The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-03-30

had no intention of robbing or dishon-
oFing Russia and accused the allies of
hypocrisy. untruthfulness and brutal
ity.
There was no material change in the
situation In the far East, but the oppo-
sition TO Japan's plan to occupy Vladi-
vostok seemed to increase because Of
the persistent distrust of the island en-
pIre's good faith. Trotzky warned the
world that Germany and Japan had
agreed TO divide Russia between them,
but Trotzky's opinions are no longer
entitled to very serious consideration.
IA
Early Thursday morning two Brit
ish and three French destroyers en-
gagged a force Of German destroyers
off Dunkerque, and when the fight was
over four enemy vessels had been sunk.
One British destroyer was damaged.
but the allied casualties were slight.
The same day Ostend was heavily
bombarded by British monitors and
Helgoland was attacked by airplanes.
-E-
The matter of ships also came to
the front again In England, and In re-
Spouse to public demand Sir Eric
Geddes first lord Of the admiralty,
gave out figures on the results Of the
submarine warfare Total losses to
the allies and neutral nations since the
beginning of the war, he said, were g..
OIL go tons, and he admitted the
monthly osses are 10000 tons greater
sh the new ships built. To correct
s 5lr John Jeliicoe Is to devote him,
10 5mBafTng me submarine. Lord
PiEg rs been made governor general
n mey aant ship building and all avail
aoi aen, In the country will be put to
building ships. Premier Lloyd-George
aaid that By special effort the deficien
cy could be made good in British ship
yards alone.
Eloquent argument having failed te
bring the Teutonic rulers to theil
senses or the Teutonic peoples to 8
realization of the truth, and encour
agement and sympathy having met
with no response from the Russians
President Wilson seems to have de
cided that action. quick and forcible
Is the only thing that will bring the
war to close. He cheered up the
country immensely by calling into con
ference the heads of the various wal
boards, who had been named as advis
ers to the chairman of the war indus
tries board in establishing co-ordina
ton. He impressed upon these mer
again the need of harmonizing theil
work in order to hurry up shipbuild
Ing. Increase shipping facilities and
provide materials for the production Of
munitions. The shipbuilding question
is the most pressing one. and the gov
eminent is somewhat disturbed by the
uncertain labor situation. 1t intends to
adopt definite labor policy, as die
England, but this has not yet beer
formulated.
A great help In solving this transpor
problem lis the seizure of about q mil
lion tons of Dutch shipping by tn,
United States and England. This wa,
accomplished on Wednesday after thu
Netherlands government had refused t
put into effect Its voluntary agreement
to restore Its merchant marine to nor
NAL activity. Most of the vessel.
taken will be used In carrying foot
from America to Europe, and Presiden
Wilson says Holland will receive am
pie supplies Of foodstuffs, In accord
ance with the original pact. Germany
Of course, has warned the Dutch tina
their ships now will be sunk, but 4
never has shown much regard for tn,
rights of neutral ships outside the pro
scribed zone.
Ia
Wisconsin. smarting under the impu
tations Of disloyalty caused by La Fol
lette and his doings and sayings, un
dertook to redeem herself In the sena
torial primaries, and succeeded In
measure. Joseph q. Davies, backed b,
the national administration, easily wor
the Democratic nomination. but Con
sgressman Lenroot had a hard task de
feating James Thompson, the La Fol
lette candidate, for the Republican
choice. The Socialist vote, unexpect
eddy heavy, was cast for Victor Berger
who 10 under indictment for violating
the espionage act.
After being assaiied Ia vain by thu
Republicans. the administration bill II
establish a war finance corporation
was passed by the house Thursda,
with only two opposing votes. On thu
same day the president signed the bill
which brings the railroads under gov
eminent operation and control until q
months after the end of the wsr.