0 t SPORTS FINAL SPORTS FINAL VOL, I NO. 87 PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1014. PRICE ONE CENT CorTitonT.ldM.Br Titt rcnuo Ltwits CouriKt. ft f H RIGID TEST OF HOSE SEQUEL OF BURSTING OF LIKES AT BLAZE Board of Underwriters to Press for Examination of Equipment in Use in City's Fire Department. Tests of the durability of every plcco Cf hone belonging to tlio Fire Department of Philadelphia -will bo mnde as a rcHUll et the flro which destroyed tho wall paper etoro Wf Charles M. N. Klllen, 1231-33 Fil bert streot, last night, and Bwept on be yond control of tho nromen to tho annex of tho Hotel Windsor and threatened tho entire block with destruction, largely because of tho bursting of rotten hoso fander tho pressure of normal eorvlco. This statement was mado at ndon today by Charles A. Hexamor, socrotary of tho Jhlladlp1ila Board of Flro Underwriters, after ho had visited tho sceno of tho fire. Action will also bo taken by the Na tional Board of Underwriters, which tnIH conduct a rlRld Investigation Into the cause of the rapid spread of the fire against the efforts of noarly halt the city's fire flghtlne force. "I understand the high prcssuro hose feeld up well and did most efficient work." paid Mr. Hexamor: "but as regards the other hoso, all I can say Is that a thor ough Investigation will be mado and a lest of every piece of fire hoso In Phil adelphia. It will bo tested under high afid normal pressure, and any hoso that Breaks or shows signs of weakness will be discarded. Action will bo taken by tho National Board of Flro Underwriters, 'but Just what they will do cannot be told at this tlmo. "Heretofore it has been the custom to test hoso lines at fires. This has proved to be a risky custom. There will be no more of that. "VVo shall take no chance, and In tho near future a test will be Tho bursting of rotten hoso Is held partly responsible for the spread of last night's tire. Hardly had the second stream of water been directed upon the blazing Klllen Building when It burst, drenching every one standing near It Time and again the samo thing happened and the only good that It did was to keep the crowds at a distance, which wsb more than tho police could do. Zlany ot the lines burst In the first hnlf hour of the fire, at a tlmo when every pound of pressure wns necessary. Great billows of flames shot from windows and tho roof, threatening surrounding build ings with destruction. Just aB a stream m ... nfm.lfl hMn tn nhrnmn1lfih nnme thing therejipuutji&.o, pon.AU.djn9the.r hose went out of commission, while tho flro raged on. By the tlmo another line wna In range tne names nan uoncieu. On Cuthbert stroet, whore several com panies of firemen were fighting the flames from the rear, two rotten hoao lines, Bide by aide, burst almost at the earn moment. None of the high-pressure lines burst, but the breaking of so many smaller, yet effective lines gavo tho fire the start that nearly brought destruction to the en , tiro block. It was said that at least seven or eight lines burst. Others leaked so badly that It was necessary to place large garbage cans over tho leak to keep Concluded on 1'nse Three THE WEATHER vg e i j -- 3 z. .sks-j sy . k v , ,vv$W-v Wilimwsssss: FA T EL -."- -rfl . Well, old Jupiter Pluvius and Boreas nnd the rest of the celestial company are showing enough grace, it would seem, to give up their seats to that attractive at this time of the yearlady. Miss Falr&nd cold. Maybe It's the Influences of the Xmas spirit, At any rate, the fact re mains And, by-the-by, why worry over the White Christmas prospectT Whether It rains or whether It snows or whether It's Just plain green. It matters little In this cllmatlo corner. Whether or not it's weather,, FORECAST For Philadelphia and . vicinity Fair tonight and Thursday; not much change in temperature: moderate west winds. For details, tee page 8, Observations at Philadelphia 8 A, M. SaKumU ,.,f.. .,., stfcS gio4 -..X.SoutbwMt, 'a JnljS WwlPlUtlou " iiit' a 'hou'raV.,'.'.'.". ".'.' '. ', '. '. ' Wo irumldlty nWcl frtsjUiaiun fmptraturs ..., ,1,7?. 3J Almanac of the Day es ru.u. witi-; '::::::::;:::: ass-a fivy ., ... .. .jj..... 0.38 p. px, Xamna toTBe Jjight.ed liunp and Tehlclts ......'),.,jMt She Tides PORT RIQBMtHfD. Mtsb wuw 6-6fp. m. iMrf tun aomonaw) ....,,... SOS Lin Jttsh w.Ur (tomorrow). ........... TjaEJS. CHBSTNUX BTKBBT WKAJij. Illxta water 6.Sb.pl With trettr itowerrow) 7X1 stint IHHSOY lOUANI). ' ia wit" (toasrra '""...'.'.'. .liMt at w watw (tecwrow) iQOH. BRE4-KWA.TBR. w wiur . . T It a, ra. SB wl (tomorrow) 1 U m w vi.fr ueaurruw) llt,a Skating Tuday Th U tkatlag today an Co wr M auMia UMm mount fartt and m Huatlsfl Park i ' f FIRE IN TEXTILE DISTRICT Cotton Hills of Clegg & Co. Badly Damaged. A stubborn fire late this afternoon In tho heart of the Kensington textile dis trict enveloped that section In a blanket of dense smoke, and for a whlto threat ened several buildings. The blazo was centred In the waist and cotton mills of Alfred Cle'gg A Co , at 2406 North Mascher street, which Is a two-Btory brlok structure. Employees In the mill, Including seven girls were working on tho first floor, when tho flro was discovered. Several girls fainted. A local alarm v. as sent In. When the flfemen arrived Bmoke and flames were Issuing from tho windows. Tho fire did nlout 200 damage. BLOCKLEY PRAISED BY GRAB JURORS AFTER INSPECTION 'No Tinge of Criticism," Says Report Detention House and Moyamensing Lauded. ror tho first tlmo In many years a Philadelphia Grand Jury today praised tho Philadelphia Hospital, commonly known as Blockley, winding up a re markable report with the statcnient that "Our suggestion bears not tho slightest tinge of criticism." Daniel W. Seltzer, superintendent of the hospital, Is highly praised for tho condition In which tho grand Jurors found the Institution. Tho suggestion that tho Home for the Indigent nt Byberry should be nearer tho city, on the ground that patients fre quently leave there before they aro well, owing to Inability of relatives, to visit them, Is contained In tho report. The management of the House of De tention also is praised, but the report condemns the location of tho Institution, suggesting that It should bo In the out skirts of the city, whero children may play In the fresh air of woodland nnd fields. Moyamensing prison Is commend ed tor Its splendid condition and the superintendent for his "nolo and humane administration." ' The report In part follows: BLOCKLEY A TARGET. "Tho establishment" (Blockley) "has been a target for vicious attacks In past years. It Is our opinion that visitors as a rule entirely lack perspective and that attacks havo come from those who havo looked upon the surface rather thfrn at ithe root of tho problem. The rehabilita tion plans to erect a general hospital are destined to accomplish desired re sults, generally, "As for the physical aspect, the In- terlorof - the lrtrrdIng3Vcmii(rTtot 'Intvo' been kept cleaner, "Visitors should" keep In mind that Superintendent Selzer and his assistants are caring for a popula tion of several thousands of persona dally most of whom know llttlo or nothing of moral codes, who are slovenly, homeless, without ambition or zeal, or entirely Imbecile. These people are not only useless In many Instances; they are sneaks and tricksters, often dangerous aggressore." Referring to the. House of Detention, the report says: "Superintendent Richardson conducted us, and the jury were much Interested in the system and in tho youngsters on pro bation. Ventilation Is noticeably bad, as the building has tocen cut up into small rooms. Metre space Is necessary. The movement Is growing rapidly. It is pro posed to erect a larger building. In con nection with tho JuvenUo Court, 20th and Rseo streets, on the plot suggested for the Municipal Court and other build ings. OPEN COUNTRY FOR JUVENILES. "Ve see no reason why the Juvenile Court cannot be held in the City Hall, absolutely separato from the House of Detention, We see no reason why the House of Detention should bo kept In the heart of the city. We see all reason why It should be erected on the outskirts of the city, where the yqungsters can have outdoor recreation in woods and In fields, rather than on a house roof. Many of these youngsters, raised In the slums and raised by vicious or Incompetent par ents, are incorrigible (usually temporarily so) because they have not been able to satisfy the element of play In clean and natural eur-oundlngs. The sound of trol ley cars and wagons, tho sight of crowds of people, the unattractive dally life of a tnisy city are not for youngsters if quiet and clean surroundings can be of fered them. The Grand Jury (commends the entire management of the Institution within the walla," 900 MARINES ARRIVE Overjoyed to Bj Homo From Vera Crua and Haytl. Tho 900 marines who arrived at League Island late this afternoon on board the United States transport Hancock were overjoyed by the thought of spending Christmas at home. The men, who dis embarked; Immediately, will ba given a SO-day furlough. PITTSBTJBGH PATS WORKERS W9J9 "S.iisji phi 2000 Lately Idle Receive Wages' In Time for Christmas, PITTSBURGH. PaM Da H.-Two thou sand persons, to whom employment has been given as a result of the municipal ity's plan of furnishing work, to men thrown out of work by resent industrial suspension, today reserved about 16 eaoh for their first week's work. 3aoh applicant under this pjan is ex am4n4 a& to tUa number of persons de. nendtat unen him. and It was found that the average was. five dtpsngeou to eaeji epoMcant. Tbe eneot is moat beaedslal Bjui will Ugbten the. gloom of a jobless enrutwas H many homes. t) . i , ...... ... IPNTJON 'OUANflE OPENS JAN, 4 Treasury Denartjajmt Mado A nouncemwat to This Bffeot, LONDON. Dee. M Tho London Skwk Exefeaarw vyl rea on January i Vh sutoment was mado todny by tte Treas ury. nan cxosb o?r pos tqsht AM8T8BDAX. 0m, .A dUwu, trosa Bwlia oUUs tfcnt a ""-" Rd I Crows x04!Uua, tuntmimm tve owgeons aMUs and AttGfti vUSSUwi. U lJt LUGY DAHLGREN, SOCIAL FAVORITE, TO BECOME A NUN Granddaughter of Rear Ad miral and Member of t , Drexel Family Will Enter Convent at Cornwells. The whirl nnd gaiety of Social llfo are about to be cast asldo by Miss Lucy Dnhlgrcn, 21 years old, social favorite of this city and New York, for the hard work nnd discipline of tho Blossed Sac rament Sisterhood, an order whose mem bers dovoto their lives to work among the Negroes and Indians. Miss Dnhlgrcn mado her debut In Now York In 1012. The young woman Is a daughter of Mr. nnd Mrs. Erlo Dahlgren, of Now York, who wore divorced nearly two j ears ago. At present sho Is Btudylng In tho con vent of St. Leo's Church, in East 29th street. Now York, according to one of her sisters, and sho will enter tho con vent at Cornwells, Pn., founded by Mother Kathnrino Drexel, January "8. News that tho young social favorite was planning Ut follow In the footsteps of other Philadelphia society girls and do voto her llfo to religious work came as a Burprlso to society In this city outsldo her own circle of most Intlmntc friends. Tho report was confirmed today by Mis Dahlgren's mother, whtf Is staying at tho home of Mrs. Wharton Drexel, at Corn wells. Miss Dahlgren's sisters, Madeline, Catharine, Ulrlcn, Olga nnd Eva. also are staying nt Cornwells. Miss Dahlgren Is a granddaughter of the lato Rear Admiral Dahlgren, who mado a fortuno out of his Invention cf tho Dahlgren gun, used In the Civil War. Sho Is a niece of Mrs Harry Leho of Baltimore and Newport, and of Mrs. Charles B. Penrose, of 1720 Spruce street, this city. Her maternal grandfather was the latu Josenh Droxel, who was tho brother of Francis Drexel and Anthony J. Mlsa Dahlgren Is tho oldest of the Dahgrcn Bisters. She was cducatod abroad and In a Sacred Heart convent nt home, and always has .been seriously Inclined. Mrs. Dahlgren sued hor husband for dlvorco In March, 1912, charging Improper conduct but not naming a coiespondent She won the suit. Mr. Dahlgren Is a graduate- of Harvard University and a member of the New York Yacht. Univer sity. Riding and Loyal Legion Clubs, and of tho Metropolitan Club of Washington. Mrs Dahlgren Inherited large fortunes from her father and mother. The Dahlgrens wero mnrrlcd by the late Arohblshop Corrlgan, nnd the wedding was attended by society people of New York nnd this city Formerly they had a country seat at Lawrence, L. I. The convent at Cornwells is operated by tho Sisters of tho Blessed Sacrament for Tnrilnna and Necroes. Mother Drexel -took-tln-velf In'ISOT. -She has contributed moro than a million dollars to ner uce work. Tho sisterhood operates several schools In the Wcet. Mnny of tho teach ers are former Philadelphia girls. According to her friends, MUs Dahl gren formerly had planned to become a Carmelite nun. Sho studied with this object In view for some time, but when she sought to enter learned that she was not considered strong enough for the rig orous life of that order. Members of the family will not discuss her decision to become a nun. They are said to have known for years that she had such In tention. HINT OF WHITE CHRISTMAS Qermantown Gets It In a Slight Slurry In Noon Hour. A light snow storm first noticed in Qer mantown nnd other northern sections of tho city early this afternoon gave prom ise to Philadelphia of a white Christmas. The snow began to fall before 1 o'clock, and a half hour later was coming dpvvn steadily. Earlier a few scattered flurries were noticed In the central and other sections of the city, but they did not con tinue. , Snow Is the one thing needed to make Christmas as picturesque outdoors as It Is In the home. Should the fall make possible sleighing and coasting the merry jingle of sleigh bells and the shouts of children trying out their now sleds will add considerably to tho celebration of the day, GREETINGS PROM BRUMBAUGH Governor-elect Sends Christmas Wishes to 7000 Assistants. "May the spirit of the Christmas tide possess you and abide with you always. M. Q. BRUMBAUGH" This Inscription was engraved on more than 7000 Christmas cards which were sent to every school principal and teacher in Philadelphia and to many personal friends by, Gcjveruor-elect Brumbaugh from his ofttee In the Stock Exchange Building today. PMOD'S HAVOO AT BAGDAD 12,000 Persons Homeless and Appeal Made for American Aid. WASHINqT,0N Dtc. M.-Twelve thou sand residents 'of Bagdad are homeless and without ood as the result of the havoo wrought by the overflow of the River BJlle. Ambassador Morgenthau, at Constantlnoule, cabled o the State De partment today. Mr Morganthau said that the authori ties of Bagdad have appealed to him for assistance. TRIED TO KISS STENOGRAPHER Man Accused by Woman Held Under Ball. Amos Holt, qf HH Rush street, was held In WO ball to, ktep the peaee on a ohargo of assault made by Ml Margaret' Woodingto. of lis North Slat strt a stenographer in hi employ, 'by Magis trate Renshaw today Miss WoodlngtsA alleged (hat Holt tiled to kiss her while she was working overtime in his offlee, m North 7t street. Enflvy Slide Bloek Trains BAM FRANC18O0. Dec ll-teleu eaw U4 in tha Stona. Nevada Moun tains nave 4t?4 all trains lion Ave to ftfUon tmn. At tb summit of UU rang A WM ta rsrt4 4tt fet dp, at Blue (Smsm i Utt, and at Gold Rim I foot. """ 8A.VAMMAM. AUBIMCTA Lffraivtfitt ONE OF GERMANTOWN'S Miss Claire Droughman is one of the five young women in German town who have persuaded their friends that especially at Christmas time it is more blessed to give than to receive. She has collected many gifts for the children of the city's less fortunate. NEWSBOYS AND DEALERS GET EVENING LEDGER FREE TODAY Lads Crowd About Circulation Offices for the Papers, The EvBNiNa Ledger is fur'nlsheil free today to newsboys and dealers through out the city. Newsboys, when they heard the an nouncement this morning, crowded Into the circulation department of tho Eveniko Ledoeu, at Chestnut and Cth streets, eager to depart with arms full of papers. The various district circulation offices throughout the city were crowded In like manner. More than BflOO newsboys and 3000 deal ers are affected by the offer of free papera today. Tho first edition had nqt yet gone to press before hundreds of joungsters In the centre of the city were on hand to be supplied. Many sold their usual complement of papers before they had progressed three blocks from the office of tho Eveniho LEDOEn and came back for more. The newsboys and dealers In the city to whom the offer Is made do business at all advantageous centres froro League Island to Germantown. to Manayunk and Bridesburg.t and from the Delaware River to 87th street and to Darby. Cam den and Tacony distributers also profit by the offer, fJISO IN TURKEYS STOLEN Pour Barrels of Powls Carried Prom Wngon on Curb. Four barrelB of fine western turkeys, valued nt JIM. were stolen from the wagon of A. Friedman, dealer, 313 New Market street, while the vehicle was standing outside the Reading Terminal Market early this morning. Isaao B. Keller, 26H North. Broad street, reports a thief entered his home and stole JIM in cash. The Packard automo bile of Theodore J. Lewis, 212 North 31th street, valued at $3600. was stolen from the front of his home last evening. LAMA'S SHRINE BURNED Sacred Treasures of the Mongols De stroyed in Pire. PBTROQRAD. Dec 2S. A dispatch from Urga, Mongolia says that the Ku tuktu Palace was burned today with alt its treasures. It was the seat of the deified Lama of the Mongols. Russia a Democracy Some striking things about the land of the Ciar are told in a no table article to be published on the editorial pageof tomorrow's Evening Ledger This article Is from the pen of Vance Thompson, whose travels in Russia enable him to speak with authority. With the skill of the trained observer, he points out that Russia, far from being the cruel, oppressive nation it is usually represented to be, is on the con trary democratic, with centuries of democratic traditions and demo cratic habits. Bven the nobility, he declares, is democratic At. Thompson tells of the Urge meas ure of home rule enjoyed by the jwasants and diacvt the effect of the war on the natteo. Place your ordws for the Even ing Ledge? with yew awdalr wy- SANTA CLAUS GIRLS FIVE GERMANTOWN GIRLS ARE PLAYING SANTA CLAUS Have Two Rooms Packed With Gifts Ready ,f or. Distribution. Playing Santa Claus lady has become an exceedingly popular form of Chi 1st mas philanthropy ever since Miss Olive May Wilson, of Jenklntown, and Mrs. M. W. ICetchum, of Kensington, made such noteworthy success of It, but It Is not every community that can boast five Santa Claus ladles all of Its very own. Oermantawn has five. And they nre nil young nnd enthusiastic and get re sultsso much so. In fact, that several hundreds of needy poor will receive Christmas baskets and gifts this year. The Santa Claus ladles of Qermantown are Miss Anna. Miss Claire and Miss Florence Droughman, 870 East Chelten avenue, and Miss Clare and Miss Angela Cano, til East Chelten avenue. Soon after Thanksgiving they started an ani mated canvass among their friends, pre senting to them in their best manner the case of the poor of Qermantown who werp- not likely to have any festivities at all unless there were some concerted action. Now they have two rooms packed with toys, clothing and goodies awaiting dis tribution. Frank Droughman and James Cane, brothers of the young women, have been pressed Into service and will carry the heavy baskets. Automobiles laden with gifts will carry the five feminine Kris Krtngles to the houses they have planned to visit. ' TEST CASE WILL INVOLVE ALLEGED COURT ABUSE Man Declares He Paid S25 for "Wo man's Discharge. A test case Involving what many mem bers of the bench and bar regard as abuse of the Magistrate system will be brought before Judge 8 tank e in January by District Attorney Rotan. Mr. Rotan declared today the decision In the case .will determine whether or not the cus tom which permits one Magistrate to sign a copy of discharge for a prisoner committed by another Magistrate is to continue. Magistrate Renshaw, of the Central Po lice Court, was bitter in his criticism of tbe custom. He particularly was dls. turbed over a case Involving this prac tice which came before him yesterday. Maud Williams had been fined 110 and costs and committed A short time later William J Williams, who said he was the woman's husband, arrived with an order, signed by Magistrate Maxwell Stevenson, for her discharge. Police Sergeant Abbott at City Hall refused to honor the discharge paper be cause it did not bear Magistrate Ren shaw's signature. Williams said a man had approached htn In, a sorrfdor ntar the courtroom and Induced him to go to a law office at Broad and Chestnut streets, There, he eaia, he paid an at tfrney 1M to obtain tbe woman's dis charge. "Here is a lear case of tbe workings of this oustom of one Magistrate un doing the work of saothw,' said Magis trate Renshaw today. "I cannot se how a Magistrate who did not hear a ease and therefore knows nothing ''about it an possibly dlsanargs the defendant In we case." Baaing Indictments Dismissed NEW YORK. Deo. K-IndtotiatBU against 88 persons found by the King County Grand Jury during the antl-reee traoK raigB 01 tne nrst adsuiusUa tlan of QOraor Hugh were ti-Trlifw) today by Ja4ge Dike in Hn County Court of Brooklyn. All the tagdletuwMBU wore U( uh or evtaenee gatliefed by Dis trict Attorney Clark, of Kisvga County. Bejaate Tab- Reeosa Until Doc, 86 WASH1NQTOK. Dec 3. -Toe 8nt at 1 e'efceUt today took a recae ttuul noon Due inter A msium (raw tbe Presi dent infionnBipnntna an uritluu at , for Ux vurosuuM of sm cm hwlVstNt now rMWDptod by the Aiperkaji Consul Sit Havaii. CwW, wa swat xA OFFICIAL WAR REPORTS FRENCH In Belgium wo made Alight progress between tho sea nnd the road from Nleuport to Wcstenda yestetdny, as well ns In the region of Blcenstrante nnd Blxschoote, where we captured a woods, soma houses nnd a redoubt To the cast of Bethune we recap tured, co-operating with the British army, the village of OIvenchy-los-La Bnssee, which had been lost In tho region of Arras a thick fog lessens activity, both on our part and on that of the enemy. To the east of Amiens, on tho Alsne and on Cham pagne thero were artillery combats. In tho region of Porthes-les-nurlus we captured, after a brisk cannonade and two assaults, the last main line of the trenches partially taken on December 21, Wo gained moro than 800 yards. In the last ticnch captured we took a section tff rapid fire guns, both the weapons and men manning them. A violent counter attack wba repulsed. Wo mado equat progress to tho northeast of Bcausejour, where the enemy launched new counter attacks without success. Our troops have maflo appreciable advance In tho for est of Qrurio on n lino of trenches 400 ynrds long nnd 2M yards deep. ' Wo blew up with a mine two lines of acrman trenches and occupied tho excavation. Fighting continues around Bou reutlles. It seems that-it has been Im possible to maintain tho decided ad vantngen which we gained yester day morning. Nothing has happened from the heights of tho Mcuse to upper Alsace. GERMAN Attacks In tho region of Lombnert syde, also BOlith of Blxichoote, were easily repulsed by us. At Rlchebourg nnd L'Avouo the Bngllsh wero again driven from their positions yesterday. Notwithstanding desperate counter nttneks we retained all tho positions captured from tho English between Rlchebourg and tho canal of La Bas- 800. Since December 23 we have captured "M British nnd colored soldiers, flvo machine guns nno four mine throwers. In tho neighborhood of Camp Cha lons tho enemy Is showing greater ac tivity. Tour attacks north of Sllterle. ' southeast of Rhelms .at Soualn and at Perthes we- partly repelled by us with heavy losses to the French. Ihe situation Is unchanged in Bast and West Prussia. In Poland the battlo for Brura and Ralwuka continues. The situation on tho right bank of tho Plllca Is un changed. RUSSIAN In East Prussia the Germans havo been repulsed on tho line of Nelden-burg-Soldau-Lautembergi In Poland the Germans havo succeeded In gain ing u foothold on the lower Bzura, north of Sochaczew. Further to the sduth they havo reached the Ravvkn River and havo advanced beyond Sklernlonlce. toward the east. The AuBtro-Qerman forces are de scending In Poland on a front which runs frpm southeast of Plotrkow to the west of the Nlda. In Qallcla they have reached tho Dunajeo and oc cupied the line Grybow-Smlgrod-Sfinck. An attempted sortlo by the garrison of Prztmysl has been coin- . "plclely repulsed ' On December 21, on the left bank of the Vistula River between Its lower course and tho Plllca River, a number of fierce encounters took place. Among these the fighting on the left bank of tho Plllca developed particularly. In general we repulsed the attacks, inflicting heavy losses upon the enemy. AUSTRIA In the Carpathians we nre fighting south of tho mountain rldgo In the district embraced by the Rivers Nag yag, Lalorza and Ung. In Qallcla on Monday the Russians renewed the offensive without succeed ing In breaking through. On the lower Dunajeo River particularly they suf fered -severe losses. Along the -Nlda River and the dis trict south of Tomaszow there has been slight fighting. The engagements in front of Frzcmval continue. TENER BACKS COMMISSION AGAINST ABBOTT CHARGES Governor Indorses Rats Decision and Lauds Body. HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec O. After reading the charges made by Edwin M, Abbott, counsel for the Philadelphia com muters, against the Pennsylvania Public Service Commission, Governor Tener said: "I have read the charges and petition received today, and find nothing contained therein to convince me that the personnel of the Commission should be changed. The Pennsylvania public service law la admittedly the best In the Un.ted States, and I have every confidence in those who have been appointed by me to carry out Its provisions honestly and fearlessly.' 7 YEARS FOR BURGLARY Negro Bentenced for Robbing Two Dwellings. A sentence of seven years In the county prison was Imposed today by Judge Davis on George Jones, a Negro, who peaded. guilty to having robbed the homes of M, Merrlman, UOS Callowhtll street, and Mrs. Emma Williams, 3C08 Turner street Jones has served four previous sentences for robbery, aggregating seven years. Joseph McLaughlin, who pleaded guilty to shoplifting, was sentenced to the Hunt ingdon Reformatory. Thomas E. Burk hart, of Hazleton, pleaded guilty to the larceny of three watehes from the lew. elry store of John Huzby, lilS Columbia avenue, and was also sentenced to the reformatory. ALFRED HENRY LEWIS DEAD Novelist and Newspaper Han Vic tim, of Bronchitis and Asthma. NBW YORK. Deo. K.-Alfred Hewy IwU, novelist, and one of tbe most able newspaper writers la America, died to day in bis BTtn year He had been IH for three months with bronchitis and asthma, but was thought to bo recovering unlit a few nays ago. whn intestinal coropUoattona developed. A relapse followed and from that time Mr. LwU began to stok. TTJRKET SOB. BVSSY BacPtOYS Viator Talking Maohine Ceaapaay'a Qfartstmaa Ojft. SfcOy-tve tumANd turkeys and IN,M quarts of craalMrriM will be 4luttwtad this vouig by the Victor TalkJs ibn onto Company to U esutloyea a Carli 8MU gifts Tfcorky, wotgfctef tpm ts ta pMAda each, m bought apt cost ejl &,&. by K T MMMMker, pwotasjmjt ueni or " mmfmr Baost Ctowve m ike Area wOl recline tuara ol '-4Uiim KAISER CALLS GERMAN HOS TO BEAT BACK FOES IN WES Heavy Reinforcements Hurried to Belgium and Northern France as Invaders Push Fierce Counter Attacks Upori Allies' Lines. French War Office Claims Further Progress, But Ber Hn Declares Enemy's Of fensive Has Broken Down; Big Krupp Guns Rushed to West Flanders, f The Kaiser Is sending heavy reJff- 0 forcements of men and big guns Co. his menaced western front, according to reports from Dutch sources. JJie French believe that the reinforcing o the German lines is the natural se quel of the pressure exerted by the Allies' offensive, but they admit thai fierce counter attacks, especially along the coast toward Dunkirk, ate to be expected. The French War Office reports further gains for the Allies in the north and to the east of Bethune, in France. Berlin, on the contrary, de clares that the Allies' offensive has broken down before the Germans counter, attacks and that French, British and Belgians are once more on the defensive at most points along the linef particularly in the Argonne region. - Westward movement of tho Russian army has carried one column to Skier niewice, more than 40 miles toward the Silesian frontier, according to an official statement of the Poland situ ation issued by the Paris War Oifice This bears out Petrograd assertions made yesterday that Grand Duke Nicholas already had begun an ag gressive offense, directed to roll back Von Hindenburg's army over its path of invasion. Mastery of the rivers, tributary to the Vistula west of Warsaw, Is the gage of a great battle raging Jess than 40 miles from the Polish capi tal. Passage of the Bzura, Rawka and Pilica must be effected by the main German army before the Ger mans can drive at th?ir objective from Ve cast, their only way of approach now that the movement from Mlawa. has failed.. The, Russian centre vigor ously is opposing General von Hin denburg's attempted advance, and in flicting heavy losses, Petrograd says. The Russians in north Poland arid East Prussia are following the advan tages gained over the Germans at Mlawa and Przasnysr by a fresh of fensive toward Allenstein and Inster burg, in the Mazurian Lake country, and further cast are menacing Thorn. Berlin reports a favorable situation on the Pilica River, where the (fight ing has been heavy, and claims pos session of a number of fords and branches of the Bzura and Rawka, The War Office is silent concerning the, Russian operations In East Prus sia against Thorn. 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