New Britain Herald Newspaper, August 20, 1917, Page 1

. | HERALD BEST OF ALL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS BRITAIN HERALD HERALD “ADS” M BETTER BUSINE PRICE THREE CENTS. NEW BRITAIN CONNECTICUT, MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1917. —TEN PAGES. ESTABLISHED # THREATEN STRIKE OF METAL WORKERS . ALLOVER COUNTRY Labor Leaders Handling Ship- yards Dispute to Call Out Allied Trades OFFER AS ALTERNATIVE END T0 PRESENT STRIKE Order for Walkout of 33,000 Con- struction Workers in Northwest in Effect Today—Leader Arrested and Held in Jail as Military Prisoner— Twenty-six Others Taken in by Tdaho Guardsmen. New York, Aug. 20.—Labor leaders in charge of the strike in shipyards of the New York district today as- serted that 260,000 metal workers in various parts of the country will be asked to declare a sympathetic strike unless a settlement is reached today. According to those in charge of the strike, the plans include takins out men all the way from Seattle to the Delaware river. Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Elizabeth and Norfolk will be affected, they said. The meeting tomorrow will be attended by officials of the interna- tional unions involved machinists, blacksmiths, boiler makers and pat- tern makers. Louis Weyland, s vice president of the International Brotherhood of Boiler Makers, decided that his union was in the fight either to win or lose everything and that the men would keep up the struggle as long as the employers did. The strikers and employers are deadlocked over the question of es- tablishing a minimum wage. I. W. W, Strike Called in West. Seattle, Aug. 20.—With James Rowan, executive officer of the dis- trict for the I. W. W, held in the county jail as a military prisoner, or- ders for a strike of agricultural and construction workers of the organiza- tion declared to number about 33,000 in the four morthwestern states, be- came effective today. Some 50,000 lumber workers in the four states al- 3 ready are said to be on strike in obedience to orders from the I. W. W. Rowan and 26 other alleged mem- bers of the L W. W. were taken into custody yesterday by Idaho National Guards on patrol duty. Investigation of the individual case of each man +was promised today by Major Clem- ent Wilking under whose direction the » arrest was made. Money amounting to $1,360, taken from the men when arrested, will be returned to them on their release, if they are found to be innocent. The principal object of the lumrber- men’s strike is to bring en eight-hour day and better working conditions, Rowan stated. The arrests of Rowan and the oth- ers were made, Major Wilkins said, under general orders appointing men to take such steps as appeared nec- essary to prevent the destruction of property and hampering of industry.t Bridgeport Conference Postponed. Bridgeport, Aug. 20.—The confer- . mmce between Federal Concillator R. M. McWade and officials of the Lake Forpedo Boat company concerning the strike at the company plant, which was to have been held today, has been ostponed until tomorrow. Mr,. Mc- ade has already given a hearing ta the strikers. None of the men went back to work today, according to union officlals. $1,000,000 STEAMER FIRE Norwegian Vessel at South Brooklyn Dock Danaged by Flames of Un- known_Origin New York, Aug. 20.—The Nor- wegian steamer Christian Bors, of 1.076 gross tons, was damaged to the sxtent of $1,000,000 by fire early to- day while lying at her dock in south Brooklyn. The steamer arrived.re- tently from a South American port and had about completed the dis» charge of a cargo of hides. The ori- pin of the fire has not been deter- mined. The vessel was owned in Bergen wind was under charter to the Prince fne. " The British steamship Baron Jed- surgh, a vessel of 4,418 gross tons, Mscharging a cargo of sugar and glu- . tose, also was badly damaged by the fre. After an investigation the fire de- partment announced that reports that the fire had been caused by bombs wvere unfounded. Spontaneous com- busition was responsible it was stated. BTAT OF MARRIED MEN. Washington, Aug. 20.—A new defi- afte statement of the administration's mterpretation of the exemption of married men and those with depen- lents is expected within the next few jays President Wilson has taken up hr question and probably will settie ke problem himself, ASKS 30,000 CHINESE BE SENT TO EUROPE General Recommends Force Be Dis- patched to Fight Germans—Ber- lin Bans Credit of New Foes. Peking, Aug. 20.—General Chang Chin Yam, commanding troops sent to suppress General Chang-Hsun’s forces in Anh-Wei province, tele- graphed President Feng Kwo Chang urging the immediate sending of his force of 30,000 to Europe to fight the Germans. Dr. Paul S. Reinsch, minister to China and other members of the En- tente, have agreed upon a common note, sent individually to the foreign office, congratulating China on its declaration of war. Baron Hayashi the Japanese minister, visited Wang Ta Hsieh, foreign minister, and as- sured him that the declaration of war strengthened the friendship be- tween Japan and China. China has instituted a cable and mail censorship.. Amsterdam, Aug. 20.—An embargo has been proclaimed on Chinese as well as Siamese credits in German banks, according to a despatch from Berlin. ENTENTE CONFERENCE ON POPE’S MESSAGE Lord Robert Cecil Tells House of mmons Allies Will Discuss Peace Note. London, Aug. 20.—Lord Robert Cecil, minister of blockade and under secretary for foreign affairs, an- mnounced in the house of commons this. afternoon that the Ertente govern- ments would hold a conference before a reply to the Pope’s peace proposals would be sent to.the Vatican. T0 RE-EXAMINE REJECTS First Exemption Board Calls - Back Some Men Already Exempted Be- cause Washington Lowers Standards Both exemption boards No. 1 and No. 2 are busy today preparing their lists of men for New Britain’s quota to the National Army and in addition the second district is preparing to handle the examination of 600 addi- tional men tomorrow, the last quota called. Examinations will begin at 7 a. m. and will continue until all the registrants have been examined. From this group the board is certain to secure its full quota, although pre- vious exemptions which are sure to ‘be turned down are expected to make it necessary to call on only a com- paratively few of the second 600 for dmmediate service. Members of the first exemption board today went over their list of previously rejected 'men and found a number who had been rejected by the war department. Second notices will Dbe sent to each of these men order- ing them to report for re-examination tomorrow or Wednesday. Since; those in this class were examined the welight limit has been materially low- ered by orders from Washington and so hag the sight test as well as the hearing tests. Attention of the second exemption board was called this morning to the fact that some of the notary publics are continuing to bleed their patrons and complaint has been made against a Polish motary who is charging his victims $3 for stamping their affi- davits. Each evening sees a score of more men and women Visiting the Herald office to take advantage of the free mnotary public service given by this paper. C. T. A. U. CONVENTION Rev. J. J. Fitzgerald of This OCity, President of State Body Officiates at Mass. Derby, Aug. 20.—The Catholic To- tal Abstinence Union of Connecticut, began its 48th annual convention to- day. Following services at St. Mark's church at which Rev. Father John J. Fitzgerald of New Britain was cele- brant of the mass. Father Fitzgerald presided as president and the dele- gates were welcomed by Mayor Sulli- van. All the state officers and county directors were present. The report of Secretary Frank J. Kinney of Bran- ford showed that the 119 delegates represented 118 societies made up of 31 men’s 36 ladies, 40 cadet, 15 league and one mixed societi the total membership being 11,472, - an increase of 894 over last year. The banner soclety for membership is the Young Men’s of New Britain, and the banner cadet body that of St Mary’s of the same city, The treasurer’s report ferred until tomorrow. was de- BRITISH MARINE LOSS Officers and Men Sent Down to Graves. London, Aug. 20.—Since the out- break of the war 6,627 officers and men of the British merchant marine, exclusive of those in the pay of admiralty, have lost their lives ac- cording to a statement made in the 7 the | HUMASON WATCHES PLANE SHOT DOWN New Britain Man Sees Airmen Play Tag With Death APPROACHES FRENCH FRONT Has First View of American Soldiers and Visits French Battery Concealed ¥rom Enemy—Poilu and Boche Ex- change Shrapnel. A graphic description of a fatal bat- tle between French and German avia- tors within sight of “No Man's Land” and the casual meeting with two American soldiers, members of Gen- eral John J. Pershing’s plucky little army in France, is told by Howard C. Humason of 201 Vine street, now in France driving an ammunition truck with the French army, in a letter written to his mother and ' posted “somewhere in Frarce” on July 2 This letter, written at the conclusion of the day’'s work, tells of the - most HOWARD C. HUMASON. exciting adventures yet this stout hearted New cnn.‘;f::ti‘:\d s After a few personal paragraphs Mr. Humason writes: ““After our few days’ rest beginning the fourteenth we have been on the jump again. Tuesday we went over to the wusuai loading place and got some lumber for trench defenses. The licutenant in charge asked me to ride with him to our a tination and then wait for the camions and direct them to the park. I never though riding in a Ford would be a luxury, but after banging around in a truck with solid tires it seemed so. ‘While waiting T had a chat with a dusky chap from Tunis, who gave me three real Egyptian cigarettes. I also had a regular saluting bee while wait- ing there as the town is full of officers and we are supposed to recognize and honor them all. A major came along and as I jumped up and saluted he returned the salute and then said: ‘Good morning’, which floored me as it is not frequently that we hear such remarks from officers. He asked me what I was waiting for and when I told him, he said: ‘Right you are’. T don’t know yet whether he was a blooming Englishman or not, but doubt it. Got home about supper time. Inspects Concealed Battery. “On Wednesday we worked on our car getting it in shape as after three days of loafing we expected a busy time, which we truly got. We were aroused at 4:30 a. m. and got a loaf of lumber again for ancther town which was much nearer the front than we had yet been. While we were wait- ing to he loaded one of the French corporals asked three of us if we would like to climb a nearby hill and examine some anti-air craft guns. We said of course we would and while we were there a French lleutenant came along and invited us to visit a battery of big guns a mile away. As we had plenty of time we gladly ac- cepted. After walking what we judged to be a mile we could see nothing of the gnns but on entering a group of trees suddenly found ourselves there. The battery was hidden in the most clever fashion imaginable, being cov- ered with branches and brush in such a way that it 1ooks like merely a lot of underbrush from a point only ten feet away. Although they have fired 2,000 shells from this pcint, the nearest the Boche has come in reply is one-half a mile. Meets American Soldiers. “On I'riday morning we had a short trip and in the afternoon we put in more time on the car. After supper we had a ball game with another sec tion, which we won, & Just as finished A. Platt Andrews made t with a Major Murphy of Pe s staff, so T have at | en a real American officer. There aik of the American army taking over this branch of the service. but how much truth there is in it 1 can’t say. Satur- day morning I had guard duty from 2 to 2 a. m. and then had to go on a trip, starting at 1 Had a little cxcitomest furnished by a Boche plane which dropped a couple of hombs within a quarter of a mile of ue and was then driven away. We reached home at 11 p. m. and thought we some house of commons this afternoon hs Bir Albert Stanley president ‘l.uard of trade. of the l of course we would have a dax off, (Continued on Ninth Pagzge BERNARD V. FARRELL FOUND IN HOSPITAL Piano Salesman, Who Disappeared on June 2, Reported to Be Men- tally Unbalanced. | Bernard V. Farrell, the well known | piano salesman, who disappeared from town on June 2, has been lo- jcated in the Hartford hospital hope- lessly insane. Farrell was employed here as a salesman by C. L. Pierce & Co., of 246 Main street and lived ‘at 39 Walnut street. He was prom- | inent in fraternal circles and at the | time of his sudden departure it was | rumored that he had absconded with $1,400 from the treasury of the Or- der of Moose, although the lodge re- fused to admit the loss. The local police learned last week that there was a man at the Hart- ford hospital that might be Farrell. The case is shrouded in mystery and thé hospital authorities refuse to give out any details concerning the his- tor_y of the patient. Late last week Chxe_t William J. Rawlings sent De- | tective Richardson to Hartford to | investigate the case and ‘he is con- | vinced that the man at the hospital is Farrell although he is hopelessly insane and will soon be taken to state jasylum at Middletown. It has, been learned that he was ad- mitted to the Hartford hospital on Monday, August 6, but how and why he, was admitted remains a mystery. ATLANTA SENTENCES ~ FOR DRAFT GRAFTERS | Two Members of New York Board No. 99 Given - Two Years. . o New York, Aug. 20.—Dr. S. J. Bern- feld and Louis 1. Cherey, indicted members of exémption board No. 99, today entered pleas of guilty to a charge of conspiracy to obstruct the | draft law when they were about to be placed on trial. They were sentenced | to two years each in the federal peni- tentiary at Atlanta. Kalman Gruber, not a member of the board but indicted with them' on the same charge, elected to stand trial. Harold Sigel grandson of Gen. Franz Sigel, the famous German-American { Civil war general, has waived exemp- tion after passing the physical exam- ination here. The specifie count in the ment for conspiracy to which Bern- feld and Cherey pleaded gullty charged them with accepting a bribe of $300 from a registrant to exempt him. It was disclosed, however, by Assistant U. S. District Attorney Stan- ton that the defendants had accepted | $3,000 in bribe money. He told the i court they had paid back a portion of the money and had promised to make good the balance as soon as possible. The judge said that although the maximum penalty provided by the status was imprisonment for two years and a fine of $10,000 the gov- ernment did not wish to accept this sum of money in the form of a fine. “These men,” said the judge, ‘“‘the indicted and plead guilty to having committed a._ most heinous crime against their government in time of great stress. They can be credited with only one act of decency in con- nection with this matter—paying back some of the money they ob- tained as bribes and promising to pay the balance.” The defendants week to arrange taken fo Atlanta. The task of obtaining a jury in the charge against Kalman Gruher was begun immediately. indict- were allowed one their affairs before MINERS REVERSE VOTE Ballot 376 to 354 .\gainst Sending La- bor Party Delegates to Conference at Stockholm. Exmouth, England, Aug. 20.—The conference of the miners’ federation of Great Britain today decided by a vote of 376 to 354 that the British la- bor party should not be represented at the international socialist confer- ence at Stockholm. This is a reversal of a previous decision of the monérs’ federation. PETAIN AT U. S. CAMP French Commander Visits Gen. Per- shing and Expressés Pleasure at | Potentiality of American Troops. American Training Camp in France, | Aug. 20 (By Associated Press).—Gen- eral Petain, commander in chief of the French armies, visited Majgr-General | Pershing yesterday, spending the en- tire day in the American training arci. After the visit General Petain said he was much impressed and con- | vinced that the American troops soon | would become an excellent fighting | force. General Pershing will proceed | ta the front in WEATHER. Hartford, Aug. cast for New Britain and vi- cinity: Fair with moderate temperature tonight and Sun- | 18. — Fore- dary. I FRENCH OPEN DRIVE ON 11 MILE FRONT Berlin Despatch Adm}ts Loss o Talou Ridge Near Verdun ATTACK ON LARGE SCALE | Teutons Again Fail in Attempt to Puncture English Line—TItalian | Offensive Believed to Presage Grave | i Situation for Austrians. The French took the offensive this | morning on, the Verdun front striking | along a sector of 11 on both banks of the Meuse. Early reports from Paris, while giving few details of the battle, say it has developed to the advantage of the French and prisoners are passing to the rear. The first reports do not show whether the French have inaugurated a major offensive, although the indi- cations are that the operation is an unusually important one. There has been sharp fighting recently on the Verdun front, which has been the scene of some of the most sanguinary struggles of the war. It was in this sector that the Crown Prince Jaunched an offensive early last year in an attempt to break the French line, losing several hundred thousand men without gaining any material ad- miles | vantage. The British line on the Ypres front has been advanced slightly. Heavy fighting is in progress on the Italian front. The Austrian office an- nounced yesterday that a great offen- sive had been inaugurated by the Italians. The Italian statement of yesterday did not mention the attack but despatches from Rome today speak of the new Italian advance and sgay that the situation for Austria is grave. Prisoners Being Brought In. 20.—French morning on the Paris, Aug. made an attack thi banks of the Meuse, front. the battle has developed to the advan- tage of the French on a sector of 11 Prisoners already have begun to the rear. Verdun ng all other places over a front of 3-8 miles, the general staff reports, fighting is in full swing. The high command says that Talou ridge was given up by the Teutons be- cause this line of defense since last March had only been occupied by out- posts. Forces of the Central powers on the Rumanian front have driven back the Rumanians on both sides of the Oituz wvalley and near the Trotus valley, it was officially annaunced by the war office. In the fighting in the Oitu valley region the Austro-German took 1500 prisoners and captured 30 machine guns. Stubborn battles developed at the Ma- rasechti station, on the Sereth river, the Teutons capturing more than 2200 prisoners. Berlin Concedes French Advance. Berlin, Aug. 20, via London.—The war office announces that the French, without fighting, have occupied the Talou ridge on the Verdun front east of the Meuse. British Ward Off German Attack. London, Aug. 20.—A German counter attack on the positions cap- tured by the British yesterday morn- ing southeast of Epehy was com- pletely repulsed against sharp fight- ing, according to an official state- ment issued today by the war office A successful raid was carried out Jast night south of Lens. On the Ypres front the British line has been advanced slightly southeast of St. Jenshoek. German Artillery Fails in Support. Canadian Headquarters in France, Aug. 20 (By Canadian Press Ltd.).— After capturing the last of the trenches and railway cuttings which form the last line of German defense in that | quarter the Canadians have succeed- ed in establishing strong posts along a special trench which was the scene of desperate and indecisive fighting for two day ago, These new posts give command of the last bit of ground from which the defenders of the city could overlook our advance from the west. They are now in a hollow all around the front, which swings about Lens in semi-cir- cular form. German prisoners Speak with bit- ferness of seeing their guns in proc- ess of withdrawul while the intantry was sent forward with insutficient ar- tillery support. The loss of guns still appeaws to be more important in the eyes of the general cammanders than the loss of en The enemy hus been very active in the air recently and has been bomb- ing our buck areas more freely than for some tiwe past Emperor to Austrians, Rome, Aug 20.—Commenting on the new Italian advance, the press says that it. like the British attack in Flanders, will be of servvice if it demonstrates how the people and armies of the allied countries feel toward the premature proposals of the Pope. It is said Austria appar- ently realizes the gravity of the situa- tion, as announcement is made that (Continued on Ninth Page) troops | on both | Early information shows that | ENGINE GREW HURT IN VALLEY BRANCH WRECK Locomotive and Tender Roll Down Embankment Near Colt Plant. Hartford, Aug. 20.—The engine of the Valley Branch passenger train from New London on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad due here at 8:57 this morning was derailed at the bridge over the Park river, a small stream which flows through the city and empties into the Connecticut river, and went down the embankment. It toppled over on its side together with the ender which had been dragged down. No cars left the rails and no passenger was hurt. Engineer Thomas Kane had a cut on the forehead and Fireman Arthur H. Porter had a broken shoulder blade and internal injurles. Both were sent to the Hartford hospital. The cause of the derailment has not been determined. Engineer. Kane's home is at 12 Tilley street, New Lon- don, and Fireman Porter’s home at 17 Main street in the same city. New Haven, Aug. 20.—The official announcement from the office of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad company here as to an acci- dent to the 6:38 a. m. passenger train from New London to Hartford over the valley branch was as follows: “The engine of the 8'a. m. train from New London over the valley branch was derailed in the Hartford railroad yard near the Colt plant at 8:50. The engine went down the bank. Engineer P. Kane and the fireman were hurt. No passenger was hurt. All left the coaches and took trolley cars into Hartford." After examination of the place En- gineer John F. Trumbull of the pub- lic utilities commission gave it as his opinion’ the derailment of the engine was due to a loose board. There is a grade crossing over which contractors have been hauling | naterial and they have been placing | boards alongside of the rails to make it easier for trucks to pass over. One such board evidently was left on the rail itself, and it served to derail the engine which went into the rushes on the river's edge. | There was some excitement on the train but members of Troop B who were coming up from Niantic quieted the passengers. The board responsibla for the ac- cident was found after search. BOSTON MILLINERS STRIKE. Thonsands Out for More Money and Shorter Hours. Boston, Aug. 20.—Many thousands of millinery workers in shops in this city are out on strike today because of a refusal of their demands for in- creased wages and shorter working hours. BANNACHT LACHT 69TH. New York City Bids Good-bye to Fa- mous Irish Regiment Which Goes Into Camp at Mineola. New York, Aug. 20.—New York city bade farewell to its famous fight- ing Sixty-Ninth today, when the regi- ment left for its training camp at Mineola, L. I, after a parade through Fifth avenue and other thoroughfares lined with cheering thousands. The regiment will comprise part of the “rainbow division” that soon will join | the expeditionary force of Major General Pershing In France. 1 The regiment, led by Lieutenant | Colonel Latham Reed, second in com- | mand, marched from its armory | through streets hung with hundreds of small flags, the Stars and Stripes and the green flag of Ireiand. A pic- turesque feature of the parade was the escort of honor composed of Span- ish war veterans of the Sixty-Ninth led by Colonel Edward Duffy, who commanded the unit in the Spanish American war. . CLAIMS POIICE EXEMPT. Bridgeport Officials Describes Their Use During Strikes. Bridgeport, Aug. 20.—Assistant Su- SUPER-WAR ON U-BOATS, NAVY DEPARTMENT PL/ Production of Destroye Be Doubled or During Next 18 M‘ Daniels Says. : ONLY THING ON SH SUBMARINES F All of This Type of Warships Can Be Gotten Out Will Be Into Action—No More Chas Be Constructed—Conference Builders Today—War Tax I Opens Third Weck. Washington, Aug. 20.—Immj expansion of building facilities United States to double or trip output of destroyers during th 18 months was the object of ference today between Sec Daniels and representatives of more ship and engine builderss “If we get what we want,” th retary said, ‘“the United State have more destroyers than any power. They are the one thim| a submarine fears.” The secretary indicated that destroyers the builders could py would be ordered. Every aspect of shipbuildin bears on destroyer produetion taken up. There is no shorts material or plant facilities, but. culty lies in obtaining high- engines, boilers and reduction Secretary Daniels said no tional chasers would be orden present. The chasers are Vi for harbor and in shore patrol but the destrovers are far &u even for these duties and have | dition sea going qualities. 7 Every suggestion that the eh engine builders had to make | as to -additional motive power ‘4 destroyers was given close ati The possibility of making some new vessels with oil engines among the suggestions offered Secretary Daniels said he expansion of the plants now destroyers as the most efficient: of speeding up. { The "third week of senate’ on the war tax bill opened toda; prospect that the bill's passage be delayed until next week. Several more days discussiol ‘Promised on the important and putes questions remaining—in war profits, consumption and ipul ers’ tax. Senator LaFollette's speech in of increasing income and war P levies, planned for today, was poned until tomorrow. DOCTOR CLUBBED T0 DE Hamilton, Ontario, Physician Quickly Three Arrests on Suspicion, 1 ] Dead and Police Hamilton, Ont., Aug. 20.—Dr. McRobbie, a well known physi was found dead here today. Ing tions were that death resulted frg clubbing. Three arrests have made. KAISER TO HIS NAVY. Visits Helgoland and Assures Fig of Confidence. Amsterdam, Aug. 20.—At the | clusion of his visit to the German. sea fleet at Wilhelmshaven, Emj William issued the following to fleet: “After having recently received announcement that a heavy attac! the enemy in an attempt to brea our sea front in Flanders had been cessfully repelled I have today visit to my fleet and the island fo: of Helgoland been enabled to con myself of the strength and security this front, too. I express my appreciation to all the high sea on the water, under water and in| air, and to the fortress of Helga for the untiring, self-sacrificing successful labor by means of Wi they have kept firmly in view attajned this aim, May the fleet main conscious that the confident myself and the fatherland rep firmly on it.” The emperor distributed a nu of iron crosses . His visit is repol to have been caused by threat strikes at the Wilhelmshaven arsof FIRE RAGES AT SALONIKI, perintendent of Police Charles Suck- ley has drawn a new form for police- i men seeking exemption from the draft, and the claims were signed to- ! day by the police commissioners and filed with the local exemption boards. Mayor Wilson recently tried un- successfully to obtain the exemption of the police on the grounds that loss would impair the efficiency. Superin- | tendent Suckley, in the exemption pa- pers of which he is the author, as- serts that practically every great in- } dustry in the country is engaged in | making war munitions, that when wide areas have been declared under martial lay that the police are forced to cooperate with military authorities in protecting the plants. Maore Than Half Walled City De by stro Flames, More than 1 Suloniki, in. G| Macedoniu, which s uder occupat] by the Entente troops, was destro: by firec on Saturday. Bighty thousg people who were rendered home were being removed' to‘ neighbor villages last evening, according . tqg despatch received here. The fire| now under control. London, Aug the walled city of EDISON VISITS PRESIDENT, Washington, Aug. 20.—Thomas Edison conferred with Secret: Daniels today and later went to ‘Write House to call upon Presid Wilson. !