Evening Star Newspaper, March 27, 1914, Page 1

Rain tonight and cooler Saturday ; light to moderate variable winds. i WEATHER. Saturday; EIGHTEEN. | FULL REPORT ON PAGE | No. 19,539. Che Lenin About every one in Washing- ton who reads at all reads The Star. ¢ CLOSING NEW YORK STOCK QUOTATIONS PAGE 18 WASHINGTON, D. C,, FRIDAY, MARCH 27 1914.-TWENTY-TWO PAGES. AWAIT THE REPLY OF ARMY CHIEFS Britain’s Request for With- drawal of Officers’ Resigna- tions Still Discussed. STATEMENT MADE TODAY- TO HOUSE OF COMMONS Field Marshal French and Gen. Ewart Confer With Cabinet—New Army Order Issued. LONDON, March 27.—The resignation of Field Marshal Sir John French and Lieut. Gen. Sir John S. Ewart had not yet been withdrawn and Premier Asquith, after deferring his statement twice, was able to announce in the house of com- mons this afternoon only that the govern- ment still was awaiting the reply of the army officers to the cabinet's request that they remain in their posts. Premier Asquith reached the house of commons straight from the second of the two cabinet meetings held today, both of ‘\ which were attended by the chief of the general staff, Field Marshal Sir John French. The premier said matters in the uestion involved great complexity and great difficulty and seemed to the gov- ‘0 require very full consideration. ernme' \ partial or provisional statement would ve unsatisfactory. Sir John French and Lieut. Gen. Sir john S. Ewart, the adjutant general of the forces, shad intimated a wish to be relieved of their offices, Mr. Asquith said, not because of any differences be- tween their views and those of the gov- ernment as to the conditions under which the army should serve or should be employed in the aid of civil power, but hi Brig. Gen. Gough they thought course incumbent upon them. this Government Conveys Its Wishes. ‘remier Asquith then added: he gevernment has conveyed to them its wish that as there is no dif- of opinion on any ground or they should not persist In ,their request, the carrying out of which the overnment would regard as a serious the army and the misfortune to both state. We still are awaiting their final eply ‘These two gallant officers believe that in the ¢ircumstances they were justified in believing their action was n accordance with the instructions of the cabinet and that they were trans- Y those directions to the officers neerned. is clear to us and to them that e has been a misconception—a gen- misconception—in regard to the rine ntention and purport of the proceed- in Ireland, out of which these | ulties have arisen. “In view of these misconceptions and to obviate the possibility of their re- rrence in the future the army coun- cil has today—Field Marshal Sir John French and Lieut. Gen. Sir John Ewart being present—unanimously determined to issue a New army order.” Text of the New Order. ‘The premier continued: “The new order to the arms scipline.” It has three articles, as follows: 1. No officer or soldier shali in fu- aestioned by his superior officers as to what attitude he will adopt or as to = action in the event of his being auired to obey orders dependent on fu- ture er hypothetical contingencies “Il. An officer or soldier is forbidden in future to ask for assurances as to orders which he may be required to ful- HW “IIL. It is the duty of every officer and soldier to obey all lawful commands given them through the proper channels, either for safeguarding public property or to support the, civil power in the ordinary execution of its duty or for the protection headed “a which ef the lives and property of the inhabi- tants in case of a disturbance of the peace. . hat is an order issued by the army ncil today which has now been ap- proved and which regulates the conduct and discipline of the army in future. Proceeding with his speech, the premier remarked that he must repeat what ministers in both houses of par- lament had said several times this week, but in view of the wild legends current it needed to be repeated. He said her untrue that the gov- ernment or any member of the govern- ment ever contemplated active operations ive character in Ulster or operations which now or in the future id impose on the army any duty or service Which was not am covered by the terms of this order. To that I have only to add that the government adheres to all the declarations it has made.” Officers Urged to Reconsider. Negotiations and Buckingham Palace, Downing street were out yesterday and it strongest efforts were induce Field Marshal French and Gen Ewart to reconsider. The prime minister called a hurried meeting of the cabinet conferences between the war office and arried on through- ss known that the being adopted to at his residence after it was decided to postpone the statement to parliament. Strong pressure evidently was brought to bear on Sir John French to retain his post. He was summoned to an interview with Premier Asquith after the prime minister had seen King George. Subse- quently the field marshal procee to Buckingham Palace to confer with the king. > According to the best information, the war office conference of all the principal commanding generals of the army was called to enable Gens. French and Ewart to explain that their resignation was a personal matter arising solely from the fact that they signed the Gough memo- randum, which the government since had repudiated, and they urged that all the other officers remain at their posts. Objections to Col. Seely. Then followed interviews with the min- isters and an audience with ‘the king, with a view to inducing them to recon- sider their action. and Gen. Ewart remained firm | decision that it would be impossib! them to retain their posts while Col. » Seely remained secretary for war. They were willing, however, to withdraw their resignations if Col. Seely was removed. Faced by this ultimatum andthe knowledge that there was a strong feel- ing against Col. Seely among the radi- cals, the prime minister seemed to have arrived at the conclusion that he must abandon Col. Seely. There has been talk ef appointing John Burns, president of the local govggnment board, as secretary for war, and ® report also has been cur- rent of an exchange of portfolios between Lewis Harcourt and Col. Seely. Views of the Press. their tor Many rumors appeared in, the morning papers of the resignation Of officers: at Aldershot and Curragh, but none has yet been confirmed. The Chronicle, a government organ, in- sists that any such resignations must be a ‘The Chronicle also admits that it is no longer It with by instant dismissal. ng issued the memorandum to} But both Gen. French | APPEALS SENT HERE TO AID THE CAPITAL Representative Morin and the Pennsylvania Senators Hear From Home. FIRST REPORTED RESULT OF COMMITTEE’S WORK Pittsburgh Chapter, American In- | stitute of Architects, Opposes “Half-and-Half” Change. Representative John M. Morin of Pennsylvania, in whose district the city of Pittsburgh is located, today | made public resolutions adopted by th Pittsburgh Chapter, American Insti- tute of Architects, which oppose any attempt by Congress to alter the pres- ent “half-and-half” bargain between the District of Columbia and the fed- eral government for the support of the Capital city So far as has been publicly reported, these resolutions are the first result of the work of the committee of one hun- dred. recently formed to educate the American people as to legislation pend- | ing in Congress which imperils the Dis- trict, and they were passed in answer to the appeal of the committee of one hun- dred to national organizations through- out the United States, which urged such organizations to familiarize themselves with the situation in Congress and to write to senators and representatives asking them to protect the capital. Is Strong Organization. “The Pittsburgh Chapter, American In- stitute of Architects, is a strong organi- zation in my District,."’ Mr. Morin said today, “and these resolutions are of such importance that I thought The Star might like to publish them. Copies were sent | to me and I understand also to the Penn- | sylvania senators. Other national organi- | zations have also adopted and sent me similar resolutions.” The resolutions declare: “It has come to our knowledge that four measures have been sent by the House of Representatives to the Senate and that others are pending, the adop- tion of which would practically destroy the essential principle of ‘the ‘half-and- | halt’ arrangement of, what has been |called the ‘organic act’ (135, U. S., 240), and hence place the whole burden of the development and maintenance of the Na- tional Capital upon the taxpayers of the District of Columbia; and “Such action would inevitably retard, if not entirely stop, the development of the city of Washington in a manner worthy of the seat of the national gov- ernment; and “It is our belief ‘that the capital of the natiqn should be developed and main- tained by the whole body of the. Anteri- can people as a symbol of the republic and a matter of national civic pride, to Say nothing of the injustice of. placing this burden ‘upon a comparatively small number of its citizens. “Now, therefore, be it resolved, That | the Pittsburgh Chapter,” American Insti- tute of Architects, through its board of directors, respectfully urges the senators from Pennsylvania and the congressman from the district within its territory tr use such means as they consistently can to prevent these measures being enacted | into law.” -Many Other Appeals Expected. Members of the executive committee of the committee of one hundred were Breatly pleased today to learn of the jaction of the Pittsburgh Chapter, \Amer- ican Institute of Architects, and expressed themselves as having no doubt but that Congress will soon be made acquainted with the sentiment of the American peo- ple toward the maintenance of the “half- |and-half” principle by means of other | resolutions adopted by a great number of large and powerful organizations all over |the country to whom the committee has | appealed for assistance in its work of | protecting the capital. At the Chamber of Commerce today | clerks are sending out appeals similar to that sent the American Institute of | Architects to 200 national organizations jon a list furnished by the American Civic Association. This work is being done for the committee of one hundred, and it is expected that the names and addresses of 400 more national organi- zations will soon be added to this list. which is made up of organizations not having headquarters in Washington. Dr. Wiley’s Letter. The letter being sent out, which is signed by Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, chair- man of the committee, is as follows “Permit me to ask that you bring be- fore your organization, in view of the interest we assume it takes in the de- velopment of the National Capital, the inclosed copy of the report on the leg- islation which now threatens the capi- tal’s progress. (If you have a journal or other organ, please publish it.) “We desire the co-operation of your organization in preventing any legis- lation that will hamper that progress. “We, therefore, ask that you com- municate with your senator and rep- resentative and ask your membership to do the same, requesting the senators and representatives to examine the facts and to preserve the progress of the capital. Prompt action is de- sired.” Special Committees to Meet. The special committees of the Board of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce which are to decide whether these two Washington trade bodies shall unite in a joint appeal for assistance to all cham- bers of commerce and boards of trade | throughout the United States will meet at the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce at noon Tuesday to decide on a plan of | action, and adopt a joint letter of appeal, if it be decided to get one out, in further- ance of the work of the committee of one hundred. Venezuelans on Way Here, WILLEMSTAD, Curacao, March 2 n. Francisco Linares Alcantara, for- merly Venezuelan minister of the in- terior, and Dr. Meano Rojas, another Venezuelan fugitive, day for New York. sailed from here to- THE DAY IN CONGRESS. Senate: Met at noon. | Senator Gallinger introduced a | resolution reaffirming the right of the: United States to grant a tolls exemption in the Panama canal. | | | House: . Met at noon. ‘The entire time of the session was devoted to the fight over the (Continued on Second Page.) x Panama tolls repeal. COOPER INDICTED — FOR CRIMINAL LIBEL Action in Case of Banker Who Brought Charges Against Judge Wright. JUSTICE GOULD ORDERS BENCH WARRANT ISSUED Indictment Alleges Felonious, Un- lawful and Malicious Intent to Vilify. Criminal libel {s the oharge contained | by in an indictment returned today the} grand jury against Wade H > president of the United States Bank and the Union Savings Bank. The| indictment is the result of charges made} by Mr. Cooper against Justice Daniel | ¢ Thew Wright of the District Supreme! Court. 4 On motion of Assistant United States | Attorney Harvey Given, Justice Gould, | presiding in Criminal Court No. 1, or- dered a bench warrant for the arrest of the banker. Mr. Cooper Arrested. | Deputy Marshal W. J. Roberts ap-} peared at Mr. Cooper's office, in the! United States Savings Bank building, shortly after 2 o'clock this afternoon, | with a bench warrant for Mr. Cooper, and escorted him to Justice Barnard office, in the city hall, with his counsel, Raymond M. Hudson. Discussing the indictment with a rep- resentative of The Star this afternoon, Mr. Cooper said: { “I have not seen the indictment, and do not know specifically what’ the! charges are, but I think the public; understands the situation well enough to pass judgment on it without any} comment from me.” | Allegations in Indictment. The indictment alleges that February 26 last Mr. Cooper “feloniously, unlaw- fully and maliciously contriving and in- | tending to vilify and defame the said | Daniel Thew Wright, and to bring him, } the said Daniel Thew Wright, into pub- — ONE CENT. lic scandal, contempt, ridicule and dis. grace, and to deprive him, the said Dan-/| iel Thew Wright, of his good name, fame, credit and reputation as such as- sociate justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia as aforesaid, and to. injure, defame and aggrieve him, the said Daniel’ Thew Wright, of his great hatred and ill will towards the said Daniel Thew Wright, feloniously, unlawfully and maliciously did compose, write and publish, and cause ané procure to be composed, written and published, a certain false, scandalous, malicious and defamatory libel of and concerning him, the said Daniel Thew Wright, and of and concerning ‘him, the said Daniel Thew Wright, in his ‘said office of associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Dis- trict of Columbia, and of and concerning hig conduct and behavior therein.” ‘The publication of the charges, portions | of which are-set out in the indictment, are alleged to have been made by Mr. Cooper “to the great injury, scandal, ridicule and disgrace” of Justice Wright. Witnesses Before Grand Jury. The witnesses appearing before the grand jury were Justice Wright, Charles M. Maigne, Robert L. Montague, Wil- liam W. Price and Robert Perkin The charges on which the indictment is based were filed by Mr. Cooper. with Secretary Tumulty at the White House February 26, and were furnished to the press, it is alleged, February 28, Mr. | ‘Tumulty sent the papers to| Attorney General McReynolds, who forwarded the charges to the House judiciary committee. The committee declined to consider the charges on the ground that they were unverified, and sent them back to the Department of Jus- tice. Impeachment charges filed by a member of the House followed. $50,000 FOR VIRGINIA EXHIBIT. Mansion at Mount Vernon Is to Be Reproduced at San Francisco. RICHMOND, Va., March 27.—A repro- duction of the historic mansion house at Mount Vernon will be one of the features of the Virginia exhibit at the Pan-Amer!- can exposition at San Francisco. The bill which recently passed the state legis- lature appropriating $50,000 for Virginia's exhibit at the exposition has just been signed by Gov. Stuart. Within a short time the governor will name three commissioners who will be in charge of the construction of the Vir- ginia building and the installation of ex- hibits therein. mort Sei Elisha Lee to Be Superintendent. PHILADELPHIA, March 27.—The board of directors of thé Philadelphia, Balti- more and Washington Rallroad Company have approved the appointment. of Elisha Lee as general superintendent of the road to succeed E. F. Brooks, who will retire April 1 under the pension rules of the company. : More Than All Again yesterday The Star printed more advertising than the three other Washington newspapers combined ines Advertising Figures The Star... 113 columns 3 others combined.. 100 columns 13 columns Mr. Excess. ... Advertising in other papers not accepta- ble to The Star.... 124 columns Total Star excess of acceptable advertis- ing, Star’s standard.147 columns taken leaving Hollis, SENATE COMMITTEE | FOR PAYING AWARDS) Resolution to Relieve Plaza/ pidemeer de Property Owners Favo ably Reported. IMMEDIATE ACTION “ASKED BY SHERMAN Cotter T. Bride, as Member of Ex- cise Board, Supported—Sub- committees Named. the Department those awards which was reported favorably today from the Senate District commit- tee by Senator Sherman of Hlinois. favorable report was authorized at a meeting of the District committee this ning. nator Sherman nounced, to do all in his power to get early action upon his resolution. he made the report to the Senate he asked unanimous consent for its mediate considération. of Utah, however, urged that it go to the calendar, saying that if such course was taken it probably would be reached during the day in regular order, or to- morrow. The resolution, therefore, went to the calendar. The committee also ordered a favor- able report to the Senate on the nomina- tion of Cotter T. Bride as a member of the excise board of the District. is expected that the nomination wiil be quickly confirmed by the Senate. The Sherman joint resolution, permit-| | ting the separation of awards in the| | : issi istri ; Bae cee atin heel | Commissioners of the District of Columbia. Justice may pay are not contested, to the Senate of intends, he Senator Text of the Resolution. The Sherman which in the hairman John Walter District committee announced polntment of the following subcommittees, and the committee ordered the reference to the various subcommittees of the meas- ures now pending before the committee: Judiciary, Mr. Pomerene, chairman: Mr. Mr. Dillingham, Mr. Smith of Arizona, James, Mra. Sherman. Public utilities, chairman: Kenyon, Mr. Fall. Education and labor, Mr. Hollis, chair- man; Mr. Martin, Mr. Smith of Maryland, Mr. Dillingham, Mr. Kenyon. Excise and liquor legislation, Mr. Kern, chairman; Mr. Jones, Mr. Works. Insurance and banks, Maryland, James, Mr. Jones, Mr. Sherman. hospitals and charities, Mr, James, chairman; Mr. Pomerene, Mr. Smith of Arizona, Mr. Fall, Mr. Works. Streets and avenues, chairman: Mr. Kern, Mr. Pomerene, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Sherman. Incorporations, Mr. Smith of Maryland, Mr. Saulsbury, i Mr. Jones, Mr. Fall. Z Police and fire departments, Mr. Dil- lingham, chairman; Mr. Worl ir. Ken- yon, Mr. James, Mr. Smith of Arizona. taking up his regulagyiutics. Public health, those Saulsbury, Mr. Joint resolution condemnation Kern, Mr. Mr. Mr. Martin, r= When Smoot upon the committee acted favorably reads as follows: “Awards for the payment for peoperty proceedings for what is commonly known as the plaza cases were made some time ago and have been subject to examination by the Department of Justice to be approved by it and other authority. “The President has found it impracti- cable to separate the payments which are not in controversy from those which are, property owners whose claims are not attacked so that payments cannot be made to them, involving great consequent hardship. “Therefore the awards and payments thefeon to be made in such proceedings be, and are hereby, declared to be sev- erable, so that the Department of Justice and the President may order such awards as are not in question to be paid out of any appropriation made therefor, reserv- ing the remainder for further considera- Smith of the the ap- Saulsbury, chairman; clean city committee, the campaign. report to the PROCLAMATION BY THE COMMISSIONERS. Realizing the beneficial results to be derived fromiconcert- ed and co-operative effort upon the part of all civic organiza- tions, individual citizens and the several departments of our local | government to make Washington a more sanitary and beauti- iakeity,and, in recognitiaty of and: tovpremete the work of the the Commissioners do hereby designate the week of April 13 to 18-4974): as tity Cleaning week. In order that the committee may have every possible aid in its laudable work the Commissioners call upon all citizens | | to clean up their premises, residential and business, and assure the committee of the active support of the several departments under their control. The boardroom of the District Building is placed at the committee’s disposal for meetings incident to After the work is completed the committee will commissioners the results obtained. OLIVER P.. NEWMAN, FREDERICK L. SIDDONS, CHESTER HARDING, March 27, 1914. The SPLIT WITH PRESIDENT MAY UNSEAT SPEAKER But Latter’s Friends Recall Mis- fortune to Free Coinage Floppers in °94. an- im- One of the possibilities of the split be- tween’ the Speaker and the White House is that a fierce fight will be waged from now on to unseat Champ Clark from the helm of the House in the next Congress. “The democratic party will never buck the administration to the extent of sup- porting one of its enemies as Speaker,” said a democratic supporter of the Presi- dent-this morning. “The democratic party as:represented in the House will oppose any administration rather than exhibit treason toward a plat- form,” was the reply of a Clark man. Friends of Clark are now remembering what is said to be the first speech he ever made—twenty years ago in the Fifty- third Congress, when a situation pecu- liarly like the present crisis confronted President Cleveland. It was in the.days of the Gorman-Wilson row and the tariff situation, which -forced Cleveland to take up arms against the House and Senate. “Men who were won over to President Cleveland at that time, as against the sentiments of the democratic platform never came back to Congress,” ‘sald Lafe Pence of Colorado, today. Mr. Pence was a member of that Congress. _ Large Majority Against Repeal The House had a large majority against the repeal of the free coinage clause of the Sherman act. The majority did not know its danger, but in two weeks Cleveland swung fifty-five men to him—all democrats. At that time it was thought to be impossible that the demo- cratic majority in the House would change its convictions—but it did. However, friends of the Speaker now poirtt to the fact that every man who went over to the President lost his seat in the House within a few months. Champ Clark, who made a speech—said It Mr. Mr. Martin, Mr. Saulsbury,]|to be first, then upheld the platform Se clas Pateat the President's wishes, and Mr. Smith of} has been climbing ever since. chairman; Mr. Hollis, Mr. ——— Gen. King Recovers Health. NEW YORK, March 27.—Friends of Gen. Horatio C. King, who had despaired of his recovery from a stroke of paraly- sis early this month, were sufprised to find him out walking today apparently in good health. It was said at his residence in Brooklyn that the general's recovery |avas now complete and he would soon be ‘LONG PATENT FIGHT ENDS Money Settlement Closes the Good- win Case With the East- man Kodak Co. NEW YORK, March 27.—Representa- tives of the Eastman Kodak Company and the Ansco company confirmed today that a money settlement, the amount of which they would not state, had been agreed upon in the matter of the Good- win patent, over which the concerns fought for years until the federal court of appeals recently decided in favor of the Ansco company. ‘The suit involved the use of the Good- win patent claimed by the Ansco com- Pany since 1898, and covers all cartridge films, film packs and cinematograph films made by the Eastman company. Estimate Runs Into Millions. It was sald that the widow of the Rev. Hannibal Goodwin, who invented the process, will receive 2 large sum as her share of the: settlement. is elghty-six years old and lives in New- ark, N. J. By the terms of the settle- ment, it is understood, the Eastman company secures permission to manufac- ture ‘the’ films under patent. Estimates of the amount paid in settlement run Into the millions. BUFFALO,’ N. Y., March 27.—The terms of settlement of the case brought azainst the Eastman Kodak Company by the Goodwin Film and Camera Com- pany for infringement of patent rights were not stated in the final order of set- tlement, which was approved by Judge John H. Hazel of the United States cir- cult court here today. REV. LUKE A. GRACE DEAD. Widely Known as Missionary ot Romen Catholic Church. PHILADELPHIA, March 27. — Rev. Luke A. Grace, widely known as a mis- sionary of the Roman Catholic Church, died today at the rectory of St. Vincent de Paul, Germantown, after a long ill. Father Grace was a’ graduate of St. John's Seminary, Brooklyn, and for twen- ty-eight years was a professor of Eng- lish and theology at Niagara University. In recent years he conducted missions and retreats in different parts of the country, His ability as a preacher was recognized by Yale University, which in- vited him some years ago to deliver a special lecture. Prince .Francois Marie Dead. MONTREUX, Switzerland, March 27.— Prince Francois Marie of Bourbon and the Two Sicilies died here today, VILLA CAPTURES GOMEZ PALACIO Big Railroad Suburb of Tor- reon Taken After Four Days’ Fight. | | REBELS CLAIM VICTORY IN FIGHT AT LERDO| Monoplane and Railroad Equipment Rushed From Juarez—Leader's Messages Optimistic. CONSTITUTIONALIST HEADQUAR- TERS, above Torreon, March 26 (delayed by censor).—Gen. Villa and his rebel | army, after four days of almost inces-! sant fighting, during which victory seemed j first with one side and then with the other, occupied Gomez Palacio today. | Losses on both les have been heavy. The rebels delivered three assaults be- fore permanent success was achieved, and at times the battle extended into the leading streets of Torreon proper. Villa predicts that he will have the latter city by Saturday or Sunday. JUAREZ, Mexico, March ‘The fed- eral soldiers at Torreon last night failed cording to a telegram received here to- day signed by Gen. Villa. The telegram was dated “Gomez Palacio.” Lerdo isa manufacturing town in the suburbs of Torreon. Whether there was truth in a report that a federal flanking force was moving toward the town from the east and that Villa had sent a column to oppose it could not be learned. To Welcome Carranza. Venustiano Carranza, first chief of the revolution, is expected in Juarez tomor- row. Several triumphal arches have been erected, and stores and houses generally are decorated with flags and bunting. As the wind blows a straw, so did every message concerning the probable events at Gomez Palacio, where Gen. Villa is fighting his decisive battle with the Huerta government, sway rebel sympa- thizers in this town today. Orders Monoplane. An early message came from Villa him- self, ordering the speedy shipment of the military monoplane from Juarez, and an order that all equipment for rebuilding railroad track be hurried south. The fact that the message was sent from Gomez Palacio gave rise to the belief that the rebel leader had captured that suburb of Torreon, and hope ran higher among constitutfonalists here than it bad for sixty-two hours of complete silence from the soldiers at the front. That Villa had ordered the monoplane was construed by some to mean that he was to begin his attack on Torreon proper in the immediate future, and that he had unexpected conditions to surmount. The machine has been un- dergoing repairs here, and early today it was not known how soon it could be put in running order, but Manual Chao, military governor of Chihuahua, last night gave personal supervision Mrs. Goodwin [ to the work.of expediting its shipment to the front. Track equipment de- manded will be shipped both from Chi- huahua City and Juarez. The order for the equipment was thought to have meant that Gen. Villa had met far more stubborn resistance in his attack upon Torreon than he had expected and that he wished to have apparatus to repair his railway im- mediately at hand so that he might remain away from his base at Chihua- hua for as long a time as possible. Report of Gen. Villa’s Rout Received in City Today Accepted at the Embassy The complete rout of Gen. Villa's rebels attacking Torreon was claimed in a dis- Patch received today by Charge Algara of the Mexican embassy here from Senor Portillo y Rojas, minister of foreign af- fairs in Huerta’s cabinet. The dispatch came from Mexico City. The embassy officials were inclined to cept this word as direct and final and to take it to mean that there is no longer any doubt that Villa has been disastrous- ly defeated before Torreon. Earlier in the morning, the embassy received the following dispatch from the Mexican consul, Senor Diebold, at El Paso: “Rebels have been severely defeated at Torreon. .A column of 5,000 troops un- der Gen. Moure has left Saltillo in flanking movement to reinforce the gar- rison. The rebels last week also suf- fered severe repuises at Monclova, lus- ing over 1,000 men, as well as at Arteaga, where the losses were over 100. Discredited by Constitutionalists. While the constitutionalist confidential agency here was without any word di- rect from Torreon, dispatches received by them from the border were to the ef- fect that all word coming from Mexico City was false and that Villa was mak- ing rapid headway against the federals. The constitutionalists said that there was no direct communication between | Torreon and Mexico City, and that the word being given out in the latter city was several days old. They insisted that the defeat spoken of in the embassy dispatches occurred early in the week, and had since been turned into a vic- tory. Government officials here were en- tirely without authentic .information from the front, but were deeply inter- ested in all reports. It was believed that both sides are withholding de- tailed information for fear the word may be sent to the enemy. LINER HITS ROCK AND SINKS. Eighteen of French Steamer Saint Paul’s Crew Drown. LONDON, March 27.—Eighteen of the crew of the French steamer Saint Paul were drowned today. The steamer struck a rock and sank while entering the port of Brisbane, Australia, according to a Lloyds dispatch. ‘The Saint Paul was on the way from Noumea to Sydney. She was a new 2v- foot vessel, built in 1912, commanded by Capt. Coree, and owned by the Oceanic Navigation Company of Bordeaux. —<—$—.-—__—- Eleven Workmen Drowned. BRUNSBUETTEL, Germany, March 27. —Eleven workmen were drowned today when a suspended cable car fell into a lock of the Kiel canal while they were crossing from one side to the other. Federal Attack Fails. | in a ten-hour fight to retake Lerdo, ac-! WILSON WINS FIRST BATTLE 10 REPEAL FREE CANAL TOLLS House by 207 to 176 Refuses to Continue Discussion on Rule to Limit Debate. PARTY LINES ELIMINATED IN PRESIDENT’S VICTORY Balloting Preceded by an Hour of Impassioned Oratory. ADOPTION OF RULE FOLLOWS Confidence of Administration Sup- Porters Justified by Its Passage. Repeal Advocates Sore at Speaker's Statement. | | President Wilson won the tirst battle of his fight to repeal the Panama tolls exemption today, when the House by a vote of 207 to 176 refused to continue discus- sion on the Tule to limit to twenty hours the debate on the Sims bill. Party lines were elminated in the vote, which was a round vic- tory ior the administration lead- ers. The balloting was preceded by an hour of impassioned speech- making, in which Speaker Clark, Representative Underwood, Rep- resentative Fitzgerald and other democratic leaders voted against the motion to cut off debate. With the adoption of the reso- lution to stop debate on the rule, the next question was upon the adoption of the rule itself. Ad- ministration supporters were sure of its passage. ‘4 The rule was finally adopted by 200 to 172, with five members an- swering present. Hurt by Speaker's Action. For two hours before the fight started in the House the leaders of the repeal end of the fight sat in Representative Adamson’s office behind closed doors and outlived a plan of battle against the Speaker and other members who want a tree debate and a chance to amend the Sims bill. The men. who framed the gas and those who supported it counted their strength. Representative Hardwick of Georgia, an attendant upon the con- ference, predicted victory for the rule. The men who were there were hurt and sore, because the Speaker had chosen the dramatic eleventh hour for his state- ment last night; and the importance of the Speaker's view was said to be the most serious proposition that has con- fronted the democracy since it took pos- session. However, the Speaker, with un- ruffed face, sat in his office and pre- pared another statement, which will be released at the proper time. ‘Some congressmen professed the view that the fight had taken the aspect of a contest between the President and Speaker Clark, They expected the Speaker might take the floor to per- sonally lead the fight on the rule, or might reserve his attack for the bill itself, unless forced to the floor to de- fend himself. The galleries filled up early. Mrs. Clark had a seat in the Speaker's gal- lery. Republicans Cheer Clark. An unusual, violent demonstration, principally from the republicans, greeted Speaker Clark when ‘he mounted the rostrum. The cheers were almost wild yelps of joy. He rapped for order, and the chaplain, in his prayer, referred the “strength of men in great crises.” The pro-gag rule faction gathered its clans together in a solid line—Hardwick, Henry, Adamson, Sims, Sherley—and held whispered conferences. They were confident of the gas rule by eighteen or twenty votes. Repre- sentative Underwood lined up against the gag, took a front seat, scheduled to close the argument on his side of the contention, while Hardwick of Georgia, of bitter Speech and clever tactics, pri pared to assail the Speaker—a democrat against Champ Clark! Before the fight a message from Repre- sentative Brumbaugh was read. He asked leave of absence on “account of important busi He missed the row today be- cause of trouble in Columbus (Ohio) post office patronage matters. Speaker Clark admonished the House to be orderly “in an exciting and ai rimonious debate like this.” When ho tilities opened Representative Shei wood of Ohio started the debate b asking the privilege of neutralizing the canal by not fortifying it Mild Ovation for Adamson. When Representative Adamson started to talk on the rule mild cheer greeted him. He has the repeal fight on his shoul- ders, having started the ball rolling in the committee on interstate and forelg He said he was not getting ‘rom a seven-year railroad He said in general he is op- posed to rules of this sort. He said the Speaker had thought a ten-hour debate would be sufficient when it had first been talked of. We are not willing’ to have the Sims bill amended, for no amendments are needed,” he said. He spattered Georgia Sarcasm on every one Who had fought the rule, including Murdock and Len- root. He resolved the argument to a question of subsidy, and went into a discussion of “gag rules,” which showed that the Clark statement had a sting for the re- peal-and-gag men. Representative Gardner of Massacnu- setts, a republican, who fought against the Cannon power, begged for the gag to be applied. “I know if they shatter the ranks of the men who want this rule applied they will beat the bill. I therefore ap- peal to every man who wants to see the repeal bill passed to vote for the rule. Hinebaugh Jabs at Gag Rule. Representative Hinebaugh of Illinois Qrogressjve) jabbed at the _: a