Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-07
AWAIT MORE Definite
WORD BEFORE GIVING
OUT STATEMENT
TROOPS TO FRANCE
WAR CHIEFS AGREE u. S. SHOULD
SEND ExPEDITioNARY FORCE
NTo FRANCE TO FIGHT IN
TRENCH S AGAINST GERMANS.

| TRENCH S AGAINST GERMANS.
! Washington, May 7.-Serous agita-
/ ton for more centralized control OF
/ the national war preparations is ap-
/ parent here With the German-Amer-
ican war entering its thirty-frst day
only one branch of the government
shows real results--the finances.
The army is absolutely tied up. at
the mercy of Congress, which still Is
splitting hairs on the conscription bill.
The navy has made progress, but
only along certain lines, and the as
sembling of the huge fleet Of U-boat
destroyers necessary to protect the
coast is proceeding more leisurely.
The many other sweeping and import
ant problems that are under the gen
eral directions of the council of ma
tional defense are dragging along with
only slight headway being made.
The navy department still Is with
out official advices from the navy con
sulting board bearing out the claims
of Chairman W. l.. Saunders that a
solution of the submarine menace has
been found Officials said that while
promising progress has been made,
it is too early yet to rejoice. They
say that eventually science will find
a solution for the submarine.
1t is expected that decision to send
an initial expedition to France will be
reached at the general conferences
which are planned for the present
week by the visiting British army eS
perts and the general staff. The time
for ending ihesc Blau and the ex
art make up Ol nv expedition viii be
discussed, but of course ~ details
will be made public. 1t is believed
however, that there will be America
troops training on French soil before
the first of August
The fact that the nation really is at
w al Nno III ouSht w w oobih0
tonians today for the first time. I'm
der orders from the war department
all officers on duty here in any capac
ity whatever must wear their uniforms
while on duty. Officials are making
every effort to wake the nation up to
the seriousness of the war situation
and this step is taken for that pur
pose, officials say. Heretofore all OF
Gcers wore citizens clothing and the
only change in the situation was the
display of the national colors from
the many buildings.
Conscription Bill Tied Up.
Washington, May THE conscrip-
tion bill was still tied up in confer
ence today altho a week has elapsed
since its passage by the House and
Senate Consideration of the bill by
the conference thus far has been con-
fined to minor points of difference
which have been smoothed out with
out serious controversy
The chief bone Of contention the
age limit for conscripton-wa taken
up today and after this is adjusted
the cOnferees will turn their atten-
tion to Senator Hardings' amendment
authorizing acceptance of Co Roose-
velt's offer to raise a division for serv-
ice in France Senator Chamberlain
head of the Senate conferees, hoped
to reach complete agreement on the
, bill by the middle of the week
Likewise, sensational-like progress
, is being made in the Senate appropri-
atiCns committee on the $2,2S7 900 ur.
gent deficiency bill just passed by the
House to put the new army and navy
into lighting trim Members Of the
committee hoped to complete the con
sideration of the bill in time to re-
, port to the Senate by Tuesday or
= Wednesday.
) WrangIe over Censorship.
0 Washington, May 7 The fight over
| espionage bill which has occupied
the Senates attention intermittently
for nearly month, entered lito the
final stage today and those in charge
- of the measure predicted vote on
Wednesday, The passage of the mea'
sure seems assured, but with the ad'
ministratiou draft radically amended.
Immediately after conyening today
the Senate resumed debate OF the
chapter giving the Postmaster Gen
, eral dictatorial powers over the mails
. during the war period The chapter
would authorize the Postmaster Gen
eral to deny the mails to all matter
he may consider to be seditous, trea.
sonabe or anarchistio Senators OPP
posing the provision declare Its oper'
alton would be impracticable because
the opening of all mail by the post