The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-04-04
9 8 o 8 o o 8 9 o . o o . = . o 9
9 WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER
. By Cong. P. D. Norton.
o . . o o o 8 o o 8 9 . o o . .
Federal Loans to be Again Made il
North Dakota.

Fe0eral Loans TO De AGAIN MADE IN
North Dakota.
Washington, March 2S- Since
March 16 l have been spending most
of my time in an effort to get the Fed
eral Farm Loan Board to permit the
St. Paul Land Bank to make loans in
North Dakota under some practical
and workable plan, Notwithstanding
the provisions of the North Dakota
County Feed and Seed Bonding Act
as amended, which conflict with pro-
visions of the Federal Farm Loan Act
requiring that federal farm loans
shall be first mortgage liens. I have
had numerous conferences on this
matter with the Federal Farm Loan
Board and with Attorney General
Gregory and his assistants Mr.. Greg
DRY told me in conference yesterday
that he was inclined to write an opin-
ion and would do so unless he chang
ed his mind, to the effect that the Fed
eral Farm Loan Board had it within
its discretion to authorize the making
of federal farm loans in North Dako-
ia, Notwithstanding the Objectionable
provisions of the North Dakota Feed
and Seed Bonding Act. When the
opinion of the Attorney General
reaches the Federal Farm Loan
Board, 1 feel quite certain that the
Board will authorize the St Paul Land
Bank to continue to make federal
farm loans in North Dakota, with the
provision that an indemnity bond
shall be given to the Federal Farm
Land Bank by the borrower to pro-
tect the bank against any loss that
might arise on account of the poten-
tial right to prior lien given the coun-
ties of the state under provisions of
the state Feed and Seed Bonding law.
Great Battle Stirs Washington.
The great German offensive has kept
Washington in a high fever of ex-
element the past week. Nearly all
the military experts and practically
all the recognized high military au-
thorities in the War Department ex-
press the opinion that the English,
French and American armies will be
able to stop the German drive and
prevent any really decisive or strateg-
ic victory to the Central Powers If
the armies of the Central Powers are
not successful in breaking complete
ly through and dividing the lines Of
the Allies, the offensive will have fail
ed in it's chief objective The tremen-
dous loss of life which the attacking
forces have suffered cannot be COM
pensated by anything less than a
complete break in the defensive line
Of the Allies. Anything short of such
a victory will be a staggering de-
feat to the Central Powers.
An American Fighting Aeroplane in
| France.
! The statement of General Leonard
Wood, who has recently returned
from France, made to the. Senate
Committee on Military Affairs this
week, that there was only one Amer
lean fighting aeroplane in France, has
called attention to the fact that the
American program for aeroplane con-
struction is not being carried out al
successfully or as rapidly as many
had hoped At the present time there
| are more than thousand American
airmen in France, qualifying for fly.
| ing. These men have not been sup.
piled with American machines Thus
far they have been obliged to use such
French and English machines as they
could secure.
Victory on West Front.
As l predicted in my news letter
of few weeks ago, the decisive bat.
ties Of the great world war must in.
evitably be fought out on the western
battle front The Entente have sue.
cessfully fixed the final field of con.
test in the west by massing Their
forces there and by constantly threat.
ening crushing defe,,t to the Central
Powers, Notwithstanding the latter's
victories and conquests in other
fields. Realizing the hopelessness Of
shaking the Entente forces by any
victories or conquests IN the East, and
further realizing the rapidly increas.
ing strength Of the American forces
in France, the war-mad Kaiser has ir
his desperation flung discretion to The
winds and has hurled into the caul
dron of war the lives Of hundreds Of
thousands Of the best blood and brawr
and intellect Of Germany and Aus.
tria. The battle ground between Ar.