Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-01
WASHINGTON
DAY BY DAY
(From our Special Correspondent.)

the navies of the United States, Great
Britain and Japan, there was an air
Of utter confidence in Washington
today that the end of this week will
see a complete naval agreement that
can be signed almost at once. This
confidence comes from no official
statement, but from talks, conferences
and private opinions of the delegates
of all nations, who seem so certain
Of the ultimate success of the naval
agreement that there is little doubt
but that private understandings have
cleared the way for concrete results
in short time.
The definite impression is that the
japanese will get the Mutsu, super
dreadnaught, in return for conces-
sion on the naval ratio whereby she
will agree to the Hughes 5-5-3 plan.
1t is understood that the world will
be advised of the agreement on next
Wednesday which is now the earliest
day set for a plenary session.
China's demand that the Japanese
troops occupying the province of
Shantung shall be withdrawn is about
to be realized. At the conclusion of
today's meeting of the committee on
Far East and Pacific questions it was
indicated very clearly that the with
drawal of the japanese troops from
Shantung would be an accomplished
fact just as soon as China and Japan
could get together for discussion of
the terms bv which such an arrange
ment is to be brought about. This
problem will be settled outside the
conference itself, but further time
will be necessary in order to provide
for the necessary steps that are to
follow the real agreement.
Col. William Boyce Thompson,
chairman of the committee on gen.
eral information of the advisory COM
mittee to the arms conference is at
work preparing data and information
respecting public oninion throughout
the country regarding the use of
"viuer" methods of warfare, such as
poison gas. submarines, bombing
planes and the like.
Colonel Thompson is sounding the
sentiment of the country with respect
to the employment of such methods
of warfare through editorial opinion
and exnressions from the public. con-
tanned in the daily newspapers of the
limited States. Colonel Thomson de.
clined today to state just what his in
vestigation into this subject has de-
veloped on what he has discovered pub
lie oninion to be.
There is not the slightest doubt but
that if these agencies of warfare are
not abolished through; international
agreement their limitations will be
confined to the battlefields and they
will not be permitted to. be used
against non-combatants and defense
less. sections of country:
ACCORDING to the latest estimates
that have been brought before the
delepates to the arms conference, up
wards of 10000 persons. men. women
and children. lost their lives THROUGH
illegal submarine warfare during the
world war. These persons were
drowned. killed bv explosions or died
from exposure while aboard merchant
vessels and fishing craft. Of this
number, 1928 were aboard British
vessels of all descriptions. EXCEPT
those listed as naval vessels or do
ing naval duty. while 40S were aboard
vessels flvinc the American FLAG. 66
before the United States entered the
war and 242 after the limited States
cast its lot with the allies. No YES
sells are included which in anv rav
con he classed az fiohting craft. The
total merely is nne of non-romhatants
roinr about their neacefnl missions.
but victims without fault of their
own to outlaw warfare conducted by
the Central powers.
Desnite the fact that the examina-
+ion for nostr,astor at Alovandr'"
has been set for December 20 and
that the office navs $4,000 vear
hrt one annli"otion has been r"ceivnd
Of the noStnffi"n dena~tmnnt tor ~"
lob. This IS Thomas n. Ravra. +"
has filed his naDers with the denart-
mnnt nnd desires to enter the race fo"
onpo;n+nonnt as rostma ster to succeed
~. WILLIAM Smith. whose term eX-
nires January "a, next.
It was stated Mt the nostoffice de-
partment today that in all probability
many other applications for the post
office in Alexandria will be in line be-
fore the date set for the examination.
In the meantime. there is no indica-
tion Forthcoming as to whom Repre-
sentative Rascom Slemp, the Repub-
licar "boss" Of Virginia, will recon-
mend for the place.
Isaac Gregg.