The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-01-04


the United States were further strain
ed March Is by the receipt of reports
OF the sinking OF three American
steamers, the City Of Memphis, Illi-
nois and Vigilancia, fifteen of the lat
ter's crew being lost.
On March 81, President Wilson is.
sued proclamation calling congress
in special session on April 2.
The American steamer Healdton
was torpedoed without warning. March
%, 81 men including seven Ameri-
cans, being lost.
United States Declares War.
On April 2, President Wilson ap-
peared before joint session of con-
gress and called for declaration Of
state Of war with Germany. On April
4, the senate passed resolution de-
claring the existence of u state of war.
The resolution was adopted by the
house Of representatives April and
was signed by the president the same
day. AT the same time 01 German
owned vessels In American ports were
seized by the government Cuba de-
clared war on Germany on April Z.
The following day, Austria-H Hungary
severed diplomatic relations with the
United States.
The British forces on the west front
began the first great offensive of 1917
on April 8, penetrating the enemy po-
sitions north and south of Arras to a
depth of from two to three miles.
The French forces launched an Of
fenslve against the enemy on 25-mile
, front between Scissors and Reims,
April 16, and after three days fighting
reported the capture of more than IT,
600 prisoners.
/ The first American casualties in the
! war were reported April %, when the
armed American tank steamer Vacuum
was sunk by a submarine and several
| American gunners were lost.
American Fleet in Action.
1t was learned on May 16, that q
squadron of American destroyers un.
! der Rear Admiral Simms had safely
crossed the Atlantic and had been pa.
, trolling the seas IN war service since
r May 4.
: The United States army draft bill
became a law May Is when President
] Wilson affixed his signature to the
| measure and issued proclamation fix
, ing June as registration day.
;. During the early part of June grow
ing unrest in Russia began TO attract
' the attention OF the allies. On June
$ workmen and soldiers seized Kron
+ stadt, the Russian fortress defending
Petrograd, and repudiated the provis
] ional government. On June 3, the
c American commission to Russia, head
$ ed by Elihu Root, and the American
= railroad commission, headed by Johr
. It. Stevens, arrived safely at Russian
y ports. On June Z, the Russians il
s possession OF Kronstadt yielded tC
i negotiations and recognized the pro
e visional government.
h In the meantime the American prep
4 arations for the war were proceeding
o rapidly. On June 8, nearly 10000,00(
= men Of military age registered for mill
tary service under the selective draf
q law. On June s, Major General Johr
e ]. Pershing, who had been selected t.
head the American expeditionary
:, forces In France, arrived with his stat
h In London. On the same day Wash
ington reported the safe arrival II
k France of 100 American aviators, th'
t first American fighting forces to reacl
), that country.
l. King Constantine Dethroned.
A solution Of the Greek situation
d which had endangered the operations
s of the allies In the Balkans, was reach
/ ed June II when on the demand o
y France, Great Britain and Russia, Kin!
: Constantine abdicated In favor Of hi
) second son, Prince Alexander, who wa
v known to be favorably inclined tOwart
t the allies. London reported anothe
s big raid by Zeppelins on June Is, II
o which 157 parsons were killed ant
O many injured.
Y. The subscriptions to the first Ameri
l. can Liberty loan closed June 10, tn,
v loan being oversubscribed by $3.50,
n 100000.
On June 90. II was announced tha
# the first contingent of American troops
il under command of Major General 81
Is bert, had arrived safely in France.
IS The new Greek cabinet, headed b.
e. Eleutherios VeniZelos, went into of'ic
e on June 81 and two days later the new
d government severed diplomatic rela
r tions with Germany, Austria-Hungary
y Bulgaria and Turkey.
IS On the first of July, the Russian
r. forces, under the personal Leadership
4. of War Minister Kerensky, electrlhe
the allies by launching a powerful OF
j. fensive on nm 1S-mile front In Galicis
"a capturing many strongly fortifie
d towns and taking thousands of prs
h oners. For two weeks the Russian
le continued to advance along from
he that widened to 100 miles, but on Jul
u. 10 the Russian offensive collapsed an
a turned into rout, when many Rus
Ii sian regiments mutinied and flet
Kerensky succeeded Prince Lvoff q
ST premier of Russia on July 20.
al The first political crisis In the Ger
m man cabinet during the war resulte
" on July IA In the resignation of Char