The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-15


nent Is contemplating the extending
Of assistance to Russia in the way of
| assembling food supplies In Siberia
and distributing them In European
Russia.
In equally parlous state Is Turkey,
where famine is widespread and many
OF the poorest people are subsisting on
chestnuts and pumpkin seeds. In
some districts the troops have de-
stroyed the crops though they them
selves are on mighty short rations.
Only the officers are well fed. With
these food conditions, the steady ad-
vance of the British in Palestine and
Mesopotamia and the growing strength
Iof the Arab forces, there are evidences
of the approaching break up of the
Turkish empire. 1t has got nothing
yet for all its efforts except certain oil
districts ceded by Russia under COM
pulsion, and the possession of these
is threatened by the northward move
ments Of the British expeditions.
la
The Italians kept on hitting hard at
the Austro-Hungarlan forces along the
Plave line, and they heard undisturbed
of the massing Of thirty enemy d.
visions at three points on that front
for a resumption of the drive toward
the plains. The Italian army is now
In better condition than ever before
and, with the help of the Americans,
British and French, can, be relied on
to stop the expected offensive
The supreme war conference of the
allies at Versailles expressed its com
plete confidence in the ultimate defeat
of the central powers and declared the
allied people are "resolute not to sac
rifice single one Of the free nations
of the world to the despotism of Ber-
lin." The premiers of Great Britain,
France and Italy agreed on the crea-
tion of a united Independent Polish
state with free access to the sea as one
of the conditions of just peace, and
adhered to the declaration of Secre-
tary Lansing expressing sympathy with
the national aspirations of the Czechs
and Jugo-Slavs. This means, II 1t
means anything, that Emperor Charles
has lost his last chance to retain his
empire entire by breaking away from
Germany 1t foretells the dismember-
ment of Austria Hungary when peace
is made, If not at an earlier date.
Ia
In the United States the U-boat raid
served to impress the people with the
pressing need of the conservation Of
wheat and sugar, especially. The
former must be sent across the ocean
in increasing quantities as our forces
there grow rapidly greater; and sugar
cannot be bought from Cuba because
we must use all available shipping for
the transportation Of troops and mu-
nitions to Europe.
m-
The fuel administration devoted It's
energies last week to urging the people
to order their next winters supplies
of coal at once. There has been wide
spread complaint that the retailers
canot fill orders, but Doctor Garfield
says that orders now, whether or not
they are filed soon, will do much to
stimulate production. There Is plenty
of coal If only it can be got out Of
the ground and II the railroad admin
istration will find some way of sup
plying enough cars. The shortage Of
cars really Is at the bottom Of the
whole trouble and will be to blame II
the predicted coal famine rnatsrializes
next winter.
--M-
The senate's attempt to stop the
Of beer and wine by
means of an amendment to the emer-
gency agricultural bill was blocked by
the administration last week. Food Adj
Hoover opposed 1t because
he believed 1t would put the nation on
q "whisky, brandy and gin" basis with
attendant evils far outweighing the
small food savings that would result.
President Wilson had told Senator
Sheppard he would not forbid the use
Of foodstuffs In beer and wine unless
Mr. Hoover regarded such a step nee
essary. The senate therefore receded
from Its position.
la
The week saw the registering Of
about million young Americans who
have become twenty-one years of age
since last spring; and this registra-
ion probably will be repeated about
,nce In three months. Provost Mar
shal General Crowder sent to the gov
srn0rs of all the states except Arizona
riders for the mobilization Of 100000
more registrants between June "a and
.S, and 10000 negroes were called
rom twenty states.
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