AMERICAN PREPARATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 14

AMERICAN PREPARATIONS.

Mr Bekar, Secretary of War, states that half a million United States soldiers are already in France. It is announced that the strength of the national army in America and abroad in June, 1918, •will be 1,247,000. Mr Gray, chairman of the United States Steel Corporation, announces that the corporation, at the 'Government’s request, will build and equip a huge plant for the construction of large cannon and projectiles. The plant will be one of the largest in the world, and the company will carry on work without profit. The New York World’s Washington correspondent says that an American scientist has invented a bullet capable of piercing the armour used on the German tanks, and qualities of it will be manufactured. The American production of machine guns is 500 daily. It is expected that it will reach a maximum of 1500 daily in November. Mr Baker, Secretary of War, announces that there is no shortage of light and heavy Browning machine guns. Senator Kenyon has introduced a resolution provkling for the cancellation of all French debts to America for war credits, including the interest thereon. _ He declared: “I believe such action is favoured bv the American people.” The House of Bepresentatives has passed the iSedition Bill (already passed by the Senate), providing for pumshmont with 20 years’ imprisonment and a IO.OOOdoI fine for persons found guilty of disloyal action or utterances. General 8011, in the course of a speech, said: “Germany must be conquered. Nothing but a German unconditional surrender will convince the Teutons of their unfitness to dominate the world. Germany must ask for mercy on her knees.” Two coaches of a troop train, near Columbia, South Carolina, fell through a trestle bridge, and many soldiers wore killed. According to the report of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs at a conference at Chicago, there are approximately one milb'on American women now making munitions nad working in other positions created by the war. Three battalions of America’s now army marched through the West End of London, great crowds cheering them. His Majesty the King inspected the Americans at Buckingham Palace. AMERICA FILLING THE GAPS. Lord Milner, interviewed by the United Press correspondent, said: America is rapidly filling up the gap in the Allies’ strength due to Russia’s failure. The_ war can only bo won decisively by superiority in man-power and materials. American action makes that superiority certain. Lord Rhondda, interviewed, said: Without the United States’ aid it would have been impossible for the Allies to feed their troops and civilian populations during the last six months. Mr Bonar Law, who was also interviewed, said: America has splendidly assisted us financially, giving to the full extent of her ability, and thus enabling Britain to borrow from her as much as wo have lent to our allies.

ALLEGED GRAFT. The New York Times Washington correspondent reports that, after debate, the Senate decided secretly to investigate tho aircraft situation. The House of Representatives' Military Affairs Committee, after hearing the aircraft officials, evidently admits that it is convinced that there is no evidence of graft or pro-German influence, such as Borglum alleged. Mr Baker, Secretary of War, gave evidence before the committee that he believed that pro-German propaganda was largely responsible for tho criticism of the United States aircraft production. Mr Borglum denies the truth of Senator Thomas's charges against those responsible for tho output of United States aircraft (which he said was hampered in an incredible manner by pro-German activities, though Mr Baker, Secretary of War, declared that the adverse criticism of the United States aircraft production was ono of tho fruits of German propaganda). SPIES AND PRO-GERMANS. The United States authorities have discovered Count Bernstorff's code by means of which he directed his spies. Thousands of his messages .are now being deciphered. Mr T. Roosovelt has made a statement complaining that the Government arc showing favouritism in the enforcement of the espionage law by suppressing and prosecuting certain magazines and newspapers accused of comforting the enemy and obstructing tho successful prosecution of the war, and not prosecuting Hearst's newspapers, which "opposed our entry into the Wi.r and attacked our Allies." LABOUR AND THE HUNS. The American Labour delegates, who visited tho front, say they are filled with hatred at German barbarity. They will tell their fellow countrymen that only peace by way of victory will end the detetable crime of German Imperialism. A DAY OF HUMILIATION. President Wilson has proclaimed May 30 a day ot humiliation, tasting, and prayer for our cause: "lo beseech God to give victory to our armies, as they are fighting 1 tor needom, bringing at last a peace in wnieh men's hearts oan rest, as it is lounded upon Mercy, Justice, and Good-will." SOUTH AMEKIGAN STATES. Nicaragua has declared war on Germany. Ihe United Press correspondent at Kio de Janeiro has interviewed tho now President, Senor Alves, wiio- declared: "Brazil will follow the course of the United States till tlio end of the. war. 'lhe change in our administration does not alter our determination to help the Allies and most uiorougiiiy support tne United States war policy. Brazil, like the United States, does not desire territorial expansion, but upholds international justice." The Press Bureau states that a British mission, headed by Sir Maurice De Bunsen, and accompanied by representatives of the overseas dominions and the Foreign Office and trade departments, is visiting South America to discuss with the various Governments the intricate economic questions arising out of the war. Count Luxburg, German ex-Ambassador to Argentina (where he was kept in a hospital for the insane), accompanied by the German Ambassador to Peru and the German Charge de Affairs in Uruguay, has sailed for Sweden. JAPAN'S POLICY UNCHANGED. The Press Bureau reports that Baron Goto sent a message to the British Ambassador at Tokio, saying that he had been charged with the duties of Foreign* Affairs, owing to the regrettable illness and consequent retirement of Viscount Motono. He added: "I need hardly assure you of Japan's unswerving determination to stand by the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Sharing my predecessor's implicit faith in a final victory for tho common cause, I feel proud of being associated with you in the great task before us." Mr Balfour, replying, welcomed Japan's assurance, and added that Britain had always regarded, and wouldl continue to regard, tho Anglo-Japanese Allicnce as the corner stone of the relations which united the two countries. THE ITALIAN TRAITOR. Signor Parodi, president of the Italian Federation of Ship Owners, whose fortune amounts to £4,000,000, has been arrested, apparently for trading with Germany. Parodi is a director of many financial and industrial companies, and a leading personality in the Italian shipping world. Parodi's documents show that he despatched huge supplies of jute to Germany via Chiasso. In order to defraud the Customs, the consignments were disguised as hemp tow. A great fire occurred early in 1917 in the national rope-making manufactories at Cornigio, wherein a large quantity of enemy jute was destroyed!. Parodi (who was president of the Federation of Ship Owners) falsified the accounts, and secured the insurance monev as though the jute belonged to the Italians. Parodi recently was severely criticised for keeping so large a number of merchant steamers idle at Genoa, obstructing the allied traffic. PRISONERS OF WAR, Mr J. F. Hope, in the House of Commons, said that no further information had been received concerning the fate of 586 British and 2.600 native troops taken prisoner by the Turks. The majority of them had probably succumbed on the march from Kut-el-Amara to Damascus. A party of 107 repatriated war prisoners have reached St, Pancras railway station, London, whore remarkable scenes of welcome were witnessed. Lord Newton, explaining the restriction: of tho privileges of German officers wlioare prisoners in Britain by way of reprisal, points out that this is not the first instance of the adoption of reprisals by Britain. Triers have be«n other cases, but on a smaller scale. Threats of reprisals on our part have usually sufficed, but in this case repeated remonstrances to Germanv proved! unavailing, and the conditions endured by certain British officers in prison camps # in Germany still very bad._ The Prussian General ITanisch, commanding the prison carnos in Germany, has always been bitterly anti-British in disposition, and most of his subordinates are unfitted for their posts. Lord Newton said he- understood that our reprisals consisted mainly in closer confinement, less recreation, and fewer domestic! comforts. Two German naval prisoners < of wa* escaped fom Larldiill camp on April 17, but

were caught at Deal (Kent coast) attempttn<j to escape in a small open boat to Zeejrugge. The boat was well stocked with • food. ' The men had been hiding by day and tramping at night for the past 18 days. The Franco-German agreement for an exchange of war prisoners has been ratified. The number of war prisoners affected is 14O ; O0O. NEW ZEALANDERS HONOURED. The following awards to New Zealanders axe mentioned: — D.S.O.—Captain H. R. Vercoe (Auckland). . Military Cross.—Temporary Captain D. W. Curham (Wellington), Captain W. J. King, Captain C. C. Meikle, Lieutenant G. Greenwood, Captain J. L. M'Alister (New Zealand Rifles), Second Lieutenant J. T. Thomas (Wellington). Distinguished Conduct Medal.—Sergeant M- J. Forde (Wellington). Private T. W. Parsons (Field Ambulance), Lance-corporal F. A. Gaskell, Lance-corporal M'Murray, Lance-corporal W. G. Bowers, Lance-cor-poral S. W. Toms (New Zealand Rifles). Military Medal.—Rifleman C. Brackhag© (New Zealand Rifles). Medaille Militaire.—Private J. Davies (Auckland). Croix de Guerre.—Sergeant J. M'G. Lamb (Otago). EX-KING CONSTANTINE. It is reported that Constantine, ex-King of Greece, is lying critically ill at Zurich. Le Journal's Zurich correspondent reports that the ex-King's condition is grave, and his family have been summoned to his bedside. VARIOUS ITEMS. The Swiss Government has received an American Note saying that America challenges Germany's grain blockade to Switzerland. The Clemeuceau Cabinet has denounced ell commercial conventions containing a general clause regarding the "most-favoured nation." This is regarded as a further economic menace against Germany. A report recently announced the death from apoplexy at Gorlitz (Silesia) of Colonel Hazzopoulos, who surrendered Serres and Kavala to the Bulgarians. It has now been ascertained that Colonel Hazzopoulos was murdered by a Greek sergeant as the result of a conspiracy of the Greek officers interned at Gorlitz. The British Minister of Agriculture has abandoned his intention to send a Meat Export Trade Commission to Australia. The Belgian Legation has announced that Germany is forcing boys to work close, behind the trenches in France. Newspaper publishers in the United States have carried a resolution urging the War Trade Board to prohibit the export of newsprint paper. The leading paper merchants have protested,_ pointing out that this would be a hardship for Australia and other allied and neutral nations. A MILITARY OPINION. A high military authority states: Nothing of great importance occurred in France. The attack at La Clytte and Voormezeele was merely local. The Germans have put in a considerable number' of fresh divisions On the Somme and Flanders fronts since last week, and it is almost certain that they will continue the attacks upon the heights In Flanders, and will also endeavour to capture the high ground in the direction Of Amiens. Bad weather began 24 hours before we entered Kerkut, and prevented us from capturing more Turks. _ Our transport operations are fraught with considerable difficulties. The operations had a good effect on the Persian border tribes, many of whom are now co-operating with us. General Allenby's decision to retire to the original bridgeheads east of th's Jordan was not influenced by the loss of nine guns, but was entirely due to the fact that his operations had been delayed at a moment when euccess depended on the rapdiity of operations. Ho could not obtain the results at which he aimed.