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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 1914)
THE SEMt-WEEKLY TRIBUNE NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. :a ARMIES OF POWERS COMPARED SENDS ULTI MATUM TD GERMANY mqnt of Japan that nn ultimatum had boon nddrcfEed to Germany request whllo flour particularly has taken a great Jump in price, wheat exports aro practically nothing and millions of bushels nro piled up In clovatoro pr In freight cars strung across tho continent. Secretary Redflcld wroto Chairman Adamaon of tho peace conferonco committee suggesting an appropria tion of $30,000 for his part of tho in vestigation. Wilson's Statement. Tho president sent tho following signed letter to tho attornoy general: "Th6 rapid and unwarrantable In crease In the prices of foodstuff in this country on the pretext of tho conditions existing In Europe, is so serious and vital a matter, that I ing tho lattor's withdrawal from her Hold of activity In China. At tho same ttne he communicated tho assurances of Japan to the Unit ed States that tho utmoat endeavor would bo mado to guard tho Interests of this country and ull others not Im mediately cbnccrncd In tho present operations. O TOTAL STRENGTH OF ARy WAR FOOTING PEACE FOOTING Demands the Withdrawal of the Kaiser's War ships From the Orient Within Week's Time Otherwise Japs Will Act. Tho United States, It became Ct BMTAM known after Karon Chlnda's call on Mr. Bryan, doe not Intend to be drawn In any way Into tho contro versy, regarding It aB a mattor pure ly bat ween Germany and Japan. Tho American government consid ers satisfactory tho promise of Japan WHERE GERMAN BOMBS KILLED FIFTEEN JA AN l i Xttflfe t 9 ITALY AU6TRIA SEA MOVES DISLIKED BY BRITISH 'Reports of Impending American Taking Over of German Ships Causes Some Worry in LondonWhole. Armies Are Facing Each Other, Frontier Forces of France and Germany Form Line of Hundreds of Miles in Length. Toklo. Japan haB sent an ultima tum to Germany demanding tho with drawal of Gorman warships from tho .orient and tho evacuation of Klau- orient and tno evacuation Clmu and giving Germany i day, August 23, to comply until Sun- wit It the domand. Otherwise, the ultimatum states, Japan will tuk'e action. The general expectation here Is that the ultimatum will bo followed by war. Takaakl Kato, tho Japanese foreign minister, simultaneously with the dis patch of tho ultimatum, conferred with Georgo W. Guthrie, tho Ameri can ambassador, and mado to him a broad statement calculated to assure tho United States that American in terests in tho far east would bo safe guarded and tho integrity of China uphold. Owing to doubts whether communi cations with Berlin were assured, Japan, In order to lnsuro the arrival of tho ultimatum, forwardod It to Bor lln by six channels, including Wash ington, London and Stockholm. Tho government also notified Count von Rex, German ambassador to Japan, and likewise retardod tho tlmo limit for a roply until August 23. May Supply Teutons. London.Roports of impending American acquisition of part of the great German merchant fleots caused uneasiness here. Unquestionably such n development would carry possibili ties of arousing Irritation In this country and probably among all tho allies. If there suddenly comes Into being FRENCH CAVALRY a great fleet of Amorlcan shlpa, tho problem of Germany's obtaining food is largoly solved, for ships flying tho American flag would havo tho liberty of tho hljjli boos and could enter tho North soa German ports and certainly in the aspect of affairs could ply the Adriatic with comploto froedoih. Food Problom Serious. For England, tho food problem is moro serious oven than for Germany, but England does not oven consider possible a German victory on tho ecus. If American legislation makes possible tho purchase of Gorman ships in Now York and tho salos nro made, thero is certain to be boiuo criticism horo, probably otartlng with tho chargo that Yankees cannot rosUt tho appoal of tho dollar, and being augmented with the Innuendo that tho transfer Is merely a German subter fuge. Bo fur tho attltudo of President Wilson has met with tho cordial ap proval of English publo opinion. Eng land feels that America Is behind It In sympathy. Hut for Gorman ships, transferred to tho American fleet, to begin carrying food to Germany would surely create a painful Impression French "General Popular hero. Paris, Gneral Jobo JolTro, commander-in-chief of tho French army, is a popular horo. Ho has traveled thousands of mlk'B In IiIb motor car, driven by Georgo Bolllot, throo times winner of the French grand prlx in racing contests, since army mobiliza tion and uotual fighting begun. Hundreds of German military pris oners passed through a Paris suburb on their way to Poitiers, General Joffro Is enabled to cover many miles along the front, nnd has inspired his ineu by hlo presence. V3 9 hero, although It Is admitted that tho purchase is well within America's neutral rights. Depends On Fate of Bill. Whllo reports wore being circulat ed that negotiations nro undr way for the salo of the Hamburg-American lino's steamships In American wators, directors of tho company expressed tho opinion no deal will bo consum mated until the fato of the bill for tho creation of a .bigger Amorlcan merchant niarlno is known. Purchase Going Ahead. Now York. Tho president Grant and tho President Lincoln aro being painted and overhauled at plero at South Brqoklyn. Men at work on them aay tho American lino Is Inter ested in the proposed purchase, P. A. S. Franklin, vko president of the International Mercantile Marino, which controls tho American line, is in Washington In connection with plqns to Increase tho fleet of his company sailing under tho American flag. "Thero is nothing dollnlto to say at present," Julius P. Meyer, vice direc tor of tho Hamburg-American line, Enid to a World reporter when ho was asked If a salo contract had been drawn. Whole Armies Face to Face. Paris. It Is believed hero that practically tho whole frontier armies of Gormnny and France aro facing ono another', if not engaged in agreat battle along a lino 250 miles In ex- ON THE MARCH tent, running from , Basle to Macs trlcht. Tho battle Is expected to last an entire week. it Is aleo felt that there will bo de feats as well bb victories of the allied forces at vuHoub points on tho lino until ono sldo or tho other will have co-ordinated its movoments so as to enable it to movo victoriously in all directions. The first (lag was taken from tho onemy AugUBt IB by a Fronch soldier whoso name is yet unknown but who will be handed tho $1,000 offered by a PariB flag merchant for tho first French soldlor to Like tho colors of a German roglmont. The flrBt spy, a Frenchman namod Gruault, to bo tried for spying In Pa ris Binco tho outbreak of hostilities, has been condemned to death by court martial. Ho la accused of spy ing on the armaments of tho Eiffel tower, especially tho wireless arrange monts, Gruault has twenty-four hours for an appeal. U. 8. Not Worried. Washington. Tho Japaneso ambas sador, Baron Chlnda, delivered to Sec. rotary Bryan the wrltton annouce- Big Shipment of Eggs. New York, In tho refrigerators of tho African liner Now York, that has sailed for London are 3G.000 dozen eggs, tho first American eggs for Eng. Huh markets since tho beginning of tho European war. Thoso eggs cost hore 25 conts a dozen. They were or dorcd by cable irom Loudon und thorv wore calU for more but the steamer could not accomodate them. With the supply of oggs from Rus sta shut off, England had no place to turn except America. Sceno in Lunerille, Prance, where a Zeppelin airship dropped bombs, kill ing fifteen persons. In the photograph tho inhabitants aro watching tho flight of a dirigible over tho city. of "eventual restoration to China of tho territory of Klau-Chau. Baron Chlnda's conference with tho secretary of state was held at Mr. Bryan's residence. Tho ambassador presented a communication from the foreign office at Toklo, which em bodies tho substance of the ultima tum, and added a strong statoment concerning Japan's purpose of main taining tho terrltolal integrity of the Chinese ropubllc by restoring to her tho territory, oX Kiau-Chau, originally taken from China by Gormany as an act of reprisal for the killing of Ger man missionaries. . Whilo tho statoment mado no di rect refcrenco to the United States, it gave assurance in general that tho in terests of nil powers interested in maintaining tho territorial status quo In tho far cast would be protected to tho utmost. . It doveloped as a result of tho con ference that Japan had no assurance up to tho present tlmo that Its ulti matum had been dollvorod to Ger many, owing to tho cable difficulties wltn that country. In order to mako certain of Us delivery a copy of tho ultimatum wll bo communicated to Berlin through tho channels of the Amorlcan government. U. 3. to Probe Food Prices. Washington. President Wilson has sot tho machinery of tho federal government In motion to dotermlno whether tho cost of living is being increased upon tho pretext of tho conditions oxlsting In Europe. Ho called upon Attornoy General Mc Reynolds to report If criminal' pro ceedings wore warranted, and If any new laws wero necossary. Tho pres ident may send a special messago to congress In the latter ovont. "Certainly tho country ought to be defended," the president wroto to the attornoy general, "If posslblo against men who would take advantage of such circumstances to increase tho price of food and the difficulties of living." Attornoy General McRoynolds at once set at work tho bureau of In vestigation of tho Department of Justico with hundreds of agents throughout the country. Agents of me uepanmeni or uommerco were started on tho Inquiry nnd Secreaary Rodflcld of tho Department of Agri culture. Millions of Bushels Piled Up. Congressmen, who have already In troduced resolutions to invonlgato the rise In prices and others who aro preporlng similar measures, vlowod tho action of tho administration with satisfaction. They pointed out that Guarantees Against Discount Loss. London. With tho purpose of ter minating tho present deadlock in the money market and to onablo trad'o and commorco to resume their normal courses tho government has agreod to guaranteo tho Bank of England any loss It may Incur in discounting bills of exchange either foreign or home banks, trade accepted prior to August 4. Tho Bank of England, therefore, an nounces that it is prepared on tho application of the owners of any ap proved bill of exchange accepted bo- take the liberty of calling your atten tion to It. "I would be very much obliged if you would advise me whether thero io under existing law any action which tho Department of Justico could take, either by way of Investigation or le gal process, and what federal legls latlon, if any, would, in your Judg ment, bo Justifiable and warrantabla in the circumstances. "I feel that this Is a matter which wo cannot lot pass by without trying to sorve tho country. Certalnlv tha country ought to be defended, if pos slblo, against men who would take ad vantage of such circumstances to In' crease the price of food and the ill flculflties of living." Blockade Would Cheapen Food. Minneapolis, Minn. The price or wheat, flour and bread of tho Amer ican people depends entirely on whether or not a great naval battlo between European powers makes for freedom of Amorlcan export trade, said J. S. Bell, president of thi Washburn-Crosby Flour Milling conn pany. "If wheat and flour can bo exported to Great Britain and Franco," said Bell "I do not believe flour would ad-, vnnco materially, for such freedom has been anticipated. "Flour is soiling at $G a barrel in the wood In 1,000-barrol lots. That la 10 cents below last wcok's price, which was the highest slnco August, 1912. "If oxporatlon bocomos Impossible, the price of wheat and flour ehould drop. Tho supply would bo greater than the demand. "Tho American shipper wants a credit by foreign buyers which will Insure pnyment for goods shipped, whether captured or not. English and French Forces Join. London. The much debated ques tion, "Whore are the British troops In Belgium?" waB particularly answered when a dispatch from tho Havas agency In Paris announced that Sir John Fronch, commander-in-chief of tho English forces, had Joined, on tho field, General Joseph Joffro, tho French commander-ln-chtef. Tho name of tho placo where tho two leaders met was eluded by tho censor, but presumably It Is some where east of tho center of Belgium. Furthor nows from tho agency, dat ed BruBsels, says there was a fresh engagement botweon 900 Germans and Belgians at Goct-Botz, a short dlstanco south of Haelon, whero n German force was said to have been beaten back. lore that date, to discount It at nny time before Its duo date at tho bank rate and without rcourso to such holder and upon tho bill maturing tho bank will glvo tho acceptor the op portunity or postponing payment with interost at 2 per cent, over tho bank rato. Shanghai. Tho Japaneso steamer Shlkoku Maru was seriously damaged and ono of Its crow killed by a can non shot fired from tho British fort al Kong Kong whllo tho ves3el was or. torln the harbor. FRANCE. GERMANY IATTLE CAPABILITIES OF THE "Do you know that the contending armies in Europe today are battling upon their peace tlmo footings?" asked a colonel on the genoral staff of tho United States army. "And don't for get that the nation that gets Its fight ing forco up to its full war strength first will gain a material advantage in tho present turmoil." This means that any hasty deduc tions mado upon the basis of fights won and lost up to date may soon prove absolutely misleading., Tho question then arises: Which of the struggling armies can reach its war strength soonest, and, with that attained, what are its chances -for maintaining that standing in the gru eling days to come? The answer is a matter of administrative efficiency first, and then, follows naturally the rolative merits of the reserve material upon which the nation can draw as battlo after battlo and disease thin tho ranks of those in tho field. At present tho Germans are virtually fighting alono four other nations, but their initial setbacks aro not properly a true Index of what is to come in the near future. Some Figures. As it Is necessary to deal with fig ures it is just as well to begin now as later. These figures, Interpreted in the light of additional information have another meaning, ono that comes closer to the facts inspiring the ag gressive policy assumed by tho kai ser in face of seemingly appalling oddB. According to authoritative in formation the peace and the war foot ing of tho powers named are as fol lows: Peace. ..771,193 .665,666 ..635,670 ..813.353 ..211.304 ..206.626 .. 182,603 War. Reserves, Total. 6.497.3S7 5.S44.9S3 3.950,740 3.029,524 1,871,493 433,693 1,2C4,300 Russia .. Germany Franco . Austria Italy .... England Japan . . 1.079.3S7 6,400,000 6.000.000 3,250.000 2,600.000 1.600.0CO 215,000 1,000,000 844,983 700,740 29,624 371.496 223,693 264,300 As between France and Germany apart from the latter's superior war footing, the total of the fully trained reserves in tho Fatherland would be the most potent factor in a prolonged struggle and also the Justification for a vigorous inltiativo despite early heavy losses. Both Germany and France havo In the last two years In creased tho period of service from two to throe years. In France this lengthening of the term with the col ors aroused a great doal of opposition, not to say discontent. Immediately back of these soldiers are the first reserves, men who but recently havo finished their full tours of active service and of course are familiar with tho latest practices. Now look at the foregoing flguro3. Ger many's peace footing Is only 29,895 men Btronger than that of France, but upon the first call to arms this moder ate superorlty immediately JumpB to the greater figure of 144,203, giving the kaiser an advantage of nearly 21 per cent. But this is only the beginning of tho difference. Germany's total reserve of fully trained reserves men trained with peculiar thoroughnessIs today quite C.000,000, while the admittedly less ex actingly drilled reserves of Franco number but 3,250,000 rank and file, Hero, as can plainly bo seen, the Fa therland leads by 1,760,000 two and a half times the war footing of France, while still having in resorve as many as France would have at beat. Setting aside the question of the relative military value of tho training of the Qerman and the French sol diers, thoBe of France carry a maga zine rifle of eight mllllmlters caliber and the German Infantrymen repeat RUSSIA ARMIES OF ers having a caliber of 7.8 millime ters. Assuming tho samo propulsive chargo, tho German gun will carry fur ther and travel flatter than the French, weapon, making for better marksman ship at all ranges. Again, tho French rlilo is heavier than the German, increasing to that extent tho Btross upon the man who has to carry it on long marches. The Boldlers of both nations carry the some number of cartridges, 120. But tho saving In weight in the German, musket is offset by other weights he has to carry. Fully equipped the. French foot soldier has a total bur den of 54.58 pounds, while the Ger man infantryman has to bear 58.75 pounds. As a broad proposition the average German is a sturdier man. than his French rival, and this greater tax is wisely laid upon him. French Equipment. In the French army each company of infantry has tho following portable tools: Eight shovels, four plckaxes (double headed), three axes, one fold ing saw and a pair of wire nippers. Tho German foot soldier 'on the other hand does not get off so easily, be cause each company has to carry 100 small spades, ten pickaxes and five hatchets. Now what does this mean? Simply that tho kaiser's infantrymen, aro able to entrench themselves quick er than their French rivals, and for that reason could hold an advanced po sition moro securely and guard them selves against attack whilo there bet ter than the soldiers of tho tricolor. Now let us boo what Russia repre sents as a foes to Germany on tho Fa therland's northern border. Unques tionably tho czar's army Is superior to the kaiser's in mere point of num bers' in peace, in war and in the total available reserves, and bo far ns per sonal bravery goes tho RusBian soldier Is unsurpassed. But battles aro not won these days by Just numbers; training and handling of the men are? of supreme importance. Broadly speaking, it is doubtful if tho Russian forces aro any better trained than they wero when they measured strength with tho Japanese In 1904-05. The infantry are armed with magazine rifles of 7.G2 millime ter caliber, and as marksmen they are nothing like tho equals of the Ger mans. How They Compare. Russia is measurably superior to Germany in the matter of Infantry, cavalry nnd artillery in tho form of field gunB, and Germany, in turn, leads France in the vital feature of artillery. Artillery has played a prlmo part In all great wars, and the popular Idea is that It is upon these guns that the tide of battle turns. In a measure this, is bo, for tho field pieces havo to pro tect or support the infantry; but with this done, the decisive outcomo of an action dopends upon the conduct and gallantry of the foot soldier, for he constitutes the backbone of any mili tary force. As a matter of history, the French have led in field ordnance ever since the Franco-Prussian war. The French wero the first to adopt tho long recoil which mado it possible to use higher propulsion charges and to secure bet ter practlco against tho target, and) to them, too, Is owed the Introduction of tho spade upon tho trail by which tho recoil of the carrlago could be checked, thus making it possible for the gun pointer to hold his position and to fire deliberately and rapidly. To the French, nso, tho world Is Indebted for tho higher development of tha shrapnel shell with Its withering blast of leaden bullets. i 4t
