The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-12-07


who have not yielded to the dlctation
Of Lenine and his bolshevikists. More
over, the immense gold reserve OF the
Russian empire, which was removed
from Petrograd to the Kremlin In 1918,
has been taken still further into the
Interior and Is out Of the reach Of the
maXlmalists. Whether Kaledines and
the Cnssacks will chose to support the
social democrats or Will aid In res
toration of the monarchy Is not clear.
But sane friends OF order democracy
ana freedom feel that anything would
be better than the reign Of anarchy
and civil war that threatens Russia
now.
The soldiers who remain at the
front are waillng bitterly because Of
the shortage Of food, and there is
fine prospect OF hundreds Of thousands
Of these fighting men turning back In
to their country half-starved and
ready 10 pillage and ravage II without
restraint
ltaly's Danger Lessened.
The heroic Italian troops having
demonstrated their ability to hold back
about four times as many Teutons
along the Playe front, the fears of
more extended invasion Of Italy and
OF the capture Of Venice are lessening
During the week great numbers Of re-
endorsements arrived from the British
and French armies on the west front,
many Of them having marched eight
days through the mountains. They
brought with them ample artillery and
supplies. Italian reserves In great
masses, young, well-equlpped and fHl
Of spirit also moved north to relieve
those who have been combating the
Invaders, and In some places the Ital-
lans took the offensive. The lighting,
especially between the Piave and the
Rrenta, continued fierce and unabated
throughout the week, and the losses
on both sides We're heavy, but the Aus
tro-Germans made 10 further gains.
Down toward the Adrlatic they made
repeated attempts TO cross the river
and the flooded lands In pontoons, but
We're completely routed by the Italian
artillery AS the week closed the stu
alton In Italy was still serious, but inn
proving each day,
Gen, II, b. Maurice. chief director
Of military operations In the British
war office, was especially well salts
fled with the weeks developments in
Italy. Nom the fact that Germany
had not brought up vast reinforce
ments to- follow mp the initial success
with q decisive blow, he concluded
that Germany was unable to send
them. 1t is now time, he declared,
10 say definitely that the crisis in
Italy has passed, this being due en-
tirely to the efforts OF the Italian
army. "Anglo-French troops are now
! available In sufficient quantities to
satisfy US that the situation is Sc
cure he concluded.
Hard Fighting Around Cambria.
The war has sen no more desperate
| fighting than has followed on the heels
! OF General Byng'S sensational thrust
toward Cambrai Crown Prince Rup,
precht seemed determined not to lei
that city fall into the hands of the
British, or at least to make 1t costly
prize, and his constantly REINFORCED
troops were sent against the British
In Bourbon wood again and again ant
In the village OF Fontaine, which
changed hands several times. Byng''
men held on tenaciously and usual.
had the best of il In the hand-to-hanC
lighting as well as In the artillery com
bats. aud the tanks continued 10 pla.
their part. These monsters Otter
cleared the way for the infantry, anI
tn at least one instance, when the.
were themselves held up by superio
forces. the British airmen. flying dar
ingiy low, routed the enemy with ma
chine gun FIRE and permitted the tank
TO 90 on. Altogether, IL has been tn
most spectacular battle of the war, an,
X has cost the Germans great man.
OF their best men.
General Byng last week seemed +
be endeayoring 10 break through to tn
north of Cambral, movement tina
probably would compel the enemy I
fall back on wide front. Cambria II
self seems doomed TO destruction.
General Pershlng last week sen
over his second casualty list, II CAV
! the names OF two privates who wer
! killed in the trenches by German al
, tlliery fire and Of five severed
. wounded.
U. S. Supreme War Council.
! While urgently advising upon on
allies more unified action In the pros,
eution of the war, the administratio
is not overlooking the need for similf
. eo-ordinated effort at home. on Tue
! day a great step toward centralize
5 ! control of all the country's resourc,