Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, April 26, 1917, Page 1

VOL. 'LIX.—NO. 100 ~ -NORWICH, CONN., The Bulletin’s Circulation in Norwich is Double T! FURTHER GAINS BY - BRITISH W wal South of the Scarpe River in Their Advance Toward Cambrai—Capture Hamlet of Bilhem IN FRAN = et - THOUSANDS OF GERMAN DEAD ON BATTLEFIELD In a Continuation of the Intensive Air Fighting Fifteen Ger- man Aeroplanes Have Been Forced Down by British Air- men—Along the French Dixmude Artillery Duels Are in Progress—Further Pro- gress Has Been Made by the British Troops Against the Turks in Mesopotamia—Austrians South of Gorizia De- livered an Attack on the Italians. | Thoussnds of German desa mo on the battleflelds over which the British Germans have been engaged for past three days in Titanic strug- for mastery. British troops have made mr’ gains south of the Scarpe river | in their advance toward Cambrai, and ! have captured the hamlet of Bil- \ east of the Havrincourt wood, lies midway between Arras and } ristent ghting tinu, d continues aroun | , where the British attacked i times, but were repulsed with i losses, accerding to Berlin. continuation of the intensive air i 18 German aeroplanes hav { forced down by British airmen, t to the London war office, and six machines are missing | a8 & resuit of fights in the air. Along the French front the artillery | mctivity everywhere continues violent. Twice the Germans essayed infantry 4 nufi ‘but in each instance they were stop, the artillery fire of the French. Heavy casualties were In- ficted on the Germans in an effort to wrest the Hurtebise farm from Gen- eral Nivelle's forces. In Belgium artiliery duels continue, * sspecially in the vicinity of Dixmud Front the Artillery Activity German torpedo boat destroyers early Wednesday morning eheled Dunkirk and sank a French torpedo boat which engaged them. On the Carso plateau of the Austro- Italian theatre the Austrians south of Gorizia delivered an attack against Italian positions. The attack was .suc- cessful at one polnt, where they suc- ceeded in recapturing a vantage point that had been previously taken from them by the Italians. There has been considerable activity by the Russian artillery in northwest Russia, especially at Jacobstadt and near Postavy, which lies northeast of Vilna, and aiso along the Selochoff- Tarnopoli in Galicia. Further progress has been made by the British troops against the Turk: In Mesopotamia, the Ottoman forces having been driven from the west bank of the Shattel Adhem to within a short distance from the junction of this river with the Tigri After several days of violent artil- lery preparation, the British troops in the Doiran lake eector of Macedonla have delivered an attack againet the Bulgarians on a two and a half mile front, and, according to the London war office, advanced their line about 500 yards over a front of one mile and put down counter-attacks. FRENCH WAR MISSION WELCOMED TO WASHINGTON Today the Leading Members Will be Recsived by President Wilson. ‘Washington, April 25—The French the United States, caded by Rene Viviani minister of and Mar- shal Joseph Joffre, hero of the Marne, { popular people | Pranda was weicomed to. Weshington today ‘with heartfelt enthusiasm. Tonight, after being warmly greet- | @2 by American officials and hailed as | peopls who lined the streets while they the city, the commissioners are at the home of Henry White, for- | mer ambassador to France, as the . guests of the United States govern- | ment. Tomorrow the leading members will be received by President Wilson and later there will be preliminary con- ferences between the representatives of the French and American military and naval chiefs. Before night the administration will have in its pos. session at least a broad outline of France's view of American participa- tion in the war. The leading members of the mission on board the Mayflower had their first view of the national capital from a point on the Potomac river below Al- exandria, soon after XMount Vernon bad been passed. As the Mayfiower came abreast the home of the first president, the ma- rine band played the Star Spangled Banner and the Frenchmen lined the rail with heads bar>d and stood at at- tention. At Alexandria, rich in his- toric memories, the commissioners sa- luted hundreds of people who lined the river front wharves. Soon after the navy yard was reach- ed and there the party was received by a group of American officials, headed by Secretary Lansing. Once eshore, the quickly en- tered motor cars srd drove across the city to the residence where its mem- bers are to be entertained during their stay here. NEW OFFICERS (;F THE ASSCCIATED PRESS. Charles Hopkins Clark of Hartford Member of Executive Committee. New York, April 25—The board of directors of The Associated Press at a mee! held here today elected the foliowing officers for the ensuing sari ¥ Prestdent, Frank B, Noyes, Wash- ington_(D.’C.) Star; first vice presi- dent, Ralph H. Booth, Muskegon (@fién.) Chronicie second vice presi- dent, E. P. Adler, Davenport (Iowa) émes; secretary ‘and general mana- ger, Melville Bl Stone: assistant sec- retary and assistant general manager, Frederitk Roy Martin; and J. R. Youatt, treasurer. The following executive committee was re-elected: Frank _B. Noyes: Adolph . Ochs, New York_ Times: W. L. McLean, Philadelphia Buletin; Victor F. Lawson, Chicago Daily News: Charles A. Rook, Pittsburgh Diepatch; Charles Hopkins Clark, Hartford (Conn.) Courant;: Oswald @Garrison Villard, New York Evening Post. U. 8. Daughters of 1812 Elect Officers. ‘Washington, April 25—The United States Daughters of 1812 today unani- mously re-elected Mrs. Robert Hall ‘Wiles, of Chicago, president for the ensuing two years, at their fina] ses- sion here. Other officers whose terms re-elected. A resolution universal military service by & rising vote and sent some fifty women's come to Washington next Mon: for a conference on f00d conservation. cultural department’s HIGH PRICES FOR SEAMEN; GOOD MEN ARE SCARCE. Earnings Are Treble What They Were Previous to the War. New York, April 25.—The topmost price ever paid for service on an Amer- lcan or any other merchant vessel, marine men say, was recorded today with the signing of a crew of an American ship that is to sail through the submarine zone. The first mate will get $300 a month; chief engineer, $250; second mate, $200; first aseistant’ engineer, $200, and so on down the line to firemen and coal passers at $60 to 375, with mess boys at $45. But In addition, a war bonus of 100 per cent. is promised- doubling the wages—which are to con- tinue uatil the men are back at the port of embarkation. Also, in event of the ship meeting with disaster, the men are to be transported home, and the sum of $250 for officers and $100 for men will be paid to all who lose their personal effects. Earnings of those who follow the sea have been gradually advancing in the past year, until now they are double and treble what they were previous to the war, and, despite this, shippers say good men are scarce. CALL FOR CONFERENCE ON FOOD CONSERVATION Extended to Editors of Some Fifty Women’s Publications. Washington, April 25. — Sec Houston today asked the_ editors of publications to He will try to enlist their ald in the agri- campali; < household economies. o i e services of a thousand trained agriculturists were offered to the gov- ernment today by T. D. Harman of Pennsylvania, national president of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Most ©of the fraternity’s members are en- saged in teaching agricultural subjects or are doing agricultural extension :;:. Secretary Houston accepted the HOLLAND-AMERICAN LINER RYNDAM WAITING FOR TARNOW Who Was Sent Here by Austria Ambassador in January. New York, April 26—The Holland- American liner Ryndam is waiting in this port to take home Count Adam Tarnowski von Tarnow, who was sent to the United States by Austria asam- or in January, this year, but was not officially received on account of the break in diplomatic relations. It is expected that he will sail some time next week. Accompanying Count Tarnowski, it is understood, will be a party of be- tween 175 and 200 persons, made up of consular representatives and em- Dloyes in the United States, Chinaand CONSTITUENTS DISSATISFIED WITH CONGRESSMAN SHERWOOD Asked to Line Up With President Wil- son or Resign. ‘Toledo, Ohio, April 35—Five izations ing that he either support of President cles. . The age in_mass : Hiver Yatht Crab ang British destroyers on patrol duty in THRILLING DESCRIPTION OF A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT Between Two British Destroyers and Six German Ships of Like Class. London, April 25, 10.16 p. m—Two the English channel off Dover on the night of April 20 came upon a flotilla of six German destroyérs and then en- sued an encounter which will live long in the history of naval engagements. German destroyers were torpedoed a hand-to-hand Driven Into the Sea. German seamen of a rammed de. stroyer climbed aboard ome of the British boats and a midshipman fought them back with an automatic pistoi. They were killed or driven again into the sea British jackies ‘Who came to the midshipman's aid. they had received much damage, they returned to port. The story of the en- gagement, compiled from the accounts of officers and men, has been made public in the form of an official re- port. Germans Opened Fire. The British destroyer leaders, Swift and Broke, on night patrol, were steaming on a westerly course. It was intensely dark, but calm. The Swift sighted the enemy at 600 yards and the Germans instantly opered fire. There were six German destroyers, ac- cording to German prisoners. The Swift replied and tried to ram the leading enemy destroyer. She missed ramming but shot through the Ger- man_line unscathed and in turning, neatly torpedoed another boat in the enemy line. Again the Swift dashed at the lead- er, which again eluded her and fled, with the Swift in pursuit. In the meantime the Broke had launched a torpedo at the second boat In the line, which hit the mark, and then opened fire with every possible gun. The remaintz . German boats were stoking furior for full speed. Rammed T Boat. The Broke's commander swung round to port and rammed the third boat square abreast the after funnel. Locked together thus, the two boats fought a desperate hand-to-hand co flict. The Broke swept the enemy decks at point blank range with ev- ery gun from main armament to pom- pom, Maxim, rifle and pistol. Two other German destroyers a tacked and poured a devastating fire on the Broke, whose foremost gun crews were_reduced from eighteen to six men. Midshipman Donald Gyles. although wounded in the eve, kept all the foremost guns in action. he him- self assisting in the depleted crews to load. While he was thus emplo: ed a number of frenzied German: swarmed up over the Broke's forecas- te out of the rammed destroyer and, finding themselves amid thes Blinding flashed of the forecastle guns, swept uft in a shouting mob. . Midshipman’s Deeds. The midshipman, amid the dead and wounded of his own gun crews, and half blinded by blood, met the onset eingle-handed with an automatic pis- tol. A German grappled with him and tried to wrest the weapon away. Cut- lasses and bavonets being among the British _equipment, the German was promptly _bayoneted by Seaman In- gleson. The remainder of the invad- ers, except two who feizned death, were driven over the side, the two be: ing_taken prisoner. ° _ Two minutes after ramming, the Broke wrenched herself free from her sinking adversary and turned to ram the last of the three remaining Ger- man boats. She failed in this object but in swinging around, succeeded in hitting the boat's consort on the stem with a torpedo. Hotly engazed with these two fleeing destrovers, the Broke attempted to follow the Swift in the direction she was last seen but a shell struck the Broke's boiler room, disabling her main enines. Germans Disappeared in Darkness. The enemy then disappeared in the darkness. ‘The Broke, aitering her course, headed toward a destroyer which a few minutes later was seen to be heavily afire and whose crew, on sighting the British destroyer, sent up outs for mercy. The Broke steered slowly toward the German, regardless of the danger from a possible explo- sion of the magazines, and the Ger- man seamen redoubled their shouts of “Save! Save!” and then unexpectedly opened_fire. The Broke, being out of control, was unable to manoeuvre or extricate her- self, but silenced the treachery with four rounds; then, to ensure her own safety, torpedoed the German amid- ships. % P* Continued Her Pursuit. Meanwhile the Swift continued her pursuit, but slight injuries which she received earller in the action prevent- her from maintaining full speed, so she abandoned the chase and sought fresh quarry. Sighting the outline of a station: destroyer, from which shouts werd heard, the Swift ap- proached warily with her guns trained, fo find that it was the destroyer which had already been rammed by the Broke. The Germans were bellowing “We surrenden” Fearing treachery, the Swift waited and presently the destroyer heeled over and sank stern first, the crew jumping into the wa- Action Lasted Five Minutes. As no other enemy was visible, and the action, which had lasted approxi- mately five minutes, appeared to_ be over, the Swift switched on her ights and lowered boats to res- cue the swimmers. Those who re- mained of the crews of the Swift and the Broke, after exchanging details of the action, cheered each other until they were hoarse. The British casualties are set down as comparatively slight, and the spirit of the wounded is .illustrated by_the conduct. of the Broke's helmsman, Sea- man William Rowles, who, though hit four times by shell fragments, re- mained at the wheel throughout the action and finally only betrayed the fact that he was wounded by report- ing to his captain *T'm going off now, sir” and fainted. A number of the wounded did not present themselves in the sick bay L Y0 "Sirneon the insenious X & e surgeon the 4 Suse 1 was too busy, sir, clearing up the rubbish on the stokers’ mess deck. Bernhardt Making Progress. night from the hospital where she is a patient. > of Any Other Paper, and its Total First U-Boat Sunk [Speaker Clark by U.S. Gunners MADE A PERFECT HIT AT DIS- TANCE OF 1,000 YARDS SHATTERED PERISCOPE Captdin Rice of the American Steam- ship Mongolia Narrates Experiences Which Ended in Disaster to a Ger- man Submarine. London, April 25, 4.45 p. m.—Captain Rice of the American steamship Mon. golia, which has arrived at a British port,’ told The Associated Press_today that the Mongolia had fired the first gun of the war for the United States and sunk a German submarine. Captain Rice Narrates Incident. Captain Rice outlined the incident with modesty but could not quite con- the pride he felt in the achie ment of his ship. He paid a high tribute to the gunners and especially to the manner in Which they were handled by the officer who directed the firing of the telling shot. “For five days and nights,” said Cap- tain Rice, “I hadn't had my clothes off, and we kept a big force of lookouts on duty all the time. It was 520 o'clock In the afternoon of the 1Sth that we sighted the submarine. Th officer commanding the gunners was with me on the bridge, where, in fact, we had been most of the time throughout the vovage. Submarine Sighted. “There was a haze over the sea at the time. We had just taken a sound- ing, for we were getting near shallow water, and we were looking at the lead when the first mate cried ‘There's & submarine Off the part bow!’ ‘The submarine was close to us—too close, in fact, for her purposes—and she was submerging again in order to manoeuver in a better position for tor- pedoing us, We saw the periscope go down and ‘the.swirl of the water. I quickly ordered a man at the wheel to put it to starboard and we swung the nose of the ship toward the spot where the submarine had been seen. Saw the Periscope Shattered. “We were going full speed ahead and two minutes after we first sighted the U-boat it emerged again about 1,000 yards of. Its intention probably had been to catch us broadside on, but it appeared we had the stern gun trained full on it. The lieutenant gFave the command and the- big gun boomed. We saw the periscope shat- tered and the shell and the submarine disappeared. Praise for American Navy. “I can't speak too highly of the cool manner in which the lieutenant han- dled his crew of gunners. It was a fine exhibition of the _efficiency of American naval men. The lieutenant knew before the'shell struck the sub- marine that its aim was aocurate. There was no guesswork—it was a case of pure mathematics. Taking the epeed at which the Mongolia was trav- eling at the time and the speed with which the submarine undoubtedly would make. and computing these fig- ures with the distance we were from the submarine when it was first sight- ed and when it appeared the second time, it can be seen that the lleuten- ant had his gun sighted to the inch. And it must be remembered that the whole affair took only two minutes. Didn’t Stop to Reconnoiter. “T assure you we didn’t stop to reconnoiter after the incident but steamed away at full speed, for it was not improbable that there was another submarine about. The one I got had undoubtedly been lying on the bottom at this spot waiting for the ship and came up when it heard our propellers. I immediately sent a wireless message stating that a submarine had been seen. Gun Was Named Theodore Rooseveit. ‘That’s about all the story, exceptis The gunners had named the guns on board the Mongolia, and the one which got the submarine was calied Theodore Roosevelt: so Teddy fired the 6rst zun of the war, after all” Captain Rice recailed that he came from Aliston, Mass., and that the en- counter with the submarine occurred 08 the date when the Bay State was celebrating the anniversary of E tle of Lexington. et LANSING PRAISES THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT For Sending Such Distinguished Citi- zens on Mission to America. Washington, A 25.—In apprecia- tion of the Frenclt government's action in sending to the United States as members of its mission such distin- guished citizens, Secretary Lansing today issued thie statement. “It is very gratifying to this govern- ment and to the people that we should bave as our guests such distinguished representatives of the French republic as arrived this noon. In sending men who so fully represent the French government and people we have the very best evidence of the spirit-and e F Loward the Unitet can assure the Fre; people that we reciprocate thin -p’;:(t; which induced them to send these com- g T rejoice ihat the two are ing side i or the liberty of mankina -~ 7 "¢ STRIKE AT YARDS OF SUPERIOR SHIPBUILDING CO. President Threatens to Turn the Plant Over to the Government. Superior, Wis. April 25.—Work at the yards of the Superior Shipbuild- ing company was stopped today by a strike of sixty riveters who demand increased wages. At the plant two steel freighters are completed for French interests and two other vessels for which material is arriv- ing have been commandeered by the government. President Tomlinson of the company said if the strike is not FM over o the: sow e Tor . e government $1,000,000 for Border Protection. Austin, Texas, April 25.—Acting up- on a resolution adopted in the senate, Governor Ferguson, in a message to the legislature today, recommended o protaciton and 1o amment the aas or on o na- Y tional guard. THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1917 PAGE Girculation is the Largest in Connecticut in Proportion to the City's Population Flays Gonscription VIGOROUSLY CHAMPIONED VOL- UNTEER AMENDMENT OPPOSED TO PRESIDENT During His Speech He Shouted There is Precious Little Difference Between a Conscript and a Convict in the Eyes of Missourians. ‘Washington, April 25.—Opposition to the selective draft reached its climax in the house todoy when Speaker Clark took the floor and in his usual vigor- ous style championed the volunteer amendment favorably reported by the military committee. = Deploring that he could not stand by the president, whom he unreserved- 1y declared wrong on the question, the speaker pleaded that young men be given an opportunity to offer their services voluntarily. “I protest with all my heart and mind and soul” he shouted, “against having the slur-of being a’ conseript placed upon the men of Missouri. So far as Missourians are concerned there is precious little difference between a conseript and a convict.” Strong for Volunteers. “For several years,” the speaker said, “there has been a systematic effort In congress, in many newspa- pers, by some public sPeakers and in sundry magazines to belittle, depre cate and_minimize the American vol- unteer. I resent such performance in the name of the living and the dead— in the name of the brave men who gave us our freedom and who have maintained it—in the name of the vol- unteers who have shed imperishable lustre upon Americdn arms and upon the American republic. The volun- teer has done most of our fighting.” Speaker Clark in conclusion an- nounced that his son, Benmett Clark, house parliamentarian, was going in- to the army “in any capacity in which he can be useful, either as an officer or_a_private. “I hope and pray,” sald he, “that he may ‘go Into battle not by the side of the slacker and loafer whom the ad- vocates of this bill say they desire /to reach, but shoulder to shoulder with tree men who serve gladly—willingly— to fight for the honor, the safety and the perpetuity of this republic.’ CHAMPIONS OF CONSCRIPTION ARE STILL CONFIDENT Announced That a Poll Disclosed a Majority of Between 60 and 70. ‘Washinston, April 25. — Although Speaker Clark took the floor in the house today and sroused great en- thusiasm among opponents of the ad- ministration army bill by his vigor- ous denunciation of the selective draft and defense of the volunteer system, champions of the measure still were confident tonight that it would pass not later than Saturday. It was announced during the day that'a poll of the house made by sup- porters of the bill disclosed a favor- able majority of between 60 and 70. Its’ passage in the senate is consid- ered_assured, and unanimous consent to vote on it there by Saturday will be “sought tomorrow. Minor changes made in one house or the other prob- ably will necessitate a conference, so that the bill is not likely to become @ law for a week or more. GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF AMERICAN SHIPPING To be Sought by Council of National Defense and Members of the Shi ping Board. ‘Washington, April 25.—Legislation to give the government direct control of American shipping will be asked of congress soon, it was learned today after a_conference between the ship- ping committee of the Council of Na- tional Defense and members of the shipping board. Under the measures to be proposed, the president and the shipping board would be authorized to direct the movements of American ships so that they could be operated where most needed. Within thirty days, it was brought out at the conference the shipping board ean put into trans-Atlantic service sixty-five thousand additional tons of shipping, comprising 25,000 tons from the coastwise trade and German vessels now under repair. The German ships will be ready for service within less than ten days. Within_a few days the shipping board will begin to let contracts for a great fleet of wooden ships to be built on the coast and along the larger riv- ers. Builders of steel ships will be calied into_conference within a week or so to discuss means of hurrying construction. 1t was made clear today that the shipping board does not intend to op- erate any ships if they can be leased or_chartered to American concerns. The reason the government itself is having wooden vessels constructed, it was explained, is because it was feared private concerns would not build them. Steel vessels are bringing such high prices there is no need. it was said, for the government to have them con- structed. They can be sold as fast as buflt and many are changing hands several times while on the ways. The department of labor announced today a plan for supplying labor to build wooden ships. Within a month the department, according to labor heads will have 40,000 workers ready to go to shipyards throughout the country. GERMAN DESTROYERS BOMBARDED DUNKIRK An Entente Torpedo Boat Was De- stroyed During Brief Engagement. 26, 1046 p. m.—Dunkirk Paris, April bombarded by German destroyers this morning. British and was L engaged the G e Gere mads, one of ‘the French torpedo boats being sunk, socording to an official announcement tonigh! The state- ment reads: PRICE TWO CENTS Condensed Telegrams cold Cardinal Fariey caught a heavy on St Patrick’s day. ‘He has been In the house since. Sales in the St. Louis fur auction brought the total for the first five days up to $2,473,340. England will be shortly placed on bread rations. Bread is the crux of the food situation. - York River, Va, was added to_the “defensive sea areas” recently pro- claimed by President Wilson. Cottonseed received at all United States mills from August 1 to March 31 amounted to 4,330,922 tons. The Whitney joint legislative com- mittee anti-drug bill passed the New York Senate by a viva voce vote. Andrew Bonar Law’s son, Lieut. C. J. Law, is reported to have been wounded in Palestine, and is missing. Frederick Charles Ferry, dean of Williams College since 1902, has been elected president of Hamilton College. Schenectady’s two daily papers, the Gazette and the Union-Star, announce an increase in sale price from one to two cents. The American aviator, Sergt, Dugan, who was reported missing, escaped death, and his finally got back to the French line. Three powder workers were killed in an explosion in the Coalburg plant of the Aetna Explosive Co., near Birmingham, Ala. Two Norwegian steamers, the Peive ana Skjold, have been sunk, according to word received in New York. Their crews were saved, The reserve fund of the Episcopal Church fund of the United States, of which $5,000,000 was sought originally, has passed $7,500,000. A substitute bill for the Wicks Farm and Markets Bill passed the New York Senate Council to have general juri: diction over food markets. It is expected that the Duke of the Abruzzi, cousin of King Victor Em- manuel, will be head of an Italian mis- sion to the United States. Measures to compensate fam of American sailors killed by German submarines and mines are being con- sidered by the Administration. The applications for marriage 1li- censes in New York were about norm- al. One hundred and thirty men got marriage liceses and 48 were married. William Tecuseh Stillwell, died at his home in Coscob, Conn., aged 66 years. Tecumseh, Indian chief, from Whom he was named, was his godfath- er. £ The German Foreign Office has no- tified rerhaining American newspaper correspondents in Germany that their presence in the empire “is no longer desirable.” Herbert A. Emerson, investigator for John J. Dillon food commissioner of New York State says there are 36,000,000 eggs in railroad cars through- out the East. A bill designed to bring about the return of party conventions at which the party tickets will be designated has been approved by New York State Re- publican leaders. Captain Charles Sweeney, of the French Foreign Legion, twice wounded, arrived on a furlough at the request of the United States army to give in- structions to recruits. The new Kansas ant w forbids the sale at newsstands or on trains of newspapers or magazines carrying cigarette advertisements, ac- cording to Attorney-General Brewster. The National Wool Growers’ Associ- ation petitioned the Interstate Com- merce Commission to compel the rail- roads to change their rules governing the baling for eastern markets. Argentine has agreed to send to Eng- land and the Allies 180,000 tons of wheat and 20,000 tons of fiour. In re- turn England will later send to Argen- tina wheat from Canada and Australia. John B. Love of Philadelphia, who has been in Susquehanna Pa. for a week, was arrested on information, re- ceived from Philadelphia and other cities, charged with being a German spy. R. A. Pearson, brother of the newly elected president of the New Haven, has been designated as chief assistant to the secretary of agriculture, in the matter of the increased food produc- tion. Governor Whitman h appointed Samuel Strasbourger justice of the City Court to succeed William L. Ran- son, who resigned to become chief counsel for the Public Service Com- mission. Three armed men entered the saloon of George Matthews, at No. 1938 Am- sterdam Avenue, New York, holding up Louis Huhme, the bartender, and took $75 from the cash register and $40 from two customers. The Hershey Chocolate company at Hershey, Pa., has announced an ad- vance of 20 per cent. in wages and salaries, effective May 1. This is the third increase in the past year. More than 1400 men and women ‘are affect- REORGAN-IZATIONPF UNITED RAILROADS OF SAN FRANCISCO Amended Plan Accepted hy Mew York and San Francisco Committees. New York, April 25.—The amended Raflroads of San Francisco has been accepted by the New York and San plan of reorganization of the United Francisco committees according to an- nouncement made here today and near- ly 80 per cent. of the bonds have been deposited. The main points of the re- organization provided for: A cash requirement of 35,200,000 to take care of upderlying bonds matur- ing_April 1, 191s. Exchange of existing 4 per cent. bonds for new securities, consisting of bonds, first preferred stock and com- O icomciit of. cutstandl notes, irement of o ing T terred stock and common stock by e sue of new second preferred and com- mon stock. , Sale of securities to meet the com- pany’s future capital requirements. W ISSUE OF PFD STOCK VITAL TO N. H. ROAD Récelvership Must inevitably Follow Refusal of the [ Legislature to Grant Permission A. T. HADLEY, DIRECTOR, HAS SO DECLARED Vice President E. G. Buckland Told the Legislative Commit- tee on Railroads That There is No Possibility of the Net Earnings of the Road Meeting the $45,000,000 of Short Term Notes Which Were Recently Renewed—Says There Are Only Three Ways of Meeting the Company’s Indebtedness, by a Mortgage of thie Main System, by Sale of Stocks and Bonds of Subordinate Companies, or by the Issuance of Preferred Stock, and That the Real Solu- . tion is the Latter Method. Hartford, Conn., April 25 ceivership for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad must mevitably follow failure on the part of the legisiature to grant permission for the issuance of 500,000 shares of pre- ferred stock at par to meet the road's indebtedness, according to Arthuf T. Hadley, a director, who addressed the legislative committee on raiiroads at the capitol this afternoon. Mr. Ha ley also assured the committee that his own retirement from the road would follow in such an event because it “would be bad business” for the road to continue under present financial conditions. Mr Hadley with other officials of the road and its counsel ap- peared before the committee asking a report on a bill giving the company authority upon vote of its stockhold- ers and approval of the public utili- ities commission to issue the new pre- ferred stock. , Arguments for the Road. Vice President E. G. Buckland, of the road, and Mr. Hadley made the fef a ents in behalf of the com pany. . Buckland, in the course of an analysis of the company’s financial Condition said that its debts are about 7,000,000 of which amount about 45,000,000 is represented by short term notes recently renewed. There is no possible chance, Mr. Buckland said, of the net earnings of the system meeting the notes by the time they are due. It has been estimated that the company’s net earnings by next April will be about $10,000,000. Out of this there will be heavy expenditures for additional rolling stock and freight yards. The demands upon the com- pany for equipment to meet business are increasingly heavy. The wish nearest the heart of the management is to carry out the needs of the com- munity. Three Ways of Meeting Indebtedness There are three ways, Mr. Buckland said, of meeting the company's debtedness—by _a mortgage on the main system; by sale of stocks _and bapds of subordinate companies sueh as trolley companies and the interest in the Boston and Maine; and thirdly by the issuance of preferred stock. ie true that there is no mortgage on the main line system, but should a mortgage be placed it iwould mean that, with the $45,000,000 in notes, se curities to the amount of $233.000, would have to be protected. Wi government issuing great amounts in bonds it would be difficult, In the opinion of the company’s officers, & float a great bond issue on a mortgage basis. Bad Time to Sell Stocks and Bonds. The stocks and bonds of other com panies must be sold by court order before 1919, and to sell them now would mean that the properties cov ered by those issues would have to mo at counter bargain prices, and the losses on investment would have to be met in some way. 18816 of Proferred Stock Real Solution. THe real solution in the opinion of the company, was to issue preferred stock and thus enhance the value of the common stock by liquidating th indebtedness mentioned, and bring nearer.that long-looked for day wher. divideds may be resumed. Mr. Buck land was asked as to the value of sub ordinate companies and he said they had a book value of about $120,000,000 A committeeman asked if they would be disposed of at $80,000,000 and Mr. Buckland said that if anyome offe: that the door would be focked so tha the one who made the offer would not escape. HEARING ON HIGH PRICES OF BITUMINOUS COAL ing Agents of Coal FOREIGN MINISTER BALFOUR ISSUES STATEMENT TO PRESS Says No Effort Will be Made to En- Purch; Carrying Railroads Deny Responsibility. tangle United States in a Formal Washington, April 25.—Purchasing | ' 2" agents of coal-carrying railrodds de- | Washington ,April 25.—Complete un nied before the federal trade commis- |derstanding of America’s attitude In sion today that they are responsible [the war—unreserved co-operation for the high prices of bituminous |the fight of democra against the coal Some of them charged the ad- vances to the law of supply and de- mand, some to the rush by the public to store coal, and others to the failure of connecting lines to return cars promptly. German menace without entanglink po litical alliances—was expressed by Foreign Minister Balfour, head of the British war commission, in a state. ment today to newspaper correspond ents. Figures showing greatly increased | “I am told,” said Mr. Balfour, “tha prices for coal, some of them ranging |there are some doubting critics who from 50 to 100 per cent., were laid be- |seem to think that the object of the fore the commission by the railroad |missions of Great Britain and France representatives. Several said’ that the [is to inveigle the United States out of roads by furnishing cars to the mines |its traditional policy and to entangle for transporting thefr own supply would get the coal at from 50 to 76 cents a ton cheaper. New contracts, the witnesses said, are providing for increases in wages to miners, unfavorable federal or state legislation or other contingen- it in a formal alliance, secret or put iic, with European powers. 1 cannot imagine any rumor with less fo tion, nor can I imagine any polic utterly unnecessary. Our confidence in the assistance which we are to get from this community is going cies. based upon such considerations s The New Haven representative |those which arise out of forms sald that about 60 per cent of the |treaties.” New Haven's supply of coal was ob-| The foreign minister's statement tained through water transportation and the scarcity of vessels caused by 80 many being diverted from the coastwime trade to trans-Atlantic traffic had made their coal cost go up out of all proportion. Today’s hearing was the first of a series to continue three days, devoted to the side of the consuming public. CHARGED WITH DIAMOND AND AUTOMOBILE THEFTS Two Men Arrested in Westfield, M. and One Man in Bridgeport. Bridgeport, Conn. April 25—The arrest here today of Richard Moulton, in connection with that of Harry and Badle Johnson, all of this city, im Westfleld, Mass., last Sunday on a charge of robbing a garage cash reg- Ister, brings into custody, the police say, men that are wanicd in many places for diamond and automobile thefts. Warrants are said to be out for them in Ansonia, Newark and New Brunswick, N. 7., and Detroit for the thefts of diamond valued at from $1,000 to $4,000. was_generally regarded disposing finally of suggestions that the United States might be asked (o sign = treaty not to make a separate peace. The foreign minister received newspaper men during the day at residence where he is entertained the guest of the nation. He appers hearty and vigorous, in spite of 69 years. WEEKLY STATEMENT OF VESSELS SUNK. Forty Vessels of Over 1,600 Tons Each Were Sent to the Bottom. The London, April 25, 10.38 p. m. weekly siatement of vessels sunk as made public this evening shows that 40 vessels of over 1,600 tons each were zent to the bottom' by mines or sub marines. The statement reads Weekly shipping returns; 2,586 sailings, 2,621 “Sinkings, by mine or au over 1,600 tons, 40, including (wo in the week ending Apri ‘They "lll l['m charged with ‘lleflhnz 1,600 tons. 15’ Inc ding one sink sutomobiles in many places in Ncw L, e ia Aot 1 Jersey and Pennsylvanta. Westneid | Piveck end y . i will “have the first chamce o DFING |incromime oun® ae i ihe sosk ond them up for court hearing. ing April 18 19 YEAR OLD GIRL e L B el CONDEMNED AS A sPY. |15~ Convicted of Gathering Military In- formation in France for Germany. Report of Kenrecott Copper Corp. New York, April 26—The first an- nudl reort of the Kennecott Copper Corporation covering woperations for the calendar year, 1916, shows that surplus earnings after deduction of al charges, but before.deduction of div idends, amounted to §27,854,623 or ap- proximately $10 per share o sharss outstanding. s-o Paris, April 25, 3.52 p. m—A coart- martial has condemned to death as Emilienne Rose Ducimitiere, a 19 rear old girl. She was convicted of gathering military Information at Geneva, Lyons and Paris on behalf of German by whom she had been em- ployed as a servant. v . -~