Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-06-16

were blown into the air by 90 charges
Of high explosives. totallng a million
pounds. Instantly the EngIi>hmen,
IrlShmen. Australians and New Zea-
ianders that make up the British army
in Belgium sprang forward in success
sive waves. and one of the herceSt
battles of the war vas on.
The attack was directed al the Mes
SlDes ridge. between Mcssines and
Wytschaete. where ever since October
Of 1914 the Germans had maintained
themselves Ia "a sharp salient that al
ways threatened Ypres only three
miles 10 the north. The morning rush
resulted in the capture of Messines
and WYtSchaete aud the enemy's de-
Tense systems on the nine-mile front,
and later in the day another forward
movement took the British into and
through the village Of Oo~ttaverue.
The entire salient was Strengthened out
anu ali the counter-attacks were re-
pulsed Any considerable further adj
vance In this sector will threaten the
German hold on Lille which is about
five miles from the nearest British po-
si-j0n Large numbers of prisoners
already have been taken.
The Germans must have known that
the attack Of MesSines ridge was in
tended, for the preparatory lombard
ment was terrific, and yet reports from
prisoners Indicated that they actually
were taken BY surprise
In preparation for the operations in
Flanders the British feet co-operated
with he land forces. subiecung Os-
tend to severe hOmhardment. The
British air forces also were in action.
repeatedly raIding the German bases
ST Z4ebrugge. OStend and Bruges. In
retaliation q squadron of German air
planes attacked the British naval base
in the Midway. close to London. on
Tuesday, but was driven off with the
loss Of eight machines,
Several times during the week the
Germans made vicious attacks In the
Aisne and Champagne sectors aud
even gained possession Of some French
positions; but the gallant poilus al
most Immediately recovered the lost
ground. luhiting severe losses on the
enemy.
The Austrians claimed 70 have ef-
fectualy checked the Italian advance
toward Trieste and announced that
the Italian losses IN the offensive were
$50 coo men, on Tuesday the Italians
were forced back south Of Jamiano
Dispatches from Rome revealed the
fact that Italy had proclaimed the in
dependence Of Albania.
once more the British Admiralty IS
sued very satisfactory report on
The work Of the submarines. showing
bur % British vessels sunk In the
week. five Of which were fishing YES
sells The American destroyers COM
pleted their first month In the war
and have proved themselves most valu-
able aids 10 the British naval forces
Russia Is Warned
Conditions In Russia remain chaotic.
though they may he straightened out
somewhat by the work Of the Root
commission and the American railway
engineers. The revolt Of the garrison
of Kronstadt which declared the IS
land fortress independent Of the gov
eminent. caused considerable concern
In Petrograd. but as the action Of the
garrison was denounced by the Petr0-
grad council OF workmen'S and sol.
dlers' delegates II collapsed, and the
garrison bowed 70 the authority Of
the provisional government
Following President Wilson'S exam
Pile France replied 20 RuSSia's state
ment Of her peace plan oy setting
forth IN a general way the demands Of
the French. These embodied in a
vote Of the chamber OF deputies. IN
clude the liberation Of the territories
invaded by Germany. the return 10
France OF ASace-Lorraine aud Just
rpparstion for damage
Japan also took official cognizance
last week Of the "usSian crisis in
forming the government al Petrosrad
that II Russia wlthdraws from jha war
Japan In consultation with England
Gnd the United States. will consider
what measures 10 adopt. The pro
visional government was warned that
r. Russia accepts q separate peace K
will become another Austria under the
domination Of Germany. VIII lose Po-
land. IithuanIa and Finland aud viii
be stripped q many Of her outlying
possessions. Furthermore, Japan IN
formed Great Britain that while. IN
case OF BUssla's withdrawal from tke
entente. Japan would prefer 70 send
her troops 10 France rather :hen 10
undertake military chaStlsemeut Of