University of South Carolina Libraries
r ITALf STANDS FIRM ENEMY ADVANCE HALTS ALONG . P1AVE BATTLELINE ALLIED ARMIES IN REAR Violent Artillery Dueta Go on Along PrejMtred Positions—Italians Give Desperate ReaiHtance to All At- to Advances—Decisive Bat- . - , * lie Expected to Begii* at Any Time —Allied Aid is at Hand. *. .v’ . ‘ « Against heroic Italian resistance the Teutons concentrated their force in the mountainous region to the east and northeast of the Sug&na Valley, with the dual object of har assing the Italian left wing and clear ing the road for the dash southward into the rear of Italy’s armies on the Piave. They made some progress, cap turing the stronghold of Konzaso as well as the Longara mountain, but nowhere was the Italian line pierced/ No move was undertaken by the Teu tons tending to indicate that they mean to attempt a “break-through" on the Italians life-line, the Udine- Treviso-Verona railway. On the lower Piave violent artil lery duels went on all .day. The Teutons have brought up some of their heaviest field pieces. The Ital ian line is solid and intact all the way from the Adriatic to the foot hills of the Trentino border Both •tde* are getting ready for what may be the decisive battle The artillery <ombat extends over a 40-mlte front along the Piave The removal of art worha from Ventre continues The Use of the l*teee Is being held •olkdly by iLsiisn irony. English •ed Pioo«h orvMlrs are la reserve be. Mod. Italian morale has bean ••reagtbeeed the reentry has been united and the line shortened for s tremendously suffer defense In feet.ty the Itslinn ermine ere fer Item betas defeated Thai nee the ra< owragiag as pert sd the Italian sitsation proaented , from Trench saarvoo It ropreaonis . a tun at * the Pretw h • ef of e a* t * s n • if*» it t»■ J tu Wash thfwneh the tee'tesy el Am ft Jasnomad asede pabtM by amttt«e aa pnbtb istass remans bate greatly eand m impartame af the Hal'’ In naalNr ta# itaMnn t fa# from beta# defeated ■run I armP hen tec Meanly tin the tllh ei Or tehee a Nsmti«o by the Germane he* asnese and Tat mine teen she nf the K«»*e*tot and CHINA ENTERS PROTEST OVER TREATY WITH JAPAN I ? Objerta to Action -Af fer ting Ita In- • f »—■ terestN Without Beforoiice to Wishcts of Chinese People. Formal protest ^against the agree ment between the* United States and Japan regarding China was lodged at the state department by Dr. K. Wellington Koe, the Chinese minis ter, on instructions from his govern ment. The text of the document left by the minister was not made public but it is understood that China ob jects to any such action affecting its interests without reference to the wishes of the Chinese people them selves. News that a similar protest 'had been filed at Tokyo reached this country. It is probable that while the state department and the Japanese for eign office will respond at an early date with explanations and declara tions of the absence of any sinister designs upon China, there will be no extended diplomatic exchanges on the subject of the protests. Behind the Chinese objection to the manner in which the American Japanese understanding was negoti ated, is the^vlew that it is an unjust and dangerous theory that any na tion has a right to assert a claim to special interests in another country without the latter’s consent. Secre tary I^ansing in announcing the agreement by which Japan’s aptclftl Interest in China is recognized and both countries reaffirm the "open door* policy and pledge the inde pendence and territorial Integrity of China, made It clear that the t’nlted States has always recognized and bss Itself asserted special Interests In an other country based upon ptopinqui ty Tits Chinese government la un derstood to be unwilling to subscribe to such n doctrine Intimations from Peking that the legality of this agreement might he called la geeectoa hemnse It. had not heea submitted to the American Sen ate in the form of n trusty, have made tittle Impression apoa officials oho are satisfied thet the under standing In of the seme not ere aethe adjustment of tho ugly gueeiioa* ark*tag from the immigration info the I Sited Males of Jaaoneee labor FACE FRESH CRISIS LLOYMEORGE’S PARIS TAlK AROUSES ENGLAND MAY CAUSE DOWNFALL i kERfV*Y DEBITED Nro• | *«*■ llo* »« « M if tho fedeie ih and ?Vih »r and Heat If fell harh and then to he* a e aa #• on of mar PfHnas reives real took sln*e t*\a«r la nctnally Italian geneml to enemy forms i hating shorten of hotter mien as h * • u *-• gutaed the high v si toys end Xeussmt On the • after tho Ions of ItolvJ w *g*er tho somnd ori first le lhe TagIIOOMfMl I be Tin to T vis failing i ««et*d snder the protest anards nhwb mmporfed admirably and the In good order, Tho has of the s»*iidlt held I hr . sff is so siting I T’aor operstlea a.* the front silos sd f eeteianro * The English and Tfew are in rsnnrv r behind The morale nf the army has heea streagthened and In becoming rveet leal. The ronntry at first strongly shaken, la becoming more settled ns the petit leal parties are gelling mors united ’’ The stnteereel la the ee*et aetfvor- Ketivo opAaioo yet reeetxed ne to Jnat wtxel the German offen«t%e against Italy means t«> the Allied canse. It had been fnated openly that the rear of Franco might be menaced by a lierman drive through Lombardi and Piedmont. The optimism of the French statement seems to set these fears at rest. Tho statement further Intimates the size of the Allied reinforcements upon which Italy can depend. French and British “armies’* in the rear of of the Italian line mean indeed a formidable defense opposed to the Germans. French testimony as to the inter nal conditions in Italy is also wel comed as extremely favorable. Open doubts have been expressed as to the results of Italy’s laxity in permitting peace and Socialist propaganda to be preached, even in the trenches of the Tolmino. it has been seriously doubted that tho Italians would be able to muster a united political front despite the favorable reports coining, from Ital ian sources. The French testimony in favor of this development 1 is ac cepted as conclusive. That the Italian line on the Piave will hold means that Venice will be saved. It will also mean that the German advance from the Isonzo to the Piave will not largely increase German naval , opportunity in the Adriatic. Had Venice fallen or been abandoned by the Allies the naval opportunity of Germany would have been doubled. Some fear has been felt over the prospect of a Teutonic advance against the Italian left wing. Much progress at this point, it is frankly conceded, means another step in the burning of the Italian Piave line, and, which Is more important, a new step in the Teuton strategic scheme tn bring about an Italian Sedan. For that the Amdro-German "faff la re- lenfleiudy pursuing the scheme, upon wht«*h It has staked all. la evident from every new bulletin issued by tb«* Berlin war. office. The d.spafrbes yirWir to the Fren*- wn» not over opt t#f tb# I tail** l r * • -’•wfd IB tb# w ley l» B#4 yet Mil mi g—RtfrM MB « «jpt urwi by I ko mm the front embassy advices isttr A portion w log retreating Vbem Plate Val- if if r»* r * t wos * r ap — £ a % - l ■tanke* # Be h* I aod • MfrwdBrfPI* o«t mi tb# Bang# of swwfnadtgvory •iOleUMNN# rwgatiABg tb# art oodoO IB llBBgfta tb# anltsBl fart a wmm t# viBBi f«eib tbal tb# RbakaBestRlI fore## afllll #r# IB #WBtfwl of PsAtVB § rug A wire tom gMpoicb fwr#fv#tf IB L#Bi#B BBB#WBr#u tb# eosuptote Bofeut nf tb# tollownra nf py#vut#r Berenakf s#4 Of boentlogf Ho# 4b V lb ftgbtlB4 b#n# Taofkoo gele Tb# voaoArstrnBt# B## B#rtur#4 k# b# MBlbtutBtbs tb# Bpp#* b#b4 sgBiB#fl tb# military ca4#ta ##4 #rb#e a4 be rents ef tb# K###B#by regim# I ■MBalrkee from t we mark aesert ikai a4«tr«a tb### at# to tb# #ff#rt tbol tb# lbOaB#VPtbl *014men a#4 aollors tb Petr#gru4 ar# rommlttiB4 Bit kib4s mi eves#### bb4 ibat tb# p#pn- * « >• ter t *>m !#-t TIOOTS TO ITALY British Premier Explains His Affroo- # ment to House of ('/Onunons— Much Depends on Acquiescence of Former ITemier Asquith—Action to Be Discussed Fully Next Mon- day.^ ITemier Lloyd-George, *>n his re turn from his hurried trip to consult and hearten Great Britain’s ally, Italy, finds himself face to face with the sharpest crisis of his career as prime mJnLstei. The crisis is one which may result possibly in a vote of want of confidence by Parlia ment, when the matter is discussed next Monday, which would be follow- ed automatically by his resignation. No action taken by any British government since the beginning of the war has caused such a mael strom of criticism, speculation and symptoms of uneasiness as the an nouncement of the formation of an International war council committee composed of cabinet ministers of Great Britain, Italy and France, with a military committee represent ing the thr#e nations which la later Ig be In constant session at Ver sailles. The qtte«tlona being asked are whether such a vital change is neces sary, whether It will bring effective control of the <ampalgn and parttc'i- larly ho# far tb# n#w military trin ity will super red# or overlap th# management of Untteh operations by tb# general staff of lb# a/my, During tb# past twenty four hours tb# premier has had nhat in Europe la railed **b bed press ** Tbe com ment# on hie action range from vto lent attach# by Tbe Morning Poet and (Tbe Globe to qoeoiiowiag and rr it leal comment Tbe Globe call# tb# premier a ' dangerowe dema gogue and terms tb# owe! title Joggle eft I of tbe e #f Tbe dlseo«Moa ef It I Psflieaeeer eilt kc tB* I mg sod imp*!#*sot I i* I bet brtdt Me ts tbe eittteds ef.Mv Ar fetleee«% M» A* tl’ eopfseefed PremWf I ad miaiec m<teui up le re# artung* • k» struteg Is)n4le Se 4 G#b Fayolle will command tbe French arm tee no# being neat into Half, according to ga annouoremeat mad# IB WneblngtoB G#n Focb. tb# chief of th# French staff la only temporarily IB command of » lb# Frebch forces From Nlc# comae a report that trmlBloada of French and Itrltloh troops nr# rolling constantly through that place on their way from France into Italy got behind them near Idingaronne. to the northeast of llelluno, already In Teutonic hands. The remainder of tnia army ia struggling desperately to escape . encirclement. Military necessity demands that It shift for itself, for IMaz is grappling with a far greater menace to his main forces. Upon the resistance of these Ital ian armies in the north now rests the fate of Italy. For a Teuton “break-through’ here would indeed mean the Italian Sedan which is the Teuton aim. Far behind the Piave river, due west of its middle course, four vital strategic railway sectors fornra giant fork. Its base is the Castelfionco- Vicenza sector of the Udine-Verona railway, the “life-line” of the Ital ian armies in Venetia, because it is their main line of retreat, as well as of communication. The prongs of this fork are, from east to west. The lines: From Feltre to Castelfranco, 26 miles. From Asiago to Citadella, 20 miles. ,— From Schia to Vicenza, ir> miles. German armies now are at the top of the two first “prongs”, and an other is not far to the north of the third. The logical Teuton plan is to dash down either one or all of these lines to cut the Italian life-line. That done, they would proceed to Padua and cut off the last Italian avenue of escape, the Venice-Padua-Mantua railway. Tuesday’s Berlin dispatch about the cutting off of 10,000 Italians near Longarone threw cold water upon hopes revived by previous un official dispatches about the safety of the Italian left wing. Tbe morale of the Italian armies is described In all dUpatrhes as ex cellent- Ht-arguards are fighting %> ith almost ttiperhuBiaB heroiym Tbe arrival of Anglo Preach rein forcement# and England a promise I bat wot n stow# wilt b# left unt arm ed t# sav# Italy .imbwad tb# Italian II miss and tb# p##pit boBiad tb# kasw wvtb r#a#w#d Bup# aad 4atar- dgp. aitbwwgb nw t 1 s##w# b# bod lb# pi t# fB#8# •##%#•• Rpl *###■# if w#t t# •# # #C Itogu# OWB* »## ib bis bawd# ibs# v#r bt« sw#" rfbrww birn council la cmated composed of th# prime minister and a member of the government of each of the great powers whose armies am fighting on that front, the extension of the scope of the council to other fronts to be reserved for discussion with the oth er great powers. , “Second, the supreme war council has for its mission to watch over the general conduct of the war. It pre pares recommendations for the con sideration of the governments, and keeps itself informed of their execu tion and reports thereon to the re spective governments. “Third, the general staffs and mil itary commands of the armies of each power charged with the con duct of the military operations re main responsible to their respective governments. “Fourth, general war plans drawn by competent military authorities are submitted to the supreme war coun cil, which under high authority of government insures Its concordance and submits, if needs be, any neces sary changes. “Fifth, each power delegates to the supreme war council one perma nent military representative whose exclusive function is to act as tech nical adviser to the council. “Sixth, military representatives receive from the government and the competent military authorities of their country all proposals. Informa tion and documents relating to the conduct of the war.' ^ “Seventh, the mifitary representa tives watch day by day the situation of the forces and the means of all kinds of which the Allied and enemy armies dispose. “Eighth.\the supreme war council meets normally at Versailles, where the permanent military representa tives and staffs are established; they raty meet at other plards according to clrrumstaaces Meetings of the supreme war council take place at least one# a month " The premier went Into a further explanation, saying; L* "From tb# foregoing It wtll be clear that tbe council wtll bav# bo •Ions In tbe matt#/ of strategy and tb# dietrtbutiow and auiv#m#nts of lb# various armies in tb# field will reel with tb# —##ml govaram—ts of tb# AIH## There will, therefore, b# no op#ratl#ws deportment a tin/bed to tb# council Tbe object of tb# Allis# bas boon to •#€ up a reoirul bad? rbaruod otth tb# duty of routine#oaly #uf •eying tb# field of opecation# a* a e bole by tb# light of informal tea derived from alt Ib# fronts and from #11 tb# governments and staffs and uf ro e#d* suit lag tb# pi sou prey red by tbe different geo#rwi atnffs and M BeveueBCy • of BMSblBg prepooois of tbetr eoe fog tb# best#/ ceadBM of tile war w Mr I iwvd-Goo/p# aaaeonrod tbol ib# govemMBt bod set asid# Men day le# tb# dksresuSoB mi bts Fa»*s •pee- b sod tbe pfopeood f#1 FIGHT INTRENCHES AMERICAN SOLDIERS PUNISH GERMANS FOR ATTACK AMBUSH RAIDING PARTY NEW GERMAN PEACE MVE IS LOOKED FOR SMTIY Haul Thursday Morning ia Stopped by Artillery Fire, Which ia Praised ' by French Officers—Big Gong Firing Always—Some Americana Slain—Stories From the Front. Another raid was attempted by Mr Asguitb IBd*.red MS tbe II# mi roMveB# o bat bet tb# •a# nb#’f to ke ia tb# Hews#, ‘ and tnah# a etoteasant reward tog t ke vary oerkoo# m#t*#ru towrbed apoo ia bt# speocb In Fun# Andrew Mawnr law. rb#a> eller uf tb# emrbegoer repWod ibal lb# pre- mt#r wa# rertnin in roapnnd lo verb a tognsetiea Mr Aauottb rejotnad tbal If tb# premier could m#k# a statement t mavedloiely ve mweb tbe better, In lb# coura# af tb# debate tb# obol# uo##tb>u of tb# gov#*aawMit af tb# country by tb# new and eapreco deoied akocbto#nr of a war cabtnot. reosSetlag af ft## mem kora oitb tb# #tb#r members af tb# rabtn#t. ia rlading tb# mlalater of foreign af faira. outside its dellbemimim proB ably will be dlacasoad Tb# fear tbal tb# new latematioa al council will usurp tb# poelUou of tb# gsutml staff aad tb# dlrectloa of military affairs now ia !U binds tu lb# crux of tb# pr###at aguollou Premier l>»yd-fAenrgr rvplotont to the How of tXmoNHv* thot tbr fto- trr-AIUed cooavrll. the rMabltehoveoi of which woe arraoKed f«*c at the re- «ev»t cvmfrreocr of the Itr1tl«h. Drench and Italian repM^e-ntativee, would hair no exerutive pimer. lie •aid final decision in regard to mat- lira of strategy and the distribution and movement of armies would rest with the several governments of the Allies The new council. Mr. Lloyd-George said, would be charged with the duty of surveying continuously the field of operations as a whole in the light of information derived from all the governments and staff; also of co ordinating plans and making plans of its own, if necessary, for the bet ter conduct of the war. The proposed new inter-A Hied council was the subject qf discussion in the House of Commons when for mer Premier Asquith brought the matter before the House by interro gating Premier Lloyd-George on the functions of the council. Mr. Asquith asked the piemier whether ho would now state the pre cise functions of the inter-Allied Council, ami in particular of its mil itary staff, whether it was proposed that the council, if so advised by its staff, should have the power to in terfere with and override the opin ion on a matter of strategy of the general staff at home and the com- n.andor-in-chief in the field; wheth er the military staff of the inter- Allied Council was to have intelli gence and operation departments or either of them, of Us own; whether the ultimate decision as to the dis tribution and moveirfent of the vari ous armies in the field was to rest on the council or on the governments represented by it; or whether the opportunity would be given to dis cuss the proposed arrangements and the statements made In connection therewith in the premier’s Paris speech. Premier Llonl-Gcorgr, in replying lo Mr. AjM|ai(h, toabl that the hr*»t way of itnvwering the qnrMlon t«» rend the nr tun I tervne of the agree ment between th# HHlivti. Frmrh vnd Italia# g«nrerw«newt» f«*r tbe rrr» atlon of a —permi rm—rtl uf tbr %IIh* Tb# text of tftHr agr—#at folftoa • * First with a rlaw In bdftar «w- ■ r f~aaii— nf tb# military art—d an tb# #—#— front a nap— wa# i mu Ft SIRS I as p# rtaal ptoaro— baa baan mad# ia tho proMoai of toaaAJnn —bn— rta#* aft#* aklrb lb#tf dos< tart lot t a 'oaxpa—ii v#ty Mmpt# matt## be«r#«ary I ■#—#!/ aakd la a vtai#av#at dimtovntag tb# I* v4• —narnt# aag a#o«loaa. pi#at af modal# af daaftr— —baxitiad la tb# aa—I r—alt tag board sinr# tb# t nM#d bial— —tsr- •d tb# wn/, Tb# id— Ibal Ib# kaW—fta# will b# •veranas# by a aMrnrai#— iav—■ it— l# bot woo —nnaaly fonalda—d. w tbo — rotary said “Tb# at— latl- axate knool#dg# tb# rtniiaa #btai— on this —bj#ct tb# mo— roartarod be la tbal tbo —bmarla# raa be ron- 4«erod by psrM#t—tly baattag bla down by tb# w—poa of whtrb be Is moat afraid Thu la tb# srmod a#r- •le# boat, equippad with all tb# lal- tb# mod#— torpedo boat daatroyer ##t sd—tlflc davtrae aad typified la Forelga naval aatbortti— bav# frankly stated their admiration of the degree of perfection of Ameri can designs “In regard to the protection of ships against torpedo attacks tbe un deniable evidence of recent months of submarine activity has demon strated that the Immunity of a ves sel depends very largely on Its speed and manoeuvering ability.** The secretary said that the thought on the submarine defense may be sub-divided in three groups: 1. Methods to accomplish the de struction of submarines, involving detection and destruction after de tection. 2. Means of avoiding submarine attack, involving instructions for merchant vessels, proper handling of vessels' camouflage, smoke screens and other confidential information known to American naval authori ties. 2. Protection of ships against tor pedo hits. All of the 40.(iO0 suggestions sub mitted, Mr. Daniels said, are being considered by various branches of the war services. USE MORE COAL Munition Plants Neill Fuel to l*ro- duce War Materials. The 1917 coal shortage is put at 50,000,000 tons in estimates com pleted by the fuel administration. Although production of bituminous and anthracite together has. jumped 50,000,000 tons, consumption, it is declared, has increased at least 100,- 000,000 tons. Immediate measures to meet the situation planned by Fuel Adminis trator Garfield include curtailment of shipments to nnn*e*ttential Indus tries. priority orders designed to In crease the patgn for < farturin* * bolds. Pcrviotii adnualst k#tt U#f tbal tb wirbt bp### car supply and a carn al conservation In manu- tablishment* and houwe- stateaxeats from tbe fuel aa bad tadicated tb# lae ia—*#d yrodartio# be ea tarred d##aaad Vnait— gfaiy tn be a iing tally a—I tbaa (Bay — bav—nr. ### aai . b gar c—4 —wi M a yanr kg# the (vermanH early Thursday morn in# u|K»n the American sector on the French front. It was quickly dis persed by our artillery. Tho Ger mans moved several machine guns intp No Man’s Land and swept, the communicating trenches with their fire in preparation for an advance. The commander signalled “bar rage fire." In the same Instant American flares disclosed German raiders. ;• The raiders quickly re treated, suffering some casualties. There has been a considerable in crease in patrol activity during the recent nights. Since the defeat of the German patrol by Americans the Germans have been attempting to retaliate and ambuscade the Ameri cans. Tuesday and Wednesday nights the Americans encountered German patrol#. Shots were exchanged bat there were no r—ualtl— among th# American# Whether the Germans suffered loane# le not known. An American patrol drove back German soldiers attempting to get to n water pond In No Man • I .and Artillery activity coatlao## at a lively rat# There have be— no new —sea111## Tb# w#ntb#r wn# clowdy and cold Tb# Averteaa# wbo were hilled or woended by obeli fir# — a re—at nltht were In a aback whlrb was •track by a •bell Ame/wa tafaatryv— exacted a —rt revenge far a t re ark —Id dar ing a cereat aigbt by ambaablag a large German patrol In Hm Man’s I mad. kilting ar wwaadiag a a ember af lb# enemy Tb# Amervaa patrol in wbirb tbe— wee# awm# Frenrbmea. arvang ed tbe ambwssad# a—r tbe German Itwe« — n •Beit rained form After tying in vb# bind a—fly nil •iakt tb# paneare af Vb# wwtetkey# ##• rewarded by tb# sAgbt mi a large German pairwi its aamher a— tbaa 4—b*e tbal tbe F—atr ftmasl #vba Tbe Gerowaae e ere permit Usd — paow. wb— tb# Awsen—n# and Freacg an tbesr flank egenad a bat fie# feam swell c—t— and at bar ■BsMeeq ab#*e tbay wa— severed Tbe German# we— tab— ram- ptetetf by —rpnao and ballad —fry >*g with tbam tbetr m— e%« bad be— bit Tb# a amber af dead and w—adad | G#—a# M eacertaia bat nana af Ib# m— In ambaab a— bit by tba ballet# tb* Germane later aent In f—V b dlstaSKe There wa— —a srataiaUnas all a—and a b— tb# Amert—as and Franrb —tn—d t# tbetr iranrbee Daring tb# Inst tw# aigbts tb# G#rmana bav# —ntiaaaaeiy a##d abac hi a# gaaa la tba difanma af tba Aamri—a ban balptag la bamming mare active — both sides Ameri can sharpshooter# a— working clan# la *B# G#rmaa ttaaa. —penally wb— tba aigbu a— rl—r, Tb# activity by #a#my —Iper# thus far baa raaaltad In #na Amen —a caawnlty A aua c—imlaaioaed officer #ss bit la tb# bead aad hlllad Tbe American artillary fire has been h—vy —ally aad the— la good reason to ball#ve that It haa accounted for a considerable num ber of the enemy The accuracy of th# American artillerymen's fire has evoked ea ch w* last Ic comment* from the French superior officers of the command In which are the trenches occupinl by the Ameri can troops. The general In com mand told American officers that the marksmanship of the artil lerymen com|wired moot favorably with that of troofM which had been at war for years. The American officers were highly elated by the compliment. The only complaint heard Is that a few of the American batteries are not as rapid as they might be/ but they are im proving dally. The infantry is now interesting it self especially in patrols. All the men who have not had this experi ence an* eager to try their hand, and some of them have asked to be as signed to this work. It is the unani mous opinion that the men are learn ing more of the science of war by theft short stay in the trenches and gun pits than is possible to gain in months of other instruction. While the infantry is learning how to handle itself in the trenches, the artillery, in addition to the actual firing, is acquiring most valuable ex perience in observation work and locating enemy batteries by the sound method. The heavy guns on both sides are now engaged in a duel at long range^ with the lighter pieces working at targets nearer the lines. The third series of American bat talions is now occupying the first line and the second American de tachments to enter the trenches ha /e returned to their billets. The relief was accomplished on a brlllidnt star light night without the knowledge of the Germ ana Including among th# returning troop* is the company which boro the brunt of the rer—t —id on the .Auierlrwn i/enrhea At retreat this company Ita**4 up In n little muddy •tread ta a village aeathag under af hill •on— mil## from tb# front Tbetr clotBou we— eakwd wMB mod and tb# I roofs and fan—a aanrby mo— k #og i Tb# with o#t bAanbatk and siuipmaai I f«s* I Washington Ha— Little Pt Gain to Knemi— if ! Hold Present line*. The Austro-Gerxnan drive In Italy appears to have reached its crest. This opinion is expressed by officers In Washington on the basts of in formation carried in press reports that the line of defense continaas to hold under repeated asaaulta. Evi dence of the use to which the Ger man high command now proposes to put its victory are watched for with great interest, -rf— In his weekly review Secretary Baker Indicated his opinion that the drive was primarily a political move ment. This opinion is shared by numerous Americaii officials and in some quarters it is believed a fourth peace offer is to be expected. What form such an offer might take or the terms thereof, could not be foreseen aa no official admitted having any advance information. It was pointed out, however, that since previous offers have met with so cold a reception in the Alliee' camps that some indirect offer is looked for which could be disclaimed in Ber lin if It brought no result. IKmbt is expressed that Venice will fall to the Invader# unless Ita e—• atlon is forced this week. Every hour that the Italian troops hold it# pretomt Use Is regarded as making easier th^task of stopping definitely the Teutonic rush. The fact that tba Italians have been successfully —- organized stands oat to military ob servers as striking proof of the high mo—le ol th# army and of tbs abil ity of tba officers . . . Tbe spirit of tbe troops wtll Im prove steadily wltb each cback sd ministered to tbo fo# An a/my gala# roafld—c# la lta#lf quickly and tba addition of F—neb and Hrltisb nrtll , lory aad otbor fkgkting Baits In tba lino win bring added co«—go. A g—at sweep af I lal ba# bean oeraplad It lla ar natblng. b#w##r toad Mtanttan in Ansi ran ris ring maftar—J #v lory ar# fan beaming, tg# akapa at lead, ar i tb# #i—la spaa tb# A l* is b#tfc#t#d tb# mm Aw#IM# #111 pro## sB* If a# ft Mag Mm air % mi aa It Is not ana? in i nan ar Garxnnn af d—WB etfbaof nf b#a* ? artfMsry • •ary ta tb# aval lores bav# baan ma in# ItaWnnn. M win a# fa a Mbd—#—l l# UBM PATRHTK nff %■ it to soar w Wliana • pies la I laiala •skisdared all tba of labor aatfl boat— r#e#4vad Its i th# banding I part—ant nf tb# Amartaa Gan nf Labor ordered tbo dl aaaro of all atrties an urnrt £ tba gnim—Tp—sideats oHbs'^buli? log trades to maot at Washington and confer with Proold#at Wllaoa or oth#r government officials for tbs adjustment of existing dlftlcuKJss. President Wilson Taosdny night expressed his appreciation for tho action taken by the building t—dan In declaring off strikes. His mes sage. addressed to President Donlin. retd: *’Your telegram has cheered me very much and I hops you will con vey my sincere thanks and nppro- ciatlon to those associated with you in the patriotic action of which you t;lve me information. You may be sure there will be all possible co operation at this end." SMALL U-BOAT LOSS Combined Allied Lorn* is Only Three I^arge and Eight Small Ships. o Only one British vessel of more than l.t>00 tons was sunk by mine or submarine last week, according to the weekly statement of shipping losses. This is the lowest record since Germany began submarine campaign. Five vesse/^fcf less than l,6t)0 tons and one fishing boat were sunk during the week. The loss to French shipping through mine or submarine for week ending November 11 was two ves sels over 1,600, one of which was actually sunk the previous week, and no vessels under that "tonnage. Only one small sailing vessel of Itaiian nationality' was lost during the week ending November 11, it v. as officially announced, as tbe re- jult of the operations of hostile sub marines. ranks showed how many men had been killed, wounded and made pris oners in the trench fight. After the company was dismissed an officer of the battalion watched the men splash off through the mud and said: “There co*s the scrappiost bunch of soldi**— In Franc** - They ar# mad all through #od are jast biding their, time till they get a rhaae* ta —pay the Germans for what happsmsd tn UeAr rum—dn» They will g#9 tbetr —••age b«f#— this war Is aver Y#n —s depend an that ** n man a— ta #njnp #♦#— tab lag a# a «#% ag a*a