Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-19

signed. 40 well as several Of the higher army omcers.
Later reports from Petrograd indicate a more hopeful
condition. The designations Of cabinet members and
onlcers have been withdrawn, and there has been, with
in the past few days, more prospect Of an adjustment
Of difficulties than there has been for some time.
The accession Of fresh troops from the east to
strengthen the German lines has had its effect on the
advance OF the British and French. In several places
the allies were not only checked but forced back, and
some of the hardest fighting had to be done all over
again. But even with their new men the Germans have
been unable to hold the ground which they recaptured.
Although the work has been rendered more difhcult
both French and British are eating into the German
lines. Reports of the carrying on, of an elaborate work
of destruction in the mining country north and east Of
Lens are taken to mean that the Germans are preparing
for the evacuation of that district, to which they have
held tenaciously until now.
Little news has come from other of the war areas.
There has been fighting on the italian front, and the
Italians appear to have made some headway. The great
Corzo plateau lies between the Italians and Trieste, the
goal at which they aim. In some of the old school
Biographies a plateau was shown in picture to be an
elevated plain. and some Of the pictures showed 1t
smooth enough to play Billiards on. The Corzo is not of
that sort. 1t is elevated. and it might be called table,
land If the rocks were removed. But the whole area
is a 3umbled mass of rock, sometimes of great height,
full of caverns and grottoes. with streams which appear
suddenly from the rocks and disappear as suddenly.
Naturally every available point is defended, and the
plateau is one Of the most difficult nuts that any army
has had to crack.
The long heraided speech Of the German chancellor
to the reischstag has been delivered, and 1t is difficult to
see how either the Socialists or those of the conserva-
tive group could get much satisfaction out Of t.. 1t
contained neither the offer of peace on the terms ap-
proved by the Socialists nor the declaration in favor Of
annexation and autocracy demanded by the Junkers.
In brief it was a statement that Germany would 30 on
with the fight and would declare her terms when her
opponents were ready to make peace.
80
General Petain has been given charge Of all the
French armies, succeeding General Nivelle, who in turn
succeeded Jofre. 1t has been said that Petain was the
choice of Jofre for this position when the retirement
of Joffre was decided on. but Pstain at that time was
unwilling to accept on the terms proposed. General
Nivelle retains an important command, but Petain takes
over the supreme command.
. .
Irish home rule is being given another try.out.
Lloyd George proposed to the Irish Nationalists that they
accept home rule for all OF ireland except the protest.
ing Ulster counties, leaving the disposition of these for
the future: or. failing to accept that, that there bei held
a conference of representative men of all the Irish fac
lions for the purpose Of agreeing on a program. John
Redmond. for himself and his associates, promptly re-
1ected the first proposition and accepted the second: and
arrangements will now be made for a real Irish conven-
ton, which ought to be a lively affair.
.
Wheat prices have declined materially during the
week. Restrictions placed on speculative trading great
ly diminished the volume of such business, and prices
dropped at once. There was a further drop caused by
the report that the American government had asked
her European allies, to sell large quantities Of their hold
ings under future delivery contracts, because Of the be-
the remarkable advances Of the past few weeks. AS
a result Of the several causes at work July wheat sold
IN the Chicago market down to $214, although there
was some recovery from this low mark.