Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-03-28

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lea Is still unrepresented-and there
is reason to believe that 1t will decide
to take the offensive without waiting
for the Germans to strike, as was init
mated in these columns some weeks
ago. 1t is believed that the council has
at its disposal an immense army made
up of reserves Of the various allied
forces, and some wise observers think
the first great attack will be made in
Italy, though there will be enough do
ing in France and Belgium to keep the
Germans busy and uncertain. Intense
activity by both the Germans and
French in the Verdun region, and GER
tain movements in the American sec
ton toward Metz indicate coming op-
erations of magnitude on those parts
of the line. The French made some re-
markably swift and successful raids,
destroying enemy blOckhouses and
shelters that had taken three years to
construct.
-m-
On the Toul front the Americans
were subjected to continuous Smelling
and the enemy also sent over airplanes
that dropped large rubber balls filled
with liquified mustard gas--a new
form of attack. The American artil-
lery maintained Its record for accurate
fire, driving the enemy from several
strong positions and ut times attacking
the Germans heavily with gas shells.
Secretary Baker in the course of his
visit to General Pershing's forces was
under fire in the front line trenches,
and one big shell exploded close to his
automobile, but he escaped injury.
On Tuesday General Pershlng ap-
proved the awarding Of the first of the
new American military crosses for
bravery, the recipients being Lieut..
John o. Green and Sergts. William
Norton and Patrick Walsh. All of
them previously had been decorated
with the French war cross.
Ia
In Russia, despite the acceptance of
the peace treaty by the bolsheviki, the
German armies have been steadily
pressing forward, occupying town after
town in the south, moving up toward
Moscow and also approaching so close
to Petrograd that the seizure of the
capital city was said to be a matter of
days or hours. All the allied diplomats
left Petrograd, most of them retiring
to VolOgda, $50 miles east. American
Ambassador Francis from there issued
an address to the Russian people,
warning them that If they submitted
to the peace imposed by the central
powers Russia eventually would be-
come German province, and pledging
the support Of the American govern
ment to any government in Russia that
would resist the German penetration.
Mr.. Francis acted without specific in
struc, tons from Washington, but his
utterances received the full approval
of the administration.
The bolshevik government has been
hurriedly moving to Moscow. Trotzky
Is there and says he will act as minis
ter of war if there is to be more fight
ing. The new volunteer army Is being
organized rapidly, with renewed dis
cipline, and the press and people. al
ready somewhat dislllusioned, cry out
against the predatory ruthlessness of
the Germans. The Transcaucasian as
sembly at Tifiis refused to ratify the
peace treaty and demanded immediate
war on Germany. The attitude of all
the allies toward the bolshevik soviet
is becoming more sympathetic, but the
hope of effective resistance is rather
faint.
The hand of the conqueror falls
more and more heavily on Roumania,
which is now required to give up to the
central powers not only all of her own
war munitions, but also those left in
Roumania by the allies. If she yields
to this demand the representatives of
the allies will leave Jassy.
IA
The supreme war council of the al
lies at Versailles issued a statement
denouncing Germanys political crimes
against Russia and Roumania and re-
fusing to recognize the peace treaties
with them. "We are fighting, and mean
to continue fighting, in order to finish
once for all with this policy Of plum
der" said the council. In reply Cham
cellor Won Hertling asserted Germany
had no intention of robbing or dishon-
oring Russia and accused the allies OF
hypocrisy, untruthfulness and brutal
ity.
Ia
There wns no material change In the
cit'mtion In the far Fast, but the oppo-
a,t;qn to Jaran's r!an 70 occupy Vladi-
v}StGl, seemed to .acIeasc because o!
NJ RI sistGnt dis.fua. Of The l&ald ca