Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-01-19

On the whole, the Russian situation
looks better for foes Of Germany, and
their diplomats are prepared to take
advantage Of 1t and to treat the boil
shevild leaders with some cousidera.
ton, since 1t seems probable the latter
will be Joined by the influential men
of other factions to oppose Teutonlc
oppression.
French Victory In Italy
The French forces on the Italian
front started off the New Year right
with beautifully organized and
well carried out attack on the enemy's
positions on Monte Toba. After del
uging the Fiftieth Austrian division
with artillery fire, the fine French In.
fantfy moved forward on two-mlle
front and In short, sharp fight, took
the position with comparative ease,
capturing 1,400 prisoners-more tIlan
they had men engaged The captIves
were said to be In wretched condition
On the lower Pave the Italians
drove the invaders ont of the Zen
son bend, and a day or two later broke
up an attempted crossing In vessels Mt
Intesta 1ura, The mountain passes be-
hind the Austrlans are filled up with
snow, and requirements and supply
conveys are held up on the Tyrol
frontier. The enemy ayiators are max
ing repeated raids on Padua, Treviso
and other cities Of N0rthern Italy, de-
voting themselves mainly to the de-
struction of architectural and art treas
ures, as Is their pleasing" custom.
Operations on the west front We're
confined to raids and artillery dueIs,
but allied ayiators reported the contln-
uous arrival behind the lines of great
masses of German troops. General Al
lenby sent word that be was making
satisfactory progress to the north of
Jerusalem, beating off attacks and TAX
ing many prisoners.
That Germanys disregard for Amer
lca's entry into the war is feigned Is
proved by an official army order which
calls for considerable number Of new
aircraft units to combat the American
air fleets. 1t Is to be hoped the kali
ser's anxiety on this score Is justified,
though civilian experts do not report
encouragngly concerning our prog
ress In the manufacture Of alrpianeS.
Ordnance Department ReorganIzed.
Results of the congressional ingesti-
cations of bureaucratic delays in nit
ting out Americas armies are coming
fast. The latest is the complete re-
organization of the ordnance depart
ment by which almost full control Of
the purchase and production Of artil-
lery, rifles and ammunition Is put In
civilian hands. A procurement DIVE
sion is established to negotiate oil or
ders and contracts for such munitions,
and at the head Of II Is placed Samuel
McRoberts, executive manager of the
National City bank Of New York.
Generals Crozer and Wheeler, nom
inal and acting chiefs Of ordnance, are
shorn Of most Of their power but the
military officials of the department re-
tain control of the inspection and dis
tibution divisions.
Not satisfied with this reorganiza-
ton and vocing the desires Of great
many citizens, Senator Chamberlain
introduced bin providing for the ere
alton Of munitions board and di-
rector of munitions who shall be re-
sponsible directly TO the president OF
the United States and not TO the sec
rotary Of war. Other members Of the
senate committee on military affairs
are backing Chamberlain's bill,
General Goethals began the reor-
ganlzation Of the quartermaster corps,
and let 1t he known that he will add
| civilian experts to his bureau and VIII
cut red tape and disregard precedent
wherever necessary for the sake OF
efficiency and speed
Presumably In response to the re-
quest Of General Pershing that only
comparatively young officers should be
put In command Of troops in France,
| General Sibert, second In rank to Per.
shing, and General Mann, who COM
manded the Rainbow division, have
been recalled 10 duty in America. Maj.
Gen. Il. L. Billiard succeeds Sibert and
Mai. Gen. Charles T. Menoher be-
comes commander Of the Rainbow
boys.
Troops to Be Hurried Across.
The state department on Wednes'
day made public a summary of the re-
suits of the inter-allied conference in
Paris, the outstanding part of which
was the recommendation to the Amer
lean government to send troops to the
battle fronts of Europe as speedily as
possible. This Colonel House also