Evening Star Newspaper, December 29, 1926, Page 1

WEATHER. (1. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair and colder tonight; minimum ;s;npemturv, 21 degrees. Tomorrow, air. ‘Temperature—Highest, 40, at noon today: lowest, 34, at 2:30 a.m. today, The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press news service. Full report on page 9. *Closing N.Y. Stocks post office, and Bonds, Page 12 Entered as second class matter Washington, D, C. No. 30,192 - LIBERALS PLANNING NEW BLOW AT DA INNCIRAEUANWAR Heavy Defeat of Conserva-| tives May Be Followed Up by Move on Interior. PRESIDENT RECOGNIZED BY U. S. ADMITS PERIL Denator Borah Sees Official Reports of U. §. and Finds Them Satisfactory. By the Associated Press. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, December 29, torious in a three-day battle nt Las Perlas, on the east coast. of Nicaragua, the Liberal forces of Dr. Juan Sacasa are now threatening sev- eral startegic paints leading to the in- terior. The troops of the conservative gov- ernment of President Diaz, who has been recognized by the United States, were forced to retreat before the Liberals. The latter’s government un- der Dr. Sacasa is recognized by Mexi- co. Advices from the fighting zone say 1.000 Conservative troops were opposed by 1,500 Liberals, of whom 300 were elleged to be Mexican soldiers or of- ficers, Ammunition Runs Short. The Conservatives ran out of am- munition and found their machine gun fire no match for the 12 pleces of light artillery in the possession of the Liberals. A retreat was ordered, 400 men being told off to cover the rear while the main body retired to the meutral zone of El Bluff. Of the 400 rear guard many were killed, while the others were surrounded and cap- tured. The main body reached Kl Bluff, where they will be disarmed by the American naval forces who are maintaining the neutrality of the zone. By their victory the Liberals gained mccess to the Escondido River, cap- tured Fruta de Pan and began an at- tack on Monkey Ridge. If this stra- tegic point is taken, it will give: cen- trol of the river along which American fruit companies operate. Other Liberal forces are proceeding to Rama, where there 1s a.small Conservative garrison. The Diaz (Conservative) government ~is £aid to be extremely short of ammu- nition and funds with which to the 6,000 men under arms. Gen. Diaz displayed great amxiety over the situ- rtion when news of the defeat at Las Perias was received, and repeated his @ssertion that he could not hold out much longer against the Liberals it they continued to receive, as he charges, military support from Mexico. More Gun Running Alleged. “Another Mexican gun ‘runner, named Temporal, left Mexico several days ago with more ammunition than this government has, and also some light and heavy artillery,” he said, *“We have a few old cannon, but they cannot compare with modern guns.” Dr. Sacasa, head of the Liberal Imovement, is still at Puerto, Cabezas, Svhere American naval forces were re- cently lande¢, but an intercepted dis- patch from Costa Rica says he will go to that country and that Gen. Mon- tada will continue the fighting. Landing of American naval forces in Nicaragua for the announced pur- ‘-on of protecting American interests y the establishment of neutral zones has drawn a sharp editorial attack from the newspaper El Universal of Mexico City, which charged the United States with a “policy of ruth- less imperialism in Latin America.” Peace in the American continent, the paper declared, was endangered by “the present policies of the Depart- ment of State in Latin America, es- B’cially the armed intervention of the nited States in Nicaragua.” BORAH PARTLY SATISFIED. Sees Official Reports on Nicaraguan Policy of U. S. By the Associated Press. After a conference today _with Kellogg, Chairman Borah ate foreign relations com- mittee express i that, so far the activities of American naval forces in Nicaragua had been confined | #trictly (0 tie protection of American | lives and property. The Senator spent half an hour in Secretary Kellogg's office, and is understood to have had access to communications exchanged with Rear Admiral Julian Latimer, now at Puerto Cabezas aboard his fiagship, the cruiser Rochester. A Reports from the admiral as to what happened in connection with the Janding of Marines and bluejickets at Puerto Cabezas formed the basis | of the statement made yesterday at | the White House that there had been | no interference with the Sacasa | Liberal faction leaders, as had been charged by Sacasa’'s representative ere. ‘What Latimer Reported. The Latimer reports show that! Eacasa and his adherents come and | &o at will in the neutral area around ‘American property. ¢ Having answered critics of its| policy with regard to Nicaragua, of- ficlals of the Washington Govern- ment today were awaiting with infer- est official accounts of the latest hap- penings in the civil imbroglio in the | Jittle Central American country. They were content, for the time be- | ing at least, to rest the administra- | tion’s position on the White House ronouncement Teiterating that the ing of the American naval forces n Nicaraghan soil merely was for he protection of American lives and roperty and not to strengthen the and of President Diaz, -as has been rharged In_several Latin-American pusrters. Diaz_has been recognized by the Uhited States, while Juan B, Bacasa, his Liberal opponent, is Jooked upon as Nicaragua's constitu- tional head by Mexico. * Protest to One of the latest ‘protests against the presence of American naval sorces in Nicaragua to be received by the State Department was pre- rented by T. S. Vaca, Sacasa's Wash- ngton representative, and contendeq 1hat the occupation of Puerto Ca- . g ment. Commerce By the Associated Press. Rules of the airways, designed to safeguard life and traffic'in the clouds as do the older codes which guide vessels on the sea and vehicles on the highways, will take effect over the United States with the new year. They were promulgated today by the Commerce Department, after Sec- retary Hoover's assistant in the task of drafting them called into con- ference representatives of all groups interested In the fleld of air naviga- tion. After New Year day every that flies the air must bear its license number, and if it is used for public | conveyance of people or goods, it airworthiness and safety must be cer- tified to by the Commerce Department on the application of detajled tests that touch its power plant, fuselage and wings. 7 Pilots and ‘mechanics alike, accord- ing to the grade of their service, must be picked men of proven competence who have survived the ordeal of both physical and mental examinations. Once aflight, the ships must con- duct themselves by set rules for meet- ings and passing in the air, by light- NEW ITALO-GERMAN TREATY 15 SIGNED Contains No Political Clauses and Will Be Registered With League, Says Berlin. By tho Associated Prees. BERLIN, December 29.—The new- ly-drawn Itallan-German treaty of concillation and arbitration, signed in Rome today, contatns no political clauses and conforms strictly with the spirit of the League of Nations with ‘which it will be registered shortly, a spokesman for the German foreign office said today. The treaty provides for arbitration and the amicable adjustment of virtu- ally all classes of disputes which may arjse between Germany and Italy and follows closely the pattern for such treaties. already negotiated by Ger- many with eight nations. It differs from pre-war treaties in that it combines both arbitration and amicable adjustment features, thereby embracing both juridical and non-juri- dical cases under dispute. This double feature was first worked out by Friedrich Gaus, counselor of the Ger- man foreign office, and Max Huber of witzerland, now president of the nent Court of International Justice'at The Hague. The formula was adopted when the German-Swiss treaty was negotlated andhas been found to work: so well in practice that it now forms part of Germany’s regular ‘treaty’ system. The ‘forelgn office spokesman this afternoon said that the treaty does ch ACTS GOVERNING AIR CHANNELS BECOME EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1 Every Craft Will Carry License Number Beginning With New Year, Under Department Rules. | eraft | not contain any provision calculated to mar refations with a third power. It 1s understood that the German for- eign of was so anxious to avold even the semblance of an anti-third power attitude that Foreign Minister Stresemann diplomatically sidestepped Premier Mussolini’s urgent invitation to him to come to Rome in order to sign the treaty personally, embracing the German political crisis caused by the: overthrow of the Marx cabinet, coupled with the recent Germersheim affair, as a welcome excuse not to visit Italy just now. While the treaty does not contain clauses whereby the signatories agree to respect each other’s frontiers, ft was pointed out that there was no occasion for such clauses, since Italy and Germany are not contiguous. “The treaty forms a solid, friendly basis for future amicable relations,” the forejzn office spokesman said. LOCARNO POLICY EXTENDED, Rome Views Treaty With Berlin in _ This Light. ROME, December 23 (#).—The Italian-German treaty of friendship and arbitration, which was scheduled for signature today by Premier Muss- olini and Ambassador von Neurath, says 11 Messaggero, logically con- cludes policies intended to bring Ger- {many back to normal international | relations, such as led to Locarno and the Briand-Stresemann conversations at Thoiry. ‘The . paper says that the treaty, which was prepared at Geneva and Berlin, is largely juridical rather than political and is intended solely to set- tle divergencles which may arise be- tween Rome and Berlin. It adds, however, that the agreement has con. slderable political value in view of the general European situation. STEERS FLYER IN FOG. British Device Shows Whether Plane Is Going in Straight Line. LONDON, December 29 (#).—A little instrument seven inches in di- ameter, now being extensively tried out by the air ministry, indicates to a pilot whether his plane is flying on a straight course or In curves during fog or darkness. It contains a gyroscope and indi- cates by green or red luminous sec- tors on the dial when the plane is flying in curves or out of its straifht course. By the Associated Press. TOKIO, Dgcember 29.—Rintare Ni- shimura, whose family for many gen- erations has constructed caskets and hearses for use at imperial funerals, is coming to Tokio from Kyoto with 50 master craftsmen to build a hearse which will bear the body of the late Emperor Yoshihito to its grave. funeral vehicle is to be a pictur- \ezas, capital of the liberal forces, by American_bluejackets was_“entirely ““{Continued on Page 2, Column 1) esquie oné, and will resemble that used for Emperor Meiji in 1912, Nishimura said the hearse for Yoshi- ~hito would be made vr"vreu. oak, WASHINGTON, D. WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1926—THI ¢ Foening Star. RTY-EIGHT PAGES. Yesterday’s Circulation, 101,003 * (/) Means Associated Pres: s s. WO CENTS. ing at night, and by carrying instru- ments which will demonstrate the functioning of all portions of their contrivances. As to airplanes, the new regula- tions recognize flve classes of ta- chines, ranging from the 2,500-pound plane to the big machine that lifts 13,000 pounds and more. Tests were lald out which each machine must meet before its airworthiness can be certified, with the exception that when a’ manufacturer turns out an approved type of vehicle the follow- ing identical machines may be given | a certificate based on the demonstra- ted safety of the model. Inspeciors of the Commerce Departmont will see to it that machines in service are kept | up to standard, and not put in shape | for use after accidents without re. newed testing. Operators of com- mercial vehicles likewise must make regular daily and detailed inspections, and keep a log of their finlings, from which they shall make regular reports to_the government. Machines in the alr must refrain from approaching within 300 feet of other craft. They must pass to the (Continued on Page 5, Column 2.) RIVER CONTINUES RIGE AT NASHVILLE Worst Flood in History of City Forecast—Relief Funds Are Sought. By the Associated Press. NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 29. —The most disastrous flood in the his- tory of Nashville was predicted today by the local weather bureau. The Cumberland River, now at a 54.5-foot stage, and already spread out over a large portion of the lower part of town, is expected to reach 55.5 or 56 feet, breaking all records. The water is rising a tenth of a foot an hour. ‘With this warning from the weath- er bureau efforts were begun to gather additional relief workers to move fam- ilies from threatened area. Four thousand persons have been made homeless in Nashville since the flood started last Saturday, and the additional rise would drive out thou- sands more. Emergency appeals for relief funds were begun last night, ‘when $5,000 was requested to provide food and provisions for the needy. The Davidson County Board of distributing money, food and clothing to the needy, was great. ly pressed, and urged immediate dona- tions of second-hand clothing of any description whatsoever. This rise would probably sever all connection with East Nushville, as only one of the three high river bridges was open to traffic tofay. The " Louisville and Nashville Rail- road bridge, north, might also be affected by the highwaters. The previous record stage here was 55.3 feet in 1882. The crest of the present rise is expected Friday or Saturday, as the Cumberland con- tinued to rise today after general rains Monday and Tuesday in th upper stretches of the river. Gloomy, wintry weather, today, however, had followed the rains, which generally ceased late yesterday. About two freight car loads of calcium carbide are in a flooded warehouse, but while some leaky cans were said to be sputtering on account of the action of the water, it was not belleved that there would be sufficient chemical action to cause an explosion. DEATH LIST STILL 13, Engineers Fear Mississippi May Over- flow When Snow Melts. MEMPHIS, Tenn., December 29 (). —A forecast of generally clear skies today brought hope to the areas in the South affected by floods. The death list remained at 13 tpday, though reports from isolated sections indicated that this toll might be in creased when full communication was established. Engineers in Memphis announced that the Mississippl was little more than five feet below flood stage and expressed fears that floods, when the snows begin to melt in the headlands, would cause much destruction in the lower basin. e . MANY THOUGHT DEAD IN MALAY FLOODS Worse Overflows in Years Tie Up Trains, Rubber Tapping and Tin Mining in Orient. By the Associated Press. SINGAPORE, Straits Settlements, December 29—The Malay states are suffering the worst floods in years, the rivers having gone over the banks in consequence of continual rains over Christmas. The lods of life is be- lieved to be cousiderable, Railway service has been suspended and the postal system disorganized. Rubber tapping and tin mining have ceased throughont the State of Perak. There has been much damage. Gorgeous Hearse for Dead Ruler : - Ordered of 50 Japanese Craftsmen Some of the towns are isolated, with business at a standstill. teakwood and fir, 12 feet high and 231 feet long. Tt will have the ap- pearance of a great inclosed cart, and will have but two wheels, each five feet in diameter. In the hubs of the wheels musical attachments will be placed, and they will play funeral dirges as the hearse moves. The hearse costs about $50,000. ~ It will be completed in about a month. ‘When it goes into use at the funeral, which probably will be held the latter “WAR SGARE” DATA SOUGHT VAINLY BY HOUSE COMMITTEE Wilbur So Far Refuses to De- liver Reports on Japan, Says McClintic. MORE FIGURES IN NAVAL CRUISER BUILDING PLANS| Fall-Doheny Trial Effort to Get‘ Documents Recalled by Demo- cratic Representative. By the Associated Prees. The Pacific ‘v in the Fall-Doheny oil trial has come under inquiry by the House naval committee and Representative Mc- Clintic of Oklahoma, a Democratic member, said today that Secretary ‘Wilbur had refused to give the com- mittee confidential Navy reports bear- ing on the subject. Specifically, the Oklahoma Repre- sentative disclosed, the committee had requested the Navy Secretary to send it, in confidence, a report submitted by Admiral Gleaves, while he was commander of the Asiatic fleet, deal- ing with “the belligerent attitude of Japan a few vears ago.” The committee action was taken in secret session during consideration of Chairman Butler's proposal to build a new fleet of light cruisers to bring American naval strength up to a sat- isfactory ratio with that of Great Britain and Japan. Figured in Ofl Trial. It was Admiral Gleaves' report that defense counsel in the Fall- Doheny trial sought without success to secure from the Navy Department, in support of the contention that the Pearl Harbor ofl contract was entered into by the Doheny oll interests under stress of a national emergency in the Pacific. “It will be remembered that this report has been made the excuse for the secrecy of disposing of our naval reserve ofl lands and the construction of oil tanks in Hawaili,” sald Mc- Clintic. “It will also be remembered that after the recent trial of Mr. Fall and Mr. Doheny, that one of the Jurors gave out a statement in which the Japanese scare and this report was given as a justifiable reason for the verdict which exonerated them for any wrong doing. “‘I was advised some time ago by a bigh ranking officer in the Navy that these so-called Japanese reports con- tained no Information which would show a belligerent attitude on the part of Japéi -dnd thaf ent ¢ould not afford to mem- ber of Congress to see these reports for the reason they would show that the secret policy of the Navy with re- #pect to the oil leases and the build- ng of tanks was not justified. Views on Naval Reports. “In fact, these reports, according to the information given me, mostly con- Tn the killing of an American sallor and the finding of some oil on the water after the Japanese earthquake. It 1s known by every person that Japan diplomatically and respectfully disposed of the case where the sailor was killed according to the custom usvally followed by other nations. “In my opinion this Japanese scare is now put forth for the purpose of exciting the citizenship of the United States so that pressure will be brought in favor of a new ship-bullding policy costing $400,000,000 or $500,000,000. Notwithstanding there is an apathy in agricultural sections of the United policy, provided it can be shown that Japan assumed a belligerent attitude when these reports were made by { Admiral Gleavei Wilbur Explains Stand. Secretary Wilbur said today that Mr. McClintic had individually asked for confidential information from the department, and had been refused, but thai he knew of no request from the naval committee as a whole. ““We refused to divulge this informa- tion in court, and we doubtless would refuse to give it to the committee,” sald the Secretary. “I wish it under- stood that this department has not asked Congress for the 10 cruisers which are being discussed. We are keeping within the provisions of the budget in this respect. We have stated, however, hefore the House naval committee, that 22 cruisers are necessary to keep the Navy on parity with that of Great Britajn.” —_— e 15 BELIEVED KILLED IN CRASH IN TUNNEL Chilean Train Hits Another Stalled in Passage—Oil Lamps Ignite Wreckage. By the Associated Press. SANTIAGO, Chile, December 29.— From 10 to 15 persons are belleved to have been killed in a train wreck in a tunnel near Lota, Southern Chile, The accident occurred yesterday afternoon. A train from Concepcion for Lota became stalled in the tunnel when it struck an animal. The other train, from Lota, crashed into the lled train. Shattered oil lamps ignited the wreckage, which burned so rapidly that ‘the passengers had no chance to escape. Charred bodies were removed, but the exact number of dead was unknown this morning. BOOTH’S PURSUER DIES. Capt. Fdrnsworth Succumbs at:Age of 88. ALBERT LEA, Minn., Decembe# 29 (M) —Capt. Charles Hazen Farns- worth, 88, commander of the troop that pursired John Wilkes Booth, as. sassin of Abraham Lincoln, died to- d'f{. Bddition to his G. A. R. bugton, Capt. sworth wore the Cross of part of February, it will be. drawn by four black and white spotted oxen, in charge of nine imperial ox-tenders, “L. A."” (Lincoln’s Avengers). his business and eivic .%g. ted, the captain wrote poetry. pome nttenum‘\lfln( this e | r scare” that figured ? States, I will gladly vote for such a | TWO MORE POLICE JUDGES ARE ASKED | Magistrate System for Hear- ing Minor Cases Held Un- suitable for Capital. - Creation of two more judgeships in Police Court in lieu of the estab- lishment of the proposed magistrate eystem for hearing minor cases in varfous police precinct stations . was recommended to the District Commis- sioners today by the committee ap- pointed by them to study the sub- Jject. The committee also urged that consideration be given to the advis- abllity of establishing a traffic viola- tion bureau similar to that operating in Chicago and Detroit and advocated by Col. I. C. Moller; assistant director of traffic. The committee made a thorough study of the magistrate system. In- forriation ‘was sought from the mayors of 20 cities with a population of 300,000 or more, as well as from Me). Edwin B. Hesse, superintcndent of police; Trafic Director M. O. El- dridge and his assistant, Col. Moller. Report Not Unanimous. ‘The committee’s conclusions, while not dUnanimous, were that Washing- ton, s .not yet, large enough for a maglstrate system, which would be cumbersome, ' expensive, impractical, and would -inconvenience attorneys. A number of other reasons also were given for opposing the system. Chief among them were that the magistrate ,courts would not materially relieve 1 congestion in the Police Court, they would make more remote and more impossible the uniformity of adminis- tration and certainty of punishment in cases of repeated minor cases, that | they would not assist to a large de- igree in keeping policemen on thelr | | beats and would decentralize the keep- {ing of court and police records. Moreover, it was pointed out that it would be impractical o keep all of the records of the 150,000 motor vehicle operators in the headquarters |for the various magisterial districts, {or to secure from the central head: quarters by telephone or otherwise in- formation needed in order to prose- cute such cases. The minority report contended that the magistrate courts would be in the interest of greater efficiency of the Police Department, would expedite the handling of petty cases, relieve congestion in the Police Court and would enable the presiding judge to give greater personal study to individ- ual cases and to apply reformatory methods rather than penal ones. Hope to Cut Court Cases. ‘The traMic violation bureau, which the committee suggests should be given consideration, is calculated to remove the necessity for motorists and policemen to go into court in about 35,000 out of 40,000 traffic cases annually. In Detroit, the bureau is operated as a branch of the police de- partment traffic bureau, and is located in the police headquarters building in the central part of the city. The police ticket for a violation of the traffic regulations, except in cases of speed higher than 30 miles an hour, reckless driving, driving while drunk and leaving after colliding, orders the offender to go to the violation bureau within 24 hours after it is served. A_complete file is kept at the bureau of all drivers. This file is kept by names and operators’ permit number. On the arrival at the bureau of the complete record of traffic vio- lations of the individual, an examina- tion is given at once. The violator Is then told that he has the option of paying the scheduled charge for the offense, or if he prefers, he may go 1o court. If he pays the matter is closed, but if he elects to stand trial a summons s madé out for his ap- pearance in court at a designated time, and the officer making the ar- rest any witnesses are served ued on Page 2, Column 4.) e e KILLED IN GUN AFFRAY. Chicago Man = Dead, Another ‘Wounded in Illinois Resort. DUBUQUE, Iowa, Deember 20 (). —John Shea’ of Chicago was killed and Laverne Johns of Platteville, Wis., was probably fatally wounded in. | a shooting early today at a notorious resort known as the Bon Ton, two miles south of East Dubuque, 11 Mike Allegrette of Chicago, who recently lpurch&ud the place, was held by po- lice. (Con ‘fiiflfo"Programs—nge R Visitors to Canada Find Law Barring Re-Entry to U. S. By the Associated Press. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, December 23.—A number of Brit- ish-born residents of the United States who came to Canada for Christmas have found themselves barred from returning to America because of a sudden tightening of the immigration Jaws, Many have businesses in cities on the Pacific Coast. Protests and ap- s have been forwarded to ‘Washington. A A 4L FRENCH NAB BRITON A GERMAN ARRSPY Police Say Former Officer Has Admitted Being Active for Year. By the Assoctated Press. PARIS, December 29.— Vivian Stranders, a former. British officer, un- der arrest here, has admitted, the po- lice say, that for the last vear he acted as a spy._on French aviation for the German esplonage service. Stranders was apprehended last weelk as he was about to leave Paris for Germany. He is sald to have told the authorities he visited the French capital seven times in the last 12 months, carrying important informa- tion back to Berlin. Five Imprisoned Year Ago. France also had a spy case last De- cember, when three Englishmen and a girl, Marthe Moreuil, alias Marcelle Monseuil, artists’ model and parachute jumper, were arrested. It was charg- ed that they, too, were after French aviation secrets. Of the men, John Henry Leather, chief representative in Paris of a British radlo firm, was sentenced to three years and fined 3,000 francs, while Ernest Oliver Phillips, his man- ager, and Willlam Fischer, born in Poland, but a naturalized English man, were given two years and fined 2,000 francs each. Mlle. Moreuil and Mlle. Andree Fefebre, who was brought into the case during the investigation, ‘were given six months each. Plof Story Ridiculed. The accused stuck to their story that they were merely after business secrets. It was shown that Mille. Moreull had been paid monthly, ac- cording to the information she was able to give Leather concerning French radio and airplane secrets. The British foreign offic denied all knowledge of their activities, and i]’*‘rom‘h aerial experts ridiculed the al- leged plot, pointing out that the Brit- ish air attache in_ Paris and the French attache in London were ac- corded the fullest possible facilities to obtain information concerning the progress of aerial science in each country. Train Bandits Sentenced. CHEYENNE, Wyo., December 29 .—Sentences ranging from 1 to 27 years today were given eight men and a woman involved in the robbery last August of a mail train of $320,000 in bonds and currency near Rock Springs; Wyo., by Judge T. Blake Ken- nedy in Federal District Court here. WHEELER CHARGES DRY AGENTS' PLOT EUE T L Conspiracy to Advance Wet Propaganda Alleged in Talk to President. President Coolidge today was told by Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel of the Anti-Saloon League of America, that he is convinced of the existence among certain prohibition enforcement agents of a conspiracy to advance wet propaganda. Mr. Wheeler called to the attention of the President “the harm done to enforcement by prohibition agents and other Federal officlals hostile to pro- hibition or incompetent,” who, he claime, remain in the service for a time only.to.resign and, hecome propa- gandists for the opponents of DProhi- bition by claiming that prohibition is a failure and cannot be enforced and that modification is the remedy. Mr. Wheelers expressed himself as being favorable to the proposal to dis- continue the use of poisons in dena- tured alcohol for commercial use, but he doubts very much if some of the suggested adulterants will successful-} ly answer the purpose. He said that when an individual deliberately breaks the law of the land he puts himself in the position of one who is deliber- ately attempting suicide. Raps Resigned Official. While discussing the alleged injury done to enforcement by agents and Federal officials, Wheeler called attention to the activities of Nathan- iel Harben, who has just resigned as an _assistant United States attorney in New York. He said that Mr. Har- ben is the latest of the leaders of the wets to circulate propaganda to the detriment of enforcement “If. as he claims, there are 22,000 places where liquor is sold in New York,” Mr. Wheele: “then his department is a dismal failure and the whole group should resign.” Mr. Wheeler made the claim that an honest effort on the part of com- petent officials soon wouid change such a condition as is claimed by Mr. Harben. Mr. Wheeler said the scheme of the “derelict” officials or agents ap- pears to have for its thering of heer and w Pledges Enforcement Support. “I called to pledge to the Pres dent,” Mr. Wheeler sald after his at die; . “redoubled support during 1927 of the friends of the eighteenth amendment in every effort made by the administration to secure bef enforcement and the sary enforcement le; ing the reorganization bill and the civil service bill and such other a ministration measures as have been requested. The election of dry lators and law enforcement governors in practically all of the States where such elections were held last Nover ber indicites a wholesome trend in the States to accept their share for responsibility for law enforcement.” Mr. Wheeler stated that the great- est number of liquo iolations are in the East, more especially in New Yor and Baltimore. He said that the con- dition of the courts of the District of Columbia regarding the handling of prohibition violations has improved in the past year. | BLACK PLAGUE VIRiJLENT. IRKUTSK, Siberfa, December 29 (&), —An epidemlc of black plague, taking a 100 per cent mortality toll, has broken out on the Mongolian steppes near Irkutsk. The government has sent a medical expedition to the stricken area. By the Associated Press. LONDON, December 29.—A big red mystery automobile, costing $100,000 to construct and belleved capable of developing a speed of 200 miles an hour, thus shattering all existing records, will be sent to the United States in February for a speed test on some Florida beach yet to be se- lected. ‘The car, which is shaped like a sea sled, and has inclosed tires to cut down wind pressure, is 32 feet long and 6 feet It represents a seri- ous attem the part of British manufaetu: records The car sumes 3 Huge Red Mystery Auto Coming to U. S. To Test Its Claim to 200 Miles an Hour and capable of developing 1,000 horse- power. The power is divided over two motors, one being slung over each axle. It contains a secret trans- mission and control system recently fnvented. The manufacturers of the car, which was constructed secretly at Wolverhampton, claim that it. is the largest ever built The speed test in the United States will be held under the auspices of the contest board of the American Auto- mobile Association. In the test it will be driven by Maj. H. O. Sea- grave, noted British speed driver. The car, which was designed by Louis H. Contalen, was manufactured by the Sunbeam Motor Car Co., Ltd., in collaboration with three other tire, gasoline and oil firms. b legis-4 WEST DENIES BET WAS PUT ON GAME: LAIDITONAHORSE Man Who Handled Money in Base Ball Incident Issues Surprise Statement. COBB, SPEAKER AND WOOD LAY PLANS TO FIGHT BACK ‘Scandal of 1919” Apparently Near Legal Stage—Leonard Did Not Sell Letters, He Says. { By the Assoclated Press. { DETROIT, December 29.—Fred O. West, Navin Fleld employe, men- | tioned as the man who placed allegad bets on the Detroit-Cleveland game of September 25, 1919, that resuited in charges against Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker, issued a statement today denying that any money was bet on the game. The money involved in the transaction, he declared, was bet on a horse race. The base ball bet, according to West, was “Dutch” Leonard's idea. Leonard, he said, wanted to bet the money on Detroit against Cleveland, but West, instead of placing the money on the game, bet it on the race, he says. When Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and Joe Wood say they did not bet on the game of September 25, 1919—the game between Detroit and Cleveland at Navin Field—they are speaking the truth; they did npt bet a cent. But neither did “Dutch” Leonard bet on the game. “The money that figures in the case was bet on a horse, and the horse won. The money that was given Joe Wood by me and the certified check that Wood mailed to Leonard was the original bet and the winnings Cobb and Speaker had no money up.” Advised Bet on Horse. West declared Leonard called him to the clubhouse on September 24 { and told him he wanted to bet on the Detroit-Cleveland game the following day. “He asked me if I could get a check for $1,600 cashed. I told him I didn’t think I could and that I didn’t want to be responsible for that amount of money overnight.” He called Leonard by telephons that evening, West said, and was told to get the money from Joe Wood in the morning and bet on Detroit against Cleveland. “The next morning I went to the hotel and met Wood,” the statement -eontinues. “I-told-him: thet Leonard had left the money with him and that 1 was to make the bét Leonard men- tiondd. I wa# to turn the winnings over t0 Wood after the game and ‘Wood said he would send it to Leon- ard. “I told Wood T had a good thing for that day, a hot tip on a harse | called Panaman. I also told him that I would like to lay the money on | the horse because I could get much | better odds. Wood said ‘That would be a good bet.’ ! Prepared to Make Good. | “I was prepared to make good pa:t | of the bet if the horse lost. I told Wood that I could not make good all of it. Wood said he would make good the balance in case of the horse losing. “Wood gave mie an envelope that { held the money,” Wesi continued. He | then placed one bet of $200 on Pana- { man with one handhook, he said, and two others of $100 each with other bookmakers. “I tried to get $200 more ! on the horse, but failed,” he added the money that was laid was i | | By accepting the lowest odds quoted {on Panaman, West said, he effected ! immediate collection from the book- { makers. “I got $680 in cash, hustled { to the railmad station and met Wood and handedq him the. money,” West | went on. “I also paid him the tw $100 bets and the winnings on them I had not collected the winnings nor had I taken up the original sums bet. 1 I paid this out of my own pocket and on the rext day I went to the handbooks and collected. How the money was divided after Wood got 1t | T don't know.” 1 West said that Joo Wood did not { testify to the real bet because “he hoped to bring Leonard East by keep ing hidden from him the fact that the ;money was not bet on the ball game Wood tried to bring Leonard to Chi { eago, and had he come then the real ts would have heen “flashed” on m. But it seems this ruse failed to ] bring Leonard into the open.” { LEGAL Cobb aud Speaker Map Plans With Their Attorneys. sociated Press. O, December 29.—The bage candal of 1919 after a fort- night's pre-view in the public prints, prepared today for its debut before I court of law. In the cast are some of the great ball—Ty Cobb, Smokey Joe Wood, Dutch Leonard, Commisefoner Lan- dis—with. Ban Johnson, American | League president, and Frank Nsvin, ! head of the Detroit Tigers, in speak- { ing roles, and an ensemb!: of citize as, | judges, lawyers and fans backed by a | grand chorus of vox populi. | What court will see the premiere jof the of 1919” depends upon_the d 1 of attorneys picked by Cobb peaker to exonerate them of harges that they took | part_in ixed” garie September . 1919, Indeed, neither Cobb nor Speaker has committeed himself to the siatenient that legal action will be take:n. Attorneys at Work. William H. Boyd, Cleveland attor- ney, representing Speaker, sald he is galhering evidence to determine if { By ball a | the former manager of the Cleveland club has any legal recourse, but be- yond that has not committed himself. James O. Murfin of Detroit, Cobb's attormey, said: “T am _sure we will find a way getting Cobb's side of this cass before the public in definite fashion and will clear his name of any stigma which may attach to the present base ball scandal. I have known Cobb 20 years and T am convinced of his in- nocence.” The silent threat of legal action in- ferred from conferences during the past_two days of Cobb and S 7 ;éfitfiuéd on Page 2, Column 19