Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, March 27, 1914, Page 1

VOL. LVI—NO. 73 _NORWICH, CONN., FRI DAY, ‘MARCH 27, 1914 PRICE TWO CENTS SITUATION AT TORREON IS IN DOUBT Reports From Federal Sources Persist That Villa Has Been Routed REBELS CLAIM THAT TORREON IS SURROUNDED “We Are Expecting Victory at Any Hour,” Declares Rebel With Heavy Losses Agent at El Paso—An Official Report Says Relative Po- sitions of Two Armies Are Unchanged—Villa Wires to Juarez That He Expects El Pase, Texas, March 28—Conflict- Ing reports today left the situation at Gomez Palacio and Torreon a matter of conjecture. General Villa telegraphed to Manuel Chao at Juarez that he had been in| possession of Gomez Palacio sinee morning and predicted that the rebels would have Torreon not later than Saturday, On the other hand, Miguel Dishold, of Huerta’s consular service, exhibited telsgrams deciaring that the rebels had been repuised at all points. Diebold allsged that when at first the rebels thought they had Gomez Pa- lacio they were the victims of a trap. 23 a result of which many were Kkilled and wounded and 600 were taken pris- opers. Federal Retreat a Feint. The federal retreat, he sald, @ feint to draw the rebels over 137 dynamite mines which were exploded under them. General Villa’s telegram asserted that the rebels were still maintaining a base at Rl Verjel, five miles from Gomez Palacio, while the railroad line was being repaired. He added that the federals had attempted to evacuate Torreon through hills to the south, but had been driven back into the city. According to Chao, Villa asserted that for the 24 hours preceding his taking of Gomez Palacio, the battle was confined mostly to artillery prao. tice and that his men today were mov- ing into positions for the attack oa Tarreon proper. False Claims by Both Sides. _ Observers of the situation here say they have been 80 often misled in tht last ten days by so-called official re- ports by both sides that neither official utterance was impressive. More importance, it was said, was attached to the renewed embargo which has prevented newspaper correspondents at the front from sending impartial storfes of events under their observ- ations. MEXICO CITY REPORT. General VMa's Army Defeated—700 Rebels Said to Be Killed. Mexico City, March 26—Confirmation of the reported defeat of General Villa’s army at Torreon by federal forces under General Velasco, was glven in a message received at the Mexican war office at noon today. The rebel losses are placed at 700 men killed. FROM FEDERAL GENERAL. Despatch Claims Rout of Rebefs With Losses of 2,000. Hagle Pass, Texas, March 26.—Fol- lowing the repuise of General Franc- isco Villa and his rebel army, fighting has been resumed near Torreon at Noe, a few miles north of Gomez Palacio. This was the substance of a briaf despatch to federal headquarters in Piedras Negras late today, said to have come direct from the battlefield. The message was sent by Genera Joaquin Maas. An earlle- message which, it was ex- plained, related to events of last night, said: ur arms victorious at Gomez Pala- cio. More than 2,000 killed, wounded and prisoners. Cavalry pursuing.” Federal officials at Piedras Negras interpreted the latter message from General Maas as meaning that Villa had been driven from Gomez Palacio toward the north, but whether the en- gagement at Noe was a final stand by SUFFRAGETTES THROW BOTTLES AND STONES. Break Up Meeting of Borough Council and Attack Members. London, March 26.—An exiraordinary ruffragelie disturbance occurred today at a meeting of the Popiar borough council, which had voted adversely to Jetting out council halls for suffra- geite meetings. With shouts of “cowards” and other offensive epithets, a large number of women invaded the section of the hall reserved for the councillors. Bombs containing evil-smelling were exploded by the scores; a bag containing similar substances was thrown from the galle: bags of flour and stones were flung at the members. The councillors were soon struggling with the infuriated women, many of whom were armed with bludgeons and bottles. Shrieks and shouts, the smasi ing of glass and the splintering of chairs completed one of the worst scenes of pandemonium in the history of the suffragette movement. The »o- lice were sent for, but for some reason refrained from interference. The mayor retained the chair in o vain endeavor to resume the council proceedings, but finally the council beat a retreat, leaving the wqmen in possession of the hall, with a few so- cialist members of the council, who re- mained to hear speeches delivered by Miss Zelie Emerson of Jackson, Mich., and others. While Miss Emerson was speaking, | the council ventured to return to the chamber and carried a resolution e\- cluding the public from the chamber for three months. George Lansbury, a member of ths council and a strong supporter of the miltant movement, fiercely protes e1 against this proceeding as irregular. and threw the town clock, books and papers to the floor, amid cheers from the suffragettes. The council meeting then adjourned. Steamship Arrivals, Trieste, March 21.—Steamer Kalser Franz Josef I, New York, Liverpool, March 26.—Steamer Mer- fon, Philadelphia, Genoa, March 25.—Steamer La Ler. raine, New York, Gibraltar, March 28.—Steamer Car- onia, New York for Naples, - New York, March 26.—Sieamer Eu- ropa, Naples. Beginning April 1 the banks will close at 3 p, m, Memphis was | chemieals | to Have Torreon by Saturday. the rebels in reireat, or & renewsal of the Torreon attack, no omne could say. OFFICIAL REPORT. Relative Positions of Opposing Armies Are Unchanged. Chihuahua, Mexice, Mareh 26.—An official repert today says the rebels have established headgquarters within a mile of Gomez Palacio and are try- ing to get closer to "Forreon. Firing was heavy today, but the relative po- sitions of the opposing armies with respect to Torveon are virtually un- changed. FROM REBEL SOURCES. Torreon S to Be Surrounded and Victory Expected. ‘Washington, March 26.—The consti- tutfodalist agency here tonight gave out the following telegram from Rafzel gmqulz. constitutionalist agent at Ei 280" “Gomex Palacio and Lerdo are In our hands and Torreon is completely surrounded. We are expecting victory at any hour.” TO DISMANTLE GUNBOAT, Rebels Conclude to Use Guns of the Tampico on Land. Douglas, Ariz., March 26.—Bottled up in the harbor of Topolobampo, the gunboat Tampico is to be dismantled by the Mexican constitutionalists, ac- cording to advices that reached here today. The vessel's guns will be used on land in the defense of Topolobampo or sent to assist in prospective at- tacks upon Guaymas, Since the Tampico entered the har- bor of Topolobampo two federal gun- boats, the Guerrero and Morelos, have stood outside, awalting an opportunity to sink her. Mexican Boy Shot. Laredo, Texas, March 26.—Francisco Arbila, a Mexican lad aged 15, was shot in the cheek Tuesday while play- ing on an island in the Rlo Grande here, near a point where some Mexi- can men were bathing. Some of the boys jeered the bathers, it' was said, whereupon one of the bathers fired, the shot striking Arbtla. Wagonloads of Dead and Wounded. | Laredo, Texas, March 26.—Twenty- five wagons loaded with wounded or dead reached Nuevo Laredo today with the remnant of General Guardiola’s federal command, which was defeat- ed Monday at Guerrero while enroute to attack Matamoras. Rebel Sympathizors Celebrate. Juarez, Mexico, March 26.—General Billa’s telegram, as given out by Gen- eral Chao, stating that he took Gomez Palacio this morning. was made the basis of an informal celebration among | the peons here tonight. There was music by the military band, much throwing of confetti and a dozen im- prorhptu parades. Only one press tel- egram came through—that of The As- sociated Press correspondent at Chi- hlahua, which did not confirm the alleged Villa report. Federal Report Discredited. Mexico City, March 26.—The govern- ment again tonight claimed victory at Torreon, although admitting that de- tafls were lacking, Extra editions of the newspapers were on the streets, based on the government’s meagre des- patch from San Pedro. In railroad circles, however, the news is discred- ited to a large extent on the ground that Hipoloto, 130 miles east of Tor- reon, is the nearest point of com- munication, !CAPTAIN AND FIVE OF CREW PERISHED. Boston Schooner Sunk Last Saturday— ! No Details of Disaster. ‘Washington, March 26.—Loss at sea | of the American schooner Hattie P. Simpson of Boston, with her captain | and five other members of the crew. was reported to the navy department | tonight in a relaved wireless message from the steamship Caracas, which has | lie board four survivors of the schoon- 'en | ~The despatch said the Simpson sani last Saturday morning, March 21, but Zave no details of the catastrophe. The | | message said { i “Just received from Kansas, now well off siore from Cape Henry, for direct firing: " 'Received from Caracas: F. Hesh- am, second mate: John Turner, sea- man: John Maria, engineer; Charles Brown, seaman of schooner Hattie P. Simpson of Boston, Philadelphia for| ‘Galveston, 13 March, and abandoned | and sunk morning 21. All remainder | of crew, captain, first mate, steward | and three men lost.” ™ Naval officers were unable to explain the loss of the schooner, as they had | heard of no heavy weather along the coast during the latter part of last week. NEGRO CONFESSES MURDER OF GIRL Case at Scranton Had Been a Mys- tery Twelve Years, ‘Wilkesbarre, Pai, March 26—The mystery surrounding the murder of Mary Quinn at Scranton twelve years ago was cleared up tonight, according to the police, by the confussion of Wil- llam Pegram, a negro, who was ar- rested here on a charge of attempting to_assault white girls in this eity, Pegram in his cenfession, the pelice declare, says he accosted the young weman en her way home from Hyde Park, a suburb of Scranton oan the night of June 32, 1902, When she re- pulsed his advanees, he secured & mine sprag frem a nearby colliery yard and felled her with a blow on the he After beating her into insensibility the confession says he dragged her into a clump of bushes, where the bedy was" found next’ day. William Wright, 15 vears old, was shot and killed while playing “Indian® with Ralph Hills, 16, at Brewer, Me, head. She died the | Cabled Paragraphs Unrest in Vanezuela. ‘Willemstad, Curacao, March 26.—The political situation in Caracas is ro- ported to be extremely unsettled. Leguia Resigns in Peru. Lima, Peru, March 26—The resig- nation was announced today of Rober- to E. Legula, who as first vice presi- dent took over the duties of president of Peru after President Billinghurst had been sent into exile. Socialist Victory in Germany, Dresden, March 26.—Theorists were victorious today in a bye-election in the Borna district, displacing General Von Liebert, imperialist, who was un- seated in the reichstag owing to ir- regularities, The socialists thus re- gain their previous total of 111 seats. WITNESSES TESTIFY IN TANNENBAUM’'S BEHALF. Declare He Advised Followers Leave Church. New York, March 26-—Newspaper reporters and the unemployed testi- fied today in defense of Frank Tan- nenbaum, the youthful leader of the Industrial Workers of the World, who is accused of taking part in an un- lawful assemblage of the “army” of idle men who invaded St. Alphonsus’ church on March 4. The third day ef Tannenbaum’s tri- al was marked by a demonstration of the. unemployed when some of fheir number, who are to be called as Tan- nenbaum’s witnesses, shouted in the eorridors outside the court reom that the state must feed them if it expect- ed them to testify, even though they were not called by the state. Tannenbaum, instead of exhorting his followers to diserder after shelter ‘was refused them at St. Alphonsus, as testified to by witnesses for the prose- oution, tried to lead them peacefully from the edifice, aceording to those who took the stand in behalf of the defendent today. Several of Tannen- baum’'s witnesses were men arrested on the night when the church was entered; they wers brought from the Blackwell's Island penitentiary to tes- tify. Charles W. Plunkeit, released from the workhouse on Tuesday, declared it was he who suggested the visit to the church. When the unemployed found they were not welcome there, he tes- tified, Tannenbaum said to them: “Come on boys, we are not wanted here; let's get out” But detectives stopped them, said Plunkett, telling them the police were coming and Tan- embaum safid: “I can take these men out of here without the slightest dis- order.” George Kaufman and several other newspaper reporters contradicted the testimony of state’s witnesses by de- claring there was no disorder in the church; that the unemployed did not stand on pew seats, and that all ex- cept a few near the door removed their hats. . te MME. CAILLAUX WEEPS BEFORE MAGISTRATE. Greatly Disturbed Over.Publication of the “Thy Joe"” Letter. Paris March 26.—With a cry of in- dignation during her cross-examination by Magistrate Boucard today at the preliminary inquiry into the killing of M. Calmette, Mme. Caillaux reminded the magistrate how the Figaro had baited her husband about the “Thy Joe” letter. She then began to weep. “I regret profoundly the conse- quences of my act,” sald the witness, amid her tears. thousand times that the campaign had continued rather than I should have killeq M. Calmette. It is impossible to find in my act another cause than that which I have given.” Af. Bouecard sought an explanation of the discrepancies in Mme. Calillaux’s recital before him and the story she told the police. “In attacking your husband,” said the magistrate, “M. Calmette was fight- | ing the politician, not the private citi- zen. Moreover, the letter signed ‘Thy Joa' concerned another woman.” “Yes,” responded the witness, “but it was I who succeeded that woman as the wife of M. Cafllaux. I will recall to you how M. Calmette, in an article on March 16, bantered my husband re- garding the intimate nature of this let- | ter; and that is not politics” BULLET WAS FIRED AT CLOSE RANGE. Report of Pathologists on Death of Chicago Society Woman. Lexington, Ky, March 26.—The bui- let wound that caused the death of Mrs. Laura Willer Simpson, former Chicago soclety girl, who dled here on Feb. 26 under what appeared to be peculiar circumstances, was inflicted at close range, according to the official report of two Chicago pathologists iand a local physician, made public today. The report also sald that no other marks of violence were found on t.e body. Mrs. Simpson was found on Feb. 22 by her husband at their home near here with a bullet wound through tie day following without regaining consciousness and two coroner’s juries rendered non-com- mittal verdicts, although both held that the case was not one of suicide. WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN MASSACHUSETTS. House and Senate Vote Constitutional In Favor of Amendment. Boston, March 26—By action of the | house today, the legislature has voted for the first time in its history in fav- or of referring to the people the ques- tion of granting suffrage to womemy Tht vote in the house was 168 to |33 on a resolve which had already been favorably acted upon by the sen- ate, providing for an amendment to the constitution striking the word “male” from the qualifications for voters. The measure must receive favorable action in the legislature next year before it may go to the people for decisive vote. Should it pass the next legislature the voters would have an opportunity to act on the woman suf- frage question at the state election of 1915. Arkansas Senatorial Fight. Little Rock, March 28.—With approximat, in yesterday’s democratic primary elec- tion accounted for, the contest be- tween United States Senator James P, Clarke and Willlam ¥, Kirby, assoctate Justice of the state supreme oourt, candidates for the senatorial nomfaa- tion, still was in doubt tonight. Un- official returns gave Benator Clarke a total of 44,659 votes amd Mr. Kirby 48,993, a lead of 667 veotes for Senutor Clarize, - The Searching Party including Cor- nelius Vanderbilt Y tney and his eousins, William Deuglas Burden and James Abercrombie Burden, Jr., found vesterday on October mountains, about & dozen moose frem Harry Payne Whitney’s herd of forty which has been missing from Lenox, Mass, since Jan- uary, “I would prefer a| Repeal Battle l]'pens_ in House STRONG OPPOSITION TO LIMIT OF DEBATE. MAD RUSH DENOUNCED No Reason for It, Declares Speaker Clark—Hbvuse Asked If It Tremhles When. British Lion Only Growls. N ‘Washington, March 26.—The great- est legislative battle yet undertaken by President Wilson's administration was begun today with the presenta- tion of a special rule in the house to limit debate and prohibit amendment on the administration’s proposal to re- meal the provision of the Panama canal act allowing free passage to Amert can ships. For two hours the rule w alternately defended and attacked heated debate in the house. When ag journment came, with an hour of de- bate on the rule left for tomorrow, Speaker Champ Clark, who had not vet announced his position on the re- peal policy, issued a statement vigor- ously opposing the rule. “‘Surely there is nothing sacred about this repeal bill and there is ne reason for this mad rush,” said the speaker’s i statement. “I will not be a party to ramming such a rule down the throats of members."” “An Abject Surrender to QGreat Bri tain.” . At four o'clock Representative Hen- ry, chairman of the rules committee, presented the rule limiting debate on the 8ims bill to twenty hours and pre- cluding amendment except for a single motion to recommit. PBrief argument brought about an agreement for three hours of debate on the rule, and the preliminary skirmish of the greatest legislative struggle of a decade was on. Representative Henry explained the rule and launched into defense of the repeal bi Then followed an ar- gument in which the rule received Iit- tle attention, as compared with the merits of the measure, and the pres- ident's foreign policy, the right of the American government to exercise con- trol of the cana! it has built and the economic advisability of free tolls for American ships were dragged back and forth in the discussion. The foreign situation was the par- ticular subject for most of the speak- in ers. The president’s adherents who &poke, all democrats, declared that under the treaty the United States S, A e St S S i i S SRS S e e had no moral right to pass its ships free. His opponents, repubdlicans and progressives, attacked the foreign pol- icy of the administration and de- nounced the proposed repeal as an “abject surrender to Great Britain.” Compromise Amendment in View. Throughout the discussion Majo. Leader Underwood, for the first opposing the administration, sat lis tening attentively tg the afgumen Republican Leader Mann and Progres- sive. Leader " Murdock both made ar- guments against the rule and the bi The administration leaders tonight vigorously sought to keep their sup- porters in line and to secure recruits. The opposition directed their efforts to securing votes to defeat a motion 1o close debate on the rule, which will be made after an hour's debate tomor row and which, if beaten. would allow the amendment of the rule. In this situation the opponents of the bill would attempt to open the Sims bill to amendment and might secure the adoption of a compromise amendment | repealing the tolls section, without sur | rendering the contention that the United States under the treatles has the right to grant frea tolls, To Correct a Blunder, Representative Henry declared that free tolls plank of the Baltimore plat- | form did not represent democratic sen- | timent and pointed out that when the | Panama canal act was passed only 72 democrats in the house voted for free tolls, while 94 voted against the pro- vision. “I propose,” he said, “to in ‘the correction of a blunder that has been committed by the American congress. This free tolls provision violates a | treaty and contract we have with Fing- land and other nations. The president of the United States has come to the house and has summoned us to his aid in this great crisis and I propose to follow him.” No Benefit to American People. Mr. Henry asserted that the Amer- ican peopls secured no henefit from free tolls and asserted that the ves- sels that would profit from the exemp- tion are owned by the “steel trust, the Standard Oil trust, the Southern rail- way, the New Haven railway, the Sea- board Air line” “These are the people,” he said, “who are to make a million doliars a year because of this exemption.” Representative Campbell, of Kansas, republican, opened the argument for the opponents of the rule, Tremble at British Lion's Growl. “The contention of the gentleman from Texas,” he sald, “as to railroad- owned ships is futile. The very terms of the Panama canal act, which it is not proposed to repeal, specifically for- bid the use of the canal to railroad- owned ships. The president told us a few days ago that, right or wrong, we must repeal this provision and in a mysterious fashion refe: to the ‘foreign policy’ of the administration. He told us that if we do not grant him this request in ungrudging meas ure, he will not know what to do i other very important matters. What is the foreign policy of the adminis- tration? Does th president know? Nobody else does.” Representative Campbell concluded with the question: “The old American eagle lined its nest with the mane of the British Hon; does the voung American eagle tremble with fear when the British lion only growls ” Progressive Opposition. Progressive Leader Murdock opposed the rule, saying: “I am not willing to surrender by my vote, in any spirit of easy accommoda- dation to Great Brritain, this nation's sovereignty over the canal. I do not know the relations which make Great Britain and Japan friends, or Japan and Huerta allies, or how near the truth the rumor is that we need the ald| of Great Britain as Japan's friend to lighten our responsibility in Mexico. But the known facts, the visible facts, the arguable facts, are plain and ele- mentary so far as our rights in the ca- nal are concerned, Befors the sur- render considerations of pelitical and diplomatic exigency may becloud the issue. After the surrender will come clarity and national chagrin, and na- tional humiliation.” Defense by President. The president’s position was wviger- ously defended by Represeniative Shirley of Kentueky. “We come here with this repeal bill,” he said, “with no apelegy for our position, For 75 years we have Condensed Telegrams A Non-Partisan Convention to revise the state constitution was favored In the platform adopted vesterday by the Maine democratic state convention. Former Congressman John Q. Tilson, entered a hospital at New Haven yes- terday to undergo a minor operation It is nothing serious, it was stated. Governor Adolph Eberhart of Min- nesota, yesterday announced his candi- dacy for renomination on the republi- can ticket at the primaries June 16. ‘The Federal Inspection of the head- quarters detachment, First Infantry, C. N. G. (mounted scouts), will be made at the state armory in Hart- ford April 6. Abraham DeHart, who was arrested at Washington, N. J., for disorderly conduct, wént on a hunger strike and nhis condition became so serious that he was released. Bank Commissioner August G. Thorndyke, of Massachusetts, express- ed opposition to any state supervision of private banks in an opinion handed to the senate yesterday. Three Hundred Employes of the Marinette-Menominee Paper company at Marinette, Wis,, struck yesterday after their petition for a 25 cent a day increase in wages was denied. Thieves Entered the Store of Will- jam Lyles at Cheneyville, La. and poured hot grease on his bare feet to make him tell the combination of the safe, bur were frightened away Mayor Donovan of Meriden has ar- ranged with Dr. C. A. Creeber and a nurse to be at his office today at the city hall to vaccinate all who come, at the rate of forty cents an operation. The State Police last night raided a restaurant at Hartford conducted by R. Pisani, situated within half a block of the central police station. A quan- tity of liquor was procured as evi- dence. Increases in Freight Rates on ce- ment ranging from one to two cents a | hundred pounds, proposed by railroads were suspended yesterday by the In- terstate Commerce commission until July 30. Important Records of Wellesley col- lege, flnancial and scholasti ich were thought to have been destroved when College hall was burned on March 17, were found undamaged yes- >n a safe was opened terday w The Pennsylvania Railroad’s policy of retrenchment and economy will be continued until the number of em- ployes on its lines east of Pittsburgh and Erie has been reduced from 142,-! 000 to 117,000. Edward D. Gilbert who was ap- pointed as postmaster at Higganum by President Grant, and had held the office continuously with the exception of during President Cleveland’s terms, died yesterday aged 71 years. Serious Depleticn of railway reven- ues through the allowance to lumber “tap lines” of a part of through rates was alleged in an argument filed yes- 1 i terday with the supreme court by counsel for the Interstate Commerce | commission. Gnly Two Stops are to ba mads in foreign ports during the annual sum- mer practice cruise of the midshipmen from the United States Naval academy. Naples, Italy, and Gravesend, Eng- land, are the two points where stops will be made. Two Hundred and Fifty hotel pro- prietors of San Francisco agreed in an executive session of their association vesterday not to raise their charges above the rates now prevailing during the year of the Panama-Pacific inter- national exposition. G. C. Taylor, Vice President and gen- eral manager of the American Ex- press company yesterday issued a statement denying recently published reports that his company would follow the example of the United States Ex- press company and go out of busi- ness. The Board of Directors of the Phila- delphta, Baltimore and Washington | Rallroad company yesterday approved the appointment of Elisha Lee as gen- eral superintendent of the road to suc- ceed E. F. Brooks, who will retire on April 1 under the pension rules of the company. ; Josiah E. Fernald, administrator of | the estate of Mary G. Eddy, founder | of the Christian Science Church, com- pleted the settlement of his account in the probate court at Concord, N. H., yesterday by turning over the sum of $2,690,6322 to the trustees appointed under the will. Administration Officials are deter- mined that the validity of the clause of the present tariff law which grants a five percent discount on goods im- ported in American bottoms, shall be passed upon by the supreme court and not finally settled judicially by the court of customs appeals. Albert Freeman, who was convicted with Julian Hawthorne and Dr. W. J. Morton, of using the United States mails to defraud investdrs and sen- tenced to five years in the Atlanta i was granted a new trial yes- by Judge Mayer in the federal district court at New York. As a Climax to a Series of outrazes following the strike of weavers em- ployed by the Muller Gloria Silk mills, at South Norwalk, a bomb was explod- ed in the tenement house owned by Julian Von Kuczkowski, in Winnipauk, yesterday. The owner of the building is a stockholder in the mills. _—_—mm held out to the nations of the world the promise to build the canal for all the world. We prommised to build it as a great boon to humanity through- out the world, not for small dollars and cents advantage to our commerce. In this situation the American nation does nothing out of fear, nothing be- cause of the threat of any nation or group of nations. But it is not willing to rest in the eves of the world as having violated a treaty or having vio- lated its promise so long held out to the nations the world.” Minority der Mann sald that the importance of the measurs merited a more complete deliberation and more thereugh consideration than could be given wunder the proposed rule. He cited a dozen instanees In which he said that thls government had eon- strued the contested treaty provision. and saild that no “gag rnle’ should prevent free discussion ef u prepesal to reverse these constructions “I see ne reason,” he said, “why we should surrender our rights in this matter on a fancied plea of henen Honer is invelved on both sides, If there is a real questien of hener hers it is that of @reat Britain seeking to drive a hard bargain with this admin- istration. Our homor in this matter is above suspicion, Great PBritain's is open te attack Withdrawal of . Resignations FRENCH AND EWART URGED TO RECONSIDER, WILL SACRIFICE SEELY Secretary of War to Be Removed $o Placate Field Marshal and Adjutant General—Cavalry Officers Obdurate. London, March 26—That the BOV- ernment is still facing a situation of extreme difficulty is proved by the fact that Premier Asquith was not in a position tonight to make his prom- ised statement in parliament and it was consequently postponed until $o- morrow. Resignation of Field Marshal, The air is full of extravagant ru- mors, among the most credible being the report that Colonel Seely is after all, to quit the war office, by an ex- change of portfolios with Lewis Han- court, sccretary for the colonies. The only new facts in the situation todasx were to be found in the resignation of Field Marshal Sir John French, chief of the imperial general staff and Sir John Bpencer Swart, adjutant gem- eral, from the army council The rumor persists that other mem~ bers of the army council have pe- signed. but this cannot be confirmed. Resignations Withdrawn. Negotiations and conferences be- tween Buckingham Palace, the war of- fice and Downing street were car- ried on throughout the day and it was known that the strongest efforts were being made to induce Field Marshal French and General Ewart to recon- sider their action. The prime min- ister called a hurried meeting of the cabinet'at his residence after it was decided to postpone the statement te parliament. At midnight Field Marshal Frenmeh authorized the statement that his res- ignation had neither been accepted mor withdrawn, Seely Must Retire. Nothing is likely to be known offf- cially until Premier Asquith makes his statement in the house of com- mons, when it will probably be found that the removal of Colonel Seely from the war office is the price for the with- drawal of the resignations of Generals French and Ewart and that the ar- rangement of this matter was the rea- son for the postponement of the pre- miet’s statement. According to the best information, the conference at the war office this afternoon of all the principal com- manding generals of the army was called to enable Generals French and Ewart to explain that their resigma- tion was a personal matter arisi; solely from the fact that they lln:: the Gough memorandum, which the government had since repudiated, and they urged that all their officers shounld remain at their posts, g Seely to Be Sacrificed. Then followed interviews with the ministers and an audience with the king, with a view to inducing them to reconsider their action. But both gen- erals, French and Ewart, remained firm in their declsion that it would be impossibie for them to retain the! posts while Colonel Seely remain secretary of war. They were howe , to withdraw their tions if Colonel Seely was remo: Faced by this ultimatum and knowledge that a strong feeling ....3 Colonel Seely exlisted among a large section of the radical su the government, the prime minister seems to have arrived at the conclu- sion that he mbust abandon Colonel Seely. The difficulty in rearranging the ministry has caused the delay in Mr, Asquith’'s statement. There has been talk of appointing Judge Burna, who is now president of the local gov- ernment board, secretary for war and a report has also been current of am exchange of portfolios between Lewis Harcourt and Colonel Seely. Other Changes Probable. 1t i& generally believed, however, that it will be found that Colonel Seely has again resigned and his resignation has been accepted: that Lewis Harcourt as been selected to replace. him and 1at Lord Emmet, under-secretary for the colonies, will be promoted to the colonial office. Another cabinet council will be held Friday before parliament assembles; so it is quite possible that there will 4] | be other, perhaps unexpected changes in the kaleidoscopic situation, Quiet in Ireland. In Ireland no change has occurred. Belfast remains quiet and although it is asserted that the officers at the Curragh camp are determined te re- sign because of the repudiation of Colonel Seely’s guarantee by the gov- ernment no actual resignations, so far as is known, have occurred. Officers Persist in Resigning. Dublin, March 26.—A majority of the cavalry officers at Curragh adhere to their determinatien to resign rath- er than obey orders and serve againgt Ulster. They are indignant at what they term the bad faith displayed by the government in repudiating _the agreement made with Brigadier Gea- eral Gough, commander of the Third cavalry brigade, Killed by Exploding Retert. Sewaren, N, J., March 26—A retert filled with an explosive being used in conducting synthetic rubber experi- ments burst in a private laboratory here today, instantly killlmg Clifford D. Mecker, a consulting engineer, whose body was hurled through a win- dow into the street. George Titus was blown across the room and stunned but was saved from death by some steel plates which broke the force ef the explosion in his direction. La New York, March, message from the steamer La Tou- raine today informed the French Line agents here the she had met heavy weather and was steaming at slow speed because of trouhle with her ma- chinery. Captain Caussin reported that all aboard were well and that the steamer, now three days overdue, would reach New York Friday night or Baturday morning. Southern Pacific Revenues Decrease. San Francisca, March 26—For the eight months ending WMebruary 28, 1814, the Bouthern Paecifie company showed a de e in gross revenue of $3,202, 127 and a decrease in the revenue in excess of epgrating expenses and taxes of §4,544,748, Steamers Reported by Wireless, Brow Head, March 26—Steamer Im- perater, New York for Seuthampton and Ha 430 miles southwest at £.35 . m. Dwe Cherbourg 7.30 & m. Fridag,