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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 12, 1918)
THE 8EMI-WEEKLV TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE. NEBRASKA. 10 PEACE UNTIL MUN IS CRUSHED. SAYS PRESIDENT Speaks at Washington's Tomb on Independence Day. SETTLEMENT MUST BE FINAL flays "Blinded Rulera of Prussia Have Routed Forces They Knew Little Of ForceB Which Once Roused Can Never Be Crushed to Earth." Mount Vernon, Va., July 4. Presi dent Wilson In Ills Independence day address nt Gcorgo Washington's tomb here said that tho father of his coun try and his associates spoke and act ed, not for a class, but for n peoplo and that It litis been left for us to nee to It that It shall bo understood that they spoko and acted, not for a single people only but for all tnunklnd and wero planning that men of every class should be free and America a place to which men out of every nation might resort who wished to share with them tho rights and privileges of free men. The president then referred to tho present world strugglo and said that tho peoples of the world find themselves confronted by n selfljh group of na tions who speak no common purpose but only selfish nmbltlons of their own and by which nono can profit but thomsolves and whoso people arc fuel Id their hands. He declared that these governments are clothed with strange trappings and tho primitive authority of an ago that is altogether alien and hostile to our own. lie said the past and the present are In deadly grapple and tho peoples of the world are be ing done to death between them. The rulors of the central powers even fear their own people, said the president He declared that there can be but one Immo la this war and tho settlement must be final; that there can bo no compromise and no halfway decision Is conceivable. The president urged the establishing of an organization of peace which will make It certain that tho combined pow er of free nations will check every in vasion of right and serve to make peace and Justice the more secure by affording a definite tribunal of opinion to which all must submit. The president la closing his address aid: "The bljnded rulers of Prussia have roused forces which aroused can sever be crushed to earth again for they have at their heart an Inspiration and a purpose which are deathless and ef tho very stuff of triumph." Text f Address. The text of the president's speech follows: "Gentlemen of the Diplomatic Corps aad My Fellow Citizens: I am happy to draw apart with you to this quiet place ef old counsel In order to speak a little of the meaning of this day of eur nation's Independence. Tho place seems very still and remote. It Is as erene and untouched by the hurry of the world an It was In those great days long ago when General Washington Was here and held leisurely conference with the men who were to bo associ ated with him In the creation of a na tion. From tho gentle slopes they looked out upon the world and saw It whole, saw It with the light of the fu ture upon It, saw it with modern eyes that turned away from a past which men of liberated spirits could no longer endure, It is for that reason that wo cannot feel, even here, In the Immedl ate presence of this sacred tomb, that this Is a place of death. It was a place of achievement. A great promise that was meant for nil mnnklnd was here given plan and reality. The as sociations by which we are here sur rounded are the Inspiring associations of that noble death which is only a glorious consummation. From this green hillside we also ought to bo able to see with comprehending eyes tho world that lies about us and should conceive anew the purposes that must at men free. Planned Universal Freedom. - "It Is significant significant of their wn character and purpose and of the Influences they were, setting afoot that Washington and his associates, like the barons at Itunuymcdc, spoke and acted, not for a class, but for a people. It has been left for us to see to It that It shall be understood that they spoke and acted, not for a single people only, but for all mankind. They were thinking, pot of themselves and of the material Interests which con- tercd In the little groups of landhold era and merchauts and men of affairs with whom they were accustomed to act, In Virginia and the colonies to the north and south of her, but of a people which wished to bo done with classes aad special Interests and tho author lty of men whom they had not them elves chosen to rule over them. They entertained no private purpose, de sired no peculiar privilege. They were consciously planning that men of every class should be free and America a place to which men out of every nation might resort who wished to share with them the rights and privileges of free men. And we take our cue from .them do we not? We Intend what thoy Intended. We here In America bellovo our portlclpn tlon In this present war to bo only tho fruitage nf what they planted. Our tiKii iiinv-M from theirs onlv In thin, that It Is our Inestimable privilege to concert with men out of every nation what shall make not only the liberties of America securo but the liberties of every other people as well. Wo are happy In the thought that we are per mitted to do what they would have done had they been In our place. There must now be nettled once for all what was settled for America In the great ago upon whoso inspiration we draw today. This Is surely a lilting phico from which calmly to look out upon our task, that wo may fortify our spirits for Its accomplishment. And this Is tho appropriate place from which to avow, alike to the friends who look on and to the friends with whom we have the happiness to ho as soclatcd in action, the faith and pur pose with which we act. $un Rulers Fear Own People. "This, thon, Is our conception of tin great struggle In which we nro en gaged. The plot Is written plain upon every scone and every act of the mi premo tragedy. On the one hand stand tho peoples of the world not only tin peoples actually engaged, but many others also who suffer tinder mastery but cannot net; peoples of .many races and In every part of the world tin peoplo of stricken Russia stHl, among the rest, though thoy are for tho mo ment unorganized and helpless. Op posed to them, masters of many arm ies, stand an Isolated, friendless group of governments who speak no common purpose but only selfish ambitions of their own by which none can profit but themselves, and whose peoples nro fuel In their hands; governments whltli fear their people and yet are for the time their sovereign lords, muk Ing every choice for them and dispos ing of their lives and fortunes as thoy will, as well as of the lives and for tunes of every people who fall under their power governments clothed with tho strnngo trappings and the primitive authority of an ago that Is altogether alien and hostllo to our own. The past and the present nre In deadly grapple and the peoples of tho world nre being dono to death between them. Settlement Must Be Final. "There can be but ono Issue. Tho settlement must be" final. Thero can bo no compromise. No halfway de cision would bo tolerable. No half way decision Is conceivable. Thcso are the ends for which the associated peoples of the world are fighting and which must bo conceded them before there can be pence: 1. The destruction of every arbitrary power anywhere that can separately, secretly and of its single choice disturb the pence of tho world ; or, If It cannot be presently de stroyed, at the least Its reduction to virtual Impotence. . "2. Tho settlement of every question, whether of territory, of sovereignty, of economic arrangement, or of political relationship, upon the basis of tho frco acceptance of that settlement by tho people Immediately concerned, and not upon the basis of the material Interest or advantage of any other nation or peoplo which may desire a different settlement for the sake of its own ex terior Influence or mastery, "8. The consent of all nations to bo governed in their conduct towards each other by the same principles of honor and of respect for tho common law of civilized society that govern the Individual citizens of all modern states In their relations with ono an other; to the end that all promises and vutviihuiii iv u ouvi cut ; uusvuuu, UUj private plots or conspiracies hatched, no selfish injuries wrought with Impun ity, and a mutual trust established upon the handsome foundation of sj, mutual respect for right. "4. The establishment of an organi zation of peace which shall make it certain that the combined power of free nations will check every Invasion of right and serve to make peaco and Justice tho more securo by nffordlng a definite tribunal of opinion to which all must submit nnd by which every International readjustment that cannot be amicably agreed upon by tho peo ples directly concerned shall bo sanc tioned. U. 8. Can Never Be Crushed. "These great objects can be put Into a single sentence, wnnt wo secic is tho reign of law, based upon the con sent of the governed and sustained by the organized opinion of mankind. "These greot ends cannot bo achieved by debating and seeking to reconcile nnd nccommodnto what statesmen may wish, with their proj ects for balances of power und of na tional opportunity. Thoy can be reached only by the determination of what the thinking people of the world desire with their longing hope for justice nnd for social freedom and op portunity. "I can fancy that tho air of this plnce carries the accents of such prin ciples with u prouder kindness. ITcro where started forces which tho great nation against which they were pri marily mrecteu ai nrst regarded as n revolt against Its authority but which has long since seen to have been a step In the liberation of Its own peo-j Tiln nu v0ll nil nf tfin nnnnla nf United States and I stand here now! to speak, speak proudly und with con-, fldcnt hope of tho spread of this re-'. volt, this liberation to the great stato of the world Itself. The blinded rul ers of Prussia have aroused forces they' knew llttlo of forces which, once, aroused, can never be crushed to earth again for they have at their heort an Inspiration nnd n purpose which are deathless and of the very stuff of trl umph." Rush Work on Locomotives. Washington. July 3. Tho first of the 1,415 locomotives ordered by tho railroad administration In May has been completed. This Is the American hospital ship without protection to test the behavior Castle the plan has been held up and NEWS REVIEW OF THE PAST WEEK Most Glorious Independence Day in History of the United States Celebrated. HUNDRED VESSELS LAUNCHED President Wilson Declares There Can Bo No Compromise With the Foe Secretary Baker's Heartening Statement Confusing State of Affairs In Russia. By EDWARD W. PICKARD. With more than a million Americans in Franco fighting for the freedom of the world; with more than another million Americans In training, for the same great contest; with he subnm rlno menace finally overcome, the bridge across tho Atlantic" completed and its maintenance assured by the tremendous wnount of shipbuilding ac complished and underway ; with quan tity and quality production of airplanes and nrtlllory announced; with huge crops in prospect, and finally with the nation solidly behind the government in Its plans for the .prosecution of the war to a victorious finish, the people of the United States very properly made tho celebration of the Fourth of July the greatest celebration In the history of the country. No task so great and glorious ever before con fronted them, no more lofty Idealism over inspired them to perform , the task, never was their confidence in their power so absolute. With reason, too, was the national holiday celebrated by the allies of America, and. especially gratifying was the fact that ttve day was made a na tional holiday by many of the Lntln American republics for that Indicates that tho unreasonable Jealousy nnd fear of the United States some of them have entertained Is passing away. Though last Thursduy wus not so noisy as the old-time Fourths, there was one most glorious noise that, fig uratively speaking, must have been distinctly heard In Berlin and Vienna. That was the "grand, splash" when about one hundred vessels were launched nt the various shipyards of tho country. Hot ween sunrise and sunset approximately half n million tons of dead weight shipping was add ed to tho fleets that are defeating the submarine pirates, currying our armies to France and transporting tho food and munitions for them and our al lies. This greatest ship launching In all history wus the most significant feature of the day's celebrations. In the fiscal year Just ended 1,022 now ships were numbered by the bu reau of navigation, their gross ton nage being 1,4:10,703. This wus a rec ord output and one-hnlf of it wus com pleted In the lust four months, in the new fiscal year this record will be eclipsed, for muny new shipyards nre Just getting started. The loyulty nnd devotion of the shipyard workers Were Justly recognized by the government olllclnls from the president down, and by the peoplo. nnd tho praise for their efforts Is shared by the railroad work ers, without whose devoted co-operation tho achievements of the vessel builders would not have been possible. Beautifully dovetailing In with all this was the announcement by Sena tor Swnnson. chairman of the naval affairs committee, thnt with the co-operation of tho Amcrlcun destroyers the allied naval forces have destroyed 05 per cent of the submarines sent out by Germany, and that they ffre now de stroying the U-honts faster than they can be replaced. Secretary of War linker's detailed statement to the house coimulttoo on military affairs was made Just In time to give added zest to the celebration of the Fourth. Ho said the Amcrlcuu army now consisted of 100.400 officers Comfort which me war department of the Germans, Since the sinking of may be abandoned. nnd 2,010.000 enlisted men and thnt on July 1 practically n million of them were In France; that the death rate for disease among nil troops In the United States was only 3.10 per thou sand; thnt the number of combat planes delivered to June 8 was 280, the production for the week ending on tnnt day being 80; that 5,315 training plnncs hnd been delivered to .Tuna 8, more than 2,000 Liberty engines, and 37,500 machine guns for use on air planes. Between tho declaration of wnr and June 1 more than 1,300,000 rifles were produced and delivered and enough are how being received to equip n division every three days. Mr. Baker told many other encouraging facts, and enlurged on the wonderful work of the American engineers who enlarged port facilities and built rail roads In Franco for the landing and movement of American troops. sa If the1 central powers would know the unwavering determination of tho people of the allied nntlons, they have but to rend President Wilson's Inde pendence day address at the tomb of Washington, in which It was voiced most eloquently. "There can be but one Issue," declared tho Dresldent. "The settlement must be final. There can be no compromise, No halfway decision would be tolerable. No half way decision is conceivable." He thus put our great objects in a single sen tence: "What we seek Is the reign of law, based upon the consent of the gov erned and sustained by the organized opinion of mnnklnd." In less formal language, the Huns must be whipped to a frazzle, for until they are their rulers will not accept such a peace as the allies will grant, and the people of Germany and Austria, with too few ex ceptions, nre like sheep. Put In the absence of any great military operations on the French and Italian fronts last week attention was largely directed toward Itussia. What shall be done to aid that distracted country Is a problem still unsolved, and it is made more difficult by the lack of re liable Information as to what is going on there. The reports 6f the downfall of the bolshevlkl and the re-establish inent of the monarchy with Grand Duke Nicholas as czar, which came through the always unreliable German sources of news, were given niue credit, but It appears to be the truth that Grand Duke Michael Is co-operating with the Czecho-Slovnk forces In Sltterln and thnt they are establishing their rule In that country. The Ukrain ian telegraph bureau nt Kiev says Mi chael has been proclaimed czar und Is marching toward Moscow. las Washington received official reports confirming the news that the Czecho slovaks had whipped the bolshevlkl li a bloody battle at Vladivostok and tnken over the administration of that port. It may be they will form the nucleus for tho gathering of the ele ments that have revolted against the bolshevlkl nnd before long be reoog nlf.ed by the allies as a stable govern ment and given aid. It Is now admit ted In Germany that the German and AuKtro-Hungnrlun war prisoners In Russia are fighting on the side of the bolshevlkl. Up In the province of Archangel, which extends across northerly Russia In Europe, there Is new trouble brew ing. At Kola nnd along the railroad southward from that port are great stores of war supplies now guarded by American and allied murines nml blue- Jackets, nnd moving toward that region Is n large force of Germans and Finns. Submarines already are reported to be In the White sen. It may be the allies will find It necessary to send troops up there. Delegates from the Murman and White sea coasts already have asked them for protection. The Swedish press says the kulser has ordered the Finnish diet to Intro duce monorchia! rule without delay, threatening thnt If It does not comply Germany will set up a military dic tatorship. IBs Having discovered extensive move ments of troops and materials behind the German lines In the Chateau Thier ry region, Indicating a coming attack, the Amerlcuns stationed thero took the Initiative nnd, In tlTe most lmportnnt operation thty had thus far under taken by themselver, thoy captured tn intended to send across tJn. Atlantic the Canadian hospital ship Llandover vlllnge of Vaux and the Eols dc In Roche, advancing their lines on a front of several kilometers nnd occupying strong strategic positions. Previous to tho attack the American artillery utterly demolished Vaux, and the as enult which followed was equally ef ficient and complete. The enemy lost heavily In killed and wounded and sev eral hundred prisoners nnd consider able material were taken. All next day the new American positions were NtibJected to heavy bombardment and then tho Huns made a fierce counter attack, but did not regain a foot of tho ground they had lost. The American machine guns nnd artillery mowed down the enemy in heaps, and our losses were comparatively slight. A complete American army corps of 220, 000 men under command of Gen. Hunt er Liggett now holds the Chateau Thierry sector. IBH The French started off the week with an Important advance between Sols sons and Chateau Thierry, capturing a commanding ridge and other points that the Germans had organized aB tho Jumping off place for their next attack, The British -moved their line forward northwest of Albert but nfter several counter-attacks they were compelled to withdraw to their former positions. On Independence day tho Austral lans, assisted by some Americans, took the town of Hamel and neighboring woods, and the French cut through tho enemy lines near Autreches. IBs- Observers at the front believed the Germans were about ready to launch another great blow, perhaps the great est of all, despite their terrific losses since the beginning of tho offensive on March 21, estimated at 800,000. The opposing forces there nro now nearly or quite equalized by those losses and the arrival of more Americans, and tho allied commanders nnd troops have not the least doubt of tho solidity of their lines of defense. The Italians continued their brll llant work last week, and the Austrl ans suffered accordingly. The latter were gathering their forces for new attacks In the mountain region, but General Diaz struck there first, and In a fierce battle won the formidable heights of Monte del Rosso, Monte dl Val Bella and the Col dl Chelo. These mountains on the northern edge of the Aslnpo plateau and Just west of the Brentn river, nre or great strategtc ira portance. Their capture put the Itnl lans In the strongest possible position to meet the expected offensive, in which German troops were expected to take part. The Italians nlso kept up a continuous series of attacks on tho enemy along tho Plave, and on Wednesday they forced their way for ward across (he partly flooded ground near the mouth of the river. A characteristic piece of German brutality was tho torpedoing of the Canadian hospital ship Llandovery Castle off the Irish const. About 200 lives were lost, Including medical corps men and nursing sisters. The commander of the submarine ques tioned officers of the steamship con corning American flying officers whom he mistakenly supposed to be on board Berlin sought to evade responsibility for this new outrage by asserting that the ship was sunk by n British mine, it may be that the sinking of the Llnndovery Castle will cause our war department to abandon its plan to send the hospital ship Comfort ncross wUhnut convoy or any attempt to avoid the enemy. It Is difficult to see how Secretary Baker can find nny ex cuse for trusting to tho decency nnd humanity of the nuns, for they have repeatedly proved that they are whol ly lacking In those quinines. Holland has again aroused the Unit ed States und Great Britain, this time by muklng an agreement to sell 50,000 tons of potatoes to Germany In ex change for the right to purchase 50.000 tons of German coal. In Washington and London it was more than Intlmat ed that unless Holland canceled this agreement the breadstuffs promised the Dutch from America will not be provided. i Tho sultan of Turkey died on July 3 but this Is unimportant for he wus but the tool of tho Young Turk party. PROBE IB WH CAUSE OF ILLINOIS DISASTER. IS BEING INVESTIGATED. DEATH TOLL OVER Big Steamer Carrying 500 Merry makers Buckles and Sinks With out Warning to Passengers. Peoriu, 111., July 0. Government-,. state und county olllclals hnvb started searching inquiries Into the cause of tho wreck of the excursion steniuer Columbia which sank five miles south of here with 500 people aboard, more than 100 of whom were drowned. Tho big steamer wns driven ngnlnst a sandbank scarcely 10 feet from shore and about five miles south of here during a heavy fog. While the orchestra t'ontlnued to play on tho dnncc floor, which proved a death trap to scores of the 200 dancers, the vessel bneked Into deep water, where It suddenly broke In two nnd Immediately settled on tho bottom of tho river with ouly the pilot house and part of tho superstructure appear, lng above the wntcr. It Is reported that the Columbia was condemned eight years, ngo Just before It was purchnsed and repaired by Captain Mchl, who hnd charge of the 111 fated vessel at the time of the tragedy. The disaster enmo without warning to the 500 merrymakers aboard, after a night's outing nt Al Fresco park, hi Pcorln, who were ending the evenlng's- entcrtnlnment with dancing and con- certs by nn orchestra. Western League Quits Business. , 1 Omaha, Neb., July 0. Representa tives of the Western League baseball clubs nt n meeting here unanimously decided to discontinue plnylng out tho present season. Prexy DIckerson, pres ident of the lengue, and owners of the- vni'lous clubs expressed the opinion that but one pennant race could b successfully battled for under present conditions nnd that ono on the west ern front. No mote baseball will bo seen In the Western League until af ter the successful termination of the- war. it was generally admitted that the present season has not been a suc cess financially, but nil club owners stated they would have been able to finish the season, were they not of the oplnion thnt continuing the lengue would be a handicap to tho govern ment. Plane Launched to Cross Sea. Elizabeth, N. J., July 9. -Amerlcn Is preparing for three more years of war, Assistant Secretary of War Crowell declared here at the "launch ing" of the first American aerial dreadnought. This machine, n Hnnd-ley-Palge bombing airplane, made a successful flight, cnrrylng six men,, after It had been christened "Lang ley." It Is expected that this air plane, and others of Its type, will fly ncross the Atlantic to participate la the aerial on'ens'lve against Germany. No Rece66 for Solons. Washington, D. C, July 9. Presi dent AVllson won n sensational all ilay battle with congress last Satur day, when a resolution passed by the senate calling for adjournment until August 12 wns withdrawn In the house at the point of defent. Admit ting that he could not rally sufllclent forces to pass tho senate resolution, Representative Kltchln, democratic floor lender, withdrew tho measure,, und nny vacation hopes of the solon wero shattered to smithereens. Ex-Mayor of New York Killed, Luke Charles, Ln July 9, John. Purroy Mltehel, formerly mayor of New York City, wus killed when he? fell GOO feet from an airplane at Gcrstner aviation Held near hero. Aa examination of tho wrecked machine developed that the safety belt was unfastened at the time of the. acci dent, causing Major Mitchell to fall from his seat us the plane went Into a nose dive. Battle With Slackers. Little Rock. Ark., July 9. Three persons were killed In two pitched battles between officers and u band of 25 or more nlleged deserters and their supporters, In n woods eight miles west of Heber Springs, Ark. Rationing of Coal Proposed. Washington, D. 0 July 0. Ration ing of coal to householders wus an-, nounced by the fuel administration ns ajnong plans designed to prevent a threatened shortage of coal next win ter. War Hits Norway Hard. Washington, D. 0 July 9. Twenty Norwegian vessels, totaling 20,833 gross tons, wero sunk by U-boats and mines In June, ofilclal cables to ihe logatlon here stntcil. Thirty-one men nro missing. Y. M. Drive Will Follow 4th Loan, Washington, D. C July 9. An nouncement thnt a campaign for a ,$112,000,000 fund for tho Y. M. O. A, wnr work will begin soon nftr-r the fourth Liberty loan wns m.-.ne by R. Mnt. iii'crnntlonnl secretn;
