davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
RIFLES WITHIN A
MONTH FOR ALL
j. 8. SOLDIERS
General Crozier Makes Vigor-
Gus Defense Against At
tacks of Critics.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-Complete
supplies Of rifles within month for all
American forces under arms were prom
iScd to-day hy Major General Crozier.
chief OF ordnance. trstifying before the
senate military committee. Sprinsfields
for every r"gula" and national guards
man will he ready before February l. he
said. and the manufacture of remodeled
EnfihldS for the first national army Will
br finished in Il week.
As 10 machine guns. The general said.
full supply -: American make should
hc ready ny July /. next. Rifles for the
IteXl draft hc declared would be on hand
before III" mon We're i'll camp.
Answers Charges.
General CrOZirr appeared particularly
/" answer charges made by Colonel
Isaac y. Lewis. inventor OF the Lewis
nIi.'hin" gun. He submitted a prepared
sta tcm"nt, detailing the official record
~ the war departments dealings with
The Lewis gun. and then submitted t. 4
cross examination of several hours dur-
ing which many interesting points we're
developed.
In reply to assertions made recently
by other witnesses that the allies had
furnished heavy guns to tine American
rxpc,litionacy forces only because the
Americans were worse off than they,
the general submitted official docu-
ments to prove that England and France
voluntarily offered To- provide cannon.
their output having developed to thS
point where surplus was being proc
auCrd. y;
Not Responsible. AZ
General CrozIcr refused TO shoulder
responsibility for the failure to equip
the army adequately with ordnance bN,
fore the war. He said it belonged to- the
country. and cited the relpSsl ofIl164
secretary Of WIT ana teeHfesE II tho
past to approve 'tpodest" ordnal pro-
grams.
The general vigorously defended$h his
course in regard to the Lewis machAne
gun. He gave the; committee the recofd
Of the various tests to which the Il IN
was put and reports OF the army e8-
pcrts 10 show that it had not been DEM
onstrated 8 satisfactory weapon until
April. 1915. after which orders for them
We're given by the department. t@i
When General Crozier finished. Sena-
tor Hitchcock. who has been one Of his
chief qucstioncrs. announced that he
was entirely satisfied with the record
before the war but still did not under
stand why more Of tho Lewis guns were
not ordered afterward. 4,
Among other things General Crozier
told the COMMITTEES that the government
already was building powder factory
that would have Il daily capacity Of, a
million pounds. He denied stories Of
wooden guns furnished men in the can
tonments, explaining that what had been
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01

3 Battery lost out In the drawing b.
lots for the position, ~ be assigned
BY the French TO the first BATTALION
OF heavv artillery reaching the ioE:
We are a, the dismal, drab wuck M
digging new gun pits and erecting new
dugouts under camouflage in E'":h
spot OF the sector as yet unknown Il"
the Germans. A battery VII tax"
over the completion work OF ba,t'ry
position that is virrually finished.
while c. Battery. luck unit. ls to 81
on to an old.established position. one
that has long been occupied b? the
French. and start firing at once. Al
the end Of the week C. Battery will
change places with B Battery anl al 20
learn something OF the science Of dig
cling. We will then take c Battery
position to get our eye-tecth cut at
firing into the actual domain Of al.
enemy. Meanwhile. a Battery. having
finished the construction OF It's eua
pits and dugouts in the third post
ton, will commence firing also.
The foregoing was the arranged pro-
gram announced by the tall major
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
FEW LIVES LOST
BUT MILLIONS IN
PROPERTY CONE.

GUATEMALA CITY. Guatemala, Dec.
31-Earth shocks that began here Mt
IL o'clock on Christmas night and ar'
still continuing caused millions OF dc
lars damage 10 this city. the death o.
few persons and the injury Of about 100
others.
Every house IN the city was rendered
unlnhRhItahlo and tho entire population
ia living In tn" parks and open spaces.
The first shocks were light. giving
warning nf tho heavy ones that might
follow. IN the interim every ono had
opportunity t. seek safety in the open
air.
The devastation wrought WAS wide
spread. Th" presidential palace. tho
pustnfiicr. IN" cathedral. all the
churches. tn" hospitals. the schools and
masonic tempt" w"r" seriously damaged.
Tho electric lighting system was put
out of commission ana tclcSraphic and
railway communication interrupted.
Til" government Is relieving tho situa-
tiun by the Sirihuttnn Of provisions.
Every one IL prohibited from remaining
inside any OF IN" buildings In the city.
Excellent order has hccn preserved.
NEW YORK. Dec. $I.-Wh!la the ma
tcrial damage WAS Very heavy. thcrn
was hut little loss of life in the earth
quake Al Guatemala City few days
arn, according tn tho first advices re-
ceivcd from Guatemala government Of
firiulS by EyuSnrhca. tho Guatcmalan
consul here lat" today.
NEW YORK. n"". %l.--h cable mes
SAG" received here today by tho board
of foreign missions Of the Presbyterian
church in North America. from one Of
it's missionaries in Guatemala City.
read:
"Trrrihle uuHkrS continue. One hum
drrd thousand hnm"lrss. hundreds suf-
frring Send S2I.nn" if possible imrle-
diat"ly. Missionaries safe. All build
ingS wrecked. Hurry
THIS word. the first official news Of
the d;SuSt"r tu h' received hero. con-
trHdirtrd previous nhviccs from unoffi-
rul S0rlrrrs which varirusly estimated
the dcnd from II few score 10 l.nnh.
Hl'nfnrIuuHtrlY. news nf earthquake
tr,Ir." said TN" message received hy tho
CONSUL Loss ut life very slight. Ma
teIial damage heavy"
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
lis TO BE CONSULTED
IErench Premier Refuses Pass
ports to Socialists Going
to Petrograd.

LONDON. Dec. 31.-The Manches-
ter Guardian Gays 1t is the iuten-
tior of the British government,
when the Austro-Geraian terms OF
peace are presented officially to re-
turn = serious and reasoned reply.
Premier Lloyd George has arrang-
ed to visit France. according to the
newspaper, to confer with Premier
Clemenceau ON this subjsct.
(Thc Austro-Gerrnan peace terms
referred to are those presented by
tn. representatives of the Central
powers at tho negotiations with the
Russtaus at BrestL.tovSE. These
negotiations We're interrupted for
ten days to give the entente allies
opportunity to state whether they
would join IN them, The principal
point in tho Austro-German outline
Of peace terms was the acceptance
Of the Russian formula Of no an
psxattons or .ndcnlrtttes. America
will be consulted before the Entente
reply Is framed.)
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
ALL ENTENTE NATIONS
ARE TO PARTICIPATE
Washington Believes German
Effort for Peace Shows
Their Hopelessness.

WASHINGTON, Dec. q. - Tnsidions
efforts OF the Germans to in-olvc tho
tuted States and tho Entente Allies
in the peace negotiations proceeding
with tho Russian Bushcviki have L.
vcloIrcd To such II stage that In the
opinion OF some officials hcro notice Of
the propaganda must be taken and an
attempt made to neutrulize II.
II the British aud Fronch preninr3
are 10 meet In Paris soon with the pur-
rOSe OF discussing adv!sahiiity Of rr-
CctTlnS and answering tho proposals Of
tho Rnlsherikl to participate In the no
Eotialions. as has been reported h n
leading conservative british n"wspapce
they Will act in accord with the aEron-
ment rigidly adhered TO By all the En-
tente Allies until the detection of Rus
sia. not 10 entertain any peace propo-
sails from the enemy without consulta-
tion With each other In diplomatic cir
cles hero today. II was said that any
decision from such Il meeting would be
promptly laid before the Amurican
state department.
Tho German HAIr.
Germany Is believed to be prepared to
offer almost any conceivable bait to All
Individual enemy in order 70 drive q
ruption, and having succcedsd measure
bly, with Russia. 10 trying TO get that
nation to influence her late allies.
Rumors that have existed for the past
fortnight TO the effect that nunthar
peaco proposal WIS about TO be launched
by the Central powers. either through
tho vatican or some neutral state. arc
believed to have thoir foundation In tho
Adro.t attempt 81 tho Ccrnnn ncgotIa-
tors 70 ua" the Russian delegates fnr
that purpose. But IN either case. II
there Is to he another peHcn proposal
through those channels. or II the Ras-
sim negotiations are TO he madr the
vehicle to carry forward tho Germun
designs. II Is believed In some quarters
hero that the t!mo IL ripe now for n
strong and we'll considered declaration
by tho Entente power and America that
will efrcctually anticipate and counter
this attack.
Tho Entente Reply.
It has been pointed ont by state da-
partment officials that President Wilson
already has twice announced Americans s
war aims in uncquirocable terms
Therefore. It is assumed that IL Lloyd
George and Georges Clcmenccau, utter
consulting the spokesman OF tho other
allies. decide that r roply shall he male
70 the German proposals. that reply
must take some other form than nm nd
dress by the American chief executive
Since none ot tho Eutcnt. countries
has recognized tho Leninr-Trn:zK,.
regime In Russia. 1t will no difficult fn-
the Bolshev,ki to convey ths invitation
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01

WASHINGTON II. -. Dec 81
IT,. voice OF Washington sti!i rrsnunds
and H. shows the path 10 triumph
through sacrifice. says President Poln-
care. O. France. in L New Years greet
ing to the American people which ap-
pears in the N.w Years edition Of ths
official hulletin.
NJ. PUiucarr'S message IS one O.
number received from tho heads Of the
nations uSSur::,t.d with the Unlted
States In ihe waT agairS; germany
Others came from King Alexander OF
Greece: rrSSldcnt MeuuCal. ~ Cuba:
President N;,i,ies Of Panama: King Pc
ter. or Serbia: President Ru"rra. Of Bo-
iivta, and t'rrSi,i..ut i.t;t. -. ruGuay.
AS the year l@i1 closes. Gabled the
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01

Nobody will fire." was the an
swer "All Of the arrangements ART
in the absolute control of III" French.
We will simply recnnnnlc1. lnu hnvc
the generals permission to como
along"
Invitation accepted l. is neither
advisable nor permtsaabic for IN"
writer to dwell al length upon the
precise locations OF the various bat
terry positions. The Information was
generally impaired to our officers hy
the French few hours later in Il
preliminary survey OF the entire sec
tor. We were the guests ul tn" French
officers, and wh;E skill lhoy had
gained In three years experience they
placed at our disposal. They nr"n"d
the war books. H. WAS .: ,CinIs. knuwi'
edge.
This l may say: Th"r" is nuthin%
i'll the classified .rr-sririr" "f mud"tn
warfare did not sec. don't ,hlNk
ever walked so far before. Anyhow.
il seemed further. We crossed fields
pitted with shell lIulcs-il land ufflict'
ed with the smallpox. In places the
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
MILLION GREEKS IN ASIA NNN|)|
DECLARED To HAlE..BEEN Ga

NEW YORK. Dec. SI.--At least one
million Greeks. lnrn. women and chill
drcn. have persisted ls th. result OF or
ganiz"d maSsacres and drportationS by
the ''Turco-Tcut"nS' in Asiatic Turkey,
according In statement by Lazaros
George MachrideS. son Of Il leading mer-
chant nf Trehzond. made public through
the Armenian and Syrian relief commit
tee here to-day.
MacridcS. viii" recently arrived here.
says he was one nf a party of 1000
Greeks which was rescued ny the Rus
sian fleet thn: bumharrlcd the town OF
Ordou iair last August. and took the
refugees aboard. He had been taken
10 Ordou. he said. when the Turks raid
cd Tr"hizond ard seized his fathers
stor" along with those Of other Greek
merchants.
"Thnsn uf us who were between the
ages of lG ard CD We're drafted into the
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01

French President. Il look back with
cmot.nn IL thc months JUST elapsed and
to tho successive phases &c "a" world
strugrlc. and in particular 10 the en-
trance Of the United states Into the
war.
champions or \ c"rnn:"n cause. tho
American pcnpl" and tn" French people.
whom y fraternity rt arms has united In
t!e past whom Il is hlu'liuS Still NOR"
closely day. coutempiIl" with uuSh,h-
ahlr frrnncSS. and with III" :,cr"n" con-
sciousneSs OF their duty. the iih"ratirE
task thar they hav" Sw"ri! |" accomplish
IA The end. The E"ar !?lS will -" the
continuation ~ the sublime effort "t ,nc
free nations. grouped for the defense "G
honor and OF the pledged w"r'l. TOR the
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
POTATO CAMPAIGN.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 3l.-Thn Irish
potato on every tnhl' In America every
day III the year Is the 7ni'Jo"t OF cam
paign begun today by tn" United Statrs
food administration. ';rocers VIII h
asked IN inquEurat" 4 ''p"tato day each
week "tectirg Whatever Gay IL slack IN
deliveries an dmrkiug Il special price.
Fairly regular purchases Ar" Tn he
urged on the public. 8" ;has distribution
vii! DO equal everywhere r"r tho next
five or six months. relieving !aiirnnd
and encouraging production
Of a larger crop next spring.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
BLUEFIELD BANKERS
START 4,200 KIDDIES
WITH THRIFT CARDS

HCNTINGTUN. ". Va. Dec. 3i.-Re-
turning to-day from conference with
bankers at Blueficld. Robert l.. Archer.
state director OF the war savings stamp
campaign. announced the bankers had
arranged In givo to each Of the 1900
school children IN the district Il thrift
card containing twenty-five cent thrift
stamp. To obtain the vaiue Of the first
stamp each child will have to save fIf-
teen other stamps. when the card may
he exchanged for war savings stamp
which is rchccmablc OF ton days notice
Mr.. Archer declared hr fully approved
the plan and expressed the belief that
other hanks in the state would adopt the
same plan.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01

What struck me most forcibly in the
trip around The sector were the eyi.
denceS of the almost incredible genius
Of the French in Disgusting their bat
tery positions. Nothing was what it
seemed from appearances. Always
have known that the art Of French
cooking Is TO make one thing taste
like something else; their skill In war
certainly includes tho faculty Of max
Ing one thing look like something else.
One never realizes the presence OF
A battery until one was at the very
portal OF the network OF its above ana
below ground construction. TBeIasco
would scream with envy II he. came
over here. Az stage managersiof the
terrain the French are unsurpassed.
They deceive themselves. They fool
even the birds. 1t Is simply impossible
10 tell where nature leaves O" and the
painted scenery begins, and the decen-
ton varies with the seasons. s,.ias
"Hostiltics that are carried ND amid
the clouds and down. among the
worms certainly have a special Fl /,
nation remarked the colonel.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01

shell holes Wrr" filled with water. and
their regularity OF form and location
on Tn" ground suggested the muffin
dish Of liIr kitchen about 10 pass into
the oven. We Skirird wooded tracts,
climbed into and OuI Of craters.
.plashrd along roads flooded by the
fall rains. iravrrSrd various sorlH OF
cutters ru, In the earth and called
trenches. and passed tic infantry sem
linrls of lw0 republics encased IN
equipment and mud.
Dodoing Bullets.
"lInw goes il"" | asked one OF our
infantrymru in lrnversing trench.
The while Keeping my halanc" as well
~ | could from the clay sides OF the
marrow pa$Sagu i!S picked my way
along on sumr duck boards.
lust like tho movie pictures. ne
srlnncd. ''I ain't disappointed. He
was 4 farmers sun from Iowa.
SUPPOSE | ought to expatiate upon
tho imperious rat-a-tat-tat-tat OF the
la4chInc guns, the chug-chug Of the
Anch mortars, the staccato spit-splt
the accaSiQual- -ritia Gre RR11InC
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01

Turkish army" said ,Al6cridS
women and children and tho .oE6Se
were placed temporarily in; ;shGmS0y
orphanages until the opportunitYiott
to dispose" Of them in. theR
Turco- -Teuton fashion which@in
stance turned out !. to : be .by:;sHha
drowning. - - :, I; Ns;s S:Ss3
THE unfortunate survivors 6of
tation were towed out for Sevaral
into the Black seA and dI:theH @
dumped overheard Just, like sodd1ck5
bage. None Of. them survived, 0SS
efficiency has simply $orEaniSedS SthSsgll
tural brutality of the Turk sandsma1
many times more effective than Sevef
fore. ). 1 should think that; t;$0tsthesE,
conservative estimate, at lease .oDe;
Of my fellow; ;,countrymen sh1ves Ssfts
miserably through the. e..orG1niS6dSl0e
Of this Turco-Teutonic :allfxn1assss ~,
only hope Of the future lies In sAiHA
-
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
IMPORTANT. DECISION
BY DIRECTOR M'ADOO
Railroad War Board Dis
solved-Cabinet of Five
Has Been Substituted.

Special ID The lntrlligcucer.
EALTlMuHF. Md, Dec. Sl.--Locomn-
tlr"S belonging In number Of western
railroads arc hriuE transferred to the
western lines OF the baltimore and Ohio
railroad. SO as 10 release engines Of thu
latter road iur use in eastern territory,
particularly "n the Allegheny divisions
where special Effort is being made 10
end the freight congestion. These loco
motives ar" h2inE drawn from the
Union racinc the chicago. Milwaukee
and ST. Paul. III" 500 line and other
carriers. Never before In the history
OF railroads has there ever been such n
wholesale exchange of engines as Is now
taking place To meet the rxiKencies IT
war
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
&c BELOW ZERO In
YUKON TERRITORY

DAWSON, z. T., Doc. Eighty
six below zero Is the record for this
season for the recent cold wave, be-
ran several weeks ago. This was At
the mouth Of Pelly river, $50 miles
mn the Yukon river from here. At
white Horse ~ below has been reg.
tstered.
Thermometers in Dawson have
registered between so and 60 below
for o month. Hospitals are crowd
ed with pneumonia cases and many
deaths have occurred. No funerals
nre possible until the weather mod
crates.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
(Contuued on Page Ten.)
THE wEATRHR.

WASHINGTON, Dec. a1.-Foreoast:
West virgtnta-Fa1r, continued cold
Tuesday; Wednesday increasing oloudi-
ness and warmer.
Ohto-Fa1r, continued cold Tuesday;
Wednesday increasing oloudiness and
wnrmer, probably Enow by night north
portion.
Western Peunsylvania--TaIr. not
quito 80 cold Tuesday; Wednesday In
oreastng oloudineBs and warmer, prob
sbly SNOW 1t night
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
ENTENTE ALLIES WILL REPLY TOAUSTRO-CERNAN
:. PEACE PLAN; LLOYD GEORGE TO|NEET CLElAENCEAU
LLOYD GEORGE IN
VICTORY PREDICTION

LONDON, Dec. al.-In New
Year greeting to the vIceroy Of In
d1a, conveying a message OF good
win from, the British cabinet to the
Indian people, Premier Lloyd George
says:
Despite many set-backs ana dis
appointments We are far on In the
path to victory. 7 have
good hopo that before this new year
Is past the purpose to which we have
set our hands Will have been COM
pletely achieved"
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
STILL ASHORE.

.NN ATLANTIC PORT. Dec. 3,.-Ti:"
Argentine steamer lanHa. crroneo.i>tf
r"h"rt"d last night as th" ArG"ati2':
steamer P!ucmt". WAS still ashor" '"d>t:'
wh.rr she had bcsu hlnwu by last
niy;r,'s gall" i wr"ckinS steamer has
gone u h.r ali.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
UP B
NORMAL Conn
CERTAIN "!
Quick Measures5I
Government I'd
Fuel Short
WASHINGTON, Dec.

WASHINGTON, Dec-
wave which has gripped-t
Of the country. fof.. tho
rapidly is passing TO ,:sSa
bureau announced toniG
will be a return to norma
by Wednesday,. ..S;tS1
AT far northern pointlSa
field, Vermont. where Rs
zero was recorded, thee1s3
ment in the severity otst|
but generally thrQushot|
slight rises - >ratu
ported. This wih~Sntinl
and warmer. weather ID t!
Wednesday. ! 10;
Snow fell in tha Missfsst
valleys, Tennessee md, :soi
lantic states today. Sndi 1
casted Wednesday the.
In other sections eass.vs q
river, however. fair ,weathf
for several days. 81, 81
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01

Wait until we break 3hiGi
on the west front ahd gefaNS
bile again. said an rimpi
battery commander 20
never put up with fight
fixed earthly fortc
II am not 10 sure,
colonel. ANYHOW, ourl.
the. ways Of tae prairiess
creep 4betorefthey walk
Where Are the C
Inside ones mind ,ols
the first-line POSITIONS
ablef longing toasees
Where are the GermI
the questions ,of@tqg
there" at last said
We were upon a .k1(
tered by somo Tb1l
seryation post q
Below us ran
rlotous irregulI
were broken
There : wer
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
Ralisf Nsaanr,l

AOA0k 1SONDW3OUa
WASHINGTON, Dec.t2EA
ures to relieve the. New "a
shortage were taken here to-
the situation had claimed ID
during the day of four EoYS
partments. The problem W
jointly by the fuel admiaiafi
navy department. the shipping
the new djrector-genera1 .Sot
These relief measures wessE
The shipping board 4, oIsl
steamers to proceed tmme05
Hampton Roads for coal car
New England and directed the
main in the; service until thes
Is over. ~: ~ ~; - y, -
The navy y5depart tmsnt p1t 6E
posal Of the. fuel administering
Of n large store Of steam EcoA
Boston navy yards, and an
employ idle naval tugs and
transporting coal to New Engta
It also instructed navy yard
ders to distribute to the poor 3se
timber at the yards. > - 81 "A Z. !.
The director Of railroads ral1
500 cars of coal standing on
vania railroad tracks between M
and Harrisburg Pa. and; din6ct
they 60 Immediately TO New. !?
cities. ~ g; :;f::aI Is IA fsta
The entire fuel situation sanA 4;
kation to railway and water !tf11
on was gone over .ak 1epEth Al
& cretary McAdoo; diteefst
Il tlroadi tl ntiiA Alst1lt6Ss
l3lts CHI sSf siSa
Mr.S3lSA6oo tnsl
|etation: 5UndsfS
producing distri1 ctss)
vaniR8 and Veg
aside Ito 49,
whole countrJStt
Authority kra1fSAS
general today to srattsl
priority: orders when 10 q &
relieve cdr conIeBtio1: g.
.expedIte%the movS1nentle
order Officials say yhavS
!er than hurried 4 cDal nHS
'tonight's 3, order faAYoadsf
use their judSmehts ~ ~
first, always beafinG' fnGn
and food must move rapt
L. !.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-01
VICTORIES
SCORED BY THE
ALLIED ARMIES
GERMANS REPULSED
ON WESTERN FRONT
French in Italy Attack Aus
tro-Germans-Take 400
Men and Guns.

ROME, Dec. 31.-1n the Monte
Tomba region on the northern front
the French have captured enemy
positions between Osteria DI Mon
ferena md mnranzine, the war Of
fce announces. They also cap
tured about i,4oo men and sixty
mnchine guns and seven cannon.
BERLIN, Dec. 81. French
forces On tho northern Italian front
yesterday took the offensive. In the
afternoon the French infantry pe1e-
trated portions Of the Austro-
German positions on Monte Tomba,
the German general STAFF announced
today.