Richmond times-dispatch. [volume], February 25, 1915, Image 1

About Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
IMPORTANT NEWS
of city. State ii nil country rnn
ulna}* br round In thr column*
of
THE TIMES DISPATCH
fUdjnumi ?"imesi3ispalct)
LILLIAN RUSSELL|
Birr* many rnltmMr ntiKgratlona
In hrr dally rlhlont dlnrutnlon*
on the \\ omnn'n I'dkc.
THE TIMES-DISPATCH ;
'loth YEAR
VOI.IIMK ns
m >1111011 r.a
RICHMOND, VA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1915. ?TWELVE PAOES
CLOUDY
PRII^E' 9 r-TTXTTO
ADVERSE REPORT
ON BLAIR PROPERTY!
Newton to Recommend Rejection j
of Site Adjoining Present
Post-Office.
NEW BILL MAY BE NEEDED
Independent Measure Required
to Make $450,000 Available
for Another Site.
According to Information re?lvM
from Washington last night, the report
and recommendation of Assistant Sec
retary of the Trensury Byron R. New
ton on the Bite for nn additional post
office building will be adverse to the
selection of the Mlalr property, at the
corner of Eleventh and Main .Streets,
and against making any Improvements
upon the present Federal building.
Tho report, which will probably be
made public to-day or to-morrow, con
tends It Is Bald, that to purchase the
Blair property and build an annex to
the present post-office would coat the
government approximately $ 1,500,000, '
and that should this large amount he
expended the city would have no bet
ter (facilities fr: handling Its va.it
amount of mall than exist und?T prev
ent conditions
"WASTE OK .MONEY"
TO II f V ADJACENT SITE
Secretary Newton and the officials of
the Post-Office Department are con
vinced, It Is said, that to buy the Elev
enth Street property would be a waste
of money. They are convinced, too. It
Is said, that it will be necessary for
another hill to be passed by Congress
before tho sum of J450.000 already ap
propriated can he used elsewher*-. This
is contrary to a report recently made,
that the Treasury Department bad al
ready prepared an amendment to the
bill to be presented In Congress, and
that the department believed there
would be no difficulty in having th>
amendment passed.
Kut. as has been stated several times,
especially at the' mass-meeting of the
members of the Chamber "f Commerce
recently held In the Hotel Richmond,
th?> report will likely recommend that
,i site he selected near a proposed union
station. Plans for such a union sta
tion, !t was stated at tho ?'''haniln-r's
mass-meeting, have already been
drawn, and a site has been selected in
the West End.
Ml A PPIt OPIl 1 \TIO.N NOW
I .N'TII, EA HI. V IN IlltO
It is certain th.it .1 post-office build
ing in keeping with the growth anil
progress of Richmond will finally be
ercoteil. A* Congress will adjourn
within the next ten day#, however, It
it assured that no approprlat Ion fur
the new building will be made before
lli<' early part of l!?lfit ?n that It will
have. to take It* turn with hundred*
of others for which special appropri
ations have tie. n .inkI'd. At best. there
fore, it will he approximately t h re-e
Venrs before a new building is under
way, and until tha: time the present
appropriation of $4.'.0,00ft will be b.st
to Richmond.
The question of a site for an addi
tion to the post-olllce has long agitated
business rlreles. The original appro
priation of was made for the
purchase of the Blair property, which
was urged by the executive committee
of the Chamber of Commerce as the
best suited for all needs. Experts
were later sent here by the Treasury
Department, and, after an exhaustive
Inspection of the Eleventh Street site,
they reported back that It was unfitted
by natural disadvantages, which could
not be overcome. At the same time
the experts visited other sites, notably
the site at the corner of Eighth and
Main and the location at Seventh and
Main Streets, which, It Is said, they
found to be adaptable. There was
question over the valuation of the site
at Blffhth and Main Streets, but the
property at Seventh and Main, It was
said, would come well within the ap
propriation.
STAItTS MOVEMFA'T
FOR HI VAT, SITE
When it became known that the ex
perts had decided against the Blair
pfoperty, a citizens' committee, headed
by R. E. Maglll, of the Presbyterian
Publlfrtling Commlttoe, was organized,
and bent all Its endeavors to urge an
amendment to the appropriation, so
that It could be applied to the purchase
of any site other than that adjoining
the post-ofllce. Rltter opposition to
this move was aroused, and President
W. T. Reed, of the Chamber of Com
merce, called a mass-meeting of Its
members to indorse the action of the
board of directors In urging the pur
chase of the Blair property.
The meeting was largely attended,
and, after an exposition of the. views
of both sides, the *??te was overwhelm
ingly in favor of the action taken by
the board. Addresses were made by
R. E. Maglll and Postmaster Hay T.
Thornton, both of whom were opposed
to the purchase of the Rlalr property,
and by John C. En sly, John Kerr
Branch and Royal E. Cabell, former
postmaster, who favored the site at
Kleventh and Main above all others.
Mr. Cabell, particularly, pointed out
that. In his opinion, the Rlalr property
possessed all the natural advantages
for a post-o(Tlce building, and said that
it had more natural advantages than
any other site that had been suggested.
Mr. Branch argued In favor of this
site because it is near the principal
banks, and is located In the heart of
the business district. Mr. Thornton
slated that there were difficulties as to
light and ventilation which could not
he easily overcome, and stated that
the floor space would not be. of the
amount absolutely required tinder the
regulations of the Rost-Ofllce Depart
ment.
\bwton toxmtn's
lIEAItlXC IX IHCHMOM)
Following the mass-meeting, a dele
gation from the chamber was sent to
Washington to Interview Secretary Mc
Adoo and Assistant Secretary Newton,
(.Continued on Sovonth Pago.)
BIG IMPORTS FROM GERMANY
Total for January Almost Rqtialn Ktjc
nrm for Same Month In 1014.
NEW YORK, February 24.?January
ImportB from Germany hero almost
equalled the figures for January, 1914.
Increases In aniline dyes shipments
from Germany were a largo factor.
Total Imports from Germany In Jan
uary wcr? $10,070,010. against $10,526,
4 63 last year.
Coal tar colors were received at New
York from Germany during the month
amounting to $1,019,808, compared with
$385,207 In January, 1914.
The heavy fnlllng In Imports from
France, which amounted to more than
CO per cent, was mainly In art works,
laces and cotton and woolen goods,
especially dress goods. As against $2.
133,903 of'Imports of art works In Jan
uary. 1914, only $319,582 were received
last month. Other heavy declines
wero In laces, from $779,156 to $3,172;
In wool dress goods, from $446,527 to
$12,922, and colored cottons, from $495,
649 to $24,457.
The ten-day statement of exports of
foodstuffs for the first ten days of
February shows wheat exports for the
period to be more than three times
those In the first ten days of January,
the figures being 3.364.084 bushels
against 1,032,772. Italy was the largest
taker.
RELIEF VESSELS IN WAR ZONE
Announcement Made !?>? ('ommlnalnn for
ftcllef In ilelgluni.
NEW YORK. February 24.?Four
Relgian relief vessels are now In the
war zone, the Commission for Relief In
Belgium announced to-night. They are
the Ayrnerlc. the L'ganda. the Wabana
and the Strathtay.
The Aymerlc left New York on Feb
ruary 4 last. The l'ganda left Norfolk
on January 29, and docked in Rotter
dam to-day. The Wabana docked In
Falmouth, Kngland. It will be ex
amined by the British admiralty before
it resumed Its Journey, passing into the
mine zone of the upper Channel and
th<* North Sea. The Strathtay is on
its way to New York, having left Rot
terdam In ballast February 19.
Three vessels of the commission will
leave I'nlted States ports to-morrow
for Rotterdam. They are the Ferronn,
out from Baltimore; the St. Kentigern,
from Newport News, and the St. Helena,
from Charleson. S. C. The St. Helena
carries a neneral cargo of 7.00ft tons,
given in part bv the States of North
and South Carolina and Georgia.
KAISER HONORS VON BUEL0W
I!i|trp??fs III* Iruperlnl Thnnkn for.
Glorious Victory In Knxt.
|
BEBEIN, February 24 <via London). |
? Emperor William has sent this tele- I
pram to General Gito von Buelow
"In forced marches, lnstinir over nine i
?lays, on snow-drifted ami Icy roads, ;
your brave troops, shoulder to shoulder
with their advancing comrades In the
north, have succeeded in continuous
battles In breaking the obstinate re
sistance of our opponent, driving him
from German s->il, and surrounding and
defeating him effectively. Thus, with
Your Excellency's time-tried leader
ship, a victory has been achieved which
is more uloiious than nnythim; we
could have desired
"I express to Your Excellency arid
to the troops under you my Imperial
thanks, and my fullest recognition for
the splendid accomplishment. I con - '
fer upon you the Order I'our le Merlte."
NOTED EGYPTOLOGIST DEAD
Theodore M. Ilnvl* I'noim Vnnj nt W. '?
.1. Hrjmi'n I'lorldn Kntnte.
NEW YORK. February 24. ? Theodore
i M. Davis, the noted Egyptologist, died
I yesterday at the Miami Fla., estate,
j of William J. Bryan, where he was
jspendlnc the winter, according to ad- >
| vices received here to-day. He was!
! seventy-eight years old and a nativoj
j of New York Cltv.
Mr. Davis became best known to!
Egyptologists In 1905 by discovering j
In the famous valley of the Kings of
Thebes the tombs of the parents of
Queen Tele, mother and lnsplrer of
the famous "Heretic King" of Egyptian
history. This was hailed by Egyptolo
gists as the greatest discovery of mod
! ern years.
Two years later Mr. Davis found' and
i excavated the tomb of Amen-Hotepi
I "the Heretic King" himself, which ad
i Joined the tomb of Barneses IX. The
i King's tomb was one of the most won
I derful ever found, and literally wasj
! full of gold, the walls, ceilings and
| even the floor being covered with plates1
I of the precious metal.
HIS GOING-TO-WORK PARTY
Youth .Spends >10,000 to Celelirnte Get
ting Job In Hrewery.
f Special to The Tlmes-Dlspatch. 1
NEW YORK, February 24.?A little
"party" that cost JIO.OOO was the way
George Bernhelmer, twenty-one years
I old. to-day celebrated his going to
work at his first Job. Hereafter
! George will report at 7 o'clock in the
| morning at a local brewery. If ho
! sticks to the Joh three months, he will
1 lie made president of the works. All
| of which Is according to his father's
I will. Falling to stick to the Job,
j George will have to worry along on
the Income from an estate valued at
$2,000,000.
GERMAN STEAMER CAPTURED
Ship l.onded With Provisions for Wnr
? hlp I" Selr.ed Itj' Ilrlllsli Cruiser.
MONT E VIE DO. February 24.?The
German steamer Gotlia, loaded with
provisions for the German auxiliary
cruiser Kronprinz Wllhelm, has been
captured by a British cruiser, and
taken to the Falkland Islands, accord
ing to reliable advices.
The steamer Gotha was Inst report
ed as leaving Buenos Aires on Febru
ary 2, with supplies. She is a vessel
of tons and belongs to the North
German Dloyd Steamship Company. She
was built at Bremen In 1007.
.\Slf KV11.I.E, "LAM) OF TilF SKY."
and other Western North Carolina resorts
particularly Inviting In early spring. Varied
outdoor sports. Extremely lov.- fnros. Ex
cellent service. Southern Hallway. Apply
W Kuat MUn Street.
'CONGRESS TO QUIT
WEEK FROM TO DAY
I
Little Hope for Any Legislation .
Except Big Supply
Measures.
CONFERENCE ON SHIP BILL
i
President Reiterates to Senators
Desire That Way Be Found
to Get Some Action.
WASHINGTON', February 2<.?Senate
Democratic loaders conceded to-night
; (hat there was little hope for any leg
! Islatlon except the hit? supply meas
ures tiefore adjournment of Congress
a week from to-morrow, and that there
, was no prospect of passing 'he rivers
land harbors bill in Its present form,
j It is now generally expected that there
will bo substituted for this hill a joint
resolution appropriating approximately
$30,000,000 to continue existing projects
under direction of the War Department.
After a. conference between Presi
dent Wilson and Senators Fletcher aii?l
1 Simmons, there were rumors of a spirit
ed revival of the effort to pass the
| ship-purchase bill, now in conference.
! The President reiterated to the Sen
late his oft-expressed wish that a way
| rniKht be found to pass tlie measure
j before adjournment The Senators said
j they were anxious that a report could
j be agreed upon, but made it plain that
; they doubted that Republican opposl
; tlon could he overcome. Republican
leaders Insisted that they never would
permit the measure to come to a vote
lit any form. Senator Simmons said
later that no report would be made to
the Senate before next Monday. The
[ chief purpose of the conferees, it was
declared, would be to alter the bill in
i such a way as t<? Rain for It the support
of insurgent Democrats.
! CONSKfl VATIO.V I,K(;iSI,ATION
AHK HI T OF QIKSTIOX
Prospects for conservation leglsla
' tion were declared to he out of the
? question. As for the Philippine en
larged self-government measure, it was
understood there might be some chance
of its passage if it could be done with
in a few hours' time. That such a
Dill could pass the Senate without con
siderable debate, however, was gravely
doubted.
Th" Senate to-day passed.the post
offlrc appropriation bill, virtually as It
passed the House, carrying ? total or
approximately J 323.ono.ooo. A recom
mendation of the Senate committee
that the House provision .ixing in'
salaries of regular mall carriers on
standard routes at $1,200 a year be
stricken out. was overruled in the
ntc by a vote of 02 to 10. adding $-.
700 000 to the bill as reported from
the' committee. All attempts to add
new legislation were defeated on points
of order.
The agricultural bill was taken up
to-night.
Increases in the Mouse diplomatic
and consular bill recommended by the
Senate committee includes the addition
of $50,000 to pay 'he expenses of the
forthcoming conference of South and
Central American financial officials with
those of the United States. 1'rovlsion
1? made for a $10,000 appropriation tor
'the International Medical Conference
In San Francisco, and the Hous.- pro
vision of S2:.,000 for the city of Panama
exposition is increased to $75,000.
The Senate committee also inserted
provision authorizing the Presld.-nt
to take necessary steps to secure from
the I'uba.n government reimbursement
of $r,,500.000 expended for the army of
pacification in 1907-09.
Until a late hour to-night the Senate
kept at work on the agricultural bill.
Several disputed items went over for
discussion to-morrow. Including an ap
propriation of $400,000 for distribution
of seed eliminated bv the Senate com
mittee. Senator Martlne served notice
that he would make a fight for restora
tion of the provision.
SHERIFF IS WELL PAID
Since 1003 Receive* Average Annual
Income of ?r>fl,000.
NEW YORK. February 24.?Next to
the President of the United States, the
sheriff of New York County probably
receives more money for his services
than any other public official In Amer
ica. according to figures made public
to-day by I.eonard M. Wallsteln. com
missioner of accounts, in a report to
Mayor Mitehel. Since 1905. the report
says, the sheriff lias received fees
totalling $102,329, In addition to $12.
000 a year salary, an average annual
Income of more than $5(5.000. Half the
fees turtied In to the sheriff's office are
paid to the sheriff.
The report was requested in connec
tion with a proposal to limit the
sheriff's compensation to a salary.
DON'T KNOW THEY'RE DEAD
Hull HonM Men Still n.llf-vr Th?-y
Have Rent Chnnee.
NEW YORK, February 24.?You can't
convince T." R. men of the First As
sembly District here that the null
Moose party is dead. At a meeting to
day County Chairman Robert Elder
declared "It Is not only the livest Issue
In existence, but also the salvation of
the country In getting rid of hard
times." The 1916 election,. Elder pre
dicts. is going to he a Progressive
walk-over.
MARINE OFFICER ENDS LIFE
Captain Hnrrtlng, Former Aide to Presi
dent Tuft, Shoots Himself.
PHII'A DEIjPH! A, February 24.?
Captain A. B. Harding, of ,h(\
States Marine Corps, shot and killed
himself to-day at a club here. The
cause la not known.
Captain Harding was an aide to
President Taft. He was from Illinois.
Recently Captain Harding had been
attached to the office of the Judge ad
vocate-general of the navy at Washing
ton He was married a few months
ago. and his wife was expected hero
to-day.
DEFINITE POLICY
SUGGESTED BY U.S.
Proposals Submitted to England
and Germany Would End Men
ace to Neutral Commerce.
DOCUMENT IS CONFIDENTIAL
Rejection of American Plan May
Result in Embargo on Expor
tation of Foodstuffs.
WASHINGTON. February 2i.?Orent
Britain has submitted to her allies.
France and Russia, proposals made by
the I." dted States. designed to end the
menace t" neutral commerce arising
from retaliatory measures of the bel
ligerents towards each other.
Briefly. the American proposals sub
mitted to lint!: Kssgland and Germany
seek the elimination by Germany of
the recently prescribed war zone, with
Its dangers to neutral shipping, and
the adoption by all tIi?? belligerents of
a definite policy as tc shipments of
foodstuff.-- to the civilian population
of their enemies.
From such preliminary observations
as American diplomatic officials abroad
have mad", there is said to be some
encouragement In the manner <>f the
reception of the proposals at London.
Germany is inclined toward an accept
ance of the suggestions, it is under
stood. but on (Jrea! Britain's attitude
depends the next move.
KI HOIMOAN M-:i Tl? Vl.S
IN ACCORD WITH I". S.
The strong opposition which other
neutrals have assumed toward the re
taliatory measures adopted by the bel
ligerents is playing a considerable part
In the situation. Although the Ameri
can proposals have been communicated
to'other neutrals, it may be said that
virtually all the Kuropean neutrals
are in accord with the L'nlted States
government.
Officials, while reticent about what
has been said to Germany ami Great
Britain, do not deny that the gravity
of the whole situation has been made
unmistakably clear. In some quarters
to-day the suggestion was made, but
without confirmation from sources
usually well informed, that an em
bargo on exports of foodstuffs from
the United States to both the allies
and Germany was being considered in
the event of an absolute rejection of
the American plan for ameliorating the
situation.
It became known that the latest
I communication was sent to Ambassa
dors Page and Gerard at London and
Berlin, respectively, on Sunday after
conferences between President Wilson.
Secretary Bryan nnd Counselor Robert
Lansing. The American government
asked that the document be regarded
for the present as strictly confidential.
III<;|{ oKKici.ii.s <;ivin<;
A 1.1. ATTENTION TO Sl'll.lKl"l'
I licit oflicials arc tri ing virtually
all of their attention to the subject to
the exclusion of such questions as the
Japanese-Chinese negotiations and the
Mexican problems.
While complaints have been few.
sonic ofticials think the most serious
effect of the submarine warfare on
merchant ships anil the restriction im
posed on food shipments has yet to
develop. They believed that if the
present situation continues, American
exports \vlll drop to a considerable
extent
There is no concealment of the feel
ing In high official quarters that if
the present tension over the attitude
of the belligerents continues, and any
American lives are proved to have been
lost as the result of their activities,
the Washington government may be
called on to abandon Its present atti
tude of friendliness toward all the war
ring powers.
While there was no oflleinl comment
to-day on the sinking of the American
steamers Carlb and Evelyn, because of
the absence of definite Information as
to the causes of their destruction. It
Is understood that the latest communi
cation from the l.'nlted States urging
an acceptance of its proposals deals
with the grave dangers to neutral ves
sels that have arisen through the mi tie.>
already laid, and threats to strew more
of the explosives in the high seas.
rkports from <;i-:hahi>
FORWARDER TO l.0M)0\
Ofllclals repeated to the American
embassy at London to-day further
messages received from Ambassador
(lerard and the American consul at
Rreinerhn vert concerning the loss of
i the Evelyn and Carib It is taken for
granted that reports\ at the captains
, fcdlowed instructions \ 'ven them by
? British naval officers, \v..1 b*e brought
. to the attention of the London Foreign
Oflice, so that the British admiralty
: may Investigate the truth or falsity of
| the reports.
I CERTAIN OF PROPOSALS
I XACCKI'TAIIl.H TO (JKIIMAW
BERLIN (via London), February 24
| (Id I'. M.).?The American Identical
! note on marine warfare, sent to (Srent
Britain and Germany Is In the hands
of Dr. von Itethinann-flollweg, Imperial
Chancellor, and Gottlieb von .lagow,
I the German Foreign .Minister.
; The german government Is not ready
| to make public the contents of the
I note, but it Is said they may be re
I garded as the basis for further negoti
ations. Certain of the proposals, as
for example, the removal of the mine
fields around England, probably will
be unacceptable to Germany.
The German government, it Is said,
does not expect that Great Britain will
accept any proposals permitting the
importation of foodstuffs into Ger
, many.
| The I.oltal Anzelger says It learns
! that the American note presents a basis
I for further negotiations.
"Washington," the newspaper adds,
"now takes tip the suggestions outlined
In the final passage of Germany's an
(Continued on Fourth Page.)
TANA MA EXPOSITIONS NOW OPEN.
San Prnnelnco-Snn l)lwi.
The Chesapeake itn?l i?M<> ftalhvay nff>>r*
very low nitew. Many variable routes. |*"or
full Information write John L>. l'ott?, U. 1*.
A., Richmond, Va.
GERMAN SUBMARINE
SINKS BRITISH SHIP
GERMANS DRIVEN FROM POSITIONS;
LOSE MORE THAN 3,000 MEN
WKIIiR thf Tout nrmlrfl of <i?r
ninny and Itunnln nre rentlnic
or flKhtlnK mrrfly to hold whnl
thpj- linve nttnlnni In I'olnnd nnd
along the Kniil I'niMnlnn frontier,
preparatory to rrnonliiK Kenernl of
fensive operation*, tlie nrinlrN In the
Trent have not been Idle. The Inte.Nt
olllelal Mtntenient Innued by the
Kreneh W'nr Oilier de.serllieH nn Int?
portnnt huccchn for the nllleii In the
neighborhood of I,en KpurKen, nlirrr
two <<eruiuti reglmentM, driven from
their poNltlon, lout more tliiin liitlf
tlielr Mlrenictli, or more than
men. Sl\ hundred (?ermiin dend
ni're found rilont; n wmnll Neetlon of
the line ciirried hy the Krenrh.
'I'lie Mtotemeiit iiNo NpenkN of
Nplrlteil artillery ??tiKiiKcmeiitn from
the I.)* to the tvlileh the
Kreneli eliiini hn\e lieen nil In their
fn x or.
Interrnt In tlie Niilinmrliie nnrfnrp
of (leriiinny In llrltiMh nntem In
still tense. although ninoiiK itrltinh
e?|iprlN the toll tnken hy (ierman
mines nnd underivnter eraft In not
coimldered large during the meven
day* In which the t.erninn declnrn
tlon of n vrnr zone linn been In oper
ation.
Apart from .tteamer* "link hy
mine* or torpedoes, the only other
Ionn reported olllelnlly In the HrltlNh
nriueil ?nerehuutniiiu Clan Mnc
Vnii^liton, with twenty ofllcerw nnd
'.'III* men on honrd. Thin nuiillnry
eriil"er In helleved to hnve been
n rn'keil In n Ntorin. nnd her entire
emu plenient loNt,
The nntnl hloeknde hy Kreneh and
llrltlNh wnrNhtpN of (irrnmn Rant
Afrlen In nuuouneed to begin Keh
runry US.
tireat llrltnln olllelnlly nnnnanrrn
thnt three of her nvlntorN who Inst
n rrk assisted In the rnld over
Northern Ilelglum tire mIn.nItig.
A tiermiin newwpnper MtlmntM
thnt t;eruiniiy noil Auitrln mm have
I ,ti;tA.IMM> mir prisoners, nhnut 75
per eent of whom ure held hy lier
ninny.
DESPERATE HST1NCE
OFFERED SI MISSIS
One Corps Repelled Attacks on Four
Fronts I'ntil Strength Was Com
pletely Kxhnusted.
WAS SrHKOCNDKi) |jy (iKltM.WS
I-ought Heroically Against Knemy,
Which Outnumbered It Several
Times?Nearly 50,000 Men Cap
tured in One Month.
PKTROCiRAD, February 21.?The des
perate resistance offered by the Twen
tieth Corps of the Russian nrtny to the
German advance In Kast Prussia. is
described In an official communication
issued here. The report Is based on
'information from "various individuals
belonging to this corps who managed
to escape." The Russian* claim that
although these troops were surrounded
| by a Cerruan army in the territory be
I tween Goldap and Suwalki. they Inillct
j ed heavy losses nn their antagonists.
I hey repelled attacks on four fronts
"until their strength was completely
. ? xhausted." The communication fol
lows:
"The communication of February 21,
which described the unusually dlfllcult
; position of parts of our army corps
i <luring the retreat in Fast Prussia ap
| plied to portions of the Twentieth
j Corps, commanded by Idruteiiant-Gen
jeral r.ulgakott. comprising the twelfth
division and three reserve regiments.
| Communication between this corps and
the Tenth Army was broken on Febru
ary 13, and the corps found itself sur
rounded in the country between Goldap
j and Suwalki by a (iermnn army, which
constantly increased In numbers.
! Ot TM .MIIKIlKl) SEVKHAI,
TI.MKS IIY ENEMY
"This corps fought heroically until
j February 22 against an enemy which
j outnumbered It several times. During
I these days the troops marched about
j thirty-two miles, continuing to force a
J passage for themselves toward the
i southeastern part of the forest of Au
1 gnstowo.
"According to accounts given by pris
oners, our corps Inflicted heavy losses
I upon the Germans, who attempted to
? bar the way, particularly In the lake
j region and the forest near Ghlta.
"Reports Just given by various in
dividuals belonging t<> this corps who
managed to escape, show the corps
i was ready to tight until Its strength
S was completely exhausted, gallantly re
! pelting attacks on four fronts, retaln
| Ing its artillery and taking with It
' many German prisoners.
"Severe lighting continues on the
? right bank <?f the ltobr and N'arcw
' Rivers. Herman detachments which
, took the offensive near Ossowetz on
i February 21 were forced back by the
lire of our artillery. Fighting has been
in progress north of bomza on the
roads to Rad7.Ho wo, Artchotitchlna and
Kolno. In spite of attacks by strong
, forces we hold Jedwahno.
i "A German attack along the
S7.ec7.ue7.yn-Kolno Road was supported
! during the night of February 22 by
! armored automobiles, and was utiiisu
] ally Intense.
A HMOItlCI) AITOMOIlll,ES
assist ix rtEPi i.sr,
"The German offensive continues In
i the Pr7.asnysz district. Three attacks
I upon Prxaaynsz were repulsed, our
! armored automobiles assisting greatly
| In this respect. Their tire decimated
1 the Germans at a distance of seventy
1 Jive paces. On th? road to Plonsk
; some villages changed hands several
' t inies.
"South of the Moghely Farm, on the
left bank of the Vistula, we exploded
mines under a German trench, occupy
ing the dugouts In tho remainder of
| the German trenches. We raptured
j three machine Rims, 'rench mortars
and bombs, and also took a number of
prisoners. The losses to the Germans
caused by the mine explosions num
bered 500.
"In the Carpathians, the Austrinns
bombarded a convent south of Mc7.ola
bore7. with twelve-Inch mortars. We
repulsed persistent Austrian attacks in
i the region of Mlkev. Smolnlka and
I Tiszovlca, ?? nnil Inflicted enormous
| (Continued on Seventh Pago.)
MINE BLOCKADE
IN EFFECT ONE WEEK
Two Norwegian, One French and
Five British Steamers Sunk
or Torpedoed.
OTHERS VICTIMS OF MIXES
i Two riernian Underwater Routs Mis
sing and Another Probably De
stroyed?Nothing Further Heart!
of Operations In the Dardanelles.
LONDON, February 24 (10:32 P. M ).
i ?The German submarine blockade of
j the British Isles has been In effect one
week. The result, so far as Is known.
Is that two Norwegian, one French and
live British steamers have been sunk
or torpedoed by submarines, with the
surprisingly small loss of four lives.
Two of the steamers reached port.
On the other side of the account, two
' German submarines are reported miss
ing a third hit and possibly sunk by a
i French destroyer.
Resides the vessels which fell vlc
i tims to the submarines, two American
and one Norwegian steamers have been
sunk by mines near the German coast,
I and the Swedish steamer Specla and
one or two British steamers are over
due. and It is feared they have been
lost.
Nearly all the steamers torpedoed
by submarines were small and slow
i vessels, and at least three were caught
while at anchor or while barely under
wa\. This fact, with the failure of a
submarine to bit a fast cross-channel
i steamer at which It fired a torpedo,
apparently proves to the satisfaction
of British naval writers that steamers
with moderate speed, which observe
obvious precautions, can escape the
underwater craft, nnd such vessels are
| continuing to cross the seas.
BLOCK A l)E I veil BASKS
l.VSt.'HAN'OE RATIOS
The blockade, however, has Increased
insurance rates, and some neutral
? owners are keeping their ships In neu
j tral waters.
With such conditions obtaining-, the
public In England and In neutral coun
tries are curious as to the latest pro
posal of the American government to
I Great Britain and Germany concerning
j the blockade, and also as to what re
prisals the allies will make to tho
i blockade.
1 In addition to the loss of the mer
: chantmcn. the British admiralty has
! given up hope for the armed steamer
Clan MacXaughton, which has not been
i heard from since February 3. and
which. It Is believed, went down as did
another arinod merchantman, the
j Vlknor, in a storm that struck Eng
lish waters early In the month. The
Clan MacXaughton carried a crew of
; 280 men.
The admiralty also reported to-night
! the loss of three airmen of the forty
who recently raided German positions
along the Belgian coast.
Nothing further has been heard of
j naval operations in the Dardanelles,
j interrupted by unfavorable weather
J conditions, but It Is understood the In
tention Is to continue all efforts to
destroy forts which line the straits.
Otherwise, the Turks, who have been
severely handled In the Caucasus,
Kgypt and Mesopotamia, are being per
mitted to rest, while preparations are
being made by the allies for a power
ful attack against them.
OHSTACIilSS TO IMtKVF.NT
j INVASION OF n I'SSI A
m?
A wireless report from Berlin says
further obstacles have arisen to pre
! vent the Invasion of Russia, and this
| Is accepted by military observers as
! confirmation of reports from Petrograd
' that the Russians are making a suc
! cessful stand against tho invaders
along their fortress line on the north
' ern rivers.
I he Russians, from all accounts, are
; holding back the Austrians In Buko
wlna, and otllclal dispatches state that
^ they have reqccupled the important
J railway centre of Stanlslau.
There has been little or no change, in
! the Carpathians, where lighting has
been la progress for nearly two months.
t<'ontinned on Second Page.)
; "T1IE VKRIIIKST WAV TO 11AI.TIMOltIf.*
I York Hlver-l'ltrx.tponktt Hay. i:10 l?. M.
Only K'.fcO. nnd superior acrvic*. #07 Ea?t
Main Street.
STEAMER OAKBY
TORPEDOED;CREW
LANDED IN SAFETY
Shock of Explosion Felt
Four Miles Away by
Fishing Smack.
BOAT HASTENS TO SCENE
IN TIME TO MAKE RESCUE
The Rio Parana Strikes Mine
Near Beachy Head and Goes
to Bottom.
TIIREE AVIATORS ARE MISSING
English Admiralty Announces There
Is No Report From Men In
Recent Air Raid.
Steamer Torpedoed;
Three of Crew Dead
NEW HAVEN, ENG. Ivtn I.ondon),
February (1:41 A. M.).?The Brlt
fMh Ktrnmer llnrpnllon, from London
for \'nT|)ort Newn without rnrRO
linn been torpo<loo<1 off Henehy Ilend.
Three of the crew, Chlnnmen, vrere
killed. Tvro othern were neverely
nenlded.
Forty-one mfmhmi of the crew
were Innded here.
The Hlenmer llnrpnllon irni owned
by J. nnd C. Hnrrtnon, l.td., of I.on
don. Shf was hullt at Went Hartle
pool In lOIO. She reentered B,NII7
tonn prronn nnd wnn rommnndrd hy
Captain Pope.
LONDON, Februnry 24.?The British
steamer Oakby was torpedoed by a
German submarine off Rye yesterday.
Her crew was rescued by a flshlnR
smack, and Innded at Ramsgatc to-day.
The Oakby was bound In ballast from
London for Cardiff. Wales. She was
struck on the port aide. Her main
hntehes were blown off, her decks were
splintered, nnd the binacle was hurled
Into the air. One lifeboat was
swamped by the Kreat volume of water
thrown up by tho explosion of tho
torpedo.
The fishing' nmnck Gratia, which was
four miles off, felt the shock of tho
explosion and hastened to the scene.
The fishermen arrived In time to take
off the crew of the Oakby, no member
of which was injured.
The periscope of a submarine was
seen before the explosion by the chief
engineer of tho Oakby. An attempt
was made to tow the Oakby to Dover,
but she sank off Folkestone this morn
ing.
The loss of the Oakhy apparently
wiih mentioned in a dispatch from Lydd,
England, last night. This message re
ferred to the torpedoing of two vessels
off Hastings. One sank, but her crew
was saved and landed at Ramsgate.
Tho othor was In a sinking condition,
and a mine sweeper was described as
endeavoring to tow hor into Dover.
The Oakby was 275 feet long, and
of 1,261 tons. She was built In 1S97,
and was owned In West Hartlepool.
STEAMER niO PARANA
HITS MINE AND SINKS
LONDON, February 25 (1:10 A. M.).?
A Lloyd's dispatch from New Haven
says the steamer Rio Parana of Lon
don, laden with coal and bound from
the Tvno to Port of Errajo island,
of Elba, struck a mine near Beachy
Head on Wednesday afternoon.
The vessel filled and sank. The crew
was rescued by a torpedo-boat and
landed at New Haven.
THREE ENGLISH AVIATORS
REPORTED MIS<IIMi
LONDON. February 24 <R:10 P. M.).?
Three nviators who participated In a
raid directed against German positions
In Belgium are missing. A statement
1 to this effect was issued to-night by
| the official Information bureau.
Tho statement follows:
"The secretary of the admiralty re
grets to announce thai In the recent
naval air attacks on the Ostend, Zee
hrtigge and Bruges district, four dying
ofllcers were reported missing. One of
these. Flight Lieutenant L. D. Murray,
1 has since reported himself from Flush
ing. Lieutenant Murray was compelled
to alight on the open sea. and was
eventually picked up by a Dutch tor
j pedo boat.
"Tho three other ofllcers reported
! missing aro Flight Lieutenant E. O.
Kigali. Flight Lieutenant the Hon.
D'Ohrlen and Flight Sublieutenant L.
Spencer. Jt Is regretted that no fur
ther news of them lias been obtained."
Mil,I. SALVAGE CARGOES
OF EVELYN AND CAltlll
WASHINGTON, February 24.?The
government War Risk Rureau, which
Insured the hulls and cargoes of tho
Evelyn and.Oarib. plans to reduce some
of Its losses by salvaging their cotton
cargoes If possible. Secretary Mc
Adoo and Assistant Secretary Peters
discussed such a plan to-day with
President Wilson
Secretary McAdoo pointed out that
cotton was not easily damaged by
water, and ihat salvaging probably
would reveal definitely the cause of
the sinking of tho vessel.
Seoretary McAdoo lusued a statement