Evening Star Newspaper, July 15, 1923, Page 2

FORD BACKERS OUT - TOWIN PRIMARIES ‘Main Drive for Presidential Nomination to Be in Demo- cratic Contests. BY ROBERT T. SMALL. Information received here last week leaves no further doubt that the name of Henry Ford will be presented as a democratic aspirant for the nomina- tien at all of the presidential pref- erence primaries held next spring. Following the methods employed in the Michigan senatorial rimaries, when he ran against Sen¥tor New- berry, Mr. Ford's name may also be | presented on the republican ticket at some of the presidential primarles, but it is évident ‘thwt moet of his ardent backers fcel that his best chance for one of the old party nomi- nations les in the democratic fold. Spur Rival Cnndidaten. Acting, therefore, on the old political maxim that you can't beat somebody with nobody, democratic leaders overywhere are urging the obvious contestants for the presidential nomi- nation to take the field against Ford. They frankly fear the delay In check- | ing what is undeniably a drift toward the Detroit manufacturer in demo- cratic territory. They want counter- frritants at work. If it be true, they #ay, that Ford sentiment is sweeping the west like a prairie fire, rule of political safety w<alls for the traditional setting of a back fire. Consequently in New York last weck there was a meeting of the backers of Willlam Gibbs Moadoo and the foundations of a nation-wide organization were laid. Here in Washington the backers ot Senator Oscar W. Underwood of Alabama are perfecting the pre- liminarfes of their organization and are awaiting only the psychological moment when . the senator will give the word to” "g6.” Smith Admirers Active. In New York also the Tammany | backers of Gov. Al agree he has no chance for the nomination. despite the fact that the ravaging old political cry of “rum, romanism and rebelllon” has been hurled at the governor by some of the reform organizations who resent - his approyal of the repeal of the state dry law. Among the other democratic presi- dontial possibilities it Is very evi- dent that former Gov. Cox of Ohio is unwilling at this time that an or- ganization should take the fleld in his behalf. Gov. Cox feels that his rocord is clear and if the party de- sires him again as a standard bear- or, this is one of the times when a brave man can wait to be drafted Tather than to volunteer. So far there has been no evidence of an organization being formed in behalf of Senator Ralston of In- dians, althéugh he is admittedly in the first rank of the possibilities. Hunt for Delegates On. There are two schools of thought in the democratic ranks. One of these holds that presidentlal.delegates do not' grow on trees, waiting to be plucked by any aspirant that comes along. Delegates must be cultivated, say the members of this school, and the cultivation cannot take place without organization and certain legitimate campaign funds. The cost of gathering a crop of delegates has grown prodigiously since the state- wide primaries were established in so many parts of the country. The necessity for early and wide oraganization in behalf of an aspirant for the presidential nomination is further stressed by those who say that the preference primaries will be- come a farce if not participated in by virtually all the various -aspirants. They still recognize the courtesy of one candidate not going into the state of a “favorite son” bis home delegation with him, but otherwise they believe there should be the widest possible participation in the primaries. 3 Discount Primary Results. The second and older school of thought believes that the preference primaries can never send a man to a democratic convention with the two-thirds vote necessary for the nomination. Therefore it is held that the nomination always will be thrown on the floor of the conven- tion, and thus far history has shown that the man with the greatest num- ber of preference delegates does not ®et the nomination. The reason for this is that he has had too much of a fight on his hands gathering in the delegates and has| created innumerable animositles. ‘These all tell against him when the time for compromise and agreement is reached in the convention. This is what history shows, but Henry Ford says “all history is bunk,” and there you are. $600,000 TO BUY HOME OF JEFFERSON Purchase of Monticello by; Memo- rial Foundation Has Been Arranged. NEW YORK, July 14—The pur- chi of Monticello” by the Thoma: Jefterson Memorial Foundation has been arranged with the present owner, Jefferson M. Levy. The estate, consisting of a mansion, 648 acres and mumerous historical relics, ‘will change hands-for $500,000. A national campaign to raise $1,- 000,000 to complete the deal and tablish a fund to maintain the % ate has been started by the founda~ on. —_— GERMANS SPITE TRICOLOR. Five Arrested Trying to Lasso Con- : sul’s Flagstaff. By the Associated Press. ~ LEIPSIC, July 14—Five Germans who sald they could not tolerate see- ing the French tricolor wave here on Bastille day were caught by the po- lice in the act of lassoing the flagstaft on the French consulate early this morning with the intention of yank- ing it down before the flag could be holsted. . Al five were arrested. One of them was a retired Lelpsic police captain naul'h- others also were local resi- jen! every | Smith will not | to contest ! | Pre: { sentiment |Only Half Crop Of Early Melons Seen This Year Only slightly more than half as many early watermelong are in pros- pect this year as compared with last year. The Department of Agricul- ture's July forecast of production places the number at 29,853,600, while last year it was 56,672,800. Georgia's crop Is forecast at §,333,- 209, while last year it w. 20,680,500, and Florida's at 4,328,800, compared with 14,470,400 Texas displaces Florida th second largest producer with 50,000. South Caro- lina will have 4,313,000, LOCAL AMBULANGE VETERANS CHOSEN Two From This City Elected to Office at Reunion of Association. Two Washington men were elected to office in the United States Army Ambulance Service Assoclation at the closing session of the fourth annual reunion of the organization yester- day. Col. Percy L. Jones, commander of the American Expeditionary Force ambulance service and a member of the Washington Usaac Club, was chosen unanimously to head the am- bulance association. Col. Jones is stationed at Atlanta, Ga. Harold De Witt Jeffrey, president of thesWashington Club, was chosen one of the four vice presidents of the !national organization. Other vice presidents elected are Harvey L. Hansen of Oakland, Calif.; Edwin K. Biggard of Pleasantville, N. J, and Edward C. Kemp of Boston, Mass. Edward Winters of Philadel- phla was elected treasurer and Wil- bur R. Hunter, secretary, was re- elected, as was the editor of the Usaac Bulletin, Gleen W. Clark of Philadelphia. Lauded by Gen. Irelsnd. Surgeon Gen, Merritt W. Ireland, ! nonorary president of the association, spoke to the veterans at yesterday morning’s sesslon. declaring that the {deeds of the ambulance service had {brought great credit to the United States Army medical department, He explained how Americans with pri- vate automobiles helped carry the wounded off the battle field at the first battle of the Marne. Greetings from Prosident Harding were conveyed to the ambulance drivers in the reading of a letter re- cefved from him while at Yellowstone | National Park. In his message the fdent stated that the gallant de of ambulance drivers in the exemplificd the humanitarian of Americans. Gen. Per- | ehing also sent letter extending ! greetings” to the veterans in which ho expressed regrets at not being lvrosent. i Will Meet at Cleyeland. Cleveland, Ohio, was declded upon as the place for thc 1024 reunion after lengthy discussion. Many of {the delcgates favored a return to Allentown, where the ambulance units trained, for next vear's con- vention, but as two reunions had al- ready been held there, Cleveland was finally accepted by & unanimous vote. The convention passed a /resolu- tion expressing gratitude and thanks to the Washington club for its un- tiring efforts in making preparations for the annual get-together occasion. President Jeffrey and members of the committe in charge of arrangements {received ovations as the convention i adjourned. | " The get-together lawn party, which ‘was to have been held last nikht at the home of Maj. J. Rvan Devereux, was canceled on account of iliness in !his family. DECIDE IN 10 DAYS de war . ONHIGH PRESSURE Commissioners Cited to $900,000 Jump in Fire Loss as Proof Mains Needed. The Commissioners will decide | within ten days whether to ask the budget bureau this year for an In- itial appropriation to begin installa- tion of the long-awaited system of high-pressure fire hydrants. Although officials of the engineer dopartment are said to have recom- mended the project for inclusion in the new estimates, tie Commission- ers themselves have not yet reached that part of the budget and prob- ably will not until near the end of the month. Meanwhile the trade organizations of the city will' exert every effort to convince the Commissioners of the necessity for this weapon against fire. Fire Loss Best Argument. Civio leaders who are_working for high pressure belleve Washington's fire loss for the past twelve months is the best possible argument for immediate action on high pressure. During that period the city's fire loss .increased by $900,000, a large part of which involved property of the federal government. The Star prints herewith a_ map showing the area that probably would be covered by these powerful mains when installed. The circle at the bottom indicates the location for the pumping station at the foot of 12th street. Water would be drawn directly from the river into this pumping station and forced through specially constructed mains at from 200 to 300 pounds of Ppressure. Route of Water Main, The trunk main from the pump- house would go north through the Mall to B street, thence west to 15th street and east as far as 7Tth_street, It would run north on 7th to I street and west to 18th, thus making a square that would take in all of the business section and nearly all of the government office buildings. It also is planned to extend the high-pressure mains east on Penn- sylvania_avenue from 7th street to FPeace Monument, thence north on st street to E street and wi lnw?tlhhutreel. HiEAealy th the system installed pumpi fire engines now used in lhplt :r:i could be transferred to residegtial neighborhoods. because the firemen would get enough pressure direct from the hydrants to reach the tops of all downtown buildings. WHEAT BELOW DOLLAR. Slumps Lowest Since 1914 on Chi- cago Board. CHICAGO, July 14—Wheéat, which a few days ago dropped below $1 for the first time since 1914, dropped to a still lowér record on the Chicago Board of Trade today when Jul, ‘wheat slumped to 98%, closing at !?x’: September futures dropped to a new low since 1915, selling at 98%, and closing at 981. December deliveries dropped to 1.01%, and closed at 1,013 = RORAE R Or THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, n F. Metealf, ¢ members o FILE TAX RETURNS INRECORD TIME D. C. Citizens Have Until August 1, But 20,000 Are Recorded. Washingtonians are filinz their personal tax returns for this fiscal year moro promptly than ever be- fore, Assessor Willlam P. Richards | declarel last night. 1 Since July 1 more thafi 20,000 men and women have filed the required statements of their taxable belong- ings. Mr. Richards estimates that he will have 60,000 declarations before | August 1. : You do not have to pay the tax until November, but you must file | your rcturn this month. A staff of assistant assessors is on duty throughout the day on the firot floor of the District building to ussist tax- payers in filling out the blank form. The assessors have discovered in the past few days that many persons are in doubt as to local stocks that are taxable as®intangible property. | Mr. Richards advice to such persons | is to make sure by inquiring at the | District bullding as to whether the stocks they hold are in the taxable class. NEW SWEDISH LAW { BLOW TO RUM RUNNERS By the Associated Press. STOCKHOLM, July 14.—A severe blow has been dealt the rum‘running fraternity of 8weden through the adop- tlon by the riksdag of two bills which aim to curtail the activity of smuggling. One bill calls for the establishing of | Quiet Washington, esident of the United States Army Amb e organization, 500 in number, stood i JULY 15, Association, placing a wreath upon the srave. Rain Today Means Rain 40 More Days, St. Swithin Legend Says Today is St. Swithin'y day. If it rains for forty days and forty nights the heavens will weep— maybe. And the weather bureau says it may rain along about nightfall Prior to that it will be cloudy, The story behind the supersti- tion dates back to the eighth century. An old English bishop made & dylng request that he be buried on the outside of his church, where the pattering rain- drops could fall on his grave. The request was granted A century later a party of Eng- lish clergy decided that sufficient time had elapsed for the rain to fulfill its mission and started to remove the remains to a more fit- ting resting place. But a storm broke with such fury that the task was abandoned in fear. Following the thunderstorm that day—the 15th of July—ac- cording to tradititon, it rained for forty days and nights, from all of which sprung the present day superstition From 1340 to 1561, however, a test of this rainy day supersti- tion of the old patron Bt. Swithin was made at the Greenwich ob- servatory, and the records for twenty years failed to hold up July and August as rainy months it July 15 had been inclement. POLICE THRILL AT RAG ‘BODY’ IN SENATOR HARRISON’S HOME Throttle wide open, siren shrieking, sending traffic to the curbs, the big headquarters automobile, with Chauf- feur Hugh Robey at the wheel, sped through the streets of Northwest Wash- ington last night to the home of Sen- ator Pat Harrison of Missippi, at 2007 Belmont foad, bringing detectives to the scene of a reported murder. The tenth precinct, already on the job, had Lieut. Walsh and a detall of men at the scene. Nowspeper men woke up from dozes In the headquarters pressroom, symmoned taxicabs or office ma- chines, swore to chauffeurs that they would pay any fines incurred and were whizzed to the “big murder story.” most of it al- SISTERS IN LEGAL FIGHT a spectal police force againat tauor| FOR CUSTODY OF CHILD smuggling in the city and archipel- ago of Stockholm, and the other in- volves increased severity of punish- ment. for violation of the liguor im- port la The. creation of a special pstrol for Stockholm and the appropriation of about §35,000 thereto was passed only | after considerable debate. The amendment to the smuggling law | provides a maximum penalty of one | years imprisonment at hard labor for offenders found guilty of ex- tensive smuggling of unlawful im- port for commercial gain. In cer- taln cases also the master of a ship upon which smuggling has been at- tempted can be held legally respon- sible. These restrictive measures by the Riksdag have been necessitated be- cause of the persistent smuggling which has been carried on across the seacoast of Sweden. Large quantities have been brought in illegally, the principal purveyors being, Esthonia and Germany. Although Sweden is not a prohibition country, the illegal distribution of liquor has become profitable because, under the “Bratt system” of liquor rationing, Swedish sybjects are not legally entitled to more than a prescribed quantity of alcoholic beverages a month. By the Associated Prese. LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 14.—The trial will be resumed Monday in the Los Angeles superfor court of action fn which Mrs. Lois Pollan, wife of Capt. Clinton Pollan, U. S. A., of Savannah, Ga. is_seeking to obtain custody of June Shosted, five years old. The child is now in the posses- sion of Mrs. Pollan's sister, Mrs. Elsie Shosted, wife of a street car motor- man. Mrs. Pollan, according to both parties to the suit, is the mother of the child. She asserts that the father was Frank Helton, a soldier she met just before he went to France during ‘the world war, and who was. re- ported among the missing. Mrs. Shosted contends that her first husband, Earl Shanholtzer, wus the father. and that legal custody of the chill was glven to her by her sister. Pollen said she “loaned” the child to Mrs. Shosted. She sald she told Capt. Pollan of the baby when he married her and that he told her to casualties as an | | | re | was didn't know wkat it ves Thompeon and Mansfleld discovered the body. It was lying on a bed. A red rag about the head. Stains on the floor. Tensity. Quick breathing. Nerve straining. Mystery. Bafement. Then it was discovered that the “body” itself wag made of rags. One adventurous soul, more daring than all the rest, had dared to touch it, and found that there was nothing more than rags there. Policeman Kew of the tenth pre- cinct during the past few nights had noticed a light in the servants’ quar- ters. When he peered through the window last night the rags on the bed looked like a body. He phoned his precinct for advice. The result was the murder mystery of Belmont road, solved In record time. WOODSMAN’S BODY FOUND AS FOREST FIRE SPREADS One Dead, One Injured; Toll Mounts as Land Is Ravaged. By the Associated Press PLYMOUTH, N. H, July 14—The body of an unidentified woodsman was found In the woods northwest of here today, where forest fires are burning, and another woodsman was discovered unconscious from the heat. A party of twelve or fifteen fire- fighters, who entered the woods from the Beebe river district, has been en- tirely accounted for, according to re- ports here tonight, removing fears that two of the men had been caught by the flames and smoke. The fire, which has ravaged about On the witness stand M. | 6,000 acres of timber land, raged ail today in the slash, and tonight is working toward Sandwich. There is no prospect of extinguishing the blaze come to Californla and claim it, say-|until a heavy rain arrives, wardens ing he would accept it as his own. said. PROPOSED AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM (% S O G ] which the proposed high-pressure system would be installed. The pumping station at|dents may Sr__ 0z e the area are indieated, Smaller mains would run along each stroet, Must be blood. | 1923—PART 1.’ the tomb at Arlington national ceme- PAPAL AIDS AGTIVE Holy See, Supporting 158,000 in Five Regions, Now Turns to Reconstruction. BY EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER. (By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News. Copyright ) Rome, July 14—Prof. Walsh, director of the Vatican aid mission in Russia, has given the writer the particulars of the work of that very effective organization. “The latest statistics which were presented to the Pope on my return to Rome,” sald Prof. Walsh, “show the extent of the splendid charity The Holy 8ee now supports 159, in Russia. The papal relief station have served in five widely separated regions—Moscow, the Crimea, Rostov, |on, the Don, and in Kuban." |, “How was it possible to provide |f00d on such a vast scale?” was asked. | "It was made possible by a world- wide movement in Catholic charity, {particularly among the Catholics in | the United State; was the reply. “American Catholics, although they had given liberally to the American relief administration funds, dupli- cated their gifts at the request of the pope. New Harvest Abundant. “The great famine is now over.” continued Prof. Walsh. “The new harvest promlses to be abundant and suficient for all Russia. Consequent- ly famine relief will no longer be needed and the Pope has decided to diminish the extent of the relief now being sent. The mission will be re- stricted 1o those phases of recon- struction and rehabilitation that will enable the Russians to devote their entire energy to the enormous task before them. “There should then be openings for foreign enterprise. Certainly to bankers, industrial leaders and economists one may commend the development of the vast natural resources in oil, minerals and other things that abound in Russia. But the development of these physical elements will be futile unless accom- panied by care for the human element. Hitherto the Russian people have been engaged in a struggle for the bare ne- cessities of living. The quest for the daily crust of bread has consumed the greater part of their time and energy. With the passing of this most traglc period of their history these people be- gin_now to turn their minds to the normal processes of national progress.” “How does the Vatican mission pro- pose to aid in the work of rehabilita- ton?" “As a factor in rehabilitation” re- plied Prof. Walsh, “the Pope has pro- jected certaln distributing stations for the free distribution of milk to infants and convalescent children. The hope and the future of Russia rest with the growing generation and to these helpless little ones the Pope's heart is open. “Further, to ald fn combatting the disease epidemics that abound in Rus- sla, the holy see has planned to estab- lish_clinics- and dispensaries for the tree distribution of medicine and for treatments to those who are too poor to pay doctors’ bills. “These preparations are going for- ward despite the recent traglc hap- penings in Moscow, where Catholic prelates were tried for their lives be- ore a revolutionary tribunal and one priest wae siain.” “What are the relations of the pon- sion to the soviet govern- Edmund No Religious Distinctions. “Qur mission in Russia concerns it- self only with the work of charity. was the reply. “It has no reason fo enter into political or religious ques- tions. The vast majority of Russians are orthodox, but our aid is given 101 any stinctions a - liglous belief. Fir iy “The interpretation of civil and religious freedom that now obtaine in Russia is not the same as the con- ception of those things that form the most precious heritage handed down to the American people from revolu- tionary times. It is becoming increas- ingly evident that Russia will never reach the degree of prosperity which the Pope desires for that great Slavic people, unless civil and religious lib- [erty are carefully guarded and guaranteed as In the United States. ‘“The American people have ex- pressed more than once their disap- pro of the soviet government's at- | titude in the domain of religious lib- lerty, and it 1s to be hoped that the far-seeing elements in the soviet ad- ministration will exert every effort to remove this obstacle to a closer ynderstanding between the two na- ons. ARRESTED ON CHARGE OF WATERING SIDEWALK —_— ) Resident of Sherman Avenue Ac- cused of Violating Police Rule Covering Summer Months. John Hardwick, colored, of - 2619 Sherman avenue was arrested yester- day afternoon by Policeman E. F. Ed- wards of No. 10 precinct, for violat- ing the police regulation’ which pro- hibits residents from expending wa- ter on the sidewalks and street. Hard- wick was watering the sidewalk in front of his home with a garden hose. This Is the first arrest since’ Maj. Dantel Sullivan, superintendent of lice, reiterated the necessity of en- orcinig police regulations, which pro- vide that the use of water for the streets, except by the street cleaning department, is prohibited during July, August and September, but that resi- inkle their lawns and ardens between the hours of § and o’clock, both morning and evening. IN RUSSIAN RELIEF TURKS DEMAND ALLIES DROP ECONOMIC CLAIMS Lausanne Delegates Try to Recon- cile Concession Aims—TU. 8. Agent for Open Door. By the Associated Press. LAUSANNE, July 14.—The delegates to the near east conference by pri- vate interviews are attempting to bridge the breach over condessions, for all are appalled by the possibil- ity of peace failing after a half year's negotiations. The Turks, however, are increasingly sensitive over any- thing tending to limit their economic future and so insist that the allles must abandon their claim for prefer- ence In future concessions. Joseph C. Grew, representative of the United States, is also busily ‘seek- ing to make the general treaty har- monize with the American conception of the open door and is trying to smooth away the difficulties with the Turks over the commercial features of the Turco-American treaty. STATISTICS REVEAL HOW TO LIVE LONG Marry Early, Stay Sober and Go to Church Among Chief Requirements. By the Associated Pres: CHICAGO, July 14.—One who de- sires to live 100 years should marry early, refrain from indoor dancing, should not be a college athlete and be neither rich nor poor, according to an address made here tonight by Albert M. Johnson, president of the National Life Insurance Company, before sev- eral hundred Boy Scou Mr, John- son said these maxims were reached by his company following statistical computation of results from a sur- vey on longevity under modern con- ditions, The long list of.don'ts” which Mr. Johnson satd the survey suggested in order to attain this age contained a few “do's,” chief among which was “religion in a true way.” Mild exer- cise daily and a “straight neck” in walking were others. 5 “Our statistics show, when compiled and averaged, that to reach five-score years one should marry early, be neither rich nor poor, should not be a professional or college athlete or an actor, should refrain from indoor dancing and never drink intoxicating liquors,” Mr. Joh n sald. “Hus- bands, we find, live longer than bachelors because of their more regu- lar habits. Stage people are handi- capped by long and hard hours. Heart strain is'too common in the athlete. “Persons earning between $2,000 and $6.000 a vear live longer. This probably is due to the fact that mod- erate incomes do not give a person enough for dissipation but are ade- quate for comfort and sensible 1iving. “Be religious in a true way. Re- ligious people are happler as a rule and going to church tends to make them regular in their habits. Do not drink liquor and do not smoke, if you must, until you are beyond twenty- one years of age. One of the most emphatic results of our survey was the evidence that the practices can- not be indulged in temperately by enough people to give you much of a chance to win. “Stretch your neck. Short-necked people are better subjects of apoplexy. Stretching your neck gives the blood vessels there less chance to clog. Take mild exercise daily, regularly, and not intermittently or savagely. SULTAN’S HEIRS FIGHT FOR $500,000,000 OIL American Lawyers May Soon Begin Legal Battle for Land. By the Associated Press. CONSTANTINOPLE, July 14.— American lawyers may soon begin a legal battle to establish the right of the heirs of the late Sultan Abdul Hamid to oil properties and real es- tate in the territories now detached from Turkey. estimated to be worth $500,000,000. The heirs of the former sultan include four princes and four princesses, and they are headed by Prince Mehmed Selim Effendi, pre- sumptive successor to the caliphate. The heirs are seeking satisfaction at Lausanne, and if this endeavor fails they will instruct their American at- torneys to begin legal proceedings. They say that the Lausanne confer- ence seems inclined to give a decislon which would class the properties in question as belonging to the Turkish crown. This they aver is wrong, de- claring that according to law the properties should pass in equal suc- cesslon to Abdul Hamid's sons and daughters, and that they will take every. means to secure justice. Although the former government of the Committee of Union and Prog- ress usurped certain of the rights of the heirs and did its best to in- validate succession, it is claimed that it failed in its object. A number of American concession- hunters have been after the heirs to grant them rights in the immense domains of the former sovereign of Turkey, and have competed with British’ promoters in their finaneial offers. 1f Lausanne decides in favor of the heirs, they will be able to farm out the properties without de- lay. Otherwise they will contest and make a legal figh ROB GEM SALESMAN OF $200,000 IN HOTEL By the Assoclated Prese. DETROIT, July 14.—Joseph Leudan, a jewelry Salesman for H. Mann & Co.,, 150 Broadway, New York, was held up at the door of his room at a local hotel tonight and robbed of jewels valued at $200,000. Two armed men met Leudan as he opened the door and one of them pointed a revolver at him and forced him back into the room. Leudan, according to his story to the police, then was thrown on the bed, bound and gagged, after which the men took a vest container in which, he says, were cut diamonds 1 worth’ $200,000. 'The robbers escaped, locking the salesman in the room. Leudan's cries were heard by the floor clerk a few minutes after the robbery. Tonight Leudan was uader a physiclan’s care, on the verge of collapse, and was unable to tell a con- nected story to detectives. FLATIRON MISSES GOAL, FRACTURES GIRL’S SKULL Police Hold John Whaley, Colored, After Negro Child, Aged 9, Is Seriously Hurt. Elizabeth Brooks, colored, nine years old, is in Casualty Hospital with a fractured skull as the re- sult of being hit with a flatiron thrown, according to the police by John Whaley, also colored, during a fight in 714 Balls court northwest, Jate last night. The missel was de- signed to hit some one else, but the little girl was the innocent victim. Her condition was said at the ho pital to be critical ‘Whaley was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. He was taken to No. 6 precinct i BRITAIN. BUILDING AIRSHIP CARRIERS Giant Rigid Craft Will Lef Loose Small Planes High in Sky On Foe. By the Associated Press. LONDON, July 14—Keels are now being laid in Great Britain for hug rigid alrships which will hover abov the clouds with a number of smal fighting machines on board ready t launch at a foe, says an aeronauticay expert in the London Daily Chronicls The task of these new machines it war, he says, will be to carry alof| to immense heights and to transport if necessary, thousands of miles squadrons of swift, deadly, steel-bufl: “attack-planes.” ' These will b launched from high above the clouds and will rush at 200 miles an hous and more earthward to harry othe aircraft and raid the commerce of the seas. “The airships will have the powen lacking in a small machine,” the writer say f long-distance flights at a great altitude, while, on the other hand, the small planes they carry will be able to outfly &nd out fight any machine laden for a long journey, Dive on Opponents. “In the case of specially organized attacks by these formidable air-borne fighters on planes carried at sea by mother ships, the tactics of the craft sent darting down from airships wil be to dive pell-mell on their surface. launched opponents and strike them deadly blows before they can gair the vantage pointjof altitude. “Height in air-warfare is the key to viotory, and these airship-carrier fighters will have the advantage of being in a position to choose their own moment for a SW0op upon enemy craft climbing from the earth. The _Chronicle’s contributor says that France, Italy and the United States all show a growing recogni- tion of the importance of mobile “aerial harbors” for swarms of fight- ing planes. The United States already has laid the keel of an alrship which will launch single-seater fighters and pick them up again while the mother- craft Is traveling at full speed. The first American “fiying aerodrome,” he adds, will be ready to take the alr this summer. It will carry as a nor- mal load twelve fighters of the latest type. First Plane Transport. Great Britain has completed the first seagoing vessel in the world de- signed specially for the transport of aircraft. She has a displacement ot 10,950 tons and carries seven 6-inch guns, four 4-inch, and a number of smalier guns. Besides torpedo arma- ment, the neéw vessel is fitted with two hangars, enabling her to carry tweaty airplanes, which will be raised to the taking-off decks by means of electric elevators. Another advance in aerial efclency 1s the construction, for the British air ministry, of huge seaplanes with a speed of 125 miles an hour. One of the latest types has a wing span of 112 feet and carries nearly two tons of gasoline. It is fitted with twin Condor engines of 1,360 horse- power. each, driving twin propeliors. GUSHERS MAY ENRICH {UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 0il on School’s Lands Considered Likely to Finance $6,000,000 Improvements. By the Asdociated Pres AUSTIN, Tex., July 14—Students and officials of the University of Texas, who for several years have dreamed of extensive improvements for the school, may have their dream tulfilled by the magic of oil. A $6,000,000 improvement program has been outlined for some time. The board of regents had taken steps to obtain loans for the improvements, but it was not until a few weeks agc that hope developed for other sources of revenue. ) It admitted by university officials that should a producing oil field be opened on the school's lands in West Texas it probably would be one of the richest schools in the nation. Reports of a gusher in Reagan coun= ty were made recently, but it re- mains for the field to bé proven. University officials are reluctant to express themselves regarding the probable income of the school from |the field. On returning from an in- {spection of the Santa Rita well, which has caused much discussion, Dr. J. A. Udden. head of the uni- versity geology department, dec 1 that prospects are favorable for a producer, although he would not hazard a guess as to the value of tho fleld. All permits on the university block have been taken up as a re- sult of the Santa Rita prospacts The state university holds title to seventy-two sections of land in the Reagan county district. The income from the Jand under state law is used for' permanent improvements. The state legislature probably would make provision for other uses in case a large income is derived. GLEARING OF IDAHO FIRE RUINS STARTS Several Months Necessary to Re- build Hecla Mining Plant. the Associated Pres WALLACE, Idaho, July 14—With the ashes of yesterday's and last night's million-and-a-half-dollar fire still smoldering, where the busy lit tle mining towns of Burke and Mace, 1daho, stood, work of removing the debris was undertaken late today by the Hecla Mining Company and prop- erty owners of the devastated dis- trict. Several months will be required to rebulld the plant of the Hecla. It will be a year before the normal produc- tion of the mine will be restored, ac- cording to an announcement at the offices of the company. Electric power lines to Burke have been rebuilt, but, because of the great heat at the opening of the mine, it is thought it will bo sev- eral days before the pumps can ba started to prevent the rise of water, . A orew of sixteen workers return- éd to the surface this afternoon after risking their lives for hourt continuously climbing up and down the ladders of the mine shafts, searching for possible signs of fire. They found no indication of loss of human_life. Merchants today. reported . that their’ stores were robbed and looted when .the fire began its devastating progress. Little was saved by ¢ither residents or merchants. Tha mail in the Burke post office Was car ried as .far.as the middle of the street and then abandoned before the onslaught of the flames and was burned. By —— GROUNDED SHIP DESERTED. ASTORIA, Ore., July M.—A wire- less message from North Head to- night sald that the crew of thes Japanese steamer Yonan Maru, aground in the Columbia river, had been taken off and that the vessel was deserted. Her position, accord- ing to the message, was regarded as dangerous. “ v