Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-09-21


Count Luxburg, the German minister
who advised that Argentine vessels be
"spurios versenkt'-sunk without
trace being left-has been given his
passports and the Argentine minister In
Berlin has been instructed to ask the
imperial government for full expla.
nation regarding Mr.. Lansing's disclos-
ures and as to its present policy OF
sinking Argentine ships. Argentine Of
ficials say that there will be diplo-
matte rupture If Germany does not dis
approve the text Of Luxburg's dis
patches and make concessions concern
ing U-boat warfare.
In Buenos Aires the people wildly
cheered the news Of Luxburg's dismiss
sal and then broke out into anti-Ger-
man rioting, attempting to burn the
buildings of the German club and
German newspaper and destroying sew
eral blocks of German business houses.
Semioffcially Germany has admitted
the truth of Lansing's statements, but
denies there was aviolatiOn Of neutral
ity on Sweden's part, and says the dis
closures were made by the allies only
to produce new crisis in the relations
between Argentina and Germany and to
make trouble for Sweden.
Another Expose by Lansing.
On Thursday Mr.. Lansing added to
Sweden's discontinue by making pub
lie a translation Of letter dated
March 8, 1915, from German Minister
Won Eckhardt at Mexico City to the
Imperial German chancellor asking
that the emperor confer decoration
on Folke CrOnholm, then Swedish
charge d'affaires in Mexico, in recog-
milton Of his services in forwarding
Won Eckhardt's reports to Berlin
through the Stockholm foreign office
and under cover of the official Swedish
cipher. The minister urged that the
decoration be conferred secretly IN
order not to arouse the suspicious OF
the entente allies. Cronholm was re-
placed as Swedish charge last Febru'
ary but has remained in Mexico City.
These revelations seem to make I'M
necessary any further search for the
secret channel through which Berlin
was informed in advance of the dis
patch Of American destroyers to Eu-
ropean waters and of other American
war movements.
Secretary Lansing is said to be in
possession of further sensational facts,
but during the rest Of the week he
sat tight, waiting for Foreign Minister
Lindman and his colleagues to justify
their action If they can. The Swedish
press admits that the people Of the
country are proving themselves to be
what the Germans call them-"silly
SwedeS."
On the Battle Fronts.
Increasing resistance by the Aus
trians checked the advance of the 1tal-
ians toward Lembach and Trieste last
week, but it was at tremendous expense
in casualties and prisoners to the enc
my. The severest fighting was for the
possession Of Monte San Gabrielle.
After being pushed back. down its
slopes early in the week, the Italians
climbed up again and firmly withstOOd
repeated attacks. A little further
south, on the Bainsizza plateau, the
Austrians were no more successful In
their fierce assaults.
All along the west front there were
artillery combats, trench raids and
fighting in the air, but neither side
made any ground gains Of moment.
The allied aviators were especially
busy with bombing expeditions and
flight patrols. Many tons of explosives
were dropped on airdromes, railway
detectives and docks back of the Ger
man lines.
American Artillery in France.
The war department permitted 1t to
be known Thursday that large con-
tingent Of American artillery has been
added to General Pershing's expedi-
tionary force in France and that its in
tensive training with the French 75s
and six.inch howitzers is we'll under
way. There have been many reports,
derived from private letters, that the
American troops already have been en-
gagged in various battles, but the gov
eminent has given out no intimatiOn
| that these are true. AS such fighting
could scarcely take place without some
casualties, and as Secretary Baker has
promised to publish casualty lists
promptly, the stories probably are I'M
true.
| British losses by submarine activity
were the smallest since the opening OF
| The ruthless" campaign. The most seri-
Gus loss reported was that of the At
lantic transport liner Minnehaha, sunk
! by torpedo when west-bound. 1t is
said the British have q new submarine