Mexico Missouri message., 1918-07-18

D arrange for transatlantic airplane
leir way to France to help the allies,
|, It was believed the Austrians might
~~~~~~~-~~~D~~~~~~I~ ~I~~~~~~~~~-~4N~-~-~-o
aid Russia and rid her OF her Teuton
cOnquerors. President Wilson de-
clared himself for peaceful. not force
full Intervention, and 1t Is probable q
commission Of distinguished men, per-
haps including representatives of all
the allied nations, will be sent with
offers of assistance and powers to ar
range a plan Of cooperation. Keren-
sky, who appeared Unexpectedly In
London on his way to America, is con-
fident Russia will soon rejoin in the
fight against the central powers. He
and other Russian leaders, however,
agree that the country will not toler-
ate foreign Intervention In its internal
affairs. 1t is economical and financial
aid that Russia needs, and needs at
once.
The Germans In southern Russia
are making their way toward SmOI-
ensk, probably en- route to Moscow,
despite the protests Of the bolshevik
foreign minister. They also have
landed a strong force at Poti, ON the
eastern coast of the Black sea.
In eastern Siberia General Semenoft
and his anti-bolshevik army, after
having been driven across the Man
churian border, are again advancing
because the forces opposing them
were ordered to the protection Of
Irkutsk.
Germany is now receiving some food
supplies from Ukraine, but these are
mostly from the German army COM
missariat which buys them from the
peasants at exorbitant prices.
Secretary Of War Baker seemingly
changed his mind suddenly about ex-
tending the draft age limits, for last
week he and General March, chief Of
staff, appeared before the senate COM
mittee and agreed in urging that leg
islation to that end be postponed until
the fall. At that time, they said, the
war department would be able to sub
NIT vast program for army enlarge
ment, and would know how many SOL
diers could be transported overseas
and how far 1t would be necessary to
extend the draft to obtain the num-
ber of men required. Provost Marshal
| General Crowder said he still believed
immediate action necessary, but be-
ing only a subordinate, he bowed to
| the decision of his superiOrs. The
senate committee, which had agreed
on twenty to forty years as the new
draft limits, voted to defer action.
This provoked a storm OF protest
in congress, chiefly from Republican
leaders who declared the delay was
another evidence of the adminlstra.
tion's procrastination and devotion to
unpreparedness. The Democrats prom
ised action In September and said
there were enough men in class 1 to
meet all requirements until then. To
show that there is no need for imme-
/ diate action Senator Hitchcock said
"The information given to the com
mittee Is, in substance, this: That
when we have exhausted all available
men In class / of the present draft we
will have an army OF 100000 men In
August. In addition, there will be
about 100000 Canadians that we will
bring into the army as the result OF
the treaty just ratified, so that we will
then have an army of 3,450,OO0 men
Now, the highest estimate of the mum
ber of men we can have In France al
that time is 1,45O.O00, so that we will
have in this country when this con
gress reconvenes after it's proposed re
cess In September over 100000 men,
On Thursday the drawing of mum
bers to determine the order In which
youths Of the class Of 1913, about T44,
500 in number, shall be called to tn,
colOrs was conducted In the senate of
nee building, with much Of the cere
mony that marked the first drawing ,
year ago. Secretary Baker, blindfold
er, drew out the first capsule, with thl
number 246 inclosed. 1t was neces
sary to draw only 1,200 numbers. Th'
new reglstrknts will be placed at tn
foot of the lists In the classes to whlcl
they are assigned by their boards,
-M-
The senate agricultural COMMITTEES
dlsregarding the advice Of many prom
inent persons, adopted the amendmen
TO the $11.000,O00 emergency agricul
tural bill providing for national pro
hIbition after June 30. 1919. and dun
ing the continuance OF the war
!. -A-
On Monday the house passed tn
$5,500,O 100000 fortifications bill, an
the senate passed the $780, 10000
sundry civil bill containing about 50
O0oOo0,0OO nlore for the shipping Pre-
! graAn