Mexico Missouri message., 1918-06-13


and France, but on the other hand he
has caused Holland to be notified that
If 1t wants the remainder of the grain
promised 1t by America 1t must send
| Dutch ships for it at once. The Meth
erlands government had prohibited
the departure of Dutch vessels from
its ports, where more than 400 900 tons
Of shipping are lying idle. The grain
| ratiOns promised to Norway are going
forward, in Norwegian bottoms.
The food situation in France has
| improved so much that the end of the
| regime of restrictions is in sight, and
the three meatless days a week, only
recently instituted, have given such ex-
cellent results that the measure will
be of short duration. Many OF the
older French soldiers will be released
for farm work as the American troops
| arrive in greater numbers.
In sharp contrast with this is the
condition existing in Germany and Aus
tria, where the people are reliably re-
ported to be on the verge Of starvation
and of consequent rebellion. Wash
ington is informed that even with the
reduced ration planned for June Is
Germany will not have enough food to
last through TO the next harvest. The
Beriner Tageblatt says horse meat
and dog meat are being used by the
poorer classes in Saxony, ard the
price has gone up.
The war prisoners of Germany Of
course are the greatest sufferers. The
first contingent of Russian prisoners,
1,5OO I'm number, to be exchanged I'M
der the recent agreement, has Just
reached Petrograd and they are de-
scrihed as 'veritable walking dead
men"
AS was predicted in this review
weeks ago, the food supply to be OBJ
tained from the Ukraine, of which the
German government bOasted so much
In advance, has proved so small as to
he almost lnconsequential. And the
kaiser's treacherOus treatment of that
country greatly aggravates the situa-
ton there, for the people do not pro-
pose to raise crops only to be robbed
of them.
"a
Continually harrassed by the artil-
lery and air forces of the allies, the
German commanders were still labor
ing heavily last week to complete the
reorganization of their armies on the
west front for the resumption of the,
drive. SO great was the task and so
effective the interruptions that COM
petent observers believed the offensive
could not be begun again before the
middle of June. Meanwhile General
FOch and his associates, instead of
waiting quietly to be attacked, took
every opportunity to improve their sit
uations, with the result that their lines
| grew stronger daily. First the Brit
ish and then the French, always aided
materially by the Americans, struck
| hard in local operations so extensive
| that In previous wars they would be
classed as battles. The Anzacs start
ed off the week by recapturing Vile
| sur-Ancre, infiicting heavy losses on
| the Huns. Next the Poilus made one
| of their whirlwind attacks on q 1000
yard front in the Locre region, near
| KENNEL, taking n considerable number
Of prisoners and holding the detectives
! gained, which strengthened their de-
fensive positions around Scherpenberg,
Mont Rouge and Mont Noir. On sue
ceeding days the Germans were pushed
back in other sectors, the allies always
! gaining ground of tactical Importance.
The Huns seemed TO have lost much of
their fighting spirit and their counter
attacks had little dash and no success.
The artillery firing on both sides in
creased during the week all along the
line. The Germans were especially
free with the use of gas shells, but in
the American sector northwest OF TouI,
at least, they got more than they gave,
for the Yankee batteries fairly deluged
the German positions and cantOnments
In the Gerechamp wood with gas, In
flicting severe punishment on the en-
emy.
The Americans carried out number
of spirited patrol actions and raids in
their sector but haS no extensive en-
gagements.
"a
Fighting and bombing operations of
the aviators were extraordinarily nu-
merOus and exciting last week. Many
machines on both sides were brought
down. but the Huns were by far the
greater sufferers. Among the noted
air men lost was Major Raoul Lufbery,
the American, who jumped from his
blazing machine and was killed. Other
American ayiators were very active
and many of them gained new laurels-