Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-01


hand.
Washington, March IAN early
decision may be reached on the mo-
mentous question whether. America
and. the Entente Allies shall join
Japan in a campaign in Eastern ST.
IBERIA to counteract possible German
activities in that quarter and save
the great supply of military stores
accumulated at Vladivostok and inf
terror points on the Siberian rail-
way.
1t has been understood that this
decision might await the arrival in
Washington of Viscount Ishii, the
newly-appointed Japanese Ambassa-
dor to the United States; but it was
said last night that recent develop
ments, including increasing pressure
from entente sources, very likely
would cause a more speedy deter
mination of the question.
1t is learned that this is not re-
garded as a problem for the consid-
GRAFTON, at the present stage at
least, of the Supreme War Council
in France, which, if it treats the
subjects at all. will deal with it only
as military matter after the ques-
ton of policy has been decided by
the governments of the Entente al
lies and America.
1t is freely admitted in official cir
cles that this is a very great ques-
ton indeed. A radical departure
from established rules of interna-
tional law would be involved in the
forcible entry into a neutral coun-
try, and consideration must be CIV
en- to the possible effect upon the
Russian people of such a course in
their relations to the present war.
Already there has been some appre-
henSion that great numbers OF Ru6-
sian soldiers, rather than return to
their farms and shops, voluntarily
would join the Central Powers
armies, and some evidence of a
foundation for this fear is found In
Berlin dispatches announcing the
entry into the German army of sew
eral regiments of Esthonians.
On the other hand, growing indi-
cations that Japan cannot much
longer be restrained from taking
some action in Siberia are causing
serious consideration of the Japan
ese invitation to the Entente Allies
and America to participate. The
alternative would be to withhold
from Japan the cooperation she
maintains she has the right to
expect, and let her undertake,
single-handed, the weight of the
campaign in Siberia, and deal
without counsel for the Allies with
the large questions involved in the
future disposition of any territory on
the Asiatic mainland which she
might occupy.
Issue Approaches Crisis
It is learned that the issue now is
approaching the critical point in the
opinion of the Japanese government,
which has concluded that some such
action as it proposes to take in ST.
IBERIA is imperative as a defensive
measure against Germanic aggres-
sion and control of the wreck of the
late governmental machinery in ST.
IBERIA.
Such information as the officials
have been able to gather regarding
the conditions in Siberia, indicate
that most of the larger cities and
towns in the interior and along the
line of the Siberian Railroad now
are under the control of the Bolshe-
Wiki. In that country this element is
of eXiles of European Russia, who
are filled with hatred of monarch
ical institutions and imbued with
anarchistic doctrine, and so may be
counted as radical supporters of the
BolsheViki government. Their num-
bers are not known, but they are the
dominating force in q considerable
portion of Siberia.
Conditions in Vladivostok are con-
fused. There are number of
Bolsheviki in the town, but this, aft
er all, is under control, for the pres
ent, of a local Zemstvo, which has
paid very little attention to orders
issued from Petrograd, and the con-
serVative forces are greatly strength
ened by the presence in the harbor
of two Japanese cruisers.
German Prisoners Dangerous
Some 10000 German prisoners of
war were distributed along the line
of the Siberian railroad. but a num-
ber of these have been shipped back
to Europe. and it is not known how
many remain. They would present a
dangerous element, comprising many
veteran soldiers able to organize the
Russians into a consider
able force. The aboriginal inhabi-
tants are regarded as a negligible
quantity, and though there are about
G, 100000 Chinese farmers who have
into the country, they
are counted upon to mind their own
business and take no part in any
military operations.
speech Takes Second Place
Japan's proposal for action in ST.
IBERIA has crowded German Chancel-
lor Won Hertling's speech into second
place in the consideration of officials
here and there were Indications to-
day that decisions were being
formed which soon would show them
selves in some arrangement of an
character to prevent
the vast stores at Vladivostok and
control of the trans-Siberian railway
from falling into the hands of the
Germans.
The expectation that President
Wilson was planning to address
Congress very soon in reply to Won
speech was dissipated to-
day by evidences that the President
is making no such plans at this
time and probably does not consider
it necessary to reply to the Ger
man Chancellor for the present at
least. Before the President speaks
there doubtless will be an inter
change of views with London and
Paris so that if Mr.. Wilson speaks
he will express the view of all the
CO. belligerents as on previous occa-
sions.
Outward indications to-day were
that the President was studying the
question of American participation
with the Japanese in Siberia to the