The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-03-09
NEWS REVIEW OF
THE PAST week
Japan Offers to Land Troops in
Siberia If Allies Say the
Word.
EMDASSIESLE PETROGRAD
Travelling Through Bandit-Infested ST.
berla to Reach Safety-Austrla
Cannot Break Away From Her
Alliance With Germany.

Japan has asked for permission to
land troops In Siberia to prevent the
vast quantities Of munitions and 9TH
er military stores at Vladivostok and
along the lines Of the Siberian rail-
road from falling into the hands OF
the Germans. 1t was feared that the
Germans might attempt to force the
bolsheviH to deliver these stores to
the Germans as part Of a peace
agreement. japan announced her will
lingness to undertake such On expe-
dition by herself or In connection with
troops sent by other Of the allied ma
lions.
While all officials at Washington are
silent and disposed to minimize dis
cussion Of the subject 1t Is known that
exchanges of opinion are going on with
the object Of o perfect understanding
between Japan, the United States and
the other co-belligerents which would
make the plan Of joint action wholly
acceptable to all and thoroughly define
its extent ana duratlOn.
Russian representatives at Washing
ton oppose action by the japanese In
Siberia, but the co-belligerents are thor
oughly alarmed lest the vast quantities
Of supplies piled up at Vladivostok,
bought and paid for with American
cash, should fall into the hands Of the
Germans.
Criticism at home Of the failure Of
Japan to play larger part in the war
is said to have been influential In bring
ing about the negotiations.
Our boys have had their first taste
of the deadly Hun gas, Without warn
ing Of any kind gas shells began burst
ing among the men Of an American ar
tillery regiment on the western front,
and more than 200 men were down be-
for they could put on gas masks. Eight
men died within few minutes and 200
were taken to hospitals where they suf-
fered every conceivable torture while
the doctors worked over them In an
effort to get air into their lungs While
the American troops In France have
been supplied with gas equipment and
with gas shells for the field guns they
had never been used, American com
manders feeling that they could not
bring themselves to 30 violate all evil
dences Of civilization by such method
of warfare. The gassing Of American
troops has however, convinced our
commanders at the front that they
must fight the Hun in his own way,
brutal and inhuman though that way
may be, and the Boches will be given
taste of their own weapons.
The strain between Austria and Ger
many is undoubtedly increasing. Aus
trials refusal to again attack Russia in
spite of Germany's renewal Of the war
against the bolshevih has increased the
tenseness of the situation existing be-
tween the two governments, and 1t was
reported that Germany had practically
ordered the Austrian government to
send troops into Russia, and that Aus
trla had refused Austria also refuses
to continue the war against Roumania
so long as there is possibility of con-
GLIDING q peace arrangement with that
nation. Poor Roumania, cut off from
every possible source Of assistance
from the outside, without munitions or
adequate guns can seemingly do moth.
ing more than accept such peace terms
as the Huns may offer.
The most encouraging thing for the
future Of both Roumania and Russia
is the statement made for the allied
governments to the effect that any
peace that may be forced upon these
two countries by the Teutonic nations
will not be considered as final, and par
ticularly so II such peace involves the
session Of any territory to the nations