Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-03
BY DONALD F. 1IGGs.

ed March 18 by the receipt Of reports |
of the sinking of three American
steamers, the City of Memphis, nli-
nois and Vigilancia, fifteen of the lat
ter's crew being lost,
On March 81, President Wilson is
sued a 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 a joint session of con-
gress and called for declaration of a
state of war with Germany. On April
4, the senate passed a resolution de-
claring the existence of a state of war.
The resolution was adopted by the
house Of representatives April 6 and
was signed by the president the same
day. At the same time 81 German
owned vessels In American ports were
seized by the government. Cuba de-
clared war on Germany on April z.
The following day, Austria-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-
sitlons north and south of Arras to a
depth of from two to three miles.
The French forces launched an Of
fensive 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 q submarine and several
American gunners were lost.
American Fleet In Action.
1t was learned on May 16, that a
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
May 4.
The United States army draft bill
became a law May 18 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 L
worl1men and soldiers seized Kron
stadt, the Russian fortress defending
Petrograd, and repudiated the provls
ional government. On June 8, the
American commission to Russia, head
ed by Elihu Root, and the American
railroad commission, headed by Johr
r. Stevens, arrived safely at Russian
: ports. On June T. the Russians iI
, possession Of Kronstadt yielded tt
negotiations and recognized the pro
, visional government.
In the meantime the American prep
arations for the war were proceeding
, rapidly. On June 5, nearly 10,000,00C
men of military age registered for mill
tary service under the selective draf
law. On June 8, Major General Johl
, J. Pershing, who had been selected t.
head the American expeditionar,
, forces in France, arrived with his stat
/ in London. On the same day Wash
ington reported the safe arrival II
( France of 100 American aviatOrs, tn
t first American fighting forces to reacl
, that country.
King Constantine Dethroned.
A solution of the Greek situation
l which had endangered the operation
) of the allies in the Balkans, was reach
: ed June IL when on the demand o
: France, Great Britain and Russia, Kin
: Constantine abdicated In favor Of hi
: second son, Prince Alexander, who wa
y known to be favorably inclined towar
{ the allies. London reported anothe
8 big raid by Zeppelins on June 13, 4
o which 157 persons were killed an
o many injured.
!, The subscriptions to the first Amer
i can Liberty loan closed June 10, th
v loan being oversubscribed by $3.50
q 100000.
On June %, 1t was announced ths
4 the first contingent of American troops
( under command of Major General s
8 bert had arrived safely In France.
s The new Greek cabinet, headed b
}. Eleutherios Venizelos, went into ofiC
9 on June 27 and two days later the me-
d government severed diplomatic reli
= tions with Germany, Austria -Hungar,
y Bulgaria and Turkey.
3 On the first Of July, the Russia
= forces, under the personal Ieadershi
1. of War Minister Kerensky, electrife
the allies by launching a powerful o
l. fensIve on an 1S-mlle front In Galicl
n capturing many strongly fortift
d towns and taking thousands Of pri
h oners. For two Weeks the Russian
10 continued to advance along frol
Ie that widened to 100 miles, but on Jul
j. 10 the Russian offensive collapsed an
q turned into rout, when many Ru
h sian regiments mutinied and fle
Kerenslxy succeeded Prince Lvoff |
"A ,,ranniaF NJ RuSeia nm JuIy %