davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
rencla Are Active
Or, Italian Front
Destroy Field Works and
Capture Prisoners, Accord
ing to Rome Report

LONDON, Jan. 4.-Patrol dctach-
monts Of the French expeditionary
force in Italy under General Fayolle.
which smashed the Austro- German
front in the region of Monte Tomba
last Sunday, arc at work again harass
ing the enemy's communications. de
stroying his field works and rounding
up prisoners. the Rome War Office re-
Veais IN Its communication to-day.
1t Is probable that the French ara
preparing another great counter stroke
IN this sector, although for the present
1he m adverse weather conditions pre-
clude any extensive actions. The i'm
portant success achieved by the French
in their first drive on Italian soil is
not likely to pass without further of-
forts to develop it, however, and mill
tary critics here look for renewal of
the operation in the Monte Tomba re-
glon when conditions permit.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Clear, Frosty Weather and
Firmly Frozen Ground
Favor Infantry Activity
French Fliers in a Raid
Drop Tons Of Explosives at
Rombach, Metz Sablons,
Conflans and Arnaville

LONDON, Jan. 4.--Favorcd by clear,
frosty weather and unbroken stretches
OF firmly frozen terrain. the infantry
forces on both sides again got into
action OH Il @ Western front TODAY.
The British, in sharp engagements with
the enemy, which opened up last night
and persisted until late to-day, won
ground south of Lens and lost ground
on the Cambrai front.
Lively patrol encounters on the
french front were accompanied by un-
usual aerial activity. Petain's f1icrs
bringing down eight hostile machines
and one captive balloon, the Germans
accounting for their twenty-third aero
plane since Tuesday and winging two
balloons.
The local engagements on the Cam
brai front, which began yesterday after
noon and continued this morning, re-
suited IN the pressing back Of four
british advanced posts, with the loss of
4 few mon, in the neighborhood OF the
Canal du Nord, Haie reports TODAY.
The Canal du Nord runs through the
northwestern tip of the salient driven
INTO the German lines in the advance
OF the ,anks under General Byng on
November 20.
w men me GermanS struck their sue
cesslu! counter b ow five days later, the
british were compelled to give up
Moeuvres and rcestablish their line on
the southern outskirts of the town.
when hes on the western bank of the
Canal du Nord. Since then tho fight
ing around Mocuvres and on both sides
OF the canal at that point has ben pro-
longed and bitter, the Germans trying
to lop oft the tip Of the salient there
by forcing the British back on Boursies.
1ust as, they blunted the angle
created by the British advance near
MarIoing BY pressing their opponents
back on R.bocourt and Couilet Wood.
To-day's operations marked a slight
step forward for tho Germans in their
counter effort, but this latest gain, in
company with all the rest, hardly com
pensates for the sacrifices Hindenburg
has had TO make to safeguard his
famous defensive line at this vulner-
As result Of raids east of Yprcs
and north of La Bassee, the British
lost prisoners and machine guns TO the
enemy, according 10 to-days COM
muniquc from Berlin. which also re
cords successful actions in the Cham
pagnc.
Paris asserts that ali efforts of the
Grown Princes troops to gain ground
at several points in the Champagne.
north of Verdon. and in Upper Alsace
broke down, with appreciable losses TO
the enemy, who left prisoners and ma
chine guns in the hands of the French.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Finland Requests Sweden
To Recognize independence

COPENHAGEN, Jan. liking Chris
tan to-day received at the palace
Finnish delegation which requested the
recognition by Denmark Of the inde
pendence Of Finland. The King. in re-
plying to the request, expressed the
strongest sympathy with Finland's diff
ficult situation and said he would be
glad to see that country enter the cir
ci of northern states and that h
hoped Finland would emerge from the
present crisis under conditions that
would make possible the happy and
free national development of the Fin
nish people.
81 presume,' said King Christian,
that it will be possible for Finland to
ecure an agreement with Russia.
pray you to be convinced that Denmark.
With the fullest sympathy, will assist
Finland to the Utmost Of her power in
solving Fin!and's food difficulties
express the cordial vows Of myself and
my government for Finland's future"
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
In Special Instances Only
Will Applications Be
Granted
Many Seek Release
War Department Maintains
Wholesale Shift Might
Disorganize Units

LONDON, Jan. 4. - The Associated
Press has received information that
the American War Department has de-
cided on rule governing the transfer
Of Americans serving with the British
forces to the American army, by which
their present status will not be dis
turbed, except in special cases, and
where the transfer "is plainly in the
interest of the United States"
This decision, it is said, was reached
on the following grounds:
First, that Americans who enlisted
with the British forces must have been
prompted by patriotic motives to do so
and that therefore it does not matter
whether they remain British or arc
transferred to their own flag, since
they W ould be fighting for the same
cause.
Second, in some cases, particularly
with the Canadians, many of whom arc
Americans, transfers might seriously
disorganze units.
While no official statistics ere availa-
bic, 1T is fair to guess that there are
at least from $4,000 to 10000 Amer
leans in the Canadian forces alone and
perhaps half as many more scattered
through other British contingents in
France, Mcsopotamia, Palestine and
elsewhere. Hundreds Of letters have
been sent to the American authorities
in London begging for transfer, but
the authorities say they are unable to
make concessions to any special num-
Der of men without taking over the
men as a whole
In many instances, it is pointed out.
the desires for transfers are not
prompted by patriotism, but because
Of the chance to enjoy great benefits
and the higher pay of the American
forces. The authorities argue that if
in the first instance the men Joined
The British army "to fight for prin-
ciple,' the principle is not changed if
! they remain with the British forces
Hence it has been decided that an
officer in the British army who is an
American and desires to transfer must
apply to the Embassy in London, which
VIII be guided IN the premises by IN
structons from the War Department
at Washington
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Italian Front.
ITALIAN

ROME. Jan. 4-Ycsterday. in the noun
tain zone. we made concentrations of lirc in
the Lagarina Valley. on Col della Berre.ta
and in the Cismon region. There was IN
creased activity Of the cneny's batteries
against our positions on Monte Altissirno to
the east OF Lake Garda. and against our
lines of communication en- Monte Pallonc
and Monte Tomba.
French patrols captured prisoners ON Mon
fenera. and the British artillery made a very
successful counter battery work to the west
OF Mosniso.
IN the coastal zone there were frequent
bursts Of artillery fire. and patrol encounters
occurred on both sides to the cast of Cavaz,l.
cherena. One hostile airplanc was downed bv
british alrman and another one by our fre.
Last night enemy airc7aft made raids be-
tween the Piavc and BacchiRlioni, and nu-
merous bombs We're dropped in Inhabited
parts. including Trevso and Pa,lua in the
lormer city there We're no casualties and only
nHght damage. In Padua. the centre OF
Waich was chosen as a target with particular
Jury, some fires occurred and several private
hnl!dIn2s were damaged. SIX persons. anont,
them two women and one old man, we're
wounded. e
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Recognition by u. S.
Depends on Action
OF Russian Assembly

WASUINGTON, Jan. 4.-Closc attcn-
tion is being given to the question Of
the status of the Bolshcvik regime,
and from private statements of Off
cials il is gathered that a decision on
recognizing the Lenine government
will be reached very soon as an out
come of the meeting Of the Constitu-
ent Assembly IN Petroerad. If that
body appears to be representative Of
the will of the Russian people and
gives promise Of being able to main
tain a real government willing to re-
spect international obligations. the
chances of the recognition Will be ex-
cellent
This probably would at first take the
form OF q de facto recognition, which
might easily and naturally resolve
itself into q recognition of the Bolshe-
vlk government as de jure. providing
IN the meantime leninc and Trotzky
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
4 lies TO Recognize
Bolshevik Regime,
Report i'm London

LONDON, Jan. 4.-Recognition or tho
hehAhe government in Russia bv the
Lntcntc Altios Is probable owing to
tAe deveiopIasnts IN the Russo German
negotiations, according to "The Daily
Nnronicle, which prints the statement
III he4Vy type. The statement ap-
IarentlY Is based ON a contribution "bv
a dIplomatic spondcnt" which is
printed beneath it. The writer saws
that owing to the Bolshevik discoyayTy
on German duplicity, anything may
happen.
There are" he says, "three alterna
tivea: The Bolsheviki may give way,
the Germans may give way or there
VIII be a rupture of relations. The
first is hardly likely. in view Of For
eiga Minister Trotzky's declaration.
The second is possible, for the Ger
mans are past masters in the art of
spocious compromise. But the third is
most probable, since the Bolsheviki
have cXhlblted perspicacity which
wac hardly expected in this country.
Russia, the land of boundless sur
prises, may quite possibly witness a
revival OF war; if not in the most
active form, 1T might at least be a
sullenly defensive war. necessitatine
the keeping on the frontier of a con-
siderable German force. 1t would at
least prevent those pleasant and prof
liable commercial exchanges which
Germany hopes for.
Assuming such a situation, and the
consolidation of Bolshevik power, pro-
vidcd failure to extract a peace does
not wreck the Lenine regime, then
recognition of that power as the de
facto government follows. Since that
IS SO, Socialist would be the logical
representative of that government, and
Maxim Litvinoff. who has been ap-
pointed, is d likely enough occupant
Of the cmhassVn
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05

secretaries of state, who obey other in
structions than those of the crown.
The Minister President (von Hortling)
is q Bavarian, and Wiirtcmberger
casts one of Prussia's votes in the Fed
eral Council, even though he is the
confidential agent of the Progressives
and the Social Democrats. Prussia's
laws are made in the Rechstag.
Replying to this speech, Count Won
Aertling, after saying that he did not
agree with Heydebrand's view Of his
What was the situation? The inter
nal political situation was extremely
complicated. The task which | under
took was to establish harmonious CO.
operation of the Reichstag and the i'm
perial administration.
Under normal conditions III peace
times | would simply have put to my
self the questions: Can you do it?
What is the situation? And after calm
deiberation l should have been able to
say yes or no. But under the eXtraor-
dinarily complicated conditions nothing
else was possible than for me to reach
an understanding with various mcm-
bers of various parties.
Now, the previous speaker said that
in these negotiations | had as good as
pledged myself to q platform. | can
not admit the truth of that statement
If he means by it that l had pledged
myself to platform that did not cor
respond to the convictions that !
brought with me.
Cites His Justification
'1 looked over the political situation,
and then I asked time for. reflection.
After that l thought myself justified
IN saying to his majesty: Very we'll,
VIII try to carry out this confidential
mlssion.'
The proposals that l made to his
majesty were solely such as I regarded
as necessary after having informed
myself of the situation; and those pro-
posais were not imposed upon me. L
that | would lend hand to lowering
the position of the crown. throughout
my llfe have been q monarchist, and
] shall die monarchist"
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Ukraine Republic
Is Recog g1aiizescl by
Ee17il2e E.ravoys
Bolsheviki Promise to
Negotiate IS Campaign
Against Cossacl<s Is
Not Irzapeded

LONDON. Jan. Tho Russian
commissioners. the PeuograG CORE
spondeue OF the Ike ange Telegraph
Compaay says, nave decided 10 nego-
tiatc with The government OF ll1raine
on the basis Of recognition Of
the Ukrainian. Republic. provided it
does not hinder uui itary operations
against General Eaiodine. the Cossac,.
leader; 1t is suggested thai these ne
gotiations bo held At SmolsnsL or
According 10 Telegram, from Bros4-
Litovsk by way of Am sterdam. peace
delegates from Ukraine have ar
rlved tnere arl reported that the
L krainlan government is preparing 10
conduct It's Own international affairs
everywhere.
The Swedish Council Of Ministers.
at session prcsidcd over by King
Gustave, has decided 30 recognize tho
independence of Finland, according TO
I. Reuter- dispatch from Stockholm to-
day.
NJ. Keronslsy. the deposed Premier.
according to other dispatches, has pre-
pared an account OF his services dur
ing the period og tho first revolu-
ton, which viii be presented 10 the
Constituent ASS mbly- 1t includes full
details o. conditions at the front
during the June offensive and the rea-
sons Why H. Kercnsky decided TO 10
move former Emperor Nicholas TO 81
IBERIA
The Bolshcviki have axed the open
ing OF the Constituent Assembly for
January 18, providing there Is present
1T that time quorum of 500 members
A Haparanda dispatch to the Stock
holm "Tidningen' says that the nuni-
tions depot on tho Russian southwest
ern front was blown up recently and
that all buildings within q radius OF
two kilometres we're destroyed. Two
trains loaded with Cossacks on the
way to the Don district were wrecked
causing thn d.ath OF . 600 mon
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Official Statements
West
BRITISH

LONDON. Jan. 4 (DAY).--I.ocal fighting
took place yesterday afternoon on the Cam
brai front, In the nciRhborhood Of tho Canal
du Nord without producing any marcral
change in the situation
We advanced our line slightly during tho
night south OF Lens
There was some hostile artillery activity
during the night in tho Bulecourt sector
and also In the Ypres sector.
tAVlATION) Two hundred bombs were
dropped Thursday on two hostile amdromes.
on the Lcdcgham railway junction; on hut
ments in the neighborhood of the Houtholst
Forest. and bllets south OF Lille.
PIX hostile airplanes were downed in air
fighting and two others driven down out Of
control. Three of our machines are missing
During the night mn additional 800 bombs
were dropped on six enemy airdromes in
cluding the Gontrode ardrome. Successful
raids also were carried out in spite of the
very bad weather against factories at
Mezieres-les- Metz, railway communications at
Woippy and the railway junction at St. Pri-
yat, S all of which are in the neighborhood Of
Metz. All of our machines returned
tNIGHTO AS the result of local fighting
in the neiehborhood or the Cnna du Nord,
reported this morning, four of our advanced
posts IN this area were pressed back u short
distance A few of our men are missing.
FRENCH
PARIS. Jan. 4 (DAY) during the night
the Germans undertook several raids on small
posts in the region of Juvincourt, but OBJ
tained no success. In the Champagne and
on the right bank of tho Nleuse, east of Hill
344 (Verdun 'front.'. there Was violent nrtil-
lery fighting for tine. In Upper Aisare n
German attack near Aspach was repulsed
completely. The Germans suffered apprecia-
BILE losses and left prisoners und machine
gun in our hands
On January French pilots brought down
Two German airplanes and captive balloon
Six other machines fell within the German
lines after aerial combats. On the same day
French sQuadrons bombardcd the factories at
Rombach and railway stations at Metz
Sablons. Conhans and Arnnville In the
course of these expeditions projecti,es weigh.
ing $500 Kilograms (seven and onc-half
t"ns) were dropped.
BELGIAN
PARIS. Jan. 4.-On the 3D. inst weak ur-
tiery activity prevailed on the Belgian front
l'urng the night Of January 81 Ramscapellc
was subjected to violent bomburtlment with
shells containing poisonous gases
On the Sd enemy nirplanos dropped tor
pedocs and grenahes on one Of our hospitals
IN the region of Adinkorlc
GERMAN
BERLIN. Jan. (DAY). On the whole
front there were lively artillery dues, fa-
vored by clear. frosty weather.
Prisoners and machine guns were taken
rs the result Of British attacks east of yprcs
and north of La Bassce Canal which broke
down, and also OF our own successful raids
southeast of Mnuvrcs and in the Champngne
Since Tuesday the enemy has lost in aerial
fighting ana by guntire twenty-threc air
Dlanni and two captive balloons.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Aviators With
French Join u. S. Force.

PARIS, Jan. 4.--The negotiations BE-.
tween the French and the American
army authorities for the transfer to
the United St~.es army Of the Amer.
can aviators IN the French squadrons
have been completed and transfer, o,
the men have been pe9un.
Thirty-two experienced pilots. m cst-
" members of the Lafayette SQUAD.
son, are being taken over first. These
men are being sworn in as member,
of the American forces as fast as thew
can conveniently arrange zor Paris
leaves
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Spy Plans Laid in 1914
Germany Tried Then to Estab-
hsh Wireless in Mexico

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan d. Agents Of
the German government attempted to
establish a wireless telegraph station
on the west coast Of Mexico in 1911,
according TO testimony today at the
trial Of thirty-onc persons charged
with conspiracy i'll connection with a
proposed revolution against British
rule in India.
Gustavo Kocnpel, a shipping broker
Of San Diego, Cal, on the stand in the
United States District Court, said he
had arranged several details in the
wireless matter for Baron +. Won
Setback, former Nice-Consul General
for Germany in San Francisco. The
plan failed, Kooppcl said, when several
persons engaged in the enterprise had
been arrested by Mexican authorities
and the expedition returned to the
United States.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Hertling, in Reply to Junker Critic,
Says He Will Die Monarchist
Chancellor Refutes Insinuations of Won Heydcbrand
Uncrowned King of Prussia, ', Who Finds Fault With
Circumstances Under Which He Took Office

in view Of rumors from Berlin that
Hertling, is likely to be unseatcd by
the militarists, led by the Crown Prince,
and Prince Won B1low put in his place.
the Chancelor's speech in the Reichs-
tag, opening debate on the reform Of
tho Prussian electoral laws on Decem-
Der 5, as reported by Berlin newspapers
just received here, has peculiar in
terest.
Giving his understanding of the cir
curstances in which he took office, he
declared he was monarchist and
would die I monarchist, but lntimated
the critical political situation caused
Kim at the behast Of the Kaiser to pur-
sue an opportunist policy in regard to
parlianloutarism
Replies to Junkcr
lie spoke in reply to Won Heydc-
brand. the Junker leader, who had at
tackled the manner in which the Chan
sellor took office as q danger to the
nation. uoydebraud, who is often
spoken OF as the "uncrowned King Of
Prussia said:
Il can understand that Count Hort
ling, before taking Office, put himself
in touch with leading personalities, but
it is another thing to yield to the die
tum and The programme OF a}ority
In The appointment Of Count Hertling
tho constitutional provision that tho
Kaiser may appoint minister's accord
ing TO his own viii was disregarded.
The ministers are not to be ser
wants, ones.dedly, OF the majority
Their position is lowered when they
do not fec that they have been ap-
pointed solely through the confidence
OF the crown. That is the direct road
TO the parliamentary system, and it
does not presagc happiness for Prussia
''Dr Michaells had to resign because
he had taken office without asking the
majority. Approximately half Of the
Prussian ministry consists Of imperial
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
p Pershing's Men Send
Thanks to President

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.--Gcneral
Pershng to-day cablcd the thanks OF
the American Expeditionary Force for
Presidents Wilson'S New Years greet
ing. His message said:
Cali officers and men of this COM
mand extend to the Pres ident, as our
commander in chief, most sincere
thanks for his message of confidence,
and we heartily return his New Years
greetings and trust that his health and
strength may be conserved All rank
extend to him and our people at home
pledges Of loyalty and devotion"
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05


did not submit to Impossible peace
cSoAd'tlons IN their negotiations with
Germany
,Copenhagen dispatches to-day QUOT
cd the "Loka anzeiGer' OF Earlin as
saying that 1t learned from Toxic that
the japanese government had decided
60 enter into diplomatic relations with
the new Russian government.
Nothing OF this reported intention
mas been heard by the State Depart
ment, and the Japanese Embassy is
equally ignorant on tue subject. In
View OF the complete undefstandine.
'hat has existed between the Entc1ite
Ailies as to unity Of action in such
matters, it is said in Entente circles
here that it is certain Japan would
not take the initiative in recornizing
INC Bolsheyiki without full conference
"l5n Ter allies and America.
state Department officials say that
mere nave been no negotiations on tho
subject up to this point.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Many Leoue Petrograd
In Fear of Starvation
by Cable to Tho Jewish Daily Forward

TBy Cable 10 THO JcWlsh Daily Torwnrdl
PETROGRAD Jan. 4.-Owing to
the food shortage, people are leaving
Petrograd in large numbers. In the
factory district of Moscow there is
starvation.
The Socialists here have protested d
against the president of the Zionist
Council because he spoke Hebrew at
q session and refused to heed demands
to translate his speech into Yiddish.
A Petrograd crowd has drowned
three thieves and shot one. In an
other part of the city four criminals
were killed.
Russias armisticc congress will
take place January l5.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Passports of Passengers
Sailing for u. S. Withdrawn

AMSTERDAM, Jan. 4.---According to
the "Telegraaf,' seventy ncrsons who
intended to sail on the steamer Nieuw
Amsterdam for the United States will
be unable to do so because their pass
ports have been withdrawn.
The newspaper does not give the
reason for the cancellations.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
90, 900 Greeks Starved
To Death by Bulgars
Deportations and Suffering in
Macedonia Terrible, Amer
ica Is Told
TStof CorresD0nderce1

IN0VVU VV7 77ts l7O7t0Ft7tt6I
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The Greek
Legation made public to-day the fol-
lowing statement, which it has pre-
aented to the State Department.:
"Thc Greek Legation has received
news from its government with re-
gard to the condition Of the inhahi-
tants Of Greek Macedonia since the oc-
cupation of this part of the country bv
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Women Plan International
Peace Meeting in Rerne

BERNE. Jan. 1.-THE Swiss Women's
Committee for Lasting Peace has
called an international woman's con-
ference at Berne for March to 8.
This action is said to have been
taken at the request of women's peace
societies in belligercnt countries.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Australian Nationalists
Retain Hughes as Leader

OTTAWA, Jan. 4.-The Nationalist
parry Of Australia has resolved ~ sA
vote Of SO to 2 to retain Premier
Hughes in the leadership, according to
Melbourne dispatch received by the
Reuter- agency here.