Mexico Missouri message., 1917-08-16
Haig and Petain Start Another
Drive in Flanders and Make
Big Gains.
AIMING AT u BOAT BASES?
Good Work by the Russo-Roumanlan
Forces-Teutonic Peace Move De-
rided-Agreement Reached on
Food Control 5iIl--Exemp-
ton Boards Are Busy.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARp.

After twenty days of the most ire
mendous artillery fire Of the war, the
Anglo-French armies in Flanders be-
gan on Tuesday q great drive that
aroused the highest hopes for definite
results. Great masses of troops dashed
forward along q front of twenty miles,
overran the enemy's first three lines of
defense between Warneton and Dix
nude and captured eleven towns and
more than 5000 prisoners. They
crossed the User at many places, the
engineering corps performing prodigies
in the way of bodybuilding under
fire. Tanks and airplanes played i'm
portant parts in the terrific conflict.
The Germans resisted stoutly and on
Wednesday, when the allies advance
was checked by torrential rains, the
Teutons by fierce counter-attacks won
back q little of the lost ground. Next
day the British again drove the Ger
mans back, and then the artillery re-
sumed the task of blowing Prince Ru-
prechts men out of the supporting de-
lenses to which they had retired.
Generals Haig and Petain exchanged
kilograms of congratulation on the
success in Flanders, and the kaiser,
not to be outdone, congratulated Ru
precht on his "great success" and at
once called conference in Brussels of
his commanding officers on the west
front and other officials. The German
losses are reported to have been ire
mendous and those of the allies COM
paratvely light. Several American
surgical teams worked on the fighting
line side by side with their British al
lies.
The exact objective of this drive was
not officially announced, but the peo-
pie of the allied nations hoped and the
Germans assumed that the Anglo
French armies intend to push along the
Belgian coast and force the Germans
to abandon their submarine bases.
Such a movement would also turn the
right end of the German line and
might well compel a general retire
ment toward the Rhine. If the allies
could reach the Dutch border it is be-
lieved Holland might be persuaded to
throw in her lot with them, decision
which Germany evidently has feared
for some time.
Conditions in Russia.
The disorganized Russian troops
continued their retreat eastward
through Gallcia, and at some points
the pursuing TeutOns and Turks
crossed the Russian border. However,
there was perceptible stiffening Of re-
sistance by the Siavs, and further
north they held their lines fairly well.
On the Roumanian front the Russo
Roumanian army fought bravely and
successfully, making considerable adj
vances. Its good work may go far to-
ward saving the rich grain fields Of
southern Russia from the enemy.
Meanwhile Kerensky and his col
leagues are working fast to avert dis
aster. Their program, according to the
official newspaper, is to restore the
| army's power by a clear definition of
the limits Of Russia's present liberty,
the taking of the severest and most
merciIess measures for re-establish1ng
military discipline, and the restoration
| of the shaken authority of Russia's
| most disinterested and seif-sacrlficing
servants, her officers. Hundreds of
German spies in Russian uniforms
found mingling with the soldiers have
been executed summarily, and the mu-
tinous troops are being punished as
traitors. 1t is now reported that Lee
nine has escaped from. Russia proba-
| bly, to Germany through Finland and
Sweden.