Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-16

certainty as to when the big movements will begin, 1t is
certain that they cannot much longer be delayed. The
weather is rapidly warming up, and in the natural course
of things the roads and fields will soon be dried up after
the slush and mud Of winter. The millions Of men VINO
face each other on the long front cannot much LONGER
remain quietly watching each other, and any day may
bring the news of the greatest drive Of the war, and,
perhaps, the one which will decide the fate Of the war.
S y So /.
During the work of preparation the American troops
have been playing their part. They have been engaged
in no very important movement, but every day they have
participated in the days work, operating on all their
sectors, sometimes in conjunction with their French
,neighbors, and sometimes Independently. On the Lune-
vile sector the Americans made their first permanent
occupation of enemy trenches, driving the Germans from
their shelter. occupying the, trenches which they had
held, and consolidating them as part Of their own line.
The Americans nave given abundant evidence Of their
fine soldierly qualities, and have won high praise from
all who have observed their work. @
The order Of the war department that casualty lists
should be given out without addresses has been taken
to the president for his investigations. Nothing on the
subject has come from him, but there are hopes that he
may modify the order, as it is causing a great deal. of
adverse comment. Because of the facts that any names
are duplicated, or so nearly duplicated that it is easy to
mistake one name for another, it is recognized that the
""AASo~o VI hoAASS "AtAOAL AuN SSoCS 10 d USELESS Il.
Torrance, and there is no reason why it should be con-
tinued.
Secretary Baker has spent the week in France. tie
is the first officer of cabinet rank to visit Europe during
the war, if We except Colonel House. who has been
dubbed by some a cabinet officer without portfolio. The
purpose Of the visit of Secretary Baker is, of course, to
familiarize himself with field conditions, to convey to
the field officers facts relating to the progress of affairs
in Washington, and generally to bring into closer touch
the field management Of the army and the management
of the civilian work at home. -
- 81 . =
The United States government has announced: its
intention to take over the Dutch vessels now lying idle
in American ports. This will be done on the 18th, and
the United States will in this way be placed in posses
sion of more than a million tons of shipping. The ships
in question have been out of commission for months be-
cause an agreement could not be reached under which
they could safely be permitted to sail. The assurance
is given that there will be no interference with the prop
erty rights of the owners, who will be compensated for
the use Of their vessels, and for their loss if they should
be destroyed. The owners will be better off in this way
than they have been with their ships lying idle. The
plan does not meet the approval Of the German newspa-
pers, who have threatened drastic action on the par, of
their government il Holland submits" This may easily
mean that unless Holland declares war on the allies her
territory will be invaded by German troops. The situation
for Holland either way is not a pleasant one.
Announcement has been made Of the second draft
for American soldiers, the number to be drawn this time
being fixed at 100000 men,. March 20 was fixed as the
time for beginning the draft, and it was expected tnat
the $500 men in North Dakota's quota would begin to
go forward on April 1. Opposition to changes in the clas-
siffcation law, however. may delay the opening of the
draft until a later date. The department proposes ,aat
the quota assigned to each state shall be based on the
number of men in that state in Glass 1, instead of on
population. This is satisfactory to the senate, but some
opposition has developed in the house.