Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-04-11

Gobain, approximately 76 miles from
the Paris city hall. The bombardment
was far less destructive than bombing
by airplanes, and only a few persons
were killed. A Paris paper says the
new gun is of austrian manufacture,
is very delicate piece Of machinery
and each shot costs about $4,000. The
projectile is a 10-inch shell and is be-
lieved to be made of tungsten steel.
Intense aerial activity characterized
the operations all along the west front
last week. There were numerous COM
bats, in which the allies generally had
the best of 1t, and the British and
French aviators made many raids on
towns and military establishments
back of the German lines. Mannheim
especially was hard hit by the British.
The American flyers also were very
busy and won praise by their skill and
daring.
On the Toul front the Americans
were subjected to continuous Smelling
and the enemy also sent over airplanes
that dropped large rubber balls filled
with liquified mustard gas-a new
form of attack. The American artil-
lery maintained its record for accurate
fire, driving the enemy from several
strong positions and at times attacking
the Germans heavily with gas shells.
Secretary Baker in the course of his
visit to General Pershing's forces was
under fire IA the front line trenches,
and one big shell exploded close to his
automobile, but he escaped injury.
On Tuesday General Pershing ap-
proved the awarding of the first of the
new American military crosses for
bravery, the recipients being Lieut..
John o. Green and Sergts. William
Norton and Patrick Walsh. All of
them previously had been decorated
with the French war cross.
In Palestine General Allenby's forces
have crossed the Jordan and establish
ed themselves on the left bank, moving
forward thence in the face of stiff re-
sistance by the Turks.
There was increased artillery activ-
tty all along the Piave in Italy, and the
operations of the air forces of both
sides were extensive.
RI
In Russia, despite the acceptance of
the peace treaty by the bolsheviki, the
German armies have been steadily
pressing forward, occupying town after
town in the south, moving up toward
Moscow and also approaching so close
to Petrograd that the seizure of the
capital city was said to be a matter of
days or hours. All the allied diplomats
left Petrograd, most of them retiring
to Vologda, $50 miles east. American
Ambassador Francis from there issued
an address to the Russian people,
warning them that If they submitted
to the peace imposed by the central
| powers Russia eventually would be-
come German province, and pledging
| the support of the American govern
ment to any government in Russia that
would resist the German penetration.
Mr.. Francis acted without specific in
structions from Washington, but his
utterances received the full approval
of the administration.
The bolshevik government has been
hurriedly moving to Moscow. Trotzky
is there and says he will act as minis
| ter Of war If there is to be more fight
ing. The new volunteer army is being
organized rapidly, with renewed dis
| cipllne, and the press and people, al
ready somewhat disillusi0ned, cry out
against the predatory ruthlessness of
the Germans. The Transcaucasian as
sembly at Tifils refused to ratify the
peace treaty and demanded immediate
war on Germany. The attitude OF all
the allies toward the bolshevlk soviet
is becoming more sympathetic, but the
hope of effective resistance Is rather
faint.
The hand of the conqueror falls
more and more heavily on RouInania,
which Is now required to give up to the
central powers not only all of her own
war munitions, but also those left In
Roumania by the allies. If she yields
to this demand the representatives of
the allies will leave Jassy.
Ia
The supreme war council Of the al
lies at Versailles issued a statement
denounclng Germany's political crimes
against Russia and Roumania and re-
fusing to recognize the peace treaties
with them. 1--WE are fighting, and mean
to continue fighting, in order to finish
once for all with this policy of plum
der,' said the council. In reply Chan.
eellor Won Hertling asserted Germany