Evening star. [volume], August 24, 1915, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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No. 20.054. ~~~ WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1915 -SIXTEEN PAGES. * * ONE CENT.
GERMANY ASKS U. S.
TO DELAY DECISION
IN THE ARABIC CASE
Ambassador Von Bernstorff
Wires Request to the State
Department.
ncciriAi <; npn imp Tn
DISCUSS THE MATTER
Administration Continues to Mark
Time. Awaiting More Information
on Sinking of Liner.
"WERE TWO AMERICANS LOST?
Question Arises as to Nationality of
Mrs. Bruguiere and Dr. Wood,
Would Not Fundamentally
Affect Policy.
Count von Bernstorff in
a telegram to the White
14aiisa cairl fkaf if anv
A ?WM?V ?
Americans had been killed
on the Arabic "it was contrary
to the intentions of
the German government,"
and that it was not the intention
of the German government
to sink any peaceful
merchapt ships in a
flagrant manner.
Count von Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, who is at Cedar- [
hurst, L. I., today asked the
United States to withhold judgment
on the sinking of the White
Star liner Arabic with the loss of
two American lives until the
United States h?s heard all the
facts in the case.
The request came in the form
of a telegram received at the Department
of State shortly after
noon today, and it was not made
public and officials declined to
discuss it.
This request marked the only
actual news development in
Washington today in connection
with the sinking of the ship, and
the administration continued to
mark time, awaiting further detailed
information from official
sources. An overnight cablegram
arrived from Ambassador Page at
London, but the information
therein was said at the State Department
to be equally as fragmentary
as previous messages.
President's Plans Uncertain.
One interesting: but not necessarily
important report today at the White
House was considered in conni ction
with the greneral subject. President
Wilson today wrote to Brig. Gen. William
E. Harvey, N. G. D. C., commanding,
saying that there is uncertainty
that he will be in the city Saturday,
and regretting that he cannot promise
Ito review the District troops when they [
i.ciu> <i tivm tncir summer encampment
[Saturday. In some quarters this was
taken to mean that the President might
have his plans so made by Saturday in
regard to the Arabic matter that he
will be able to get away.
Others thought he might be planning
merely to play golf iri the country Saturday
or to go for an automobile ride,
as he did this morning, with Dr. Grayson.
Gen. Harvey wrote the President,
asking him to review the troops. At
the White House it is said that no arrangements
have been made for the
President to go away.
May Not Be Americans.
Another interesting question which
rame up today was the possibility that
Mrs. Bruguiere and Dr. Wood, the two
persons believed Americans who lost
:heir livei when the Arabic went down,
might not be American citizens, after
all.
An official of the State Department
declared, however, that even if question
should be raised as to the American
nationality of Mrs. Bruguiere and
Dr. Wood, the question would not
fundamentally affect the policy of the
Vnited States, which already has gone
on record as declaring that the simple
placing of American lives ir jeopardy
is in violation of neutral rights and
the safety of the high seas. There
were other Americans on the ship.
Some reports printed this mnminn
said that Mrs. Bruguiere was the widow
of a Frenchman and that Dr. Wood
iva8 a Canadian by birth who had lived
r??r some time in Wisconsin. The State
Department has 110 information as to
their nationality, it was said.
One State Department official said tolay
that it might take two or three
lays yet for the United States govern nent
to get the official detailed in'ormation
as to the Arabic that is desired.
Although precise in its declaration
hat the Arabic was unarmed, that she |
lid not attempt to escape, that she was 1
tot warned, and that she did not atenipt
to ram the submarine, the Britsh
admiralty statement, which has !
ome through in news dispatches from
-ondon, which will probably be accepted
as evidence, unless rebutted by
lerman testimony, leaves unmentioned
he possibility of a genuine misunderstanding
by the German submarine
ommander of the Arabic's turn to
>ort just before the torpedo was fired
vhich sank her.
rsrman Paper Hopes
That Torpedo Struck
Arahir ?!iwc nicnotnh
" ""'"J W**jw
LONDON, August 24, 3:43 p.m.?The
iamburg Nachrichten in an editorial
oday, says a dispatch from Amsterdam
o Reuter's Telegram Company, hopes
he report that the sinking of the
Vhite Star liner Arabic was caused by
& torpedo will be confirmed, because
he newspaper contends since the Lusitania
disaster only rarely have vessels
(.Continued on Second rage.)
MOB MEMBERS NOT
KNOWN JURY FINDS
i
Quick Decision Rendered at
Coroner's Inquiry Into Frank
Case at Marietta, Ga.
NO TESTIMONY HEARD AS
TO LYNCHERS' IDENTITY
Witnesses Profess Ignorance of Actual
Circumstances Surrounding
Hanging.
MARIETTA. Ga.. August 24.?Without
being able to elicit from any one of
eleven witnesses a single clue as to j
the identity of any person connected '
with the lynching- of Leo M. Frank, I
near this city last Tuesday morning,
the coroner's jury impaneled to inquire
into the matter rendered a verdict
today that Frank came to his
death by hanging at the hands of persons
unknown. The jury reached its
verdict in three minutes.
City and county officials testified they
had endeavored diligently to get at the
facts of the lynching, but so far th?ir
efforts had been of no avail.
"Of course you know these things
are kept pretty close and are hard to
find out," said Mayor E. P. Dobbs of
Marietta.
!9one of Participants Identified.
Deputy Sheriff Hicks and City Marshal
Looney stated they were working
hard on the case, but at this time
could throw no light on the identity
of the persons who participated in the
lynching.
The nearest to a disclosure as to what
happened in the oak grove near the
Frey gin came from J. A. Benson, a
Marietta merchant, who drove by the
place soon after the lynching party
had parked its automobiles by the roadside
and had led Frank to the tree j
where death awaited him.
Mr. Benson said he had a "pretty
good suspicion" as to what was going
on. but he did not stop to see it and he
did not recognize anybody in the party.
Text of Jury's Verdict.
The text of the jury's verdict was as
follows:
"State of Georgia, Cobb county.
"In accordance with the inquisition
taken this 17th day of August, 1915,
and completed this 24th day of August,
1915, before John A. Booth, coroner
of said county, upon the body of
Leo M. Frank, who was hanged by the
neck until dead in a cluster of woods
about two mires east of Marietta, in
said county, and near what is known
as W. J. Frey's gin, on the Roswell
public road, upon the oaths of I>r. W.
H. Perkinson, J. N. Gantt, J. A. G.
Heard, B. V. Greer, J. F. Shaw and G.
A. Griffin, sworn according to law as
jurors and charged by John A.
Booth to inquire when and ho tr
and in what manner the said
Leo M. Frank came to his death; that
the said jurors aforesaid make and
return the following presentments in
reference to the aforesaid matters and
things concerning which we were,
sworn to inquire by the said John A.
Booth, coroner. We attach the evidence
adduced at this inquest to this
our inquisition, and make the same
a part of it.
"We. the jurors aforesaid, upon our
oath say that Leo M. Frank did on
the 17th day of August. 1915, in said
county, come to his death by being
hanged by the neck until dead by unknown
parties."
Prior to the resumption here today
of his inquiry into the lynching of
Frank just a week ago, comparatively
little was known of the plans of Coroner
John Booth. The jury of inquest
was impaneled just after Frank's
body was cut down from the oak near
the William Frey ginhouse. At that
time members of the jury heard two
witnesses as to the identity of the
dead man and then adjourned until
today, so that the inquest might proceed
in a calmer atmosphere and to
permit the coroner to collect evidence.
Special counsel for the coroner was
provided by the county commissioners.
Few Witnesses Expected.
Coroner Booth had set 10 o'clock as the
hour for the jury to meet today at an
undertaking establishment. Just how
many witnesses were to be heard had not
been announced, but the general impression
for several days had been that they
would be few. Several persons said to
have seen the lynching party on the road
near Marietta were expected to tell what
they knew, but the likelihood of learning
the identity of any of the participants
in the affair has all along been regarded
as distinctly remote.
Some members of the coroner's jury,
it was said today, had expressed doubt
that they could reach at this time any
other conclusion than that Frank came
to his death at the hands of "parties unknown."
The lynching will be officially
called to the attention of the Cobb county
grand jury September 1. j
Crowd Is Accommodated*
When the time for the jury to assemble
arrived the coroner decided to
transfer the inquest to the county
courthouse in order to accommodate
the large crowd on hand to hear such
testimony as might be offered.
Attorney John T. Dorsey of Marietta
was present as representative of the
state of Georgia. Solicitor Herbert Clay
of the Blue Ridge circuit being in attendance
at court in Forsyth county.
Gordon Gann acted as special attorney
for Coroner Booth.
There was a delay in beginning the
inquest, due to the tardiness of an ofiicial
stenographer.
There was some talk early in the day
; of holding the inquest in executive
i session. It was argued the witnesses
I might be more communicative in a
closed session. The idea of secrecy,
however, was soon dismissed once the
coroner. Acting Solicitor Dorsey and
Special Counsel Gann heard of it.
firmntv PociHonfo T.?w
The jury was composed of six residents
of the county, Dr. W. H. Perkinson
being: the foreman.
Dr. C. D. Elder was the first witness
called to the stand. He testified to
viewing: the body of Frank while it
was still hanging: in the oak grove near
the Frey gin. Dr. Elder did not know
Frank personally, but was told the body
was his. He was not present when the
body was cut down. "When he arrived
on the scene of the lynching the body
was still warm.
"Do you know any of the circumstances
surrounding the hanging?"
asked Mr. Dorsey.
"Absolutely nothing." replied the witness.
"You were among the first to reach
the scene?"
"Yes, sir."
"How many people were present
when you arrived?"
"Perhaps half a dozen."
(.Continued on Second Page.)
U.S. HAS NO (DICE
FOR BAN CHIEF
Torreon Battle May Decide
Fate of Each Leader and
Peace Note Plans.
SHOULD CARRANZA WIN,
RECOGNITION IS POSSIBLE
r
I _
Northern Chief Prepares to Wage j
Guerrilla Warfare Against the |
Constitutionalists. {
The selection of any particular per- i
son for provisional president of Mexico
has not been considered by the government
of the United States, it was officially
announced at the State-Department
today.
I While the statement was unaccom- ,
Ipanied by any interpretation, it was
[construed as a reiteration of the im- ,
[partiality of the United States in deal- ?
ing with the various factions, and as an
added evidence of its sincere disinterestedness
no matter who is chosen
provisional president of Mexico so long *
as he is legally eligible and can bring C,
about peace.
The department's statement was as
follows:
"To correct an erroneous impression
that appears to prevail in certain quarters,
the department wishes to announce
that the selection of any particular man
for provisional president of Mexico has
not been considered by this government."
Mexican Chiefs Suggested.
At the time the pan-American note
urging the Mexican chiefs to get together
in a peace conference was dispatched, the
names of various Mexicans were suggested
in newspapers in this country as possible
candidates for provisional president of
Mexico, who would receive the support of
the United States and the Latin American
republics, after the military chiefs ha'd
been eliminated.
It is believed that the statement of today
is intended to reach the Mexican
people for the purpose of dispelling any
idea that the United States desires to
force any particular man upon them as
president.
Gen. Carranza's reply to the pan-Amer
ivau nvic to OUII anancu licic. 11 w tt.3 1C- I
ported that Carranza had telegraphed Sec- I
retary Lansing and the Latin American
diplomats asking if they, in addressing
themselves to the military chiefs and
political leaders in Mexico, were acting
officially for their respective governments.
Confirmation of this report was lacking.
Villa and Obregon Battle.
j Conflicting reports regarding the
j fighting in progress between the Carranza
and Villa forces in the neigh- i
borhood of Torreon were given out by '
j the agencies of the two factions in
Washington. 'The State Department
was without definite Information from
official sources regarding the outcome.
That much depends upon the result
of the struggle going on about Torreon
is admitted. If the Carranza
forces are able to strike a decisive i
blow at Villa there the question. of ]
recognition of the Carranza govern- i
ment will loom up stronger. Should t
the Villistas defeat the constitutionalist
forces under Gen. Obregon, the sit- 1
uation would shift in favor of the 1
peace plan advocated by the pan- i
American note sent to all Mexican 1
leaders. '
Dispatches received by the Carranza <
agency indicate that Gen. Villa is sepa- 1
rating his command into small bodies
I of troops and preparing to wage a
guerrilla war, sweeping the surrounding
country of all its supplies and val- i
uable property.
| The Carranza officials hold that this
. plan indicates Villa is not strong
| enough to attempt to give battle to
| Obregon and his troops, and that the
[ adoption of a guerrilla method of war- i
! fare, while it may cause delay in the
ultimate success of Carranza arms, cannot
long prevent a triumph of the constitutional
cause. They insist that Gen.
Obregori has in the northern territory
some 60,000 troops upon whom he may
call for his attack upon the Villistas.
Villistas' Statement.
The Villa agency here issued a state- ,
ment today, saying it had received details
of the fighting recently at Icaniole.
which shows the Carranza forces
suffered a severe defeat and sustained *
heavy losses. The railroad between
Laredo and Monterey had been cut, the
statement added. I
The agency issued the following I
statement as to territory controlled by 1
the rival factions: 1
"Two states, Chihuahua and Morelos, 1
are entirely under control of the con- i
vention (Villa) forces. Oaxaca is neu- ]
tral. Forces of both factions are con- 1
tending in all other states of the re- ,
public, and it is absurd for any one to i
claim control of them." 1
The Washington government is still i
maintaining a waiting policy with regard
to Mexico, waiting, in this in- i
stance, upon the replies to the pan- l
American note urging a peace confer- <
ence. Secretary Lansing of the State
Department said today that so far no >
plans had yet been made for another i
meeting of the conferees who signed i
the pan-American note. 1
Senhor Cardoso Is Entertained. 1
Senhor Cardoso, the Brazilian minister to
Mexico, who for many months had charge
of American interests in Mexico City, had 1
a long conference yesterday afternoon *
with Secretary Lansine on the situation *
in Mexico. It is understood that he told (
Secretary Lansing that Carranza was not (
iltted to govern Mexico, and that the Car- 1
ranza forces would not be able to main- 1
tain a strong government over the terri- *
tory which they now hold for a long 1
period. 1
Last night Senhor Cardoso was the guest
of honor at a dinner given by Secretary 1
Lansing. The other guests included Am- :
bassador da Gama of Brazil, high officials ;
of the American government and officers
of the army and navy. The grape juice 1
of the Bryan period as Secretary of State !
w? s omitted, and wines such as have customarily
been served at dinners given by 1
the Secretary of State in the past were ]
set out for the guests.
Senhor Cardoso today visited the tomb
of Washington, at Mount Vernon.
Quiet at Vera Cruz.
]
Rear Admiral McLean, commanding 1
American naval forces in Mexican waters,
sent a long wireless report to the
Navy Department yesterday on conditions
at Vera Cruz. He said no further
anti-foreign demonstrations had occurred
since the arrival of the battleships
Louisiana and New Hampshire.
The Carranza agency here last night
gave out dispathes from Vera Cruz
stating that telegraphic communication
had been open since August 18
(.Continued on Second Page.)
"x \
TRi IIAFPnA I
litNtKAL IKANortKo
CONSIDERED LIKELY
May Be First Public Benefit
Derived From Public Utilities
Valuation.
j .
Universal transfers on Washington's
3treet railway lines may be the first
public benefit to be derived from the
valuation now being made of the capi:al's
public utility corporations.
That this question will be taken up
n advance of rate problems following
completion of the valuation this fall
s extremely probable. Members of the
jtilities commission, it is understood,
ire of the opinion that this is one of the
;ity*8 most urgent needs, and should be
fiven first consideration.
But whether the commission will be
in a position to take up the matter
before Christmas is problematical.- The
valuation bureau of the cpmmission expects
to complete its work in November.
but there will be volumes of data
to be read and digested by the commission
before it can conduct a hearing
to establish valuations on the
properties of the several railway companies.
Traction Companies First. j
It is understood to be the purpose of
the commission to adopt valuations for
the traction companies first, so that it
will be in a position to proceed at once
to a consideration of the universal
transfer question and, later, rate questions.
Afterward valuations will be
established for the city's other public
utility corporations, including the gas,
electric light and telephone companies,
and the rates for service maintained
by these corporations investigated.
The report of the valuation bureau
placing a value upon the properties of
ill the city's public service corporalions
will comprise a large number of
t'olumes, and it may be months before
.nc cuminlODiuii win nave uiKeaieu me
-eport and held hearing's for the purpose
of adopting the several valuations.
'Just how much time the task
ivlll consume will depend in large
neasure, too, upon the extent to which
the companies disagree with the flndngs
of the valuation bureau.
As a matter of fact, the problem is
?uch a big one and fraught with so
many possibilities involving delay of
)ne kind or another, that the commission
is not in a position to forecast
,vith any degree of accuracy just what
ts procedure will be and how long it
may be engaged in establishing valuations
before it will be in a position to
take up rate questions.
Universal Transfers.
About all that stands out with any I
legree of certainty is that it will get
the railway valuations established first,
f possible, so that it can give early !
consideration to the universal transfer I
luestion. The question of a cheaper
rate of fare may be taken up, though
it is not considered probable that the
companies will be directed to carry
rates.
Following: yesterday's conference be- i
tween members of the utilities commis- I
sion and the valuation bureau, it was I
learned today that Congress probably i
will not be asked to appropriate additional
money for prosecuting the valua- !
tion work . Under the law it is possi- j
ble to assign employes of the District |
government to the work of the utilities |
commission, and several transfers of i
this character may be ordered if the j
bureau should require additional as- i
sistance. The bureau will make every
effort to complete its work by Novem- j
ber, but there is a possibility <hat it !
may not conclude its labors before the
first of the year.
Arabian Chief to Fight Turks.
ROME, via Paris, August -4.?Said
Idrlss, one of the most powerful of
the Arabian chieftains in Yemen, and
who during the Libyan war was aided
by the Italians, is reported to have rebelled
against the Turks. He has gathered
his men about him. it is said, and
expects to march on Hodeida and free
the Yemen region from Turkleh dominion.
AGAIN DENIES PLEA |l
FOR BRANCH OFFICE
Postmaster Praeger Refuses I
' to ffe-Establish Station in P.
, Ol Department building.
Postmaster Otto Praeger has again
refused to establish a postal station in j
the Post Office Department building, at j
ltth- street and Pennsylvania avenue. r
He sent a letter today to the committee f
of business men which has been urging t
the establishmen of such a station, j
giving his reasons for denying their re- ]
quest, and declaring that it is always r
his purpose to better postal facilities J
in Washington whenever possible. 1
The committee consists of Isadore
Grosner, Carl F. Brodt, Lem Towers,
jr'.; Alexander Muhcaster, Louis Jacobs
and E. Allen Harris.
Letter to the Committee.
Mr. Praeger's letter to the committee
is as follows:
"Replying to your communication of
I August 20, requesting the re-establishment
of a postal station in the Post
Office Department building, at 11th
[street and Pennsylvania avenue northwest,
on or before September 15 next,
I beg to advise that, for reasons set
forth in my communication to you of
i February 13, 1915, and also stated in
[ conference with your committee, as a
i whole and as individuals, I cannot conscientiously
recommend the re-establishment
of the station you request. I
regret to say that the conditions that
| would require the establishment of a
! classified postal station on Pennsyl- ,
vania avenue, such as your committee ,
expects, do not now exist. I shall be 1
frank to state that if I were called
I upon at this time to recommend a site t
I for the establishment of a full postal t
I station in the downtown business sec- '
tion, my duty to the public and to the i
postal service would require mei to recjommend
a location a few blocks farther t
north, and perhaps a little west of the i
! location of the Post Office Department I
building on Pennsylvania avenue. In t
my judgment, however, the time is not t
ripe for such a move. t
! "I note what you say in regard to i
I the coming G. A. R. encampment and <
[ other large conventions. These large g
gatherings will be taken care of by ]
special postal facilities, as they always ?
I have been in the past. ]
Alleges Improved Service. r
"I trust that the far-reaching devel- 5
I opment of the postal service in the city c
of Washington in the past year, which
I has been criticised officially as far
I more ample than is afforded any other j
j city in the United States of its size, is
evidence of the fact that I shall not .
permit the service to the Washington
i public to deteriorate or become the I
| subject of righteous criticism, it is J
J the policy of considering the interests ]
OT ine puoiic as a wnuie mill, uuuic- i
times makes it necessary to disregard j
1 the desires of some restricted section, (
| with the result that citizens often are t
| led to confuse the inconvenience or c
I injury to individual interests with in- t
I jury or inconvenience to the general 1
I public. Unfortunately, it leaves some r
I persons under the impression that the f
' official upon whom the recommenda- t
! tion in such matters rests has not at j
i heart the interests of the section im- t
; mediately affected, of which implicaI
tion I trust the business men of WashI
ington, who know of the efforts of this
I office to advance and extend the com- f
| mercial interests of the city, will aci
quit me."
! RUSSIAN AUXILIARY SHIP
SUNK BY A SUBMARINE |
BERLIN. August 24, by wireless to 1
Sayville, N. Y.?The German admiralty ,
today announced that a German sub- \
marine had torpedoed and sunk a Rus- i
sian auxiliary ship at the entrance to *
the Gulf of Finland. ,
LONDON. August 24, 11:68 a.m.? !
Three men lost their lives by the sink- 1
ing of a trawler from Hull, it was an- j
nounced today. The other nine mem- (
bers of the crew were rescued.
^ ^
*
HOSTILE TO HAITI'S
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Revolutionists Refuse to Recognize
Dartiguenave?Northern
Natives Favor Bobo.
An attempt to circumvent the trouble
n northern Haiti .which has caused the
s'avy Department to order 350 more
narines to "southern waters," was re>orted
today by Admiral Caperton, who
old of an interview he had with Gen.
dorenci, one of Gen. Bobo's adherents,
near Cape Haitien, where most of the
evolutionists are gathered. The inter
new was without definite result, out
eft "room for further discussion," the
\dmiral stated.
Says Natives Favor Bobo.
Gen. Morenci told Admiral Caperton
hat virtually all the natives in the
north were ready to support Gen. Bobo
tnd refused to recognize President:lect
Dartiguenave. No open threats
vere made aginst the Americans, but
Jen. Morenci promised nothing beyond
he assurance that the natives would
>e allowed to continue to come into the
Milages for marketing.
Navy Department officials made no
omment, but it was announced that
he armored cruiser Tennessee would
eave today for Philadelphia to pick
ip further equipment for the marine
irtillery battalion and would be leady>
>v Thursday or Friday to start with
hese reinforcements for "southern
vaters."
Mr. Roosevelt Declines Comment.
Acting Secretary Roosevelt would
nake no comment on conditions in
riaiti, except to say that the cruiser
rennessee would go to Philadelphia to
;ake on board the marine artillery bat;ery
from Annapolis, and leave by
Fhursday or Friday lor "southern
vaters." *
Wh<M< tlm Tpnnpsspft cets to Haitian
vaters Rear Admiral Caperton will have
l force of more than 2.500 marines and
>luejackets available for patrol duty in
he little republic, and is not expected
o have much trouble in subduing any
ittempt to interfere with the existing:
egime or the efforts of the United
states to regulate the national finances
tnd put the new government on its feet.
f the Dartinguenave administration
survives the present opposition* of the
3obo forces it undoubtedly will be
'ecognized by the United States. Presi- I
lent Dartinguenave is charged by the
3obo party with playing into the hands
>f the United States.
No Invasion of Interior.
No movement to the interior of Haiti
s contemplated by the American forces,
iccording to a statement made by Actng
Secretary Roosevelt. Admiral Ca
jenon asKeti recently mac auumwudi
narines be prepared for service in
iaiti, if needed. The artillery battal011
at Annapolis was the only force
Lvailable. The Tennessee will be unler
Admiral Caperton's orders and go
o whatever port he directs. If the adlitional
force is needed, the men and
funs will be landed at Cape Haitien.
rhere are numerous ports where it
nay be necessary to establish marine
guards, and the presence of the batery
battalion will enable Admiral Ca?erton
to reduce the force at Cape Haiien.
MARINES BOARDING CRUISER.
rhe Tennessee to Carry Five Companies
to Haiti for Service.
special Dispatch to The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md., August 24.?With a
oattalion of 350 marines aboard, taken
'rom the garrison at the Naval Academy
narine barracks, and which includes the
three companies that had been under
special instruction in light artillery tactics,
the cruiser Tennessee weighed
inchor at 7 o'clock this morning and
started for Philadelphia.
Two more companies of the soldiersailors
will be taken on from the League
Island navy yard barracks. The Tennessee
will then proceed to Haiti, the marines
being destined for service on the
peninsula in connection with the 1,000
or more marines and bluejackets already
there.
CZAR'S ARMY GIVES
'ENEMY HARD FIGHT
Severe Battle Continues Before
Brest Litovsk, But Baltic
Campaign Lags.
KOPYTOW HILL STORMED,
SAYS BERLIN STATEMENT
I
Fall of Ossowetz Deprives Russians
of last of Their Westernmost
Strongholds.
BERLIN", August 24, via London,
4:05 p.m.?A hill at Kopytow,
to the southwest of the Russian
fortress of Brest Litovsk, has
been stormed by the Teutonic
forces, according to an official
statement given out today by the
German army headquarters.
Teutons Press Attack.
LONDON, August 24.?The Russian
armies have not stopped the AustroGerman
advance, although they are
compelling the central powers to fight
for every step won.
Severe encounters continue before
Brest-Litovsk, but the Baltic campaign
is making little progress, although a
decisive stroke there by Field Marshal
von Hindenburg has been long expected.
The most important development of
the past twenty-four hours is the official
announcement from Berlin that
German troops have occupied the
fortress of Ossowetz, which was evacu
aiea oy tne Russians. !
Ossowetz Strong Fortress.
The fall of Ossowetz deprives the
Russians of the" last of their westernmost
fortresses. It is situated about
twenty miles inside the Russian frontier,
opposite the East Prussian border
and the Mazurian lake country. Its
fall had been expected, inasmuch as the
retreat further eastward of the great
bulk of the Russian forces almost
Isolated the garrison.
Of all the Russian fortresses which
have been captured by the Austrian*
and Germans in such rapid succession
during the last three weeks Ossowetz
made the longest resistance. During
the winter and spring several futile
attacks were made by the Germans on
this side position.
Still Resisted Germans.
Even after the Germans had swept
through Poland and the Baltic provinces
Ossowetz still held out. Its superior
powers of resistance lay in the
marshy nature of the surrounding
country, which made it difficult for the
Germans to bring up their heavy field
pieces.
Ossowetz, a first-class fortress, derives
strategic importance from the
fact that it guards the railway approach
to Bialystok and the great Petrograd-Warsaw
trunk line.
Novo Georgievsk in Ruins.
WARSAW, undated, via London. August
24.?The fortress of Novo Georfrievsk
lifts in ruins Tho Carmma
tered the heart of the great Russian
stronghold from the right. During the
night the Associated Press correspondent
had witnessed the impressive
spectacle of the terrific assault which
led to the fall of the fortress.
From a point to the southward of the
Vistula it seemed as if brilliant flashes
of lightning were constantly hanging
over the great ring of forts.
Constant Bain of Shells.
There was a constant rain of exploding
shells, searchlights moved
from point to point and magazines exploded
at brief intervals. rockets
whizzed into the air, and the thunder
of cannon was continuous.
Shortly before 11 o'clock sheets of
flame sprang into the air from the
northern front, indicating that one of
the forts had been blown up. Soon
afterward a second fort exploded. The
bombardment continued, however, with
undiminished violence, as the Russians
expended their last efforts to save the
citadel, upon the strength of which they
had pinned their hopes. The final opposition
was from the southerly forts.
MAYREV1EWD.C.TR00PS
President Wilson Conditionally Accepts
an Invitation Extended
by Gen. Harvey.
President Wilson today wrote to Brig.
Gen. Harvey, commanding the District
of Columbia militia, stating that if he is
I ? n*., .-l.: ? o.. ?a i- - ?j?? ?J? I
ill ?* acmlife inn ciotuiu.lv 11C Will KldUl} review
the District guardsmen when they
return from their annual encampment to
this city. The President's letter is as
follows:
"My dear Gen. Harvey?Allow me to
acknowledge with appreciation the receipt
of your letter of August 22 inviting me
to review the National Guard of the District
of Columbia Saturday, August 28,
upon the return of the command from their
annual encampment, and to say that there
is some uncertainty as to whether I shall
be in the city on that day or not.
"If I am here,' I shall be glad to review
the command. Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) "WOODROW WILSON." ;
1 ,
Russians Increase Shell Output. ,
PARIS. August 24.?The mobilization J
of Russia's industrial resources, the
Matin says, is so far perfected that
within a few weeks the factories of
the country will be able to produce
200,000 shells a day in addition to 5
those whic.h are imported.
Report on Cholera in Austria.
ZURICH. August 23. via London, August
24.?The Austrian minister of the
interior, according to reports received
here, has announced that there were
I 1.566 cases of Asiatle ebolsra In Aus|
tria on August IS.
1
TROOPSHIPS SUNK
BY RUSSIAN GUNS
IN GULF OF RIGA
Petrograd Hears Three Transports
Filled With Soldiers
Smashed to Pieces, j
ANOTHER CRUISER ADDED
TO LOSSES OF GERMANS
Submarine Also Said to Have Run
Ashore and Probably Has
Been Lost. ^
BERLIN SILENT ON SUBJECT
No German Account of Naval Engagement,
and Exact Extent of
Damage Has Not Been .
Determined. -M
LONDON, August 24, 3:20
p.m.?From details of the attempted
German landing in the
Gulf of Riga ? last Saturday, as
published in the Novoe Vremya.
it appears, says a dispatch from
Petrograd to the Central News
Agency, that three large trans-,
ports, filled with troops, approached
the shore under cover
of a German squadron. The German
ships were allowed to come
close to land before a terrific artillery
fire was oDened by the
Russians.
A duel between the cruisers
and shore batteries continued for
two hours, when the last transport
was sunk. Only a few
crowded boats then remained and
these were soon smashed to pieces
by the Russian fire.
Berlin Bemains Silent.
LONDON, August 24. 11:49
a.m.?The latest details concerning
the Riga naval battle have_
failed to clear up the situation.
Petrograd advices make it appear
certain that the Germans met
with a severe reverse, although
official Berlin reports remain
silent concerning the Russian
claims.
The Russians now state that an
additional cruiser must be added
to those already reported sunk or
put out of action. Whether the
German battle cruiser attacked by
o Hritich cnhmarinp \ra< ?siinW r**
mains to be told, the official report
from Petrograd having given
no details beyond stating that she
was torpedoed.
Submarine Reported Lost.
A dispatch to the Morning Post from
Petrograd says:
"In addition to the German losses
previously reported in the Riga battle
a German submarine was run ashore
on the coast of Dago Island (in the
Baltic sea just outside the Gulf of
Riga) and doubtless also is lost."
There is still no word from the German
side regarding the result of the
naval engagement. The German press
appears to be maintaining complete
silence on the subject.
Two Distinct Engagements.
The Russian reports refer to two distinct
aitairs, one being the torpedoing
of the battle cruiser Moltke, or a vessel
of the Moltke class, by a British
submarine in the Baltic, and the other
to a German attempt to force the
Gulf of Riga, which, it is declared, ended
disastrously for the Germans.
From the information available it
woulu appear that heavy vessels of
neither side were engaged in the Riga
operations, which on the part of the
oernians were in the nature of mineclearing
work with a view to supporting
an attempt to land troops at Perneau.
on tne eastern shore or the gulf,
with the object of cutting communications
with i'etrograd.
Vagueness as to Date.
Xo date has been given by i'etrograd
for the sinking of the cruiser described
as the Moltke, but the naval correspondent
of the Times assumes that
it was either Wednesday or Thursday,
when, he says, the Germans had managed
to force an entrance into the Gulf
of Itfea, and when, uncertain of the
defense being: overcome. thev had
moved a supporting: force to that vicinity
to prevent their ships inside from
being cut off.
According to the same correspondent
the Germans appear to have attempted
to enter the guir by both channels, the
southern of which was used by the
heavy warships, and by way of Moon
sound, where some of the heaviest
lighting occurred and where the Russians
admit the loss of the Sivutch, a
slow but well armed vessel.
The actual lighting lasted four days
and the affair, in the opinion of the
Times correspondent, "is an illustration
of the weakness of an attempt to
sarry an invasion overseas before the
control of communications afloat has
i>een obtained."
Termed Unequal Combat.
The operations in the Gulf of Rica
ire described in a semi-official statement
issued at Petrograd and transmitted
to th% Reuter Telegram Company
as an unequal combat between
the old Russian battleship Slava and
German dreadnaughts.
"The importance of this fight," the
statement says, "consisted in preventing
the Germans for a - certain time
trom forcing our position. Calm, foggy
:onditions favored the enemy's opera<
.