Evening star. [volume], August 20, 1917, Image 1

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

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r V
WEATHER.
Fair tonight. Tomorrow, partly
cloudy; probably showers and cooler
In afternoon or by night.
Temperature for twenty-four hours
ending 2 p.m. today: Highest. 88, at
2 p.m. today; lowest, fi". at 6 a.m. today
Full report on page 11.
CLMIKG HEW YORK STOCKS PAGE 11.
Swarm Hat Clrealattaa. Month of Jaly.
1917. Dally Average, 87,5481 Saaday. S2.WB.
No. 26,781.
WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1917?FOURTEEN PAGES.
ONE. CENT.
PLANNED FOR NAVY
Secretary Daniels Discusses
With Builders Means to
Speed Up Construction. 1
PLANTS TO BE EXPANDED
Immediate expansion of building fa
cilities of th? United States to double or
treble the output of destroyers during
the next eighteen months was the ob
ject of a conference today between Sec
retary Daniels and representatives of
twenty-live or mere ship and engine
builders.
"If we get what we want." the Secre
tary said, "the United States will have
more destroyers than any other power.
They are the one thing that a subma
rine fears."
The Secretary indicated that all the
destroyers the builders could produce j
would be ordered. Every effort of the J
department will be laid upon speeding
ton the large number of contracts now
??nding.
?2very aspect of shipbuilding that bears
.IBpon destroyer production was taken up
the conference. There is no shortage of
material or plant facilities, but a difti
^ilty lies in obtaining high-power engines,
boilers and reduction gear.
Plans No More Chasers. j
Secretary Daniels said no additional
submarine chasers would be ordered at
present. The chasers are valuable for har
bor and in-shore patrol work, but the de
stroyers are far superior even for these
duties and have, in addition, sea-going
qualities which make them of far greater
value in all ways than the small chasers.
Every suggestion that the ship or engine
builders had to make today as to addi
tional motive power for the destroyers
was given close attention. The possibility
mt making some'of the new vessels with
oil engines was among the suggestions
offered.
As to the plants at which the new de
stroyers will be laid down. Secretary i
Daniels said he favored expansion of
tfee plants now building destroyers as
?the most efficient means of speeding
UP- Experience gained in previous
kpilging will enable such plants to
:*urn out new ships more quickly, it is
TeH. than would be^possible for a new
plant, lacking that experience.
Secretary Daniels' decision shows
that the officers who have been con
tending that the best answer to the
U-boat was to turn out an enormous
Ji umber of destroyers have carried
their point. The experience of all al
*11 Ms4 4>avies that the destroyer is more
?tadly to submarines than any other
typo of craft Is borne out by reports
from Vise Admiral Sims, founded on
the actual experience of American de
stroyers In European waters.
Hake Good as Convoys.
Another aspect is,the problem of fur
nishing convoys to troops and supply
ships. which will grow as American
forces in France are increased. Many
officers bow believe that destroyer con
voys guarantee a large degree of se
curity from submarine attack. The
thin* needed, in their view, is an ade
quate number of destroyers to make it
certain that supply lines are not inter
rupted. The department apparently
has approved this view.
No figures have been made public of
the number of destroyers now building, j
Secretary Daniels said today, however, i
that they represent the maximum ca- *
pafeity of the country as the builders |
and engine and boiler makers are at
present equipped. To expand that ca
pacity will require the expansion of
every existing plant and the addition of
new engine and boiler works.
FORMER KING OF GREECE
CORDIAL WITH THE KAISER |
Germany Early in War of
His Sympathy, But Insists
on Neutrality.
LONDON, August 20.?An Athens dis
patch to the Exchange Telegraph Com
pany says that among the diplomatic
documents found in Athens since the
change in government is a dispatch of
former King Constantine, written a
few days after the war began, in re
sponse to a message from Emperor
William, who proposed Greece should
range herself on the side of the central
powers. Constantine said in his reply:
"The emperor well knows my per
sonal sympathies as well as my polit
ical opinions attract me to his side.
Nevertheless, it is impossible for me
to understand in what manner I could
be useful to him in mobilizing my
army. The Mediterranean is at the
mercy of the united fleets of England
and France, which could destroy our
navy and merchant marine, occupy our
islands and, above all, prevent concen
tration of my army, which could be ef
fected only by sea in the absence of
railway communications. Without it
being in our power to be useful in any
particular we would be wiped off the
map. I am necessarily of the opinion
that neutrality is imposed upon us."
Gottlieb von Jagow, then German
foreign secretary, replied to Constan
tine that Emperor William would un
derstand" the necessity of maintaining
neutrality for the present. He advised
Constantine to reach an understanding
with Sofla and Constantinople.
FEDERAL DRAFT ACT HELD
VALID BY GEORGIA JUDGE
Baled Constitutional in Test Case at
Mount Airy?Thomas E. Wat
son Overruled.
MOUNT AIRY. Ga.. August 20 ? Fed
eral District Judge Speer held the se
lective draft law constitutional in a
decision made public here today. The
case was that of Albert Jones, a negro,
held in the McDuffle county, Ga., jail
charged with violating the law. lie
was represented by Thomas E. Watson,
who contended that the law is in con
travention of the involuntary servitude
amendment.
Judge Speer left for Fairfield, X. C..L
where i* is expected he will decide '
whether or not the JefTersonian. a
iHETT**::ne published by Watson, shall
b" v 'lowed in the tnails. It has been
?ier.ied admission by the postmaster at
*n om on. Ga.. the place of publication.
?'*e it contained what bad been
L as sodiUous utterances.
11 is mi
Unit to Leave for Mineola
Mobilization Headquarters
This Afternoon.
OTHER TROOPS AS ESCORT
The Field Hospital Company of the
District National Guard is to leave
.Washington this afternoon for the con
centration camp at Mineola, L. I., of the
?rainbow" division. It will be in the
first division of National Guard troops
sent to France.
The Field Hospital has a personnel
of eighty-two men. and they were
busy all day carting their equipment
to the railroad yard.
Hundreds of friends of the men in
this command gathered at the camp
today as soon as they learned that the
company was really going to make the j
trip to Mineola today. They walked !
in groups down the streets to Union
station as the Field Hospital marched
iinder escort of all the other units in
Camp Ordway.
There Is an enthusiastic rather than
tearful throng at the train to bid "god
speed" to the first organization of Dis
trict boys leaving for France. The
boys were given many parting gifts,
not only of fruit and lunches, but
wrist watches, trench mirrors and the
other trinkets that help to remind sol
diers of dear ones at home.
Maj. Leroy W. Herron led the escort,
consisting of Battery B of Field Artil
lery, the Signal Corps, under command
of Capt. Oliver O. Terry, and the squad
ron of cavalry, under command of Capt.
James H. Washburn. When they reach
ed the station these troops were drawn
up at "salute" on either side of the
road and the Field Hospital marched
between these lines.
The Field Hospital is under command
of Maj. Herbert W. Bryson, who has
served in the District National Guard
for twenty years and was originally
with the infantry. The adjutant is
Capt. W." B. Hudson, who has been in
the guard since 1909 and in 1911 was
physical director of the public schools.
The other officers are Lieut. Henry F.
Sawtelle. Dr. Ivy A. Pelzman, Lieut. Ar
thur H. Murray and Lieut. Thomas H.
Powick.
CO-OPERATING IN PROBE
OF MISS POD'S DEATH
fltcw Are Told That She Wai
a Victim of Pohob Sold by
Mistake.
Inspector Grant, chief of detectives, and
R. A. Sanders, pharmacy Inspector of the
police department, are co-operating with
Frank L. Ball, commonwealth's attorney
of Alexandria county, Va? in an investi
gation of the death of Miss Annie L.
Wood, thirtv-flve years old. who died at
the home of her sister. Mrs. May Davis,
Barcroft. Va.. one week ago last night.
Miss Wood was ill only about one hour,
it is stated, and the claim is made that
her death was due to a dose of poison that
had been sold her sister by mistake.
Dr. S. T. Ashton. coroner for Alex
andria county. Va.. performed an autopsv
and. it is stated, found the stomach in a
condition which would have been caused
by a poison. The heart also was affected
Commonwealths Attorney Ball deemed
an Inquest unnecessary, and the body
was taken to Lewiston, Pa., where the in
terment took place.
Miss Wood was a daughter of Wil
liam R. Wood, 31 15th street northeast
and was visiting h*r sister at the time
of her death. Mrs. Davis purchased
the preparation that is alleged to' have
caused her sister s death, and it is her
claim that the drug clerk who waited
on her made a mistake.
It appears that Miss Wood, who had
arranged to have an X-ray taken, was
told by her physician to take a dose
of barium sulphate for the purpose of
getting her stomach in condition for
rhe picture to be taken, and the claim
is made that Mrs. Davis asked for such
a preparation and was given barium
sulphide, a poison, by mistake.
Inspector Grant was informed that
Mrs. I>avis did nbt have a prescription
for the barium sulphate, but merely a
memorandum, which. It is stated, "she
did not present to the clerk.
He was further Informed that Mr.
Wood went to the same drug store and
made a purchase of barium sulphide
without a prescription.
CONFIDENCE IN FLEET
IS UQ1CED BY KAISER
Thankv mrrm Aboard Ships at Helgo
land and Serving on
Submarines.
BERI.IN, August 19, via London, Au
gust 20.?Emperor William, according
to an official announcement at the Ger
man admiralty today, inspected the
units of the German fleet at Wilhelms
haven, and then visited the squadrons
in the North sea and at Helgoland.
AMSTERDAM, August 20.?At the
conclusion of his visit to the German
high sea fleet at Wilhelmshaven Em
peror William issued the following to
the fleet:
"After having recently received an
announcement that a renewed heavy
attack of the enemy in an attempt to
break up our sea front in Flanders had
been successfully repelled, I have to
day. by a visit to my fleet and the
island fortress of Helgoland, been en
abled to convince myself bf the strength
and security of this front, too. I ex
press my warm appreciation to all the
high sea forces on the water, under
water and in the air and to the fortress
of Helgoland for their untiring, self
sacrificing and successful labor, by
means of which they have kept firmly
in view and attained this aim. May the
fleet remain conscious that the confi
dence of myself and the fatherland re
poses firmly on it."
The emperor distributed a number of
Iron crosses. His visit is reported to
have been caused by the threat of
strikes at the Wilhelmshaven arsenal.
NEW SWISS MINISTER
AT STATE DEPARTMENT
l>r. Hans Sulzer. the new Swiss min
ister, railed today at the State Depart
ment. He saw Assistant Secretary
Phillips and made arrangements for a
formal interview later with Secretary
of State Lansing. ?. 7
ABANDON CLOTURE
FOR THE TAX BILL
Senators Begin the Third Week
of Debate of War Reve
nue Measure.
I I
MAY VOTE SATURDAY NIGHT!
The third week of Senate debate on !
th? war tax bill opened today with !
prospect that the bill's passage would ?
be delayed until next week.
| Several more days' discussion was
promised the important and disputed
questions remaining-?income, war prof
its. consumption and publishers' taxes.
Before the Senate discussion began
today the finance committee met and
decided not to resort to cloture to ex
pedite the bill. During the next few
days, however. Senator Simmons ex- !
pects to ask that a date be fixed for a j
final vote on the prominent ques- i
tions in controversy. Senator Williams '
of Mississippi today urged the com- !
mittee to initiate cloture, but virtually j
waa alone in its support.
Senator La Follettes speech in favor
of increasing Income and war profits |
levies, planned for today, was post
poned until tomorrow. .Senator Jones i
of New Mexico spoke today in support '
of his plan to tax corporations' undis- ;
tributed supplies.
Informal Conferences Today. j
Today was marked by informal con- j
ferences among democratic and repub- j
lican senators in an effort to reach j
common ground for agreement upon a 1
final vote on the war tax bill.
Senator Simmons, in charge of the
bill, while eager to avoid seeming to cut
ofT desired debate on the measure,
is yet hopeful that an understanding
may be arrived at promising a vote by
Saturday nigfrf. The democratic and
republican whips were today directed
to request by wire the attendance of
absentee senators this week.
Senator Simmons may not prefer his
request for unanimous consent for a
vote until tomorrow.
One Obstacle ill the Way.
One obstacle in the way of a hard and^
fast agreement for a vote this week is
the growing disposition in a group of
senators, which includes both republi
cans and democrats, to increase the '
rates on excess war profits as a source |
of revenue.
It is claimed by them that the aver- !
age of tax on excess war profits is too ;
iow and should be hoisted to at least an !
average of 40 per cent. It is appre- j
hended that further debate mav ensue !
over this point.
Some other means of taxation must I
be devised to meet the $10,000,000 of ex
pected revenue loss when the bank
check tax was stricken out last Satur
day. The committee on finance is strug
gling with this problem now.
NO RESPONSE TO POPE
UNTIL ALLIES CONFER
j
LONDON. August 20.?Lord Robert
Cecil, minister of blockade and under
secretary for foreign affairs, announced
in the house of commons this afternoon
that the entente allied governments j
would hold a conference before a reply i
to the Pope's peace proposal would be i
sent to the Vatican/^
BELGIAN MISSION GUESTS
OF CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Envoys Met by Committee Headed
by Mayor Smith and Enter
tained at Luncheon.
PHILADELPHIA, August 20.?Mem
bers of the Belgian mission, headed by
Baron Moncheur. were guests of the
city today for several hours. The en
voys were met at the railroad station
by a committee headed by Mayor'
Smith and escorted to the Bellevue
Stratfcrd Hotel, where they were
tendered a reception and luncheon,
leading citizens, including the mayor
and his cabinet, were present. Later
the distihguished visitors went on a
sight-seeing tour of the city. They
planned to leave for New York tonight.
The Belgian war mission, whi- h ar
rived in the United States June 17 an<J
came directly to Washington, left here
this morning for Philadelphia.
Baron Ludovic Moncheur, formerly
Belgian minister to the United States,
who is heading the mission, is to de
liver an address in New York. The
other members of the party which left
for Philadelphia at 8 o'clock this morn
ing include Maj. Gen. Mathieu G. A.
La Clercq. military head of the mis
sion; Count Louis d'Eursel. Maj. Leon
Osterrieth. Hector Carlier, counselor, \
and Jean Martens.
At the Belgian legation here it was
stated the destination of the mission
following its atay in Philadelphia is
not known.
SIXTY-NINTH NEW YORK
GOES INTO CAMP TODAY
Famous Guard Regiment Leaves for
Mineola, L. I., After Parade
Down 3th Avenue.
NEW YORK, August 20.?New York
city bade farewell today to ita famous
regiment. "The fighting 69th." now the
165th United States National Guard,
when the regiment left for its training
camp at Mineola, Long Island, after a
parade through 5th avenue and other
thoroughfares lined with cheering
thousands. The regiment will com
prise part of the flrst "rainbow divis
ion" that soon will Join the expedition
ary force of Maj. Gen. Pershing |n
France.
A picturesque feature of the parade
was the escort of honor, composed of
Spanish war veterans of the Mth. led
by CoL Edward Duffy, Who commanded
the unit is the Spanlab-Ankcrlcu war.
. M -?
UNKNOWN POSING AS
SECRETARY DANIELS' SON
Mysterious Stranger Eludes Capture
After Imposing Upon Naval
Officers and Others.
A mysterious stranger, passing himself
off on naval officers and others as a son
of Secretary Daniels, has obtained numer
ous sums of money and to date has
eluded capture.
The Navy Department issued a warning
today against the impostor. According
to the department's announcement, the
first occasion was July 9, when the im
postor introduced himself to the officers
of the receiving ship at New York navy
yard and was invited to luncheon. He
said he had lost about $47 and succeeded
in borrowing from the ships paymaster $20,
furnishing a regular navy receipt which
he signed "Herbert J. Daniels."
On July 25 the same man called on the
principal of the Montclair, N. J., Academy,
introducing himself as Frank Danielsr, a
son of the Secretary, and said he had
been commissioned by Rear Admiral
Usher of the New York navy yard to ar
range for an encampment on the acadamv
campus for 200 sailors.
Got $250 on False Check.
He also expressed a desire to visit Thom
as A. Edison at his laboratory at Orange,
N. J., and this was arranged through Dr.
M. Reese Hutchison. Mr. Edison's con
fidential man, who first took the stranger
to his own home for luncheon and then
to the inventor's laboratory.
The Navy Department statement
says that Dr. Hutchison lost $250 in
cash by taking the stranger's check.
When Dr. Hutchison came to Wash
ington he handed to Secretary Daniels
a letter from his "son" and the fraud
was disclosed.
Authorities Are Notified.
In the meantime the impostor had
again called at Dr. Hutchison's home
in Orange, N. J-, saying he was going
t|> stay there a week. He borrowed a
camera from th'e butler and then pro
reeded to the Edison storage battery
plant, where he got $30 from the su
perintendent on a bad check.
"As soon as Secretary Daniels learned
of the fraud." the statement continues,
"the authorities were notified to be on
the oullook for the imposter. On Sun
day. July 29. a secret service man. in
company with a policeman, saw the
young man on Park avenue in Orange
and approached him with the intention
of placing him under arrest.
However, the voting man wore a dif
ferent suit of clothes from that he had |
worn when he was at Dr. Hutchison's !
and had no glasses, and the secret
service man. not being sure of his
ground, did not arrest him. Since that
day the impostor has not been seen."
SHIPYARD MEN MAY ASK
SYMPATHETIC! STRIKE
Declare They Will Call on 250,000
Metal Workers Along the
Atlantic Coast.
NEW YORK, August 20.?Labor leaders
in charge of the strike in shipyards of
the New York district today asserted that
2r,0,000 metal workers in various parts of |
the country would be asked to declare a
sympathetic strike unless ji settlement is
reached today. A meeting of labor leaders
to be held in Tammany Hall tomorrow is
expected to take formal action seeking to
extend the strike, it was said.
According to those in charge of the
strike, the plans include taking out men all
the way from Seattle to the Delaware
river. Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Wil
mington, Elizabeth and Norfolk will be
affected they said. The meeting tomor
row will be attended by officials of the
international unions involved, machinists,
blacksmiths, boilermakers and pattern
makers.
Louis Weyand, vice president of the In- i
ternational Brotherhood of Boilermakers,
declared that his union was In the fight
either to win or lose everything and that
the men would keep up the struggle as
long as the employers did.
Strike leaders said the latest acquisition
to their ranks were the mechanics em-1
ploye<Jsj>y the Standard Shipbuilding Com- t
pany, on Shooters Island. The strikers I
and employers are deadlocked over the I
question of establishing a minimum wage, j
'? "
ALL SPAIN IS TRANQUIL.
MADRID. August 20. ? Official news
has been received from throughout
Spain that tranquillity reigns every
where and the general strike is ex
pected to end today. A meeting of the
cabinet has been called, and it la
thought partial law will be annulled.
. W. W. STRIKE GETS i
BAD START IN WEST
j
Reports Indicate Protest Walk-;
out Order Npt Generally
Observed.
LEADERS STILL IN JAIL
Br the Associated Prp?*s.
SPOKANE, Wash., August 20.--A gen
eral strike of the Industrial Workers of
the World called as a protest against
holding its members In Jail without
charges, supposed to begin today in Mon
tana, Washington, Idaho and Oregon, did
not get a good start, according to re
ports received here.
Advises from Seattle stated that no
I. W. W. construction workers had gone j
out there as far as could be learned.
The recent release of a large num
ber of members of the organization
held in central Washington jails
brought a decision at Seattle headquar- |
ters not to call the strike, and the :
arrests here did not change this de
cision.
Portland reported there was no in
terruption to industry in Oregon as a
result of the Industrial Workers of the j
World general strike scheduled for to
day. according to early reports. Fed- I
eral, state and local officials declared |
themselves prepared for eventualities, i
James Rowan, district secretary of
the I. W. W. in the far northwestern
states, and twenty-six others who were
arrested yesterday by national guards
men. remained in the county jail as
military prisoners. Their disposition I
will be discussed by Maj. Clement Wil
kins. who made the arrests, and the
United States district attorney and
marshal.
Lumber Workers Out.
Some 50,000 lumber workers already are
declared to be on strike in obedience to
orders from the I. W. W.
Rowan and his fellow I. W. W. were
taken into custody yesterday afternoon
by Idaho national guardsmen, on pa-'
trol duty here. Investigation of the in
dividual case of each man was prom
ised today by Maj. Clement Wilkins,
under whose direction the arrests were
made. He told the men that any one of
them found innocent of trying to ham
per the harvest and tie up the industries
of the country would be given his free
dom. Money amounting to $1,360 taken
from the men at the time of their ar
rest will be returned to them upon their
release. 1
The principal object of the lumber
men's strike, according to Rowan', is to |
bring about an eight-hour working day j
and better working conditions. The !
strike ordered for today of the agri- '
cultural and construction workers, he
said, was a protest against the arrest
of members of the organization in vari- '
ous parts of the northwest.
Acted on General Orders.
The arrests of Rowan and the twenty
six others were made without specific
orders, Maj. Wilkins said. "I acted
under general orders empowering me
to take such steps as appeared to be !
necessary to prevent the destruction of
property and the hampering of indus
try," he said.
I^ater Maj. Wilkins said the entire pro
ceedings were under military orders and
that no charges had been placed against j
the men. A deputy United States marshal j
who accompanied the soldiers did so only -
to identify the men arrested, he said.
Four hundred miners employed in man
ganese mines in the Philipsburg district,
sixty miles east of Missoula, Mont., are on
strike today. They are demanding $.">.50
a day, $10 reduction of the monthly charge
for board and recognition of the Metal
Mine Workers* Union, organized '.ast Fri
day. According to the sheriff of Granite
county, Mont., outsiders said to be I. W.
W. organizers, formed the union.
SILENT ON I. W. W.
Department of Justice Officials De
cline to Discuss Arrests.
Department of Justice officials declined
today to comment in any, way upon the
labor rituation in Washington. Oregon.
Montana and Idaho, where a general
strike of the Industrial Workers of the
World had been set for today, or the ar
rest yesterday of James Rowan, district
secretary, and twenty-six other leaders of
the organization.
Details of the charges against Rowan
and his associates, the investigation to be
conducted and of the causes for employ
ing Idaho national guardsmen in making
the arrests, official^ said, were subjects
about which it was deemed expedient to
say little at the present time. It was in
timated, however, that the arrest of the
I. W. W. leaders was only one feature of
the program contemplated to prevent a
general tie-up of industries In the affected
sections.
Attorney General Gregory, after a con
ference with assistants, who have been
following the situation in the northwest,
announced that he bad no -statement to*
make at pr?enfc >
ITALIANS CROSS ISONZO;
TAKE 7,500 PRISONERS
Magnitude of Offensive Indicated by
Reports From Rome
and Vienna.
ROME, August 20.?The
Italians in their offensive on
the Isonzo front, begun yester
day, have crossed the Isonzo
river, and already have taken
7,500 prisoners, it was officially
announced by the war depart
ment today.
VIENNA, August -'if, via Ixondon,
August 20.?The Italians have Begun an
other big offensive against the Austrians
in the Isonzo region of the Austro-Italian
theater, where lighting is in progress
over a thirty-seven-mile front, running:
from the region of Tolmino to near the
head of the Adriatic sea on the Carso
plateau. This information is contained in
the war office communication issued to
day.
ROME. August 20.?"Since dawn yes
terday," reports the Italian general head
quarters staff, in a statement issued yes
terday, "our artillery has been shelling the
enemy positions from Mont Nero to the
sea. Our flights of airplanes and air
ships have bombarded troops massed be
hind the enemy lines."
Commenting on the new Italian ad
vance. the press says that it. like the
British attack in Flanders, will be of
service if it demonstrates how the
peoples and armies of the allied coun
tries feel toward the premature peace
proposals of Pope Benedict. It is said
Austria apparently realizes the gravity
of the situation, as announcement is
made that Emperor Charles is soon to
visit the Austro-Italian front, presuma
bly to encourage his troops.
GIVEN TWO YEARS EACH
FOR ACCEPTING BRIBES
Members of Hew York Draft Exemp
tion Board Plead Guilty and
Get Prison Terms.
By Hip Associated Press.
NEW YORK, August 20?Dr. S. J.
Bernfeld and Ix>uis T. Cherey, indicted
members of exemption board No. 99, to
day entered pleas of guilty to a charge
of conspiracy to obstruct the draft law
when they were a^out to be placed on
trial. k
They were sentenced to two years
each in the federal penitentiary at
Atlanta.
Kalman Gruher. not a member of the
board, but indicted with them on the
same charge, elected to stand trial.
The specific count in the indictment
for conspiracy to which Bernfeld and
Cherey pleaded guilty charged them
with accepting a bribe of $300 from a
registrant to exempt him. It was dis
closed, however, by Assistant United
States District Attorney Stanton that
the defendants had accepted $3,000 in
bribe money. He told the court they
had paid bac? a portion of the moneys
and had promised to make good the
balance as soon as possible.
Comment Made by Court.
Judge Manton. in passing sentence,
said that although the maximum penalty
provided by the statute was imprison
ment for two years and a fine of $10,
000, the government did not wish to
accept tainted money in the form of a
fine.
"These men," said the judge, "are
educated and pleaded guilty to having
committed a most heinous crime against
their government in time of great
stress. They can be credited with only
one act of decency in connection with
this matter, paying back some of the
money they accepted as bribes, and
their expressed intention of repaying
the balance.
"I regret that the law does not em
power the court to impose a heavier
sentence."
The defendants were allowed one
week to arrange their affairs before
being taken to Atlanta.
The task of obtaining a jury in the
case against Gruher. was begun imme
diately. He is charged with conspiracy
in that it is alleged he acted as outside
agent for Bernfeld and Cherey in ar
ranging for bribes. He was not a 1
member of local board No. 99, and *
claims to have acted innocently. 1
Sweden Forbids Export of Paper. 1
LONDON, August 20.?An Exchange 1
Telegraph dispatch from Copenhagen '
reports that the Swedish government i
has prohibited the exportation of news 1
print paper on account of the shortage I
of timber, coal and sulphur for the 1
manufacture of pulp. ]
A
COAST OF BELGIUM
GOAL OF GEGM
i _____
Must Acquire It Now or Fight
Another War, Gen. von
Liebert Asserts.
POPE'S PLAN NOT POPULAR
By the Associated Press.
AMSTERDAM. August 20.?Gen. von
Liebert, in a speech at Rathenovv, Prus
sia, is quoted by the Deutsche Tages
zeitung as saying:
"We cannot sign a peace before we
have the Flanders coast, a colonial em
pire and maritime bases. Should we |
not realize this now we must Pr?P^ I
to work for it after the war in Me* ]
of the next war " i?,niiv I
Gen. Iviebert's speech was loudl> }
c heered by his hearers, but it was ,
criticised by the German press. i
Vorwaerts declared: "This may Pro" !
long the war until Germany has been ,
so beaten that even our pan-Germans
cannot think of a 'next time.
rope's Note Stirs Germany.
COPENHAGEN. August 20.?The j
Popes peace proposal now is being
dragged into the field of party politics
in Germany and made the subject of
contention between the Pan:<*e"?*|n
annexationists and advocates of a mod
erate peace. Rorlin
George Bernhard. in the ?erJ'n
Vossische Zeitung. says the Pope s ac
tion has cleared up one of the mys
teries connected with Mathias Krz
ger's recent peace campaign in tne
reichstag. and that the adoption bj
the reichstag of his resolution ?as to
pave the way for the Pope's note.
The terms of the Pope's note and tne
reichstag resolution against compul?>ry
annexation continue to trouble the rela
tions of Bulgaria to her allies, and it has
been found necessary to exl>lam to Buv
garia again and again that German
would interpret the acquisit on of Mace
donian regions as annexation ^lenna
dispatches say the government new spa
pers declare emphatically that it is Im
possible to cede a foot of soil to ltalj. but
otherwise little vehement objection to the
Pope's note is heard from Austria.
Scoffs at "Moral Power."
Count von Reventlow. In the Tages Zel
lung continues his cynical discussions of
I lerrnan policy. He avows, in reference to
the pope's phrase on the substitution of
the moral power of justice for might of
arms, that the moral law exists for the
Germans only so far as it applies to the
German empire and nation. The writer
savs the < lermans cannot consent to a re
duction in armaments, which alone have
made possible the existence of the em
pire and the possibility of its moral ac
II Count, von Reventlow adds that Ger
many ?annot bear her own war bur
I dens" and that, therefore, she cannot
renounce indemnities, and that guar
antees for Belgium's independence
cannot be found. He also says that
the carrying out of the papal program
wetild mean an etfd to> the middle Eu
ropean alliance and Germany s ruin.
Anne<4??n!st mass meetings con
tinue to bombard Field Marshal von
Hindenbuig, Chancellor Mlchaelis ana
Admiral Scheer. commander of the bat
tle fleet, with protests against the
reichstag peace resolution.
German Outlook "Brighter."
BERl-IN. August 19, via London.
August 20.?The main committee of the
reichstag will meet next Tuesday to
deal with the military and economic
situation in the empire, which is said
to be considerably improved over con
ditions existing six weeks ago, when
the political crisis occurred. At that
time the Russians were penetrating
farther into Galicla. while the U-boat
figures threatened to show a falling off
in sunken tonnage.
The food situation iu Germany was
then anything but confidence-inspiring,
due to a shortage of potatoes and ab
sence of new vegetables and fruit and
to reduced bread rations. Today the
food situation has been eased by the
arrival of a new potato crop, added bread
rations and an improvement In the sup
ply of vegetables, while the military
situation on the eastern front, accord
ing to the official leaders, has been con
verted into an overwhelming rout of the
Russians and Rumanians and a redemp
tion of Austrian soil from the invaders.
The outstanding military feature since
the quieting of the recent political storm,
however, is found on the western front,
where the offensive of the entente in
Flanders, in the German view, is again
halted, and the German I'-boat base on
the Belgian coast has been successfully
defended.
The new rhanoellor and nls newly ap- |
pointed staff of secretaries, therefore,
are permitted to enter into the initial
conferences with the rei<hstag main i
committee at a moment when the cen-!
tral powers are declared again to be in j
military ascendancy and the domestic,
situation is shorn of features which em
barrassed the government on the eve cf
the crisis.
In view of the unparalleled economic
and military situation, the opinion pre
vails in ma'nv quarters that the reichs
tag unmindful of the .lamors of the
pan-Germans, should unequivocally re
iterate the principles of its peace reso
lution as adopted by a two-thirds ma
jority at the .-lose of the recent storm\
session It is not unlikely that the
papal peace note will be informally
discussed early in the session of the
main committee.
The Vorddeutsche Allgemeine Zei
tung announces that Pr. Michaelis the
imperial chancellor, will take the flo<">r
at Tuesday's meeting for the purpose
of participating in the general discus
sion. and he also will make reference
to the papal peace note.
RUSSAN GENERAL SLAIN
BY MUTINOUS SOLDIERS
PETRI iGRAP. August 20.?A report
has been received by Premier Keren
sky. according to the Novoe Vremya.
of the killing by soldiers of Gen. Pur
gasofT. a veteran who had been in
active service since the beginning of
the war. A certain company of sol
diers. the paper states, refused to rec
ogniie a newly appointed commander,
whereupon Gen. Purgasoff ordered the
conipanv disbanded and the leaders of
the mutiny arrested.
The mutineers then surrounded Gen.
Purgasoff and beat him to death with
the butts of their rifles before help ar
rived.
BULGARS SHELL MONASTIR,
FOURTH OF CITY BURNED
CORFU. August 20.?One-quarter of
the Serbian city of Monastir has been
destroyed by Are caused bj- a Bulgarian
bombardment, the Serbian press bu
reau announces. The number of vic
.?*, has not been ascertained.
The statement says that Saturday the
Riiio-arians bombarded the city more
Violently than ever, firing some S.000
shells There was no reawn for the
bombardment, as no fighting was in
ororrees. Women and children who
K?d in all directions have been col
lected and taken to th. r~?
FRENCH ATTACKING
ON VERDUN FRONT;
BATHE A BIG ONE
Early Reports Show Success
on Eleven-Mile Line, With
Many Prisoners Taken.
TROOPS IN HIGH SPIRITS.
SAYS A PARIS STATEMENT
Berlin Admits French Are on Taloi
Ridge. But Says Position Wat
Hot Contested.
j The French took the offensive thl?
| morning on the Verdun front, striking
I along a sector of eleven miles on both
, banks of the Meuse river. Early official
reports from Paris, while giving: few
details of the battle, say it has de
veloped to the advantage of the French
and that prisoners already are passing
to the rear.
The first reports do r.ot show whether
the French have, inaugurated a major
offensive, although the indications art
that the operation is an unusually Im
portant one. There has been sharp
fighting recently on the Verdun front,
which has been the scene of some of
the most sanguinary struggles of the
war. It was in this sector that the
German crown prince launched an of
fensive early last year in an attempt to
break the French line, losing several
hundred thousand men without gaining
any material advantages.
Last week the Germans made a sharp
local attack there, possibly having
learned of the French preparations and
hoping to break them up. For several
days the French have been conducting
a terrific bombardment of the Germaa
Paris Report of Battle.
By the Associate*! Press.
PARIS, August 20.?French troops
made an attack this morning on both
banks of the Meuse, on the Verdun
front. Early information shows that
the battle has developed to the advan
tage of the French on a sector of
eighteen kilometers (eleven miles).
Prisoners already have been passing to
the rear. The attack was defiveredT be
tween Avocourt wood and Bezonvau*
Heavy artillery lighting is in prog
ress in Belgium. The following official
statement was issued here today *
''?"In ?tB?|#im thlt# was ftoftnt f fr-fli
tillery fighting in the region north of
Bixschoote.
Activity in Champagne.
"In Champagne our batteries ef
fectively bombarded German defenses.
We made several raids and brought
back prisoners from the enemy lines.
"On both banks of the Meuse this
morning our troops attacked the Ger
man positions with magnificent spirit.
According to early information, the
new battle of Verdun is developing
to our advantage on a front of eighteen
kilometers from Avocourt wood to the
region north of Bezonvaux. Numerous
prisoners are being taken to the rear.
The bravery of our troops is beyond all
praise.
! "In the region of Badonviller wo
I easily repulsed an enemy attack. Thero
was rather spirited artillery fighting
{ in upper Alsace."
French on Talou Ridge.
| BERLIN', August 20. via London.??
I The war office announces that tho j
French without fighting have occupied
the Talou ridge, on the Verdun front I
east of the Meuse. i
The German high command says that
Talou ridge was given up hv the Teu
tons because this line of defense sinco
last March had been occupied only by
outposts.
At all other places over a front of
fourteen and three-eighths miles the
Germaft general staff reports fighting
is in full swing.
British Halt Counter Attack.
LONDON, August 20.?A German
counter attack on the positions cap
tured by the British yesterday morning
southeast of Epehy was completely re
pulsed after sharp fiehting. according
{ to an official statement issued today
| by the vi ar office. A successful raid
j was carried out last night south of
| Lens. On the Tpres battle front the
British line has been advanced slightly
I southeast of Stjenshoek.
One German Division After
[ Another Vainly Sacrificed
Against Canadian Positions
By the Canadian Press. Limited.
! CANADIAN HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. August 19.?The fiercest en
gagement on the Canadian front since tho
beginning of the war is gradually ooming
to a triumphant end by the exhaustion of
the enemy. Since the capture of Hill 70
and St. Laurent Wednesday morning ttie
Canadians defending their newly won po
sitions have been comnelled to staBid by
almost without cessation to meet the
counter attacks. The leaders of the Ger
man troops are utterly legardless of the
lives of their men, and as soon as one
division has spent itself in a frantic and
futile effort to recover the lost ground an
other is sent forward to the sacrifice.
The 4th Guards were cut to pieces in
yesterday's counter attacks, and during
the night a new division, the 220th. was
brought up. Passing through their own
lines without stopping, these fresh troopo
attacked at 4 :30 o'clock Saturday morn
ing on the Bois Hugo sector, north of
Hill 70.
Liquid Fire and Gas.
The attack was accompanied by a pro
jection of enemy liquid fire and gas. Our
artillery turned an effective barrage upon
the Germans, which caused heavy losses,
but they continued to advance with tho
utmost determination.
At a close distance of only seventy
yards from our line the machine guns
were turned upon the attacking groups
and they broke and ran for cover.
Northwest of Lens, amid the trenches
and railway cuttings which form the last
line of German defense in that quarter,
the Canadians have succeeded in estab
lishing strong posts in a special trench
which was the scene of desperate and in
decisive fighting two days ago. Thess
new posts give command of the last bit
of ground from which the defenders of
the city could overlook the advance from
the west. They are now in a hollow alt )
around the front, which swings about ?
Lens in semi-circular form. fl
The eastern exits from the city are now '9
subjected to a constant and harassing Are J9
of the artillery and machine guns. This |
makes the bringing up of provisions -9
supplies of ammunition very difficult. -a
South of St. Laurent the enemy pea#* ?
t rated our first-line trench, but was 9
driven out again as the result ef a 9
counter attack. In these desperate
itrugles there has been mu^ use