Evening star., 1917-12-08
THE WEEK
EpitOns Of Events Ending De-
cenber q. 1917.
WAR,

Hro9lQon6 wilson, aQQrSSHnS COuSKooe,
announced the purpose Of tho United
States to win the war and called for
declaration OF war on Austria-Hungary
Congress subsequently adopted such
declaration. Assurances were given to
Switzerland. contradicting German propa-
ganda, that its neutrality would be re-
spected by the United States Tho Rus
sian ambassador returned to the United
States s5,00o,000 given for the account OF
Rumania, being unable to transfer It
More than $11,000,O0o,00o for war pur-
poses was asked in the annual estimates:
the Secretary of the Treasury warned that
over $4,000. 100000 in revenues from taxes
or bond issues will be required. to prevent
a deficiency. Pneumonia, scarlet fever and
minor diseases in cantonnents caused 243
deaths among soldiers The mutinous
to have killed officers and to have sur
rendered to m American warship. Ameri-
can engineers, in the zone of the German
counter attack near Cambria. gave GOOD
account OF themselves battling with Brit
ish forces.
German representatives signed an ar.
mfstice with bolshevik representatives Ct
Russia: the German emissaries declined
fronts because Of the absence Of repr,-
sentatives Of other enemy powers. Ru-
mania gave assurances that 1t has not
sued for separate peace Thousands wsre
reported starving in Greece. Gen. Dukilo-
min. former commander-in-chief OF the
Russian armies, was hurled from a train
and killed by bolshevih rioters. Seven
air raid on London. German forces con-
tinued counter attacks in force on the
advanced lines of the British in the Cam
brai section. After daily repulses 'reu-
tonic forces were reported to have made
slight successes on the Italian northern
front. East Africa was reported emit rely
cleared Of German forces, losing to Ger
ships were reported lost by U-boat ac-
tivities during the week.
NATIONAL.
The second session of the Sixty-fifth
Congress opened: a budget of $13,-
0OO,OOO,OOO, including war expenses. was
submitted by the Treasury Department
Representative F. H. Gillett, in the abb
sence of Representative Mann, acted
as minority floor leader in the House;
announcement was made of the retire.
ment of Representative J. ]. Fitzgerald,
committee. A bill was introduced to
provide Is per cent increase in the pay
of government employees for the war
period. James L. Wilmeth was ap-
pointed director of the bureau of en-
succeeded him as chief clerk of the
Treasury Department: John +. Sum
megS was designated as diabursing
clp'k of the Treasury Department. The
Interstate Commerce Commission
recommended unification of the rail-
road systems Of the United States
or government ownership. The w.
G. T. U. met in annual conven-
tion, advocating national prohibition
law. Police of Philadelphia voted to
retire in a body unless wage increases
were granted. CASTOR Meana. charged
with the murder of Mrs. Maude A
King, took the stand in his own de-
fense. Fire destroyed acres Of build
ings on the Brooklyn water front
Among those who died during the week
were Rear Admiral Charles c. Rogers,
retired; Oscar Lewisohn. banker.
FOREIGN.
Two Thousand were reported dead
and half the city of Halifax, N s., in
ruins. as result of an explosion of
munitions following the collision in
Halifax harbor Of the French NUM-
tions ship Mont Blanc and the Belgian
relief ship Iona: the northern part of
the city was ablaze. with communica-
tion- difficult; aid was rushed from a
number of American and Canadian
cities American cavalry pursued
Mexican outlaws over the Texas
rebels and government troops battled
near Chunkking. August Phillips was
designated Dutch minister to the
United States. The new Quebec bridge
was opened to traffic. Charles Trincard,
American aviator in the Lafayette
escradrille, was killed by an acci-
dental fall In France