The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-22

mer strokes of the Hun fighting ma
chine. The German authorities cannot
deny their severe losses In this often
sive, and, with General Won Stein, Prus-
sian minister of war, as their mouth
piece, have striven to reassure the
people by series of falseh0ods con-
corning the allies. First they issued
the statement that the Americans in
in Belleau wood had been defeated and
practically wiped out, though at the
very time those same dashing marines
were driving the enemy further and
further to the west and north. Then
Won Stein, addressing the refchstag,
asserted that Foch's reserves no longer
exist, having been thrown into the
fight, together with the available
Americans, in vain counter-attacks
after the crown princes advance had
come to a halt on the Marine. The en-
tente, he added, is beginning to- admit
heavy defeat and is comforting its peo-
pie with having the help of America.
The German press adds that the sub
marine raid in American waters stop
ped the sending of our troops to
France.
The public may rest assured that all
of these statements are absolute lies
easily refuted did space permit. They
probably are necessary because Of the
growing distress of the Gernaan people
over their losses and their distrust of
their leaders.
Ra-
The allied ayiators gained new lau-
rels during the battle of last week, de-
!. stsagla.g gavaral
planes, bombing their tren3lSa and
munition stations and rak.ng their
troops and transports with machine.
gun fire from low attitudes. IN this
the American aviators played an In
creasingly important part, as well as
doing fine work on their own especial
sector north of Toul.
IA
Not yet ready to start their new
drive in Italy, the Austrians continued
to concentrate great masses of troops
there. The point of attack was not
revealed, but the Italians kept them
busy with big raids. On Monday the
Italian naval forces performed nota-
BILE exploit Two torpedo boats raid
ed an Austrian naval base near the
Dalmatian islands, making their way
among the enemy vessels and torpedo
Ing one big battleship, which sank
with loss of more than 80 lives. An
other battleship was damaged and the
little vessels then returned to their
base in safety. 1t Is said the italians
have built "sea TANK" long and mar
row, which can cut its way through the
steel netting with which the Austrian
ports are protected. Possibly this was
used in the Dalmatian raid
-n-
Having, is they believe, completely
subdued Russia and most of Ukrainia,
and having made a friend of Finland,
the Germans are reported to be trans
porting rapidly to the west front all
their troops except small attachments
left to keep order. But all of the Rus
SLAMS are not crushed for now the CEN
trail committee of the constitutional
democrats, who were ousted by the
bolsheviki, have appealed to America
and the entente powers to send an in
ternational army to Russia to combat
the Germans. The committee urged
that the aid be sent by way of Siberia
so that 1t might first cooperate with
| General Semenoff, who Is still fighting
on the Manchurian border, and then
with the Cossack chiefs. The matter
was seriously considered, but In Wash
ington 1t was announced that Presi-
dent Wilson did not think the time
was ripe for such action. He probably
has definite plans in this regard, but
they have not been revealed to the
public. Japan is preparing a declara-
ton defining her attitude toward Rus
STA. If an allied army is sent into
Siberia, it probably will consist main
ly Of Japanese and Chinese troops. In
deed, 1t is said Japan would object to
the presence of contingents from the
western nations as a reflection on her
honor.
Fighting their way westward through
Russia and Siberia as did the little
band of Belgians who recently passed
through the United States, some $4,000
Czecho-Slovak troops are striving to
reach the Pacific coast The bolshevik
authorities have ordered them disarm-
ed, and they are having almost con-
tinuous battles with the soviet forces.
Ea-
Addressing the graduating class Of
the United States Military academy,
Secretary of War Baker on Wednesday
said that more than d million american
men would soor be In serviee I'll