Evening star. [volume], December 07, 1917, Image 1

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

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WEATHER.
Fair, oontlnued cold tonlcbt; tomor
row. Increasing cloudiness. becoming
unsettled by night.
Temperature for twenty-four hour?
ending 2 p.m. today: Highest. 42, at
2:30 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 31, at S
a-m. today.
Full report on pare 24.
WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1917?TWENTY-EIGHT PAGES
ONE CENT
HALIFAX, DAZED BY GIGANTIC
CATASTROPHE, BEGINS HUNT
IFOR 2,000 DEAD AS CITY BURNS
Snow Adds to Horrors of Homeless
Thousands; Aids Firemen Fight
Flames?Every Building
a Morgue.
Special Trams Rush Physicians, Norses and Relief to Stricken
"Garrison City"?Refugees Bring Tales ol Tragedy.
Bodies Defy Recognition.
By the Associated Preoo.
HALIFAX, N. S., December 7.?Stunned by the magnitude of
the disaster which has overwhelmed the "garrison city by the sea,"
the people of Halifax today bent all their energies to relieving the
injured, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and gathering
their dead.
A heavy snowstojm set in early today, and while this in a meas
ure impeded the work of relief and rescue, it served to aid the fire
men in fighting the flames, which still burned fiercely in many
places among the ruins in the devastated district.
Reports from the improvised morgues and from hospitals,
churches, schools and private residences seemed to bear out last
night's estimate that at least 2,000 lives were lost when the Belgian
relief steamship Imo collided with the French munitions steamer
Mont Blanco, causing the detonation of 4,000 tons of trinitrotuluol,
one of the most powerful explosives manufactured.
Up to noon today there had been no change in the police estimate
of 2,000 dead. About the same number are injured, two-thirds of
whom are suffering from cuts from flying glass.
Help from outside began to reach the stricken city today. Doc
tors, nurses, medical and food supplies arrived on special trains
from Truro and Windsor, N. S., and from Moncton, N. B. Other
trains were reported on the way and were expected to reach here
during the day. The special train sent from Boston by direction of
Gov. McCall of Massachusetts will arrive this evening.
ENTIRE CITY DAMAGED.
Virtually all business is suspended and the schools are closed,
. while the inhabitants generally are turning their attention to relief
work. Soldiers and sailors, including seamen from an American
warship which rushed to the port when it received word of the
disaster, are patrolling the stricken district and aiding in the res
cue work.
There is wreck and ruin on every side. Every building in the
city is damaged?glass broken, plaster down, windows and doors
shattered. The damage will reach many millions, but no correct
estimate is possible at this time.
Temporary morgue* have been estab
lished In many buildings to which a
steady procession of vehicles of all
kinds have been carrying for hours the
bodies of men. women and children.
Most of them were so charred that
they were unrecognizable. Thousands
of persons seeking trace of relatives
and friends have passed by the long,
ailent rows, attempting, by the flicker
ing light of lamps. and lanterns, to
Identify the ones they sought.
Every Building a Hospital.
Virtually every building in the city
which could be converted into a hos
pital is filled with wounded* many of
them so desperately injured that there
is no hope of their recovery. Scores
already have died In these temporary
hospitals.
The exact number of dead, it appear
ed certain today, might never be
' known on account of the many per
sons?entire families in some in
stances?of whom no trace will ever
be found other than charred bones in
the ruins of their homes.
Dawn found the city still staggering
under the frightfulness of its losses in
human life and hundreds who had stood
all night in lines formed at improvised
morgues continued their vigil with al
hope on their faces. Others besieged
the hospitals for news of the missing
and meanwhile relief parties continued
their work of succor among the in
jured whom they found in the devastat
ed Richmond and Dartmouth sections
of the city. Aid from the outside in the
form of tons of supplier gave early
evidence today that fears of a food
shortage were unfounded and left city
and government officials free to direct
the rescue work, which soldiers,
sailors and police are being assisted by !
bluejackets from an American warship j
in the harbor.
Hunt for Bodies.
Over the flame-swept area of Rich- I
mond, of approximately two and a half
square miles, many searchers confined
their elTorts today to making sure that
all of the injured were removed to hos
pitals. Other organized parties sought
out those bodies that might be identi
fied and rushed them to the morgues.
In this section, extending from Pier 8
back to Gottingen street, not a building
was left standing, and here was the
greatest loss of life.
Buildings that withstood the force of
the explosion were burned by the fire that
swept the district, and scores of the in
jured were taken from the ruins of the
railway station, the refinery of the Ameri
can Sugar Refining Company, the mili*
tary gymnasium and the AiVna Rink,
while few if any of the several hundred
children attending the Richmond School
are known to have escaped.
Across the narrows, in the town of
Dartmouth, the results of the vast dam
age done by the force of the explosion
became more apparent today, while re
ports from towns and villages within a.
i^dlus of 100 miles indicate that the force
*of the impact was felt and In some cases
?caused property damage.
Wires Down, City Isolated.
At Truro, Amherst and other places
where the explosion was fel' efforts to
get into wire- communication with Hali
fax confirmed suspicions that the war
port had met with a catastrophe, but It
was several hours before a wire was
placed in operation to inform the outside
world of the extent of the disaster. Tele*
graph and telephone wires were torn
?lown. mid in the first moments of ruin
and death Halifax was completely iso
lated. Early in the afternoon, several
hours after the explosion, a single wire
was placed In operation by the Canadian
Press, Limited, and over it news of the.
disaster and government messages told
of the extent of the needs of the city and
brought reassuring replies that every
available means of transportation was
being requisitioned to rush medical aid
and supplies.
The explosion occurred in the nar
rows, a point in the harbor less than
half a mile wide. On the north shore
is the town of Dartmouth, on the south
shore the Richmond section of the city.
Sloping land on each side of the nar
rows forms in effect a trough, which
served to confine the blast and increase
its intensity and destructiveness.
Transport Pier Crippled.
The main water front buildings, great
piers for loading ships and warehouses
for munitions and supplies are located
off the narrows and they escaped the
full force of the blow. While these
piers and storehouses are damaged con
siderably it was learned today the fa
cilities for loading transports and mu
nitions ships are not so badly crippled
as was at first believed.
William Barton, former telegraph ed
itor of the Montreal Gazette and now
traveling auditor for the Canadian Im
perial Munitions Board, at Ottawa, re
lated today his experiences during the
excipsion. He was at breakfast in the
Haltrax Hotel.
"In ten seconds it was all over," Mr.
Barton said. "A low rumbling, a quake
shock, with everything vibrating, then
an indescribable noise, followed by the
fall of plaster and the smashing of
glass. In such moments the human
mind does not hesitate; a c^y went up:
'A German bomb.' A rush for the door,
headlong down the hallway amid fall
ing pictures, glass and plaster, to thei
swinging doors of a few seconds before,1
now ripped from their hinges; through
great projecting triangular pieces of
glass to the street. Here I found my
self with a burden. How she had come
into my arms I do not know, yet here i
she was, hysterically shrieking: 'Oh.
my poor sister, my poor sister!'
Giant Smoke Cloud.
"Outside, overhead a giant smoke
cloud was moving northward. Danger
seemed over. I crossed the road, laid
my feminine burden on a doorstep and
returned to the hoteL My aid, for I was
unscathed, was possibly needed for
more there. I made my way upstairs to
the rooms of two friends. The rooms
were vacant, but normal, even the glass
unbroken?and few panes of glass re
main unbroken in this area. Once more
I was in the street, meeting my com
panions on the threshold. They, too
were unscathed.
"Our plans were quickly made. We
were off to the immediate vicinity of
the disaster, for* among many theories,
we accepted as most plausible blow
ing up of a monition ship. Toward'
Citadel Hill we wended our way and
the farther we went the more horrid
the aftermath. The improvised stretch
er met us on all sides, converging into
the mali> thoroughfares from the high
ways and byways. The wounded were
everywhere, but most of these unfor
tuna os could hobble or walk; we kept
onward.
Soldiers Aid Work.
"Our hurry-scurry had led to the
armory. Here the khakl-clad men
were already on parade, many of the
soldiers showing wounds bound with
bandkerchifs.
"As we passed they were already
on the march toward the mora devas
tated area. The order had gone forth:
"Commandeer all vehicles, auto or
horse.' A cordon waa drawn across
(Continued on Fifth Fag* )
*
f iTifflliiiWtilBWBMrii'f jjiit'l'Ti iff? 1
But Official Dispatch Asserts
Figures Have Not Been
Confirmed.
Five thousand are believed to
have been killed in the explosion
in Halifax harbor and the fire
which swept North Halifax and
Dartmouth, N. S., according to
advices from a naval commander
reaching the Navy Department
early today. The Navy dispatch
said these figures had not b?en
verified, however.
The report, which came from a
naval commander who witnessed
the explosion from a point fifty
two miles off Halifax and later
proceeded to the harbor to render
aid, said all of North Halifax was
destroyed, three ships sunk and
many others damaged. "The
ruins of buildings are now burn
ing fiercely in North Halifax," the
dispatch concluded.
No American Ships in Harbor.
Reports to the Navy Depart
ment indicate there was rfo Ameri
can ship in the harbor of Halifax
at the time of the explosion, and
officials are inclined to think that
if American sailors had been
caught in the blast it would-fct^
been reported in the early dis
patch from a naval commander,
who went in to help after hearing
the detonation fifty-two miles at
sea.
The report as given out by the Navy
Department Is as follows:
"The following report "^ras received
from a naval commander at Halifax:
Heard Fifty-Two Miles at Sea.
" 'While fifty-two mile, at sea the
explosion of a munitions ship was seen
andt heard. Upon arrival assistance
was offered to the authorities and the
following learnecf concerning the cir
cumstances leading up to the explosion
A Belgian- relief ship collided with
a French munitions vessel loaded with
3,000 tons of T. N. T. and a large quan
tity of benzine. Due to the collision
the benzine caught on fire and as soon
as the fire started the crew abandoned
the ship, reaching shore before the ex
plosion took place. s
?"Practically all of North Halifax
was destroyed and all of the windows
and doors in Halifax and Dartmouth
were demolished.
Three Vessels Sunk.
" It Is believed there are 6,000 dead
but these figures cannot be confirmed"
The explosion sunk three ships and
badly damaged many others. The
ruins of the buildings are now burn
ing fiercely in North Halifax.*"
A further report from the American
naval officer said he had landed a
guard to aid the city authorities In
policing the city and co-operate in
every way in relief work.
The State Department has received
no1 reports from the consul general at
Halifax, and today ordered the consul
at Sidney to proceed there immediately
The failure of the consul general!
Ethelbert Watts, to report, was be
lieved due to difficulty of wire com
munication. The consulate and his
residence are beyond the Indicated
zone of devastation.
EXPERTS BEGIN WORK.
Division of Railway Committee to
Stop Freight Congestion.
NEW YORK, December 7.?The east
ern railroads' export division of the
general operating committee of the
American Railway Association open
ied offices here today and com
j menced work to stop freight con
gestion. George B. Ogden, freight traf
fic manager of the Pennsylvania rail
road, who is chairman of the commit
tee. said the division would act as an
agent of the government.
"The committee will do everything
possible." he said, "to facilitate the
business of the government in the ex
port trade. All our labors will have
great object?the winning of the
The committee will work in active
sympathy with the British ministry of
munitions. " OI
Every carload of freight shipped to
New York for export will come here
?committee has sanction
u iii nK^ Tien J The P??led railroads
will obey all orders of the committee.
Deaths at Camp Bowie.
FORT WORTH. Tex.. December 7._
Eighteen deaths have been reported from
the base hospital at Camp Bowie during
the last twenty-four hours. Most of them
were caused by pneumonia or a compli
cation of measles and pneumonia. Pif_ I
teen cases of meningitis are reported.
Close Schools to Save Coal.
CHICAGO, December 7.?In order to
save coal school children of Chicago
**?. *? hj*e an extra week of vacation
at the Christmas holidays, according to
announcement made today by the
board of education. The summer vaca
tion will start a week later than usual.
:r ^
SPEED RELIEF UNIT
TO 1 OF HALIFAX
Massachusetts Special Plows
Through Snow to Help
Stricken City.
TALES OF HORROR GROW
ABOARD MASSACHUSETTS RELIEF
TRAIN, via St. John, N. B., December 7.
?Exact conditions in stricken Halifax
are more applling than was indicated by
last night's reports.
This is a message that was dispatched
to Gov. McCall this morning by A. C.
Ratshesky, manager of the Massachu
setts special relief train, after a night
spent in gathering bij? of information
"trainmen and others met wlift as
the train sped eastward.
The dead are everywhere, said these
reports. There is immediate need of a
great staff of surgeons and scores of
nurses. By 9 o'clock tonight the Mas
sachusetts unit should be in Halifax at
the immediate disposal of the chief sur
geon who is directing the relief work?
the most stupendous task that has con
fronted the people of Nova Scotia.
When the Bay state special reached
St. John additional hospital supplies
were taken aboard to meet pressing de
mands, pending the arrival at Halifax
of a shipment due to leave Boston at
noon today.
Need Belief at Once.
During the brief stop Mr. Ratshesky
got into communication with the Hali
fax authorities over the railroad tele
graph wire and learned that supplies
and help of every kind would be most
welcome. It had not been humanly
possible, the authorities said, to take
care of the hundreds of injured and
many had perished during the night.
In improvised morgues the dead are
piled high and unidentified. Scores of
these bodies will never be claimed.
Because of inability to get into com
munication with Halifax yesterday the
relief train was dispatched without
waiting to know whether its aid and
comfort would be useful and today the
party was gratified to learn that the
decision to start last night proved
wise.
For hours today the relief train ran
through a country buried a foot deep in
snow that was whirled over tlj,e fields
by a cutting north wind. Railroad men
said it was oold and raw at Halifax and
that the suffering was Intense. The
special had the right of way, and made
a record run on its mission of mercy.. I
"Gov. McCall has given me orders t"b I
go the limit in rendering aid. and It
shall," said Mr. Ratshesky. "Just as j
soon as I can get firsthand reports 11
will wire bim fully, because it appears
now that tremendous assistance will
be needed. #
"Arrangements were made last night
with James Jackson, head of the New
England division of the American Red ;
Cross, to forward a large equipment 1
needed to supplement what we have
forwarded.
Will Work as Unit.
"The assignment of our staff and
nurses will be determined after arrival
at Halifax, but the whole force will be
placed as a unit under the direction of .
the surgeon general.
"There is much to be done, for re- '
ports show that not one-half the terri- J
ble story has been given the world. |
Will you please have the Associated i
Press say to the people of Halifax that .
everything that can be done in a great !
affliction has been ordered by Massa- 1
chusetts, and that this is not the last t
relief corps that the state is prepared ;
to send. We shall be on the job to- j
night, and our doctors and our nurses ;
will stay on the job, with those from j
nearby Canadian cities, until the home- 1
less and hurt can see daylight ahead."
Do Your Bit?
Shop Early!
Nearly every business
concern in the city Has
its quota of "Service
Stars."
That means the stores
are mmuS^ that many ex
perienced hands to serve
you.
It also means that you
must shop early for
Christmas if you'd get
the best service possible
under existing condi
tions.
*
SCHNEIDER LOSES CASE;
DROPPED FROM FORCE
Former Police Captain Asked That
Verdict Be Set Aside, But Com
missioners Fail to Support Him.
Former Police Capt. Henry Schneider
of the seventh precinct today lost his
fight before the Commissioners to have
set aside the verdict of the police trial
board which found him guilty of con
duct prejudicial to the reputation,
good order and discipline of the de
nartment and recommended "his dis
missal from the service.
The Commissioners' action directed
that Schneider's removal from the po
lice force, of which he has been a
member for twenty-six years, take ef
I feet today.
The deposed official was accused by
Alexandria county. Va.. officials of in
terfering in the case of I. Ellison, a
.1unk dealer, under indictment in that
county on a charge of receiving stolen
goods.
His case was heard by a police trial
board September 17. Following an
nouncement of the board's decision, At
torney Wilton Lambert, representing
Schneider, took an appeal to the Com
missioners and asked for an oral hear
ing. The hearing was held December 3.
| Schneider entered the police depart
1 ment November 5, 1891. He was pro
| moted to assistant sergeant. December
I 3. 1898, and to sergeant November 22.
[ 1899. On July 1, 1905, he was made a
lieutenant and July 1, 1906, advanced
to the rank of captain.
N. Y. FOOD CLERKS STRIKE.
Delicatessen Workers Want Short
er Honrs and More Money.
NEW YORK, December 7.?Clerks
employed in more than 3,000 delica
tessen shops In New York city are on
strike today to enforce a demand for
increased wages and shorter working
hours. Officials of the union assert
2,800 non-union clerks struck in sym
pathy with 1,200 members of the union.
Owners declared the strike had not In
terfered greatly with their business.
The strikers demand an Increase of
per week over their wages of $20
and a ten-hour day instead of the pres
ent scale of from fourteen to sixteen
hours. ?
"Live Fiction!
W orth-While
Features!
POTASH AND PERLMUTTER, by
MONTAGUE GLASS?Abe and
Mawruss discuss "REVOLUTION
IZING REVOLUTION."
A TORCHY STORY, by SEWELL
FORD?"AT THE TURN WITH
WILFRED" It'a called, and It'a a
?cream.
A WARTIME SERIAL, by Loula
T R A C Y?"T HE DAY OF
WRATH"?a synopsis will enable
you to "catch up" with the story.
CRAIG KENNEDY, SCIENTIFIC
DETECTIVE, by ARTHUR B.
REEVE?There It no lapse In the
high quality of these famous de
tective stories, each complete In
Itself. Read "THE LOVE ME
TER" next Sunday.
"PUTTING THEM OVER ON
THE WESTERN FRONT," by
SERGT. EMPEY?It'a a base ball
atory In a war aettlng!
"ORIENTAL TURBAN IS MILLI
NERY NOVELTY OF THE SEA
SON," by ANNE RITTEN
HOUSE?a fashion article of In
terest to every woman.
"OUR MINISTERING ANGELS AT
THE BATTLE FRONT IN
FRANCE."
"HEROES HONORED BY MED
ALS FROM SECRETARY OF
THE TREASURY FOR SAVING
LIFE DURING THE PAST
YEAR."
In the Special Features Section of
Tha
Sunday Star
??i i until ? imwn ? i>m'
*
Only Apparent Result of Of
ficial Discussion of Railway
Issue So Far.
Although no decision had been
reached as to the best means of uni
fying the railroads, a step declared
necessary for the war by the inter
state commerce commission. President
Wilson, congressional leaders and
members of the railroad war board were
ready today to continue conferences
looking to a solution.
The only apparent result of discus
! sion of the situation yesterday be
tween President Wilson and three
members of the commission, the Presi
dent and Secretary McAdoo antf- Sen
ator New lands and the railway heads
was to strngthen the almost universal
belief that co-ordination must be ef
fected speedily, either by government
control or government support.
In a talk with Senator Newlands,
chairman of the congressional commit
tee investigating the railroads, the
railroad men are understood to have
declared $1,000,000,000 necessary for
new terminals and equipment to meet
next vear's demands. Another confer
ence "bef?reen the railway head" and
Senator Newlands will be held before
the senator confers with the President
Mondav The railroad men have agreed
to submit a definite estimate of the
money needed by the roads.
President Wilson called in Chairman
Hall and Commissioners Clark and
Myers to acquaint himself with the
precise ideas of the commission, and
later Secretary McAdoo, who in .tne
past has been known to lean strongly
I toward some form of stricter govern
ment control, visited the White House.
| He would not discuss his visit.
| Board's Suggestion Followed.
i The first definite steps in Congress to
follow the Interstate Commerce Com
mission's suggestions were taken yes
terday in the Senate, when the judiciary |
committee decided to report favorably
Senator Overman's bill to suspend oper- j
ation of the Clayton anti-trust act, as it
affects railroads, until J^uary 1. 1919.
or beyond next January 15. the date to
which operation was deferred at the
last session.
Another conference with the railroad
war board will be held by Senator
Newlands before his visit to the White
House Monday. The board agreed yes
terday to submit a definite estimate of
the money needed by all the roads of
the country to equip them with facili
ties for meeting demands due to the
war Means of obtaining this money
were not taken up. Annual freight
revenues amount to about $3,000,000,000
annually and to obtain anything like
a billion dollars from increased freight
rates Is regarded as wholly impractica
ble.
DR. FINLEY DONATES AWAED.
Gives Academy Prize of 2,500
Francs to Aid Wounded Soldiers.
PARIS, I>ecember 7.?The prize of 2,500
francs awarded to Dr. John H. Finley,
commissioner of education of the state of,
New York, by the French Academy has
been donated by the writer for relief work
in France. A letter read at the French
Academy today from Dr. Finley asked
that the money be given to Mme. Bou
troux, the translator of Dr. Finley's book,
"The French in the Heart of America,"
for the benefit of wounded soldiers in the
hospital at the Thiers Foundation build
ing.
FRENCH SENATOR ACCUSED.
Steps for Legal Proceedings Taken
by the Government.
PARIS, December 7.?The speaker of
the senate announced today that he had
received a demand for authorization to
begin legal proceedings against a senator
whose name. In accordance with custom,
was not mentioned. If was evident, how
ever. that the speaker referred to Charles
Humbert, proprietor of the Journal,
against whom accusations have been made
lrTconnection with the Bolo Pasha scandal.
Many of the senators asked the speaker
by whom the demand for the authoriza
tion was made. The speaker said that,
although It was not customary to make
such announcement, he could say that it
was made by the government.
Rockefeller, Jr., in Camp Dix Work.
WRIOHTSTOWN. N. J? December 7.?
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., will work as a
Y. M. C. A. Held secretary at the Camp
Dlx National Army cantonment here for
two weeks, the war work council an
nounced today. He will barfn his duties
tomorrow and will sleep on an army cot
In an el?ht-by-ten-foot pin* board room
ind wlUineea wHh the soldiers.
RUMANIANS JHH
RUSS IN ARMISTICE
Hostilities Suspended on Whole
Front?Allies to Work for
"Real Russia."
LENINE NOW FEARFUL
JASSY, Rumania, Thursday,
December 6.?It has been de
cided that the Rumanian troops
shall associate themselves with
the Russians in the proposed
armistice, though the Rumani
ans have rejected every at
tempt at fraternization, says an
official announcement made
here today.
Hostilities were suspended
today on the whole front.
Diplomats to Stay in Russia.
By the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM. December 6. ? The
newspaper Svobodnaya Ryetch of
Petrograd. according: to a Haparanda
dispatch, reports that the entente dip
lomatic representatives in Russia have
received instructions approving the
course thus far taken tyy them. The al
lied ambassadors, says the newspaper,
are to remain in Russia to maintain re
lations "with the real Russia and to
assist in freeing it from the German
danger."
Election Commission Ousted.
LONDON, December 7.?An armed
maximalist force has occupied the
Marie Palace, according to a Reuter
dispatch from Petrograd, a*nd has ex
pelled the all-Russian commission in
charge of the elections for the constitu
ent assembly.
There is a profound divergence of
opinion among the Russian armies in
Rumania regarding the attitude they
shall take toward the bolsheviki gov
ernment, says a dispatch to the Times
from Rumanian headquarters . dated
Sunday. Committees have been formed
consisting mostly of interested Ger
mans who have succeeded in getting a
hold on the rank and file. The cor
respondent, after reporting signs of
disintegration, says the bolsheviki are
gaining the upper hand along the
whole front. Gen. Rogussa, commander
of the Fourth Army, has been arrested
by order of the sohfiers- 'committee of
that army.
No Fighting for Ten Says.
BERLIN, via London, December 6.?
The text of an official communication
follows:
"Yesterday the authorised represent
atives of the chief army administra
tions of Germany, Austria-Hungary.
Turkey and Bulgaria concluded in writ
ing with the authorized representatives
of the Russian chief army administra
tion a suspension of hostilities for ten
days for the whole of the mutual fronts.
The commencement is fixed for Friday
noon.
"The ten-day period will be utilised
for bringing to a conclusion negotia
tions for an armistice. For the purpose
of reporting verbally regarding the
present results, a portion of the mem
bers of the Russian deputation has re
turned home.
"The sittings of the commission con
tinue."
Agreement B*v?ai?d.
PETROGRAD, December ?.?The text
of the armistice agreement between
the 67th Russian infantry division and
the 31st German infantry division, is
printed by the Pravda. It does not con
tain a word concerning the non-trans
ference of German troops to other
fronts.
Besult of Elections.
Preliminary returns from the prov- |
inces. show the bolsheviki in the
elections <rbtained 2,704.000 votes: the
constitutional democrats 2,230.300: the
social revolutionaries, who form the
majority of those left. 221,260.
The central executive committe has
given its consent to :i decree grantin
to the councils of electoral districts
the right to proceed witl^ re-elections
for all elective bodies, including the
constituent assembly, in accordance
with the demands of the electors. Thus
it will be possible for the electors to
revoke their choice In the case of those
.?epresentatives whose politics no
longer correspond with their own. The
council of the people's commissaries
has authorized the local workmen's
and soldiers' council to collect the
taxes.
Trotzky Defends Measure.
The project provoked great opposi
tion on the part of the moderate ele
ment of the committee, who te med it
an attempt to curtail the rights of
members of the constituent -assembly.
In defending the measure, Leon
Trotzky. the bolsheviki foreign minis
ter, said:
"Should there be a majority of the
constitutional democrats, members of
the right and social revolutionists, the
people would forcibly dissolve the con
stituent assembly. This measure is
meant to avoid the possibility of disso
lution."
Since the system of representation is
proportional an objection to one mem
ber of the constituent assembly would
necessitate the recall of all the mem
bers of a given election district.
KqtuUoS Free by Base.
Gen. Korniloff. who had been under ar
rest since the collapse of his movement
against Premier Kerensky, and whose
escape from prison was recently re
ported, gained his liberty by a clever
ruse on the part of friends, who pre
sented a forged document purporting
to be a release signed by Shoblovsky,
head of the commission having Kohni
loff's case under inquiry. This infor
mation has been received from Mo
hllev. Korniloff marched out of the
town at the head of 400 of the Tekin
regiment, accompanied by Gens. Dene
kin, Harkoff and Arloff, his erstwhile
fellow-prisoners.
On Sunday there arrived at Buikoff,
where Korniloff was imprisoned, a uni
formed officer, who presented to the com
mandant a paper ordering the release of
the imprisoned men. The commandant,
suspicious -of fraud, tried to communicate
with his staff by telephone, but found the
wires interrupted. The news of the arrival
of the officer bearing the order for release
reached the ears of the Tekin regiment,
composing the garrison, who were friendly
to Korniloff and who overruled the com
mandant's hesitation and demanded the'
Immediate fulfillment of the order. Upon
his release Gen. Korniloff placed himself
at the head of his troops, set free all the
other prisoners and took the road to the
south.
Shoblovsky denies Issuing any order.
The last message sent to the troops by
Gen. Dukhonln. the commander-in-chief of
the Russian forces, before the bolshevik!
forces captured his headquarters at Ifohl
lev and bolsheviki troops killed him. sol
emnly warned them against breaking
treaties with the entyte allies and allen
iContlnued on Seventh Page.)
Italians Suffer Heavy Losses
in New Enemy Drive, But 1
Line Is Intact.
INVADERS LIKEWISE
-a
SEVERELY PUNISHE0
Confidence Still It Voiced That Ges.
Diaz's Men Will Balk Fur
ther Incursions.
Violent fighting continues on the ;
northern Italian front between Asiago
and the Brenta river. The Austro-Ger
mans have made gains, claiming the cap
ture of Monte Sisemol, but have not yit
been able to break the Italian Una.
The Italians, inflicting heavy losses o*
the attackers, have retired gradually te
prepare positions and admit they have
given up Monte Fior and Monte Castel
gomberto. Berlin claims 15,000 pris
oners.
On the western end of the line the
Austro-Gcrman attempts to encircle the
Meletta position and cut it off were
defeated. Along the Brenta, east ei
Monte Badenecche, and Monte TonAfc
recar, lost Wednesday to the enemy, the
Italians repulsed, with heavy loss, a de
term in ed effort to break through.
ROME, December 7.? ^>n the Astage
plateau the battle Is continuing with;
out interruption," say? todays oilieie*
report.
Latest Berlin Report.
Bj the Ano-lltxl PrtM.
BERLIN. December 7, via London--?
Four thousand more Italian? have been
captured in the new Austro-OenjjM'jjf
fensive on the northern front, bringing
up the total to 15.000, according to to
day's official communication.
Monte Sisemol was captured by storm,
the statement says.
Old Tactics Repeated.
Br Awoci*t?Hl Pr*M. '
ITALIAN HEADQUART B R S
NORTHERN ITALY, Thursday. Decem
ber 6.?The big operation which ***
enemy Is attempting in the north Is rtr
?S?ffy a repetition of the turning move
nt otteSlCvUete^ve Gorlsia. At I*?*;
fime he^ broke through the uppe.
lime Ufl U"""
?t"ch " T'nnm"
not only affects the lines in
but if the enemy could pierce thro?g?
and drive his way southward onto the.
plains, it might place him on the left
flank of the Plave lines, much as tfce
Duke of Aosta has his Sd Army at
Gorlxia. with the enemy on his left
flank. It Is this quite as much as the
frontal attack that Is receiving consid
eration. The line east of Aslago prob
ably is stronger today than before the
retirement yesterday, as It's now a
ssli
on the inside oathe U and the enemy om
the outside.
Backward Season Aids Foa.
It has been established that
Field Marshal Conrad von Hetsendorf
is directine the movement. Gen.
Krobatin's forces also are eo-operatlng.
In addition to the superiority in ?*??
bers the Austro-Germans are taking
advantage of the backward season and
are striking before the mountain snows
'mpede^peration^s yfar happens t? be
I favorable to the enemy. Thesnowls
! only a few Inches deep, whereas in De
cember the snow usually reaches a
depth of from four to ten feet. t?e
such snowfall now would be worth di
visions. Gray skies today indicate#
snow, but the fall was light.
Italian Lines Intact.
The splendid showing the Italians
made single-handed on
plateau Is leading to the frequent re
mark that the Asiago plateau will be
the Italian Verdun. While the Italians
had fallen back, as did the heroic de
fenders of Verdun, yet their main llnee
are intact and inspire confidence that
the Italians will be able to hold the In
vaders from reaching the Italian plain*
The Italian 1st Army- which Is
meeting the brunt of vhe attack. Is gtsw
ing splendid evidence of its offenstv*
and defensive qualities. The spirit of
the men is high, and the general com
manding the 1st Amy has gone along
the front line, saw his men in the Held
and trenches and personally congratu
lated them on their valor.
Italian Losses Also Heavy.
The importance of the lighting
around Asiago is not nnilfii til hue IJT
but it is estimated the line of resist
ance on which the Italians have re
tired is capable of holding the Fran
zella and Uadena passes leading Into
the Brenta valley and the open r'~*~
some miles below. The fighting )mi
been of the most desperate character,
and while the enemy has paid ileal I)
for his success, the Italian lossss tilt
have been very heavy.
An eye-witness from the scene ef
operations gave the correspondent de
tails of the extent and bloody Mlm i
of the carnage. Enemy reserves were
poured in until the Italians were Car
outnumbered. They continued to
struggle desperately, however, aad In
one casea small detachment of ber
saglieri met the shock of aa entire
Austrian regiment. Austrian Kaiser
Jaegers displayed unprecedented feroc
ity. using stilettos as well as bayonets
in fierce hand-to-hand fighting.
Alplni Show Heroism.
But the greatest single instance ef
heroism and loss was in the case of
several detachments of Alpini, which
held Monte Castelgomberto SfaiDft
overwhelming odds until surrounded
completely. Thus encircled, they made
repeated charges, but the heavy sur
rounding lines held and the entire
party was stil! on the inountaln when
the remainder of the Italian line fell
back. ? . . "
In other case one brigade of beraas**
lieri lost a great number of offlcers and
men in the same proportion.
The extent of the enemy reserves Is
shown by their concentration In the
average amount of a division tpr ever*
kilometer. These divisions have been
identified as the 6th, l?th, 21st. 4U1?
and S2d. in addition to others not Iden
tified. and a number of GeiVian battal
ions. The artillery Ore also has ben
the heaviest since the new Italian line
was formed.
Conditions this morning were virtual
ly unchanged. Much depends upon the
ability of the Italians to hold <h?
passes to which they have bow retired
commanding the Br en la valley and tfca
plllm