The Monticellonian., 1918-01-04

ilHes lo ueptH OI two tO tNO dIlu Il half miles, taking ten villages and more than 5000 prisoners.
 Pope Benedict. on August IA. trans mitted peace proposals to all belliger- ent and neutral governments.
 In the course of the operations on the west front Canadian troops, on August 15. seized Hill No. 70, dominat- ing Lens from the northwest, posi- ton formerly regarded as impregna- ble. On August r, III French air planes carried out series of great bombing raids. dropping over II tons of projectiles on aviation camps and railroad stations behind the German lines.
 The Italian forces opened ii grand offensive on August 10, attacking on front 40 miles long from Tolmino to the Adriatie sea. On August 20, the Italians captured Monte Santo, an Aus trian stronghold on the IsonZo front. Two more nations entered the war on the side of the allies in August. Li- beria declaring war on Germany Aug ust ', and China declaring war on both Germany and Austria Hungary August IA. On August 2S, President Wilson's reply to the peace proposals of Pope Benedict was made public. It declared that i've cannots take the word of the present rulers of Germany as a guarantee of anything that is to endure, unless explicitly supported by such conclusive evidence of the will and purpose of the German people themselves as the other peoples of the world would be justified in accept ing" Other allied governments later adopted President Wilson's note as their own reply to the pope.
 Early in September the Italians con- tinued to make progress in their drive on the Isonzo front, announcing on September l the capture of II strongly fortified mountains, causing an H. mile breach in the Austrian lines and resulting in the capture of 27,000 pris- oners.
 Chaos Threatens in Russia.
 Conditions in Russia grew more cha otic during the month of September. General Korniloff, commander in chief of the Russian armies, on September tary powers be placed Tn his hands. Premier Kerensky immediately de- posed General Korniloff and civil war threatened as Korniloff, at the head of large force of troops, marched on Petrograd. The rebellion collapsed, however. on September 13 when General Kerniloff agreed to surrender to General Alexieff, chief of staff of the Russian army.
 The first American casualties in France were announced on September f, when four Americans were killed in German raid on American hos pitals in France. America's war prepa- rations were continued rapidly, the first contingent of five per cent of the new National army arriving at their cantonments September 5.
 The replies of Germany and Austria Hungary to Pope Benedict's peace pro- posals were made public September 21. They accepted the pope's offer as a ba- sis for the beginning of negotiations, but made no definite concessions
 Admiral Capps, head of the United States Emergency Fleet corporation, announced ship-building program that will bring Ameriea's merchant marine to 2,1o0 ships of 14,5o0o00 be- fore the close of 1919.
 Italians Driven Back
 The great Austro-German offensive against the Italians was launched along the Isonzo front October 24, and within ten days the Teuton forces had retaken all the territory won by the Italians in two months fighting and had overrun all of northern Italy.
 On the Russian front the activity centered around the Gulf of Riga. On October 12 the Germans captured part of the island of Oesel and on the fol- lowing day they took Arensburg, capi- tai of the island. On October 13 one Russian and two German torpedo boats were sunk in naval battle near Oesel. On October IT the Germans took full possession of the island of Oesel and on the following day they took Moon island from the Russians.
 The United States began to take a more active part In the fighting during October, the first American troops go- ing into the first line trenches in France on October 23. On October r the American transport Antilles, re- turning from France. was torpedoed and sunk. with a loss of 67 lives. The second American Liberty loan of 5000 100000 closed October 27 with an oversubscription of nearly $2,0OO,- 100000. Several more South Ameri- can nations took a decided stand In favor of the allies in October. Peru broke off diplomatic relations with Germany October and Uruguay took similar action the following day. On October 26 Brazil declared the exist ence of a state of war with Germany.
 There were evidences of internal dis turbances in Germany during the month. mutiny of German sailors at Ostend being reported October IS. On October 30 Count George von Hertling was made imperial chancellor of Ger many. Chancellor Mfchaelis having re- signed.
 On the sea the chief event of the month was the sinking by two German raiders of two British destroyers and 12 Scandinavian merchantmen they were conveying in the North sea on Octoher IT On October 3l the Ameri-