Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-28
PROPOSES MILITARY
OPERATIONS JOINTLY
Japan Indicates She Will Begin Cam
paien Alone If Allies Refuse to Aid
Wants Cooperation For Sole Pur-
pose Of Giving Movement lnter-
national Character-Dplomat in
Washington Withhold Comment.

ward a proposal toward joint mill
tary operations in Siberia to keep the
vast stores at Vladivostok and also the
trans-Siberian railroad fiom falling
into the hands Of the Germans, was
widely discussed today by diplomats
and officials hut all were reluctant to
give opinions for publication.
Opinion in London that the declar-
ations by the Japanese foreign mini
ster, Count Motono. in the Japanese
diet could only be interpreted as .
declaration that Japan was about ~
intervene was regarded as further evil
dence that the negotiations now pro-
ceedinG betwe en- the -belligerents. to
make the action of an international
character, pro badly included the parti-
cipation Of American Sorces.
While all officials here are silent
and disposed TO minimize discussions
Of the subject, 1t Is known that ex-
changes Of opinion are going on with
the object os a perfect understanding
between the United States, Japan and
the other co-belligerents.
/, Russian representatives here oppos-
ed action by the Japanese In Siberia,
but the co-belligerents are alarmed
lest the supplies piled up at V!adivos-
tok, bought and paid for with Amer
lean cash, should fall in to the hands
of the Germans.
Japan Sends Inquiries.
Japan has directed inquiries to the
entente powers and the United States
government to test their feeling to-
ward a proposal to institute joint mill
tary operations in Siberia to save the
war supplies stored at Vladivostok and
along the Siberian railroad. Criticism
at home Of the failure Of Japan to play
u larger part in the war Is said TO
have been influential in bringing about
the negotiations.
Officials here refuse to discuss this
subject for publication. but 1t Is un-
derstood that so far as America Is
concerned the proposition, when first
broached. was mot wholly acceptable
tho the exchanges on the subject.
which are still in progress. may re-
suit in modifying the governments at
ttude.
To Save Stores.
Accumulated at Vladivostok are
military supplies Of all kinds much
of American manufacture. and even
greater quantities OF Japanese origin
which were delivered long before the
bolsheviki assumed control Of the Rus
sian government. The Stevens COM
mission Of American engineers made
extraordinary efforts to improve the
facilities Of the Siberian railroad so
that these stores could be transported
for the use. Of the Russian army on
the German and Austrian fronts. A
good deal Of accumulation was re-
moved, but great quantities remain on
the docks and in warehouses and even
IN the open, both at vlad!vostok and
at points westerly.
Fear German Demand.
The material suffers greatly from
deterioration thru exposure to the
weather and from other causes. but
the principal matter Of concern 70 the
allies is the danger that the stores
shall fall into the hands Of the Ger
mans. who may make their delivery
one Of the conditions OF any peace
treaty which thcy are about to compel
the bolshevikl TO sign.
This situation Is regarded by tho
Japanese as warranting the adoption
nf some measures 70 secure these
stores. even II this involves military
action en- their part. They arc quite
willing to have the CO. cooperation Of the
entente forces and OF American troops
and sailors In this object. and the
problem which is now before the CO.
belligerent chance,lories Is whether
Japan shall be allowed to proceed
single handed II a campaign IN that
quarter II begun. Looking 10 the fu-
ture. Il ha. been argued that thero
shou'd be a combination movement to
avoid any such question aa IN III" ulti
mate disnosition OF occnpcd territory
in Siberia as might follow the ex-
elusive entry cf any ono country,
W. Could Band Troops.
From the tone If tn" d'"cus.tor ot
this subject in Official WASHINGTON II
appears that while the entente row
ernnnants incline favorablv to io'n.
campsier with japan In Siberia they
ara saced with the obstacle that nrac-
tlcc,lv ncan, 81 them has srv trooos
or ships ovailah,s far m As'at'r cam
rsixr. THIS ssstcment does not an
DIV. however. to America. witch NOT
onlv has some powerfu, cruisers with
large crews and MARINE cont'n ~ents
now In Asiat'r spptcrs but 7, nda''or
inns about .2nn0o troonsNin tho pf'un,-
pines and two battalions, about soo
Mi "