The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-11-15

three-quarters of mile wide. The
engineers CALAMITY did their share
building pOntoOn and foot bridges and
our troops, tired but jubilant, proceed
ed to chase the swiftly retreatins
Huns to the north and east. The prin.
cipal lateral lines of communication
between Metz and northern France
and Belgium were thus cut
Italy took full revenge for the de.
feat of CapOretto before the armistice
with Austria went into effect on No.
vember 4. Though the submission Of
the Austrian commanders was a fore.
gone conclusion, General Diaz didn't
lose a moment waiting for 1t, but went
swiftly ahead with the Job of absO.
lutely crushing the enemy forces. II
is estimated that in that last offensive
the Italians took about 100000 pris.
oners, and that they hold fully mil.
lion Austrians in their prison camps,
The value Of the material captured
In tho recent weeks Is put at $1,000.
100000, and II includes 100000 horses
and 5000 guns. The collapse Of the
great Austrian army was complete,
and the scenes In the redeemed Ital.
ian territory where thousands on
thousands Of prisoners were being
moved were said to be reminiscent of
the retreat Of Napoleon from Moscow.
OF course the armistice terms granted
the AustriaDs were most severe, and in.
cluded In them was free passage of
the allied armies through Austrian
territory, with use Of Austrian means
Of transportation. This meant the
opening of the way to attack Germany
from the south and to protect Rou-
mania. Emperor Charles refused to
sign these terms, so that was done by
the Austrian chief of staff There was
some question as to who could repre-
sent the late dual kingdom, for ii Is
all broken up now. Hungary, under
the leadership Of Count Karolyi, has
made complete It's separation from
Austria and will hold a plebiscite on
the question of being kingdom or
republic. Really nothing Is left to
Charles except the German part of
Austria, and that shows signs of join
ing the German confederation. The
disposition of the peoples Of southern
middle Europe is going to be one of
the most delicate and difficult prob
lens the peace conferees will have to
solve. If possible, II must be so solved
that this region, for ages q hotbed Of
international troubles. will be salts
fed and at peace.
All Italy went wild with joy over
It's great victory, and the various cit
les of Italia Irridenta, now redeemed,
greeted with acclaim the occupying
forces of Italian troops and the civ
illan authorities. Having conquered
their ancient foe, the Italians dis
played a remarkable spirit of forgive
ness and treated the defeated Austri-
ans with utmost generosity.
la
Russia remains the one field Of con-
fiict, and 1t is not conceivable that
very long. Siberia is pretty definitely
under the control Of the allies, thu
Czecho- Slovaks and loyal Russians, ut
least rs far as lines of cOmmuni
cation are concerned. The government
Of northern Russia has acknowledged
the government set up at Omsk as SUI
preme and the bOlsheviki now find
their main strength is confined to the
Volga valley region. The soviets are
still powerful in many places. but the
terrible food conditions and the fear
Of the approaching winter are having
their effect. Germany formally sew
cred relations with the bolshevik gov
eminent last week, and the latter
asked the allies TO open peace negotia-
lions ut time and place of their
own choosing. Since none of the nj.
lied governments ever recognized the
bolShevik government. IL il difficult
to see how anything could come of this
to the establishment of decent and safe
governmental conditions.
Ia
Finland Is sore. Its people declare
they were mlSled by the Germans and
that German king was thrust upon
them without their desire. 1t would
not he ne all surprising If that king
were forced to abdicate In the near fu
ture and If republican form of gov.
eminent were inaugurated.
"a.
The immnence of the cessation of
warfare caused General Crowder and
his aids to consider seriously the sus-
pension of the November draft CALL un.
der which more than 100000 men have
been ordered to army camps. This &C
ton seemed likely.