The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-03-21
PIan to Starve Neutrals
By Cutting OF Supplies


stest campaign of ruthlessness
against neutral shipping is attributed
By the war trade board in statement
tsRight to deliberate plan of cutting
~ the north European nations from
American and allied food supplies
and thereby reducing them through
starvation to political and economic
dependence upon the Teuton wal
Asrds.
While the board makes no refer
ezee to the determination of the Unit
Rates and Great Britain, disclosed
tsasy to take over Dutch ships in
american and allied ports unless The
Netherlands government accepts "a
pending economic agreement, it's
Vnon the situation which led to this
statement throws interesting light
decision.
The hope is expressed that the
neutraIs will contrast the respective
attitudes of he United States and
Germany toward the problem Of feed
ing them
Submarine is Weapon
Following is the statement:
3Germany's war leaders are using
fhs submarine war weapon to prevent
fai6a1ment of American agreements
to feed and relieve European neutrals
"A mass Of cumulative evidence and
indications in the possession of the
U2r trade board shows hat Germany
TX employing the submarine menace to
prevent neighboring neutrals receiv-
ing any food or favors at the hands
Of the United States and it's associates
nm the war and to coerce these neu-
kzls through starvation into politi-
cal and economic dependence upon
Germany quite as much as to strike
1t the communications of it's oppon-
ests-Germany's ostensible aim is
Troclaining the ruthless submarine
campaign.
To Drag Down Shipping
Further indications tend to show
that the submarines are being used
along similar dog in the manger'
lines, to destroy neutral shipping
without regard to it's employment in
scker to weaken prospective neutral
competitors after the war andl to drag
1opn neutral tonnage as far as pos
&de toward a position of equality
tsr inferiority) with the German
nEcantile marine, which has lost be-
6eens 90 and so per cent of its ocean
tonnage, so that the neutral trader
n!zy be equally as badly off as his
German rival for tonnage in the after
he war race for commerce.
With the American Army in France,
March 14.-American troops in the
Auneville sector have occupied and
IRE holding enemy trenches northeast
q Badonvi1lers, which they forced the
Germans TO abandon through recent
RAIDS and concentrated artillery fire.
1h9 trenches have been consolidated
nth ours. ....,
This, though small forward move
Meut, marks the first forward advance
u the American army in France.
H1x consolidation of the trenches en-
a1Ses the Americans and French to
operate from higher ground than
Heretofore.
With the American Army in France,
March 14.-American troops in the
Lunville sector have occupied and are
holding enemy trenches northeast of
B1douvillers, which they forced the
6rnzans to abandon through recent
raids aid concentrated artillery fire.
The trenches have been consolidated
With oms- ..~..... =, -.
This, though small forward move
Meut, marks the first forward ad-
9anca by the American army in
France. This consolidation of the
trenches enables the Americans and
French to operate from higher ground
than heretofore.
The Germans made only feeble at
tempts to retake the position and each
time we're repulsed.,
With the American Army in France,
Tuesday,. March 12.-After weeks of
rain, SHOW and murky weather there
came to the American front today its
first bath of genial spring sunshine.
The skies were cloudless, and in the
Aloderate temperature that prevailed
sweaters were discarded by the men
for the first time since last summer,
while In the villages where they are
Z Eilleted and in the environments in the
NIdnlHAS area CIlS CduipS WSIc ucCOI
xted with rolls of bedding being given
an airing. Men and horses basked in
the sunshine in the streets and on the
hillsides-a grateful experience after
the winter damp chill.
Everywhere one could see equip.
nle1t hung out to dry, tent flaps and
hut windows open and hospital pa,
tients breathing the sweet spring air
Meanwhile the transport work was
being expedited by the rapidly drying
roads
Preparing to Fight
In the training areas, the fullest ad
vantage was tax IN of the oper
weather, the officers crowding tht
men To- willingly renewed efforts tt
make them fit for front line service
Under the sunshine and the still
atmosphere airdromes all along tn,
Mne sprouted f1ocks of PLANES, boil
on hiaf and on serious missions, ant
everywhere there was expectant readi
ness for an enemy offensive if i
should develop.
The troops both on the front and i!
she training areas are on the tipto
Of expectation for the arrival of Sec
rotary of War Baker. the presence o
whom In France was announced il
sa,e Paris morning newspapers an,
fo5k the whole army by surprise.
Word of the secretary's presence il
france was spread rapidly by tele
phone from the bases to the further