Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-01-25


only about 3 per cent was exported
mostly to Canada Yet. within the last
week England sent coal 10 u.s. In order
Thar supply ships might not be stopped.
-E--
out Of the fire of congressional in
vpstigntlon the marine corps has come
with added lustcr. the contrast 10 war
department conditions being sadly
marked. The house committee said the
corps has been kept supplied on II war
basis with no apparent delays, while
about $4,000 recruits during the year
have been property housed clothed.
fed and trained. The secret of this
lies in the fact thar Maj. Gen. George
Barrett, commandment Of the corps. he
levcd IN preparedness. Two months
before America entered the war he or
drrpd 10000 pairs of shoes ana 3O,UD
Lewis machine guns. His purchasing
system has worked smoothly and eff
iiclently possibly because he has had
the assistance Of no "dOllar-a-week
civilians, whose capabilities and knowl-
edge are not commensurate with their
PATRIOTISM. The bureaus of cOnstruc-
ton and repair and Of engineering of
the navy department also received high
t,p.is. frntu fln sntutntttnn
RI
Secretary Baker and his manage
mcnt of the war department are still
The objects Of sharp attack and the de
mnnds for his resignation or removal
increase daily. His long defense be-
fore the senate committee was the re-
verse of satisfactory, aud there is de-
cided diversity of opinion as To wheth-
or or not his reorganization of bureaus
will cure the evils that have infested
his department. Daniel Willard told
the committee the new plan was faulty
in that il did not. concentrate control
and relied too much on voluntary eff
fort. aud Immediately thereafter Mr..
Willard resigned his post Of chairman
OF the war industries board, II was in
timated n new chairman might not be-
appointed pending action on the pro
pOSals for the creation of II war supply
department or administration.
Can II be that Mr. Baker, deep in
his pacitiSi soul. believes the war will
come to an end before the American
troops are called on To fight, and there
fore is willing that adequate prcpara.
tions for their active participation In
the conflict shall be delayed? In his
review Of operations in Europe he says
great German offensive IL 10 be ex-
pected on the west front, but he Is con-
fident that the war.worn British and
French armies CON withstand 1t.
Ed
Fierce controversy ragged throughout
the week between the German groups
represented respectively by Won l.udcn-
dOrff and Won Kuehlmann the pan
Germans and the nonanneXatlonists
There was Il report that The govern
ment had compromised the dispute by
yielding to Won Kuehmann as to the
east front, and assuring Won Luden-
dorlf that he might grab any land on
the west front that the military forces
of the empire could seize and hold
through the peace negotiations. But
this report was unconfirmed
Berlin stated officially on Thursday
that the central powers had found the
Russian proposals unacceptable, and
that German and Austrian troops
would not bp withdrawn from the o.
cupied territories while the war lasts.
The Austro-GermanS, the statement
added, do not intend Incorporating
into their respective countries the ter
rtorleS, now occupied by them.
Trotzky chung to his demands for the
right Of Self.deterninati0n for all ma
tionalities and that principle supported
by LlOyd-GcOrge and President Wilson,
has taken It's place MS almost the lead
ing peace term Of the opponents of the
central powers. The German General
Hoffman taunts the bosheyiki with tlH'
fact that they ARE Inconsistent because
they are fighting the Ukralnians, but
on the other hand Lenlne, Trutzky and
their fellows have permitted the set
ting up Of independent governments In
various parts of Russia because the
people 81 wlled IT, They have just
declared, also. that their government
supports the right of the Armenians
In Russia and Turkey to be independ
ent and to decide their own destiny.
The British government has so far rec
ognized the b0lsleviki as To establish
official relations with their minister in
London.
Turkestan announced It's independ-
ence on Tuesday.
Petrograd announced that after ten