view raw text
GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. British and American naval experts are understood to have discussed at their conferences Friday three s| ecific measures designed to put an end to Cernian submarine warfare. 4 ne is the bottling up of the narrow straits between Sweden and Denmark, the second, the mining of the entire North sea. which would shut off entirely the trade of Holland. Denmark and Sweden; and the third, storming the tierman naval base at Kiel and destroying Heligoland, Ciermanys 4iibraltar. The third proposition lias been discussed only as a last resort, naval experts being agreed that it would be a most hazardous undertaking. Many naval officers believe Kiel could be taken, but at frightful cost. There has not been a shot fired on the Russian-German front in the space of a month, according to dispatches which have reached the Tinted States. German and Russian soldiers have been fraternizing to such an extent along the entire front that it became necessary for one Russian general to warn his troops that the Germans might be utilizing their apparent friendship for the purpose of obtaining military information concerning the Russians. Soldiers returning to Russia for the meeting of the Duma, declare that the front is so quiet as to lend an appearance of peace between the contending forces. Two important steps have been taken by the House of Representatives and the federal government against the high cost of living. An agreement has been reached between the Inited States and Canada whereby the price of wheat on the North American continent will l e regulated so as to make a maximum price imperative. President Wilson has also formulated plans for the control of food products in general, it being the consensus of opinion that a regulation against the suicidal prices in vogue at present would be the saner policy for the government. Winston Spencer Churchill, commenting upon the lack of action froni the British navy during the present war, says he did favor naval offensive action. Responsibility for the paralysis of the naval offensive, according to the colonel, lies in no small degree with those whose senseless outcries at the loss of a few obsolete ships checked naval enterprise and |iienched the admiraltys initiative. The result was that for almost two years not ■ single aggressive act. apart from the battle of Jutland, has been attempted. German proposals for peace have been suggested by socialists in tiermany as follows: — Oil ma ay to make peace with Russia without territorial acquisition, but under a guarantee that the national rights of t;ermaiis in Russia be respected. — Second ■ — tJermanys peace terms in respect to her other enemies to be disclosed. Third — The promotion of genera peace by a union of the nations and the reduction of armaments. Fourth — Internal reorganization based on the will and needs of the Germaa people. The French in their operations between Soissons and Auberive, according to an official statement, have since April 15 captured nearly 23.004 prisoners. 17." field and heavy guns, 412 machine guns and 119 trench guns and mortars. The Geraaaaa, who had forty-three divisions in reserve behind the Franco-British front, have been obliged since April 9 to throw in thirty -three of« these divisions, and by April 27 seventeen divisions, badly cut up, had already been withdrawn. War events as announced from European capitals are as follows: French capture town of Craonne and positions north and east; enter tjerman lines on front of two and one-half miles nothwest of Riems. London rejMirts sections of German lines captured Thursday were consolidated and further advances made. Russian council of workmens and soldiers delegates stand behind provisional government, ending threatened revolt. Lieut. William Thaw, an American flying in the aeroplane corps of the French army, has achieved an "ace" for distinguished service in connection with his department, having just brought down his fifth enemy aeroplane. Thaw will now take his place among the list of flying stars with tlie Allied armies, whose exploits are mentioned in the daily official reports from the fighting fronts.
