Mexico Missouri message., 1917-05-31


war must be carried on vigorously and
faith kept with the country's allies.
Professor Milukoff was forced to quit
the cabinet and was succeeded as for
eign minister by Tereschtenko, while
Kerensky, who was minister of justice,
became minister of war and marine.
Generals Brussiloff and Gurko and
other commanders who had resigned,
were persuaded to withdraw their res
ignations, and turned their energies to-
ward stopping the disintegration OF the
armies.
All this sounds encouraging, and 1t
may be Russia can be held firm to her
pledges. If not, 1t means merely the
prolongation of the war and the de-
ferring of the certain ultimate result
the defeat of the central powers.
The United States began giving con-
crete aid to Russia on Wednesday,
when Secretary McAdoO gave to its
charge daffaires S100,000,OOO of the
allied loan, with the specification that
the money be spent in this country
under the supervision of the treasury
department. The American mission
to Russia, headed by Mr.. Root, was
given its instructions, but 1t cannot
reach Petrograd for about two months.
Belgium got Il share of the loan
when Mr.. McAdoo handed its repre-
sentatives q credit for $45, 100000.
Italian offensive Begun.
With the passing of winter condi'
tons Italy began a vigorous offensive
on Monday, attacking the Austrlans
along the entire Isonzo front The
| enemy fought back sturdily, but was
forced to give ground in the region OF
| PLAYA, north of Goritz. In this Italy
is only anticipating a grand assault
which the Austrians had been prepar-
ing to make. The fighting continued
throughout the week with varying for
tunes, the Italians slowly pushing
their way toward Trieste, their OBJ
jective.
Released temporarily from the ne
cessity of guarding strongly the east
ern front. Germany brought from
there to France a large number OF
comparatively fresh troops and threw
them into the struggle against the
British and French. General Haig's
men are now confronting greater en-
envy forces than at any time In the
past, but before the week ended they
were in full possession of Bullecourt
the village for which the German;
fought so desperately because 1t pro
tected Queant, the southern end OF al
important line of defenses.
On the French front the most violen
fighting was about Laffaux mill, a posi-
ton even more important than Bulle
court. Again and again the Germans
made desperate attempts to regain
this ground, but the French repulse'
them with terrific losses.
Many burning villages behind tn
German front north and south Of 81
Quentin indicated an intention Of tn
Germans to carry out further re
tirement. st. Quentin itself has beef
burning for some time.
General Petain on Tuesday was ap
pointed commander in chief of tn,
French armies in France, General NJ
veIle was given command of n groul
of armies, and General Foch becam
chief of staff of the war ministry. Pc
tain gained fame and high popularit
by his defense of Verdun.
In Great Britain, too, there was
shake-up, Il general staff for the nav
: being formed in response to thi al
tacks on the admiralty. Admiral Ie
: leo heads the staff.
A gratifying decrease in the numbe
: OF vessels sunk by submarines, wa
r reported by the British admiralt!
4 Whether this is due to the lncreasin
e attacks on Zeebrugge by sea and al
r or to the recent destructive fire at tn
WIlhelmshaven wharves, or to I'll
e large number of U-boats caught in tn
e British nets-reported TO be betwee
o so and 100--is not known outside {
r Germany.
I One more nation was added to q
: long list of the kaiser's declared en-
mics last week, when Honduras Sc
cred diplomatic relations with &c
IS many Spain remained neutral, bl
t barely so.
n Premier Lloyd George offered Joi
l. Redmond immediate home rule f
n Ireland, excluding northwest Ulste
e or a plan for an Irish convention
d arrange "a plan. Redmond accepts
v the latter suggestion.
h The United States lost one OF /
r. most distinguished and honored ei
n. zens In the sudden death OF JOSEF
IT II. Chonte, eminent lawyer and form
," ambassador to Great Britain.