The midland journal., 1917-09-28
Field Marshal Haig Opens New
Offensive h Belgium
East of Ypres.
MAY CUT OFF U.BOAT BASES
Germans Start Another Lot of Peace
Rumors-Kerensky ProcIaims Rus
sian Republic But Must Curb Ex-
treme RadIeals-Labor Troubles
in the United States.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

Following the usual devastating ar
tillery fire, great attack on German
positions in Belgium was begun by the
British forces early Thursday morning.
The offensive, the fiercest Of recent
months, embraced wide front east of
Ypres. The first days fighting, which
will be known as the battle of Menin
road, resulted in big gains for Field
Marshal Haig's troops, especially in
the important sector between the
Ypres-Roulers railway and Hollebeke.
The Germans resisted desperately and
the British were compelled to advance
over ground covered with water-filled
shell holes, barbed-wire entanglements
and fallen trees and in the face of
murderous machine-gun fire from the
many small concrete redoubts that
have to considerable extent, replaced
the German front line trenches. But
the British heavy artillery had done
its work well, and the Tommies pushed
ahead, slaughtering the enemy or driv-
ing them far back.
The Germans naturally knew the at
tack was coming, but could not foresee
just where it would be made. Haig's
selection of the field for this offensive
indicates that he intends to try to
force Ruprecht of Bavaria away from
the Belgian coast and to cut off the
German U-boat and airplane bases
along the shore between Zeebrugge
and Nieuport. Such a move by the
British has been looked forward to for
q long time.
italians Getting Ready.
The Italians seem to be gathering
themselves for another leap at the
throat of Austria, and their generals
declare they must and will administer
to the foe a decisive defeat in the field,
and then they will be in position to
continue their advance on Trieste, and
perhaps on Laibach. Meanwhile activ-
fty in the Trentino has increased and
the Latins hit the Austrians there sew
eral times last week. That the latter
have called on re-enforcements wher-
ever they could get them is evidenced
by the presence of Turks among the
prisoners taken by the Italians in re-
cent days.
Along the French front the few
changes of the week were at the ex-
pense of the crown princes forces.
That fatuous young man is still try
ing to recover the plateaus of the
Aisne and the lost positions near YER
dun and sacrifices his soldiers with
prodigality.
German Peace Rumors.
peace proposals before many months
becomes increasingly evident. Last
week saw the sending up of several
"trial balloons" from Berlin, including
an industriously spread report that
Great Britain had suggested terms, and
a story that the kaiser would surren-
der Belgium and restore it. These
feelers met with no sympathetic re-
sponse by the allies. Great Britain
fatty denied the alleged peace offer /;
Premier Painleve reaffirmed Frances
determination to continue the war un-
til Germany gave up Alsace-Lorraine
and pledged reparation for the dam
ages she has caused; and America
went steadily ahead with it's tremend-
Gus preparations.
The German papers are permitted by
the censor to discuss the peace rumors
freely, probably to prepare the people
for some move by the government but
neither the German nor the Austrian
government seems to be yet in the
proper mood to command any consid-
Grafton from the allies. which are all
on their guard.
The pope, 1t is reported, will send
out new peace proposals to the bellig-