, 1918-03-07
NEWS review OF
The PAST week
Japan offers to Land Troops in
Siberia If Allies Say the
Word.
EMBAsSIEsLEAVE PETROGRAD
travelling Through Bandit-lnfested 81
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 Vladivostok 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
bolsheviki to deliver these stores to
the Germans as a part of a peace
agreement. Japan announced her will
~lingness to undertake such an expe-
dltlon by herself or in connection with
troops sent by other of the allied ma
tons.
While all officials at Washington are
silent and disposed to minimize dis
cusslon of the subject 1t is known that
exchanges of opinion are going on with
the object of a 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
Its 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 Vladlvostok,
bought and paid for with American
cash, should fall into the hands Of the
Germans.
Criticism at home of the failure Of
Japan to play a 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
Ing of any kind gas shells began burst
Ing among the men OF an American ar
ullery regiment on the western front,
and more than 200 men were down be-
Tor they could put on gas masks. Eight
men died within a few minutes and 200
were taken to hospitals where they suf-
Tered every conceivable torture while
The doctors worked over them In an
efort TO get air into their lungs. While
The American troops in France have
oeen supplied with gas equipment and
with gas shells for the field guns they
mad never been used, American COM
hahders feeling that they could not
bring themselves to so violate all evil
uences Of civilization by such a method
OF warfare. The gassing of American
troops has, however. convinced our
commanders at the front that they
must hight the Hun In his own way,
brutal and inhuman though that way
may be, and the Boches will be given
d taste of their own weapons.
The strain between Austria and Ger
many is undoubtedly increasing. Aus
ulas refusal to again attack Russia In
Spte of Germany's renewal of the war
asalh't the bolsheviki has increased the
'enseless of the situation existing be-
tween the two governments. and 1t was
exported that Germany had practically
o'uefrd the Austrian government TO
'ehd troops into Russia, and that Aus
uia h0d refused. Austria also refuses
W continue the war against Roumania
~ long as there is a possibility of con-
,'uulug II peace arrangement with that
"a'oh' Poo Roumania, cut OFF from
very possible source of assistance
IRON the outside, without munitions or
rutquate guns can seemingly do moth
NY more than accept such peace terms
'A The Huns may offer.
me most encouraging thing for the
,u'ure of both Roumania and Russia
% The statement made for the allied
governments to the effect that any
peace that may be forced upon these
swo countries by the Teutonlc nations
VIII not be considered as final, and par
u%cuiarly so If such a peace involves the
'esS'on Of any territory to the nations