the
allies-one of $4,000, ,OO0,O 900 to the
nation by the people-the dispatch
of war vessels to Europe under COM
mand of Rear Admiral Sims; also of
Major General Pershing, to prepare
base for the American contingent al
ready represented on the firing line
in France by detachment bearing
the Stars and Stripes, on May 25.
The Russian Setback.
During the efforts to secure a dip
lomatic peace Russia stood firm. The
duma rejected Germany's proposals,
and the imperial government in
dorsed Wilson's peace league note.
Russian support Of Roumania had
never been strong and entirely
dropped away in the winter. 1t
seemed that Russia was powerless
A revolution in which the troops and
their generals figured deposed the
czar the middle of March, and there
began a state of military indecision
and inactivity while factions contend
ed for political control at Petrograd.
EARLY in February the German
retrograde began north of the
Somme. Bapaume and Peronne. the
goals of months of bloody struggles,
yielded the middle of March to the
allies led by Nivelle and Haig, and
shortly the Germans turned and be-
gan to resist vigorously all along the
front. Special reasons" was Berlin s
explanation of this great and MASTER
ly retreat. Further withdrawal was
forced by British attacks on the Ypres
salient and at Messines in May and
June.
Western Entente Powers Pressed.
The entrance Of the United States
as an ally led to an announcement by
British and French commissioners
sent for conference, among them
Marshal Joffre, that the resources of
England, France and Italy in men.
money, food and munitions were at
low ebb, and Russia must be consid-
cred as virtually eliminated as an
aggressive force. These frank dis