The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-03-15
NEWS REVIEW OF
THE PAST WEEK
Japan Offers TO Land Troops in
Siberia II Allies Say the
Word.
ENDASSIESLEAVE PETROGRAD
travelling Through Bandit-infested ST.
IBERIA to Reach Safety--Austrla
Cannot Break Away From Her
Alliance With Germany.


Japan has asked for permission to
land troops In Siberia to prevent the
vast quantities of munitions and 9TH
err military stores at Yladiyostok and
along the lines of the Siberian rail-
road from falling into the hands of
the Germans. 1t was feared that the
Germans might attempt to force the
bolsheylki to deliver these stores to
the Germans as part Of peace
agreement Japan announced her will
| lingness to undertake such an expe-
| dltion by herself or In connection with
troops sent by other or the allied m
ttons.
While all officials at Washington are
silent and disposed to minimize dis
cussion OF the subject It Is known that
exchanges Of opinion are going on with
the object of a perfect understanding
between Japan, the United States and
the other co-belligerents which would
make the plan Of joint action wholly
acceptable to all and thoroughly define
its extent and duration.
Russian representatives at Washing
ton oppose action by the Japanese In
Siberia, but the co-belligerents are thor
oughly alarmed lest the vast quantities
OF supplies piled up at Yladivostok,
bought and paid for with American
cash, should fall into the hands of the
Germans,
Criticism at home Of the failure Of
Japan to play larger part in the war
is said to have been influential In bring
Ing about the negotiations.
Our boys have had their first taste
OF the deadly Hun gas. Without warn
Ing Of any kind gas shells began burst
ing among the men Of an American ar
| tlllery regiment on the western front,
| and more than 200 men were down be-
| for they could put on gas masks. Eight
men died within few minutes and 200
were taken to hospitals where they suf.
| fered every conceivable torture while
the doctors worked over them in an
effort to get air into their lungs. While
the American troops in France have
been supplied with gas equipment and
with gas shells for the field guns they
| had never been used, American com
manders feeling that they could not
bring themselves 10 so violate all evil
dences OF civilization by such q method
of warfare. The gasslng OF American
troops has, however, convinced our
commanders at the front that they
must Kght the Hun In his own way
brutal and tnhuman though that way
may be. and the Boches will be given
taste Of their own weapons.
The strain between Austria and Ger
many Is undoubtedly increasing. Aus
trials refusal to again attack Russia In
spite OF Germany's renewal of the wal
against the holsheyiki has Increased the
tenseness OF the situation existing be
tween the two governments. and 1t war
reported that Germany had practically
ordered the Austrian government &
send troops int Russia, and that Aus
tFia had refused. Austria also refuses
20 continue the war against Roumanis
SO long as there is possibility OF con
Guiding peace arrangement with tina
nation. Poor Roumania. cut Of from
very possible source Of assistane,
from the outside. without munitions o.
adequate guns can seemingly do moth
Ing mere than accept such peace term
as the Huns may offer.
The most encouraging thing for TIL
future OF both Rouinania and Russii
is the statement made for the allie
governments to the effect that an,
! peace that may be forced upon thes
; two countries by the Teutonic nation
: will not be considered rs final. and par
: ticularly SO II such peace involves tn
, tesslon Of any territory TO the nation