Middletown transcript., 1918-03-30

lea is still unrepresented-and there
is reason to believe that it will decide
to take the offensive without waiting
for the Germans to strike, as was init
mated in these columns some weeks
ago. It is believed that the council has
ut its disposal an immense army made
up of reserves Of the various allied
forces, and some wise observers think
the first great attack will be made in
Italy, though there will be enough do
ing in France and Belgium to keep the
Germans busy and uncertain. Intense
activity by both the Germans and
French in the Terdun region, and GER
tain movements in the American sec
ton toward Me;z indicate coming op-
erations of magnitude on those parts
Of the line. The French made some re-
markably swift and successful raids,
destroying enemy blOckhouses and
shelters that had taken three years to
construct.
a.
On the TOul front the Americans
were subjected to continuous Smelling
and the enemy also sent over airplanes
that dropped large rubber balls filled
with liquified mustard gas-a new
form Of attack. The American artil-
lery maintained it's record for accurate
fire, driving the enemy from several
strong positions and ut times attacking
the Germans heavily with gas shells.
Secretary Baker in the course Of his
visit to General Pershing's forces was
under fire in the front line trenches,
and one big shell exploded close to his
automobile, but he escaped injury.
On Tuesday General Pershing ap-
proved the awarding of the first of the
new American military crosses for
bravery, the recipients being Lieut..
John o. Green and SergtS. William
Norton and Patrick Walsh. All OF
them previously had been decorated
with the French war cross.
49,
In Russia, despite the acceptance of
the peace treaty by the bOlsheviki. the
German armies have been steadily
pressing forward. occupying town after
town in the south, moving up toward
Moscow and also approaching so close
to PetrOgrad that the seizure OF the
capital city was said to be a matter OF
DAYS or hours. All the allied diplomats
left PetrOgrad. most of them retiring
to VOlOgla, $50 miles east. American
Ambassador Francis from there issued
an address to the Russian people,
warning them that if they submitted
to the peace imposed by the central
powers Russia eventually would be-
come a German province, and pledging
the support Of the American govern
ment to any government in Russia that
would resist the German penetration.
MIR. Francis acted without specific in
structiOns from Washington, but his
utterances received the full approval
of the administration.
The bolshevik government has been
hurriedly moving to Moscow. Trotzky
| is there and says he will act as minis
ter Of war if there is to be more fight
ing. The new volunteer army Is being
organized rapidly, with renewed dis
cipline, and the press and people. al
ready somewhat disillusioned, cry out
against the predatory ruthlessness OF
the Germans. The Transcaucasian as
| sembly at Tiflis refused to ratify the
| peace treaty and demanded immediate
war on Germany. The attitude of all
| the allies toward the bOlshevik soviet
is becoming more sympathetic, but the
| hope of effective resistance is rather
| faint.
| The hand of the cOnquerOr falls
| more and more heavily on ROumania
: which is now required to give up to the
central powers not only all Of her own
war munitions, but also those left in
Roumania by the allies. If she yields
to this demand the representatives OF
the allies will leave Jassy.
| The supreme war council of the al
lies ut Versailles issued statement
denouncing Germany's political crimes
against Russia and ROunlania and re
fusing to recognize the peace treaties
with them. 1--WE are fighting, and NEAR
to continue fighting, in order to finisf
once for all with this policy of plum
der" said the council. In reply Chan
cell. T. Won Hertling asserted German!
had no intention of rObbing or dishon
oring Russia and accused the allies o.
hynocrisy. untruthfulness and brutal
ity.
There was no material change in tn
situation in the far East, but the Oppo
sition to Japan's plan to occupy Nladl
voStok seemed to increase because o
the persistent distrust of the island EN-