CREATING AN AMERICAN ARMY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3058, 20 April 1917, Page 7

CREATING AN AMERICAN ARMY

PRESIDENT URGING CONSCRIPTION NAVAL GUNS HEARD OFF CAPE COD Washington, April 18. Tho Navy Department reports heavy firing off Cape Cod (a narrow peninsula of Massachusetts). , The cause has not been disclosed. An official report from the destroyer Smith states that she actually saw the periscope of a submarine 400 yards distant.—Aus.-N.Z.. Cable Assn. .■ i_ ' GUARDING THE PANAMA CANAL. ' Washington, April 18. To safeguard the Panama Canal the ports of Cristobal and Balboa have been ordered to he closed at night, and all lights .to bo extinguished.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE CONSCRIPTION ISSUE IN AMERICA PRESIDENT WILSON PRESSING THE BILL. ■'■■■■■■• I Washington, April 18. .' The Military Committee of the House voted in favour of raising 500,000 men by voluntary enlistment. ' President Wilson conferred with the Military Committee of the Senate, urging it to press conscription with all speed and without any change—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. _ ' HALF A MILLION CONSCRIPTS ' (Rec. April 19, 10.25 p.m.) " . , Washington, April 19. The United States War Department is planning to levy half a million conscripts. If the President is able to induce Congress to pass the Selective Draft Bill, conscripts will enter _training camps 'immediately. The amended draft" Conscription Bill provides that classes shall be called up as follow:—First, 20 to 25 years; second, 26 to 32; third, 33 to 37; fourth, 38 to 42; fifth, 43 to 48.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE ALLIES' MISSION TO WASHINGTON IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR DECISION. '"'■ Washington, April 18. Mr. A. J. Balfour (British Foreign Minister) will discuss the questions of an international understanding _as te financial assistance for the Allies, blockade, munitions, military dispositions, naval operations, foodstuffs, and general resources. The party includes twenty experts. There are five officials from the Foreign' Office, five from the -Blockade Department, two from the Admiralty, one from the Finance Department, two from the Munitions Department, four from the War Office, and one from the Wheat Department. Tho French Commission generally is on similar linos. It is officially stated that the United States is sending a Commission to Russia.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , ' . THE TURNING POINT OF THE WAR BRITISH PARLIAMENT THANKS AMERICA, _ . .' London, April 18. In the House of Commons, in moving a vote of appreciation of America's joining the Allies, Mr. Bonar Law said that tho action of the United States in joining in was the turning point of the war, and was welcomed because of the moral justification it ha 3 gtv;dn the Allies. New worlds; he said, had stepped in to redress the balance of tho old. Tho United States '; possessed, probably to a greater degree than any other nation, resources which in the long run would be decisive in the war. Despite the fact that the path immediately ahead of the Allies had never been more difficult, he hoped and believed that the long night of sorrow- and anguish which had desolated the world was drawing to a close. The aims and ideals which President Wilson's speech had so nobly expressed were ours, and, like us, America had found that fighting was the one method of curing these aims. Mr. Asquith, in seconding the motion, said that the Americans' coming in was ono of the most disinterested acts in history. America's interests were not involved and her 'independence was not threatened, but the gradual unfolding of the character of German aims and methods, which' showed to

America, that the whole future of civilisation and the fate of flemocracy was imperilled, had shown the way. In such a situation aloofness would not only he a blunder, but a crime. After eulogising America's disinterestedness in intervening, he said: ''To have stood aside, stopped their ears, folded their arms, and averted their gaze when they had the power to intervene would. have been to become not only a spectator, but an accomplice. But none of us feared how America would finally decide." Mr. J. Dillon, M.P., on behalf of the Irish Nationalists, most heartily joined in welcoming America. The presence of America at the Peace Conference, he said, would be a sign of hope a nd an'assurance of liberty. Mr. G. J._ "Wardle, on behalf of the Labour Party, said: "If the entrance of America were to result in the establishment of a great League of Nations, charged to keep the world's peace, no sacrifices would be too great." 11l trie House of Lords. In the House of" Lords, Lord Curzon said that one by. one the independent nations were being drawn into the terrible vortex.- America had entered for the purpose of using the whole of ! r energies to end militarist rule of the earth, and had finally removed whatever doubt might have existed "between Britain and America. , Lord Crowe, the Bishop of Canterbury, and Lord Bryce supported the motion, which was carried. Mr. Page, American Ambassador, and other Ambassadors \ were in the Diplomatic Gallery. , A Significant statement. Special significance is attached to Mr. Bonar Law's statement in the House of Commons that he believed the long night of -sorrow and anguish, which had desolated the world was drawing to a close.—Aus.-NZ. Cable Assn. ' . v < '"AMERICA'S DAY" IN BRITAIN . . (llec. April 19, 8.15 p.m.) . k. : London, April 18.' In the House of Commons, Sir Alfred Mond said that the Stars and Stripes would be flown alongside the Union Jack on all . the Government buildings on Friday-(to-day), "America's Day." ' _ ' He also announced that the British and American Governments wore considering the construction of aircraft. —neuter. AUSTRALIA HONOURS AMERICA. ■ ;' > (Rec. April 19, 10.20 p.m.) / Melbourne, April 19. The Government Departments have been instructed to celebrate "America Day" to-morrow by a display of bunting and flags.—Press Assn. - , I' '.-."' ALLIES TO RECRUIT IN UNITED STATES. (Rec. April a.m.), 'Washington, April 19. The' House b*s passed unanimously the Bill. allowing the Allies to recruit from citizens of their respective nationalities within,, the United States.—Aus.-N.Z. CaWe Assn. AMERICA AND THE ALLIES' NO-SEPARATE-PEACE AGREEMENT - (Rec. April 19; 8.15 p.m.) London, April 18. In the House of Commons, replying to a question, Lord Robert Cecil Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) said'that America had not formally adhered to the Allies' agreement not to' make a separate peace.—Renter. RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR RESIGNS.' • ■■ Washington, April 18. ,- M. George Bakhmeteff, the Russian' Ambassador at "Washington, has re-signed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' • AN'AMERICAN OFFICER'STURPITUDE. (Rec 'April 19, 11-25 p.m.) Washington, April 19. ' Lieutenant Hall, of the Indiana Regiment, Jias_ been' sentenced to 20 years'..imprisonment for negotiating with the' Mexican Government for a commission.—Reuter. J ANTI&ERMAN RIOTS IN BRAZIL • (Rec. April 20, 1.30 a.m.) ".:;, . >', Rio do Janeiro, April 19., Mobs attacked two hundred Germans in a house in Porto, Alegro, and burned many,. Tbprsi.were a number of casualties'. The proprietor of a derman hotel fired upon an anti-German mob, and £y.eri' — 'de reign of terror followed.—Reuter. ........