Evening star. [volume], March 17, 1923, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
Fair tonight, with lowest tempera-
ture near freezing; tomorrow warmer,
with rain tomorrow afternoon or
night; much colder Monday. Tem
perature for twenty-four hours ended
at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 60. at 4 pm.
yesterday; lowest, 35, at S a.m. to
day. Full report oh page 22.
Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 20
V no DiA Entered'as second-class matter
iN O. Zo,uiU. post office Washington, D. C.
POINCARE DEFIANT,
AGAIN SPURNS ANY
BUT BERLIN OFFERS
Brands Any Attempt at In
tervention by Third Party
as Unfriendly Act.
GERMANY FLATLY DENIES
NEW PAYMENT PROFFER
Reported Retreat From Flat Re
fusal Hailed as New Hope
in London.
By the Associated Press.
- PARIS, March 17.—Premier Poin
care will entertain no propositions
for negotiations with Germany until
the Berlin government makes it
known, directly and officially, to
Prance that she wants to negotiate.
It was declared today in French
cfficial circles.
Any attempt by a third power to
Intervene or provoke discussion of
the terms under which a settlement
might be reached with Germany, it
■was added, will be regarded by
France as an unfriendly act.
Premier Poincare’s attitude on that
point, a high official declared, re
mains quite as firm as at the begin
ning of the occupation of the Ruhr.
From the same source it is learned
that all rumors of attempts to open
negotiations indirectly are unfounded,
so far as the French government is
concerned, and no proposition of any
kind has been brought to its atten
tion.
BERLIN DENIES RUMOR.
Brands Report of 40,000.000.000
Gold Marks Offer False.
Bt the Associated Press.
BERLIN. March 17—The rumor
that Germany has offered 40.000,000.000
gold marks or any other fixed sum or
has submitted fresh reparations pro
posals through an intermediary chan
nel was flatly denied by the German
foreign office today.
In the first place, it is pointed out.
such a sum is considerably in excess
of the amount provided for in the gov
ernment’s proposals of last January,
and, therefore. Is declared to be out
of the question, in view of the dis
turbed economic situation resulting
from the occupation of the Ruhr.
In addition, it is stated in official
quarters, the Ruhr situation In the
present impasse does not permit new
and definite proposals to be contem
plated. especially as the character of
the negotiations which would obvious
ly precede an active resumption of
the reparations discussions has not yet
been indicated nor have such negotia
tions even been suggested as a possible
early eventuality.
U. S. TO TAKE NO ACTION.
State Department Receives State
ment of German Position.
State Department officials have re
ceived a statement of Germany’s po
sition in regard to reparations, but
they declared today that the informa
tion, as delivered yesterday by Dr.
Hans Heirich Diecklioff, counselor
of the German embassy, called for no,,
action hy the Washington govern
ment looking to mediation or inter
vention by it in the reparations dls- j
pute between Germany and France.
The information presented by Dr. )
Dieckhoff was ijharaclerlzed as a(
statement of Germany’s position,
without any request for action hy
the United States. Officials said they
would make no reply, or would they
call it to the attention of ttoe French
government.
Ai<> Further Comment.
Beyond this brief explanation of
the statement, there was no further
comment forthcoming from depart- |
mental spokesmen. They declined to j
discuss stress dispatches, denied to- i
day in Berlin, that the German gov- j
ernment had formulated a new pro- j
posal for settlement of the repara- j
lions question.
In some quarters the belief was ex
pressed that the statement reiterated
Germany's willingness to open ne
gotiations with France when that
government had withdrawn its troops
from the Ruhr occupied regions. The 1
view has been expressed by German
diplomats here and in Berlin, accord
ing to unofficial advices, that there
could he no discussions of the rep
arations subject as long as French
troops remained in the Ruhr.
HOPE BRIGHT IN LONDON.
Germans Reported to Have Retreat
ed on Flat Refusal.
BY HAL O’FLAHERTY.
Bj fable to The Star anil Chicago Daily News.
(Copyright. 11(23.
LONDON. March 17. —Hope of peace
in the Ruhr area still prevails in
England, more so than at any time
since the French troops marched into
Bochum, nine weeks ago.
This hope is not- especially strong
in London, as it is based upon Ger
many’s reported retreat from its at
titude of flat refusal to negotiate so
long as the French occupy the Ruhr
district. It is reported that Germany
is willing to consider a resumption
of negotiations provided she can find
means of doing so without admitting
a French victory.
Must Initiate Plan.
Great Britain’s attitude toward this
tiew state of affairs is that the Ger
mans must recognize that it rests
With them to Initiate negotiations by
telling the world what they are will
ing to do to settle the reparations
question, Germany's refusal to make j
an adequate statement of her obliga
tions tq pay reparations to a reason
able amount has hitherto blocked the
efforts to make a real reparations
settlement. If Germany will now
make this statement it is almost cer
tain that Great Britain, Belgium and
France will use it as a basis of ne
gotiation.
Another highly important develop
ment leading to hopes of peace is the
Franco-Belgian agreement to admit
the full right of Great Britain to par
ticipate in any preliminary negotia
tlons with Germany. This decision
(Continued on Page 4, Column 1.)
40 TROOPS REPORTED DEAD
IN WRECK OF RUHR TRAIN
Many Said to Be Injured in JJrash Near
Duisherg—French Kill Two Germans.
Woman Accidentally Slain .
fly tlie Associated Press,
BERLIN, March 17.—A report from
Friemersheim, a Rhine town near
Duisburg, says that forty soldiers
were killed and many injured when
a French troop train collided with a
freight. The impact was so violent
that several coaches were telescoped.
Sentinels Kill Two.
By tlie Associated Brens.
DU ESS E LDOR F. March 17.—T w o
Germans were shot and killed by
French sentinels during the night
one at Recklinghausen and the other
at Essen.
Three Germans who were arrested
were said by the French to have been 1
RUHR ‘ULTIMATUM’
ONLY FICTION TALE
Letter in Newspaper Never
Intended as
Document.
DIPLOMATS HERE STIRRED
Declare Note, if Ever Written,
Would Never Have Been
Revealed.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 17.—Surprise was
expressed today when it was learned
that a letter purporting to have been
written but not delivered by the
British fhinister of foreign affairs to
the French ambassador at London,
protesting against the fluhr occupa
tion. had been published in America
as an actual state document.
The so-called letter appeared in the
Nation, a weekly London publication,
and embodied its views of what Great
Britain should say to France. In the
form of a fictitious letter from the
British government to the French na
tion. It was not intended to be taken
as a bona fide letter and, in fact, no
one here so regarded it.
DIPLOMATS HE£E STARTLED.
Doubt Unsent “Ultimatum” Was
Ever Framed.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE.
Washington diplomatic quarters,!
American and foreign, are aghast to
day over publication of an alleged
proposed ultimatum by Great Britain
to France over occupation of the
Ruhr. Most authorities are inclined
to consider the document a wholly un
authorized production by the London
weekly, the Nation and Atheneum.
which gives it currency. The control
of that periodical—a recent combina
tion of two journals now comprising
its name—passed a few weeks ago
into the hands of John Maynard
j Keynes, the celebrated British eoono
j mist. The author of "The Economic
] Consequences of the Peace’’ has been
an inveterate foe of the treaty of
Versailles.
Attacks Are Echoed.
The arguments marshaled against
the French in the British note said
to have been prepared for delivery to I
France echo in detail many of Keynes’ |
attacks on the reparations clauses of |
I the Versailles pact. Keynes sup
l planted H. W. Massingham. a famous
| liberal journalist, as editor of the
| Nation when that paper was amalga-
I mated with the Atheneum early in
j the year. Since that time the Nation-
Atheneum’s attacks on the French
position have been incessant and in
tense.
Men in Washington acquainted
with the inner workings of the Brit
-1 ish foreign office and the impenetra
ble "tower of silence” which that
hoary institution constitutes, when
asked today about the projected Brit
ish ultimatum to France, said: "That
sort of thing simply isn’t done.” They
mean that, even if such a document
ever was drawn up, the possibility of
its getting into unofficial hands for
(.Continued on Page 4, Column 4.1 T
Says Hughes Urged Antilles
Cession by France for Debt
By the Associated Press.
PARIS. March 17. —The United
States desires to obtain cession of the
Antilles from France in payment of
the French war debt, according to
Adolfo Agorio, the Uruguayan writer,
in an article printed in the Biandist
newspaper L’Eclair. Supporting his
contention, Agorio quotes the follow
ing remarks which he says Secretary
Hughes recently made to a South
American diplomat, who Is a friend
of the writer;
"The Monroe doctrine is the funda
mental basis as well as the unique
strength of pan-Americanism and it
will not have attained its essential
object as long as there remain Euro
pean colonies in America.
"The hour we are hoping sos, how
ever, will soon strike. We have post
poned our differences with Great
Britain. As to France she owes us
I too many billions for us to be able
to cancel her debt, for we are re
sponsible to the people of the United
States. But In a few years the sum
France owes will with interest, have
grown to such .fantastic proportions
that no country in the world could
possibly pay it.”
■ ■ r - ■
TODAY’S GAME AT TAMPA.
Washington, 4; Boston, 2. End of first inning/
Batteries—Hulihan and Gowdy; Hankins and Hargrave.
Uhc lEticntiw Sfetf*.
J v y WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION
WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, MARCH 37, 1923-TWENTY-EIGHT PAGES.
caught cutting telephone and tele
graph wires which, they declared,
they were doing under the orders of
their chief, who had instructed them .
to commit systematic sabotage.
Their chief, when arrested at Dues
seidorf. is declared by the authorities
to have said he was merely carrying
out instructions from Berlin.
Young Woman Slain.
By the Associated Press.
MAYENCE, March 17.'—A young
German woman, shopping in an army
canteen here, was accidentally killed
today by a bullet In the breast from
the revolver of a soldier. The sol
dier. it is stated, was toying with the
weapon when it was accidentally dis
-1 charged.
DUBLIN ON EDGE.
FEARING BIG CLASH
Interest Centers Around
Prize Fight Rebels Banned
and Free State Backs.
TROOPS ARMED TO TEETH
Drawn Revolvers and Bayonets
Await Any Opposition—News
Sources Censored.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 17.—The reason for
tlie rigid censorship imposed in Dub
lin yesterday preventing the use of
telegraph lines and telephones except
for brief messages approved by the
authorities is not known here. The
London morning newspapers have j
scarcely any direct news from Dublin.
Even the sporting colunujg, contain no
late specials on this evening’s Siki-
McTipue fight, except what reached
Belfast through travelers.
The Daily Sketch, aside from a story I
from its Dublin correspondent de
scribing the extraordinary conditions
under which the bout will take place.
Prints a short telegram under a Dublin
date line which asserts that the city
is on tenterhooks wondering what to
day will bring forth.
Theater 1m Guarded.
The government, this dispatch says.
E? providing armed guards for the
Sscala Theater—the scene of the fight
—and every other place of amusement
in order to make sure that the repub
lican proclamation against the opening
of such houses shall not be made ef
fective.
Telegrams from Belfast quote ar
rivals from Dublin as- saying that the
situation is unusually tense. The
streets were crowded yesterday with •
troops, who, revolvers in hand, kept i
an incessant vigil, stopping and ex-I
amming pedestrians. There were no 1
disturbances.
The Belfast correspondent of the j
Morning Post says that the situation 1
is crystalizing in a remarkable way I
around the big bout. The republi- 1
cans declare that it must not take i
place, threatening the boxers with
death if they appear in the ring.
Tl\e government on the other hand
has accepted the defiant challenge of
the republicans and is determined to
allow the fight, as well as other en
tertainments to take place. The public
is represented as being at a loss to |
know what to do. People are natur
ally not Inclined to be caught in a ■
possible conflict between the rival !
forces, but nevertheless all the seats
have been sold and it is probable that
most of the ticket holders will hardlv
desire to lose both their money and a
j sight of the boxers.
Other reports from Belfast are
along a similar line, declaring that if
the fight is held and the promoters
i are determined that it shdll be held
the ring will be surrounded by troops
armed with bayonets and revolvers
It Is impossible to say whether
these reports are sensationally ool
°^f d - If, i! * expected that the eensor
ship will be raised today, and that
direct news from Dublin will be
forthcoming.
HOLIDAY IN IRELAND.
By the ARsociated Prens.
DUBLIN, March 17.—St. Patrick’s
day is a legal public holiday in Ire
land and all work ceases. Even the
post office suspends deliveries The
churches are crowded until noon, and
both Catholic and Protestant congre
gations hear sermons preached in the
Irish language.
This is flag day for the Gaelic
League. It also Inaugurates a gen
eral Irish week,** in which the shops
(Continued on Page 4, Column 7.)
"WUI the question of the sale of
the French Antilles be considered?**
The diplomat asked Mr. Hughes, ac
cording to Agorio. The article says
the American Secretary thought for a
,'v minutes and then continued:
■... in v. tainly: and we h °P e the French
will become reasonable and will not
refuse to discuss this question with
us. From the viewpoint of our mili
tary and naval defenses these islands
.°L y ital ItßPOftance to us. while
they bring in nothing or practically
nothing to the French.’ I hope, and
with me the entire public opinion of
the United States hopes that the
French government will end this by
an understanding.”
HUGHES DENIES STATEMENT.
By the Associate*.’ Press.
Statements published in Paris and
accredited to Secretary Hughes, to
the effect that the United States’ de
sired to obtain the Antilles from
France in payment of the French war
debt, were received with amusement
today by Mr. Hughes, who said he
never made any such suggestion.
SHERRILL FEARS
BLOW IN LACK OF
EUNDSFOB SPORT
Curtailment of Outdoor
Games May Follow Con
gress’ Inaction.
PLAN OF CONCESSIONS
IS BEING CONSIDERED
Report on Last Year's Activities
Show Bathing Beach
Most Popular.
Outdoor sports and amusments in
the District of Columbia are very like
ly to suffer this coming summer for
lack of funds on the-part of the fed
eral government.
Because of the failure by Congress
to respond to the urgent appeals of
Col. Clarence O. Sherrill, otllcer in
charge of public buildings and
grounds, under whose supervision
comes the various sport fields and
outdoor amusement and recreation
points, there is grave danger of a
curtailment in some of these activi
ties.
Inasmuch as outdoor sports and
amusements have within the last
decade grown so in popularity with
the residents of the capital. Col.
Sherrill is fearful that instead of
being able to afford increased facili
ties to meet the public demand he may
be forced this summer to discontinue
some already in use.
Besides conducting band concerts, a
tourist camp, picnic grounds, sand
piles for children, an athrttic field and
the sylvan open-air theater, facilities
were afforded during the past year
for more than a score of different
forms of athletic sports and amuse
ments.
Knjoyed by Over Million,
Vastly more than a million persons,
young and old, either participated in
or were spectators of these activities
during the year. Col. Sherrill was
[given only $15,000 by Congress with
which to furnish needed equipment,
maintain and otherwise Improve these
various forms of sports and amuse
ment. He has nothing with utjjlch to
| make additions and extensions. Since
July 1 last, when this sum became
available. $13.529 93 has been spent,
j thereby leaving something less than
$1,500 to cover all expenses between
now and June 30 next, when another*
$15,000 will become available.
Col. Sherrill made a number of trips
to the Capitol during the winter to get
a deficiency appropriation, but despite
his ardor and his arguments he met
with no success. Also he attempted
to convince Congress to increase the
annual amount for the next year to
$25,000, but without avail.
, Not Discouraged.
Although greatly disappointed. Col.
Sherrill is by no means discouraged.
He is determined that the trend on the
part of the public of this city toward
i outdoor exercise and amusements
i shall not receive any noticeable set
j back. "When you finally get a oom
| rnunity taking to the open they
j should be encouraged,” Col. Sherrill
| said today while discussing his plans
| for outdoor activities this coming
| summer.
To meet the shortage of funds. Col.
Sherrill has formed several plans
• which h believes will meet tne situ
ation. at least to a large extent. He
can use some of the funds given him
for the development and upkeep of
the various parks and government
reservations about the city to help
out with the sports and recreation
j activities. Also he is contemplating
granting a concession for the opera
tion of the tennis courts, as he has
done in the cases of the public golf
courses and the bathing beach. This
I would relieve his office of all expense
iln connection with improving and
maintaining the forty-seven tennis
courts now constructed ill the various
federal parks and grounds. However,
by adopting this plan the public will
be required to pay a nominal sum—
probably 5 cents an hour—to play on
these courts.
Popularity of Tennis.
Like golf, tennis has grown in
popularity in Washington by leaps
and bounds within the past few
years. A decade ago there were
scarcely a dozen public courts. With
each succeeding year more court*
were added at a cost of approximately
S6OO each, to meet the growing de
mand. Last year 232,452 persons
played on these forty-seven tennis
courts and it is known that many
thousands were prevented from play
ing because of a lack of facilities.
These figures were furnished by a
report placed In Col. Sherrill s hands
yesterday by Albert Burton, director
of outdoor sports and amusements.
There are many In Washington
who fail to realize the extent of
the outdoor activities and their varied
nature. For instance, grounds and
facilities have been furnished for
bathing, golf, tennis, croquet, archery,
foot ball, basket ball, base ball, vol
ley ball, speed ball, soccer, roque.
medicine and push ball, quoits, polo
lacrosse, cricket, hurling, hockey
bowling, horse hurdles and jumps!
skating, fishing and boating.
Beach Greatest Attraction.
This report shows that the bathing
beach was the great attraction. Dur
ing the past season 294,200 persons
used the beach and there were
235.000 spectators. Base ball was
next In popularity, with 66,590 par
ticipants and 356.600 spectators: then
tennis, already enumerated; golf was
Indulged in by 155,471; polo, 764 play
ers and 26,000 spectators; quoits,
2,120 players; medicine and push ball,
566; soccer, 2,100 players and 45,000
spectators; speed ball, 264 players
and 2,900 spectators; volley ball,
1,914 players and 2,500 spectators:
skating, 2,900; archery, 112 players
and 760 spectators; bowling green,
26 players and 270 spectators; bas
ket ball, 128 players and 450 spec
tators; cricket, 1,154 players and
17.000 spectators; croquet. 4,178 play
ers; foot ball, 16,500 players and 69.-
750 spectators; field hockey. 1,760
players and 8,000 spectators; hurling
field, 154 players and 4,000 spectators;
horse hurdles and bridle paths, 7,140;
■ lacrosse, 1.370 players and 12,000
spectators, and roque, 22 players.
The tourist camp was patronized by
20,294 persons, with 6,987 automobiles:
223.000 children played in the seven
sandplles distributed about the city
parks; 6,000 attended the jtwelve per
formances at the Sylvan Theater, 18.-
200 used the picnic groves. 2,187 in
dulged In boating on the Tidal Basin.
114,500 persons attended the ninety
seven band concerts, and 4,760 took
part In games and contests on the
athletic field in the Monument grounds.
• J
MARCH 17. 1923.
0. EXAMINATIONS
HELD UP BY NEW
I
Efficiency Tests Suspended.
Until July 1 Here and Over I
U. S. for Economy.
THEN TO BE MODIFIED
I Effect Upon Promotions Not Cer
tain. Though Change
Pleases Employes.
Postmaster General New today dis
continued case examinations for post
■ office clerks throughout the nation
; until July 1. as part of the economy
I program of the postal service made
i necessary as a result of a deficiency
in funds.
Mr. New announced that the tests
| are suspended, both at the Wash
i inK’ton city post office and every other
! post office in the country, in recopni
i I tion of the great efforts postal em
i ployes are making to handle the in
: creased postal business, following on
, 1 the heels of business prosperity.
: I He also stated that when the exam
j inations are resumed after July 1,
I they will be modified and made less
i i exacting. The examinations are the
' I tests clerks take regularly to deter
i j mine their efficiency in sorting letters,
’ I both for city distribution and for all
■ { points.
Promotion Effect I‘ncertnln.
r | effect the abolition of the case
“exams” will have on the matter of
■ promotion of clerks to the higher
; position of special clerks is yet to be
■ seen. At the Washington city post
1 office today it was a matter for con/
i ■ jecfure. All case examinations there
! 1 are at a standstill, following the or
der of the Postmaster General,
i It was thought that perhaps the
- “exams’’ might be given in the sum
, men, when the appropriations for the
fiscal vear are available, and those
who passed be given positions as
special clerks, retroactive to July 1.
Cancellation of the examinations
1 probably will be greeted with en-’
5 thusiasm by thousands of postal em
ployes. however, who every year
. have looked forward with more or
. I less dread to the rather exacting
, (work which they must perform to
• i pass them successfully.
i Everywhere postal employes are
1 working at top speed to transfer the
. huge mails being given to the postal
, system by mailers everywhere, both
private Individuals and business
firms. The increase of business, as
previously explained in The Star, is
‘ far beyond the fiscal estimates based
J on previous experience, and the 300,-
000 postal employes are bending every
effort to keep the mails movnig
i promptly. Since the appropriations did
: not anticipate the boom, extra clerks
on whom the burden could be dls
trihuted are not available.
’ This latest curtailment in the in
> terest of economy follows an order to
all postmasters Issued last night by
’ Postmaster General New, In which he
■ urged the practice of the strictest
• economy commensurate with public
• convenience. Recently he ordered end
ing of "overtime" work and use of
auxiliary help at post offices until
after July 1.
"This is such an emergency as may
occur in any great business enter
prise and it is temporary.” Mr. New
1 declared. “On July 1 the approprla
. tion for next year becomes available
and we will then be able to extend
1 and perfect the service in many im
portant ways, and to discontinue this
extraordinary campaign of economy.
"It should be understood that this
1 effort which must be made between
now and June 30 is not a part'of any
policy to save money at the expense
of the service or the men. It is slm
. ply and solely an emergency in which
» we are caught by the unexpected
i growth of the business, which, by the
, way, should be a cause for rejoicing,
as it Is an unmistakable sign of na
i tional prosperity.”
; . BISHOP BURKE DEAD.
1
; Oldest Catholic Official of Bank in
• United States Succumbs.
’ By the Associated Press.
j ST. JOSEPH. Mo., March 17. —The
Rt. Rev. Maurice F. Burke, Bishop of
r the St. Joseph diocese and the oldest
: Catholic bishop in the United States
J in point of service, died at his home
- here early today. He was seventy
. six years old and had been in fall
- ing health three years.
. The last five mooiths the diocese
- has been administered by a coadjutor
c bishop, the Rt. Rev. Franel* Oilflllan,
> formerly of St. Louis, who hu the
i, ■ right of succession.
Russians Protest
i
Against Japanese
Aid to ‘Whites’l
I By the Associated Press.
MOSCOW. March 17.—The Rus-
I siau foreign office has sent a note j
, to Japan protesting against aid
which. It alleges, the Japanese are
giving the “Whites” in their "pro
posed new descent upon the Island
• of Sakhalin.”
In a Moscow dispatch of March
8 it was reported that Gen. Semen
off. former anti-bolshevik leader in
Siberia, was making an effort to
stage a new counter revolution in
the far east. Remnants of the
"White Guard” or antl-bolshevik
bands now in Korea, it was said,
had elected Semenoff their leader
shortly after his arrival there, and
it was reported Semenoff was plan
ning. to make his way to northern
Sakhalin, which is Russian ter
ritory. the southern half of the
j\island belonging to Japan.
HUGEIMPPLY
AT PERRYVILLE, MO.
Narcotic Division Chief Finds
More Than $2,000,000
Worth in Probe.
Discovery by Dr. B. R. Rhecs,
narcotic division chief from Balti
more, of between $2,000,000 and
$3,000,000 worth of narcotic drugs at
Perryville, Md.. was the latest de
velopment today in the investigation
into the source of supplies for the
Edwards Trading Company, raided in
f Washington last week.
Veterans’ Bureau officials today said
the Perryville station was one of the
depots for the Veterans’ Bureau and
always keeps a supply of narcotic
drugs in a concrete vault for the use
of the base hospital treating veterans
of the world war.
No narcotic drugs were allowed to >
-teave the Perryville station, officials
explained, without having been ob
tained on an authorized government
permit. The strictest regulations, it
was said, had been thrown around the
supply, and exact records were kept
of all dealings.
Dr. Rhees, following his discovery
of the narcotic drugs, declared that
such a huge supply did not necessarily
indicate any irregularities. He ex
pressed some surprise, however, that
such a large supply was found on
hand.
Inspection of all Veterans’ Bureau,
Army and public health service depots
in the vicinity of Washington is be
ing carried on by Dr. Rhees in con
nection with the Edwards Trading
'Company case. A hearing is set for
March 20, before United States Com
missioner George H. Macdonald.
Inspections have been completed. Dr.
Rhees said, at Camp Holabird, Fort
Howard, Camp Meade and Fort Mc-
Henry hospitals. Inspections were al
so made at the Aberdeen proving
grounds and there yet remain the
hospital and supplies at Edgewood
arsenal, where it was understood the
investigators might be working to
day.
Dr. Rhees is expected to come to
Washington shortly to report to Col.
L. G. Nutt, chief of the narcotic di
vision. Col. Nutt today Indicated
there were no new developments in
the case. He said Dr. Rhees was in
full charge of the Investigation.
r — j
Three Big Features
Os Tomorrow’s Star
’■ | ji
j A full page of pictures in Rotogravure Section of
Treasures From King Tutankhamen’s Tomb
A special page in Part Three for children
The Boys’ and Girls’ Own Page
ji if
j Pictures of interest to base ball fans
The Washington Team in Training Camp
I ' I:
111 Tomorrow’s Star
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The Star’s carrier system covers every
city block and the regular edition is
delivered to Washington homes as fast
as the papers are printed.
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Yesterday’* Net Circulation, 95,645
COL KELLER BANS
i HEDGE AND FENCE
I
i Issues Order Prohibiting In
stallations on Front
I
Lawns Hereafter.
FINDS THEM UNSIGHTLY
Officials Declare Lack of Uniform
ity Makes Elimination
Preferable.
An iron-bound rule prohibiting the
erection of any more hedges or fences
j on the front lawns of residences has
j been issued by Engineer Commissioner
Keller, it became known today. The
following- notice appeared on the police
bulletin:
“The Engineer Commissioner directs
that no permits for hedges or parking
fences be granted until further notice
to the contrary.*’
Col. Keller is out of the cfty, but it
was learned at the District building
that the purpose of the order is to im
prove the appearance of the National
Capital.
Lack of I'nlformlty Illumed.
One official said that a lack of uni
formity in the kind of fences placed
around front terraces has marred
the attractiveness of many streets.
A well kept hedge, he said, im
proves the appearance of a street, but,
if it is allowed to grow wild It pro
duces the opposite effect.
Attention also was called to the
practice of some property owners in
erecting crude wooden or wire fences
next to a well trimmed hedge.
Officials of the engineer depart
ment apparently believe that iB the
absence of uniform treatmenl of
front terraces, it is better to have
no inclosures than to have fifty-seven i
varieties of fence on the same street
or avenue.
Seek to Improve Appearance.
There is no intention on the part
of the city authorities to disturb
existing hedges or fences, but the
permit clerk will not authorize any
additional ones, unless the Engineer
Commissioner's order should later be
rescinded.
It was emphasized at the District
building today that the sole object
of the new rule is to make the na
tion's capital more attractive.
BANDITS HOLD UP TRAIN:
SHERIFFS RUSH TO SCENE
Report Flashed That Gang of Out
laws Is Shooting Up
Washington.
Hr the Associated Press.
TACOMA, Wash.. March 17.—Sheriff
Tom Desmond rushed two automo
bile loads of deputy sheriffs to South
Prairie, twenty-six miles from here,
today when he received information
that a train had been robbed there,
A message from the Northern Pa
cific operator at Buckley said a ban
dit gang was shooting up that sec
tion of the county.
TWO CENTS.
PAYMENT IN SHIPS
OF 1). S. CLAIM HIT
IN REPLYTO ALLIES
Message Declines Sugges
tion That Seized Vessels Be
Deducted From Rhine Bill.
PRESIDENT APPROVES
ANSWER OF HUGHES
Note Does Not Constitute Flat Re
jection of Allied Plan, But Points
Out Allied Precedent.
By the Associated Pres*.
The American reply to the allied
suggestions for repayment of the
$250,000,000 spent by the United
States in maintaining its troops on
the Rhine was forwarded today to Paris,
It was understood to decline th!
suggestion that the value of seized
Germany ships be deducted from th!
troop bill, but not to constitute a
flat rejection of the allied plans.
The reply was cabled by the Stats
Department to Eliot Wadsworth foi
presentation to the allied commission
there at its next meeting.
President Harding, on a vacation
trip in Florida, had telegraphed hij
approval of the note as drafted bj
Secretary Hughes.
No announcement regarding th*
nature of the reply was made here,
but it indicated that it answered
some of the suggestions contained
m the allied plan forwarded here bv
Mr. Wadsworth in a friendly way. and
in terms which did not constitute a
flat rejection of the allied proposal
as it was received from Paris.
Regarding the suggession that the
United States deduct from its claim
an amount equal to the value of tha
German ships seized during the war,
official spokesmen have pointed out
that the allied governments did not
make a similar deduction in their
army costs, but applied German ships
to their reparations accounts, in
which the Washington government
has no share.
PRESIDENT BACKS STAND.
Believes D. S. Should Have Pay
ment in Full for Rhine Army.
BY DAVID I.AWHENCE.
MIAMI REACH. Fla., March 17.
President Harding lost little time ap
proving Secretary of State Hughes'
recommendations as to the reply of
the United States government to th!
proposals of the allies concerning th!
payment for the American array of oc
cupation on the Rhine.
The Secretary communicated all
the facts to Mr. Harding here—it
was the first official act of impor*
tanoe on the vacation trip — and brief,
ly outlined the course that h«
thought should be taken. Alreadj
the reply has been dispatched tj
Paris along the lines of Mr. Hughes
recommendation, which was that th|
allied proposal be rejected.
Contract's Terms Explicit.
There is little doubt that the pro
cedure of the allies in this mattei
has not helped their efforts to se
cure closer co-operation of Arnerici
in the affairs of Europe. The in*
pression the allied representative!
have made has been far from pleas*
ing, because the American governt
ment has felt that if ever a clairt
was written down in black apj
while, without the slightest chance
of being misunderstood, the eonlrac'
was the one providing for payment
of the expenses of American troop!
on the Rhine. This was to have beet
a prior payment above reparation!
or any other receipts - from Germanl
What American officials particular*
ly do not like is that the allies, aftel
collecting money from Germany foj
the expenses of Rhine armies, hav*
failed to give America her share oj
their own initiative, but have sug.
Rested that the claim be listed an 4
paid later, and that also a portion o|
the claim be reduced by crediting ta
the same account the selling price o(
ail the German ships seized by Amer
ica during the war.
Ship Value Im t ut.
While some reports have indicated
that this latter item would amount
only to about fifteen or sixteen mil
lion dollars, and would, therefore. b»
a small part of the total of two hun
dred and fifty millions owed America
for the Rhine army expenses, thera
is a suspicion that the alli»»s really
wanted to multiply the number o|
German ships seized by America by
the sale price per ton during th!
war. which would have brought th«
total tip to a considerable sum. Th!
sale price then was about S2OO pci
ton. as compared with $55 per ton
today.
Not only did the American govern
ment decline to consider this method
of calculation, because it meant th!
appointment of an appraisal board
■ and interminable negotiations, but i|
beclouded the real issue, namely, th|
payment of the expenses of the Rhin<
Army out of the funds received a pari
from general reparations. The United
States made no claim for general
reparations, and does not like tha
idea of crediting to reparations ac
count something for which payment
is expressly provided for under an
other section altogether of the
treaties and armistice agreements.
Relies Upon Hughes.
There is an Importance to this dis
pute, however, which in the eyes ol
the United States government trans
cends the amount of dollars and cents
involved. Two hundred and fifty mil
lion dollars is a relatively small sum_
compared with the amounts which tht
allies have been trying to collect
from Germany, yet it is the principle
underlying the controversy which
may have far-reaching effects on tha
future of American policy. All the
powers have stated in a formal notice
that they recognized the equity of
the American claim.
But they never made provision fol
payment, although they always kep'
I on insisting that the American Army
continue to stay on the Rhine. It is
true that the sums received by tha
allies have been disbursed already,
but that is why the American govern
ment feels even more vehemently be
cause its interests have been ignored
by the allies.
The President is not worrying about
the handling of the controversy as h!
has full faith in the Secretary oj
State, but the latter has felt the mat
ter was of sufficient importance to
advise the chief executive and get hit
formal approval to every step taken.
(Copyright. 1823.) .