text: £■*.■ | Ik3kulW| • 1 I IMMMrwW '•;£’ I 1 ,K?’? ■nL # I | |sH9M| i ■ 17/<bbLi \BB D k i! *H~~ i ,.&4 t | liOlw j gfcg|gW^SliaMks&. | TOm<A tt g B I &™SBSB»SL ' J 'a <.I. ft, x,’»,|.*l’* r I—Battleship in Vladivostok harbor from which the Japanese had just landed a force of marines. 2 Arrival at the front in France of a train with heavy American guns. B—ltalian soldiers on a road on the side of a mountain precipice where severe fighting has been going on. NEWS REVIEW OF THE PAST WEEK Austria’s Great Offensive in North Italy Proves to Be an Utter Failure. STOPPED WITH HUGE LOSSES Revolt Spreading Paet In the Dual Kingdom—Powerful German At tack on Reims Completely Repulsed—Draft Age Lim it to Be Extended. t By EDWARD W. PICKARD. Austria's record of never-winning when she goes into battle unaided by the Germans was magnificently sustained last week. Starting the long heralded offensive with nearly all the forces at his command, Field Marshal von Borevic made a desperate effort to force his way across the Plave and down into the Venetian plains, with Treviso, Bassano and then Verona as his objectives. His men were given postcard maps with the route and schedule marked, and were urged to do their utmost in order that they might get the plentiful food in the "promised land." Approximately a million Austrian soldiers assailed the Italian lines from 'Aslago to the Adriatic, but King Victor Emmanuel's splendid army was everywhere ready to meet them. At the western or mountain end the enemy made no progress at all, being mowed down in masses that fairly blocked the roadways and passes. All attacks on the Asiago plateau, which is of great importance because of its easy approaches from the Austrian side, were beaten off by the British under Lord Cavan, and the enemy's attempts on Monte Grappa were no more successful. It was between these points, down the Brenta and Frenzela valleys, that the Austrians hoped to push the west point of a pincer's movement that should flank Treviso and the entire line to the coast. The high land at Montello was the scene of most sanguinary fighting and the enemy made some headway there for a day or two, but gained little save a shocking casualty list. Further east, at various points, the Austrians were able to force crossings of the Plave by means of bridges constructed under cover of gas and smoke shelling, but after getting across the troops found themselves in traps from which they could not escape with their lives, for the batteries of the allies on the higher ground had them at their mercy. Only near the extreme eastern end of the line, between the Zenson loop and the Adriatic, did Borevic’s forces achieve anything that resembled success. There they pushed far enough south of the Plave to reach the Fossalta canal, and Vienna claimed this was crossed. Here the enemy was about ten miles from Venice, but the resistance of the Italians was so determined that no anxiety was felt for that city’s safety. Before the week closed the enemy in that region had been driven back. Most of the pontoon bridges were swept away by the swollen Plave. In a word, the great Austrian offensive, up to the close of the week, was an absolute failure and was admitted to be such by captured officers and by some of the Vienna newspapers. The Italian army, never in better condition than now, fought with the utmost gallantry and spirit, and was ably aided by the British and French contingents. Mention must be made, too, of the Americans, for an escadrille of American aviators, trained in Italy, went to the front and gave notable help in driving the enemy back. Austrian aviators from the air. Defeat in Italy may mean absolute disaster to the Austro-Hungarian empire, for its heterogeneous peoples already are beginning to rebel against the rule that has brought them to the verge of starvation, has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of their men, and has given them nothing but false promises of victory. In many parts of the empire the distressed people are rising against the authorities, and in Vienna itself on Wednesday a great and hungry mob looted shops, stoned the residence of the premier and even attacked the Hofburg palace, in protest against the reduction of the bread ration. The food controller is helpless, admitting that the empire’s wheat is exhausted and that the grain supplies from Romania are small and of inferior quality. In Leipzig, Budapest and Prague also there were serious food riots, and all through the empire signs were plentiful that the people were ready to revolt if they were not given a speedy peace and bread. It would appear that the time is about ripe for the long predicted uprising of the oppressed nationalities of Austro-Hungary—the Bohemians, the southern Slavs and the Poles. The Germans expect and fear this event, and of course would step in to suppress it by force of arms. But even if it were not wholly successful it would create a diversion in the midst of “Mittel Europa” that would do much to hasten the final victory of the allied nations over Germany. Only one operation of moment took place on the western front last week. This was a powerful assault on the allied troops guarding Reims, delivered by the army of the crown prince. About 40,000 Germans took part in the attack, which was preceded by a terrific bombardment. The enemy charged from the village of Vrigny, southwest of Reims, and all around the loop to La Pompelle, the fortified stronghold on the east. The struggle was violent in the extreme, but the Germans were everywhere repulsed with very heavy losses. Only in the Silesia wood southeast of the city did the enemy gain a foothold, and prompt counter-attacks by the French threw him back from that to his old positions. A great many German prisoners were taken. They said they had been ordered to take Reims at any cost. The fact that the attack was not renewed by the crown prince was taken to indicate the exhaustion of his troops. Military experts in France believe another battle will be begun soon by the Germans, possibly on the road to Calais, or between Montdiller and Chateau Thierry across the Oise and Aisne to the Marne. If they select the latter sector, the Americans will again be in the thick of the fighting. Those boys did not have a great deal to do last week, though they carried out some successful raids and repulsed every one made against their lines. From the south side of the Marne, they sent several patrols across the river in boats, in each instance killing numbers of the enemy and bringing back prisoners. Moreover, not a single German patrol has ever been permitted to cross the Marne to the American side. The war department in Washington was strongly urged last week to send a force of Americans to Italy, not only to help in the fighting but especially to demonstrate to the Italian armies that America is ready to aid their country to the limit, thus counteracting the extensive anti-American propaganda carried on of late in Italy. The diplomatic representatives of Italy here thought it would be a wise move, and Secretary Baker intimated Thursday that American soldiers would soon be fighting on the Plave front. Appeals for an allied army in Siberia are growing louder daily, and conditions in what once was Russia are becoming steadily more favorable for such action. The bolshevik power is waning, though the Leninites still control the arms and supplies in most of the centers of population. In western Siberia, the Ozecho-Slovaks have joined forces with the counterrevolutionists; Tomesk and other towns have been occupied and as government set up. At Kiev, a great revolt has broken out; 40,000 armed and organized peasants are participating and the movement has spread to the Poltava and Tchernov districts. There is much street fighting, and the revolutionists have destroyed artillery stores. Doctor Masaryk, the Bohemian leader, conferred with President Wilson concerning the plans for getting out of Siberia the 60,000 Czecho-Slovaks who wish to join the allies. Most of them are armed and organized. We may yet have the chance to see these sturdy fighters, formerly our foes by compulsion, passing in triumph through the United States on their way to join the other armies. of freedom. The senate committee on military affairs adopted an amendment to the army appropriation bill authorizing the president to raise a volunteer legion of Slavic residents of the United States for service in “any field of action.” Mr. Wilson approved the amendment. Word was received that the Turks on June 14 occupied and looted Tabriz, the second city of Persia, took possession of the American and British consulates there over the protests of the Spanish consul who was in charge of them, and sacked the American hospital, over which the Spanish flag was flying. If the report is verified, Turkey has committed an act of war against the United States, and a declaration of war by this country against the Porte may be the result. Many senators and representatives have favored such action for a long time and their position is strengthened by the recent occurrence. The formal inclusion of Bulgaria also among our enemies probably would follow immediately. Thus would come to an end the incongruous state of affairs which has permitted the Turkish and Bulgarian diplomats to remain in this country free to gather such information as they could and transmit it to their allies and our enemies. The well-informed have given up the hope that Turkey might be induced to withdraw from the war, since she has been given part of the spoils of Russia. The submarines operating in the west Atlantic have sunk several more neutral vessels, but there is reason to believe that one or two of them have been destroyed in encounters with armed steamers. A Venezuelan journalist who was driven from Caracas admits there are German U-boat bases in Venezuela. The raids off the American coast are declared by American naval headquarters in England to mean that the submarine campaign is a failure, the enemy’s only chance of employing the limited number of his U-boats successfully being to concentrate their operations on the focal points of allied trade. It was stated that today sufficient tonnage is available to meet allied demands and it is constantly growing larger. The British make the welcome announcement that 21 German destroyers and a large number of submarines and other craft are penned up in the Bruges canal locks as a result of the recent blocking operations at Zeebrugge. These vessels are constantly subjected to bombing by the naval aviators. The department of justice uncovered last week a gigantic conspiracy between manufacturers and contractors’ agents to solicit government war orders under agreements to pay commissions illegally to the agents. Hundreds of offices throughout country were raided and papers seized. The department said the commission agents would be prosecuted, and that all contracts made by them or with their aid were subject to annulment by the government. So insistent is becoming the demand for a more complete mobilization of America’s man power that extension of the draft age limits probably will not be postponed until the winter session of congress. Provost Marshal General Crowder urges that the law be amended immediately to take in all between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, and Secretary of War Baker says he will recommend such an amendment if submitted by the senate or house. General Crowder told the military affairs committees that the legislation is needed at once if we intend to do anything this year. He not only wants more fighting men, but also he desires to extend the “work or fight” order so that there will be virtual conscription of labor for war industries. His plans would assure the registration of four or five million men qualified for military service. SELECT BETTER DAIRY COWS Raising of Best Heifer Calves Will Provide Means of Cutting Out Low Producers. (Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture.) The war has greatly increased the demand for dairy products, and it is important that they be produced economically. In order that the quantity of dairy products may be large and the production economical, more and better cows are needed. The raising of all the best heifer calves will provide cows enough to permit the culling out of all low producers. Every owner of dairy cows should establish a definite standard, and all cows that do not measure up to the requirements should be disposed of for beef. Whether a dairy cow should be rejected or retained should depend ordinarily on production, as shown by the milk scales and the Bab. Cock test. Farmers who are too busy to test their own cows may now have this work done for them at nominal cost by joining a cow-testing association. Such an association ordinarily is an organization of about 26 dairy farmers who co-operatively employ a man to keep records of their cows. The tester — *• ; • turtai Jersey Cow With All the Markings of a Good Milk Producer. He spends one day each month with each member, tests and weighs the milk for butterfat, weighs the feed, both concentrates and roughage, and advises the farmer concerning the quantity and kind of feed to be given each cow in the herd. From the quantity of milk, the butterfat test and the cost of feed, he helps the farmer to determine which cow should be rejected. He also aids in the selection of calves, in improving the sanitation of the barn, milk house and dairy utensils, and in many other ways assists in lifting the dairy business to a higher level. There are now 472 cow-testing associations in the United States, and last year monthly records were kept for 261,831 cows, or about 1 percent of all the dairy cows in this country. The cows in the associations whose records have been tabulated averaged 247 pounds of butterfat, or about 50 percent more than the average production of all the dairy cows in the United States. If all the dairy cows in the country could be brought up to the average of the cow-testing associations, production would be increased 50 percent in quantity and the cost of production would be considerably reduced. TEMPERATURE FOR CHURNING Much Depends on Season of Year, but Is Usually From 52 to 60 Degrees in Summer. (Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture.) The desirable temperature at which to churn is that which makes the butter granules firm without being hard. This is usually obtained under normal conditions when the churning occupies 30 or 40 minutes. The necessary churning temperature depends upon the season of the year and certain other factors, but is usually from 52 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and from 58 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. If the cream is churned at 62 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, and the butter comes in 85 minutes, with the granules firm, it will be noticed, as summer approaches and the cows are turned out to pasture, that the cream churns more quickly and the butter is softer. This is an indication that a churning temperature should be used, and thus from season to season the churning temperature is regulated so that the butter granules may have the proper firmness. When the temperature is either too low or too high, undesirable results are obtained. A low temperature prolongs the churning period unnecessarily, and may even make it impossible to churn butter. It causes the granules, especially when the cream is thin, to form in tiny pellets, like fine shot, many of which run out with the buttermilk. The working of the butter and the incorporation of the salt are accomplished only with great difficulty, and the body of the butter is liable to be brittle and tallowy. Adding hot water to cream to warm it, and using wash water more than three degrees warmer than the butter in order to soften it, are bad practices, since they injure the quality of the butter. If the proper churning temperature is used, the butter granules will be of the proper firmness. A Bird in the Hand (Special Information Service, United States Department of Agriculture.) KEEP THE PULLETS GROWING. A Flock of Pullets Such as These Will Become Money Makers Immediately Upon Reaching Maturity. RETARDED LAYING GUARDED AGAINST One of Most Important Things to Prevent in Keeping Flock of Chickens. EARLY PULLETS BEST LAYERS Young Fowls Whose Growth Has Been Continuous From Hatching to Maturity Are Almost Invariably Largest Producers. The difference between early-laying pullets and late-laying pullets may be the difference between profit and loss in poultry keeping. Retarded laying, therefore, is one of the things to be guarded against by all poultry keepers, whether on a large or a small scale. . Normally, laying begins when growth ceases. Individuals of the small, precocious breeds may begin laying before they cease growing. That, though likely to be of some permanent disadvantage, need not give the grower serious concern. Individuals, of whatever breed, may fall to begin laying at maturity, and that is a matter of serious concern to every poultry keeper. The pullet that fails to become an egg producer at maturity, instead of being an asset, becomes a dead expense, absorbing a large part of the profit that she may make in later life. Early Laying Pullet. Almost without exception the pullet whose growth from hatching to maturity has been regular, not subject to checks and interruptions, is an early layer. A check to growth at any stage, according to poultry experts of the United States department of agriculture, is likely to retard laying. In support of this statement, the fact is pointed out that it is not unusual to find May-hatched pullets laying earlier than their sisters that were hatched in April and were retarded in the early stage of their growth by unfavorable weather. Retardation by weather conditions, however, is only one of many things that may check the normal growth of a pullet and defer the beginning of her usefulness as a productive fowl. Egg production depends upon activity of the reproductive organs, which should begin at or before the cessation of physical growth. Apparently, influences unfavorable to the development of the body are still more unfavorable to the development of the reproductive organs, and it is not uncommon to find pullets of apparently perfect outward body development in which egg production is deferred for several months. Disturbances retard laying. Any disturbance affecting the habits, nutrition, or comfort of a pullet, at any previous stage of life may retard laying at maturity and therefore, is to be assiduously guarded against. Shifting from place to place or changes in diet may constitute a sufficient disturbance to retard laying. In fact, these are common methods in use among poultry fanciers to retard the laying of pullets that they desire to keep in condition for exhibition as pullets. It follows, therefore, that the disturbances encouraged by fanciers for exhibition pullets are among the things that must be avoided by poultry keepers whose object is to develop pullets into early egg-producing hens. The fact to be borne constantly in mind is that the main factor in egg production is activity of the reproductive organs, and that the development of these organs is continuous from the earliest stages of the growth of the "bird instead of beginning, as was once supposed, at or near maturity. Pullets about to begin laying are more sensitive to disturbances than at earlier stages of their growth, and therefore require greater care in handling, but disturbances retarding growth even of small chicks are likely to retard the beginning of egg production. Keep growth regular. Every poultry keeper, therefore, who is growing pullets for egg production, will need to exercise care from the time the chicks are hatched until they become mature hens to make sure that their growth is regular, not subject at any time to checks and disturbances. All other factors in egg production are secondary to activity of the reproductive organs, which depends largely upon regularity of development. Without this, not an egg is produced, though every other factor may be sufficient, and with it eggs may be produced though every other factor is inadequate. Secondary factors are nourishment, regularity, comfort, constitution, exercise, cleanliness, varying greatly in value, but ranking about in the order named. J. KEEP PULLETS GROWING For every day that your pullets fail to lay after they cease growing, you are pocketing a loss. Laying is retarded by any check to growth at any period from hatching to maturity. Laying is retarded by seeming trivial disturbances, like moving from place to place and radical changes in rations. In order to be sure of early eggs—eggs laid at a time when prices are high and eggs decrease. —see to it that the growth of your pullets is not retarded, and if that they are never annoyed or flustered unnecessarily. PRICE OF SQUABS NOT CHANGED BY BIG WAR There is one kind of meat—and, as far as anybody has been able to ascertain, only one—that has not increased greatly in price. That one, before the war, was considered a luxury within the reach only of persons with exceptionally fat purses, but it has maintained practically its pre-war price and is now little, if any, more expensive than other choice meats. That meat is squab—young pigeon. At last squabs appear about to come into their own as an important source of meat supply. This transformation is due, in large measure, to the energy and patriotic action of the American Squab Breeders’ association. The influence of that association extends to about 10,000 squab breeders, and is estimated to affect, in one way, Or another, not less than 50,000 persons who raise pigeons for meat. Until within the past few months, it was thought that squabs had to be fatened on wheat — and it took a lot of wheat to make a good squab. But when it became apparent that the world’s available supply of wheat was not sufficient to meet the world’s pressing need for bread and that the success of the allied armies depended largely on saving it, the association of squab breeders began a systematic effort to eliminate wheat as a pigeon feed by substituting corn, kaffir, sunflower seeds, and other concentrated forms of vegetable protein. The effort has been crowned with success. One squab breeder writes: "I have fed no wheat in the past six months, using whole corn instead, and have certainly had good results." Another who had substituted wild grass seeds, a feed that formerly went completely to waste, says: "I have had good results and do not intend to use any wheat in the future." The United States department of agriculture, cooperating with the federal food administration, has given careful thought to the subject, has furnished such literature as it had pertaining to the subject, and has issued some new matter, all of which is available to persons who may be interested in extending their squab breeding operations or in entering the business. 