Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1918-01-10

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On the whole, the Russian situation
looks better for foes of Germany and
their diplomats are prepared to take
advantage of 1t aud to treat the boil
'hevikl leaders with some cOnSldera-
ton, since II seems probable the latter
will be Joined by the Influential men
Of other factions TO oppose Teutonic
4
French Victory in Italy.
The French forces on the Italian
front started off the New Year right
with n beautifully organized and
well carried out attack on the enemys
positions on Monte TOba. After del
uSing the Fftieth Austrian division
with artillery fire, the fine French in
fantry moved forward on two-mlle
front and In short, sharp fight, took
the position with comparative ease
capturing 1.400 prisOners-more than
they had men engaged. The captives
were said to he In wretched condition
On the lower Piave. the Italians
drove the invaders out of the Zen.
son bend, and day or two later broke
up an attempted crossing in vessels at
The mountain passes he.
hiI - lnstrlaDs are filed up With
H.d re-enf0rcenents and supply
+ 9gsRoys are held up on the Tyrol
frontier. The enemy aviators are max
ing repeated raids on Padun, Trevlso
and other cities Of northern ItIly, de-
voting themselves mainly to the de-
structon Of architectural and art treas
ures, rs Is their pleasing" custom.
Operations on the west front were
confined to raids and artillery duels
/ hut allied aviatOrs reported the contin-
uous arrival behind the lines of great
masses Of German troops. General Al
! lenby~Sent word that he was making
satisfactory progress to the north Of
Jerusalem beating or attacks and TAX
ing many prisoners.
That Germany's disregard for Amer
ica's entry into the war Is feigned Is
proved 10y an official army order which
calls for considerable number of new
aircraft units to combat the American
air fleets. II Is to be hoped the kai.
scr's anxiety on this score Is justified
though civilian experts do not report
encoumglngly concerning our prog
ress In the manufacture of airplnnes.
Ordnance Department Reorganized.
Results of the congressional investi
cations of bureaucratic delays In fit
ting out Americas armies are comm!
fast. The latest Is the complete re
organization Of the ordnance depart
mcnt by which almost full control o
the purchase and production of artil
lcry, rifles and ammunition Is put II
civilian hands. A procurement dlvl
sion is established to negotiate all ci
ders and contracts for such munitions
and ut the head of II Is placed Samue
McROhertS, executive manager of IN
National City hank OF New York.
Generals Crozier and Wheeler, non
lual and acting chiefs of ordnance, ar
shorn of most of their power, but tll
military officials OF the department n
tnln control Of the inspection and dir
/ tributiOn divisions.
A Not satisfied with this reorganlzi
/. tion, and voicing the desires of Il grei
[ many citizens, Senator Chamberai
/ introduced Il bill providing for the or,
:. alton Of q munitions board and Il
+ rector of munitions who shall be r
:. spnnslhlc directly to the president
e the United States and not to the Sc
= retury of war, Other members of Il
n senate committee on military anal
/. are backing Chamberlnin's bill.
r General Goethals began the REQ
s ganizntion of the Qu0rtermaster corr
q and let II he known that he will II,
e civilian experts TO his bureau and W
Is cut red tape and dlsregar1 precedc
A. wherever necessary for the sake
n. efficiency and speed.
" Presumably In response Ia the
ST quest of General Pershlng that or
.. comparatively young officers should
$. put In command Of troops In Franz
IA. General Slhert, second In rank tn 7,
n. shlng. and General Mann, who 60
/. manded the Rainbow division, h0
Ia been recalled to duty In America. NJ
Of Gen. II. l.. Bullard succeeds Sihert n
II. Mai. Gen. Charles 7. Menoher
s. comes commander OF the Rainb'
m boys.
tc Troops to Be Hurried Aeroo<u
~, The state department on Wedn
nd day made public u summary Of the
re suits of the lnterallled conference
ms Paris, the outstanding part OF VIII
cd was the recommendation to the Am
ht lean government to send troops TO
,e- battle fronts Of Europe as speedily
possible. This Colonel House Il