Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-30
AUSTR|ANS CARRY
OUT BOMBING RAID
OVER PADUA CITY
Thirteen Persons Killed and
Sixty Others Are
Injured.
RICH ART TREASURES
ESCAPE B0MBARDMENT
Three British Destroyers Sunk
Of Dutch Coast, With
Loss Of 1913 Lives.
QUIET IN FIGHTING ZONES
Pctrograd Dispatches Not Clear on
Reception OF Tcutonic Reply
to Peace Terms.
QUIET IN FIGHTING ZONES
Pctrograd Dispatches Not Clear on
Reception OF Tcutonic Reply
to Peace Terms.
tBy Associated preol

Cold weather and snow In tho Eu-
ropcan lighting zone have reduced mil
itary activities to a minimum in most
sectors. Only In Northern Italy has
thcrc been any movement OF import
ance in the last forty-eiGht hours. Even
there an infantry operation is report
Cd from only one point on the battle
line. Tho Italians took the Initiative,
delivering a blow AZ tho Austro Ger
man line near Monte Tomba. on the
mountain from, just 10 tho west OF the
Piave. Tho German War ONCE re-
ports this engagement, declaring that
the Italian attack was broken UP by
the defensive fire.
The principal aerial activity also is
reported from tho Italian front. Aus
trian nirmcn recently beaten on from
Treviso with the loss of eleven air
nlanes, carried out bombing ra!d
Friday night In which the city OF
Padua. rich IN AIT treasures. was at
tackled. Meme of the city'a noted mon
urucn,e was harmed. but eight bombs.
dropped in the most densely populated
part Of the town. killed thirteen per-
sons and injured sixty others Ecnbs
towns closer to tho lighting lines tian
Fadua, which Is some thirty-flve miles
from the front. caused no damage o.
casualties.
In naval warfare. to7pcdocs OF mines
scored against British torpedo boat
dcstroycrs operating Off the Dutch
coast. Three OF these craft were sunk
on the night OF December 22 during
.ith hc 1s
officers and men. -. ~. gs Y
phc disniacins OF Admiral Sir John
Jol!icoe by Vice-Adrnirai Sir Rosslyn
wemyss as First Sea Lord is partly
attributed In England 20 the loss Of
;hcse three destroycrs with many OF
their personnel.
KING OF RUUMANIA
ABDICATES his THRONE
King Ferdinand, OF Roumana, has
abd!catcd the throne in favor Of Crown
rrinco Charles. according to an un-
confirmed rumor in Pe;rosrad. This fol-
lows previous reports OF rcvo!u
,!opary plo; against Ferdinand. and
other Indications ot political cr!sia
n tho kingdom. as described in DIS
patches received AZ the Bo!Sheviki
headquarters in Pc;roSraj last Monday.
PctroSrad special dispatches do rot
indicate clearly what the reception
has been in Russia OF the central
powers reply to the Russian peace
proposals. Ono view taken is that
Northern Russia is disposed TO accept
peace on almost any terms. while tkG
attitude o! the remainder OF the ma
tion is uncertain. Another correspond
cnt considers the Bolshcviki dislicart-
cned at tho German dcclination TO ac.
ccpt tho principle that natio7alities
hitherto without political independence
be allowed to decide their own fu-
turc. this refusal being considered u
stumbling block for further ncsotia-
tions.
Meanwhile. Germans who have ar
rived in Petrograd are being permitted
10 spread their propaganda, and Ger
man newspapers arc circulating free
ly. Postal service with entente cuun-
tries. Oh the other hand, is lacking,
and allied residents OF Petrcsrad as
we'll as the Russians as whole, re-
main In complete ignorance OF VIA:
has gone on in allied countries for the
past six weeks.