Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-04

"a ths prrsssure Of matters On tn wsst front every-
thiaE else has been oyershadevsd. aud while there has
besn litgtls' fighting sllsawheFe, seaFcsl|y any attention has
Ibsen paid to what fighting has been done. Stray dis
patches, however, indicate that the campaign in the east
Is by no means going by default, for there have been
exaiaet the Turks.
. s.s
Indications contiaus to sieP cut to show the conflict
aEsng the various ssoups which have been junbled to-
ssthsr to form the Austrian empire. This, in seetjops
o. Russia whore German armies are still active against
the native population. Austrian prisoaeys ere reported to
have taken UP arms and fought side by side with the
native slaxs. On the Italian front several Bohemian
units have deserted ana are. now fighting with the. itsl-
ians.
After five weeks of debate the overmsa bill placing
important additional powers in the hands Of the presi,
dent has passed the senate in substantially the form in
which it was first drafted and approved by the president.
In %supstance the bill gives the president almost Unlimited
power to combine and reorganize the executive depart
meats, and to transfer work from one to the other as he
sees fit. The bill was opposed on the ground that 1t
would make Of the president an autqcrat, and would
take from congress important duties and privileges which
vsre never intended to be transferred to anyone else. It
was advocated on the ground that the system which
has peen employed in the creation OF the various depart
rents and the assignment of their duties has ,nade it ut
terly impossible to secure the coordination of work which
is so essential just ut this time. Opponents of the bill
dscaFed their willingness to authorize any departmental
changes which were necessary, if the president would
only point them out, but by a very decisive vote it was
determined to grant to the president the powers for which
he asked.
Congress is now about to dispose Of the army pro,
gram for the coming year. Supplies must be voted for
the troops already recruited and for those who are to b.
sent across the ocean. Secretary Baker Informs congress
that he expects to be able by the end Of this year to have
under arms double the 1,60o,0 900 men who are now in the
military service, and he believes that from the infor1na-
ton which he has obtained on matters of shipping and
supplies that it will be possible to have that number In
France by the close of the year Both the president and
his secretary OF war are opposed to the placing of any
liEit on the number Of men who may be mustered into
service. They believe that tho new bill should permit
the recruiting Of as many men as can be handled and
as are needed. There are many indications that congress
will act in accordance with this view. There can be little
doubt that the effect of such an arrangement, both at
home and abroad, will be excellent.
= |
The three billion dollar minimum for the third Lib
erty loan will have been fully subscribed before the clos
ing hour. At this time predictions ~ to the amount OF
oversubscription would be little more than wild guesses.
1t will be remembered, however, that in each of the other
bond sales. large numbers Of subscriptions have been re.
ported at the last moment, and it is assumed that this
will be the case on the present occasion.
= = |
After weeks of indecision it has been decided to re-
sumo the practice of sending out casualty lists giving, not
the name Of the soldiers killed or wounded, but their
home addresses. The change will be welcomed by the
entire public, in view Of the fact that no rational explain
alton of the following of the opposite policy has ever
been given.