The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-12

urged, and it was announced that the
bulk Of the National Guard would be
started on its way to the other side
just as fast as circumstances permit
will be the Prairie division, including
the Illinois troops now stationed at
Houston. The greatest possible
amount of tonnage for the transporta
ton of American troops will be made
available through the new organization
Of the allies for coordination of ship
ping resources. The Paris conferees
also formed a definite plan for more
actively utilizing the American naval
forces and for carrying on the anti
submarine warfare.
Great Britain, France and Italy
agreed to establish compulsory con-
troll of fOodstuffs so that America may
know definitely what it must do in
feeding its allies and itself The con-
tribution of the United States to a
pooling of war resources was agreed
upon, and 1t also will participate in
military deliberations of supreme
war council "as step toward efficient
and centralized unity Of control of
military, operations" consummation
deyoutly to be wished.
Hoover and Reed Clash.
Food Administrator Hoover and
Senator Reed of Missouri had lively
verbal clash while the former was tes-
tifying before senate committee that
l iSinHstigating sugar and coal short
-SlsAS yReed, who always has been
bitter opponent of Hoover, accused
the administrator of a usurpation Of
authority that would be a crime in
peace times basing his charges on the
/ handling of the wheat situation and
the stabilizing of prices, and attacking
especially the food administration
actions in the matter of sugar supplies
, and prices. Mr.. Hoover defended
himself with vigOr.
In his testimony the previous day
Mr.. Hoover said he had not got the
expected results in the way of food
conservation and advised that laws
be passed to regulate the amounts and
kinds of food to be served in restaur-
| ants and hotels. Most of the eating
| places, he asserted, had declined to CO.
operate with the government, and
| those that were willing to do so had
been compelled to abandon their eff
forts In order to meet competition.
Housewives generally, he believed, are
| conforming to the conservation pro-
gram.
On Friday President Wilson ad-
! dressed a joint session of the senate
and house, laying before the congress
men his plans for government control
| of railroads and his reasons therefor
! and outlining the legislation he con-
siders necessary for carrying those
plans into effect in accordance with
| his proclamation of December 20.
Secretary McAdoo in his capacity of
director general of railroads has de-
cided to divide the entire country into
zones and put man In direct charge
of the operation of all roads in each
zone. Also he will at once rehabili-
tate the reads by the purchase of new
| rolling stock. The withdrawal of
many trains and the formation of new
schedules are announced. The imme,
date effort is to transport coal, fol-
the fuel shortage, aggravated by the
great cold wave, has been causing
vast distress.
4 Great Fire in Norfolk.
Italy is informing every enemy alien
in the country, and the United States
may be forced to follow the example
if the explosions, incendiary fires and
other outrages committed by Teutor
agents and sympathizers continue. The
latest of these was big confagratior
in Norfolk, Va, which laid two blocks
in ruins at a cost of 100000. 1t is
believed to have been the result of 9
plot to destroy the city because of its
Importance as port.
Both Great Britain and France re-
ported increased losses of merchant
men due to the submarine campaign
and to mines. The losses for Decem
Der, however, were but slightly above
the low record for November, and II
was said more submarines are being
sunk than Germany is able to build.
Great Britain has recalled Sir Cecil
Spring-Rice, ambassador to America
and it is believed she will send over q
man more in sympathy with the demo
cratic institutions of this country. Sill
Cecil has not made himself very popu
lar, and he especially aroused the dis
pleasure of Viscount Northcliffe, whose
influence in the British government Ii
J nQwerful.