Mexico Missouri message., 1917-06-28


were blown into the air by 20 charges
Of high explosives, totaling a million
pounds. Instantly the Englishmen,
Irishmen, Australians and New Zea'
landers that make up the British army
In Belgium sprang forward in success
sive waves, and one of the tiercest
battles of the war was on.
The attack was directed at the Mes.
sines ridge, between Messines and
Wytschaete, where ever since October
Of 1914 the Germans had maintained
themselves in a sharp salient that al.
ways threatened Ypres, only three
miles to the north. The morning rush
resulted in the capture of Messines
and Wytschaete and the enemy's de-.
fense systems on the nine-mile front
and later in the day another forward
movement took the British into and
through the village Of OOsttaverne.
The entire salient was Strengthened out
and all the counter-attacks were re-
pulsed. Any considerable further adj
vance in this sector will threaten the
German hold on Lille, which is about
five miles from the nearest British po.
sition. Large numbers of prisoners
already have been taken.
The Germans must have known that
the attack of Messines ridge was In
tended, for the preparatory lombard
ment was terrific, and yet reports from
prisoners indicated that they actually
were taken by surprise.
In preparation for the operations in
Flanders the British feet co-operated
with the land forces, subjecting Os-
tend to severe bombardment. The
British air forces also were in action,
repeatedly raiding the German bases
at Zeebrugge, Ostend and Bruges. In
retaliation q squadron Of German air
planes attacked the British. naval base
in the Medway, close to London, on
Tuesday, but was driven off with the
loss of eight machines.
Several times during the week the
Germans made vicious attacks in the
Aisne and Champagne sectors and
even gained possession Of some French
positions; but the gallant poilus al.
most Immediately recovered the lost
ground, inflicting severe losses on the
enemy.
The Austrians claimed to have eff.
fectually checked the italian advance
toward Trieste, and announced that
the italian losses in the offensive were
10000 men. On Tuesday the Italians
were forced back south of Jamiano.
Dispatches from Rome revealed the
fact that Italy had proclaimed the in
dependence Of Albania.
Once more the British admiralty is
sued a very satisfactory report or
the work of the submarines, showing
but % British vessels sunk in the
week, five of which were fishing yes
sells. The American destroyers com
pleted their first month in the wal
and have proved themselves most valu
able aids to the British naval forces.
Russia Is Warned.
Conditions in Russia remain chaotic
though they may be Strengthened ou
somewhat by the work of the Roo
commission and the American railwa!
engineers. The revolt of the garrison
of Kronstadt, which declared the is
land fortress independent of the gov
ernment, caused considerable concern
in Petrograd, but as the action of tn,
garrison was denounced by the PetrO
grad council of workmen's and sol
dlers' delegates It collapsed, and tn
garrison bowed to the authority o
the provisional government.
Following President Wilson's exam
pie, France replied to Russia's state
ment Of her peace plan by settin
forth in a general way the demands o
the French. These, embodied In
vote of the chamber Of deputies, In
clude the liberation Of tho territorie
invaded by Germany, the return I
France of Alsace-Lorraine and jus
reparation for damage.
Japan also took official cognizanc
last week Of the Russian crisis, ir
FORMING the government at Petrogra
that II Russia withdraws from the wa
Japan, In consultation with Englan
and the United StateJ, will cOnside
what measures to adopt. The pre-
yisional government was warned tha
IL Russia accepts separate peace
will become another Austria under tn
domination of Germany, will lose PC
land, Lithuania and Finland and wi
; be stripped Of many of her outlyin
possessions. Furthermore, Japan ii
! formed Great Britain that while, /
case Of Russia's withdrawal from tn
, entente, Japan would prefer to sen
J her troops to France rather than I
undertake military chastisemen. {