THE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA,
1
ST
Participates for the First Time in
Allies' Council in Paris.
HOUSE HEAD OF COMMISSION
Board Now tn Europe la Expected to
Urge Adoption of Policy of Great
er Unity In Prosecution of
Hostilities.
Washington. Tho United Suites Is
ready to participate fur the llrst time
In a military conference to bo held by
all the allien. An American commis
sion, headed by Col. 13. M. House, chief
unoiilclul adviser of President WIIhoh,
Is already In Europe, clothed with au
thority to commit the United States
government to any agreement that muy
be reached by the Paris conference.
Colonel Ilouse and his associates ara
cupcctcd to urge the adoption of a pol
icy of greater unity In the prosecution
of the wnr.
One of Uie possibilities is the crea
tion of n joint war council with su
premo power to direct tlio disposition
of troops, to supervise military strat
egy and to apportion munitions nnd
other economic resources among the
allien.
Makeup of Commission.
The American war commission con
sists of the following members:
Col. E. M. llon.se, chairman, who
will act as the .spokesman of President
Wilson on questions pertaining to the
general policies of tho conduct of the
war.
Admiral W. S. Benson, chief of na
val operations, U. S. N who will par
ticipate In tho formulation of plans for
the employment of the combined na
val iorces of tho allies.
den. Tasker II. Bliss, chief of staff,
U. S. A., who will give detailed Infor
mation on the extent of military sup
port tho United States will bo nblo to
give next year.
Oscar T. Crosby, assistant secretary
of tho trcusury, who will speak for tho
"United States on questions of Inter
allied war llnrinclng.
Vnnco 0. McCormlck, 'chalrmun of
tho war trado board, who will assist
In planning n uniform policy In admin-
Col. E. M. House.
lstcrlng embargoes on exports and pro
Visions against trading with tho en
any.
Balnbridge Colby, member of tho
shipping board, who will 'report tho
amount of tonnage building, nnd tho
amount that tun bo turned out next
year.
Dr. Alonzo E. Taylor, who, as a rep
resentatlve of Food Administrator
Hoover, will co-onernto with the com
mlsMoncrs of tho nllles In working out
a uniform policy of food conservation
and apportionment of American sup
piles to the European co-belligerents.
Thomas Nelson Perkins of tho prl
orlty board, who will negotiate an
nur omen on a plan of giving prefer
ence to the shipment of vital necessl
ties to the allies of tho United States.
Gordon Auchlncloss, son-in-law of
Colonel House and assistant to Couu
selor Polk of tho stuto dopartment,
who will servo us chief secretary of
tho commission.
May Talk Peace Terms.
Although It Ih to bo exclusively a
war conference, dealing with tho pros
ent nnd future military situation, It 18
possible that tlio question of pcaco will
claim tho attention of all tho bclllger
ents. It Is expected hero thnt Gcr-
many will ma'tf a now move towurd
pcaco at tho conclusion of the cam
pnlgn In Italy.
tt Germany should manifest a dls
position to forego conquests, the allies
might consent to an armistice pending
a dlscuHslon of peace terms. However,
there Is small belief that such n situ
hMihi will nrlso at this time, nor Is
there any conlldenco In the story reach
lug Washington that all tho EUropcu
belligerents aro preparing for n peace
PHMey In Switzerland In February,
In the ovent of a penco discussion
developing President Wilson would
have hts pence commissioner already
on the scene, for that olllcl'il Is none
ether than Colonel House. Tho pres
ident designated Colonel House several
weeks ago to begin tho collection of
data for Uie use of tho American dele
gates to uo eventual peace confer
ence.
Realize Lack of Unity,
Secretary Lansing's statement ro'
gardlng the mission Indicates conclu
sively that tho nations fighting Gur-
(inauv d ' that a lack of team work
W CE
accounts for tho reverse, ihey hav
sustained nnd for the falluro to cop
effectively at all times with the well
organized Cannon military machine.
Until the combined resources of thu
allies can bo employed ngnlnst Gcr
mnny by a single directing agency, It
Is contended, there will continue to ba
waste of human lives and material, re
verses at weak points and other mis
fortunes, all serving to postpone n de
cisive victory over the enemy.
Mr. Lansing stresses the fact that
the conference is to be a wnr and not
n peace conclave. Ho does not wish
anyono to get the Impression that tho
United States Is thinking of pcaco
while preparing to exert Its utmost to
defeat Germany on the Held of battle.
Tho secretary's anxiety on this score
Is duo to the speculation aroused by
the announcement before American
troops reached the firing lino that Col
onel House had been selected to pre
pare for the peace conference. Inline-
llately reports gained circulation that
resident Wilson was expecting peace
this winter and that he did not Intern'
o send the American troops Into ac
tion until nil hope of a suspension of
hostilities had disappeared.
Tho need of a better co-ordination of
military activities on tho part of tho
allies has been practically demonstrat-
d by tho Italian reverses, It Is point
ed out. Italy was clamoring for sup
port for months. The cry was not
heeded by England and tho United
States.
Secretary Lansing's Statement.
Secretary Lansing's statement re
garding tho conference Is as follows:
"The government of tho United
States will participate In the approach
ing conference of tho powers waging
war against tho German empire.
"The conference Is essentially a "war
conference," with tho object of per
fecting a more complete co-ordination
of tho activities of tho various nations
engaged In the conflict and a mora
comprehensive understanding of their
respective needs in order that the Joint
efforts of tho co-belligerents may nt-
tain the highest war efficiency.
"While a dollnlto program bus not
been adopted, It may bo assumed that
tho subjects to he discussed will cm
braco not only those pertaining to mil
itary nnd naval operations but nlso tho
financial, commercial, economic, and
other phases of tho present situation
which aro of vital Importance to tho
successful prosecution of the wnr.
There undoubtedly will bo an ef
fort to avoid any conflict of Interests
among tho participants, and thero Is
every reason to believe that tho result
will ho a fuller co-operation, and con
sequently a much higher elflclency and
a moro vigorous prosecution of tho
wnr.
Tho United States, In tho employ
ment of Its mnn power uud material
resources, desires to use them to tho
greatest advantage against Qermnny.
It has been no easy problem to deter
mine how they can bo used most effec
tively, since tho Independent presenta
tion of requirements by tho filled gov
ernments hnvo been moro or less con-
Hiding on account of each govern
ment's appreciation of Its own wants,
which nro nnturally given greater Im
portance than tho wants of other gov
ernments. "By a general survey of tho whole
situation and a freo discussion of tho
needs of all, tho approaching confer
ence will undoubtedly bo nblo to glvo
to tho demands of tho several govern
ments their truo perspective nnd prop
or placo In tho general plan for tho
conduct of tho war.
Limit to Resources.
Though tho resources of this coun-
try aro vast and though thero Is ev
ery purposo to devote them all, If need
be, to winning tho wnr, thoy are not
without limit. But oven If they wero
greuter they should bo used to tho high'
est advantage In attaining tho supremo
object for which wo aro fighting. This
can only bo done by a full and frank
discussion of tho plans and needs of
the various belligerents.
"It Is tho enrnest wish of this gov
ornment to employ Its military and
naval forces and Its resources and en
emies whero thoy will give the great
est returns In advancing tfio common
cause. Tho exchange of views which
will take place at tho conference and
tho conclusions which will bo reached
will be of tho highest value In prevent
ing wnsto of energy and In bringing
Into harmony tho activities of tlio na
tions which havo been unavoidably act
Ing In a measuro Independently.
"In looking forward to tho assem
bling of this conference it cannot be
too strongly emphasized that it la a
war conference and nothing else, de
voted to dovlslng vrnys and means to
Intensify tho efforts of tho belligerents
against Germany by completo cooper
utlon under a general plan and thus
bring .tho conflict to a speedy and sat
Isfnctory conclusion."
An Official Story Teller.
In seernl of. tho public libraries ot
Canada story telling to children has
for some yenrs been' n special feature.
Each Saturday morning from fifty to
ono hundred children assemble at tho
library In a room set npart for tho pur-
nose and called the "children's room,
Tho ages of tho children vary from six
to fourteen years. At St. John, N. B..
story telling hus been continued now
for threo years. This year It has been
found ndvlsnblo to divide the children
according to ago and to hold two
classes of half an hour ench. The
work has steadily grown In Interest,
and tho demand for books of a less
trivial typo Justifies the work of tho
commlttco in charge. During tho sum
mer, when opportunity offers nnd n
story teller of note is n guest of the
city, notlco Is given to tho library, and
It I" often possible to have n special
, session.
1 Wreckage of two German airplanes nnd bodies of the pilots, brought down on the west front. 2 Gen. Sir
Edmund Allcnby, commnnder of the British forces In Palestine, who has taken Beersheba nnd Gaza. 8 Captured
German flammenwerfer or liquid fire projector. ! British engineers laying a wire road across the Sinnt desert for
tho advance on Gnza and Jerusalem.
NEWS REVIEW OF
THE PAST WEEK
Kerensky .and His Government
Overthrown by Maximalists
Led by Lenine.
PRO-GERMANS RULE IN RUSSIA
Immediate Peace First on Their Pro
gramRetreat of Italians Con
tinuesBritish Take Highly
Important Passchendaele
Ridge America's War
Mission to Paris.
By EDWARD W. PICKARD.
Kerensky and the provisional gov
ernment of Russia havo fullen; the
Maximalists IcI by Nikolai Lenine,
pro-Germun agitator, ure In tho sad
dle; the premier has fled and five or
more of the members of his cabinet
are under arrest; Immediate peace
with the central powers will be of
fered by tho oxfrpmo radicals In con
trol. Such Is the dispiriting news that
comes from tho Sluv republic, so
called. Chaos exists there und a long
continued reign of unarchy Is tlio pros
pect.
The only hopeful fenture of the
situation Is thnt, as Ambassador Bukh
metefl says, the revolt Is a revolt of
the few against the many. The Max
imalists control Petrograd and prob
ably the fortress of Kronstudt, but
they have all Itusslu to reckon with,
and especially the Cossacks, who have
no sympathy with the plan to make u
sepurate peace with the ceutrul pow
ers. M. Bnkhmeteff feels sure that
the majority of the Russians who fol
lowed Kerensky are with tho provi
sional government heart uud soul, un
derstand that Russia's freedom can bo
assured only by tho defeat of Germany
by tho allies, and will fight to the end.
Tho spirit prevailing in Petrograd, he
asserts, Is not representative of the
Hussion spirit as a whole.
Loyal Women Fight the Rebels.
Of all the armed forces In and about
the capital It appears that the wom
an's battalion alone remained loyal to
tho government. It was stationed at
tho winter palace and when that build
log was attacked by the cruiser Au
rora uud the guns of the fortress of
St. Peter and St. Paul, it fought as
bravely as possible until overwhelmed
and compelled to surrender. Tho bat
tle lasted four hours and wus spec
tacular. Tho rebels brought up ar
mored cars to aid tn overcoming the
resistance of the heroic women. There
was no chance to call other loyal troops
to Petrograd, for tho leaders of the
workmen's und soldiers' dclegntcs had
seized the posts and telegrnphs.
Tho rebel congress was convened
Wednesday night, tho officers elected
Including Lcnlno and Leon Trotzky
Several proclamations were Issued,
ono of them stating the program of
the new authority to be:
"First The offer of an Immedlato
democratic peace.
"Second The immediate handing
over of large proprietorial lands to
the pensunts.
"Third Tho transmission of all uu
thorlty to the council of soldiers' and
workmen's delegates.
"Fourth The honest convocation of
a constitutional assembly."
It Is believed In London that Keren
sky will re-establish the provisional
government In Moscow und that tho
Soviet will not be strong enough to
hold out long against him. For tho
present, however, the pro-Germans
have tho upper hund.
Italians Retreat to the Llvenza.
As had been expected, Count Cu
dornn did not attempt to make a long
stand on the Tagllamento river lino
against the on-swceplng Austro-Ger
man armies, hut fell back last week
to the Llvenza, twelvo to eighteen
miles west. The enemy followed close
ly, and the prospect was that the Ital
Ions would speedily be forced back to
tho Pluve, where their mnln armies
alreadv were being established. Cu-
damn issued an order including In the
zone of military operations all terri
tory north nnd east of the Po and
Mlnclo rivers, so he muy consider the
possibility of carrying his retreat
much farther than the Plave. Wheth
er this will be necessary evidently de
pends on the speed with which France,
Great Britain and America can get
men, guns nnd supplies to the Italian
front. Guns and supplies especially
are called for by the Italians.
The victory of the Germans In Italy
will be far from complete unless they
can capture Venice. The German com
manders already have hinted that they
will attack thut city from the air, and
naval operations ngnlnst It nro more
than possible In the Immedlnte future.
As wus said before, the Invasion
served to bring about a swift union of
all factions In Italy, and the govern
ment, while realizing the extreme grav
ity of tho situation, Is confident that
the enemy will fall to accomplish their
military object as they have their po
litical object. The Italian armies ure
maintaining order and discipline and
are cheerful, and the rear guards are
lighting valiantly to retard the ad
vance of the Teutons.
s In Russia, formerly, so In Itnly,
tho farther the Invaders penetrate, the
more dangerous becomes their own po
sition. They ure moving away from
their bases of supply, und must rebuild
the lines of communication destroyed
by the Italians In their retreat. Cn
dornu, on the other hnnd, gains the
protection of rivers lurgcr than the
Tagllamento, of many canals and of
numerous railroads that are able to
furnish nil tho transportation his con
tracted front needs.
British Gain Passchendaele Ridge.
Sir Douglas Halg's periodical drive
In Flanders, which Is becoming -a reg
ular weekly feature, accomplished
most Importnnt results Inst week,
when the Canadians succeeded In tak
ing the village of PusschcmJnele and
tho ridge of tho same nnme which
dominates the country to the east The
drlvo was made under most adverse
conditions, the ground being flooded
by torrential rains, but the British bnr
rage fire was perfect and the Infantry
followed it so closely thut tho Germans
in their concrete dugouts nnd pill
boxes were stormed before they had
time to get Into action. This advance
brought Roulers under the guns of the
British, und their uvlators also begun
bombing that town with deadly effect.
Following up tho retiring crown
prince's army north of the Alsne, the
French reached the south bonk of the
Allettc, but the Gcrmnns maintained
their line on tho other side of that
stream by heavy and continuous ar
tillery fire. Elsewhere on the French
front all enemy nttacks were success
fully repulsed.
General Allenby reported that his
troops In Palestine advanced beyond
Bcershebn with splendid dash and en
durnuco and thnt on Wednesday he
captured Gaza from the Turks.
American Patrol Boat Torpedoed.
The German U-bonts found one
American victim In the patrol boat
Alccdo, which was torpedoed and sunk
In British waters, going down In four
minutes after being struck. Lieut,
John T. Melvln and 20 men were lost.
The Alcedo was formerly the private
yacht of O. W. Chllds Drcxcl of Phlla
delphla. She carried n crew of seven
officers nnd 85 men. The American
merchant steamship Rochester also
was destroyed by a torpedo, at least
four men losing their lives. An Amer
lean freighter arriving at nn Atlantic
port reported that her gun crew sank
a German submersible that attempted
to torpedo her In the Mediterranean
In general, tho U-boats had a poor
week, tho British admiralty report
showing that only eight British ves
sels of more than 1,000 tons had been
sunk, and four smaller vessels. This
Is the smallest number of victims for
any week since unrestricted submarine
warfare began.
Von Hertllng May Not Last.
Count von nertllng isn't likely to
bo Gennon chancellor for very long,
for unless he yields to tho demands
of tho radicals, they Intend to Intro
duce n resolution of lack of confidence
as soon as the relchstng reconvenes
on November 22. The count seems to
havo fallen under complete control of
the militarists and Junkers nnd Is now
threatening the radicals with a mili
tary dictatorship unless they drop
their claim that one of their number
should he appointed vice chancellor.
The relchstng majority, with which the
count solemnly announced the other
day he Mould now work In harmony,
is In danger of breaking up, with the
result of a union of the national liber
ais and uie conservatives. Sucn u
coalition would have a bore majority
and would he subjected to constant ut-
tack by the Socialists. The prospect
of a political truce, It Is admitted, is
remote.
Tho Budapest papers announce that
tne Austro-llungnrlan ausglcten, or
agreement of the two kingdoms to
unite undr one emperor though huv
Ing separate parliaments, will be re
newed provisionally for two yenrs,
The alliance, orlglnnlly signed In 18G7,
Is suijposed to bo subject to renewal
every ten yenrs.
Japan and America Agree.
Viscount Ishll's mission to the Unit
ed States has been successful nnd
Japan Is guaranteed her price for more
active participation In the wnr. The
Amerlcnn government has agreed to
recognize Japan's special Interests In
China arid to permit the shipment to
Jnpnn of the supplies of Iron and steel
thnt she needs. In return, Japan will
furnish a great amount of tonnage for
transport purposes, will get Into ac
tion her warships, numbering about a
hundred nnd already mobilized, and
probably will send an army to Europe.
Italy Is asking that Japanese troops be
called over to help repel the Invading
Teutons.
Though Japan's special Interests In
China nro to be recognized because of
contiguity, both nations agree to main
tain the open door and the territorial
sovereignty of Chlnn. '
Socialists Lose In Elections.
Emperor William met a notable de
feat In the United States last Tuesday,
when In Chicago and New York tho
Socialists were thoroughly whipped at
the polls. Supporting the Socialist
nominees for Judges In Chicago and
for mayor and other city officials In
New York, were all the forces of pro
Germanism, pacificism and disloyalty,
and though they cast a disgracefully
large vote, the defeat administered to
them wus decisive.
These elections were looked upon
nnd rightly, as a test of the loyalty of
tho two largest cities In tho country.
Most of the Socialist candidates were
openly anti-war men nnd some of them
In their pre-election utterances came
dangerously near the treason mark
Hence the victory of loyalty and pa
triotlsm Is cause for genuine rejoic
ing.
John F. Ilylnn, Tnmmany Democrat,
was elected mnyor of New York nnd
the stnte gave a large majority In fa
vor of womnn suffrage. In Ohio, how
ever, the women lost.
House Heads U. S. War Mission
Upon their arrlvol In a British port
the administration announced the
names of the members of the Amerlcnn
wnr commission sent to take part In
the great conference of the allies In
Paris. Col. E. M. House Is the chnlr
man and spokesman for the president
on questions concerning the general
conduct of the war. The other mem
bers nrc Admiral W. S. Benson, chief
of naval operations; Gen. Tnsker H.
Bliss, chief of staff; Oscar T. Crosby,
assistant secretary of the treasury;
Vnnce C. McCormlck, chairman of the
war trade board; Balnbridge Colby,
member of the shipping bonrd; Dr.
Alonzo E. Taylor, representative of
Food. Administrator Hoover; Thomas
N. Perkins, member of the priority
board, and Gordon Auchlncloss, chief
secrctnry of the commission.
Secretary Lansing Issued a state
ment that makes It clear that the al
lies realize that many or their re
verses have been due to lack of team
work, and that one of lie chief nlms
of the conference will be to bring
about unity of action. For Its part, the
United States seeks to determine Just
how Its mnn power nnd material re
sources can be used to greatest advan
tage to defeat the common enemy,
Mr. Lansing laid especial emphasis on
the fnct that the conference Is a war
conference nnd nothing else. The ad
ministration Is not expecting nn enrly
pence, and Is making all preparations
for a long conflict.
Li
PUT INTO EFFECT
BEGINS DEC. 15 BY ORDER Of
PRESIDENT WILSON.
WILL TAKE ABOUT SIXTY DAYS
People of Nation Asked to Lend Alt'
Possible Aid to Help Government
Classify the Remaining
9,000,000 Registrants.
Washington, Nov. 13. Prcsldont
Wilson has put tho new muchlueryr
for tho carrying out of tlic soluetlvw
draft bill Into operutloii.
Tho regulations and the question--
ualres under which tho second cull
will bemado and which more thna
0,000,000 registrants will be required
to fill out are being forwarded to local
hoards, but have not yet been mndo
public. i
War department officials estimate-
that tho whole process can be com
pleted within GO days. This means
tlmUno second call will bo made oa
the draft forces before the middle of
next Februnry, ns tho period for
classification will not begin until De
cember 15. 1
The president describes tho riew
plan of dividing nil registered men
not nlrcady mobilized Into flvo classes,,
subject to military service by classes,
us being Intended to produce "a more-
perfect organization of onr man
power'.'
"Tho selective principle must bo-
carried to Its loglcnl conclusion," tho
prcsldont said, und lie ndded that
there must be mndo a completo Inven
tory of tho qualifications of each reg
istrant in order to determine "tho
place In the military, Industrfinl or
agricultural rnnks of tho nation In
which his experience nnd training can
best bo mado to servo tho common
good."
The inquiry projected In tho ques
tionnaire will go deep Into tho qual
ifications of each of nearly 10,000.000
men. Tho success of the plan nnd It
completion within tho esttmnted tlmo
rests on the whole-tiearted support
given by the people, especially by the
doctors and lawyers of each commun
ity, nnd the president calls upon then
for thnt unstinted aid.
Unearth Stores of Foodstuffs.
New York, Nov. 13. Secret service
agents hnve discovered foodstuffs und
other property valued at more than.
$73,000,000 Stored in warehouses in
this city, which hnve never been re
ported to tho government ns required
under tho trading with the enemy act.
It hns been learned. This Is only a
small part of what Is expected to bo
uncovered before the search ends-
Flour, sugnr, eggs, butter and canned
goods of various kinds are contained
In tho list of foodstuffs compiled by
the secret service men. Large quanti
fies of Iron, steel, copper, cotton nnd
chemicals nlso have been found, a
pnrt of which, It was announced, I
owned by Germans.
Coast to Coa&t Air Lines Certain.
New York, Nov. 13. Plans for es
tablishing four trnns-contlnentnl olr-
wuys as tho main nrterlcs of nerlal
navigation In the United States hnve-
been approved by the executive com
mittee of tho Aero Club of America
It was announced by the club here.
Tho club's committee on landing"
pluces, of which Rear Admiral Robert
E. Peary Is chnlrmari, hns been In
structed to make all possible speed In
charting the route nnd selecting land
ing places.
Italians Turn on Enemy.
London, Nov. 13. On tho Italian-
front the Italian line In the north has'
stiffened under the reinforcements It
has received from tho British nnd
French. The Gorman official com
munication ndds thnt east of Aslngo,
where the Austro-Qcnnuns made gains
last week, the Italians In strong force-
attacked the'invnders nnd recovered'
lost positions. Tho Italians took"
nbout 300 prisoners. In tho Sugnna
vnlloy nn enemy ndvnnce guard wan
captured.
Finland Facing Starvation.
Helslngfors, Finland, Nov. 13. Prof,
von Wcndt, a delegate of the Diet, has;
telegraphed President Wilson thnt ow
ing to tho poor harvest tho country
fnces starvation, unless food can be
obtained in the United States.
Over Ten Million Sign Pledge.
Washington, D. C, Nov. 13. More
thnn 10,000,000 Amerlcnn housewives.
It was announced, hnve pledged them
selves to follow the food administra
tion's consorvntJon directions. ,.
Presents for 8oldler
Washington, Nov. 13. The Post
office department hns arranged to car
ry Christmas gifts to American sol
diers In France who fall to receive
presents. Postmnstcrs were orderedi
to nccept pnekages, the contents of
which the senders deslro to bo dis
tributed as presents among tho sol
diers, who might not otherwise ho re
membered. Such pnekages. addressed!
In care of the commanding officer,
Pier No. 1. Hoboken, N. J., and mark
d "for distribution," will ho ncceptedi
If pneked properly.