The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-03-14
News REVIEW OF
THE PAST WEEK
Japan Offers to Land Troops in
Siberia If Allies Say the
Word.
EMBASSIESLEAVE PETROGRAD
rraveiirg Through Bandit-infested ST.
beria to Reach Safety Austria
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 Nladivostoi 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
bOlshcviki to deliver these stores to
the Germans as Il part Of Il peace
agreement. Japan announced her will
lingncSs to undertake such an cXpe-
dition by herself or in connection with
troops sent by other Of the allied ma
tionS.
While all officials ut Washington are
silent and disposed to minimize dis
cuSSion Of the subject it is known that
exchanges of opinion are going on with
the object of Il 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
It's extent and duration.
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 Vlndivostok
bought and paid for with American
cash, should fall into the hands of the
| Germans.
Criticism ut 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
ting Of any kind gas shells began burst
Ing among the men Of an American ar
tillery regiment on the western Sront,
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-
frrcd 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 gns shells for the field guns they
had never been used, American COM
mandcrs feeling that they could not
= bring themselves to so violate all evil
donces Of civilization by such method
of warfare. The gassing Of American
troops has, however, convinced our
commanders nt 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
Il taste of their own weapons.
The strain between Austria and Ger
many Is undoubtedly increasing. Aus
tra's refusal to again attack Russia in
spite of Gcrmany's renewal of the war
against the bOlShcviki 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
trin had refused. Austria also refuses
to continue the war against Roumania
so long as there Is possibility Of con
Guiding II 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
rs The Huns may offer
! The most encouraging thing for the
future OF both ROumnnia 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 Teutonlc nations
viii not be considered as final. and par.
! iculnrly so II such peace involves the
session Of any territory to the nations