Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, December 27, 1917, Page 1

VoL. LIX.—NO. 310 CONN., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1917 RAILROADS IS PROCLAIMED President Wilson Last Night Issued Edict Calling for Possession and Operation of Roads, During War BECORIES EFFECTIVE AT NOON FRIDAY, DEC. 28 William G. McAdoo is Placed in Charge as Director General of Railroads, But Will Retain His Place in the Cabinet— Driect Management of the Roads Will Remain in the Hands of Railroad Officials and the Railroads War Board +~—The Chief Practical Effect Will be a Complete Unifica- tion of All Rail Systems—Proclamation Applies to All Electric Lines Engaged in General Transportation, With Interurban Systems Exempted—Government Backing Will be Given to New Issues of Railroad Securities., —_— s Washington, Dec. 23:—Government possession and operation of the na- tion’s railroads for the period of the war was proclaimed by President Wil- son tonight to become effective at noon “mext Friday, December 28. William G. McAdoo, retaining his place in the cabinet as secretary of the treasury, is placed in charge as director general of railroads. / Every railroad engazed in general transportation with its appurtenances, including steamship lines, is taken over and all systems will be operaicd as one under the director-general. In a statement accompanying his proclamation, the president announc- ed that as soon as COAgress reassem- bles he will recommend legisjation guaranteeing pre-war earnings ' and ‘maintenance of railroad properties in good repair. Government backing will be given to mew issues of railroad securities that a ready market may be found. Came as a Surprise. The president’s move, although fore- |y for weeks, came at this time as = great surprise to nearly evervbody Washington, including raflroad’ of- It had been generally - be- eved he would awalt the remssem- of congress before taking - any step. He acted ugh Secretary. ‘War Baker under authority conferved army act. in irect management of roads wif] yemain in the hands of railroad offi- cials and the railroads’ war board composed cf five heads, will continue .to_direct actual operation under Sec- Tetarry McAdoo's general supervision. A Complete Unification. The chief practical effect of gov- &ernment operation will be to permit & complete unification of all rail sys- STEAMER TUSCARORA IS GIVEN UP FOR LOST With Her Crew of 35 Men — Some where North of Cape Breton Island. New York. Dec. 26—The American steamship Tuscarora, formerly a lake vessel and requisitioned by the United States shipping board for Atlantic service, together with her entire crew of 35 men, is believed to have beem Jost at sea scmewhere north of Cape Breton Island, according to advices recelved in shipping circles today from Nova Scotia. The advices were that parts of a bridge, pilot house and deck timbers from ‘a large steamer had washed ashore on_ St. Paul Island, about 30 miles northeast from Cape North on Cape Breton island. Shipping men familiar with that coast and the pre- vailing tides there believe it is from the missing lake steamer. The crew of the Tuscarora were re- cruited in New England ports. She was commanded by Captain Crowel} from Cape Cod. The Tuscarora, h-fore being requi- sitioned by the 'sh'pping board, was owned by the Lohigh Valley Trans- portation Co. cnd operated between Jake ports. r BECOND LIEUT. ROOSEVELT SLATED FOR PROMOTION One of 47 Officers of the Expeditionary i Forces Abroad. ‘Washington, Dec. 26.—Among forty- Bevey officers of the erped‘lxuonlry forees recommended for promotion by General Pershing in a list made pub- s today by the war departmenmt is Lieutenant Archibald B. velf, son of Theodore Roosevelt, who is proposed, for a captaincy of in- Besides Lieutenant Roosevelt, one pther se-ond lieutenant of infantry, Mahkion O. Bradley, is proposed for a gaptaincy, and Captain Emmert W. Bavage, infantry, is recommended for promotion to lieutenant colonel. These three officers are the only pnes in tie combatant services recom- mended for advancement of more than ne grade, but First Lieutenants H. E. L_ and A. W. Kenner of the medical rorps, are proposed for the rank of . With few exceptions the ad- nts are. to the national army. MILITARY PROTECTION FOR ALL SHIPYARDS Jtary protection for shipbuilding and repairing yards in New York harbor pngaged in government work, was urg- »d by directors of the Merchants’ As- in letters sent to Edward N. , ehatrman of the United States’ shipping board; secretary of war ind the secretary of the navy, it was tonight. The step was tak- m conferences between the ad- risory war shipping committee of the tion and representatives of plants having federal con- dmmt-ymt-'e.unn.u-u tems, impossible under private oper- ation by reason of statutes prohibiting pooling’ of rail traffic aud earnings. The roads themselves had gone as far as they dared in this direction, and it became known only today that ' they had been warned by Attorney General Gregory that a violation of anti-pool- ing laws could not be permitted. This sitvation was fully realized by President Wilson, who in his state- ment declared the railroads had gone as fas as they could and that already some systems were emlangering their earnings in attempting unification. Interurban Lines Exempt. Although the proclamation applies fo all electric lines engaged in ganer- al transportation local interurban sys- tems are specificially exempted. Congress will be asked to guarantee earnings equivalent to the average net operating income of each railroad in the three vear period ending June 30, 191 Railroad experts ~estimate that this will cost the government next ear in the neighborhood of $100,000,- 000, which can be raised in large part by increased freights if the Interstate oater Sppl tion f . ithet e ds’ application for the n_ per m‘s‘ { ing. Otherwise, it will eral now pendl; be paid largely out'of the gen- s Tecersuate. Commerse C which havé to with the railroads, will eontinue to ‘perform their func- tions as heretofore, except it they will be subject to orders of the director of railroads. The president makes ‘it clear that his decision was not made because of any failure on the part of any rail- roads to perform their whole duty:in '(Continued on Page Seven, Col. 5) PERSHING_APPROVES WORK OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Plans Are B An Atlantic Port, Dec. 26.—Field ser- vice work of the Knights of Columbus among the American troops in France has received the “hearty approval of General Pershing, and plans are be- ing made to extend the work now un- der way on a much wider scope, Wal- ‘ter N. Kernan, of Utica, N. Y., over- seas cominissioner of the American organization, said today om his arriv- al here today on a French steamer. Mr. Kernan, who had been in France since November, to make a report for his organization, said - that General Pershing told him he was glad to give every support to the work, not alone for the benefits it will be to the men of his command, but also to demon- strate to the Germans that America’s part in the war has the hearty sup- port of the Catholics. GEN. BLISS TO REMAIN IN ACTIVE SEHVICE Reaches the Retirement Age Next Monday. ‘Washington, Dec. 26.—General Tas- ker H. Bliss will he retained on active service as chief of staff of the army after he reaches the réetirement age next Monday, December 31. Secretary Baker announced late to- day that this had been decided upon by President Wilson. It had been be- Heved ge: General Bliss would continue in lve service, but that some younger ‘would assume the ‘burdens of the chief of staff. AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS AGAINST CONSCRIPTION Vote of Those Abroad Indicates Majority of 180,000 Against. Vancouver, B. C., Dec. 26—First re- turns from the Australian soldier vote abroad show a substantial mapority against conscription, conmtrary to all predictions, says a despatch received here _today from Sydney, N. S. W., by the Vancouver World. ‘The latest count of the total ballot, the despatch says, indicates a ma- jority of 180,000 against the measure. ADVANCE IN RATES ON CANADIAN RAILWAYS Has Been Granted by the Canadian After He ! | ' | | l rench house Chi the raiders arrived. Neill, manager of the ranch, and his Cabled Paragraphs Charles S. Smith Released. Petrograd, Dec. 26.—Charles S. Smith of St. Louis, a member of the American railway mission in Russia, who was arrested recently at Tchita, Siberia, was released after a few kours of detention, according to ad- ces reaching the American embassy here. Losses to Italian Shipping. Rome, Dec. 26.—The losses to Ital- fan shipping during the past week from submarines were three steamers of more than 1500 tons, two sailing vessels of more than 100 tons and one sailing vessel of less than 100 tons. Two steamers were damaged by tor- pedoes and were run ashore, while one sailing vessel was damaged but was towed into port. EIGHT MEXICAN BANDITS KILLED AT CANDELARIA, TEX. By U. S. Cavalrymen and Ranchers— Story of the Raid. Marfa, Texas, Dec. 26 —Eight ban- aits were killed yesterday when ranchers and American cavalrymen fired on a band of Mexican raiders after the bandits had killed Michael ‘Welch, driver of a United States mail stage, and his two Mexican passen- gers and had looted the L. C. Brite store at Candelaria, Texas. This was the official report received here to- day. . It is reported that Mexican bandits raided also the Fitzgerald ranch be- tween here and the river. late last night, driving off all the horses from the ranch, and taking a larze quantity of provisions. These raiders were be- lieved to have been a part of the band which raided Candelaria vesterday. It now is believed the bandits were a part of Francisco Villa’s force which has heen operating in the Ojinaga dis- trict. Ranchers who arrived tonight from Candelaria_brought the first connect- ea_story of the raid. Only . two men were at the Brite 'mas morning when They were T. T. son, Sam. Their wives and children were also at the ranch house. Tha father saw the men approaching and awakened his son. The women and children were put in the most pro- tected room and two lone men apened fire upon the bandits riding wildly to- ward the house. A desperate rifle battle was then fousht between Sam Neill and the leader of the: Mexicans at_ 100 yards range. Neill kifled Nis man ‘while his fa-| ther foucht off the Mexicans who were ‘attempting to gain entrance through a rear door. Two more bandits were killed whereupon the remainder re- tired for a conference. A Mexican was then sent to the house with a demand that the Neills _surrender. This was refused but T. T. Neill fi- nally delivered over the keys to the Brite store nearby and sent a hired hand to assist in rounding up the horses in order to save the women and children from almost certain mas- sacre. - While the store was being Tooted by the bandits, Rev. H. M. Bandy of the First Christian Church of Marfa. drove up in his car with his family to spend the day at the Brite ranch. They hardly escaped but got into the ranch house, where the minister seiz- ed a rifle and guarded a window with other Americans. At this time the United States mail stage from Valentine drove up to the Brite store carrving Christmas pack- ages for the Tnjted States soldiers stationed at Candelaria. The two Mexican passengers were killed before they eould get out of the stage. Mi- chael Welch was taken - from the stage. hanged and his throat out. ‘Welch, who was ared and partly nar- alyzed, had to be assisted to the place of his execution. i DECREASES IN L.OSS OF BRITISH SHIPPING Eleven Mesrchantmen of Over 1600 Tons Were Lost Last Week. London, Dec. 26.- — The losses to British shipping show a material de- crease for the past week. According to the admiralty report tonight, eleven British merchantmen of 1600 tons or over were sunk dpring this period by mine_or submarige, as well as one merchantman under that tonnage and one fishing vessel. The summary: Arrivals 2,816; sailings 2.640. British merchantmen sunk by mine or submarine, 1600 tons, or _ over, eleven; under 1600 tons, one; fishing vessels, one. British merchantmen unsuccessful- ly attackad, twelve, including two pre- viously. For the week ended December 19 seventeen merchantmen were sunk. fourteen of them of more than 1600 tons. In the previous week the losses were twenty-one, fourteen of them of more than 1600 tons. > o NATIONAL COAL SHORTAGE “18 AN “ACTUAL: FACT" Due to Wiping Out of Reserve Supply and Increased Consumption. New York, Dec. 26.— mational coal shortage, due to the wiping out of the reserve supply and:the increased con- sumption, is an “actual fact,” and must be faced by the small consumer with the practice of the “utmost conserva- tion,” according to a report of the New York state fuel conservation commit- tee filed today with Albert H. Wiggin, dministrator. tate fuel a 3 i The to assure the mneeds of the small er in New York state, has advised a plan for the dis: tribution of coal on the “card sys- tem” basis and recommends its adop- tion as a conservation measure. AUTO TRUCK STRUCK B;' TRAIN AT GROSVENORDALE The Driver, William Inman of Web- sster, Died on His Way to Hospital. U.S.1o be Patient ltalians Continue - With Russia (}ount_eL Attacks IN DEALING WITH THE CHAOTIC SITUATION THERE TO AVOID INTERFERENCE There ration Circles That Government of a Deep Conviction in Admin- Democratic Form Will Develop. ‘Washington, Dec. 26.—Great fore- bearance dnd patience will be exer- cised by the American government in dealing with the chaotic Russidn sit- uation because it is realized that Ger- man intrigue, working through thin- ly -disguised agents within the ranks of the Bolsheviki, is doing is utmost to bring about a breach between the United States and Russia. It was suthoritative:y stated today that American representatives in Russia, diplomatic, economic and oth- ers, will carefully avoid any inter- fercnce with the internal politics of the country and will be guided in their conduct by the strictest rules of neu- trality as between the Russian fac- tions. It is the purpose to permit the Russian people themselves to work out their own salvation free from any American interference. Hope For Democratic Government. There still is a deen seated conv tion in administration circles that within a reasonable period of time a satisfactory and proably permanent government of democratic form will be developed from the present turmoil. Despatches to the state department show that cvery opportunity is being seized upon by, the German agencies to misrepresent the at‘itude of Ameri- ca townrds the Bolsheviki movement and particularly to intlame the excit- able Russian public nst the per- sonnei of the Americ its head, Ambasrado- 1 Much has been made of the %ilure of the ambassador to extend recognition to the Lenme re; e as it did to the first republican goverpment under Lvoff and Milukoff and now the tension has become acute over the rou- tine efforis of Ambassador Francis to assist the Red Cross in its work in southern Russia and Rumania, wh has been distorted into a purpose- to aid a counter revolution under Kale- dines. Francis. KAISER HAD” NARROW ‘" ESCAPE CHRISTMAS EVE During a Reprisal Raid by a Bri Air Squadren. Geneva, Déc, 26,—The German em- peror, returning with his staff from Verdun f£ront, bad "a- narrow escape during the reprisal raid of a British air squadron on Mannheim Christmas eve, according to a despatch from Basel. Only about an hour earlier the emperor’s special train left the station, which was partly destroyed by several bombs.. A section of the | tragks was torm up, cutting commu- nication north. In fact, the emperor’s train was the last to leave Mannheim and no trains arrived at Bascl yesterday from that eity. . Two bombs fell: on the palace, and_one on the -suspension bridge across the Neckar river, both strue. tares heing badly damaged. An am- maunition factory in a northern suburb was blown up; few persons were kill- ed here, however, as the -employes were having a holiday. A consider- able number of presons were Killed or injured within the town and sev- eral were blown into the Rhine. ish MINNEAPOLIS MILLS ARE GRINDING “WAR FLOUR” 16,000,000 Present to Bushels of Wheat Crop Year. Minneapolis, Minn.,” Dec. 26.—Lqcal mills today began grinding “war flour” under the new government regulations Save in the designed to save 16.000,000 bushels of | joining stable were ‘wheat in the present crop year. Under official | nl GAINED GROUND, BUT WERE UN- ABLE TO HOLD IT CESSATION IN BATTLES In Peace Parleys the Teutons Have Failed to Return and Answer the Made by the Bolshevi Demands Except on the northern Italian front the military operations continue for below normal. In France, where snow has fallen along the.entire front, only bombardments and small raiding op- erations are taking place. Counter-Attacks by Italians. 4 West of the Brenta river in the Itali- an nighlands the Italians on Christma. day continued their counter-attacks upon the Austro-German forces which previously. had succeeded in making gains on Col Del Rosso and Monte De Val Bella.. The battle waged through- out the mcrning with great violencc and the italians wresied several of their former positions from the ememy, but owinz to renewed onslaughts by the Teutonic allied forces they were again compen> The Betlin war office admits that the Italians threw heavy counter attacks against the invaders on the Col Del Ross0 and neighboring sectors, but as- Serts that all of them broke down un- Peace Parleys Beclouded. The situation. surrounding the peace parleys batween the Austro-German: and the Russians is still beclonded ow- ing to lck of details being pérmitted to come through, but at last accounts the Germans had failed to return and answer to the demands made by the Bolsheviki delegates. On the contrar: they-had requested that the negotia- tions be extended for virtually another month. Meantime a German com- mission has started for Petrograd from Berfin ir an endeavor to store relations betweer. Germany and Russia and 4 to reach a settlement ith the Ru nx for an e nge of civilian and incapacitated » prison- ers. SHIPBUILDING DELAYED BY LABOR TROUBLES Strikes and Other Disputes Caused a Loss of 535,992 Working Days. ‘Washington Dec. 26.—Labor troubles were blamed for much of the delay in the government's shipbuijding grathme by Raymond B. S chairman of the shipping board, tes- tifying today in the senate commerce committee’s investigation. Since the United States went to war, Mr. Stevens sdid, shipyards have lost a total of 536,992 working days by strikes and other disputes. This. he figures represents the work of 20.000 men for a month. Happily. said Mr. Stevens the situation is improving by reason of measures taken by the board to adjust differences wherever they arise. - . Senators took a lively interest in the story of the labor situation and the inquiry turned to the whole subject and its position during the war. Ques- tions as to the wisdom of conscrip- tion of labor for ship yards and other government work drew from Mr. Stevens’ emphatic opposition to any attempt to force civilians to work un- der prescribed conditions and govern- ment fixed wages. $30,000 FIRE IN FURNITURE WAREHOUSE AT WATERBURY Three Horses in an Adjoining Stable Were Suffocated. ‘Waterbury, Conn., Dec. 26.—Fire late; this afterncon gutted the lower floor of the Boston Furniture Company’s warehouss on Scovil street, causing a dnmage roughly estimuted at $30,000. Three valuable draft horses in an ad- suffocated and thie others were rescued but two suf- these regulations, which provide for|fered so severely from the effects of the use of 74 per cent. of the wheat | the smoke “that they may die. berryin instead of only fifty per cent. two grades of flour will be eliminated and the output will be listed as war flour of first and second grades. The change resulted in a sharp re- duction in bran prices and a drop in the prices of other by-products also is expected. . Several milling ‘companies were compelled to suspend operations tem- porarily because of lack of proper equipment for grinding the new flour. Members of, the food Inistration milling division said that cause of. the large supply of flour now on the market, it would be some, time before ‘war flour, reached the consumer. FLOUR PRICES ARE . INCREASED AT BALTIMORE Due to Lowering the Price of Mill Feed to the Millers. Baltimore, Md., Dec. 28.—Flour prices were advanced today from 20 [to 35 cents a Dbarrel, . according to grade. This increase in price was an- nounced by one of the leading millers In this section, who says its action will be followed by all millers, as the rise is wholly due to the action of the food administration in lowering the price of mill feed to the millers. Blended patent flour, the top grade, was advanced thirty cents, while spring patents had the extreme ad- vance of thirty-five cemts a barrel. The advance is-less than one-half a reduction made by the millers a few weeks age. NEW RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED AT VORONEGE Russian Consul at Seattle -Received Cable by Way of India. * Seattle, Washn., Dey. . 26.—Nicholas Bogoliavenski, Russian . consul -at: Scattle, anns tonight that he had received a e sent_by. way of In- ing of the:establishment rof: & vernment- at . | Grosvenordale, Conn., Dec. 26.—As, a | ns result of a New York, New Haven & an auto truck, Willlam man of Webster, driver, died on. who led in the formation of the government, the consul asserted. He said:<he believ- ed the leaders in the. ‘members of. g The origin of the fire is a mystery and will be the subject of an investigation by the fire marshal tomorrow. .The fare- house was in charge of two men, one of whom- was Gus Pfeiffer. The oth- er was only known by his first name. wWoIy SPurep . oyl pIjusAeld —udWAILY spreading to the large four-story brick and iron store of the company which is only separated from the burned building by a three story wooden building. ARRESTED FOR BOASTING HE WAS A" GERMAN SPY Andrew Swornik of Rhinelander, Wi Has Been Interned. Madison, Wis.,, Dec. 26.—Repeated assertions of Andrew Swornik, Rhine- lander, Wis., that he was a German spy fell upon unheedinz ears until a federal officer from Madison dropped in on him, heard his stories and arrest- ed him. .. Today an order for his in- ternment arrived from Washington. ‘Helmuth Toepper, Darlington, Wis. also was arresttd and ordere in- terned. VICE ADMIRAL WEMYSS SUCCEEDS ADMI*AL‘ JELLICOE The Latter Has Been Elevated to the *Peerage For Good Work. "~ - London, Dec. 26—Viee Admiral Sjr Rosslyn Wemyss- has been “appoints first sea lord in succession to Admiral! Sir John R.. Jelllcoe, -aécording to an officfal announcement issued this.ev- ening. > - Admiral Jellicoe has ‘been elevated to the peerage Jn recognition of 'his very distinguished services. The hope is expressed that his experfence may be utilized later In another fmport- ant post. o et e 200-TOTALLY BLINDED [ BY HALIFAX EXPLOSION 'The Majority of Them Are Young 1 " ‘Women and Children. | Halifax, N. S, Dec. 26.—The esti- mate” that five hundred men, women and children had become ' totally or partially blind as a result of the re- cent explosion and fire, is proving At least two hundred will to_give groimnd. ! re- | TEN PAGES—70 COLS. Condensed Telegrams The loss of property at Halifax is estimated at $50 000 000. Boston ranks - first in the eastern division for enlistments. Greece wants her citizens United States to enlist in the can army. in the Ameri- The Christmas mail that passed through the Boston central postoffice was 4,000 tons. with at A British transport loaded wounded Canadian soldiers arrived an Atlantic port. The names of one American killed and one wounded appeared on the Ca- nadian casualty li: Washnigton hotel proprietors advis- U.S.Menin France Lack_!iqyipmem ENOUGH FOR TRAINING, THOUGH NOT FOR FIGHTING MAJ.-GEN. O’RYAN SAYS | Told Senate Military Committee That the Need of the War is Artillery and Clothing of Heawier Quality. ! ed guests that all lights must be turned out at midnight. Four hundred enlisted men at Camp Wheeler, Ga.. left the camp for the holidays without permission Forty prisoners of the New reformatory were released to { their homes over the holidays, ! Major Arthur Brice de Saulles, the | father of Jack Longer de Saules, dicd from grief over the death of his son. The trusteces of the First church of Mount Vernon N. started a coal conservation movement. All private homes heated by hot water, steam or vapor plants, in Washington, will be restricted to soft coal. Secretaries Baker and Daniels sent Christmas greeting to the fighting forces on land and sea and to their families. ned officers and two forces in Two commis: sergeants of the American accident. The work that women may do during the war was outlined by officials of the on Labor. One man was killed and nine oth- ers were seriously injured in a wreck ! between two electric cars five miles |east of Canton, O. San Marco church, Venice in com- memoration for the delivery of Jerus: lem from the Turks. Arthur M. Harris, Vice President of the firm of Harris Forbes & C bankers. will leave for France soon as Y. M. C. A. secretary. A price to be paid by the government for sil'/r in -agreement with producers has been agreed upon and will be announced soon. . Vilhjalmur Stefanssen, the Arcti, explorer, last heard from in a letter received in March 1916 ,has arrived .with -his party at Fort Yukon. The supreme court of New Hamp- shire refused a new trial to Frederick L. Small. awaiting execution on Jan- uary 15 for the murder of his wife. The London War Office announced that 7,000 Canadian troops had been granted war crosses for bravery. Nine- | teen- men were granted the Victoria | Cross. Rev. Michael O’Kane, 8. J., form- er president of Holy Cross College and since 1914 rector of the Church of the Jesu in Philadelphia, died in Worcester, Mass. Orders were issued that no new war contracts shall be placed in Buffalo before the war industries board certifies trere is power sufficient for the man- ufacture. A lifeboat from the American steam- er Tuscarora believed to have been lost with all hands was picked up by the light keeper on- St. Paul's Island, Nova Scotia. i -~ {_ The “American Poets’ Ambulance in Ttaly” announced that it had success- fully accomplished its purpose and said that the accounts would be audit- ed in January The Interstate Commerce Commis- sion ordered reductions ranging from two to four per cent. in class and commodity rates from the eas: to Michigan points. The New York Board of Education will consider the recommendation that Miss Fanny Ross a school teacher. be suspended for six months for spoken opposition to the draft. Robert U. Grannis, formerly vice president of the Mutual Life TInsur- ance Company and secretary of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, died at Morristown, N. J. General Pershing reported that Pri- vate Andrew Oubuchon, engineers, was accidentally killed in Francé Decem- ber 22. Aubuchon’s mother, _Mrs. Theodore Aubuchon, lives at Bonne Terre, Mo. A crowded trolley car jumped the track near Spencer Center, Mass., Mondav night. skidded across the street and re{~d over on its side against a bank seriously injuring. nine people #and slightly injuring, seven. The first production of “Asora,” on American opera by Henry Hadley, text by David Stevens, was given at Chi- cago last night by the Chicago Grand Opera. company, the composer conduct- ing. The cast was entirely American. The American expeditionary force in Frarce wishes to .discourage the budding practice of American women in “adopting” individual soldiers in Franee for the period of the war. The ‘practice threatens to choke the .con- gested mail service, A letter declaring nine bombs had been placed in the executive mansion. capitol building police. station "and residences of “two head officers of the state” in Sacramento, has .been re- ceived by the governor of Caliefrnia. The writer demanded $50,000. President Sanfuentes of Chile denied that there was any foundation for the statement of Count Von Luxburg. in his @espatches to.Berlin that Chile was to be drawn into an alliance with Argentina and Bolivia for the pur- pose of forming a.South American pokitical bloc opposed to the war poli- cy of the United States. A Parls_telegram _announces the death, at the age of %5 years, of Fath- She Aswamptionis Fathers-and Toung: ptio: - er of the newsnaver La Craix. i % | France were injured in an automobile | New England section of the Committee | A memorial mass was celebrated in | western | Dec th thou 26—-First hand in- pment and | % men in i . ir i umps was | given the senate -ommittee by « n com- cral guard h, Spart- turned from iy Wethout i tour | Immed | Ber | comm 2ps Red Tape. stand the investiga- Christn war de- that im- e tuken without re- mental routine to sup- s of winter clothing to men in the camps. The action was | based upon late reports reaching the | committee as well as upon evidence heard last week. General O’'Ryan’s Testimony. Most of General O’Rivan’s testimeny, | particularly that referiing to condi- tions at the front. was heard in exec- utive session. He was questioned for three hours with the doors closed, but the public was given an opportunity to hear him for an howr during which he discussed chiefly the situation at home. General O’'Ryan said his men were ade- quately equipped for training. though | not for fighting - and that he would like to see them have two more months be- {fore they went to the front. He told the committee that the great need of | the war was artillery and recommend- | ed that the troops abroad be supplied | with winer clothing of heavier quality. | Major Generals William Wright and | Edwin St. John Greble, commanders at Camp Doniphan. Oklahoma, and Bowie Texas. respectively, who also have | been abroad. will testify tomorrow if théy reach Washington in time. Oth- erwise the committee will proceed with the exam‘nation of Major = General | Sharpe, quartermaster general, in the inquiry into the clothing, cantonment | and transportation. Mrs. Humiston Told to Send Written Statement. Mrs. Grace Humiston. of New York, i who has investigated social conditions at-some of the training camps and whose statements were denounced by ker, conterred today with Chairman Chamberiain, who told her to send in a written statement if she had any informa to give the com- mittee. 2 a re ster urging | | ply deficienci NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE EWBAN SUGAR CROP Have Been Virtually Completed—it is Estimated at 3,600,000 Ton New 'York. Dec. 26.—Negotiations for the purchase of a large part of the Cuban sugar erop, just now being harvested and amounted and amount- ing to an estimated 3,600,000,000 tons, for theruse of the United States and its allies, have been virtually completed by the International Committee and the Cuban committee appointed by Presi- dent Menocal of Cuba, it was an- nounced here today. The price was said to be $4.60 a hundred pounds, F. O. B. Cuba. P o NO MASKING AT NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS To Forestall German Agents Getting About the City Under Disguise. New Orleans, La., Dec. 26—Public masking, heretofore a prominent fea- | ture of the last day of the Mardi Gras carnival, will not be permitted next year, Mayor Behrman announced to- night, to remove possibility of “seri- ous trouble which might occur were agents of the German government permitted to get about the city under disguise.” Shortly after the United States en- tered the war it was decided to give up carnival balls and parades. 15,000 IRON WORKERS IN SAN FRANCISCO WALK CUT All Engaged Industries Other Than Shipbuilding. San Francisco, Dec. 26.—Practically all of the 15,000 iron workers affected by the strike ultimatum of the iron trades council, dsking a ten per cent. wage bonus, had walked out of the 250 foundries and plants in the San Francico Bay region, engaged in in- dustries other than shipbuilding -by noon today, according to announce- ment of the-California Metal Trades Association. NAVY AND MARINE CORPS 1S OPEN TO DRAFT MEN Provided They Are Not Needed to Fill_ 16 Per Cent. Quota. Hartford, Conn. Dec. 26.—A tele- gram was received by Governor Hol- comb from Provost Marshal General Crowder today stating .that men in Connecticut called under the draft would be allowed to enlist in the navy or marine corps until further notice provided that their local exemntiem boards certificd that they were not needed to complete the 15 per cent quota’ now being filled OBITUARY. / Henry A. Eastman. Middletown Dec. 26—Henry A. Eastman, a veteran of the Civil war and three times a member of the Con- necticut legislature, is dead at the home of his ‘son heére. He .was 77 years of age and served as a Heutenant in Company B, Connecticut Tnfantry, nnd rer ‘Ashford in the legislatures of 1 1913 and Colchester in 1886, George Alvah Kittredge. Brookline, Mass,, Dec. 26—George Alvah Kittredge, a pioneer in the op- eration of street railways in India, died et his home here’ today, aged 84 years. Mr. Kittredge lived in Bombay for more than balf a century, going there as a representative of consular inter- ests as soon as he graduated from