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- ESTABLISHED A. D. 1790 VOL. CXXVl
- BRIDGEPORT, CONN., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1918
NEW SERIES VOL. CXXVT NO. 5599
AT
vn7AP (filr
0)
0
mm
1 I "II
imencan Artillerymen
0
Reinforce French
Cham
pagne Po
Upon
sitions
Official Paris Report Cites Effective Work of U. S.
Batteries in Big Raid Attackers
Take 150 Prisoners.
Paris, Feb. 14 American batteries took part in the artillery
bombardment in connection with the large French raid in the
Champagne yesterday, it is announced officially. Effective as
sistance was given by the American gunners. (This is the first
mention of American batteries on the Champagne front.)
The statement follows:
WILL ARGUE ON
PEACE FEB. 21
IN REICHSTAG
February 21 Set As Date for
Important' Debate By
German Deputies.
London, Feb. 14 An important
peace debate will begin in the Ger
man reichstag on Feb. 21, according
to a wireless dispatch from Amster
dam. Chancellor von Hertling will
discuss the treaty .with the Ukraine
and will reply to President Wilson,
Premier Lloyd-George- and Premier
Orlando ,
An Amsterdam dispatch on Tues
day reported that Count von Hertling
intended to answer President Wilson's
messag in the reichstag next Tuesday.
NEW RUMANIAN
CABINET LEANS
TOWARD PEACE
Jassy, Rumania, Monday, Feb. 11.
(IDelayed.) The new dabinet, headed
by Gen. Alexander Averscue, said to
be the ablest commander in the army,
is known to lean toward peace. This
cabinet succeeds the Britiano minis
try, recently resigned, which was
known as the war cabinet. The
change was the direct result of the
ultimatum from Germany demanding
that Rumania declare her future
course of action.
A German attempt against a. small
French post north of Pargny Filain
(Aisne front) was repulsed. There
were lively artillery actions in the re
gion of Rheims, in the Champagne.
In the large raid yesterday American
batteries gave very effective support.
French troops organized the positions
captured on that day n the region
southwest of Butte du Mesnil. The
number of prisoners - taken by the
French and actually enumerated ex
ceeds 150.
"There is nothing to report on the
remainder of the front."
The official French statement of
last night reported a large raid on a
front of about" 1J200 metres in the
Champagne near Butte de Mesnil, in
which the French penetrated as far
as the German third line. The Amer
ican sector is in Lorraine, some dis
tance to the east of this point.
VADERa
DRAFT KILL
3 OFFICERS
Two Troops of Cavalry in
Pursuit of Murderers Who
Flee to Mountains.
OFflust
EX-AMBASSADOR
SPRING-RICE DIES
BY HEART ATTACK
Ottawa, Ont., Feb. 14 Sir Cecil
Spring-Rice, former British ambassa
dor to the' United States, died this
morning at 1 o'clock of heart failure
at Government House. Lady Spring
Rice and his son and daughter, Betty
and Anthony, aged 11 and 9 respec
tively, were with him.
ALAND ISLANDS
TERRORIZED BY
RUSSIAN TROOPS
Stockholm, Feb. 14. Russian sol
diers are reported to be aommitting
chocking acts of terrorism on the Aland
islands. In consequence of a state
ment that Swedish residents have fled
to outlying islands, Swedish rescue
expeditions will 'be sent.
The Aland islands are in the gulf of
Bothnia between Finland'and Sweden
and belong to Russia. Most of the in
habitants are of Swedish nationality
or descent.
A Swedish gunboat and1 two steam
ers are on the way to the Aland is
lands to rescue Swedes whose prop
erty and lives are imperilled by Rus
sian soldiers.
ST. VINCENT'S
HOSPITAL IS
OVERCROWDED
i
Hartford, Feb. 14 Secretary Chas.
P. Kellogg of the state board of char
ities visited St. Vincent's hospital.
Bridgeport, this week. He said to
day that he found the institution
crowded and the management had
been obliged to place cots in the cor
ridors for the accommodation of pa
tients. A part of the hospital has
hoen fitted up to receive wounded sol
diers. Execpt for the crowding. Sec
retary Kellogg found the hospital in a
satisfactory condition.
STRIKES HAMPER
SHIP BUILDING AT
SPARROW'S POINT
Washington, Feb. 14 Diplomatic
Washington was shocked today by the
news of the sudden death in Ottawa
of Sir Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice, who
retired after nearly five years' ser
vice as British ambassador to the
United States early last month in
favor of Lord Reading.
Although it had been known that
Sir Cecil had desired for a long time
before his retirement was announced
to be relieved of his heavy duties in
charge of the embassy, no intimation
was given when he left Washington
thv. he was in ill health. However,
officials here pointed out that he had
been under tremendous strain from
the responsibilities devolving on him,
especially during the pegotiations on
the operation of the Allied blockade
before the United States entered the
war.
Following is the text of a formal
message of condolence sent by Secre
tary Lansing to Lady Spring-Rice:
"In the name of the President and
of all those with whom Sir Cecil was
brought into official contact I offer
vou sincere condolence. It has been
given to few men to rise as Sir Cecil
did to the heights of great interna
tional emergency and to become, as
he was, the fortunate medium
through which our two nations drew
Into closer touch and became sharers
in the great task which has been im
posed upon the world."
ANNOUNCE PLAN
FOR R. R. FINANCE
Bisbee. Ariz., Feb. 14 Two
troops of United States cavalry
and posses from half a dozen
counties were co-operating today'
in an effort to capture Thomas
Powers, John Powers and Thomas
Sissons, sought for the murder of
three Graham county officers in a
fight in the Graham mountains
last Sunday. The fight occurred
when the officers, led. by Deputy
United States Marshal Frank
Haynes, attempted to arrest the
Powers brothers as alleged draft
evaders.
Jefferson Powers, father of the
Powers brothers, who joined them
in the fight against the officers,
also was killed. Haynes escaped
uninjured. Rewards totalling
$4,000 have been ottered for the
capture of the fugitives.
nans Instituting
Violent Assaults Into
Valleys Lost To Italy
Germany s Ally on Offensive While Refusing Aid
to Kaiser on Ground That Foe is
Preparing Drive.
Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 13 Although preparations for an
offensive, which they say the Italians are making, is justifica
tion for the assertion that it is impossible to help Germany in
France, the Austrians apparently wish to bring an end to inac
tivity and are resuming battering ram tactics in the mountains.
In the last three days the Austrians
STORROW CALLS
CONFERENCE ON
COAL SITUATION
Boston, Feb. 14. Whether heatless
Mondays would he continued in New
England after the federal order which
put them into effect had been rescind
ed was expected to be settled at a
conference of state fuel administra
tors here today, called by James J.
Storrow, New England administrator.
All of the states were represented
when the conference was called to or
der by Mr. Seorrow.
Those at the conference in addielon
to Mr. Storrow, who represented Mas
sachusetts, were. Charles M. Floyd,
New Hampshire; George H. Holmes,
Rhode Island; Thomas W. Russell,
Connecticut; Nathan Clifford, Maine;
and M.- F. Stone, Vermont. ;
Mr. StorroW said ne dia not expect
to be able to make an announcement
regarding the holiday decision until
late today.
GREATEST BUDGET
TS KIND EVI
E NATION
OR
PERSHING. URGES CONSTRUCTION OP FACTORY
IN FRANCE TO MANUFACTURE GAS HOOV
ER INTIMATES FOOD CONSERVATION.
WILL HAVE TO BE DONE BY LAW ,
HUGE AMOUNTS REQUESTED IN
NEW HOUSE BILL.
DISAPPROVES OF
CHAIN PLAN FOR
WAR STAMP SALE
Hartford, Feb. 14 An emphatic
stamp of disapproval has been placed
by Howell Cheney, state director of
the National War Savings Committee,
on the "endless chain" schemes which
are now entering Connecticut from
other states for the disposal of thrift
stamps and war savings certificates.
Mr. Cheney in a statement issued
today that he did not regard this
method for the sale of stamps legiti
mate, and that he would do all in his
power to discourage the sale of
stamps by this plan. Mr. Cheney will
call upon his entire organization
throughout the state in an effort to
stop the numerous "chains" which
are coming into Connecticut from
other states. "An 'endless chain'
scheme is a bad proposition at all
times; it is especially bad as a means
of selling government securities,
said Mr. Cheney.
COMMONS RESUMES
DEBATE ON SPEECH
Baltimore, Feb. 14 Government
shipbuilding at this port was seri
ously hampered today by strikes of
carpenters and joiners in the ship
building plant of the Bethlehem Steel
Co. in Sparrows Point, and the Bal
timore Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co.
Two hundred men at each plant fail
ed to report for work thjs morning.
An official of the Baltimore Dry
Dock & Shipbuilding Co. said he did
not know the reason for the strike of
his men. They had made no de
mands, he sald. The leaders of the
men. refused to" discuss their action,
saying "they" know all about it in
Washington." ,
Washington, Feb. 13 The railroad
administration's method of meeting
emergency financial needs of roads
under government operation was dis
closed today by announcement that
I surpluses of some roads are trans
ferred to others which need operating
' funds, under approval of Director
General McAdoo.
Later a clearing house for these
transfers will be established under
John Skelton Williams, director of
finance tfor the railroad administra
tion,-and railroads will be given cred
it for their appropriations to other
lines.
DANGER NOT YET GONE
Hartford, Feb. 14. Despite the sun
light of the false spring ,the shadow
of the fuel famine still lies across the
state and. according to Arthur G.
Woolley, state director of bituminous
transportation, it is likely to continue
for weeks to come.
"Even wth a continuance of warmer
weather I do not look for a general
relief of industry in Connecticut be
fore April 1." said Mr. Woolley today.
With more favorable conditions or
railroad traffic it may be that fac
tories engaged in government work
will have fuel relief before that Ume,
but I think the general manufacturing
situation will remain hard pressed
for any coal at all.
"As things are now, there is not
enough coal coming into the state
even to keep alll the public utilities
running, to say nothing oi factories.
During the first 12 days of this month
only 636 cars of bituminous coal have
coime into Connecticut through May-
brook. Our latest call for help has
come from the Norwich Gas & Electric
Co., which reports less than a 24 hour
supply on hand. Coal for that plant
has been ordered from Harlem River.
And that's Only a sample of what we
are up against every day."
JAIL PICKETER.
Hartford, Feb. 14 John A. Manion,
an Iron' moulder, was sent to jail for
tour months in the police 'court to:
ay for threatening with bodily harm
men employed by the Connecticut
Electric Steel Co., which has govern
ment contracts. There was a strike
at the plant some weeks -ago and
Manion had been doing picket duty.
SPAIN DISCUSSES
SPURL0S VERSENKT
Madrid, Feb. 13. The Spanish cab
inet met yesterday to consider the
sinking of the Italian steamer Duca di
Geneva and of the Spanish steamer
Giralda The case of the Giralda is
regarded as one of the most import
ant matters that the cabinet has had
to consider since the beginning of the
war.
A dispatch from Madrid on Dec. 9
said the Italian steamer Duca di Gen
ova, of 8,983 tons, had been torpedoed
only a mile off Murviedro beach, on
the Spanish coast. The Spanish steam
er Giralda was sunk on Jan. 28. A
London, Feb. 13 The House of
Commons today resumed the debate
on the address in reply to the speech
from the throne. Discussion of for
eign and military affairs was dropped
temporarily for consideration of the
administration of the government at
home.
Herbert Samuel, formerly secre
tary of state for home affairs, made
the opening speech on this subject.
Later in the day, however, the de
cisions of the supreme war council
in Versailles, which now occupy the
minds of the people of England, will
be taken up again.
Richard Holt, Radical member from
the Hexham division of Northumber
land, prepared an amendment to the
address, expressing regret that "in
accordance with the decisions of the
supreme war council in Versailles,
propulsion of military effort is to be
the only immediate task of the gov
ernment." This amendment . is sup
ported by a number of Liberals and
Unionists.
Another amendment expresses re
gret 4hat action has not been taken
against newspapers which have pub
lished attacks on individual officers of
higher commands.
COAL TIED UP IN ICE.
New Haven, Feb. 14 The fleet of
tugs and barges with coal for New
London and eastern points was large
ly increased off this harbor today.
All craft are icebound, as navigation
is almost impossible through the east
ern end of Long Island Sound. Pros
pects are not good for an early break
up of the ice, which is in great masses
off the mouth of the Connecticut
river. Tug captains report that much
of the coal afloat is for Boston and
other points as far east as Portland,
Me. There arrived here today the
steamer Merrimac with 1,100 tons of
the so-called Storrow coal, con
signed from Hampton Roads to State
Fuel Administrator Russell, who will
distribute it among manufacturers
who are in distress. This is bitum
inous coal.
have engaged in vigorous actions
agains tthe new Italian line in the
Frenzela and the Bella valleys, where
important positions were wrested from
the Austrians a short time ago. The
enemy preceded his infantry attacks
by violent bombardments, but when
the Austrian infantrymen attempted
to pass forward, as tb,ay did in the
Bella valley, by advancing into the
Selle and Vallette woods, they came
under the fire of. Italian light and
medium artillery and machine guns,
which compelled them to beat a re
treat with enormous losses before
even reaching the Italian trenches.
- The Austrians met with another and
equally severe shock in the Frenzela
valley yesterday.
In the course of this fighting Lieut.
Ranza, an aviator, brought down two
enemy aeroplanes, increasing ths
number of his victories to 16.
U-BOAT TAKES
SPANISH MAYOR
FOR A HOSTAGE
Paris, Feb. 14The German sub
marine that sank the Spanish steamer
Ceferino near " Ferro Island, one of
the Canary group belonging to Spain,
as reported from Madrid yesterday
landed a party on Ferro Island when
it put ashore the crew of the steamer,
according to advices to the Figaro.
The Germans are said to have sent
for the mayor of the town, to whom
they declared there were two Ger
mans interned on the island. The
mayor explained that all the Germans
were on Teneriffe Island, but he and
another prominent citizen were nev
ertheless taken on board the subma
rine and were held as hostages until
a message from Teneriffe confirmed
the mayor's statement, the Figaro
says.
FRENCH LOSEJTWO SHIPS
Paris, Feb. 14 One vessel of more
than 1,609 -tons and one of less than
that tonnage were sunk by mines or
submarines during the week ending
Feb. 9, while one fishing vessel was
destroyed. One French, merchantman
was unsuccessfully, attacked. Eight
protest against the sinking was pre- I hundred and ninety-one vessels enter-
sented In Berlin by the Spanish Got- .ed French ports during the week and
ernmeftt on Feb. 8. 1 841 vessels departed. ; .
ASKS SHIPBUILDERS
TQ HEED U. S. CALL
Washington, Feb. 14 Secretary
Wilson issued today a statement call
ing on ship workers to enroll in the
United States public service reserve
during the campaign to obtain 250,000
workers to build the country's mer
chant fleet. '
"Membership in the reserve brings
official recognition of the performance
of or the readiness to perform a most
necessary and patriotic service." the
secretary said. "
UKRAINE PEACE
AFFECTS POLAND
London, Feb. 14 Count Ladislas
Sobanski, representative in London of
the Polish national committee, in a
statement issued today declares the
Austro-German peace with the
Ukraine affects the interests of Po
land. The peace conditions concern
ing the frontiers, not only between the
Ukraine and Galicia but also between
the Ukraine and Russian Poland
chanees the frontiers to the detriment
, of Poland, he saia.
TUSCANIA DEATH
ROLL TO EXCEED
170, BELIEF NOW
Washington, Feb. 14 Cablegrams
are going forward to the American
embassy in London from the war de
partment today in an effort to com
plete the list of Tuscania survivors
and untangle names which have been
garbled in transmission.
Latest advices to the department
continue to indicate that few more
American soldiers were lost than the
164 already reported buried in Scot
land. Reports place the American
dead at not more than 170, although
the list of saved is far from com
plete. About 260 of those on ihe
passenger list still are unaccounted
for, but the department has more
than 270 names of survivors it has
been unable to decipher. Some of
these are supposed to be duplications
and some names of men of whom
there is no record.
The Associated Press list of unre
ported, made by checking both- oft
ficial and unofficial advices against
the passenger list, stands at 171..
WILL PROSECUTE
COAL HOARDERS
IN CONNECTICUT
Hartford, Fob. 14. Thomas W.
Russell, Federal Fuel Administra
tor for Connecticut, has received
from. Washington explicit direc
tions to aid the National Fuel Ad
ministration in the prosecution of
coal hoarders. Announcement of
the order, received Wednesday,
was made today by Charles W.
Jaynes. first deputy to the state
administrator.
The Fire and Claims committees,
also the Board of Appraisal; will meet
in the City Hall tomorrow night. The
finance committee met last night and
approved the regular reDort. - . ;
Washington, Feb. 14 A billion dollar urgent deficiency ap- , -propriation
bill, the largest of its kind in the history of congress,
although cut half a billion from original estimates, was favor- ,
ably reported to the house today by Chairman Sherley of the;'
appropriation committee. Debate on the bill, which provides .
for the immediate heeds of the war, navy and other depart- v
ments, is expected to begin in the house tomorrow.
In presenting the measure Chairman Sherley made public
testimony given to the committee by department chiefs during
past month of committee investigation.
Huge amounts were asked for varl-
WILSON ORDERS
PROBE OF HOG
ISLAND SCRAP
Washington, Feb. 14 President
Wilson today directed Attorney Gen
eral Gregory to investigate the much
discussed Hog Island ship yard con
tracts which ,haye been , adversely
criticised before the senate com
merce committee, and determine
whether there has been any criminal
misuse of government funds.
The president also directed the at
torney general to work in conjunction
with Chairman Hurley of the ship
ping board in his investigation. About
$42,000,000 of government money has
been involved in the Hog Island pro
ject, in which the American Interna
tional corporation, headed by Frank
A. Vanderlip, president of the Na
tional City Bank, has figured.
The Hog Island ship yard on the
Delaware river near Philadelphia, Is
planned to be the greatest in ths
country, with more than 50 ways in
which to lay down ships.
The American International Co.,
through its subsidiary corporation,
the, American International Ship
Building Co., has contracts for its
construction and for ship building
there, from the emergency fleet cor
poration, acting for the United States
shipping board.
One of the principal points of at
tack on the International Ship Build
ing Co. in the senate committee's in
vestigation has been that by its con
tract with the emergency fleet cor
poration it would receive a fee of $6,
000,000 for the "know how" of build
ing the ship yard and getting out the
ships. ,
Mr. Vanderlip's name was brought
into the investigation as being presi
dent of the mother corporation and
as having countersigned the con
tracts. It has developed among othef
things at the senate committee's hear
ing that Col. Black of Philadelphia
one of the former owners of Hog Is
land, got $2,000 an acre for his prop
erty, whereas a year ago he held an
option on Hog Island at $1,000 an
acre.
Investigation by the department of
justice was recommended by Chair
man Hurley of the shipping board,
who asked that an assistant to the
attorney general be sent to Hog Is
land to work with Assistant General
Manager Bowles of the-' emergency
fleet corporation. Mr. Bowles was
put in active charge of the yard re
cently. Mr. Bowles has been directed by
Chairman Hurley to put the Hog Is
land yard on an economic basis. Ship
ping board officials are of the opinion
that there has been nothing worse at
Hog Island than inefficient manage
ment and a reckless spending oi
funds, but they want to ascertain all
the facts.
Philadelphia, Feb. 14 Officials of
the American Ship Building Co., de
clared today that they would welcome
the investigation which President
Wilson has directed the attorney gen
eral to conduct, in conjunction with
Chairman Hurley of the United States
shipping board, into the ship yard of
the company under construction ov
Hog Island, on a Deleware river.
Although the Shipping Board has
no facts to indicate that there has
been criminal dereliction, it wants to
ascertain the true situation and learn
just how money put up by the govern
ment has been spent.
BRITISH STRETCH
LINES IN ITALY
Ottawa, Feb. 14. The British line iii
Italy has been considerably legnth
ened to the east of Montello ridge
along the Piave river, according to a
London dispatch to the Ottawa agency
of Router's. The" line now extends to
some miles east of Nervesa. -
ous military activities. Among these
was a total of almost $81,000,000 for v -mountain,
field and siege artillery in
addition to more than $1,000,000,000,
already spent and contract authoriza
tions of $779,000,000 additional. The
testimony of Col. Ames of the ord
nance department, said the total
amount available for this purp'ose ' "
since the beginning of the war uner',.
direct appropriations and contractfau
thorizations was $1,816,000,000 of
which amount orders nave beery' plac
ed requiring ultimate expenditure of
$1,252,000,000, leaving still available
$564,000,000. He said the $l,31, .f'
000,000 was intended to supply am
munition, on revised estimates of"tha' " u
quantities needed, for 2,000,000 men,
including the ammunition for tha
light trench mortars. He said the
$81,000,000 additional is asked as the
result of a change in the military
program, including new requirements
for a larger number of shells, for "
ammunition for guns mounted on
tanks, and $7,000,000 for a plant de-i
signed for the filling of projectiles "
with, gases, and $2,000,000 for a plant
for the same purpose to be erected
in France.
Maj. Gen. Pershing cabled strongly
urging a plant in France jto enable
him to handle these toxic materials
properly. It is planned, ordnance ,,
officers explained, to dispatch a com-
plete organization and equipment .to
France to enable the American ex
peditionary forces to meet the sud
den shift in gas warfare.
At the examination before the com?'
mittee Chairman Sherley"s report said.
Gen. Wheeler of the Ordnance Bureau
brought out that the government had
an arrangement with the French to
supply artillery and ammunition to a
certain number of American troops ar
riving in France, but after these units
are supplied the United States would
equp additional troops.
America's resources. Gen. Wheeler
testified, were sufficient to meet' all
war needs. He asserted that the War
Department had a billion dollars
worth of ammunition contracts.
Major Gen. Squier,-chief signal of
ficer, testified that the Signal Corps
had spent or obligated all the $640,
000,000 appropriated to carry out its
aeroplane program, and has incurred
obligations that will equal $90,000,000.
in addition, and may go beyond that,
for the present fiscal year. He asks -$277,732,000
to procure bombs for.tha
aeroplanes.
Discussing storage and shipping fa-,
cilities, Gen. Goethals said approxi
mately $100,000,000 with authorization -of
$50,000,000 more is needed for
storage of quartermaster supplies ;
along the sea coast, including hug
amounts for various specific terminals.
Federal Food Administrator Hoover -said
the combined food and fuel ad- ,'r '
ministrators so far have had total
appropriations of $5,515,000, out of
which there has been an actual ex- ''
penditure of $1,985,429 and there are
now outstanding obligations of $2,- v
272.8, leaving $1,257,950 balance. He .
asked for $2,000,000 more now. He
said he and Dr. Garfield, fuel admin
istrator, were agreed that the two
administrations should be- separat.
He said the combined fund was divid
ed in the proportion of two-thirds for
food and one-third for fuel. ,
Mr. Hoover testified that the food
administration is directing the buy- '
ing of $160,000,000 worth of food- '
stuffs a month for the Allies alone.
"In addition," he explained, "we have ' '
the whole problem ot conservation.
Whether we can continue on a volun
tary basis for the balance of the year x
I am not sure."
Fuel Administrator Garfield denied
to the committee that he had advised
that people ought not to buy coal last .
summer, and explained that what he
meant was to buy all the coal neces
sary but not In excess of needs and
thus add to the transportation diffi
culties. " .
Provost Marshal General Crowder
in asking for an additional $10,000.- -000
for draft registration and selec-
tlon, testified that there is a complete .
registration already of all aliens, in
cluding enemy aliens, oetween 2,1 and
30, and that en June 5 there were
1,200,000 aliens not enemy aliens
between the draft ages of 21 and 111,