The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-01-03

trains carrying vast numbers of troops
and immense quantities of supplies,
and for days the German artillery was
excessively active. Various feeling-out
movements were undertaken against
the French without success, and on
Wednesday the Germans made three
violent attacks on the British between.
Bullecourt and Queant. The first two
were repulsed and the third gave the
enemy possession of an already oblit-
Grated trench at the apex of the angle
in the British lines.
This. of course, was not the main at
tack planned by Won Hindenburg, who,
it was believed, would soon start his
greatest offensive on the west in two
years, with the assistance of many
Austrian divisions. The British and
French were on tiptoe to meet it, and
it was taken for granted that some at
least of General Pershing's American
forces would have part in the battle.
Indeed, some observers predicted that
an attempt would be made to smash
that part of the line toward Alsace
where most of the Americans have
been stationed. Others Believed the
main attack Of the Germans would be
delivered against the French between
Reims and Verdun.
italian Front Seems Safe.
For several days the Austrians, Hun
garians and Germans made continuous
and heavy assaults on the Italians be-
tween the Piave and Brenta rivers
north of Monte Grappa. The fighting
was severe and the losses large, but
the enemy made slight impression on
foothold in some positions on Monte
Spinoncia and Col Orso. The Italians
are fighting with the utmost determina-
ton and are greatly cheered by the
prospect OF American help. On Thurs
day q large number of American am
bulance men with their cars left Rome
for the Piave river front. 1t is inter-
esting to note that the first American
shot against Austria was fired by Rep
| resentative Tinkham of Massachusetts
on the lower Pfave. On invitation of
an Italian officer he sent q big shell
hurting across to the Austrian line,
regardless Of the fact that If the enemy
should capture him he could be exc
cuted as a 'franc-tireur."
Bearing out the statement that the
Teutonic effort in Italy has exhausted
itself is the welcome news that heavy
snow is falling in the mountains at the
west end of the front, rendering diff
cult the further transportation of men
and material. The Italians, however,
expect to hold the enemy by strength
of arms rather than with the aid of ma
| ture.
The Italian navy is doing it's part
| in the defense and on Sunday night
| torpedo boat flotilla entered thu har-
| Dor of Trieste and sank two Austrian
battleships, one of them being the
| Wien.
Occupation of Jerusalem.
The occupation of Jerusalem by Gen
eral Allenby's expedition caused great
| rejoicing among Christians and Jews
! of the civilized world. The event has
more than a sentimental value, for the
possession of the Holy City by the
British makes safe the Suez canal and
provides them with a base from which
| to threaten seriously the Turks to the
east and north. In conjunction with
| the British operations in Mesopo-
| tamia, Allenby's success in Palestine is
very important to the cause of the al
lies. AS was predicted, Jerusalem was
taken without the necessity of a bonn
/ bardment, and it's captorS are ade-
quately protecting the holy places.
In Mesopotamia General Falkenhayn
| launched his expected offensive, at
| lacking General Marshall's army with
a strong force of Turks and Germans.
| The British were compelled to fall
back across the Diala and Edkem riv-
ers with the enemy in pursuit. 1t is
! taken for granted that Falkenhayns
| intention is to make a great effort to
recapture Bagdad.
| Though the number of British YES
sells sunk by submarines, as reported
by the admiralty, was still too large for
| comfort, those In a position to know
assert that the U-boat campaign really
has proved a failure and that the SUBJ
mersibies are being destroyed or cap
tured almost as fast as Germany can
build them. Moreover, the British ship
| yards are now turning out almost as
much tonnage monthly as the Germans
destroy and are fast increasing their
| output.
investigating DiIatory Methods.
The expected and inevitable attack
| on our methods of war preparation
came last week in the form of an in
vestigation byl the senate committee
on military affairs. Enough of what
/ Leadsoff, declares roundlY .'the con-