Evening Star Newspaper, March 17, 1923, Page 1

Seet WEATHER. Fair tonight, with lowest tempera- ture near freezing; tomorr: with rain tomorrow _afi night; perature for t at 2 p.m. toda; yesterday day. west, 35, ‘at Full report on page 2: much colder Monday. nty-four hours ended Highest, 60, at 4 p.m. ow warmer, ternoon or Tem- S am. 2 to- I Closing N. Y. Slnclfs a_Ed'Bomls, Page 2_0 @b ¢ Ty WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ening Star. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edition is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. | Yesterday's Net Circulation, 95,645 28,810. Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. "WASHINGTON, Da, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1923 —_TWENTY-EIGHT PAGES. * POINCARE DEFIANT. IN SPURNS ANY BERLINOEFERS Brands Any Attempt at In- tervention by Third Party as Unfriendly Act. GERMANY FLATLY DENIES NEW PAYMENT PROFFER| i Reported Retreat From Flat Re- fusal Hailed as New Hope in London. By the Associated Press. PARIS, March 17 care will entertain for negotiations with German) the Berlin government makes it known, directly and officially, to France that she wants to negotiate, it was declared today in French official circle Any attempt a Intervene or provoke the terms under which might be reached with was added, will be regarded by France an unfriendly act. Premier Poincare’s attitude on that point, a high official declared, re-| mains quite as firm as at the begin- ing of the occupation of the Ruhr. TR i the same Source it is Jearned that all rumors of ajtempts to open negotiations indirectl¥ are unfounded, So far as the French government is concerned, and no proposition of any kind has been brouzht to its atten- tion. BERLIN DENIES RUMOR. ~Tremier Toin- propositions until third power to discussion of a settlement rmany, it by Brands Report of 40,000,000,000 Gold Marks Offer False. Br the Associated Press. BERLIN, March 17.—The that Germany has offered 40,000,000,000 &old marks or any other fixed sum or has submitted fresh reparations pro- posals through an intermediary chan- nel was flatly denied by the German foreign office today. In the first place. r such a sum is considerably in of the amount provided for in the gov- ernment’s proposals of last January, and, therefore, is declared to be out of the question. in view of the dis- turbed economic situation _resulting from the occupation of the Ruhr. In addition, it is stated in official quarters, the Ruhr situation in the present impasse does not permit new and definite proposals to be contem- plated, especially as the character of the negotiations which would obvious- 1y precede an active resumption of the reparations discussions has not yet been indicated nor have such negotia- tions even been suggested as a possible early eventuality. U. S. TO TAKE NO ACTION. rumor Btate Department Receives State- Position. State Department officials have re- ceived a statement of Germany's po- sition in regard to reparations, but they declared today that the informa- tion, as delivered yvesterlay by Dr. Hans Heirich Dieckhoff, caunselor | of the German'emb; alled for no the Washington govern-| looking to mediation or inter- in the reparations dis- | jermany and France. | tion presented by Dr.| gharacterized as a Germany's position, request for action by the United States. Officials said they would make no reply, or would they call it to the attention of the French government. No ment of German action by ment vention by it between inform Dieckhoff was statement of without any Bevond this brief explanation of | the statement, there was no further comment forthcoming from depart- | mental spokesmen. They declined to | discuss press dispatches, denied lo-} day in Berlin, that the German gov- | ernment had formulated a new pro- | for settiement of the repara-| tions question, | In some quarters the belief was ex- pressed that the statement reiterated Germany’'s willingness to open ne- gotiations with France when that government had withdrawn its troops ! from the Ruhr occupied regions. The | view has been expressed by German | diplomats here and in Berlin, accord- Further Comment. posal ing to unofficial advices, that there could be no discussions of the rep- arations subject as long as French troops remained in the Ruhr. HOPE BRIGHT IN LONDON. Germans Reported to Have Retreat- ed on Flat Refusal. BY HAL O'FLAHERTY. By Cable to The Scar and Chicago Daily News. | Copsright, 1023, | LONDON, March 17.—Hope of peace | in the Ruhr area still prevails in England, more so than at any time since the Jrench troops marched into Bochum, nine weeks ago. This hope is not.especially strong in London, as it is based upon Ger- many's reported retreat from its at- titude of flat refusal to negotiate so long as the French occupy the Ruhr detrict. It is reported that Germany is willing to consider a resumption of negotiations provided she can find means of doing so without admitting 8 French victory, Must Initiate Plan. Great Britain’s attitude toward this new state of affairs is that the Ger- mans must recognize that it rests with them to initiate negotiations by %elling the world what they are will- fng to do to settle the reparations question. Germany's refusal to make &n adequate statement of her obliga- tlons ta pay reparations to a reason- mble amount has hitherto blocked the efforts to make a real reparations settlement. If Germany will now make this statement it is almost cer- tain that Great Britain, Belgium and France will use it as a basis of ne- gotiation. Another highly important develop- ment leading to hopes of peace is the Franco-Belgian agreement to admit the full might of Great Britain to par- tiolpate in any preliminary negotia- tions with Germany. This_decision ~(Continued on Page 4, Column 1) | | Friemersheim, 40 TROOPS REPORTED DEAD| IN WRECK OF RUHR TRAIN Many Said to Be In Duisberg—French jured in Crash Near Kill Two Germans. Woman Accidentally Slain. By the Assoclated Pross. BERLIN, March 17.—A report from a Rhine town near says that forty soldiers were killed and many injured when French troop train collided with a freizht. The impact w that several coach were Duisburg, telesc, Sentinels Kill Two. By the Assoclated Press. SLDORF, March Giermans were shot and killed by French sentinels during the night- one at Recklinghausen and the other at Essen. Three Germans who were said by the 17.—Two were arrested rench to have Leen RUER ULTIATON ONLY FITION TALE Letter in Newspaper Never| Intended as a,State Document. DIPLOMATS HERE STIRRED Declare Note, if Ever Written, Would Never Have Been Revealed. By the Associated Press, LONDON, March was expressed today when it was learned that a letter purporting to have been written but not delivered by the British ‘thinister of foreign affairs to the French ambassador, at London, protesting against the Ruhr occupa- tion, kad been published in America as an actual state document. The so-called letter appeared in the Nation, a weekly London publication, and embodied its views of what Great Britain should say to France, fn the form of a fictitious letter from the RBritish government to the French na- tion. It was not intended to be taken as a bona fide letter and, in fact, no one here so regarded it. DIPLOMATS HERE STARTLED. 17.—Surprise Doubt Unsent “Ultimatum” Was Ever Framed. BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WIL] Washington diplomatic quarters, American and foreign, are aghast to- day over publication of an alleged proposed ultimatum by Great Britain to France over occupation of the Ruhr. Most authorities are inclined to consider the document a wholly un- authorized production by the London weekly, the Nation and Atheneum, which gives it currency. The control of that periodical—a recent combina- tion of two journals now comprising its name—passed a few weeks ago into the hands of John Maynard Keynes, the celebrated British econo- mist. The author of “The Economic Consequences of the Peace” has been inveterate foe of the treaty of Versailles. Attacks an Are Echoed. The arguments marshaled against the French in the British note said to have been prepared for delivery to France echo in detail many of Keynes' attacks on the reparations clauses of the Versailles pact. Keynes sup- planted H. W. Massingham, a famous liberal journalist, as editor of the Nation when that paper was amalga- mated with the Atheneum early in the year. Since that time the Nation- Atheneum's attacks on the position have been incessant and in- tense. Men in Washington acquainted with the inner workings of the Brit- ish foreign office and the impenetr: ble “tower of silence” which that hoary institution constitutes, when asked today about the projected Brit- ish ultimatum to France, said: “That sort of thing simply isn't'done.” They mean that, even if such a document | ever was drawn up, the possibility of its getting into unofficial hands for French | cutting telephone and tele- wires which, they declared, were doing under the orders of caught graph they to_commit’ systematic sabotage. Their chief, when arrested at Dues- seldorf, is declared by the authorities to have said he was merely carrying out instructipns from Berlin. Young Woman Slain. By the Assoclated Pross. MAYEN March 17.—A young German woman, shopping in an army canteen here, was accidentally killed today by bullet in the breast from the revolver of a soldier. The sol- |dier, it is stated, was toying with the | weapon when it was accidentally dis- 'charged DUBLIN ON EDEE, FEARING BIG CLASH Interest Centers Around Prize Fight Rebels Banned and Free State Backs. TROOPS ARMED TO TEETH Drawn Revolvers and Bayonets Await Any Opposition—News Sources Censored. By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 17.—The reason for the ri lin yesterday preventing the use of telegraph lines and telephones except for brief messages approved by the authorities is not known here. London morning newspapers have scarcely any direct news from Dublin. Even the sporting columng contain no © specials on this cvening's Siki- McTigue fight, except what reached Belfast through travelers. The Daily Sketch, aside from a story from its “Dublin ' correspondent de- scribing the extraordinary conditions er which the hout will take place, prints a short telegram under a_Dublin date line which asserts that the city is on tenterhooks wondering what to. day will bring forth. Thenter In Guarded. The government, this dispatch says, is providing armed guards for the Scala Theater—the scene of the fghe —and every other place of amusement in order to make sure that the repub- lican proclamation against the opening of such houses shall not be made ef- fective. Telegrams from BDelfas o - rivals from Dubiin as saving that the Situation is unusually tense. The treets were crowded yvesterday with troops, who, revolvers in hand, kept n incessant vigil, stopping and ex- mining pedestrians. There were n disturbances. The Belfast correspondent of the Morning Post says that the situation is crystalizing in a remarkable way round the big bout. The republi- cans declare that it must not take place, threatening the boxers with death’ if they appear In the ring. The government on the other hand has accepted the defiant challenge of the republicans and is determined to allow the fight, as well as other en- tertainments to take place. The public is represented as being at a loss to know what to do. People are natur- ally not inclined to be caught in a ble conflict between the rival S, but nevertheless all the seats {have been sold and it is probable that Inost of the ticket holders will haraly desire to lose both their money a sight of the boxers. RIS Other reports from Belfast along a similar line the fight is heldl—and the promoters |are determinea that it nha!lphpmhel‘(;: the ring will be surrounded by troops armed with bayonets and revolvers It is impossible to say r these reports are sensation. ored. 1 are . declaring that if ally col- It is expected that the censor- 1 Ship will be raised today, and that 2;1(:::;;0"?:“?@ from Dublin “will be HOLIDAY IN IRELAND. By the Associated Press. DUBLIN, March 17.—St. Patrick's day is a legal public holiday in Ire- land ‘and all work ceases. Even trs post office suspends deliveries. The churches are crowded until noon, and both Catholic and Protestant congre- gations hear sermons preached in the Irish language. This is flag day for the Gaelic League. It also inaugurates a gen- eral “Irish week,” in which the shops (Continued on Page 4, Column 4.) ¥ Say. Cession by By the Assoclated Press. PARIS, March 17.—The United States desires to obtain cession of the Antilles from France in payment of the French war debt, according to Adolfo Agorio, the Uruguayan writer, in an afticle printed in the Biandist newspaper L'Eclair. Supporting his contention, Agorio quotes the follow- ing remarks which he says Secretary Hughes recently made to a South American diplomat, who is a friend of the writer: “The Monroe doctrine is the funda- mental basis as well as the unique strength of pan-Americanism and it will not have attained its essential object as long as there remain Euro pean colonies in America. “The hour we are hoping fos, how- ever, will soon strike. We have post- poned our differences with Great Britain. As to France she owes us too many billions for us to be able to cancel her debt, for we are re- sponsible to the people of the United States. But in a few years the sum France owes. will with’ interest, have grown to such fantastic proportions that no country in the world could possibly pay it.” (Continued on Page 4, Cofumn 7. Hughes Urged Antilles France for Debt “Will the question of the French Antilles be The diplomat asked Mr. Hughes, ac- cording to Agorio. The article says the American Secretary thought for a few minutes and then continued: Certainly; and we hope the French will become reasonable and will not refuse to discuss this question with us. From the viewpoint of our mili- tary and naval defenses these islands are of vital importance to us, while they bring in nothing or practically nothing to the French.’ I hope, and with me the entire public opinion of the United States hopes that the French government will end this by an understanding.” HUGHES DENIES STATEMENT. the sale of considered?” By the Associated Press. Statements published in Paris and accredited to Secretary Hughes, to the effect that the United States de- sired to obtain the Antilles from France in payment of the French war debt, were received with amusement today by Mr. Hughes, who said he never made any such suggestion. T TODAY’S GAME AT TAMPA. Washington, 4; Boston, 2. End of first inning.’ Batteries—Hulihan and Gowdy; Hankins and Hargrave. < their chief, who had instructed them d censorship imposed in Dub- | The | whether | SHERRILL FEARS BLOW N LAGK OF FUNDS FOR SPORT Curtailment of Outdoor Games May Follow Con- gress’ Inaction. PLAN OF CONCESSIONS IS BEING CONSIDERED Report on Last Year's Activities Show Bathing Beach Most Popular. Outdoor sports and amusments in the District of Columbla are very like- Iy to suffer this coming summer for lack of funds on the-part of the fed- eral government. Because of the failure by Congress to respond to the urgent appeals of Col. Clarence O. Sherrill, officer in charge of public buildings and grounds, under whose supervision comes the various sport flelds and outdoor amusement and recreation poin there is grave danger of a curtailment in some of these activi- ties. Inasmuch as outdoor sports amusements have within the decade grown so in popularity the residents of the capital, Col Sherrill is fearful that instead of being able to afford increased facili ties to meet the public demand he may be forced this summer to discontinue | some already in us Besides conducting band concerts, tourist camp, pienic grounds. sand piles for children, an athitic field and the sylvan open-air theater, facllities were afforded during the past year for more than a score of different forms of athletic sports and amus | ments and last with a Enjoyed by Over Million. Vastly more than a million persons, | voung and old, either participated in lor were spectators these activities during the year. (ol. Sherrill was i given only $15.000 by Congress with which to furnish needed equipment, n and otherwise Improve these s forms of sports and amuse- ment. He has nothing with wich to make additions and extensions, Since July 1 last, when this sum became | available, $13.529.93 has been spent, | | thereby leaving something less than $1.500 to cover all expenses between now and June 30 next, when another| $15,000 will become available. Col. Sherrill made a number of trips to the Capitol during the winter to get a deficiency appropriation, but despite his ardor and his arguments he met vith no success. Also he attempted to convince Congress to increase the |annual amount for the next year to 25,000, but without avail. | | | | Not Discouraged. Although greatly disappointed, Col Sherrill is by no means discouraged. He is detcrmincd that the trend on the part of the public of this city toward ioutdoor exercise and amusements | shall not receive any noticeable set- I back “When you finally get a com- |munity ‘taking to the open hould U encouraged,” Col, aid today while d ing his plans for outdoor this coming summer. To meet the shortage of funds, Col. herrill s formed several plans vhich h believes will meet the situ- ‘l!i"n. at least to a large extent. He can use some of the funds given him | for the development and upkeep of ! the various parks and government | | reservations about the city to help | | out with the sports and reereation | | activities. Also he is contemplating | Rranting a concession for the opera- tion of the tennis courts, as he has done in the cases of the public golf | courses and the bathing beach. This ! would relieve his office of all expense in connection with improving and maintaining the forty-seven tennis courts now constructed ifl the varjous ! federal parks and grounds. Howe s by adopting this plan the public will be required to pay a nominal sum— probably 5 cents an hour—to play on | these courts. Popularity of Tennis. Like golf, popularity | in | leaps | few | tennis has grown in Washington by and_bounds within the past years. A decade ago there were | scarcely a dozen public courts. With | each succeeding year more courts| were added at a cost of approximately | $600 each, to meet the growing de- | mand. Last year 232452 persons plaved on these forty-seven tennis courts and it is known that many thousands were prevented from play- ing because of a lack of facilities. These figures were furnished by a report placed In Col. Sherrill's hands yesterday by Albert Burton, director of outdoor sports and amusements. There are many in Washington who fail to realize the extent of the outdoor activities and their varied nature. For instance, grounds and facilities have been furnished for bathing, golf, tennis, croquet, archery, foot ball, basket ball, base ball, vol- ley ball, speed ball, soccer, roque,! medicine and push ball, quoits, polo, lacrosse, cricket, huriing, hockey, bowling, horse hurdles and jumps, skating, fishing and boating. Beach Greatest Attraction. This report shows that the bathing beach was the great attraction. Dur- ing the past season 294,200 persons used the beach and there were 235,000 spectators. Base ball was next fn popularity, with 66,590 par- ticipants and 386,600 spectators; then tennis, already enumerated; golf was indulged in by 155,471; polo, 764 play- ers and 26,000 spectators; quoits, 2,120 players; medicine and push ball, 566; soccer, 2,100 players and 45,000 spectators; speed ball, 264 players and 2,900 spectators; volley ball, 1,914 players and 2,500 spectators: skating, 2,900; archery, 112 players and 760 spectators; bowling green, 26 players and 270 spectators; bas- tators; cricket, 1,154 players and 17,000 spectators; croquet, 4,178 play- ers; foot ball, 16,500 players and 69,- 750 spectators; flield hockey, 1,760 players and 8,000 spectators; hurling ! field, 154 players and 4,000 spectators: horse hurdles and bridle paths, 7,140; lacrosse, 1,370 players and 12,000 spectators, and roque, 22 players. The tourist camp was patronized by 20,294 persons, with 6,987 automobiles; 223,000 children played in the seven sandpiles distributed about the city parks; 6,000 attended the twelve per- formawces at the Sylvan Theater, 18, 200 used the picnic groves, 2,187 in- dulged in boating on the Tidai Basin. 114,500 persons attended the ninety- seven band concerts, and 4.760 took part in games and contests on the athletic field in the Monument grounds, Efficiency Tests Suspended | nece; ! the | fiscal year are available, and those | special clerks, ket ball, 128 players and 450 spec-T P. 0. EXAMINATIONS HELD UP BY NEW Until July 1 Here and Over U. S. for Economy. THEN TO BE MODIFIED Effect Upon Promotions Not Cer- tain, Though Change Pleases Employes. P master General New today dis- continued case examinations for post | office clerks throughout the nation until July 1, as part of the economy program of the postal service made ary as a resuit of a deficiency funds. Mr. New announced that the tests are suspended, both at the Wash- ington city post office and every other post office in the ceuntry, in recogni- tion of the great efforts postal em- ployes are making to handle the in- creased postal business, following on heels of business prosperity. He also stated that when the exam- inations are resumed after July 1, they will be modified and made less exacting. The examinations are the tests clerks take regularly to deter- mine their efficiency in sorting letters, both for city distribution and for all points. Promotion Effect Uncertain. | What effect the abolition of the case | “exams” will have on the matter of promotion of clerks to the higher| position of special clerks is vet to he seen. At the Washington city post ofee today It was a matter for con Jecture. All case examinations there are at a standstill, following the or- der of the Postmaster neral It wi thought that perhaps the “exams” might be given in the sum mer, when the appropriations for the in be given positions as retroactive to July 1. Cancellation of the examinations robably will be greeted with en- thu: m by thousands of postal em- ployes, however. who every year Lave looked forward with more or le dread to the rather exacting work which they must perform to pass them successfully. verywhere postal employes are working at top speed to transfer the huge mails being given to the postal system by mailers evervwhere, both private individuals and business firms. The increase of business, as| previously explained in The Star, is far beyond the fiscal estimates based on previous experience, and the 300,- 000 postal employes are bending every effort to keep the mails movnig promptly. Since the appropriations did not anticipate the boom, extra clerks on whom the burden could be dis- tributed are not available. This latest curtailment in the in- terest of economy follows an order to all postmasters issued last night by Postmaster General New, in which he urged the practice of 'the strictest economy commensurate with public convenience. Recently he ordered end- ing of “overtime” work and use of auxiliary help at post offices until after July 1. his is such an emergency as may occur In any great business enter- prise and it is temporary,” Mr. New declared. “On July 1 the appropria- tion for mext year becomes avallable and we will then be able to extend and perfect the service in many im- portant ways, and to discontinue this extraordinary campaign of economy. “It should be understood that this effort which must be made between now and June 30 is not a part’of any policy to save money at the expense of the service or the men. It is sim- Ply and solely an emergency in which we are caught by the unexpected growth of the business, which, by the Way, should be a cause for rejoicing, as it is an unmistakable sign of na- tional prosperity BISHOP BURKE DEAD. Oldest Catholic Official of Rank in United States Succumbs. who passed P By the Associated Press. ST. JOSEPH, Mo., March 17.—The Rt. Rev. Maurice F. Burke, Bishop of the St. Joseph diocese and the oldest Catholic bishop in the United States in point of service, dled at his home here early today. He was seventy- six years old and had been in fall- ing health three years. The last five months the diockse has been administered by a coadjutor bishop, the Rt. Rev. Francis Gilfillan, formerly of St. Louis, who has the right of succession, | Edwards Trading Company, raided in TWO CENTS. MARCH 17, 1923. Russians Protest | Against Japanese Aid to ‘Whites’| By the Associated Press, MOS March 17.—The Rus- sian foreign office has sent a note to Japan protesting against aid which, it alleges, the Japanes giving the “Whites” in their * posed new descent upon the Island of Sakhalin.” In a Moscow dispatch of March 8 it was reported that Gen. Semen- off, former anti-bolshevik leader in Siberfa. was making an effort to stage a new counter revolution in the far east. Remnants of the “White Guard” or anti-bolshevik bands now in Korea, it was sald, had elected Semenoff their leader shortly after his arrival there, and it was reported Semenoff was plan- ning to make his way to northern Sakhalin, which is Russian ter- ritory, the southern half of the island belonging to Japan. HUGE DRUG SUPPLY AT PERRYVILLE, MD. on be bu to pro More Than $2,000,000 Worth in Probe. Discovery by Dr. B. R narcotic division chief from more, of between $2,000,000 and; $3,000,000 worth of narcotic drugs at Perryville, Md., was the latest de- velopment today in the investigation into the source of supplies for the Rhees, it Washington last week. Veterans' Bureau officials today said the Perryville station was one of the depots for the Veterans' Bureau and always keeps a supply of mnarcotic drugs in a concrete vault for the use of the base hospital treating veterans of the world war. No narcotic drugs were allowed to; ave the Perryville station, officials explained, without having been ob- tained on an authorized government permit. The strictest regulations, it was said, had been thrown around the supply, and exact records were kept of all dealings. Dr. Rhees, following his discovery of the narcotic drugs, deciared that such a huge supply did not necessarily indicate any irregularities. He ex- pressed some surprise, however, that such a large supply was found on hand. Inspection of all Veterans' Bureau, Army and public health service depots in the vicinity of Washington is be- Ing carried on by Dr. Rhees in con- nection with the Edwards Trading ‘Company case. A hearing is set for March 20, before United States Com- missioner George H. Macdonald. Inspections have been_completed, Dr. Rhees said, at Camp Holabird, Fort Howard, Camp Meade and Fort Me- Henry hospitals. Inspections were al. so made at the Aberdeen proving grounds and there vet remain the hospital and supplies at Edgewood arsenal, where it was understood the investigators might be working to- day. Dr. Rhees is expected to come to Washington shortly to report to Col. L. G. Nutt, chief of the narcotic di- vision. Col. Nutt today indicated there were no new developments in the case. He said Dr. Rhees was in full charge of the investigation. fro or Co re: By tor Keller, following notice appeared on the police | cupation on the Rhine. was duces the opposite There of existing permit additiona building of the new tion’s capital more attractive, BANDITS HOLD UP TRAIN; SHERIFFS RUSH TO SCENE Report Flashed That Gang of Out- HEDGE AND COL. KELLER BANS FENCE |Issues Order Prohibiting In- stallations on Front Lawns Hereafter. ity Makes Elimin Preferable. bound rule lawns by the front issued it became known of re: lletin ; “The Engineer Commissi the contrary." Col. Keller is out of the learned at the ove the Capital Lack of Uniformity One official said that a front terraces A well kept hedge, h it is allowed to grow effect. Attention ca also was Officials of the of terraces, uniform tr ont it is bet avenue Seek to Improve App no intention city authoritles hedges or fenci clerk will ones, unless smmissioner's order sho scinded. It was emphasized at today that the rule the prohibiting erection of any more hedges or fences District Narcotic Division Chief Finds | that the purpose of the order is to im- | appearance of the National has Balti- | the attractiveness of many streets. not authorize the FINDS THEM UNSIGHTLY ation the sidences has Engineer Commissioner today. The ioner directs that no permits for hedges or parking fences be granted until further notice cfty, but it building Blamed. lack of uni- formity in the kind of fences placed | around marred e said, im- proves the appearance of a street, but, wild it pro- lled to the practice of some property owners in|of peing erecting crude wooden or wire fences next to a well trimmed hedge. engineer depart- ment apparently believe that iu the 49 absence eatment of ter to have no inclosures than to have fifty-s varieties of fence on the same street earance. on the part | to es, disturb but the any Engineer uld later be the District sole object is to make the na- | laws Is Shooting Up Washington. the Associated Press. day when he received TACOMA, Wash., March 17.—Sherif [nd i Tom Desmond rushed bile loads of deputy sheriffs to South | Prairle, twenty-six miles from here, two automo- information that a train had been robbed there A message from the Northern cific operator at Buckley said a ban- dit gang was shooting up tion of the county. Pa- that sec- Three Big A special page in Part Order your copy from Features Of Tomorrow’s Star Three for children The Boys’ and Girls’ Own Page Pictures of interest to base ball fans The Washington Team in Training Camp In Tomorrow’s Star néwsdealer today A full page of pictures in Rotogravure Section of Treasures From King Tutankhamen’s Tomb | PAYMENT IN SHIPS OF U. 5. CLAIN HIT INREPLY TO ALLIES Message Declines Sugges- tion That Seized Vessels Be Deducted From Rhine Bill. PRESIDENT APPROVES ANSWER OF HUGHES Note Does Not Constitute Flat Re. jection of Allied Plan, But Points Out Allied Precedent. By the Associated Press The American reply to the suggestions for repayment 250,000.000 spent by the United States maintaining its troops on the Rhine was forwarded today to Paris, It was understood to decline the suggestion that the value of seized | Germany ships be deducted from the | troop bill, but not |fat rejection of the allied of the in to constitute a allied plans. The reply was cabled by the Stats Department to Eliot Wadsworth for presentation to the allied commission there at its next meeting. President Harding, on a vacation trip in Florida, had telegraphed hi approval of the note as drafted by Secretary Hughes, No announcement | nature of the reply was made hers but it indicated that it answered some of the suggestions contained in the allied plan forwarded here by Mr. Wadsworth in a friendly way, and in terms which Gld not constitute g flat rejection of the allied proposal as it was received from Paris . Regarding the suggession that the United States deduct from its claim amount equal to the value of the German ships seized during the war, | official spokesmen have pointed ouf | that the allied governments did not |make a similar deduction in their | army costs, but applied German ships to their ‘reparations accounts, in which the Washington government has no share. PRESIDENT BACKS STAND. regarding the Officials Declare Lack of Uniform-|Believes U. S. Should Have Pay- ment in Full for Rhine Army. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. MIAMI BEACH, Fla, March 17.— President Harding lost little time ap- proving Secretary of State Hughe recommendations as to the reply of the United States government to the Pproposals of the allies concerning the payment for the American army of oc- The Secretary communicated ali the facts to Mr. Harding here—if was the first officlal act of impor. tance on the vacation trip—and brief. 1y outlined the course that he thought should be taken. Already the reply has been dispatched tq Paris along the lines of Mr. Hughes recommendation, which was that thy allied proposal be rejected Contract's Terms Explicit. There is little doubt that the pro- cedure of the allies in this matter has not helped their efforts to se. cure closer co-operation of Americy in the affairs of Europe. The im pression the allied representatives have made has been far from pleas ing, because the American goverm ment has felt that if ever a clain was _ written down In black ang chgncy | has | | | | white, without the slightest misunderstood, the contrac one providing' for paymen expenses of American troon ine. This was to have heeg payment above reparationg r_any other receipts. fromi German What American officials particulars @0 not like is that the ailles, aftet ting mon from Germany fo3 the expenses of Rhine armies, hav falled to give America her share o | their own initiative, but have sug, | gested that the claim be listed and [ paid later, and that also a portion ol the claim be reduced by crediting tq the same account the selling price of all th rn n ships seized by Amer. ica ¢ the war. was the of the on the a prior fiy uring Ship While some Value Is Cut. reports have indicateq that this latter item would amount only to about fifteen or sixteen mils lion dollars, and would, therefor !a small part of the total of two hun- {dred and fifty millions owed America | for the Rhine | army thers |is a suspicion that allies really to multiply the number of ships seized by America by . sale price per ton during t war, which would have brought t total up to a considerable sum. The sale pr then was about $200 per | ton. as compared with $55 per tou o0 expenses, a the | wante German v did the American govern. sider this method ilation, because 1t meant th {appointment of an appraisal boars erminable negotiations. but if suded the real issue, namely, thy payment of the expenses of the Ithing Army out of the funds received from general reparations. The States made no claim for | reparations, and does not like the idea of crediting to reparations ac. count something for which payment is_expressly provided for under a other section altogether of the treatles and armistice agreements. | beclc Relies Upon Hughes. There is an importance to this dis pute, however, which in the eyes of the United States government trans- cends the amount of dollars and cents |involved. Two hundred and fifty mil- lion dollars is a relatively small sum, compared with the amounts which the allles have been trying to collect from Germany, yet it is the principle underlying the controversy which may have far-reaching effects on the future of American policy. All the powers have stated in a formal notice that they recognized the equity of the American claim. But they never made provision for payment, “although they always kep’ on insisting that the American Army continue to stay on the Rhine. It is true that the sums received by the allies have been disbursed already, but that why the American govern- ment feels even more vehemently be- e its interests have been ignoreo by the allies. The President is not worrying about the handling of the controversy as hg has full faith in the Secretary of State, but the latter has felt the mat. ter was of sufficient importance ta advise the chief executive and get his formal approval to every step taken (Copyright, 1923.)