The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-01-25

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the Kovno district had deserted be-
cause they were about to be moved to
the west front.
NJ. Radek, one of the Russian dele
gates, asserted Monday that the Rus
slams were strengthening the front and
would send home every soldier who
was not willing to fight. He asserted
they wanted no help from the allies or
America because their strength lay in
their weakness; that the country for
many miles was destitute, and that
while the Germans could drive them
back 1t would do them no good and
they would not want to have millions
of starving people on their hands
Conditions in Petrograd are becom-
ing more desperate daily. The city is
full of crime, disorder and dirt, and
the people have little food and coal.
Very severe winter weather is adding
to the distress there.
Breakup of Russia Continues.
The bolsheviki seem content, for the
present, to permit the breaking up of
Russia into separate nationallties. A
kind of a truce has been patched up
with the Ukrainians, and the many
other new governments apparently
are not mOlested. Lithuania Is the
latest to declare itself Independent.
Finland is well on the way to indepen-
dence, having been recognized by Ge1
many, Sweden and France. and its rep
resentatives being we'll received by
other governments.
The Cossacks of the south were hav-
ing a harder time; official dispatches
from Petrograd reporting that they
had been defeated and put to flight by
the holSheviki forces.
The Bulgarian parliament was In
formed by Premier Radoslavoff that a
peace compact had been formed be-
tween Bulgaria and Russia. with the
consent of the other central powers.
On the other hand. the bolsheviki gov
eminent rejected the separate peace
proposals made by Turkey. asking the
latter to participate In the general con
ference.
H.
manded the American Red Cross mis-
sion to Russia, has just returned to
this country and has much good to say
Of the bOlsheviki government. He is
convinced its leaders are honest and
sincere and not in the pay of the Ger
mans, and he believes the movement
they have set on foot may result in a
world peace.
Fighting Of the Week.
A number of attacks in force and
continuous activity of the artillery
marked the week along the west front.
but there was no great battle and no
serious attempt to break through the
lines by either side. The sector Sc
l"cted by the German high command
for the expected big offensive MAS not
revealed. but the belief grows that II
will be in Belgium and that the main
objective of the kaiser viii be the cap
ture Of Calais. Possession of this port
of course. would ue of iuestimable
value to Germany both in the subma-
rine campaign AMI in threatening Eng
land with direct attack. as well as In
t"rrupting the short route between
England and France.
In Italy the weather and possibly
shortage of ammunition brought al
most to a standstI the attempts ~
The AuStro-GermauS 10 break through
into the Venetian plains. Heavy SHOWS
fell iu the Alps and threatened 10 shut
of communication between the Trra-
tho and the fighting line. and rIr
weather was stormy all the way from
the mountains 10 the Adrfatlr
Vice Admiral Sims reported 'he tor.
ped0in- Of the American steamship
Harry Luckeuhach nine members of
IN" crew being missing The British
admiralty announced that the hospital
ship Rewa was torpedocd and ~uuh 10
The Bristol channel She WIS full ef
wounded soldiers. but an of them were
safely landed though three Lazears 81
The crew were lost. This neE brutal
crime 81 the Germans afforded the
London Times opportunity for mild
criticism u President Wilson's high
idealIsm. the paper asking. Is ans
peace fhinkabIe with the authors and
supporters az n system hy which such
crimes are ro'diy sanctioned as ls-.r-
mate acts ~ war;"
The Eewa vgs displaying SIN tHa
lights and markings required Ar TIE
Hague convention and was not WITHIN
the so-called barred zone. hut such
facts 80 longer mean anything 10 rhe
Germans II indeed they ever I'D.
Baker Defends Himself.
The inve~I cation ~ war prar-ra-
lions boy the senate committee reached
rhe stag" an Thursday where the pres
ence of Secretary Baker was required.