The Washington times. [volume], February 05, 1915, HOME EDITION, Image 1

About The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939

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HOME
EDITION
Weather Forecast:
Rain Tonight and Saturday;
Warmer Tonight
s
NUMBEB 8436.
WASHINGTON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 5, 1015.
PRICE ONE CENT.
&heWah
J V.
V
, SHOT
NEAR DEATH AS
Mrs. John Meagher Attacked
While at Home Near Claren
donAssailant Escapes
Without Leaving Clue.
Authorities Question Soldiers at
Fort Myer in Effort to Find
If Would-Be Assassin Was
Soldier.
Addition of another murdei
V
mystery to the criminal annals of
Alexandria county hinges today on
whether Mrs. John W. Meagher,
wife of Private John W. Meagher,
of Battery D, Third United States
Field Artillery, mysteriously shot
WOMAN
DOWN
NDARK
DEPUTIES HUNT
while on the porch of her home ai
, Courtlands, near Clarendon, Va.,
about 11 o'clock last night, sur
vives her injuries.
Even should the victim of
the shooting recover, the affair
v promises to be an unsolved mys
tery. No one saw the assailant,
the shot being fired from the dark
in the rear of her home as the
woman opened the door and
stepped to the porch. No theory
as to the motive oi the shooting
has yet been advanced and not
the slightest clue as to the identity
of the person who fired the shot
has been obtained by the county
authorities, who have worked in
cessantly on the case since mid
night. Wounded In Left Breast.
Mrs. Meagher Is suffering from a
wound in the left breast. The bullet
entered several inches above the
heart and worked Its way to the spine,
where it lodged. Physicians at the
Georgetown University Hospital,
whero she was taken in the Fort Myer
ambulance, declare that the woman's
chances for recovery are very slight.
Private Meagher, her husband, was
asleep on the second floor of the
house when the shot was fired. The
report aroused him and he ran down
stairs. Seeing the rear door of the
house open he went to the porch and
there found Mrs. Meagher, prostrate.
"I'm shot, I'm shot," was nil she
could say.
As soon us she could be taken into the
house and a doctor summoned. Meagher
his fifteen-year-old son, and a number
of neighbors started to scour the vicinity
In an effort to locate the woman's as
sailant. No one In the neighborhood 'had
been any person near the Meagher home.
Within half an hour after the shooting
Sheriff A. H. Barbor and Deputy Sheriff
Harry Palmer started an Investigation.
The Investigation started at Fort Myer,
It being attempted to ascertain what sol
diers enered tho fort immediately follow
ing the shouting.
Started At Random.
Admission was made late this after
noon by the authorities that their in
vestigation among tho soldiers was
started at random as they had no clue
which substantiated the belief that a
soldier did tlo shooting.
Private Meagher told the authorities
that ho had no idea who could have
held any malice against his wife. He
(said that ln knew of no person with
whom hhp was at odds or with whom
she had iuaneled.
Young Meagher, the wounded wom
an's son, who arrived on the scone a
short time after the shooting expressed
tho t-ame views.
Mrs. Meagher Is about fifty years old.
She has two sons, tho other being twenty-four
yenrs of ago Shu has been
married nearly thirty yearn.
P
The Senate Committee on Privileges
nnd Elections today decided to leport
to the Senate the .N'otrls resolution call
in for an investigation Into the
charges of unwarranted und cortupt
campaign expenditures M Illinois and
Pennsylvania.
The resolution was broadened by an
amendment which provides that the In-
vestlcatlnn uhatl tin .n.j .... .
COITTE
FA
ROBING
ELECTIONS
h --.--.. ....., v vuiiuiiuiru in any
other btate where corruption Is charged
... r,(UBLo m iireseniea io sustain the
charge.
This means that If the Senate adopts
the resolution there will bo a sweeping
Inqulrv into the allegations that huge
campaign funds were used in Illinois In
behalf of Roger Sullivan and in Penn
sylvania In behalf of Senator Boles
Penrose hr resolution I aimed es
pecially at them, though thev are not
Bmed.
Rain Is Promised
Again for Tonight
forecaster Predicts That the Down
fall Will Continue Through
Tomorrow In Washington.
Washington pedestrians must trudge
through tho rain ugaln tonight and to
morrow, according to the prediction
given today by Forecaster Uowlo, of the
AVeatncr Bureau. Warmer weather,
with rain tonight and tomorrow, is tho
forecast.
Tha rain xrlll U I ai . ..
-..w "... uu ncucioi uirougn me
Eastern States, with heavv downpours
changing to snow In New York and the
rew England territory. Rising tem
peratures will accompany the precipi
tation. Twenty-eight degrees waa tho lowest
reached by the mercuoy last night.
Thirty-eight degrees In predicted as the
minimum tcraperaturo tonight. The
warmer weather Is expected to continue.
.There Is no cold weather promised for
the section cast of the Mississippi al
ley. CONTEST EXPECTED
over sunnily plan
Petition Being Circulated by
Those Opposed to Bringing
Evangelist to Capital.
A spirited contest is expected next
Wednesday evening, when the city
wide conference of pastors and laymn
from every Protestant church meets to
consider calling Billy Sunday to Wash
ington for a campaign.
A petition Is being circulated among
pastors of tho city by those who op
pose a Sunday campaign. That such
a petition Is going the rounds of clergy
men 1b admitted, but they decline to
discuss the plan to oppose Sunday's
coming.
"I cannot say anything at this time
about such a petition," said the Rev.
Dr. Charles Stcck, pastor of the Church
of tho Epiphany (Lutheran). "But I
do not mind saying I am opposed to
bringing Mr. Sunday to Washington."
Dr. Steck and the Rev. William A.
Wade are the two Lutheran clertrvinen
leading the crusade against Inviting
oiiiy aunaay ncre.
Summons Tumulty
To Sullivan Probe
Senator-elect Phelan Calls at
White House to Arrange
for Testimony.
Senator-elect James 1). Phelan of
California, who is holding the hearing
in connection with the charges against
James M. Sullivan, American minister
to tho Dominican Republic, called today
at the White House and made arrange
ments with Joseph P. Tumulty, Secre
tary to the President, to testify as toon
as Mr. Phelan gets back troin Santo
Domingo.
In the meantime the hearings . Ill be
continued this week at the Shoreham
Hotel here, beginning this nlternoon.
Mr. Phelan will leave for the Domi
nican Republic Wcdiii'.'iUN to iMimlne
Minister Sullivan and officials of the
lapubltc. At the hearing this afternoon
First Assistance Secretary vt State Os
borne and Third Assistant Secretary
riiilllps were the witnesses.
Held for Theft
Of Gem From Ring
Girl's Brother Charged With
Taking Diamond From En
gagement Token.
Charged with stealing tho diamond
out of his sister's engagement ring,
John Martlnek, arrested by the Balti
more poilec at the Instigation of the
W ashington authorities, was brought
back to this city today by Detective
Charles Mullen, of the Central Office.
Proposes To Abolish
All District Saloons
Abolition of saloons in the District of Columbia is sought in a
bill which has been introduced in the
W. Smith of Michigan. The bill provides that at the expiration of the
present saloon licenses, the granting of licenses shall cease and the
saloons be wiped out of existence.
Prohibition, however, is not sought in the measure, which pro
vides that licenses may still be issued for the sale of intoxicants in
hotels, restaurants, clubs, cafes, and lunch rooms, and that such
places, for the purposes of the law proposed, shall be known as
"cafes."
WOULD FIX LICENSE AT $300.
Under the bill the license fee Is
fixed at $300 a year, but It Is tiro
posed that no license shall be issued
unless accompanied by a approved
bond of $1,000 to make sure of the
propel conduct of the cafe.
Baic as di inking places, would be
aholibhcd by a provision which foi -bids
the serving of any drinks over
a counter, and makes necessry pro
vision for tables ml chairs for pat
rons. Screened loors and other device?
for excluding the Interior view of
cafes are pui under the ban by tho
bill as Is also the exhibition in such
drinking places of Indecent pictures.
If this bill becomes law the cafes
will be regarded as public utilities
and will be under the supervition of
the superintendent of cafes, to be ap
pointed bv the President. Hli duties
would be to Issue licences and super
vise the conduct of drinking plsosa.
LOAVES CUT
W
OUNCES
IN DISTRICT
E
T
Superintendent Sherman Says
Average Size of Loaf Varies
From 12 to 13 Ounces Re
duction of 17 Percent.
Further Decrease in Size Pres
aged Unless Legislative
Action Is Taken No Stan-
dard Bread Law.
The weight of the average loaf of
bread In this rlty has decreased nearly
17 per cent since the outbreak of the
war In Europe, little more than six
months ago, sent the price of wheat
and Hour soaring, according to the fig
ures available In the office of the super
intendent of markets, wolghts, and
measures. Prior to July, In the six
years following the action of the courts
In declaring the standard bread law
Illegal, the weight of the average loaf
was reduced only 6U per cent.
Furthermore, indications are not lack
ing that unless legislative relief can be
obtained, the weight of bread ill de
cline much more rapidly in the next six
months.
Lacking a standard bread law, there
Is usually some increase In the weight
of loaves when wheat declines In price,
but this decline Is infinitesimal, declared
Supt. John L. Sherman today, as com
pared with the decreased weight Inci
dent to high-priced wheat. The net
result is a constant tendency to higher
priced bread.
Support Fair Maker.
"Stand by the baker who Is square
and fair in his dealings," urged Mr.
Sherman. "Though your home scales
mav not be accurate, they will show the
relative weights of brrad, and, with
little difference In quality, by huying
the bread of the baker who gives the
greatest weight the housekeeper will be
encouraging the baker who is trying to
treat her fairly."
The records of Mr. Sherman's offlrc
show that tho weight of loaven put out
bv the leading bakers at the present
time vary from twelve to thirteen
ounces. Last July, practically none of
them were less than fifteen ounces, or a
loss of but one ounce In tho six years
following the decision voiding the law
that required all loaves to weigh sixteen
Loaf of Bread to Cost
Six Cents in New York
NEW YORK, Feb. 5. New York
will be paying 6 cents a loaf for Its
bread next week unless there is a sud
den drop In flour prices. Many deal
ers have notified their customers to
this effect.
"Wo have held out as long as we
nniilil " inu tli pctmrnl mpMUffA nntlt
J out to retailers and customers.
Driver Hurt in Crash.
.Charles Houscr, nineteen years old,
of S"03 Prospect street northwest, was
Injured about the face, arms, and legs
this morning when a milk wagon which
he was driving was struck by a Capital
Trnftlnn ear at Eichth street and
1 Florida avenue northwest.
House by Congressman Samuel
Under the bill no manufacturer of
any beverages which may be sold In
cafes would be permitted to be finan
cially interested in any of theso
places.
Mauv icgulationr, surrounding tho
sale of llnunr are. proposed, amoiitf
which if a KMiulrcment that all bev
i iuki'8 sold ill cafes shall bo dtj
nensccl by definite measure in gills,
Iiulf pints, .intn, or quarts, and that
ii r.wuru Miii ment of the chemical
anulvsis of the compounds and In
gredients of all beverages sold in the
District of Columbia, including those
sold at soda water fountains, shall
bo furnished health authorities, and
that nnv adulteration of such bev
erages shall bo deemed u felony.
Under the proposed legislation drug
stores would bo permitted to sell
liquors for medicinal or scientific pur
poses under a license of 20 a year,
A lino of MO or one mouth's Im
prisonment is provided for any user
of ousucup or sacrcUafcNM la&triwure
i uuf oaf. "
IN
AUGUS
Corner Rumor Puts
Wheat Still Higher
"Man of Great Wealth" May Be
Sought Federal Officials
May Act.
CHICAGO, Feb. C On the heels of
persistent but unconfirmed rumors that
"a man of groat wealth" will attempt
to corner May wheat, that grain shct
to a new high price record today.
Thirty minutes after tha Uoard of
Trade began business, May wheat
jumped to il.66?t per buahel. The next
16 minutes showed a ressulon in May
of cent.
Traders Insisted that speculation has
nothing to do with the situation. Fed
eral District Attorney Clyne, when ask
ed regarding an attempted corner,
merely said:
"I have nothing to say now. I will
make a statement lator In the nay."
E SEES WAY TO
SAVE 1PPING BILL
Oklahoman Offers Resolution to
Discharge Committee From
Considering His Bill.
Senator Gore of Oklahoma made a
now move In connection with the ship
ping bill today which some of the
Iemocratlc leaders hope will get the
measure out of its tangle.
Thursday ho Introduced a new ship
ping bill which was referred to the
Commerce Committee. It was really
tho Fletcher substitute with the sub
stance of the Norrls amendments.
Today Senator Gore Introduced a
resolution to discharge the Committee
on Commerce from consideration of
hli bill. He gave notlve ho will call
It up tomorrow.
While this will stir up a big light.
thero Is a possibility. In the minds of
Democratic leaders, that the motion
to discharge can he carried. It seems
to be their only hope of saving the
ship turchase legislation. If this
maneuver fallB It looks as if the hill
would be dead.
Sees Small Chance
Of P. O. in Avenue
Praegefr Declares Department Is
Working On Scheme for
General Retrenchment.
Though assurance has been given by
Postmuster Pracgcr of the fullest con
sideration of the petition ol Pennsyl
vanla avenuo business men foi the es
tablishment of a classltlcd postal sta
tion in the Postofflcc Department build
ing, there is said to be little probability
that such action will be tuken at this
time.
In an interview with the petitioners
the postmaster declared that ho saw
little possibility of such an extension
of service at the pieseni time. The
Washington office, as well as all other
big postoffices in the country. Is, at the
Instance nf nnl.r tmm ill.. Da.i .,....
General, studying the strictest econ
iu Keep iJusiHi expcnuuuics down to or
near the receipts, and to make up the
millions being spent on rural service.
Postmaster Praeger Is Investigating
tho complaint and all of the conten
tions of the potltloneis, and will, ho
sa'd today, do everything hi his power
to make their service the best.
Patent Attorney
Released on Bail
Mansell rP. Mills, Arrested By
Postal Authorities, to Be
Granted Hearing Feb. 16.
Manecll 1". Mills, patent attorney
and Washington city postoffice em
ploye, charged with taking two pack
ages, one containing $1,000 and the other
$5,000 from the malls, is at liberty today
under $7,000 bonds. lie will be given a
hearing before United states Commis
sioner Hltt on February 16 at 11 o'clock.
Mills was arrested sevcial weeks ago
charged with the larceny of the $1,000
package. He was releated under bond
of $,000. yesterday he was taken into
custody again on a cliurge of having
stolen a package containing $5,000 on
December 'Si. He vvas nraigned before
United States Commissioner Hltt and
pleaded not guilty, liond In this case
was fixed at $5,000.
President Leases
ChurchilVs Home
Will Again Occupy Place at Cor
nish, N. H., As a "Summer
White House."
President Wilson again has leased the
home of Winston Churchill, the novel
l3t, at Cornish, N. H., for use as a
"summer White House." Although the
le.-uo formerly held by him expired last
autumn and It was thought that he
would spend his summer elsewhere, he
has decided to take the place for an
other year.
If thero Is no extra scsslBn of Con
gress, and there are no reasons of in
ternational importance to htp him in
Washington, the President will enjoy
next summer, the Bret real vacation
he has had since ho entered the White
House,
IN CONGRESS TODAY.
SENATE.
Met at noon.
Senator Gore tikes new tnck In the
shipping Mil light.
Privileges and Elections Committee
favors camalgn fund Investigations
in F&Bsytvto!i and XUlaols.
GO
GERMANS TAKE
CAPTIVE 6,000
RUSS IN NEW
WARSAW DRIVE
Czar's Forces Counter-Attacking
With Great Fury to Halt
Further Advances by Mack
ensen's Army.
Muscovites Attempt to Renew
Offensive Near Tilsit in East
Prussia Berlin Claims Re
pulses of French.
BERLIN (via wireless to Say
ville), Feb. 5. Six thousand Rus
sian prisoners have been taken by
Gen. Von Mackensen's army in
its new drive on Warsaw, it was
officially announced here this aft
ernoon. This report includes only
prisoners taken in the last four
days' fighting. Among the captives
arc twenty-six officers.
To halt further advances by
Mackensen's army, the Russians
are counter-attacking with great
fury. Their efforts to retake posi
tions east of Bolimow recently oc
cupied by the Germans have
broken under heavy artillery fire.
Rubs Resume Offensive.
In Kost Prussia, near Tils!, '.here are
indications that the Kusslang arc at
tempting to lesume tho offensive.- The
Get mans have repulsed "strong Rus
sian attacks" along the Niemeii river.
Pi event lighting in Flanders and
France Is legarded as unimportant by
the war office. The Flench made an
Isolated attack against thu German po
sitions northwest of Perthes, but were
repulsed. Elsewhere artillery duels are
in progress.
Germans Hurl Fresh
Thousands Upon Russ
Position Near Warsaw
PETROGP.AD. Pel) 6. One hundred
thousand Germans arc hurling them
selves In headlong rushes against tho
Kussian earthworks west of Warsaw,
It was officially announced today.
One of the greatest battles of the war
is developing. Seven divisions of Ger
mans, comprising the tlower of Von
Hindenburg's armies, are making tin
potuous frontal attacks upon the Rus
sians between the Bzura and Hawka,
Behind them 100 German batteries aro
playing shells upon the Czar's trenches.
Tho snowy Holds west of the Polish cap
ital are crimson with blood.
Fifty thousand fresh German troops
(Continued on Second Page.)
TURK ARMY MASSED
ALONG SUEZ CANAL
Delay Advance on English
Positions Pending Arrival of
Re-enforcements.
ATHENS. Feb. 5. Turkish troops
numbering at least S0.O0O have crossed
Slnal Peninsula and are now massing
along the Suez Canal between Port Said
and Suez, according to advices received
heie today.
The Turks arc delaying a general ad
vance upon the English positions, pend
ing the arrival of strong Ottoman
forces reported coming un In their rear.
Preliminary skirmishes continue near
Elkantara and at several points farther
south.
Warships Rush to
Succor Japanese
American Cruiser and Gunboat
Respond to Call of Distressed
Craft In Pacific.
With the cruiser San Dlgo and gun
boat Kaloigh speeding to tho rescue
of the wrecked Japanese cruiser
Asama on" Bartalome f,av, lower Cal
Ifronia. tho Navy Department anxious
ly awaireii lurmer news this after
noon concerning tho warship.
Up to a Into hour nothing more had
been heard from Admiral Howard,
who sent help to the distressed
craft. Although last reports said tho
cruiser was breaking up. Secretary of
tho Navy Daniels expressed the be
lief that the rescue ship would ar
rive in tlmo to save at least some of
the crew of .100 men,
Florida"East Coast" Resorts Reached
bv "N V. Flo-ida Special." Atlantic
Coast Line. S.W p. ni 3 other all steel ltd.
train, dull. MM New y0jk Ave. N. W.
Advt
Germany's Defi Answered
Germany's announcement of the proposed establishment of
a "paper blockade" about Great Britain and Ireland has met with
prompt action by England and the United States.
Strenuous protest will be made by the United States through
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin. The issue was discussed at length
at the meeting of the Cabinet today, and it is understood that
prompt action will follow.
England has answered the
a special meeting of admiralty officials it is understood that it wa
aecmea to order tne riotuia or destroyers back from the North Sea
to sweep the seas clean of the submarine menace.
America Faces Gravest
Peril of War As Result
Of Germany's Blockade
Declaration Making Waters Surrounding the British
Islands, North of France, and Holland a War
Zone Causes Perplexing Foreign Com
plicationAct an Experiment.
By JUDSON C. WELLIVER.
Never since the present war began has the danger of for
eign complications involving the United States been so serious as it is
now, following the German admiralty's declaration that the waters
surrounding the British Islands, the north of France, and neutral Hol
land, will after February 18 constitute a "zone of war."
The owner or commander of an American ship sailing from New
York to Rotterdam, for instance both being ports of neutral powers
will seek in vain for exact information as to what constitutes a zone
of war.
If it were -a question of transacting commerce by land the ques
tion would not be so difficult. The zone of war in land campaigning
is a definitely understood affair. Anybody who enters it does so at
his peril. He may'be hit by a bullet, or regarded as a spy. But
such "an Institution as a zone of war on the seas, which three miles
from land are esteemed the property of no nation, is unknown.
NOT SAME AS BLOCKADE.
A zone of war cannot be equivalent
to a blockade, for two reasons. One Is
that If Germany had meant to declare
a blockade, she would have said so.
There vvas no need to Invent a new
term for It. The other Is that no actual
blockade exists, and to proclaim a
blockade would have been useless, be
cause the powers assembled at Paris
in 1.S56 agreed that:
"Blockades, In order to be binding,
must be effective; that Is to say. must
bo maintained by a force sufficient
really to prevent access to the enemy's
coast."
No such blockade has been estab
lished in the waters which Germany
now delimits as a "zone of war." There
fore, a zone of war Is not the same
rs a blockade, and is a new Institu
tion of international law.
That It is proposed to create some!
new international law, to aaventure
Into the realm of experiment with the
patience of neutral coutrles. Is
further indicated by the terms of the
German proclamation. The proclama
tion says that every enemy's ship will
be destroyed, "even if It Is impossible
to avert dangers which threaten the
crew and passengers." This Is dis
tinctly a new rule for dealing with
shipping. The established regulations
of international law provide that when
a merchant ship Is seized, if she cannot
be taken Into a home port of the
captor, she may be sunk. But before
sinking her the captor must take off
passengers and crew, so that their lives
will not be sacrificed.
Humane Rule Suspended.
The German proclamation Is an
nouncement that this humane rule is
suspended. Under it. a merchant ship
may be sunk without taking the trou
ble" to remove crew and passengers.
Again, the German proclamation says
that neutral ships are in danger In
Order Fleet to Sweep
Sea Clear of Germans
LONDON, Feb. 5. London accepted
Germany's challenge today. The ad
miralty defied the Kaiser and dared the
German sea lords to put to a test their
latest threat to starve out England by
sinking all merchantmen of belligerent
nations that approach British ports
after February IS.
Admiralty officials went Into confer
ence early today. What they discussed
was a closely guarded secret. But it
vvas reported on good authority that
orders for a part of the English flotilla
of destroyers to detach itself from the
North sea fleet and report for duty in
waters nearer home will be issued be
fort nightfall.
Part of this destroyer fleet. It Is ex
pected, will be assigned tho task of
swep.ing the seas free of German sub
marines. Others will be detailed to
convoy merchantmen after February
IS, when the German admiralty decree
becomes effective, until such time as
tho admiralty is positive that tho Ger
man under-sea terrors no longer men
ace shipping. It is possible that a few
Btltlsh cruisers of the royal type will
be assigned to convoy duty, to allay
the fears of timid ship owneis.
Admiralty officials frankly declared
the latest German threat a bluff. They
said it was the climax of a series of
official statements fiom the German
government which Indicated that thl
defi in characteristic fashion. At
this war zone, "as a consequence of the
misuse of neutral flags ordered by the
BriUsh government on Jenuary 31."
What that statement means Is not very
clear. No such orders from the Hrlttsh
government have been announced to
tills side of the Atlantic, and no protest
against such orders has been received
from Germany except In connection
with this announcement of tho "war
zone."
"In view of the hazards of naval
warfare." says the German pronuncla
mento, "It cannot always be avoided
that attacks meant for enemy ships en
danger neutral ships."
This Is the complicating detail of the
German announcement. Neutral ships
are warned that neutial flags will not
be respected, and that the flying ot
such flags will not bo assurance against
Instant destruction, without even the
precaution of taking off crews and pas
sengers. Back To Middle Ages.
This order of the German admiralty
Is, in fact, a reversion to the barbaious
practices of naval warfare In the mid
dle ages. Prior to the year 1600, or
thereabouts, It had been the custom for
a warring nation to forbid nil trade be
tween neutrals and the enemy, and to
treat as enemies those who attempted
such trade. Hut aa International com
merce became more Important, the in
justice of such a rule breught the na
tions to un understanding that It
should be modified.
This modification, which had grown
into i cognition as modern international
law. pi ov Ides In general that when an
encmyV ports are blockaded In order
to starv c them Into submission, supplies
destined for them may be captured. It
Is held that the attempt by a neutral
to send supplies into the blockaded port
(Continued on Second Pase.)
Kaiser' advisfis ale becoming des
perate. Neither admiralty officials nor
representatives of the big shipping In
terests would concede for a moment
thut Germany could carrv out her threat
to shut off England's food supplies.
The English nation turned Its eyes
toward America today. What the
1'nlted States will say to tho German
admiralty's announcement that neutral
ships may bo endangered by German
submarines was considered only second
ary In Importance to the German proc
lamation Itself.
"Any attempt by the Germans to
Ignore the American flag on the sticngth
of the paper blockade," said the naval
writer of tho Dully Chronicle, "would
be a hostile act toward tho United
States. To sink an American liner, with
her pastengors and crew, would bo an
atrocity that would almost Inevitably
mean war."
That tho United States will make
formal protest against the German de
cree upon Its receipt at Washington, is
deemed certain hcie Admiralty offi
cials professed confidence today that
neither America nor any of thu other
strong neutral powers would respect
what tliiy colled a "paper blockade" of
the Biltl.h coast, in some quarters It
was suggested that the United Stiite.s
might join vlth other neutral powers In
a formal protest to Germany.
II S. PREPARES
TO PROTEST
BLOCKADE OF
State Department Understood
To Be Working on Represen
tations Now To Be Sent to
Berlin.
President Calls Meeting of
Cabinet, and Matter Is
Threshed Out Germany
. Desperate, is Belief of Many
Vigorous protests will be for
warded by this Government to
Berlin against the action of Ger
many in establishing a "paper
blockade" around the coasts of
England, Scotland and France, and
a portion of Holland. These rep
resentations, it is understood, arc
now being prepared in the State
Department and soon will be sent
to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin.
It is the contention of many of
ficials that the German decree,
violates every principle of inter
national law, set up and fought for
by this country in behalf of the,
rights of neutral commerce, by
threatening destruction to every
neutral ship which fails to observe
the blockade. The belief grows ap
parently in the minds of many of
ficials that Germany, made des
perate, is trying to drag the United
States into the war.
Drop In Wheat Expected.
It is expected that one of the lu.-l
effects of the decree will be to cu,
a heavy break in the wheat market
which, by reason of the war demands,
has recently set up record-breaking
prices.
licgarding the charge made by Ger
many In the ofiicial decree that her
action is made necessary by the mis
use of neutral flags by British trans
ports and supply vessels, officials of
the Administration declare thut no
intimation of such misuse had ever
come to this country.
The whole situation was threshed out
by the President and his Cabinet at a
long meeting today In the President's
private study. For the tlrst time Iu
months, Kobert Lansing, counsellor of
the State Department, was present. He
represented Secretary of State Bryan,
who is in the Middle West, making polit
ical speeches.
Mr. Lansing took with him to the
White House a portfolio containing a
bulky collection of dispatches, many of
which related to the German, decree.
Whllo he declared that lie had not re
ceived officially the full text of the
proclamation, he indicated that he had
received Indirect information us to its
contents.
More Extension Than Supposed.
He. added th.it it" it vvas as broad in
its application as to include the English
Channel and the coasts of England, ,
Ireland, Scotland, France, and Holland,
it was of a milch more extensive char
acter than at flrst supposed. lie de
clined to confirm the report that a pio
test would be registered.
Although It was suggested in somo
quarters this morning that this Gov
ernment might wait until an American
ship was destrojed under this blockade. S
it is, nevertheless, believed that repi
sentatlons will be tiled at once. In the
flrst place. It was pointed out, just as
this Government argued In its contra
band protest to Englund, injury to on'
ship is demoralizing to American trade
generally, and compensation foi one
ship seized Is not sufficient to moot the
general loss. On the other hand, it is
stated, if an American ship vveie blown
up and her crew and passengers killed
popular opinion in this countiy juob
ably could not be restrained.
Hi Ul
r
L-?
Refuses to Recognize Sales or
Mortgages to Finance Revo
lution Propaganda.
Following his assumption of su
premo civil power In northern Mex
ico, General Villa has notillcd all con
sulates of the convention government
tins ltn xi 111 tint r..i.m-ntzi i li n. V!lltilll
of mortgages of pioporo b.v reaction
ary Mexicans for the purpose of aid
ing a nt'vv intiiiiu.il nut. t'uiuiii in--signed
to return the llaz-Ilucrta el.
ments to power In Mexico
A movement has been set on foot
In the United States, according to a
btateuient issued by Villa lodiij and
transmitted to Enrique C Llnrciite
his agent In Washington, to nuance
such i movement by sales and
mortgaging of propertj of rich laud
owner In northern Mexico.
Gene'Hi Villa Iiiik appointed Grnotal
Felipe Angelci as ic'ir.v of w.ti
in his new cabinet, according to ad
vices received here.
f
BB COAST
VILLA ORDER CHECKS
DAS-HUERTA