Republican farmer. [volume], February 15, 1918, Page 2, Image 2

About Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920

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THE FARMER: FEBRUARY-15, 1915-
MARINE THAT
SANK TRANSPORT
GOES TO
American Officer Aboard Tuscania Says Destroyer
Gave Chase Immediately to German U-Boat
and Dropped Depth Charges. .
Londonderry, Ireland, Fob. 8 The!
submarine that torpedoed the Tusca
nia was attacked subsequently by a
itroycr SJut an American officer gave
an intimation that the submarine was
dttroyd.
This olflcer, who was one of the last
to leave the Tuscania, gave the Asao
elated Press a vivid account of the
disaster.
. ' The second torpedo fired by the
submarine missed its mark, he said.
Thereupon a destroyer which was
near the sinking liner dashed toward
the submarine, using a bomb-dropping
device. It is asserted that the
submarine was "done in" by the
bombs thus exploded.
The American officer told this
story:
"Everything went well with us
luring the voyago. Many of our
men had never been to sea before, and
I jmst say that they "stood it like
soldiers.
"Ws were one of a powerful con
Toy. I must not tell you our posi
tion in the convoy or how the various
ships were formed, but you may take
- It that all the other boats have got
' through as far as I know.
' "As for ourselves, well, the Huns
succeeded in getti.ig only a fraction
of our fine fellows, in addition to our
boat, but if they have they have put
the iron into our souls, and we will
be ready to repay them when the
chance offers.
"Monday was a wild night. Had
the disaster occurred during a gale, I
don't like to think of what would
have happened. But Tuesday even
ing was calm.
"The first intimation we had of pos
sible danger was an order for all men
to go on deck with lifebelts. It was
about 4r30 o'clock. At tho same
time we sharply altered our courss.
, Nobody Saw a Periscope.
"At 6 6'clock, Just as the darkness
jras setting well in, we got the blow.
Nobody saw the periscope, nor could
one have been seen well. Some
soldiers described having heard a
"Sisslng sound immediately before the
torpedo struck us in the engine room.
"We were instantly . disabled. All
the lights went out. An order rang
' out; sending the troops to their boat
stations and ordering the lifeboats
- ; out.
w "The shock was not severe. It was
, . 'vjnore of a- crunching-in feeling that
went through, the ship than a direct
blow.
"There naturally was a good deal
of confusion. You cannot lower a
score of lifeboats from the height of
an upper deck in the darkness without
some confusion, but at no time was
there a panic.
"There was great ' excitement, how
ever, but it lasted only a few min
utes. Then all the men pulled them
selves together. Megaphone calls
were given all over the ship, saying
that there was no danger, that the
vessel would not sink before all were
taken off.- In the meantime S O S
-, signals were sent out.
"Even before some of ' us had
grasped the situation British destroy
ers were dashing up alongside. Such
. soldiers as had been lowered in life
'. boats were put on board destroyers.
, A few men who had jumped over-,
i board In the first excitement were
I nicked up. I believe that one or two
- lifeboats were smashed in launch
"The destroyers took off our men
) splendid style, with perfect order
"All this time the Tuscania was
slowly sinking. For a minute I did
not know whether to go into a life-
boat or to stick by the ship. One of
: the members of the crew urged that
i V stay on board and trust John Bull's
. destroyers. He yelled this in my ear.
I took his advice and waited for my
: farm to come to go on board a des
troyer. "No sooner had we cast oft with
liOO men on board, than a torpedo
was fired at us. It missed. Another
destroyer dashed off, operating a
bomb-dropping device, and the claim
was afterward made that the sub
marine had been 'done in.' "
Proof of the order that prevailed
' on the Tuscania is given by the
handling of two typhoid and two
: pneuminia. cases without bad effect.
Forty of the survivors of the Tus-
cania were taken to hospitals, the ma
jority suffering from injuries as a re
; suit of accidents in the lowering of
lifeboats or to consequences of slid
ing down ropes.
The survivors are proud of the be
havior of the only two women on the
. ' . Tuscania. They went down a rope in
fine style, laughing.
Schooner Saved Brooklyn Men.
London Feb. 8 Sergeant E, C,
Dubuque and Sergeant Muller, both
of Brooklyn, were rescued from a raft
by a coasting schooner. They say
that the Tuscania took a heavy list to
starboard almost as soon as hit. Al
most all the lifeboats on that side
were blown into the air or rendered
useless.
.The soldiers were immediately lined J
UP and while standing at attention be
gan to sing as one man, "My Country,
Tis of Thee,' and "The Star Spangled
Banner." The crew, which lined up
on the opposite side, sang "God Save
the King."
' Sergeant Dubuque said that, the
boat to which he had been assigned
was shattered by the explosion. He
clambered over to the port side the
best way he could and was put in a
boat with 10 or 12 other men.
, Wbon they had been lowered sjbout
' halfway down the ropes became dis-
snranged and all were thrown into the
water. There was a rather heavy sea.
llbut the Sergeant was able to swim to
'the stern of the liner and climbed on
rait. There he found Sergeant Mul
ler. Sergeant Dubuque said he saw marry
snen in the sea. Collapsible rafts were
thrown ovssboard to ' enable those
BOTTOM
struggling- In the water to save them
selves. &mo of these rafts
struck I
loadod boats. The Sergeant said lie
believed a number of men mu3t have
been killed in this way.
Tho Sergeant and the others on the
raft were at the point of collapse
whon picked up, but soon recovered.
They are under the cane of Dr. La ti
gers of New York, who has been in
the United States service ftr some
time.
In tho Water Three Honrs.
James Alson Turrington of New
Hampshire, a collega student, said:
"I was on the upper deck when tho
torpedo struck the vessel on tho star
board side. There was a terrific ex
plosion. I went to the stairs to reach
my station.
The dynamo was blown up by the
explosion, but the auxiliary plant was
put into operation immediately.
"There was great difficulty in low
ering our life-boat, the chains being
broken and the tackling entangled.
Several boats capsized and the strug
gle in the water of the men thrown
out added to the tragedy.
"I entered a boat with 40 others.
but it became filled with water ana
we had to Jump out. I caught two
oars which had been lashed together
ana held on. I was in the water for
three hours before I was picked up.'
Thomas Smith xf Glasgow, a boat
swain s mate on tne m ua-nma, ouu
the steamer was proceeding to an
English port under convoy.
'At 6:45 o'clock on Tuesday even
ing," he continued, "I was in No. 1
room talking with a fellow boatswain,
when I heard a terrific explosion and
felt the vessel heeling over. I said to
my mate: "They've got Her now.'
We commenced lowering ooats on
the starboard side. The soldiers were
lined up on deck, waiting for the
boat3. Unfortunately many jumped
overboard.
'I found the boat at No. 9 station,
to which I proceeded, had been blown
to nieces. I then helped to get Boats
9-A, 9-B, and 9-C away, with full com
plements,' and the- second) officer got
boats 1 to 7 safely away.
'After seeing these launched I pro
ceeded to the other deck, where I
launched a raft. I picked up 14 sol
diers and two of the ship's company
who were swimming about. We had
no oars and had to paddle along with
our hands. We were picked up at 9
o'clock in the evening . and landed
"Wednesday morning."
New York Steward Was Lucky.
Belfast, Ireland, Feb. 8. One of the
stewards on the Tuscania, named
'Houston, whose home is in New York,
was near the engine room when the
explosion occurred. He had difficulty
in reaching his boat station, owing to
the list to starboard. The steward
found the boat crowded, but it was
launched successfully.
'We were among the lucky ones,"
he said. "We got away easily."
AEROPLANE GON
NEW TO YANKEE
WHO GOT BOGHE
(By the Associated Press.)
With the American Army in
France, Feb. 8 The young American
lieutenant who had the honor of
shooting down his first German aero
plane while accompanying a French
escadrille on a bombing expedition on
Tuesday night had never operated
machine gun before in his life while
in flight, and never before had been
over the enemy lines. He got his
man over the German city of Saar
burg.
The bombing squadron was over
Saarburg and in the act of dropping
bombs when enemy aeroplanes were
seen approaching rapidly. By the
time the bomb dropping had been
completed the enemy was close at
hand and the French formation
which thia American and another
American had accompanied as gun
ners, was at an altitude of 12,000
feet.
The lieutenant, who is a Missourian,
took off his gloves so that he might
operate his machine gun more effec
tively when he saw an enemy plane
driving in from the side and firing its
gun. The bullets whizzed close to
the French machine before the Ameri
can, acting as gunner, could get his
piece into action. Then he turned
a stream of bullets into the enemy
and before the first drum was ex
hausted the German machine toppled
and started to spiral. Then it flop
ped and fluttered down with a flare
of s.-noke and flame in its wake. It
crashed to the ground a short dis
tance from the German city.
The other American aviator, also .a
lieutenant, was not so lucky, for the
machine that he picked out to engage
dodged away quickly sshd he was un
able to get in any effective shots." '
MARQUIS OF AVA
DEAD AT LONDON
London, Feb. 7 The marquis of
Dufferin and Ava died in London to
day of donble pneumonia, aged 9.
His "widow was formerly Miss Florence
Davis, daughter of John H. Davis of
New York.
The marquis of Dufferin was the
son of the governor general of Can
ada, of the same name, who occupied
Rideau hall from 1872 to 1878.
Word was received from Waafilni -
xm that Fuel Admimstartor Garfield
announced that the theatres would
remain .closed on Lincoln's birthday,
on Tuesday. ' .'
- - - -' -
AMERICAN BOYS
WIN MANY VERY
PRETTY BRIDES
Sailors of Fleet Succumb to the
Attractions of the Colleens
of Emerald Isle.
Base American Flotilla in British
Waters, Feb. 8. Every part of the
United States has supplied a hero in
love romances that have culminated
in happy marriages between Ameri
can bluejackets and blue-eyed Irish
maidens since the arrival of the
American destroyer forces in the
south of Ireland.' After the war, ev
ery part of the United States from
Maine to California and from tne
Great Lakes to Florida will boast of
Irish bride who was wooed and
won in her native land by an Ameri
can sailor.
All of tha bldes are looking forward
to that happy day when they willsee
what their husbands so proudly pro
claim as "God's country." Already the
American sailor has supplied his Irish
bride with all necessary documents
to establish her identity as an Ameri
can and some have even had their
property -in the United States trans
ferred to their wives as a precaution
in case they lose their lives for their
country.
There is the marriage of a former
ranchman, Bert Adams, to Brigid
O'rourke, whose family descends from
an Irish king of that name. Adams
who is a boiler maker on one of the
destroyers, hails from Hugo, Color
ado. He is now arranging to have his
ranch in Colorado, deeded to his wife
as a precaution in the event of his
being torpedoed. His wife's relatives
ive in Bruce, County Limerick, and
there is plenty of anecdote connect
ed with the family's relation to the
O'Rrourke's of kingly fame. "I don't
know anything about ranching," Mrs
Adams told the Associated Press cor
espondent, "but I am preparing my
self for the fair land Bert has told
me so much about by studying a his
tory of Colorado."
Then there is the case of Mary
Ridge, head waitress at the leading-
hotel here, who lost her heart to Har
land G. Ritchie, a machinist's mate
rst class, of Alliston, Mass. She was
one of the most popular girls in town.
The dining room over which she pre-
ided is out of bounds to enlisted men
but Ritchie contrived to see her whei.
she was off duty. They knew each
other for four months before Mr.
Ritchie led her to the altar of the
illage church.
But the record for love at first
sight among the Americans belong3
to
a young seaman, Paul Valachovic
name, who used to work in the
machine shops of the General Elec
tric Company at Schenectady, N. Y.
He fell in love the first day he step
ped ashore here, from his destroyer.
Ada Jones, a Cork girl, was the ob
ject of Cupid's dart. After the war
"Valachovic is going to take her back
with him to that thriving city in New
York.
A few of the Americans first met
their wives on, visits to England.
Charles Harmon Cobia of Charleston,
s.
C, fell 0in love on the beautiful
Ccrnish riviera with Ada Gilbert, a
widow of 24, whose home was in Ply
mouth. Another English bride is
Nora Elizabeth Kitt, who was mar
ried, to Joseph W. Highfield of Des
Moines, la.
But the majority of the American
married Irish girls who lived in the
vicinity of the American naval base
and whom they met at the dance hall
or roller skating rink. Thus Doris
Francis Phillips is now Mrs. Leo Vin
cent Flavell of Hanover, Mass., and
Mary Ellen Sullivan has become the
wife of Thomas A. Balschi of Mount
Carmel, Pa. After the war Mary
O'Keefe, who became the wife of Ed
ward C. Turner, expects to desert the
trying climate of southern Ireland,
for that of sunny San Jose, Cal.,
Which is her husband's home. William
Spaulding of DeLand, Fla., has mar
ried Ester Allen, While Oral E. Cox
of Iola, Kan., won the hand of Phyl
lis Rose Rogers.
Among others of the American sail
ors who have taken to themselves a
wife over here ars Benjamin J. Moore
of Dallas, Texas; Elbert R. Bicking
ham of Pensacola, Fla., Harry E. Hol
der of Denver, Colo., and Michael J.
Delia Roco of Schenectady, N. T. And
the list gives promise of growing
steadily.
FARM PRODUCTS
VALUE IN 1917
$19,443,849,000
The value of farm products of the
United States for the year 1917 reach
the tremendous and unprecedented
sum of $19,443,849,000 an increase of
more thai six billion over the values
of 1916 and almost nine billion more
than 1915.
The Department cf Agriculture has
just issued a preliminary estimate for
last year showing crop values of $13,
610,463,000, representing 70 per cent.
of the value of all farm products for
the year, and $5,533,386,000, the value
of animals and animal products of
our farms.
By far the greatest and best. cus
tomers of the farmers of the country
now are tne United States and our
Allies. The money used by all of
these governments m purchasing the
products of American farms is raised
by the sale of Liberty Bonds. Part is
spent by the United States itself and
part loaned to our Allies. la lendin
to the United States, therefore, the
American farmer is simply enabling
its best customers to purchase his
products and receiving in return the
best security in the world. Good busi
ness as well as patriotism urges the
farmers of America to liberally sup
port the financial undertakings of the
government.
SUSPEND SOUTH'S
HEATLESS ORDER
Washington, Feb. 8 Heatless Mon
days have been suspended in all
- I states south of Virginia. In annniiTif..
I ing this today Fuel' Administrator
I Sarfield said improved- weather and
I traffic conditions had made further
AarJoi cement In the souti unnecessary.
"'"'..
MARKET FOR
SOFT CORN IS
NOT DESTROYED
Washington, D. C. Fe. 8. The
closing of many distilleries under the
food control act has not destroyed the
market for soft corn, according to a
statement from the Bureau of Mar
kets, United States Department of Ag
ricultvre, which has made .a survey of
grain-drying plants now in operation
and under construction at 30 termin
al points. .
The survey shows 154 grain driers
in operation and 17 under construc
tion, aside from' the .few distilleries
still running. The combined capacity
ot the grain driers is about 3,000,000
bushels of corn every 24 hours. The
department states that this survey
probably does not include all plants,
but is inclusive enough to allay ru
mors that there would be no market
for soft corn.
An unusual amount of soft corn
was harvested in 1917, because of
early frosts and cocl, wet weather in
September and October. It can be
sold direct to grain driers, says the
department, or in many markets can
be dried for the producer at a cost of
three-quarters to two and one-half
cents a bushel and sold in dried con
dition. Owing to present transporta
tion difficulties, it is recommended
that farmers and country shippers de
lay the movement of soft corn unless
conditions at tho terminal market are
favorable. The greatest return foi
soft corn is said to be received when
1' is fed to stock on the farm.
SOLDIER VOTERS
OF CONNECTICUT
TO CAST BALLOTS
Hartford, Feb. .8. Gov. Holcomb is
sued today a proclamation convoking
the general assembly in special ses
sion on March 19. It is as follows:
"Whereas .thousands of the qualified
electors of the state of Connecticut
are in the military service of the
United States, and in consequence
thereof are now and during the con
tinuance of the present war will be
absent from this state and will be de
prived of exercising their rights as
electors unless legislation is enacted
giving them an opportunity to vote at
the elections to be held on the Tues
day after the first Monday of Novem
ber, 1918, and at said November elec
tions biennially thereafter during the
continuance of the war, I therefore
decide and find that this condition
constitutes a special emergency with
in the -provisions of 'the constitution
of this state, and authorizes me to
convene the general assembly in spe
cial session ffor the purpose of enact
ing legislation which will enable said
electors, who are absent from the
state in the military service of the
United -States,, to vote at said Novem
ber elections.
"I, therefore, for said- purpose,
hereby convene the general assembly
of Connecticut in special session to
be held at the state capitol in Hart
ford, on the third Tuesday of March,
1918, to wit, on Tuesday, March 19,
A. D., 1918, at 11 o'clock in the fore
noon." DU PONT RANKED
ASLARGESTHOTEL
OWNER INTHEU.S.
The purchase by General T. Cole
man du Pont of the Waldorf-Astoria
makes him one of the largest, if not
the largest hotel owner in the United
States, and L. M. Boomer, president
of the company, now has the manage
ment of what is probably the most
valuable series of hotels and restaur
ants in the world.
General du Pont is now heavily in
terested in the Waldorf-Astoria, the
Hotel McAlpin the Hotel Claridge,
and the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington,
and is reported to be interested in
the Hotel Taft in New Haven. Prop
erties under the direction of L. M.
Boomer, who has been closely asso
ciated in business with General du
Pont for several years, are the hotels
above named, their restaurants and
the Cafe Savarin in the Equitable
building. ,
Mr. Boomer, who was a hotel clerk
a few years ago, is in his early for
ties. His only rival in the extent of
the properties, which he manages, is
John McE. Bowman, who directs the
management of the Hotel Biltmore,
the Ansonia and the Manhattan and
is interested in a large hotel under
construction in Atlantic City.
George C. Boldt Jr., who still re
tains a large investment in the Wal
dorfrAstoria, is the chairman of the
Board of Directors of the company
now owning the Waldorf-Astoria.
Mr. Boldt said yesterday:
"The sale of a large interest in the
company running the Waldorf
Astoria was not made suddenly. As a
matter of fact, my father had con
sidered it many times before his
death. Our first discussion of" the
subject took place about five years
ago. My reason for making the sale
was that 1 wished to relieve . myself
of the enormous work which the
management of the hotel has involv
ed, so that I could devote my atten
tion to other affairs in connection
with my father's estate. The deal in
no way involves the Bellevue-Strat-ford
Hotel at Philadelphia, which be
longs to the estate. The estate also
retains the business of the Waldorf
Astoria importing and cigar compan
ies. -
"While the. deal had been under
discussion for some time, it was not
concluded until about 11 o'clock Sat
urday night, and the new company
has not even had a new name yet.
"I am not at Liberty to name the
price, except to say that it runs into
seven figures. The work which I
have done in connection with the ho
tel will be taken over by Mr. Mar
shall the manager of the Vanderbilt
-tfy understanding is that 'Oscar,"
who has been immediately in charge
i the affairs of the hotel for many
-e-irs. wilf continue there. No
changes are to be trade in-the or
ganisation of the hoteL" ' .
113 if i! OF
TUSCANIA
KING
No Identification Tags on
Bodies of 44 Soldiers
Washed Ashore
In Ireland.
Washington Feb. 8 The
navy department today an
nounced that latest reports of
the survivors , of the Tuscania
show 76 officers and 1,274 en
listed men of the army have
been landed in Buncrana, Ire
land; that 16 officers and sea
men of the crew have been
landed in Lame, Ireland; and
that approximately 570 officers
and enlisted men of the army
have been landed in Islay,
Scotland.
Early today w additional list of the
Tuscania survivors had become avail
able at the war or navy department.
The only part list received' was that
containing 30 names announced yes
terday. '
Physical difficulties in the preparing
lists it was said today at the war de
partment, may greatly delay publica
tion of an accurate list of the lost.
The survivors have been landed at
various points. Until officers manage
to get into touch with them and check
them off against the muster rolls or
until a complete list of the names of
survivors can be assembled at some
central point and cheeked against the
ship's papers, there is no way to de
termine who are missing, although the
number may be known.
There is also a possibility that ad
ditional survivors may have been
picked up toy patrol boats and will be
brought in later when the craft come
off duty. The list of lifeboats also
must be checked up as one or two
might have made 3hore unaided. News
dispatches show some of the lifebaots
were destroyed by the explosion of
the torpedo, so careful examination of
the experiences of survivors is neces
sary to find out how many got away
from the ship safely.
In addition, the "department an
nounces, approximately 99 soldiers
and members of the crew are reported!
to be in hospitals. Six members of
the crew and 72 soldiers are in the
military hospital in Londonderry. Ten
soldiers are in Lough Foyle hospital
in Londonderry, and nine soldiers and
two of the crew are in the county in
firmary in Londonderry."
War department officials are unable
to account for the statement made in
news dispatches that blank identifica
tion tags were found on the bodies of
44 American soldiers washed ashore.
Even if the men had not been defi
nitely assigned to an organization the
army regulations require that the tag
bear on one, side the full name of the
wearer. The organization commander
is held responsible by military reg
ulations for the completion of these
tags.
Cable , press dispatches from an
Irish port last night saying 44 bodies
of American soldiers, battered beyond
recognition, had been washed ashore
15 miles from the scene of the tor
pedoing, dampened hope that the
troop losses would prove very small.
According to figures given in earlier
press dispatches only 101 of those
aboard, including soldiers, members
of the crew and passengers, were
missing. This had led officials to
believe that with the heavy loss first
indicated among the crew, most
American soldiers had been saved
No attempt was made so far to pre
pare a list of the lost or missing. Only
the names of a few ' survivors have
been received and indications today
were that names of survivors would
continue to come in slowly as they
are assembled In Ireland by repre
sentatives of the war, state and navy
aepartments.
The report from the Irish port
which also said army identification
tags found on the bodies of the sol
diers washed ashore bore no names
or numbers, making identification
impossible, caused considerable spec
ulation. Army regulations reauirs
identification tags bearing name, rank,
company and regiment of the wear
er. Although there was no official
confirmation of this report and offi
cials declined to comment, it was
pointed out that the dispatch said
the soldiers had not been assigned
to definite units.
According to advices in the hands
of the war department the total miss
ing from the 2,379 on board the liner
is 210, of which lis are American
troops.
Cable press dispatches say 2,296
persons have been landed and are
cared for in Irish villages and cit
ies. Reports that the British destroyer
which was convoying the Tuscania
pursued and sank the submarine lack
confirmation and the report, of the
British admiralty is eagerly, awaited.
Navy officials are inclined to the view
that the Tuscania incident is an iso
lated case and have no reason to
change their view that the submarine
menace has been overcome.
That the sinking of the Tuscania will
sitmulate the United States to even
greater resolve and sterner efforts on
behalf of the fight for democracy is
the opinion generally, expressed in
editorial comment in the morning
newspapars of London.
Satisfaction is expressed and con
gratulations are extended that this,
the first disaster to many American
transports, shows the emptiness of
the German boast that the submarines
would render the transportation of
American armies impossible and
would intimidate the Americans.
Nevertheless, it is declared, it is too
much to hope that the Tuscania will
be the last victim, though the convic
tion is expressed that the American
nation realizes fully the difficulties
ahead and is prepared to meet them.
Some of the editorials say the sub
marine menace has not yet beep.
mastered and remains a grave pro-
WILL GUARANTEE
$945,000,000 TO
U. S. RAILROADS
Washington, Feb. 7 Chairman
Smith of the senate interstate com
merce committee in reporting favor
ably to the senate today the admin
istration railroad bill, estimated that
under the measure's provisions the
government wills guarantee annually
to the railroads of the country $94,-
000,000, w.hich will represent a re
turn of. P 2 per cent. This he says
reflects neither poverty nor riches,'
but the committee believes a majority
of the railroads will accept "these
terms as a just and fair measure of
their constitutional rights."
An agreement on the bill was reach
ed by the committee last Saturday,
but minority reports are to be sub
mitted by Senators Cummins and La
Follette. Administration leaders
plan to call the bill up for consider
ation next Monday.
Your committee is of the opinion
that this is the time for war emer
gency legislation and not the time co
settle the many controversial and
vexed questions concerning our fu
ture transportation policy," Chairman
Smith says in prefacing his report
He then tatees up the compensation
section and adds:
"About 75 great operating railroads
do over 90 per cent, of the railroad
business. The committee believes
that most of these great carriers will
accept these terms as a just and fair
measure of their constitutional
rights."
REPORT IN FAVOR
OF CHANGING LAW
ON CONSCRIPTION
Washington, Feb. 8 Favorable re
port on the war department's bill
amending the selective . draft law to
require registration of men as they
reach 21 years and basing quotas on
the number Of men in class 1, instead
of on state populations, was unani
mously ordered today by the senate
military committee.
The proposal to exempt men as they
reached 31 years if they had not been
drafted, which was opposed by Pro
vost Marshal General Crowder, was
not included in the bill.
An amendment proposed by Senator
New of Indiana, to require registra
tion of youths at 19 years and over,
also was rejected.
Secretary McAdoo announced that
all the soldiers lost on the Tuscania
were insured by Government insur
anee.
A loan of $155,000,000 has been ex
tended to France by the United
States.
blem to which the Allies, especially
Great Britain and the United States,
must devote all their energies in
view of the imperative need of keep
ing the Atlantic route open.
The Daily Telegraph says: "The
Americans have defied the pirates all
these months and we are convinced
that the sorrow and anger which the
loss of life on the Tuscania will oc
casion will only steel the hearts of
the people to persevere and deepen
their resolve. There is nothing in
the incident to occasion alarm, but it
constitutes a warning to us and the
Americans to concentrate on the de
fense of the Atlantic."
"A thousand men will step forward
to fill the gap left vacant by each
of the dead,"says the Daily Mail.
"Americans are looking the task
straight in the face and dangers and
difficulties, even disaster, will only
serve to stimulate and steady them."
The correspondent of the Press as
sociation in an Irish port says the
survivors of the Tuscania who are
there wre greatly relieved to hear of
the safe arrival elsewhere of Major
Benjamin F. Wade of Washington,
commander of a contingent on the
steamer, and hundreds of other Amer
ican troops.
How American soldiers behaved
when they found that the boats as
signed to them on the Tuscania had
foeen smashed is told by an American
officer who landed in an Irish port.
The officer said his men behaved as
he had expected them to. Two full
(boatloads under his command assem
bled on the deck and marched to the
boats assigned them. Arriving- at
their station, they found both boats
had been destroyed.
"The men lined up on deck at at
tention," said the officer, "and all
preserved the utmost composure until
a destroyer came alongside and ef
fected the transfer from the gradually
sinking deck.
"We stood alongside until the last
man was taken off,, wbo was the com
mander of the ship. The patients in
the ship's hospital, including several
cases of scarletina and fever, were
among the first taken off."
Reports received at the American
embassy yesterday indicated the loss
of 101 lives, while the British admi
ralty's estimate was 210. This dis
crepancy now appears to have- been
due to the fact that the figures sup
plied to the embassy evidently dif
not include the missing, of which
there are still many.
It was announced that arrangements
were being made , by British and
American officials jointly for great
military funerals for the Tuscania's
dead.
The committee on public informa
tion at Washington made this an
nouncement today:
"The passenger l:3t of the Tuscania,
compiled by the War. Department at
the port of embarkation!, shows that
the vessel , carried 2.177 military pas
sengers and two civilian passengers.
The military passengers consisted of
117 officers and 2.060. enlisted men.
"Much concern has been occasioned
throughout the country by confusion
of the 107th Regiment of Engineers
with the 107th Engineer train of the
32nd Division. The 107th Regiment
Engineers was not listc" is having
sailed on the Tuscania. The 107th
Engineer train was.
As the list of Americans On board
the Tuscania was lost when the ves
sel went down, it will be impossible to
ascertain the names of those lost until
the names of the survivors have been
Acabled to the United States.
"SINKERS" AND
PIES SAVED BY
HOOVER RULING
Washington, Feb. S -' The pie,
famed in the culinary annals of New
England, has been saved from im
pending disaster.
Food Administrator Hoover was
softened yesterday by the stories
brought to him by New England pie
makers, that an adherence to the two
wheatless days in the pie making in
dustry meant ruin for many eating
places. .
The Food Administrator then modi
fied his ruling, so far as the pie and
doughnut factories are concerned. -Pies
and doughnuts can be served
each day in the week provided they
are made every day from doughs that
contain one-third non-wheat flour.
Delegations of New England . pie
makers told Mr. Hoover that in a
great many of the lunchrooms tho
principal income was derived from
pies and doughnuts. When the one
third wheat saving program is fol
lowed throughout the week, .the eato
ing .places will be allowed to advei
Use that they serve "Victory pierf
and "Victory doughnuts."
A telegram was sent to all hotel
representatives of the Food Adminis
tration yesterday, telling of the change
of regulations to meet the situation
in the pie and doughnut trade.
Ice Shortage Feared.
Possibilities of a serious ammonia
shortage and a consequent curtail
ment of artificial ice manufacture
next summer were suggested by the
Food Administration today in reply
to reports that production is ample.
A statement -was made as follows:
"The attention of the Food Admin
istration was called to articles ap
pearing in various New York papers
by which it is indicated that plenty
of ammonia will be available to make
ice next summer, that there will be
no commandeering on ammonia in
New York and that there will be suf
ficient supply of the commodity to
permit the manufacture of the cus-
tGmary amount of artificial ice.
"The government cannot give as
surance that there will be a sufficient
supply of ammonia, nor that the man
ufacture of the customary amount ot
artificial ice will be possible. Thera
is danger of a serious shortage of
ammonia and steps are being taken to
have as large as possible a harvest
of natural ice to meet any possible
shortage of artificial Ice."
Confer on Eggs and Poultry.
Representatives of the egg and
poultry trade, after a conference with
Food Administration officials, named
a general committee for each trade
to draw up definite agreements regu
lating the prices and distribution of
the commodities they handle. If acr
ceptable to the Food Administra
tion, they will be put voluntarily into
force.
Chief among the reforms sought by
the administration are the elimina
tion of unnecessary handling and tha
abolition of speculating.
To provide financial relief for the
drought stricken area of Texas, Sec
retary McAdoo yesterday announced
that he would deposit government
funds in Texas banks, if the Dallas
Federal Reserve Bank cannot supply
sufficient credit through its ordinary
channels.
USE FERTILIZER
ONHOMEGARDENS
URGES COUNCIL
Agricultural Experts Say No
Garden Should Be Planted
Until Manure Is Spread.
"No home garden should be plant
ed this year without a preliminary
application of fertilizer," says the
Home Gardens department of the
Committee of Food Supply of the
Connecticut State Council of Defense
In communities where it can be se
cured, fine, well rotted manure should
be spread after plowing at the rate
of one or two wagon loads to every
,000 square feet. Where manure
ce nnot be obtained, fertilizer alone is
quite satisfactory if properly applied.
Fer general garden crops a commer
cial fertilizer carrying 4 per cent ni
trogen and 10 per cent, phosphoria
acid ;s the best obtainable this year.
The Home Gardens department re
ceived word from Waterbury today
that an instructor in agriculture to
have charge of the home garden
campaign has been employed begin
ning February 1. The Chamber ol
Commerce and the school authorities
are working to co-ordinate ihe move
ments of the Boy Scouts, the adult
gardeners, and all other home garden
projects in order that they may have
the benefit of first class supervision.
The Home Gardens department is
urging that seeds be ordered at once.
Prof. A. T. Stevens of the Connecti
cut Agricultural college, reporting
for the department, suggests orderins
'y communities, so that the seedsmen
may have opportunity to ship in
quantities. Transportation difficul
ties are pointed out as making early
ordering imperative.
The manual of information whieH
was fo.-warded to the various local
communities in charge of home gar
den work is being followed by a man
ual for the home gardener. This man
ual which has been prepared by th
experts of the Connecticut Agricul
tjral College and the New Haven ex
periment station is in the hands o(
the printer and will be available foi
distribution before long.
"Grow staple food crops," says the
Home Gardens Department, in ordel
that the market gardeners may b
least interfered with' and in order thai
the maximum amount of food be pro
duced. Peas, onions, cabbage, beets,
carrots, potatoes, turnips, ko'nl'rabi,
snap and shell beans, sweet corn, and
tomatoes, with a hill or two of win.
ter squash, is suggested as a good
combination for the family garden.
The Japanese Emperor thanked
Viscoun Ishii, head of the Japanese
mission to the United States, for hi
work. . . '
From the beginning of the war to
the end of 1916, there were a. million
more deaths in Germany than nop.
inaL