The interior journal., 1917-05-08
LATEST WAR NEWS

Inc Germans have hurled counter
attacks after counter attacks against
the French forces in their newly ac-
quired positions northeast of Sois-
sons, taken in their advance toward
Laon, and eastward along the
Chemin-Des-Dames, but their efforts
were useless. Gen. Nivelle's men
clung tenaciously to them through
out Saturday night and Sunday, and
inflicted heavy casualties on the Ger
mans. The greater portion of the
eighteen-mile front has been consol-
dated, and as a result of the two
days fighting 6,100 Germans were
taken prisoners. Not content with
Saturdays gains northeast Of Sois-
sons, the French Sunday enlarged
their holdings by capturing in isolat-
ed operations important ~German
points of support north of the Mou-
! lin de Laffaux and north of Brave
En-Laonnos. The Berlin official COM
munication, in referring to Satur-
days battle, declares that the French
attempt to break through the Ger
man line was unavailing and that the
gigantic thrust was entirely repulsed.
II admits, however, that the intense
fire of the French guns destroyed
completely the German positions on
the Winterburg, and that this emf
nence and several adjacent sectors
were occupied by the French.
After five hours debate behind
closed doors the Senate eliminated
the notifications in the embargo sec
ton to which President Wilson OBJ
jected. The provision as it now
Stands would empower the President
during the war, when "the public
safety shall so require" to proclaim
it unlawful to export articles to any
country named.
Conferees on the War Army Bill
seemed hopelessly split yesterday
over the Senate amendment author
izing Col Roosevelt to take an army
to France, the Senate prohibition
amendment and the age limit for
drafted men. Unless the differences
are smoothed out the bill will be sent
back to the two Houses for further
action.
plea against premature peace
for Russia and renewed assurances
that American wage-earners and the
American people are in hearty SYM
pathy with the Russian democratic
movement were included in a cable
gram sent yesterday by Samuel Com
pers to the Executive Committee of
the Council of Workmen's and Sol
diers' Deputies at Petrograd.
After eliminating the newspaper
censorship section, as approved by
the administration, from the espion-
age bill, the House, Saturday by a
vote of 1875 to 1888, inserted a new
section. which makes it necessary to
show that publication of prohibited
Z -, Co r IL
enemy, before penalties of law be-
came effective.
The joint resolution, already
adopted by the Senate, authorizing
the seizure of the ninety-six German
vessels interned in American ports,
was adopted by the House yesterd>~,.
Additional German ships interned in
the Virgin Islands are exempt from
seizure, under the terms whereby the
islands were purchased recently from
Denmark
War measures will occupy Con-
gress this week Interest centers on
the War Army Bill, where warm
| fight is expected on the draft age
limit, and the Senate resolution per-
mittng Col. Roosevelt to raise a vol
unteer force.
A proposed tax of $3.50 a bale on
cotton in the War Revenue Bill
aroused a sectional controversary in
the House Ways and Means Commit
tee and resulted in the committees
failure to complete the bill Saturday
night, as had been planned. 1t is ex-
pected the bill will be ready for sub
mission to the House by Tuesday and
that it will carry the S1.800, 900, 900
desired by Secretary McAdoo.
1t is announced on reliable author
itv that the First Kentucky Regiment
will be sent to France within three
months.
Nine new regiments of army en-
gineers, composed exclusively of
highly trained railway men. will be
sent to France "at the earliest pos
sible moment" being the first troops
to go, the War Department announc-
ed Yesterday
Every package of mail delivered in
the United States will be marked
with advertisements asking the re-
cipient to buy war bond. All We
hicles of the Post-office Department
will carry Liberty Loan banners as
a part of a nationwide advertising
campaign.
That German Dlotters attempted
through organized labor to check mu-
nitions contracts through an appeal
to Samuel Gompers was brought out
in the trial of Capt. Fred Rintelen,
an alleged German plotter, yesterday
in New York