, 1918-06-13

ment is contemplating the extending
of assistance to Russia in the way of
assembling food supplies in Siberia
and distributing them in European
Russia.
In equally parlous state is Turkey,
where famine is widespread and many
of the poorest people are subsisting on
chestnuts and pumpkin seeds. In
some districts the troops have de-
stroyed the crops though they them
selves are on mighty short rations.
Only the officers are well fed. With
these food conditions, the steady ad-
vance Of the British in Palestine and
Mesopotamia and the growing strength
of the Arab forces, there are evidences
of the approaching break up of the
Turkish empire. 1t has got nothing
yet for all its efforts except certain oil
districts coded by Russia under COM
pulsion, and the possession of these
is threatened by the northward move
ments of the British expeditions.
-m-
The Italians kept on hitting hard at
the Austro-H Hungarian forces along the
Piave line, and they heard undisturbed
of the massing of thirty enemy di.
visions at three points on that front
for a resumption of the drive toward
the plains. The Italian army is now
in better condition than ever before
and, with the help of the Americans,
British and French, can be relied on
to stop the expected offensive.
The supreme wal conference of the
allies at Versailles expressed its com
plete confidence in the ultimate defeat
of the central powers and declared the
allied people are ~"resolute not to sac.
rifice a single one of the free nations
of the world to the despotism of Ber-
lin The premiers of Great Britain,
France and Italy agreed on the crea.
ton of a united Independent Polish
state with free access to the sea as one
of the conditions of a just peace, and
adhered to the declaration of Secre-
tary Lansing expressing sympathy with
h national aspirations of the Czechs
and Jugo-Slavs. This means, If II
means anything, that Emperor Charles
has lost his last chanc to retain his
empire entire by breaking away from
Germany. 1t foretells the dismember-
ment of Austria Hungary when peace
is made, If not at an earlier date.
IA
In the United States the U-boat raid
served to impress the people with the
pressing need of the conservation of
wheat and sugar. especially. The
former must be sent across the ocean
in increasing quantities as our forces
there grow rapidly greater; and sugar
canno be bought from Cuba because
we must use all available shipping for
the transportation of troops and mu-
nitions to Europe.
The fuel administration devoted its
energies last week to urging the people
to order their mex winters supplies
of coal at once. There has been wide
spread complaint that the retailers
canot fill orders, but Doctor Garfield
says that orders now. whether or not
they are filled soon, will do much to
stimulate production. There is plenty
Of coal If only 1t can be got out of
the ground and If the railroad admin
istration will find some way of sup
plying enough cars. The shortage of
cars really is at the bottom of the
whole trouble inc will be to blame If
the predicted coal famine materializes
next winter.
The senate's attempt to stop the
manufacture of beer and wine by
means of an amendment to the emer-
gency agricultural bill was blocked by
the administration last week. Food Adj
ministrator Hoover opposed 1t because
he believed 1t would put the nation on
q whisky, brandy and gin" basis with
attendant evils far o~utweighing the
small food savings hat would result.
Sheppard he would not forbid the use
of foodstuffs in beer and wine unless
Mr.. Hoover regarded such a step nee
essary. The senate therefore receded
from its position.
Ia
The week saw the registering of
about a million young Americans who
have become twenty-one years of age
since last spring; and this reglstra-
ton probably will be repeated about
once in three months. Provost Mar
shall General Crowder sent to the gov
ernors of all the states except Arizona
orders for the mobilization of 100000
more reglstrants between June "a and
%, and 10000 negroes were called