The Republican journal., 1917-03-08
The War News in Brief.

!" ene editorials. The Westminster fLondon)
1azette brands the plot as Fantastic villainy ''
ana says: ut has all the clumslness, all the
malice and shallow cunning of the other mach
nations of the same kind that we disclosed in
Egypt. India and Ireland. 1t is thoroughly
characteristic OF the apostles of kulter and of
ene Kaiser, who is the protector of Islam and
meter of holy wars by eastern races against
europeans 1t also is characteristic that they
are not even able to keep their plots to them
serves, but are discovered before they have
begun with their incriminating documents up
On them The pacifists in Congress were dis
posed to discredit the story of this plot, but it
was admitted by Germany and an attempt
maze to justify it. Japan says she has re :
ceived no proposition from either Mexico or
Germany. directly or indirectly, to inin in a
possible war against the United States and No
one believes that Japan would abandon her
allies under any conditions. Carranza at this
writing has made statement as to his com
plicity in the matter !:
A Washington special of March End saws
Count Won Bernstorff, the former German am.
bassador. was instructed from Berlin to arrange
American barbors at the same time he received
the Zimc cerman note for transmission to Mex.
leo. This added thread in the mesh of Ger
man intrigue spun around this country while
Germany was still protesting friendship was
allowed to become known Thursday, with the
inference that full and detailed instructions
were sent Bsrnstorff from Berlin to make war
nv
to disclose any of the other elements in the
German plot, but indicated that it was general
and wholesale.
Another interesting report from Washington
! is that negotiations looking to Chnas entrance
into the war against the Central Powers now
are in progress at Pekin and in all the Entente
capitals, and their success depends entirely
upon the harmo1izing of the rewards to be
given China and the amount of cooperation
demanded of her. 1t is regarded virtually
certain that China will sever relations with
Germany and declaration of war probably
will follow if the Entente will guarantee sat
isfactory relaxation Of the restrictions imposed
upon the eastern empire by the world power.
after the Boxer troubles.
of the Boxer indemnities which total over
! $50 100000 a year and continue until 1910. If
she entered the war, the part which otherwise
would be paid to Austria and Germany could be
repudiated. China also desires consent of the
Powers to increase her import duties. which
under the existing treaty not only cannot ex-
ceed 5 per cent ad vaorem. but are based on
A. If
United States has long urged this on the other
16 signatory powers. but far only Japan and
Great Britain have given tul consent.
The Entente Powers their part are anxi-
GUS to have China in the war, not only as
reservoir of men, but as the biggest open trade
market after the war. Already under agree
ment with local syndicates headed by French
and British residents, more than 100000
Chinese laborers and agricuitul lists have gone
to increase the Entente's man power. the great
majority to France, 1t has been the drowning
of many of these laborers on their way to
France on such boats the liner Athos, for
instance, that first made China's protest to
Germany against submarine warfare an actual
threat Of severance of relations.
There are about 5000 Germans in China who
would be placed in concentration camps if war
were declared.
Advices from Pekin of March 4th: .The
Cabinet today decided that China should join
the United States in breaking off relations
with Germany. This decision was submitted
to the President, who refused to approve the
Cabinets action, saying such power rested en-
=; ~ I; y,,,
mAdiately resigned and left for Tien Tsin, ac-
companied by several other members OF the
Cabinet. The resignation of The entire Cabi-
net is expected. Parliament is unanimously
in favor Of the opinion of the Cabinet. The
leaders of all the political parties adverse
ly criticislng the Presidents position. The
Vice President of the republic supports the
action of the Cabine,."
The sailing from New York for France of
two American steamers with American officers
and crews. unarmed. aud carrying no contra
band, was reported about two weeks ago and it
was accepted that if either was destroyed by a
German submarine war must follow. But the
steamers have arrive d safely at Bordeaux, the
Orleans the first of last week and the Roches-
come A large crowd, attracted to the wharf
by the welcoming sirenes of other steamers,
cheered the Rochester and cried "Long live
the United States," and the crews of both the
Orleans and the Rochester and the fficers and
crews from British and French vessels have
been entertained at gala performances in the
French theater and at luncheons given by the
city authorities
The remnants of the Turkish forces retreat
ing from Kut-el- Amara have been shattered
completely, according to information given out
in the English House of Commons March 1st.
The Turks. it was said, would reach Bagdad
only as disordery mob
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Primrose Chapter, o E. s., after their regu-
lar meeting last Friday evening played old
games and new, followed by dancing Home
made candy and salted nuts were served.
On account of the Lyceum course entertain
ment and several other affairs, the degree
work of Waldo Lodge of Odd Fellows will be
held Friday evening, March 18TH. at which
time the first degree will be conferred.