The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-20

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was taken in the appointment of SUI
perior war council through which all
the war activities of the government
will be enabled to work together. This
council is made up of the members Of
the council of national defense-Secre-
tarie$ Baker, Daniels, Lane, Houston,
Redfield and Wilson-Secretary Nc
| Adoo, Chairman Hurley of the ship
! ping board, Food Administrator Hoov-
er, Fuel Administrator Garfield and
Chairman Willard of the war indus
tries board. Director Clifford of the
council of national defense will sit
| with this superior council, and Presi-
| dent Wilson will meet with it when
ever he thinks it advisable.
The government is making a deter
| mined effort to settle the troubles Of
the railways and it's own problems in
| the matter of transportation, and just
now the plan of railroad pool for all
lines east of Chicago is being tried out.
| If this is not successful, it is predict
| ed, the government may take over the
| operation of all American railways.
President Wilson proclaimed a new
embargo on the importation of many
articles that are essentials of NUM-
lions of war, without the express per-
mission of the government. This will
operate to conserve American tonnage
for war purposes and to facilitate the
| importation of raw materials and 9TH
er supplies necessary in the manufac-
ture of munitions. This assumption
of control over imports, provided for
in the embargo act, gives the govern
ment a powerful weapon for the eco
| nomic war on Germany and can be
| directed also against neutral traders
| suspected of supplying the central
powers with American goods.
| President Wilson on Monday ap-
proved a recommendation of Mr..
Hoover reducing the alcoholic content
| of beer to per cent and reducing the
amount Of grain used by brewers to
about 70 per cent of the volume hither-
to consumed. Prohibition of all brew
ing, the administration believes, would
divert tipplerS from the comparatively
harmless beer to the consumption Of
whisky, brandy and gin, of which there
is in the country enough to last seve-
eral years.
No War on Austria Yet.
Vigorous enforcement of the orders
restricting enemy aliens made things
rather lively last week for German
residents, especially of the large cities.
But the hope that the administration
would make easier the checking of es-
pionage by having congress declare
war on Austria went glimmering. For
reasons which could not be made pub
lie, President Wilson and his cabinet
agreed that no declaration against the
dual monarchy should be made unless
it commits some further especially
hostile acts. The president pointed out
the fact that the enemy alien law could
be amended to include the subjects of
countries allied with Germany, as was
done in the trading with the enemy
act, and Attorney General Gregory at
once began the preparation of such an
amendment.
Vatican Replies to Critics.
Unusually bold criticism of the
course of the Vatican by number of
papers, and assertions that the pope
had been fostering the cause Of Aus
tria, had been far from neutral and
should be called on to make his posi-
ton clear, brought forth indignant de-
nial from Cardinal Gasparri, papal
secretary Of state. Said he: "TO say
vored, or will favor an unjust, un-
Christian, and uncomfortable peace is
not only false but also absurd. Any
propaganda for such a peace, alleged
to be conducted at the Vatican's in
spiration, especially in certain nations,
is the product of pure maliciousness."
He asserted that the disruptive
propaganda that began to affect the
morale of the Italian army could not
be laid at the doors of the Vatican,
and that ''the shoulders on which
rests the responsibility for the re-
verses are well-known, responsibility
which certainly does not touch Cath
olics, the clergy and least of all the
august person of the sovereign pom
tiff"
His eminence made no reference to
the Sim Fein rebellion in Ireland.
One of the first matters taken up by
the interallied conference in Paris was
the need of speedy diplomatic action
in regard to Switzerland, where Ger
man intrigue is imperiling the neu-
trality of the country and gaining eco
nomical domination through control Of
the Swiss railways. The Swiss federal
council is becoming anxious over Ger
man military movements on the from
tier.
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officers making arrests met with
armed resistance in one instance, when
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