Evening Star Newspaper, July 24, 1921, Page 27

DELAYS OF FRANCE STIR SILESIA CRISIS Policy of Politif:al Expediency and Alli- ance With Poland May Prove Tinder for New Conflagration, It Is Dgclarc&. BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN. HAT Secretary Hughes should wash his hands of the, Silestan questicn insofar as American arbitration ~ of conflicting claims is concerned is not surprising. He has tacitly indlcated: “It's your affair’* And in the pursuance of such policy he has furthered the intgrests ! of this country at the present junc- ture, for unless the allied govern- ments take a right-about-face and unravel the tangled skeins in Upper Silesia expeditiously the situation is fraught with gravest canger, not- withstanding apparent settlement a fow weeks back. It is doubtful if participation now could undo wHat the allies by thelr procrasiination and selfish policies have permitted to be dcme. The al- lied governments have followed a course not tending to inspire either respect or faith in their motives, and | there is no cther case in all Euro that would tend more to make Mr. Hughes turn his back upon further affillation with European affairs than the Silesian question, where dyed-in. the-wool nationalistic selfishness has brought on the present ciisis. Blame Rents on Franc It cannot be said truthfully that the blame for the uaticn vests with Great Britain or Italy. France's eag- erness to reach cut and hedge about Germany has tended to act as tinder for clashes of interest between the Germans and_peoples skirting Ger- many. The French have been play- ing for strictly individualistic ends in building up French political and economic Interests. The whole Silesian question could and should have been disposed of shortly after the plebliscite vote early in the year. Instead of proceeding with dispatch, as the British insist- ed. the French procrastinated and played for delays. in the meantime undoubtedly striving to strengthen and upbuild their alliance with Po- land. at the same time protecting Poland's interests. The plebiscite vote was a shock to the French and the Poles. who believed that not- ‘withstanding the great German ele- ment, the returns would throw the rich industrial regions of Silesia to Poland. _The blow was one which dazed. When the British suzgested that the allied commission &0 about the settlement of a boundary, con- flicting interests cime once more into contact. Neither the Poles nor the French were ready. While Premler Lloyd George was insisting that something be done the French and ¢he Poles had heads together. The Polish insurrectionists. énder Ko: fanty, soon plunged the whole Si- lesian region into a sea of strife. The French were noticeably lenient to- ward the Polish action. with all of subsequent disorders. The Italians ‘and British alone stood firm for a square deal, even leading to con flict between the soldiers of France and the other allies. French and Poles Bound. The French and the Poles have a definite offensive and defensive treaty. ostensibly aimed to proteet France's eastern interests. France cannot abandon Polish clalms ‘with. out abandoning Polish sympathy. which is relied upon to protect Krance in case of future German aggression. Poland today is in serious economic and financial plight. France is in duty bound to agsist her in_order that there be a gding Poland. France has done everything possible to curry Polish favor,” and in so doing has gone so far as almost to alienate other allled nations, who, realizing the ‘grave danger to Europe at large in case the Silesian question is per- mitted to drag on, have insistea upon settlement. No better illustration of \ French procrastination in the face of danger can be given than refusal to meet Lloyd George in immediate conference to settle the Sileslan boundaries. The French claim the settlement at this titme would bring on warfare between the Poles and the Germans over the ‘boundaries, the Germans particularly being ready to strike. On the other hand, if advices reaching Washingtton can be believed, the Poles are in bet- ter position to repeat their military coup today than before, thanks to French assistance. 1f the Poles can actually achieve a coup whereby they might seize the industrial regions ol Silesia in face of the plebiscite vote, which gave them to Germany, France undoubtedly would be happy: that is; the nationalistic element of France. which has been waving the sword since 1914 and has never quite con- tented itself to the ways of peace. Of course it cannot be stated that France actually has delayed in the fixing of Silesian boundaries so that the Poles might be strengthened to achieve their land-grabbing ends, but the fact that there has been a constant flow of milifary supplies to Poland from France is evidence which cannot be overlooked in general consideration of the question. British Refuse Troops. France during the past week, has asked for additional British troops to be used in upholding allied dictates in Silesla. Were France to have :her way these would be used against German forces which have organized to prevent territorial grabs in the in- terest of Poland and ag-inst the dic- tates of the Silesla plebiscite. The very fact that In the recent Korfanty revolt the French always aided the Poles and punished the Germans, al- though they were supposed to treat both sides in equally harsh fashion in case plebsicite commission rulings were overridden. gives portent as fo what would follow were allies to send additional force to Silesla and were conflict to break out between tthe Germans and the Poles. * The British have refused troops and the French declare they will Serid a division to Upper Silesia not- withstanding. The French govern- ment has made demands upon Berlin to cause the disarming of so-called organized German bands in and on the border of Silesia, but the Ger- man government is impotent, inas- much as it has no means for forcibly disarming these forces. this Impo- fence being Inspired by the treaty of Versailles. In case the Germans strike against the Poles, they will be confronted by large French forces and a bitter conflict will result. It is extremely doubtful what the atti- tude of the Italians and British will be in a clash, as they regard the present French policy as extremely provocative. They know that even a manufactured “incident” might set off a conflagration of far-reaching proportions. ~ Neither Britain” nor Italy wants a conflict at the moment, and vet they realize that it will come if the French policy is insisted upon. 3 May Reopen Warfare. ° Conflict between the Poles and Ger- mans over disputed Silestan terri- tory actually. will mean the reopen- ing of ‘the war between France and Germany, for France is committed to save Poland in case of danger. But the absolute foolishness of the pres- ent French policy of provocation—for it is none other in view of events—is the fact that the bolsheviks of Rus- | sia, who soon must pay 30,000,000 gold rubles, already are massing forces on the Polish frontier. The reds never have been satisfled with the treaty of Riga. which was to the dis- interest of the bolsheviks. Close stu- dents of European politics never have felt that the treaty would stand in- definitely, and believed that the bol- sheviks would render it voidat thefirst opportunity. Polish warfare against the Germans over Silesia might give the bolsheviks their chance to strike Poland, in which case Poland will have every right to demand the utter- most strength of France in com- batting _enemies upon both sides. Furthermore, conflict of this nature eventually might resolve itself into | | ne where the French would be ar- rayed against the Germans, while the Poles center their attention against the reds. By virtue of the strength of the bolsheviks this action would be necessary if Poland were to emerge at all. © Esgland M Hold Back. Undoubtedly Fffance in such a crisis would call upon’ other allied nations to aid. but unless France can give a clean bill of health insofar as po litical policies in Silesia are con- cerned, the Lloyd George government will have difficulty in swinging the British people into another struggle. !The general French attitude of an- | tagonising the British viewpoint, which insists on the removal of vexa- tious and festing sores in Silesia, is one that will preclude quick British response unless British really are menaced. | The Sllesian question is not one which involves the enforcement of the treaty of Versailles at this junc- ture. The settlement could long ago have been reached had it mot been for French contrariness. The . non- compliance of the Germans and oth- ers with the edicts of Versailles can- not be cited now as valid excuse for ‘warfare. It may be hoped to use it as such. but the effort will be un- successful. If there is war and prolonged war in Eurgpe again. Silesia being the nesting place for the struggle, the French policy of political aggression must be blamed. No other valid rea- son can_be found. And, In view of events, France will have difficulty in aligning informed American opinion with her in such a struggle, even though there be the strongest senti- ment in this country to see the treaty of Versailles enforced and Germany be made to pay to the uttermost farthing for all of her insidious ac- tions_which have led to prolonged world chaos. In the case of Silesia, at least, with all its hazards of re. newed warfare, there is little sym- pathy in Washington for French policies. __'_———————' POSTAL OFFICIAL HAS A PLAN “TO CUT H. C. L. IN WASHINGTON A true co-operative market in the District of Columbia, Wwherein the people may purchase produce sent here by farmers of Maryland and Vir- ginia by parcel post, is the dream of Harry H. Billkny, fourth assistant postmaster general. Reports to the Post Office Depart- ment of the success of parcel post handling of the Georzia peach crop. enabling growers to ship ripe fruit quickly, leads Mr. Billany to believe that an Bxtension of the plan might be worked out in the National Capi- tal. Washington would offer an ideal place for a try-out of such a market. the fourth assistant postmaster gen- eral believes. His plan is for a general market in _charge of an official or group of officials who would have the entire trust of the farmers. By parcel post the producers in nearby Maryland and Virginia ‘might gend their eggs., butter and other foodstuffs to this city and consumers come to buy with the assurance that they were being treated properly in every way. “The trouble now lies in the fact that farmers are suspicious of the! city buyers, and the city consumers are wary of the farmers who offer to Send their produce by parcel post.” declared Mr. Billany. “If we could establish a market. under proper supervision, the middle- man would be eliminated and both farmer and consumer would be able 1o deal with each other on ajplane free from suspicion, owing the equal trust which each would have in the market supervisor or supervis- ors. lmost unheard prices for butter and othar foodstuffs reach the depart- ment. seeming absurdly small in rela- tion to city prices, but the difficulty in making sale lies in the fact that no one can assure the consumer of the exact quality of what he may get it he orders by parcel post “sight un- seen.” One of the prime functions of such a market as outlined. acording”to Mr. any, would be the establishment of grades, and their enforcement, so that the city consumer w))o wighed to £¢t his butter and eggs, for instance; direct from the country would know exactly what he was paying his money for. The Washington city post office has, at various times, tried to boost the sale of the farmers' butter and eggs with the Washington consumers; but ! the results obtained have been unsat- isfactory. from a general viewpoint, although many individuals do take advantage of the low prices quoted. It goes without saying that to ex- tend the buying facilities of a great city by the establishment of some such co-opefative market would ne- cessitate an increase in rural parcel post routes. The purpose of the Post Office De- partment ;is not to decrease service insany particular, although $15,000,- 000 will be saved by closer super- vision of all activities during the next fiscal year. Mr. Billany announced that the de- partment shortly will put into effect, in all probability, in cities throughout the country with populations rang- ing from 100,000 to 250.000 persons, an extended parcel post delivery system. This will mean that these citles, now having but one delivery of parcel post in residence sectiens every .ot er day. and one trip daily in the busl ness section, in the future will enjoy two deliveries of parcel post matter daily to the business sections and a daily delivery to the residence sec- tions. At the present time the rural par- cel post is being extended at places where such service is deemed ex- pedient. A new phase established this sum- mer, and which the department may extend next summer, is that of a route serving summer vacationists. In June the department established a rural parcel post route between Lake Minnetonka and Minneapolis. Articles desired by the people around the lake are brought out by the par- cel post truck, and intervening farm- ers send their berries and other pro- duce to the city. _— JUNIOR AGRICULTURAL WIRELESS CLUB FORMED Word has just been received by the agriculturist in charge of boys and girls’ club work for the Department of Agriculture that the first junior agricultural ‘wjreless club in the United States has been organized by the club agent for Ocean County,N. J, Forty farm boys and girls of this county are constructing wireless out- fits for the purpose of receiving wire- ess market news from the bureau of markets, and postin the news for the benefit of the farmers of the county. A number of outfits are al- ready In operation and the farm mar- ket quotations are posted daily in the local post offices, stores and other cen- tral places. | ARMY A interests | . i l | | - THE -|SUNDAY ' STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. THE STORY THE WEEK HAS TOLD mr BY HENRY. W. BUNN. P (Copyright, 1921, by The Washington Star.) HE following is.a brief summary ofthe most important news ‘of the world for the seven days énded July 23: UPPER “SILESIA. —The French government, so advised by Gen. Lerond, chief of the Interallled commissionein Upper Silesia, informs London and Berlin that of the 40,000 men who composed Gen. Hoefer's self- defense force of Upper Silesia and who should now be- disarmed, dishanded and dispersed, 20,000 armed are still scattered about in Upper Silesia and the other 20,000, also armed, are in villages of German Silesia, just across the Up- per Silesian border, all ready to “go to it” again should the deciston of tHe supreme council on the Upper Silesia boundary fall to satisty Ger- man clalms in full. Paris charges Berlin with full responsibility for the situation, since Ber- lin “tolerates” -continued “recruiting, transport ‘and arming of self-defense forces,” and de- mands’ that Berlin “take every necessary meas- ure In order to disarm, dissolve and remove" these forces. “The situation,” says Paris, “is in the highest degree menacing: we are therefore dispatching another diviston to Upper Stlesta and hope London and Rome wiil take similar action.” Says Berlin: “You shock us exceedingiy. our information is precisely the reverse} that Korfanty's men have not given up their arms, that you will find them In Poland just across the Upper Sllesian border with thousands of ad- ditional volunteers, drilling furiously, with a view to a new invasion should the boundary decision fail to satisfy Polish clalms in full.’ Says London: “Let the supreme council meet and decide the boundary before August 1. It is a good time, since there is at least a lull in the guerrilla warfare.” Briand rejoins: “A decision would be the height of folly. The disappointed side would in- vade Upper Silesia and be met by the opposite slde. The allled force now in Upper Silesia would not cope with the situation. Wait until another French division arrives om the ground, when the allles will be strong enough to enforce the dectsion.” It is reported that Briand has suggested a meeting of the supreme councll on or about August 15. Say the Japanese, with pleasant humeor: “It seems to us that these Europeans might set- tle the Silesian affair and the Turkish muddle and some other little occidental matters before ungertaking to show us thé way to peace and wisdom.” B * ok Kk ¥ IRELAND.—Lloyd George and Mr. de Va- lera met agaln Monday. on the same day Sir James Craig left for Belfast, in a frame of mind by no means conciliatory. Thursday Lloyd George presented to Mr. de Valera a typewritten set of proposals. The latter read them and the two, after some conversation, issued a joint statement, as follows: “The basis for a further conference has not been found. Mr. de Valera has arranged to return to Ire- land tomorrow and to communicate with Mr. Lloyd George again after further discussion with his colleagues, The proposals have not been made public. ok ok ok ok LITHUANIA.—The council of the league of nations at its recent session arranged for the resumption of discussion at Brussels, July 17, by Polish and Lithuanian delegates of matters in dispute between Pbland and Lithuania. But at the last moment the Lithuanian delegates sent word that they could not attend, where- fore the Polish-Lithuanian situation is once more in the air. * * %k ¥ \ - RUSSIA.—The famine in Russia is so ap- palling that one almost falls intc the supersti- tion of the peasants, who believe it is a special visitation'of God. In the. grain-raising belt of East-Central Rusaia no rain has' fallen since March. The crops are destroyed, the leaves on the trees are withered, the wells and streams are dried up. The only food of many is moss, sparse blades of grass and bark of trees. Great fissures are opened up in the baked sofl, as though the earth yawnéd for victims. In an ‘agony of hunger and, still worse, of thirst, in superstitious panic, thousands of _frantic wretches urge their wasted bodles eastward and westward; westward toward Moscow, where the cry. goes up, “American bread is being dis- tributed”; eastward, where a new czar has ap- peared to save his little brothers. So say the dispatches; and somehow it seems a natural climax. The Patridrch of Moscow wirelessed the archbishops of York and Canterbury for help on a grand scale—for bread, and medicines, too, for epidemics wait on famine. One cannot doubt that England, America and other coun- tries will promptly contribute, but, supposing the huge quantities of foodstufts required will be forthcoming from abroad, and supposing the broken-down Russlan railroad system capable of doing its necessary part in their transportas tion Awhich it is not, due to almost complets lack of animal and motor transport), distribu- tion could not, it is al'eged, be made in time to save more than a minor fraction of the victims (said to’ nymber about 20,000,000). Elsewhere in Russia 1s no surplus for rellef; even in Mos- cow they are on very short rations. On all hands It is said that now surely the r2d Muscovites must go swept under by a torrent of religious frenzy The sole organ of authority will be Moth . Church in Russta, once more holy. So the miracle nears comple- tion, and the mokt '.gleous episode in human annals draws to a <(ose, perhaps. 1f certain repris are to be believed, Lenin has chosen this time for the mobllization of seven classess against the Baltic states, or Po- land or Ruriania, or to assist his dear friend Mustapha Kemal? Hardly, for sundry reasons, ns of foud and transport against the menace of domestic insurrection! Much more likely. Safer to have the young men in the army, where the communist detachments are counted on to sup- press mutinous attempts. But these reports seem doubtful. == * ok K * NEAR EAST.—The Greeks have taken Kut- ara, Aflum-Karahossar and Eskishehr. Smyrna reports state that the Kutaia they captured 15,- 000 Turks, 10,000 camels and 168 artillery pieces. If true, a severe loss, especially as to the carhels; but one a little suspects Smyrna figures. The capture of Eskishehr, the point where lines from Smyrna and Angora meet the Bagdad rallway, is important. What next? If the Greeks try to advance farther, they will find the going heavy through a difficult and dan- gerous country. Thelr communications will be getting ever longer and more vulnerable. -f they halt they are lfkely to lose in morale, and the Turks, operating in their own country, may be expected to turn a.trick or two, as they have done before. On the other hand, there Is the possibility that the Turks are as weak in num- bers and equipment as the Greeks have claimed, and that the latter's superfority fn transport may enable the Greeks to win a crushing success. * % k ¥ CHINA.—Dr. Wu Ting-Fang cables that the Canton government should be represented JULY 0 24, ~1921-PART at the Washington conference. He asserts that the Peking government is a creature of the militarists, each of whom s fighting for his own hand and concerned only about lining his own pockets, in no sense a popular government or one qualified to- speak for China. On the other hand, the Canton government claims to voice and to be trying to give effect to the demo- cratic aspirations of the Chinese people. It has the formal adhesion of only the provifice of Kwang-Tung (which province is, however, eco- nomically the most important in China), but probably several other provinces adhere to it in spirit and are likely at any time to adhere to it in fact. Dr. Wu's plea cannot be admitted. The Washington conference will take judicial notice of the Peking government as the govern~ ment of all China, including Kwang-Tung, but the difficulty of finding satisfactory solutions for Chinese questions will be ip~..ensely en- hanced by the fact that the Feking govern- ment is of a very questionable character. How to establish and perpetuate condiffons in China favorable to a happy economic; soclal’and po- litical evolutior? Thanks to President Hard- ing, the wor'.'s attention is at last to be fo- cused on tifs, its most fascinating and almost its most important problem. * ¥ % % JAPAN.—Diplomatic exchanges continue between our government and that of Japan con- cerning what shall be the scope of the discus- sions at the Washington conference. Japanese liberals and conservatives are debating the mat- ter vigorously. By the Lansing-Ishil agree- mént- our government admitted “interests” as equivalent to “rights,” if not sovereign. Japan is at least champion and protector of the far east, they say; as such entitled to assert a far eastern Monroe doctrine. They would have Japan hold fast to any concessions, spheres of influence, etc., she may have acquired and re- fuse to discuss them with other powers. Why should Japan submit to explain and defend her acts and policies? The libera!s, on the other hand, welcome, or seem to welcome, the opportunity to explain and defend.” The western powers, they say, have never understood the Japanese policies, which are, on the whole, beneficent. But they urge that, to avold embarrassment, the Japa- nese government, prior to the conference, evacu- ate all Japanese troops from China, Siberla and Russian Sakhalien and settle the Yap question by direct negotiation with the United States. They call on_Japan to repudiate militarism and imperfalism, to establish the most cordial and unselfish relation with China, to gird herself for the economic strugg'e under fair rules. - Infinite is the talk about the conferemce. I have selected some fragnients that seemed to me especially suggestive. * %k % UNITED STATES.—The tarifft bill, shoin of the embargo on dyestuffs, und with hides, oil, cotton and asphalt on the free list, passed the House Thursday. The experimental airplane bombing attacks on the ex-German battleship Ostfriesland we.e conducted gallantly and efficiently. They dem- onstrated that a 2,000-pound bomb (one-half of the weight due to a charge of TNT) dropped from an airplane will penetrate a turee-inch protective deck, or, striking the water near the hull, will rip up the hull of a battleship under- neath the water and sink her. The battleship is not obsolete, but it requires plenty of aircraft protection. Life aboard in time of war, espe- cially close to enemy shores, will henceforth have »n added zest. The Senate passed the maternity bill on Friday and sent it to the White House. ND NAVY NEWS T Officer Recently Detached l . ‘ From Naval War College Board Of GORGAS MEMORIAL PLANS ARE PUSHED Final Work of Preparation Performed at Recent Meeting Here of the Provisional Directors. PROPOSED MEMORIAL TO THE LATE SURGEON GENERAL GORGAS, BY BEN McKELWAY | RIGINATED here less than a year ago, plans for the es- tablishment in Panama of a memorial to Gen. Gorgas in the form of an institute for the study of tropical diseases have assumed in- ternational importance. Their com- pletion in-the near future will mark one of the greatest steps ever taken in developing the pun-American spirit and alding the commercial growth of Latin America. The idea of a suitable memorial to Gen. Gorgas originated with Presi- dent Porras of -Panama, and through Panama's representative here, Senor Don J. E. Lefevre, charge d'affaires of the legation, the first steps in its development were taken. Senor Le- fevre found a friend in Rear Admiral Braisted. former surgeon general of the Navy and a past president of the American Medical Association. w now is chairman of the provisio I hoard of directors of the Gorgas In- stitute. Together these two men nded out the_ sentiment in_ the | Cnited States, Surope sand South | merien ‘toward the proposed memo- irial. and found it a popular one. The provisional board of directors was !formed and included in its member- ehip men who have identified them- selves with development of the sci-| erce of medicine and surgery—Sur- weon General Stitt of the Na Ireland of the Army and Surgeon | | General Cumming of the public health service. The final chanter in this work of preparation may be said to | have been writicn here last week at a [mveling of the provisional board at jthe P’an-American Union bullding. Some Idea of the porportionate part the United States will play in es- tablishing the memorial gained from the plans for a campaign to be- gin next fall to raise from three to five million dollars in this country to{ bear some of the expense connected: with the proposed institute. Panama already has furnished the site for the | building, and that government will | donate the building and equipment. A committee of ways and means to raise | the fund has been appointed with D.| Franklin H. Martin, secretary of the American College of Surgeons, chair-; man, and Admiral Braisted and Senor Lefevre members. A detailcd plan for the campaign will be announced later. The charter for the institute is now being formed. Two additions to this charter, which set forth two impor- tunt purnoses of the institution, were adopted at the meeting of the pro- visional directors last week. The t i One of the outstanding points em- phasized in Gen. Pershing's recent letter to corps area and department commanders on “better organization of the Army of the United States” was the general's expressed desirs that officers of the Regular Army de- tailed for service in the organization and training of the National Guard and the reserves should be selected from the most efficlent officers, _ is not sufficient,” said the gene: that this duty be assigned to an in- dividual at your headquarters to be performed in a perfunctory manner, but the corps area commander and all officers in his organization will be cxpected to take an active inferest in these forces.” P In connection with Gen. Pershing's statement, it is the opinion of officers who have made a study of the organ- ized reserves, that the present time Is propitious for the. calling to active duty of one or more specially qualified rescrve officers in each corps area headquarters in order to assist and co- operate with the designated officer of the regular army in the initial work of organizing and bullding up this most important component of the Army. It is pointed out that the creation of a large body of reservists as indicated ° | by the wishes of Congress is without ! precedent in this country, that the idea must be impressed on prospective re- servists throughout the nation, and ghat specially qualified reserve officers, fa- miliar with local conditions of the re- spective states comprising their corps area would be of most valuable assist- Xtmce in the upbuilding of their organiza- .on. Reserve officers have expressed the opinion that former officers eligible for membership in the . officers’ reserve corps would feel more disposed to write a reserve officer stationed at a corps area headquarters for the purpose of isseminating detailed information re- rding the reserves than to any other officer. Origin of the Sam Browse Belt. Losing an arm in the Sepoy rebel lion, which necessitated the origin of a few type of saber belt, Gen. Sir Samuel Joseph Browne, K. C. B., C. S. 1., a most dashing English cavairy officer, in- vented for his own use what with some modification is today known as the Sam Browne belt. The belt was adopted by the British army and later by the mili- tary forces of other nations. Lord Roberts,- English fleid ‘marshal, in his “Forty-one Years In Indla,” pald a _glowing tribute to this distingulshed officer when he wrote: <“This popular and gallant officer, well known to every native In upper India as ‘Sam Brun Sahib,’ and to the whole of his maj- esty’s army as the inventor of the sword belt universally adopted on service, distinguished himself greatly in the autumn of 1858. With 230 sabers of his own regiment and 350 native in- fantry he attacked a party of rebels, ¢ “#7 e A fierce ‘hand-to-hand fight then ensued, in which he got two severe wounds, one on the knee, from which he nearly bled to death; the other on the left shoulder, cutting right through and completeiy severing the arm. The enemy was completsly routed and fled, leaving four guns and 300 dead on the ground. Browne was desérvedly rewarded with the Victoria Cross. Gen. “Sam" Browne died at the Wood Ryde, Isle of Wight, March 14, 1901: A memorial ‘tablet has been erected " for him in St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Disposition of Moter Cars. Rumors emanating from various parts of the country to the effect that the ‘War Department is offering for sale sur- plus motor vehicles at nominal prices are claimed to be unfounded. Accord- ing to the director of sales, the only motor vehicles available for sale at thid time are unserviceable ones. Those vehicles not desired by any other de- partment of the government .are offered at public auction, the sales being ex- tensively advestised in the vicinities in which they are to be held.. While less than ten thousand unserviceable motor vehicles_have been sold to date, miore than - fofty-twa thousand ~serviceable “It, | 1 cars have been transferrcd to ether gov-| Navy, sixtaen. While the Army has a first, recommended by Lieut. Col. J. 8. einment departments. Approximately thirty thousand automobiles have been transferred to the bureau of public {roads, Department of Agriculture, and eight thousand cars to the Post Office Department. Smaller numbers have been transferred to the public health service, engineer corps, river and har- bor work and in the Navy and Marin Corps. To date approximately fifty-one thousand motor vehicles have been di: posed of. -of which more than forty- one thousand have been transferred to other federal bureaus. No Change in Army Blouse. According to Col. R. H. Rolfe, chief of the clothing and equipage branch of the Quartermaster Corps, the blouse with a. rolling collar, to be worn with turn-down collar, chirt and necktie, has failed of approval:. He say: cision has been made by the chief o(l staff to the effect that no changes will be made in the collar of the blouse of the Army uniform. Bis Salvage Effected. A report from the office of the quar- termaster ‘general states that the salv- age branch has saved the government during the past fiscal year $1,750,000. Through the various ‘salvage shops rearly 500,000 pleces of clothing have been repaired at a cost approximating 150,000, These repairs consisted of cur- tent work; that is, where the article of clothing is repaired and returned to the original wearer. In the same period the disposal of waste material, such as garbage, manure, etc., netted the gov- ernment more than ‘$180,000. Discharge of Soldiers. Liverality will be shown in the dis. charge of soldiers under eighteen years of age, according to a recent order of the War Secretary. The discharge is, however, not mandatory, if the soldier is awaiting trial, or result of trial, or serving sentence of confinement im- posed. by court-martial. Instedd, this function I8 an-administrative matter ap- propriate for the exercise of the execu- 'ive discretion of the officer exercising court-martial jurisdiction over_ the sol- dier and offense involved. However, | only those charged with or convicted of the most sérious offenses may be deniea discharge. “Construction Work. Following approval of the budget for 1922, chiefsyof supply branches are di- reoted to prepare and forward to the adjutant general a complete program of all construction work deemed advisable during the fiscal year, showing each project supported by data and the ne. cessity thereof. Heading the program i classtfication will be the work which is absolutely necessary and essential,/ which cannot be deferred. The pro- gram cannot be completed until appor- tionments are, made. Instructions are issued in order that preliminary work required may be completed. Disposal of Animals. Economical utilization of all means of transportation within stations and camps Is emphasized in an order of Secretary Weeks directing- the disposal of a large number of public animals, possibly 371z per cent. e grain ration for horses will be reduced by two pounds daily with greater utilization of grazi facilities. Recommendations for reduc- tion of the hay ration will be forwarded to the corps area commanders, Chiefs of branches or to the adjutant general, who are authorized to make such re- ductions in that ration as they may. Geem advisable. The necessity of the order for reducing the number of public animals and their expense for forage is caused by Congress specifically limit- ing forage appropriations to approxi- mately six million dollars. Golf Match Arouses Interest. Final round’ three of the Army and Navy golf match will be played upon the Columbia Country Club - course Tuesday, beginning at 1:30 p.m. . The second round of this series, ‘played on the Washington Country Club course on July 14, resuited in-a score of mine to reven in favor of the Army, Two matches, . Lincoln (Army) vs. - Pollard (Navy) and Perkins (Army) vs. Kilpat- rick (Navy), were postpored owing to the_absence from the city of two of the contestants. Theése matches will score of the be |action of substantial lead, it is not sufficient to make final victory certain. The final match Tuesday, therefore, should prove most interesting. New Rules for Assigmment. Chiefs of branches and bureaus are irected by the Secretary of War that hereafter ‘in the assignment of their commissioned personnel they will sre that no officcr of any grade who has hi a change of station within two ye will for the present be moved without the approval of the chief of staff. .No oficer who is due for for- eikn service will be recommended for chunge of Service within a year before being ordered abroad. In referring re- quests for orders for officers- involving lchauxe of stations the adjutant general i will report the date of the last perma- ient change of station of the officer concerned. Mammoth Aerial Bombs. An aerial bomb to weigh 4,000 pounds is being designed by the ord- nance department. It is to contain more than 50 per cent of TNT, and will be on eof the most deadly of bombs known in modern warfare. Up to the present time the largest bombs designed and constructed weigh 2,000 pounds. The new bombs 1 welghing 4,000 pounds, are to be used |in connection with the largest bomb- | ing airplanes, and when finished will be turned over for experimental pur- Poses to the officers at the Aberdeen proving grounds. i l ! | cedy Artillery Carringes. ' Two new types of self-propelled {gun carriages of the caterpiiar de- sign have just been completed under the direction of the ordnance de- partment. The smaller gun mounts interchangeably either the 75 m.m. or 105 m.m. howitzer, the larger type elther the 155 m.m. gun or $-inch howitzer of the models of 1920. One type each of carriage is en route to the Aberdeen proving grounds for final “proof firings and maneuvering i teats. "The smaller carriage driven by a 75-horsepower eight-cylinder vehi- cle, obtains .a maximum speed of thirty miles an hour, the highest speed yet obtained by a caterpillar vehicle. The larger carriage, weigh- {n‘, wl‘llfll ’:nount. about twenty-two ons, will have a maximum s fifteen. miles an hour. Pregier Atr Service. The largest airdrome in Holl has been established at Roll!rdgn':nlt is more than 1.100 vards long by 700 yards wide and, being flat and open. is well suited to the requirements of aircraft. Offices have been put up and .premises for customs. wireles: meteorological observation, re: taurant and a tower for illumfnation by night are cither in existence or projected. 3 A feather-weight taft for 'use.in the event of a forced descent on the water has been devised for ‘cross- channel air expresses. The apparatus comprises two cylinders of com- pressed air, which, when the valves are turned, Inflate in thirty secon two floats and enable the raft, though its total weight is only fift; six pounds, to support as many four people. The raft can be stowed along the top of an airplane fusilage. Chemieal Warfare Graduates. Twenty-two student officers, includ- ing three lieutenant commandérs of the Navy and three officers of; the Marine Corps, comprised the recent ,'rldultlfil class at the chemical war- are school at Edgewood., Md. Six- teen officers receiveq trainin them to be corps or division ci warfare officers or company com- manders of gas troops. .Of these - al have been recently trans ferred from: other branches, and for the first time have come into in- timate contact with the technical de- tails in which the chemical warfare service differs from the other arms. H Passing Notes. Existing instructions requiring sub- mission: to the chief of staff for final lgn"uflmfl for the retire- ment of officers have been revoked. Hereafter the adjutant: general will Siler of the Army Medical Corps, pro- vides that the institute will send ex- peditions into all the countries of South America to make researches in tropical diseases. and that forces of physicians. suitably equipped, would be held in readiness to visit regions sufferin, the local authorities. 3 The second provides that the in- stitute will devote part of its work to studying the diseases of animals and their relation to those of humans. carrying out the work of Gen. Gorgas in this respect. | tion of Dr. Martin. Dr. Martin, who recently completed a visit to five South American coun- tries on a mission to secure greater co-operation between madical socie- ties in the United States and those of the Latin American republics, reports he found a vel favorable sentiment in Brazil, Chile, Peru. Uruguay and Argentina for the Gorgas ‘memorial. There is no jralousy among the re- publics as to the memorial's location in Panama: rather a desire to co- operate in founding the institute that all ma+ share It benefita. Dr. Martin had' an opportunity to !l(\lfi)‘ at first-hand the need for such ian agenc: as that proposed In the | institute. . One of the handicaps - to South American progress at present. ihe states, is the ignorance of how to | deal with diseases peculiar to the tropics. some of which practica'ly prevent exploitation and develop- ment of many resources, even as typhold and yellow fever for years 1 prevented the construction of the Panama canal. REAR ADMIRAL €. P. PLUNKETT, Who has been appointed president the board of inspection #nd survey mt ‘Washington. ® handle all applications except that ap- plications or recommendations for re- tirement with a rank abové that of colonel will be referred to the chief of staff prior to final action. Applications for reanpointment in the Rewular Army of former Regular Army officers and retired officers will hereafter be referred to the pesonnel bureau of the adjutant general's of- fice instead of to the chief of staff. The record must afirmatively show that the appointee is qualified and eli- gible for the reappointment. workmen. who were previously con- sulted. The heaviest reductions in : employes took place at New York, Norfolk and Philadelphia, although men have been laid off in consider- able numbers at tll stations. Wage rds to conmsider the wage Submission to. the chief of staff for | scales of employes for the coming final decision of applications for ap- i year, have been Instructed by Mr. pointment in the Officers’ Reserve | Roosevelt to have their findings com- Corps will hereafter be referred lolpleled early in August. This report rious the adjutant general's office except | will detormine. to a large extent, for the appointment of general offi- | the. number of additional wcckmen, from cpidemics. there to aid ; This addition to the | charter was adopted on recommenda-; 15th of boards, which will soon meet at va- Santiago Fitz Simon, Benjamin Reo- lin and Alba Posse, reprcsenting the Argentine department of public works, are in Washington prepara tory to beginning a tour of the mid. dle” western, southwestern and west- ern United States to study certain engineering and irrigation work in progress. They will go from here to Detroit, where work on a subway in progress; then to Texas, and later California. The mission will remain in this country about six months. * x x % The United States Mail Steamship Company, which has transported thousands of Polish immigrants to the United States since the war, has started u campaign abroad to en- courage immigration to South Amer- ica. The company has the machinery and equipment for handling immi- gration, and when the immigration bill became a law_in the United States, about 50,000 Foles who hoped i to come to this country found them- selves shut out. While there may be some immigration to South America, present conditions are not favorable for any large influx of foreigners. In Argentina, for instance, there is little chance for immigration in large numbers, and 50,000 in a year might be considered the maximum. In Peru and in Chile the labor market is said to be overcrowded. In Brazil there are large, undeveioped tracts suit- able for farming, and although that government s anxious to encourage agricultural development. and is willing to lend aid to settlers, immi- gration at present on a large scale is hardly desirabl A movement has aiready beén started to interest European immi- gration in Céntral America, but the time is not judged ripe for it to begin. The governments are unable to give the foreigners any material aid, and the lack of transportation in Central America will remain a handi- cap for some time to come. * *x ¥ % The visit of a special Belgian eco- nomic mission in Brazil is said to be attracting considerable interest among Americans now in that country because of -the importante attached by the government to the mission's visit. The mission has been received by the president. who ordered the | heads of his varfous departments to furnish it with any information to facilitate proposals for furnishing censtruction and railway material made by Belgian houses. Another economic mission from Belgium is also planning to visit Brasil soon composed of representatives of great : metallurgical firms of Belgium. This mission will offer the government and Brazilian importers advantages In prices and credits, and will be pre- pared to glve moving picture exhi- itions on industrial subjects. Belgium's step is regarded as an example of the interest European countries are taking in reviving their trade lost during the war to the | United States. * ¥ % % A great deal depends on the suc- cess of the meeting which began last Wednesday in Tegucigalpa, Hon- duras. of the natidnal constituent assembly of the Federation of Cen- tral America. It is the purpose of the delegates to the assembly to adopt_the constitution that it may be signed by the member states on the ptember. the centenary of the independence of Central America from Spanish rule. { The constitution probably will be |amended and revised to meet cer- tain objections to its present form, and, in order to assure the entrance of Nicaragua into the federation be- fore its final adoption. | The text of the telegrams ex- |changed between the Provisional | Federal Council of Central America and the government of Nicaragus, which resulted in the favorable at- titude recently expressed toward the union by Nicaragua, have been re- {ceived in Washington. The spirit of {the messages indicates a mutual de- sire on the part of icarag: and the provisional council to come to terms. Whether Nicaragua's apparent. wils lingness to join the federation will ! have a like effect on Costa Rica, now the only “hold-out.” remains a.ques- {tion. 1t is considered improbable however. that Costa Rica will be amons those states which sign the i constitution this fall. in the battle of Jutland the Ostfrie: {land, while retreating with the res of the squadron the following morn ing, struck a mine, tearing a larg hole in her side and_ flood! eral compartments. She W kept ‘lfl«m( by her pumps and eventually reached Wilhelmshaven. The Ost- friesland class formed the German first battle squadron, which took an important part in the battle of Jut. land Thev were not seriously en- gaged until toward nightfall, about | which time they were credited by the having sunk several cers. Applications of federally rec-{if any, who may be emplo. Bl n ng th nized officers of the Nati 5 rds within the appropria- | British vessels, includ! the ar- i e S T tion recently made available by Com= | mored cruiser Black Prince. Realiz- for appointment in the same grade in the Officers’ Reserve Corps will be ap- proved by the adjutant general, where such appointment is recommended by the chief of the militia bureau. gress. New Order for Yards ai ‘According tb a general order Regarding the recent renuest of an Army officer to the Department of ilnte onrkn passport to nroceed from ew - York to Coblens,-Germany, that ted. Navy yards dnd stations, department recently stated that it I8 § 1eone the order, exist for the serv the practice of Belgium gnd France o |jce of the fleet, and chiefly for those Dermit direct travel on' the Part of |services to vessels, of repair. dock- officers and enlisted men of the United ! jn, revictualing and improvements, States Army from Antwern to the ,,h.“ are beyond the capacity of the American forces in Germany without | gnip's force to accomplish. The com- requiring the presentation of pass- f mandunt of a yard or station shall all duties pertaininz to the organ {zation. and administration” of n yards and na al stations are clearly BOrE have full authority over all persons. e A {civil and naval, employed therein. He will base his plans, methods, decisions - THE NAVY Wid recommendations upon such ap- : iproved plans for national defense as < = < To Assistant Secretary Roosevelt | must be given the credit of avoiding the enforced dismissal of many more workwen in the navy yards than were recently discharged from a force re- may be furnished him by the depart- ment. ‘Among the many duties of a naval station commandant, as outlined the Secretary’s order, one of the mos important deals, with the vital ne- cessity of interior organization. in order that all yards shall be based sued last week by Secretary Denbr, | | ing that the Germans would soon re- | treat. ‘he British admiral ordered mines 1::3 In_their probable path. | The surmis. of the British was cor- rect, for after being thrown repeat- ~dly in_confusion by attacks during {he night from enemy destroyers, the German fleet retreated. Orders for Examinaite:s All rear admirals and -aotains re- cently selected and who have actually made their numbers are now either under examination or orders have been issued to them relative to exami- nation. All officers who have actually made their numbers, due to existing vacancles, are being ordered up for examination as soon as preparations can be completed in_tbs bureau of navigation. Many officers were 8e- lected by the recent selection board in the expectation that approximately 400 temporary or reserve officers would be taken into the Regular Navy as a result of the examination of May 16. Examination of the (lflll:ev inoted will not be held, howevers, {temporary or rescrve officers have duced by order -to approximately one-third, due to the recent reduc- tions in naval appropriatiohs. Real- izing the present-unemployment -sit- uation throughout the country, Mr. Roosevelt issued instructions to all naval stations throughout the service to reduce the working days to five a week rather than discharge a further number of workmen, thus saving a day's pay to the government while réquiring- but @ half-day's loss of work. It is hoped by Mr. Roosevelt to keep a reasomable’ number of workmen temporarily employed until they can be merged into civil indu: tries, instead of making immediate dismissals. The action of the assist-, ant secretary in reducing the work- ing week is understood to have met approval of representatives of the 7 2 ¢ upon the service they are expected to render to the fleet in time of war. Expenditures will be restricted to the limitations of funds made available for expenditure within the command lof each commandant and to pre- vent waste, whether of funds, of time or of facilities. Co-operation in every way possible will be effected with the Navy Department and with the at the yards. The principal aides to the commandant are the captain of the yard and the manager. who shall be an officer bf experience and dem- onatrated capacity in the direction of industrial activities. ‘Owtfriesland in Battle of Jutiand. ' In_ conmection with the recent bombing of the German dreadnaught Ostfriesiand by the Army and Navy air forces off the capes of the Che: apeake, it is 1;terutln. to note that commanding officers of the vessels | ] been appointed to the Regular Navy. Seaplane Tenders. The conversion of one of the Emer- gency Fleet Corporation’s type B ehips into a seaplane tender is rapid- 1y progressing. Changes and altera- |l|ol|u are being made for the stow- age of wx kite balloona aft in & bal- loon well, for tha necessary hydrogen generating plant for seaplanes. The repair facilities will consist of a wire assembly_ shop. -tool issuing -room. blackemith. foundry. sheet.metal and coppersmith shop, carpenter, and pat- tern room, motor erecting shop, elep- trical and done shop. Two balloon winches are being fitted for use in {flying operations of balloons. | It is expected thut the Wright. -the new scaplane tender. will be placed in commission about August 15. The vessel is named in memory of Wilbar Wright. R /