The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-06-15
ENTENTE CLAMPS DOWN
on TEUTONS
Offensive on All Fronts Believed
To Mark Opening of Big Drive
to Crush Germany.

London, June 1.-THE allied
cluthch around central Europe devel-
oped strong muscular vibrations today
There were signs that the big squeeze
is about to set in.
1t had been planned at the Rome
conference following the German
peace offer. The aftermath of the
Russian revolution postponed it. The
allies have since revised their route
so they may reach their goal with
out Russia-with the United States.
If Russia rallies in the eleventh
hour success will be the more COM
plete. The Petrograd weatnervane
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
flank is spread across the rich mines
and fertile fields of northern France
and Belgium and reaches out toward
England, lurking unseen, Dut seeing
all, from beneath the surface of the
Dover straits and the channel.
Hit U-BOats
To insure success for the "big
squeeze" the U-boat menace is to be
struck at its nearest roots; the bases
in Belgium To that end it seemed
tonight the British heavy artillery
and British raiding forces started
early today preparations Cor a drive
along the coast. To keep Teuton re-
endorsements from the west, Italy.
now the western powers most eff
cient ally, pitched in again, this time
on the Trentino front. At the same
time General Sarrail got ready for
new drive in Macedonia. ."Hurrl-
cane fire" was reported by the Sofa
war Office Even the reorganized
remnants of the Russian army did
it's share, starting bombardment
Of Mackensen's lines near the Black
sea littoral.
From Petrograd came reassrring
dispatches of loyalty manifestations
by the Cossacks and peasants,
though these were offset somewhat
by news of intensified peace agita-
ticn on the part of the council OF
workmen's and soldiers delegates.
Below Belt
Overshadowing all else in interest
and importance is the now apparent
British plan to stamp out the U-boat
"pest" where it is most oppressive,
most obstinate and pernicious. From
the little Belgian port of Zeebrugge
the sub-seaxraiders sneak out hourly
to snatch away England's food and
supplies at the very gates OF Eng
lands eastern seaports. InnumeraDIe
mosquito" craft on the surface and
Zeppelins and airplanes overhead
escort them on the first lap of their
tourney. A few miles OUT rom port
these U-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 the German right arm IN
the west, fist that hits below the
belt, answering surface blockade with
sub-sea blockade.
Zeebrugge and Ostend taken, the
German U-boat campaign would De
confined, in the important matter OF
exits. to the Heligoland blight and the
Skagerback. The menace would oe
removed from fright under Englands
nose" as one naval expert put it the
other day. With the help Of the
American squadron, the allies hope to
take care Of what then remains OF
the menace.
Progress
So all along the 70 miles between
Ypres and Ephey, the British big
guns tuned up at dawn for an earth
shaking overture Reconnoitering col
umns darted forward in every vital
sector. The spies Of the air were
equally busy. Ypres is the pivot OF
the British front and around it either
to the south or north most likely
to the south against Lille the Brit
ish are expected to try to make the
breach. Meanwhile slight progress
was made by General Plumer's forces
to the south of Messines, where they
took the big ridge last week.
The Berlin war Office, ever eiert to
prevent the public fron being taken by
surprise, announced he2Vy gun Al!ns
east of Ypres and-which the British
statement failed to reporr-ln the Sec
tor of the dunes near Nieuport On the
sea. Nieuport is very close to where
the British and Teuton lines face tAcn
other on the coast. Twenty miles to
the northeast lies Zeebrugge,
On the SOmme
The Germans kept up their heavy
drum fire against the French lines
on the Aisne and in the Champagne.
The French artillery answered gun
for gun. A development that bears
watching, military critics point out, Is
the revival of artillery fire north OF
the Somme. All the way between
Cambria and st. Quentin the guns are
roaring. This is the sector in which
Hindenburg made his now-famous re-
tirement.
loo