Evening star. [volume], December 25, 1918, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
- * ' - / V ? "* """ ^sC "** "y *: " " V "~4 " -i'- ? fr 7^" - " * ".J* ~ T* * - ? r- r -
WEATHER. W a - Member of the Associated Press
Partly cloudy and colder tonight: . ^ > I M / k k. T _ W Tbe Associated Pre- la eaclualrelr entitled to
Thursday1 fair. helow freezing; Ag I 1 A A JliL J A j4 j A . A . a A ,A J tb. ?to tor topubHcatioa of .U aew. dtopatchto
Temperature for the past twenty- ^^B B^^F ^B^^B ^B credited to It otherwise credited la tbla
four hours: Highest, 6:15 p.m. T 0^M V H 7 _ \ V paper aad also tie local aewa publlmhed here la.
yesterday; lowest, 6:30 a.m. to- ^ I . W Br ^ B B B B B^ B B fl B B B B~ I |\ I I AH rt(bto of pabllcatlo. of epecl.l
[ Pull report see page 3. ^ IJL/ I J.I |JLA ^Lj JL il Jr ^ dlepatcbe. hereto ? .to. reread.
^ V- -/ WITH. SUHB/LY MOUSING EDITIOH L/ Yesterday's Net Grculation, 80,408
No. 27,272. WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1918-EIGHTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS.
? i
CHAUMONT GREETS!
THE PRESIDENT ON!
FIRSTLEGOFTRIPj
Will Take Christmas Dinner!
With II S Snlriiers anrl i
Review Them.
TO CROSS THE CHANNEL
TOMORROW MORNING
Doubt as to' Peace Conferences
Starting Till February May
Disarrange His Plans.
r.y the Associated Press.
CHAUMONT, December 25.?
President Wilson reached here from
Paris early this morning for his
Christmas day visit to the American
troops. His train was held outside
the town for a time to accord with
the program of the local officials.
At 9 o'clock he entered Chaumont,
as had been arranged.
In Luck as to Weather.
The President played in luck again
en the weather, for while it seemed
to the visiting party to be cold and
oieaK, ana rain was apparently threatening,
the American troops at headquarters
declared the day was really
a tine one for this region at this season.
A guard of French and American
troops received the President at the
station. Gen. Pershing greeted him
as he arrived in the city, as did the
mayor and the prefect. There was a
ireception at the city hall.
The President's first contact with
the American Army in the field quarters
was when he found a soldier on
guard outside his car. The strapping
fellow who had been assigned for this
duty saluted the President, who wished
him a merry Christmas and made
him the proudest soldier in France.
All along the latter part of the route
into Chaumont, -which was traversed
by daylight, the troops were clustered
on locomotives in the yards, on top
of box cars, on tree tops and on every
point of vantage, waiting to get a
glimpse of their commander-in-chief
and shout him a merry Christmas. ]
PARIS, December 24 (by the Asso- J
eiated Press).?President Wilson left i
Paris tonight for a week's trip,
which will take him to American ,
Army headquarters at Chaumont and ,
to England. He was accompanied by
Mrs. Wilson, Rear Admiral Grayson
and a small party.
LTntransigeant, describing President
Wilson's shopping tour with
airs. Wilson, says that the couple
while strolling through the crowded 1
shopping center yesterday lost their !
way and asked two little boys where j
they were. The lads gave the needed j
information and - then one of them,!
doffing his cap, astonished the Presi- j
dent, by asking, "Might one shake j
hands with Monsieur le President?"
The President shook hands with both
boys heartily, and wished them a
jnerry Christmas before proceeding
on his way.
Has Taxi cab Ordeal.
After calling upon Premier Clemen?
earn the President had his first exl*erience
with Parisian taxi drivers.
He went downtown to continue his j
showing', intending to walk home, but i
. rain set in and he was obliged to call'
fa. cab or taxi, which in the present
?-rowded condition of the capital is a
complicated and often an exasperating
experience, cabmen and taxi
drivers generally being masters of the
situation. President Wilson, however,
though unrecognized, got through the
ordeal without difficulty.
l^ate this afternoon President Wilson
conferred with members of the American
Shipping Hoard, and then called
upon Premier Clemenceau to say that
he was going away for a week.
Mrs. Wilson went downtown during
the day to purchase store cakes and!
candy which she sent for distribution
r.mong Parisian orphan asylums.
Mrs. Wilson today made personal
nd official Christmas calls, leaving;
the President's cards. I
me memoers or tne American peace
delegation will take a Christmas holi- ;
?iay. Secreta.ry Lansing will visit his:
two sisters, who have been doing* war:
v oik at the front.
To Be Guest of Pershing1.
The President will spend twelve
hours in the Ohaumont region, where
he will take Christmas dinner with
the men at their mess and review
Ih.uOO American soldiers. Later he j
v " T1 I T?v;nAP t thp in 1 r* f
the villages, and, returning: to Chau- j
luont, will be the guest of Gen. Pershintr
and his staff.
The President will leave American
l-.cadquarters at 6 o'clock Wednesday i
evening for Calais, and on Thursday;
j.; >? nine will embark for England. -j
W ith his return to Paris from Eng- !
?nr.d on New Year the President hopes;
the most necessary preliminary or- j
ionization work of the American com- ;
mission will be completed.
The coming of German delegates is '
stiil in an indefinite stage, while the j
question of Russian representation j
i -i gone no further than some in- ;
real discussions between the Amer- j
commissioners and prominent
Jtussians here. Doubts are being expressed
by some diplomatists that
; he conference actually can begin
v. urk the first week of January, as
fc^Lpected. Some of them are inclined
to think that the first meeting might
i.ot be held until February.
Plans May Be Disarranged.
In that event the President's plans
would be somewhat disarranged, because
he has been planning to return
ro the United States before February
ij with a good deal accomplished, in
; preliminary way at least. The
President will be ready to return to
Europe during the spring, but hopes
that this may not be necessary.
President Wilson's last official en- '
.^Continued c-n Second Page.,) 1
|
PRESIDENT LAUDS U.S.
SOLDIERS; SAYS WORLD
WANTS A JUST PEACE
President Wilson, from Paris,
sent the following Christmas
message to the American people:
"I hope that it will cheer the
people at home to KUww that I
And their boys over here in fine
form and in fine spirits, esteemed
by all those with whom
they have been associated in
the war and trusted wherever
they go; and they will also. X
am sure, be cheered by the
knowledge of the fact that
throughout the great nations
with whinh have been asso
ciated in this war public opinion
strongly sustains all proposals
for a just and lasting
peace and a close co-operation
of the self-governing peoples
of the world in making that
peace secure after its present
settlements are formulated.
"Nothing could constitute a
more acceptable Christmas reassurance
than the sentiments j
which I find everywhere preva- !
lent." !
ARMIES EXCHANGE
WISHES OFSEASON
Gen. March, for Home
i
Troops, Replies to Gen. Pershing's
Cable From A. E. F.
OTHER FORCES GREETED
Through Gen. Pershing and Gen.
March the American Army in France
exchanged Christmas greetings with
me iorces at home.
Gen. Pershing cabled to Gei^ March:
"Plftase accept for the officers and
men of the American Army in the
United States cordial Christmas greetings
and best wishes for the coming
year from the American expeditionary
force."
Gen. March replied:
"Christmas greetings to yourself and
the American expeditionary force. A
happy New Year and a speedy return
home."
Tells Many It Is Appreciated.
Secretary Daniels sent broadcast by
wireless to the units of the Navy in
all parts of the world a Christmas
message reading as follows:
"Voicing the sentiment of the whole
world, which ip proud of the achievements
of the American Navy, I send
Christmas greetings with congratulations
upon high achievement. All in
the Navy will celebrate this Christmas
with knowledge of the appreciation of
the American people for the important
part they bore in bringing peace
on earth this Christmas day.
"The Navy never so well deserved
the confidence of the people and it
never possessed it in so large a
measure. It is safely anchored in
the affections of all Americans. This
thought must give happiness to all
in the service. My good wishes for
a happy Christmas to all in the Navy
and to all who are near and dear to
them."
Sends Message to Marines.
Maj. Gen. G,eorge Barnett, commanding
the Marine Corps, sent the
following message to every marine
XII mis tuuiutjr ttiiu auiuau.
"The major general commandant i
desires to wish every officer and man j
a merry Christmas and a happy New j
Year, and to thank one and all for j
a year's hard work wonderfully well j
done."
In extending holiday greetings "to !
our own country and to the nations i
of the earth," Secretary of the Treas- i
ury Glass said that "the fervent |
prayer of every patriot should be
that this Christmas day of 1918 may
be the sure harbinger of a 'peace on
earth, good will to man,' that will
endure forever."
Food Administrator Hoover, who
is in Europe arranging relief for the
peoples of the war-devastated countries.
cabled his greetings to the food
administration officials and employes,
with a message to the American people
that "some task yet remains before
us," as "Europe will be another
six months in recovering from its
main food difficulties."
REFUSES CONSCIENTIOUS
OBJECTORS AN AMNESTY
Individual Cases Must Be Tried oil
Merits, Secretary Baker Informs
Interceders.
Conscientious objectors who are
prisoners of the military authorities
of the nation have been denied a general
amnesty by Secretary Baker.
A committee representing the men
and their families yesterday requested |
immediate and favorable action by Mr. j
Baker to enable the men to eat their
Christmas dinners at home. A petition
signed by 15.000 persons was presented
to the Secretary.
Dr. John JU Klliott, head of the
Hudson Guild Settlement of New
i'ork. who spoke for the committee, j
said there was no disposition to up- I
hold the principles of the oonscien- I
tious objectors, but he declared that I
the end of hostilities hail disposed '
of the only reason for further hold- i
ins the men.
Commission to Investigate. j
Secretary Baker declared that it
would be impossible to grant a j
blanket pardon, because indvidual !
cases differed radically from each j
other. It would be necessary to con- j
sider all applications for amnesty on j
,their merits, and a commission had
been appointed to inquire into the!
whole subject. The department in its
final judgment would be guided largely
by the report of the commission.
Secretary Baker said.
Among the members of the committee
seeking clemency fo*- the consei?ntious
objectors, were Mn. Henry Vil- |
lard of New York, Allan McCurdy,!
secretary of the national party, New
York; Rev. Richard Hogue, head of
the Maryland Prison Association,
Baltimore, and Mrs. Brent Allison,
Chicago.
D. G. TROOPS, BACK.
HOME INFORTNIGHT
No Visits Permissible While
Men Are Isolated in New j
York for Examination.
WOUNDED GREETED HERE
District troops, attached to the 137th
Field Artillery, Batteries C and F,
who arrived in New York yesterday
on the steamer France, will spend today
in a New York camp and probably
will return to their home in
about two weeks. The intervening
period will be taken up with medical
examinations, occupying about ten
days, after which they will be sent
to Camp Meade to be mustered out.
Announcement has been made by the
IVar Department that relatives will
not be permitted to visit the men while
they are isolated. As soon as the men
are at Camp Meade, short leaves of
absence probably will be granted.
The District wounded men probably
will be sent to Walter Reed
General Hospital or the Army Hospital
at Camp Meade.
A military band and delegation from
the canteen servicee of the American
Red Cross greeted the men at the
dock.
Notables Among Passengers.
Among the passengers was Col.
Asher Miner of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., of
the 109th Field Artillery, who lost a
icg <*? muxiu, uui cuiuinuea iiguting
until his other leg was severely
injured and his face scarred by
shrapnel.
Maj. Gen. Goethals was at the dock
to greet his son, Maj. Thomas R.
Goethals of the Medical Corps.
Lieut. Nathan C. Post of Cleveland,
one of the France's passengers, has
had the unique experience of surviving
two airplane falls, in one of which
his pilot was killed by enemy bullets.
Lieut. Earl W. Porter of
Omaha returns with the cross of war
for daring feats in the air.
Three hundred and fifty returned
invalided soldiers from debarkation
hospitals at New Tork were guests of
the city for a few moments on Christmas
eve at the Union station last
night. One contingent arrived at
7:40 o'clock and another arrived at
8:55 o'clock. Both pulled out at 9
o'clock for the south.
Christmas at Sea.
Christmas at sea probably will be
the portion of the officers and men on
board the Saonfa, which is somewhere
on the Atlantic racing against time
to get its cargo landed by Christmas
day. It is reported that the Saonia
has been delayed by storms apd will j
not arrive until the latter part of the |
week.
About 3,000 troops, including 700
sick and wounded, sailed on the trans- I
port Princess Matcika from France on I
December 20. The ship is expected at
Newport News about'January 2. Maj.
Gen. Charles Menoher, recently appointed
chief of the air service, to
succeed John D. Ryan, is returning on
the Princess Matcika.
DECREASE IS SHOWN!
IN INFLUENZA HERE!
Drop of 108 l\hw Cases as
Compared With the Re- |
port Yesterday.
,
One hundred and twenty-two new i
eases of influenza were reported to
the health office up to noon today, j
This is a decrease of 108 cases as com- :
pared with yesterday, wjien there
were 230 new cases. There was a decrease
of one in yesterday's report of
fourteen dead as compared with the
day before, when there were fifteen
deaths.
Weather conditions today are favorable
for the abatement of the contagion,
while Christmas eve was
strongly the reverse. Health Officer
Fowler said this morning that he
feels encouraged, and does not look
for any material increase in the number
of new cases or mortalities.
New Hospital Opened.
The new emergency influenza hospital.
establishedr by the District
health office at 612 F street, opened
last night for the reception of patients.
Five were received.
Inspectors of the health department
on duty this morning, visiting the
homes of persons ill of influenza, are
expected to send to this hospital during
the day a dozen or more patients.
The institution is under the direction
of Health Officer William C. Fowler,
with Surgeon K. W. Scott of the public
health service in charge and directing
operations.
The ground floor of the building is
set apart for the executive and administrative
offices, diet kitchen,
storerooms and other quarters. The
second floor is fitted with cots for
women and children, the third floor
reserved for men and the fourth floor
is set apart for patients from the
Army. c
The hospital will be operated by a
tuna jointly contnoutea as tonows: j
Washington Chapter, American Red !
Cross, $5,000; District government, j
$5,000, and the public health service,
$5,000.
Army Provides Transportation.
The United States Army is supplying
transportation in the manner of
auto trucks and other machines for
the movement of physicians, inspectors,
nurses and patients. There are
cots for eighty patients. If necessary
ten more can be added. Eighteen
trained nurses have been secured for
the care of the patients, together with
a number of orderlies.
Contributions of supplies of food and
other things as well as service, whole
or parts of day or night, clerical and
other help, will be gladly received.
Two families, one containing six
and the other seven, including husband
and wife and all the children,
suffering from the influenza, were reported
to the health office at 10 o'clock
this morning as needing hospital
treatment. They will be taken to the
Emergency influenza hospital.
Ambassador Sharp Leaves Paris.
PARIS, December 25 (Haras).?William
G. Sharp, the American ambassador.
who has been called home by
the severe illness of a brother, left
Paris last night for Brest to sail for
iiair York ou a transport.?
\
WUHFWIM
OF 0VERSEASFLEET
4
N
Secretary Daniels Pays Trihrute
as He Leaves to Welcome
Squadron.
High praise of the work of the
American fleet abroad was expressed
by Secretary Daniels of the Navy before
leaving Washington for NewYork
this afternoon to review the
home-coming battleship squadron. ,
Working in conjunction with the
British navy. Secretary Daniels said,
the American ships had put the fear
of death into the Germans.
A warm welcome will be given by
the American people to the returning
battleship squadron, he predicted.
With Secretary Daniels, many government
and diplomatic officials
will journey to New York to view
the ships. They will watch the incoming
battleships from the deck of the
President's yacht, the Mayflower, tomorrow.
Will Greet Men With Pride.
"In welcoming home the powerful
American dreadnaughts which have
been engaged overseas during the
war," said Secretary Daniels, "the
American people will greet the officers
and men with pride and congratulations.
These powerful ships, the equal
of any *n the world, in co-operation
with the powerful British fleet, gave
such predominance of sea power in
the North sea that the German fleet
dared not invite suicide bv cominer out
and offering battle.
"They did not try conclusions because
they knew there never was a
fleet in being that could have had a
chance of victory against the British
and American fleet, working together
with the same signals and the same
Strategy as if they were of the naval
power of a single nation.
"Their mission was as single as if they
had represented only one instead of the
two great English-speaking nations.
Cemented Ties Between Countries.
I'Their united service typified and
cemented the ties between our country
and Great Britain. Their silent vigils
protected commerce, secured safe passage
of troops and supplies, and effectively
bottled up the German fleet, rendering
it as impotent for harm as if it
had never been constructed. <
"Sea power once again demonstrated
its primacy in making land victories
possible. While the American dreadnaughts,
an important part of the
world's greatest armada, were not given
an opportunity to win a great sea victory,
they did more; they co-operated in
receiving the surrendered German fleet
which capitulated to the superior force
of the allied fleets, and they will be received
at home with all the honors given
to valiant victors.'*
Announces Names of Guests.
Secretary Daniels has announced the
names of those who will be his guests
aboard the Mayflower at the review. Included
in the number will be former
Ambassadors Gerard, Morgenthau, Klkus,
Van Dyke and Penfield. Mrs.
George Dewey, widow of Admiral
Dewey, will be the guest of Mrs. Daniels.
CLARK JS 1820. *
Speaker's Friends Say He Will Be
a Presidential Candidate.
Friends in Congress of Speaker
Clark say that he will be a candidate
for the democratic presidential nomination
in 1920, although no formal \
announcement on the subject could
be expected for some time. Mr. Clark
himself said:
"1 have no announcement to make
except to say that I know nothing
about it."
According to the story going the
rounds at the Capitol, Mr. Clark will
be supported by William Jennings
Bryan, having reconciled differences
that began at the Baltimore convention
in 1912 when Mr. Bryan threw his
support to Wilson.
Shipwrecked Men Rescued.
NEW YORK, December 25.?The
steamship Amalco arrived today from
San Juan with eight members of the
crew of the schooner Ella M. Willey,
735 tons, of Rockland, Me., which
went ashore at San Juan November
13. The schoo ler was coal laden
from Norfolk and was a total loss.
French Again May Buy Petroleum.
PARIS. December 24 (Havas).?A decree
published today re-establishes the
free sale and use of petroleum, beginning
on January 1. The decree also permits
the free sale and use of automobiles.
excepting those not licensed for
commercial purposes. Automobiles in
the latter class are still subject to cerUla
restriction*.
I ..... .....:
AMD tTi
POPE SENDS CHRISTMAS
CHEER TO PEOPLE OF U. S.
Cables Message From Kome
Through the Papal Secretary of
State, Cardinal Gasparri.
Pope Benedict XV has sent by
cable from Rome this message of
Christmas cheer to the people of the
United States through the papal
secretary of state, Cardinal Gasparri:
"I hasten to communicate to you the
following message from the holy
father: 'Let us do our duties and let
us turn to the whole world, living
only for the comfort and for the
benefit of a just and durable peace,
one eminently Christian?the prayer
chanted by the angels upon the occasion
of the birth of the Prince of
Peace: "Glory to God in the highest
and upon earth peace to men of good
will." '?Benedict XV, the holy father."
(Copyright, 1918, by the Edward Marshall Syndicate,
lac.)
POWERmVIES
IFAPJIFPPflRIFM
LLnUUL I llUULLIf I
President Makes Progress in
Winning Statesmen to His
Program.
DISPOSAL OF HUN FLEET
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
(Copyright by New York Evening Post.)
PAIJIS, December 24.?President
Wilson is making headway in his conferences
with European statesmen, for
practically all thus far have agreed
to do their best to effect the league of
nations. When it is-considered that
until recently a disposition, was prevalent
to regard as purely academic and
impractical all schemes for a league
of world powers and to place real
faith in special understandings and
agreements, the readiness to examine
in a spirit of co-operation, such plans
as Mr. Wilson has to suggest and to do
the utmost to carry them out must be
viewed as something tangible.
Clemenceau's Approval Gained.
It' is a forward step indeed when
Premier Clemenceau himself expresses
his willingness to do all possible to
LIcaLC cl Jtafjut ui. nanuuo c*t laic )ji.avv
conference. Statemen' representing
Italy have done the same thing. There
is no reason to suppose that the British
view will be different, and there is
a confident expectation here that beliefs
previously expressed by Lloyd
George, Sir Edward Grey and Mr.
Asquith, and now forcibly reiterated
by Lord Northcliffe, mean that the
great powers of the world have consented
to approach the problem of a
league of nations with the well defined
purpose of reaching an agreement
making possible the creation of
such a structure at the earliest moment.
President Wilson has no disposition
to sidetrack all other questions, especially
territorial ones, until a league of
nations has been erected, as discussion
of everything that the belligerents
desire will unquestionably go on at
the same time, but the feeling of the
American mission seems to be~ that a
definite agreement for a league of nations
will remove many apprehensions
growing out of territorial perplexies
and strategic frontiers.
League Would Limit Navies.
So it may be said that much of the
present discussion in regard to the
size of armaments America and Great
Britain will necessarily be limited by
the practical facts of a league of nations
when onoe such a thing has been
created.
It is not true to say that the American
mission has reached a decision
as to what it will recommend with
respect to the German fleet, as formal
action on the matter will probdbly
be postponed until the whole question
of the size of navies is taken up by
the peace conference.
But nevertheless an American view
which has influential supporters argues
that unless all the belligerents
are willing to distribute the German
fleet in suoh a fashion as to equalize
the strength of the navies of the
world the best thing to be done is to
melt up all the warships surrendered
by Germany.
Holders of this view declare that.
vConunuod aa Vearth Page ,)
" _ t,
?
\ '
I V i
IjM ;
!
ALLIES NOT TO ADD
TO FORCEINIRUSSIA
Against Further Intervention
at Present, Although Need
of Assistance Seen.
\
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, December 25.?The allied .governments
have decided against further j
intervention in Russia, at least for the j
present, according to indications from j
official circles. Great Britain and the j
United States, it is represented, while
i recognizing that Russia should be as- '
sisted in a way to permit her to return j
to normal conditions, point out that I
military intervention on a large scale j
would involve difficulties and danger of :
all kinds.
Stephen Pichon, the French foreign j
minister, explained the situation at
length to the committee on foreign rela- j
tions yesterday. He said the solution at ;
present favored was to guarantee moral !
support to the governments which had j
sprung up at varous points oil Russian j
and Siberian territory.
PARIS, December 25.?Prince Dvaff, i
\vh,o is the guest of Basile Maklakof, 1
Russian ambassador to France* and
who is participating in the lengthy;
conferences being held here by Russian
statesmen, discussed his views
of the immediate future in Russia
with the representative of the Associated
Press* He said:
"Additional4'entente military forces
are necessary to restore order and
check anarchy in Russia. It is impossible
for the disorganized country
to ri/;ht itself otherwise.
"I am not a militairy expert," lie j
said, when asked how many troops J
would be necessary, "and my opinion
on that subject would be of little:
value in my judgment. The opposition !
is weak. Petrograd practically has |
ceased to exist, and could be taken
with slight resistance."
| ill repxy 10 a ijuesnuri as 10 wnai
form of government would be best for
Russia Prince Rvoff said that it must
be a republic.
For Allied Intervention.
PARIS, December 24.?Allied intervention
in Russia is essential, declares
V. N. Kokovsoff, formerly Russian
premier, in a statement to the morning
newspapers.
"A military dictatorship," he said, |
"must be established. However re- i
pugnant such a solution may appear
to French minds, a military dictatorship
alone can put an end to the
present anarchic regime and permit
the establishment of a new, healthy
and honest government. Should the
allies not intervene it would permit
the Germans to strengthen and extend i
their grip on Russia and finally bring
about close political relations between '
the two countries.
"Will the allies intervene? Frankly
I hardly think so. I bring from London !
a rather pessimistic impression. In !
that capital they aspire above all to I
complete the settlement of the cataclysm
which upset the world and
seem afraid "of the mere idea of fresh
complications."
For New Bolshevik Army.
j WARSAW, Monday, December 22 (by
the Associated Press).?Two million j
Russian prisoners, the first thousands j
of which are slowly passing homeward,
are being picked up by the bolshevik!
for the formation of their new j
army, all of whom appear to be taint- :
| ed with bolshevism and there is danger |
of this spreading to Poland and Bohemia.
The Poles are rapidly organizing
their own army around the nucleus of
Gen. Pilsudski's phalanxes. The old
Polish legions of war-weary troops,
which are coming home, have no Russian
or German sympathies, merely desiring
to be left alone.
T
Nose Dive Attempt Is Fatal.
MINEOLA, N, Y? December 25.?
Second Lieut. E. S. Munford of Washington,
an Army aviator, attached to
the first provisional wing, was instantly
killed yesterday when his
scout monoplane plunged 200 feet to
the ground at Hazelhurst field. Witnesses
said the aviator fell while attempting
a nose dive.
Last rites for Lieut. Mumford will
be held at Richmond, Va.
Lieut. Mumford was well known
here. Ho was twenty-two years of
age.
Transport Carrillo in Port.
NEW YORK, December 25.?The
Army transport Carrillo arrived today
from Bordeaux with twenty-four officers
and twelve men. Maj. W. A. Mardcn
- of the 127th infantry was aboard.
?
RESCUED PEOPLES'
PLEATOMR. WILSON
Memorial Presented Reciting
Aspirations of Provinces
Redeemed From Austria.
SERBIAN HOPES OUTLINED
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, Tuesday. December 24.?
Italian deputies of theYedeemed provinces,
who represented their districts
in Vienna and Budapest parliaments
and came to Paris expressly for the
purpose of submitting their case to
the American mission, have been received
by Col. E. M. House. Through
Dol. House the deputies presented a
memorial to President Wilson. The
deputies are Pitacc for Trieste, Bennati
for Istria, Zanelia for Fiume, and
Ohigle Anovich. for Zara.
The memorial recites that their
country has been for two thousand
years Italian; that Trieste has suffered
under Austrian oppression for five
centuries, and Dalmatia since 1797 has
stood all kinds of persecution to defend
its nationality. The people of
the districts, says the memorial, have
fought in all wars for Italian independence
and participated in the present
war with 4,000 men.
Annexation Issue Discussed.
Regarding the annexation of Trentino,
Trieste and Istria, the memorial
says there is no question that can be
raised, but adds that Piume being a
free city, similar to Bremen and Lubeck.
has the right to decide its own
government and any contrary decision
would be against the principles proclaimed
by President Wilson. Fiume
already has shown by a plebiscite her
determination to be united with Italy.
Dalmatia has 310 miles of coast, of
which Italy claims less than 100
miles, comprising the cities of Zara,
Sebenico .^nd Spaiato. besides the
greatest part of the Dalmatian Isles.
Austrian statistics, says the memorial,
show that the majority of
the population are Slavs in Spalato
and Sebenico. but they are actually us
markedly Italian as the population is
predominantly French in those districts
ot Alsace-Lorraine wnere uerman
statistics show 87 per cent of the
population as German. Besides the
ports of Antivari and Duleigno,
formerly belonging to Montenegro,
and eventually that of Scutari,
the districts will have the excellent
ports of Portore, Buccari, Segni,
Metcouich, Ragusa, Gravesa and the
military port of Cattaro, capable of
sheltering the entire American fleet.
These ports are connected by railway
with Mostar, Serajevo, Belgrade and
Agjram, thus assuring to Serbia,
Croatia, Slavonia* Bosnia and Herzegovina
direct communication to the
sea. Furthermore, it says in conclusion
that Italy is ready to make
Trieste and Fiume free ports for
every country.
Serbian Aspirations Explained.
The aspirations of the Serbian government
for the future of its country
were explained tonight to the
correspondent by Dr. M. R. Vesnitch,
Serbian minister to France, who, in
all probability, will be one of the
Serbian delegates to the peace conference.
M. Vesnitch was the head of
the Serbian mission to tl>e United
States in the winter of 1917. Dr.
Vesnitch said:
"As-the Montenegrins have decided
to become a part of Greater Serbia,
we being of the same race, the frontiers
of our country are Greece, Bulgaria,
Rumania, Hungary and> the Adriatic.
That is our conception of the
future Serbia as a racial whole?the
realization of our race aspi.-atkms
which have survived through cen
nf wo?* Hivicinn onH cnfFrrinrr"
"But what of the Italian claims to
the Adriatic coast?" the correspondent
asked.
"ItalyX" replied Dr. Vesnitch, "according']
to the convictions of the
Serbian government, has no just claim
to the eastern Adriatic coast. The
governments of Great Britain, Russia
and France arranged by agreement
with Italy to give her that coast,
or a large part of it. at the London
conference in April, 1915. Had Russia
th^j right to dispose of the Adriatic
'coast? Or England? Or
France? They were each giving away
what had not belonged to them. We
do not recognize the title of Italy under
that agreement to any part of the
eastern Adriatic."
"Not to Trieste?" inquired the correspondent.
"No," declared the Serbian minister.
"Not to Trieste; but 1 will not go
into that question at this moment.
The Italian claims to Trieste have been
so persistent and continuous for a
long period that we are willing to
leave that question apart.
Approves President Wilson's Plan.
"The Serbian government and people
stand squarely upon the basis of
President Wilson's principles. Those
principles have been accepted by the
governments of Great Britain, France
and Italy.
"We assume and trust absolutely in
the agreement made by Italy, France
and Great Britain with the government
of the United States in the application
of those principles in arranging
the boundaries of nations and
races. There bfeing relatively few
Italians on the eastern Adriatic coast
as compared with Slavs, the Italian
government must consider this as a
political question, while we consider
it a racial one.
"The Dalmatian Slavs desire to remain
^Sbrbs and not become Italians
our peoples living on the Adriatic desire
to become a part of the Serbiar
nation and not by verdict of Russia
France and Great Britain come undei
the alien control of Italy. The eastern
shore of the Adriatic is lined wit!
towns and cities where the Slav elemonf
c t rrtn fl V nPA/1 nm inotop A# tu.
"" "I oi.iw?te3 V f* VI 11*1
700.000 inhabitants only 18.000 declare
themselves to be Italians."
MAJ. GEN. BHODES IMPROVED
Head of TJ. Sh Armistice Commission
Recovering From Injuries.
PARIS, December 25 (Havas).?Thf
condition of Maj. Gen. Charles D
Rhodes, head of the American armistice
commission, who was injured in
the fall of an airplane near Paris or
Monday, continued to show improvement
today.
Unless unforeseen complications occur
his complete recovery may be expected
shortly.
SIX HILLED IN COLLISION.
Passenger and Freight Trains in
Crash at Noige, Okla.
OKLAHOMA CITY. Okla.. Decembei
25.?Six persons were killed and a
number injured in a collision early
today between a passenger train and
a freight train on the St. Louis and
San Francisco railroad at Norge
Grady county, ten miles southwest oi
CHRISTMAS LOOMS
TODAY AS HISTORIC
FDR FREED WORLD
| Tributes Paid to Living and
i Dead, Whose Courage in
War Brought Peace.
SANTA'S THRONE SHINES
ABOVE FALLEN DESPOTS
I Children's Joy Supreme in Nation's
Capital?President's Greetings
Sent From Abroad.
Washington today celebrated a 1.1s!
toric Christmas day, another Chrtst|
mas like that of nearly 2,800 years
| ago, which marked an epoch of
j "peace on earth good will toward
j men."
Once more the wise men of great
nations are assembled to honor, not
the person, but the principles, of the
Nazarene, whose spirit reigns after
king and kaiser and czar have top
j pled from their thrones. fc
Families paid tribute to the homej
coming of young men who fought that
' militarism might be crushed and
I freedom be re-established among
I peace-loving peoples. Some paid
tribute to latter-day martyrs who
died that ideals might live. .
Reverence and Diep Feeling.
It was a unique commemoration of
the day, celebrated in reverence and
with deep feeling. Church services,
community gatherings, * gift-giving
and public exercises marked the release
of this.Yulttide from the clouds
of war which made Christmas of a
year ago empty and hollow.
The honie of the national legislators
was given over to little children. Last
night the dome and the gray white
walls of the Capitol were outlined in
| vtark white illumination amid a hazy
jmist and fog, and on the plaza glowed
a brightly lighted Christmas tree. To
day little children will invade the rotunda*
of the Capitol to gather about
a Christmas tree, where the Secretary
;of War will talk to them and soldiers
will distribute gifts. There was no
report from Berlin indicating that
Hindenburg and Ludendorff were playing
Santa Claus to a German children's
party.
I Tonight children will cavort on the
Capitol plaza and revive old AngloSaxon
Y^letide customs, such as
bringing in the Yule log and the boar's
j head, dancing about the wassail bowl
i and taking part in Christmas "waits."
Greetings From Leaders.
Christmas greetings to the Axnerl|
can people were sent by President
j Wilson; greetings to soldiers were
' sent by Gen. Pershing; the wireless
! flashed to every naval vessel a message
from Secretary Daniels; to every
! marine went an expression of good
| wishes from Maj. Gen. George Larnett.
i Men in uniform at camps join* d in
spirit with their comrades across tiia
seas at a special service, prepared
by the Y. M. C. A., and were entertained
by trees., performances and
gifts offered jointly by the Red Cross
and the Y. M. C. A. Wounded soldiers
in hospitals were flooded with
i expressions of love from the citizens
. for whom they fought.
Midnight masses in the Catholic
j churches, and either early morning
! or 11 o'clock services in the Prot
j estant churches were heavily atiena1
ed. Sermons struck the keynote of
! peace and expressed the hope that
! out of the peace conferences might
i come a lasting peace to make the
j year 1018 and this Christmas an
i epochal one. Everywhere were echoed
the sentiments of President Wilson,
who cabled: "Nothing: could constitute
a more acceptable Christmas reassurance
than the sentiments which
I find everywhere prevalent."
i Santa Claus lauplied at the kaiser,
j He must have been more generous
I than ever before, to judge from the
amount of Christmas shopping: done
I by his agents. He showered gifts
i upon those in institutions, acid he put
! a Christmas tree on a truck that
i spoke a silent farewell at Union stai
tion last evening: to war workers as
j they departed to spend the holidays
at home, and today traversed the
' streets of Washington to the delight
j of little children. Santa seemed to enj
joy the fact that he alone, among
: monarohs, had strengthened his hold
11 upon his throne.
Celebration Tonight.
I As to details, the Christmas night
,' celebration at the Capitol will be at
. 7:30. Various groups will perform
: j Morriss dances and engage in repre;
sentations of other old English forms
of Christmas celebration. The exer1
cises will take place about the sixty!
foot Christmas tree given and lighted
' by The Star.
A second Christmas tree will be the
center of the festivities in the rotund;*
I i this afternoon at 4 o'clock. Soldiers
I from camps about Washington ha\
- : bcqji invited to report to 1408 Penntjsylvania
avenue if they desire to take
- part in these exercises. #
*1 It was a great day for many a child,
j because "Daddy" or "Brother" had
i v.??ir ThnnsQ nrl? of men in uni
; form who do not live here were en
i tertained in 0p.pHal homes.
t j If any went without invitations a
, free dinner was to be had at the
*, Victory Lunch, 1724 Pennsylvania avei
i nue, not to mention many institutions
? ! which had an open house for men in
I uniform. Both soldiers and sailors
i I were entertained at many Christmas
i | eve festivities, including a special en
tertainment for all men unattached
j at the Washington Y. M. C. A. last
j evening, where a special program was
? given. Every Y. M. C. A. hut in the
I Washington district also was the
i scene of entertainments, Christmas
L j trees, and gift distribution last evenJ
ing, with the Bed Cross co-operating.
The Knights of Columbus also held
; j open house in all their huts. A per\
formance at Keith's late this after!
noon will be given entirely to men in
| uniform to whom free tickets were
t distributed by Y. M. C. A. secretaries,
i Men from the Walter Reed and Naval
hospitals were given places of honor.
Parcels Mailed E.irly.
Washingtonians helped the post office
employe? by mailing their parcels early,
and last night the post office was nearly
deserted. As a result the outgoing mail
was cleared as fast as it came in and
by nOon today all Christmas parcels addressed
to Washingtonians were disl
tributed.
Formal opening of a new Y. M. C. A.
hut at Walter Reed Hospital last even
ing was the occasion for special celebrai
tion there. Gayly dressed misses
helped entertain the men, gather'
ed around a large spruce tree, and ladie*
I of the Red Cross distributd gift pack1
ages.
Fort Myer had a tree and Santa apE
ncaaed for the children of the po^t a?.<l
lThe llth. Cavalry band pUi cwL
?y i