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in full swing. The calm before the storm begins to become uncanny. It is as if again and again the new armor is tested before the swords are once more drawn, this time for the final decision.

Retirement in France

The retirement of the German troops in the Ancre and Somme regions on the west front had begun in the beginning of February with the evacuation of Grandcourt, south of the Ancre. Through the events of March 16, 17, and 18 not only the Gommecourt-Transloy front but also the lines north and south of the Somme were pushed ahead by the British for a considerable distance.

In a British advance on a width of sixty-seven kilometers from north to south, Bapaume and Péronne were taken and north and south of the Ancre more than sixty villages were occupied. During the twenty-four hours preceding this writing the British pushed their extreme southern front forward an additional fifteen kilometers by occupying the triangle Péronne-Chaulnes-Nesle.

Simultaneously, a German retirement has set in on the line Roye-Noyon, which adjoins the Somme front. The French advanced on a front of thirty kilometers between the Avre and the Oise, and have occupied both Roye and Noyon as well as the roads connecting these two points. North of the Ancre front the Germans are withdrawing as far north as Arras.

Along the whole front of retirement only German rearguards were in fighting contact with the Franco-British forces. Berlin reports that these troops inflicted heavy losses upon the advancing foe.

Even the English military experts describe the German withdrawal as a longprepared strategic chess move. It is to be expected that the Germans will fall back upon the line Soissons-Lille. The entire systematically executed movement points to the strong probability that the Germans will remain on the defensive in the west.

The Mystery at Petrograd

The military outlook on the east front, where the great decision also is expected

to be fought for, is veiled by the historic event of the Russian revolution.

Who was it that in the night of March 11 to 12 gave orders to the garrison of Petrograd to fraternize with the revolutionists? What happened in the great Russian Army Headquarters during the absence of Czar Nicholas immediately after the outbreak of the revolution?

These two questions comprise the military considerations. They cast significant light upon the question as to what influence the upheaval in Russia will have upon the development of the war situation. Efforts are made today to make the world believe that the soldiery, out of softness of heart, sympathized with the starving populace. The streets of Petrograd have seen many curious things, but such sympathy-from that quarter-never.

Who led the garrison on the side of the rebels? In addition to the political revolution against Czardom there must have been a military conspiracy against the person of the Czar, and this conspiracy must have decisive influence upon the outcome of the war.

The Czar was at the front, about to consult with his Generals at army headquarters. There, at headquarters, and not in the streets of Petrograd, was the die cast, and the only question is whether the military conspiracy included the army. in the field. If this is the case, then the future outlook as viewed in connection with the garrisons at home offers the following main points:

1. The war party takes over full control of the conduct of military operations. 2. It is forced to appeal once more to the fortunes of arms.

3. In this event a new great offensive on the east front is to be expected in the near future.

The military revolution must bring victory, and the political revolution must still the hunger of the masses. The development of the situation at home and at the front will depend upon the question whether the new power will be able to sharpen the weapons and satisfy the stomachs.

Recording Campaigns on All Fronts and Collateral Events
From February 18, Up to and Including March 18, 1917

GERMAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS
Germany released the Yarrowdale prisoners

and five American Consuls that were de-
tained after Ambassador Gerard left the
country.

A note from the German Foreign Secretary,
Dr. Zimmermann, to the German Minister
in Mexico, dated Jan. 19, contained a pro-
posal for an alliance between Germany,
Mexico, and Japan to make war on the
United States if the United States should
not remain neutral. The Governments of
Japan and Mexico formally denied ever
having received the note. Its authenticity
was admitted by Dr. Zimmermann.
President Wilson addressed Congress on Feb.
26, and asked for authority to supply
armament to American merchant ships
and to employ any other instrumentality
that might be needed to protect American
ships and people in their legitimate pur-
suit on the sea. He also asked for a
sufficient credit to enable him to provide
adequate means of protection. The armed
neutrality bill was introduced at once.
It was passed by the House, but the Sen-
ate, through the filibustering of eleven
Senators, failed to reach a vote before
the Congress expired March 4. President
Wilson on March 9 announced his decision
to arm American ships, and called Con-
gress in extra session for April 16.
Several American lives were lost during the
month as a result of Germany's submarine
campaign. Robert Allen Haden, a Presby-
terian missionary, was drowned when the
French steamer Athos, used as a troop-
ship, was sunk. Two Americans were re-
ported lost on the British bark Galgorm
Castle. The Cunard liner Laconia was
sunk Feb. 25, and two American women,
Mrs. Mary Hoy and her daughter, perished
in an open boat. On March 14 the Amer-
ican steamship Algonquin with Americans
in her crew was attacked and sunk with-
out warning. All on board escaped in
lifeboats. The sinking of three American
ships, the City of Memphis, the Illinois,
and the Vigilancia, was reported on March
18. Fifteen men perished.

SUBMARINE BLOCKADE

The British Government announced that summaries of shipping losses from submarines would be published weekly instead of daily. The report of the Board of Trade issued March 14 announced that from Feb. 1 to March 11 three American ships, fifty-one vessels belonging to other neutral nations, and 156 British ships had been sunk. The losses of other belligerent

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nations were reported as ' indefinite." This list included the French troopship Athos, Belgian relief ships Storstad and Lars Fostenes, and the Cunard liner Laconia. The American ship Algonquin was sunk March 14 and three other American ships were reported sunk March 18. Holland's indignation at the sinking of seven Dutch food ships that had sailed under partial guarantee of safety led Germany to offer to replace them with German freighters on condition that Holland purchase the German vessels at the close of the war. Later Germany withdrew this offer, fearing that England would seize the ships.

The Allies presented a memorandum to the
Chinese Government expressing sympathy
with the attitude that China had taken
in regard to Germany's blockade and
promising favorable consideration of the
question of suspension during the war
of Boxer indemnity payments and the
revision of the tariff in the event of
China's effectively severing relations
with Germany and Austria. On March 4
the Chinese Cabinet voted to break rela-
tions, but President Li Yuan-Hung re-
fused to approve the action, saying that
the sole power rested with him, and
Premier Chi-Jui and several members of
the Cabinet resigned. On March 7 the
President asked the Premier to return and
offered to ratify the Cabinet's proposal.
The Senate, on March 12, approved the
severance of relations, and on March 14
the break was announced, the German
Ambassador and Consuls were handed
their passports, and German-owned ships
in the Harbor of Shanghai were seized.
CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN EUROPE
Feb. 20-Russians check German raid in the
region of Slaventine, northwest of Pod-
gaste.

Feb. 27-Germans make gas attacks on the
Russians in the Smorgon region.
March 3-Germans penetrate Russian lines
west of Lutsk on a wide front.
March 12-Russians repel gas attacks south-
west of Lakparotch in the Zanarotch-
Stahootsy sector and in the region of
Velitzk, southeast of Kovel.

BALKAN CAMPAIGN

Feb. 22-Allies establish contact between French and Italian troops and clear the enemy forces from the road between Goritza in Southern Albania and Leskovie; postal communication between Athens and the Central Powers cut; Teutons on the

Rumanian front repulsed Watra.

March 2-Germans recapture hill near Rekoza north of the River Zaval.

near Dorna March 13-Germans abandon their main defensive system west of Bapaume on a front of three and a half miles; British occupy Grevillers and Loupart Wood. March 14-British advance on the Ancre and reach the defenses before Bapaume; French capture Romainville Farm, close to St. Mihiel.

March 13-Vienna War Office reports skirmishes northeast of Berat in Albania, revealing the presence there of Italian troops.

March 17-British occupy the railroad station at Poroy east of Doiran Lake. CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN EUROPE Feb. 19-Artillery active on both banks of the Meuse; patrol encounters in Alsace. Feb. 20-British fail in attack on German lines near Messines, Belgium; Germans capture British point of support near Le Transloy.

Feb. 21-British penetrate German front near Ypres and Armentières and do great damage.

Feb. 23-British capture German trench north of Guedecourt and advance near Petit Miraumont.

Feb. 24-British enter Petit Miraumont and gain on a mile and a half front north of the river.

Feb. 25-British occupy Serre, Miraumont, Petit Miraumont, and Pys.

Feb. 26-British continue advance along the Ancre on a front of eleven miles; Germans abandon Warlencourt-Eaucourt and the Butte de Warlencourt.

Feb. 27-British occupy Ligny and capture the village of Le Barque. Feb. 28-British occupy Gommecourt and capture Thilloy and Pulsieux-au-Mont. March 1-British advance 600 yards north of Miraumont on a front of a mile and a half.

March 2-Germans make a stand on a new line from Essarts through Achiet-le-Petit to about 1,000 yards southeast of Bapaume; British report further progress north of Warlencourt-Eaucourt and northwest of

Puisieux.

March 3-British advance on five-mile front northwest of Bapaume; General Haig takes over French line as far south as the Avre River.

March 4-British again advance west of Ba

paume and capture German front and support lines east of Bouchavesnes. March 5-Germans launch big attack at Verdun, gaining at some points. March 6-French hold recaptured trenches north of Caurières Wood and Douaumont in the face of strong German attacks. March 7-French in Champagne capture salient between Butte de Mesnil and Maison de Champagne.

March 10-British advance more than three miles in the Ancre region and capture Irles; French repulse violent German assaults in the Champagne.

March 12-French in Champagne recapture all trenches of Hill 185 west of Maison de Champagne Farm; British gain slightly north of Bouchavesnes.

March 15-British capture two and a half miles of German trenches between Bapaume and Péronne; French gain near Roye; Germans capture a position south of Cumières.

March 16-British occupy almost all of St. Pierre Vaast Wood; French advance on both sides of the Avre from Andechy to south of Lassigny. March 17-British take Bapaume; French capture Roye and Lassigny and advance five miles, occupying fortified line between the Avre and the Oise Rivers. March 18-Germans retire on 85-mile line in France, abandoning Péronne, Chaulnes, Nesle, and Noyon; line of Allies' advance extends from Arras to Soissons, to a depth of twelve miles; sixty villages recaptured; Germans on the Meuse fail in attack on Chambrettes Farm.

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN

Feb. 27-Italians enter Austrian trenches on the northern slopes of San Marco. March 5-Italians successfully storm Austrian positions in the upper part of the Spellegrino Valley in the Avisio district. March 12-Italians repulse Austrian attacks northeast of Lenzumo in the Trentino and against the southern slopes of Cima di Bocche in the Travignolo Valley.

ASIA MINOR

Feb. 23-British in the Tigris region capture two lines of trenches near Sannaiyat. Feb. 25-British cross the Tigris at the Shumran bend in the rear of Kut-el-Amara. Feb. 26-British take Kut-el-Amara. Feb. 28-British engage Turks on three sides at a point on the left bank of the Tigris over thirty miles northwest of Kut. March 3-Russians recapture Hamadan in Persia and advance toward Bagdad as British approach the city from the south. March 4-Russians advance in the Bijar region in Persia and occupy Khanikali. March 7-Advance guards of the British Army approach Jerusalem; Russians in Persia seize Asadabad summit.

March 8-British advance to within eight miles of Bagdad, find Ctesiphon evacuated; Russians in Persia occupy Kangaver. March 9-Two Bedouin tribes join the British, who reach the outskirts of Bagdad; Russians reach Sakkiz, twenty-five miles from the Mesopotamian border. March 10-British troops engage the Turks on the Diala River line, six miles below Bagdad; Russians capture the town of Senne in Western Persia.

March 11-British occupy Bagdad; Russians

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munitions factories and riots occurred in the streets of Petrograd because of a shortage of food. These disturbances were quelled, but only temporarily. On March 12 the Czar issued imperial ukases suspending the sittings of the Duma and the Council of the Empire. The Duma opposed the order and continued its sittings. A three days' revolt followed, which resulted in the abdication of the Czar on March 15 and the establishment of a Liberal Ministry headed by Prince Lvoff. The Czar's younger brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch, was named as regent. He also abdicated, and plans have been made for the convocation of a constituent assembly and full political amnesty. The new Foreign Minister, Paul Milukoff, in a message to Russian diplomats abroad, announced that Russia would fight with the Allies until the end of the war.

MISCELLANEOUS

The United States Government received from Austria-Hungary a reply to a note inquiring concerning Austria's attitude toward the renewal of ruthless submarine warfare. Austria defended the barred zone and said that safety could not be guaranteed to neutrals in enemy vessels. Austria also sent a message to the United States denying that the schooner Lyman M. Law was torpedoed by an Austrian submarine.

The entire Briand Ministry resigned in France, following the resignation of General Lyautey as Minister of War after a stormy debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the desirability of discussing the aviation service. President Poincaré asked M. Ribot to form a new Cabinet, after M. Deschanel had refused to undertake the task.

CURRENT HISTORY CHRONICLED

THE PRESIDENT'S INAUGURATION

PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON

took the oath of office for his second term at the National Capitol at noon March 5, 1917, in the presence of 50,000 people. He had previously gone through the formality of taking the oath at noon on Sunday, March 4. The parade was not as long as usual, consisting of about 20,000 soldiers and sailors. There was no inauguration ball, and a general air of solemnity marked the whole occasion on account of the critical international situation. The President was very care

fully guarded, but no untoward incident marred the occasion. The inaugural address was short and referred chiefly to international affairs. Striking portions of the address follow:

We stand firm in armed neutrality, since it seems that in no other way we can demonstrate what it is we insist upon and cannot forego. We may even be drawn on, by circumstances, not by our own purpose or desire, to a more active assertion of our rights as we see them and a more immediate association with the great struggle itself.

We are provincials no longer. The tragical events of the thirty months of vital turmoil through which we have just passed

have made us citizens of the world. There can be no turning back. Our own fortunes as a nation are involved, whether we would have it so or not.

And yet we are not the less Americans on that account. We shall be the more American if we but remain true to the principles in which we have been bred. They are not the principles of a province or of a single continent. We have known and boasted all along that they were the principles of a liberated mankind. These, therefore, are the things we shall stand for, whether in war or in peace:

That all nations are equally interested in the peace of the world and in the political stability of free peoples, and equally responsible for their maintenance.

That the essential principle of peace is the actual equality of nations in all matters of right or privilege.

That peace cannot securely or justly rest upon an armed balance of power.

That Governments derive all their just powers from the consent of the governed and that no other powers should be supported by the common thought, purpose, or power of the family of nations.

That the seas should be equally free and safe for the use of all peoples, under rules set up by common agreement and consent, and that, so far as practicable, they should be accessible to all upon equal terms.

That national armaments should be limited to the necessities of national order and domestic safety.

That the community of interest and of power upon which peace must henceforth depend imposes upon each nation the duty of seeing to it that all influences proceeding from its own citizens meant to encourage or assist revolution in other States should be sternly and effectually suppressed and prevented.

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CHINA BREAKS WITH GERMANY

German

N March 14 Paul Reinsch, American Minister at Peking, reported to the State Department at Washington that China had severed diplomatic relations with Germany and that the envoy had been handed his passports. Chinese feeling against Germany dates from 1897, when, because of the murder of two German missionaries, Germany seized the east coast of the province of Shan-tung, an area of about 200 square miles; this animosity was greatly increased by the conduct of German troops during the Boxer expedition of 1900. Immediately on breaking off diplomatic relations with Germany, China seized six

German ships in Chinese ports, following the precedent of Portugal.

The history of the break is as follows: On March 4 the Chinese Cabinet definitely voted to sever relations, but President Li Yuan-Hung refused to act, on the ground that the power to break relations was his alone. The Cabinet resigned and withdrew to Tien-tsin, returning only when the President yielded. On March 10 the President and his Cabinet appeared before the House of Parliament and asked approval of a severance of relations, which was granted by a vote of 431 to 87. The Chinese Senate later concurred. Definite invita-, tions to China to join the Entente have been made but have not yet been acted

on.

The immediate effect of China's severence of relations will probably be a greatly increased output of munitions for Russia. China is Japan's source of iron and has provided most of the raw material for Russian munitions made in Japan. China has further sent over 100,000 workmen to Russia and France, to work in munition factories, and the torpedoing of liners carrying these is the immediate cause of the break.

ΑΝ

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BETHMANN'S LIBERAL SPEECH

N episode full of profound significance occurred in the Prussian Diet on March 14, when the German Chancellor, von Bethmann Hollweg, announced in the course of debate his firm adherence to a progressive political faith and his firm faith in a broader democracy after the war. His words were as follows:

After the war we shall be confronted with the most gigantic tasks that ever confronted a nation. They will be so gigantic that the entire people will have to work to solve them. A strong foreign policy will be necessary, for we shall be surrounded by enemies whom we shall not meet with loud words, but with the internal strength of the nation. We can only pursue such a policy if the patriotism which during the war has developed to such a marvelous reality is maintained and strengthened.

Woe to the statesman who does not recogrize the signs of the times and who, after this catastrophe, the like of which the world has never seen, believes that he can take up

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