Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, December 17, 1917, Page 1

Norwich Bulletin - VOL. LIX—NO. 301 POPULATION 29,919 NORWICH CONN., MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1917 TEN PAGES—70 COLS. PRICE TWO CENTS TEUTONS CONTINUE - TO PRESS ITALIANS= = They Have Advanced Their Line to Capfi'ile Hill, a Dom- inating Point in Northern ltaly “HUGE NUMBERS OF MEN ARE THROWN INTO FRAY The Italians Have Massed Their Forces to Bar Further Ad- vance Toward the Venetian Plain—Enormous Casualties Are Being Inflicted Upon the Invaders—In France and Belgium There is Little Military Activity, Which Con- fined to Engagements by Outposts and Raiding Con- tingents and Artillery Duels. Notwithstanding the terrible losses they “have sustained, the German and Ausgro- ian . ‘armies in _the moufitainogs region of norjhern Italy continue their efforts to break the Italidn line and open a way plains below. In ¥rance and jum there is little military activ- icept for smail engagements by and raiding contingents and . ¢ duels. The nearest approach k) in force were made by the -‘Germians Saturday night in the Cham. region France and to the north of the Chemin des Damos In “both of these the Germans were worst- ea the French. A smail biritish ?t uvre south of Cambrai resulted = r Italian high fighting continues without cessation. The énemy to the cast of the Brenta has been able, by throwing huge numbers of men into the fray and seeming disregarding thc enormous casualties that are being inflicted up- on him, to advance his line to Caprille Hill, a_dominating point at the head of the San Lorenzo valley, which leads to ‘the Venetian plains, - Here, how- ever, he has been forced to stop un- der the terrific defense of the Italians, who evidently - have massed their forces in order to bar the way to a further advance. In the valley itselt and on the slopes on cither side of it, well-tried Alpini regiments are sta. tioned to exact a heavy toll for ev- ery inch of grolnd that js taken from them. Prior to gaining the summit of Ca- prille the invaders twice were re- vulsed, but for their final attack they brought up large numbeys of fresh re- infercements and the valiant defend- ers were compelied to give ground. TAL TRANSPORT " TRUCK SERVICE ‘ First Section Has Startsd Fr troit on its Way to Atiant Washington, Dc¢ tion of the America: arm EXPERIMEN De- Scatoard s new’ e: ! JEWISH REOCCUPATION 3 l | OF THE HOLY LAND | i Movement Launched at a Meeting -of 200 Leaders at Baltimore. Baltimore, Md, Dec. 16.--Two hun- died leaders af the Zionist organiza- Cabled Paragraphs Seventh Austrian War Loan. Vienna, Dec. 16, via Amsterdam.— According to provisional estimates 5,- 801,000,000 kronen have been sub- to the seventh Austrian war oan. USED WIRELESS APPARATUS WHILE SHIP'S BAND PLAYED How Germans Attempted to Create War Between U d States and Japan. Honolulu, Dec. 16.—While the ship's band was playing lively tunes to drown out all tell-tale sounds, the wireless apparatus of the German crulser Geier, at the time she was in- terned in this harbor, relayed mes- sages between German agents in_ the United States and Japan in further- ance of a plot to embroil the two countries in war, according to an ar- ticle printed in the Star-Bulletin here. The article, which is published with the authority of the United States na- val intelilgence bureau, declares that the seal placed on the Geier's wire- less by the American gocernment was broken by the Germans in order that the messages might be transmitted. This information was obtained frem the diary of Captain Grasshof of that vessel, the article stafes. Grasshof's diary says that in Nov ember, 1914, and Yebruary, 1917, mes- sages ordering widespread promulga- tion of reports that Japanese forces were to land in Mexico and German forces in Canada were handled by the Geler’s wireless, the operators work- ing day and night in order that there would be no delay in the transmission of these radiograms. ' According to the diary, Count Von Bernstorff, former German ambassa- dor to the United States, anq Captains Poy-Ed and Von Papen, his principal aides, figured prominently ir._the plot. George Roedik and H. A. Schroeder, former German consuls at Honolwu and Manila, were also implicated. Both pleaded =vilty in San Francisco re- cently to complicity in a plot to es- tablish a revolutionary government in India. A German secret agent known as “K-17" was said in the diary to have aided in the transmission of these messages, and also to have adv the German government of the sailing time of Danish vessels from here and elsewhere. ,The diary hints at a plot o stir-up revolts in Chira against the Eritish, in furtherance of which quan- tities of arms were suppos2d to have heen secretly buried in Shanghai and Maniia. GRAND ADMIRAL VON TIRPITZ'S VIEW OF WAR Says That Un to the Present Great Britain Has Won. Amsterdam. Dec. 16.—The German . Ferimental truck transport scrvice-has | tiom of the country launched at a con- | papers contain lengthy accounts of from Detroit on its way to the Allantic seabosrd to test the ar- X stion in irucks, . statement toniri:it Quattermas- 1 2 said if tie plan proves sucpesstui it 3be otal relief the railroads, war trucks the army has un- ftruttion wiil amount to $90.- and also wil} . permit tre rtation of ninety thousand tons > et materfals to theé . the inferior storage depot GOVERNMENT CONTROL B < OF VITAL STATISTICS s Propesed by Sam L. Rogers, Direc- tor of the Census. Washington, Dec. 16.—Federal con- trol and supervision of birth and death, = ition to supplant ilie presen} State municipal systems is rece X in the ahnmal report to- day of Sam L. Rogers, director of the cel The United States, it is de- l cannot have a system of vital # eign fct govy T comparable to those of for- 3 tries until all the states en- w laws or until the federal lent assumes control. Ve come to.the conciusion,” Mr. says, “that by far the most hotory . and effective _means to the day when the cntire Unit- shall e adey.iute resis- ‘would be.&nrded by placing dtter entirelv under federal con- supervision.” ¢ . Ag . preparations aré under way, thi says, for beginning the Bext _Eénsus in 1920. THREE MEN BURNED 70 DEATH IN GUARDHOUSE All Were Members of the 113th Aero : Squadren, U. 8. A. e Hafrisburg, Pa., Dec. 16—E. F. Gal- lagher, Munhall, Pa.: W. J. Kramer, man, Mich, and W. L. Wiley, Rock. 1ils. all members of ‘the 113th A., were burn- nine miles east of here, yed. by fire early this morn- the only |Seatt fram that served as,a camp pris- using to heat up the stove for their warmth in the bit- that has prevailed over lon for the past week. ¢ ‘were confined for minor -and no blame is attributed to r was rescued alive but .30 today in the post hospi- Olhfll!'-:m d.e:d vll:enbeom- M@rasged them from the burn- ing bullding. GERMANY EXPERIENGCED DISASTROUS EXPLOSIONS. One at Friedrichshaven Resulted in Death and Injuny of Many. < g——— ; Dec. 16—Two al ers in ated sections of Germany despatches re- today. occurred in the Zeppe- richshaven and re- 1 Were prepared for Zeppelins T a Many of the employes plant were killed. in France to Observe Holidays. the American Amy in Py The Associated ~ in . general orders fssued to- Cl New and orders said tie es- vention here today the great move- ment to realize Jewish national entity as a result of the recapiure of Pales- tine from Turkey. % It was the first concrete step to- ward the achievement of the nationdl character taken by the Jews of the ‘ng the meeting t . a re- ovcusation: oF TR HY T e e be under way within a month or two. The outlines, of an international Jewish fund of $100,90,000 to make the Jewish .re-oceupation real and practical were giyen and within a féw initial $1,000,000 of. the international fund with which to begin the re-as- similation of\ the “Promised Land.” l'I'MANK SERVICES HELD IN CHURCHES IN HALIFAX. Appreciation Shown for Work of Cana- diah Neighbors and American Friends. Halifax, N. Dec. 18.—Religious services were heid today in_the base- ments of churches partly demolished by the explosion of Dec. 6, and large congregations gave thanks that their Canadian neighbors and American friends had been so quick to come to the rescue of the stricken city. It was not a day of rest, however. The work of restoring the broken buildings was carried on by carpenters and glaziers. Glass stations were open and glass was distributed to all who presented orders from tbe proper authorities. 8800 TON STEEL SHIP. LAUNCHED AT LOS ANGELES. First Ship Contracted For by the Emergency Fleet Ggrporation. ‘Washington, Dec. 16, the shipping beard launching at Los steel merchant ship the emergency fleet vessel was one of 8,800 tons’ capacity each ords y 12 from S. L. Napthaly. Turning out the vessel within seven (months when the y: in which it was ibuilt had to be coi igted after the Icontract wts let wi by ship- ping board officials &s demonstrating | what American industry can do in an emeérgency. N One * vessel con! fieet corporation al launched, but it came tle which had be for many years. e e TR OBITUARY. Henry Clay Barnabee. Boston, Dec. 16.—] ry CI nabee, familiar to tl yd-l‘;ty 5": goers as the “She Notting] " in De Koven's pera, Rol Hood, died at his h 3 after a long illneas. of age. ’ WMr.thAmtbeo was jousty a a few mon 3 time he hovered i ALE —A telegram to told of the of the first racted for tion, *"The ssel for by. the y has been able to return to bis home. % Even during suffering of his last days the operatic come: dian never Jost =pirit of ch fulness that mar! - stage. A newspaj ‘terviewed him a few " Bitting fnriant B ng - uj i Hir Barmabes san r. Barnabee sang the rolli s Zaitmm ol Resiigh with mu old-tim. deep. nnmw- ton oc!wl:. m&." be w’.l-‘ burial will be at a Dis oves siosets > N. H. - Miss Varney Expecta to Be Acquitted. Mass., Dec. 16—Harrlet be " will 0 . here e was 84 years |’ the speech of Grand Admiral Von Tir- pitz. hefore the Hamburg branch. of the Tutherland Party, in which the admiral said: - “Up to the present in this war ‘Great Britan has won. rather than Jost. - Peace based on the . status qua. is estimaied that|world, and Intimation was given dur-|ante or on renunciation, therefore, is that |- out of question -for Germany.' With erence tc the rumor Germany would giye up Zeebruggee and Ostend if the British if the Brit- ish evacuatéd = Calais, Von Tirpitz said: “The evacuation of Calais would coast | minutes $35,000 was raised toward an |never be equivalent to the loss of such class security. Moreover, the Cheamnel. tuninel will become a fact af- ter the, war. For real security we should have. besides Flanders Antwerp, Calais and Boulogne. The ramor in question is a screen beiind which the question of Flanders might be permitted to disappear. - “The pretext that we cannot coerce Cireat Britain and America falls to the ground when we consider the growing Scarcity of the cargo space of our rathless arch-enemy. Ths time for final decision will come when real distress bogins to take thé place of merely threatening distress. That time will come. It is only a question of keeping cool. gt A MILITARY SERVICE FOR CREWS OF TRANSPORTS Recommerded by Quartermaster General Sharpe. Washington, Ded. 16.—Immediare legislation to bring the crews of trans- poris, mine layers and other army vessels into the military service is urgently recommended by Quarter- master General Sharpe in his annual report, made public tonight. Contin- ual difficulsies with civilian crews are described, wAth the conclusion that grave danger can' be averted only by making officers and men subject to wmilitary discipline. . The report adds a new element to the controversy over the manning of ships carrying troops and supplies to Europe. proposal to have all American overseas merchant craft manned by naval reserves has been rejécted by the shipping board, whidh recently announced that the navy would operate troop ships and vessels carrying solely military supplies, but that all others would retain their merchant crews. General Sharpe prohably will appear his week as a witness in the senate military committee estigation of army war preparations and his testi- mony with proposal of still an- other plan y result in a general air- lt.n‘:' of the subject before the commit- ELEVEN CENTS MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE OF SUGAR Food Administrator Scoville Sets the Prica 6n Non-Delivery Sales. ‘Waterbury, Conn., Dec. 16.—A max- imum retail price of 11 cents a pound for sugar has been established by the federal ‘ food administration for. .Con- mecticut, Robert W. Scoville. food dd- :fli:!:'ttl'l-ltnr for ‘this state, told a meet- n is eritic in New England and said that every effort was being made ro improve it. OVERCROWDING OF TROOPS IS SPREADING DISEASES Warning ~Su supplying j tial INegroes BattleWith| House Votes on Bridgeport Police| Prohibition Today and| building ~ Je was surrcunded {20 THOUSANDS OF SHOTS WERE FIRED IN THREE HOURS “DRY” ADVOCATES ARE CONFI- DENT OF SUCCESS 106 ARE UNDER ARRESTI ADJOURNS TOMORROW One Policeman, Two White Citizens | Investigation of the Sugar and Fuel and Three Negroes Were Wounded— Men Young White Women Were Among Twelve White and Twelve Those Arrested. Eridgeport, Conn., Dec. 16.—A gun battle lastiug three hoars between the police and frequenters of a negro club on Water street took place herc early this morning resulting mn the wounnd- ing of one policeman, two whitc citi- zens and tlreg negroes. Of the in- Jjured two are’likely to die. The pro- prietor of the club “Baby Doll,” Will- iam Thomas, and 105 others, are un- der arrest. Thousands of Shots Fired. The fight started shortly after 2 o'dlock and continued intil after 5 o'clock, during which time thousands of shots had bzen fired from pistols of all calibres and from riot guns in the hands of the police. Virtually the whole police force was at one time engaged in the siege of the quarters held by the negroes and the final bat- tle took place when Superintendent Redgate and four or five patrolmen forced their way into the clubrooms and fought those inside face to face. Fired Upon Peo'icemen. This morning a_white man made a complaint to a policoman that he had been roughly handled at the Thomas quarters. The policeman summoned two others and went to investigate: The officers attempted to get in - but the door was slammed in their faces and shots fired through the door. Po- liceman Thomas MeoNamara was hit in ihe lez and the others sent in a call ‘to headauarters for help. The men insilde then barricaded the doors and opened ‘sie Cow facing on W treet threatened to shoot apprpaching by that thorough- The police tried to force their way into the building and were met with of shots from. within. Find- z this meaps ineffective, the super- intendennt of police ca'led in nearly all of his men and the place was surrou- nd. one .detail taking statfen in a freicht housge across the way Yrom where they fired into the windows of the cmb -with ript guns_ thus stop- ning the negroes from shooting into the road . . At the rear .of the bullding a large number of those who had .been inside tried to zet away but were gathered in by the poliee. ¥ <~ > Poticg-Gained T - Tn the mednwhile Chici gate had found a way gd4in access to the rear ‘of the ofabroom ana with five athers, armed with army revdlvers, went in y When they reached the smaoke-laden ‘¢lubrosm fivée men were found- ther¢. who snrréndered only after ti Fad emptied their guns It was diécovers,1 that Thomas had escaped to the cellar of the ldlolnlns an overpowered, taken to po'ice head- guarters and held without bail to await the outcome of the injyries in- flicted upon those shot in the melée. 106 Under Arrest. Of the 106 under arrest twelve are white men and twelve are youhs white women, the rest being negro men and women. Those injured are George Harris, Bridgeport, white, shot in back, when negroes fired into Water street. Maurice Dannio, white, Bridgeport, shot in groin; expected to die Thomas McNamara, policeman, shot in_thigh. “William ° Green, negre, Bridgeport, shof in eve. Will protahly die. Harry Morris and William Johnson, uesroes, Bridgeport, slizhtly wound- ed. GARMENT WORKERS a2 CLAIM “DISCRIMINATION" Is Exercised by Board of Control of Labor Standards. - New York, Dec. 18.—Complaint that the board of control of labor stand- ards “discriminated” against garment shops employing members of the In- ternational Ladies Garmens Workers Union and that shops whose workers belong to the Amalgamated, Clothing Workers were getting afl the tontracts for army uniforms, was made to Sam- tel Gompers, president of the Ames can I‘ederation of Labor,' at confer- ances here today dealing with the un- employment problem in ‘the clothing indust He was informed that about ,000 zarment workers ave idle im this city: -~ - 4 7 _— MEXICAN GOYERNMENT’S ¥ NEW IMPORT DUTIES Machinery and Manufactured Iron and " Steel Are Taxed. Mexico City, Dec. 15—Decrees pro- mulgated today through the treasury department place a duty ranging from five cents to $3, ican currency, per 100 kilograms ‘on and 1aanufactured irem &nd steel imported into" Mexico, for, the announced pur of protectiig domestic manufac- turers. . A A duty ranging frem 5 to 76 per cent. of the former tarift has been fixed for various grades of cot- ton goods. - - The decrees become effective Dec. VOCATIONAL TRAINING ' FOR DRAFTED MEN Te Train Men for ial Army Work and Govern mtc'mtrmlnn— i Shortage Will be Resumed Today, With Claus Spreckies Returning to the Stand—Senate to Probe Navy’s War Activities. Washington, Dec. 16.—With the un-] usual record for business accomplish ed at a pre-holiday session already made, congress turns tomorrow to a cleanup of domestic legislation before the Christmas holidays, after which it proposes o devote itself exclusively to war problems. Adjournment next Tuesday until Thursday, January 3— a holiday recess somewhat longer than usual—is planned under a house res-: olution which comes tomorrow before the senate. Since the session begah a fortnight ago consress has declared war against Austria-Hungary, extended the pres- ident's £190,000,000 war emergency fund and mzde progress on natural re sources legifation recommended by the president, passed the $333,000,000 post office appropriation bill through the house,’ and launched several im- portant investigations, including those into_the army and navy war prepara- tions and the sugar and fuel short- ages. To be squeezed into the two days before the recess is much other import- | ant legislation. and during the recess committees will proceel with investi- gatiornts and drafting of appropriation bills to follow in the new year. Vote on Prohibition at 5 p. m. Chief in interest now is the nation- wide prohibition question to be voted on by the house tomorrow afternoon Prohibition advocates nf of approval by consider- 2 mora than the neccessary two- thirds majckity of the resoiution for subm; ion to the stat>s of a national prohibition amendment to the consti- tutica. The resolution was adopted last hy vote of 65 to 2 _thres fourths must apj before the hecom. effective—is re- ouired in seven years by the house res- olution and ‘ears under the sen- o'clock. ably ate resolution. Lively Debate Expected. If the house acts tomorrow the dif- ferences in the bills must be adjusted in conference and the conference re- port adopted by hoth bodies before the resolution ‘is submitted to the states. Lively debafe is ‘expectsd in the onse. with' a leons| i L, the. prohibition forces, ,vmm %mfin for vears to get action from areks. i g:mll\l \before the recess af the pro; ‘woman suffrage amendment to the constitution now is regarded as impossible. A vote mav be taken - in the house soon after the holidays. Polls conducted B¥ the leaders indi- cate defeat of the Wesolution, in which event the senate vote would not be con- neécessary though onre misht be sought | for a record and -ts effect on public opinfon. Business Bofore the Senate. The senate ijomorrow will resume ronsideration of the Walsh-Pittman coal and oi] land leasing bfll, which probably will pass Tuesday in furth- erance of the programme of legislation for natural rascurce development. In- formal agreement for climination from the bill of the controversy over the California naval oil reserves, by a plan for government condemnation and development of private holldings there, is expected to expedite passage of the measure. Investigation by the senate military affairs committee into the War de- partment'c operations will be resumed tomorrow, with Major General Croz ier, chief ‘of ordnance, sain under ex. lamination. After-two days in execu- tive session it is plannad to reopen the doors tomorrow. Several more davs days probably will he zpent in the ordngnce inguiry, with Colonel Lewis, invedtor of the Lewis machine gun, army ornance experts and department officials. as witmesaés. Secretary BaVer will be called before the in- quiry closes, but' probably not for some time. Inquiry Into Navy’s Activities. Plans to begin inquiry into the na- vy’'s war activities will be made to- morrow by the house naval sub-com- mittee at a _ preHminary meeting. Nearings of department heads, it is expected, will begin at ence. “Sugar and Fusl Shortage. Investigation of the sugar and fuel shortages will be resumed tomorrow by’ the senate manufacturers’ sub- committee, with Claus Cpreckels, of the Federal Sugar Relining company, returning to the stand. Further progress in another investi- mation, that of the alleged disloyal St. Paul speech of Senator La Follette, will be discussed at a meeting of the senate privileges and elections com miftee next Thursday. Arrange ments for hearing Former Secretary The Railroad Problem. N The raflroad probiem is being studied by many. members of congress, with all wsiting President . Wilson recommendations. In view of the holi day adjournment planned Tuesday, it is thought at the capitol that the pres- ident may not present his views to coneress urtil after it reconvenes on January 3, but moembers are pre to postpone th:‘ l;;)“dlty l:dcdoll should the prerident desire to con- gress later ti week. The %‘Iflfll joint con; nal committee will re- umo its general railroad inqui to- morrow with Nevada and other state | .ofl‘lch.l as witnesses. | RECORD CATCH MADE OF ALAS:( ASALMO?. .| The Pack of GCanned .Salmon Will - Cases. department _and - the shippi; s Shortages of siilied ‘The department will establish. frée tional ‘schools and cia a men lg:, - Aggregate . ‘Washington, Dec. 16.—Food added to the nation’s wartime storchouses by thie- 1917 catch of Alaska l‘ Condensed Telegrams Only 29 buildings of a former 4.521 remain intact in’Arras. Trading in corn and oats was discontinued in Toledo. futures Austrian subjects in American armed forces are being transferred to army posts. Three American freight steamers are held up for the winter at Montreal by the ic Felix Calonder, vice president, was elected President of the Swiss Republic for 1918. Francisco Villa has captured Jimenez on of the largest mining towns of southern Chihuahua. Announcement was made in Madrid of the signing of an Anglo-Spanish commercial agreement. Day Allen Wiley, 57, magazine writer and one-time newspaper editor, died at his home in Baltimore. According to word from Berlin to | Zurich, all “holiday leaves in the Ger- man army, were suspended. One man was killed and five injured in an explogion at a Du Pont powder | plant near Wilmington, Del. A charter was filed at Trenton by the American Standard Metal Pro- ducts Co.; capital, $1,000,000. Celebrations by Catholics throughout the world on the capturing of Jerusa- lem were ordered by the Pope. General Pershing reported the deaths of six more American troops, four from i sickness and two from accidents . Loyalty of 2,500 North Dakota farm- ers was proclaimed by their delegates irr a convention at Bismark, N. D. Wisconsin University students, fol- lowed a patriotic meeting, hanged and burned Senator La Follette in effigy. The New York University’s latest ‘war course will be for the proper knit- ting of socks for soldiers and sailors. ettt The fuel administrator that Ohio towns were now announced getting a for army camps received a check for $10,000 from the Standard Oil Co., of New York. Aprticles of incorporation were filed at Dover, Del, by the Columbia Graph- aphone Manufacturing Co.; capital $30 000,000. The Nova Scoti steamer Wanita was driven ashore during a gale at the entrance to the harbor. The crew was saved. The new Portuguese Government has guese troops fighting the Germans in ! France and Africa. After. Dec. 15, holders of season tickets. including lessees of opera box- ©s, must pay a war tax of 10 per cent. upon single admissions, s The American expeditionary forces in. France have given an order to the Gillet Safety Razor Co. for 65,000 razors and.115,000 blades. Germah - newspapers report that heads of German manufacturers’ asso- citions were called to a conference at German great headquarters. The names of 17 United States army engineers missing since Nov. 30 were reported to the war department yester- day by Major General Pesshifg. Mrs. Mary Way, 86 years old, who was a flower girl at the coronatien of Queen Victoria, died at Kansas City, at the home of her son. W. G. Way. The Fuel Administration advised the number of commutation trains be cut down on steam roads running out of the larger cities during the non-rush hour. . The Navy Department announced that an_ American submarine chaser was sunk 'in a collision with an American steamer of off the Atlantic coast. Theodore Roosevelt opened the,Red Cross membership drive in Nassa; county, N. Y., with a speech in which he urged earnest support for the or- ganization. b The War Trade Board withdraw the firm names of D. G. W. Amalers of Brazil and La Raxon of Argentine, placed on the enemy trading hst by mistake. The United States Stdte Department has sent to consulates and legations in European countries a denial of the story that a woman was shot in this country as & spy. Charles L. Mayer of Chester died in the hospital at Middletown as a re- sult of injuries occasioned when a { water front in a stove at his parents’ home burst a week ago. 2 e The body of Walter J. Crandall, an old resident of Auburn, ass., supply of coal where it is needed most. | “Tistice.” sent a message of cheer to the Portu- | Armistice Pact Has Been Signed BETWEEN BOLSHEVIKI AGENTY AND TEUTONIC ALLIES. TAKES EFFECT TODAY It Will Remain in Force Until Jan. 14, 1918—Unless Seven Days’ Notice is Given It Continues in Force Auto- matically—Peace Negotiations Are to Begin Immediately. Berlin, via [Londomn, Dec. 16.—An armistice agreement between the Bolsheviki government in Russia and the Teutonig allies was signed at Brest Litovsk Saturday, according to an official communication issued to- day. The armistics becomes effective )t noon Monday and is to remain in force until Jan. 14. A provision in the armistice agree- ment is that peace negotiations are to begin immediately after the signing of the armistice. The text of the com- munication follows: Text of the Agreement. “An armistice agreement was signed at Brest Litovsk yesterday by plenipo- tentiary representatives of the Russfan upper army administration on the one hand and those of the upper army ad- ministration of Germany, Austria- Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey on the other hand. In Force Dec. 17. “The armistice begins at noon Dec. 17 and remains in force until Jan. 14, 1918.. Unless seven days’ notice is given it continues in force automa ically. It extends to all the land, air and naval forces of the common fronts. ‘““According to clause 9 of the treaty, peace negotiations are to begin im- mediately after. the signing of the The Knights of Columbus Camp Fund | GASTON B. MEANS FOUND NOT GUILTY Of the Murder of Mrs. Maude A. King Near Concord, N. C. Concord, N. C., Dec. 16.—Gastont B. Means was found not guilty here to- day of the murder of Mrs. Maude A Mrs. Kipg was killed at Blackwelder Springs, d lonely spot in the country near here, August 29 last, when with Means and a party of his friends she had stopped on an automobile drive to practice pistol shooting. Means {he woman were alone at the Captain W. S. Bingham . and _Afton Means, a brother of Gaston - Means, having walked down the road to shoot at rabbits, Mrs. King had inherited approxi mately $1,000,000 from.ber second hy band, the late James C, King of Chi- cago, and during the frial New York and Chicago witnesses declared near- Iy all of this sum had ‘vanished” dur- ing the time Means was connected with the woman’s affairs. It also was as- gerted that Means was preparing to offer for probate an alleged second will of James C. King, which would give an adaitional $2,000,000 to Mre King. GREAT RED CROSS CAMPAIGN OPENS TODAY,. Call fssues Ly Chairman Davison of Society’s War Council. time, Washington, Dec. 16.—On the eve of the great Christmas membership cam- paign of the American Red Cross be- ginning tomorrow, Henry P. Davison, chairman of the society’'s war council, issued thie-call: “To the five million members work- ing loyally with us today—stand by the colors! “To the ten or fifieen million mem- bers who will join us before Christmas ewe—fall in!” Mr. Davison, who was called upon by President Wilson to serve the Red Cross after the country went to wa told in his statement something o what he had learned about the organ- ization and of its wonderful expansjon to meet war conditions. “Today the American Red Cross me of the modern miracles,” he said. Tt has accomplished the impossible its national organization with volun- teer workers; in the Junior Red Cross for children; in its chapter adminis- tration cover the whole United States map. It has mobilized America for action in the world emergency; it stands behind the American army and navy with supplies and with personnel for every call which they may make upon it.” TRANSPORTATION 1S SAID TO BE IMPROVING SLOWLY But Continues to Be Main Factor in Causes for Coal Shortage. Was} washington, Dec. 16.—Car shortage found frozen near his home in Pond-|.ontinues as the chief factor checkinz ville yesterday. overcome by heart failure. General Pershing advised the war department yesterday that First Lieut. H. C. Boyle, medical officers’ reserve jcorps, attached to the British forces, A report from Hampton Roads re- ceived “at Baltimore, says that the Maryland pilot boat Pilot was sunk thefre in a collision with the Merchants and Miners steamer Berkshire. No lives were lost. Reports from the base hospital at Camp Meade, Md., show that there are about 300 cases of sickness being treated. . Mast of it is of a minor na- ture, but there are some cases of pneumonia and diphtheria. Fire ldst night destroyed with a loss of about $500,000 the ‘plant of the British-American Tobacco Co., ‘at Norfolk, . Va., devoted exclusively to the mapufacture of cigarettes for ex- portation to England and France. Superi ¢t of Supplies, Patrick Jones, of the New York Board of Edu- cation, said the New -York Board of Education. said that 125 schools wouid have to close within five days if they did not receive a supply of coal. Boston Symphol i D tom Mtk e lsler, the vi- orchestra, 1d llars was rais- It is believed he was | o maximum production of coal, ac- cording to statistics made public to- dey by the Geological Survey. Labor shortage and mine disability are giv- en as other causes. Pituminous mines, the tables show, are producing only about 75 per cent. of what they are capable of putting out. Transportation, it is declared, improving slowly. “A genera] easing up in the short age of cars was reported,” said a statement accompanying “the statis- tics, “from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. In West Virginia, on the other hend, losses due to inadequate transportation was severe.” N.AN SUFFOCATED AT FIRE IN ANSONIA ¢ Wi Was Overcome at Fire a Week Ago. Ansortia, Conn., ‘Dec. 16. — Smoke ftom a fire in the Colburn building on Main street suffocated Eaton Holwes, 62 years old, here early this morning. The blaze was discovered at, 12.30_and although confined to a small part of the buflding was not extinguished un- tl 830. At 4.30 it was found that Holmes was still in his apartments and ‘when they were entered by fire- men he was dead. A singular feature of the episode is. that just twelve hours before there was a fire in the same building and the wife of Holmes was lovercome and he had returned from a g ‘to Griffin hospital to see his wife ,before’ the second blaze. The to - stores in the building is a-tlr_n,to} at $6,000, mostly by water. is Eaton Holme: