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GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. A summary of the activities ou the various war fronts is as follows: With clearing weather tins big guns of the British and French have resumed their task of blasting the German lines in Flanders preparatory to new infantry attacks in the campaign to reach the U-boat bases on the Belgian coast. The heavy rains of tile last week have left the ground of "no-mans land" between the lines in such a muddy condition as to be practically impassable for infantry, even the huge British "tanks" being mired iu crossing. It is apparent the Germans are preparing for a desperate resistance, and the belief that the campaign will extend well into the Fall is growing. New gains by Canadian troops in their drive on Lens are reported in the London statement. On the eastern front Gen. Korniloff is gradually restoring discipline among the Russian troops, which at some points are again showing fight against the pursuing Germans. In Bukowina east of Czemowitz they made a stand and captured more than 500 prisoners. They also won back Saljok wood in the frontier region of Bajan. At the junction of Zbroc and Dniester, however, the Teutons are continuing their advance, as also iu southern Bukowina. Increased activity and many minor engagements are reported on the Italian front, although no decisive battles are being fought. A London dispatch of yesterday announces a big shake-up in the British navy. It reads as follows: Official announcement is made at the admiralty tonight that Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, second sea lord, has been replaced by Vice -Admiral Sir Rose-lyn Wemyss. Alan Garrett Anderson, hitherto vice-chairman of the wheat commission, succeeds Sir Eric Campbell Geddes, the new first lord of the admiralty, as controller of naval construction. The changes in the British admiralty are attracting much attention and .are interpreted as the first step in a reorganization which it is supposed Sir Eric Campbell Geddes, first lord of the admiralty, was appointed to carry out. Another change In the admiralty is the removal of Sir William Graham Greene from the permanent secretaryship at the admiralty to a secretaryship in the ministry of munitions under Winston Spencer Churchill. Sir Williams departure from the admiralty is regarded as of considerable importance, as the liost of permanent secretary, which he has held since 1911, always has been largely responsible for the continuity of admiralty tradition and policy. It is this continuity which is regarded by many as a most dangerous factor, in that it hinders initiative and adaptability to current needs. From Petrograd the following information comes: Thirty-three long lists of sines, informers and agents provocateurs iu ex-Emperor Nicolas pay have been published by the commission for securing the new system of government, appointed by the provisional government immediately after the revolution. Fifty more lists may bo expected. The total number of these secret legionaries of autocracy is expected to reach 80,000. Those whose guilt is beyond doubt have been put in jail, but it is not yet settled whether they will be tried and punished or merely kept in jail until all peril of a reactionary counter revolution has passed. Developments in the peace situation as indicated by the shakeup of the German cabinet were regarded yesterday as of particular significance witli advices from Berlin that the new foreign secretary is the favorite "makepeace" man in the empire. The effect of the move is seen in the following reports from Berlin: Peace- made easier by Kuehlmanns appointment. The new secretary has backing of big German financial interests who have been seeking an early end to the war. He will, it is believed, do everything to prevent further alienation of Great Britain and lay the foundation for after the war friendship. The state council of national defense yesterday rec-omended to Governor Lowden that the State of Illinois seize the coal mines in the commonwealth and operate them during the war. It further called the councils of defense of the states of Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin. Minnesota, Iowa. Ohio, Kentucky, Nebraska. Missouri, Kansas, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, South Dakota and Tennessee to meet in Chicago Aug. 16, at 11 a. m., to cousider the feasibility of joint action by all coal producing states to reduce the price of coal. From London conies word that the admiralty learns that a German submarine Monday attacked a Spanish fishing boat in the neighborhood of Bilbao, Spain, within Spanish territorial waters. Two of the crew were severely wounded. . President Wilson has extended the general embargo to cover Coal and coke because of the danger of American supplies of coal leaking to Canada in such quantities as to increase the fuel shortage, which already is acute, according to iufonaatloa obtained today at the department of commerce. The Presidents order requires that coal coke, fuel oils and lubricating oils be exported only ou issuance of export license. This will give the export council complete control over this sort of fuel leaving the country. The conference report on the administration food control bill again was the subject of debate iu the Senate yesterday. Leaders believed it would be voted on today. Most Republicans were said to favor immediate adoption of the report, and the principal opposition came from Democratic members, notably Senators Reed, Hollis and Gore. A violent earthquake which caused great damage has occurred in the southern portion of North Island, New Zealand, according to a Renter dispatch from Wellington to London. Pioneer residents of North Island, the dispatch adds,, describe the quake as the worst since the terrible upheaval sixty years ago. , Ex-President William II. Taft became ill at a hotel at Clay Center, Kan., during the night and is now under the care of a physician. The nature of his illness was described only as being stomach trouble. It is estimated by officials in charge of the selective draft, that New York city will have enrolled 20,000 men in the new national army by the end of the week.
