The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-09-28


course.
The London Express says 1t has un-
questionable information that the for
mer empress of Russia and all her
children have been murdered by boil
sheviki. If this Is true, the entire i'm
mediate family of Nicholas has now
been exterminated. The dowager en-
press and her daughter and son-in-law
were attacked by bolsheviki at Yalta,
but were saved by men from the Black
sea fleet after two weeks Of fighting.
-m-
The progress of the Czecho-Slovaks
of Austria-Hungary toward the indie
pendence recognized by Great Britain
and America is encouraging. The ex-
istence Of the Czecho- Slovak state was
declared by all the Czech deputies In
the Austrian parliament and has now
been Endorsed by all Of the clergy Of
the Bohemian dioceses.
Ia
Baron Burian, Austro- Hungarian for
eign minister, who still is at outs with
Berlin because he insists on an Aus
trian solution Of the Polish problem,
nevertheless was employed once more
last week to start Teutonic peace
offensive. This, aimed directly at Presi-
dent Wilson, was suggestion that the
central powers and the entente get to-
gether for an exchange of views and to
consfafef an the things wIiichi TT q keep
ing The belligerents apart. He intl-
mated this might make further fight
ing unnecessary. Though President
Wilson is not quoted In reply, Wash
ington dispatches make it clear that he
holds unwaveringly the position that
the only tolerable peace will be, not
negotiated, but dictated to the central
powers by the allies, and that that is
the kind of peace which the allies will
achieve. In this, it is needless to say,
he Is backed up by the entire nation.
No one in a position to predict pre-
sumes to believe that such peace can
be attained this year, but no one In
tends that any other kind of peace
shall be accepted by America. We
have gone into the war to the finish,
and we propose that the finish shall be
in accordance with our high aims for
the future safety of civilization and
freedom, no matter what the cost.
Ia
AT most opportune time came the
registration day for all Americans be-
tween the ages of eighteen and twen-
ty-one and thirty-one and forty-f1ve
years. Gladly, with patriotic exalta-
ton, some 100000 youths and older
men enrolled themselves for military
duty, and from their number 10000
more trained soldiers will soon be
ready to move forward to the battle
lines. Millions of others, not so fit In
one way or another for actual fighting,
will be listed for other work directly
connected with the carrying on of the
war. In a few weeks the relative
standing of the 100000 will have
been determined. According to Pro-
vost Marshal General Crowder, the
first to be selected for the environments
and camps will be those between nine
teen and twenty-one and between thir-
ty-one and thirty-six.
The matter Of granting deferment
to registrants because Of the work In
which they are engaged is of utmost
Importance, and the aid Of all employ
ers in this has been enlisted. The gov
eminent is especially DESTROYS that no
essential industries shall be disturbed
by the draft, but enough men must be
selected to maintain steady flow Of
registrants to the training camps.
Ia
AS had been foreseen, here and
abroad, the Germans have begun an
intensified U-boat campaign directed
especially against the transports carry
! ing American troops and supplies. Up
to date this has resulted In the torpe-
doing of the Mount Vernon, formerly
the Kronprinzessin Cecelie, which was
bringing home wounded and sick SOL
diers, and of the Persic, carrying $500
American troops to Europe. In the
former case the casualties were con-
fined to men in the engine rooms and
the vessel put back to French port
under her own steam. All the men on
the Perslc were safely transferred to
the conveying vessels, after which the
steamship was beached on the English
coast. The submarine which attacked
1t was destroyed by depth charges. In
both instances the utmost bravery and
GOODNESS were exhibited by the crews
and the soldiers aboard.
The British steamship MissanabIe
also was torpedoed while on her way
to America for troops and supplies.