CONGRESS OPENS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1917, Page 2

CONGRESS OPENS

Intense Scenes (Received April 3, at 11.35 a.m.) Washington, April 2 Congress has been convened. There is intense feeling among the crowds. Pacifists and anti-pacifists surrounded the entrance. While waiting in the corridors a Pacifist assaulted Senator Lodge, knocking him down and bruising his face. Mias Rankin, the first woman representative, wsb the centre of a cheering demonstration when she took her scat in the House.

Mr Champ Clark was elected

Speaker. The Chaplain prayed that if war were forced upon United States that every Americans’ heart thrill with patriotic feeling and that everyone would rally round the Presideet and enable him to protect the hvos of Americans aud safeguard American independence. Representative Gsrdiaer introduced a resolution provid : ng for a declaration of war. The Formal Resolution. (Received April 3, at 1.15 p.m,} Washington, April 2 Mr Flood, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, arranged to introduce the resolution, outlining the reoent aofs of Germany, and declaring them as tantamount to war against United States. That such a state of belligerency has been thrust upon United States as to be formally declared, and that the President be authorised to put country into a state of adequate defence and to exert fall powers to oarry on the war to a successful conclusion. Russia-Settling Down.. London, March 28 Extremists ars. dangerously effecting the Petrograd garrison, 30,000 of whom are young, uneducated "peasant soldiers, who have been only a few months with the colors. The fact that the bonds of discipline and comradeship uniting the soldiers with the oivilian officers are extremely slender goes far to explain the rapidity with which the authority of the old regime crumbled away, A great improvement in discipline is noticeable at the barracks, Although the men atilKiefuse to siMuto their officers, the outlook is more hopeful. The extremists will probably agree to _ support the Duma until a gigantic election can be organised. The Daily Chronicle’s Petrograd correspondent states that the solders and workmen are solid for a victorious war. They receive indignantly speeches by revolutionary pacifists, A speaker who cried, ‘‘Down with the war,” and spoke of our brothers, the Germans, was howled down by the Proabrajeheusky soldiers shouting, “ Bayonet him. brothers;” The transformation is bewildering. When one heard a general, a prince of an ancient family, praising the Socialist M. Kerensky, oaa felt tho tremendous leap Russia has takeu. No regret 13 expressed for the Czar or the Czarina. There is no vindictive feeling, no question of execution, The absence of brutal violence is remarkable, The leaders are shoeing supreme patriotism.

The Socialists and the soldiers’ delegates are publishing new journals. The newsvendors ..were besieged. The political censorship has ended. The newspapers are unanimously patriotic. The Moderates and the Radicals emphatically point out the blessings of freedom obtained at such slight cost of life, to ba consolidated by fighting hereditary enemies, who are eagc-rly watching an opportunity to stiike a desperate blow. Anti-Russi3n journals, including many Jews, are displaying remarkable statesmanship and discrimination in their efforts ts reach the Radicals. It is expected that the extremist agitation will gradually subside. The Petrogrid corespondent of the Daily Mail says that on Saturday huge crowds gathered in the Nevsky Prospect around an auction of Moscow newspapers. A single copy of the Ruskoe Slovo brought £IOOO, and another was knocked dowD for £350. The proceeds are to provide food and luxuries for soldiers,

The Moscow correspondent of the Times says that during a parade of 33,000 troops, many regiments gave prominence to red flags. Most of the soldiers and some of the officers wore red favors. Australian Captures Prince (Received April 3, at 11.45 a.m) London, April 2 The Pad Mall Gazette states an Australian foidier prisccered Prince Karui Frederick, who offered him money in order to secure his release. Thß Prirca gave the Australian an automatic pistol, which he kept as a trophy.

Appeal Dismissed London, April 2 Wheeldou’a appeal in the conspiracy case# was'diamisaed. Austrian Sympathy Buda Pest, April 2 A meeting of the Parliamentary Opposition passed absolution sympathising w‘:h the Russian revolt and declaring that the Hungarian Army would never be used to re-establish the Roman, if dynasty,

Turkish Defeats. (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) London, April 2 Russian official—We repulsed a Tut kish offensive in the direction of Peurlgivin and occupied Maitaque, Paitaxt and Serpoule in the direction of Kanakhu. The Turkish retreat towards Rasri* khirim, continues. French Successes. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association aud Reuter.) i London, April 2 t A French comrauu : qae says our patrols pushed uorfcb-ssst of Dallou and north of Castles, in the region of St Q leafiu and found the' enemy’s lines, which were strongly occupied. Pursuing our euccesfes south'of Ailette, we drove tba Germans beyond Vauxiilion end stopped several counter attacks on the positions we recaptured west of Maison do Champagne. Official Report Wellington, April 3 The High Commissioner report! London, April 2nd at 2.55 p.m.:— _French official—l. l tho region of St Qatntin we pushed northwards of Dailon and Castrfs, as far as the enemy lines, which we have found to be strongly occupied. Using British Prisoners Lon con, April 2 Mr Hopo said Gut there wAs no doubt the Germans ware employing British prisoners behind the lines,