Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-10-20

mines and stop production in lny field. both mines and
labor will be commandeered by the government and ops
Grated under military regulations. The strike talk ap-
pears to come from local groups or ohhcials, and the
general labor organizations a. q rule are opposed to this
method Of compuldon. The situation In some sections
is very tense, and the public need not be surprised at any
time to learn Of the seixure Of coal mines by the govern
ment and the drafting Of miners into the service Of the
government to continue their work under such regula-
tions as the government may prescribe.
. ~
Comparative quiet has reigned along the western
battle front during the week. The term comparative
quiet has acquired . meaning that would have seemed
strange before the war. Along the entire front from the
Alps to the North sea there is not a section where the
air has not constantly been rent and the earth SCARED by
the firing Of heavy artillery. and mon have died in the
trenches and between them, and men have been carried
back wounded to the hospitals at every hour Of the day
and night. But all the lighting has been Of a casual ma
ture, and without apparent object other than to keep
the enemy busy. There has been no drive in which great
forces were sent after careful preparation to carry cut
any operation which was expected ia. result in the capture
Of important sections of the enemy's line.
The three sledge-hammer blows delivered by Cen
eral Haig in the Ypres salient, and which resulted In the
success Of the British at every point, have been followed
by a week in which. presumably, the British forces nave
been making secure what they have gained, and in pre-
pairing for a further advance. There have been indica-
lions that the advance might not be long delayed, and
it is evidently the purpose of the allies to push the fighting
in that section before winter sets in.
..o
The Russian government has announced that In the
near future the seat Of administration would be removed
from Petrograd to Moscow, and in anticipation of the
official evacuation OF the present capital steps have al
ready been taken for the evacuation Of Reval, the sea-
port which serves the capital. The Germans have made
themselves masters of the Gulf Of Riga, and appear to
be massing for a movement for the control Of the Gulf
Of Finland, at the head Of which Petrograd is situated.
= . . = "I '
The conditions in Russia have long been such that
almost anything was to be expected in that quarter, but
the German naval operations in the Baltic have called
forth caustic comment from the London Mail, which asks
what the British feet, reinforced as it now is by a part
of the American feet, has been doing to permit a battle
squadron to carry out an important naval movement in
the Baltic without interference or interruption.
= . =
Political conditions in Germany appear to be ap'
preaching another climax. Chancellor Michaels has beer
in Office but a few weeks. but already vehement demands
for his retirement are heard, and within the past two OF
three days it has been reported that his retirement has
actually been decided on, and that he is to be succeeded
by Prince Won Buelow. This is interpreted to mean the
determination of the ruling powers to stake their fate
on the most incorporating policy of pan-Germanism
The kaiser himself has started on a visit to his allies, the
sultan and the king of Bulgaria, and, as even the mos
warlike pronouncennents in Germany are coupled witt
an undercurrent Of plotting for a German peace, it is sus
pected that the present visit may be followed by another
crop of peace rumors from Berlin.