The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-04-25

yet" but the officers of the American
destroyer Smith aver that a torpedo
was fired at their vessel early Tues
day morning 100 miles south of New
York. They are sure the missile came
from submarine. because they saw
the periscope.
Having been advised by British and
French naval men that the well-armed
merchant vessel is the best weapon
for use against the submarine, the
American government is pushing with
redOubled yigOr its plans for the
building of big fleets of wooden ships.
1t is even considering delaying the
this purpose.
In the United States union labor in
general Is heartily supporting the gov
eminent in its war measures. The ex-
ceptiOns are certain scattered groups
Of manifeStly Germanic tendencies.
tain other Americans with perverted
ideas of their duty to mankind, may
protltably study President Wilson's
proclamation, issued Monday, warning
against the commission of reasonable
acts. Giving aid and comfort to the
enemy Is treason, and the punishment
for treason may be death. 1t is pity
that such a proclamation should be
necessary.
Recruiting is Better.
Recruiting for the regular army and
navy during the past week was much
more satisfactory than heretofore.
From the navy training schools thou
sands of young men, made fit by in
tensive training, were sent to the At
lantic and Pacific seaboards to man
the vessels of the fleets.
The University of Illinois plan for
the enlisting of great army Of agri-
cultural laborers, men and boys out
side the years of military service or
otherwise exempt, having been recon-
mended by the council of national de-
Tense and approved by the administra-
ton, seems likely to solve the problem
of farm labor. This, and the concert
ed movement to urge the growing Of
limit crops have aroused the farmers
and gardeners SO that the dangers of
food shortage are decreasing. Ev-
cry help possible is promised the agri-
culturists in the way of obtaining seed
and labor.
Prices of foodstuffs still are abnor-
mally high, and there are more than
hints that the government will curb
the avarice of the spectators. Cana
dian wheat was put on the free list
Monday. and the depressing effect on
the price Of May wheat was immedi-
ate but not lasting. The grain specu-
lators are being Investigated by the
federal authorities.
Great Victory for the French.
The greatest battle of the war to
date, and consequently the greatest In
all history, is that being fought in
northern France. While the British
were making their tremendous thrust
toward Lens and st. Quentin, the
French were concentrating their artil-
lery fire on the German lines in the
Reims-SOissons sector. When storms
and German re-enforcements tempo
rarily checked the rush of Haig's men,
Nivelle's troops took their turn. On
Monday they smashed against the Teu-
tonic front, crushing the enemy de-
lenses for % miles, capturing the sec
ond and even the third line in places.
Such was the impetus of the attack
that in one instance, at BrimOnt, they
broke clear through. This Is the sec
tor where the crown prince commands,
and he hurriedly brought up brigade
after brigade of reserves which made
desperate attempts to win back the
lost ground. But the wonderful
French field artillery had followed
close behind the infantry and checked
the German counter-attacks with aw-
full loss of life. On Tuesday the
French resumed their drive and pushed
the Germans still farther back on the
line from Reims to the Champagne
front. All Tuesday night the fighting
was fierce, but the French held their
gains. In those two days $4,000 Ger
mans were taken captive and about
10000 others were killed or wounded.
The prisoners were in a state of col
lapse from hunger and the effects Of
the gun-fre.
Meanwhile the British pushed their
way farther to the north of st. Quen-
tin and consolidated the positions they
had won.
What Berlin Says of II.
German official reports on the
French offensive are naive. They adj
nit the success of the attack, but as
sert the object of the Germans was,