Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-19

&VW ueSe enOStS nave Oeen SUCCESSFUL 1n@00s
csivinE the people we, have no means Of knowing, but
the singing OF 1.-THE Marseillaise" by the populace. on
the streets Of Berlin. and the demand In the Hungarian
diet for prompt measures for peace regardless Of the
German alliances the declaration that Austria was led
into an unjust war by Germany; and the frank assertion
by members Of the peace faction that they are friends
Of the Entente. must be accepted rs indicative Of an ex-
plosive state OF affairs in both countries. Meanwhile
the two governments continue to wave the olive branch
with extraordinary visor.
: . V 81
The military history Of the week presents an un-
broken series of Allied victories. and there is no sign Of
the slackening Of the progress that has been made on
every sector where fighting has been carried on. All
the great supply and communication centerss which have
served the Germans in the line Of defense have been
occupied by the Allies. Laon. Lille, ostend, zeebrugge,
Bruges. Douaiare rejoicing in their deliberation from the
German forces. and it is quite likely that before the week
closes. and certainly within q very short time there
after. the Allies will be in complete possession Of the en-
tire Belgian seacoast, which has been held by the in
vaders since the fall Of 1914. King Albert and queen
Elizabeth have made triumphal entry into Ostend and
Bruges, and have been received with open arms by the
jubilant Belgians.
Subscriptions to the Liberty loan have Jagged On
Friday night there remained Of the six billions desired
nearly one-thfrd to be raised. This is according to the
official reports. OF the amount needed a considerable
proportion has been subscribed but not yet reported, but
it has been the opinion that it would take all the effort
that could be put forth to send the loan over the top
by the close Of the week. Among the causes which are
advanced for the difficulty in closing this loan are the
absorption of the funds of small investors by previous
loans. uncertainty as to what is to be- expected in the
way of general taxation under the new, revenue bill,
which has caused hesitation on the part Of many larger
investors. the prevalence Of influenza, which has made
the Work of the campaign difficult, and has absorbed
the attention of individuals, and the prevalence Of the
dangerous and probably utterly baseless impression that
peace is actually close at hand.
Interest has been so completely absorbed in the de-
v~elopments of the war that the disaster which has over
taken the forest section of s2orthern Minnesota has been
given but scant attention. And yet the tragedy is one
of the greatest in the history of the country,
the greatest in property loss and loss Of life
since the San Francisco fire twelve years ago. From
the iron ranges almost to the edge Of the prairie on the
west the country has been swept by fires which have
caused a loss Of life estimated at 1000: have rendered
thousands of people homeless; have wiped out town after
town; and have entailed monetary loss which has been
estimated by insurance companies at SIS, 0oo,o 900. IN
many places the fires seem to have burned themselves
out. but it will require a good rain over the entire terri
tory to remove the danger of a revival of the fires.