The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-12-20
NEWS REVIEW OF PAST WEEK

Continued from first page)
CONTROL the Russian wheat market for
fifteen years and German goods shall
be admitted to Russia duty free. The
armistice, 1t Is said. Is to continue for
three months. Germany seemingly
evaded the Russian demand that dur.
ing It's continuance no troops be
moved to other fronts, and meanwhile
has been transferring hundreds of
thousands OF soldiers to France and
Italy.
Germans Preparing for Great Attack.
All the signs during the early part of
the week led To the belief that the
Germans were preparing for a supreme
effort at some point Of the west front.
Allied aviutorS observed long motor
trims carrying vast numbers Of troops
ami immense quantities Of supplies,
and for days the German artillery was
excessively active. Various f~eeling-out
movements were undertaken against
thu French without success. and on
Wednesday the Germans made three
iolen attacks on the British between
Bullecourt and Queant. The FIRST two
were repulssd and the third gave the
enemy possession Of an already oblit-
Grated trench at the apex Of the angle
In the British lines.
This, OF course, was not the main at
tack planned by Won Hindenburg, VINO,
II was believed, would soon start his
greatest offensive on the west in two
years, with the assistance Of many
Austrian divisions. The British and
french were on tiptoe to meet II, and
II WAS taken for granted that some at
least OF General Pershing's American
forces would have a part in the battle.
Indeed, some observers predicted that
an attempt would be made I smash
thai part Of the line toward Alsace
where most OF the Americans have
been stationed. Others believed the
main attack Of the Germans would be
delivered against the French betwses
Reims and Verdun.
italian Front Seems Safe.
For several days the Austrians, Hun
garians and Germans made continuous
49, h'0NJ AfHhu'Ns on Lne lLhllhuS De-
tween the Playe mt Brsnta rivers
north Of Monte Grappa. The fighting
was severe and the losses large, but
the enemy made slight impression on
the Italian line, gaining a precarlous
foothold In some positions on Monte
S~pinoncia and Col Orso. The Italians
are Fighting with the utmost detsrmlns-
ton and are greatly cheersd by the
prospect OF American help. On Thurs
day q large number Of American am
bulance men with their cars left Rome
Tor the Piava river front. II Is inter
esting to note that the frst American
shot against Austria was fred by Req.
resentative Tinkham Of Massachusetts
on the lower Piave. On Invitation OF
an italian officer he sent a big shell
hurting across % the Austrian line.
regardless of the fact that II the enemy
should capture him he could be exc
cuted as u "franc-tireur."
Bearing out the statement that the
Teutonic effort In Italy has exhausted
: itself Is the welcome news that heavy
Is falling In the mountains at the
west end Of the front, rendering din.
cult the further transportation OF men
and material. The Italians, however.
expect to hold the enemy by strength
Of arms rather than with the aid OF ma.
ture.
The Italian navy Is doing It's part
In the defense and on Sunday pight a
torpedo boat fotilla entered tina hsr.
Dor OF Trieste and sank two Austrian
battleships, one OF them being the
Wien.
Occupation Of Jerusalem.
The occupation Of Jerusalem BY Gen.
ersl Allenby's expedition caused great
rejoicing among Christians and Jews
OF the civilized world. The event has
more than n sentimental value, for the
possession Of the Holy City by the
British makes safe the Suez canal and
provides them with u base from which
to threaten seriously the Turks to the
east and north. In conjunction with
the British operations In Mssopo-
tamia. Allenby's success In Palestine ID
very important TO the cause of he al.
lies. As was predicted. Jerusalem was
AXE without the necessity of q bonn
bardment, and Its captors are ade-
qustsly protecting the holy places.
In M~esopotamia General %Falksnhayn
launched his expected offensive, at.
lacking General Marshall's army with