The Colorado statesman., 1917-04-28
War Councils With Leaders of the
Allies Are Opened in Wash
ington.
FIGHT over CONSCR|pTION
Dents Committee Rejects Presidents
PIan-Enemy Submarine Report
ed Near New York-Niveile
Smashes German Lines
Between Reims and
Soissons.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

For America at war the outstand-
ing event of the past week was the
opening of the great allied war coun-
ellis in Washington. Headed by such
eminent men as British Foreign Min
lister Balfour and Rene Viviani, former
premier of France, the commissions
from England and France arrived in
the national capital, were installed in
fine residences and at once began the
series of conferences with the heads
of the American government and of
its armed forces.
In order to insure the safety of the
commissioners, the government quite
properly suppressed all news of their
movements and it is in no hurry to
tell what transpires Mt the conferences.
1t is safe to say, however, that the re-
suits of the meetings will be moment
Ous
Congress provided enough sinews of
war for the present by passing the
bill for the issuance of $1,000 900,
of which $3OOO,O00,000 is to be lent to
the allies. There was not single op-
posing vote In either house or senate.
Congress also appropriated $1OO,OOO,-
600 as an emergency war fund to be put
at the disposal of the president.
conscription Still In Doubt.
President Wilson continued through
out the week his strenuous fight for
selective conscription, but arguments
and threats were alike vain so far as
the house military committee was con-
cerned. The committee rejected, 13 to
8, the administration provision, and
then adopted an amendment offered by
Chairman Dent providing that the
president should call for 100000 volun-
teers under the existing volunteer act,
and should apply conscription only
when he decides that such additional
forces cannot be effectually raised and
maintained under the call for volun-
teers." The house agreed to take up
the army bill on Monday.
In the senate committee the presi-
dent Jared better, for the administra-
ton bill with the selective conscrip-
ton feature was accepted by vote of
10 to z. 1t is the hope of the admin
istration that the senate will pass this
bill before the house acts.
Impressed by the strength of the op-
position to his conscription plan, es-
pecially in the ranks of the Democrat
&c party, the president on Thursday
issued an appeal to the public to sup
port his proposition.
Administration leaders protest that
the advocates of the volunteer system
have spread the idea that under the
conscription plan there is no room for
the volunteer system, whereas the
presidents plan leaves the way open
for 100000 volunteers to serve for the
duration of the war only.
At the beginning of the week Pres
fdent Wilson issued remarkable proc
lamation to the nation, calling on all
the people to give to it, in their re-
spective capacities, their united, full
service for the successful prosecution
of the war. Such a call was doubtless
needed to arouse individuals, but re-
cent events show that the industries
of the country already are completely
organized and proceeding to carry out
the plans outlined by the council of
national defense. The work done and
being done by that body of patriotic
men is revealed as most comprehen-
sive and complete, and when 1t Is
known in its entirety will astonish the
people of America.
U-Boats in American Waters?
Are there any German U-boats in
American waters? Berlin says mot