The Washington herald., 1917-06-12
Big Squeeze" in West L
About to Set In-Drive
Aimed at U-Boat Bases.
Italians Active.
CBy InternatIeasI News seryIeel

Nby InternnttOnal News Servtcel
London. June n.-Another mile o,
German trenches was captured b,
Gen. Plumer's forces today, the wa
once report tonight says.
The allied clutch around Central Eu.
rope developed strong muscular vibra
ions today. There were signs tina
the big squeeze" Il about 70 set in
II had been planned at the Roms
conference, following the German
peace offer. The aftermath Of ths
Russian revolution postponed It. Tbs
allies have since revised their route
SO they may reach their goal without
Russia-with the United States. J.
Russia rallies In the eleventh hour
success will be the more complete
The Petrograd weather vane pointed
that way today.
First on the program Of the great
concerted drive Is the crushing Of the
German right flank in the west. This
nank Is spread across the rich mines
and fertile fields of Northern France
and Belgium and reaches out toward
England, lurking unseen. but seeing
all, from beneath the surface OF the
Dover Straits and the channel
To Strike U-Boat Bases.
To insure success for the big
squeeze" the U-bost menace is 70 be
struck at ats nearest roots, the bases
In Belgium. To that end, II seemed
tonight, the British heavy artillery
and British raiding forces started early
today preparations for a drive alOnE
the coast.
To keep TeLtOn re-enforcements
from the west. Italy. now the west
ern powers most efficient ally. pitch
ed by the Sonia war ONCE. Even the
front. At the same time. Gen. SarraiI
got ready for new drive in Mace
donia. Hurricane FIRE" was report
ed by the Sofia war office. Tven the
reorganiEed remnants OF the Rumanisn
army did its share, starting a bonn
bardment If Mackensen'S lines near
the Black Sea litoral.
From Petrograd came reassuring dis
patches Of loyalty manifestations by
the CosSacks and peasants, though
these were offset somewhat by news
of intensified peace agitation on the
part Of the Council Of Workmen's and
Soldiers Delegates.
Overshadowing all else in interest
and importance Is the now apparent
British plan 20 stamp out the C-boat
pest where IL is most oppressive
most obstinate and pernicious. From
the little Belgian port OF Zeebrugge
the subsea raiders sneak out hourly
to snatch away England's food and
supplies at the very gates Of Eng
lands eastern seapOrts. lnnumerable
mosquito" craft on the surface and
Zeppelins and airplanes overhead es-
cort them on the first lap Of their
journey.
Fist of Foes Right Arm
A few miles out from port
these C-boats can turn TO the right
into the North Sea or to the LETT
| through the Dover Straits into the
Channel as they please They form
the first OF tho German right arm fn
| the west. a hst that hits below the
belt, answering surface blockade with
| subsea blockade.
Zeebrugge and Ostend taken. the
German C-bost campaign would be
confined in the important matter OF
exists to the Helgoland Blight and
the Skagerrak. The menace would be
removed from right under Englsnd's
other day. With the help Of the
take care Of what then remains OF the
menace
So all along the seventy miles be-
tween Ypres and Epehy,- the British
big guns tuned uG ar dawn today for
the eaTth-shaEing overture. Re
connoitering columns daTted forward
in every vital sector
The spies OF the air were equally
busy. YpTes is the pivot Of the British
front. and around II either TO the
south or north-most likely TO the
south against I.ille-the British are
expected 10 try 10 make the fatal
breach. Meanwhile slight progress
was made by Gen. Pluuer's forces 70
the south Of Messinss, where they
, took the big ridge last week.