Evening Star Newspaper, December 24, 1926, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. S. Weather Rain tonight and probably tomor- row morning; colder tomorrow; mini- mum temperature about 32 degrees. Temperature—Highest, 40, at noon today; lowest, 31, Full report on Page 7. ®Closing N.Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 18 Entered as second class matter Washington, No. 30,187. post office, HONDURAN VESSEL SEIZEDINBAYWITH 2680 CASES LIQUOR Schooner Captured at Mouth of York River—Crew Makes Escape. RUM BELIEVED ON WAY | HERE AND BALTIMORE | Cargo Loaded at Nova Scotia, Had | Been Shadowed by United States Patrol Boats. The Honduran schooner Julito, laden with 2,680 cases of imported liquors and 121 kegs of malt extract, from which synthetic Scotch whisk i& made, was seized by a United States Coast Guard patrol boat yes- terday afternoon in Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the York River. The liquor evidently was intended for Christmas cheer in Baltimore, Washington and other points in this| vicinity, according to* Coast Guard headquarters, which received word of | her capture from Capt. F. S. Van| Boskerck, commanding the Coast Guard dtvision at Norfolk. Largest Capture Chesapeake Bay. | The schooner, a two-master, hasi been taken to Norfolk, the headquar- ters of the Coast Guard division, | where, it is understood, she will be libeled under the customs laws. The point where the schooner was seized is well within Chesapeake Bay on_the Virginia shore. The seizure of the Julito and her big load of Christmas liquor was said by Coast Guard officials to be the largest capture of its kind ever made in Chesapeake Bay. The entire crew of the Julito aban- doned ship at the approach of the Coast Guard officials, who are still searching for them. The Julito had been trailed for months by the Coast Guard, as she had been suspected as an old offender, and had once been captured by the Coast Guard on the high seas off the Atlantic coast, but was released. This time, according to Coast| Guard officials, the schooner was allowed to proceed after taking on her cargo at Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, December 4, until the Coast Guard had shadowed her inside the Virginia capes, into the interior waters of the United States. There, it was said, there could be no complications con- cerning treaties on the high seas. Captain and Crew Known. The « - ‘v-v -of <the schooner are known to the Comst Guard. Although the dispatch from Norfolk did not disglose details of how the crew escaped, it was believed here they had lowered a small skiff, and frantically made for shore. The Coast Guard ship which made the capture was a patrol boat operat- ing out of the Norfolk division head- quarters. The papers of the Julito showed that she had sailed from Lunenberg, bound for Nassau. HUGE PROPERTY DAMAGE FROM RAIN IN 2 STATES| By the Associated Press. TEXARKANA, . Ark., December 24.—One death, four miles of railroad under water and several towns cut off from all vehicular traffic were re- sults late last night of a torrential downpour over southwestern Ar- kansas and southeastern Oklahoma. Several cities have been isolated by the high water. Rallroads are operating in the wake of work gangs sent out to watch im- portant bridges. Two motorists tonight leaped to safety when their machine plunged from a water-covered highway into & ditck near Arkadelphia. EXPLOSIVE TRUCK HIT. Driver of Load of Nitroglycerin Recovering From Scare. BLUFFTON, Ind., December 24 (#). ~—Samuel Weakly of Payne, Ohio, had almost recovered today from the scare given him yesterday when another automobile collided with the truck- load of nitroglycerin he was haul- ing to shoot an oil well east of this eity. Weakly's truck wa$ badly damaged, but the nitroglycerin failed to explode. PLANT AIDS COLLEGE MEN. SCHENECTADY, N. Y., December 24 (#).—The General Electric Co. has come to occupy the position of benevolent uncle to the callow Alum- nus. Four thousand college gradu- ates are on its pay roll, of whom 1,293 are employed in the local plant. Six colleges have more than 100 graduates each with the company. POLICE DOGS GUARD STILL. CHICAGO, December 24 (P).—Fed- eral agents yesterday found a still with three large police dogs on guard. Only the dogs were present when the raid on the 700-gallon still was made, but they provided plenty of excitment for the officers. One of the police dogs was lassoed and brought to the Federal Building with the still. o Aol el Robin Lingers in Wisconsin. SUPERIOR, Wis., December 24 () —A robin, his red breast a little sooty from dwelling in the Soo Line round- house, is eating off the mountain ash berries in the front yard of a Superior residence. Three years ago several mall flocks of robins remained here all Winter. The bird, with hundreds of chattering sparrows, has found safety from coid in the roundhouse smong the locomotive e AAATE Ex-Kaiser Buys Hussar Uniform. BERLIN, December 24 UP).—The Weltham Muntag reports that the former Kaiser recently ordered a new uniform of the Guard Hussars to be tailored for him. The paper wonders editorially whether the former ruler §s “trying to impress the village urchins of Doorn with this bright Ted garb, or whether possibly he is thinking of entering Germany in s0 picturesque a manner.” YOSHIHITOIS DEAD Bureau Forecast.) at midnight. D. o IN SOUTHERN Crack Flyer Plunges | Py the Associnted Press. | 'ROCKMART, December 24.— Eighteen persons perished as a re- sult of the head-on collision here last night between the Ponce de Leon, northbound from Miami to Chicago. and the Royal Palm, southbound, of the Southern Railway. The seriously injured numbered Tie death today of little Goldie Willlams of Detroit in a hospital at Cedartown and of W. H. Brewer, bag- gagemaster of the Ponce de Leon, in a hospital at Rome, brought the total known dead to 18. Ralroad officials said they did not believe more bodies would be found in the wreckage, which had been thoroughly searched. Four of the dead are negroes. Road Foreman at Throttle. The Ponce de Leon, with J. M. Pearce, road foreman of engines, at the throttle, was maintaining its schedule with a long train. It wasq under orders to take sidings at Rock- mart to pass the Royal Palm, which had pulled up on the main fine to await the northbound train.” Railroad AFTER LONG FIGHT: FAMILY AT BEDSIDE Opening of Diet Canceled. End Had Been Expected Momentarily. By the Associated Press. h TOKIO, December 25 (Saturday).— Emperor Yoshihito of Japan died of pneumonia at 1:25 a.m. today. Mem- bers of the imperial family were at the bedside and all the cabinet mem- bers and other high officials were at the palace, where the Emperor was confined. The opening of the Diet today has been canceled. Announcement of the monarch's death had been expected momentarily. Born in 1879, Yoshihito Harunomiya, 123d male successor to the imperial throne of Japan, was born August 31, 1879; and on his eighth birthday was nominated by his father, Mutsuhito, as the heir apparent of the “Son of Heaven.” Emperor Yoshihito was the third son of Yanigawara, a id, one of the eight princesses of noble blood who became members of the house- hold of Emperor Mutsuhito when it was seen that no heir was to be ex- pected of the Empress Haruko. He was crowned November 9, 1915, 28 years after his nomination as heir apparent and 3 years after the death of his father. For a while he took a vigorous interest in the affairs of his office and enjoyed several forms of outdoor sports, but reports were circulated from time to time that an affliction dating from his infancy was making serious inroads upon his health. In 1921, five years after his corona- tion, it became common knowledge that the Emperor was suffering from a complication of diseases which had undermined his mentality and prac- tically incapacitated him for the re- sponsibilities attached to his throne. Designates Son as Regent. Yielding to public pressure, he con- sented on November 25,-1921, to desig- nate his son, Crown Prince Hirohito, as regent of Japan, whereupon the Emperor relinquished the relins of government and retired to seclusion. Yoshihito was one of the most pop- ular rulers of Nippon. When crown- ed 30,000 poems were written in his honor. His father was an admirer of Western civilization, apd the son continued his policy. The new Em- peror, upon his accession to the throne, took up amateur photography and equipped the palace with push buttons, electric lights and other ap- pliances. A crack billiard player, he installed American and English tables in his royal home and for relaxation from the cares of state indulged in spirited games with the court cham- berlains. He was also an ardent motorist, a bicyclist and horseback rider. Educated at the Nobles' School, in Tokio, Yoshihito's training was sup- plemented by the work of tutors. He spoke English, French and German and was an excellent conversational- ist, holding, it is said, “advanced ideas of world peace and interna- tional morality.” Married in 1900. On May 10, 1900, the Emperor, who was then Crown Prince, married the Princess Sadako Fudjiwara. Four sons were born to thém, the present Crown Prince Mich-No-Miya Hiro- hito, born April 29, 1901; Prince Atsu, born June 25, 1902; Prince Tenu, born January 3, 1905 and Prince Nobuhito, born in 1915. It is related that when the heir appar- ent was born the Crown Prince and 4 WASHINGTON, EIGHTEEN CRUSHED TO DEATH WRECK: 29 HURT Into Passenger Wait- ing on Siding at Rockmart, Ga. Bodies Hunted All Night. officials at the wreck said the siding was occupied partly by a feight train, which also was believed to have caused Pearce to think that the Royal Palm was on the side track. The Ponce de Leon, coming down an eight-mile grade at high speed, hit the Royal Palm engine head-on. The day coach of the northbound special jammed into the diner just behind. The dining car was leveled and only three occupants were known to have escaped. The baggage and club com- bination car of the Royal Palm was badly damaged. Rescuers Work All Night. Railroad officials and town people, armed with blow torches apd crow- bars, labored all night to extricate the bodies of those whose-journey north- ward for the Christmas holidays was ended by the crash. Relief trains from Rome, 20 miles away, and Atlanta, 52 miles distant, were at the scene, and dawn found frantic efforts continuing tg Mberate the injured imprisoned in the debris as well as to free the bodies of those whose lives were crushed out. Most of those dead and injured were at_dinner on the northbound train, (Continued on Page 4, Column 1) EFFICIENGY RATING 1S NO LONGER SOLE RETIREMENT BASIS Attorney General Says Ad- ministrative Heads May Use Discretion in Cases. Authority to retire or retain Fed: 1 WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION . € REPORT MEXICANS IN NICARAGUA AS U..S.LANDS SAILORS Arms Declared Put Ashore at Puerto Cobezas, Destinatipn of Admiral Latimer. PRESIDENT DIAZ CALLS FOR AMERICAN HELP Repeats Charges Revolutionary Party Is Being Aided by Calles Government. By the Associated Press. The revolutionary situation in Nica- ragua apparently is becoming increas- ingly serious. Rear Admiral Julian L. Latimer, in command of the American special service squadron in Latin American waters, has found it advisable to land a force of bluejackets at Rio Grande Bar and to proceed himself, aboard his flagship, the Rochester, to Puerto Cabezas, the chief center of the revo- lutionary movement. Meanwhile, Adolfo Diaz, the Con- servative President of Nicaragua, who has been recognized by the United States, and is being opposed by the Liberal revolutionary group, headed by former Vice President Sacasa, recognized as President by Mexico, has renewed his appeal for American in- tervention. Calls for Early Peace. He announced last night that he had commissioned Dr. Alehandro Cesar, former Nicaraguan Minister here, to come to Washington to ex- press to the American Government “The earnest desire of my govern- ment to bring peace to Nicaragua.” Reiterating his charges that the Sacasa faction is being supplied with ment of Mexico, and that “insidious Mexican propaganda is being broad- eral employes who have reached the retirement age is vested entirely in cabinet officers and heads of inde- pendent establishments, with due re- gard to the efficiency rating of retir- abie employes, under a ruling made today by Attorney General Sargent. Administrative officials of the Gov- l ernment may retain or retire em- ployes who have reached the volun- tary retirement age ° under the ruling, which is far-reaching and affects many thousands of em- ployes in the Government service. The ruling withdraws the efficiency rating of employes - as - the -single controling factor in the retiremént or retention of employes. Attorney General Sargent was asked to make a ruling in the case of an employe of the Bureau of Pensions who had reached the retirement age on August 9, 1926. On July 8, 1926, this employe applied for continuation in the civil service and submitted a physician’s certificate as to his physi- cal fitness to continue work. Work Asks for Ruling. On May 15, 1926, his efficiency re- ceived the lowest rating in his grade and the chief of the division advised the commissioner of pensions that in his judgement the employe’s efficiency was not such as to justify his reten- tion in the service. Secretary of the Interior Work was advised to this effect by the commissioner of pensions. Seeking a _definite ruling on this (Continued on Page 7, Column 6.) MA FERGUSON GRANTS 46 YULETIDE PARDONS Christmas Clemency List May Reach 150—Her Incumbency To- tal May Hit 3,000 By the Associated Press, AUSTIN, Tex., December 24, — Clemency proclamations issued by Gov. Miriam A. Ferguson neared the 3.000 mark today with indications that this total might be reached before New Year. Forty-six full pardons were granted vesterday in addition to one condi- tional pardon, two paroles and two jail sentence remissions. Stenog- raphers in the office of the secretary of state were instructed to continue work on the proclamations today with the prospect that the Christmas clemency order total may climb to 150. Since her inauguration two years ago Gov. Ferguson issued clemency decrees to 2,936 persons in penal in- stitutions, including 761 full pardons and 815 conditional pardons. She has also commuted eight death sentences and restored citizenship to 371 former convicts, Gov. Ferguson will be succeeded next month by Attorney General Dan Moody. —_— Clement Barnes Divorces Wife. PARIS, December 24 (P).—A di- vorce_decree has been registered in the Paris courts for H. Clement Barnes from Mrs. Florence Van Wyck Barnes. Mr. Barnes' address was given as Paris, while that of Mrs. Barnes was_given as 1055 Mason | street, San Francisco. No details of the suit have been made public. Has Become One Rebecca, the Mississippi coon, whose ! possibilities as a Thanksgiving dinner morsel failed to tempt the appetite of President Coolidge, seems to have | become the President’s favorite pet. When President Coolidge set out to inspect Christmas decorations about the White House yesterday, he was accompanied by none other than Rebecca. And when the President sits in his library talking with friends of evenings, many times Rebecca is curled up contentedly in his lap. The little coon was sent to the Pres- ident by some Southern admirers as the piece de resistance of his Thanks- giving day dinner. Instead, White House carpenters were ordered to build the woodland lady a comfort- able home in the boughs of a tree just beyond the back windows of the Pres- ident’s office. ‘ IRebecca, Coon Sent for President’s Meal, of His Favorite Pets A stout wire fence protects Rebecca from unwelcome visitors, and a stout- er chain protects her from herself— that is, it precludes the possibility of her setting out to make calls in near- genuine entertainment for the stray dogs thereabouts. The chain is amply long, however, to permit the coon to climb and wander about jts pen to its heart’s content. President Coolidge visits the pen every day and usually takes Rebecca walking at the end of a leash. As a rule, the walk culminates in the White House, where Rebecca occupies the presidential lap until it is time for attendants to return her home for her 12 hours or so of sleep. So, when the President set out to inspect the Christmas trees, he Invited Rebecca to go along. by parks and finishing by providing | cast dally by Mexico,” he declared “‘Mexican oppression, is becoming so strong that eventually I cannot cope with it, and I again appeal to the American Government for American intervention, which, , with its high ideals, is many times more desirable than = Mexican culture allied with barbarism.” Fighting on the East coast, where the United States has several naval units, he related, is becoming ‘“‘more tense and severe” and “the loss of life during this revolution is appalling.” Mexicans Landed. The Nicaraguan consul in Hon- duras, he said, had reported the land. ng of “soldlers, mostly Mexicans, and arms” by a gun runner at Puerto Cabezas, near the Honduran border, which is Admiral Latimer's destina- tion. ?lu admiral, in reporting his move- ments to the Washington authorities, gave no details to show what develop- ments had caused him to land blue- jackets at Rio Grande Bar and go to the revolutionary center. It is as- sumed that the bluejackets were put ashore to protect American and other ;(;re':in;fl edng]-xeaeln the movement rdwood Jumber out Grande River region. s S —_— ALBANIANS ACCUSE AMERICAN OF PLOT Death Sentence Possible in Case Which May Set New Diplo- matic Precedent. By Radio_to The S ) Oxete " Coprien. 105g<0 Dulr ROME, December 24.—Astonishment }iu expressed in American circles here at the news that the Ahmet Zogu government in Albania has sum- moned an American ecitizen—Halit Zenel Qyteza of Detroit—to appear be- fore the Supreme Court at Tirana to answer to a charge of plotting against the security of Albanian state, a crime for which the maximum penalty is death. An indictment published in the offi- cial Albanian newspaper Brana names four Albanians residing in America on the same charge, and also Dr. M. Borja, formerly Albanian Minister to Rome. Qvteza is Dr. Borja's brother- in-law, The newspaper states that the charges were preferred on the basis of a report made by Faik Konitza, Albanian Minister to Washington. Qyteza served in the American Army during the war. He was never ac- [tive in politics and the whole charge {is laughed at by those familiar with the circumstances. The serious aspect of the affair is the diplomatic prec- edent which the Albanian govern- iment appears to desire to raise—the right of a foreign government to in- dict and presumably pass a death sentence on an American citizen for alleged activities on American soil. Soviet Offers Ship Credit. MOSCOW, December 24 (#).—Brit- ish shipbuiiding interests say that Soviet newspapers have approached the government with an offer of $100,000,000 credit for a period of 10 years for the construction of steam- ers in British shipyards for a Soviet merchantile fleet. No confirmation of however, could be ob- ~Will Print Its Regular Edition The 5:30 Edition \Will Be Dispensed With ening guns and men by the Calles govern- | - Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1926—TWENTY-SIX PAGES. . GOVERNMENT PUTS BRAKES ON FRANG Decides to Maintain Price Between 121 and 123 to Pound, in Crisis. By the Associated’ Pres PARIS, December 24.—The Poin- care government today decided to take control of the exchange situaticn and to_maintain the French franc at a price between 121 and 123 to the pound sterling. It was intimated in official circles that this decision of the government will amount to virtual sabilization of the franc within those narrow limits. Move Begun Wednesday. The movement got under way on ‘Wednesday, when the Bank of France began the purchase and sale of francs at around 122 to the pound “and 25.15 to the dollar. It continued yes- terday, with few fluctuations, at 122.25 to the pound and 25.19 to the dollar. The recent steady rise of the French franc has been a source of worry both to the government and to com- mercial and financial interests’ in France, the franc within the past month or two rising to a point where it seriously upset trade. Extensive unemployment was reported through- out the country because of the cur- tailment of operations by manufac- turers. Some French economists estimated that the turnover throughout France fell 15 to 20 per cent, while former Minister of the Treasury Loucheur recently said that business had drop- ped 50 per cent. French labor partic- ularly has been stirred by the fear that an industrial crisis would result. Poincare Sees' Trouble. On December 7 Premler Poincare, who had been asked by various finan- clal experts to stabilize the franc, told the chamber that France must suffer and sacrifice before the franc could be stabilized, and that the exchange must have real stability before it could be legalized. The frane, with fluctuations, has been steadily gaining ever since it struck its low record for all time on July 20 of this year, when it was quoted on the Bourse at 49.85 to the dollar. On that day it sank even low- er in New York, being quoted 1.93% cents, or more than 50 to the dollar. Par value is 19.3 cents. OVERCOME BY WORRY. CHAMPAIGN, Ill., December 24 (#), —Worried that her husband had been arrested for a traffic violation, Mrs. Claude Weir of Thomasboro, taking her three-year-old son, went out into a rainstorm last night to her death. She was found along a road today with the boy lving by her side, and died in a few minutes from exposure. The youngster seemed unmindful of the tragedy. The woman was found today after a long search led by the husband. He attributed his wife’s wanderings to grief over his arrest yesterday on a charge of driving his automobile while intoxicated. $500,000 TO MINERS. MORGANTOWN, W. Va., December 24 (#).—Nearly $500,000 in wages will go into the pockets of Monongalia County coal miners today when prac- tically all operatives pay their em- ployes. Local bankers declare it to be one of the largest general pay days in the industry in several years. The pa r?presents work done during the first two weeks in December. Rainy Christmas Forecast as Santa Forsakes Sleigh Unabashed by the dampening pre- dictions of the weather man, Santa Claus winked at Washington today and switched from sleigh to airplane. Lack of snow and prospects of rain just don't feaze the old gentleman, it seems. He'll get here tonight if he has to swim, regardless of heartless prog- nosticators and conniving skies, his spoksman announced today. The forecaster, disclaiming all re- sponsibility and expressing sincere regret, asserted that a wet, instead of a white, Christmas is likely. Rain is looked for tonight and possibly to- morrow morning, with colder weather due in the afternoon. Radio Programs—Page 17. “From Pre as fast as the paper: (#) Means Associated Pr (L a1 ted s - / DR. HOUCK RE-ENACTS EVENTS THAT LED UP TO DISAPPEARANCE Lives Over Incidents Preceding Collapse When Taken to His Home by Doctors and Detectives. Dr. Knute Houck lived over again this afternoon the events that led up to the disappearance of his wife and his own mental collapse in their home at 3127 Nichols avenue, on the night of December 14. Closely guarded by detectives and physicians, the young St. Elizabeth’s Hospital psychiatrist was taken back to his former home to re-enact the scenes that occurred there. Dr. Houck accompanied the authori- ties on the trying journey quite will- ingly. The police had been trying to arrange the dramatic setting for sev- eral days, hoping tgat, once back in his home atmosphere, the mind that is still wandering through a semi- coma would clear sufficiently to recall incidents now forgotten which would lead to the discovery either of Mrs. Houck’s body or her hiding ce. Empty rooms greeted the young physician when he entered his old home. For 15 minutes he was in the apartment. Then the party left to SANTA DELIVERS WHITE HOUSE IFTS ENGINE IN TAMPICO Number of Presents Left De- clared to Break All Previ- ous Records. Santa Claus has been good to the ‘White House this Christmas. He has made many trips to the Executive Mansion during the past week or so, and each time he has left behind a heavily laden bundle con- taining gifts for the presidential household. No official count has been kept of his trips or of the number of presents he brought, but attaches say that all previous records have been broken. The presents have for the most part been for President Coolidge, although Mrs. Coolidge has come in for a lib- eral share. It is estimated that the number will run well into the hun- dreds. Thousands of Cards. Besides all these happy tokens of the Yuletide season, several thousand Christmas greeting cards have been received, as well as scores of tele- grams and some few cablegrams. Mrs. Coolidge is personally superin- tending the opening of the packages and arranging them in individual piles. Those for the President already have filled several tables as well as two large chairs in the library on the second floor. Of course the presents she and John Coolidge will give to the President and the ones he will give in return will be presented in person early tomorrow morning. The Coolidges still follow the old custom of waiting until Christmas morning for the opening of Christmas gifts. Most of the President's gifts are from admirers throughout the coun- have been received. Some their authors bear autographs. Old Santa is still bringing turkeys to the White House. Five handsome, big birds had been received up to this morning. Four of this number have been killed and dressed and placed in the ice box. The one which arrived this morning from Indiana was turned. out to enjoy the beauties of the rear grounds of the White House and to partake generously of the sweet grass and _presidential atmosphere and to (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) Christmasg Carols Pages 15 and 16 Today's Star take up the path that Houck had fol- lowed when he departed from home 10 days ago. This step was taken this afternoon after a thorough search of the sewers and manholes within a square mile of the Houck home failed to reveal a trace of Mrs. Houck's body this morning. Police declared it was use- less to look further in that direction and then turned their attention to other clues. The examination of the sewers was ordered when the continued failure of Mrs. Houck to get in touch with any friends or relatives, so far as the police have been able to learn, roused admitted fears in the minds of the authorities that she was either mur- ,dered or committed’ suicide follow- ing a quarrel with her husband on the night of December 14. Herman Garner, assistant engineer of the sewer department, personally directed a force of 18 men in the search. Equipped with lanterns and picks, they examined —every sewer (Continued on Page 2, Column 8. PLANES AWAIT NEW Pan-American Flight Held Up to Get Spare Parts. One Goes to Vera Cruz. By the Associated Pre TAMPICO, Mexico, December 24. —Mechanical difficulties prompted Maj. Dargue, flight commander, to or- der postponement of the hop to Vera Cruz by the Pan-American good will aerial expedition. The San Francisco, manned by Capt. Eaker and Lieut. Fairchild, went on to Vera Cruz, but the other four machines, after circling the city, returned to the Huasteca Flying Field. Spare parts and a Liberty motor have been ordered from San Antonlo, where the flight began Tuesday. It is hoped they will arrive early next week. EAKER REACHES VERA CRUZ. VERA CRUZ, December 24 (#).—The crew of the airplane San Francisco, Capt. Ira C. Eaker and Lieut. M. D. Fairchild, today found themselves the vanguard of the United States Army Pan-American good will flying expe- dition. The only one of the five planes to get away from Tampico, the San Fran- cisco, arrived over this port last night after a flight unmarred by accident and circled down to the surface of the bay at 8:30 o’clock. By that hour the crowds which had assembled to greet the squadron had dwindled away because of advices that the flight had been postponed, and the usual tumultuous welcome was lack- ng. Capt. Eaker and his companion, after seeing their amphiblan craft safely moored, were lodged in a hotel. They were taken care of by the Amer- ican consul, John Q. Wood, while the local Mexican military headquarters assigned Col. Crozco as their honorary to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the reguiar edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes s are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 101,280 TWO CENTS. IMPOSING PROGRAM USHERS CHRISTMAS INTO CITY TONIGHT Epochal Radio Carol Singing Will Be Preceded by Tree Ceremony. WHITE HOUSE CHORAL NUMBERS TO BEGIN AT 9 Mrs. Coolidge Assisted Today in Distributing Gifts to Needy. Church Services Planned. The National Capital tonight will add its voice to the nation-wide chorus | of Christmas carols which will herald the gladsome return of another “night before Christma: With local ceremonies in or near the White House, followed by partic pation in the epochal radio “choir invisible,” the citizenry, from Presi- dent Coolidge to the tiniest wide-eved child will welcome the joyous Yuletide. The imposing program of services and celebrations arranged for Christ mas eve, ranging from formal public exercises to the annual home-to-home visit of good old Santa, is calculated to make the occasion this year a mem- orable one. The observance began this morning with the customary distribution by charitable organizations of toys, food and other gifts to the needy. Mrs Coolidge entered wholeheartedly into the spirit of this program, assisting the Central Union Mission and the Salvation Army in their parties for deserving ones. The outstanding features of the evening will be the lighttng by the President of the national eommunity Christmas tree in Sherman park at 6 o'clock, the carol serenade by the choir of the First Congregational Church in front of the White House at 9 o'clock, and the climaxing radio concert from 10:30 until midnight reaching many millions of homes throughout the country. The White House will form a back ground for the first two celebrations, and its occupants will contribute toward the success of all three. i President Opens Program. President Coolidge “will ‘announce “officially”. the advent of the season of ‘“peave- and goodl will” when he, presses a button to light the 35-foot living spruce tree south of the Treasury. As the myriad lights flas forth in all their vari-colored bri | llancy, a flare, high in the heavens, will bathe the scenein artificial day- light. It wilt ? a signal for Boy Scouts etationed throughout the city to trumpet a message of cheer. Senator Arthur Capper, chairman of the Senate: District committee, will preside, and District Commissioners Dougherty and Taliaferro will lend their aid. ! Arrangements are being ‘made by the community center: department of the public schools and the Office of Public Buildings and Parks. A com- mittee to greet the President will consist of E. C. Snyder, chairman; Representative F. N. Zihiman of Maryland, Lieut. Col. U. 'S. Grant, 3rd; E. C. Graham, Isaac Gans, M Sibyl Baker, Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes and Mrs. John D. Sherman. The Marine Band will play several seasonal selections, and the public, led by Willam E. Braithwaite, will sing carols. The carol concert at the morth portico of the White House will be conducted by the choir of the Presi- dent's church under festoons of lights hung especially for the occasion beneath the tall porte cochere. The public is invited to join in the singing. Members of the presidential family are expected to take part, also. 65 Voices in Chorus. The vested chorus of 65 voices will be led by Ruby Smith Stahl, soprano, assisted by Dorothy Wilson Halbach, contralto; W. Madison Taylor, tenor and John Chandler Smith, bas: Charles T. Ferry will be at the piano. Musicians from the Marine Band will assist in the accompaniment. The following carols will be sung: “God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen." «“The First Noel,” “The Holy Mother Sings,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Silent Night,” “Shepherd's Christmas Song,” “All Knew He Was There,” “Carol of Russian Children, “0 Little Town of Bethlehem, “Come All Ye Shepherds,” “The Babe in Bethlehem Manger,” “To Us Is Born Immanuel,” “Bells of Christ mas” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” Words and music of ‘“Bells of Christmas” were composed by Rev. Dr. Jason Noble Pierce, pastor of the First Congregational Church, and dedicated to Mrs. Coolidge. The outdoor observances completed, the big broadcasting feature will be in order. It undoubtedly will be the most remarkable carol concert in his- tory, with more than 20,000,000 per sons singing “the old songs,” under the leadership of the 50-voice choir of Dr. S. Parkes Cadman'’s church in Brooklyn, N. Y. Radio Stations United. A large chain of radio stations, in- cluding WRC, will carry the music from one end of the United States to the other, and all listeners-in will be requested by Dr. Cadman to join in the mighty chorus. Arrangements for the unique celebration were made by The Star and other leading Ameri- alde. The festicities arranged for the squadron were postponed until the ar- rival of the other planes. PARTS SENT FROM TEXAS. SAN ANTONIO, Tex., December 24 (#).—A Liberty motor and other spare parts for an amphibian plane were sent to Tampico, Mexico, from Duncan Field here today in response to a telegram from Maj. Herbert A. Dargue, commander of the Army's pan-American flight. The materials were started on their ‘way after a crew of men had worked almost all night preparing them for shipment. A broken oil pump on the St. Louis was the chief difficulty at Tampico, according to messages received here from Maj. Dargue. The telegrams said that the New York, Detroit and San Antonio probably will hop to Vera Cruz today and the St. Louis will fol- low was soon as the spare parts which were shipped by express, arrive and are installed. can newspapers, and The Star today issues with this edition a free booklet containing the entire program, with words and music to all the carols. The carols will continue until a few minutes before midnight, when the singers will pause for a moment to let Dr. Cadman deliver a Christmas mes- sage and prayer. When church bells sound the mystic hour of 12, the na- tional chorus will be heard again in the most wonderful of all carols, “Silent Night."” The clear music of chimes will ring out in harmony with the final sons, bringing the observance to a close. ° Dr. Harry Rowe Shelley, famou composer and choirmaster, will be the musical conductor for the concert. Uncle Sam took due note of the day and adopted a suggestion of Santa Claus that Government employes be permitted to go home early and make proper preparations for his reception fonight. The Federal machinery will motionless over the week end. ‘Hundreds of employes and many (Continued on Pigs