Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-01-05
BY DONALD F. 5IccS.

the United States were further strain
ed March Is by the receipt Of reports
Of the sinking of three American
steamers, the City of Memphis, Illi-
nois and Vigilancia, fifteen of the lat
ter's crew being lost.
On March y, President Wilson is
sued proclamation calling congress
in special session on April ,.
The American steamer Healdton
was tOrpedOed without warning March
%, Il men including seven Ameri-
cans, being lost.
United States Declares War.
On April 2, President Wilson APP
peared before a joint session of con-
gress and called for d declaration of a
state of war with Germany. On April
4, the senate passed a resolution de-
clnring 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 ., penetrating the enemy po-
siti0ns north and south of Arras to q
depth of from two to three miles.
The French forces launched an of
fensive against the enemy on 25-mile
front between Scissors and Relms,
April Is, and after three days fighting
reported the capture OF more tAan IT,
600 prisoners.
The first American casualties in the
war were reported April IS, when the
armed American tank steamer Vacuum
was sunk by a submarine and several
American gunners were lost.
American Fleet In Action.
1t was learned on May 16 that n
squadron of American destroyers I'M
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 law May IS when President
Wilson affixed his signature To the
measure and issued proclamation fix
ing June 3 as registration day
During the early part Of June grow
ing unrest in Russia began to attract
the attention of the allies. On June /,
wJrkmen and soldiers seized Kron-
stadt the Russian fortress defending
Petrograd, and repudlated the provis-
ional government on June 3, the
American commission to Russia. head
ed by Elihu Root, and the American
railroad commission, headed by John
f. Stevens, arrived safely at Russian
ports, on June Z. the Russians in
possession of Kronstadt yielded to
negotiations and recognized the pro-
yisional government.
In the meantime the American prep
arati0ns fer the war were proceeding
rapidly. On June =, nearly 100000
men of military age registered for mill
tary service under the selective draft
law. On June s, Major General John
]. Pershing, who had been selected TO
head the American expedltionary
forces In France, arrived with his staff
In London. On the same day Wash
ington reported the safe arrival in
France of 100 American aviators, the
first American fighting forces to reach
that country.
King Constantine Dethroned
A solution of the Greek situation,
which had endangered the operations
of the allies in the Balkans, was reach
ed June l. when on the demand of
France, Great Britain and Russia, King
Constantine abdlcated in favor of his
second son. Prince Alexander. who was
known 10 be favorably inclined toward
the allies. London reported another
big raid by Zeppelins on June 13. in
which l57 persons were killed and
many injured.
The subscriptions to the first Ameri-
can Liberty loan closed June Is, the
loan being oversubScrlbed by $780,
100000.
On June %, It was announced that
the first contingent Of American troops,
under command Of Major General ST.
bert. had arrived safely In France.
The new Greek cabinet. headed by
/ EleutherIos Venizelos, went into office
on June - and two days later the new
government severed diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany, Austria Hungary,
Bulgaria ard Turkey.
On the first Of July. the Russian
forces, under the personal leadership
of War Minister Kereusky, electrified
the allies by launching a powerful of.
fensive on an 1S-mile front n Galicia
capturing many strongly fortified
towns and taking thousands OF pris.
onerS. For two weeks the Russians
continued to advance along a front
that widened 10 100 miles. hut on july
10 the Russian offensive collapsed and
turned into a rout. when many Rus
sian regiments mutinied and fed
kerenSky succeeded Prince Iyof a,
premier OF Russia m July 20.
The first political crisis in the Ger