Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, December 28, 1917, Page 1

VOL. LIX.—NO. 311 POPULATION 29,919 , CONN., FRIDAY; DECEMBER 28, 1917 GERMANS FAIL TO BREAK FRENCH LINE Two Assaults Delivered Near Verdun Were Repulsed With Heavy Loss to Attacking Forces ~ INFANTRY FORCES IN ITALY ARE INACTIVE Austro-German Al Squadrons in an Attempt to Bomb Ve- netian Plain Towns Lost Eleven Planes in Spectacular Aerial Battles With British and French Aviators—Teu- tonic Peace Terms Made Know to Russians Are Such - be Considered by the United States ' ies— Three Hundred Members of the Wnority Socialist Party Were Armrested in Va- rious Cities in Germany Christmas Eve—In Russia Fighting Between the Revolutionary Parties Continues at Several Points. —_— Once again the Germans have en- deavored to break the French front on the Verdun sector, but again have falled. Two assaults delivered north of the Caurieres Wood resulted in the defeat of the ememy and the infliction of heavy casualties. The Germans at ome point succeeded in penetrating a French front line trench, but were immediately efected. On_the northern Italian front there has been an abatement in the artil- lery activity between the Asiago pla- tean and the Brenta river, but the in- tense duels between the Brenta and Piave continue. The infantry forces of the belligerents are virtually inac- Austro-German air squadrons at- tempting to bomb the Venetian plain towns of Treviso and Monte Bellu st suffered the loss of eldven planes in spectacular aerial battles with British end Italian aviators. Over Treviso twenty-five enemy machines were at- tackeqd and forced to flee with a loss of eight planes, while later a squad- rom of eight Austro-Germans in a fight over Monte Belluno lost three ma- chines. All the British and Italian aircraft returned safely to their bases. Little damage was done by the bombs by 2y e ier WHin “ihe Teutonic alties would be willing to make “an immediats and general peace” have been made known to the Russian del- egates engaged In the peace pourpari- ers at Brest Litovsk. The terms have heen set forth in an address by Count Czernin, the Austro-Hungarian foreign minister. As in previous Teutonic intimations of what will be required from the Germanic viewpoint to bring about a cessation of hostilities and eventual peace, the latest terms are hedged wbout by conditions which seemingly are insuperable from the standpomt of the United States and the entente alltes. = The basic principles of the peace terms of the Russian revolutionary masses—no annexations and no in- demnities—Count Czernin said he be- lieved could be made the basis of a general peace, but that tho Teutonic allies could not bind themselves to these conditions unless a _guarantée were given that Russia’s allies would recognize and fulflll them. Notable omissions in the statement of Count Czernin connected with the concrete demands of the United States, Great Britain and France, as already made known, are the questions partic- ularly of the rebuilding of Belgium and Serbia, the return of Alsace and Lorraine to France and the overthrow of the militaristic government in Ger- many and the formation in its piace of a government that can be believed —the latter demand as set forth by President Wilson in his address to congress calling for war with Aus- tria-Hungary. Pending the placing of Count Czer- nin's_proposals before Russia’s allies, the Russian delegates to the peace conference have asked for a ten days' recess in the negotiations at Brest Litovsk. Within the Russian empire fighting between the revolutionary elements continues at several points, while the, itroops at Harbin, Manchu- ve been defeated in battle by the Chinese, who captured the garri- son. Apparently distrustful of the Rumanians, forces, who are opposed to the Bolsheviki, have oe cupied several Rumanian ~divisional headquarters on the battle fropt. dis- arming those of the Rumanians who offered resistance. An indication that things in Ger- many are not going in accordance with the German government’s desires is the report that more than three hundred members of the German mi- nority socialist party were arrested in numerous cities Christmas eve. This branch of the socialists long has de- sired peace and refused to acquiesce in the government's war programme. GERMAN SHIP LANDS SUPPLIES IN BRAZIL. They Are Believed to Be for a Sub- marine Base. * Buenos Aires, Dec. 27.—Brazilian papers received here today are filled with sunts of the movements of a German corsair off the Brazilian coast a few weeks ago. The newspapers assert that the mysterious vessel was identified as a German and that it un- loaded an immense cargo of heavy cases at Cerqueira and Armacao. Sev- eral days later the steamer recurned to Armacao with additiopal cargo which the newspaper accouuts say it is belicved she reccived from a larger ship out of sight of land. From Ar- macao the vessel proceeded to Calou- ro, where another portion of the cargo was unloaded. These ports arc not guarded and it is asscrted tho: the cargoes landed were myster: y smuggled away. Later the Ge:: .n vessel was sighted close to shore at San Pedro De Al- dera, where two persons are now un- der arrest as a result of their relations with the crew. They are charged with being spi The newspapers say the steamer disappeared as mysteriously as ehe came and that Brazilians believe ‘she brought supplies for a submarine base. CAMP DEVENS PREPARING FOR A COURTMARTIAL OF 200 National Army Men Who Left Cantonment Without Permission. Ayer, Mass, Dec. 27.—Preparations were being made at Camp Devens tt day for the courtmartial proceedings against the 200 national army men who left the cantonment without per— mission when the curtailment of the Christmas furlough program was an- nounced. Divisional officers asserted that all the men would face a serious charge, but explainell that it had not been de- termined whether the charge would be absence without leave or the graver accusation of disobedience of orders. GERMAN CONSPIRATORS ARRESTED IN BRAZIL. They Had Plotted to Overthrow Local Government of Florianopo Buenos Alres, Dec. 27.—Despatches received here from _ Florianopolis, Brazil, say that a large number of German conspirators have been arrest- ed following the discovery of a plot 1o overthrow the local authorities. All the Germans were armed. They had been meeting at various times un- der the pretext that they were mem- bere of a German society. Florianopolis is on the coast of, ?-- B?;u, in t.:e Santa Catha-~ state. The town has a population 20,000, CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. Louis Davidson Arrested for Theft of 350 Bolts of Uniform Cloth. New York, Dec. 27.—Louis Davidson, proprietor of a cloth shrinking and re- finishing works in this city, was lock- ed up in the Tombs prison tonight on a charge of embezzling government property. The arrest was made in connection with the disappearance of 350 bolts of olive drab uniform cloth, valued at $50.000, which for several months had puzzied the quartermas- ter’s department of the ermy. Davidson was _arrested, Assistant United States District Attorney Knox said, after information had been re- ceived that he had sold 100 bolts of the cloth below the cost price. The cloth, Mr. Knox eaid, was shipped di- rect from the mills or sent from army warehouses to Davidson’s establish- ment for sponging and shrinkins. The government pavs about $3 olive drab cloth. b DRAFTED MEN WILL NOT BE CALLED UNTIF REB. 15 Word Has Been Sent to Gov. Holcomb Through War Department. Hartford, Conn., Dec. 27.—Word was sent to Governor lolcomb today through the war department that there would be no new call for another auota of drafted men until February 15, 1918. It was announced that enough men have heen examined and passed in the state to take care of all require- ments until that time and when the next call comes it will take those who are eligibls under the questionnaire system now in force. THEFT FROM BOARDING | HOUSE AT HARTFORD More Than $2,000 Taken—A Former Boarder Suspected. Hartford, Conn., Dec. 27.—The theft of more than $2,000 from one boarding house was reported to the police here tonight. The vcitims of the robbery were_ePter Gerneda, who lost $1,962, and John Lutkienscz, $300, and Harry ‘Wilgocki, $100. All were boarders at a Shelton Street house and a former boarder there who has disaj is Ay ppeared CRITICISM OF THE SYSTEM OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT Was Renewed by Members of the Sen- ate Military Committee Yesterday. Washington, Deec. 27.—Criticism of the system of the war department and council of national defense in securing ciothing and other eupplies for the bers” of the ‘sensts miliary commitics rs o today during further examination of Major Gene harpe, quartermaster Feneral T » Cabled Paragraphs Christmas Mail Arrives in France. Paris, Dec. 27—Four icarloads of Christmas mail which arrived at a French port from the United States were forwarded today for delivery at the headquarters of the regimental units of the American expeditionary forces. WOODEN SHIP PROGRAM CALLED A FAILURE By F. A. Bowles, Assistant Manager of Emergency Fleet Corporation. ‘Washington, Dec. 27.—The shipping board’'s wooden ship _progtam was flatly calle a failjre today by F. A. Bowles, former naval constructor dad now assistant to the general manager the board’s emergency fleet corpora- tion. Summoned before the senate commerce committee to shed light on the causes of delays in building ships, Mr. Bowles said the wooden construc- tion venture was a mistake and never should have been attempted. The program cannot be completed in time, he told the committee, because the country cannot furnish enough ship timber, the 458 awarded contracts calling for more lumber than is rep- resented in the entire output of south- ern pine producers for a year. Most of them were placed in the east and south and specify pine timbers. “The wooden rogram,” eaid Ad- miral Bowles, “was launched on a scale entirely beyvond the country's production. Mills in the south have not delivered lumber one-half as fast as was necessary and western mills have been almost as slow. Even if the timber supply had been plentiful, wooden ships could not have been built as fast as steel. NEGROES IN UNITED STATES OWN 20,000,000 ACRES OF LAND As Well as Other Property Valued at a Billion Dollars. New York, Dec. 27.—Negroes in the United States own approximately 20.- 000,000 acres of land or an area equal- ing the combined area of Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, a5 well as other prop- erty valued at $1,000,000,000, according to Moorfield Storey, president of the National Association for the Adyance- ment of Colored Peoples, who address- ed a conference of the association here tonight. The war has given the nesro an op- portunity to fight for his country, Mr. Storey continued, and the conduct of the black man on the battlefield will prove of great benefit to the race. EXPORTS OF SUGAR FOR OCTOBER 113,241,000 POUNDS. Nearly 10,000000 Pounds More Than the Same Month Last Yea: ‘Washington, Dec. 27.—Sugar exports from the United States last October showed an increase of nearly 10,000,000 DPounds over the same month last year. France and England received the bulk of the shipments of 113,241,000 pounds, the former getting 73,000,000 pounds to reHeve a virtual famine there, and the latter. 22,000,000 pounds. Sixty million pounds went to the Nether- lands, 5,000,000 to Argentina and al- most as large a quantity to Mexico. ‘While gold exports for the month showed a considerable decrease as compared with the same month in 1916, a new movement of the metal, this’ time to Peru, was shown by an analysis of October expérts made pub- lic today by the bureau of foreign and domestic commerce. NATION-WIDE SURVEY > OF FOOD SUPPLIES Will Include a Store to Store Canvass In 41 Counties in 31 States. ‘Washington, Dec. 27.—Forty-one counties in thirty-one states and New York city have been selected by the bureau of markets for intensive tore to store canvass as a part of the na- tion-wide survey to be made December 31 by the bureau in co-operation with state and local agencies. All retail dealers in groceries, meat, flour and feed in the territory will be asked to fill out blanks showing how gnuch food they have on hand on the day of the survey. The results from this store to store canvass, the bureau announced today, will be used in checking up returns to be received by mail from all dealers. manufacturers and holders of food- stuffs in all other sections of the country. T. P. O'CONNOR RECEIVED CABLE FROM REDMOND Acknowledgeing $50,000 From America For Nationalist Party in Ireland. Chicago, Dec. 27.—T. P. O’Connor to- day received from John Redmond, M. P. leader of the Irish Nationalist party in the British parliament, a cable acknowledgment of $50,000 sent from America as the first installment of the fund now being raised in the United States to help the constitutional Na- tionalist party in Ireland in its strug- gle against pro-German and extremist propaganda. ¥ In his cablegram Mr. Redmond ex- pressed gratitude for this valuable support from America and congratu- lated T. P. O'Connor on the success of hi smission. CITIZENS OF OLD LYME HAVE WOOD CUTTING BEE New Haven, Conn., Dec. 27.—State Forester Walter O. ¥illey returned to New Haven from Old Lyme tonight, where he had viewed the first war time wood cutting bee undertaken in this state in the interest of fuel conserva- tion. Forester Filley reported that six- ty citizens of Old Lyme, including. clergymen, lawyers, town officials and prominent residents, sawed, cut and piled about fifty cords of wood to save coal. Other places in the state are to have similar bees. CHICAGO IS TO HAVE A LARGE FOOD SHOW, Under the Auspices of the Illinois State Council of Defense—Jan. 3 to 15. ‘Washington, Dec. 27.—The largest food show ever held in the United States will take place in Chicago Jan. € o s Tmact 7 Sl o T B e e Toog samininaon 5 lucatios its will include all frigerating processes, Upward Trend of Securities RESULTS FROM GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF RAILROADS INVESTORS PLEASED Advance Was One of the Most Sen- sational in Years—Orders to Buy Poured In, From All Over the Coun- try to Wall Street. New York, Dec. 27.—Wall street ex- pressed unqualified endorsement of President Wilson's plan for the gov- ernment to run the railroads by a sweeping advance today in the securi- ties market. The upturn was one of the most sensational seen in years. The assurances of net earnings and of the maintenance of railroad properties were the factors of the government program which pleased investors and dealers in stocks and bonds. The pessimism of the last few months over the railroad outlook gave way to enthusiasm when the rather unexpected news from Washington was read in this morning’s papers. Orders to buy poured into brokers’ offices from all over the country and the market was primed for a big ad- vance long before it opened. Railroad Shares Gained. Railroad shares. especially those un- der greatest depression in the wide- spread decline of recent months, re- covered extreme gains of five to ten points in the representative group, 12 to 18 points in the less active divi- dend issues and three to thirteen poinis in numerous non-dividend stocks, in- cluding several not long out of their reorganization stage. The bond market for rails kept pace with the movement on stocks, various underlying or junior bonds advancing 3 to 8 1-2 points. Greatest gains in the bond list were made by the coal- ers, notably Eries, with substantial improvement in the convertible issues of eecondary western and southwestern roads, including grangers and cotton carriers. Every Line of Trade Stimulated. Industrials and the’ many related stocks which figure in daily market dealings were ignored in the first up- swing of prices, but were taken up vigorously later, on the theory that every line of trade will be stimulated by_the upbuilding of the railroads. Utilities also benefited by the scope of the administration’s program, which removes them from their doubt- ful status, and Canadian _securities gained five to eight points on the i creased rates to be granted to rail- roads operating in the Dominion. Heavy Covering —oF Shorts. The only clement adversely affectsd by the day’s impressive advance was the short interest, or “bears” as they are technically designated. There was heavy covering of short sales which have continued despite the restrictive measures adopted by the stock ex- change. Profit taking was comitant of the movement. but this had no appreciable effect, leading stocks holding within one to two points of their best at the less active :lose. Total sales approxXimated 1,209,000 shares. the largest turnover on the bull side since the early months of the year. Conservative banking interests hesi- tated to express an opinion. regarding the task ahead of the government. be- cause of the many new and difficult problems involved. They saw encaur- agement, however, for the financial sit- uation in the plan to assure earnings and maintain railroad properties. THIRTY JEWISH MEN AND WOMEN EXECUTED By the Turkish Army That Surrender- ed Jerusalem to the British. a natural con- New York, Dec. 27.—Thirty Jewish men and women were executed by the Turkish army that surrendered Jerusa- lem to General Allenby December 10, according to an announcement made here today by the provisional execu- tive committee for General Zionist af- fairs. Including in the number mas- sacred were some of the most prominent residents of the holy city and its suburbs, it was stated. . The retreat of the Turks through Galilee drove 12000 Jewish survivors northward, where they are in dire need. The committee has undertaken to furnish a minimum of $30 000 monthly for their relief, it was stated. AN AGREEMENT MADE TO RATION SWITZERLAND. Announcement Made by the War Trade Board Last Night. ‘Washington, Dec. 27.—The war trade board in an announcement tonight confirmed despatches from abroad tell- ing ef an dgreement to ration Switzer- land and gave the rules of procedure for exporters to follow in making ship- ‘ments. No detalls of the agreement were given, but it is known it fixes the amount of foodstuffs the United States will ship to Switzerland in return for assurances that none of the shipments will_be permitted to go through to Germany. EARTHQUAKE GENERAL THROUGHOUT GUATEMALA In Guatamala City Ten to Forty Per- sons Were Killed—Extensive Prop- erty Damage. GENERAL COURTMARTIAL FOR LIEUT J. W. SPAULDING ! Wednesday. U.S. Gavalrymen Kill 18 Mexicans BANDITS WHO RAIDED CANDE- LARIA CHRISTMAS DAY WOUNDED A NUMBER One Troops Pursued the Miles Into the Mountains of Mex- ico. Amei Wounded—American Ten an Outlaws Marfa, Tex., Dec. 27—Eighteen of the Mexicans who raided Candelaria, on Christmas morning, were killed and a number wounded when American €av- alry under Colonel George T. Lang- horne, overtook the bandits on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande early today. One American soldier was wounded tut will recover. Many of the horses stolen were recovered. After pursuing the Mexican bandits for a distance of ten miles into thc mountains of Mexico, the Americar troops recrossed the Rio Grande to American_territory at noon today and made a_complete report to Colonel George T. Langhorne of the expedion across the border. Report of Commander. Captain _ Fiske, commanding the troops which pursued the bandits into Mexico, made the following report to Colonel Langkorne, commanding offi- cer here, who directed the pursuit un- til the troops got beyond communica- tion: ked Up Hot Trail. “We picked up a hot trail made by the PBrite's ranch raiders about seven miles from EI Comodor at 11 a. m. This trail led across the river at Los Fresnos ford. Four horses were found abandoned on the trail be- fore we crossed. We followed the raiders around a point of the Slerra De Las Ventanas mountain range and toward the Sierra De La Hilares. At 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon we en- gaged about fifteen of the bandits at a point four miles south of the Rio Grande. We kept up a running fisht for ten miles, killing ten of the fifteen bandits. The remaining five escaped into a canvon of the Sierra De Las Hilares. Horses Were Exhausted. “I ordered ten of my men to stri to their saddles and sent them in pus suit through the box canvon But our horses were so exhausted that the men were unable to overtake the bandits, who scattered into the mountains like quail. The detachment returned after dark last night and we then doubled back to the river. We brought con- siderable property that had been stolen from. the Brite store. consisting of food, clothing and ammunition. One horse bearing the Brite brand. found ‘shot and another han bee abandonetl. We had one man woun ed, Private John F. Kelly, and two pack mules killed.” After a careful check of the num- ber of Mexicans killed by American troops and ranchers following the Brite Ranch raid, it was officially annaquneed tonight that eighteen bandits had bisn killed by actual count. How many more crawled off in the desert under- growth to die of their wounds cannot- be ascertained. The number of wound- ed is impossible to estimate as they weer carried away or hidden in the rim rock country. Tonight Colonel Langhorne jssued an order complimenting all soldiers and officers who participated in the pur- suit for their efficient and untiring work, and the civillans who furnished their automobiles to transport troops to the rim rock field base during the bandit chase. FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING REPORTS That Raids Are Being Ins d by German Agents and American Slackers El Paso, Texas, Dec. 2T.—Federn1 of- ficiels' tonight began an investigation of reports that the Mexican bandit raids into the Big Bend district of Texas, were being inspired by Ger- mans now operating south of the bor- der in conjunction with American draft evaders. CITED FOR GALLANTRY IN FRENCH ARMY ORDERS. Lieut. Frank M. Post, Jr, and Private Frank A. Ross of U. S. Forces. ‘Washington, Dec. M. Post, Jr., 37.—Lieut. Frank and Private Frank A. Rose of the American expeditionary ! forces have been cited for gallantry | in French army orders. Letters of commendation written them by Gen- eral Pershing’s chief of staff were made public tonight by the war de- partment. Lieutenant Post, son of Mrs. Price Post of Tuxedo Park, N. X.. during a flight at the aviation school at Pau, found his machine breaking into flames but managtd to make a safe landhg and rescue his instruments. Private Ross, a nephew of Charles Cooper of Brooklyn, N. Y., distinguish- ed himself by courage under fire dur- ing a recent bombardment. He was gassed, necessitating his removal to a hospital. < TRADING IN CORN STOPPED AT CHICAGO By the Board of Directors of ,the Board of Trade. Dee. 27.—AH It was explained that the action of board wae.merely to clear up ex- contracts, as trading in Decem- ber corn virtually ceased sixty E? G S R CHINESE DEFEAT RUSSIANS AT HARBIN, MANCHURIA Maxmalist Troops Were Disarmed and _ Made Prisoner. ‘Tokio, Dec. 27.—In a fight between at _Harbin, ed 3 “here from Har- Potatoes are three cents a pound in New Y Men for the bugle and drum corps for { the Ninth Coast Artiliery of New York are needed. Four thousand tons of Swedish sugar were distributed to the American io- finers’ committee. Frank Bernes, ased 33, hanged him- at > to the budpost in | roem, using a belt. i Mexico extended her excmption on import duties on motor cars and truc] until June 20. 1918 W. W. Blackwell, former supreme chincellor of the Knights of P’ythias, is dead, of paralysi Numerous incendiary fires occurring among the sgranaries in Argentini harbors were reported. Co-operation of Japan with her al- lies in the war to the fuilest extent was pledged by Emperor Yoshihito. Gordon Mott, of the Royal Flying Corps of Canada, was kilied at be brook Field, Fort Worth, Texa Robert D. Steele, retired Pennsyl- vania Railroad official, died Christmas Day of congestion of the lungs. A pouch containing $50,000 sent by { the federal reserve bank of Richmond to Columbia, S. C. disappeared in transit. The French Chamber of Deputies adopted a resolution extending until the end of the war all elective officials in France. Elevéns Austro-German airplanes have been brought down by the Brit- ish and Italian forces in a big air bat- tle in Italy. Through the activities of the Dol- | lar Christrmas JFund for Destitute | Children 200 (00 Belgian children were made happy. | Dr. James R. Brock, Trenton, Ga. deputy warden at the Atlanta federal penitentiary, was killed by Dimitre Popoff, a prisoner. Provost Marshal Genaral Crowder sent out a call to the governors of the states for 1,000 bricklayers for General Pershing in Fran The New York Railways announced that if teamsters 1~ keep their wagons off the trolley rails many ac- cidents will be averted. According to Federal officials the| German spy system in the LUnited| States is being headed by a wdman, designated only as “H | Funeral services for Senator New- lands were held in Washington. President Wilson headed a distinguish- ed gathering which attended. Inveatigation of the railroad situa- | tion under the Cummins resolution will begin before -the--'Senate - interstate ommerce Committee tomorrow. Secretary of Labor Wilson is il from overwork, on his long trips through the West. settling strike dis- putes and other labor uprisings. Thomas W. Lamont, of J. P. & Co.. who returncd from incee | Tuesday, declared the United Stat. ! must prepare for three years of wai Torgan | ) A Spanish steamer arrived with her | four American gunners which were | aboard the Actcon when she was tor- pedoed off the Spanish coast on Nov. 24, Attorney General Hon. Sir Frederick | Bdwin Smith is in the United States | to urge all British subjects of military age, be conscripted for the British army. L. J. Cohen, 50 years o!d, a mill- inonaire steel rafl man_was killed, and his partner, William Lewis, was in- jured in an automobile accident at St. Louis. Thomas G. Patton, postmaster of New York: announced that many mag- azines and newspapers bein gsent to soldiers are out of date and fit only for a rag man. The Interstate Commerce Commis- sion refused the request of the Penn- sylvania Railroad authority to run more passenger trains from New York to Washington. The Anti-Saloon League York announced it had gompleted ar- rangements for a “conderted discus- sion” of the liquor question by more than 5,000 pastors. in New | Charles M. Schwab, in order to help | conserve the transportation facilities | of the country, has placed his private car Loretta in storage and will travel in regular cars from now on. Passengers arriving in America from Russia on board a Norwegian vessel declare there are so many revolutions and counter-revolutions in progress that it is impossible to keep count of them. A letter demanding that $50,000 be placed in a “rock pile” at Oakland, Cal. or the executive mansion and other public buildings will be blown up. was sent to the governor of Cali- fornia. 2 The Immediate Result Will be Shortest Lines, Regardless Shipments Origmate—Co Washington, Dec. 27.—Soon American_raiiroads go unde: ment operation at noon tomc after zovern- row, I rector General McAdoo will issué his first official order wiping out competi- { tive conditions and providing for com- plete pooling of traflic, eq; terminals ana trackage fasilit for the retention of pres and employes. Re-Routing of Traffic. pment, The immediate result will be a routing of traffic over shurte irezardless of the company with w! shipments originate and the common use of terminals to effect maximum ciency. Without anticipating wo ders under the new plan, cflicials look forward to material improvement in the present traffic congestion within a few weeks. Speedy Movement of Freight. Speedy movement of freizht will he the firsi aim of the di r-zeneral. ‘ut problems whose -solution must rress close on the heels of actual transportation questions are the equit- able reimbursement of roads for the use of their *property on the basis of pre-war earnings, increased waszes for railroad employes, financing of neces- sary improvements, building of addi- tional most railway emploves would not be liable to the next or ever ond draft call by belfig: placed I tie second araft classification. Statement by McAdoo. Mr. McAdoo tonizht made his first public utterance since his appoint ment last night, in a siatement, say- ing that at least until he has time to mature his plans and policies, railroia operation “will be conducted through existing railroad organization.” “This new task is of great masni- tude and difficulty,” said Mr. McAdoo, “It cannot be done in a moment, and it cannot be done at all unless the people of the United States as well as_the officers and employes of the railroads, give to the railroad director their intellizent and patriotic supnort. I earnesily seek the eo-operation an assistance of every good citizen I this great work. OUnification is Essential. “The operation of the railroads as a thoroughly unifled system is of fun- damental importance to the success of the war. Without it, we cannot get the effective use of our resources. The Supreme test in this war wili prob- ably come in the year 1918 Victory. will depend upon our speed and effi- ciency. We can get neither speed nor efficiency unless the railroads are equal to the demands of the situation. *“I can only sav at the moment tha the problem will be taken hold of vig- orously and that plans and policies will be announced from time to time as rapidly as it is possible to mature them. Mearwhile the business will be conducted through existing rail- road orzanizations with ali the sup- port and power of the government as- serted in behalf of more efficicnt and satisfacto operation. irector zeneral of railroads, ation of the interstate Com-.} has accepted of- Commerce has merce Commission, fices in the Interstate building. The commi n placed at the disposal the entire work and facilities of the commission.” also Lovett Will Be Retained. It is considered probable that Mr. McAdoo will ‘retain the Judge Robert S. Lovett, priority for the war industries board, with whom he conferred at length to- nizht, and that railroads will be in- structed to continue to receive orders from “that source. ~Another priority question to be settled soon is that of co-ordinating the preferential ship- ment instructions now issued by the fuel and food administrations and ar- my quartermasters through a single The Argentine government an- nounced that the congress of the néu- tral Latin-American nations had been postponed until April. This congress, it was reported several weeks agd; was to have been convened in January. The .necessity for co-ordination and co-operation in soldiers’ and sailors’ welfare in New York city will be dis- cussed at a meeting in the aldermanic chamber of members of various org- anizations now engaged in that work. The governors of the New England states were invited by the Town Criers’ Association of Rhode Island: to attend a reception in Providence to Governor Teturned from the Buropean t. ARMY TRUCKS HAD A COLD, ROUGH TRIP Over the Alleghanies and Blueridge Montains. Westminster, Md., Dec. 27—After a cold, rough trip over the Alleghanies and the Blue Ridgé Mountains r government transportation director to supervise only government shipments. The director general's advisors have recommended creation of such ap ment railroad _administration must Justity itself immediately by providins for speediar transportation of coal. Mr. MAdoo is known to have given se-, rious thought to the coal situation, and to have received sugzestions that a representative of the fuel administra- tion be included in his stafr. Not to Ask an Appropriation. Mr. McAdoo does mot expect to ask an appropriation for administering government _operation, gnd his staff probably will be composed largely of men already on the government or raflroad payrolls. He will receive no additional salary for acting in the dual capacity of director general of rail- roads and secretary of the treasury. It is expected he also will retain the ser- vices of the raflroads’ committee which_has been administering the equiprient pool with headquarters at fPtisburgh. Wage Increase Will Be Considered. The pending demand of the four railway brotherhoods for a forty per cent. wage increase will be considered, PRESENT CFFICERS AND EMPLOYES RETAINE { pante: agency, emphasizing that the govern-} e Cut Compeiitive Conditions and Provid a Complete Posling - a Re-Routing of Traffic Over of the Company With Wh mmon Use of Terminals Wil be Made to Effect Maximum Efficiency—Officials Lock _Forward to Material Improvement in Traffic Conditions Within a Few Weeks—The Pending Demand of th Four Railway Brotherhoods for a Forty Per Cent. Wage Increase Will Receive Consideration. o his final ccnsider duction of high sa road presidents way to provide creases. If congress follows Pres son’s. recommendations c guarantes of carnings, it will obli ment to the extent o ayerage. earninzs of three vears ending ures compil way economics, an i show net op the_vear endi June $695,031,861 £1,005,182,7 for 1917, $1,05. Congress m of compensation 4 rate for the period of & eration, bnut it could ad to accent the.t v wouid have rec ~onsidered_the course is not roads. however. funds - for all Dividend Payments Subject to vision. Under the bill w drawn for presenta svould, be provided ti ongre: ceeding this basis government, for ture or as a specis improvements. T d be subject approval of the Ini Commission Roads would moke provements, under th vide for their own both would be under s pervision. The siz on securities issue be = to the Intersta sion’s approva would be limited per cent. and a_maximu cext. The president v ized to.buy on government account an or all future railroad bond most of which wonld be fo pro ditional eauipment or imnrovem and thus the necessa would be provided nancing of improvements. would automaticaliy Ment powsr fo regu'at and to prevent extraor necessary expenditures poses. On the other hand It to-be-Mr. McAdoo's intentic to construction of new. lines c tional tracks on_trunk lines proves desirable to rell Tha administration’s policies a line are expected to be vigorous extending lines wherever need efficiént. prosecution of the eco forres behira the war. Reports 4vere circulated tod tha.Jnfarstate Commerce Commissio ide to postpone Indefinite on of the fifteen per case, and other important t@ns. until it _can . be whether zovernment operation P - ascer Sult-in materially lowering atioh costs through elimination o competitive waste CONGRATULATED ON HEROISM . DISPLAYED BY HIS F.'J. Mcleaac of New York R bet ~ New “York, Dec president of the Gene Assoctation of this city "‘Ameérican officer in France congra lating him upon the ga by his son, Donald Meclsaac, graduate of Lehigh University With an American enginee ment on the western front. “I-want to write you a gratulation on the conduct o in .the recent conflict with mans” “the letter _said. here says that but for his heroism a that.af . the other engineers who W with him we might have had a fallback, but that he, Lieutenan Cloud and a few others ralli men and our allies d he Boches~—1 hear the allied comma probably will give special recognit 1o this galantry.” DRUG ‘ADDICTS CURED Tt ek o IN INSTITUTIONS Many.-So-Called Doctors Are Distributing Agents. Merely New York, Dec. 27.—Assl trict -Attorney Unger, who haa- more experienc with druf addicts than prosecuting attorney in States. testifie ney. joint. legislative _commit many agdicts who had been tak court and sent to institutions had b cured. T . Beverfing to the cures, Mr. Unger as more Rarm than good. in the 1 today before the V so-called pr erted t “At every session of this hearir probably ir: @ month or two, along with | which 1 _have attended” he said the more sweeping question of higher | have seen certain doctors who are co ‘wages for all those uporganized. or gen- erals advisors will suggest that board of managers be appointed threch ont memaeal wasa moatters for a employes, including | quéting fo-called cures. The direct: Many of ther ve-been convicted and many ould be. Most so-calle of these 0 ;docto¥s are nothing more or less than {distribnting asents for druzs.”