The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-01-03
BY DONALD r. BIGGS.

of the sinking of three American
steamers, the City of Memphis, Hi.
nois and Nigilancia fifteen of the lat
ter's crew being lost.
On March q. President Wilson is
sued a proclamation calling congress
IA special session on April 2.
Inc American steamer Healdton
was torpedoed without warning. March
-, II men including seven Ameri-
cans, being lost.
United States Declares War.
On April ,, President Wilson mp
peared before joint session of con-
gress and called for a declaration of
state of war with Germany. On April
l, the senate passed resolution de-
claring the existence of state of war.
The resolution was adopted by the
house of representatives April 6 and
was signed by the president the same
day. AT the same time 81 German
owned vessels in American ports were
seized by the government. Cuba de-
clared war on Germany on April Z.
The following day, Austria Hungary
severed diplomatic relations with the
United States.
The British forces on the west front
began the first great offensive OF 1917
on April 8, penetrating the enemy POI
sitions north and south Of Arras to Il
depth of from two to three miles.
The French forces launched an Of
fensive against the enemy on a 25-mlle
front between scissors and Relms,
April 16, and after three days fighting
reported the capture of more than H.
900 prisoners.
The first American casualties I'm the
war were reported April %, when the
armed American tank steamer Vacuum
was sunk by submarine and several
American gunners were lost.
American Fleet in Action.
It was learned on May 49, that
squadron of American destroyers un-
der Rear Admiral Simms had safely
crossed the Atlantic and had been pa
trolling the seas In war service since
May A.
The United States army draft bill
became a law May ls when President
Wilson affixed his signature 10 the
measure and Issued proclamation fix
ing June as registration day
On May q. announcement was made
of the torpedelng of the British trans
port Pennsylvania on May i, with
loss Of more than 400 lives. on May
-, a great German air raid on the
southeast coast Of England caused the
death of 70 persons and the woundlng
of ia
During the early part ~ JuEe grow
ing unrest In Russia began 70 attract
the attention Of the niles. On June !,
wOrkmen and soldiers seized Kron-
stadt the Russian fortress DEFENDING
petr0grad, and repudlated the provls-
iOnal government. On June 3 the
American commission TO Russin. head-
ed by Ellhu Root, and the American
railroad commission, headed by John
f. Stevens, arrived safely az Russian
ports. On June ?, the Russians In
possession of Kronsfadt yielded to
negotiations and recognized the pro-
viSlonal government.
In the meantime the American prep
aratons for the rar were proceeding
rapidly. on JJmc 3, nearly 100000
men Of military age registered for milf
tary service under the selcctivc draft
law. On June g. Major General John
J. Pershlng, who had been selected TO
head the American expeditlonary
forces I'm France arrived with his staff
In London. On the same day Wash
ington reported the safe arrival In
France of 100 American aviators, the
first American fighting forces to reach
that country.
King Constantine Dethroned.
A solution Of the Greek situation,
which had endangered the operations
Of the allies in the Balkans. was reach
cd June u when on the demand Of
France. Great Britain and Russia, King
Constantine abdicated in favor of his
second son, Prince Alexander, who was
known to be favorably Inclined toward
the Miles. London reported another
big raid by Zeppelins on June 10, in
which 157 persons were Killed and
many injured.
The subscriptions To the first Ameri-
can Liberty loan closed June u. the
loan being ovcrsubscribcd by $780,
600 600
on June 26, il was announced that
the first contingent of American troops.
under command Of Major General 81
bert, had arrived safely in France.
The new Greek cabinet. headed by
\ Eloutherios Nenizelos, went into office
on June % and two days later the new
government severed diplomatic rela.
lions with Germany, Austria. Hungary,
/ Bulgaria and Turkey.
ON the first OF July, the Russian
forces, under the personal leadership
~ War Minister KerenSky. electrified
the 1lIes uy launching Il powerful of
1 fensiyc on nm lS-mile front I'm Gallcla.
capturing many strongly fortified
towns aud taking thousands of pris-
oners For two weeks the Russians
continued 10 advance along "a front
thui widoned 10 100 miles hut on July
~ the Russian offensive collapsed and
turned into n rout, when many Rus.
sim regiments mutinled and fled
Kercnsky succeeded Prince Lvoff ii.
premier Of Russia on July 20.
The FIRST political crisis IN the Ger.
man cabinet during the war resulted
on July "a 10 the resignation ~ nan
cellor Won Bethmnnn- IIollweg and IN,
i ACKNOWLEDGMENT ua h,s aunnna4nr of nr