New Britain Herald Newspaper, February 12, 1917, Page 1

HERALD BEST OF ALL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS NEW BRITAIN HERALD HERALD “ADS” MEA BETTER BUSINES PRICE THREE CENTS. 2 NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 191" —TWELVE PAGES. ESTABLISHED 14 'GERMANY PLANS TO DETAIN AMERICAN SAILORS; | AMERICAN LINE PETITIONS GOVT. FOR GUNS; GERARD HARRASSED BEFORE LEAVING BERLI] ~ Foreign Secretary Zimmermann Says Men Taken Into Port on Yarrowdale, Captured By Commerce Raider, Will Be Held U Status of German Merchant Vessels and Their Crews, Now in United States Ports, Is Made Clear---Washington Dra Line Between Ships Under Orders of Imperial Navy and Those Engaged in Transportation of Peaceful Carga LONE FIRE ESCAPE IS FATAL T0 13 Iron Becomes Heated, Trapping Guests in Minneapolis Hotel FIREMEN ARE ATTACKED -— Fail to Bring Ladders and Are Rough- 1y Treated by Spectators—Many Precipitated Tnto Floors Crumble. Minneapolis, Feb. 12.—At thirteen persons were believed to have lost -their lives In a fire which de- stroyed the Kenwood hotel here short- ly after midnight, according to police estimates today. In addition to known missing, there are eleven others un- accounted for who may be in the ruins. One person is ' known to be dead. Many of the seventy-six guests were transients and the actual death list probably will never he known, The fire, which apparently ‘stavted in ;the basement, spread rapidly and soon the building was enveloped in flames. The stairways were impassable and people rushed to the windows. While figures hung from many wia- dows, others shot through the air into nets and snow drifts. One woman, her- night clothing aflame, rushed from a group of hysterical guests on the top floor and dropped from the window into a snow dfift. She may live. Cellars When least Crowd Attacks Firemen. When the fire broke out most of the downtown apparatus was fighting an- other fire and it was nearly fifteen minutes before the first company reached the scene. -A crowd of spec- ‘ tators who were pushing planks to the lower windows as a means of rescue attacked the firemen because they carried no ladders, according to Fire Chief Charles Ringer. soon quelled the disturbance, The' second company arrived with ladders several minutes later. A number of children weré dropped from windows into the arms of spectators. None was seriously hurt. “We are at sea as to the number of deaths,” said Earnest D. Stalker, pro- prietor of the hotel. “Until the sur- vivors are checked up the death list will be unknown.” Chief Ringer declared Tecovery of bodies was unlikely, adding that iden- tification would be impossible when the bodies were dug from the ruins, While several of the injured were in a serious condition it was reported at | the city hospital that most of them would recover. Omne woman who be- came hysterical after being rescued ran down the street screaming and her feet were frozen before she was over- taken. Others, garbed in night attire, suffered intensely in the ten below zero temperature. While the fire was at its height, Farry Jensen and his wife crawled to a window ledge on the top floor. For a moment they paused, then Jensen embraced his wife and together they leaped to the street while spectators cheered. Mrs, Jensen was badly in jured but her husband was not ser ously hurt, North Providence Hotel Burned. North e, R. I, Feb Fighteen persons escaped without in- the Squant Providen 12.— hotel, a small which One woman Sury from wooden structure, eged by fire today. was dam- W ladder from the top fAoor by firemen and the others were aroused in time to reach the strect before the flames gained much head- may. The loss was estimated at 3 900. tauken down a Du Pont Clubbhouse Burns. Petershurg, Va., 12.~The Du Pont clubhouse at Hopewell, Va., owned by the E. I Du N meurs company, was destroyed by fire of unknown origin early today. The bullding was ervected Lwo years ago st & cost of $50.000. Feh Pont de The police | i RESERVE BOARD 15 UNDER FIRE Mieged to Have Congpired With Fiancial Interests |10 FIGT OFF UB0ATS to Manipulate Credits-- Charge by Rep. Lindburg ‘Washington, Feb. 12.—Representa- tive Lindburgh of Minnesota, republi- can, in the house today read articles of impeachment of all five members of the .federal reserve board, whom he’ charged with conspiring with interests to manipulate financial credits. The articles were referred to the Judiciary committee, as is the custom, without debate. BABY" STRANGLES IN " RACE AGAINST DEATH Parents Run in Vain for Help in Daybreak Cold. Powerless to ward off the Grim Reaper and restore life-giving air to their fifteen-months-old baby who was rapidly strangling from a sliver of soup bone that had become lodged in its throat, Mr. and Mrs. Stanislaus Kozlowski of 72 Booth street made ‘rantic efforth to secure surgical aid in time earl; this morning, but lost out in their race with death. Scantily clad and using every means known to relieve their child, they ran in near zero weather to police headquarters on Commercial street, stopping at practically every physician’s office on the way. Moaning pitifully and asking only that their baby be saved, they appealed to Sergeant T. M. Herting about 7:20 o’clock for aid. One glance from him and he realized that death would win within a very few minutes, if it had not already done 50, unless surgical aid was secured at once. The infant showed no sign of life, but there was hope, as its face had not turned black from suffoca- tion. Guided by Court Policeman Frank M. English the parents still tenderly carryi(g 1,/ infant with its head ex- posed to tie bitter cold so as to give it all air possible, hurried to the of- fice of Dr. Joseph Walsh at 359 Main street and aroused him. Directions as to emergency treatment was given end he informed them that he would In the hona that life was not whol- ly extinct, Mrs. Mary Metty, police matron, Pcliceman English, Sergeant Herting and others at headquarters worked desperately over the littie body. An attempt to give it stimu- lants was made. but in vain. The parents’ race with death had been in vain, and it is believed that“the child died while on the way to the station. Dr. Harry A. Elcock, medical exam- iner, w called and gave permission for the removal of the body to the undertaking rooms of Kazimier Blog- aslowski at 26 Orange street. Accordine to the parents, they gave the child a hone to suck while hreak- fast w being prepared. Either a sliver of hone or piece of gristle be- came dislodged and stuck in its throat. The parents are prostrated. AULT DETERMINED. But Wil Corps. MAJOR C Loses Leg Join Flying Montreal, Feb. 12 —Major Hamilton Gault, who organized the famous Can- idian light infantry regiment known as the “Princess Pa returned to Montreal a hero with only one leg, but. asserting tnat his fighting d are not over. He announced that as soon as he entirely recovered from wounds, obtained in many battles, he would Join the flying corps. FRANKLIN APPEALS FOR DEFENSE GUNS American Line Proposes to Send Ships Over Seas Armed Intimation in Washington That Gove . enment Will Find Means for Sup- plying American Vessels With Rifles For Protection. ‘Washington, Feb. 12.—P. A. S. Franklin, president of the Interna- tional Mercantile Marine, today made formal application to the navy depart- ment for guns to arm the passenger liners of the American line. The request states that the company has been unable to find guns else- where. It is indicated that the navy department, while opposed for mil- Itary reasons to any project of con- veying merican merchantmen through the prohibited submarina zones, favors furnishing ships with guns for their own défense. Inas- much as the governmgnt has recog- nized that naval stores are the only supply of naval guns it has been held that obtaining guns from that source does not alter the privilege or com- mercial character of a ship. ‘The navy department it was stated officially has a considerable number of old model three-inch to six-inch rifles available for arming merchant ships, but not enough for the convoys all ships would require in war and also to furnish defensive’ armament’ for all merchantmen. \ The question -of supplying trained gun crews for merchantmen is more different from a departmental point of view. There is objection to drawing men from the active service of the navy at this time and there is also some question as to what effect such a step would have on the status of a ship. French shipowners, furnished guns by their navy, were required to make oath tkat they were to be handled by civilian crews. The possibility that the navy might supply guns indirectly through loan or sale to shipowners has received some consideration 'but a preference for direct action by the department in placing the guns aboard is indicated by the shipowners. Washington to Answer Puzzle. Washington, Feb. 12.—Within a few days the government will find a wa, Wwhercby American merchant vessels, now held in port by fear of German submarines, may arm themselves anc resume their voyage, it was intimated strongly by officials tod: This will be accomplished by private means The government will not supply guns or gunners direct, nor even formally advise arming. Shipowners have stat- ed that they have been unable to ob- tain either guns or gun crews. Officials note with interest today that the submarine toll of merchant shipping yesterday has sunk to the lowest level sincc the new campaign ' was inanzurated. ENTERED HARBOR AND SANK GREEK SHIP Submarine Carrys on Warfare in Ncu- tral Waters and Blows Up Ves- sel With Cargo of Grain. New York, Feb. 12.—A German submarine entered the neutral Span- ish harbor of Las Palmas, Canary Is ands, on Dec. 6 and sank the Greek steamer Spyros, according to two of the freighter’s seamen who here today on the Morro (' cent records told of the Spyro. towed to a Spanish port after torpedoed. The sailors arriving here Spyros put into Las Palme voyage from Uggnos Alre grain for Hull, England. The U-hoat entered the harbor, they asserted, and notified the captain to abandon his ship within forty hours. at the ena of which time it would he destroyed, and the threat was fulfilled. being being d the 18 on her carrying PETTY TACTICS OF GERMANY |Crews of Commerc AN ANNOYANCE TO GERARD LINER NEW YORK IS SAFE AT HOME PORT Without Seeing Any ‘Warships. New York, Feb. 12.—The arrival to- day of the steamer New York brought the number of American transatlantic The New York sailed from Liverpool on Feb. 3 and, according to wireless inessages received from her passen- gers, passed through the submarine war zone without incident. The liner Kroonland doecked here vesterday and the St. Louis and St. ! Paul are still at their plers while their owners await news from Washington in regard to the policy expected for American shipping that would risk the dangers of the, German blockade. The Kroonland witnessed the de- struction of a Dutch freighter by shell fire from a submarine.. The crew of the Dutch ship was towed away by the submarine in a ljfe boat. The British liner Cedric, which sails today for Liverpool without pas~ sengers, will carry 5,000 sacks of mail .\\'hi(‘h has been delayed here for the past week aboard the St. Louis. The New York was the first Amer- ican ship to leave Liverpool after Ger- many’s war zone decree went into ef- fect. zone without sighting a war craft of any kind. Major Spencer Cosby, former mil- i itary attache of the American em- i bassy in Paris, who recently suffered }oss of nis voice as the result of an experiment with asphyxiating gas, was a passenger on the New York. He said he was going direct to Washing- ton and would talk of his experiences, Boston, Feb. 12.-—The sailing of the steamer North Star for Portland was delayed today by a strike of firemen and deck hands employed by the East- camship corporation, owners of 1. Officers of the company said the trouble was due to a contro- versy between rival unjons and that no other ships had bLeen affected. One hundred and fifty men quit work, they said. The North Star was the only vessel of the line due to sail during the day. CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS Local Chapter of the Red Cross Will Hold Friday Open Meeting on Evening to Enlist Support. In response to a cail just issued by the National Red Cross association headquarters, there will be an open meeting for Red Cross work volun- in the Chamber of Commerce rooms on Friday evening at 8 o'clock. All persons interested in the work of the Red Cross present. Officers as teers are invited to be and members of the New Britain chapter of the Red Cross wiil Le present and it is hoped that suf- ficient interest and enthusiasm will be aroused to insure renewed activities here. W. F. Brooks is chairman of the local Red Cross and George S. Tal- Cott is secretary. CONE JOHNSON RESIGNS. Washington, Feb. 12.—Cone John- son, solicitor of the state department, had an engagement with President Wison today to present his resignation { {0 take effect March first. He will re- {turn to his home in Texas to resume | the practice ol law WEATHER. | Hartford, Peb., rtford and vicin ght and Tucsds Con- | tinucd cold .with zero tem- | peratures tonight, but mod; l ting slowly on Tuesday. 12.—¥For Tair \Passes Through Danger Zone ‘ passenger ships at this port up to four. | She passed through the danger | .| self-restraint and \ American - Ambassador and Staff Greeatly ‘Inconven- ienced By Official Red Tape in Berlin. Zurich, Switzerland, Sunday, Feb. 11, via Paris, Feb. 12.—Most of the members of Ambassador, Gerard's large party gave a genuine sigh of relief this afternoon when the Swiss border was reached, for the strain of the last few days had told more or less upon the majority of the travel- ers. Ambassador Gerard met cordially the newspaper men who crowded {about him on his arrfival at Zurich clamoring for interviews for papers all over the civilized world but he kept rigidly to his determination not i to speak for publication until after he has reported to President Wilson. The strain of the situation for the Americans in Berlin had been height- cned toward the end by the efforts of the German authorities ‘to induce Mr. Gerard to open negotiations for an amendment to the Prussian-Amer- ican treaty of 1799. At the same time the German newspapers were flooded with reports of the seizure of Ger- man ships by the United States with stories of difficulties and indig- nities encountered by Count Von Bernstorff. Ambassador Gerard has 1efused permission to communicate in cipher with Washington and the «uthorities ignored all denials of thc stories printed in the German new: paper unt an official message re- ceived through the S5panish embassy made it clear that the stories were false. Prior to this Ambassador Ger- ard’s telephone wires were cut, his mail and telegraphic privileges stop- ped, so that he could not even in- struct the Amerian consuls and he was in his words. a prisoner. Petty Delays. Among Americans. No American could obtain any definite informtaion. It was pointed out to the officials in vain that their measures were only applicable to actual war and that the admirable politeness of ‘the German people, with the resultant good effect, was being jeopardized. Delay followed delay and one ex- cuse was made after another until Friday night, when the foreign office suddenly announced its willingness to permit Mr. Gerard to depart on the following day. The names of cor- 1espondents and of other persons were added to the list, but even then petty delays and uncertainties fol- lowed until shortly before the train was boarded. Mr. Gerard’s farewells were said in a friendly though formal manner. Many Germans were in the throng | at the station, which consisted part- 1y of Americans who had not received permission to depart on the embassy train and must await the police rou tine before being allowed to leave. The fact that it w not generally xnown that Mr. Gerard v depart- ing reduced the demonstration at the South German stations to a minimum. The older women and the children gned to the sleeping cars on The younger persons rode v coaches and made the trip s hours to the border with no omforts. The party was accompanied by two representatives of the foreign office and guarded carefully by men from the secret ser- vice. The customs inspection and other examination at the horder wer2 reduced to a mere formality. Learn of Gerard's Arrival. Washington, Feb. 12.—Official ports on the arrival of former Am- bassador Gerard and his suite at Zurich, Switzerland, reached the state department today from American Minister Stovall at Berne. They | ‘added nothing to the information al- ready published. re- \ Anzeiger Atac Gerard, L‘lerlin, Feb. 11, via London, Feb. 12, 11:15 a. m—The Rerlin press is | confining the most perfunc- referentes the former Ambassador Gerard and American staff The Lokal Anzeiger., the only news- itself to of the tory to departure emba and | (Continued On Eleventh Fage). ial Ships Not Interned 2 May Apply For Citizenship Rights As migrants -War Vessels and Crews Be Held Until Termination of War Berlin, Sunday Feb. 11, 3:30 p. m.—By Wireless Sayville, Feb. 12.—Foreign Secretary Zimmermann - day informed the Associated Press that he had request the Swiss government to make inquiry in Washington garding the status of the crews of interned German sh in American ports. Pending an answer, the German raider and brought i release had been agreed to a the foreign secretary stated. THEY HAD IT ALL FIXED Predicted Member of Reichstag America Would Not Be Able to Usc Interned German Liners. London, Feb. 12, 2:25 p. m.—In an address at Wilhelmshaven, regarding precautions taken by Germany in view of the possibility of war with the United States, Dr. Gustav Stresemann, a natiopal liberal member in the Reichstag, made the following state- nient, according to a Rotterdam de- spateht “Our German bluejackets in the United States will have seen to it that German steamers in American ports shall not be useable by any one for some time.” Dr. Stresemann also expressed the opinion that the work of the Ger- man submarines would encourage the army for the spring campaign. JESTER USES VETO Acting Mayor Refuses to Approve Councilman O. F. Curtis’ Referen- dum Resolution, Passed by Council. Following hLis declaration of Satur- day by action, acting Mayor M. Irv- ing Jester this morning officially ve- toed the’ resqlution put through the common council Friday night provid- ing for a referendum clause in con- nection with the charter amendments when they are sent to the legislature. The acting mayor's veto and reasons appended are herewith printed: “To the members of the Comion Council of the City of New Brit- ain: “I withhold my approval of this res- olution for the reason that I am ad- vised by our representatives in the leg- islaturc that the effect of the resolu- tion would probably be that the com- mittee on citics and boroughs of the legislature would, on account of it, re- fuse to act on any amendments to our charter at this session. “Certain of these amendments, such | for example as the transfer of school city funds and the changes in the ! by court, are imperatively demanded the city and could not be enacted un- der the home rule bill. y “Under these circumstances T with- i hold my.approval. “M. TRVING JESTER. “Acting or of th ew Britair NEW MEXICAN AMBASSADOR Ignacio Bonillas Named by Oarranza as Representative U. 8.—Was Member of Joint Commission. ‘Washington, Feb. 12.—Ignacio Bo- nillas. one ol General Carranza's rep- resentatives on the Mexican-American joint ~ommission has becn named am- bassador from Mexico to the United States. ! Rameon de Negri, who has been in ! charge of Mexican embassy since the ; co Arredondo, ambas- | sador designate, w informed today . Bonillus’ appointment. s now at Palm Beach, xpected he will come to Washington this week to present his credentiuls at almost the same time that Henry P. Fletcher, the Am- erican ambasador to Mexica, s re- ceived by the Mexlean government. Rafacl H. Eiizaldé presented to Sec- retary Lansing today his credentials as minister from FEcuador. Minister Iilizalde succeeded Gonzaio S. Cordoa as minister here. in Florida. 72 Americans taken by - n by the Yarrowdale wh re being held in Germ: During the past week recurrify mors have reached Berlin by London in which it was ann that the United States governm seized the German ships and i their crews. No definite official @ having been received, the German ernment was prompted to ask government of Switzerland to @ specific information. ‘“We could not consent to the of the Yarrowdale prisoners, was taken to be agreed on a we gaid the foreign secretary. “These men had been tal armed merchantmen and thebr | had been established. They lherated just as soon as we lea fate of the German crews in can ports, “The release of the Yarrgg prisoners was agreed to with sador Gerard on the eve of the in relations, but the possibility German crews being interned prg { ed the admiralty to rescind the ders liberating the Americans he! Herr Zimmerman reaffirme previous siatement that the Amet now in Germany will be permitf] move about unmolested and be fectly free to leave the country ever they desire, even if the 1hreaten to reach the ultimate This intention is based on the i sion prevailing here that the States is not contemplating any with respect to German civilian might compel Germany to record the position she has now defi taken. P These and similar conside! calculated to work out to mutua vantage are said to be incorpo in a modernized draft of the 4 of 1799 which is now awaiting approval of both governments. complete text of the revised wi bhas not been made public. German Classified. Washington, Feb. 12.—There two classes of German ships in ican ports. Those interned are vessels such as the commerce Prinz Eirel Friederich, Kron Wilhelm, »nd such naval vessel the gunboat Comorant at Gu Geler at Honolulu. The cre these vessels, as well ad the veing part of the German naval ff which have taken refuge in harbors, are interned as prisone the duration of the war under] visions of international law and Hague conventions. The status of the war-bound man merchantmen is different, 50 is the status of their crew merchant ships are not interm any sense of the wor but al maining in a’ harbor of refugee. are free to put to sea at any and take their chances with cnemy ships. Their crews are i came status as any other aliens ing to the United States. An of them may be admitted to country upon fulfilling the im tion requirements. While they § the status of aliens they are {9 present confined aboard their shi the immigration authorities in ad ance with the steps taken againt destruction of property or md to navigation in American har! It is believed that Germany quiry is to clear up misconce] widely circulated there that G in the Unjted States have heen prisoned and that German )ra has been confiscated. President Wilson has anno that all foreigners rights are Tespected in every sense. Senator LaFollette today Intro; a resolution to make is unlaw any American merchant ship in| of peace to depart armed from port in the United States for any in another country It was no vated but on the table subjq call, put