New Britain Herald Newspaper, March 21, 1917, Page 1

%i‘g i' E DECLARATION OF STATE OF WAR IS EXPECTE Purpose Stated to Be “to Recelve Communication Concermng Grave Matters of National Importance Which Should Be Ta Immediately Under Consideration”---White House Assured -Congressmen Favor Attitude That United States Has Be . Warred on By Germany--Call For 500, 000 Volunteers For Army, in Addition to National Guard, May Follow Deliberat ' GERMANS MAY GIVE NEW GERMAN PEACE UP ARRAS SECTOR | FHORTSREPIRTED Indications Point to . Withdrawal of Hind- enburg’s Army Now - Facing Britishin North \ FRENCH WARRIORS ST. QUENTIN the southern front,” he adds, “ijs mow observed morth of ” * " St. Quentin, reputed headquartérs of the German emperor and his gen- ‘eral staff for the years following the . battle of the Marne and scene of a . great French defeat in the 'war of ' 1870, is today within sight of the " French infantry who are following .fast on the heels of the retreating German army. Twelve miles to the i south French troops are also looking fipdown upon La Fere and within reach of the German heavy guns if the in- pvaders have really elected to hold the lamous Hindenburg line, running Lille to Laon. ot So far there is no evidence that the g st German retreat has halted, such facts ae are known indicating the contrary. La Fere is supposed to be one of the ‘strongholds of the Hindenburg line yet General Nivelle has been able to oecupy Tergnier, less than two miles i from La Fere, apparently without . encountering serious résistance. Terg- nier is an important rallroad junction ~ from which three roads branch, one ' #orth to La Fere, a second southwest i %6 Noyon and a third northwest to Quentin. Even more significant is the fact that the British advancing ‘on the north against Cambral, another vital point in Hindenburg line, have been incendiary fires blazing in the rear of that town. j. The only fact to offset these evi- _ tiring is that the advance of #ences that the Germans are still re- both Eritish and French materially slack- {%ned yesterday. This is officlally ex- Plained as due to a heavy gale which swept over the blackened wilderness fn which the opposing armies are FSmaneuvering. The British, whose ad- nce has been constantly slower than that of the French, are still an ap- preciable distdnce from Cambrai, tkeir nearest outpost being about gwelve miles from that city. The great imiportance of Cambrai Hes in the fact that it is the principal barrier between th4 allles and the great nch coal and iron flelds around Nalenciennes twenty miles further on. ‘'These flelds have been i possesion of the Germans since the first sweep Mtough Belgium. A''While uncertainty still reigns as to _ (Continued on. Eleventh Page) | ! ENEMIES OF AMERICA DRILLING IN CONN. Holcomb Makes Startling Explanation of His Pre- paredness Move. Hartford March 21.—In an ad- dress today before the infer-church men of this city, Governor Holcomb criticized the national government for its unprepared condition, and startled his hearers by saying the emergency military legislation in Connecticut was hurried by information he had secured which indicate@ there were in Con- necticut those whose hostility to the state would be evident in time of war. “Connecticut is in a most dangerous position,” said the goverdor. “If you knew half of what I know you would be-quedwdmu;mmmm " FgHY HOW, mm-c of the mma ‘know of activities of men in nmnmkm plants that will be a problem in time of war. “The affairs of the country are a disgrace. We have a small army and navy “even' with filled ranks. The army ig now 80,000 men shy, and the navy is 20,000 men ehy., There is not enough guns and the” arsenal at Springfield is working at only one- fourth capacity. There is powder enough only for about a good three hours’ engagement. And in ‘Wash- ington they. seem to be trying to learn if the democrats or republicans or socialists will have the advantage. “In my opinion we have been in war for some time. It takes two to make a war—a red-blooded war. The other party has been attacking our citizens and our property and making ‘war on us for some time.” The governor reviewed the work he had done in connection with military pumrfln»u. (7)) CE HIT HARD BY U-BOAT WARFARE American Exports Through New York to Britain Decrease $39,000,000 Duy- ing First Montli of Campaign. New York, March 21.—During : Germany’s first month of submarine 1 blockade around England, Scotland and Ireland, America’s export trade through New York to those countries dropped $39,000,000 as compared with February, 1916, according to figures made public here today by the col- lector of customs. In February of last year this trade aggregated $91,- 482,000; last month the total - was $52,857,000. The comparative figures of exports to all of Europe show an increase of about $1,072,000. Exports through New York to all foreign countries last month totalled $222,852,000, an increase of nearly $8,094,000 as compared with the pre- vious February. Trade with Russia increased about 250 per cent. RIOTING IN BERLIN — Serious Disturbances in German Cap- itol Because of ¥ood Situation Ru- mored, Says Reuter’s Correspondent. London, March 21, 5:30 p. m.— Reuter’s Amsterdam correspondent reports that it is rumored that seri- ous riots have broken out in Berlin in connection with the food_situation. “A. despatch from Oldénzaal, Hol- land says persistent rumors are cur- rent of great rioting -in Berlin,” the depatch says, “frontier.regiments are Teported as having left for Berlin to maintain order.” Unofficial Envoys oi Berlin in Holland and Switzerland RUSSIA CHANGES SITUATION Germany Said to Be Willing to Trans- fer Poland Back to Petrograd Gov- ernment Under Form of Autonomy —Agents Peny Representing Kaiser, London, March 21, 5:15 a. m.—A despatch to the - Times from The Hague asserts that a new German Peace move 'is on foot. The despatch says that prominent Germans recently ‘have visited Holland and Switzerland under instructions to try to ascertain what the present attitude of Great Britain is toward a ipossible cessation of hostilitiés. The commissioner sent to Switzerland is said to be a lead- ing German business man and one of the emissaries to Holland a high official in the German war service. The latter emissary, disclaiming au- thority to speak for the German govs ernment, is quoted as saying that the Russian revolution had .changed the situation entirely, that.Germany conld no longer clalm she wished to free 6" FUSSTAN “BATIC provmees and atdo’ could consider handing back Poland to Russia under some form of au- tonomy. He is represented as adding that he believed the revolution in Russia made it possible for Germany to discuss terms more -favorable to the Entente, Another visitor' to' ' Holland, con- tinues the correspondent, sought to learn. the attitude of the Entente and the United States toward some gen- eral scheme of autonomy for the races of Europe, especially in regard to Austria-Hungary. ! The correspondent says that al- though the commissioners claimed thqy were not traveling on behalf of their governments, their journey would have been impossible under existing passport regulations without the connivance of Berlin. LESSON T0 AMERICA Count Von Reventlow Says U. S. Has Been Taught to Keep Ships at Home by Loss of Three Vessels. Amsterdam, March 21, via London, 6:55 a. m.—Count Von Reventlow, writing in the Deutsche Tages Zei- tung, says with réference to the sink- ing of the American steamers City of Memphis, Illinois, and Vigiliancia. “It is good that American ships have been obliged to learn that the German prohibition is effective and that there is no question of distinc- tive treatment for the United States. In view of such losses there is only one policy for the United States, as | for the small European .maritime , powers, namely, to retain their ships in their own ports as long as the war lasts.” The Dusseldorfer General Anzeiger says the sinking of three American ships is certain to produce especial satisfaction. AmCAN DE.AD wmm«m sms to State. London, March 21.—Robert P. Skinner, the American conul general, Hhas received a list of the following five Americans lost from the Ameri- can steamer Vigilancia, torpedoed and sunk last Friday: Neils North, third officer; F. Brown, Joseph Fibera, Estphan Lopez, O. F. Aderahold. The last named was from Attalla, Alabama. The addresses of the others were not given. Among the lost was Alexander Robriguez, a Porto Rican, while the others - represented a number of nationalities. Consul General Skinner also re- celved word today of the safe arrival at Glasgow of Captain Borum and the eight missing members of the créw of the American steamer City. of Memphis who were picked up after having been eighteen hours in an open boat. 'Vie- . PRESIDENT’S PROCLAMATION ‘Washington, March 21,—The president’s proclamation follows: “Whereas, public interests require that the congress of the United States should be convened in extra session at 12 o’clock noon on the second day of April, 1917, to recelve a communication concerning grave matters of national policy which should be taken.immediately under consideration. “Now therefore I, Woodrow Wilson,: president of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim and declare that an extraordin- ary occasion requires the congress of ‘the United States to convene in extra session at the capitol in the the second day of April, city of Washington, on 1917, at 12 o’clock noon, of which persons who shall at that time be entitled to, act as members thereot are hereby required to take notice. “Given under my hand and the seal ot the United States of Amer- ica, the 21st day of March, in the year of Our Lord, one - thousand, nine hundred and seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States, the 141st.” REDFIELD REBUKES - PEACE FEDERATION More Ruthless Slaugliter,” He 'lblls Omim Wuh(ngton March 21.—Secretary Rédfield today wired the Emergency Peace Federation.in New-’ York that its organization and doctrines w directly promoting a.tax on American cm ens and property. * 0. accept your policy,” he said, “would, in’ my judgmeiif, mean more ruthless slaughter. You are those Who™ aré doing more than any one else to. bring about war.” The secretary’s message was in re- ply to one from the federation, ask- ing him to approve settlement of the relations between Germany and Unit- ed States through a commission. TWO ADNIT SPYING FOR BERLIN N L. S. Sander and Wunnenberg Plead Guilty to Seeking English War Secrets. New York, March 21.—Albert O Sander and Charles N. Wum‘lenberg. indicted as members of the Central War Film Exchange for engaging in a military enterprise and sending spies to England to get information for the German authorities, guilty. morrow. It was charged by the federal au- thorities that Sander and Wunnen- berg engaged George Vaux Bacon of St. Louis, an American newspaper- man, to go to England in the role of a spy and that Bacon received money from Wunnenberg to pay his expenses abroad. It was alleged also that the conspirators furnished Bacon with | quantities of invisible or “sympathe- tic” ink for use in communicating between them. Bacon was arrested in England and was recently permitted by the British authorities to return to the United States to testify against Sander and -Wunnenberg before the grand jury. Sccret ‘service agents worked on the case for months.. It was charged that the activities of the indicted men e: tended back-to May, 1916, during which period Sander and Wunnenberg are alleged.to have sent no less than fifteen so-called - newspapermen to England and Ireland. Much valuable information, it was alleged, 'was re- ceived by Sander and Wunnenberg through the mails or brought. here by one of the .bogus newspapermen traveling as an American. citizen, Sander had been cannected with the Germany-American Literary Defense committee. He was a former employe of the New Yorker Staats Zeitung. today pleaded They will be sentenced to- BIDS FOR SUBMARINE CHASERS RECEIVED Contracts Let for Sixty-four Speedy Wooden Boats to Protect Coast and Shipping. Washington, March 21.—Bids for the first lot of 110-foot wooden hull submarine chasers and coast patrol boats were received at the navy de- partment today from sixty-four pri- vate: builders along the Atlantic coast. Proposals from sixty-four private yards in othér: parts of .the. coumtry | will.-hesreceived- . a .week . from and it was thought probable that. to- cday’s proposals would not be made public uhtil all offers are in, although contracts will be awarded confi- dentialy. ¥ Orders for sixty-four boats already have been placed with the New York and NewOrleans navy yards at $30,- 000 for boats without engines. Efforts to speed up airplane con- struction will be made by both the army and navy. .The navy department is trating its energy on production swift scouting seaplanes. LOST PROVINCES AIM OF RIBOT CABINET concen- of New Ministry of France Pledges It- self to Prosecute War With A}I Possible Energy. Paris, March 21.—The new ministry of Alexandre Ribot made its declara- tion today, pledging itself to carry on the war with all possible energy. The declaration, which was read in the chainber of deputies by Premier Ribot and. in the senate by Repe Viviani, minister of justice, opens with this affirmation: “We are resolved to wnge with the utmost vigor and to a victorious end the terrible war into which we were drawn by inexcusable aggression. We shall wage it, not as our enemies, in a spirit of conquest and domination, but with the firm resolve to recover the provinces formerly wrested from us and obtain reparation and guar- antges to prepare a durable peace, founded on respect for the rights and Uberties of . peoples.” The declaration refers of the retire- ment of the Germans which it says “is without doubt a prelude to other battles in which the enemy will ex- haust his last resources. “France,” the declaration continues “feels that her confidence is acquir- ing new impulsion from these results of ocur unshakable firmness znd the skillful strategic prepzration of the commanders of our armies.” ARRESTED NEAR JAP SHIP. Philadelphia,: March 21.—A young German, claiming to be a barge man, was arrested last night while prowling about a Japanese vessel anchored at a Delaware river pier. The ship is said to be loading ammunition. The pris- oner had a pocket flashlight but no explosives or weapons were found on him. REBELS AGAINST SULTAN. London, March 21, 3:52 p. m.— Another important chieftain in Arabia has risen against the Turks, Foreign '| Becretary Balfour announced in the house of commons today. - The Turkish fdrce néar Aden hds been isolated from ‘Turkish headquarters. Hurry Call Dlspatched to Party Leadets ganization of House May Not Be. Ch: a Until All Legislation Connected ¥ Special Session is Finally Dlsposed Washington, March 21.—President Wilson called congress in edira session on April 2. The purpose of the extra session is to" take ac the state of war which admittedly exists betw United States and Germany. Congress probably will be :asked to declare as war has existed since some recent date when submarines began conducting their most warlike tions against In American commerce.’ . is proclamation calling congress together president states that it is for the _purpose’ of recei communication from him concerning “grave question$ national policy.” The proclamation does not smte spei .cally that a state of war exists, but lea¥es the ques discussion on his address and for actioh'by congreqs, President Wilson's decision to call congress earlier than the date first fixed for the extra session—April 16— | 5 was announced early today. The president’s mind finally was made up as the result of yesterday’s cabinet meeting at which practically an opinion was. expressed that while preparationis to put the nation in a full state .of armed neutrality were summoned. The preaiaent deliberated on the question until late last night, early today made his decision. He chose April 2 because he thought it wauld_be impossible for all members of ocongress to reach Washington | earlier. In his address at the opening of t‘he extra session the president will recite the overt acts committed against the United States by Germany, The sentiment in ' congress is - in- dicated to be overwhelmingly favor of a declaration that as a ruult of Germany’s acts aginst the United States, a state of war already exists, The foremost overt act which brought the president to his decision was the torpedoing without warning of the American merchantman Vigilancia, with the loss of fifteen lives, some of them Americans, The president has not made up his program entirely for presentation congress, but probably will also dis- cuss universal military training. Two developments followed soon after the cabinet meeting. Onc was a ' conference between 'Secretary Daniels and the navy general board at which information for President "Wilson and tentative plans for fur- ther -naval activities were discussed. The other was an, announcement of an extension of federal war insurance to all contraband carriers, except arms and ammunition. Announcement also was made of an agreement between the country’s lead- ing copper producers and the Na- tional Defense Council to supply the government's copper requirements for the army and navy within the next year at a little over sixteen cents a pound. This figure is about half the prevailing market price for the metal. A total of 45,000,000 pounds will be required. Another step in the preparations plan was taken today when bids were opened at the navy department for about 200 motor boats to be used as submarine chasers The navy department is expected to call for privately owned yachts and large motor boats for service against submarines. Tentative contracts for such craft already have been nego- tiated in many cases. ¢ President Kept Mind Open. It is’ known that up to noon yes- terday President Wilson told close advisers he still was of an open mind on the question of summoning con- gress immediately, but that he leaned toward awaiting the extra session called for April 16. At yesterday’s cabinet meeting, however, several of the members went to the White House determined to urge strongly on the president an immediate extra session, which they . believed was demanded by the coun- try. These cabinet midbers : who have been: classed as pacifist or with racifist leanings, it was said, offered no objections of weight, and the pres- {dent, without giving any indication of his decision, merely heard what every member of his official family had to say. . ‘When the cal ing was m me of the @ rvers félt' that the extra. would be leod sooner than but they notmnc ‘which to Officiats ignd Mplom-.u declared ‘a state of - the United. States' and Gern W time, but the MOEL/ pronopn 3 B THYTIITH ly a.ll the president's advisers made up their mlndl Germany was actually condu against the United States ai the situation must be met pr The principal .arguments b bear against the United Statés a further step toward war virtually all that could be doné’ tect American lives and ships. |hxd been done by, the arming chant vessels);and that . knowledged smu of il ‘»m two countries Would gl opportunity 0. carry warfare to this side ‘pf . This latter was somew] 8 ondary consideration, because thi feels that it is prepared $0 meot | feature of the situation.: It also argued that, having kept out of the war so far, the pr would be reluctant to entes it ‘when there are indications of. ments in Europe which of promise to hasten the end ot t flidt. Cabinet Is (]WII- All these arguments were aside, however, at yesterday's. ¢l meeting when, with an opinion: scribed by members as the most imous ever known in the p official family, it was decided. Germany’s acts of aggresslon the United States on the so ruthless destruction of lives in contravention of all’ ciples of law and humanity, had to constitute a state of made upon the United States there was uathing left to do buti congress to dedl with the quest! President - Wilson, when he: congress for authority to arm can merchantmen, declared that} ‘was contemplating no step that Wi lead to war and © ‘"° ic WRS notd templating war itself. Nothing, sald, but the warlike acts :of i nation against the Unitéd States. o bring the country into war. The p dent, the cabinet and all official Wa ington now believe that such a § ment has come and that it has been of this country’s choosing. Although 'the president by th visions of the constitution must, it to congress to make the. declaration of war, such advices have come to the White Hougd members of congress, ZOVern states, public officials and many dreds of citizens have containied ments of support of such a policy fullest sense. History Maintaining The nation now actually con the point which all the history o turies indicated must necessarily low the severance of diplomatic tions with Germany February. 3:: When ‘the presidént on ¢ handed to Count Von Bernsto: . passports and notified congress:: had severed diplomatic relatios gether with, the Imperial Gerrna ‘ -(Continued on Eleventh Pll“)