The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-05-30


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powers are to control the navigation
of the Danube, and the Roumanian
army, except ten divisions, is to be de-
modified, its equipment going to the
central powers until the conclusion OF
general peace.
The queen of Roumania and her chill
dren refuse to recognize the peace
treaty and lose no opportunity to af
front the Germans in their country.
Ia
The German vice chancellor an.
nounced the establishment of special
department to regulate Germany's
eastern policy, and defended her policy
of Intervention In Finland, declaring
it had insured the independence and
freedom of that country and was un-
dertaken at the request of the legiti-
mate Finnish government. It Is report
ed that Grand Duke Adolf Friedrich OF
Mecklenburg- Strelitz has been selected
as king of Finland. Little news Of mo-
ment came from Russia or the Ukraine
last week. 1t is quite evident now that
Germany will get little food from the
latter country this year.
-
In Palestine the British forces ap.
parently met with reverse which
compelled them to evacuate Es-Salt
and retire to the west bank of the Jor-
dan. Constantinople claimed the
Turks administered singing defeat
to General Allenby's troops.
Nicaragua lined herself up with most
of the rest of the nations on Tuesday
by formally declaring war on Germany
and its allies. It's congress empowered
the president to employ all the re-
sources of the nation in prosecuting
the war.
Ia
Gutzon Borglum's charges that graft
incompetency and pro-German infiu-
ences were responsible for the col
lapse of Americas aircraft program
could not be ignored, SO President Will
son ordered thorough investigation
made by the department of justice
The senate committee on military af-
fairs also announced it would resume
it's inquiry into the iasco. Both the
administration and the committee as
Sured the public there would be nc
''whitewashing' and that if anyone
was guilty he would be duly punished
Secretary Baker protested against 9
public hearing of the matter by the
senators on the ground that it would
only aid and comfort the enemy, ant
he told the military committee Of the
! house that results under the manage
ment of John d. Ryan would soon BIZ
| gratifying and that criticism of the con
dition of airplane production was pro
German. There is reason to believe
his confidence in Mr.. Ryan and the re
organized bureau is not misplaced, but
| the public would like to know what
became of the $640000,000 already
spent and why there is so little t.
| show for it.
Another revelation that has stirred
congress and that Secretary Baker may
| be called on to explain is that guam
| tity production Of the heavy Browning
| gun and of heavy artillery is very fai
| behind the hopes of the people thai
were inspired by the promises OF the
| war department. In the case of the
! howitzers it would seem that valuable
| time has been wasted in the effort tc
| devise gun carriages of new and dis
| tinctively American model instead OF
| going ahead with the models founc
satisfactory by the British and French
There is also a great shortage in pts
tolls, though General Dickson, chief OF
/! the arms manufacturing division, says
| the outlook for improvement In this Is
encouraging. Mr.. Baker says an in
quiry into the entire question of ord
nance production is being made by
Lieut.. Col. Bascom Little.
Ia
The railroad wage commission last
week recommended increases for al
employees whose wages were less thar
$3.50 a month in December, 1915. The
increases range from 4.6 to 43 per cent
the lower the wages, the greater the
relative increase. The total annual in
crease in the pay roll of the railroads
would be about $3O0,0OO,000. Director
General McAdoo can use his discretion
in conforming to the recommendations
of the commission, and is expected tc
render his decision very soon. Large
as the increases are, they do not come
up to the demands of the railway
workers unions and considerable dis
satisfaction is expressed. However
Mr.. McAdoo's decision doubtless will bt
accepted with good grace.