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REVIEW OF THE WORLD WAR AND OTHER Entrance of United States Into Conflict Outstanding Development of i- g JPaft Twelve Months--Political Upheaval in Russia Affects * Struggle--British and French Smash Teuton Lines on West Front--Austro-Germans Launch . Drive Against Italy. fiy DONALD F. BIGGS. THE WORLD WAR. ;Cv t I After three and a half years of tbe Most sanguinary fighting in history, ffce great nations of the world, togeth­ er with many of the smaller ones, are still at death grips, with less prospect Ot an early peace than was -thought lo «Slst a year ago. . Undoubtedly the greatest develop­ ment of the year was the entrance of the United States Of America into the conflict. The throwing of the tre­ mendous resources and man power of the American republic, into the balance on tlie side of the entente allies, in the opinion of military experts, has more than off-set the advantages gained by Germany and her allies during the past twelve months and has made possible1 the continuance of the conflict until a time when a definite military decision can be obtained. There have been a half dozen or more outstanding events in the past year. Some of these have been of purely military significance and others have been occurrences of a political na­ ture which have had a far-reaching ef­ fect upon the titanic conflict. Chief among the political upheavals of .the year was the Russian revolution which resuited in the overthrow of Czar Nicholas and culminated during the closing months of the year in a counter-revolution which practically eliminated Russia from the ranks of the nations opposed to the central pow­ ers. From a military standpoint the chief events of the year have been the launching of the German ruthless submarine campaign, which was di­ rectly responsible for the entry of tha United States Into the war; the Brit­ ish offensives on the west front, first In the Arras sector, later in Flanders •and still later on the 35-mile front be­ tween Arras and St. Quentin; the Ital- , Ian offensive against Austria from H . Tolmino to the Adriatic and the sub- t sequent offensive of the Germans and I iAustrlans against Italy, which resulted 1q the overrunning of northern Italy by the Teutonic allies. The entry of China, Cuba, Braill, Slam and other countries into the war I 1-* on tbe side of the entente allies, the overthrow of King Constantine of Greece on the demand of France and her allies and other events Important la themselves were overshadowed by the greater developments of the year. American Peace Effort Fails. As the year opened the only military movements of Importance In progress were those aimed by Germany and her allies to complete the annihilation of 'Roumania and attention was centered upon the request that had been made by President Wilson that the various .belligerent nations state the terms up­ on which peace might be discussed. The replies seemed to preclude any further action by the United States HS a peacemaker, but on January 22 Pres­ ident Wilson in an address before the senate laid down the principles which be declared should guide the United States in participating in a league to enforce peace at the close of the pres­ ent war. $ On January 31, Germany announced the Inauguration of ruthless submarine warfare. - President Wilson acted promptly, severing diplomatic relutlons with Germany on February 3. The Cunard liner Laconla was sunk ^ ' without warning off the Irish coast | February 25 with the loss of 13 lives, JL Including those of two American worn- • .jfc fen- On February 28, It was announced that the United States government was In possession of a communication ad- • dressed by the German foreign mlnls- A, ter to the German minister at Mex- * ico Cl^y, Instructing him to pro- , pose an alliance between Germany * and Mexico, and to suggest that soon as war with the United States Iras certain, the president nxt Mexico «nommunicate with Japan, offering to fnediate between Japan and Germany. a reward Mexico was promised gen­ eral financial support from Germany and the reconquest of lost territory in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The United States House of Repre­ sentatives, March 1, parsed the Flood Mil, giving the president thd right to. arm American merchant ships, but the measure died with the Sixty-fourth congress on March 4 as a result of a filibuster engineered by a dozen mem- IV. hers of the senate. President Wilson entered upon his second term March 4 and in his In­ augural address on the following day . took a stand in favor of armed neu- ' trallty. The United States department of state announced, March 12, that it tad determined to place armed guards (upon all American merchant vessels sailing through the German war zone. March 14, it was learned that the w American steamship Algonquin had feeen sunk without warning by) a Ger­ man submarine. On the s^nie day China severed diplomatic relations With Germany and seized German m»r- <chant ships in the harbor at Shanghai. Czar Nicholas Dethroned. On March 15, the Russian revolu- ftonary movement, which had begun With food riots and strikes, culminated tD the abdication of Czar Nicholas both for himself and his son. Pending the (\ the United States were further strain­ ed March 18 by the receipt of reports of the sinking of three American steamers, the City of Memphis, Illi­ nois and \ igilancia, fifteen of the lat- ter's crew being lost. On March 21, President Wilson is­ sued a proclamation calling congress In special session on April 2. The American steamer Healdton was torpedoed without warning, March -2, 21 men including seven Ameri­ cans, being lost. United States Declares War. On April 2, President Wilson ap­ peared before a Joint session of con­ gress and called for a declaration of a state of war with Germany. On April 4, the senate passed a resolution de­ claring the existence of a state of war. The resolution Was adopted by thfe house of representatives April 6 and was signed by the president the same day. At the same "time 91 German- owned vessels In American, ports were seized by the government. Cuba de­ clared war on Germany on April 7. The following day, Austria-Hungary severed diplomatic relations with the United States. : The British forces on the west front began the first great offensive of 1917 on April 9, penetrating the enemy po­ sitions north and south of Arras to a depth of from two to three miles. The French forces launched an of­ fensive against the enemy on a 25-mile front between Soissons and Reims, April 16, and after three days' fighting reported the capture of more than 17,- 000 prisoners. The first American casualties in the war were reported April 28, when the armed American tank steamer Vacuum was sunk by a submarine and several American gunners were lost. American Fleet In Action. It was learned oh May 16, that a squadron of American destroyers un­ der Rear Admiral Slmms had safely crossed the Atlantic and had been pa­ trolling the seas in war service since May 4. The United States army draft bill became a law May 18 when President Wilson affixed his signature to the measure and issued a proclamation fix­ ing June 5 as registration day. On May 24, announcement was made of the torpedoing of the British trans­ port Transylvania, on May 4, with a loss of more than 400 lives. On May 25, a great German air Tald on the southeast coast of England caused the death of 76 persons and the wounding of 174. During the early part of June grow­ ing unrest In Russia began to attract the attention of the allies. On June 1, workmen and soldiers seized Kron- stadt, the Russian fortress defending Petrograd, and repudiated the provis­ ional government. On June 3, the American conrmlssjoh to Russia, head­ ed by Ellhu Root, and the American railroad commission, headed by John F. Stevens, arrived safely at Russian ports. On June 7, the Russians In possession of Kronstadt yielded to negotiations and recognized the pro* visional government. In the meantime the American prep­ arations for the war were proceeding rapidly. On June 5, nearly 10,000,000 men of military age registered for mili­ tary service under the selective draft law. On June 8, Slajor General John J. Pershing, who had been selected to head the American expeditionary forces in France, arrived with his staff in London. On the same day Wash­ ington reported the safe arrival in France of 100 American aviators, the first American fighting forces to reach that country. King Constantine Dethroned. A solution of the Greek situation, which had endangered the operations of the allies in the Balkans, was reach­ ed June 12 when on the demand of France, Great Britain and Russia, King Constantine abdicated in favor of his second son, Prinoc Alexander, ™ho »va.-» known to be favorably inclined toward the allies. London reported another big raid by Zeppelins on June 13, in which 157 persons were killed and many Injured. « The subscriptions to the first Ameri­ can Liberty loan closed June 15. the loan being oversubscribed by $750,- 000,000. On June'26, it was announced that the first contingent of American troops, under command of Major General Sl- bert, had arrived safely In France. The new Greek cabinet, headed by Eleutherios Venlzelos, went Into office on June 27 and two days later the new government severed diplomatic rela­ tions with Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. On the first of July, the Russian forces, under the personal leadership of War Minister Kerensky, electrified the allies by launching a powerful of­ fensive on an 18-mile front In Galicla, capturing many strongly fortified towns and taking thousands of pris­ oners. For two ^eeks the Russians continued to advance alpng a front that widened to 100 miles, but on July 19 the Russian offensive collapsed and turned into a rout, when many Rus­ sian regiments mutinied and fled. Kerensky succeeded Prince Lvoff as premier of Russia on July 20. The first political crisis in the Ger- Warneton, after three weeks of In­ tense artillery preparation. ^-Th^ Brit­ ish forced their way into the German lines to a depth of two to two and a half miles, taking ten villages and more than 5,000 prisoners. • Pope Benedict, on August 14. trans­ mitted peace proposals to all belliger­ ent and neutral goverumeatSk In the course of the operations on the west front Canadian troops, on August 15, seized Hill No. 70, dominat­ ing Lens from the northwest, a posi­ tion formerly regarded as impregna­ ble. On August 17, 111 French air­ planes carried out a series of great bombing raids, dropping over 14 tons of projectiles on aviation camps and railroad stations behind the German lines. The Italian forces opened a grand offensive on August 19. attacking on a front 40 miles long from Tolmino to the Adriatic sea. On August 25, the Italians captured Monte Santo, an Aus­ trian stronghold on the Isonzo front. Two more nations entered the war on the side of the allies In August. Li­ beria declaring war on Germany Aug­ ust 7, and China declaring war on both Germany and Austria-Hungary August 14. Ofi August 28, President Wilson's reply to the peace proposals of Pope Benedict was made public. It declared that "we cannot take the word of the present rulers of Germany as a guarantee of anything that is to endure, unless explicitly supported by such conclusive evidence of the will and purpose of the German people themselves as the other peoples of the world would be justified In accept­ ing." Other allied governments later adopted. President Wilson's note as their own reply to the pope. Early In September the Italians con­ tinued to make progress in their drive on the Isonzo front, announcing on September 1 the capture of 14 strongly fortified mountains, causing an 11- mile breach In the Austrian lines and resulting in the capture of 27,000 pris­ oners. Chaos Threatens in Russia. Conditions In Russia grew more cha­ otic during the month of September. General Korniloff, commander In chief of the Rusian armies, on September 10 demanded that all civil and mili­ tary powers be placed in his hands. Premier Kerensky Immediately de­ posed General Korniloff and civil war threatened as Korniloff, at the head of a large force of troops, marched on Petrograd. The rebellion collapsed, however, on September 13 when General Korniloff agreed to surrender to General Alexieff, chief of staff of the Russian army. The first American casualties in France were announced on September 4, when four Americans were killed in a German raid on American hos­ pitals in France, America's war prepa­ rations were continued rapidly, the first contingent of five per cent of the new National army arriving at their cantonments September 5. The replies of Germany and Austria- Hungary to Pope Benedict's peace pro­ posals were made public September 21. They accepted the pope's offer as a ba­ sis for the beginning of negotiations, but made no definite concessions. Admiral Capps, head of the United States Emergency Fleet corporation, announced a ship-building program that will bring America's merchant marine to 2.100 ships of 14,500,000 be­ fore the close of 1919. Italians Driven Back. The great Austro-Germnn offensive against the Italians was launched along the Isonzo front October 24. and within ten days the Teuton forces had retaken all the territory won by the Italians in two months' fighting and had overrun all of northern Italy. On the Russian front the activity centered around the Gulf of Riga. On October 12 the Germans captured part of the Island of Oesel and on the fol­ lowing day they took Arensburg, capi­ tal of the island. On October 13 one Russian and two German torpedo boats were sunk in a naval battle near'Oesel. On October 17 thq Germans took full possession of the island of Oesel and oh the following day they took Moon Island from the Russians. The United States began to take a more active part in the fighting during October, the first American troops go­ ing into the first line trendies in France on October 23. On October 17 the American transport Antilles, re­ turning from France, was torpedoed and sunk, with a loss of 67 lives. The second American Liberty loan of $3,000,000,000 closed October 27 with an oversubscription of nearly $2,000,- 000,000. Several more South Ameri­ can nations took a decided stand In favor of ilie allies i» Oeiouer. Peru broke off diplomatic relations with Germany October 6 and Uruguay took similar action the following day. On October 26 Brazil declared the exist­ ence of a state of war with Germany. There were evidences of internal dis­ turbances in Germany during the month, a mutiny of German sailors at Ostend being reported October 18. On October 30 Count George von Hertling was made Imperial chancellor of Ger­ many, Chancellor Mlchaells having re­ signed. On the sea the chief event of the month wasVne sinking by two German raiders of two British destroyers and 12 Scandinavian merchantmen they were convoying in the North sea on October 17. On October 31 the Ameri­ can transport Finland, returning from France, was struck by a torpedo and eight men were killed. Italian* Stop Invaders. Big events crowded fast upon each other during the month of November. The Italians, after reforming their lines back of the Tagliamento river, were forced to execute a further re­ treat, falling back to the Piave river. The Italians, re-enforced by British and French armies, which reached the Italian front November 25, withstood repeated attacks launched by the Aus- tro-Gerinan armies, holding their lines at all points along the Piave. On November 20 the British opened the greatest offensive of the year on the west front between St. Quentin and the Scarpe. In a surprise attack, be­ gun without the usual artillery prepa under the leadership of M. Lenine. seized the government at Petrograd on November 8. Premier Kerensky fled from Petrograd, and other members of the cabinet of the provisional govern­ ment were arrested. On November 10 the rebel government made Lenine pre­ mier. Kerensky, at the head of a body of loyal Cossack troops, attacked Pe­ trograd November 12, but was badly defeated. The bolshevlki were appar­ ently in full control of Russia by No­ vember 22, when the Lenrlne govern­ ment proposed a general armistice to all belligerents. American troops on the west front suffered their first casualties on No­ vember 3 when German troops raided a salient held by the Americans, kill­ ing three, wounding five and taking 12 prisoners. On November 5 the American patrol boat Alcedo was sunk by a torpedo and 21 were lost. During the last days of November and the early part of December the Germans made determined efforts to regain some of the territory captured by the British around Cambrai but the British held a large portion of the ground taken, inflicting heavy losses on the Germans. The Austro-German forces began a new offensive in Italy early in December, forcing the Italian lines back' for a distance „of several miles at some points. Early in December it was Announced that a large number of national guard troops from the United States had ar­ rived in France, units from every state being included. On December 7,1 the United States congress declared the existence of a state of war with Austria-Hungary. The following day it was announced that the American destroyer Jacob Jones had been sunk by a German submarine with a loss of 64 men. The Russian situation was further complicated by a new revolt against the bolshevlki government launched by Generals Kaledines and Korniloff, Cossack leaders. British. French and Italian troops on December 10, captured Jerusalem, which for 670 yenrs has been under the undisputed sway of the Moslems. On December 16, It was announced that Russian and Teuton emissaries had signed h fuur-weeks' armistice, one provision of which was that peace ne­ gotiations should begin immediately. Explosions In a Russian ammunition plant near Chester, Pa., killed 112 per­ sons April 10. An explosion in the Hastings mine near Ludlow, Colo., April 27, caused a loss of 119 lives. May 22, the city of Gyoenyoes, Sun-, gnry, was devastated by fire. Thirty lives were lost and great damage was done by a storm In Kansas May 25 and the f6llowing day tornadoes In central Illinois killed 150 persons and destroy­ ed property worth millions of dollars. May 29, many persons were killed In tornadoes In southern Dllnols, Ken­ tucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkan­ sas. San Salvador, capital of Salvador, and a number of surrounding towns were partially destroyed by volcanic eruption, earthquake and fire June 7. More than 150 men perished In a blaz­ ing mine at Butte, Mont., June 9. Thir­ teen were killed and many injured when a water tank fell on the steamer Christopher Columbus at Milwaukee, Wis., June 30. A Niagara Gorge trolley car plunged Into the rapids, July 1, And 28 were killed. A mine explosion at New Wa- terford, Cape Breton, killed 82 men on July 25. A mine explosion at Clay, Ky., caused the loss of 31 lives on August 4. Nineteen were lost when the Brit­ ish steamer City of Athens, carrying, missionaries to Africa, was sunk by a floating mine on August 10. Eighteen were killed In a trolley car collision near North Branford, Conn.. August 13. On August 18, a disastrous Are swept Salonikl, Greece, destroying a large part of the city. Many persons were killed In a ty­ phoon and flood at Tokio, October 2, and a thousand persons were reported drowned in great floods In Natal, South Africa, October 28. About 1,200 persons were killed and millions of dollars worth of property destroyed December 6 by an explosion and fire which followed a collision In the harbor at Halifax, N. S., between Mont Blanc, a French munition ship, and the Imo, laden with supplies for the Belgian Relief Commission. The United States submarine F-l was rammed and sunk by the subma­ rine F-3 In home waters, December 18, with a loss of 19 lives. THE WAR CONGRESS The first "war session" of the Sixty- fifth congress which opened on April 2, was the most momentous session in the history of the United States up to that time. The first war bill passed by congress was one authorizing the Issuance of bonds to an amount not exceeding $5,- 000,000.000 and authorizing the secre­ tary of the treasury to purchase se­ curities of governments at war with Germany to the amount of $3,000,000,- 000. The army conscription act was passed by the house April 28 by a vote of 397 to 24 and by the senate on May 1 by a vote of 81 to 8. The first big war appropriation bill, carrying appropriations aggregating $3,281,094,541.60 for the army and navy, was passed In the house May 2 with one opposing vote and in the sen­ ate May 19 without a roll call. The measure known as the espion­ age act, Intended to prevent disloyal acts on the part of residents of the United States and also containing pro­ visions giving the president power to place an embargo on exports, was signed by the president June 15. A bill appropriating $640,000,000 for the development of the air service was passed without a record vote by the senate on June 18 and by the bouse on June 28. The food control act, under which broad powers were given to the presi­ dent for the regulation of the sale of INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMIC Industrial unrest was apparent In the United States throughout 1917, largely as a result of war condition* and in spite of efforts made by the government, aided by leaders of organ­ ized labor, to prevent strikes which would delay the nation's war prepara­ tions. Early in the year a nation-wide strike of the skilled railroad employees, which had been averted in 1916 by the passage of the Adamson law, providing Indirectly for an increase In wages, was again threatened, owing to the fact that the placing of the Adamson law in operation was delayed pending a decision by the United States Su­ preme court on its validity. The threatened strike was averted March 18 by the capitulation of the railroad managers. On the following day the United States Supreme court hunded down a decision holding the Adamson law constitutional. Serious troubles were precipitated In the Arizona copper fields July 1 when the miners struck. Disorders were re­ ported from several points and on July 12 the people of Blgbee, Ariz., de­ ported 1,200 members of the Industrial Workers of the World, who It was charged had fomented the strikes In the copper I mines. On July 31, 32 I, W. W. leaders were deported from Gallup, N. M. On August 1, Frank Lit­ tle, I. W. W. leader, who had been prominent In the Arizona troubles, was lynched at Butte, Mont., where he had gone to take part in a strike of miners and where he was alleged to have made speeches attacking the govern- were granted limited suffrage in a bill passed by the legislature January 23. Bills providing for prohibition were passed in Indiana and Alaska February 2, and on the same day the governors of Tennessee and Oregon signed "bone dry" bills. On February 8 the govern* or of Utah signed a prohibition law passed by the legislature of that state. On February 19, Governor Lister of Washington signed a "bone dry" bill. A prohibition bill was passed In South Dakota February 20. On February 21, the national house of representatives passed a bill, already passed by the senate, prohibiting the importation of liquor into prohibition states. On Feb­ ruary 22 the Indiana legislature passed a bill granting limited suffrage to women, but this measure was later declared unconstitutional by the state supreme court. Op February 28, the house of representatives passed a bill, already passed by the senate, making the city of Washington dry after Octo­ ber 31. The Rhode Island legislature, on April 17, extended presidential suf­ frage to women. On August 1 the Unit­ ed States senate passed the Sheppard resolution providing for the submis­ sion to the states of a prohibition amendment to the Constitution. On November 6, a measure giving women the ballot in New York state was car­ ried at the general election by a large majority. ' The Danish West Indies, purchased from Denmark for $25,000,000, passed under the jurisdiction of the United States January 27, and Were renamed the Virgin Islands. Serious race riots In East St Louis, Mo., July 2, resulted In the killing of more than 20 negroes and two white men and a heavy property loss by fire. The riots were followed by prosecu­ tions by state officials and a congres­ sional Investigation. Soldiers of the Twenty-fourth U. S. Infantry (colored) started a race riot at Houston, Tex., August 23. resulting in the death of 15 whites and several negroes. Interest ia the general elections on November 6 Was centered In New York and Chicago, where Socialist tickets were defeated by large majori­ ties. Judge Ilylan, Democratic- nomi­ nee, was elected mayor of New York over fusion, Republican and Socialist candidates. In Milwaukee, Wis., November 23, ten policemen and a woman were kill­ ed by the explosion of a bomb found in a church and taken to police head­ quarters. Thirteen negroes, convicted by court martial of participating in the race riots at Houston, Tex., August 23, were hanged at San Antonio, December 11. Forty-one others were given life sen­ tences. The house of representatives, on De­ cember 17, adopted a resolution, al­ ready adopted by the senate, submit­ ting to the states a constitutional amendment for national prohibition. ON YOUR Matter That Every American l|C • Called On to Determine ;1 Without Delay. FCH1 LIMIT FOR food and fuel, was passed in the house i ment. June 23 by a vote of 365 to 5 and in A serious tie-up of all shipbuilding the senate July 21 by a vote of 81 to 6. The second great bond Issue act, authorizing the Issuance of bonds to the amount of $7,538,945,640 and war- savings certificates to the amount of $2;000,000,000, was passed in the house September 6 and in the senate Septem­ ber 15. The revenue act, first Introduced In the house May 9, was passed by the house May 23, but was not passed by the senate until September 10. The conference report was accepted Octo­ ber 2. The message provides for the raising of nearly $3,000,000,000 annu­ ally, largely from income and excess profits taxes. The bfcGfid big war appropriations act, carrying a total of $5,356,666.- 016.93, Including $635,000,000 additional for the emergency shipping fund, was approved by the president October 6. The second session of the war con­ gress opened December 3, and the fol­ lowing day President Wilson delivered a message declaring that nothing will turn the United States aside from Its task until the war is won. During December both houses of con­ gress opened far-reaching Investiga­ tions into the war preparations of the war and navy departments. for the United States. On August 30 j pnstorn "matters were cleared away by man cabinet during the war resulted meeting of a constituent assembly the j on July 14 in the resignation of Chan- povernment was vested in the execu- ' cellor von Bethmann-Hollweg and the Uve committee of the Duma and a | appointment as his successor of Dr. newly chosen eouncll of ministers with , Georg Mlchaells. On July 22, Slam Ifince Lvoff as premier. [declared war against Germany, and- Nation, the British infantry under Gen- .: The German forces on the west Austria-Hungary, bringing the number . Byng, headed by a large force of IJrcmt. on March 17, began h general j of the allied nations to sixteen. i tanks, smashed through the Hinden-j On March 11, a tornado in east cen- Ittiremeut on a front of 85 miles from British Launch Great Offensive. i burg line toward Cambrai, taking many j tral Indiana killed more than 20 per- „ - •outh of Arras to Soissons, falling The British launched their second towns and thousands of prisoners, j sons and on March 23. 38 were killed ri ge • < China and the maintenance of the open (feck to new lines which had been pre- ' great offensive of the year on the j Russia was thrown Into civil wtfr ; and more than 200 Injured when a tor- . occupied the attention or the legis a- door policy in that country. jpred. ! Flanders front on July 31. attacking | during the month by a Counter-revolu- j nndo wrecked part of the city of New j tures of^munj ̂ states T^_^0 , (Copyright. 19J£;<I* • T h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n G e r m a n y A n d j on a 20-mile front from Dlxmude to j tion bv means of which the bolshevikl, (Albany, Ind. DISASTERS ON LAND AND SEA The year 1917 was marked by many disasters on land and sea, aside from those resulting from the land and naval operations of the countries at war. Thousands of lives were lost and millions of dollars worth of prop­ erty was destroyed by fires, explosions, earthquakes, tornadoes and other de­ structive agencies in all parts of the world. On January 5, an earthquake in For­ mosa caused the death of 300 persons. On January 25, an earthquake killed 50 persons on Ball Island, Malay archl- pellgo. On February 2, an explosion and fire In a Chicago tenement killed 25. On February 3, 30 were killed and 344 hprt In a ship explosion at Archangel. On the same day an explosion at Yo­ kohama killed 100. On February 21, the British transport Mendi was sunk In a-collision, 625 South African la- I borers being lost. plants in the country was threatened in August and September. Machinists and boilermakers in Eastern ship­ yards went ou strike August 21 and 25,000 skilled mechanics and other workmen struck in San Francisco Sep­ tember 17. Qn September 20, Presi­ dent Wilson named a commission* headed by Secretary of Labor Wilson and representing both employers and employees, to act as his personal rep­ resentatives in allaying labor troubles during the war. The -strike in the San Francisco shipyards was ended Sep­ tember 26 through the efforts of the government mediators. Leaders of organized labor In the United States look a decided stand throughout the year in support of the government preparations for war and against antiwar propaganda. At the annual meeting of the American Fed­ eration of Labor in Buffalo In Novem­ ber, union labor pledged its solid sup­ port to the goverument in the prosecu­ tion of the war. The railroads of the country faced another crisis during the closing months of the year when demands were made by the-four brotherhoods for wage increases averaging 40 per cent, affecting, directly and indirectly, approximately 2,000,000 railroad em­ ployees. Labor troubles of the year were closely allied with economic develop­ ments, growing out of the increased cost of living In the-United States. In order to prevent further Increases In pricesggovernment regulation of many industries was undertaken as a war measure. On May 19, President Wil­ son selected Herbert C. Hoover, chair­ man of the Belgian relief commission, as lieud of a food control board, and later, on August 11. following the pass­ age by congress of a food-control bill, Mr. Hoover was made food adminis­ trator. On August 21, President V\ 11- son Issued an order fixing the basic prices for bituminous coal in the pro­ ducing districts oi the country. On August 23, President Wilson appointed Dr. H. A. Garfield fuel administrator MEXICO AND UNITED STATES The friction between the United States and Mexico, which had threat­ ened for two years or more to result In open warfare, began to disappear early in 1917 and when the atten­ tion of the people of the United States was focused upon more important matters by the entrance of the United States Into the world war, the Mexican "crisis" faded from the public view. Despite the failure of negotiations with the Carranza government Presi­ dent Wilson ordered the withdrawal of the American troops from Mexico and on February 5, General Pershing and his troops marched out of Mexico af­ ter having been in that country almost a year. On March 11, General Carranza was formally elected president of Mexico. From this time oa conditions in Mexi­ co became more tranquil and there were evidences that President Carran­ za was succeeding in restoring order In the republic. It was not until late in the year Ihnt Villa again became ac­ tive. On November 13. troops led by Villa's aids, captured Ojlnaga. on the American border, after a hard fight. Several hundred Carranza soldiers fled across the border and were Interned In the United States. / POLITICS IN FOREIGN LANDS A spirit of unrest was apparent in many widely separated countries in 1017, leading In some cases to revolu­ tion and civil war. The revolution In Russia, resulting In the abdication of Czar Nicholas and the forced abdica­ tion of King Constantine of Greece were events closely allied with the war. Disturbance* In China, Including an attempt to restore the monarchy, were Influenced pr.r'.ly by the war. Conditions In China *vere unsettled un­ til June 30, when under the 'nfluence of monarchists, Hsuan Tung, Manchu emperor, announced hU' resumption of the throne of China. Civil war Im­ mediately broke out and on Ju'.v 10 the attempt to restore (he monarchj collapsed. On July 13 the monarchist armv, led hv Chang Hsuu. fiirrerdered after a battle at Peking. The repub­ lican government was firmly establish­ ed again and later declared war on Germanv and Austria-nungary. Civil war In Cuba threatened to dis­ rupt that country during the early months of the year. The rebels were badly defeated in several engagements and on March 7, Gomez, their leader, was captured. The rebellion was stamped out quickly after the capture of Gomez. Great Britain continued to wrestle with the Irish problem throughout the year. The Irish nationalists, on March 7, demanded Immediate home rule and marched out of the house of commons In a body. On July 25 a convention proposed hy Premier Lloyd George and representing all factions in Ireland met for the purpose of drafting a home rule constitution for Ireland. Some misunderstandings between the United States and Japan over far Failure to File Them Involves SevsviM ; Penalties--Taxpayers Will B« As­ sisted by Treasury Officials In Every County. „ Washington.--The time has arrived! for every American subject to the in-- come tax division of the war revenue' act to figure up his income and filer- his return. If he Is unmarried an& has a net income of $1,000 or more, of If he is married or the head of a faot* ily and his net income is $2,000 or- more, he must pay the tax. His r«r-. turn must be in the hands of the col­ lector of internal revenue In the dis­ trict in which the taxpayer lives or has his principal piacs of business fys* fore March 1, 1918. The man who thinks to evade this tax is making a serious error. Revenue officials'will be in every county to check returns. Failure to make a co** rect return t within the time specific^ invoh-es heavy penalties. "Net income" means gross income less certain deductions provided for by the act. The law defines income as< profit, gain, wages, salary, commis­ sions, money or its equivalent from professions, vocations, commerce, trade, rents, sales and dealings in prop­ erty, real and personal, and Interest from Investments except interest from government bonds, or state, municipal township or county bonds. Incomes from service as guardian, trustee or executor; from dividends, pensions, royalties, br patents, 6r oil and gas wells, coal land, etc., are taxable. Normal Rats Is 2 Per Cent. The normal rate of tax is 2 per cent on net incomes above the amount of exemptions, which is $2,000 in the case of a married person or head of a fam­ ily and $1,000 In the case of a single person. A married person or head of a family Is allowed an additional ex­ emption of $200 for each dependant child If under eighteen years of age or Incapable of self-support because defective. The taxpayer Is considered to be the head of a family if he Is actually supporting one or more per­ sons closely connected with him hy blood relationship or relationship by marriage, or If his duty to support such person Is based on some moral or legal obligation. Debts ascertained to be worthless and charged off within the year and taxes paid except Income taxes and those assessed against local benefits are deductible. These and other points of the income tax section of the war revenue act will be fully explained by revenue officers who will visit every county In the United States between January 2 and March 1 to assist tax* payers In making out their returns. Officers to Visit Every Locality. Notice of their arrival in each local­ ity will be given In advance through the press, banks and post offices. They will be supplied with income tax forms copies of which may be obtained alas from collectors of internal revenue. The bureau of Internal revenue- III seeking to impress upon persons sub­ ject to the tax the fact that failure to see this official in no way relieves them of the duty Imposed by law to file their returns within the time speci­ fied. The penalty for failure to make th» return on time is a fine of not less than $20 nor more than $1,000, and In addition 50 per cent of the amount of the tax due. For making a false or fraudulent return, the penalty Is a fine not to exceed $2,000 or not ex­ ceeding one year's Imprisonment, or both, In the discretion of the court, and In addition 100 per cent of the tax evaded. s As to the Farmers. The number of farmers who will pay income taxes has not been estimated by the government officials, but it Is 'certain they will form a large percen­ tage of the 6.000,000 persons assessed who never before have paid an Income tax. The average farmer does not keep books but If he avails himself erf the services of government experts who will be sent to aid him, it will not be difficult for him to ascertain the amount of his net Income. .. . The farmer is making out his return," may deduct depreciation In the value- of property and machinery used In the- conduct of his farm, and loss by fire* storm or other casualty, or by theft if not covered by Insurance. Expenses actually Incurred in farm operation may be deducted, but not family or liv­ ing expense. Produce raised on the- farm and traded for groceries, weartt|g- apparel. etc.. Is counted as living dp*, penditures and cannot be deducted. J the United States wheat committee fixed the, basic price for the 1917 erop at $2.20 a bushel. DOMESTIC AFFAIRS Prohibition bills aud measures grant- the signing by diplomatic representa­ tives of the two countries on Novem­ ber 2 of art agreement by which the United States recognizes the fact that Japan has special interests In China because of Its proximity but guaran­ teeing the territorial integrity of J 1917. The women of North Dakota i per SyndieaU.) Pilgrim Qot By. A seven-year-old was -asked teacher at the primary school to pro­ duce a composition upon the subject of" his favorite literary work. The young­ ster went into executive session wit* himself and turned out the Sollowin* succinct criticism of a well-known andt popular classic: "The Book I like best is called Pil­ grim's Progress. My mother reads thin Rook to me every Night before I ge to Bed. I love to hear about the Pilgrim. He had a hard time, but he got Saturday Evening Post. Wealth ind Poverty. i l Wealth as well ss poverty, has tin hardships--a species of Isolating whtffe limits choice comradeships and !n sow circumstances is very depressing; n suspicion as to the motives of courte­ sies extended, the sincerity of praise given, and the genuineness of fries#* «hlp.--Exchange. V -- • -m Paying fee Poetry. ""*•& Poetess--"Do you pay for poetry** fid!tor--Tee, madam. My physician irders me to an expensive reet twice a year."--Buffalo ffii.pi ass,