Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-07-05

were blown into the air by 20 charges
Of high explosives, tOtaling a million
pounds. Instantly the Englishmen,
Irishmen. Australians and New Yea.
landers that make up the British army
in Belgium sprang forward in success
sive waves. and one of the fiercest
battles of the war was on.
The attack was directed at the Mes.
sines ridge. between Messines and
Wytschaete, where ever since October
of 1914 the Germans had maintained
themselves in 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 nine-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
and all the counter-attacks We're 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 POI
stion. 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
,,r;e tn oil liz,
We're taken by surprise.
In preparation for the operations in
Flanders the British fleet co-operated
with the land forces. subjecting Os-
tend to severe bombardment. The
British air forces also We're in action,
repeatedly raiding the German bases
at Zeebrugge, Ostend and Bruges. In
retaliation q squadron Of German air
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, inflicting severe losses on the
enemy.
The Austrians claimed to have eff.
fectually checked the Italian advance
toward Trieste, and announced that
the Italian losses in the offensive were
10000 men. On Tuesday the Italians
We're forced back south Of Jamiano.
Dispatches from Rome revealed the
fact that Italy had proclaimed the in
| dependence of Albania.
Once more the British admiralty is.
| sued n very satisfactory report or
| the work of the submarines. showing
| but % British vessels sunk I'm the
week, five of which were fishing YES.
sells. The American destroyers com.
pleted their first month in the wal
able aids to the British naval forces.
Russia Is Warned.
Conditions in Russia remain chaotic
though they may be Strengthened out
commission and the American railway
engineers. The revolt of the garrison
of KrOnstadt. which declared the is.
land fortress independent of the gov
ernment, caused considerable concern
in Petrograd, but as the action of the
garrison was denounced by the Petro.
grad council of workmen's 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.
ment of her peace plan by setting
forth in general way the demands of
the French. These. embodied in q
vote of the chamber of deputies, in.
clude the liberation Of the territories
invaded by Germany, the return to
France of Alsace-Lorraine and just
PREPARATION for damage.
Japan also took official cognizance
last week Of the Russian crisis, in
forming the government at Petrograd
that If Russia withdraws from the war
Japan, In consultation with England
and the United States. will consider
what measures to adopt. The pro.
visional government was warned that
If Russia accepts separate peace II
will become another Austria under the
domination Of Germany, will lose Po.
land. Lithunnia and Finland and will
be stripped Of many of her outlying
possessions. Furthermore, Japan in.
formed Great Britain that WHILE in
case Of Russia's withdrawal from the
entente, Japan would prefer to send
her troops to France rather than to
undertake military chastisement of