Newspaper Page Text
1. I . 1 ii 44 touch with President Wilson's peace plans for soinn limn, and It In nn open secret thnt Switzerland strongly favored the Idea of the rresldcnt uddlns; an appen dix to Ills reply to tho German note virtually endorsing It before transmitting It to the Kntente 1'owcih. Of course, the endorsement wns only to extend to the general desire for peM as exprerssed In the Uermmi docu ment and In no sense connected with such, terms of pcaco as Uermany may hope to attain. Officials here explain that tin direct Aftermath to the I'lesldenl's notes has tiot hcen at all ns he expected. He haH seen developments: so shapo themselves that thn I'ltlted Htates now in Ml of Itrelf stands In the position of urging the Kntcnto to accept Uermatiy's cen tral Idea. and discuss possible temw of licacc. The only dlfferrnco between the Herman nnd merkiiti pioiosls. accord Ir.g to Kntvntu diplomats, Is In method. Germany wants it pence conferen'e. The President wants terms outlined In a general way in advance. ( 1'reshlrnt'a Realisation. Ho nearly Identical In purpose, are thcao JWo nptea regarded that reports from abroad Hay It will ho unnecessary for the, Unlento to reply to the Herman proposal If they reply to the note of the United Htates, nr vice versa. A reply to the German note will he a rc)ly to the American note. Iloth tier many an the United Htates seek the urno alms. It Is said, and both will vet the samo answer If replies In duplicate are made In tho Kntente capitals. The President la now said to reallxe fully that to all Impartial observe the teal Import of hl not to the Kntente Is virtually the same as the Oermaii peace offer. Tula has been trlklngly empha sised 'by the Herman reply, which heart ily endorses the President's basic Idea but differs as (o method. Germany's arguments In support of tho peace conference Idea too arc caus ing concern here, because they appear to havo the backing of round logic which the IVesldent's suggestions, bclns vaKUe In form, necessarily have not. Tho Iterlln - oreten Office and Ambas sador CSerard are understood to be al reaUy engaged In an exchange of views concerning the respective merits of the German or American method Ger many emphasises the fact that It la en tirely Impracticable for fourteen nations to ssttlc Intricate questions of terms In open public discussion. Therefore Oer . many cannot Ixllevc thnt tho President can persist In hla request that Germany outline terms In a reply to the American note. Mr. Gerard Is necessarily placed In a position of distinct disadvantage In urg ing; support for the President's method because the obvious argument of Berlin sre difficult to answer. The trump card which Berlin Is In a position to play In this connection Is the obvious fact that Germany could make far more liberal terms to the Entente secretly' than would he possible other wise. It la pointed out, for example, that If the Imperial Government were to outline extremely' liberal terms there Would certainly be a wave of hostile feeling throughout the German empire. The prestige of Chancellor von Beth- mann-Hollwcg would suffer severely. It Is-polntcd out, ami ine ronowera 01 ex treme military measures. Including the backers of Von Tlrpltx und his ruthless submarine warfare, would gain greatly, even though nothing definite resulted from the German liberal concretions. Effect of Wilson's Nan. Berlin doea not believe President Wil son would Insist upon the pursuance of such a policy, even If It could be brought about by his Insistence. It would, It Is explained, be1 playing directly into the hands of the unfriendly or antl-Amerl-fn elements In Germany and embar rassing the supporters of a pro-American policy. Officials admit that there Is food for mature consideration In the German viewpoint. On the America side there Is no argument, it Is pointed out, except the vague statement that the President "desires to know the alms" of the bel ligerents. Germany, as explained In her note, regards the very vagueness of the President's Idea as giving good reason for her coming forward with practical suggestions. The next move rests with President Wilson. No one In authority will say to-night whether the German note will bring forth a reply. It Is expected that It will, however. The difficulty in framing n reply that will not seriously affect the present and future position of this Gov ernment In the eyes of the world Is one of the subjects which will give the Presi dent considerable trouble. Indications are that the President will let this perplexing problem remain dor mant for the present at least. He Is un derstood to hope that replies from the Entente may at the eleventh hour change the situation. The President also has the all Impor tant question of Miuaring accounts with Germany for violations of the U-boat Sledge before him, and there may nave een some connection between this and Mr. running's visit. Secretary Lansing declined to comment on his conference to-day except to say that he had taken up with the President matters pertaining to Htato Department business. ALLIES' TERMS FIXED. London "Times" Hays America lie serves Iletalls of Objects Desired. Special CatIt Httpalch to Tux Hex from the London Time. lxiNDOtf. Deo. 28, The Times com mcnts as follows editorially upon Ger many's unswer to the peace note of President Wilson: "The praises lavished upon this mas tsrplece of the Wllhematrasxe by the Gorman newspapers will hardly tend to assuage the feeling that these remarks exhibit. Some or them, like tho Koel niache Volktzeituna, which have haul. tually poured abuse upon the United BtntcH and President Wilson, have wheeled about with disciplined prompt Itudo nnd are now full of adulation. "The Allies aro necessarily and rightly taking time before making their answers to Germany's note and that of President Wilson. There never has been a shadow of a doubt what the general nature of those answers wilt bo. They will Insist upon restitution, reparation and guar antees as tho cardinal and primary cjiv dltlon of any terms of peace. "Hut while the tenor of the allied reply to America Is certain, a great deal may depend on the Impression created tiy such documents by their wording and manner of expression. We feel we owe the American pvoplo a more elaborate statement of the object of the Allies and the peace terms by which alone these objects can be attained than any which we have yet Issued. "We cannot even begin to negotiate while Belgium, Hernia und largo tracts of France, Itussht nnd Humiinlit aro under the enemy's heel. Evacuation, restitu tion ami reparation are conditions that tmwt precede not merely peace but the dlscusHlon of peace. In order that they must be something more than scraps of paper peace treaties must destroy the spirit of Prussian militarism which Lkyri George Justly desctlben as the true root of the bitterness." PEACE AGENTS AT HAGUE Hotel A.Tommedatlun Rein Nought for (irrman Delegates. London, Dec. 27. A despatch to the JCzchange Telegraph Company from The iisgue says: "In view of tho preparatory meeting of delegates ei u nt-Hi-a conference sug geted III lbs Get man reply tu President WIIniii Geniiun ugi'iils huvu tin i vert at The llagiia and an making Inquiries for hotel accommodations for German dele gales." The Dutch section of the WolM's Union of Churches held a crowded meet ing last night In the largest church In Tho Hague. The speakers endorsed Pres ident Wilton's "act of faith" In the sending of his not to the belllcerenti and exhorted their brethren tn belliger ent countries to foster an atmosphere In which the Idea of peace might be de veloped. A despatch from Amsterdam says: Commenting on tho German reply to President Wilson's note the Lokalan ttliif of Berlin says! "Prom the fact that Germany has not allowed thn Christinas festival to pass without replying to President Wilson's note even our enemls must gain the conviction that we mado the peace of fer seriously. Should Mr. Wilson be In duced by our note to recommend to our enemies that they send representatives to a neutral place for tho purpose of pence negotiations we should still be far from abandoning ourselves to the hope that the move would meet with success at tendon, Paris, Petrngrnd and Home." The Tatgltche Kunilbchau of Berlin rays: "Our Government's announcement of Its desires to bring about an end of the conflict with our enemies In personal negotiations without the cooperation of neutrals Is very satisfactory because It gives us a guarantee that we will de cline decisively the Interference of non participants In the fighting and In the creation of peace." The Voultche ZoUttnp, referring to the Swiss note, says; "If further neutral notes are couched In similar tone they certainly will rind a sympathetic under standing among us. The Swiss note btrathes the honesty of that Hue neu trality which has characterized Switz erland during the entire war." SWEDEN ACTS. Note .Xiiiinrlna Wilson's Move Is ' Handed to the Powers. lira (via Paris), Dec. 17. The Taorblait of Berlin announces that tho Hwedlsh diplomatic representatives have handed to both belligerents and neutrals a note In support of those of President Wllron and the Swiss Government. T.io I-ondon Daily Telegraph said yes terday that It understood the Hwedlsh Government hud sent n not to the bel ligerent nations similar to that des patched by Switzerland. LINCOLN IS CITED. Rome Newspaper lays Allies Are la Similar Position. Hons, via Paris, Dec. 27. The news papers continue to discuss President Wil son's note to the belligerents as an Im portant diplomatic event. Tho Olomale O'llulln suggests that the Allies should treat it precisely as President Lincoln did In rejecting France's effort to Inter vene In the American civil war. "If the dead of Gettysburg Inspired President Lincoln's respect." says the newspaper, "so our dead of the Tren tino must Inspire Baron Sonnlno'a an swer to President Wilson' GERMANDERS REPORT VICTORY Nine Entente Airplanes Are Brought Down in Day, Ber lin Announces. Lonwjn, Pec. 27. Nine French and British airplanes were brought down during the last venty-four hours after fights with German airmen, according to the German official statement to-day. The day was one of heavy artillery Are, which was most violent south of the Somme, at Verdun and near Ypres. Bombardments are reported also In Bel- glum. The only Infantry fighting 'took place between French troops and the German defenders of a trench raided by the French south of the Avre. The raid was mads after several mines had been exploded under German positions. The French and Belgian statements to night follow: French Marked artillery activity was displayed In several sectors south of the Homme. One of our bombard ments caused two fires and an ex plosion In an enemy battery. Belgian At various points on the Belgian front there was moderate ar tillery activity, particularly In the direction of Steenstraete and Dlx mude. The French statement Issued In the afternoon Is as follows: The night was calm except on tho front between Vacherauvllle and Vaux (Verdun sector), whero the artillery was very active. Lieut. Herteaux brought down on December 24 his fourteenth airplane, between Chaulnes and Hyencourl-le-Grand (south of tho Homme), I-ast night British Infantry made an other successful raid on German trenches, bombing- dugouts and damaging defences for seveial hundred yards In positions , between Lena and l.oo. The British of ficial statement Issued to-night also says three British airplanes are mlsslntt after an active day In which one German ma chine was destroyed and five forced to land damaged. The statement says: On Tuesday night a party of our troops searched for some few hundred yards the enemy's front line trenches northwest of Lens, bombing his dug outs and doing considerable damage to his defences. Our positions on the right of our line north of the Homino und near 1m Hars were heavily shelled by the en emy at Intervals Tuesday night and Wednesday, Bombardments of the en emy defences and trench mortar em placements were carried out by us with good results south of Arras, In the neighborhood of Ilulluch and west of Messlnes. On Tuesday much successful work was done by our airmen In coopera tion with our artillery. In the course of .1 number of fights In the air a hos tile machine was destroyed and five otheru' were forced to land In a dam aged condition. Three of our ma chines are nileslng. The German announcement says: In the Ypres salient and on the north bank of the Homme a violent artlllciy engagement began ut noon, the weather being bright. In the eve ulng It decreased when rain ugatn be. gan to fall. In aerial engagements the enemy lost nine airplanes. FRANCE OWES $3,000,000,000. Itla Adverse Trade Halanrr for the Year llllll Is I'orei-ast. , P.vnis, Dec. 27. Ofllclal statistics now J available place the valuo of Imports In November at 2,111,000,000 franca ($422,-, 200,000) and exports at 727,000,000 francs (tl4S.IOO.000). The Tempt calls attention to the fact that imports for the first ten months or1 the year amounted to 17.9S7.ORft.ooo francs (IJ.T.m, 400,000) and exports to 5,015,000,000 francs (11,003,000,000), so that France will have a balance of trade against her for the year of upward of 10,0110,000,000 francH (13,000,000,000), The oltlolsl statistics of exports for the first eleven months of 1916 show gains over 1913 of 616,000.000 francs (1133,. :nu,ooo), almost wlailly In manufac-j tuied articles, whlls the Imports of food 1 wern 115,000,080 francs (121,000,000) lest for that period. I PARIS GALLS BERLIN REPLY AM EVASION "Temps" Snys Gcrmnny Is Try ing to Force Peace by a Ittuta. "LMERTE" SEES A TRAP Swiss Aguin Assured by Kaiser That He Will Not Violate Neutrality. Special Coble Dtupouh o Tur. its. Paris, Dee. 17. 80 far as the, corre spondent of Tin Sun Is able to learn In circles of authority here Germanyjs re ply to President JVHson's peace not Is Judged as no reply at sill merely an avoidance of a real answer. M. Clemenceau'a two cotoumn editorial blaming the Government for delay In answering Germany's note Is empha sized here as the evening papers print Germany's response to the Wilson note. It Is held this gives Germany another point on tactics as It displays tho rapid action of the Central Powers, even when, ns here, the action amounts really but "to n show of action. The German reply brings to the front one of the radical differences between the viewpoints ol the belligerents. Ger ninny separates the prevention of future wars from the question of the settlement of the present war, leaving permanent peace to be taken up after this war La finished, according to her note. France's Doable Purpose. France, on the contrary. Intends to ac complish both at once, finishing the pres. ent war In such a way that any future war shall be Impossible so far as human conventions can make It. The German reply takes no account of the greatest barrier of all between the belligerents. France considers that she knows Germany and the valuo of Germany's word. France feels It Im possible for her to accept a proposition from any. quarter, much less from Ger many, which Involves her placing faith and confidence In anything concerning Germany's word. Tho newspapers comment freely on Germany's reply. All of them affirm that It contains nothing not contained In Dr. Von Bethntanu-llollweg's first communication, except that It proposes a conference In some neutral capital. "Germany," says the Tempt, "Invites her adversaries to a conference without miking to them any disclosure of what she proposes to say until their delegates surround the green cloth." The Temps then attacks In detail what It terms the systematic mendacity of Dr. Von Uethmann-Hollweg respecting the origin of the war, and alleges that he changed the date of the note of Count von Berchtold, the Austrian Foreign Minister, of which the Chancellor spoke recently In the Ilelchstag. The newspaper asserts that while Count von BemstorfT says one thing tn the United States, Dr. von Bethmann Ilollweg says another In Germany and expresses the hope that Washington will now be able to measure the sincerity of the German Government's declaration. "Germany desires peace, that Is evi dent," continues the Tempt, "but It will be a German peace which she will tear from her adversaries by a ruse, not hav ing had the power to conquer It by force. That Is the significance of the manoeuvre which outlines Itself mori clearly every flay. Celerity of Itrsponse. La Liberie remarks that Germany re ceived the American note December 22 und that hor reply had ulreudy left Ber lin the 26th. "Never In the exchange of communica tions with the Government ut Washing ton," says La Liberie, "has Wllhelm strasse shown such celerity. In the period of the torpedoing of the I.usl tanla Germany allowed entire months to pass without communicating to Mr. Wil son explanations embarraalng and be lated. "The German note Is silent on the es sential point. It evades that entirely Our enemy declines to unmask her bat teries. The trap is more evident than ever, but the Allies will not be caught. ' A despatch to the Journal det llebatt from Geneva says : "The Hwlss Federal Council bus, ac cording to Information received from Berne, received most formal nasurunce from Germany guaranteeing onco more Switzerland's neutrality, 'me nesur unces were given as tho result of the fenr recently prevailing that Germany was preparing tu break through Hwlt zerland Into France and Italy." JOFFBE NOT IN WAR COUNCIL. Decree .VanilnK lllra Technical Ad viser of Government Revoked, Paiiis, Dec. 27. In addition to a de cree naming Gen. J oft re a Marshal of France President Polncare has signed another revoking the decrees of Decem ber 2. 1915. nnd December 13, 1916. The first of those appointed Joffre com mander in chief of all the French forces except those In tho colonies and Morocco, while the second said ho would act as technical adviser to tho Government, The high command now consists of the War Committee, composed of Premier Ilrland, Gen. Lyautey, Minister of War: Bear Admiral I.aiaze, Minister or xln rlne : Albert Thomas, Minister of Na tional Manufactures; Alexandra Itlbot, Minister of Finance, nnd President I'oln ram. The duly of tho Minister of Wur in to notify the other Ministers and commanding generals concerning the do clslons of thn committee nnd to tnko measures to Insure their conceited ex ecu lion. In addition ho Is responsible for everything concerning the preparation nnd maintenance or t no nation's mili tary resources. There aro two Gen erals commanding, Gen. Nlvelle, who Is In command of the armies of the north and northeast, and Gen. Karralt of the army of the Or lent, who, as already announced, Is nn longer answerable In grand headquarters but directly to the Minister of War. Divorcee, 10, to Wed Again. Lacaster, Pa., Dec. 27. Miss Ada II. Burkett. 16, pretty and divorced, and Frunk II. Rill, both of Lancaster, hue taken nut a marrluge license. Ml llmkett divorced her first husband lan May, Her paronts consented to the second wedding. New Year Gifts BOOKS make most aerepla hi tllfls, and If w. I'eled to tilt In. dividual, add greatly tu recipient's alms lire at any time uf Ills year. BRENTANO'S 5th At. AZ7thSt,NwYrii m THE SUN, THURSDAY, RUSSIANS ROUTED IN FIVE DAY BATTLE Mackenscn Smashes Line on Which Czar's Army Stood to Save Moldavia. 0,000 PRISONERS TAKEN Muscovites nnd Riiihaninns in Steady Retreat Northward Braila in Danger. I.ONDON. Dec. 27. Von Mockensen has smashed the strong line on which the Itusslans and Itumanlars hoped to stop his advance In tlumanla. The Im portant town of nimnlk Sarat, In north ern Wallachla, Just south of the south ern boundary of Moldavia, has fallen to the Teutons, who In a five day battle that first turned their way on Christmas day have taken ,000 prisoners, 27 ma chine guns and other booty. Their front broken on both sides of Itimnlk Sarat, the Russhns have been forced to retreat to trenches dug far behind tho line from which they were ousted. In the Dobrudja the Teutons report their attack on the bridgehead of Macln la making progress. By the new demonstration that the power of the Teuton attack has not been broken, the Important city of nralla Is Imperilled. It Is considered likely that before long the Itussfctns and Rumanians will have to retreat to tho river Bereth Itself, leaving Braila to the Teutons. A Danube River port and also a railroad town, Braila Is of great value to tho Russians. Danabe Closed to Kntente, The Danube, however. Is now closed to the Allies. By the capture of Isakcha and other positions on the Dobrudja bank of the river, the Teutons have closed the water route from Russia to Rumania. No more troops or supplies can enter Rumania by way of Sullna, at the mouth of tho Danube. In the battle near nimnlk Sarat the Teutons performed prodigies In attack. The troops which entered the town after getting through several lines of barbed wire had to cross the river nimnlk. which flows down from the snowclad Carpathians. Rlmnlk is on Its northern bank. By the loss of the rlvar the Rus sians were deprived of another natural defence. The Teutons attacking the Russian right, west and southwest of Rlmnlk 1 Karat, stormed strong positions in the foothills of the Carpathians, many miles In extent, and made more easily defensl-. ble by the deep snow that now covers the mountain ranges. Here the Teutons! were opposed by itumanian inrantry and Russian cavalry. Rasalan Left Is Broken Troops of the Danube army. Bul garians and Turks as well as Germans, broke the Russian left southeast of Rlmnlk Karat. These troops stormed strongly fortified Rumanian villages. Tlie attacking Infantry had to advance over swampy ground froxen hard as Iron. As a result of this victory the Teuton 1 lines are now pushed perilously close to the Important triangle of Rumanian cities, Braila, Galatx and Focsanl and to the lower Sereth. Itlmntk Karat la twenty-five miles south of Focsanl, on the road from Buxeu, forty-five miles west of Braila and fifty mllsa west or Galatx. At many points the Teutons are even nearer the Sereth. If the Russians and Rumanians nave to fall back to the Hereth River they will be in almost the last dltcli In wnicn 11 will be possible to save even Moldavia. The present position Is hardly as strong as the Rlmnlk-Sarat line. .rpprllns I'srd In Rumania. Zeppelins are in use on the Rumanian front. To-day's German statement says that "airships and flying squadrons" have been nctlve behind the hostile front against "important railroad and port es tablishments." This Is taken to mean that Zeppelin raids have been made upon Braila, Galatx and Focsanl as well as on Sullna and perhaps even Odessa. On the remainder of the Russo-Ru-manlan front no engagement of real Im portance Is reported. Heavy gun fire In the Oltux Valley on the Moldavian front may presage Infantry attacks there, while there has been other artillery and outpost activity In the Carpathians. Near Kovel a German attacking force was broken by Russian guns. The German of!!lal statement to night announced the Uklng of Rlmnlk Sarat. The statement tc-day reads: Front of Field Marshal von Mack ensen: The Ninth army. In u five day struggle, has pierced at several places strong Russian positions, which con sisted of sevpral lines of barbed wire and were tenaciously defended. South west of Rlmnlk Harat the Russians have been completely defeated on a front seventeen kilometers in width. Hessians Forced to Retreat. Also tho Danube army has cap tured strongly fortified villages and thus has broken Into the enemy's front and forced him to retreat' Into positions prepared further north. The fighting was violent and the success Is due to energetic leadership and the fullest devotion of the troops. Tho losses to tho enemy In casualties were very large. Ju addition he has left In the hands of the Ninth army slnco December 22 a total of 7,600 prisoners, twenty-seven maohlne guns and two mine throwers. The num ber of prisoners takrn by the Danube army Is more than 1,300. In the Dobrudja progress has been made with the attack against the Macln bridgehead. Airships and flying squadrons have been successfully nctlvo In the ene r imninrnntiiiHinimiuiiriNwmiMMn For New Year's SHANLETS DECEMBER 28 19i. my's rear aralast Important railroad and rrt establishments. Front of Archduke Joseph! In ad dition to lively activity on the part of patrols, jvhlch frequently ended In encounters with the enemy resulting favorably to us, and temporary lively artillery lira along the heights on the east bank of the Oolden Byatrltea, there was little fighting activity. An the Oltus Valley there have been ar tillery duels. 'Aastrlans Take Booty. Front of Prince Leopold: In the Graberka sector, northwest of Ourocte. Austro-Hungarlan detachments brought In thirty-two prisoners and two ma chine guns from a successful enter prise. The Russian statement .regarding operations on all fronts Is as "follows: Rumanian Front Throughout tho day tho enemy made a number of fierce attacks along almost the whole of our front. In the region of the upper stream of the River Rlmnlk, north Of Mrgura, he succeeded In pressing back slightly our cavalry de tachments and Infantry detachments of the Rumanians. On the Rlmnlk high road our de tachments after having repulsed a series of attacks, were obliged to abandon first line trenches, which were demolished by artillery fire. Enemy attacks In the remaining sectors were beaten back with great losses to him, and In the village of Vnlea-Beltxel by our counter attack we captured several machine guns. Battle Is Still Raging. The battle along the front con tinues. In the Dobrudja there were opera tions by small detachments. Western Front In the vicinity of the Bercslna River, northeast of Vlshneff, our scouts while making a reconnaissance succeeded In penetrat ing Into the enemy trenches and killed a number of Germans. In the direction of Kovel about two or three companies of the enemy as sumed tho offensive near Little Porsk, hut were repulsed by our artillery with great loss. The enemy conducted an artillery fire upon our positions In the region of Dube, Penaikl, Tohepell and Kvlshen (near Brody), He took the offensive In the neighborhood of Dube and Penaikl, but was unsuccess ful at both places and was stopped by our fire. Nesr the Bystrltxa River our ar tillery dispersed a company of enemy troops moving northeastward from the village of Kosmotch. In the wooded Carpathians on the Moldavian frontier north of the Usui River our detachments dislodged the enemy from a Held post and captured a machine gun. In the same region our riflemen, taking advantage of a fog, succeeded In capturing two trench mortors left by the enemy dur ing Saturday's battle. U-CAPTAIN SPARES AMERICAN YESSEL Hp Lets Skipper of Steamer Sacramento Take Cargo of Wheat to France. Havre, Dec. 27. Capt. Plater of the American steamer Sacramento, who ar rived here from Buenos Ayres with a cargo of wheat, reports that he was stopped in the English Channel by a German submarine. The commander of the submarine or dered him on board with his papers und after examining them said: "You are earning wheat, which we consider contraband of- war, to France. It la lucky for you that your ship Is American, otherwise we should have torpedoed you with great pleasure. You can proceed. Oood luck to you." The only steamer of the name of Sac ramento listed In available maritime records Is reported by the New York Maritime Register to have been recently transferred from American to British ownership. She was blacklisted by the British Admiralty ill April. 1916, on charges of aiding German ships in the Pacific, but was removed from the black list Isst October. Four Greek Ship Net Free. Mammd, Spain, Dec. 26 (via Paris. Dec. 27). Four Greek steamships the Omltres, Arlstldes, Isaplna and Contan drls huve arrived at Las Palmns, Ca nnry Islands, two of them bound from America with cargoes of wheat and corn, after having been stopped by a German submarine. They were permitted to en ter Las Palmas only on condition that they should discharge their cargoes al that port. Two Central Vessels Sank. I.ONPON, Dec. 27. Lloyd's reports the sinking of the Norwegian stfamshiv Kno. 1,823 tons gross, and the Danish bark Josan. RUSSIANS DEFEAT TURKS. ('apt are Village ar Lake Van) Ottomans Retreating. Uniki.v, Dec. 27. Several successes for Ruseiau troops lighting the Turks in Asia Minor are reported In an olllcl.il statement from Petrograd. Near Luke Van the Russians captured the village of Attman, driving out the Turks, and at other points they have also defeated the Ottoman troops. The statement is as follows: On Monday night the Turks, about one battalion etrong, assumed the of fensive In the region of Ptrnkolal, but wero repulsed by our tire. By our counter attack the Turks were driven Into their entrenchments. In the region of Cli.irafl.lian, Vest of Mush, our detachments drove tho Turks from their trenches and cap tured some prisoners. in the vicinity of Lake Van our de tachments, after having dislodged a Turkish patrol guard, developed an at tack and occupied the village of Att man. Under our preesure, the Turks, about a battalion strong, retired east ward, OTfCaAY m UXXX DINNnt 7 P.M. AUSTRIANS PREPARE' BIG TRENTINO DRIVE Italian War Minister Admits New Offensive Is Looked For Next Spring. TEUTON LINE IS STRONG Invaders Still Hold Mountain Positions Won in Last Thrust. Special Cnblt ttetpnleh to Tns Sex. lions,. Dec. 27. Gen. Morrone, the Italian Minister of War, admitted In the Chamber to-day that the Austrlana and Germans are preparing a great offensive against the Italian front for ntxt spring. A deputy In the course of a speech al luded to the forthcoming offensive, and turning to the Minister of War ex pressed the hope that the necesiary preparations were being taken to resist It, and sufficient artillery, ammunition and troops being concentrated where necessary. The Minister tacitly admitted that the offensive was expected. To-day's War Office statement is as follows: , In the Adlge Valley our artillery kept the enemy's tines under a vigor ous fire and disturbed his working parties. On the rest of the front the comple tion of our field works was Interrupted at several points by skirmishes with the enemy's advanced posts. There has been much evidence recently that Italy was apprehensive of a Teu tonic offensive Intended to crush Italy much as Serbia and Rumania were crushed. It has. been reported that means to resist such an attempt have been considered In allied war councils. All Indications point to the Trentlno front as the probable scene of the big Teutonic attack. In recent weeks the Italian ofllclal statements have an nounced repeatedly large movements of Austrian troops behind their lines on this mountainous front and heavy bombard ments by Austrian artillery, intense activity has been noted o'n the Aslago Plateau and In the Astlco Valley. The Trentlno front would seem the most favorable for an Austrian effort. 1-ast spring the Teuton offensive there pushed the Italians back almost tn the plains of Venctla. when Russia came to the rescue with her big attack In Gaticla In June. The Italians won back much of tho lost ground, but the Austrlana still hold dominating nnd strongly forti fied mountain positions. Most of the Italian efforts have been expended on the Car so In driving toward Trieste. An Austrian offensive In the Trentlno might remove the menace to Trieste. CUTTERS SEEK THE OSAMA. Clyde Line Vessel Has Mot e linrtrd Miner Thursday. Hosto.v, Dec. 27. Four coast guard cutters will begin a search to-morrow for the new Clyde Line steamship Osama, which has not been reported since she left Portland, Me., for New York last Thursday afternoon. The Osama was recently completed at Detroit, Mich. She Is commanded by Capt. Dalton and has a crew of twenty-five. Hie coast guard cutters Grcsham. Androscoggin, Osslpee and ACushnet re ceived wireless orders to-night to be on the lookout for the Osama, as it Is feared that she has been disabled tu a storm. nrtrrtlvrs Sent to Jail, Detectives Andrew llornkessel and William K. Loch pleaded not guilty le fore Judge N'ott In Generat Session es terday when they were arraigned on the assault charge based on the story nf nrtnii1 llllten 1 I vnnm nltl. Thv were sent to the Tombs In default of ' $5,000 ball. Immediately afterward Ruth Howard, charged with abducting the llllten girl, pleaded not guilty, and she was sent to the Tombs In default of 110.000 ball. , Everything from silk hats to silk socks! j Everything ready-to-, wear to-day or to-night. Winter overcoats, suits,' hats, shoes, fixings. Sporting Goods, includ ing skates, skating shoes, toques, aviator caps, muf flers, mackinaws, skating bags. , Before Christmas we said that everything "would be exchangeable after Christ mas. Now that you've had time to check things over, we want you to know we really meant it, j If there's anything you have that you don't want if there's something else you'd rather have if, well, no matter what the "if," bring it back if you want to. We want everybody to have a Happy New Year! Rogers Peet Company Broadway t igth St Broadway ttjatkuL Fifth Ave, at4iitlt The Pour Coraara" Broadway at Warraa P OULTRYCIHOW Crystal Palace ol America Live Silver Foxes. Government Exhibits New American Sheep. War Homer Pigeons. Rare Game Birds. Motion Pictures. Free Lectures by Experts. Sutiay art Every lay al Eveilaj Bee 2 to Jan 3 ABMISM6N Me CHILDREN ZSe SOCIALISTS IN FRANCE URGE REPLY TO WILSON Demand Reparation for tho Wrongs Done by Central Em pires as Peace Condition. Pamb, Dec. 27. The Congress of French Socialists by an almost unani mous vote passed to-day a resolution re questing the Kntente allied Government to reply to President Wilson's note con cerning peace by saying that they are ready to tell him their conditions for leace, which must Include Just repara tion for the wrongs done by the Central Empires, The .Socialists also declared they were for such a peace aa was defined by the Inernatlonal Socialist Congress In Lon don In Feburary, 1B1C. It was decided1 by the Socialists of the Kntente allied countries at the London conference that "no hone for peace can bo entertained until German militarism Is crushed." Resolutions were passed urging that Belgium be liberated and compensated; that the question of Po land should be settled In accordance with the wishes of the Polish people, and that "from Alsace Lorraine to the Bal kans those' populations that have been "A Remarkable Collection of Exceedingly Beautiful Ancient Potteries" At the American Art Galleries Madison Square South, New York ON FREE VIEW 9 A. M. UNTIL 6 P. M . Mr. Thomas B. Clarke's Remarkable Collection of Beautiful Pottery Vases of Eastern Origin Onv.r.ti. ROMAN. KOTFTIAN. ITALIAN. RHOIH AN, PtttftMN, HiaPANO-MORKSQUr.. BABYLONIAN. DAMAHC'VH kUTAIS. - RAKA. RHAOEM, aULTANABAIt. ARABIC NPANIHII. 'NTLF. DURANTE, DIRt'TA. MESOPOTAMIA. T'ANU, HAN. 8t'NC.. TUAN. CHINtl. MINti. Dating from the Sixth Century B. C. to the Eighteenth Century A. D. Formed by the owner during the past Thirty-five years To Be Sold at Unrestricted Public Sale en the Afternoons of Wedneaday, Thuraday, Friday and Saturday of Ncrt Week January 3, 4, 5 and 6, at 2 JO o'clock Calalegue Written T Dana II. Carroll . and Illustrated by Preress Celer Plates and tine ItslrVl'ene Rspreductlens (Untiled Eaitlon). Mailed en Receipt of One llollsr. The sal will be conducted by MR. THOMAS E. KIRBY end bis assistant, Mr. Otto Rrrnst, nf AMERICAN ART ASSOCIATION, Managers Madlsen "q. South, Lnlranre n K. 33d tttreet. New York. To the People of Please be patient a little while- Black & White Gab Co. Columbus 5000 Madison Sq. Garden, N.Y. annexed by force shall receive the tight freely to dispose of themsehes." VOLTAIRE PREY OF GERMANS? Lamport A, Holt I.lner Mny tin,. Been, Captured. A rumor, circulated yesterday and credited to German sources, that the Lamport & Holt liner Voltaire, ovrrdut at this port from Liverpool, hat hern seised by a German submarine and con verted Into aicurlser was regarded si not Improbable by friends of the Ger mans who admire the audacity of the Teutonlo sea raiders. Agents of the line have been ItHlned to believe that deranged machinery and heavy, weather may account for the long trip of tho Voltaire, but there seema to be little doubt that something more than that has happened to her. Him h.u wireless, nnd thnt apparently was cut off either by submergence In wintry ee.is or the Germans. It Is pointed out that among her crew wero Americans nnd that It would he unlikely that the German raiders would sink her, hh has been said, without cit ing her a chance to save these men. She was also armed, and her guns would lie a good part of her equipment us a raider, such as tho Appnni became after her capture by the Oerman bluejackets. Twelve days after tho Voltaire sailed from Liverpool tho British Admiralty sent out wireless warnings of a Teutonic raider In the steamship lane. New York: We realize even better than you do that we are not giving what we call good service. The reason is that we haven't cabs enough. The demand has been far in excess of our ability, though we have worked hard to respond to all the calls. New cabs are arriving daily, and it will not be very long be fore we can meet every demand that can possibly bo mude upon us. We will keep our promise to flood New York with BLACK AND WHITE CABS at the re markably low rates now in force and may be lower. BEAR WITH US AND BELIEVE IN US, i.