The United States Congress passes by large majorities a Bill for raising an American army by compulsory service. The British advance east of the Vimy Ridge and astride the Scarpe: Arleux is captured. The French offensive on the Aisne is checked. April 29 (Sun.) The British approach the Oppy line; they capture a mile of German trenches and 976 prisoners; fierce German counter-attacks are repulsed. General Pétain is appointed Chief of the French Staff. April 30 (Mon.) Mesopotamia:--General Maude defeats the 13th Turkish Army Corps at the gorge of the Shatt-el-Adhaim (where the river cuts the Jebel Hamrin range). H.M.S. _Tulip_ (sloop--employed as Special Service ship) is sunk by a submarine in the Atlantic. May 1 (Tues.) The French advance east of Rheims. May 2 (Wed.) In Great Britain a Royal Proclamation is issued, exhorting the nation to food economy. The British destroyer _Derwent_ is sunk by a mine in the English Channel (52 lives lost). May 3 (Thur.) A new Greek Cabinet is formed: Premier, M. Zaimis (see Sept 11, 1916, and June 23, 1917). The British attack on a sixteen-mile front east of Arras; the Canadians take Fresnoy, east of Vimy (see May 8); the Hindenburg 'switch' line is broken near Queant, and the Hindenburg line as far as Oppy is carried; counter-attacks by two divisions of the Prussian Guard are repulsed; 928 prisoners are captured. The Caucasus:--Mush is abandoned by the Russians (see Aug. 24, 1916). May 4 (Fri.) The British gain ground near St. Quentin and Hargicourt; the French take Craonne, carry German trenches on a front of 2½ miles, and capture 1000 prisoners. The British transport _Transylvania_ is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean (over 400 lives lost). May 5 (Sat.) Russia:--The Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates passes a vote of confidence in the Provisional Government by a narrow majority. The French advance on a front of 20 miles north of the Aisne and capture important ground towards Laon; they carry the Chemin-des-Dames and the crest of the Craonne Ridge; over 6000 prisoners are taken. H.M.S. _Lavender_ (sloop) is sunk by a submarine in the English Channel. May 6 (Sun.) German counter-attacks on the Aisne Front are repulsed, and the French capture 2000 more prisoners. May 7 (Mon.) A German attack on the British near Lens is repulsed. A German aeroplane raid on north-east London in the early morning (1 killed). May 8 (Tues.) Liberia breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany. The Germans attack in strength and recapture Fresnoy from the British (see May 3). The French carry an enemy position beyond Chevreux (north-east of Craonne). May 9 (Wed.) A resolution is passed by the Russian Committee of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates in favour of an International Socialist Peace Conference to be held at Stockholm (see May 28). Macedonia:--The British advance near Lake Doiran. May 10 (Thur.)