Middletown transcript., 1918-05-25


The artillery.
Monday he issued call for help to
prevent it. The family of the late cza,
has been removed to Kiev and is in
the hands of the Germans. Near the
MOngolian-Siberian border General
Semenoff continues to wage successful
war on the bolshevik forces.
The Finnish White guard seems to
have gained almost complete control
of the country, celebrating the capture
of Tammerfors by massacring 500
Russians and Great Britain has offered
to recognize the Finnish republic on
certain conditions. The trouble there
may not be over, however, for late re-
ports say great number of Russians
are massed on the border Of Finland
and a big battle is imminent.
~
President Wilson and the senate
military affairs committee confiicted
again last week when Chairman Cham
berlain proposed resolution that
would permit the committee to inquire
into the conduct of the war, though
the initial purpose was merely to in
vestigate the aircraft production col
lapse and consequent charges of dis
honesty. Mr.. Wilson declared une-
quivocally that he would consider the
adoption of the resolution as dec
laratiOn of want of confidence in the
administration, and restrictive
amendment by Senator Thompson Of
Kansas did not remove his objections
to it. On Wednesday the president
announced the appointment of Charles
E. Hughes to act with the attorney
general in the aircraft investigation
and the choice was received with gen.
eral approval. The former justice Of
the Supreme court made great rec.
ord in the New York insurance investi-
CATION, and it is believed the criminal
charges in the aircraft production
matter will be thoroughly gone into by
him without fear or favor.
~
Under the able leadership of Mr..
Schwab the shipbuilding forces of the
United States are going ahead with
their work at great rate. The big
concrete steamer Faith, built at San
Francisco, underwent trial runs that
were altogether satisfactory, and the
steel vessel Tuckahoe was declared
ready to sail from Philadelphia just
81 days after the keel was laid. The
shipping board decided Thursday: to
build II concrete tank steamers, with
a total capacity of 10000 tons, and
four concrete cargo vessels. The board
also prepared to let contracts for 200
more wooden ships of 400 tons each,
in addition to 200 recently authorized,
in order to keep the ways occupied un-
til the end of the war. Thus the ship.
ping problem is gradually being solved,
and while America and Great Britain
are building vessels their navies are
sinking the German submarines in in.
creasing numbers. There were reports
last week that Germany was about to
put into commission some U-bOats
larger than any yet seen, but the allied
naval commanders said they were
ready for those, too. To further re-
strict the activities of the undersea
craft the British have laid a great
mine field in the North sea, covering
about $4,000 square miles. The mari
ners are growing more and more skill
full in evading the submarines. as Is
shown by the fact that in the first four
months of this year 172 British vessels
were attacked by them and escaped
uninjured.
The Overman coordination bill finally
was passed by the house by vote of
295 to 2, Representatives Sterling Of
Illinois and Gillett of Massachusetts
casting the only negative votes. All
attempts to amend it were voted down.
The house passed the conference re-
port on the bill requiring the register
ing Of youths who have reached the
age of twenty-one years since June 5
last. Their names are to 60 at the
bottom of the lists.
With the appointment of Felix
Frankfurter as administrator Of war
labor activities the government put
into operation its plan for controlling
and directing the labor supply, his du-
ties being administrative as contrast
ed with the judicial and legislative
functions of the war labor board head
ed by Mr.. Taft.
Appealing to the people Of small
means, the government last week
launched War Savings stamp cam
paign that brought excellent results all
over the country. Elaborate plans were
also completed for the campaign to
raise the second Red Cross war fund
of $1OO,OOOOOO.