Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-05-03


conflict, despite her earnest efforts to
maintain her neutrality. Berlin Is re-
ported to have made demands which
may well result in adding the Dutch
to the list of Germany's active enemies
and hat probably would mean Hol-
land would become another Belgium.
.overrun and ravaged, for the allies
could not well help her except from the
sea. The German demands have to
do with the treat permitting the
transportation of sand and gravel
through Holland for the repair of
Belgian roads. The Netherlands gov
eminent refuses to permit Germany to
take these materials through Dutch
territory for military works.
The Guatemalan national assembly
has declared that Guatemala occupies
the same position toward the European
.belligerents as does the United States,
which in diplomatic circles is consid-
cred a declaration of war on Germany
and her allies.
-
The rapidity with which American
troops are being sent across the Allan
tic is h%eartening the allies and dem
onstrating the intention of u govern
ment to put in the field the greatest
possible force in the shortest possible
time. Many of the men are going by
way of England, and the fact that they
are being transported across the Eng
fish channel in safety has aroused the
Germans to such an extent that their
naval authorities have had to apollo
gize for the inaction of their fleet.
1t is not permitted to tell how many
men the administration proposes to
send to France before the end of the
year, but it is so great that when Di-
rector General Schwab and the ship
ping board were told by General Goe-
thals the amount of shipping he would
require they were staggered. Mr..
Schwab, however, believed the esti-
mate could be fulfilled if certain steps
could be taken to hasten the deliveries
of ships, these steps including the re-
duction of some of the requirements
of the navy so that the steel can be
diverted to the uses of the transport
feet.
In Washington it is understood that
as rapidly as ships can be provided the
soldiers will be sent across, whether
they are fully trained or not. 1t Is re-
ported the draft will be accelerated by
calling 100000 men to training next
month, a number far In excess of previ-
Gus estimates.
In line with the present policy Of
speeding up and making efficient all
war preparations is the appointment
of John D. Ryan, the copper magnate,
as director of aircraft production for
the army and the reorganization of
the aviation section of the signal corps.
General Squier hereafter will devote
his attention to the administration of
signals, and Brig. Gen. William l. Ken
ly is made director of a new division
of military aeronautics. Howard COT
aircraft board but remains a member
of the advisory commission of the
council Of national defense.
The reports on the airplane situa-
ton made to the president by the
Marshall committee and by assistant
lie, but 1t is. admitted that they sub.
stantiated the report of the senate
committee that the program had col
lapsed.
Both houses of congress have passed
itary service all males becoming TWEEN
ty-one a old since June 5, 1917.
The lower house adopted an amend
ment putting the newly registered men
at the foot of their respective classes
and sustained the military committee
In refusing to exempt those who have
entered medical or divinity schools
since June o..
"a
The Chamberlain bill to turn sedi-
tionists over to military tribunals for
trial by court martial met its fate
when President Wilson declared his
firm opposition to 1t and other au-
thorities said it was unconstitutional.
1t was, of course, introduced because
of charges that the department of JUS
hce has been lax in combating enemy
propaganda, but these charges are re-
futed by the department, which re-
ports 1t has secured at least 1900 con
victions in the last year, despite the
~inadequacy of federal laws against
sabotage and disloyal u~tterances. The
number of acquittals has been relative
ly small.