Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, February 27, 1917, Page 1

On Request to Grant Him Authority to Use Forces of United States to Protect American Ships TO PUT NATION IN STATE OF ARMED NEUTRALITY Bill Introduced in House to Empower President to Furnish Guns and Gunners for American Merchantmen—Pro- vides for Bond Issue of $100,000,000 to be Used at His Discretion for That Purpose—Republicans Gave Evi- dence of Opposition to Granting Powers Asked by the President—May be Supported by Pacifist Democrats. Washington, Feb. 26. — President Wilson took the inevitable step and asked congress for authority to use the forces of the United State to protect American ships and lives against the German submarine menace—to put the nation in a state of armed neutrality The immediate response was the in- troduction in the house of a bill ap- proved in advance by the president empowering him to furnish guns anc gunners to erican merchantmen and to “employ such other instrumen- talities and methods” as may become necessary; and providing for a $100.- 000,000 bond issue, to be used in_ his Qiscretion for war insurance and u encourage American commerce t brave the submarine peril. The bill may be brought up in the house to- morrow with special rules for its im- mediate consderaton. A similar bill will be considered to- morrow by the senate forelgn relations committee. 2 May Force Extra Session. The president’s long expected action threatens to force an extra session of congress. Republicans give evidence of oppos- ing the legislation the president ask: so as to force him to have congress i- special sessionl to take a hand in th next step which they feel will' lead to war. The republicans are receiv- ing the passive suppert from the dem- ocratic element classed as pacifist. The president’s request for authorit: to use “other imstrumentalities™ is the principal sticking point. Bven the Te- publcans and some of the demoerat: who hesitate to give him what he nsks, say they would be willing to giv him authority to arm American ships or act on a definite proposal, but are reluctant to “sign a Dblank cl 4 Not the “Cvert Act.” Although President Wilson told con- gress he was not acting because of the long feared “overt act” news of the destruetion of the Cunard liner Laconia, with Americans aboard, was received here as he was enterinz the doors of the capitol, and was passed from mouth to mouth through congress, while he was speaking. Lacking de-‘| tails, its seriousness could not be e: timated, but it was apparent every where that it gave weight to the president’s words, then falling upon a body of grave, silent legislators as- sembled before him in a sombre mo- ment of American history. weighing the declarations which may lead the United States to war. Rights of Peace. But the president made it clear that America was asking to exercise none but the rights of peace; that he was not proposing nor contemplating war. He was thinking, he said, of the right of life itself, the rights of humanit “without which there is no civiliza- tions”—rights deeper and more funda- mental than merely the rights of Americans. 3 ““No course of my choosing nor of theirs,” said the president, “will lead to war. War can come only by the wilful acts and aggressions,of others.” Unrestricted Warfare. " Four weeks of unrestricted warfare, the president told congress, has seen the destruction of at least two Ameri- can ships, American commerce driven in a large measure from the seas through fear of the underseas peri and a resulting congestign of Ame ca’s vital industries growing more se- rious every day. The fact that more Americarf lives had not been lost, he said, was due more to'the fact that German submarine commanders had exercised “an unexpected discretion and restraint” than because of _in- structions under which they were act- ing. To be unprepared, with congress out of session, the president said, would be “most imprudent” Conse- quently he asked for authority to act. Congress Sat in Tense Silence. Standing at the clerk’s desk in the hall of the house, calm, grave, speak- ing earnestly, in the attitude now be- come familiar, the president delivered his address while congress sat in a tense silence. By common consent, the members refrained from demonstra- tion. Cheered at Conclusion. But at the conclusion of the ad- dress, when the president spoke of the fundamental rights on which are based the structure of family, state and liberty, and said: “I cannot imag- ine any man with American principles at hig heart, hesitating to defend these things,” the cheers broke forth and resounded through the chamber. At once the wheels of the congres- wional machinery began turning. Secretary McAdoo conferred with the leaders who will have to do_with authorizing the bond issue, and Post- master General Burleson, who looks after lining up administration forces in the house, was active in conferences. ‘The result was the introduction of a bill which was referred to the foreign affairs committee, ‘be reported to the house tomorrow, #nd a meeting of the senate foreign relations committee to discuss a similar measure. Opposition May Davelop. Tomorrow perhaps, or nmext day at the latest, will develop the breadth and depth of the opposition the presi- a must facesin onder, as Senator Wi recently expressed it, “toun- Germany.” The most serious con- o€ the presidents go abroad, as on previous occasions, that the united force of congress does not stand behind him. Historical Precedent for Action. The armed neutrality which the president proposes does not look to war; whether it shall become war de- pends upon those who infringe upon the rights it seeks to protect. There is ample historical precedent for it; northern Europe under the leadership of Russia-formed a league and used it to protect jts commerce in the wars between land and France and France and Spain. Although the president, when he sev- ered diplomatic relations with Ger- many, invited other neutrals to fol- low his lead, he has not, so far as_is known, suggested that nutrals join the United States in the armed neutrality he proposes. All foreign governments, however, have been officially advised of his address to congress today and official copies have been delivered to their diplomats here. By wireless the text was sent to Berlin. Parallei Case in American History. The precedents set by John Adams to protect the comm of the United States against the “predatury violence” of France during the Na- poieonic wars draw a striking parallel to the situation which confronis Presi- dent Wiison. Congress _authorized President Adams to protect American =hips and lives at sea by armed force and to raise an army. Now, asthen, crmgrl.—s is asked to empower the president/to act as may bécome necessary. 2ry confidence is expressed at the Wlite House that congress ultimately will president asks, taking act as the into account | his efforts of more than two vears to preserve peace as sufficient evidence that he does not desire to plunge the country into wai No Steps Till Congress Acts. No steps toward the arming of mer- chant ships are to be taken until con- sress act The convoying of mer- | chantmen is not ‘approved by naval authorities as an effective or desirable strategic policy. One collateral feature has not been Efforts to have son call a conference of cutrals to formulate a uniform dec- laration of the rights of the nations | not at war are going steadily forward and there are indications that they {ars favored in administration quarters. Suggestions to this effect have come from more than one of the European neutrals since diplomatic relations with Germany were severed. Introduction of the bill in the house embodying the president’s suggestions followed numerous conferences on the subject between senate and house ieaders. Republicans Will Seek Action. Republican members of the foreign relations committee let it be known that when the committee meets tomor- row they wili seek to modify the meas- ure in several particulars. They want to eliminate from the first clause the qualification to the authorization to the president for arming merchant ships, reading “should it in his judg- ment become necessary for him to do 50.” and to direct as well as empower the arming. The second clause, which would empower the president “to em- ploy such other instrumentalities as may in his judgment and discretion seem necessary,” they will seek to modify and make more specific. RIOTING RESUMED ON EAST SIDE, NEW YORK Police Reserves Called Out and Sev- eral Arrests Made. - to Modify New York, Feb. 26.—Mayor Mitchell announced - tonight, following the re- sumption of rioting on the East Side, which resulted in the police reserves being called out and seberal arrests being made, that a bill would be in- troduced in the legislature tomorrow to empower the city to purchase food supplies and sell them at cost as a means of ameliorating suffering among the Door here due fo the high cost of Governor Whitman, prior to his de- parture for Albany earlier in the day asserted that he did not expect to send an emergency measure to the le; islature as he was “convinced the sit- uation was not critical.” Joseph Hartigan, city comméssioner of weights and measurers,. predicted a material drop in the prices of potatoes and onions before the end of the week. It would come, he said as the result of relief freight congestion and the fact that virtually all the potato and onion growing states of the country are now entering the market. Rail- roads in fifteen states, Mr. Hartigan asserted, have arranged to rush “onion specials” to this city. Information furnished to him by wholesale produce dealers, District Attorney Swan announced, fhdicated that the farmers were respofisible for the. increase in the prices of potatoes and onions., In December, he said, a farmers were 1.47 a dounis e Brice tn e steamer Algiers, ‘steamer London, o ~British tons, and the The president has reached the only conclusion possible from the tremd of events since the declaration of Ger- many’s unrestricted submarine war- fare, viz: that we may be called upon at any time to defend, In fact and not merely in words, our elementary rights as a neutral nation. Congress can do no less than grant him the au- thority that he asks for. Waterbury Republican. With such an uncontrollable weapon, and such orders, the maintenance of peace with Germany is not worth in- suring over night. The news which met Mr. Wilson on the way to the cap- itol must have made him regard a breach as inevitable. Mr. Wilson commits himself to no definite policy, but his use of the phrase “armed neu- trality” seems unfortunate. -Right now the Dutch are armed neutrals and Ger- many cares little enough for them. Bridgeport Telegram. The president is absolutely right in making this request. He should be given the power at once. If our ships cannot cross the ocean where they have a right to go, without escort, then let them go wth escort. If they are to be sunk by submarines on sight, let them sink submarines on sight. If it is not time for America to de- clare g#ar on Germany, it is at least time for America to declare war on the German submarines—war to the fullest extent.” New York Times. The president is right. “* * * The time and the occasion for action have come. We must defend our people and our seamen in the exerciseof _their rights or make a cowardly surrender to the power that has forbidden us to exercise them. All_partisianship, all pettiness, all thought of any other interest than that of the nation, now so seriously threat- ened, must be laid aside and the au- thority he asks for conferred upon the ‘president. - Providence (R. 1) Journal The president’s recital of our rights ang of the violation of those rights is unanswerable. Is there any rea- son why we should not assert and defend them? Why should we not protect our merchant vessels, the crews that man them and the pas- sengers who wish to sail in them by arming them or providing them with convoys, or both?' American life and property on the high seas, must be guarded. not by words alone but by material meads of defense. Springfield (Mass.) Union. Congress should back up the presi- dent with a ‘will' in measures neces- sary to sustain the American honor. The right sort of legislators will grate- |. fully respond to the chief magistrate in this endeavor. At the same time the legisiative department will be wise not to tie its own hands or place it- self in the position of weakly passing along to the executive those resnonsi- bilities that by right rest upon con- gress. Extraordinary situations call for extraordinary measures some- times, but let us not be in haste ta dispense with the established forms AMERICAN BOARD NOT TO RECALL MISSIONARIES In Control of Missions and Mission Colleges in Turkey. Boston, Feb. 26—The American board of commissioners for foreizn missions and other boards controlling the missions and the mission colleges in Turkey have decided not to order the American missionary workers to leave that country, Rev. Dr. James L. Barton, secretary of the American board, announced in a statement to- night. All American workers in Tur- key have been given permission to leave, but it is expected, he said, that none except those whose term of ser- vice has expired will quit their posts. TWO AMERICANS LOST ON LACONIA. According to London Daily Chronicl Queenstown Correspondent. London, Feb. 27, 4.00 a. m—It has been definitely ascertained that two Americans were lost on the Laconia), according to the Daily Chronicle’s Queenstown correspondent. OBITUARY. Mrs. Mathew Maury. Roanoke, Va., Feb. 26.—Mrs. Mathew Maury, sister of Mrs. Woodrow Wil- son, died here this afternoon after an | operation for, peritonitis. George J. Clark. St. Stephen, N. B, Feb. 26.—Former Premier of New Brunswick George J. Clarke died today. Mr. Clarke, who retized from office a month ago, had been in ill health for some time. Prof. John Edward Russell. ‘Williamstown, Mass., Feb. 26.—The death of Prof. John Bdward Russell at the Williame college infirmary here late last night was announced today. He was 69 years old and for 29 years was a member of the Williams college faculty, !Il"h'hb&nshrlllbntmal those vears Mark Hopkins professor of mental and moral philosophy. He was professor of Biblical theology at ih;’ Yale Divinity schocl from 1885 to Dr. William G. Fennell. been | PUSH FORWARD TWO MILES OVER ELEVEN Ml_L! FRONT They Are Now But Three Miles From From Turks the Line From Sannai- R address to a Joint session, asking for authority to place the United States in a state of n of the British advance against the Germans in France, the sinking of the Cunard line steamer Laconia, on which Americans were passengers, and the recapture by the British of Kut- el-Amara, in Meopotamia, from the ‘Turks are the outstanding features in the world war. B Germans Pushed Back Two Miles Over a front of eleven miles from the region of Gommecourt north of Ancre River, to the district of Gueu- decourt, south of the river, the British have pushed forward their lines to a depth of two miles, according to the British official communication. The manoeuvrc has served to throw .for- ward the right and left wings of the British in an enveloping move toward Bapaume the German stronghold in this region, and to place the Briitsh center at Warlencourt-Eaucourt, a scant three miles from Bapaume. Raiding Operations. - Bombardments and raiding opera- tions are still in progress on the greater part of the remainder of the front in France and Belgium and in the Russian and Austro-Italian the- atres. Turks Losing Ground. In Mesopotamia the British hav captured from the Hurks the entire line from Sannaiyet to Kut-el-Amera. At the latter place the Turks have been forced to evacuate the positioa they captured from he British nearly a year ago and are now being driven back, harassed by British cavalry, says the British war office. Large cap- tures in men and war stores were made by the British. In admitting a retreat from Kut-el- Amara, a Turkish official communi- cation says the movement was pre- arranged and was carried out unnotic- ed by thé British. ‘The Cunard line steamer Laconia, bound from New York for Liverpool, was torpedoed Sunday night, pre- sumably off the.coasi of Ire 22,679 Tons of Snipping Sunk. Including the Laconia, a vessel of 18,099 tons, the latest reporis show that known tonnage aggregating 9 has been sent to the bottom in the last 24 hours. An official report from Germany says that since the com- mencement of the war 4,933.500 tons of shipping belonsing to enienic and neutral nations has been destroyed or cendemned by the cciral powers. RETIREMENT OF GERMANS IS PUZZLING BRITISH Greatest Retreat on Front in France Since the Battle of the Marne. ssociated Press, British Headquarters in France, Feb. London, of the German retirement in the Somme area has not vet developed. Outpost fishting continued today be- tween strong British patrols pressing forward over the newly yielded groun: and the German rear guards who fe! back under the fire of their h.aviest;captains calibred guns. There has been comparatively iiitie light artillery fire, the Germans evi dently depending on their heaviest mounted on railway truck which wou'd be rushed away at the last m in_case of necessity. The British continued to mova for. ward all along the line from just s5uth | coyla be catled out for of Gommecourt to Le Transloy, tna latter point apparentiy = the pigot from which the German reat swings backward. The line has bcen carried weil to the northeast of Serre, while Irles and rlenccurlar in British possession. Serre. Pys, Warle- court and Miraumcnt, like other fa. mous points in the Somme battlefield, such as Pozieres, Cour ‘on talmaison long : form as_ willages. they endured for months them to bits of stone remnants of which fire the to a passable condition. The weather cleared taday avd ¢ airplanes, quick to take advantaze of flying _opportunities were up, observing the Gegman movements. British line today was creeping nea< Bapaume, the famous (German stron: hold, resarding which there were re ports that the sarrison had blown up what had been proclaimed as impreg- nable fortified cellars and other vari- ous underground works, on which they had labored for the greater part .of two years. “No official hint as to the probable line the Germans propose taking up could be obtained tonight from any member of the British staff. closely on the heels of unrestricted submarine warfare, forms one of the most interesting phases of the sreat war. The backward movement has become the t retreat on this front since the battle of the Marne. GOMPERS PUBLICLY PROTESTS PROHIBITION IN DISTRICT. Claims it Would Have Injurious Effect on 100,000 Cigar Workers. ‘Washington, Feb. 26.—Samuel Gom- pers, t of the American Fed- eration of Labor, today made public a protest against the enactment by con- gress of a prohibition law for the Dis- trict of Columbia. In a letter to Chairman Johnson of the house dis- trict committee he asserted that such a measure would lmv:;:; ln)ur:m. in- juence upon more one hundred s ‘workers in the cigar indu: ‘behalf, dvance in France for American Ships German Stronghold—British Capturs | From a Staff Correspondent of Tre | 26—7.40 p. m. viafa U- 11.30 p. m.—The full extent |yards. i i i I pulverized | be needed. ARE STORED AT 'NAVY YARDS, READY FOR USE It is Estimated That of the 250 Sh ps Under American Registry Not More Than 100 Would Take Risk of En- tering the War Zone. ‘Washington, Feb. 26.—Guns and mounts sufficient to arm any reason- able number of American merchant ships are now stored at navy yards, it ‘was stated officially at the navy de- partment today following President ‘Wilson's appearance before congress to ask authority to provide weapons and men should the need arise. Effi- cient gunners arc lacking, however, unless they are taken from active ships which can ill spare them. Trained Men Imperative. Naval officials pointed out that men of special skill, trained to the minute, would be required as gun pointers for anti-submarine work. At best a U- boat is difficult to hit, as there is lit- tle exposed. Often a periscope hardly visible at more than a few thousand yards is the gunner’s only target. 250 Ships in Trans-Atlantic Trade Recent figures show that 250 ships under American registry are engaged in trans-Atlantic trade, but it is es- timated that not more than 100 would apply for guns and take the risk of crossing the German submarine zopes. There will be no difficuity in furnish- ing that number of vessels with wea- pons, but supplying trained gun point- ers for 100 guns would take just that many valuable men away from fight- ing ships. 1,000 Men in Fleet Reserve. There are about 1,000 men in the fleet reserve, of whom approximately 100 were trained gun pointers when they left the active list. Most of them are older men, however, and none has had any recent practice in gun point- ing. It is said that no sufficiently ex- pert pointers for work on merchant craft could be obtained from that source, althoush some. smmunition handlers and other members of g crews might be obtained. Of the 1,000 reservists about ome-half have been drilled in gun handling, other than pointing. Naval View of President’s Request. Navy officials construe the presi- dent’s language as asking for author- ity wide enough to take any meas- ures to defend American ships. That might include naval conveys, but the opinion of naval experts is against such a step both because it conld not insure the convoyed ships against sub- marine attack and also because the efficiency of the fleet as a fighting ma- chine wouid be seriously impaired if its units were scattered for convoy duty. uns of Ample Range and Power. The available guns range up to six- inch calibre. ™Most of them are old models but have ample range and power for the work desired. Range and rapidity of fire are vital factors in anti-submarine operations. It is im- portant that the underwater craft be assailed before she gets into good tor- pedo range. Tha majority of cases re- ported show this to be 500 yards or less and the skill of the gunners should be sufficient to malke it dangerous for shov; herself at 5,000 ere not inclined to n the status of a h might resuit from placing a v crew aboard. Whether the zuu crews would be placed under thie orders of merchant r whether naval officers would command the guns and deter- mine when and how they should be used was de known. Naval A a Conld Not be Called The naval militia, more than $,000 TSLL § strong, could not be drawn upon for zunners because of its militia status. | which the men active service are limited by the constitution to sup- pression of insurrection, repelling in- ion and enforcing the laws. Smaller Weapons Building. In addition to guns now heid in re- serve at navy vards, the navy depart- mernt has many smaller ~weapons building under contract. be hastened to completion at need for The terms under have | use aboard merchant craft, but there is no present indication that they will ysed | BILL TO REDiJCE NUMBER OF SALOONS IN BOSTON. V/ould Limit Liquor Licenses to One to Each 1,500 Inhabitants. 26.—Temperance advos ates today urged the legislative com- Tmittee on lezal affairs to pass a bill increasing from 1,000 to 1500 the number of inhabitants required for each apportionment of a liquor license in a license community, and reducing from 1,000 to 750 the maximum num- ber of saloon licenses in Boston. Sanford Bates of this city, chairman of the legislative committee of tha Boston Federation of Churches, told These could | Wooden shoes g are becoming popular Thcr.ewf 73 cents a pair. Mary Anderson returred to the stage 1n London to play Jaliot for Shaciin The House adopted the bill giving United States citizenship to Ports e e et iy ot fl {ber 5,000,000 men, exclusive of the Tn- idia troops. The American steamship Dochra, the first American ship to defy U- boats reached Naples. Bishop Greer of New York declared himself as in favor of abolishing the death house at Sing Simg. “Boycott eggs and use milk in- Istead,” advises the New York Health {Board in its fight on high cost of liv- N The anti-alien bill is again before the Idaho Legislature despite the pro- tests of the governor and Washington officials. German U-boat captain have been warned by the home government that many British ships are loaded with poisoned food. Record crops are predicted by Washinigton officials on basis of winter wheat area. The seed shortage is not deemed serious. The Department of Agriculture is experimenting with Chinese plants with ‘a view to reducing the cost of fod production. Melvin Cedrose escaped from a sanitarium in Hastings and was later caught by Herbert Storms, a motor- man, in Yonkers. New York's proposed drastic liquor tax law would drive 5,000 saloons out of business, according to men promi- nent in the trade. John J. Dillon, New York State com- missioner of foods and market, denied at Atlantic City that he inended to resign his position. Col. Roosevelt, writing in praise of an editorial in a Pennsylvania news. paper headed “Let the Old Die First,” said “bully” for you. John Munsuyer of Howard, Kan., is reported the most active in the West for his years. He passpd his 1034 birthday the other day. Export figures shows that the num- ber of horses purchased in three years in the United States for the armies of the Allies were 1,088,588. Private E. Ward Heath, 10th New York regiment, of Catskill, eloped while on a furiough from guard duty on the Poughkeepsie bridge. Mme Schumann-Heink, injured in a St. Louis-trolley crash, will be unable to sing in public for a year, according 1to her physicians apnouncement. Attorney-General Woodbury of New York state asked the legislature to permit private development of the State’s 750,000 electric horse power. The House agreed to the Borland amendment to the Sundry Civil bill for an appropriation of $400,000 for an investigation of the high cost of living American machinery firms declare ithat the Jmport restrictions imposed | by the British Government will com- | et them to close their London branch- les. Secretary McAdoo asked Congress to appropriate $1,400,000 for purchase of {the New York Quarantine Station. The istation now belongs to New York State. Suspected of being a German agent, {George Koob, of Philadelphia, an in- spector at tne Eddystone Munition Co. at Chester, was arrested at the plant. | The stork brought _triplets _to the {nome of N. A. Victorine of Katonah lnea.r Peekskill, New York. This makes la total of 12 in the family. Victorine |earns $2 a day. | A least 50 of the street car load of {108 workmen on the war to the Willys- Overland Motor car plant were injured {at Toledo when the car upset. Many of them may die. Thomas J. Mooney, a labor agitator, was sentenced to death by hanging at San Francisco for a bomb explosion ithat cost 10 lives during a prepared- ness parade in July- Mrs. Lo W. Gano suing for di- vorce in New York city alleged that her husband prepared for the honey- moon by buying whiskey in plenty for a “dry” states’ tour. { Mayor Burns, president of the may- |ors’ conference of New York state, de- {clared he would solve the food prob- llem by seizing food supplies held in ichla storage and putting them on the | market at reasonable prices. The will of Roger Casement, the former British knight and consul, who was hanged in Pentonville prison Au- gust 3 as a traitor, disposed of his es- {tate of $675, to his cousin, Mrs. Par- iry. ! Thousands of tons of foodstuffs on !the Pacific Coast are awaiting pur- jchass and shipment Bast. Of rice | the committee that the Boston licens- iajone there are 125,000,000 pounds, and The German retirement, coming so | Ing board always had issted 1,000 li- | the price is lower thau it has been for censes and had thus violated the spirit of the law by, granting the max- imum. He added tl the board also ‘had ignored the reqs of _people in the residential districts who objected to the location of ealoons near their Robert A. Woods, a former member of the Boston licensing board, sent the committee a letter advocating the proposed bill and stating that at least 25 hotels and 50 saloons in this city were being conducted in violation of the 1aw. “Chief” Bender Exonerated. Philadelphia, Feb. 26.—Charles (Chief) Bender, the Indian death of John J. Curran, who was re- cently knocked down and killed by a by Bender. Gerard Party at Corunna. Madrid, via Paris, Feb. 26, 9.40 p. m. —Ambassador Gerard and party -ave arrived at Corunna, according i» a received here from the gov. lernor of Corunna this evening. The ambassador left Madrid yesterday aft- !ernoan and will steamer from m;mmumsqm several years. The bill was introduced by Manuel L. Quezon, president of the Philippine Senate, authorizing the organization of a Philippine army divisicn of 25,000 men in accordance with the national defence act has been approved. The old New Havan postofiice build- ing, soon to be vacated by reason of completion of a new and expensive structure, was sold at auction by Postmaster Troup Monday, for $445,- 000, or $67,500 more than the highest offer received on private bids. BOND ISSUE OF $1,000,000,000 TO PROTECT OUR COMMERCE Bill Introduced in House by Chairman Flood of Foreign Relations Committee. ‘Washington, Feb. 26.—After confer- ences with democratic and republican leareds, Chairmzn Flood of the foreign relations committee, {ntroduced late today a bill authorizing the president to arm merchant ships and use “such other instrumentalities as rfecessary” to protect them on the high seas and providihg for a special bond issue of $100,000,000, _ ary 18 for Liverpool with 76 2 Americans on Tqrpedggt_l_ Laconia 8IX CABIN PASSENGERS AND 2 MEMBERS OF CREW 7 ONLY ONE CASUALTY Cargo Included 1,000 Bars of Silven 40000 Bushels of Wheat—Carried /000 Bage of United States and Ca- nadian Mail—Had One Defense Gun, b Cunard New York Fe passeng- el swhen the vessel erman submarine Sunday night. One casualty, as yet x:d::‘!'lfled, Vas Oficially repoited by erpool office RSN of the line to of- Names of American Passengers. The names of the American passe ers and their addresses as given by the line here, and confirmed in part y T ves in th 3 usslouow‘: e United States, are oyd P. Gibbons, of Tribun, liner Laconia, from ers and a crew of 216 was sunk by the Chicago Mrs. A. E. Harris, wif, - ant Colonel Frank &, H:.rgniuipmn (Continued on Page 8, 5th Col.) WATCHING CONDITIONS IN LATIN-AMERICAN REPUBLICS To Avoid Embarrassment in Case of Hostilities With Germany. Washington, Feb. 26.—Aware o embarrassment that ruvoluu(:n;.lrl; conditions in nearby Latin-American republics might cause the United States in the event of hostilities with Germany, officials of the state depart- ment have surveyed carefully the sit- uations in Cuba, Mexica and Central America. It has been assumed that any active and powerful enemy would seize the opportunity to organize act- ual operations in those countries or at least agitate such factions as could be reached to such activity that the United States would be forced to di- vert a part of its energles in that di- rection. Reports to the department indicate that in all but one case the constituted governments are maintaining or are strengthening their control of affairs. The administration feels that with the maintenance of Jegal authority danger from that quarter is minimized and it has been indicated that it was that danger which influenced the president somewhat in sending to Havana and to the capitals of all the Centrag Amer- ican states the declaration of the pol- icy of non-recognition of any govern- ment attaining power by {llegal means. Minister Gonzales’ reports from Cuba today increased the conviction of the American government government that the Menocal administration is gatning the ascendancy in that situation, and, different reports from Mexico indi- cate a slowly improving situation in that country. TRAIN STRUCK AUTO AT CROSSING NEAR MIDDLETOWN., Mr. and Mrs. John C. Beckett of Hig- ganum Were Killed. ‘Middletown, Conn., Feb. 26—ohn C. Beckett and his wife of Higganum were killed snd ‘a man named John was seriously red when their auto- moblle was st by a passenger train tonight at a grade crossing on the New York, New Huve nd Hartford rafl- road at Majy Peckett and hi wife were each about 25 yeamrs old. It is thougnt tne engine of the au- tomobile may h: become stalled when the car started over the cross- ing, as the engineer of the train is quoted as saying that the first he saw of the car was when he was within a short distance of it and at that time it appeared to be standing still. The car was smashed and the bodies of the victims tossed some distance away. The injured man was brought to the hospitai_here. Mrs. Beckett was at one time post- mistress of Higganum. TWO SLEEPING CARS TELESCOPED BY FREIGHT On the Pennsylvania R Altoona—Det ilroad Near s Are Lacking. Philadelphia, Feb. 27.—Two_sleep- ing cars of the Mercantlle Express weer telescoped by a freight train on the Pennsylvania raflroad at Mount Union station, near Altoona, early to- day, according to information receiv- ed at the general offices of the com- pany In this city. Tt has not yet been learned whether there were any fa- talities. The express left Pittsburgh at 7 o'clock last night and was due here at 4.18 a. m. Raflroad officials expressed fear that a number of passengers had been killed. Two sleeping cars were so tightl® jammed together that little headway had been made in extricat- ing the occupants half an hour after the accident. Relief trains bearing physicians and nurses left Altoona at 1 a. m. and should arrive at the scens very shortly. FIFTEEN TO TWENTY YEARS FOR WIFE MURDER. Bernard J. Early of Nashua, N. H, Pleaded Guilty. Manchester, N. H., Feb. 26.—Bernard J. Early of Nashua pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter in causing the death of his wife at Nashua Dec. 4 last, when arraigned in the superfor court here today. He was sentenced to serve from 15 to 20 vears in state prison. Mrs. Early’s throat was cut with a bread knife. Early is 55 vears old. Delaware Rejects Suffrage. Dover, Del, Feb. 26—The Delaware senate today rejected the woman suf- frage amendment, 8 to 6. Movements of Steamship Bordeaux, Feb. 23 —Arrived: Steam- er_Espagne, New York. Liverpool, Feb. 23.—Arrived: Steam- er Lapland, New York.