The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-03-15
The War News in Brief.

Last week gains by the Allies were report.
ed on all fronts. The advance by the French
and British on the western front continued,
the British and Russians were closing in on
Bagdad, with indications that Turkey will soon
be overcome. The Italians were advancing
the Germans have apparently spent their force
in Roumania and the Bulgarians have evident
ly done their worst.
The present week began with the occupation
Sunday by the B B.itish forces of the city of
Bagdad, the chief Turkish city of Mespotama
No details have been received at this writing.
The fall of Bagdad besides ending German
hopes of Near Eastern dominion based on
Berlin Bagdad Railway, will reverberate
throughout the Mohammedan Empires and, it
is believed, will more than rehabiiitate British
reign in the Far East, damaged by the earlier
loss of Kut- El-Amara.
staff correspondent at British headquar-
ters in France reports: at is increasingly eyi.
dent that in carrying out their retiI ement in
the Arras and Somme areas the Germans sacri-
feed large numbers of their very best soldiers
Carefully selected from various regiments,
they were given certain pos is with instruc-
tions to hold them against all odds. majority
of them having idea whatever that they
were fighting rear guard action Prisoners
taken represent the highest type of the Ger
man Army"
Germany is reported to be on the verge of
financial trouble, and the food situation is
even worse in Prussia than in Germany. Fol-
lowing is passage from the reports of Herr
Hofer q Socialist member of the Prussian
Diet. published in a LEGAL newspaper. "Mor-
tality among elderly people is increasing at a
terrible rate, while epidemics are spreading
everywhere owing to the decreased powers Of
resistance. The situation is much more seri-
GUS than has been admitted. The number of
suicides is increasing and parents killing
their children owing to their inability to OBJ
tain food for them. Yet the price Of p,tatoes,
which long ago became generally scarce. is to
be increased"
Eight officers of the German steamer Lieben-
fels. sunk in Charleston harbor on the night of
Jan. 81, have been sentenced to year in the
Atlanta penitentiary and to pay fine of $500
each. They were convicted March Sch of sink
ing vessel in navigabe stream in violation
of navigation laws
The immediate breaking off of relations with
Germany is expected at Peking, and it is gen
orally predicted that China will Join the E.-
tente.
Dutch newspapers publish the following
statement made by DR.. Alfred Zimmerman,
the German foreign secretary. to a representa-
tive of Budapest newspaper: GAS far as the
United States is concerned, we have spoken
our last word and the decision 10 in President
Wilson's hand. We are determined to carry
through the submarine war to the end. The
results Of unrestricted submarine war thus far
have been very satisfactory"
Tuesdays papers brought news that the
Germans were hard pressed on the line in
France. The French have recaptured all their !
positions recently lost and the British have
gained important ground by raids north Of
Peronne and south Of Arras. On the other
fronts. except in Mesopotamia and Persia.
where it is assumed that both the British and /
the Russians are still harrassiug the Turks,
only minor operations have been reported.
Wednesdays papers report further gains of
The Allies on the western front.