Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-07
FALL OF LAON Is
BROUGHT NEARER
BY NEW VICTORY
Events at Front and Behind
Scenes Presage Possibil-
tiles of Importance.
RUSSIAN RIDDLE
STILL UNSOLVED
Promise of Reforms Seems
to Have Checked Tide of
Discomfort in Germany.
fBy Associated Press.)

french guns nave Dattereu uo"h
the back door to Laon and the SOL
diers of General Nivelle are now only
six miles from the German stronghold,
One formidable barrier lies between
them and their goal-the Ailette river
but from the captured heights along
the Chemin-Des Danes (the road OF
the ladies) the French guns overlook
the stream.
Laon will not be captured except at
a heavy price. but the French vic
tories Of the last week have brought
its capture appreciably nearer.
Vast Possibilities Opened Up.
The developments on the battle
field are chiefly important for the
possibilities they open up. The same
may be said Of events behind the Ar
ing line. In Germany. there is much
talk of political reform and several
proposals have been put before the
Reichstag to curtail the power of the
emperor and make the ministery re-
sponsible to parliament.
Apparently the putting forward of
the reforms has served to check the
rising tide Of popular discomfort. but
the extra ordinary measures adapted
by the government to prevent the out
side world from learning the true sit
uation makes adequate judgment i'm
possible.
Dual Monarchy Shaken.
| Startling reports come from Aus
tria in regard to the condition in the
dual monarchy. Apparently Count
Tisza and his fellow reactionaries
have the upper hand and are deter
mined to crush the party Of democra-
cy with the same ruthlessness as here
tofore. There are rumors Of martial
law in Hungary and Bohemia. but for
a month or more no reliable new4 has
| reached the outer world as to c6ndi-
tatsS IN the Aust ennpife. ~ FER
Russia UTSsetaIed.
The Russian riddle remains un-
solved, but for the time being the pro-
visional authorities seem to be safe.
Reports of demoralization in the Rus
sian army received comfortable con-
frmation by a proclamation Of Cen
eral Guerko, commander of the east
ern front, ordering the soldiers to
stop fraternizing with the German
troops.
! In spite Of the peaceable ending in
the May Day demonstration in Sweden
the internal troubles in that country
seem to be rising rather than ebbing.
Riots and food dem onstrations are re-
ported from various points, and, from
such partial reports as are received
the authorities are confronting an
ugly situation.
BullecOurt on Hindenburg Line.
| Bullecourt, entered by British
troops today. is directly on the Hin
denburg line. Giving the Germans no
time to bring up reserves from the
hard-pressed Aisne front, where the
French are driving through the sieg-
fried line for Laon. General Haig's
troops began today to widen the
breech they have made in the Hin
denburg line in the Bullecourt region.
Counter attacks Of extreme violence
rapidly repeated have failed to shake
the British grip on the line here and
have not prevented them from strik-
ing again when they were ready.
Germans Bring up New Troops.
| On the French front, northeast Of
scissors and along the Chemin- -Des-
Danes, the Germans have been forced
to employ fresh troops in an effort to
stem the French advance. but were
unable to shake General Nivelles
hold upon the valuable and hard-won
ground on the plateau overlooking
the Ailette river. the outlying defense
Of Laon. Everywhere the French held
fast. moving down the Germans with
their fire.
In the new battles which developed
late last week. the French. have taken
more than $500 prisoners.