New Britain Herald Newspaper, April 6, 1917, Page 1

ot PRICE THREE CENTS. W BRITAIN HERALD: NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1917. —EIGHTEEN PAGES. HERALD BEST OF ALL ESTABLISHED 1576} ’WlLSON’S PEN PITS AMERICA AGAINST GERMANY; HOUSE VOTES FOR WAR RESOLUTION, 373 TO 50; GERMAN MERCHANTMEN ON TWO COASTS SEIZED NN NS I &S 0 e Presndent Affixes Signature This Afternoon to Document That Arrays Army and Navy Strength of the United States Agam Autocracy of Berlin—Decision in House Comes at 3 o’Clock This Morning After Hours of Debate During “Which Result Was at No Time in Doubt—Wilson’s Final Act Comes at 1:11 P. M. e % g *fMassive OCean' Liners -at New York and Boston Taken Over By Deputy Marshals NINETY-ONE VESSELS . AT AMERICAN DOCKS . :Millions of Dollars Represented in Value of Ships Now Under Guasd of Government Authorities Along " Employed But No Forco by Crews n t‘e-elltmt-ok in Atlantic ports at the be- ‘!Wnc of the war began this morn- i ln: almost immediately after congress +-had paseed the resolution declaring a state of war between the United States and Germany. The collector of .+ the port at Boston was the first to The federal ‘officials at New Imm .Conn., Baltimore and New Yo quickly. followed. Before daylight “United States deputy marshals were in charge of German vessels at these points, ranging in size from the ma- “Jestic Vaterland of 55,282 gross. tons, * to small sailing- vessels, The port officers acted ‘on orders - issued by the secretary of the treasury. It is understood that this move does not involve confiscation and that the vessels are held for the present as a measure of safety.” There has been no announcement as to whether the . government shall take over the ships for their use and pay for them after | “4the way. * % ' P were extricated by dredges. & German vessels now in American ports number ninety-one with a gross tonnage of about 600,000. This in- cludes twenty-three ships in refuge at the Philippines, eleven at Honolulu . and one at Pago Pago, a port of the Pacific_Islands. ‘There are twenty- "3 seven German ships at New York an- chored on both sides of the Hudson river and off Staten Island; five at Boston, three at Baltimore; two at Philadelphia; three at San Francisco; two at New Orleans; two at South- port, N. C.; two at Astoria, Oregon; one each at Portland, Oregon; Wins- low, Washington; Seattle, Washing- ton: Norfolk, Savannah, Charleskon, Jacksonville and San Juan, Porto Rico. The total also includes two German vessels which have been in- terned. B The ships lying at their slips at the Hamburg-American and North Ger- man Lloyd docks at New York and Hoboken include some of the flower of the German merchant marine. Four Austrian ships are also tied up here. 8ince the presldent delivered his war message to congress these ships % have been under a heavy guard sta- tioned by the collector of the port. Their officers have said that lying at their docks since the beginning of the war thesg vessels have become so fouled and their slips so choked with mud that it would have been impossi- ble for them to get away unless they At vari- ous times there have been reports that the machinery and the boilers have been wrecked by their German crews but of this there has been no official confirmation. Collector McGovern, after boarding y the North German Lloyd steamer 7 Willehad at New London, said that her engines were apparently in good condition. ! The first vessels taken over were the Hambufg, Koenig Wilhelm II, Prinz Eitel Friederich, rinz Joach- fm, and Allemannia, in the Hudsqu river at the foot of 135th street. These ships total 38.338 tons and there arc forty-one officers and 173 men in the crews. The boarding party comprised (Continued On Eighth Page). ;ERMAN SHIPS IN . U.'S. PORTS SEIZED|M®I HOTELS BLOWN UP 0 CHECK FLAMES’ RUSH Loss at Asbury Park Is Esti- mated to Be About $800,000. Asbury Park, April 6.—Four city blocks in the heart of the hotel dis- trict fronting on thg beach were swept by fire early today with the loss of about $800,000. More than a score of hotels and building houses were levelled. The only buildings that re- mained standing this morning in a district bound by Ocean avenue and the board walk on the east, Grand avenue on the west and First and Second avenues loufll and north were four dwellings. The fire began at 11 p. m, in the Natatoriym, ‘which _en- closed a big swimming pool and was attributed to defective electric wiring, Most of the hotels were closed and no loss of life was reported, The hotels were blown up with dynamite to check the spread of the conflagration.’ It' was under control about 3:30 a. m. Among the buildings destroyed were the quarters of the Young Women's Christian. Association, the Methodist church and the following hotels: ‘Winthrop, Southern, Carleton, Grand Central, Ormande, Davenport Innm, Surf House, Regan and Ardsley; also several smaller hotels and buildings and dwellings. N.-Y. MAYOR WARNS AGAINST TREACHERY Gives Notice Country’s Pris- on Gates Yawn for All . Traitors. New York, April 6.—Mayor Mitchel issued a proclamation today calling on citizens of New York city to aid in the preservation of order and in the exercise of calm and de- liberate judgment in this time of stress and tension. The mayor re- minded both citizens and aliens of the federal statute defining treason with its punishment of death or im- prisonment for not less than five years and a fine of not less than 10,000. “There will be some exceptional cases of malign influence and mal- icious purpose among you,” the proc- lamatipn said, “and, as to them, I advise you all that full and timely preparation has been made to the ex- igency which exists for the mainten- ance of order throughout the city; and for the warning of the ill-dis- posed, I quote the statue of the United States which is applicable to all residents enjoying the protection of our laws whether they be citizens or not. “Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against .them or adheres to' their enemfes giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason.” The proclamation has been printed in all languages. The police are dis- tributing copies throughout the city and it is also being displayed in the various foreign settlements. FOUND DEAD BY FIREMEN. New London, April 6.—A man who registered as D. James was suffocated in his room in the hotel Nutmeg in a local Bank street fire this morning. He went to his room at 11:30 last night. Fire was discovered in his room at 8 o'clock this morning and when the firemen broke in he was dead. | ASQUITH WELGOMES |GOVERNMENT TO DRAFTMEN |V CA INTO WAR Pictures Whole English Speakmg Race As Comrades in Arms LAUDS PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS Former British Premier Says Choice Lay Between Peace With Humilia- tion and Honor With War—The; ‘Was No Middle Course. London, April 6.—Former Premier Asquith made the following statement to the Associated Press today: “There is not among us one who does not breathe more freely now that he knows that, through/ action of the president and congress of the United States, the whole Eng- lish-speaking race is to fight as com- rades side by side in the most mo- mentous struggle in history. The president’s' speech will live in the an- nals of eloquence as a worthy and noble exposition of the grounds and the aims of a great national resolve. “The people of the United States hes been forced, as the United King- dom was forced,' into a struggle which, in neither case, was of our own seeking. They have realized, as we have realized, that the cholce lay between®peace with humiliation ani war with honor. There was no middle course, for armed neutrality, as the president points out, with irresistibly cogency, ful foothold. “The provocation offered in the two cases was different, but in both the challenge was one which neither na- tion could refuse to take up without the ssdcrifice of its self-respect = and without a betrayal of the sacred trust, which is imposed upon all free peoples, to uphold the defénse of liberty and humanity. Never had the fundamental issues which are at stake been: stated with more precision or with a greater elevation of thought and language than in the president’s faddress. .The present German war- fare, he points out, is a war against all nations, and the animating mo- tives of the Allles, by whose side he invites his fellow countrymen .to range themselves, is not vindicitive- ness but, vindication—the vindication of those human rights which are the common ifiterest and the neutral borid of the whole family of civilized so- clety. “To this great purpose, the Ameri- can people now dedicate their lives and fortunes—as we have already dedicated ours—conscious that they are listening to and obeying one of those supreme calls which come but j rarely in history but which, when they come, sound in the ears of a community of freemen with a note of imperious demand. “The president urges upon his fel- low citizens the utmost practical co- operation in counsel with the Allies and promises every form of effective help that America can provide. We, on thiy side of the Atlantic, acknowl- edge his appeal and his assurance with profound sympathy and grati- tude. We have never presumed to dictate or even to suggest to our kins- men in the United States what their course should be. We have in our heart of hearts longed that the time might come when their strength would be joined with ours in a strug- gle so consonant to all that is best in our common instincts and traditions. That day has now dawned and we be- lieve that its sun shall not set until two great English-speaking democra- cies can rejoice together, workers and fellow combatants, over the triumph of freedom and of right.” President’s Speech Strengthens Russia London, April 6.—A group of Amer- icans having large interests in Russia has sent a report to London to the effect that the situation is establishing itself and that the provisional govern- ment has been strengthened greatly as a result of President Wilson’s 'speech which made a profound impression on the Russian people. Present indications point undoubt- cdly to the establishment of a repub- lic by constitutional assembly which is to be held. The whole sentiment of the Russian people is in favor of a (Continued on Fourth Page.) , the affords no secure of power- : as fellow | TO FILL UP RANKS IN ARMY KAISER IGNORES WAR xeneral Stat[ Discloses Plan or Giving Country Million SPEEGH BY WILSON| sten in veurand Two nt But May Attempt to Re- pudiate “Certain Histori- cal Statements.” Berlin, April 5, via London, April 6.—Although most of the Berlin papers continue today their unfriendly 1 comment and criticism of President | wilson’s speech, the German govern- ment has so far taken no official notice of it. It is expected that a reply to certain historical features of his address will come later, es- pecially if, as reported, Washington sends copies to the neutral govern- ments. The Berlin public still maintains its attitude of indifference to the crisis and a similar apathy is reported from other cities. In no instance, as far as is known, however, have .Ameri- cans been the subject of unpleasant incidents. The foreign office declares no change ~ towards. the American government is contemplated.’ There is little definite data available in regard to the number of Ameri- cans still in' Germany. The Ameri- can Association of Commerce has been gathering a list, but so far ¥ess than 500 have been recorded. Only 200 of these are men, the remainder being women and children. Moreover, the number has been steadily decreasing, as many Americans are leaving daily, for Switzerland and Denmark. There probably are several thousand still in Germany. BRAZIL, IN ANGER, MAY DECLARE WAR Sinking of Steamship by Germans Arouses Indignation in Great South American Republic. Cherbourg, April 5.—The Brazilian steamer Parana was sunk during the night. - Three members of her crew are missing. The Parana was a vessel of 4.461 tons. She was built in 1893, and was owned in Rio Janeiro. Buenos Aires, April 6.—Buenos Aires newspapers say that a grave sit- uation has arisen between Brazil and Germany as a result of the sinking of the Parana. There is much anxiety as to the attitude the Brazilian govern- ment will take. London, April 6.—Anti-German ex- citement in Rio Janiero is intense as the result of the sinking of the Bra- zilian steamer Parana, according to a telegram from the Brazilian capital transmitted by the Exchange tele- graph correspondent at Buenos Aires. i The Brazilian foreign minister states that perhaps a declaration of war against Germany would be necessary. | The message adds that Brazil will seize the interned ships in her harbor and proclaim the existence of hostilities. SECTION HAND BURNED. Clothing Catches Firc in Bunkhouse at Hawleyville, Newtown, April 6.—James Galloper, a railroad employe, 35 years old, was ‘probably fatally burned -when - his clothing caught fire in a bunkhouse at Hawleyville, in which he and several jothers lived. The circumstances of the occurrence are being investigated. Galloper was taken to the Danbury hospital. He was a newcomer in Hawleyville, where "he was' working on the section, and nothing is known i about his former place of residence. N e e WEATHER. Hartford, April 35.—Hart- ford and vicinity Rain to- mnight and probably on Friday. Strong casterly winds. e e t \llon in Two Years. Washington, April 6.—How the gov- ernment plans to raise a war army of & million men within a year and of two millions within two years, was disclosed upon the passage of the war resolution by the house today. A bill prepared by the general staff and approved by the president for sub- mission to congress provides for the immediate filling up of the regular army and National Guard to war strength of more than 600,000 by draft unless enough volunteers enlist quick- ly and for bringing into the service by late summer of the first 500,000 of the new force of young men between the ages of 19 and 25 years to be called to the colors by selective conscription. In ' drafting its program the staff recognized the fact that the United States must start at the beginning and train first an army of 100,000 officers dnd non-commissioned officers to un- dertake the training of the thousands of youths who will enter the service ‘with no notion of military duty or life. ‘Expansion of the present army to its full war strength of 287,000 enlist- ed men and 11,700 officers, means many new regiments of all arms to be created by dividing existing regiments and filling each half to war strength with volunteers or conscripts. The National Guard regiments, all of which can be called into the federal service underyexisting law, will have approximately 327,000 men and 10,300 officers at war strength. No new reg- iments of the guard would be organ- ized and the full limit of the national defense act would be invoked to wipe out any distinction between federal and state forces. Here also volunteers would be received and drafting resort- ed to only when necessary. Total of 614,000 Men. These two steps would provide a to- tal force of 614,000 men and 22,000 officers to be supplemented by a re- cruit organization for each unit, mak- ing an additional 200,000 men under training, but to be held /in reserve to fill gaps in the active army as they occurred. For five months these expanded ferces will be subjected to training of a character hitherto ‘unknown ir this country. Simultaneously the reg- istration of all men between the ages of 19 and 25 will be carried out with federal, state and municipal authofl- ties co-operating. In August or early in September the first 500,000 of this new army, com- posed exclusively of young men sum- moned to the colors under the prin- ciple of universal military service with those supporting dependents or need- ed by the nation in civil life exempt- ed would be assembled for training. From the 'regulars and National Guard regiments would be drawn 100,000 specially selected officers and nen-commissioned officers who would organize and train the. units of the new army. A year from now, a second incre- ment of 500,000 youths would be arawn from the regulars, the National Guard forces or from the first sec- tion of the new army to officer and train the second section. By that time the machinery that had been built up would provide enough trained officers and non-com- missioned officers to train a million or more men at a time, if that were ne- cessary. The war department bill, however, proposes to authorize not only the first two classes of the new army, making a total of more than 2,000,000 trained troops which would be available possibly within a year and a half or in two years at most. $3,000,000,000 for First Year. The sum of nearly $3,000,000,000 asked of congress to carry out this program deals only with the first year of preparation. Behind it stands the needs of an annual sum for re- serve supplies of ammunition, cannon nd other war materials if the army is to.be employed in actual war. Included in the present estimates (Continued on Sixth Page) ' ice President Matshall Had Previously Pl Name Under That of Champ Clark—M Rankin, Voting Against War, Can Hard| » Make Her Voice Heard Because of Emo 0 EMERGENCY FUND OF $100,000,000. Washington, April 6.—Appropriations of $100,- 000,000 for an emergency war fund to be used at the president s discretion, similar to the $50,000,000 fund ! given' President McKinley for prosecuting the Span- | ish-American war was attached today by the senate | appropriation committee to the general deficiency bill. Washington, April 6.—President Wilson today si the resolution of congress declaring a state of war bet the United States and Germany. : 1 The war resolution was signed by the president at 1 .l o’clock. The president also signed a proclamation formally d claring a state of war between the United States and Ger many. In it he called upon all citizens to give support. to all measures of the government. The resolution passed the house by a vote of 373 to 50 in the same form as adopted by the senate Wednesday night. It declares that a state of wai exists and directs the president to employ all the- naval and military forceas of the United States 'and re- sources of the government to carry on war to a successful conclusion, Final action on the resolufion came after seventeen hours of continuous debate, and a few minutes afterwards Speaker Clark affixed his signature. After, the resolution is signed by Vice President Marshall it will be rushed to the president, wha has said he would sign it. Among the fifty who voted against war were thirty-two republicans, six- teen democrats, ane socialist and one prohibitionist. Voting affirmatively, were 193 democrats, 177 republicans, two progressives and one independent. | Miss Rankin All a Tremble, Democratic Leader Kitchin and Miss Jeannete Rankin, the new wo. man member from Montana, were two of those who voted negatively. After failing to answer to the calling of her name, twice on the first roll call, Miss Rankin rose on the .second roll call, trembling, obviously badly frightened, and with a sob in her voice declared: “I want to stand by my but I cannot vote for war.” Still she did not formally cast her vote and half a dozen of her col- eagues, wearied by the protracted de- bate, demanded ‘‘vote, vote” in rauc- ous voices. A Sinking into her seat, Miss Rankin whispered “no.” Jerry South, chief clerk, went to her seat to corroborate her vote. Mr. Kitchin’s participation in the proceedings was scarcely = less' dra- matic. After debating the question privately for six hours with both op- ponents and proponents of the resolu- tion yesterday he finally - announced his opposition and made a stirring speech against the measure. Anti-Kitchin Speech Hissed. Administration leaders were great- 1y worried last night lest Mr. Kitchin's attitude would result in a demand for a change in house leadership. Hisses from the democratic side, which greeted Representative Heflin of Ala- bama, when he declared in a speech later that Kitchen should resign from congress because he did not represent the sentiment of the country, ap- peared to effectivly quiet these fears, temporarily at least. A majority of those who opposed the resolution, including Mr. Kitchin, announced that once it was passed they would support it without reser- vation. Mr. Kitchin, as chairman of the ways and means committee, will have charge of the preparation of revenue bills to meet the war ex- penses. Consideration of the resolution frayed the nerves of administration leaders badly. Starting with virtually 1o opposition to the measure, it was believed they saw visions after Mr. Kitchin’s speech, of many votes sgainst it. At one point they urged limiting speechmaking in order that the resolution might be passed before converts were made by the opposi- tion. No time limit was put on the country, debate however, and it was o fi ’ay of talking. Every members wanted to talk had an opportunity’ do so. It was estimated' today thy more than a hundred speeches delivered. The cost of white pap required for copies of today’s Conghel sional Record promised to run higl During -the earlier hours of yés terday only about- half: the h ; membership.was present -and 'the: |1cries were half empty. In the: ing the galleries and the floor! the house filled up and members & spectators stayed through until journment at 3:15 this morning.’ Save for a short time spent, in’ dff posing of proposed amendments signed to limit the operations - | regular troops to this country, e y approval &f congress, the lo weary hours were spent in deblt and voting on.the resolution. ° | amendments were beaten overwhe ingly. Lattle acrimonious dlscnsllon veloped. Proponents of the measu calmly and seriously declared that. a result of German violations ' | American rights a state of war existed. Opponents pleaded that G many’s. war of ruthlessness was @i to Great'Britain’s blockade. Burnett Maced Into Silence, - The histeric sergeant-at-arms’ ma the emblém of the house’s auth was brought into play once to qui member. 4 In a debate with Repres M Heflin of Alabama over Mr. Kitcher position, Representative Burnett, of Alabama, exceeded his time declined to surrender the floor. the sergeant-at-arms appeared wig Lis mace Mr. Burnett apologized retired. Absence of patriotic ‘display noticeable feature. The applause f} speeches an both sides of the questi was scattered at best. Bvery mem was in a serious frame of mind, @ they talked and voted w(th solemnity. When a vote finally was members quickly dispersed to th homes. The house will not again until Monday noon. i i Austrians Editors Hurt But Hop o Vienna, Wednesday, April 4, '% London, April 6.—The Austro-Hu garian press has paid little attent to President Wilson's message r i ing German-American relations. few editorial comments that prominence to the fact that relialy information on the American gove! ment's attitude is so scarce that is impossible to form a picture of wi is happening in the United States, ] ‘While some: of the = newspap question President Wilson’s moti! others point out that the Amel government’s attitude in the past made difficult the taking of any othe course than that now laid down. e pressing at the same time the hoj that the situation between the Unitg States and Austria will not undergo change for the worse All of the leading articles voig | regret that by President Wilson'a | the chances for an early peace seemingly lessened. There is no bitterness in the ment. but expressions of keenest (Continued On Fourth Pageds