nothing of the abandonment of their ex clusively to secure our existence and to too, would be base ingratitude toward our in the same sense on her allies I am un“ It comes to this. Shall I immediately able to estimate. Doubtless England, give our western enemies an assurance with the assistance of her allies, is emwhich will enable them to prolong the ploying all her efforts to keep Russia war indefinitely without danger of losses harnessed to England's war chariot and to themselves? Shall I tell these en to traverse Russian wishes for the emies: 'Come what may, we shall under speedy restoration of the world's peace. all circumstances be people who re Proffer of Peace to Russia nounce; we shall not touch a hair of your head. But you want our lives—you can, “If, however, Russia wants to prevent without any risks, continue to try your further bloodshed and renounces all violuck?' lent plans of conquest for herself, if she Shall I nail down the German Em wishes to restore durable relations of pire in all directions by a one-sided form peaceful life side by side with us, then ula which only comprises one part of the surely it is a matter of course that we, total peace conditions and which re as we share this wish, will not disturb nounces successes won by the blood of the permanent relationship in the future sons and brothers and leaves all and will not render its development imother matters in suspense? possible by demands which, indeed, do “No, I will not pursue such a policy. not accord with the freedom of nations That would be the basest ingratitude and would deposit in the Russian Nation toward the heroic deeds of our people at the germ of enmity. [Thunderous apthe front and at home. It would per- plause.] manently press down our people, to the “I doubt not that an agreement aimsmallest worker, in their entire con ing exclusively at a mutual understandditions of life. It would be equivalent to ing could be attained which excludes surrendering the future of the Father every thought of oppression and which land. would leave behind no sting and no dis" Or ought I, conversely, to set forth cord. a program of conquest. I decline to do “ Our military position has never been that. [Cries from the Right: “ We are so good since the beginning of the war. not demanding that.”] If it has not The enemy in the west, despite his terbeen demanded, then we are of one rible losses, cannot break through. Our opinion. I also decline to set forth a U-boats are operating with increasing program of conquest. We did not go our : I won't use any fine words forth to war, and we stand in battle about them—the deeds of our U-boat now against almost the whole world, not men speak for themselves. I think even in order to make conquests but ex the neutrals will recognize that. success. “So far as compatible with our duty Dr. Peter Spahn, leader of the Catholic toward our own people, who come first, Centre Party, spoke in behalf of the we take into account the interests of groups just mentioned, approving the the neutral States. The concessions which Chancellor's attitude and declaring his we have made to them are not empty resolute opposition to all enemy interpromises. That is the case in regard to ference with Germany's domestic affairs. our frontier neighbors. Holland and “If the enemy," he said, “is combating Scandinavia, as well as those States Prussian militarism and the Hohenzolwhich, on account of their geographical lerns in the illustrious person of the position, are especially greatly exposed Emperor, it will only result in bringing to enemy pressure. I am thinking in his Majesty closer to the hearts of the this connection especially of Spain, German people.” which, loyal to her noble traditions, is A Republic Suggested endeavoring under great difficulties to preserve her independent policy of neu Georg Ledebour, an Independent Sotrality. We thankfully recognize this cialist, created a distinct stir by an alluattitude and have only one wish-that sion to a republic in his address followthe Spanish people reap the reward of ing the Chancellor. He said: their strong, independent policy by fur The Chancellor doubtless desires anther developing their power. nexations both in the east and west. “ Thus, time is on our side. With full With the exception of extravagant visconfidence we can trust that we are ap ionaries, nobody believes that Germany proaching a satisfactory end. Then the can win a war of subjugation. The Rustime will come when we can negotiate sian Socialists have made an offer which with our enemies about our war aims, opens up the possibility of peace. This regarding which I am in full harmony is what the Chancellor forgets. It is with the supreme army command. Then true that a separate peace with Russia we will attain a peace which will bring cannot be achieved, but the Russian Govus liberty to rebuild what the war has ernment can convert the Entente, and in destroyed in the unhampered develop this direction we ought to assist it. ment of our strength, so that from all “ Herr Scheidemann must take up the the blood and all the sacrifices an em cudgels against the Government if he pire, a people will rise again strong, in does not want strong words, which do not dependent, and unthreatened by its en shrink even from the announcement of a emies, a bulwark of peace and labor.” revolution, to be followed by deeds. We A motion to end the debate was lost, are convinced that events must happen in after which the middle-of-the-road Germany as they have happened in Rusparties, made up of the Centrists, Na sia. That is what those in power are tional Liberals, Progressive People's working for. We must soon introduce a Party and German fraction presented a republic in Germany, and we shall projoint declaration approving the Chan pose that the Constitution Committee cellor's attitude. take preparatory steps in that direction." Progress of the War Recording Campaigns on All Fronts and Collateral Events From April 19 Up to and Including May 18, 1917 was UNITED STATES A British Commission headed by Lord Bal four and a French Commission headed by René Viviani conferred with American officials in Washington on the conduct of the war. Heavy loans, authorized by the Bond bill, were made to the Allies. Military censorship was established over ca bles, telegraph lines, and telephone lines. On May 16 announcement was made that a squadron of American torpedo boats, under the command of Rear Admiral Sims, had safely crossed the Atlantic and was aiding the British fleet in patrolling the seas. The first hospital unit authorized by the United States Government arrived in Eng land May 18. The Army Conscription bill was passed by Congress and signed by President Wilson May 18. The President issued a proclamation fixing June 5 as the day for the registration of men between the ages of 21 and 30. Announcement was made that an expeditionary force of regular troops under Major Gen. Pershing would be sent to France at the earliest possible moment. SUBMARINE BLOCKADE Dr. Karl Helfferich informed the Reichstag that more than 1,600,000 tons of shipping had been sunk by the Germans in Feb ruary and March. The British official announcement for the week ended April 29 showed that thirtyeight merchant ships of over 1,600 tons each had been sunk. The report for the week ended May 9 showed sixty-two vessels lost, but of smaller tonnage than in the three weeks preceding. In the week ended May 16 twenty-six vessels, eighteen of over 1,600 tons, were lost. Seventyfive Norwegian ships were sunk during April and more than 100 sailors lost their lives. Captain Persius estimated that the total tonnage of merchant craft destroyed by the Germans from the beginning of the war up to April 1 was 6,641,000. The Belgian relief ship Kongsli was sunk, either by a mine or a torpedo. Two British hospital ships, the Donegal and the Lanfranc, were sunk without warning Germain prisoners. Other British losses included the troopship Ballarat, the freighter Harpagus, and the transport Cameronia, on which 140 lives were lost. Ninety lives were lost when the African steamer Abosso torpedoed on April 24. The list of American ships sunk included the schooners Woodward Abraham and Percy Birdsall, the oil tanker Vacuum, on which seventeen lives were lost; the unarmed steamer Hilonian, on which four persons were lost, and the Rockingham, with two persons killed. Germany disclaimed the ting of the American tank steamer Healdton. The Dutch fishing fleet was forced to sus pend operations because of the constant torpedoing of vessels and because of Germany's failure to provide coal as she promised. Germany, in reprisal, announced that the Relief Commission would not be allowed to import fish for the popu lation of Belgium and Northern France. Argentina sent an ultimatum to Germany de manding satisfaction for the sinking of the sailing ship Monte Protegido. Germany apologized and offered an indem nity. Guatemala severed diplomatic relations with Germany. The President of Haiti sent a message to Congress demanding a declaration of war against Germany. The Congress, acting in accordance with the report of a special commission, decided against war, but a strong protest was sent to Germany against the drowning of five Haitian citi. zens on the French steamship Montreal, with the announcement that diploinaiic relations would be severed unless repara tion was made. Turkey severed diplomatic relations with the United States. The Chinese House of Representatives re fused to pass a resolution declaring war on Germany. Liberia severed diplomatic relations with Germany. CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN EUROPE April 28-Increased activity of Russian guns near Lutsk and the Zlota Lipa, Mara yuvka, and Putna Rivers. May 5–Russian fire increases from Kovel to Stanislau. May 6-German offensive beaten back near Zolotschevsk. May 18-Russians beat back German attacks in the region of Shelvov. CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN EUROPE April 19-French occupy Aizy, Jouy, Laf faux, and Fort de Condé, in the Vailly capture fortified works at Roeux and Cavalry Farm; French in Verdun region penetrate German line north of Bezon vaux. May 13–British advance their outposts north of Bullecourt and take part of Roeux Village. May 11-British capture the whole of Roeux and advance toward Oppy. May 15—Germans launch four massed at tacks on new British positions in Bullecourt and penetrate first French line southwest of Filaine. May 16-British forced back temporarily at Roeux, but retake all positions; Germans strike hard northeast of Soissons, but are driven back by French counterattacks. May 17-British complete the capture of Bullecourt; French win ground east of Craonne and repulse attacks in Laffaux district; many villages near St. Quentin afire. May 18–Germans repulsed by French with grenades near Craonne; French penetrate German lines in Lorraine near Petoncourt. BALKAN CAMPAIGN April 20—French recapture trenches lost April 18 near Trsvena Stena. April 22–Fighting renewed in the bend of the Cerna River and near Lake Doiran. April 23—Russians drive Teutons from ad vanced posts in Rumania and re-establish first lines. April 26—British take Bulgar trenches west of Lake Doiran on a 1,000-meter front. May 5-French and Venizelist troops in Macedonia occupy enemy positions in the region of Jumnica. May 9-Russian troops on the Rumanian front northwest of Senne break through Teuton positions and advance upon Jenawer. May 10—British take two miles of Bulgar trenches. May 12–Germans and Bulgarians gain a foothold on Srka di Legen, west of the Vardar heights; Venizelos troops carry an enemy work near Lymnitsa. May 16—British troops in Macedonia capture Kjupri, on the Struma front, and advance trenches on a wide front southwest of Ernekeoi. ITALIAN CAMPAIGN May 13-Italians begin terrific bombardment to destroy Austrian defenses on the Carso front. May 15-Italians take the offensive on the Isonzo front and make progress in the Vertobizza. passage of the Isonzo River, capturing Bombrez, Zagora, 1 } district, take several heights east of Auberive. Germans to heights dominated by Mal- between Condé and Soupir. April 21-French push forward toward ridge topped by the Chemin des Dames and make progress south of Juvincourt; British capture Gonnelieu, drawing their lines closer around Havrincourt Wood. April 22-British close in on Havrincourt Wood and take part of Trescault; Ger- Mont Haut. Belgium. between Monchy and the Sensée River ; St. Quentin, and extend their lines from Trescault to brai Road. April 26-French beat off German counter attacks near the Chemin des Dames. April 28—British begin new attack north of the Scarpe, capture German positions on a two-mile front north and south of Arleux, push forward northeast of Gravelle, and gain ground north of Monchy. April 29—British capture German trenches south of Oppy on a front of half a mile. April 30-French make new attack' in Cham pagne and capture trenches on both sides of Mont Carnillet. May 2-French in Champagne push forward south of Beire. May :3-British penetrate the Hindenburg line west of Queant, take Fresnoy, and part of Bullecourt. May 4-French capture Craonne and German first line trenches on a front of two and a half miles northwest of Rheims. May 5-French carry a salient in the Hin denburg line on both sides of the Soissons-Laon Road, on a front of nearly four miles, clear Craonne Plateau from east of Cerny-en-Laonnais to a point east of Craonne, and push forward to the hills dominating the valley of the Aillette River. May 6-French clear all but a small section of the Chemin des Dames ; British repulse strong German counterattacks on their new positions near Bullecourt. May 8-Germans retake Fresnoy. May 9- British regain part of the ground lost at Fresnoy and repel attacks near Gavrelle; French capture first line of German trenches northeast of Chevreux and repulse attacks on the plateau of Chemin des Dames. May 11-Allies repulse German attacks against Lens and in the Cerny section. May 12-British troops enter Bullecourt and and Zagomila. take Mount Kuk; right wing takes Duino, a a May 18—British War Office announces that British heavy artillery batteries are COoperating with the Italians against the Austrians on the Julian front. ASIA MINOR April 20—British force passage of the Shatt-el-Adhem and rout Turkish forces covering the Istabulat station. April 23—Turks evacuate Istabulat. April 24–British occupy Samara station. April 30_Turks intrench fifteen miles north of Samara. May 2-Russians evacuate Mush. May 12—Russians force their way across the Diala River at two points northwest of AERIAL RECORD British airplanes were brought down in loss of only seventy-four of their own. In three days, April 23 to April 25, the Allies reported fifty-five German machines brought down and thirty-nine of their own lost. From May 1 to May 7 seventy-six German airplanes were brought down, according to a French report. A compilation from official sources showed 717 machines lost in April-369 German, 201 French and Belgian, and 147 British. The Germans bombarded Dunkirk, Nancy, and Belfort. In response for the bombardment of Châlons and Epernay by the Germans, French aviators bombarded Treves, on the Saare River. The British steamer Gena was torpedoed and sunk by a German seaplane off the coast of Suffolk. German airplanes dropped bombs northeast of London on May 7, killing one person and injuring two. The Zeppelin L-22 was brought down in the North Sea by a British naval battleplane. British aviators aided the attacking British monitors in raid off Zeebrugge and photographed the entire Belgian coast, mapping the German defenses. NAVAL RECORD the Black Sea. coast of England. On April 21 two German destroyers were sunk near Dover. Berlin reported a British outpost vessel destroyed and a scouting ship torpedoed. On April 27 German destroyers bombarded Ramsgate, but were driven off by land batteries after an attack in which a man and a woman were killed. British light cruisers and destroyers chased eleven German destroyers between the English and the Dutch coasts. One German tor pedo boat was damaged. German warships bombarded Calais, killing and wounding civilians. A French de stroyer was sunk in a raid on Dunkirk. A British torpedo-boat destroyer hit a mine May 4. One officer and sixty-one me were lost. A British mine sweeper was torpedoed and sunk May 5, with the loss of two officers and twenty men. British warships, aided by an air fleet, bom barded Zeebrugge on May 12, destroying two submarine sheds and killing sixty-. three persons. The armed American steamer Mongolia fired on a German submarine in British waters on April 19 and damaged it. American warships began operations in the North Sea, and Japanese warships arrived at Marseilles to combat submarines oft the coast of France. Fourteen British mine sweepers were sunk, the British light cruiser Dartmouth was RUSSIA Soldiers' Delegates adopted a vote of con- MISCELLANEOUS cities in Germany because of food scarcity. the other Entente Allies. Alexander Zaimis. Chief of the French armies operating on the French front. Marquis Manuel Garcia Prieto as Premier. trality would be maintained. respect to the war between the United States and Germany. Dr. Lauro Muller resigned as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Nilo Pecanha was appointed to succeed him. a |