Richmond times-dispatch. [volume], April 09, 1917, Image 1

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

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MMIiKIl ll?
RICHMOND, VA? MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1917.? TEN PAGES.
?CLEAR
PRICE, TWO CENTS
?jseveral South American Nations
Expcctcd Soon to Dcclarc
Belligerency.
BRAZIL ON VERGE OF BREAK
If Guatemala Comes In, Will
Help to Hold Mexico
in Check.
I Ry .\s?oclatcl J
Washington, April v~ Early en
trance of scvornI of tho .-'outli and Cnn
tral American nations Into the war
against Germany is regarded lion' as
practically certain. Brazil. aroused by
? he sinking of lirr steamship Parana.
ij| fxjiected t<-? become a belligerent this
week, and ii j?< assumed that her lead
XN"'' I followed promptly by other
countries.
Hcports of divided opinion in Argen
tina have given officials here little en
couragement to look for aggressive ac
tion by that rountrv. Active support
of the United States by at lea.^t two
of the Ave Central American republics,
and possibly by four, would not be sur
prising. Ofllcial and unollb.-ta) reports
'list Estrada Cabrera, President of
'/Maleniala. Is contemplating seriously
? break with Germany, have been re
ceived. >o long as Mexico's course is
undefined unusual interest is atUiched
'o the position of the Central American
government", especially that of Guate
mala, controlling tho southern frontier
ftf Mexico. In the event of the develop
ment of an unfriendly situation in
Mexico, It i?? realized that Guatemala's
role would be far from unimportant.
G l/ATKMA I.A 1IAS
MOST KITII IIO.NT AltMV
In Guatemala. Estrada Cabrera bus
built up what is regarded generally as
the most edicient army in Central
America, and with it he would be In
"'position to lend valuable- assistam;e
to the United States Antipathy be
tween the Guatemalans and the Mex
icans- has- existed for years. It is
known that earnest efforts have been
made by counselors of Cabrera to in
duce him to enter promptly into the
war. Tf be does place his country in
'the )t*? it >?i expected that Nicaragua
will quickly follow, and that the l<>nc
f lauding differences between those two
countries and Salvador and Honduras
may he swept away in a desire to pre
sent a united Central America. An odd
situation would be left in the posi
tion of Costa Pica. There, a new gov
ernment has just been installed, and
has apparently no opportunity of rec
ognition by the United States. l-'ed
erlco Tlnoco. who overthrew tic gov
ernment of Alfredo Gonzale* in .lan
uary, was elected President on April
? Official notification of his election
was received at the State I lepartrnent
yesterday. Tlu* country js at peace,
but prior to the election and immedi
ately after the overthrow of Gonzales
the United states government an
nounced that it would not recognize
the de facto government and would not
rec%gnlze Tlnoco If elected.
IPS OPPOSITION
Ol' NO l (l\>i;i|| KM i:
Some anxiety has been manifestei*
in the probable position Tlnoco would
take, but in case the executives of
the other four Central American gov
ernments join in the w;ir any. ohstrue
'Ton Tlnoco might set tip would !><? of
little consequence.
American official* continue to watch
closely every move in Mexico, but little
real anxiety remain?' It is believed
now that German machinations in that
country have failed, and that the worst
that may be expected from that quar
ter Is a declaration of neutrality.
Invest Iga t ion by officers of the
.Vmerlcan army showed the reports of
German reservists crossing from the
L'nited States into Mexico have been
exaggerated, and that the total num
ber crossing the Hio Grande since the
breaking of relations with Germany
up to ten days ago was not more than
mo.
TAKE ACTION lH'.M A M)KI>
III NATIONAL IHGMTV
I By A?*ocln ted Pres.?.l
ttlO JANEIRO. April S.?The Prcsl-|
rtent of Brazil, l.'r. Wenceslaus Gomel.,
awaits only the. result of an ollicial
Inquiry into the sinking of the Bra-i
7-ilian steamer Parana by a German
submarine before taking action "with
the spirit demanded by national dig- '
n i t y."
This announcement was made late
to-day following a Cabinet meeting at
which the Parana incident and the
situation with respect to the war were
reviewed and discussed. At the con
clusion of the meeting the following
official note was given out:
"At the meeting of the Cabinet, the
President, after having explained (he i
situation created by the torpedoinc of
the steamship Parana and presented
(he facts relative to -this act which
have come to the knowledge of the
government, declared himself deter
mined lo act with the spirit demanded ;
l?y national dignity. lie added that he :
a waited only the result, of. (he official
inquiry establishing the facts and the
circumstances under which the steamer
was sunk.
"The government has instructed the
Brazilian minister to France to pro- '
cj'ed urgently with the inquiry, which
A-ill be carried on by .our consulate at
Cherbourg."
A large number of students carrying
Hie llags of Brazil and (he en(en(e
allies took part in a demonstration to
day against Germany. They visited
the newspapers. where patriotic
speeches were delivered. A demonstra
tion also was carried out against the
German consulate, (he students singing
the "Marseillaise."
At.I. ni ll.IHXGS Ml ST
T)I.?I?I,AY A M Kit If'A V PI. AG |
'jPOINTK A PIT It R. GUA DA LOUPE.']
April A proclamation lo all mayors,
on the island was issued yesterday by :
(Continued on Second Page.) I
Congress Faces Gigantic
Task?n Getting Country
| Prepared for Conflict
(/'undsMustI3e/*ound, and
Military and Naval
Forces Built Up to
War Strength.
??> i.. i;i>Mt\i?s.
WASHINGTON. April c The serious
j work of Congress for tlic upbuilding
of the military ;,mj naval forces of
the United states for the coming strug
gle against .he imperial Herman em
pire W||| begin- win, th? resumption
or III.' .-e.--.sion of the two houses to
morrow. since I he passage of the rcs
?**?? ?'? state of war to
ex im. the House Itself has rested while
the various committer of that ho.lv
; iia\ mg in preparation the hills for the
increase of the national treasury bal
ance. iho creation of a modern armv
o" a wat footing. the Increase of the
nav>. the doubling of the Marine <-orp?.
.m.l for the fortification of the Judk-iarv
with adequate and drastic legislation
again*' the treasonable conspiracies
and the activities of spies have, labor
ed lone Into the nights. To-morrow
rind them ready for the open dis
cussion of a majority of the nccessarx
measures
-OMKTIHN*. |\ \ vi l KK
?. ?>??* MOW I'MOCKIJI Id-;
ctbii.p t,?. na|Ur#, ?ew I>ro.
' ure in the matter of handling the
new and stupendous necessary war ap
propriations will I... take,, ,',p in 'lhe
, Mouse. The Appropriations Commit
tee will assume a new function a?
hn.lget committee for the whole war
appropriation, 'lhe administrative fea
ture* of the army and navy lcKi.sla
lion will be undertaken ?s usual by
the Committee on Military and Naval
Affairs, but the Appropriations <'om
iii 11 tee will participate in the work of
allotting the funds for the two branches
"f the fighting forces This relieves
H.e Military Affairs Committee of ;i
vast amount of the f|etu? of prepara
tion and review of the war expendi
tures and leaves it free to th.j draft
ing of the two bills establishing a mod
ern army; namejy, the compulsory mil
itary training- measure, which is to be
a matter of permanent practice in na
tional affairs, and lhe immediate con
scription bill, proposed l.y the admin
istration to replace the volunteer svs
tein.
I here is undoubtedly much opposi
tion In the Mouse, as well as in the
Senate, to both measures. The con
scription lull is ?-aid to l.e particular
ly unpopular with :< certain group of
legislators. To a smaller faction also,
a little croup who coivtit in ?? them
selves a sort of antimilitaristic party
1" ."'Mi.- affairs, the universal mili
tary training measure is also distaste
ful. It Is n.it believed, however, that
the opponents of either measure fn
either house of Congress can muster
Mimcient numerical strength long to
halt either enactment.
It Is certain that ihr emergency
army measure, the conscription bill,
will receive first consideration in th*
II.ill: e as well as in the Senate. While
the Military Affairs Committee .sup
ports its bill on Ibe rtor.r. the Appro
priations Committee will summon :o
its hearings CaMnet oillcials and bu
reau chiefs with a view to rushing
tbrotigh the war supply bills.
.Mr.ST pit TRKAM It *
"V w m rooTixn
I non the shoulders or the Ways and '
Means Committee of the Mouse will
devolve the task of putting the treas
ury on a war footing. The issuance
of the n.nnn.onn.nnn and more of credit
must be taken enre or a- once There
after will come the bills for increasing
taxes to meet the interest pavment*
on this issue. Thus far not a word
has escaped from the Ways and Means
1 oininitt.ee as to the means which it
proposes to employ m practically,
doubling lhe revenues of the govern
ment. n js assumed, however, by
those associated with Chairman
Kitchin and his colleagues that the
Principal increases in present taxation
will come in the ii.oorne tax. the ex
cess profit tax. the Inheritance tax
with here and there an advance in the
custom duties and certain special taxes t
In the internal revenue section of the
existing statutes.
POWEIt OF .\0>IIM?rvTj.vnov
'?'I I.I.V ItKlllxn HI I.I,
^ ASH I.\C;TON. April s.?The full
power Of the administration will he
Placed behind the emergency army bill,
which has been submitted to Congress
ns a means of raising the flrsi line of
I.1!00.000 men for immediate land ser
vice. It was staled at the War Hepart
me.it to-day. Roth President Wilson
and Secretary of War Maker will give
their unqualified support to the meas
ure. Congress will be told this week,
that the army hill must be put through
at once if ihe Wjlr p|a| s #rc {f> ^
through unhampered.
Army ofilcers wero particularlv well
satisfied to-day with .he statement of
Secretary of War Baker that the se- !
ective conscription plan embodied In
he bill n,?;;t be adopted, because there
is no alternative if an eflleient and ex
tensive land force is to be organized.
Hie statement was accepted as the end !
of the long fight of tne civilian chiefs
of the \\ar Department to maintain1
the time-honored volunteer svslem
Complete plans for the organization:
of ihe new land> force, with the rcgn- 1
,i* r army and militia ?t wnr s,rftnR(h ,
and an immediate Increment of f.00.000 '
men for the national army were pre-I
P?rod by the War department. The'
regular army and lhe n.illtla will serve
as a training force for the flrsl r.fio.nno i
men. and as additional increments are I
called for In similar numbers, the!
training force will be recruited from !
the first 500.000. Th- training will be!
given at . amps jhrong,,o,,t the conn- ,
(Continued on^ThlTdl^e") '
First Sunday of War
Passes Very Quietly
f By Associated l"rcs? I
\ i;\\ VUltK. \prll s.?i:n??ter. Ihc
firm siituliiv i ? r Ihr ?11 r. iinoord
Oil lei I y lirrp to-tla.v. Tlic mil? iml
unril indications flint tin* nation nn<
In ?-r?tifli<<f nllli n I'iirrign f'"' wrrc
tin- ?|irlnU liilK ?l ultw ilrnl) 11 n i ?
furuik anionic tin* KH.vl.T i;ii?iirrt pa -
railer* nloni; l-'tflti \\riiiir, een*e
lr<?H actl\lty nt the reeriiiflnc Hn
11 link. tlir ntenilv I rniiiplnc ?f
Riuirili stationed al st ratorient
point* mill priijcr* iilTercit at all
?huroben far llliliir uuidanrc fur
Hip nation In llie prmrnl prNU.
'I'll'- ?nrk ?if prrtinrliiK tlic cltr
far IiomI llltle* ncnt on without In
terrupt Inn. wlillr eoi rrnnir nt ncents
continued tlirir nctliltlr* In rim
iilticr iloitn nuwpectcil alien*.
WILSON SENDS CORDIAL
GREETINGS TO POINCARE
Delightful (<> Know, Me Says, That
I'taiift! Gives Sut'h Wcieume
Into Lists of ltattle.
I'AIITXKKS FOR. Rift NTS OF MAX
Former Premier of Italy anil Fifty
Seven Other . Deputies Acrlahu
President's Message as Awakening
Xohlest Instinct of Free Nations.
W A.SIIIN'tiTOX. April >. The reply
of President Wilson to ih<- felicitations
ami expressions of gratitude from Pres
ident I'ol tica if-, of the Frejich repub
lic, over America's entry into the war
for the destmetion of Prussian autoc
racy was made public at thp White
lJou.se to-dav. The President said:
"In this trying hour, when the des
tinies of civilized mankind arc in the
balance, it has been a source of grati
fication and joy to me to receive your
congratulations upon the step my coun
try has been constrained to take in
opposition to the relcntles? policy and
course of imperialistic Germany. It
is very delightful to us that France,
v-no stood shoulder to shoulder will.
up of the Western world in our strug
gle for independence, should now give
us such welcome into the lists of bat
tle as upholders of the freedom and
the rights of humanity.
"We stand as partners of the noble
democracies whose aims and acts mal.e
for the perpetuation of the rights and
freedom ?f man. and for the safeguard
ing <>f the true principles of human lil>
crt ies.
"In the name of the American peo
ple. I salute you and your illustrious
count rynien.
"Will iDIP >W WllrfON."
it \ i.i \ \ i)i-:iM?Tit<:? Am. mm
I'lll'.MIIKVrS \\ \lt 1H>s.\(.|;
The White House to-night announced
the receipt of a cablegram from form
er Premier l.u/.ata and fifty-seven
other Italian Deputies at llome, ac
claiming President Wilson's war mes
sage to Congress. The message reads:
"Vnur message, with its ideal beaut>
and its political contents, brings i
back to that dawn of civilisation when
the United States, inspired by Wash
ington. guve to the oppressed peoples
of ICurope and of the two Americas
the fruitful example of their redemp
tion. Your message is not addressed
to the United States alone, but to all
humanity, and awakens noblest in
stinct among free nations. Your mes
sage is the hymn of freedom. Italy,
who. by toilsome slavery, learned to
love a free and national government,
and who. having experienced the bit
terness ?>f evil governments, longs for
the liberation of all peoples groaning
under despotic rulers, thanks you and
acclaims you. and. in you, acclaims the
great republic of the United States."
p.\itis s i:\ns r.HKr.TiMis
TO L'MTKl) STATUS IITII.S
WASH I Nt STOX, April S.? The greet
ings of the city of Paris lo all the
cities of the United States came to the
State Department to-day in a message
from Adrian Mithouard. president of
the .Municipal Council, saying:
"At the hour when the United States
is in turn constrained to defend its
liberties against the foes of mankind,
r send the greetings of Paris to all
the cities of the Union. For two an 1
a half years our friends in America
have been dressing our wound.?. The
gratefulness we owe them is strength
ened by a new bond in the brother
hood of arms. The decision of the
United States gives It final meaning
to this war of the law of nations. Tne
whole universe cries for justice, and
it will bring us extreme joy soon lo
see your Star-Spangled Banner waving
on our land, defiled by German out
rages."
tiltATIKYIM; It KPOUTS ?>\
ur.irvvioit or <;icitMA\s
i Itv V^MH'l.'iteil Press.>
\\ ASIIIXOTOX, April S.?Gratifying
reports have been made to the Depart
ment of Justice from its agents in all
parts of the country on the behavior
of Hermans and German-Americans
following the declaration of a slate of
war between the two nations.
The ' Attorney-General and Assistant
Attorney-General Warren, in charge of
plot investigations, conferred with
President Wilson late I h Is afternoon
and discussed with him' the activities
of Germans in Ihe United States and
in Central and South America.
Although some report." have indi
cated that German employees are in
(Continued on Second Page.)
RAIDER REPGRTED
1 IN SHIPPING LANE1
Mysterious Craft Again Is Sight
ed Off Nantucket.
Lightship.
NEWS PASSED BY CENSOR
Believed Lneniy Vessel Cannot
Long Evade Coast Pa
trol Fleet.
' H v 1.11ivI '. ?
r.OSTOX. April v A su: pici'tus. vc?*
sc! off Xa lit Msrlitslii|? \\a* ro
ported Jo the I !*j -ton Navy-Vanl by a
Mritisli vossfl to-da y. The radio mes
sage, as announced by lieutenant Kd
ward <!. T!!akf>'l"p, district* <'011111)11111* ?
cation superintendent of the ,\.-u Kng
land radio district. -aid
"Sight auspicious vc>i-pi fir object
forty miles south. d' cifp? west,
true. from Nantucket tight ve-sej, at
3:1" to-day.
(Sisnc?i> -p.kitisii VICSSKI.."
I.ater the position of the mysteriou*
vessel whs given as latitude U'lri
north. longituoe west, almost due
south from the shoals
*i;roM> "it\un:i(" iicimmi i
in ?rwKNTV.nu II HOI |?s
"1*1??- icport of a mysterious craft in
the .steamship lane to Kurope wa? the
second to be announced ofSii-ially
within twenty.four hour?. Yesterday,
the lightship sent word <?!' ".1 com
merce raider" of 10,'nin iorr burden
passing west. Whetlfr the craft
sighted to-day was the same one naval
officials declined to state. The cen
sorship. which was lifted momentarily
to a.low shipping: to receive warning
of danger. was at oin e damped down ?
t isht Iv
Conditions t<.-day were much more
favorable for observation than they
were yesterday, when the war-gray
"raider" loomed out of the fog for a
moment and then vanished in the thick
mist The air to-day was clear, and
{ shipping- men expressed the opinion
that any enemy ship playing- a same 1
j of hide and seek with the coast patrol
fleet would be on the losing- end.
| The Nantucket shoals are only eigh
ty-five miles cast of the naval base
at Newport, and commerce raiding
could hardly be curried on with the ;
boldness that characterized the oper
ations of the Merman war submarine }
L"-">3 last October.
HKPOIITS OP II \ limit
si nk oi-'f \ wn ( lurr j
Whether because all the chances
were against an enemy ship plavine
a lone liand at the war game now or
whether there exists a foundation of
truth, there were reports to-day front;
widely separated sources that a raider
had been sunk off Nantucket. One ru
' or has it that the raider had been
sunk by a destroyer. Another said
that she had been sent to the bottom
by one of the American ?uhmarines.
To queries on all such stories, naval
men had only one answer: "We can
say nothing about it "
No reports of any victims of a raid
er in these waters have bec-n received,
so fai as known. Prompt action by
the navy yesterday 111 getting all ship
ping under cover the instant a sust
picious-look inc ship was sighted, ef
fectively cleared the coast of prey for
a foreign warship. L'nder the more ?
favorable conditions to-day, with pa
trol boats having- a wide ra?ige of i
visibility, shipping moved more freely.
Captains and masters of merchant
vessels received instructions to-day to;
report promptly to the naval aiithpri
' ies through the nearest radio station }
or by other means the presence of sub- j
marine or mysterious vessels. Kull de
tails are requested in order that pa- j
trol boats may be directed on the |
search with 110 loss of lime.
ELECTIONS PROVIDED
ICmperor William ItlrrclM Hcfornts for
t. or ninny at Knd of
W11 r.
I Ity A-sm luted Press. I
AMSTKItliAM. April 7 < via I.oudon.
April S).?Direct and secret election of
Deputies in Prussia at the end of the
war is provided for by Kniperor Wil
liam in his order to Chancellor von
Pethmann-l lollvveg directing: reforms
in the Prussian electoral law. lie de-i
(dares that "in view of the gigantic,
deeds of the entire people, there is no
more room in Prussia for elections by
the classes."' In connection with this
phase of his proposal, Kmpcror Wil
liam said:
"Reform of the Prussian I del and
liberation of our entire inner political
life arc especially dear to niv heart,
l'or the reform of the electoral law
of the lower house, preparatory work ,
already had been begun at my request j
at the outbreak of the. war.
"1 charge you not to submit to me
definite proposals of the Ministry of
.State so that upon the return of our
warriors this work, which is funda
mental for the internal formation of
Prussia, be carried, out by legislation.
In view of the gigantic deeds of the
entire people there 11. in my opinion,
: no more room in Prussia for election
1 by the classes.
"The bill will have to provide fur-j
titer for direct and secret election ?>f
Deputies. The merits of the upper
house and its lasting significance for
the state,, no King of Prussia will
misjudge. The' upper house will he
better able to do Justice III the gigan
, tic demands of the coining time if it
unites in Its midst, in more extended I
| and more proportional manner than
I hitherto, from various classes and vo
|c-sinus of people, men who are r?
[ spcelcd by their fellow-citizens."
TO ASK FIRST YEAR
FOR $6,750,000,000
U. S. Settles Down to "Watch the Fleet"
as War Measures Are Being Prepared
\\ \>lll\I.TIl\. A |iril S.?'Hit no
tion In-niiclit settled ilin-.n to "Miilrh
(lie IIpcI" :is I'rcsidcnI W ilvm. hi*
P\Of1lli?o Unite mi n I * mill the I mi
Stress prepared for Ilic louu drl\e Io
nirry out the stupendous ?nr plan*
which lunr licru nuriM'd ti|>oti. The
lirst rrnl "imr iipiu," Washington
lii'llr?r?. will conic from "soiiipii lierr
In the A I Inn tic."' hIii-it t li c Aincr
li'lin umml flprl In under \mr iirdori
kliroiidrtl In m>strrj.
\o nuril no to the disposit ion of n
sin?;lr mill of t Itr licet will III' uiti'ti
out nt thr \n\i Department. .Sccrc
lnr> llmiirN ?ri 111 t o-nish t. nnlll
llirrr it definite ni'?n of actunl oc
currence*. Tlie censorship will lie
ric III I v maintained until nn actual
rim IIC OHIO lit of imiir Mori li nn tiiUrn
place. mill rifii llieu tlie iiimnuncr
mrnt may lie delated. Meantime,
Vnirrirn'* urn nl fnrce I* ill sen mill
ready for ni'tion. tilirtlirr It lie
nuniiiHt the submarine iiiciiiii*c tlint
strihrs in tlir dark or In'rnian
rnidcr* skulking In the hrnnT* of
tlir ?i>vpn sens.
\ll dnj tin* ofllces of tin* \ni y l)r
pnrlment Inixxril and siiiik with the
activity tlint attends the direction of
n mir fieri. Admlrnl llcnson. chief
of unvul ope rut ions. u ml his stall'
Here nt tlirir desks I li rim k ii on t tlir
dn>. mid for ii timr Secretary llanli'li
kept tlteiu company. Tlir urcrplnrj
said 11??li Itrli t tlint tlir ilr part incut
hud received no n III mini I \ c nnv* of
tlir iM'litity ?f ii (?rriiinn rnldrr in
the \ tin ii tic. Thr urcrrlnry likr
h Im- dritlrtl u scries of sensational
rumors of tin* destruction of \nrious
\ou*rii*nn nnmliipii which floodril
Washington iliirinK tlir rill.r.
\* I In* iini.i?tlir nation's lirst line
of defense?prrpnrril for action. Ilir
dri>,* for suprrprcpnrcdiirsn urnl on
with rrilonlilril rncruy.
Tlir mii ,i ollicluls uorkril on tlir
d r i ii I l**il plniiK of i'11-npprfltiun he
lnri'ii thr \ mcricn n ' nn v y mid thr
llrt* t? of thr rntrntr power*. anil
complete n rriinBcmcu Is for puttlnc
till* i-o-opr rn 11 * r plan* Into rft'rrl
?rri* nuidr.
I lie precaution* tnkrn to mrct thr
runny within thr cntrs lirnuisht
nli ii ml nut result*, accordion to re
ports from nil oicr the llcpnrtment
of Justice to-ilny. In the neluhlior
hootl of :;tltl nrrents of (?erninn aliens,
for tnrious nnti-Anierleiiu activities.
?eic rrportril to thr ilrpnrl mrnt Ha
n result of the spy driiKiirt which
lii'Bnn to sweep the country n> noon
ns thr President issued his procln
ni III io n rr mi In t i n c the conduct of
eiirni y n Ileus. The depart men t lir
i* lined io iniike miy detailed uii
nouiieeuieiil ns to the arremt* iniiile
or the possible scope of future op
erations. hut II nun stated that the
secret agent* of the (government
iierr satinllrd with thr results of
the nutispy campniRn to dnte.
U. S. NOT TD BE HRNIPERED
WITH LABOR DISPUTES
A<-ti?> 11 of .National Drfense Council
Committee >1oaiis Complete Free
tlom From Strikes.
GOMPERS HACK OF PROMISE
Legislatures of States Urjjed to Rele
gate* Powers to Governors to Sus
pend or .Modify Restrictions Which
Might Hinder Prosecution of War.
I By AfHoclatcil Press. 1
WASHINGTON. April S.?No strikes
or lalior disputes of any Kind dutinc
the war is th(> program of tho labor
committee. of the Council of National
Defense advisory commission, headed |
l).v Samuel Clonipers. president of tlio
American Federation of l,al>or.
In a report unanimously adopted by!
the council and commission, ami maile
IMlblir to-night. the committee declares
"Ilie defense and safety of the nation
must be the tirsl considcration of all
patriotic citizens," and proposes that
whenever emergencies arise requiring :
;i i haiiKe of standards, such changes \
should he made only after investiga- j
tion and approval by tlie Council of
National Defense.
Tills action is interpreted as giving!
the United States promise of complete!
freedom from industrial disputes such j
as hampered Knsland early in the war. J
NO I'ltA VfiR WITIKttT
CUM MISSION'S MMMtO\ At.
The committee's report, in part, fol
lows:
"I. That the Council of National I'c
fen^e should issue a statement to em- '
ployers and employees in our Indus* ;
trial plants and transportation systems!
advising' that neither employers nor
employees shall endeavor to take ad
vantage of the country's necessities to
ehange existing standards. When eco
nomic or other emergencies arise re
? tuiriug changes of standards, the same
should he made only after such pro
posed changes have been investigated
and approved by the Council o." Na
tional Defense.
That the Council of National De-j
fense urge upon the Legislatures of .
the States, as well as all administra- j
tive agencies charged with the enforce
ment of labor and health laws, the
great duty of rigorously maintaining
the existing safeguards as to the health
and welfare of workers, and that no.
departure from such present standards,;
in State laws or State rulings affect
ing labor, should be taken without dec
laration of the Council of National De
fense that such departure is essential;
for the effective pursuit of the mi- ;
tlonal defense.
i itt.KO to i?i:i.i:t.A'ri:
rowr.it to tiovKKNoits
"P.. That the Council of National De
fense urge upon the Legislatures of
ihe several States that before Una! ad- 1
journment they delegate to the Cover- .
nors of their respective States tlie
power to suspend or modify restrictions
contained in their labor laws when such
suspensions or moditicat ions shall be
request'cd by the Council of National
Defense: and such a suspension or
moditicat ion. when made, shall continue,
for a specified period and not longer
than the duration of the war."
The council hopes that the last pro
posal will result in flexible regulations, j
particularly those relating to hours o'
labor which the council might deem re-'j
strict ions to proper prosecution of the
war.
? - ? - - - - ?
Storm WnruiiiKM ItMiiril.
i Hy Ansutriiited Press. I
WASH INtSTON, April S.?Storm warn
ings were ordered to-night from Caps
llatteras to Nantucket. .The disturb-!
a nee was reported by the Weather Bit-!
reati as central near Cape llattcCQs, j
moving northeast.. 1
REAL REIGN OF TERROR
Dark Moments of French Revolutions
\o Worse Than Conditions
Now Existing.
MUX AKISUD ANI) >1AIiTUKATED
I'rivate (.'onimunictttions of Anicrlenn
Otlicial in Hclghim, Made I'ublic
by State Department, Rccite Hor
rors Practiced by German Masters.
I B> Associated l'rc?s.)
WASHING TON*. April S.? A story of
the horrors of German military rule
in Hclghim ami of the torture* in
flicted upon Relgians to force their
labor for their enemies was revealed
here to-night in hitherto unpublished
'.etters to the government from an
American official who spent many
months in the midst . of the reign of
terror.
Of tlio Germans* explanations that
they deported only the unemployed
among the eonquered people, this ofll
cia I says:
"They needed skilled and active arti
sans. ami these men were naturally
still employed. The authorities did
not. evidently, dare to announce their
re;iI intentions."
"ISeigium at this moment." says a
letter written in December, "is coing
through a reign of terror. Tt is hard
to believe that the dark moments of
the French Revolution were very much
worse than the conditions of which
we are now the witnesses. With each
in out h that we remain, the net is
drawn tighter and tighter around the
population. The entire country is
more or less one great internment!
camp. To obtain permission to go for!
a breath of liberty and neutral air in |
Holland or Switzerland is now praeli-l
??ally impossible for Itclgin us. and even1
for neutrals.
"An uninterrupted series of trials for!
espionage are being conducted in va- ?
rious parts of the country . . but ;
above everything else at the present!
moment towers the nightmare of the
deportations. Kven the Austrian rep-1
resentative here had words of apology j
and even blame for the policy, and in j
defense could only refer to the alleged j
ill treatment of Germans in Russia."
WII.SOVS I'll(ITKST OK
t.ltKAT MOItAI. \ A lit K
("resident Wilson's "splendid protest"
against the deportations, the writer
says, was of great moral value. "It
is really pitiful to see bow the Itel
gians look to America in a crisis like)
this." lie continues, "but* the deporta
tions continue without any apparent;
serious modifications.
"The fashion in which any given re
cruitment is carried out depends very |
largely on the character of the officer
in command. Some proceedings pass
ofT in order"y manner, and others in a
disorderly fashion. A Ruard of Uhlans'
is generally necessary, sometimes
backed with machine guns. At times
it is thought necessary to charge the i
watching crowds,
"Various methods are employed to
force the men to slpn and work.
Starvation is the most prominent.
Men are also said to be placed in an
excessively heated room and when In
a great sweat thrust out of doors. In
ternment at a prison c?mp at Reach (?),
near Minister, is likewise reported.
There the men are said to be gravely
abused and mistreated.
". .' In'Ghent it is learned con
fidentially that men have died from
Ihe effect of the treatment or work re-i
ceived. in more than one case the
\s ife was summoned to the command-;
atur and handed ?i bundle, b'f clothes
with the laconic remark. "Your hus
band is dead.' Many of these persons
are supposed to have been killed by
the artillery tire of the allies, as they J
(Continued on Second Pace.)
NEARLY ONE-HALF
OF THIS AWIOUNT
AS LOAN TO ALLIES
Congress Must Raise $1,
750,000,000 by New Tax
ation Measures.
COUNTING ON BOND ISSUE
FOR SUM OF $5,000,000,000
Entire Issue. Term of Which Is
Not Yet Fixed, to Bear 3T4
Per Cent Interest.
PICOMPT ACTION IS KXPKCTKD
Indications Arc That Program Will
Meet With Overwhelming Sup
port in lloth Houses.
l Hy Associated PfCf-.l
WASHINGTON. April. S.? President
Wilson's polity, outlined in his ad
1 dross lo Congress. of paying' America s
j war bill, so far as possible, while the
j war is being waged, leaving a mini
! mum debt to posterity, was reflected
' to-night in a virtual decision l>v lead
i ers- in the Mouse and Senate to rai ;i
50 per cent of the tlrst year s cxpendi
. tines l>y taxation.
? Under this program. Congress will
be called upon to raise war revenue to
the extent of $ 1.750.000,000 through
| new and increased measures of taxa
tion during the tiseiil year ending June
;tu. 191S. This is exclusive of the
J5.000.000.000 bond issue, authorization
; for which will be sought of Cong reals
this week. The total demand upon
, the financial resources of the country
i during the tlrst year of the war under
I this program" would be $<5.7.10,000.000.
1 of the 55.000.000.00ft to he raised by
a bond issue. $",000,000,000, It was deft
j nltely stated to-night, would be loaned
lo the entente allies. The entire issue,
j Mouse and Senate leaders have acreed,
will bear interest at the rate of a'/b
per cent. It is proposed to make the
| loan to the allies at this interest rate,
which is lower by far than the rate
they have been compelled to pay on
their previous issues.
to iioi.n sa.nno.ooo.oon koh
A ID! V AM) NAVY WOUK
After the entente governments have
been granted the loan, the plan is to
hold ihe remaining $".1.000,000.OUU of the
$5,000,000,000 to be applied on the cost
of the military and naval establish
ments and other war expenses of the
United States. Indications are that,
with the new war revenue measures
in effect, the full amount. 52.000.000,
000, would not be entirely exhausted at
the end of the first year.
In requesting authorization for *
$5,000,000,000 bond issue, administra
tion leaders have in mind the necessity
of allowing for a slight margin of
safety, so that the work of the War
and Navy Departments would not be
handicapped by a lack of funds due
to the possible failure or proposed tax
measures to raise the entire sum of
50 per cent desired.
The term of the bond issue is yet to
be fixed, and there Is a possibility that
authorization for the issue will be
planted by two acta of Congress, rather
than one. The proposal that Congress
authorize immediately the issue of
$3,000..100.000 in bonds to finance a loan
to ih.? allies and afterwards take up
the request for $2,000,000,000 for the
army and navy is considered.
Indications are strong, however, that
Congress will bo asked to authorise
the $5,00 0,00*. '*00 In one. lump sum.
Legislation to this effect will be con
sidered by the Ways and Means Com
mittee within the next day or so. and
probably will be reported to Congress
for action before the end of the week.
Ki ll kin IN ("HAIMiH I M.I'.SS
in*, asks to hi: nm.ir. vr.o
To Chairman Kitehin, who was
called to North Carolina and. there
fore. was not consulted with reference
to details of the proposed legislation,
will fall the honor of carrying through
hi the Mouse the administration's im
mediate financial problem. Recalling
Mr. Kitchin's opposition to the war
resolution, members of the committee
are prepared, however, to relieve him
of this duty, should be personally op
pose the plan. Ill that event ii prob
ably would devolve upon representa
tive Rainey. ranking majority member
of the committee, or Representative
Mull, of Tennessee, to carry through
the program.
In the Senate the Finance Committee
is preparing to study the measure
closely as reported by the Ways and
Means Committee in the Mouse, with a
view to reporting it promptly to the
Senate.
Indications are that the administra
tion's financial program will meet with
overwhelming support in both houses.
Considerably " morn time. it is
thought, will 'he consumed In the pa?:
s.tce of the war revenue measure to
follow. Sentiment in Congress, appar-.
ently crystallized In support of the
program of advancing an onormou*
loan to the allies, varies greatly as
to the methods to be pursued In rais
ing revenue through taxation. With
I be bond issue dMiosod of, the n?*ii
for war revenuo legislation also would