Connecticut western news., 1918-01-03

appointment as his successor of Dr. Georg Michaelis. On July 9, Siam declared WAT against Germany, and Austria-Hunsary, bringing the number of the allied nations to sixteen.
 British Launch Great Offensive.
 The British launched their second great offensive of the year on the Flanders front on July 31, attacking on a 20-mile front from Dixmude to Warneton, after three weeks of in- tense artillery preparation. The Brit ish forced tbeir way into ths German lines to a depth of two to two and half miles, taking ten villages and more than 5,GC0 prisoners.
 Pope Benedict, on August IA, trans n1!tted peace proposals to all belliger- enr and neutral governments.
 Ire Italian forces opened q grand offensive on August 10, attacking on a front 40 miles long from Tolmino to the Adriatic se2. On August 9, 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 2, aud China declaring war on both Germany and Austria-IIungary August 14. On August 2S, President Wilson's reply to the peace proposals of Pope Benedict was made public. It declared tIGt i've cannot t; ,le 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 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 the capture of 14 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 10 demanded that all civil and mili- tary powers be placed In 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 Korniloff agreed to surrender to General Alexieff, chief of staff of the Russian army.
 The first American casualties in France were announced on September 4, when four Americans were killed in German raid on American hos pitals in Franco. Amcrlca's war prepa- rations were continued rapidly, the first contingent of five per cent of the new National army arriving at their cantonments September 6.
 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.
 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.
 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 g. On October r the American transport Antilles, re- turning from France, was torpedoed and sunk, with loss of 67 lives. The second American Liberty loan of $300O, 100000 closed October 27 with an oversubscription of nearly $2,OOO,- 100000. Several more South Amert- can nations took a decided stand in favor of the allies In October. Peru broke off diplomatic relations with Germany October 6 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, a mutiny of German sailors at Ostend being reported October IS. On October 80 Count George von Hertling was made imperial chancellor of Ger many, Chancellor Michaells 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 October IT. On October 31 the Ameri- can transport Finland. returning from France, was struck by torpedo and eight men were killed.