Licking Valley courier., 1918-05-23
Preparations Made by TeutonS
for Renewal of Drives in
France and Italy.
HUN navy IS CONCENTRATED
Wilhelm and Charles Renew Austro-
German Treaty-Russia Writhine
Under kaiser's Oppression
President Names Hughes
to Investigate Aircraft
Production Charges.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARp.

OpeidtiOuS VI luSI week III tne war
zones led to the prediction that the
central powers were preparing to
strike hard and soon on two fronts
~ Fsgnse and Ita!y--.gIIh ssne rras+
poets Of great naval battle in the
North sea. It was admitted by the
Germans that their tremendous losses
were largely responsible for the delay
in resuming their drive on the west
front. They were very busy reorgan-
iZing their forces and bringing up
fresh troops who have not yet been
engaged In the fighting there. Rain
and mud, ably seconded by the allied
avlators, made difficult the moving of
supplies by the Huns, but they kept AT
the task doggedly. Meanwhile their
artillery censelessly pounded away at
various important salients held by the
allies. In return the latter gave more
than they received.
There were many infantry opera
lions that must be classed as small
because Of the magnitude of the war.
fare, but which resulted In the recov'
cry of valuable positions by the allies.
In one or two instances the Germans
also gained f0OthOlds In the lines hut
cOunter-attacks always drove them
out promptly and they invariably suf'
fered heavy casualties. The kaiser's
armies, however, showed no especial
signs of weakening, and no competent
observer doubts that they are still
capable of tremendous efforts and will
make them. General Foch and. indeed,
all the allied commanders, await the
renewal Of the offensive with conf
dence that their men can withstand II.
m
The same confidence prevails on the
Italian front. where also General FOch
Is in supreme command. The Aus
trians have been concentrating great
forces there. including much artillery
they have had on the French front
and they were expected to deliver
their blow between the Stelvio pass
and Monte Grappn, Just east Of the
Brenta. in the hope of breaking
through to Brescla and Milan. TIL,
Austrian positions in that sector are
admittedly better than those of th'
Italians. To repel the expected driv,
the Italians have the assistance o.
British, French and Americans IL
number at least equal to the Italian
forces sent to France ana Flanders.
Early Tuesday Italian naval unit
succeeded In stealing into Pola harbo
and torpedoing an Austrian dread
nnught of the virlbus Units class. A
the same time Italian seaplanes EN-
gagged and routed the Austrian battle
planes over Pola.
RI
The prediction OF naval battle u
: the North sea was based on the fnc
, that the entire German Baltic fleet
excepting few light cruisers, was re
called to Klel, and great activity a
that base was reported. The Germa
navy probably feels bit humlllate
|, over the second British raid ON O'
/ lend, In which the old cruiser Nindl'
. tive, laden with concrete, was sunk "
the entrance of the channel, blocEln
A II to all large vessels,
= M
n Participation In the fighting ON I'll
west front by the Americans brigade
with the British and French Is lncrea
ing daily, and II is now made know
that whenever American troops pr
q dominate In the brigade division
L these divisions will be put under col
II mund Of General Pershlng. This, II
Y, believed, will bring larger numbers
d our boys to the battle line rapidly NJ
% contribute greatly to the spirit of uni
and concerted effort, The war depaI