Middletown transcript., 1918-02-09

1UU IuIleu 1EOIu uCISul VI ScSCANI uui
were first at the front in France. 3!
] on oil barges ut Port Newark and ent
of bolsheviki literature across the
lines, and this, together with the gen
eral publication of President Wilson's
war aims address, has had immense
influence.
The conflict in Finland between the
government of that new republic and
the revolutionists, who seek to follow
the example of their brethren in Rus
STA, has resulted in some sharp fight
ing. The s0-called white guard, sup
porting the government in northern
Finland, defeated the red guard de-
spite the help given the latter by Rus
sian soldiers, and then began march
on the southern part of the country,
where the red guards were in control.
A report that Sweden had interviewed
in behalf of the government was de-
MED.
The Roumanians joined forces with
the Ukrainians under the command of
General Stcherbatcheff, whom the boil
sheviki declared an outlaw. and invad-
ed Bessarabia. partly to restore order
there and especially to protect great
stores Of supplies belonging to ROu-
mania that had been removed there
at the time of the German invasion.
This move, added to other sources of
irritation, caused the Russian govern
ment to break off all relations with
Roumania and to announce that it
would fight the Ukraine. The troops
Of the rada got into action, and in Vol
hynia they defeated the bolsheviki,
taking possession of Lutsk.
On the other hand, the Ukrainians
were forced to surrender Kiev to the
bOlsheviki troops.
The bolsheviki seem not to have
come to any agreement as to the peace
negotiations with Germany, and it was
reported the breach between the Le-
nine and the Trotzky factions was Wild
ening. The premier favored yielding
to the German demands. as might be
expected from him. while Trotzky firm
~ opposed such course.
The negotiations ut Brest-Litovsk
were resumed on Tuesday. the Russian
delegates returning as the represent
atives Of the world proletariat," for
the pansoviet congress in Petrograd
has declared for holy war against
all imperialists. Trotzky was given
a free hand in dealing with the CEN
trail powers.
Italy struck suddenly and hard last
week ut the Austrian line on the east
ern Asiag0 plateau. The dashing Ital-
ians broke through the enemy's posi-
tons. took some 1,5OO prisoners and
repulsed all counter-attacks. A day
or so later they attacked again. taking
enemy positions on Col del Rosso and
Col Dechele and finally pushing on to
the capture Of Monte di Val Bella.
dominating height. A thousand more
prisoners, many guns and large guam
titles Of supplies were taken. The
Teut0nic resistance to these attacks
was strong, but the Italians. who had
valuable assistance from the French
and British batteries and aviatOrs.
were not to he withstood. This looked
like the beginning of a real offensive
that might develop into a drive of
magnitude. the probable object being
to drive the enemy hack against the
slopes Of the snow-covered Alps.
On the west front there was ever
increasing artillery activity hut no no
table infantry movements. The much
advertised German offensive still was
delayed, perhaps waiting for internal
troubles to simmer down. The sector
held by the Americans was subjected
to frequent Smelling. and one early
morning trench raid was made there.
SO that General Pershing had to report
a number Of casualties.
-E-
Our government gave out the graft
flying news that sixteen great trans
ports. the biggest armada ever sent
out by America. had arrived safely ut
French ports and unloaded thousands
Of soldiers and immense quantities Of
war material. The assembling Of the
men and the departure Of the vessels
were successfully kent secret. and all
submarines were avoided. The trans
ports were all formerly German or
Austrian steamships that were seized
by America. among them being the Le-
viathan, which was the vaterland
largest Of Atlantic liners. The Ger
man press had led the German people
to believe that most of>these ships had
been damaged by their crews beyond
repair.
According to Secretary Of War
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