Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-04-24
CURRENT EVENTS
Rv Frederick 3. Heitkamp

BY Frederick b. 7eltkamp.
Ship construction in our hundred and
thirty yards is such an important
problem that it has become necessary
to call MIR. Schwab to the positi) IN of
director general. Mr.. S1l.HaD has had
extensive experience as a steel maker
and ship buildar and his services viii!
be of the greatest value to the nation
at this time In lc.epting tie position
he stated that lie greatest response
bility and the Race for the G~eatec'
praise vas in ne y )lMer,' or the ship
yards. 1t is to them and not the men
at Washington that the praise will be
due if we complete our ship program
and thus make it possible to carry out
our foreign military operations with
greater speed
Secretary Baker has returned from
his trip to Europe. While there he
was able to obtain first hand informa =
ton concerning the methods of war
fare so that he will be able better to
carry on preparation at home. tic
was very much encouraged with the
entire situation, and stated that the
reception of the American troops was
of the very finest The only despon-
dent men," he said, ARE those who are
afraid that they will be sent back be-
fore the job is done"
Military information is being eagerly
sought by the American public. 1t has
been shown that we have been able to
locate our men in the front line
trenches from the Germans reports
that have reached us before we have
had that word from our own sources
of information. Plans are now on foot
to have a more extensive system OF
publicity. 1t is being urged that Gen
eral Pershing issue a daily report as tc
the military operations similar to that
issued by Field Marshal Haig. In any
event it is expected that a less strict
censorship will be observed from now
on.
The Marines have as yet not made
themselves very noticeable but the fact
that it is planned to double the mum
Der of men in that branch of the SER
vice is an indication Of the value at
tached to them by our military author
tiles. There will soon be seventy-fiVe
thousand Marines. Plans are being
made to have them enter the front line
trenches as son as possible.
Congress has passed a bin which
allows the Furnishing of women aliens
and others who interfere with the pros
ecution of the war or the carrying on
of our military operations. They mag
be sent to detention camps and be
interned the same as the men.
: Mexican Border disputes are being
settled in the better way of conference
and of parties. 1t is indeed fortunate
that we have come to share the good
will of that nation and that we are not
to be hampered in our war prepare
tions by any military operations there
Liberty Day is Friday, April 26th
1918. On that day President Wilson
has urged that special celebration be
made with expressions of our loyalty
finding voice in subscriptions to the
Third Liberty Loan. The response of
the nation to this third loan has not
been as hearty as was expected-but
the time is not yet up and we may look
for a substantial OVersubscription.
C ermany is now floating her eighth
loan and DONG it with success. That
in itself ought to spur us on!
Earthquake shocks have been evil
dent in the lower part Of California.
The past week there were nine quakes
in twenty four hours with an estimat-
ed damage of half a million dollars
Reconstruction was promptly begun.
The first important action in which
the American troops have been engag-
ed took place this past week. 1t is
claimed by the Germans that our lines
wero penetrated to the extent of one
mile that twenty three machine guns
were captured as well as one hundred
and eighty-three men. These reports
have not been confirmed or denied by
General Pershing. In any event the
first drive has now slowed down and
it is expected that Germany will at
tempt a second in the near future