The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-10-24

laid down by President Wilson in his
answer to the German Chancellor.
Notwithstanding these rumors there
is a strong current of feeling among
officials here that Germany will make
an evasive and indefinite reply and
further through diplomatic correspon-
dence endeavor to secure an armistice
and temporary cessation of hostilities
which will be largely advantageous
to her. Only after her armies are
broken and decisively defeated, it S
thought by the higher officials in the
State, War and Navy departments,
that Germany will give up her efforts
in the war to extend and perpetuate
monarchy and militarism throughout
the world.
The trip-hammer blows now being
English, French and American armies
promise to rout the Germans out of
Belgium and France before the winter
weather sets in, and much sooner than
it was thought month ago possible
to accomplish this. The election of
the Germans from the channel ports
Of Ostend and Zeebruges will to a
large extent destroy the future ef-
fective operations Of their subma-
rines against the war and merchant
vessels of the Allies. Peace rumors
and peace talk have not in any way
slowed up in administrative circles
the preparations for continuing our
part in the war on rapidly enlarg-
ing gigantic scale. Troops, guns, am
munition, and war materials and sup
plies of all kinds are going forward
every day from Atlantic ports to
France and England.
Billing Field.
Across the Anacosta river from
Washington, and about four mt les
south and east Of the Capitol, Score.
tary Baker has caused to be located a
large aviation field for the training
of combat flyers and where one or
more squadrons of combat flyers will
be quartered for the aerial defense
of Washington, Baltimore and sur
rounding cities. Aviators from this
field may be seen over Washington at
almost any hour Of the day. This
week | spent an hour in flight over
Washington and the surrounding
country with Lieutenant Curtis, who
has been in the aeroplane service for
the past two years and who is one
of the most expert flyers at Boiling
Field. In an aeroplane, at height OF
six thousand feet, one can clearly I'M
derstand how helpless a city is from
an aeroplane attack unless it is in
turn defended by aeroplane squad
rons.
During our flight Lieutant Curtis
"stalled" his plane directly over the
White House and held it for fully ten
minutes in practically the same place
at a height Of more than six thousand
feet above the White House grounds.
It appeared that it would have been
the easiest thing in the world for us
to have dropped bombs directly upon
the White House from where we were.
If five thousand American combat
planes, with American aviators like
young Curtis, who is but 20 years old,
are placed upon the western front
next year the Germans will be kept
so busy in trying to find places in
which to hide away from aeroplane
bombs that they will not be long in
making up their minds to surrender
on any terms whatever that may be
offered them.
Six Billion Deficiency Bill
This week the House passed with
out a dissenting vote, the Deficiency
Appropriation bill, carrying defc-
iency appropriations for the army and
navy and for other departments of
the Government, amounting to more
than six billions of dollars. Among
it's numerous items the bill carried an
appropriation of seventy millions of
dollars for the War Risk Insurance
Bureau to pay allotments to families
of soldiers and sailors. The bill will
be considered and probably passed by
the Senate within the next ten days.
After the passage Of this bill it is
now planned that the House and Sen
ate will recess until November IL so
as to give members an opportunity to
20 to their homes to vote at the gen.
eral election.