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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance, 1917-03-22, Page 7FRENCH FORCES ADVANCED ALONG FROM% OF 37 MILES In Some Sections the Ground Was Taken to Depth of 121/2 Miles. Important Fortified Lines, Held Over Two Years, Given Up By Foe* Paris, larch 18.--lareneh treoPs are pursuing the retreating Germans be twee the Avre and the Aisne en a roxt of 37 miles. On Saturday the French defeated the euenay rearguards and occupied the entire front between Andechy and the Oise, comprisin powerfully fortifieet limes which the Germans had held ger More than two Year. Oa Sunday Freaeh cavalry en. tered Neste. In the direction of Ham, on the Somme River, the French ter- werd Movement reached a depth of attput twelve and a half miles, North et Salmons the French have occupied Crotty, and in the Atone dN- trict have taken the villages of Carle - peat, Megsant and Nouvron Vtngre, French cavalry have entered Nom. The 17th of ,March will remain among the most meraorable days of the war in the opinion of the French, who regard the success on the front from the Ancre to the Oise as the greatest since the Battle of the Marne, It is considered not merely a local suecess, but a veritable strategie retreat forced upon the Germans, the full consequence of which probably -will not be revealed for several days. The feet that the French at eertain Pants went beyond the road from Roye to Noyon indicates that the German retreat will not end theta, The Germans are still at Noyoll," a favorite phrase of the Parliament- .-ary opponent e of the Government who sought to impress upon it the fact that the Germans were only 67 miles from Paris, will now have to be abandoned, it is Loped, as the town is expected soon to be in the hands of the French. It would.be difficult to sae, milititrY critics assert, where the Germans pro- pose to establish a stable defence, The retreat of modern armies, encumbered with great supplies of material, tau be effected only with extreme slowness, welch permits an active and resolute ativergary to maintain contact unceas- ingly. Thie is the first occasion sine the armies have been established on the western front that the French villages have been evacuated by the Germans and occupied by the French and Eng- lish. Bapaume, Roye, Lassigny, and a large number of villages in Picardy and Artois, which fox' two years have not, seen French uniforms, now tan ..witness the tricolor of their country and the fiagof their allies. The victorious ently of the Fromm Into Roye, on the heels of the retiring Germaus was marked by stirring in- eidents in which 800 liberated citi- zens participated, regardless of dan- ger. The inhabitants threw them. etelves in front of the arriving French Boldiers, all shouting as they did so "Vive la Frame!" Women hugged them, while old people grasped Melt hands. Tears -were in the eyes of all, when suddenly a twelve -year-old boy began singing the "Marseillaiser which was taken up instantly by the population. Onrushing waves of sol- diers Joined in, and it was to strains a the national anthera that the French outposts left Roye, pressing the re- treating Germans, The general feeling is that the ad. versary has suffered a severe blow, which may have still greater tense. quences. The French and British ad- vanee was made over ground measur- ing approximately 80 kilometres (about 53 miles), and may be ex. tended at some points where artillery seats have been exeeedingly intense In the last few days, THE OFFICIAL REPORTS. Paris, March 18.—The official story of the French advance is told in the official reports: Saturtley morning's report, chronieline 'efie beginnieg ot the offensive, stated that north of the Avre and between the Avre and the Oise Prench detathments continued to exert vigorous preeettre on the enemy and during the night extended their progress on a front of 20 kilometres, The text of Saturday night's state - Inane read: "Along the whole froht between Andechy and the Oise (about 15 miles) the enemy, declining battle, abandoned under the pressure of our troops pow - 0111111y and skilfully fortified lino, whieh they had held for more than Iwo years. "Today our 'advanee mOvement coit. Untied rapidly, Our advanee guard entered Roye, pursuing an enemy 'con- tingent, which blew up Crossings and streets le the interior sada. About 800 a the civil population, whom the Gormens did not have time to remove, greeted our soldiers with enthusiasm. "North and north -eat of Lassigny, wbich we likeeviee occupied, we have rattled at several points, and even ad. vanced beyond the road between Roye and Noyon. In the eottree of Our put'. suit we made prisonerie Who have net yet been counted." Sunday afternooa's War lattice re. port read: "Between the A-vre and the Oise one troops Made important progrese dur- ing the night. All the ground between Our 4:i1d lines and the Roye-Noyen road, from Damery as far as the Lagny height, is now in our hands, There were rather spirited eitgagernente 'with portiens eif the efterny rearguardt wbieb, terminated to Our adattatage and did not iinpede our progress, The pursuit tontinuee north of the Noyon rated." Sunday night's report read: "Prom the Avre to the Aisne ob front of more than sixty kilometres the advante of our troops aontinued duriag the etairee of the day. North of the Avre our eavalry this morning enteree Neale arid we immediately seta out patrols in the direetion of the 90111Me There were several engage. merle; with entity rear guard detach. men% whet resisted feebly, The In- habitants or Neste neelaimee our troops-, "North-east of LaselgtlY we have tip to the present advanted more than twenty kilometres in the direetion of ilam. -Further to the !tenth our light eavalry detachmente, ,moving along the valley of the Oise, oecupled Noyon about ten o'clock this moruing. "Between the Oise and Soissons (Aisne seetor) the entire Gentian Drat line, as well as the villages of Carle. Vont, M•orsam and Nottvran Vinare fell into our halide. We have gained a toot-hol on the northern plateau o Soissons and occupied Crouy." ALLIED GAINS IN NUTSHELL. The latest French and British gains have been made altogether on a front or a hundred miles or raore and the important towns or Bapaume, Peroune and Noyon, lying almost in a straight line running north and south, are in the hands of the Entente allies, Be- tween these, lying somewhat to the westward, Roye, Neste, and Chituines have beim taken. The French are moving in the direction of Hatn, on the Somme River, while the British are continuing their advanee eastward front both Bapaume and Peronne, The cavalry of both British and French is nate- active. Strong cavalry squadrons have been in Motion for several days past and have taken a prominent part in the operations, which probably accounts for the rapid- ity of the Anglo-French advance. Although there is no actual know- ledge of the German plan of retreat, it is presumed in certala quarters that if the pressure of the French and British keeps up they will retire to the powerful line running from Lille to Leon, and including the strongly - defensive positions at Gambrel and St. Quentin, These are all fortified cities, Latin being a fortress of the tint class, awl the scene of many bat- tles in previous wars. Even at the present rate of progress it would be several days prooably before the forces of the allies would confront these defen.ces. In their latest operations the Brit - Isla entered the German positions along a front or 45 miles to a depth of several miles up to 10 miles in some places, and in addition to oc- cupying Bapaume, Nee's, Chaulnes and Peroune, took possession of more than 60 villages. The French gains were made in two distinct sectors, along a front of about 37 miles between the Avre and the Aisne, Their most important oat,' ture was the town of Noyon, a stra- tegic point, which lies almost due south of Peronne. North of Soiesons, which lies less than 20 miles to the south-west of Leon, they occupied the village of Crouy, Other village were taken with the object of greatly strengthening- their new positions, It is to be noted that the Britisli official communitation says: "We have occupied Nesie" and the Preneb communitation says: "Our cavalry this morning entered Neste." While Neale is apparently on the Preach line, the British have taken the town of Chaulnes, and it is possible that forees from both armies entered tense), which lies only a few miles to Ilia south-east of Chauthes. 4• OTTOMANS IN THREE ZONES WERE ROUTED In Pull Flight in Mesopo- tamia 75 Miles Northwest of Bagdad. RUSS VICTORIES Van, in Armenia, Captured, and Pursuit of Turks in Persia Goes On. Leaden, March 18,—The Turks have been. defeated in three war theatre. In Turkish Armenia, the Russians have captured Van, according to et Reuter switch from Petrograd. The British army in Mesopotamia has but the Turks to rout, it is an- neunced officially, On Friday after- noon the Turks were In full flight to - Wards Samara, 75 miles northwest Of despatch from Bagdad. The Britieh statement follows: "In the fighting on Wednesday on the right bank of the Tigris, as already reported, the Turkish rearguard was driven from a suceessioij ef ridgee to a strong position coveting the railway station at ateshadie, Our troopa con- tinued to attack the position during the night, end finally captured it at 3 deleck on Thursday morning. The enemy is retiring bathe'. ""rhe retreat coutillued during Thursday, and on Friday afternoon the ieriatele enemy fore,, masisting of reennitets of three Turkish divisions, was it fell flight in the direction ot Samara. On the morning of Priday the ettetny 'were straggling over a dile- taw: of twenty miles, with their rear 211 milenorth of the eeene oe the fightirig on Wednesday." PURSUED IN PERSIA, Petrograd official reports state that the Russittn pursuit of the Turks in Persia, is eontinuing Over a large ca- tion. The mature of Panel', which is in Persia, about tett miles from the Turn% border, is announeed, aed it Is also etated that a Turkish column bee been tut off be Coeettelts and has Bed to the mountains. The forward Movement of the Russtan troops Is Proceeding under exceedingly difficult con ano. Pessages which have been tut through snow that often is higher than a man on honseback, are quickly tlfled tip again by the furioue snow. istortne. Owitie to the alones of vel- ikees, itt• treerre have tit elielter theta - elves at night in veverrie made in th SPAM PLED INTO MOUNTAINS Tne War Office stateneerit reacts: "In the direetion oe Sivas, in the region ae the village or Maticut, our outposte rePe1led by rifle fire at the bayonet an attack made by Turkish, meets. eet Turkish column, eonsistieg of two hattalione, tzmountein guns and, three equadrene of cavalry, retiring front Sento, In the elireetion or leer. manshah, under pressure of 011e ealak airy, was met at Kaniaran by Ruesien eavalry detaanients, which bee been detallea to cut off let retreet. Tint 'Twig; turned weetward, la their it lesion, into the roadlese mottetaine. "In the direetIon or Dievanrud, northweet of Kertilainehali, the Pursuit tontinuee, aa tIte direction of Kermanshah, a brIdge near the vii. lag e of Maideehut was captured, une damaged, by us, "The enemy Is attempting to make a stand in the pekoes. On March 1:4 a battle occurred in Shel Pam Re - Ports concerning the: result of thia battle have not yet been reeeived. "in the region a ogoat, 15 vet. West of taat point, our seoutIng par. tiee dislodged the Turas from their position and oecupled the village at' Werabi. Stores of cartridges and band grenades were captured. "In the direction of Sakkiz our de, tacitineats, reeving forward th deep snow, dislodged the Turka from their Position at Sarana and occupied One Point. Pureeing the retreating 'Turks, our advanced detachmente entered Baneh," GEN. MAUDE'S PROCLAMATION, London, March 18.—alajoreGeneral Frederiels Stanley Maude, command, er 01 the British forces, who recently occupied Bagdad in Mesopotamia, halt lecued a Proclamation to the people ef the city, declaring that his armice have not come as conquerora, but as liberators. "Since the day's of the Halaelia," Says the proelamatien, "your city end your Janda have been eubject to the tyranns of strangers, your palacee have fallen into ruins and your gar- dens have sunk in desolation, Your forefathers and yourselves leave groaned in bondage, Your sans bave been earried off into ware not 01 your 'seeking; your wealth has been stripped from you by 'unjust men and equanclered in distant places. "Since the days of illidhat the Turks have talked ef reforms, Yet do not the ruina and wastes of to- day testify to the vanity of those promisee?" The proclamation says that the British and the Bagdad merchants traded with profit and in mutual friamlehlp tor two hundred years, while the Germans and 'reties have despoiled them for twenty years end made Bagdad the centre of power from which to aemil the power of Great Britain and her allies In Per- sia and Arabia. It adds that tba Braise Government can -not risk that being done in Bagdad again. It an- nounces that the Arate have expelled the Turloe and the Germane and pro- claimed Hussein Ben Ali king of Hejas, Arabia. The people of Bagdad are invited to 0o -operate with the British civil rePrecendeteves accompanying the army in the management ef affairs, and to unite with their ainsmen of the northeast and southwest in real - 'zing the aspirationo of their race,. The Hetet:ha is the Jewish tradi- atonal law, embracing minute pre• cepte not included in written law, Midhat Pasha, was a former Turk- ish politician and for several years in the seventies held the post of (*errand Vizier of Turkey. WILL FREE TWO DEPARTMENTS Those of Oise and Aisne, Soon Clear 'of Foe. Great German Assault Else- where Expected. Paris, March 10.—To-morrow or the day after two entire French departments, those of the Oise and Aisne, will be lib- erated from the German invader, aceord- Mg to reports from the fighting front. The total territory now regained is rough- ly calculated at 020 square miles. The nature of the ground over which the Ger- mane retreated was almost all against them, as they leer° harried by cavalry, winch he now beteg used in force for the Lira time since the krattle of the Marne. At a few points, where nature'offered an opportunity for resistance, the Ger- mans tried; ta make a stand, and fell back only after consideration fighting. The principal of these points were the forest of Ourseamp and the village and part of the wood of Carlepont, south Noyon. There was also a sharp strug- gle for the importe.nt Crouy plateau, across theriver from Soissone, the ca. ture. of Avhich is believed likely by mili- tary critics to be followed by highly favorable developments. In this sec- tion the French have approximately re- stored the line which existed before the Battle of Crony, fought in the spring of 1916 by General Berthelot, who is now in Roumania. The battle was loot by the French owing to a- sudden rise in the River Aisne. The situation le the whole section was at one moment compromised, but was saved by General anyone who was given credit for the French:being able to retain tho bridgehead at Sols - 0005. Retweert Solssons and Leon Le Chanteau rota Cucy be Long, also In 1916, have not, hoivover, been recaetured. The newspapers aro overjoyed at tito liberatiou of such an extent of terri- tory. Heart Bidou, one of the hest know e military writers, says; "Our troops are advancing to vletora, long waiting hi underground holes and trenches, spreads her young wings in the bread light of day which she tees again." 'The comment on the military aseect of the situation is moderate, and even cautious.'Le petit Parislen believes that the repid retreat of the Germans very probably cellulite some design, but that there can be no doubt that, not. withstanding the groat cc:endows inepir- ea by von Hindenburg, the German pub - lie will learn with stnperaction of the evacuation or a region Where so 'many Germane have fallen, "The ,spirit of the population and troupe," says this paper, "will forced, arid to Wipd Ont this brid effect it will be necessery to attempt some op- eration On a vast SentO. Thie will cm'. tainly be uridertaketi and at a date whicli cannot be far tiff." The tem into whtell the retreating tOrcle,A have none is en e. Much lower level than tho evacuated positions. South of St. Quentin it in only 246 feet above the sea level, at cembrat. 167, at Douai, 76 at Lille 69. This be in contract to the positions held at Duch places as Pozieres, where the ground to 600 feet above sea level, The Mayor 0± Noyon, Senator Noel, airector 01' the Beale Centrale, the great government college for eivit engineers. upon /earning' of tha deliverance of his day, cumounced his intention, although unwell, of returrmag to las post to -day. He "%VW arresa.d by trio Germane end taltch to Qermana as a teprietil fer ill- trentinent alleged to have been even German priSOne,r4 in Maraca°. It, Teo - pont, prefeat of the Department of the North, was his tome/min eftetivity, both beIng everitually repatriated. POUGHKEEPSIE HOTEL BURNS, (tly Timm geode! Wire) Poughkeepsie, N. leaattareh early tti-dity destroyed the Warmth bowie, With a iefis of more titan la64061. tout. ing 76 guests ht their Wight elothing, and ertultrig inluey to 1, SCOVe or more or ;ardent% Apparently, there wee no loss of life. At thee* large busineee concerto; were evreeked iry tire and -water. HEAVY BRITISH ADVANCE ON ENTIRE FRONT OF 45 MILES. In Some Districts Gen. Haig's Troops Have Gone Forward 10 Miles. -Four Important' Towns and 60 Villages Taken -Poisoned Wells, London, March 18.—The Gernit forme have been compelled to sum der nearly 1,000 equare miles of co quered Preucit territory during t past 48 hours. The British foaces col Untied their rapid advance ou ti heels of the enemy along a front of 4 miles, entering the German position to a depth of ten miles in places, 're important towns of Peronne, B Paalue, Chattlnes and Neste were ca tared, in Addition to 60 The German retreat has been contin uous, and the area covered by it ha spread very wItiely, ti'avored by rine weather and drying ground, British columns everywhere are pressing the retiring enemy. The spirit of the 13rit1sh troops is one or demonstrative enthusiasm. Saturday night's report from head - garters in France read: "Bapaume has been. wattled by our troops after stiff fighting with the German guard. The town has been systematically pillaged by the enemy. All private houses and pub - 1.e buildings alike have been de strayed and everything of value car ried off or burned. "Oar advance bas proceeded rap idly during the day On both banks o the Somme. South of the river we have entered the enemy's positiono on a front of about sixteen ralles and occupied the villages of Fresnes, Horgny, Villers-Carbonnel, Barieux, ltterpigny, and La elaisonnette. "North of the river, in addition- to ihe town of Baeaume, we are in pee eession of the villages of Le Translo; Biefrillers, Bihucourt, Achlet40- Grand, A.caleal d -Pet I k, /Wain ze- ville, Buequoy an.d newts. We also hold Quesney . Farm, 1,500 yards noetheast of the last named village and have gained the west ern and northwestern defences of alonchtri atatiole." The text of Sundayat statement reads: , "We have occupied Nes?, Maul - nee and Peronne. Pre:ming tack the enemy's rear guardn, we advanced several miles daring the past twenty. four hours to a •depth of ten mites In places on a front of approximately forty-five miles, from south of Chaul- nes to the neighborhood of Arras. BRITISH CAVALRY nsr PLAY. (By R. T. Small, Staff Correspondent of the Associated Prem.) Britisb Headquarters In France, Mara 18.—§o rapid became the pur- suit of the Germans retreating in the Ancre and Somme eactors to -day that the Beitish cavalry came into play after restless months of waiting and longing. It has been a wonderful eight to see the cavalry equadrons moving towards the front for several days pad. They have included sorae of the crack English regiments, look- ing very grim and businesslike: in steel shrapnel helmets and equipped with gas masks. • The fine drying weather of the past three days has helped • the pursuit, which in some places has reached solid ground that has been little dam- aged by shell -fire. It was officially stated to -day that potsoned wells were found in the village of Barletta, southwest of Per - wane, which was occupied by the Bri- tish in the wake ef the retreating German garrisons. This serious ace cusaVon was made in a report by the British doetors on an analysis of the water. The Beitieh test all water in occupied territoriee, in order to safe. guard tbe troops from various dis- eases, They were startled to find that the Barletta wells contained a deadly poison, Other wells in the line of the Ger- man retreat have been filled up, but this was the tirst indication of Deleon in any of the wells, PERONNE AND DAPAUME. (By R. T. Small, Staff Oarres-poadent a the Assotiated Press.) 13rttish Headquarters in Pratiee, Meech 18,—In the city; of Albert, where the famous gilded leaning Vir- gin ant depends mireculously from the lofty tower of a rather gaudy and fantastically ellen-torn church, there has long been a Britisb sign readittg "To Bapaume," Sae pointed the way along a. narrew straighttroad to- ward the quaint Picardy town, trans- formed by the Germans into What they term a modem field, Gibraltar. 15 tually requested that they be aent tor- n- ward in order that they miglit see 4. 13ape,unte clear ot the enemy. he 1NGIONDIARISM RAMPANT, a In a war where the fightina le s the eoldiers. feeder the prophetic I often confieed for menthe to a maze te 6 P0a1 utine:celitaetsds aotint Cita? a tows st ligkoea ll taS, e sign in Albert pointing in that diree• tan tiou hundrede of thousands of 13rit- p. Leh soicliere have trudged since Net July, many never to return, 'rho Be- ment) highway, reaching out over 8 the rolling fields of Picardy, has in- deed been the higliroad to "the great adventure." Out on this road ambled the, British "tanks" on their otartling way to beetle renown. It is this road, tnat pierces Pozieres, and on either side lie the unforgettable evollutrat7 notoriouButte de Waren of Tlittioval, Piers, Courcel. e s , Otte, Contalmaison ire -aura Mametz, Haat inpuich and Beaumont -Hamel, and th It was particularly fitting that the troops which fought the hardest about the Butte last autumn should be • among the first to reach Bapaume, of • whicia the Butte had long been re- garded as the key position. Thera was ; no flying of flags or beating or dims L as the British patrols penetrated the town, for there was fighting ahead, and /3apaume is filled with the under- ground strongholds. But It was not long before the ad caw guard sent back oyer the telephone wires, which ever kept pace with the onward move of the troops, that the enemy rear. guard had "all been accounted for." Later came a second mesage, reach- Betum ween Albert and 13apae lie the battlefields of the greatest martial atruggles Of all history, They are tailed the battles of the Somme, but more correctly Might be termed the battles of the Bapaume road, It has been • a long ten miles, but at last Bapaume has been taken, and the British khaki line extends well be- yond it in all dire -diem The field grey German linea , are falling hack luny en a front approxi. mately forty Milee, They are die - tallying In clotide ea blue grey smoke, tor .the Germans have lightedm firto cereen in their Wake. No village is betng spared front the torch, The re. treat on the ttritlelt front WAY ex - testae front well below Chaultiea, on the south, almost to Arra, on the north, and covers about one-third of the entire British line, It ha ta even extended down when the trench lines begin. To -clay the British method into Peronne, where they had to fight virtually every atop of the way. There have been many fires Perotme burning eine() Priday. The Germans aleo learned the suburb of Halle be- fore abandoning it. A score et more of towns and vile lagee have been taken by the British during the 'day, and it was reported to -night that patrole had reached as Lar as Neste, toutheast of Chaulnee. me For a tiit seemed as if the Ger. man retreat would awing from Le Traneloy as the eouthern pivot, but already It has gene her beyond thet. Everywhere °long tble wide frotit the Britieh are prezeing the fleeing Ger. man rearguard and leapt:mint witnees. ed lively street fightifig. The taking of that town meant a great deal to the men in the trenehos. One letitieli regittient tbnt Watt relieved yesterday from et term. et fdtrenUOOS work sto. ing in true soldier language; "The mopping up ot Bapaume is now completed." EVIDENCES OF DYNAMITINCI. Fires were smoulderiug in many parts, remnants ot the incentliarisui which had been rampant during the Wait days of German occupation. No house was left intact, for those still roofed exposed interline ail burned out, A, few rows of house01 quaint architectural beauty stiir maintain an outward show of some of their former well-being. Shells, of course, had chine much damage, but there were plentiful evidences of' dynamiting on ill sides. This was carried to such an extent that certain sections of the town appear to have been swept by a cyclone, wails having been blown at by interior explosions, allowing the slate roofs to slide almost undamaged into the streets. The famous old clock tower had had tie upper part blown off to prevent its being used for artil- lery registering by the British, Its faces are all awry. Just outside of Bapaume wee a badly shattered esterninet, with several empty beer barrels standing on the wall. All clay and most of last night the Germans poured shells into Bapaume, paying particular attention to certain maiden on which they had carefully registered before leaving. This has been a familiar practice with the Ger- mans with evacuated positions ever shace the battle of the Somme began. VERITABLE FORESTS OP BARBED WIRE. The statue of IGeneral Louis Leon Faidherbe, who defended Bapaume against the Germans In 1870,- which stood in the centro ot the town, is missing; it had been removed to, Ger- many. ' HINDENBURG LOOKING FOR THE KAISER- • Bertha March 18.—Rield Marshal von- Hingenburg has gone to great headquarters to make a report on the situation to Emperor Williard. • SHORT ITEMS - OF THE NEWS OF THE DAY New French Loan for $100,- 000,000 to Be Floated in the States. ARTHUR FREE CAUGHT •••••,r ••••••.••••••.•••••11* Italian Chamber of Deputies Votes Confidence in Government. A WI 01 10,000 recruit:4 legmflJtla regiments in NO. 2 military dietriet ha teen homed. Returning soldiers rejeeted as unfit 15 England criticised the examinations made by doetors in Catada. A member of United Statee agwer companies at Niagara Palle le wider way lead affectthe Conedian NLegarti Power CO, Rural Ontario women are indifferent to the vote, wording to reports re- ceived by political headqUartere of both partici', colOrs Of the 111th South Wat- erleo Battalloe, width went overseas six weeks ago, were deposited in Trill- ity Anglican 'Clettech, Galt. A movetneat has been started itt Brantford to secure legisittion to en- able townslilp SOMA tloarde to re- plete the present syetem or settee' tee - tines. Dr. Jareee0, Curtis, a prominent PhYsielan and surgeon, of St, Thomas, has aecepted a position on •the Aare. ✓ al staff of the the 'Workmen's Cora- D eneation Board, Arthur Pre°, charged 'With the enure der of Mrs. 1Xatti Ii11, tef, &Mere tieel, on „Ifereh le was erreeted by Chlet01 Pella Wylle at Cape Vincent, N.Y., 1:1 a baiter wiliep. OATS SI • The Pominlon 00Yerallient itail can- BK entered into with the Rose Rifle Com- N contraet for 100,000 Roes rifles, PanY In February, 1910, ee the ground atheisitvetles. company was behine in ita OF THE H. $, THREE SHIPS Thirty boeies were found la the twisted alletal of the Zeppelln ihot down in France, most of them partial. ly bunted, Vire destroyed the plant of the Rob- erts Engra,vieg Company, London, Out, Mr, N. A. Roberts estimates the loge at $4,000. A two-eeareold. Hereford bull, per. chased by Prank Content, rancher, of West Crossfiele at $11,90o, arrived at Calgary from. MiSeelirl, After a diseussion of economic quee. items, the Italian Chamber of eeePuties adopted a resolution of confidence in the Clevernment by a vote of 869 to 4$, The ateamer Panties Rallis, wIth 3,300 tons of wheat, hes reachee $al antis, Mier Piraeus, Greece, She is the first wheat ship allowed since the blockade Wes established. J. (Homier Studebaker, 84 years old, eonorary president and last ot the five founders of the Studebaker Cor. poration, died at South Bend, Ind, Windsor, Ont., pollee are trying to estabitsh the identity of a well-dressed inan, about GO years or age, whose body was taken from the Detroit River a short distauce below Sandwich Sat- urday afternoon. Fire, thought to have been caused by an, overheated stovepipe, totally de- stroyed the home of Harry Lan, Wind. Sot'. Lan was awakened by the crackling of flames, and barely had time to carry his flick wife and three Young •children to safety before escape wits Out off. .T. Ifs. Morgan & Co. announced Sat- urday the flotation in the 'United States of a new French loan for $100,- 000,000 in two-year notes, dated April 1. and bearing interest at the rate of 5.1a per cent. The notes are being of- Nred to subscribers 'at 99 and interest, at which price they will yield slightly over Aix per oat. GREAT LESSON TO THE WORLD 100 Year of Canadian -Am- erican Peace. Benefits of the Rush7Bagot Treaty. New York, March 18,—One hundred reare OE peace between Canada and the United States has been in great measure the outcome of the Rush- • Begot agreement of 1817, limiting armament on the great lakes, in the opinion of both Sir Charles Fitzpat- rick, Chief justice of the Supreme Court and. Deputy Governor-General of Canada, and Sir Edmund Walker, chairmen of the Canadian Rank ee Commerce, who spoke at a luncheon of the Lawyers' Club in this city Saturday. eIt, would be hard to overrate the blessing that agreement has been to both countries," the Chief justice said. "It has been the keynote of their Policy of peace for a hundred years, and at the same time has happily in- fluenced the attitude of both Govern- ments towards the whole question of fortifications. And what an object lesson has been here for the rest of the civilized world, The lagest Iron» tter on the earth's surface has at the same time been the most defenceless and the most safe, "If there had been the slightest dis- position to bad faith on either side," he added, "the Rush-Bagot agreement would have been broken down a score of times." Sir Edmund Walker asserted that the agreement transformed the lakea from a "dividing line between two embittered peoples into the greatest agency of peace and industry in the whole world," "While the conditions which maim for peace and prevent war were so. cured so early in Our history," he said, amany other things have helped to bind us together so completely that even our differences are respected and the fact that two great democracies are trying socialexperiments, some- times along widely separated lines, is more apt to excite mutual respect laid interest than animosity." CHINA PREPARES. Seems to Be About to Enter War Against Germany. Pekin, China, March 18,—Atter an- nouncing the severance of diplontatie relations between China and Germany, Foreign Minister Wu 'ring Pang call- ed a meeting of the alinisters of the Entente nations, and later a meeting Of the Ministers of neutral countries, He presented a memorandum at both Meetings, requesting suspension Of payments of indemnity for the Boxer uprising. -consent to an increase of import duties, and modification of China's undertakings, whieli will per- mit her to station troops at Tien 'rein, along the Tien Tsin-Pekin railway, and in the legation quarter as a protection against ,Germans. The Dutch Legation is protecting German interests end guarding the German Legation. The German Min- ister And his staff probably will leave Pekin for Shanghai within five daYa. Denmark is looking after Chluese Ia. tereests in GerMany. In tho light ol previoue despatches front Pekin, the action token by the Chinon Foreign eiihister inditates that the Governmett Is preparing to eater the war with the Entente. It was eald in these deepatehes that IN- gotiatione to that end were under way, and that China, hoped by Jelning the Entente to obtain suspenelott of the Payments by IndeMnity and permission to inerease import duties. sTeAmERS COLLIDE. NOV 'Vork, March 19.—The Sagua, it Dutch tramp Walter, 01 2,006 tons, trol need with an unideritified etettniehip early today about five miles off 13arne. gat. At first it waa belleVea that the Segue, could not keep afloat, And all .of her treW but the captain And three men took to the 'mate. Later these men returned to the ship, and the wire- less operator, who bad remained at his poet sending out Montle of ditarene, call- ed for a veeeel to tow the disabled steam- er into New York harbor. You never cart tell. A. num May ba an easy-going sot of fellow, and Mill be mighty hard to stop. Many American Members of the Crews $o Far Un- accounted for. NO WARNING GIVEN Washington Considers a State of War Practic- ally Exists Now, 1.90.M.4.1.1•Nrarer STATE OP WAR EXISTS, Washington, March 18.—With the announcement of the ruthless destrue- tion of three unarmed Amerlean mete client ships by submarines, it was en - officially admitted., here to -night that virtually a state or war exists between the United Stetes and Germane', Technicelly the United Steam re- mains in a position of armed ueutrel- ity. Whether this hall be Ghanged be- fore April 16, the date fixed far a special session of Congress, the war - making branch of the • Governraent, President Wilson, has not (Nettled. Washington, Marett 1,8— Three steamships flying the American flag have been accounted for by Ger- many's wirestricted submarthe war- fare, Their total gross tonnage was 14,Cb5a87.1e despatches from London in- dicate 48 men a the crews are unac- counted for, Of these 34 are known to be Americans by birth or naturaliza- tiontl Te American steamers Vigilaneia, City of Memphis and Illinois were the vessels Bent to the bottom by German submarines. The Vigilancia was tor - Mcleod without warning, and the City of elm:mills was torpedoed after the crew had been given fifteen minutes to leave the ship. The Illinois is re- ported merely as having been "sunk." The crew of the Illinois was saved, but members ot the crews of both the Vigilaacia and the City of Memphis, most of them Americans, are missing. The City ot Memphis and the Illinois were bound, respectively, Worn Cardiff and London for the United States• in ballast. The Vignancia was bound for Havre. A despatch from Consiil Prost stated that 33 survivors of the City of Mem- phis had been landed at Queenstown, and the seven Americans were among the fifteen landed at Schull. The des - Patch states that the vessel was sunk by gunfire, and that the submarine, Which was of a large type, remained on the scene after the crew had left the ship, but refused to tow the boats to land. The survivors at Sellull in- cluded Allen Carroll (formerly of Nova Scotia, a naturalized citizen), second engineer; Robert Shea, surgeon; John Welkin, Henry Campany, Gus Cam- pany, A. D. Heaton, all Americans, and five Spanish, one Portuguese, one Swede and one Russian." The department announced that a despatch from Consul -General Skin- ner at London, said it was reported the City of Memphis, the Ihililolo and the Vigilance (probably Vigliancia), all American steamers, had been sunk, the latter without warning. The message added that some of the crew of the City of Memphis had been landed, and that a patrol boat had gone to pick up the crew of the Ilia Dols. The steamship elemphis, 5,252 tons, tui-lau. srin, ballast from Cardiff to New York; the Vigilancia was a steamship of 4,115 tons; the steamer Illinola was in ballast from London for Port Ari 441* A NEW KING. Abyssinian Euler a 0011Sill of Late Menelik. Cairo, Egypt, March 18,,—Advices from Addis Abeba, the capital of Abyssinia, says that. Raiewaidi Gar, gis, a cousin of the late King Mene- Ilk, has been crowned - King of Wallou, Gondar • and Bekenther. There has been some fighting ot late at Wallou, where Georgia has gone to deal with the situation. There also has been fighting at Roust, where Gen. Baltchi has been sent. It Is hoped, the messages added, that tranquility will soon be estab- lished throughout Abyssinia, Lidj jeassu, the deposed Emperor, is now at Magdala, it fortified town on the Taianta plateau, where be le surrounded by Government troops. Austria Wants An Armistice London, March 18.—Despatches from Vienna say that the German Chancel- lor was received Saturday by the Aus- trian Emperor and Empress at the Laxenburg Castle, near Vienna. Politi- cal circles la Vienna, the despateh adds, are eonsidering the possibility of en- tering into negotiations with the Ras - slim Cabinet, with a view to an armis- tice, Emperor Charles le very anxious about the matter, The German Chan- cellor will leave Vienna Saturday night for Berlin and will immediately visit the German Emperor at head. quarters. Germans Shell British Coast Widen, Mareh 18.—German tor- pedo boats shelled towns Moog the Kentish Coast early Sunday morning, but did little daitage, according to an °Metal steteMent issued toatight. The eteitt ret'ltn: 'l'Sonue, torpedo boats and destroyers approached the lientish eoaSt at 12.45 ti'lock Sunday morning. They fired a number of sliells at cere trtoirneerr.svro towns, he no casualtice. The materiel damage Was Blight, oho oeo5. pled and two empty house being bit." A country wolnatt who found a boa of teelf belle tit her son's roora told him Viet "they were bigger% usual, but as they didn't emelt flaunt 1 throw - ed them one" $04~ DNA CONTROL OVER RUSSIA 18 THOROUGH Armies gave 'Virtually All Backed Up the New Government, MICHAEL'S COURSE W111 Awa4t 0011StitUent As- sembya Course Before Deciding. Petrograd, Mara 18, — Nicholea Romanpf, as the former Emperor is now designated, left with Ws staff to- day for hN personal estates at Livadia, on the south coast of the Crimea, Petrograd, March 13.—With the final cementing ot the elements concerned in the construction of the new Govern- ment upon the ruins al the old, the now Cabinet Menisters, relieved of the heavy grind of "the endless conferencee of the last few days, in which they suffered many anxious Sours, have as- sumed the posts to which they were assigned. Prof, Paul N. Milukoff spent yesterday at the Foreign Ogle°. I. the afternoon be received the dip- lomatic representatives of the Allies, after which he metered upon a, long Cabinet conference, One of the first acts of the Minister was to send, a ser - leis of cable messages to the Ruesian diplomats abroad to the effect that Russia was uulted in the desire to fight out the war with the Allies, the determination to continue the conflict until the victory Is achieved being stronger thau ever. The armies in the field have beea advised that the abdication of the Em- esced In, according to a Foreign Office ced in, according to a Poreign Office Oficial. Telegrams from virtually all the eommanders have been received assuring the support of the Govern- ment guaranteed, in advance by Gen- eral Michael Alexieff. 010 at staff. Meanwhile the last vestiges of the empire are disappearing. Portraits of the ,erstwhile members of the Imper. tal family, once seen upon the walls of almost every Government office, have ti)evleet t egivenhe nat ion color,ace Plain red removed. have, Is flags, ono of which float): over the famous Winter Palace. The proper designation of the new Government appears to puzzle even officials, "Government constitute" is the appellation used in Foreign Office despatches abroad. While of a tem- porary nature, it is permanent com- pared with the first Duma committee. which was hurriedly assembled, in the opinion of one official, although it is contemplated that the Cabinet heade shall continue to govern only until those elected by a constitutional As- sembly shall replace 'them. The as- sembly, which Will be selected by pop- ular vote, will be composed of approx- imately 600, It will be the business of the assembly to determine the form of the future Government draft a new constitution. Confidence is everywhere expressed that under the direction of the new Government the military and indus- trial teres of the country will be en- abled to carry on operations upon a much larger scale than before and considerably magnify their efforts to- wards. a speedy termination of the war. Probably no event of similar magnitude ever had a less colorful af- termath or was accepted by the people so vitally affected with less of a de- monstration. POLITICAL PRISONERS RETURN. Between three and tour hundred political prisoners have beea released from the Butiry prison in Moscow. About 1,700 criminals, many of them most dangerous characters, escaped from the prison, but a majority of them have already been re -arrested. In ,scarcely any cases was resistance offered. All the undeetroyed archives of 'the political police are being given to Vladimir Bourtzeff, the weIakuown revolutionist. The police of Kiev went over to the new Government in a body. In tlie provincial towns the manifesto troops. stages of 'the theatres, The audiences dons with which to buy gifts for the announcing the adication of Em- peror Nicholas was read from the rose and cheerea and made up collec- An incident occurred in Petrograd yesterday which is considered a good auguary for the new regime. A pro- cession of five thotesand officers, pro- ceeding to the Duette to declare their leney." "Mr. Minister" by the °Metals of the Ministry of justice, instead of ”Excelt met troops who were returning, and adherence to the new Government, who halted and enthusiasticalie cheered them. DEMOCRATIC FORMS EMPLOYED. M. Kerenski is being addressed as 'rhe first Moscow newspaper since the outbreak of the revolution arrived in Petrograd yesterday. It was auc- tioned on a street corner for the belie - fit of the soldier& food suppliee and brought 10,000 rubles. Other news- papers sold for hundreds of rubles. Minister of justice Kerenski has re- ceived a million rubles for the use of the Government from a group of banks. Prayers for the Emperor and his fainily have been replaced le the church services by prayer)) for "great Russia and her ruler." 11. Kerenski has rescinded the order of banishment againat Grand Duke Dmitri and Prince Youseoupetff, the stayers of Gregory Rasputin, the tnak who exercised great influence over the imperial family, and the tetto mart are property. will be conveiteci at the wiriter palaee, whieh has beert proelanted national returning to Petrograd. The Ruesiatt constithent assemblY ;MULTIPLY .NATION'S'smnrunn. "The Governrifenti, af ' which I form a part, will devote alt ite energy to preparation or victory,. end will APPIY Itself to the task of repairing eg quiekly as peeSible the mattes of the Intet, -which hitherto have paralyzed the aspirettons and the etelfauterifite of the Russian people, / SAM firmly convineed that the maxvelotts enthu- siasm which to -clay enimatee the whole nation will multiple its strength ten times, and hasten the hoer of the final trittimill of a regerter- ated Russia. and her valiant Allies. "1 bog you to tommetnicate to the Minister of Poretgn Afralte (of the eountry to will& the .dipiontat ad- dressed is atereclitede the entente of the ietteent telegram."