Evening Star Newspaper, December 20, 1916, Page 1

WEATHER. = Rain or snow tonight and tomorrow; poy snow; warmer tonight ; increas- ds. south and southeast win “Fomperature for twenty-four hours end- ing 2 p.m.: Highest, 36, at 2 p.m. today; lowest, 16, at 9 p.m. yesterday. Full report on page 21. CLOSING NEW YORK STOCKS PAGE 21. he Evening Star. Sworn Net Ctreulation, Month of November, 1916, Daily Average, 79,557; Sunday, 58,962. . i No. 29,538. WASHINGTON, D. ©., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1916—TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. ~TOMAKENO FIGHT ON HALF-AND-HALT Chairman Page Will Permit District Appropriation Bill to Carry the Provision. RECORD TIME ON MEASURE There will be no attempt to remove from the District appropriation bill the half-and-half provision, if the wishes of those in charge of the bill are re- spected, and the important local supply Dill will go to the Senate in record time if the present indications are carried out. Chairman Page, in charge of the Dill, continued work on the measure today, having called it up late yester- day, with the explanation that he would not attempt any legislative fight on the half-and-half provision. Inquiry among members today pro- duces the information that there ts a general understanding no attempt to remove the half-and-half provision will be made by any one in the House. There is no parliamentary rule against this, merely a general understanding that the bill will be sent to the Senate with the half-and-half provision tntact. It is understood that attempts will be made to attach to the District bill the various horizontal raise propositions that were brought forth during the de- bate on the legislative bill. Rather than have a 20 and 10 per cent raise, as proposed by Mr. Keating, it is believed that Representative Page will upon a 5 and 10 per cent raise. Statement by Mr. Page. On callmg up the bill late yesterday Representative Page said: “In making a brief statement as to the bill and the appropriations which it car- ries, I want to say to the committee that the legislative provision which, in one form or another, has been in this bill during the last three or four sessions of Congress, relative to the fiscal relations existing between the government and the District of Columbia, is not contained in this bill. I desire to say, further, that this was left out, not because those who favor a different system than that now in force having charge of the formulation of the SENATE MAY VOTE ON ‘DRY’ BILL TODAY Filibuster by Opponents of D. | C. Prohibition Possibly | | Would Prevent Ballot. { | REFERENDUM STILL ISSUE When the Senate met today it was with the expectation that the District prohibition bill would occupy practical- ly the entire session and that a vote| would be reached on the measure be-| fore adjournment, unless a filibuster) was begun by opponents of the bill./ | Senator Underwood of Alabama, whose | referendum amendment defeated | in committee of the whole yesterday | afternoon by a tie vote of 38 to 38, was; ready today to ask for another vote| on the amendment when the bill goe into the Senate. He said he believes he had a majority in favor of the amendment, and: intimated that the supporters ‘of the referendum amend- ment would permit a vote if all of those in favor of the amendment put in_an appearance. The opponents of the referendum amendment, while hopeful of obtaining the final vote on the bill, recognize that 1f Senator Underwood and other eup- porters of the referendum should un-/} dertake to prevent a vote today they could do so in all probability. Senator Sheppard, in charge of the bill, ex- Pressed the hope that it would be pos- siple to reach a final vote today, and! said he would do all in his power to| bring that about. j Senator Martin of Virginia, chairman of the appropriation committee, called up an emergency appropriation bill to provide money to pay families of national guardsmen now on the border, in accordance with the act of Congress authorizing the cre- tary of War to pay the dependents not in excess of $59 a month. It led to a debate, and Senator Underwood ad- dressed the Senate at some length on the bill and the National Guard. At 2 o'clock the District prohibition bill automatically came up for con- sideration as the unfinished business of the Senate. Senator Lodge of Massachusetts ob- tained unanimous consent to pass a reso- lution filling the vacancy in the board of regents in the Smithsonian Institution caused by the resignation of Andrew D. was the dependent} appropriation bill have in the slightest degree changed their minds as to what ought t» be done in that particular, but it has be-n left out more for the reason that it seems futile to undertake to legis- late this provision in an appropriation bil Realizing that time is of some value at this particular session of Congress, we have omitted any legislation upon that subject. “The estimates submitted through the Commissioners of the District of Colum- bia for appropriations for the fiscal vear for which the bill appropriates, exclusive of the water revenues, were $16,278,092.66, ‘The bill as reported to the House carries (§22,831.099.66, an amount $255,222.56 ip ex- cess of the current ‘law for the District. However, itis $3,446,993 less than the esti- mates sul Commissioners.’ Questioned by tative Madden as to what items were left eut of the bill, Representative Page replied that the three big park projects, the municipal hospital project and the sewage disposal plant are the prineipal recommendations not made. District Salaries Discussed. Representative Page was asked as to provision for horizontal increases in pay for District employes, a matter which will now have to be attended to by an amendment from the floor. He answered: “The provision as drawn in the sub- committee, to be frank, and submitted to the full committee in connection with this bill, was to increase the pay of those employes in the District of Co- lumbia receiving a salary of less than $1,200 10 per cent and of those receiv- ing salaries of from $1,200 to $1,800 5 per cent. “Those excluded from this were the embers of the metropolitan _ police ree, those who belonged to the fire organizations of the city and those con- nected with the public schools. The provision as urawn by the subcommit- tee included aiso the same ratio of in- crease to the per diem employes of the District of Columbia, those below the gum receiving an increase of 10 per cent, those above receiving an increase of 5 per cent. It also included a provi- ston by which those employed by the District in institutions receiving their subsistence and now being paid less than $1,000 a year should have an in- crease of 5 per cent in their salaries, ‘That was the provision as drawn, and which I think measures out equity to the employe of the District of Colum- bia.” Not § sported to House. This provi on was not reported the House from the full committee. Just before the House adjourned Rep- resentative Crisp of Georgia, one of the leaders of the movement opposed to the half-and-half, expressed his intention to refrain from attacking the bill as now written, although he declared he had not changed his mind on the sub- to White of New York by the appointment of Henry White of Maryland. | Senator Ashurst, chairman of the Indian committee, then sought unanimous con- sent for the passage of a regolution_con- cerning certain products of the Choc- taw Indians. Filfbuster Suspected. Senator Reed of Missouri, who is op- posed to the prohibition bill, imme- diately began a series of questions which inclined the supporters of the prohibition Dill to believe that he intended to use the resolution as @ vehicle for a filibus- ter against the prohibition bill. 2 Who is in favor of ‘the prohibition bill, asked leave to with- draw his. resolution, as he did not wish to impede the progress of the unfinished business. To this Senator Reed and Senator Underwood objected. Senator Saulsburf, the president pro tem, announced his intention of submit- ting the question to the Senate. Senator Hughes of New Jersey made a point of no quorum. Senators Withhold Speeches. The way was cleared for a vote on the Underwood referendum amend- ment late yesterday afternoon, when Senator Borah, Senator Hoke Smith and others agreed to withhold speeches they Intended to make on the proposed referendum and the bill, provided a vote could be had at once. It was the expectation of many senators that after voting on the Underwood amend- ment the Senate would proceed to vote on the passage of the bill. The latter action was prevented, however, when Senator Underwood an- nounced that in view of the fact that his amendment had been defeated by a tie vote, 38 to 38, and there had been no affirmative action by the Senate, he would seek another vote on It when{ the bill went from the committee of the whole into the Senate, and asked that a time be set for voting today. } Prohibition senators, however, ob- jected to having the vote go over until today, and Senator Underwood and Sen- ator Reed started a filibuster to pre- vent a vote on the bill before the close of the daily session. Finally an ad- journment was taken without any time being fixed for a vote. Vote on Underwood Amendment. The vote on the Underwood referen- dum amendment was 2s follows Yeas—Bankhead, Erandegee, Bryar Catron, Clark, Colt, Culberson, Dilling- ham, du Pont, Harding, Hardwick, Hitchcock, Uoliis, Hughes, Jam Johnson, Maine; Kern, La Follette, Lee, Maryland; Martine, New Jersey; Ne ands, Oliver, Page, Penrose, Pittman, ! Pomerene, Reed, Saulsbury, Smith, Arizona; Smith, Maryland; Stone, ject. Wants Inheritance Tax. Representatl Borland began to make signs indicating an assault upon half as soon as the bill was taken up today, but simmered and finally allowed his wrath to covl after an excoriation of the District generally. He advocated further tax for this already overtaxed city, spe cifically mentioning his view that an in heritance tax might bring the total revenue of the District to about $14,- 900,000 a year, and with that amount the District could support itself and also pay the charge incurred by the presence of the United States govern- ment pla “There is a n element here,” he said, “who h: ssumed always that the ‘District kind of a_prinei ality or cong ‘ovince, which we ot govern t some sort of a eaty. The District of Columbia be- ongs to the United States, and not in the smallest sense to the men who hap- pen for their own convenience to tran- fact business here.” No sooner had he concluded than Representative Cox of Indiana, who is a champion when it comes to making points of order, raised one of these weapons against the proposed Increase fn the pay of the Commissioners from $6,000 to $6,000 @ year. Commissioner Brownlow was sitting in the gallery at the time. Representative Page, in charge of the bill, answered Represent- etive Cox by saying the Commisstoners fully deserve the increase owing to the increased responsibility and the char- acter of the men. Highest Paid Men for Work Done. Representative Mann remarked that “the Commissioners are the highest paid men in the District in proportion to the work they do.’ He asked: “Did the Commissioners request this raise?” “an estimate was submitted by the See feaatineed Ga Sweclinis Piss) on Page.) t | Thompson | Sutherland, Tiliman, Underwood, Wads- worth, ¥ ren, Watson and Williams. | Nays—Ashurst, Beckham, Borah, Brady, Chamberlain, Clapp, Cummins, Curtis, Fernadd, Fletcher, Gore, Gronna, Husting, Johnson, South Dakota; Jones, | | Kenyon, Kirby, Lane, McCumber, Mar- | tin, Virginia; Nelson, Norris, Overman, | Vitian, Poindexter, Sheppard, Sherman, | Shields, Smith, Georgia; Smoot, Ster ling, Swanson, Thomas, Thompsor Townsend, Vardaman, Walsh an j Works. Berore taking a vote on the referen- dum amendment itself, a number of amendments to it were adopted, includ- | ing one to permit the women to vote {as well as the men, and another by the |same senator providing aa educational | | qualification for voting and making it| | impossible for taxpayers to vote if they | were delinquent in their taxes. An amendment offered by Senator | of Kansas providing that saloons be closed on the Gay the refer- ndum was taken, was adopted also. nator Jones of Washington had an | amendment adopted permitting the resi- |dents of Washington, who ling residence in the states, to vote on this referendum as well as the bona fide residents of the District of Columbia. ‘They must have resided here for a year, however. The woman suffrage was adopted by a vote of 54 to 15, the proposed educa- | Uonal qualification amendment by a vote | of 44 to 25. Agreement Is Blocked. | Senator Underwood. when he sought jte have the vote on the bill and further amendments go over until today, asked | unanimous consent that an hour be fixed for voting today on the bill and all amendments, 2 o'clock or & o'clock. Sen- ator Poindexter of Washington, a friend of the bill, blocked this agreement. He wished to keen the Senate tn ses- sion and force « vote last evening. A motion to go into executive session wag {nineteen kept a vot-| NAMED TO CONDUCT INAUGURATION FET Chairman Harper Announces Main Committee of 184 Persons. TWO WOMEN ON THE LIST The main Inaugural committee, com- prising the names of 184 leaders in the life of the National Capital, was named today by Robert N. Harper, chairman of the inaugural organization. The lst comprises business, financial, social, of- ficial and civic leaders, with representa- tives of old Washington families, irre- spective of political affillations. The inaugural committee ounced today includes two women who took ac- tive part in the recent campaign—the appointment of Mrs. James Boggs, made ago, and Mrs. Wesley Mar- several day tin Stoner, named today. Mr. Harper admitted that strong pressure is being brought upon him to name a third woman, and that it is possible he may do so. This is the first time in history committee. Grand Marshal’s Chief Aid. Maj. Gen. T. H. Bliss has been ap- pointed as chief aid to Maj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott, grand marshal of the snau- gural parade. 0. T. Wright has been appointed vice chairman of the committee on printing. Arthur Peter, chairman of the finance committee, has announced the names of individuals and_corporatione that have made contributions of $1,000 each to the guarantee fund to defray the inaugural expenses. Fourteen of these names were previously published in The Star, the five others just given out are Lansburgh & Bro., S. Kann, Sons & Co., The Evening Star and the Washingion FP Mr. Peter has already had_ several pects to announce tomorrow. These are all voluntary subscriptions anticipating the canvass for funds by the finance active work. Inaugural Force at Work. The business of arranging for the inaugural ceremonies is being carried on vigorously today, with a force at work in the executive offices in the Gridiron room of the New Willard Ho- tel. Chairman Harper and Secretary Alvin G. Belt are busy conferring with committee chairmen and vice chair- men and referring correspondence to the proper committees. Tentative lists of the various com- mittees have been prepared and will be announced just as soon as Chair- man Harper for the general committee can go over these committee assign- ments with the vartqus chaired. oe, expects to have a ) with advisory council Friday, and that he will be in a position to announce all committees before Saturday. Frank Lord, chairman of the pub- licity committee, was arranging today for committee headquarters In the Dis- trict National Bank building, and ex- pects to have the first meeting of his committee tomorrow, when the plans for the nation-wide publicity campaign with the co-operation of more than 200 correspondents will be outlined. ‘That the inaugural parade will be one of the largest, if not the largest, ever held was the prediction of Mr. Harper today. He is receiving many letters of MAJ. GEN. T. H. BLISS, hlef Aid to Ma: Hugh L. Scott for the Inaugural Parade. (Copyrighted by Clinedinst.) application for places in itne from clubs and military schools. Mr. Harper is encouraging a special display in the inaugural parade showing the develop- ment being made by the schools of the country in military training. An- nouncement of these applications will ie made as soon as they have been re- ed to the proper committee. Inaugural Committee. Those named on the main inaugural committee are Larz Anderson, Ross P. Andrews, Mil- Ailes P. Barnard, Henry P. Blair, n Bradley, James M. Baker, Cotter T. Bride, Mrs. James H. Boggs, Alvin G. Belt, Maj. T. H. Bliss, Chapin Brown, Alban B. Butler, Claude N. Ben- nett, Ira _E. Bennett, C. K. Berryman, Richard » ner Louls Brownlow rles J. Woodbury BI £. C. Brandenburg, A. Bryl . Brooks. Murray Cobb, Wade H. Cooper, | John F. lo, Albert Carry, ALG: | Clapham, Charles L Corby, W. 8. Corby, Walter J. Costello, D. J. ‘Callahan, W. |v. Cox, Daniel V! Chisholm, John B. | Cochran, Clayton, ©. C. Cal- | houn, John Colpoys and J. Harry unningham, Levi David, H. Rozier Dulany, C. W. Darr, J. Maury Dove, E. H. Droop, J. J. Darlington, Charles A. Douglas, P. A. Drury, Henry E. Davis and Rev. A. J. Donton, 8. J. George H. Emmons, jr.; J. H. de Si- bour, James 8. Easby-Smith; John Soy Edson, George P. Eustis, William C. Eustis and Cornelius Eckhardt. W. J. Flather, A. F. Fox, George E. Fleming, Cornelius Ford, Daniel Fraser and Percy 8. Foster. W. T. Galliher, Samuel Gompers, ©. J. | Gockeler, William A. Gordon, Dr. Cary |T. Grayson, Julius Goldenberg, E. C. Graham, Gilbert H. Grosvenor, James |M. Green, Alexander H. Galt, W. F. ude, Col! W. W. Harts. A. T.Hensey Sarouel_B. Hege, William B. Hibbs, Lewis Holmes, F. S. Hight, Christian Heurich, George E. Hamilton, William D. Hoover, Dr. Thomas V. Hammond defeated by the friends of the bill, and Senator Reed*then offered his amend- ment, which would prohibit the expor- tation of grain slcohol from the Dis- hon it. Pro- and Adolph A. Hoehling, jr. James M. Johnston, 8. Hilton Jack- son, O. H. Perry Johnson, Hennen Jen- nings. Claren; that a woman has served on an inaugural | more $1,000 contributions which he ex- | committee, which has not yet begun! | i | | | GERMAN PRESS SOUNDS Sees Great Gulf Between Teutonic and Entente Ideas of Peace AMSTERDAM, December 20, via Lon- don, 11:50 am.—Commenting on Pre- fer Lloyd George's speech, the Tace- liche Rundschau of Berlin says : “Reparation could be demanded by England only if Germany had declared war on England, if we were to blame for the wer, if we had committed crimes against international law and if we had been defeate The Lokalanzeiger takes the point that Mr. Lloyd George’s remark: about reparation are of no value, inas much as nothing has been said thus far about peace conditions. This news- paper continues: Would Mean Eternal War. If Lioyd George means to postpone satisfying Europe's desire for peace until the time when the entente Is suc- cessful in conquering Germany's armies and those of her allies, then the whole of Europe, as well as Lioyd George, knows full well that this announce- ment means eternal war, unless it is in the power of the German command to bring it to an earlier termination than Lloyd George supposes.” The Tageblatt says it prezers to await the promised reply of the entente, add- ing: “For the present it appears that the gulf is very gr between Lloyd George’s standpoint. ard that described from the German side as the busis for peace,” Burden on Lloyd George. The following ts from newspaper Vorwaerts: “Lloyd George says that whoever wantonly prolongs the war will have a crime upom his soul Do not these words imply strong self-condemnation if England rejects the negotiations of- fered by the central powers?” ‘Neu Wiener Journal published vie in Vienna 8: “he reply of: the entente nations to the peace proposals of the centraj powers will certainly be as equivocal as the speeches of Premier Lloyd George, Premier Briand and the Italian foreign minister, Baron S01 ino. Nevertheless the idea of peace has made a step forwar Spinal Meningitis Among Soldiers. SAN ANTONIO, Tex., December 20.— Three cases of spinal meningitis, re. sulting in two deaths, have developed among troops on duty in the El Paso district within the last few weeks, according to information secured from Col. Walter D. McCaw, chief urgeon of the Southern Department. { Col. McCaw xald medical officers had the situation ‘yell in hand and decjared there was no danger of an epidemic. Honor for Dr. Flexner. PARIS, December 19.-—-Dr. Simon Flexner, director of the Rockefeller In- stitute for Medical Research of New York, has. been elected foreign ciate member of the Academy of Medi- “ne. DAY IN CONGREsS. Met at noon. Senator Newlands urged com- promise flood control bill before commerce committee. Resumed consideration of Dis- trict of Columbia prohibition bill. Met at 11 a.m. j Considered urgent deficiency ap- propriation bill. Rear Admirals Strauss and Griffin testified before the naval affairs committee. Gen. Crozier appeared before military affairs committee. ; | | | | the soctalist | | i j | i | | 1 | allowed to continue their existence. ' | ! PREDICT ABOLITION A NOTE OF PESSIMISM. | societies. LLOYD GEORGE POLICY MAY INJURE THE U. 8. Plan to Nationalize Shipping May Present Serious Problems Nationalization of British shipping mentioned briefly by Premier Lioyd George as one of the first acts of the WILL OFFER SUBSTITUTE Ee war ministry commands more th- {terest in official circles here from the OF SCHOOL RATS’ Persons in Close Touch’ With Board of Education Believe | Adverse Action Is Certain. jstrictly American point of view than a . any other phase of the premler’s High school secret societies are to} - pert © '@i speech. What effect it would have on be abolished. Other organizations, open to all stu- ents, will be formed to replace’ them. American foreign trade and on the status of “British ships sunk by Geré This was confidently predicted this |™*" Submarines’ has opened a new and unexpected series of questions which afternoon by persons in close touch panes ith the board of education and the {°™ia!* regard with much concern. No Redress in Law. special committee of the board which | has been investigating the entire sub-| ane taking into the national service of the whole mercantile marine, fol- ject of high school fraternities and! Be es and their activities i EGER EL! CR GUUROES CECE, lowed closely on England's ennounce- Accordi © perso: rho are i cee aae ue a ce Cae an tea !ment that she could not guarantee coal close e th e situation, the » the | at any of her coalin xpecial committee headed by William; - i giscsatt ta eke over except to ships conserving allied interests is thought by officials at first lance to turn ov that the high school secret societies | &! axe aac apt eet as peasoriey be abolished. At the same time their! war purposes. aa aes lease of life is to be extended for a| ‘The effect on commerce for American year and a half, so that none of the] purposes and not of service to the friendships which may have been fos-| ailies ts problematical, especially as to tered by them may be severed—that is! the completeness with which Lloyd to say, all ree may CON-| George enforces the order. Neverthe- cine as yeuch ye elr graduation, | jess, there is in law nothing the United but no new applicants may be pledged. | <tates can do should the whole British merchant marine be withdrawn from American trade and harbors. It is thought the effect on the sub- marine situation would be to remove {confusion between public vessels not entitled to any guarantees and private vessels entitled to warning and provi- sion for the safety of those on board. Just where the point of distinction would lie is a very complex question. Greek Problem to Fore. Lloyd George's announcement of the recognition of the agents of Venizelos raises the question of what should be | the attitude of this government if Veni- zelos should become the de facto ruler of Others are said to feel just} an appreciable part of Greece. A simi- as strongly that the bodies should ube (iar question has been faced since Eng- remaining members are believed to be in| 12nd took over from Turkey the sover- favor of the gradual abolition of the so- | ¢ignty of Egypt, but no decision reached. Gleties—-that is, the year-and-a-half | The State Department has not béen able pla | to credit a new consul general to Cairo | because it did not know whether to credit Result of Compromise. {him to Great Britain or to Turkey. Gen- The report of the committee is under- | erally, the department has not recognized see’ tobe the result of a compromise | @uinges made during the war, preferring effected after a long debate at the meet- to wait for the peace settlement. ing Monday afternoon. Inasmuch as ees, UF nlority of the board's merbers aro| 20bson to Push “Dry” Wight. 5 CHICAGO, December 20.—Richmond understood to be in favor of abolition ; ‘ a of the organization, either immediately | P- Hobson, former congressman from or by the “gradual” process, it is gen-| Alabama, has leased a residence in erally conceded by those in close touch | Evanston and announced he will devote with the situation that either the report | nis efforts for the next three years Will be adopted as it stands or steps to oreleliquor aighe an Cl Mioush the organization will be taken | $9,40)2 : = picag clang T. Galliher this afternoon will bring | in a report to the entire board asking Fight on Report Expected. Tn all likelihood the report of the com- mittee will be fouxht by certain mem- bers of the board. At the same time it is understood that at least a majority of the members are opposed to the or- ganizations, and if any effort is made to amend the report or change ft in any way, 80 ag to regulate the societies or place them on probation, it probably will result in their immediate abolition. Certain of the members of the board are understood to be strongiy in favor of the immediate abolition of the secret ; lilinois. ‘The statewide fight was de- immediately. jeided upon today by the Anti-Saloon - League. The Dry Chicago Federation ‘ROUND ROBIN” INTERCEPTED. | #5 elected Mtr. Hobson director. Investigation Follows —_Protest ‘Against Camp Conditions at El Paso. EL PASO, Tex., December 20.—It is admitted by Brig. Gen. George Bell, jr., that a “rouné,robin” has been drawn by more .than 300 men of the 8th Ohio Infantry protesting against camp conditions. This communication was intercepted en route to Ohio, it it stated, and returned to the command- ing officer of the regiment. Kn investigation is being made by a regular army inspector, and all of {he men who signed the communication have been ordered to be in camp when called before the inspector. No mem- ber of the camp was placed under arrest. < The “round robin” was drawn after Private Rodney Lapp died of pneumonia at the base hospital It was claimed that his death had been caused by his confinement in the guardhouse while ill. This was officially denied st th Ohio camp. Carry Small Parcels The stores and their patrons avoid many risks when small packages are carried by the purchasers. When goods must be de- livered the customer should look at the sales slip to see that name and address are correct. Get the Christmas spirit and be mutually helpful. FIGHTING IN EUROPE NOWIS AT LOW EBB Drive of von Mackensen Seems Near End—Russian At- tacks Repulsed. GUNS DUEL AT VERDUN Military operations in the European field of war generally are at a low ebb. The driving campaign of Field Mar- shal von Mackensen in Rumania seems nearly at an end. ‘The Russians are reported to have attacked on the northern Rumanian front, but are declared to have been repulsed. On the Franco-Beigian front there is a lull, with the quieting down of the \recent activity at Verdun, while latest reports from both the Russian and Austro-Italian fronts show little but artillery duels and skirmishes. In Macedonia the reports show rains and fog prevailing, with no military movements, with the exception of pa- trol engagements. Russians Break Through German Advance Posts in Stanislau Region By the Associated Prees, PETROGRAD, December 20, via Lon- don, 2:40 p.m., British Admiralty per Wireless Press.—Russian troops oper- ating in the region of the River Bys- tritsa {n Galicia, says the Russian of- ficial statement issued today, broke through the barbed wire entanglements {in front of the Austro-German advanced | posts yesterday and penetrated into Bohorodczany Stare, southwest of Stan- islau. The Teutons are said to have fled in disorder, leaving some prisoners lin the hands of the Russians. Heavy Artillery Actions Go on Before Verdun; Night Fighting Spirited By the Associated Press.. PARIS, December 20.— Heavy artil- lery fighting continues on the Verdun front, the war office announced this afternoon. During the night the en- gagements were most spirited in the vicinity of Louvemont and Cham- brettes. The text follows: “There was nothing to report last night other than heavy artillery ex- id ~“reagpectini peign on the western front: “On the Somme and the Aisne, in th Champagne .and op the cast bank o! the Meuse,, in isolated, sectors, there were at times strong artillery bom- bardments and patrol activity.” British Biow Three Mines. LONDON. December 20.—The report from British headquarters in France, lissued last night, reads: | “We successfully biew three mines early thfs. morning southeast of Neu- ville-St. ‘Vaast.. A small mine blown by thé énemy yesterday south of Ypres did_no damige to our ‘trenches. “The enemy's artillery was particu- larly active during the night in the neighborhood of Eaucourt l’Abbaye. Today we carried out a successful bombardment of the enemy's east of Fauquissart. Elsewhere the usual artillery activity continued.” Several Futile Attacks Made by the Russians on North Rumania Front By the Associated Press, BERLIN, December 20, by wireless to Sayville.Soveral attacks were made yes- terday by the Russians along the north- ern Rumanian front, the war office an- nounces. These attacks were without suc- cess. Gen. Berthelot, the French military strategist, has asked to be recalled from the Rumanian front, where he has been occupied for some time past, according to reports received by the Hamburger Frem- denblatt, which also says that the ma- jority of the British officers attached to the Rumanian general staff have left for England. conference wotween “King Ferdinand of Rumania and Gen. Alexieff of the Rus- sian army regarding the military situa- tion as regards the Rumanian army. Gen. Alexieff will report to Emperor Nicholas, says the newspaper, in the lack of an opportunity at present for the emperot to receive King Ferdinand in person German Military Situation. The military critic of the Overseas News Agency, in an article on the sit- uation on the various fronts, says: “In spite of rainy weather and the completely soaked roads in eastern Wallachia the Teutonic allies are mak- ing rapid progress. The fragments of the Rumanian army are being trresist- ibly driven into a square which is hardly eighty milometers wide, and bounded by the Danube on the east, by the mountains on the west and the Sereth river on the north. Through this flat district flows the Buezu river. The chances of success for resistance in ft are exceedingly smail, as the river has been crossed on a broad front by the pursuing troops. The ouly large town in this district still in Rumantan hands is Rimnik Sarat. The towns of Braila, Galatz and Pokshani, from a strategic and geographic point of view, belong to the Sereth position. “In Dobrudja the Russians have been driven by the Bulgarians until they are south of Babadugh. The front of the central powers now has been shortened 900 kilometers (about 600 miles), which {s as much as is con- sidered possible. French Advance Discounted. “In the western theater the situa- tion is unchanged except for local en- gagements. The French advance near Verdun was nothing but a political demonstration and will be unable to exercise any influence upon the gen- eral situation. The balance of the year of 191 re, will not be im- proved for the French by small local successes. After months of sanguinary ting and heavy French and Brit- losses the front in France and Belgien, te pets the eame as it Sepign .of Louvement, lines ONE CENT. } RALLY TOSUPPORT § OF LLOYD GEORGES _— TERMS FOR PEACE |British Resolved to Fight Until Reparation and Security Are Assured. PRESS STILL SEES HOPE IN TEUTONIC OVERTURES Opinion Prevails That Premier's Speech Has Not Bolted Door H Against Conference. | a ee | Great Part for America ' ! in Enforcing World Peace Security we certainly require. E best security is the firm, us- broken front of t nce, ferti~ fled when the war ends by a unt- versal league to enforce peace. In such a league America woul play a great part, her pres ence alone would be no smal! se- Guardian, ity —Man¢hester By the Associated Press. LONDON, December 20, 1 | Premier Lioyd George's reply to Gers meets with » 5 am— many’s peace proposal chorus of approval in the British press, land the general comment is that if Germany really wants peace she will, when the Joint reply of the allies ts re« |ceived, state terms which can form @ basis of discussion. The Manchester Guardian says: | “Premier Lioyd George has not shut | the door on peace with that resounding clang for which some of his less bale anced supporters in the press have been Listening. It is true he insisted on the impossibility of accepting the German invitation as it stands. In this he was ably seconded by Mr. Asquith and will be approved by the country. * * © ‘The German chancellor must be both* more modest and more explicit before he can expect any favorable answer to bis, invitation. But the real danger in the situation which his offer created was thatthe alites, thie country in part{cu- lar, might be led into an abrupt and réfieal, not merely of the ac- Proposal to ‘This snare Lioyd George has avoided. , Full Reparation Impossible. ‘The Guardian says that as the speech invited Germany to be more explicit, “we do not then: cast out every idea of settlement and the neutral world can- not take exception to this attitude.” The’ Guardtan notes that the speech feontained no hint of the crushing of Germany, but says discussion of any matter is conditioned on restitution. In the truest form, it continues, repara- tion’ is impossible, for the deepest wrongs cannot be undone. “Security we certainly require,” the {Guardian continues. “‘The best security ia the firm, unbroken front of the alliance, fortified when the war ends by a untver- sal league to enforce peace. In such @ league America would play a great part; and her presence alone would be no security. Expressing the opinion that Chancellor ‘von Bethmann Hollweg will admit on re- iflection that the proposals of the entente jallies, as outlined by Mr. Lioyd George, |tormed a basis for discussion, the Guar- dian says: “There ig in this as in all countries at war a great volume of opinion, too little vocal, unfortunately, in favor of a serious effort on the part of Europe’s statesmen to put an end to the carnage which is de- stroying the whole generation of the young.” Views of British Nation. The bulk of the morning papers agree that Premier Lloyd George expressed the views of the British nation. “premier Lloyd George,” says the Times, “expressed the thoughts and hes of the nation and laid down a program which will command its hearty support.” This is the tone of the comment in most of the other papers, who hold that the premier’s answer and also Lord Cur- zon’s speech in the House of Lords aro moderate in phrase, firm and unanswer- able in substance.’ The papers declare that the nation is prepared and will will- ingly undertake all the sacrifices fore- shadowed and will face greater priva- tions if necessary to insure those ends of reparation and security which the allies demand from the central powers. There is nowhere any, hostile critt< cism of the government's declaration,, but the Daily News contends that the forecasts of the measures for organizing the nation do littie more than indicate hat the policy ofthe late government will be continued and extended. It says that if the new government suc- ceeds as well as its predecessor the nas tion will be grateful, and that if it suce ceeds better the uation will be more than grateful. Sees Chance for Parley. ‘At the same time the newspaper coms ment points out the possibility of nego« tiations being undertaken, notwith- standing the strong statements of the premier and Lord Curzon and their ine dorsement by members of the late gov- ernment. Thus the Datly News says that the door is not necessarily banged and bolted and that the allies’ flat re= fusal of Chancellor von Bethmann Holl- weg’s offer is not meant to indicate that the allies do not wish peace, but that. Germany must ask it in the role of the vanquished and not the victor. The News expresses the hope that the allies. will speedily agree on precise terms on which they will be willing to negotiate, Even the Mail, which has always dee manded extreme measures agajnst Gere. many, 8ay! “There is no obstacle whatever to peace if Germany really wants it. She has merely to withdraw from the occu= pied countries and we are willing enough to discuss reparation and guare antees for the future.” . Domestic Program Vast. « The British public had much to res’ flect on this morning. The reply of Premier Lloyd George to the German, peace proposals had been anticipated, and passages of his speech dealing