The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-07-18

aid Russia and rid her of her Teuton
conquerors. President Wilson de-
clared himself for peaceful, not force;
full intervention; and it is probable a
commission of distinguished men, per-
haps including representatives of all
the allied nations, will be sent with
offers of assistance and powers to ar
range a plan Of cooperation. Keren-
sky, who appeared Unexpectedly In
London on his way to America, is con
fident Russia will soon rejoin in the
fight against the central powers. He
and other Russian leaders, however,
agree that the country will not toler-
ate foreign Intervention in it's internal
affairs. 1t is economical and financial
aid that Russia needs, and needs at
once.
The Germans in southern Russia
are making their way toward Smol-
ensk, probably en- route to Moscow,
despite the protests of the %bolshevik
foreign minister. They also have
landed a strong force at Poti, on the
eastern coast of the Black sea.
In eastern Siberia General Semenoff
and his anti-bolshevik army, after
having been driven across the Man
churian border, are again advancing
because the forces opposing them
were ordered to the protection OF
Irkutsk.
Germany is receiving some food
supplies from Ukraine, but these are
mostly from the German army COM
missariat which buys them from the
peasants at exorbitant prices.
La
Secretary of War Baker seemingly
changed his mind suddenly about ex-
tending the draft age limits, for last
week he and General March, chief of
staff, appeared before the senate com
mittee and agreed in urging that leg
islation to that end be postponed until
the fall. At that time, they said, the
war department would be able to sub
NIT a vast program for army enlarge
IUoUI, anu WOulO hLlOW INV AhohJ "
diers could be transported overseas
and how far it would be necessary to
extend the draft to obtain the num-
Der Of men required. Provost Marshal
General Crowder said he still believed
immediate action necessary, but be-
ing only a subordinate, he bowed to
the decision of his s%uperiors. The
senate committee, which had agreed
on twenty to forty years as the new
draft limits, voted to defer action.
This provoked a storm of protest
in congress, chiefly from Republican
leaders who declared the delay was
another evidence of the administra-
tion's procrastination and devotion to
unpreparedness. The Democrats prom
ised action in September and said
there were enough men in class 1 to
meet all requirements until then. 10
show that there is no need for imme-
date action Senator Hitchcock said /:
''The information given to the COM
mittee is, in substance, this: Ihat
when we have exhausted all available
men in class 1 of the present draft we
will nave an army of 100000 men In
August. In addition, there Will De
about 100000 Canadians that we will
bring into the army as the result OF
the treaty just ratified, so that we Will
then have an army of 3,45O,OOO men.
Now, the highest estimate of the num-
her of men we can have in France at
that time is 1,45O,000. so that we Will
have in this country when this con-
gress reconvenes after its proposed re-
cess in September over 2,OOO,OOO men"
-
On Thursday the drawing OF num-
hers to determine the order in which
Youths of the class of 1918, about 744,-
500 in number, shall be called to the
colors was conducted in the senate Of
fee building, with much of h cere-
mony that marked the first drawing q
wear ago. Secretary Baker, blindfold-
er. drew out the first capsule, with the
number 246 inclosed. 1t was neces-
sary to draw only 1900 numbers. The
new registrants will be placed at the
foot of the lists in the classes to which
they are assigned by their boards.
-@-
The senate agricultural committee,
disregarding the advice of many prom
inent persons, adopted the amendment
to the $11, 100000 emergency agricul-
tural bill providing for national pro-
| hibition after June 80. 1919, and dur
ing the continuance of the war.
la
On Monday the house passed the
S. 500, OOO,O 0 Notifications bill. and
the senate passed the $3,300.0OO,0OC
sundry civil bill containing about 81
| 600, OOO, 900 more for the shipping pro.
gram.