American ships have been sunk and American lives taken in ways which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk and overwhelmed in the waters in the same way. PRESIDENT WILSON, _Washington, April 2, 1917._ [Illustration] _"STILL THEY COME"_ * * * * * According to new reports, our troops during the battle of April 16 between Soissons and Rheims broke up very important German forces. In expectation of our attack the enemy had brought up nineteen divisions. According to the accounts of prisoners, formal orders had been given to hold out at any cost on the first position, which had been deepened. The losses suffered by the Germans were heavy not only during the battle, but on the preceding days. The number of unwounded prisoners taken by us between Soissons and Rheims now reaches eleven thousand. _French Communique, April 11, 1917._ [Illustration] _Tommy: "You'll soon see the Stars and Stripes."_ _Fritz: "Just seen some."_ * * * * * Our gains reported this morning north of the Vimy Ridge have been secured and our positions strengthened. During the fighting on the 9-10th inst. we captured prisoners from all infantry regiments of six German divisions--namely, 79th Reserve Division, First Bavarian Reserve Division, 14th Bavarian Division, 11th Division, 17th Reserve Division, and 18th Reserve Division. _British Official, April 12, 1917._ [Illustration] _William to Herr Scheidemann: "The Turks believe I am a Mahomedan, try to make the Russian socialists believe I am a Democrat."_ * * * * * A Berlin telegram published by the "Cologne Gazette" states that Herr Scheidemann, leader of the German Socialist Majority Party, has gone with other German Socialists to Stockholm, in order to get into touch with Russian Socialists. _Reuter, April 12, 1917._ [Illustration] _GERMANY'S WAR AIMS_ _Bethmann-Hollweg to Anti-Annexationist and Pro-Annexationist: "I cannot disclose details, but I perfectly agree with both of you."_ * * * * * What is Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg still waiting for? If he now makes a frank and bold statement in the sense of the Russian peace formula three States will stand together, namely, Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary. _Vorwaerts, May 7, 1917._ [Illustration] _The Ober-Hof-Socialist: "Yes! we must make a peace without annexations."_ * * * * * At the last sitting of the executive committee of the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates, M. Borgbjerg, on behalf of the Labor parties of Scandinavia--Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian--conveyed an official invitation to all Socialist parties in Russia to the proposed international conference at Stockholm.