Evening star., 1918-03-31
/ AERIcA'S FIRST YEAR IN GREAT WAR

war aims and asks for a declaration
Of war against Austria Hungary. .-
December 5-Both houses Of Congress
pass Joint resolution declaring war on
Austria.
December 15-Questionnaires go out
for a permanent classification Of men
registered for seIective service.
December 17-House adopts prohibi-
tion amendment by vote OF yeas. 2s2;
nays, 128.
December 1s-Nineteen lives lost
when United States submarine rams
sister ship in Atlantic port.
December 21-Secretary of State
Lansing publishes cablegrams showing
further Vaccinations by Count Lux
burg in Argentina.
December 2s-Ship with ,.bolshevik
crew arrives at Pacific port.
December 26-President Wilson is
and operation Of railroads for period
of war. appointing Secretary of the
Treasury McAdoo director general.
December 27-Washington receives
peace offer as made to bofsheviki by
Count CZernin, foreign minister OF
Austria Hungary.
January president Wilson. in mes
sage to Congress, asks for legislation
in regard to the taking over OF the
railroads by the government. and asks
for an appropriation Of $50O.OO0,O0o
for the same.
January S-President Wilson in mes
sage to Congress outlines foundation
for peace.
January s-Reception in House to
commission from Serbia.
January 1U-House adopts suffrage
amendment-yeas, 274: nays. 136.
January 17-Fuel Administrator Gar
field issues order for the closing of
all manufacturing plants east of the
Mississippi river. including LOUISIANA
and Minnesota. for five days, starting
January is. and closing for ten Mon
days following. The order provides
for further closing Of all places OF
business and amusement, with the ex-
ception of stores that sell food, Whicn
and for the purpose of selling drugs
and medical supplies only stores may
maintain the necessary heat through
out the day and evening.
January IA resolution offered by
Senator Hitchcock requesting that Fuel
Administrator Garfield postpone the or
der for five days was passed by the
Senate-yeas. 90; nays. 10. DR.. Gar
field did not comply with the request.
January 24-senator Chamberlsin Dc:
to a statement given out by the Presi-
dent that he was distorting the truth
when he said in a speech in New York
that the War Department has ceased
January 23-Secretary Of War Baker
appeared before the Senate committee
on military affairs in answer to- the
charges made by Senator Chamberlain,
and in the course of his speech stated
that in the early part Of 1918 100000
men would be in France. and before
the end of 1915. 100000.
February 6-Announcement was made
Of the sinking by German submarine
of the transport Tuscania, with 2,1T9
tSoa ard y-if fA
loss Of 146 lives and sixty-f1ve still
missing.
February 11-President Wilson. in
message to Congress, answers the ad-
Count Won Hertling. and Count Czernin
for Austria, delivered on January "a,
as to the basis of peace.
March 11-Announcement was made
Of the arrival in France of Secretary
of War Baker. who sailed from an
American port about February "a.
March 11-Announcement by Provost
Marshal General Crowder that 100000
men are to be called to tho eolors
gradually during the present year. un-
der the second Army draft, which be-
gins on March 29. This announcement
was followed by an order for the
mobilization Of 5000 men during the
some $4,000 to be assembled under the
second draft. Eighty thousand will be
men OF the first draft Of $4,000 not yet
summoned into service.
March 12-President Wilson in mes
sage cabled by him to the congress Of
soviets. which assembled in Moscow on
the 18th. gave formal assurance to
Russia of his intention to stand by that
nation.
March 19-President Wilson signs
daylight saving bill.
March 20-Dutch shipping in the
United States amounting to 100000 tons
taken over by tho government, and at
the same time 100000 tons were taken
over by England.
March 21-President Wilson today
signed the bill bringing railroads un-
der government control and operation
until twenty-one months after the end
Of the war. 'ts
March 21-Germany begins, western
drive and shells Paris with seventy
six mile cannon.