The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, December 25, 1917, Image 3

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    .,,.gf , IJ'P
i Camp of the Itiillan Alplul In the Cnrnlc Alps wheru the Austro-Germnns
American nrmy engineers, some of whom have been taking part In the battle of
building operations. 3 British trawlers exploding a German sea mine.
NEWS REVIEW OF
THE PAST WEEK
President's Message Declaring
America in War to Finish,
Hailed With Joy.
ADDS AUSTRIA TO OUR FOES
ProQress of Russia's Efforts for Ar
mistice Germans 8acrlflce Men
Recklessly In Furious Attacks
In France and Italy
American Troops to
Be Rushed Across.
By EDWARD W. PICKARD.
The United States Is In the war- to
the finish and that finish must be the
overthrow of the Prussian military
despotism, the liberation and restora
tion of the peoples It has enslaved
and reparation for the material dnm
'age Its armies have done. When this
Is assured, the United States will In
sist on a pence that Is based on gen
erosity and Justice to all alike, ex
cluding nil selfish clnlms to advnntnge
,cven on the part of the victors. Mean
while Austria-Hungary must be form
ally declared our foe in the war, and
"our present and Immediate task" Is
to win that war.
Such In n few words Is the message
of President Wilson to congress, to
America, nnd especially to the world,
lie leaves no doubt of the govern
ment's nnd the nation's humnnltnrinn
alms, nnd he mnlces equally plain the
determination never to make peace
with the present rulers of Germany
who have done such "deep nnd nbom
Innble wrong." The president ex
pressly disavows any Intention to Im
pair or rearrange the Austro-IIunga-irlnn
empire, hut says that to the
Austro-Tlungnrlans should be restored
Independent control of their own af
fairs, nnd nvers that the Balknn states
nnd Turkey should be secured against
foreign oppression or Injustice. Mr.
Wllsonfs polished diction does not con
ceal his contempt for the pacifists, the
traitors nnd othors who seek to hnni
per the nation In the prosecution of
the war. When everyone else within
sound of his voice nrose and cheered
the president's Impassioned statements,
Senntor Ln Follette. Representative
Mason nnd one or two more sulked si
lent In their seats. They nro easily
clnsslfied.
Message Warmly Approved.
Tnstnnt approval of the raessnge was
general throughout the United States,
nnd It received the henrty endorse
ment of the British nnd South Ameri
can press, though some of the London
papers, notably the Times, are skep
tical about the distinction the presi
dent still makes between the German
rulers nnd the Germnn people. It must
be confessed n grent many Americans
nlso feel the Germnn people nre not
so guiltless ns Mr. Wilson represents
them.
Congress lost little time In stnrtlng
proceedings for formnl declaration of
war ngnlnst Austro-IIungary, ;wd gov
ernment agents throughout the coun
try at once begnn preparing to handle
the million nnd a half enemy aliens
which It adds to the list. As tens of
thousnnds of Austro-IIungnrlnns hnve
been employed In the mines of Amer
ica, there Is danger of a serious short
ngo of mine Inbor. It Is likely n good
deal of discrimination will he used In
dealing with such subjects of the dunl
ivowirchy, ns the Bohemians nd vnrl
ous filnvlc rnces, who have no sym
pathy with the autocracy of their
rulers.
Bolshevlkl Peace Efforts.
The efforts of the Russian bolshe
vik! to bring about a general cessation
of fighting was not markedly success
ful last week. Large numbers of Rus
sian troops were withdrawn from the
front lines, nnd Austro-Hungnry for
mally approved of the nrmlstlce plan;
but when the representatives of
the Russlnns began discussion of de
tails with the Germans they met with
n quick check. Their first two stipu
lations were that the enemy should
, not undertake to send forces from
the Russian front to the front of Rus
sin's allies, and that the German de
tachments should be withdrawn from
the lslnnds of Moon sound. To this
the Germnn dclegntes replied evasive
ly, merely promising to consult their
government.
On Thursday Berlin announced that
a suspension of hostilities along the
entire Russian front for ten days be
ginning Friday noon had been nrrang
otl. The same day Trotzky .declared
the Russian government did not want
a separato peace.
There were reports, which, however,
were emphatically denied, that Ron
mnnln desired to open negotiations
for an armistice. If their Hank on
the north were left uuprotected by the
quitting of the Russians, the Roumnn
un forces between the Dniester nnd
the Black sen would bo In extreme
peril. Members of the Red Cross mis
sion of Roumanla have Just brought
to President Wilson a message from
King Ferdinand declaring his country
would never mnke a separate peace.
Ensign Krylenko Is now In control
of much of the Russian army, his men
hnvlng captured the headquarters at
Mohllev and murdered General Duk
honln, former commnnder ln chief.
At last reports General Kaledlnes'
Cossacks were marching on Vitebsk
and n battle with Krylenko's forces
was Impending. Most of the Russian
diplomatic representatives in allied
countries nnd the Russian troops In
, France have disowned the doings of
the bolshevlkl leaders and refuse to
recognize their authority.
Germans Try Hard for Big Victory.
It Is evident Hint the German high
commnnd Is trying desperately to ob
tain a decisive military victory In
France or Italy, or both, before the
American army gets across In sulll
cient force to bo effective. So fnr the
result achieved by the enemy has been
the gain of a few rods of ground at
nn appalling cost In loss of life. The
fighting In the Cambral sector devel
oped Into the bloodiest and fiercest
battle of the war, and despite the
bringing up of grent numbers of Ger
mnny's best troops, the British In the
main repulsed the repeated mass at
tacks and held most of the ground
gnlifcd the previous week. If Byng
enn continue to hang on to his posi
tions, the battle will prove the best
tiling the British could ask, for It has
brought the Germans "out of their
holes" and not only shown them up
ns Inferior ln .open fighting, but cost
them nn enormous number of their
most vnlunblo men. The reckless sac
rifices made by Crown Prince Rup
precht contrast strangely with the In
formation thnt Germany Is training
boys of fifteen nnd sixteen to take
their places soon ln the fighting lines.
Amerlcn hns cause for pride and
satisfaction In the reports that come
of the part In the Cambral fighting
tnken by Amerlcnn engineers. Caught
by a sudden ndvnnce of the Germans,
these men took shelter until the Brit
ish enme up to them, and then, borrow
ing guns, went into the frny witli n
gnllnntry nnd coolness that won high
praise from the commanding officers of
the British. A few of them were
killed and wounded, but the others
went right on with their fighting, pa
trolling nnd rnilrond building.
Fierce Fighting In Italy.
Along the Italian front the lighting
hns been little less fierce than at Cam
bral, and ns the week closed the Austin-Germans
were making their sec
ond grent offensive there. In the In
itial attack by largely Increased forces
the enemy compelled the Itnllnns to
withdraw from some ndvunced posi
tions between Monte Tonderecar nnd
Monte Bndeneccbe. but elsewhere the
violent assaults were repulsed. If
the Invaders succeed In that sector In
flanking the PInvo and Brenta lines,
they might force General Diaz back as
far as the Adlge. However, the Italian
commander seemed quite confident he
could prevent this, nnd his forces were
gallantly guarding the entire Hue
while Increasing numbers of British
and French re-enforcements continued
to nrrlve. Among the nllles In action
on this front nre a number of Ameri
can aviators, nnd thu declaration of
war against Austrlu-IIungnry seems to
make sure the speedy dispatching of
a considerable force of American sol
diers to re-enforce the Itallnns. At
any rate that Is what Italy expects,
and, the entire country celebrated Joy
ously the news that Its chief foe was
to be Included In the enemies of the
United States.
U, 8, Troops to Be Hurried Over.
One of the main subjects discussed
In the Interallied conference In Paris
wns the best means of getting Ameri
can troops to France as rapidly as pos
were held hi check for n day,
Cambral. leaving their camp for
sible and supplying them with muni
tions and food. To release as much
tonnage as may bo for the purpose
of carrying tho American soldiers an
International organization wns created
that will co-ordinate the utilization of
transport facilities, somewhat restrict
ing the Imports of the vnrlous nntions.
It may be that a considerable part of
the supplies for the American army
will bju obtnlned from England and
France ln order tp snve time.
The allies Intend to bring out their
full mnn power, and the troops of the
United States nre to be taken to tho
front as quickly as It can be done.
There Is no doubt thnt this Is the plan
of the government, despite the opinion
of Von nindenburg nnd Von Luden
dorff thnt Amerlcn was raising a great
army only to protect itself ngainst Ja
pan and would not be so "foolish" as
to send It to Europe. If those gen
tlemen rend the president's message
some glimmer of truth ns to the real
determination of the United States
mny penetrate their skulls.
China May Send an Army.
Before very long yet another na
tional army may bo fighting beside the
nllles In France against Germany.. It
Is reported thnt a large force from
China Is to bo brought to the west
ern front, probably under the com
mand of General Yeng-Chnng, chief
general adjutant to the Chinese presi
dent. For a long time ninny thou
sands of Chinese have been working
behlrid the lines ln France, nnd doubt
less the well-trnlncd nnd equipped
armed forces of tjie, Oriental republic
also will be welcome there.
From Palestine General Allenbysent
word thnt he was ln a position to en
ter Jerusalem at any time he saw fit,
but was continuing nn enveloping
movement to the north of the Holy
City.
Equnlly satisfactory Is the news
from East Africa, the British com
mander there reporting that the last
Germans had been cleared from thnt
vast region. All who were not killed
or captured had fled to Portuguese
territory, where they would soon be
attended to, he snid. Thus Germany
has been stripped of the Inst of her
colonics.
Interallied tyavnl Council.
An Important decision of the coun
cil In Paris wns to create nn Inter
allied naval council ln order to close
contact and complete co-operation be
tween the navies of the allies. The
council will be composed of the min
isters of marine nnd ndmlralty chiefs
of the nntions represented. The war
fare on the submarines Is proceeding
satisfactorily, but the last British ad
miralty report shows the toll of the
U-Boats Is still hTgh, 10 British ves
sels of more than 1.C00 tons nnd five
others having been sunk ln the week.
Among the boats torpedoed wns the
steamer Apnpa, 80 pnssengers nnd the
crew perishing. The submnrine shell
ed the vessel's open boats thnt were
filled with women nnd children.
Early Thursduy morning n fieet ol
big German airplanes made a raid on
England and several of them succeed
ed in rcnchlng London. Their bombs
killed seven persons. At least two ol
the raiding mnchlnes were brought
down by gun fire nnd their crews cap
tured. War Stamps on Sale.
The sale of war snvlngs stamps
and certificates, America's newest
plan for raising war funds nnd encour
aging thrift, began on Monday, and
was taken up by the entire country
with un enthusiasm thnt presages Its
complete success. The campaign will
continue for one year, mid It is be
lieved tho maximum sum authorlzeiW
$2,000,000,000 will be obtnlned with
out trouble.
The Interstate commerce commission
having recommended the nntlonallza
t Ion of the railroads during the contln
nation of the war, the president and
his aids took up the matter last week,
and Mr. Wilson was expected soon to
send to congress a special message on
the subject. The ndmlnlstratlon con
ceiled that tho roads must be given
liberal financial aid and a plan mny bi
evolved for their operation under a
government director of transportation
Tho most terrible of the mnny ills
asters Incident to the war befell Hall
fax. N. S., on Thursday, wliei the
French munition ship Mont Blanc ex
ploded ln the harbor after being ram
med by n Belglnn relief vessel. Some
fl.OOft persons were killed, many thou
sands Injured and n considerable part
of the city and Its suburbs wrecked
by the awful blast.
TEN THOUSAND
AMERICAN TROOPS WHO ARE NOW FIGHTING IN FRANCE
Swinging along at u double-quick, with their super-abunilant vitality expressed In their easy marching stride, u
detachment of our soldiers Is marching through a French village on the way to the front. Our soldiers nro bringing to
their work hi Franco a vigorous vitality that Is helping our allies us much ns their work in tho trenches.
GEN. MANN AND
General Mann, cominaniler of the Forty-second or "Rainbow" division, the
body of National Guard troops selected from Hi) different states, who Is now In
Fi ance at tho head of his troops, Is shown at the left of the photograph. With
lilm la fnl Dmirliia MnApl'uvi- nlili.f ,t ft. if!" nf (I.,. T .. I I . .if ....,...
...... ... w,, .w. , , ,
Hit; departure from this side nnd the
ipt u closely guarded secret
BLUEJACKETS FORM MONSTER LIVING FLAG
This Immense living ling, complete. In every detail, was formed by 10.0IW)
bluejackets at the naval station at Great Lakes, 111., n low days ngo. It vu
laid out with consideration of the law of perspective so that when photo
graphed It stood out in proper proportions. Thero wore 200 men In the ball
and oOO men In the pole. The Hag itself merisured 2011 feet In length at the
top nnd 72 feet at the bottom. Grouped ln the stars wore men from nenrly
every stnte In the Union.
HIS CHIEF OF STAFF
nuiu ui iw jbimiiivn nit mum. mini
arrival ln France of the Ounrdsimn wa
MADE BY FRENCH PRISONERS
1L
.n
This unique monument was made by
French prisoners of wur In the camp nt
Stuttgart, Germany, aa u tribute to
their comrades who havo died in but
tle for their beloved country.
Kissing.
An Optimist holds this pleasunt pros
pect out to engaged couples : "Unmar
ried couples kiss nnd forgive. Mar
ried couples kiss and declare a truco
nuu KHIIIICN KISS ailll UCCllirC U trilCO
1 while the h-nvy artillery Is being mov-
, ul up." Ivuisns City Star.