The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-09-06


Washington to the effect that the
Shantung affair has caused a breach
between the president and Colonel
House. 1t is said Mr. Wilson took the
advice of House in the matter, reject
ing that of the other members Of the
American delegation, and that now the
Texan is In disfavor and is resting in
London preparatory to coming home.
Naturally, those close to the president
denied the tale, saying House was in
London helping the British officials in
the organization Of the League of Ma
tons.
The near East does not surrender its
supremacy among trouble-making Pc
gions. The Turks continue to mas
sacre the Armenians; the Bulgarians
and Greeks are at swords points over
Thrace; the Jugo-Slavs and Italians
are getting ready to fight over the pos
session of Fiume, and now the whole
of Montenegro has broken out in re-
volt against the rule of the Serbians.
The latter are using strong measures
to suppress the revolt, but the ma
tional spirit Of the Montenegrins has
reawakened and fighting is general
throughout the country. Just how the
forced inclusion Of Montenegro in the
new state of Jugo-Slavia, against its
will, is squared with the principle of
self-determination never has been ex-
planned to the world.
Rear Admiral Bristol, commander Of
the American naval forces in Turkey,
warned the Porte not long ago that
the massacres of Armenians must
cease. This action aroused some criti-
cism In the supreme peace council, be-
cause the United States has not yet
accepted the mandate over any parts
of the Turkish empire; but the vexa-
ton of the French and British was al
layed when Mr.. Polk explained that
the warning, though 1t came from
President Wilson, was unofficial and
was transmitted in an informal way by
Admiral Bristol. The British troops
are being withdrawn from Armenia
and it is predicted that unless the
country is strongly policed by foreign
troops several hundred thousands of
Armenians will either starve or be
slaughtered by the Turks, Kurds, Tar
tars and Georgians. Even now these
peoples are greatly hindering the work
of the American relief commission.
A new government in Hungary has
not yet been formed, and though
Archduke Joseph was forced to relin-
quish his control, his premier, Fried
rich, asserts he is still favored by
majority of the people and will retain
the leadership.
In Upper Silesia conditions are re-
ported much improved. Most of the
miners have resumed work and the
fighting between the Poles and Ger
mans has grown less. The Fifth and
Fiftieth regiments of American infan-
try, now In the United States, have
been ordered to Silesia to help In po-
Icing that country during the pleb-
iscite provided for by the peace treaty.
A resolution protesting against this
was introduced in congress by Wood
of Indiana, who said the work should
be done by European troops.
Russian bolshevists last week claim
ed two considerable victories-the cap
ture of Pskov, southwest of Petrograd,
and of Kamishin, on the Volga Gen
eral Denikine, the anti-bolshevik
leader In southern Russia, who occu-
pied Odessa, reported steady progress
into the central part Of the country,
and the Kolchak forces denied that
they had evacuated Omsk. Represen-
tatives of the people of north Russia,
assembled at Archangel, have sent to
President Wilson a cable urging that
the allied armed support be not with
drawn lest they fall prey to the Dol
sheviki. However, the president has
said that the American troops would
be brought home as soon as possible.
The peace conference has been trying
TO devise means to protect the north
Russians, but has not arrived at any
definite plan.
After killing several bandits, includ-
ing, according to report, the leader Of
the gang that kidnapped the American
aviators, the American expedition into
Mexico retraced its steps. At first 1t
was said this was because the "hot
trail" had been obliterated by rains,