The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-08-03


fear OF the United States some Of them
have entertained is passing away.
Ia
Though last Thursday was not 80
noisy as the old-time Eourths, there
was one most glorious noise that, A.
uratively speaking, must have been
distinctly heard In Berlin and Vienna.
That was the grand splash" when
about one hundred vessels were
launched at the various shipyards of
the country. Between sunrise and
sunset approximately half million
tons of dead weight shipping was add
ed to the fleets that are defeating the
submarine pirates, carrying our armies
to France and transporting the food
and munitions for them and our al
lies. This greatest ship launching in
all history was the most significant
feature Of the days celebrations.
In the fiscal year just ended 1.622
new ships were numbered by the bu-
reau of navigation, their gross ton
mage being 1.48O.795. This was Q rec
ord output and one-half Of 1t was COM
pleted In the last four months. In the
new fiscal year this record will be
eclipssd, for many new shipyards are
Just getting started. The loyalty and
devotion of the shipyard workers were
Justly recognized by the government
officials from the president down, and
by the people, and the praise Tor their
efforts 10 shared by the railroad work.
ers, without whose devoted co-0perd-
ton the achievements Of the ytYaa
builders would not have been possihl&f
- VA
Beautifully dovetailing in with all
this was the announcement by Send
tor Swanson, chairman Of the naval
Affairs committee, that with the coop
Grafton Of the American destroyers the
allied naval forces have destroyed 66
per cent of the submarines sent out by
Germany, and that they are now de-
stroying the U-boats faster than they
can be replaced.
Secretary Of War Bakers detailed
statement to the house committee on
military affairs was made Just in time
to give added sest to the celebration
Of the Fourth. BE said the American
army now consisted Of 100, 400 officers
and 100000 enlisted men and that
on July practically million of them
were In France; that the death rate
for disease among all troops In the
United States was only 3.16 per thou
sand; that the number Of combat
planes delivered to June was 286,
the production for the week ending on
tnat day being 80; that 5,315 training
planes had been delivered to June 8,
more than 1000 Liberty engines, anil
1880 machine guns for use on air
planes. Between the declaration Of
war and June | more than 1,30O,000
rifles were produced and delivered and
equip division every three days. Mr.
Baker told many other encouraging
facts, and enlarged on the wonderful
work of the American engineers who
enlarged port facilities and built rail-
roads In France for the landing and
movement of American troops.
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II the central powers would know
the unwavering determination Of the
people Of the allied nations. they have
but to read President Wilson's hide
pendence day address at the tomb Of
Washington. In which 1t was voiced
most eloqusntly. There car be but
one ISSUE" declared the president.
1.-THE settlement must be final. There
can be- no compromise. No halfway
decision would be tolerabls. No half
way decision 10 conceivable" He thus
put our great objects in single SEN
tence: What we seek Ii the reign OF
law, based upon the consent Of the gov
erned and sustained BY the organised
opinion of mankind" In less formal
language, the Huns must be whipped
to frazxle, for until they are their
rulers will not accept such q peace as
the allies will grant, and the people Of
Germany and Austria, with toe few ex-
ceptions. are like sheep.
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In the absence Of any great military
operations on the French and Italian
fronts last week attention was largely
directed toward Russia. what shall
be done to aid that distracted country
is problem still unsolved. and It Is
made more difficult by tine lack Of re-
liable information as to what Ii going
on there. The reports OF the downfall
Of the bolsheviki and. the re-establish-
mant OF the monarchy with Grand,