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THE WAR SITUATION. IIAKKR'S KKVIKW OF WHIK IX>RKC.V*T? PlTt'Ktt. Esc ? Ury of War Seen Mgnlflount o? erntknui In lloth Fast uiul West. Washington. Oct. 2?.?Important development* are Impending in the groat war. Secretary Baker Indicate; in his official review of last week's operations on all fronts, which con rtudaa with the brief statement 'hat certain unit* of the American forces In Prance have taken their plac en on the battle front to complete their training. This Is the war depart? ment m first mention of the fact that (Jen. Pennings men are on the firing Uns. It la the wave of activity during- the weak on nearly every front, howover, that caught the secretary's attention. Stgnlftoant operations are in progress, h* says, both Rast and West, on the Italian fronts, in Macedonia, tou manla, Mesopotamia sud even In Kart Africa. On the Western front, he adda a new strategic retreat o.' tne German forces appear to be the next move expected, and they must move back under critical clrcumsttincee from between the tw> wedges, those of Flanders and the Aisne. which hava been driven relentlessly Into their Una by the British and the Kronen. Italy is passing through a difficult moment. Mr. Baker says. The Austro German drive Wt being pressed for? ward by imposing forces, but qnce be? fore Italy stemmed the tide of an Austrian rush under less favorable conditions for the defenders, h > point* out. and hurled the enemy back with only a taste of victory durirg the flrat days of his terrific onslaught. Winter is now coming to the old of the Italians. The secretary's revew follows: "Ko nawed activity prevaila in all theatres of war. "Important developments would ap? pear to be impending. "Along the Western. Rastern, and Italian fronts. In Macedonia. Rot moti? le. Mesopotamia and even in Eaut Africa, significant operations ate In program "the two outstanding features of the situation of the week are the re> lent loa? British offensive in the Ypr?s salient, resulting in substantial gains of terrain of Important strategic vei? ns, and the sudden well aimed and sustained thrust of the French non.h of the Aisne. It is evident thit tha allied drive* along the Western front are broadening In scope and Intensity. The whole front, from the Houtholst wood, through tho Paaschs ndaale rkflK southward to Lons, and on the Alan*.-Is becoming the scene of In creasing ly heavy allied pressure, which the enemy Is withstanding with difficulty. "hide by side the French an 1 Brit? ish sre pushing on through tin Fl.m i Ish lowlands toward Koulers. "The enemy, believing he mUht find a rift In the otherwise impreg? nable allied line at the point of junc? tion batween the Frnnco-Britah foroeo. directed repeated heavy counterat? tacks in this segment. Theae were rs pulsed. "While the British attacks during the past week have been cart led out with imposing effectives. It Is appar? ent that the British command is maneuvering In order to gam Im? portant tactical advantages at a min? imum cost. "The casualties to the enemy are rietng steadily. "Slowly the allies are eiilcrgina their gains in Flanders, driving into the heart of German resistance in the West. "Ths German armies tight on stub? bornly. If any further evidence of alhed supremacy he needed. It seems to be supplied b\ the d.M isive succcss ee won by the Frcm h during the past week. "This offensive was launched on a six mile front near the we>d end of the Chemln des Dames at dawn on OOs tol?er SI. i "General Petaln so well mask- d his preparation-* that the onomv h im tak en by surprise , , to the exact terrain chosen for the ntack. ami WIM over? whelmed before being ahls to mani/e a concentrated resistant | 'The German lines were ptmti.if d to a depth of wdl SSTOI IWO Miles hi ?ne point. "This first attack was Imme.n iteiy followed by a ?0000 I nagM4 In this same see tor. pQWhOd ?. if h full SHf> IM "In three days' fighting th" l-'nm h have taken 11.000 prisoners. I Jo guns of Isrge calibre anil a meat ouantin of othei I ?? i'u ini-i at?-d The pos?e?s1on of the raptured fort of Malmalson. the kev to t ie entire ridge, and the villages b$Jfi n I SOW makes It pose lb I., for the French t.? enfilade the ncrman possessions along the Chemm des Dames, a? well aw to the firo dlrertly through |hi \ alley towards the fortress of I*aon. "General Petaln showed himself a past master of strategy In b'dng ah; ? lo attain to derbdvc \ tor) In so FUEL RELIEF PLANS. I I I.I. ADMINISTRATOR HETI KNS MOM WASHINGTON. Cool Situation Must lie Referred to liocol Committees to Ik* Apindut ed. Anderson. Oct. 29.?B. V- QOsaatt, federal fued administrator for South Carolina, has returned from Washing? ton, where he conferred with the na? tional fuel administration. He went to Columbia tonUht to confer with the State authorities about perfecting un organization for tho State. He stated today that he will appoint M advisory board, composed of one rep? resentative from each congressional district. In addition to this, he will appoint a committee composed of three citizens for each city having 10,000 or more Inhabitants, and will appoint a committee composed of three citizens for each county. These commltteemen must be men who are not directly or indirectly connected with politics. They, like the Stab administrator, will serve without any compensation. A State fuel admin? istration office will be opened here in the Anderson-MattlBon omco build? ing, and a corps of assistants arm clerks will be engaged. Requisitions for fuel relief must be made through the local committees, who will make inventories of the present supply of fuel, and who will make estimates from best obtainable Information of the consumption of fuel in the past, and estimate the needs for immediate relief. When these committees report to the State administrator he will make drafts for fuel on the national administration. Mr. Gossett says that he can not begin to give relief until he perfects his organization, and wishes to im? press upon the people the fact that they must not make requisitions to him direct, but to their local commit? tees to be appointed. On his return to Anderson be found a batch of tele? grams and letters calling for relief in practically every section of tho State. These communications will be referred to the local committees fo; investigation and report. The organization will be perfected by the end of the week and relief will be given as rapidly as possible. brief a period. , "The time haa apparently come for another 'strategic retreat' of the en? emy. It means that tho Germanu must again retire to a new entrench? ed and carefully prepared line if they Intend to resist further in the West. "It must be admitted that the Ger? man 'retreat* executed as a result of tho battles of the Somme last year was carried through with consummate skill. The enemy retired, destroying all cover and taking up positions in marked tactical and wtrategic strength. "Hut the battle of tho Somme had but one wedge Today we have the wodge of Flanders, and that of the Alsne Is being outlined. "Bad weather continues to be the enemy's best protection. He is relying upon this factor to impede the allied advance, and ay shrouding the battle area in slush, rain and fog. give him a respite until he can prepare himself to meet a fresh ouslaught. "News from the Italian front proves th:?t the Austrians wero able to bring sufficient pressure to bear in Berlin in order to secure German assistance. "As the result of tho concentration of an imposing array of artillery and mussed battalions, the Austro German forces have succeeded in penetrating the recently won Italian positions in the Tolmino sector. "The broken, steep, mountainous character of the terrain makes it dif? ficult to hold entrenchments when once certain strategic objectives have been attained. These the Austrians havo apparcn ly captured in this sec? tor, which may result in the aban? donment by the Italians of the Baln sizza plateau, which they won after so valiant a struggle only a few week:: ago. "We must remember, however, that In May, 191?;, the Austrians attempted a similar onsluught. Then they had tine weather, a well chosen terrain, and above all the far superior fight? ing vigor of heir armies to rely up? on. At that time the Austrians won decided successes during the initial dayi of the fighting aid pres.ved on the ed>r?- of the Italian plan, only to be slopped and driven back. "In the Kast German naval oper? ations in the vicinity of the islands at the mouth of the Finnish gulf u?re not ca-ried through, with se i ious losses hoth iu men and mater* lal. The Ruaatan resistance apparently is consolidating. "Tim Germane; wring the lalanda as a base, ha\c now gained foothold on the adjacent mainland. "The first landing on the Warder Peninsula al I he northern end of the <inif of Riga \%.is atieeeaafully carried out, A further attempt ,u another point failed "it is not probable thai the (;<r? UNDUE PROFITS PROHIBITED. RETAIL dealers Ml st be rea? sonable. Profiteering win i?o Made impossible After First of Next Month. Washington, Oct. 29.?Profiteering by retail dealers in foodstuffs will be made impossible after November 1, the food administration announced tonight under a plan to cut off sup? plies to those not satisfied with rea? sonable margins. Manufacturer:*, wholesalers and other handlers of foods, whose businesses will go under license, will not be permitted to sell to distributors- who seek undue pro? fits. "This." the announcement said, "is one of the most sweeping safe? guards against high prices which vi'l be Incorporated in the licensing sys? tem, for which complete rules and regulations will be made known with? in a few days." This plan, food administration of? ficials believe, will give the govern? ment entire control of retail prices. Wholesalers and others who continue to sell to retailers after they are for? bidden to do so, will be denied the right to sell goods under license. Authority for extending control to the retailer is cited in the announce? ment as follows: "The small retailers of food, of j whom there arc several hundred thou? sand in the country, while exempt from the licensing provisions, aro neverthelews subject to other pro? visions of the food control act. Every retailer, as well as other handlers of food, is forbidden under the law to make any unreasonable charge, to hoard, to monopolize, waste or destroy food, or to conspire with any one to restrict the production, distribution, supply or exact excessive prices on any necessities." Federal food administrators in all the States will be directed to keep a watch for violators and send to the food administration the names of re? tailers asking exceasive prices. "The food administration," the an nouncement says, "does not intend to disturb any legitimate operations* and will initiate measures only against hardened and persistent violators of the law. It takes the position that the great majority of food sellers1 are patriotic and honest and are making every effort to comply with good busi? ness principles and sell to the con sumer at the lowest possible prices Such dealers will be in fact protected from illegitimate competition." BRITISH AHE GIVEN PRAISE. By Gen. 'Halg for Recent Signal Vic? tory Won. I British Front in France and Bel? gium, Oct. 29. (By the Associated Press).?The striking victory won by the British on Monday last, just west of Passchendaele, has called out high praiso from Field Marshal Halg. In a tebgram sent on Saturday to Lieu?. Gen. Sir Herbert Plumer, commander of the army wheh made this remark-1 able drive through the marsh . lands. Iths field marshal said: "The success gained by our troops ?yesterday under such condition is de j serving of the highest praise. While .all the troops did well and contrlbut j ed mateilally to the results achieved, the performance of the Canadian di? vision in particular was remarkably fine. The ground gained is of high importance and I congratulate you and all under you on the results of the great efforts made. two billion voted. House of Commons Appioprlates Four Hundred Million Pounds for War. London, Oct. 30.?A vote of credit is before the house of commons, for four hundred million pounds sterling which is expected to last only until the end of the year, when another Note will be brought forward. mans will undertake, for the time be? ing, more than a strengthening of the positions now held in the Riga sector. "The retirement of the advanced enemy lines to a depth of 15 miles In the region of the Dwina is reported. "Engagements of some mganitude are noted along the Roumanian and Macedonian fronts, where artillery' duels- and raids are increasing in fre? quency. These, however, are not of more than local Importance. "In Mesopotamia the British are continuing and consolidating their advance, driving enemy detachments out of important tactical points on the flanks, thus strengthening their whole line of defense. "Humors of an Important move by the Turks, reinforced by certain pick? ed Oilman and Austrian units undet the command of General Falkenhayn, which have repeatedly been reported through the Near Fast, have as yet failed to materialize. "The training of our troops in France progresses- steadily and favor? ably. Certain units have taken then places in the front line trenehes under 10 IuaI battle conditions." EAGER TO 60 TO FRANCE. VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS PREFER TO GO AS FIGHTERS, TOO, INQUIRY DEVELOPS. War Chief Cites the Valor and Pa? triotism of Uncle Sam's National Soldiers. Washing-ton, Oct. 29.? Most of the young men called for service in the national army want to go to France as fighting mon, and they want to get there quickly. Reports from five or six of the big training camps, Secretary Baker an? nounced tonight, show that, when asked what they want to do, the great majority of the selectmen say they don't care what their job Is jusv. so they get to France among the first, and then, when rrlven a choice be? tween the combatant end non-com? batant branches most of them elect to be fighters. The boys at the front, and those getting ready to go there, are all right, is the verdict of the secretary, who recntly visited several training camps iu the East and South. "Our nation need have nothing but mount? ing pride at the spectacle they pre? sent. "In those camps," said Mr. Baker's statement , "each man is asked: "What do you want to do?' I have had reports from five or six of the largest camps, and they show that the majority answered in effect: 'Don't care what I do just so I get to France among the first.' The next question asked them is, 'What branch of the service do you prefer?' Now, one who did not know America would expect them to say, 'Well, I have been working in a store;' 'I have been working on a farm;' 'I have been a mechanic; 'I have been a clerk;' 'I do not know much about guns and cannon, perhaps some one of the non combatam places is th'3 place where I can render the beat service,' bUt what is the fact? "These sons and brothers, drawn out of life by selection?more than one-third have asked to go into the Infantry service. The next choice Iu the light artillery, and next is the heavy artlllory service; the next is the aviation service. "So that what they asked for in a tremendous predominating major? ity of instances Is, not the non-com? bative service, for which their pre? vious experience might well qualify them, but the fighting branch, so that they can take the risk of fighting for their country with tho real weapons of war." One day Inspection at Camp Upton, New York, for preference as to branch of aervice showed: Infantry 772, cavalry 6, field and heavy artil? lery 427, coast artillery 52, engineers 183, signal corps and aviation 123. medical corps 63, quartermaster corps 561, ordnance 17, machine gun 7. trains 4, veterinary service 1. The gathering of information as to the men's preference for service iu but a small part of the work of clas alfylng the national army men thav Is being carried on under the direc? tion of the committee on classifica? tion of personnel In the army. Vir? tually the life history of every man is set down by means of an elaborate card system, the original being sent to the divisional headquarters, where a divisional personnel officer studies the answers given and classifies tho selected men according to his capabil? ities. The copy is kept in the company records. It is within the province of the per? sonnel officer to recommend the trans? fer from one company to another to fill up deficiencies in expert men, such as gunsmiths and the like. MONTREAL EXCHANGE CLOSED Lusineas Suspended to Save Brokers Who Faced Ruin. Montreal, Oct. 30.?Montreal Stock Exchange failed to open. It was unoffi? cially explained that it was closed be? cause a number of brokers faced ruin as they were unable to dispose of heavy holdings on recent unfavorable market. The exchange reverted to the min? imum price system and opened late in the day. Red Cross Entertainment. The entertainment given on Satur? day afternoon by the girls of the seventh grade for the benefit of the Red Cross chapter cently organized In the Girls' High School, was a great success. There was a large crowd of both children and grownups present to show their interest in the work the children are doing. There were several songs and reci? tations and as a grand finale they gave an original arrangement of Rob? in Hood. They made $13, which will be given to the Junior Red Cross Chapter, for the purchase of mate? rials. Washington. Oct. SO.?The govern? ment has advanced ten million mor* lo France. ITALIANS HOLD LINE. official washington hears news fro mV eront with frank bpusr. Many United StatesNArmy Officers Be? lieve That Gcneraiyt'adorna Will be Able to Check Drive Even if Ger? man Claims are Wo|l Founded. Washington. Oct. 29.?Word from Rome today that the Italian line was holding against the terrific assault of the Austro-German forces was re? ceived by official Washington with eager interest and frank relief. Mili? tary authorities here have not dis? guised their keen anxiety as press re? ports showed the Italians wavering backward under the crushing blowa of the enemy. Satisfaction was found also to? night in the announcement from London that steps already had been taken by the French and British to ?support the Italian front. Even accepting the German claims at face value, many officers here be? lieve General Cadorna will be able to check the drive if the morale of his army was not shattered. The an? nouncement from Rome that all ele? ments* of the Italian forces were obey? ing orders of the general staff war viewed as setting at rest, for the time being, at least the gravest fears for the final outcome of the struggle. The announcement was taken to mean that General Cadorna had suc? ceeded in reuniting the forces scat? tered by the first fierce rush of the Austro-Germans and was falling back steadily and behind a well organised defense to the line selected for* a ?tand. In his weekly summary, made pub? lic today, Secretary Baker said Italy was passing through a critical mo? ment. The statement was prepared before the full extent of the attack had developed, but it indicated the opinion in militayr circles here that General Cadorna might find It neces? sary to surrender much of tl\e ground won recently when only the Austrians faced them. The belief prevails here that th underlying motive of the German high command which is directing the attack and furnished the men and guns for the drive is a purely politi? cal one. Army, officers point oir. that it was launched with lavish titage effects, with the Austrian emi?eror announced as in supreme command and with the German General von Mackensen the guiding genius of the movement. Already von Mackensen has swept back the Russian lines, overrun Servia and all but crushed the Roumanian forces. With such an association of digni? taries, leading the heralded on? slaught, some observers assert that anything short of the annihilation of the Italian armies must be regarded as a negative German victory, if not a defeat. Reports from Rome that political party lines are vanishing in the great emergency support the belief that no political upheaval Is to be expected. On the contrary, the view of some diplomats, the assault probably will serve to steel the Italian people to co? operative effort against the enemy such as they have only dreamed of heretofore. Behind the position into which the Italians now have been forced lies the old defense line established manv years ago by the Italian soldiers, the line of *66. It was selected because of natural advantages and along th* line new rail and wagon roads, dis? tributing machinery and all that is necessary for the maintenance of a great army, are said to have been provided in anticipation of a back? ward movement. new german chancellor. Count von Bertling Displaces Dr. Mi? chaelis. Amsterdam, Oct. 30.?Count von Hertllng, the Bavarian prime minister has been appointed German Imper? ial Chancellor. Michaelis was made prime minister of Prutsia. TO INCREASE MEAT SUPPLY. Funncrs of Country Urged to Raise More Hogs. Washington. Oct. 29.?An appeal to the country's farmers to breed hosrs in large numbers so as to increase the meat supply for the American ami allied armies and for home consump? tion was issued today by the depart? ment of agriculture. Attention la called to the fact that hogs can be In creased more quickly than any other kind of live stock and that there is an abundance of feed for the stock. a flood of money. Bunks Offer Nearly Half DHIIon on Certificate?. Washington. Oc:. 30.?Subscriptions reported today to the treasury offer? ings of certificates of Indebtedness ran the total up to four hundred and wenty-nine million and made a ne\v record. ITALIANS HAHL PRESSED. GERMANS CONTINUE DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO CRUSH GEM. CADORNA'S FORCES. Italians Checking I ncroy's Advance Into Plains with ) tcncwed Vigor, Is Statement of Gen.-. Cadorna. London, Oct. 29.- From the head of the Gulf of Trieste, northward along the Isonzo front to beyond Tolmino, and thence weatw .rd through the Carnic Alps region to the Ploecken pass, forming the < astern and north* eastern boundaries of the Austro-Ital? ian war front, the Germans and Aus trc-Hungarlan treods are operating swiftly and strongly against the Ital? ians in an endeavor to crush the forces of Gen. Cadorna. Already the Italians, according' to the German off.c. U communication, are standing befire the town Of Udine, the former headquarters of the Italian army, wb *i haa boon driven on past Cvidale. .n the press west? ward from Gorixi the Germans have captured the tow, of CormonaV ton miles to the sour east of Udine, and the entire Italian, line southward to head of the Adriatic Is reported to be in retreat. 1 '? In addition to the wedgae driven into the Italian front on the east and northeast, the 1 eutonic allies have started a third wedge in the' north through the Plo- ken pass, th elk* hope evidently being to cut oft the retreat of the greater portion Of Gen. Oadot na's armies moving west and south? west. The Italian commander-in-chief, however, report that his men 1 are checking the advance in this region. Evidently the weakness among the Italians has ben entirely overcome, as Cadorna say: that all movements ordered by the general statt now aro being carried out in regular order and thnt the Italians are fulfilling their du .y "by kecpi g in check the ene? my's advance Into the plaina." SENATORS I SC APE TORPEDO. Gunners Open Fire hut Snbeehrtoe Seeks Safety Under Water?Dinner for Congrcftf. len. London, Oct. 29.?The steamer On which were Tnited States Senators John D. Ken?, ick of Wyomihg and William 8. Ker yon of Iowa and Rep? resentatives JoUn J. Rogers of Massa? chusetts and James S. Parker of New York was atta< ked by a Germed' sab mirine off thf coast of Wales Satur? day. The gunners on the steamer opened fire immediately and the submarine submerged t fore hating time to launch a torpedo. At a dinner given at the Athenaeum Club tonight by the lord high chancel? lor, Sir R. B Finlay, in honor of the American aer ators and representa? tives the char cellor confirmed the re? port of the t: tack on the liner.' The visiting congiusmen were entertained at a luncheon in the house of com? mons today y Ian Z. Malcolm, Un? ionist membe of Croyden. Trie other guests includ d Former Premier Bal four, the lo. I mayor of London, Sir Horace Plun ett, Lord Beresford.'fclr Eric Drummed and Col/ John ffhoh anan. Mr. I - ?four delivered a speech of welcome <o the congressmen; Con? gressman Di l replied by saying that while the w it of the Americano was unofficial, tb;> party wae in the war area to lean and hoped to go back to the Unitf. a Stales better equipped to be more helpful to the aJIiesV' SEEADLER CAPTAIN CAPTUJU5D. Count von Leckner Captared Off Fiji Island At er Pursuit In Launch. : , .'-v.! ;---.}Ji... A Pacific J*ort, Oct. 2?.?Count v?m Luckner. co imandcr of the German raider Seeadler, was captured Septem ber 21 off the Fiji Island by Fijian consular constabulary, according - to word brough t by a steamer arriving here today I *om a trans-Pacific port. Five Gern an members of the See-' adler'8 crew were taken with their commander, officers of the arriving vessel said. The Germans were in an armed la inch and were pursued by the constables, who were aboard the Steamer An.ara. This report of thi capture of he Germans confirms n message to this effect received' some time ago from Australia. *H <' Just wha became of others of th<? Seeadler's crew is not known. OhS report was hat they vere at sea in i commandeered vessel. The Seeadler, wrecked on the Mo? de pa Islands in the South Pacific some months ago, sank three Amer? ican vessels during her cruise In the Pacific. Previously, in the Atlsntic the put an and to 16 vessels of va* *ioua typea. News of the destruction of the See idler was announced in Washington' m October 24. PRIVAT! JOHN ALLEN DEAD. Jackson. Miss., Oet 30.?"Private fohn Allen, one of the picturesque Igurea in congress for sixteen years, lied today.