The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-05-04

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Belgian roads. The Netherlands gov
eminent refuses to permit Germany to
take these materials through Dutch
territory for military works.
IA
The Guatemalan national assembly
has declared that Guatemala occupies
the same position toward the European
belligerents as does the United States,
which in diplomatic circles is consid-
cred declaration Of war on Germany
and her allies.
Ia
The rapidly with which American
troops are being sent across the Allan
tic Is heartenlng the allies and dem
onstrating the intention Of our govern
ment to put in the field the greatest
possible force in the shortest possible
time. Many Of the men are going by
way of England, and the fact that they
are being transported across the Eng
fish channel In safety has aroused the
Germans to such an extent that their
naval authorities have had to apollo
gize for the inaction Of their feet.
1t is not permitted to tell how many
men the administration proposes to
send to France before the end Of the
year, but 1t Is so great that when d.
rector General Schwab and the ship
ping board were told by General Goe-
thals the amount Of shipping he would
require they were staggered. Mr..
Schwab. however, believed the esti-
mate could be fulfilled If certain steps
could be taken to hasten the deliveries
Of ships, these steps including the re-
duction of some of the requirements
| OF the navy SO that the steel can be
diverted to the uses Of the transport
feet.
In Washington 1t is understood that
as rapidly as ships can be provided the
soldiers will be sent across, whether
they are fully trained or not. 1t Is re-
ported the draft will be accelerated by
calling 100000 men to training next
month, number far in excess Of previ-
! Gus estimates.
In line with the present policy Of
speeding up and making efficient all
war preparations is the appointment
Of John D. Ryan, the copper magnate,
as director of aircraft production for
the army and the reorganization Of
the aviation section of the signal corps.
| General Squier hereafter will devote
\ his attention to the administration Of
signals, and Brig. Gen. William I. Ken
| ly is made director Of a new division
! Of military aeronautics. Howard Cof-
fin retires from craftsmanship Of the
aircraft board but remains a member
Of the advisory commission Of the
! council of national defense.
The reports on the airplane situa-
ton made to the president by the
Marshall committee and by assistant
| secretaries Of war were not made pub
lie, but 1t is admitted that they sub
stantiated the report Of the senate
committee that the program had col
lapsed.
Both houses of congress have passed
the joint resolution to register for mil.
itary service all males becoming TWEEN
ty-one years old since June 8. 1917
The lower house adopted an amend.
ment putting the newly registered men
at the foot of their respective classes
and sustained the military COMMITTEES
| In refusing to exempt those who have
entered medical or divinity schools
/ since June B.
The Chamberlain bill to turn sedi-
t1onists over to military tribunals for
| trial by court martial met its fate
when President Wilson declared his
1 firm opposition to 1t and other au-
| thorities said 1t was unconstitutional
II was, Of course, introduced because
of charges that the department OF jus.
tice has been lax In combating enemy
propaganda but these charges are re
| futed by the department, which re-
ports it has secured at least $500 con-
victions In the last year. despite the
inadequacy of federal laws against
sabotage and disloyal utterances. The
number of acQuittals has been relative
ly small.
ID
The senate devoted much time last
week to debating the Overman bill for
the coordination Of government activ-
tiles and It gained supporters daily,
Senator Chamberlain being among
those who declared he would vote for
1t. In opposing the bin Senator Sher
man OF Illinois found opportunity to
make bitter attack on various mem
bers of the cabinet and on George
Creel-