Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1918-01-05
FROM ALL The WAR
FRONTS IN EUROPE
COLD WEATHER HAMPERS OPE-
RATIoNS ON LARGE SCALE IN
FRANCE AND ITALY.
The WAR PRISONERS
The Russian and Central Powers Have
Reached a5 Agreement on Many
Points in the Peace Farley
Now Being Held.

Aside from bombardments and reci.
procal artillery duels, little is going on
IN the major theaters of the war. On
the French front the weather is still
cold, and this, with the snow that
covers the ground everywhere, is i'm
peding operations on large scale.
The Germans Saturday night essay.
ed an attack against the British north
east of Ypres, where for the last sew
eraI days they had been laying down
heavy preparatory artillery fire. The
attack, however, was futile, for the
British, ever on the watch, raked the
Germans with their fire and repulsed
them with considerable losses.
Likewise, attempts by the Germans
to carry out raids on small French
posts near ST. Quentin, Bezonvaux and
Vauquois resulted in failure, and in
addition the enemy lost men made
prisoner. There is still considerable
intermittent artillery activity along
the entire French front
In the Italian theater the infantry
for the present is idle, but the big
guns continue to carry out mutual
bombardments against opposing posi-
tions in the hill region from the Asia
go plateau eastward to the Piave
river. This activity is particularly
pronounced on the Monte Tomba sec
tor and few miles to the east on both
sides of Pederobba, near the upper
reaches of the Piave river
The British forces under General
march against the Turks in Palestine.
Considerable fresh progress has been
made north and northwest of Jeru-
salem, particularly in the occupation
of Birch, about twelve miles to the
north, where the Turks offered stub
born resistance but finally were over
come
A dispatch to Reuters, Ltd, at Lon
don, from British headquarters, says
that the Germans are experiencing diff
ficulty In maintaining efficiency in
their air service on the western front
The corr espondent says prisoners are
unanimous in saying that the output
of new machines is very limited, and
that this fact is compelling the en-
ployment of old types of aircraft.
A new commercial convention has
just been concluded between France
and Switzerland. 1t grants certain IA
cilities for the transit of the Ameri-
can grain and other commodities for
Switzerland through French territory.
Provisional agreement on a series
of important points, including liberia
ton of war prisoners and resumption
Of commercial relations, was reached
Sunday by the delegates of Russia and
the central powers in discussion of is
sues which, in the event of general
peace, would have to be settled among
the nationals represented in the ne
gotiations at Brest-Litovsk. This pro-
Visional discussion was terminated
Sunday, the basis of an agreement
adopted being reached under the res
eryation that it was to be examined
Oy the governments represented by
he delegates.
In respect of treaty relations, an
was arrived at regard.
ng the restoration of the situation as
t existed when the var began.
1t was provided that certain laws
adopted during the war shall be can
,eled and that those affected thereby
'hall be restored to their previous
lights or Unidentified.