The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-10-31
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER.
(By Cong. P. d. Norton.)
Democracy to Triumnh

notes of October IA and October 23 of
the President to the German govern
ment have been most gratifying.
They are straight to the point and
ring with true American spirit. They
assure the American people that the
chief great purpose of our participa-
ton in the war will have been accom-
plished when the final peace treaty is
signed. They assure that there will
be no inconclusive peace. They as
sure that unbridled autocracy and
monarchy will no longer endanger and
threaten the peace Of the world when
the final curtain has been drawn on
the awful carnage that the cruelty and
selfishness of autocracy and monarchy
in their last struggles for world domi-
nation have brought upon the world
during the past four years. They as
sure that the lives Of thousands Of our
brave boys and the millions of lives of
the sons of our Allies that have been
freely laid on the altar of sacrifice to
stem and hurl back the onrushing tide
of the great armies of autocracy which
so lately threatened the destruction
of all governments of free people will
not have been sacrificed in vain They
assure that when this great war is
finally over thot peoples everywhere
the whole world around, will have the
full and free opportunity of self-de-
termination as to the character of the
government under which they live.
French Officers View of War.
Yesterday | talked with three
French officers Of high rank, who have
been actively engaged in the war for
more than three years on the western
front. On interrogating them as to
their opinions concerning the probable
duration of the war | was somewhat
surprised to find that none of these Of
1icer5 had much hope or expectation
that the war would be terminated dur
ing the next few months through
peace negotiations arising out Of the
German peace note of October s.
While they were all most confident of
the final military defeat of Germany
by the Allies, they expressed the opln-
ion that it would in all probability
take until next summer to accomplish
this. In q most interesting and analy-
tical way they pointed to the fact that
the German armies, although now sur
fering daily reverses, were as a whole
still intact, well organized and well
furnished with all needed war supplies
and materials. Modern war, they eX-
planned to me, is largely a gigantic
problem of organization and of mill
tary staff work. For the perfect or
ganization and smooth running order
of the German staff they freely ac-
knowledged a very high respect. They
asserted that from a military point of
view, the German staff work, all
things being taken into consideration,
was about as perfect as it could pos
sibly be.
Dirigible From Akron
The first modern dirigible balloon
seen in Washington, passed over the
city last Monday morning on it's way
from Akron, Ohio, where it was built,
to an Atlantic port, where it will be
used in conjunction with offensive,
work and defensive work of our ma
vies. The dirigible seemed to have
been constructed along lines similar to
the German Zeppelins. 1t was about
25O feet in length and carried a crew
of fifteen men. The trip from Akron
to Washington was made in 8 hours.
The dirigible sailed over Washington
at height of 500 feet. After clrcl-
ing over the White House grounds it
disappeared toward the east, travel
ing at speed of SO miles an hour.
The great ellipsoidal bag, glistening
in the morning sunshine, made pref
ty sight as it hung over the city. 1t
attracted the attention of great
crowds of people who watched it with
unusual wonder and awe. The crew
in Charge of the dirigible could be
plainly seen movin., about at their
work in the basket beneath the great
balloon.
Deficiency Appropriation Bill Goes to
President.
The House and Senate this week
passed the conference report on the
nrst Deficiency Appropriation Bill
which carries appropriations amount
ing to more than six billions Of dol
lars. The bill has now been sent to /,
the President for his approval.
Influenza Subsiding.
The epidemic of influenza is rapidly
subsiding in Washington. The last
few days the daily death rate has fall
en- from 80 to 20. The ravages of the
epidemic appear to be slowly sweeping
across the country from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. At Camp Humphreys,
Virginia, where the death rate due to
influenza, has for the pas three weeks
averaged SO a day, the disease has
been finally gotten under control by
the health authorities and practically
no fatalities are now occurring in this
camp from influenza. Similar results
in the control of the disease are be-
ing reported from nearly all the other
camps in the eastern part of the coun-
try.