The Benson signal., 1917-06-09

Trieste, though the forward move.
ment Slackened considerably and much
of the time was given to consolidating
the positions already won, and beating
Off the furious cOunter-aSsaults of the
Austrians. The Italians captured San
Giovanni, one of the key defenses OF
Trieste, and it was reported that all
noncombatants had ben ordered to
leave the latter city, indicating that
the Austrians did not hope to hold pos
session of it much longer. The evident
plan of the Italians was to move OF
Trieste along the coast of the Adriatic,
avoiding the mountainous country far.
ther north and obtaining the aid of
British warships. Northeast of Cor
itz the Italians made some further
| progress. The achievements of the
| Italian soldiers in this offensive are
| truly wonderful, when the nature of
the country and the strength of the
opposition are considered, and their
bravery and high spirit are unsur-
| passed.
In France there was violent artil-
lery firing through the week, and the
| combats in the air were numerous and
spectacular. Again the allied airmen
demonstrated their superiority over
those of the German army. The Brit
ish aviators have been especially ac-
tive, and in night flights have dropped
many tons of explosives on military
establishments of the enemy far back
of the lines.
The lull in the activity of other
arms on the west front was taken to
presage another big offensive, and this
time it is predicted that the Germans
are preparing a tremendous effort to
smash France before American troops
can help her.
Another marked decrease in the
number of British ships sunk by SUBJ
marines is noted in the weekly admir-
atty report. Among the vessels lost
were hospital ship and an armored
cruiser. Spain and Norway were fur
ther aggravated by the sinking of more
of their vessels.
The Brazilian chamber of deputies
authorized the revocation of the de-
cree Of neutrality, and the senate fol-
lowed this up by authorizing an alli-
ance of Brazil with 'other states to
defend the American republics against
the world"
To ORGANIZE Farm | ahor
The department of agriculture an
nounced the governments detailed
plan for the organization of farm la
Dor. The work already has been
started in 40 states. The plan pro-
vides for strictly local handling of all
labor problems that can be adjusted
locally. The fundamental unit of the
organization is the community man"
who, with the assistance of such COM
mittees as he may appoint, canvasses
his own neighborhood, finds out what
farmers need help and what men are
available for supplying the local need.
If, after all local adjustments have
been made, there remains either
deficit or surplus of labor, he reports
to the county man." whose business
it is to effect adjustments in his coun-
ty. The county man, in turn, reports
and deficit of surplus to the estate
man." who canvasses the situation for
the state as a whole and reports to
the department of agriculture.
The finance committee of the senate
revenue bill. In the house the food
survey bill, the lesser of the govern
ment's two food measures, was passed.
On Thursday the house by vote Of
184 to IA, returned the espionage bill
to the conference committee of the
two houses with instructions to elimi-
nate the press-censOrship section on
the adoption of which the president
had been insistent. The senate al
ready had voted against the provision.
The house was influenced considerably
by charges that the administration
had been suppressing the truth about
health conditions in the navy, and it
was shown later that the senate had
kept secret report Of Surgeon Gen
eral Braisted describing the epidemics
in the navy and the primitive condi-
tiOns under which the medical officers
were forced to labor.
Two destructive tOrnadoes swept
through central Illinois, the towns of
MattOOn and Charleston being the
worst sufferers. About 300 lives were
lost, and the property damage was
enormous. These storms were fol-
lowed by others farther south in the
Mississippi valley that killed about 70
more persons.