Fergus County Democrat. [volume], December 14, 1916, Image 1

About Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919

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Fergus County Democrat
VOL. XIII., N 3. 11
LEWISTOWN,'FERGUS COUNTY. MONTANA, DECEMBER 14. 1916.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
FRANCE
WARNED
Premier Briand on the
German Chancellor's
Peace Proposal.
BEWARE OF ENEMIES
French Premier Warns His Country
to Guard Against Possible Poison
ing; That When a Country Arms
Itself to the Teeth; When It Seizes
Men Everywhere in Violation of the
Laws of Nations and Enforces Laojr
Upon Them He Declares He Would
Be Guilty if He Did Not Cry Out
to His Country.
PARIS, Dec. 13.—(8:45 p. m.)—The
chamber of deputies by a vote of 314 to
165 this evening adopted a resolution
of confidence in the new government.
Premier Briand, during the session,
delivered a speech on the German im
perial chancellor's peace proposal in
which he warned the country to be
ware of Prance's enemies. He added
that Prance would not do less in the
the premises than the other members
of the allied conference.
"I have the duty to place my coun
try on guard ogalns possible poison
ing," said M. Briand, amid applause.
"When a country arms itself to the
teeth, when it seizes men everywhere
in violation of the law of nations and
enforces labor upon them, I should be
guilty If I did not cry out to my coun
try: 'Look out; take care.'
"I have the right in the first place
to say to our enemies for the hun
dredth time: 'The blood is on your
hands not upon ours.' Not that 1 doubt
the clear-sightedness of my country,
but in the face of these attempts to
spread dissension among the allies I
exclaim: 'The French republic will not
do less than the convention.' "
The chamber held a large number of
deputies who desired to witness the
first appearance of the new cabinet.
M. Briand instead of reading the decla
ration of the program of the reorgan
ized ministry, outlined it extemporane
ously. The premier said that in sec
ret session most delicate questions had
been considered. The socialists in
terrupted the speaker with cries of
"no,'' but Paul Deschamel, president
of the chamber, soon succeeded in re
storing order. M. Briand then con
tinued:
"The government is ready for all
discussions and explanations."
He referred to the adoption by the i
chamber of a resolution demanding a |
reorganization in the conduct of the
war, the constitution of a war com
mittoe and modifications in the high
command. He said the war commit
tee would sit permanently and that it
would increase the production of war
necessities.
"No one can say that I have ever
been unduly optimistic," said M.
Briand. "But today, however, more
than ever, we must have the convic
tion that victory is certain.
"In a war such as this, In which
entire nations confront each other, de
cisive results cannot be attained rap
idly. It is true that the valiant Ru
manians have bent under the first
shock, but let us examine the facts
more closely. The Rumanian army
has not been destroyed; It has been
reorganized with the help of the gal
lant Russian armies. Tomorrow a new
front of from 250 to 300 miles will
be formed down there for the eastern
question Is far from being settled. And
If the enemy armies now fighting
against Rumania were not held there
you must admit they would be em
ployed on some other front."
The president of the chamber read
a number of interpellations, whereupon
Premier Briand announced he would
reply only to interpellations concern
ing the constitution of the cabinet and
the direction of the war, adding that
he submitted to the chamber a ques
tion of confidence.
Georges Leygues denounced the lack
of co-ordination by the allies In
Greece and expressed astonishment
that the premier refused questions he
had asked. Briand explained that It
was impossible to answer certain ques
tions while negotiations were going on.
Capt. Andre Tardieu also criticised
the policy of the entente in Greece
and the re-organization of the high
command. Deputies Violette and
Goudc criticised the new cabinet and
Premier Brland's policy, while Admiral
(Continued on Page Two.l
II. S. WILL HAVE EVERY ADVANTAGE
FOR WOR LD TRADE AFTER THE WAR
NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 13.—The Unit-1
ed States will enter competition for j
the world trade after the war with
every advantage, said Secretary of
Commerce Redfield, speaking today be
fore the Southern Commercial Con
gress.
"There is the best reason for know
ing that in at least four Important re
spects the end of the war will mean
calls on us for supplies which now we
are prevented from furnishing," said
Mr. Redfleid. "These demands will be
for foodstuffs of many kinds, for agri
cultural machinery, for lumber ln
many forms and for credits in the
way of loans and Investments."
America's advantage will lie, said
the secretary, tn the fact that her ad
German Sub Ken...
Sea For Fifty-five Days
BERLIN, Dec. 13.—(By wire
less to the Associated Press, via
Tuckerton, N. J.)—A record
achievement is chronicled of a
German submarine which has re
turned to its base after 55 days
at sea without entering harbor
or receiving outside assistance
of any form. The weather gen
erally was bad. Details of the
close escape of the submarine
which sank the British steamer
Caledonia are also announced.
The Caledonia attempted to ram
the submarine and so nearly suc
ceeded that the periscope tube
was bent and the Submarine was
forced to remain submerged for
an hour until repairs were made.
BANKING CORPORATION IS ORGA
NIZED BY LEWISTOWN AND
KOLIN PARTIES.
MOORE LAMMPANY IS FORMED
Articles of incorporation of the First
State Bank of Kolln have been filed
with the county clerk and recorder
and as soon as the arrangements can
be made the bank will be opened for
business. It is capitalized for $20,
000, the directors being Roy E. Ayers,
L. C. Clark, C. T. Covell, P. J. Rau
and A. J. Dusek.
The stock is subscribed for as fol
lows: Roy E. Ayers, L. C. Clark, C.
J. Marshall, C. L. Coveil and U. P.
Read, all of Lewistown, $1,000 each;
Prank J. Rau and A. J. Dusek, $100
each; L. E. Torinus, Stillwater, Minn.,
$13,000.
It is understood that Mr. Reed, who
has for some time past been connect
ed with the First National bank here
will be the cashier of the new insti
tution.
MOORE LAND COMPANY.
The Moore Land company has filed
articles of incorporation and will con
duct a general land and investment
business at Moore. It is capitalized
for $25,000, the directors being E. S.
Porter, George P. Carson and Harry
E. Strong, all of Moore.
" —-©
REV. G. C. CRESS HOME.
Superintendent G. Clifford Cress re
turned Tuesday evening from Havre,
Great Palls, Glasgow and Whitetail.
At tlie latter place he led the dedica
tion services of the new Baptist meet
ing house last Sunday, raising the
balance needed to dedicate free
A new pastor will be placed
j n tll j S f| e i d January 1, making two
ap p ointed ln Sheridan county within
six months. While the Plentywood
Scoby country did not have full crops
this year, general prosperity abounds.
-----O
PLAN BOB-SLED RIDE.
The Epworth leaguers of the M. E.
church and their friends are planning
for a bob-sled ride on Friday evening
of this week to some point in the
country, where they will enjoy a hot
oyster stew. A fare of 25c will be
charged for the round trip, including
the oyster stew. All leaguers and
their friends are urged to meet at the
M. E. church between 7 and 7:30 Fri
day evening for a good time.
O
REV. DONALDSON RETURNS FROM
INTERESTING VISIT TO HARVE
Rev. Chas. M. Donaldson returned
late Monday evening from Havre
where he went to attend the opening
exercises In the splendid new church
In that city. The church is a large
commodious building with ample facili
ties for all departments of church
work, and will accommodate at least
600 people in the main auditorium. At
the opening exercises $3,000 was
raised to fully complete the building.
Rev. E. L. White, formerly of this
city, delivered the opening address in
the morning, and Rev. Donaldson the
address in the evening.
While in the city Rev. Donaldson
carefully inquired into the volume and I
value of the gas supply at Havre and,
while difficulty Is being found to keep
up the supply at present, a new well
will soon be drilled and no further
trouble feared.
LINSE-HAMER.
Charles H. Linse and Miss Elsie M.
Hamer of Everson were married at
the Methodist parsonage Tuesday
evening by Rev. C. M. Donaldson.
justments from war to peace condi
tions will not be so severe as in the
fighting countries
'It is reasonable to suppose that
foreign industries as a whole," he
said, "will have to make a sharper re-1
adjustment of produce from war goods
to peace goods than It to be the case
with us. Consider what a manufac
turer in one of the central powers
would face if he undertook to make up
goods for stock today on any consid
erable scale for an export market. He
would manufacture at high rates under
war conditions, with higher than nor- j
mal costs, with some of hie trained
supervising and working staff in the
vContinued on Page Eight.)
'!EW WAR
HEAD ILL
British Premier Is Suf
fering From a Chill
and Must Rest.
ON BATTLEFRONTS
Conquest of Rumania by the-Teutonic
Allies Continues, Ail Along ffie Front
the Rumanians Being in Retreat—In
the Carpathians and Along the Mol
davian Frontier the Russians and
Germans Are Still at Grips, ^/ith
the Russians the Aggressors at Nfb$t
Points—Heavy Artillery Fighting Is
in Progress in Serbia.
LONDON, Dec. 13.— (10:47 p. m.) —
The Press Bureau issued the follow
ing statement tonight:
"The prime minister presided at a
meeting of the war cabinet this morn
ing. but he is still suffering from the |
chill he contracted; his voice in par
ticular being affected. His physicians
have ordered Complete rest for a day
or two."
ASSOCIATED PRESS RESUME.
The announcement by the Teutonic
allies of their readiness to discuss
peace with the entente allies continues
the absorbing feature In the war
news. As yet, however, no announce
ment has been vouchsafed as to
the basis on which they desir^ to at
tempt to bring an end to the, war.
Neither has there come from any of
the entente countries any official an
nouncement as to the attitude they
propose to take with regard to the
proposal.
Meantime the conquest of Rumania
by the Teutonic allies continues. All
aiong the front the Rumanians are in
retreat northeastward and the Ninth
German army is nearing the important
railroad junction town of Buzeu.
In the Carpathians and along the
Moldavian frontier the Russians and
Germans are still at grips with the
Russians the aggressors at most
points. There Is little if aay change
In the situation in these regions, how
ever.
Heavy artillery fighting is in prog
ress northwest of Monastir, Serbia.
Otherwise calm prevails. A new fea
ture in the Balkan situation is a re
port from Sofia that 6,000 Albanians
have defeated a force of Italians near
Pasneslna, Epirius, the Italians fieeing.
On the front in Prance and Belgium
and in the Russian and AustroTtalian
i he : lterS .i, he . re J l8 ., Uttle activity as,de i
KILLED ON RUSSIAN FRONT. |
BERLIN, Dec. 13.—(By wireless to j
Sri U ?- ) T P .?r e H( M Pi ° f w" m W "
killed in battle on November 2!) on
the Russian front, according to the
Overseas News Agency. Prince Henri
was 24 years of age and a lieutenant j
in a Prussian cavalry regiment. ,
_ I
EXTEND BLOCKADE. !
LONDON, Dec. 13.—(7:15 p. m.)—
Lloyd's reports that the Greek steam
ers Eftichia Vergatti, Princess Sophia,,
Mfkelis, Erissos and Constantino Em-[leap
biricos have been detained at St. Vin
cent, Cape Verdi islands. ;
This indicates an extension of the
area over which the blockade of ,
Greek shipping applies and also that ;
the Portuguese government is co-oper- (
ating with its allies to make It effec -1
tive. |
- I
SUNSHINE THEN RAIN. I
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY
PRANCE, Dec.—(Via London, 8:40 p.
m.)—(From a staff correspondent of
the Associated Press.)—Several hours
of glorious December sunshine this
morning brought glad relief from a
week of dreary days, and sent scores
of airplanes and observation balloons
aloft and quickened the pulse of the
entire British army organization on |
the western front. But before the
dayllBht had ended leaden clouds had
again shut In, the rain had begun to
fall and there was a somewhat gloomy
return to the wintry, weather-beaten
warfare.
Heavy sheepskin and leather coats
and jackets have been issued to the
British troops and warm and dry rest
billets provided for those in the spe
cial reserve positions.
Best of all however, Tommy in the
front line gets five hot meals daily.
There is breakfast at 7; dinner at
12; tea at 5 and soup or stew at
9 and again at 2 o'clock in the morn
ing.
Prom reports received from German
prisoners and observations made dur
ing raids the British have discovered
that conditions on the German front
are very different. Along most of the
new lines formed by the battle of the
Somme the German front trenches are
merely a broken stretch of linked-up
shell holes with no deep ilugouts and
only a few Improvised hiding holes,
where two or three men can take
shelter from the shrapnel
British reports from the Somme sec
tion say the German communication
trenches are impassable from mud and
the shelling of the British guns, so
that all the carrying of supplies and
the bringing up of reliefs have to
take over the open, without cover of
any kind. Often the shells jr bombs
j from the British side throw up foun
tains of water high tn the air from the
j German trenches. There are no floor
| (Continued on Page Pour.)
WELL-KNOWN WOMAN PASSES
'AWAY AT THE HOME OF HER
SON, DAVID RAINEY.
| alb generous. She was devoted to her
soll un( j daughter and had many
Mrs. Mollie Tisdale died Monday
morning Ht the home of her son, David
Rainey, as a result of taking poison
with suicfdal Intent, this being clear
ly shown by letters left by the deced
ent fog her son and daughter, the lat
ter being Mrs. Richmuth. The fact that
Mrs.- Tisdale was in a critical condi
tion was discovered many hours be
fore she passed away Monday morn
ing and every effort was made to save
her hut without avail. She had made
careful preparations for the act, and
by her lied was found a bottle of
chloroform and u poison.
Mrs. Tisdale came to Lewistown
from Spokane over 10 years ago, Mr.
Tisdale being the proprietor of the
Dark llorse barn for u long time. Inst
year they were divorced The deced
ent had been residing in Great Palls
lately and came over here a week ago
tv visit her son. She had been suf
fering greatly from headache and this,
coupled with her domestic troubles
and worries, led her to commit the
acL
Kirs. Tisdale was 45 years of age
and was known as an exceedingly kind
hearted woman whose impulses were
and had
friends here who will lie shocked to
leurn of her sad death.
' The funeral of the late Mrs. Mollie
'fisdalo was held yesterday afternoon
from the Presbyterian church. l>r. W.
A. Stevenson conducting the service,
and at the close of his address, pay
ing tribute to the generous and char
itable nature of the decedent.
1 A number of old friends of Mrs. Tis
dale attended the funeral. The pall
bearers were Thomas aker, Russell
Krieger, Paul Rathnun, Floyd Ander
son, Janies Littlejohn and Smyth Bar
clay.
IN NO HURRY
TO RESPOND
i '
i -
CONSIDERABLE TIME WILL
ELAPSE BEFORE ALLIES WILL
REPLY TO PEaViE TERMS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—President
Wilson is giving serious considera
tion to the possibility that any ex
change?; of viewB that may follow
the peace proposals of the central pow
ers to the entente allies may develop
an opportunity to br^ing forward the
suggestion for a league of nations to.lish
enforce permanent peace. He has
reached no decision, however, as to
tlie course to be followed by the llni
ted States and probably will not pend
j n g tbe arrival of the official cable
gram containing the communication
" " ,
handed Charge Grew by the German
government.
The cablegram hud not been re
ceived at the state department and in
the meantime all officials were most
reticent about discussing the situa
Hon. It is understood that the com
mUnication will be transmitted prompt
l.v',to the entente governments regard
of what attitude may be adopted
by the United States, and for this reti
son there is a general belief that any
steps taken by the United States on
, its owh account will come after formal
; delivery of the proposals from one
( set of belligerents to the other,
It is realized that the American
| course probably must be guided very
I largely by the reception given the
I Teutonic offer in the entente coun
IN'*tries, although it is regarded as cer
tain that either informally or formally,
quietly or publicly, the government
here will find a way of displaying its
interest in the restoration of peace.
Most officials think that a consid
erable time will olapse after the com
munication is delivered before a for
mal reply Is framed by the allies and
| that , In the meantime a very clear
idea of what that reply is to be and
how any attempt at mediation by the
neutrals would be viewed will be
gained through diplomatic channels.
The trend of public opinion in Great
Britain, Prance and Russia is being
followed closely, and the Americai
ambassadors in those countries have
countries have been instructed to for
ward promptly any available indiea
tion of official views.
President Wilson had only one con
ference on the subject today and that
was with Col. E. M. Houso, his per
sonal friend and adviser. It was sug
gested during the day that the presi
dent might discuss the situation in
general te^ms before the annual con
ference of governors here tomorrow,
but Tie had not decided tonight wheth
er he would accept an Invitation to
address tlie governors and had given
no indication of what might be the sub
ject if he did speak.
In Teutonic diplomatic quarters It
was reiterated tonight that eGrmuny
expects neutrals, especially those in
Europe, to do everything possible to
bring about at least a discussion of
peace terms.
CHAMBERLAIN'8 IDEA.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 13.—Senator
Chamberlain, democrat, of Oregon, was
a White House caller late today. He
said afterward that he thought the
American government should back up
the peace proposals of the central
Dowers by mediatory offers of Its own.
He said ho had not discussed the sub
ject with the president. Opinions
among senators differ, he said.
GERMAN
OPINION
Two Currents Discerned
Relative to Neutrality
of the United States.
ZIMMERMAN TALKS
Judging by the Rules of Neutrality the
United States Intentionally Favors
Great Britain in an Almost Out
spoken Fashion, According to a Por
tion of the People In Germany;
Others Take the View That the
United States Is Neutral In Spirit
and Action—Germany Will Keep
Promise Made to President.
BERLIN, Dec. 13. (By wireless to
Sayville.l Dr. Alfred Zimmerman,
secretary for foreign affairs, discussed
today with a member of the staff of
tin! Overseas News Agency the Im
pression created in Germany by the
attitude of the United States toward
Germany and Great Britain as out
lined in the Associated Press Wash
ing! on dispatch of November III. Zim
merman said:
to.lish merchant ship destroyed a Her
"As to tlie impression created: Al
most since the beginning of the war
two currents of opinion eould lie dis
cerned in Germany. Judging by tlie
rules of neutrality the United States
intentionally favored Great Britain In
an almost outspoken fashion, accord
ing to some; others took the view
Hint the United Stales was neutral in
spirit and action. This discussion was
re-opened by the dispatch in question.
The parties and newspapers that did
not believe that America was observ
ing strict neutrality accepted the dis
patch us confirmation of their opinion
und to the others the news came as a
shock.
"In order to understand this effect
one lias only to recall the large num
ber of facts which have been before
the eyes of the German public during
the last few years. England has re
peatedly announced that all English
ships ought to lm ready to destroy
German submarines wherever they
find them. This lias been publicly pro
claimed as well by private us by of
ficial persons in England. Quito re
cently Lord Cecil, in the British par
liament, gave expression to this view:
"The London Times of Nov. 21 pub
lished a letter from a well known
member of parliament and shipowner
(Robert P.) Houston, und promising to
every foreign-horn captain a prize of
2,000 pounds sterling who with an Eng
man submarine. Houston on Ibis occa
sion added that English sailors ought
to return to the methods of Hawkins
and Drake, or should imitate the ex
ample set by Nelson in the Copen
hagen case—they ought to take the
sea law Into tlieir own hands. Hons
ton was fully conscious that ho advo
cated and advised actloim contrary to
the law of nation.
"We further know that hostile sub
marines have attacked and In some
cases have sunk German merchantmen
without the slightest warning. Thus
were sunk the German steamers Burge
melster Votmelle, Dorltz, the Elbe and
llollandia. They were till attacked by
enemy submarines with urtillery or
torpedoes without the shadow of a
warning.
"Germany, on the other hand, has
promised the United States to carry
on submarine warfare according to
the international rules of cruiser war
fare."
I)r. Zimmerman at this moment in
terrupted Ills conversation, walked
through Ills office, stopped and, In the
face of the interviewer, said to his
clerk in an energetic manner:
"This promise will have to he
kept.''
He then continued:
"The orders to the commanders of
our submarines are clear and strict in
this direction. I can affirm with abso
lute certainty that no German subma
rine lias intentionally attacked a mer
chant ship without warning and with
out giving all on board ample time and
opportunity for rescue.
"These are the facts of the case.
We are animated by the best of feel
ings toward everybody. But we are
fighting for tlie life and future of our
nation. Of course we are cut off
from the greater part of tlie com
munications of tlie outer world, espe
cially with the United States. Our
enemies use tlie cables,, the malls
and the spoken word in order to plead
their case before the whole world.
But oilier nations ought to hear our
voice, our grievances. I myself, with
these words, only mean to explain
the reasons for tlie present popular
feeling in Germany, and I feel sure
that it will be appreciated everywhere
by all fair-minded people.
"The situation is that Germany and
her allies are surrounded by enemies
and that Germany lias victoriously car
ried the war on all fronts beyond the
limits of Germany. Popular feeling in
Germany is that our enemies, unablo
to win victory on the battlefield, will
try to win by creating a wrong im
pression about Germany's intention
aifd Germany's actions in the rest of
tlie world where Germany's voice can
onlv seldom be heard.
"They will try to persuade the world
that in the case of submarines and in
other cases Germany will disregard
her given word while, they themselves,
in fact, have abrogated tlie laws of na
tions and do themselves wliat they
charge against us, as in the case of
hostile submarines'attacking German
a
(Continued oil Page Four.)
Sounds Note of Warning
Against Hoarding Up Gold
NEW YORK, Dec. 13.—Indus
trial conditions In the warring
countries will be no worse, if not
better, at the conclusion of the
war than they were before Its
outbreak, said George E. Rob
erts, former director of the Uni
ted States mint and now an of
ficer of the National City bank,
in an address today at a lunch
eon of the Iowa society. Mr.
Roberts, who is an Iowan, sound
ed a note of warning against the
concentration of gold in this
country, saying that a surplus of
the yellow metal would tend to
"isolate" the nation from the
rest of the world.
O
FOUND GUILTY
BUT JURY RETURNS VERDICT OF
THIRD DEGREE ASSAULT IN
STEAD OF SECOND.
MANN IS GUILTY OF BURGLARY
Harry II. Johnson was tried in tlie
district court Saturday on a charge
of assault in tlie second degree some
months ago upon II. P. Hills nt the
ileloiidiint's ranch near Coffee Creek.
It seems tlml Hills got a judgment
against Johnson in a civil ease mid
attached some wheat which was alter
wards sold. Hills went to tlio John
sou place to load the wheat, being
accompanied by bis son, wlton Joint
son, accompanied by Ills lather in law
arrived on Hie scene. In undertaking
to stop Hills from taking away tin
wheat, Johnson and Hills became in
volved in a row. In the progress of
this Johnson drew a knife and, uc
cording to the complaining witness,
cut him slightly on tlie neck. John
son denied that he cut Hills at all.
There was tin absolute conflict In Hie
testimony as to every material point
involved and the jury did utrout tlie
only tiling consistent with the tesll
mony as a whole by finding tlie de
I'eiidant guilty of assault In tlie third
decree. Charles Andersen represented
Hie defendant, while County Attorney
Prank Wright conducted the case for
tlio slate.
The Jurors were W. C. Bentley, E.
O. Kimlsehy, llarry Martin, J. Plntie
gun, tins C. Peterson, Thomas Mason,
Henry Phipps, Tlieo. Haney, Robert
Keller, II. W. Kramer, A. I). Peters,
C. L. Yost.
Johnson Sentenced.
II. II. Johnson, found guilty of third
degree assault Saturday, was find $150.
Johnson engaged In an altercation with
Mr. IlillH, a Coffee Creek rancher and,
uh a result of the dispute, the itssuull
wits committed.
Pleads Guilty.
E. C. Maim, charged with burglary
in breaking into a ear and stealing
some property belonging to D. J.
Burke, pleaded guilty.
Gets Hundred Days.
E. <'. Mann, who pleaded guilty last,
week to burglary tn breaking Into a
car in which I). J. Burke had property
stored and taking Bomu clothing, was
given 100 days hi the pen. This man
served a, term hi the United States
army, coming out wllli an excellent
record, and there were some extenu
ating circumstances connected witli
bis case.
and property was so slight, and tills
is probably due to tlie fact that En
gineer Bostwick was running nt low
MILWAUKEE ENGINE GOES OVER
DOT TOE DAMAGE DONE SLIGHT
[Tie Milwaukee passenger truiii leav
ing here yesterday morning ran Into
a broken rail ion Antelope bill, near
Harlowton, anil the engine went over.
It was in charge of Engineer E. G.
Bostwick, well known us one of the
most careful engineers in this purt of
the country, lie received a slinking
up, while Fireman Willimn L. KauiHey
was slightly injured by escaping
steam. Both men were treated by
the physician at Harlowton, l)r. Camp
bell, and came on home last evening
For un accident of tills kind it is re
markable that the injury to person
speed.
------O--
FRANCE TAIT.
Fred H. France, a well known young
man of the Grass Range section, soil
of Fred France, the well known pio
neer, and Miss Stella V. Tait were
married at the Hoffman house yester
day afternoon, the ceremony being
performed by Rev. C. M. Donaldson.
GERMANY SENDS NOTE EXPLAINING
THE SINKING OF STEAMER LANAO
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—A note of
explanation front Germany in re
sponse to the American inquiry con
cerning the sinking of the steamer
Uiao on October 28 reached the state
department today through Charge
Grew at Berlin, it says the Lanao
was sailing under the British flag
and was sunk by a submarine after
provision for the safety of her crew
because she was carrying contraband
and could not be taken into port.
The only question at issue in the
ease is whether tlie vessel was under
American registry, in which case Ger
many would he liable for damages to
her owners. It was admitted that she
was sold by her owners in Manila be
fore starting on her last voyage hut
GERMANY
EXPLAINS
Replies to U. S. Inquiry
Concerning Belgian
Deportations.
SAYS ACT IS HUMANE
Belgian Industries Being in a De
pressed Condition, tlie Note States.
It Was Impossible to Procure Em
ployment for Idle Workmen In Bel
gium; the Only Thing Possible,
Therefore, Was to Assign Them to
Work In Germany—This Step, the
Note Continues, Is In Accordance
With International Law.
BERLIN, Dec. 13. (By wireless to
Sayville.l Germany's reply to the in
quiries of the United States into tlie
matter of the Belgian unemployed and
(lie deportation of Belgians is publish
ed today in the Norddeulscliu Allge
meliie Zeltung and Is given out by tha
Overseas News Agency us follows:
"The government of tlie United
States of America has protested
against tlieir compulsory employment
for work, basing this on tlie view that
these measures are hi contravention of
Illumine principles and of intuniutloiml
practice as to the treatment of the
population in occupied territory. The
Geriiiiin government thinks that the
government of the United States lias
been Incorrectly Informed regarding
the cause and the execution of the
measures und thereforo considers it
appropriate first to explain tlie tails
In detail.
"In Belgium unemployment for a
considerable lime lias been extending
in it perplexing fashion among the in
dustrial. Workingmen. Tills preva
lence of unemployment lias been
caused by the English policy of Iso
lation which lias cut off Belgian Indus
try from the Importation of raw mate
rial and tlie exportation of manufac
tured goods and has thus brought tlie
greater part of Belgian industry to a
standstill.
"By this meusuro almost half of
the workingmen in Belgian factories
numbering altogether, in round num
bers, to 1,200,000, were deprived of
the possibility or earning a living, and
many more than half u million Bel
gians, who formerly supported them
selves by industrial work were made
dependent upon public relief. Adding
tin- members of tlieir families this
number Is increased three,-fold or, lu
round figures, 1,500,000 persons.
"Prom the standpoint of the Belgian
economic, right, upon which the un
employed indict a heavy burden, as
also from the standpoint of public or
der and public morals which are most
dangerously affected by general unem
ployment and t,lic accompanying con
sequences, this situation iiiukus it ex
tremely desirable and urgent that ef
ficient measures for Improvement ho
taken. This necessity lias been recog
nized and pointed out uIho by fair
mlndeil Belgians for a long time.
''Under such conditions the gov
ernor general of Brussels on May 15,
1916, issued an order liy which upon
persons enjoying public relief and de
clining without adequate leusons to
accept or to continue to do work cor
responding to the abilities, confine
ment or coercive labor wuu imposed.
"Belgian Industries being in a de
pressed condition, it was impossible
to procure for all tlie unemployed
work, or at least proper emplo/niput
within Belgium Itself. The only thing
possible, therefore, was to ussign them
to work in Germany where a large
number of Belgian workingmen had
already voluntarily accepted work,
were well fed, were receiving high
wages and were enjoying far-reaching
liberty of movement. For those work
ingmen. however, that did not support
their families, coercive labor was
used.
"These measures are completely in
accordance with international law, for
according to The Hague convention re
lating to war on land (paragrapii 43)
the occupying power is obliged to un
dertake tlie maintenance of public or
der and public life ln occupied dls
tricts and for this purposo as far as
the country's laws prove Insufficient,
to act by complemental orders. The
maintenance of public order without
doubt, implies that able-bodied persons
as far us possible are not to lie thrown
upon public charity, and by idleness
become a public calamity and nuiB
(Continued ou I'uge Eight.)
her master has reported that the
actual transfer of registry had not
taken place. This point will be inves
tigated further.
The German note, dated Berlin, De
cember 9, and signed by Foreign Sec
retary Zimmerman, follows:
"Tlie undersigned has tlie honor to
reply to tlie note of Mr. Grew, charge
d'affaires of the United States of
America, dated the twenty-first ulto.,
relative to the sinking of the steamer
Lanao by a German submarine.
"On October 28 last, a German sub
marine encountered the steamer Lanao
on tlie way to Le Havre and captured
it as a prize because it was carrying
(Continued on Page Eight)