The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume], February 05, 1915, Image 1

About The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917

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VOL. 51 NO. 31
BRIDGEPORT, CONN., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1915
PRICE TWO CENTS
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NION MEN J INSIST THAT ;
LOWES
ON' NEW
TBI
Bridgeport Concern, Nest Lowest, Pleads for Work On
- Ground That Local Business Should Be Considered .
Union Men Retort That Non-Union Help Is Im
ported By Local Firm and That Outside Bidder
Would Hire Bridgeport
Union lien Carry the Day.
Because Casey & Hurley are not the
lowest bidders on the contract for the
new Lakevteif noma and because they
ao not employ union labor,; members
of local labor' organizations were be
fore ' the Charities board at a public
hearing in the-council chamber at the
city hall today, protesting against the
granting of the contract to the
Bridgeport firm.' The Oscawanna
Building Co. of Oscawanna. New Torn
low bidder at $109,70, was given ,the
contract. Casey & Hurley. of
Bridgeport, bid about , 1,000 more
than this figure and because the
figures of the local-firnV were so close,
there has been a disposition to award
the contract to them. The' Oscawanna
people employ runion labor. . - -f-'
Several of the local labor unions
whose members are employed in the.
building tijades have written letters to
the board v protesting - against , the
.warding of the contract to Casey &
Hurley. They claim if Casey & Hur
ley were the lowest bidder they would
not protest but since that firm is not
low and the Oscawanna company' em
ploys only union labor and will give
employment to union citizens of
Bridgeport.- they contended today that
Ibe New Tor company anouia nave
the contract. : ;The union men also
claimed that employee of , Caey &
Hurley , are not' resident of Bridge
port and that most of them are strike ,
breakers. This JEdward Casey, of the j
Hrm of Casey & Hurley denied. ,
The mayor presided at the meeting
which was 'held ra the council cham
ber just -before noon , today. 'Among
the spectators were representatives of
the " Oscawanna Building CSMessrs.
Skinner and "Walker, architects of the
proposed new Lake-view home, Super
intendent : of Charities S. R. Gordon
and a large number of union ,. labor
men." !V" "-.';".'- - ?-
Attorney Sanford i ' Stoddard, who
appeared for the Oscawanna Building
Co. Said that his firm had made the
bid in good faith and. at B&vye ex
pense, that it ras a responsible firm
fully able to carry out any contract It
might make and that it was but Just
that bis clients should have the contract-
v " '..it'--.'-:-.-' -
. WliAn Via ftnijibArl Ytobftft Tfl-
Hurley of the firm of Casey & Hurley,-
cauea on Aromraa warren snsts
Xhe latter pleaded the. .cause of the
local builders well. -. He said to "part:
lpless, Three
A
vYoiiien Killed
In Bed By Fiend
Unknown Brute Crushes
Skull of Victims With
-Heavy' Hammer and Then
Hakes Escape.
.' . - -- , - .
Buffalo, Feb. 5 A triple murder
in which an .entire family, consisting
of grandmother, mother and daugh
,ter, was wiped out, was discovered at
Salamanae today. The victims were
in their beds with, their heads crush
ed in. A heavy machinist's hammer
smeared with blood and hair was
found on the floor in one 1 of the.
rooms. rK
The victims are Mrs. Lizzie Drake,
65; Mrs. Irene Spencer, 35; and Ger
trude Spencer, 12." , '
. Boys passing the Drake homestead
found the rear door open, entered
and made the ghastly discovery. The
bodies were in separate rooms and
there was no evidence of a struggle.
They had been slain aa they slept.
Physicians who examined the bodies
said that the murders had been com
mitted three or four days ago. The
police have sent out an alarm for- a
former boarder at the Drake house
Who is reported to be missing.
LEGISLATOR'S WIDOW
SLASHES OWN THROAT
Bethlehem,Cbnn.,Feb. 6. Mrs. Alice
Bloas, widow of N. I Bloss, a former
member of the Legislature, was found
dead to bed at her home here today.
She had cut .her throat during the
nigfit. Mrs., Bloss, who was 61 years
ld. had been in poor health for some
tae.
YVEATIIEIt FORECAST
Rain or snow and warmer
t -might; Saturday, -rain and
warmer. Strong south winds.
DDER GET WORK
LAKEVIEW HOME
ers Belonging to Unions-
v
"There are just as good mechanics
in Bridgeport as anywhere else in the
world and there are Just as good me
chanics out. of the union as in it. I
think 4t.a poor compliment to Bridge- i
port . toT give our work to ' outside !
firms. i Architect J. W Northrop
whom? -Mrs:,-. Hurley .called " next: said ,
Casey 4fe Hurley were trustworthy and
reUable.'.:r-i-. - ; v' - '; ' -
A representative of the Fletcher ;
Engineering Co. also endorsed the
firm. Attorney Stoddard said he was
not questioning the ability of Casey
& Hurley to execute the contract but
he thought his clients had won . the
contract fairly. - - .
The -.. fireworks . began right ; after
ward when "the union - labor represen
tativea .began in no uncertain terms
to voice their protests. ' Ernest " V.
O'Brien, walk business agent for the
Bricklayers and Blasters union local
spoke first. 1 '-'.?-. i . ' ,.-"
"As .citizens and taxpayers," said ,
Mr, O'Brien,, "the members', of , the
organization 'oppose the granting , of
this contract to Casey Hurley They
oppose flre,t pn the ground that this
firm are . not citizens ,of Bridgeport.
They Are not- union , men either, , but
are strike breakers brought here dur-,
ing the Jabor : trouble some . ten - or
twelve years ago and not to be com
pared f to .the men born and brought
epjMrt or who have lived here 26 or
8.0 years.- .v. . "
3X you give this contract - to the
low Didder you will give it to a firm
that will ewiptoy Bridgeport ; me
chanics at living wages and. you will
get a -building that- will be. a .credit
to the ,cityi i "We have never opposed
the granting of this .contract because
Casey & Hurley employ non-union la
bor but because the firm is not the
lowest bidder.-; Ifhe firm had bid
low we would. ha said nothing. ,"We
did not object when they 'got the con
tract fop. the Bryant school.
There is a cry to boost. Bridgeport
labor but it seems as ' if you wanted
to .put a barrier) before union, labor
from the manner in which some con
tracts are given. ; Our -organization
wants to see this 'contract go to the
lowest bidderJ "When Casey & Hur
ley built the Bryant school only one
man who worked on the Job was a
resident of ' Bridgeport. All the
others were strike breakers imported,
here to: take , the Jobs of Bridgeport
, Continued on Page S. -
Gantwell Finds
Diamonds Lost
At Charity Ball
Hotel. Manager Closes Ball
Room, Makes Personal
Search and Succeeds When
Others Failed. ,
Four valuable diamonds, loosened
from a necklace of Mrs. Samuel. C.
Shaw, wife of the well known attor
ney .were kicked around the ball
room -of the Stratf ield hotel last night
by dancers at the annual charity ball.
Probably swept into a corner by the
swish of some air woman's , dress,
they -ray undiscovered during the en
tire affair, and even when the loss was
reported members of the hotel staff
failed to observe them until Manager
Frank A. Cantwell prosecuting a
personal search located them and to
day returned them to . their owner.
' Mrs; Shaw when asked of the loss
today stated that the diamonds, four
in number, were hanging pendant
from a string of valuable beads about
her neck. During the course of the
evening they must- have ; become de
tached, though she did not miss them
until she arrived at her home, 18 San
ford place at an early hour .this morn
ing. .. . - '
A thorough search of the taxicab
in which she and her husband rode
home failed to uncover them and the
Hotel Stratfield was at once com
municated with. Attendants . were
sent to search the room, but reported
that the Jewels could -not be found.
Manager Frank Cantwell was told of
the occurrence and closing the big
ball-room made a personal search. He
located the gems far' away in one
corner of the room beneath a settee.
The family notified of the find were
greatly relieved- and Attorney Shaw
called at the hotel today and person
ally recovered them. When asked to
state the value -of the. Jewels to the
Farmer today he asked that no undue
publicity be given i the matter and
modestly stated that the value could
be placed at "about 600."
BUDLONG'S WIFE
IN FASHIONABLE
TOGS IN COURT
She and Private Detectives
4 Who Discovered Hus
band Give Bail
POLICE BREAK IN
ON "TRIANGLE" ROW
Wife Accompanies Detec
tives She Hired jbo Shadow
Manufacturer ,
Fashionably attired, Mrs. " May
Budlong, wife of Herbert Budlong, "as
sistant, manager, of the American
Graphophone Company." was a pris
oner in the police court' this morning
on a charge of breach, of the peace.
Mrs. Budlong . was arrested about
10:30 o'clock' last night with Eugene
Zanelli . and Benjamin Sternberg, pri
vate detectives from New Haven, af
ter tiey had forced' their way Into
the home of Mrs. Frances; Scott, 210
F&irview avenue in search, of Mr. Bud
long. - .'-.' ';-."?-'';:':'-'''.
Mrs. . Budlong and the ,' detectives
were not arraigned today,' the cases
being continued until . February 13,
at the request of Mr, Budlong's coun
sel. If the cases are tried out in
courti at that time some sensational
testimony is expected.
For some time Mr, and Mre. Bud
long have not , been living together.
He has apartments in West avenue,,
and she' has lived with her. father,
William Brooks,, of 373 ' Arctic street.
It is understood that Mrs. .Budlong
has been considering divorce proceed
ings for some time and had engaged
Zanelli and Sternberg , of the Sposa
Detective Agency, New Haven,,, to- as
sist her In getting evidence, .
According to the reports clrCBl&ted
at police headquarters, following' the
arrest last night, Mr. Budlong had
been a visitor at the Scott home fre
quently and was paying, attentions to
Mrs. Scott's daughter, Mabel. . - The
daughter, it ' Is understood, was re
cently divorced from' a. man named
Clouae, residing in Ithaca, N. Y.
- Mrs. Budlong, with the two detec
tives, went ,to the Scott home last
night and . demanded to know if Bud
long were in the house. Receiving
a negative reply, the visitors . insist
ed on' inspecting the house, despite
the protests of Mrs. Scott. . A hur
ried search of the various - rooms in
the house discovered Mr. Budlong and
Mabel Scott. - .. ,.-'"-
There was an Interchange of rather
heated remarks and finally the ar
guments attained . such volume that
Mrs. Scott and her daughter say they
thought it best to seek the quiet of
the front veranda. While they were
there, Detective Luke Petruschell ar
rived with the auto , patrol which, had
answered an alarm that . there -were
two burglars in the house. . It .is be
lieved that neighbors sent In the call
for the "police. . .
Detective Petruschell thought' the
best way out -of the argument , was to
take all concerned. tox headquarters.
Mrs. Scott, her daughter, Mrs. Bud
long, Budlong and the two private de
tectives were given 'a, ride to head
quarters. , . - ' ..I, . i '.
There six different versions of the
affair were presented simultaneously
to Lieut. Blansfleld. . . When he had
figured -it all out, - the : lieutenant de
cided that the- three who had forced
their way into the house should 'be
held. C- He,, therefore, arrested Mrs.
Budlong and the detectives on charges
of breach of the peaces. . A11 immediately-were
released on bonds. -'
Mr. and Mrs. Budlong have been
separated for about two, years. Mr.
Budlong is a divorcee through a for
mer marriage and now is said to ibe
paying alimony. -i- - r -'
SENATE O. K;:
ON GREENE RS
POSTMASTER
(Special to The Farmer.) .
Washington, Feb. 5. On motion of
Senator Brandegee, the Senate last
night in executive session, unanimous
ly confirmed President Wilson's nomi
nation of Charles F. Green to be
postmaster of Bridgeport, Conn., and
then sent his name to the president
without delaying the customary lay
over of three legislative days after
confirmation. '
SENATE ELECTIONS
IN TWO STATES TO
BE INVESTIGATED
Washington, Feb. 5. By unanimous
vote, the Senate elections committee
today recommended " investigation of
Senatorial campaigns in Pennsylvania
and Illinois and in other states where
charges of corruption hjive bees made.
NO DOCTOR FOR
X-SGIENGE GIRL,
B. H. S. JUNIOR
Health Officer McLellan
Signs Death Certificate
i for Parents
WEAKENED HEART IS
GIVEN AS THE CAUSE
Deceased Was Niece of Well
Known Shelton Con
! :.') tractor ?
Fallowing - ailment of nearly a
month's' duration during which time
no physician was called to attend her,
Miss Olive Beard, 15-year-old pupil of
the Bridgeport High school, died yes
terday afternoon at the home of her
Christian Science parents, Mr. and
Mrs.- Oliver Q.- Beard, Jr., 135 Beech
wood avenue. - " i,
A death certificate failiner to give
the primary cause of death but stating
the secondary cause to probably ibe
valvular heart failure has been signed
by Health Officer , Edward. A. McLel
lan, who was called into the case sev
eral hours after the girl had died.
At the Beard home today it was
freely , admitted that no doctor had
been called 'because the family were
members of the Christian Science faith
and that . It Was several hours after
death before the city health officer had
been called into" consultation with, the
family." '- . . . '""
Miss Olive Beard was In her Junior
year at the Bridgeport High school.
having been graduated from ' the Ma-
plewood school. -She has two other
sisters, Anna and Grace, residing In
this city, , a grandfather, Oliver ..
Beard of Shelton, and an uncle, . B. . N.
Beard, the. weir known highway ; con
structor at Shelton, who-is now toeing
sued for libel by John T: JECing-of this
citytvHer father Is associated in tms-Ip'-bs
Vith the Bl mu Beard company.
. In. discussing the matter this after
noon Dr. Edward Ai McLellan said:
,1 was .called into the case last night,
some bours after the death of the
child, . who apparently jdied from a
weakened heart. I could- not ascertain
that . any physician , had been called.
The family, told me that' the girl had
been ailing for some time and had al
ways suffered from a weak heart. - 3he
lasped slowly and from a superficial
examination with what the family said
I was. satisfied that a death certificate
could be issued: by me in accordance
with the health regulations, which per
mit me to regularly issue the certifi
cte under such circumstances. I un
Continued on Page Two) .
MIDDLEBROOKS'
NAME EXPECTED
FOR MARSHALL
Retiring Incumbent, Sidney
E. Hawley, Is Close Friend
of Successor
: (Special to The Farmer.)
Washington,. Feb. 5. The nomina
tion at -. Chasterfield C. Middlebrooks,
Democrat, of Winsted -to be IT. S.
marshal for Connecticut is expected
almost daily. ' Mr; Middlebrooks' name
is agreeable to both Congressmen Don
ovan and ' Kennedy. - Other candidates
for . the place includes Mr. Gaff ey of
Hartford and Oeorge Forsber of Rock
ville. Mr. Middlebrooks has the, sup
port also of leading members of the
Connecticut bench and bar. '.'.'..
The designation of Mr. Middlebrooks
will (be more pleasing to the retiring
incumbent, Sidney- BJ. Hawley, than
that . of any other candidate so far
mentioned, for Middlebrooks and Haw
ley were county cheriflfs of Litchfield
and Fairfield counties contemporane
ously for several years and a close
personal friendship - grew up which
time has strengthened. The three can
didates mentioned have been under
the serious consideration of Attorney
General Thomas W. Gregory for some
weeks.
Both United States senators have
written to Attorney. General Gregory,
in response to his inquiries, telling
that official they are satisfied with the
selection of Middlebrooks and there is
no ; doubt tout that the name, when
presented, will receive unanimous en
dorsement. . .. ..- .
Chesterfield C. Middlebrooks was
sheriff of Litchfield county from 1903
to 1907. He was born in Sharon, Conn.,
July 24, 1860. In 1S80 tie went to Win
ate d and entered the employ of . the
Gilbert Clock company, where he
stayed for fourteen years. He was for
several years at the head of the Win
sted police force and was a constable
of the town of Winchester, in which
offices he showed great executive abil
ity. In 1894 be was appointed deputy
sheriff under Sheriff Henry J. Allen,
and in 1903 he was elected sheriff by
a good majority. At the expiration of
his office, in 1907, he was appointed by
the Judges of the . state one of the Jury
commissioners for Litchfield county.
Mr. Middlebrooks recently ran a close
race with Frank H. Turkington for re
election as sheriff of Litchfield county.
He was endorsed by the Progressives.
He contested the election of Mr. Turk
ington,' but the case was ruled out of
court on a demurrer.
Summary
OF THE
War News
One of the most furious battles
of the war is now at . its height ,
along the - Russo-German front
west of Warsaw. Large bodies
of German troops have been
' brought up for Field Marshal
Von Hindehburg's': third desper
ate effort to batter a way through
the Russian line. The attack is
centered near the Polish village
of Borjimow-around which for
,the last few-days has been raging "
a battle that for intensity com
pares with the struggle in Flan
ders earlier in .the war.
.Official statements make no
mention of the extent of .the losses
which. Judging from the -nature V'
of the fighting, j must be enoN
mous. -. . . x ;
j A communication from the
Russian war . office today says -that
along a section of the front
about six miles long the -Germans
brought up no less than
, 84,000 , men, ; supported by 100
batteries of artillery. In compact
masses these troops were hurled
' against' the .Russian positions..
The Petrograd , statement as
serts these attacks Were broken
up and that the Russians assum- ,
ing the offensive in turn, captured
. German trenches and occupied '
two villages.
( In the Carpathians, the fighting.
. is hardly less severe. The Pe
trograd war office admits that
the Russians retreated ! in one
section of this front after fight
' ing 10 successive engagements
with bayonets.' Elsewhere Russian-successes
are claimed.'
The action of the German ad
; miralty in declaring within the
war zone the waters surrounding
England, Scotland and Ireland is
supported enthusiastically by the
German press. The Berlin Post
states that "men and freight
not only on British ships but un- .
der a neutral flag are doomed to
sink." , i '
Official
VIEW S OF
World's War
QEBUAir
Berlin, ' Feb. 5. The German army
Headquarters staff today gave out the
following statement: '
"On the whole western front aside
from an Isolated French attack on the
German positions to the northwest of
Perthes, when was unusuccessful,only
artllery duels took place.
"On the East Prussian frontier re
viewed Russain attacks to the south -of
Memel river were repulsed.
"Strong -Kussan attacks against the
positions recently taken by the Ger
mans to the east of Bolimow '(east of
Lowicz) were- equally unsuccessful.
We have taken prisoners in thstft vicin
ity since Feb. 1, 26 officers and about
6,000 men'." v ;
FRENCH
Paris," Feb. . 5. The French war of
fice this afternoon gave out the re
port on 'the progress of the fighting as
follows: . ' v
"In Belgium, German aviators yes
terday showed great activity. The an
nouncement given .out last . night re
ported the ; occupation of a trench of
the enemy to the west from Arras to
Lille. This trench was a cause of an
noyance to . the troops occupying the
positions won by us several days ago
to the east of this road. ' Consequent
ly, we blew it up with a mine and im
mediately afterwards a detachment of
Zouaves and our light African infan
try installed itself securely in, the con
quered positions.; 'All the Germans in
the trench thus occupied were either
killed or taken prisoner. "- s '
. "Our artillery silenced the batteries
of the enemy at a point near Adlnfor
(to the south of Arras) near Pozieres
(northeast of Albert) near Ham (north
west of Perrone) as well as in the sec
tor of Pailly (south of Noyon)."
RUSSIAN
Petrograd, Feb. 5 The. general staff
of the Russian army under date of
Feb. S has issued a. report of the
fighting which reads as follows:
"In East Prussia we are making
progressing by fighting our way along
both ' banks of the river Schesehupp,
in the vicinity of Ladehne, to the east
of Tilsit. On the left bank . of . the
Vistula the fighting between Borjimow
and Wola Szydlowiecka has continued
with extraordinary ferocity. The
enemy has brought into the engage-
i ment compact masses of men. In the
endeavor to penetrate our front the
Germans have here introduced into a
sector of 10 versts (about six miles)
no fewer than seven divisions, sup
planted By - one hundred " batteries of
artillery. Certain divisions advanced
on a front only one Verst wide.:
"In the Carpathians the fighting
continues along the front which is be
tween, the Dukla Pass and Mt Wysz
kow. We advanced at a point near
Svidnik, in the valley of the river
Labortch, moving in the direction of
Oujck. We took 2,000 prisoners and
10 machine guns.
"At Mt. Toukholka and at Mt Be
skid our troops during the last few
days have been confronting the ene
my with a desperate-oresistance. They
accepted no less than 10 engagements
at the pokxt of the bayonet. On Feb.
3 we resolved to withdraw our sol
diers from the mountain positions to
other, positions previously selected
and organized by us. The offensive
strength of the enemy in this vicinity
is" very considerable.
Washington Fears for Safety of American Ship
ping in Naval War Zone England May Re
taliate By Declaring Foodstuffs Are Contra
band of War International Laws Make No
Provision To Cover Problem. ,
GERMANY ISSUES
Berlin, Feb, 5 The chief admiral of the staff of the Ger
man navy has issued the following official communication:
"England is on the eve of shipping numerous troops and
large quantities of war material to Krance. Against these Eng
lish transports ive will proceed with all the means of warfafe
at our; disposal. ' ;
' 'Neutral shipping is earnestly cautioned against approach
ing the northern or the western coasts of France as in the wa
ters such vessels would run the serious danger of being con
founded with ships whose purposes are warlike." .
C.. .Washington," Feb.' 5 Germany's declaration of a naval war
zone around G.reat Britain and ..Ireland, ' including the Englis h
Channel and the northern passage by the Shetland Inlands, is
regarded here as one of the most serious developments of U;
war. -'v ..';'-" '- , ''-, .'".-'''-
It was regarded as highly' possible, for one thing, thuL it
would hasten the movement begun by the Latin-American coun
tries for a speedy conference of neutral states to devise means
to reduce losses to neutral commerce to a minimum. :
lNo Protest From United States
At first there were some intimations in administration cir
cles that it might be the subject of a protest by the United States
but the official view developed that there was little or- no
ground for that and it was recalled that no protest, was made
when the North Sea was strewn with mines. ;
Sweden, Norway, Denmark and .Holland have repeatedly
addressed the state department here to secure American back
ing for measures to relieve distress in their own commerce and
the latest German proclamation is expected to cause a redoubled
effort of all the neutrals for measures to protect themselves.
Counsellor Lans iri;, of h state de-
partmfeht,, took Secretary-, Bryan's
chair at the cabinet meeting today In
the latter's absence. ; . 'V :';";
.-Neither the state department " nor
the German embassy had received the
latest "Berlin admiralty statement to
day and it Was stated at the German
embassy that the Berlin foreign of
fice probably would deliver copies to
diplomatic representatives In Berlin
and regard that notice as sufficient
Yesterday's proclamation is an exten
sion of a former one delivered by Am
bassador Gerard, applying to the
north and west coasts of France."
No ' Precedent 61 Lawa. . . '
: There is no precedent . in dealing
with the question because heretofore-
submarines have played ' no im
portant part in warfare and ' all of
the rules of international law are en
framed with specjal reference to ordi
nary ships. The ordinary proceed
ings are taking prizes and dealing
with merchant ships of an enemy
Which it is not , feasible " to take as
prizes are clearly , set out and estab
lished by long usage. The merchant
men must be. halted, boarded and
either made prize or sunk. But in
the latter case, crew and passengers
must be taken off. - ;
1 While it was noted that the procla
mation was directed against "enemy
ships" and "" applies to neutral ships
only, when the attacks "were meant
for enemy ships" through suspicion of
misuse of neutral flags, officials ex
pressed grave concern over the im
plied threat to sink merchant vessels,
probably without warning or taking
off non-combatants, ' During consid
eration of the subject by the state de
partment, .American mariners will
probably be warned and to enter for
bidden waters at their own risk.
... England May, Retaliate.
- The notice from the British govern
ment that it is contemplating retalia
tion against German trade has given
rise to much speculation on the part
of officials as to what the British
have in mind. Although it has been
denied that any official . declaration
that food supplies are contraband has
been issued, it is believed , that the
British notice forecasts the speedy is
sue of some such declaration. -
" In addition to this trying to cut off
Germany's food supply by water, it
is believed to be possible that the
British may make the blow more se
vere by prohibiting the transportation
nf rntton to Germany. Cotton is a
nf nome forms
or smoiceiess
powder as well as the high explosive
.
ENGLAND STIRRED BY ANNOUNCEMENT
OF GERMANY'S BLOCKADE OF COASTS
. London, Feb. 5 Although refer-1
ring sarcastically to Germany's threat !
to bottle up . the British Isles by
means : of submarines as a "paper
blockade," England is stirred today
by this latest development in the ma--'
rine situation as she seldom has been
since the outbreak of hostilities.
The press unanimously subprdin
ates all other war news, not excepting
the Turkish attempt ? to cross the
Suez Canal, to give prominence to the
despatches from Berlin while the for
eign office . statement following
quickly the publication of the Ger
man decree indicates that the ; gov
ernment authorities take the German
threat as one requiring a prompt1
counter stroke. As the statement
says, the authorities are considering
"more stringent . measures against
German trade." . . ; -
The ministers are treating the sub
ject as of particular urgency and a
full official statement as to the at
titude of Great Britain - should be
NEW WARNING
guncotton used in the war., heads of
torpedoes and submarine mixi7 .1. Aside
from depriving Germany of that nec
essary article, the . British. enforce
ment of such an order would deal a
heavy blow to the German textile
factories which are now Just begin
ning to receive almost a normal sup
ply from the United States.
State department officials indicated
that the German proclamation was
analogous In their minds to the strew
ing of mines in the North Sea and a
similar announcement by Great Brit
ain that neutral shipping - might be
imperilled there.
Officials See No Threat.
Officials did not view the . German
proclamation, as a threat to destroy
neutral ships If found in the war zone
but as a warning that all ships enter
ed there at their own risk.
The statement in the German pro
clamation that there is in existence
a British order to its fleet permitting
them to use neutral flags may draw
forth an inquiry from the United
States although Great Britain has, in
connection with recent submarine
raids charged that neutral vessels
were used as bases..
While the German proclanation is
being carefully considered at the state
department, officials manifested much
interest as to the probable effect of
the announcement on the movement
of American ships bearing munitions
and contraband of war to the allies.
While such vessels probably will be
convoyed from the French or English
ports by warships of the allies, the
rules of the international law provide
that a neutral vessel cannot be de
stroyed until taken to a prize court
and duly condemned.
London View of Case.' '
Under the , declaration of London,
however, a neutral -vessel which is cer
tain to be condemned as a prize, may
be destroyed by a belligerent waraliip
if taking her into port would impair
the success of the warship's opera
tions. Before the vessel is destroyed.
all the persons on board must be
placed in safety and the captor must
later establish that he acted in the
face of necessity. , Otherwise, com
pensation to the injured shipper fol
lows. ,
Until a specific case of destruction
of an American ship in the new war
zone develops, it was regarded as moat
unlikely that any protest would be
made by the United States although
further inquiries as to the exact
boundaries of the prohibited water
I areas are expected to be made.
forthcoming shortly.
The German press, in the mean
time, hails this newly announced pol
icy of the navy with great satisfac
tion. The comments received in
London today indicate that the news
papers consider sufficient the warn
ing to neutral ships that the waters
surrounding the British Isles are to
be considered a military area after
Feb. 18, and that ships attempting
passage outside of the channels specif
fied do so at their own risk.
"POMPOUS DECREE,"
SAYS BRITISH PRESS
London, Feb. 5 "The pompous de
cree threatening sudden death to all
who venture to approach the British
coasts adds nothing to what our ene
my has done or has attempted to ri
since the -beginning of the war," says:
Continued on Page 2.