New Britain Herald Newspaper, December 14, 1917, Page 1

HERALD BEST OF ALL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS v BRITAIN HERALD HERALD “ADS” M# BETTER BUSINES$ {PRICE THREE CENTS. NEW BRITAIN CONNECTICUT, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1917. $3,-1017. —TWENTY PAGES. ESTABLISHED 18 * BOLSHEVIKI APPROVE PEACE CONFERENCE WITH GERMANS 4 > 4 P i Trotsky Announces Dele- gates to Armistice Con- gress May Take Further Step to End Hostilities. GERMAN CIVILIANS WILL BE RELEASED Four Thousand Russian Officers, Now in Encmy Prisons, to Be Allowed Freedom Through Exchange—Rus- stan Commander at Sveaborg Re- ported to Have Recognized Inde- pemdence of Finland. London, Dec. 14.—Leon Trotzky, the Bolsheviki foreign minister, ac- cording to a Reuter despatch from Petrograd, announces that if an arm- istice for the eastern front is signed at Brest-lLitovsk the Russian dele« gates are empowered to enter into peace negotiations. The Moscow workmens and sol- diers’ council has suppressed the news- _paper Russkoe Slovo for publishing a rumor that Ensign Krylenko’s seizure of general staff headquarters was in- stigated at German headquarters, ac- cording to a Reuter despatch from Petrograd. The office of the news- paper is occupied by soldiers and the plant and paper has been sequestered | for the needs of the workmen and soldiers. The Russian authorities have or- dered the release of all civilian Ger- man prisoners in exchange for 4,000 | Russian officers in German prigons, according to a despatch from Hapar- anda printed in the Dagens Nyheter of Stockholm and forwarded by the correspondent of the Morning Post. 1t is reported reliably, the despatch | adds, that Russian troops have been ordered to evacuate. Finland. The commander of the fortifications at Sveaborg is said to have acknowledged officially the independence of Finland. Armisticc Debate Resumed. Amsterdam, Dec. 14.—Official Ger- man and Austrian statements say that «the Russian delegates arrived at Brest-Litovsk Wednesday,_and the Armistice negotiations Wera. sesumed yesterday. Arinistice Will Aid Austria. Amsterdam, Dec. 13.—The Austro- Hungarian war minister, Gen. Stoe- ger-Steiner, is quoted by the Neue Freie Presse of Vienna to the effect that the relief resulting from an arm- jstice with Russia would depend on | the details of the agreement but in any case it would relax considerably the strain on the transport system. On the question of disarmament, the general said it would be possible only if gradual, universal and slmul(a:n— eous. Austria and her allies, he said, dared not place themselves in such a position as to permit the rest of the world to dictate to them; less than ever today when the ranks of the states had been increased to great powers. Letts Establish Own Government. Petrograd, Dec. 13.—The soldiers’ and workmen's organizations in the territory inhabited by the Letts have formed a temporary national council of Lettland at Valk.The council has announced the formation of an au- tomonous government for the Letts, taking in Courland, Livonia and other regions in the Baltic provinces. An appeal has been made to the Entente allies to prevent division of the local territory. A president has also been’ chosen. " DENIES WOMAN'S EXECUTION State Department Issues Bulletin Cin- tradicting Story of Female Spy Be- ing Executed in United States. ‘Washington, Dec. 14.—Persistent repetition of a story that a woman spy had been executed in the United States has caused the State depart- ment to send an official denial to American consuls in neutral coun- / tries. The story originated in Germany and its widespread use is regarded as another case of propaganda. The name of the woman was given as Anna Huitems. so utterly false, but credence appeared to have given to it in neutral countries. BANK ROBBERS GET $10,000. - Hold Up Officials While Snowstorm Hides Movements. Chicago, Dec. 14—Two hundred pounds of money ($40,000) was car- ried off by the five men who yes- terday robbed the La Grange State pbank at La Grange, a western suburb, it became known today after an in- demnity insurance company had chacked up the bank’s cash. The robbery took place at noon but a heavy snowstorm obscured the rob- bers at work in the bank from people | on the street and they escaped in an _.automobile. Ordinarily na atten- tion would have been paid to a story in this case been GRAFT INSINUATION BY MAJ. GEN. CROZIER i Appropriation for Rifles Used for Pistols at High Royalties. ‘Washington, Dec. 14.—Examination today of Major-General Crozier, chief of ordnance, at an executive session of the senate military committee’s in- quiry into alleged delays in supplying the war army, went further into de- tails of the rifle and machine gun sit- uations. Several senators sharply questioned him in what were de- scribed as ‘“somewhat heated” ex- changes. Some of the members were said to be inclined to attribute to Gen. Crozier himself responsibility for the reduction of fifty per cent. in rifle pro- duction in private plants, due to the change in type. Failure to use appropriations for the purpose intended was also devel- oped from the general. In particular, an appropriation of $5,000,000 made in August, 1916, for small arms and intended by congress for rifles, Gen. Crozier said, was used for pistols, some at high royalties from private contractors. Gen. Crozier reiterated that rifle production will increase so that na American troops sent abroad will be without surplus arms, and that soon there will be ample for training pur- poses. DESCRIBES MEANS’ RISE TO AFFLUENCE Lawyer for State Tells Jury of Sudden Riches Flowing Into Pockets of .Accused. Concord, N. C., Dec. 14.—John T. Dooling, assistant ‘district attorney of New York, today took the jury in the trial of Gaston B. Means along the defendant’s career as business man- ager for Mrs. Maude A. King, with whose murder he is charged, and pointed out link by link the chain of evidence the state contends establishes the motive for the alleged crime. He pointed out from the evidence that when the defendant be nected in 1915 with Mrs. K fairs he was living in a cheap flat in Harlem, had no considerable funds, his wife had about $100 in the bank. ‘Within three or four months tens of thousands of dollars were deposited in cash to the credit of Mrs. Means, besides large bank accounts in Means” name. These deposits were made subsequent to the time he had gone to Chicago with Mrs. King and se-* cured from the Woodruff Trust com- pany securities and cash to the amount of $192,000. The securities, he said, were taken back to New York and converted into cash. NEW SWISS PRESIDENT Felix Caledoner Elected to Highest Of- fice for 1918—Dr. Edward Miller Is Chosen Vice President. Berne, Dec. 14.—Felix vice president of the republic head of the department of the Caledoner, and Switzerland for 1918. Dr. Edouard Miller was elected vice president. SENATE PASSES SHIELDS BILL. Washington, Dec. 14.—The Shields failed in a conference deadlock dur- ing the last congress, was passed to- day by same form. It now goes to the house. PERUVIAN CONu. NOT OPEN. Lima, Peru, Dec. 14.—For lack of a quorum the extraordinary session of congress called to begin yesterday was not opened. The political situation now is complicated. in- | terior today was elected president of | | fighting. bill for development of water power | projects on navigable streams, which | the senate virtually in the | ‘DEATH BATTALION,’ IN REVOLT, BEATEN Women Fighters Whipped by Bol- sheviki Forces Near Bielgorod GEN. KORNILOFF DISAPPEARS Furious Fighting Reported from Ros- tov With Cossacks Being Defeated— Senate Stands Its Ground—Keren- sky Threatened With Lynching. Petrograd, Dec. 13.—The Bolshe- viki forces have defeated a Death Bat- talion in the vicinity of Bielgorod where the fighting with the Korniloft and Kaledines forces centers. In the Orenburg district, where Gen. Dutoff | has a large force of Cossacks, there ! has been little fighting. The Bolshe- | viki have sent agitators to work : among his troops. It is reported Ka- | luga has heen taken by the Bolshe- viki after the defeat of a counter revolutionary “Death Battalion.” The commander of the Black Sea fleet has ' called on the ilors to fight against ! Kaledines, declaring that Kaledines, | together with allied imperialists, has declared civi] war. The staff report on the Bielgorod | fighting says the Korniloff forces lost ' 50 killed and 80 prisoners. The re- | port adds that Korniloff has disap- peared. A description of the Rostov fight- ing says shells fired by Bolsheviki | gunboats in the river missed their ob- jective but landed in the barracks of ‘a Cossack detachment which had de- cided to remain neutral but which fought for Kaledines when disturbed by the shells. It is reported Gen. Kaledines is prepared to negotiate with the Bolsheviki in order to pre- vent further bloodshed around Ros- tov. Fighting in Rostov. Petrograd, Dec. 12.—Gen. Kaledines | has begun hostilities and is besieging the city of Rostov-on-the-Don, ac- cording to a wireless telegram re- ceived in Sebastapol from Rostov. Within Rostov the Bolsheviki troops have clashed with the Cossacks who have destroyed the Bolsheviki head- quarters. The transport Kolchida, manned by Bolsheviki, is bombarding the Kaledines forces. A telegram received at Smolyni In- stitute, the Bolsheviki headquarters, | says there have heen riots in Rostov in which the Cossacks were put down by the Tolsheviki infantry. The raii way between and Scheterinka has been cut and telesraph communi- cation has been broken off. Reports of the battle vary. Hostilities began Sunday and are said to continue with heavy losses on both sides. Artillery reinforcements have been sent the Bolsheviki, who are now reported to be under the command of Ensign | Krylenko, the Bolsheviki commander- in-chief. Sailors from Helsingfors and several regiments from the north- ern front have arrived in Petrograd. Rostoy Cossacks Reported Defeated. Petrograd, Thursday, Dec. 13.—In the battle near Bielgorod, according to a Bolsheviki stafi report, Gen. Korniloff's Cossacks were defeated. | They retreated to Vasileika. | In connection with the battle Rostov the evening newspapers re- port the Cossacks as victorious, the Bolsheviki forces having retreated | across the Don river to Nakhitchevan. | at | Bolsheviki Take Two Towns, London, Dec. 14.—Bolsheviki troops have occupied Tamanovka and Ka- ' luga, according to a Reuter despatch | from Petrograd. Kaluga was captured without much The counter-revolutionary troops were disarmed and arrested and Bolsheviki authority restored. The commissioners with the Black Sea fleet have telegraphed asking for the immediate dispatch by land and water of all Black Sea detachments now ashore. They also ask for a large number of machine guns. The commissioners report that military cadets are attacking Rostov with armored cars. i Tamanovka is near Bielgorod, in Kursk province, about 350 miles south | e i (Continued On Fourth Page). HALIFAX TAKES UP Halifax, N. 8., Dec. 14.—With the relief situatlon so well in hand that its services were no longer required, Massachusetts unit, first on the ground here after the great fire and explosion, went home today. The de- parture of the delegation, members of the general committee declared, meant that the city of Halifax, profit- ing by its help and its counsel, was prepared now to handle its own prob- lem. The continued cold, however, has retarded work in the strip of terri- tory laid bare by the blast of a mu- nition ship and it will be days, per- haps, before the snow has thawed sufficiently to enable soldiers and workmen to drag the ruins for the bodies known to be there. The big public funeral service | planned for today was vostponed un- I til Monday because of the difficulty of AS BAY STATE FRIENDS LEAVE OWN BURDEN opening graves. After the burial of | the dead from the fire zone, Camp Hill cemetery, where lie hundreds of ithose lost on the Titanic and the ! Bourgoyne, will be filled and closed. Perhaps the most touching after- math of the disaster is the fear gen- erally experienced by citizens today that for the first time in its history Halifax this year will not celebrate Christmas. The dealers have aban- doned all plans for the holiday rush. Some effort will he made to make the Yuletide the happiest S under the circumstances for the desti- | tute and wounded. | | New England surgeons and nurses ‘l)!'cbuhly will spend Christmas here i Already they have planned for a real [N(\\\' England Christmas in the hos- pitals, especially in those institutions crowdea with children the most of whom have been blinded for life. l | fire GERMAN HOPE FOR VIGTORY GROWIN General Public Expects Drive on West Front to Bear Fruif ITALIAN ~ LOSSES . HEAVY | Official Austrian Statement Claims Capture of 639 Officers, 16,000 Men and Many Guns During Recent Of-~ fensive—British Oppose Bavarians. London, Dec. 14.—A generally in- creased confidence in Germany based on the Russian armistice and other factors is shown in extracts from the latest German newspapers tele- graphed from Holland. Travelers arriving in Holland from Germany are quoted as saying the German people are building great hopes of a general -offensive on the Western front regarded as certainly ' impending. Bitter fighting lasted almost the en- tire day Wednesday east of Bulle- court, where the Bavarians attacked British positions, according to a Reu- . ter’s despatch from British headquar- ters in France. The enemy remained in possession of some ground he had taken early in the assault. An official Austrian statement re- viewing the recent attack on the northern Italian front says that in the four days of fighting in the Meletta regions 639 Italian officers and more than 16,000 men were made prisoners. The capture also is reported of 293 guns, 233 machine guns, four quick- firers, 81 mine throwers and a quan- tity of other materials. Artillery Battle in Champagne. Paris, Dec. 14.—Heavy artillery fighting occurred last night in the Champagne, the war office announces. Austrians Oreep Up on Italians. Italian Headquarters, Northern Italy, Dec. 13 (By the Associated Press).—After three days of fighting on the mountain front between the Brenta and Piave rivers, the enemy is holding some trenches on Col Bereta and the summit of Mont Spinuccia, but all the rest of the Italian line is in its original position. This is the enemy’s third successive attack with the object of breaking through the plains. The backward season continues to be an important factor. A downpour in the last two days has filled the Piave, which had nearly run dry, oh- Wing the water barrier with the enemy trenches only a few hundred wds away. The water in the inun- ated section on the lower Piave has also fallen from five feet to a foot. Taking advantage of the low water, the Austrians occupied a villa near the lagoon of Venice, in the vicinity of Boro Cavlino. The Italian de- stroyer Sauro managed to work into the lagoon and landed a party of sailors who destroyed the villa to- liter | gether with the telephone and ma- chine guns which had been installed. Prussians Beat Off British Attack. Berlin, Dec. 14, Via London.— ! British troops trying to recapture the trenches lost to the east of Bulle- court were beaten back yesterday, the German general staff announces. On the front of Duke Albrecht in castern France the French artillery increased. At isolated points between the Brenta and Pjave rivers, in northern Italy, the German general staff an- nounces violent artillery attacks. FOR POLISH CHILDREN Red Cross Sends $100,000 to Starving Boys and Girls—American Legation | at Berne Remits Money. Berne, Switzerland, Dec. 14—On be- half of the Red Cross, the American legation has remitted to the Polish relief commission $100,000 for starv- ing Polish children. COAL BARGES GO DOWN. ! Blown Away From Tug at South Nor- walk During Gale. South Norwalk, Dec. 14.—The tug; Bully of the Owen McCaffrey and (o’s transportation line, New York, arrived in the harbor today, and re- | ported the loss of six barges, coal- Jaden for Bridgeport and New Haven, The tug and tow had been inside the harbor for three dayvs waiting for the wind, rain and snow storms to abate, but during the gale last night the barges broke away and went down. All the men, women and children on board were saved and taken on the tug. The schooner Mary sand from Rockaw: for the Nor- | walk Tron Works Co., is wrecked on Belle TIsland, having been blown ashore during the night. BE. Cuff, with OLGA ROMANOFF ILL. Petrograd, Dec. 13.—It is reported from Tobolsk, Siberia, that Olga, eld- est daughter of former Emperor Nicholas, is seriously ill. WEATHER Hartford, Dec. S for New Bri n and 1t.—Fore- | tinet and | cials, man having been id 1 London. : Fair and much colder tonight and Saturday. o o 'WISE EXECUTIONIS | RECORD FOR STATE, Condemned Murderer Attempts to Speak as Hood Is Adjusted TRIES T0 SHILE AT DEATH | Slayer of Anna Tobin Walks Calmly | to Death and Life is Extinct Thir- teen Seconds After Prisoncr Steps Into Execution Chamber. “Can I say something?” These words uttered in a muffled tone, were the last that will ever come from ; the lips of William J.: Wise, the con- | victed slayer of Mrs. Anna Tobin, | the soldier-waiter having gone to his death in the execution room of state prison shortly after midnight this morning. In the annals of the Weth- ersfield institution, the hanging was the quickest ever performed. Nine minutes and fifty-eight seconds after he entered the death house at 12:08:28, his body was lowered into a pine box and turned over to a Jewish undertaker for interment in the Old North cemetery in Hartford. Members of Jewish societies arranged for the burial. With the exception of the attempt to speak on the part of the condemned man, the affair was conducted with- out incident. It had been frequent! said that fears were entertained that the murderer might collapse at the final stage of the affair, but he did not. Walking with an unfaltering step to the gallows, Wise seemed to take his fate in a philosophical man- | ner. As he entered the death house he held his head ecrect, and glanced quickly at the prison attendants and | newspapermen. He then backed into the position uinder the noose. As the | black hood was about to be adjusted, Wise’s lips parted and he uttered the above exclamation. The prison at- tendants, however, paid no attention to him and went about their work as if nothing’ had occurred. Wa Garner sprung the trap at 12:08:41, exactly 13 seconds after the prisoner had entered the death chamber. Drs. G. Fox and R. J. rhysicians, applied stethoscope almost immediately the body had heen lowered slightly. It was exactly 12:17:30 when all signs of heart action had hecome ex- death was officially pro- Ryan, the after nounced. Trics (o Smile. Wise's final day out incident. ¢ on carth was with- cording to prison ofli- The prisoner spent a very quict day and the only visitors who saw him were Rabbis Walfich, of Hartford, and Rosenberg, of this city. The for- mer accompanied the condemned man as far as the door of the death house from the steel cage, but Rabbi Rosen- berg left the building a few minutes before the execution. Wise partook of his meals with apparent relish. He read some during the daytime, and last evening he lay on.the small cot | as he conversed with his spiritual ad- visers. The air shown by the eon- demned man up to the last did not appear to be a forced bravado. Wise tried very hard to smile this morning, with grim death staring him in the face. He looked somewhat pallid. His hair was neatly combed, and some appcarances of the dapper youth who first became known in a Church street restaurant were shown until the last. None of Wise's relatives was on hand to bid him good-bye yesterday, a cister and father of the e ecuted at the prison, Mon lay. when the board of pardons jected the request for a commutation to life imprisonment from the sen- tence of death. STORM HALTS TRIAL. Jurors Snowhound and Liquor-tellin Case Is Delayed. Hartford, Dec. 14.-—The inability of Fred B. Case, of West Granby, and Fdward M. Griffin, of Granby, to get to Hartford this morning held up the se of the government against Mrs. Nora Potter and Joseph Hoffs, on trial here for alleged sales of liquor to uni- formed soldiers and sailors in New The men are jurors in the case. Mr. Case had about seven miles to drive before getting his train at Tar- iffville, while Mr. Griffin had a four- mile drive to reach the same place. Each telephoned that he expected to be an hour late. At 1 o'clock neither in an appearance. Traing v behind schedule. The s had summed up and Judge s ready to charge the jury rden | STORM RIDES IN ON GALE FROM THE SEA . New Britain Given Reali Taste of Old Fashioned Blizzard. Not until the morning was well spent did New Britain emerge to any extent today from its burden of snow, which was flung wild all night by a stiff gale from down the Atlantic coast. Hundreds of factory employes were late for work this morning. In fact, many gazed out the windows and de- cided to return to bed and allow in- dustry to hum along lvithout their as- tance. Trolley schedules were hardly rec- ognizable. Although plows were or- dered out shortly after the storm, be- gan last night, it was impossible to keep the lines completely cleared, and a go-as-you-can timetable was maintained. New Britain people who work in Hartford were unable to leave for the Capital City until 9:20 o’clock, the hour at which the first train from the west nosed its way through the drifts, being drawn by two locomotives. The first train from Hartford arrived here at 8:20 o’clock. Train service on the main line, from New York to Boston, was entirely cut off until the middle of the morning. The storm began after 8 o’clock last night and by midnight had developed into an old-fashiond blizzard, with the appearance of remaining through to- day. Tt is said the street department found it difficult to secure enough men to do the city shoveling, and others who are accustomed to having their shoveling done by hired labor found the market unresponsive. e BURNED TO DEATH. Worker at DuPont Powder Plant Dics After Explosion. Wilmington, Del., Dec. 14.—One man is dead and five injured as a re- sult of u fire following an explosion today at an acid plant of the DuPont Powder Co. 18 miles from here. William (‘rowe of Phijladelphia was | burned to death. After the firemen had been sum- | moned from Wilmington fire broke out the Wilmington power house necessitating the shutting off or all elestric. current in the city. Wil- car seriice, P. O. BILL PASSES HOUSE. | Washington, Dec. 14.—The post - | fice appropriation bill aggregating $333,000,000, including $1,200,000 for | censorship of foreign mails and with- I out and appropriation for pneumatic i tube service in New 'York, Boston or clsewhere was passed today by the house. Tt now goes to the senute. PROBE OF CONDUCT OF WAR. Washington, Dec. 14.—A house sub- committee to thoroughly investigate the conduct of the war by the navy was created by the naval committee today in executive session. Hearings will be arranged soon. Secretary Dan- iels bureau chiefs and officers who have been on duty abroad will be called. KATSER CALLS MANUFACTURERS Amsterdam, Dec, 14.—The Rhen- ische Westfalische Zeitung of Essen, Germany, reports that the presidents of the war board of German industry, the central union of manufacturers and the league of manufacturers have been summoned to a conference at German great headquarters. COAL BARGES GO ASHORE., Clinton, Dec. 14.—Three barges, bound with 750 tons of coal from Westerly, R. I, to New York, broke from their moorings behind Duck Ts- land during the storm last night and were driven ashore near Grove Beach. One of the craft, the steam barge De- marest, struck on Stony Island. The engineer and fireman remained on board until daylight, when they came ashore in a small boat. Shortly after- ‘ward the Demarest started to break up and, it is said, will be a total loss. The other barges are still hard ashare, one of them, the Vermont, be- ing ashore at Saul’'s Point, and the other, the Virginia, near Hammoc Point. 4 BERLIN HINTS AT PEACE MOVE BY ENGLAND LAST SEPTEMBER Berlin, Dec. 14, via London.—The German government received through a neutral government last September an inquiry in regard to its war aims under such circumstances as to indi- cate that the inquiry was made with the sanction of the British govern- ment, says an official announcement issued today. The statement is a re- ply to the statement of the British foreign secretary, A. J. Balfour, in the house of commons on Tuesday, that Great Britain, in September, had received through a neutral chanael a communication to the effect that Ger- many would be glad to get in touch with Great Britain regarding peace. The statement concludes: “The circumstances under the inquiry was made allowed the conclusion to be drawn with the greatest probability that the British cabinet had been informed of this step and that it had been sanctioned by at least the most important of its allies. “The German government was | ready in principle to answer the in- quiry, and to do this two courses were which mington is without light and electric NORTHEAST BURIED UNDER | HEAVY BLANKET OF SNOV New York in Danger of C Famine, Scows Being Hi Off Coast by Danger: ' Seas. | WIRE AND RAILROAD SERVICE HAMPERED ‘,A\u Lincs Centering at Danbu Blocked by Drifts and Trafic at Standstill—New York City Surs face Tines Hard Hit—Winsted Re- ports Fall of 12 Inches—Central New England Orippled. New York, Dec. 14.—A snowstorn of blizzard proportions that rag throughout the night tied up all tra here today, interrupted telegraph a telephone service and brought intensl suffering to the poor. The gald whipped up.a heavy sea, driving sma craft to cover and causing considi | able damage along the water fronfs The storm came suddenly from thi Atlantic coast early last night and gradually increased in intensity. Thi snowfall, at first light, was accoms panied by rain and covered the stree with slush. But as the temperatu dropped steadily during the night, th | rain turned into sleet the fall of sno i became heavier and by midnight the city was covered with five inches of snow. The wind, in the meantime fi creased and along beaches it blowing at the rate of 75 miles hour. The storm gained fresh impetus ji before daybreak, and the wind whiel seemed to come from a]l quartes caused the snow to drift to a degre unusual for New York. The smal army of snow shovelers experienced considerable difficulty in clearing sided walks and the important. thorough fares. Owing to the scarcity of labo! the regular force of shovelers reduced to about 3,000 and in orde to meet the situation, 7,000 reserves were called upon. 4 With trolley service virtually par: alyzed in many sections of the city and elevated trains running spasmod! rcally the early morning rush ofYwe ers overcrowded the subway lines. The coal situation which has beel acute for weeks caused much appre hension ftoday. The local fuel tram portation said there is 30,000 to; joff New Jersey ports awalting transf j portation here in scows. The hea! scas made it dangerous for the eral to attempt the trip during the moj ing. | In the Bronx the entire supply wal exhausted and crowds besieged empty | yards in vain. In Brooklyn and New York east side there were many il riots in which the chief particij were women pleading that their ch dren were dying of cold at home. Health officials, alarmed at the creasing number of deaths from pney monia, due to the recent cold weathéj have appealed to the fuel adminis trator to help the situation. Roads Into Danbury Tied Up. Danbury, Dec. 14.—Practically traffic on railroad lines centering this city is at a standstill becausy of the blockade caused by last night storm. The snow, which is more a foot deep on the level, is b drifted along the raitroad Snow plows and gangs of shoveles have been sent out in an effort t get into motion the heavy Treight trafic on the Poughkeepsie bridi route of the New Haven railroad s tem. Scores of trains are stalled of tied up on sidings all along the Mn between Poughkeepsie, Danbury an New Haven, Waterbury and Hartford & Twelve Inches in Winsted. Winsted, Dec. 14.—Traffic on Central New England rafiway crippled, school sessions ‘here been suspended and many commu ties throughout this section are sno bound as a result of a 12-inch fall last night, which was piled i huge drifts by the high winds. A telephone message received froi Poughkeepsie today was to the effe that the end of the Central New Eng: land was completely tied up. It was hoped to get the line open durini the day. Situation in Statc Bad. New Haven, Dec. 14.—Connecticny is today working itself out of the & ' of one of the severest snowstormg recent years. Steam train servica badly crippled, suburban trolley s jce is tied up and many small comy munities have been isolated, the hig winds which accompanied the storn having piled up ‘huge drifts maki highways virtually impassable. T fall averaged from ten to 14 inchel according to reports, and was seve in the western end of the state. O the New Haven railroad through and local trains were running away be. hind schedule. Freight traffic aban doned last night during the heigh of the storm was being resumed to: day. The Central New England rail way was badly piled, its western end according to reports from Poughd keepsie, being completely tied up. At tempts to send out trains over it open, an indirect or direct reply.” (Continued On Fourth Page).