Mexico Missouri message., 1918-04-04

en- from Roumania, but Berlin and Vi
emma, who have expressed themselves
piously as opposed to annexations, are
now insisting upon a rectificatiOn of
frontier that will give TO Austria all
the strategic mountain passes and
dominating heights, including the Iron
Gates of the Danube, along the west
ern frontier of Roumania.
This is precisely what Austria did
to Italy when the boundary line was
delimited by treaty, and the fact that
Austria controlled every vantage point
along the Isonzo and in the Alps when
the war began immeasurably added to
the difficulties of Cadorna's campaign
ing.
Berlin is determine that Roumania
shall be placed in helpless position at
the feet of Austria, covered by Aus
trian guns and rendered forever in
capable of acting otherwise than the
central powers approve.
IA
Intense aerial activity on the part
of both the entente allies and the
TeutOnic forces has developed. Sixty
German airplanes took part In raid
on Paris. which resulted in heavy cas-
ualtieS, final figures showing at least
100 persons to have been killed ard
10 wounded. Among the dead was an
American woman. Miss Winga Caro-
lima Martin, who was a Y. NJ. G. A.
canteen worker. Miss Martin was one
of six persons killed in hospital
which was struck by a bomb. Among
those killed were a large number of
women and children who were crushed
to death IL panic at the entrance
to a subway station where hundreds
sought refuge from the enemy bombs.
However while the Huns were boast
ing of this most successful" raid, the
airmen of the allies were not idle.
British aviators invaded Germany,
making a daylight raid on Coblentz,
one of the important railroad centers
in western Germany, the seat of big
military barracks and extensive mu-
nitions works. A ton of high explo-
sives was dropped on the city, starting
fires In many sections. This was the
third daylight raid on the enemy cOun-
try In period of four days.
Behind the lines in Flanders and
France the British aviators are also
maintaining the effective work they
have been doing lately. The territory
from Lille south to Cambria has been
sown with bombs, railroad sidings and
ammunition dumps in the region of
Maubeuge, Valenciennes, Douat and
Cambria being attacked.
The enemy is getting all the worst
of the air fighting and his apparent
inability TO check the British flyers or
to take the initiative himself in this
important sphere rather discounts his
loud boasts of readiness for great
| offensive. 1t is to be doubted If he
can venture any large-scale offensive
while the overhead fields of battles are
so thoroughly controlled by his OPP
pOnents.
Announcement that Secretary of
War Baker had landed In France gave
rise to all sorts of speculation as to
the real purpose of his trip. At Wash
ington the official announcement was
made that the secretary's visit to
France is for purely military purposes
and has no diplomatic significance. AT
the same time the view was expressed
| In some quarters that Mr. Bakers trip
| might have some connection with the
| Views of American commanders that
| the allies should undertake deter
mined offensive on the west front this
year instead of remaining on the de-
fensive and awaiting the expected Of
fensIve of the German forces. The tre-
mendOus growth of the American eX-
| peditiOnary forces recently, with the
| promise that American troops will be
ready to take part In a general often
sive this year. Is expected to give the
views of the American high command
great weight with the allied command
ers. Secretary Baker has announced
that he expects to make a thorough in
spectiOn of all the American forces
abroad and to hold important confer
ences with American military COM
manders. 1t is known that he has been
eager for several months to talk over
with General Pershing the many prob
lens that have arisen In connection
with the war plans.
Secretary Baker arrived in Paris
just in time to witness the pretentious
air raid by German airplanes on the
French capital. In an interview given
out In Paris after the raid, Mr.. Baker
said; "It was my first experience OF
the actualities OF war and revelation
of the methods inaugureted by an enc