Middletown transcript., 1918-10-26


>~~~~~~~~~-~-~~~
German armies. Immense numbers of
machine guns, with some artillery, con-
stituted most of the Hun resistance in
this region. Such counter-attac,ss hy
infantry as were made were rather
feeble and easily beaten off.
The defense in general, however,
was powerful, and it is evident that
the German command attaches great
importance to holding back the Amer
leans as much as possible in the Yer
dun region. Every foot gained here
by the allies weakens the hold Of the
Germans on the invaluable coal and
iron fields of the Briey basin northeast
of Verdun. 1t looks as though the
Germans were recOnciled to retiring
from Belgium and France, but would
hang on to the Briey fields to the last
moment. Such a course would he JUS
titled by their greatly depleted stores
Of material. They are running short
especially Of metal for guns and am
munitiOn.
~
In I.aly, the Austrians have been
attempting very little of late. proba-
bly, because they hope soon to be out
Of the war; but in Albania and Serbia
the allies nre keeping them on the
Jump. Italians, Serbs. French, Brit
ish and Greeks all are taking whacks
at them, and at last reports they had
teen driven far north of NiSii. which
was captured by the Serbs, to whom
i. belongs. In Albania the AustrianS
evacuated their great naval base of
nlraZZO. which had been largely de-
stroyed by naval raid the previous
week.
Little news came from General Al
lenby's army in Palestine, which prob
:hly was resting after its gallant and
successful campaign against the Turks.
But word was received that Beirut.
the Turkish base on the Melitcrrane-
an, had been captured. following which
Raalbek Tripoli and HONS were oc-
clnicd.
a.
BolShevik forces in eastern Russia
have been greatly strengthened of late
and are reported to he pressing back
the CzcchO-Sloyak troops there. The
latter have appealed fer help from the
allies, and it may be that troops from
the Siberian expedition have been sent
tc their relief. Meantime the allied
forces in north Russia, including a
considerable American contingent. are
fighting their way along both banks
Of the Dvina in the direction Of Welsk,
northeast of VolOgda. Their progress
has been difficult. for the bolsheviki
have been making heavy attacks and
keeping the expedition under almost
constant bombardmcnt. On the river
the enemy has gunbOats, protected ny
nine fields and small islands. and the
shells from these do considerable dam
age. The allies. however are getting
along fairly well there and are conf
dent and cheerful.
Lenine and Trotzky are reported to
have had violent quarrel. the pre-
mier having accused the foreign min
lister Of fostering Il cOunter-revOlutlon.
Lenine again has been attacked by an
assassin, this time being shot In the
shoulder.
The Firms seem to be getting them
selves into peculiar position. First
they elected as their King Prince Fred
crick Charles of Hesse, brother-in-law
of the kaiser. whereupOn France broke
Off the semi official relations that had
existed with Finland. Next the Firms
formally requested Germany to with
draw all her troops from their coun-
try. The substitution of monarchy
| for republic was really the work OF
the Finnish diet, not Of the people,
and 1t may not stand.
- -
John D. Ryan. director of the Amer
lean air service, on his return from
Europe. made the welcome announce
n.ent that unification Of operation
and to a great extent OF production Of
aircraft, had been agreed upon by the
allies. He also told Of the splendid
work of the American aviatOrs and OF
the success and popularity Of the
American De Haviland planes and the
Liberty motors. Another cheerful
piece of news concerning aeronautics
was disclosed by Maj. A. Cushman
Rice. this being that the allies had
worked out practically perfected
wireless telephone device which will
enable the allied airmen to fly over
the German lines and territory in i'm
mense fleets. al the planes directed
by the voice of the commander. This
he says, will sweep the Huns from
the sky and entirely put out the eyes
Of their artillery.