The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-01-17


The chairman of the Russian dele
CATION declared CZernin'S reply to the
Russian proposals was incomplete and
in some respects unsatisfactory. The
bOlSN"viki leaders still seem to nope
| the htente allies and the United
States will participate in the negOtia-
lions they have started, but there are
no present indications that this hope
will be realized. Meanwhile Germany
continues to remove vast numbers of
troops from the east front to the west,
calmly ignoring the impOtent protests
of TrOtZky.
Though Czernin'S statement was
made on behalf of all four of the Teu-
tonic allies, it is not at all pleasing
to Bulgaria. King Ferdinand declares
his country intends to hold what she
has won.
During the week the bOlsheviki
made little if any progress in their
civil war against the Cossacks and the
Ukrainians. The former kept up their
fight in southern Russian and the lat
ter were reported to have occupied the
headquarters OF the Fourth Eighth
and Eleventh armies on the Roumanian
and southwestern fronts, diSarming
the troops that resisted them and seiz-
ing quantities of arms and supplies.
Bolsheviki Accuse United States.
Trotzky and hrs followers attempt
ed to fasten on Ambassador Francis
and other American officials guilt Of
engaging in plot to assist Kaledines,
by sending to Rostov motor cars and
money consigned to the American Rec
Cross in Russia. Colonel KOlpash-
nikoff, who had bought the cars ir
America, was thrown into prison ani
the bOlsheviki newspapers railee
against the Americans. Trotzky de-.
manded an explanation from Mr.. Fran
els, and when it came it left him with
no leg to stand on. However, he kept
the colonel locked up, and then it de-
veloped that Kolpashnikoff was one of
those who strictly examined Trotzky
at Halifax when he was on his way to
Russia-enter the element of personal
enmity. The whole affair was a mares
nest, but on Thursday Trotzky tele-
graphed Commander in Chief Kry-
lenko: "New sympathy has been mani
tested between the American imperial
lists and Kaledines."
AZ was to be expected, Japan is pay
ing serious attention to the efforts of
the bolsheviki to make peace with Ger
many. The emperor and some of his
most trusted advisers conferred the
OtheE day on the steps Japan should
toke to protect her interests.
China's increasing interest in the war
was demonstrated by events at Har-
bin, Manchuria, where Chinese fought
and defeated the Maximalists, disarm-
ed them and took possession of the
city.
Fierce Fighting in Italy.
Military operations for the week
were in the main confined to Italy, but
the fighting there was bitter enough
to do for all fronts. The Teutons hav-
ing failed to break through to the
plains between the Pave and the
Brenta, renewed their attacks on the
Asiago plateau west of the latter river.
Positions on the Col del Rosso and
Monte del Val Bella changed hands
three times, the Italians finally being
forced to retire somewhat. But their
opposition was SO determined and the
losses of the enemy so heavy that the
latter could not follow up their gain.
Every day increases the probability
that the Teutons will be held or will
be compelled to fall back to preserve
their lines of communication. The
spirit of the Italians is high and help
from France and Great Britain is
steadily flowing to them.
Apparently Won Hindenburg had not
yet found the soft spot on the west
front at which to strike, for the only
serious attack the Germans made
there was in the Verdun sector east of
the Mouse. Five successive assaults
were made, but the French beat them
all off with heavy loss to the enemy.
Alarmed by the growing strength of
the minority Socialists in Germany,
that branch of the party that refuses to
follow Scheidemann and that persist
emily attacks the war program of the
government, the kaiser caused the ar
rest on Christmas eve of more than
800 members of the faction in a large
number of cities.
Another shakeup in the British ad-
miralty started with the retirement of
Admiral Jellicoe from the post of first
sea lord. He is succeeded by Vice Ad-
mirai Wemyss.
The senate lost valuable and hard
working member last week in the death
of Francis G. Newlands of Nevada.
He died in the harness, suddenly.