The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-06-14

were blown into the air by 20 charges
Oh hlgh explosives, totuling million
pounds. Instantly the Engllshmen,
lrlshmen, Australians and New Zea.
landers that make up the British army
IN Belgium sprang forward in success.
slVe waves, and one Of the fiercest
battles of the war was on.
| The attack was directed at the Mes.
| slnes ridge, between Messines and
Wytschaete, where ever since October
| or 1914 the Germans had maintained
themselves In n sharp salient that al.
ways threatened Ypres, only three
miles to the north. The morning rush
resulted In the capture Of Messines
and Wytschaete and the enemy's de.
tense systems on the nlne-mile front,
and later In the day another forward
movement took the British into and
through the village of Oosttaverne.
The entire salient was Strengthened out
ana all the countcr-nttacks were re-
pulsed. Any considerable further adj
vance In this sector will threaten the
German hold on Lille, which Is about
five miles from the nearest British po.
sltion. Large numbers Of prisoners
already have been taken.
The Germans must have known that
| the attack Of Messines ridge was in.
tended. for the preparatory lombard
ment was terrific, and yet reports from
| prisoners indicated that they actually
were taken by surprise.
In preparation for the operations In
Flanders the British fleet co-operateC
with the land forces. subjecting Os
tend to severe bombardment. The
British air forces also were In action
repeatedly raiding the German bases
nt zeebrugge. Ostend and Bruges. In
retaliation a squadron Of German mir.
planes attacked the British naval base
In the Midway, close to London, on
| Tuesday. but was driven off with the
loss of eight machines.
Several times during the week the
Germans made vicious attacks in the
Aisne and Champagne sectors and
even gained possession Of some French
positions; but the gallant pOilus al
most Immediately recovered the lost
ground, inficting severe losses on the
enemy.
The Austrians claimed to have ef-
toward Trieste. and announced that
the italian losses In the offensive were
100000 men. On Tuesday the Italians
were forced back south Of Jamlano.
Dispatches from Rome revealed the
fact that Italy had proclaimed the in
dependence Of Albania.
Once more the British admiralty is
sued very satisfactory report on
the work Of the submarines, showing
but % British vessels sunk In the
week, five of which We're fishing yes
sells. The American destroyers COM
pleted their first month in the war
and have proved themselves most yalu.
able aids to the British naval forces.
Russia Is Warned.
Conditions In Russia remain chnotic''
though they may be Strengthened out
somewhat by the work Of the Root
commission and the American railway
engineers. The revolt Of the garrison
of Kronstadt, which declared the is
lind fortress independent Of the gov
crnmcnt, caused considerable concern
In Pelrograd, but as the action Of the
garrison was denounced by the Petro-
grad council Of workmens and SOL
diers' delegates 1t collapsed, and the
garrison bowed to the authority of
the provisional government.
Following President Wilson's exam
pie, France replied to Russia's state.
mcnt Of hC peace plan by setting
forth In general way the demands of
the French. These, embodied in n
vote Of the chamber Of deputies in.
cludc the liberation Of the territories
invaded by Germany, the return to
France Of Alsacc-Lorraine and iust
rcparation for damage.
Japan also took official cognizance
last week Of the Russian crisis, in.
forming the government at Petroprad
that If Russia wlthdraws from the war
Japan In consultation with England
and the United States, will consider
what measures TO adopt. The pro.
visonnl government was warned that
If Russia accepts separate peace II
Will become another Austria under tho
domination of Germany, Will lose Pc.
land, Lithnania and Finland and viii
be stripped OF many Of her outlying
possessions. Furthermore, japan in
formed Great Britain that while. in
case of Russia's withdrawal from tho
entente, Japan would prefer to send
her Troops to France rather than q to-
! !, undertake. y military ehas tisenent of