Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-26

SAIAAAeH III muCn more 6LrOHB-
ly toward Germany than has Norwegian sentiment The
sinking of Swedish vessels, laden with wheat needed
badly by the people OF Sweden, has aroused anger and
materially changed Swedish sentiment, and the Germans
seem to have added another to the multitude of plumbers
which they have committed, the effect of which has been
to ALLEVIATE nation after nation from them.
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The little news that has come from Russia during
the week has indicated more satisfactory conditions there
than for some time. Apparently differences among fac
tons have been adjusted sufficiently to make possible a
working basis. The military situation seems also to have
improved, and vigorous work is being done to bring into
the army the share of discipline necessary again to make
it an effective force.
Austria Hungary is experiencing political throes and
spasms which indicate a strong feeling of unrest and dis
satisfaction there. One OF the significant incidents is the
retirement OF Count Tisza, former premier Of Hungary.
a man whose strong pro-eerman sentiments have had
most to do with making the dual monarchy serve as a
tail to the German kite. The new emperor Charles is
generally described as a man of strong democratic lean
ings, and to have resented bitterly the domination of the
German kaiser over the affairs of his country. During
the present disturbances he has called into conference
eminent men whose democratic synnpathies are well
known.
Arrangements for the convention which is to try its
hand at shaping a constitution for Ireland are under way.
Premier Lloyd George insisted that if a convention were
held it should be fully representative Of all the Irish
groups, not of politicians alone, but of commercial ana
social bodies. This plan was accepted by the Nationalist
under the leadership Of Redmond. There is opposition
on the one hand from the Sim Feiners. and on the other
from the Clstermen, the demands of these parties being
as opposite as the poles.
From the far east comes the information that WI
Ting Fang has been made premier of China under the
republican government. He was for several years the
representative of his country in the United States, and
he was credited with great ability and progressiveness
China some time ago severed diplomatic relations with
Germany, and the opinion seems to be entertained that
the accession of WI Ting Fang to the premiership will
soon be followed by a formal declaration Of war against
the Teutons.
There has been a good deal of heavy fighting on the
French front, but no very large gains made by the allies
Bad weather has operated against rapidity Of movement
and the British and French have been consolidating their
recent gains, and, undoubtedly, preparing for a fresh on
slaught in force. The moral Of all the recent fighting Is
that the Germans cannot hold their lines. They have
been driven out of the strongest positions that they knew
how to create. Their best soldiers have been driven back
captured or killed. They fight hard. and deliver lusty
blows in exchange for those which they receive, but they
cannot hold their ground. Their trenches are obliterat-
ed, their concrete works are ground to powder, and their
progress is always backward.
The most strenuous work of the week has been on the
Italian front, where the Italians, having conquered al.
most superhuman obstacles, have made really important
gains of late, and are now within ten miles of the coveted
port OF Trieste, which has been the objective Of their
forces in that section ever since they entered the war.
go. =
Preparations are now being made throughout the
country TOT Loyalty day, June 5, when the male pOpula-
ton of the United States between the ages of Fl and 81
will register as the first step in the creation of the new
national army. Grand Forks will observe the days with
fitting solemnity, and committees for this purpose have
been at work during the week.
Forest fires have wrought havoc through northern
Minnesota. and millions Of feet of fine pine have been de,
stroyed. Suggestions have been made that the fires were
OF incendiary origin, caused by German agents in order
to make it more difficult for the government to obtain
the timber with which to build Its new wooden ships
This is possible, but in the absence Of evidence to support
the suspicion 1t seems more reasonable to suppose that
the tires have been caused by carelessness or accident,
as many have been caused before, and that the dry con-
dition of the forest has facilitated the spread of the
flames,
Wheat prices have declined materiallv Of late Thu
shutting down Of speculative trading, the prospect of
vigorous action by the federal government to prevent
speculation which will work grave injury to the public
the excellent reports from Texas, where the wheat har-
vest has just begun, and the good seeding conditions in
the spring wheat districts have all coupled to puncture
the bubble that has been blown in wheat prices, and to
induce something more like sanity into the situation than
has prevailed for some time.
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The governor has changed his mind about NOT a1lin.
an election in the First congressional district until late
in the fall, and has issued a call for such an election on
July 10. He follows the opinion of the attorney general
who has ruled, as was expected, that nominations for thi.
election must be made by petition. This is in conflict
with the action taken by the Republican state committee
In calling a convention to nominate a congressional can
didate, and the court will be called on to decide just what
is the correct mode Of procedure.
REGISTRATION
On June 5 every male person in the United STATE.