Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-16


refusal Of the Bolsheviki to go through the form Of ex-
ecuung a peace treaty is proving highly embarrassing
The Germans may already have reaped most Of the adj
vantage that it is possible for them to gain from the
Russian disintegration.
Rumania is being pressed with demands for peace
negotiations. Rumania has suffered from the war in
being made the victim of base treachery on the part Of
the Russian bureaucracy which urged her into war and
then deserted her. Just now she is cut off from all help
from the west, and apparently the Teutons are able to
overrun the country entirely if they see fit to do so.
The little eastern nation is in hard circumstances, and
at present she appears to be helpless.
= = = .aN
On the west front, which is now usually considered
in connection with the Italian line, the massing of Ger
man troops has proceeded, especially in France, and as
week after week passed the long heraldcd German Of
fensive which everyone expects. but which does not
come. is still confidently looked for. The belief still pre-
walls that it will be the Germans who will strike, be-
cause Of the general opinion that the allies have more
to gain from waiting and acting on the defensive until
the full American strength is available than by nibblins
at the German lines and taking minor positions at the
heavy cost in life which is entailed in offensive move
ments Of this kind. On the other hand it is generally
held that the Germans cannot afford to wait: that they
must strike before the ranks of their enemies are aug
ueHleu ~ II dCCSSSAoH " AdISe oIC OIL sIlCd
Moreover the domestic situation in Germany is difficult.
The populace may be kept reasonably quiet SO long as
battles which are promised to give them victory are
under way. But it is not likely that they will endure
further months of inactive waiting for a victory which
is not even being fought for.
= =
There has been little change on the italian front.
On one occasion the Austrians undertook a forward
movement on one sector and gained a little ground.
Their gains were uninaportant, however. and the situa-
ton remains about as it was. There is little expectation
that there will be any important movement on this front
until warmer weather has cleared the mountain passes
of some of their snow and make Transportation of food
and munitions and man an easier matter than it is now.
On their own short sector the American troops near
the Lorraine border have taken on the character of vet
Grams. They have participated in no major operation,
for there has been none, but there has been the regular
routine of patrol Of thrust and parry, of raiding, and
Of aviation duels. In the Cham pagne district, which is
many miles removed from the American sector proper,
American artillery has been Smelling the eneny's posi-
tons to good purpose. While the war department has
not made the specific declaration it is assumed that the
American artillery in this district is working with the
French for purposes Of training. and the French officers
are well pleased with the effectiveness of the American
fire.
The latest information is that the American dead in
the Tuscana sinking number III. The Tuscania was
sunk a little to the north of the Irish coast, but the
ocean currents carried the bodies eastward and they
were washed up on the coast of Scotland, where the
peasantry and fisher folk of that remote district aided
in every way possible in recovering the bodies, in pre-
pairing them for burial, and in laying them in the earth
with all the honofs that could be given to men who had
died in the service Of their country. The graves have
been carefully marked, and appropriate monuments will
be erected. The fact that survivors were landed at diff
ferent points on the Irish and Scotch coasts, in some
cases far from wire communication Of any kind, made
the work of collecting information exceedingly slow and
difficult. In this work the authorities were aided by the
trained news-gatherers of the Associated Press, who
worked day and night in order. to. collect all the infor-
nation possible. It was through the Associated Press
that the war department received it's first complete and
authentic lists of dead and survivors.
= =
The war inquiry before the senate committee has
a rather desultory discussion, marked strongly by charges
and counter charges of a political nature. Spokesman
of the administration are defending the general manage
ment of the way, and its adversaries are improving their
opportunities. and they are not difficult to find, of point
ing out cases of error.
According to present prospects North Dakota may
not be required to send any men to the cantonments I'M
der the call which was expected so take another con-
tingent from the state about February %. Since the
groups went forward under the last call there has been
a constant movement of men from the state, and the
statement has been given out that it may not be neces-
sary to call on any more from, the state at this time. If
that proves to be the case a good many men who had
expected to be called into service at once will be avail
able for civilian work for some time.
-
The very interesting and satisfactory statement has
been made by Chairman Frank A. Vanderlip, of the Mar
Savings board, that the sales of War Savings Stamps
has reached the very handsome sum of $50, ooo, 900.
When the circumstances under which these stamps are
sold are considered, this showing appears truly remark
able. No effort has been made to sell these stamps in