Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-05-01
CURRENT EVENTS
By
Frederick B. Heitkamp

HOLLAND desires to observe strict
neutrality. However Germany is MAX
ing it very difficult for her to do so.
Ever since the taking over of the Dutch
shipping in. our ports, and in the ports
of England, Germ ny has been incens-
Illness for that little country. The
matter now under discussion is the
transporting of sand and gravel over
the lines of Holland into German ter
ritory for military purposes. Holland
declines to allow the use of her rail-
ways. Germany has sent certain de-
mands which she will expect to be re-
cognized, and which shall make Hol-
lands position very difficult. She
has nothing to gain by entering the
war and everything to loose.
CONSUMPTION in ireland is, not
meeting with the best of feeling. Pub
lie demonstrations voicing the protest
of certain elements in that country
have been frequent this past week.
Lloyd George is expecting that Ire
land win prove to be loyal and that
she will not fail to offer her share Of
the man power now so urgently need
ed on the western front
NO WAR will be declared as vet on
Turkey. President Wilson has asked
that he be not urged to do So We
have tremendous economic and finan-
iial interests in Turkey, there are many
of our citizens there and furthermore
the feeling of Turkey for the United
States is not as unfriendly as might
be supposed. In the later years after
the war it will be to our advantage
commercially to have retained her good
will, in so far as that is possible now
that we are at war with her allies.
.UNIFICATION of the essential in
dustries and departments necessary
for a more speedy carrying ON of the
war has been achieved this past week
in the appointment of John D. Ryan
copper magnate and financier, to head
the aircraft construction. Thus far
it has been in the hands of the Signal
Corps and the results attained have
been anything but satisfactory Fol-
lowing the appointment of Mr.. Schwab
who was placed in charge of the ship
program, this is an indication of the
administrators policy of centraliza-
ton Of authority and unification OF
effort.
LLOYD GEORGE has commended
labor and its service thus far in the
war; Many Of the skilled laborers
have been called to the colors and those
who have been left have in spite of
the fact that they have been short
handed, very efficiently carried out the
prescribed programs. mo more let
1t be said that labor has not contrib
uted it's part" Strikes have been very
few-in fact less than one day out of
the entire year has been lost due to
strikes of any nature Women have
responded with great interest and now
are working at lathes and machines
" hieh were formerly manned by their
husbands. Their one motive is to
work to help John in the trenches"
EAGLES instead of Fords viii now
be turned out by the large Ford fac
tories in Detroit. These Eagles are
boats designed as destroyers. The
production of the Ford cars will be cut
from 5000 daily to 1900 and one Eagle
day is promised. This is an indi-
cation of the adaptation of our indus
| trial system to the needs which arise
when nation enters war What
| Henry Ford has done is being done
daily all over the country and slowly
but effectively our Industrial resources
are being brought to contribute di-
reetly to the needs of the nation.
THE LIBERTY LOAN has not as
| yet been as successful as had been
| hoped. 1t is regretted that the nation
has not seen the need for more
| hearty response. While the quota will
undoubtedly be obtained it had been
hoped that it would be greatly over
| subscribed. Germany is raising her
eighth loan with less effort and less
| advertising than we are raising our
| third.
| THE OVERMAN BILL which will
give to President Wilson power to re-
| organize federal departments has been
passed by the senate and now goes to
the house, where it is sure of passing.
In securing this power President Will
son win be having more authority than
has ever been delegated to any presi
dent since the creation of our federated
form of government, ana in this man
ner will he be able to effectively carry
out plans and policies which are not
| possible under the present system.
4 nan FkfAF