Evening Star Newspaper, November 30, 1928, Page 2

s g 2 » BYRD'S FLAGSHIP TAKES ON SUPPLIES City of New York Is Expected to Leave Dunedin Tomorrow on Southward Cruise. BY RUSSELL OW Wireless to The Star ‘Times. DUNEDIN, New Zealand, November | 30.—So many final checks of mate had to be made today that the bark | City of New York, of Licut. Comdr. \ard E. Byrd's Antarctic expedition, | not get away on its Southward | : but it seemed certain that the | e some time tomorrow. ith a clear sky. ¢ work to go forward more swittly, and all day large cranes - been dumping stores into the Ci ¢ New York, so that every place b tween decks will be filled by the time Jatches are put on. ‘Then the ai nd the dogs and gasoline will be By New York planes loadec There are continual howls of glee over the way things are piling up beloy Every few mom somebody staggering down the after compani way with a bag of bundles in his arm Capt. Parker just fell down with his sea bag, letting out a string of Marine Corps cuss words. Then he called for Telp “Bring down those slickers—no, don't; it m: no, bring ‘em along.” So they were thrown down on top of him. n- Bunk Appropriated. | Dean (Babe) Smith, 6-foot pilot, has a special bunk for him, but some doubt whether he ever will be able to use it, as it has been appropriated hy the radio- men for the storing of supplics, and they have filled it nearly full, “Babe” was very proud of that bunk and d to talk about it all the way down on the whaler C. A. Larsen. As he has seen it ppear slowly under a growing accumulation of materials, he has_protested mildly. “Isn't there quite a lot in here?” he has said plaintively several times; but his last few roars have been reduced to complete suppression as he has con- templated the tiny hole through which he must crawl to sleep. The only way to arouse him is to ask whether he thinks sufficient radio supplies are aboard, to which he replies with a scream of indignation. Every cabin is in the same condition. Dr. Francis E. Coman, who has been up two nights checking foodstuffs, who says his Dundreary whiskers are get- ting drearier and drearier, comes down once in a while to look into his cabin then shuts the door and steals quietly away. It is loaded with bundles and bags and there is no place to lie down. It will take a day at least to get it straightened around. Movie Men's Room Full. ‘The movie men’s room is so full they cannot get to their bunks for a week. However, nobody considers discomforts, as they are to be expected, and every one smiles. Capt. Melville has been making ready the last mail for the United States and he will act as the “farthest south” American postmaster on the expedition. Richard Brophy has been dashing about all day making sure that the last things were aboard, after giving out the clothing issue at 6 o'clock this morning. The clothes are excellent and in good condition. Bernt Balchen has come down the companionway, looking as happy as a ! lark, with his eyes dancing. ‘Never was there such an expedi- tion,” he said, and he has seen two of them in the north with Amundsen. Brophy's Efforts Praised. Comdr. Byrd was greatly pleased with the results of Brophy's efforts, remarking: “He has done an excellent plece of work and accomplished a most unusual task in assembling all this material here and getting it loaded. He has kept his head under difficult conditions and deserves great credit.” Last night Comdr. Byrd and the mem- bers of the expedition were guests at a civic reception in the town hall, at which Mayor Tavener presided. He welcomed them to New Zealand, and ! told them that he would extend an even more cordial welcome to them on their return. Sir Charles Statham, a member of Parliament, also spoke. Comdr. Byrd, in replying, promised to return to this | port when he comes back. Comdr. ‘Byrd also read a telegram from Prime Minister Coates, in which the premicr said: “Qn the eve of the departure of your expedition for the Antarctic 1 desire on behalf of the government and the people of New Zealand to extend to yourself, your officers and the other | members of the expedition our cordial good wishes for the success of the un- ! dertaking. “We s%ncerely trust that all will go well with you and your party and that, as a result of your exploration and re- | search work, the scientific world will be greatly enriched. New Zealand will gladly render you any assistance in its | power should the occasion arise. Best ‘wishes to you all.” Friendlier Relationship. The feeling has been expressed on al sides, not only by Americans living in New Zealand and members of the government, but aiso by the average persons in private conversations, that | the expedition has done a great deal to | bring about a_{riendlier relationship between the United States and this country. i The work was begun by the visit of the American fleet three years ago, and Comdr. Byrd, whose interest in international relationships Is very great, has done much to increase the liking | | of New Zealand for Americans, they say. Peace has been shattered—the dogs have just arrived alongside, Barks and yells fill the air, and when they all get aboard, the probabilities are that every man will sleep with a husky in his arms and “concerts” will be frequent. CONFESSION OBTAINED IN MURDER OF FARMER JVictim's Body Set Afire—Accused Man and Boy Believed in Witcheraft, Police Say. By the Associated Press. YORK, Pa., November 30.—Accused of killing Nelson D. Rehmeyer, 59-year- old farmer of North Hopewell Town ship, and_setting his body afire, John Blymire, 32, and John Curry, 14, were arrested today. Both have confessed to the slaying, according to police. lymire implicated a third person, who as not been apprehended The motive for the murder has not | been definitely establiched, but author- ities said they had learned that Reh- meyer and Blymire both believed in witcheraft, In a signed confession the Curry boy told how he and Blymire attacked Reh- meyer last Tuesday night. at the lonely spot where their victim lived. U. S.-Austrian Pact Approved. VIENNA, November 30 (#).—The trade committee of the Austrian Na- tional Assembly today voted approval of a measure for ratification of an amity, commerce and consular treaty between Austria and the United States. ‘There are 150 youngsters in Los An- geles Times Free Aviation School for 'I‘ boya. ‘ | homemade are trying to | he said, Edna Petrie, 11, 3419 M Street, Victim of Thanksgiv- ing Attack by “Indians.” Poy Inconsolable at Thought Playmate May Be Marred Permanently by Accident. The victim of a realistic Thanksgiving attack on the Pilgrims by Indians, 11- year-old Edna Petrie, 3419 M street, a patient at Georgetown Hospital, wher: physicians fear she will lose her left eye, struck by an etts, 12 year old, 3429 | Prospect avenue, fired the arrow, and he is inconsolable at th> thought that his playmate may be marred perma- as the result of the attack which d yesterday with about 10 companions in a wooded strip near Edna’s home. A school play of the day before fresh i the children were cele- | yesterday by staging an “Indian attack on the Pilgrims.” The air was thick with arrow shot from bo denly Edna reamed. One of the a had struck her squarely in the cye. She was rushed Georgetown Hospital, where surgeons ve the eye. Rockefeller Endows liu'ccht. ‘THE HAGUE, Holland, Novembe (#).—Trustees of the Rockefeller Foun- dation today placed 400,000 florins, or about $170,000, at the disposal of the University of ‘ht. The money will be used to establis new School of | Physiology. h a THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1 ok PHYSICIANS FEAR GIRL STRUCK BY ARROW WILL LOSE HER EYE | r 1 | | o B PETRI Below: WILBUR RICKETTS, —Star Staff Photos. FRIENDSHIP TO U. S. PROMISED BY GIL IN INAUGURAL SPEECH (Continued From Page.) would be a task of his administration, to strive to approach ever nearer to perfection. Therefore, he | wished his government to be a govern- | ment made up of men best prepared. | “Men who know how to be loyal to| man,” he added, “must be replaced by men who know how to be loyal to the count Portes Gil said he would not consider personal friendship in appointing as- sistants. He would seek the most ca: pable men. These must devote all their time and attention to the country. must serve the cause and not men, and must abide by all the principles of the revolution. Their private life must con. form to the discrect regulations that | government officials were obliged to ob- | serve due to their close connection with the masses of the nation. ‘The government, he announced, would | adhere to article 27 of the constitution | —the article referring to oil and land problems—and also to article 23—the article referring to labor laws. Free- dom of expression, whether verbal or written, and including the full right to criticize the President, would be re- spected by the government. He promised that the state would take no part in the presidential elec- tion of next year to choose his suc- cessor other than to guarantee equal rights to contending factions. He hoped that rival candidates and parties fully understood that it was the vote of the people that they must strive for and that they should do so by stressing ideas and principles and not by stirring up violence. -“This,” he added, “will gxsrk a new path in our electoral prac- ces.” Only the establishment of solidly footed political partics with a definite program and fixed opinions could arate politics from the administration and prevent the state from becoming the elector, he said. Portes Gil also promised that contin- ued efforts for the betterment of the condition of workers would be made. Such betterment would assure an in- crease in production and in the indus- trial development of the country as well as the intellectual and economic progress of the people. It was impera- tive to go on distributing small parcals of land to peasants in order to create a free and prosperous farming class. The religious problem was not men- tioned by the inccming President. Portes Gil took the oath of office on 2 huge wooden platform erected in the middle of the stadium. On it were seated the retiring President, members of Congress, government officials, su- preme court judges, the diplomatic corps, governors of states and mili- :ary chiefs from all parts of the coun- Ty. The ceremony took the form of a Joint session of Congress, with Deputy Marte Gomez presiding. The deputy administered the oath of office. INJURED BRAKEMAN SAVES FAST LIMITED By the Assoclated Press. MEMPHIS, Tenn., November 30.—A railroad brakeman, suffering from a broken collar bone, who saved the Pan- ama Limited, the Illinois Central's fast Chicago-New Orieans train, from dis- aster was a belated hero here today. W. C. Lightfoot, the brakeman, suf- fered the injured shoulder when a string of freight cars piled up along the right of way near Polk, Tenn., Wednes- day night and blocked the passage of the fast passenger train, which was to ‘lnlI'\W in a few minutes, railroad offi- cials were informed. Lightfoot, despite | his injury, rushed up the tracks and with the aid of a lantern succeeded in JONES IS WILLING TO SUCCEED CURTIS; WATSON MENTIONED ___(Continued m Second Page.) particularly because the impression has gained ground that Senator Curtis wi relinquish his seat in the Senate during the present sion. If he does not, he will continue as leader. Many of the Republican Senators would like to see him remain in the Senate and carry on as leader during the short session, which opens Monday. Senator Curtis has not yet indicated what his plans are, but there is a distinct impression that he will leave the Senate at a com- paratively early date, unless he is as- sured that the Governor-elect of Kan: who takes office early in the year, will appoint as Senator Curtis’ successor a man who has been a mem- ber of the Republican group in the Sun- flower State to which Senator Curtis belongs. Gov. Paullen, the incumbent, would assuredly do so. It is understood that President Coolidge would be glad to see Senator Curtis continue as leader during the rest of the President’s term. Senator Jones has been whip of the Senate ever since Senator Curtis be- came leader. His handling of the ‘im- portant flood control bill at the last sesslon which was passed unanimously by the Senate was a distinct feather in his cap. While he underwent a se- rious operation last Spring, Senator Jones is today in good physical condi- tion and his health would not inter- fere, it is said, with his accepting the duties of leader. The Washington Senator is one of those who believes that a special ses- sion of Congress next Spring probably will be unavoidable for the considera- tion of farm legislation and tariff revi- sion. He takes the view that the House committee on ways and means could well hold hearings and begin work on a tariff revision bill during the coming short session so that it would be ready to report to the new Congress soon after that body was called in special session in the Spring. Senator Jones is chairman of the committee on commerce. He probably will introduce a resolution ecalling for an investigation by the committee of the sinking of the steamship Vestris, so that his committee can consider the advisability of such an investigation. He said today, however, that he doubted whether a congressional investigation would be necessary in view of the in- Vestigation which has been held in New York and which is being made by the Department of Commerce. The West Coast, Senator Jones said, is well satisfied with the election of Herbert Hoover as President. As one of the leading drys in Congress, Sena- tor Jones also expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the presidential race. “While there were other issues in the rect submission of the wet and dry question,” said Senator Jones, “‘the out- come of the presidentia]l election must be regarded as showing a strong senti- ment’in this country for prohibition.” SEAPLANE FORCED DOWN. Privately Owned Craft Towed Ashore by Coast Guard. ELIZABETH CITY, N. C.,, November 30 (#).—Forced down in the ocean by engine trouble yesterday afternoon, the seaplane 6945 was brought safely ashore by the crew of the Kittyhawk Coast Guard station about 1 mile north of that place, according to reports reach- ing here. W. D. Atwater and Lester Ingles, | who recently purchased the former military plane in New York, were at the controls on a homeward-bound voyage to Miami when motor trcuble developed and they were forced to the water. The plane was being towed today by the Oregon Inlet Coast Guard boat to flagging the limited. GOSPEL MISSION S | I | | { Manteo, where repairs will be made. ERVES THANKSGIVING » campaign, and while there was no di- | Northcott FULL CONFESSION CLAIMED IN DEATH Admits Slaying Youth, Prosecutor’s Deputy Declares in California. By the Associated Press. BAKERSFIELD, Calif, November 30.—Deputy Distriet Attorney Earle Redwine of Riverside County this morn- ing announced that Gordon Stewart Northeott had made a complete con- fession of the slaying of an unidentified Mexican youth on the Northcott ranch, near Riverside, Northcott was said to have told the officers that Sanford Clark, his 15-year- old nephew and principal accuser, aid- ed him in the murder. He then told how he had burned the head at the ranch and had taken the body to Puente, Calif, where he buried it. Northceott previously admitted mistreat- ing the Mexican youth, “I am happy, now that I have told ," Northcott was quoted as having said. Confessed on Train. ‘The confession came by degrees as officers were returning Northcott from British Columbia, where he was cap- tured several months ago. His first ad- mission, made late yesterday, was that he had burned the head of the youth at the ranch and buried the body at Puente, but he declined to say who killed the boy. Although his captors grilled him thoroughly they failed to shake from him any admission that he slew three other youths named in murder indict- ments returned against him and Mrs. Sarah Louisa Northcott, who is said to be his mother. Mrs. Northcott is being held in Calgary, Alberta, pending extradition. At one time, officers said, Northcott voiced an_inclination to “take all the blame.” In the past he has said to have expressed fear over the fate of | Mrs. Northcott, who he generally refers to as “My dear little mother.” Officers | have attempted also to get him to admit that Mrs. Northcott is not his mother, but thus far they have been unsuc- cessful. Northcott indicated that he had knowledge of the existence of the other three boys named as his victims: Wal- ter Collins of Los Angeles and Louis and Nelson Winslow of Pomona, all of whom disappeared many months ago. The “ape man,” as he has been called by his relatives, told the officers that he feared Collins never would return alive, but that he felt that the Winslow boys were safe, Held on Boy’s Story. Tt was the revelation of young Clark, who told authorities that the North- cott ranch in Riverside County was a “murder farm,” that led to Northcott's arrest. Young Clark told investigators that Mrs. Northcott and her son forced him to take part in the slaying of one of the boys. Bones and bits of clothing uncovered at the ranch convinced in- vestigators that fire and quick lime had been used to destroy bodies of the vic- tims. . Although officers on the train bearing the suspect back to Southern California frora British Columbia. withheld the details of the confession, they declared they believed the 22-year-old so-called “ape man” had told enough to warrant a conviction. Last night the questioning officers disclosed that Northcott had broken down under their continued grilling, and, screaming “I am willing to die; I have nething to live for,” made his first admission. Late last night Northcott was seen | through a window in his compartment by newspaper men. He was facing his captors and had pencil in hand. This was taken to indicate that he may have been continuing his con- fession. He appeared composed. GALE CAUSES LINER T0 LIMP INTO PORT By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, November 30.—The gales which swept the North Atlantic and the European coast this week sent the British liner Homeric into port here with 15 feet of her forecastle head rail- ing torn away and caused passengers on the Leviathan to miss Thanksgiving day dinners ashore. ‘The Homeric, which docked 24 heurs behind schedule, also had 14 glass ports on the promenade deck broken. The Leviathan bore no outward signs of the storm, but the 12 hours she lost on her schedule testified to its fury. Although the Leviathan's passengers missed planned dinners ashore they had turkey and all the trimmings aboard the vessel. The steward had laid in a stock of the birds before sailing against a possible delay in reaching New York. STITT’S TERM IS ENDED. Rear Admiral E. R. Stitt ended his second four-year term as surgeon gen- eral of the Navy at midnight last night and was detached today for duty at the Naval Medical School in Washington. Appointment of his successor by President Coolldge is expected in the next few days. Dr. Stitt, who has been on duty in Washington almost 20 years, is a spe- clalist in tropical diseases and serology. Among those known to be under con- sideration to succeed Admiral Stitt is Capt. Charles Malden Oman, head of the Navy Medical School here. Ad- miral Stitt held this post when ap- pointed surgeon general, DINNER TO MANY Scene at the mission vesterday, wherq Harvey V. Preatice, the superintendent, and members of the board MI trustecs were hosts to 150 homeless men, —Star Staff Photo. Branc Ten Army Planes To Take 31 Men To New York Game Thirty-one Army officers from this city, flying in 10 Army air- planes from Bolling Field, will fly to New York today and tomorrow to attend the Army-Stanford foot ball game there tomorrow afternoon. The little aerial fleet will in- clude the big Fokker C-2 trans- port plane assigned for the use of F. Trubee Davison, Assistant Secretary of War for Aeronautics; three 0-1 observation planes, three 0-11 observation planes and three 0-2-H planes, all piloted by officers on duty at Bolling Field and in the War Department. Representative Frank James of Michigan, a member of the House committee on military affairs, will be a passenger in the trans- port plane. All of the planes are expected to return here Sun- day COOLIDGE'S HUNT CANCELED BY RAIN Disappointment Is Shown by Glances at Sky as He Paces Clubhouse. BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG, Staff Correspondent of The Star. SWANNANOA CLUB, BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, Va., November 30.—Rain this morning forced the President to change plans he had made to spend the greater part of the day in the open, and instead of shouldering his gun in quest of quail and other small game in the neighborhood of his mountain retreat, he is confined to the house. He tested the two shotguns he brought to Virginia with him, before going to church in Charlottesville yes- terday morning and the luck he had at the traps to the rear of the house, only served to whet his appetite for some real shooting today. He was disappointed tco, because of the Tain. This was mani- fested in a number of ways, principally by his pacing up and down the covered marble terrace circling the club house, and his frequent glances toward the darkly clouded sky above. Richard Clemmer, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Waynesboro, the nearest town to the temporary ‘White House, and A. R. Moorhead, who owns a large estate about seven miles from Swannonoa, called on the Presi- dent soon after he had finished break- fast to invite him to Mr. Moorhead’s place to shoot quail. They brought with them a huge ham of the variety and flavor for which this section of the Old Dominion is noted and some quail shot on the Moorhead place yesterday, which gifts greatly pleased the President. Assured of Let-Up. Several times during the morning the President appeared to be tempted to brave the downpour and go gunning in spite of the weather. He no doubt would have done so, but fog made it difficult to see any distance. Some of those about the President who presumed to know something about the changes in weather, assured him that the rain would let up about noon. The President and Mrs. Coolidge ate their Thanksgiving dinner alone in the big marble building. serving as their home. They sat down to the feast at 7:30 o'clock following a busy day, which included a luncheon at Charlottesville, attended by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and Govs. Byrd of Virginia and McLean of North Sarolina, and attendance at the Virginia-North Carolina foot ball game for a brief period. Two Governors Call. Govs. Byrd and McLean called at the Swannonoa Club late in the after- noon and chatted for half an hour or so with Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge. They were the only company at the house during the day. During the evening the President and Mrs. Coolidge are known to have dis- cussed, among other things, the an- nouncement by Gov. and Mrs. Trumbull of Connecticut of the engagement of their daughter Florence to John Cool~ idge. Neither the President nor Mrs. Coolidge has made any comment for publication. It was sald today in be- half of the President by one of his associates that Mr. Coolidge had noth- ing to say. Both the President and Mrs. Coolidge are known to be very fond of Miss Trumbull and to look with favor upon her as a daughter-in-law, but the President, at least, is said to consider the couple a trifle young for marriage. Besides, he thinks John ought to be little further up the ladder as a producer and wage earner before marrying. Warmly Greeted. Everywhere the President and Mrs. Coolidge have appeared since coming to this section. they have been warmly greeted. ‘They received an ovation when they arrived at the foot ball game, where more than 10,000 persons were on hand. ‘The only sad note which has crept into the holiday period here is the news from Washington that Mrs, Frank B. Stearns, left behind at the White House there, is seriously ill. It had been planned that Mr. and Mrs. Stearns world share the Thanksgiving trip, but Mrs. Stearns’ illness, though not seri- ous Wednesday, prevented this. The President left Col. James F. Coupal, his persona physician, to care for her. Vs oy FOUR MEN FORFEIT $10 IN PAPER RACK CHARGES Police Detailed to Stop Practice of Taking Publications Without Depositing Money. Four men arrested by police of the fifth precinct for stealing newspapers from street racks forfeited $10 each in Police Court today. They were arrested by police especially detailed by Capt. Sanford of No. 5 to guard the racks and break up the practice of taking news- papers without depositing the exact change. Those who forfeited collateral were William Smith, 76, 400 block of Eighth street southeast; Willlam Dulin, 56, of the 400 block of Tenth street southeast; Fred Fowler, colored, 40 years old, 1200 block of Walter street southeast, and Fred Moore, 56 years old. The arresting officers were C. Carter, T. Bailey, E. J. Ball and F. W. Baily. MRS. M. E. PARKER RITES. Services Tomorrow Afternoon With Burial in Congressional Cemetery. Funeral services for Mrs. Marion Edith Parker, . who died suddenly at her residence in the Wardman Park Annex, 2401 Calvert street, Wednesday, will be conducted at the V. L. Speare Co., undertakers, 1009 H street tomor- row afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment will be in Congressional Cemetery. Mrs. Parker was doing some cleaning with gasoline when overcome and was found unconscious by her daughter-in- law, Mrs. George R. Suter. The coroner, Dr. J. Ramsay Nevitt, issued a certificate of death due to natural causes, M Parker leaves her son, George R. Suter, manager of the Connecticut Avenue of the Franklin National Bank. { I | | came back Monday. REPORT ON NERGER GIVEN CLOSE STUDY Delivery to Senator Capper Expected to Be Made Tomorrow. | | | | | Now nearly a week overdue, the re- port prepared by the Federal Bureau of Efficiency on the result of its exhaustive + investigation of the transsit merger plan is still in the office of Herbert D. Brown chief of the bureau, undergoing careful review and editing. Mr. Brown was in seclusion today, go- ing over the comprehensive report, | which covers more than 200 pages. At- taches of the bureau, however, indicated that he may complete his task this aft- ernoon, but that there is little likelihood that the report would be twrned over to Chairman Capper of the Senate Dis- | trict committee until tomorrow. Bureau investigators who wrote the | report submitted it to Mr. Brown the | latter part of last week, and it had been planned to have it ready for pres- entation to Senator Capper upon his return to Washington. The Senator ‘The importance of the report and the far-reaching cffect it is expected to have on the Senate committee’s ac- tion on the transportation unification scheme is said to have led to the care- ful scrutiny which Mr. Brown is giv- ing the contents. Every phase involv- ing a unification of the transit lines is understood to be treated comprehensive- ly in the document, which goes .be~ yond the scope of the merger agree- ment now pending in Congress by dis- cussing labor conditions and other sub- Jjects not touched in the merger pact of the transportation companies, More interest than anticipated is be- ing shown in the report since informa- tion leaked out early this week that it would go into the details of the prudent investment theory of valuation as compared with the reproduction theory on which the valuation of the Washington traction companies was de- termined. Senator Capper has since stated that he favored the latter method, which is used by the Interstate Commerce Com- mission in arriving at a fair value of railroad companies. A change in the existing mgthod of determining the value of the local transportation companies, which the Senate committee likely may discuss when the merger agreement is under | consideration, would have a revolu- tionary effect on all local utilities, as well as the rates. Application of the I. C. C. method to the local utilities, it was pointed out, probably would lower the valuation of all of the utility cor- porations. SHIP SIX MILES OFF AS VESTRIS KEELED First Mate of Montoso Denies Knowing Steamer Needed Assistance. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, November 30.—An American tramp steamer was only six miles from the Steamer Vestris when it was slowly keeling over on the after- noon of November 11, and was only 45 miles away two hours before the Vestris sank the next day, it was testified at the Federal hearing into the Vestris disaster today. Despite its nearness to the scene, however, the tramp steamer did not know of the Vestris’ need for assistance as it carried no wireless. George Frederick Harrison, first mate | of the American tramp Montoso, was the witness who gave this information. A full gale was blowing and appar- ently the look-out on the Montoso saw nothing 1n the position of the Vestris to | call for investigation, and the Vestris made no attempt to communicate by signals. After the tramp's first mate was ex- cused United States Attorney Tuttle, who fs conducting the inquiry, stated that, according to wireless reports sub- mitted by Capt. Luther Martin Over- street of the battleship Wyoming, one of the rescue vessels, the Italian steamer Giorgio Ohlson was even nearer to the | Vestris at the time of the distress call | than the Montoso. STUDENT FOUND DEAD. Dr. Cohen of San Francisco ,Dies at Oxford University. OXFORD, England, November 30 (A).—Dr. R. D. Cohen of San Fran- cisco, a university student living at| Oxford, was found dead today outside | the window of his residence, from | which it is believed he fell. Dr. Cohen, who lived at Canterbury | House, on King Edward street, was | discovered on the pavement early this morning. He was a non-collegiate stu- dent in the university in his third | year, STORM WARNING ISSUED. 45-Mile Wind Anticipated byA Weather Bureau at Buffalo. BUFFALO, N. Y., November 30 (#).— | The Government Weather Bureau to- | day issued a southwest storm warning for Lakes Erle and Ontarlo, | Winds, the bureau said, would in-| crease through the day, becoming fresh | to strong, with rain and probably snow | flurries late tonight and Saturday. At | Buffalo a 45-mile-an-hour wind was | anticipated. The storm early today was centered ;s"ene they barely escaped a collision | guage. ) in direct interparliamentary diplomacy | PHILBERT BITNER, Filling station manager, who was shot to death last night by one of four men who pulled up before his station | in an automobile, MOTIVE OF SLAYING OF MANAGER OF GAS (Continued From First Page.) i companions, and which was abandoned | about 10 minutes after the shooting by | two colored men, and the bullet which passed through Bitner’s body and was found lying on the floor of the filling | station office after crashing through the | glass of the door. The bullet, copper Jjacketed, is sufficiently marked by the bore of the gun to enable an expert to identify the pistol from which it was, fired, police think. ‘The shooting occurred as Bitner was checking up on the amount of gasoline in his tanks, preparatory to closing. He told police that a car containing four colored men_drove up to the curb on the Rhode Island avenue side of the station and stopped. All got out, but one stayed beside the car. The other three approached him and without warning, the tallest whipped out a pis- tol and fired twice, One shot went wild. Witnesses' Stories Vary. | As Bitner collapsed they turned and | ran for their car. Here the story told by numerous witnesses vary. Some say two of the men got in the car and started away before the others could reach it and that the two left behind scurried away on foot, and others say that all four got in the car and drove east on Rhode Island avenue. A car resembling the one used by the colored men was found abandoned 10 minutes later on the 1600 block of Third street. A passerby reported to police that he saw two colored men alight, carrying a blanket and iron pipe in their hands. One of them is said to have remarked to his fellow, “We better get away from here quick.” | The car was later discovered to hav been stolen from Thirteenth and U streets about an hour earlier. It be- longs to Wesley Johnson of 911 Ninth | street northeast. Bitner was taken to Garfield Hospital by a passing motorist, but physicians there saw at once that his wound would prove fatal. He died at 3 o'clock this morning. ‘The only motive members of the head- quarters homicide squad could suggest today was robbery. They think th: tion and that in the excitement one of them lost his head and fired. New Light on Case. A different light was thrown on the case, however, by Edward M. Payne of 233 Kentucky avenue southeast, who works at the filling station during the day. He said today that Bitner re- cently bought a blackjack. Bitner told him, Payne declared, that about a month ago he had trouble with some colored men and purchased the weapon for protection. Capt. Guy E. Burlingame of the sec- ond precinct and a detail had just ar- rived at the station house following a raid when the news of the shooting reached them. In speeding to the ith a large bus, which refused to give them the right of way despite the open siren on the police car. Mrs. Hazel M. Bitner, young widow of the dead man, was prostrated today, but declared that she would not be satisfied until her husband’s murderer is caught. She said she knew of no one with a grudge against him., The couple had been married three years. Mrs. Bitner is a supervisor in the Main | change of the Chesapeake & Potomac | ‘Telephone Co. | BALDWIN FRIENDLY TO BRITTEN'S PLAN | FOR ARMS PARLEY} STATION IS MYSTERY| i highly U.S. PROSPERITY (ITED BY HOOVER | Prices, Agriculture, Transe portation Dealt With in Re- port as Secretary. election as today in the partment for the fisc closed June 30. I fore n prod impros and the phe treated, while ¢ special ‘study. le Change in Azriculture. onditions in the fis preceding fiscal except, 1915 “It is true tha icultural proc od of tim as been deci in the producti mineral prod farm products, part necessities crease little, if a population. * On the ot is practically no limit to for manufact of which are luxuries or luxur for one type i elabo stantly comi whict . new are o use with the vancing standards of living and of the equipment for produetion.” Turning to another field, the repor remarked that “during the past or eight years the amount of const tion (of buildings) in the United Stat has been unparalleled in the histor this or any other important cou ‘This high activity reflects hoti pansion of the equipment -of indust and commerce,” Mr. Hoover’s repo said, after giving the figures of the con- tinuation, “and marked improvement in the quality of that equipment, and, above all, in the quality of the homes of the people.” Railway Service Better, Railroads were s2id to “have con- tinued to furnish adequate and efficient ervice and to enjoy large trafic and evenues.” The betterment of railway service has been the result of effort on th companies themselves. nd of co-operation on the part of shippers and receivers. of merchandise. The rallway companies have improved their roadbeds and cquipment. The co-operation of busi- ness men has been particularly con- spicuous in the form of regional ad isory boards of the American Railway Association.” ng the movement of gold to with the fluctuating reserve accompanied it, and ings in banic deposits, allowance “the extraordinary volume of trading on the stock exchanges” the | situation indicated “a healthy state of business activity.” The country’s forcign trade was llustrated by special teport sections prepared by Dr. Julius Klein, the d ipartment’s director in that activit | Canada’s emergence as the best cu: tomer of the United States, displacing Great Britain from a long helt |pressed that international exchanges {for the vear had brought about “very {heavy new investments oi: American capital in foreign countrie con- ade t n K T a Trade Exports Increase. Expansion in the export of ma tured goods, Dr. Klein said, in pre ing a study prepared with the a ance of E. Dana Du eign trade stati t remarkable fact d ‘The efficiency of Americ orous_efforts of An ss men in find r the active aid in prom report _declared, “have which must furnish sai classes of our peop! the exceptionally s of the United States, our high ards of living demand the imp number of important commodities which th cannot produce, of finding i mar] products has met w W. P. MacCracken, for Aeronautics, declared in panying report that there “phenomenal progress in_every of the industry” during the yea: remarked “unprecedented incre. air transport service alo: resulted in increasi flown air route mile from 8,396 miles to 11,191, | interest”in the field had brought co-operation and the devel _(Continued From First Page.) that both nations speak the same lan- | That fact makes experiments | at least feasible and when, as in thlsl case, ignorance of the other country’s | roint of view is at the bottom of the | trouble, there is much to be said for such experiments The Saturday Review said that Lord Lee's suggestion that naval problems might be solved by American and British statesmen in conversation, had clicited an unofficial “and not very im- portant rejoinder from Mr. Britten, who is well known as a ‘big navy man.'” ANOTHER CONFERENCE FORECAST Britons and Americans Desire Naval Arms Cut Parley, Britten Says, Chairman Britten of the House naval affairs committee, predicted to- day that another conference on naval limitation would result from his pro- posal for a naval discussion by members of the British Parliament and Con- gress. “The people of England and the Unit- ed States sincerely desire that their re- spective governments get together on naval limitations,” he said. “I feel that their desires will be gratified through the calling of another-confer- ence.” He expressed a belief that the general public discussion of his pro- over Southern Michigan and was head- ed northeastward. posal was doing much to bring about another conference by leading powers. Kaiser Branded Coward for Refusal To Join Fleet on By the Associated Press. AMSTERDAM, Holland, November 30. —The Telegraaf today published a story in connection with the death of Ad- miral Scheer of Germany, in which it Is stated that the Kaiser declined to go to sea and fight and die in a last des- perate rally of the German fleet in 1918. ‘The newspaper says that in October, 1918, the German Navy received or- ders to attack the British fleet, Ad- miral Scheer, chief of the German naval staff, agreed on condition that the Kaiser accompany him and assume nominally supreme command. In this demand, the paper says, Scheer had the support of practically all naval offi- cers and that of Prince Max von Baden, Gen, Ludendorfl and Admiral Tirpitz, Dangerous Mission Admiral Scheer proceeded to arrange with the Kaiser details of the bnmgc. The Kaiser fell in with the fleet's de- mand. After this interview it was ar- ranged that the fleet should sail on a Thursday. On Monday, however, a message from William stated he would not be able to accompany the fleet. Contents of the message were never known, as Admiral Scheer burned it, he declared, to pre- vent the Kaisgr's “confession of cow- ardice” from becoming known. The Kaiser insisted that the fleet should sail. Scheer refused, and pro- ceeded to occupy the City of Kiel with this outward demonstration. The stand ugflln?t the ‘t(a‘“r blel:?.u:nd. the Tel- egraaf says, the revolt e navy came within & 19\7‘ % et betterments had made more us chines available. “Commercial acronautics is no on the threshold has entered the without subsidy part of Amer portation. Thera'is ev still greater growth during bicnnial period.” lon; ,” he " concluded. as in th DANGER CONTINUES IN KING’S ILLNESS * DESPITE PROGRESS ____(Continued From F took a very unobstrusive part festivities. He danced with L eron, wife of the governor, ai three others and then retur government house. 1t wa that he declined an invit public dinner tomorrow, avoid festivities as much as There was still no informatic when the prince’s younger Duke of Gloucester, would arrive Dar-Es-Salaam, and whether he v join the prince in returning to land. May Miss Christmas Gifts. The adi§r the Brinoe ot W cided to leave H. M . En Suez after the run from Dar-es-Sa and then to proceed by train to Al andria. There he will emb: of his majesty’s ships, p: ; Frobisher, for either Brindisi, Naples or Marseille. The unexpected change of the Prince of Wales, 1! back to England on the eve of holiday season, will result in his mis his Christmas gifts from his paren the members of the royal house unless duplicates can be supplied. It had been planned by the Earl of Athlone, governor general of South Africa, to present the royal gifts to the prince when the latter was his Christ- mas guest at Cape Town. Therefore the earl took the family presents wiith him when he salled for Afriea about 10 days ago. It is likely now, however, that yule- tide will find the prince and his ents so widely separated that he p ably cannot feceive them until some- time in January. It is a good assump- tion, however,” that duplicates of at least some of the gifts will be ready for the heir to the throne on Christmas morning.