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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD ^ * VOLUME XXXXIV BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, MONDAY. NOVEMBER 30, 1914 NUMBER 208 I IN FRENCH IN REPORT SPEAKS IN OPTIMISTIC VEIN OF i POSITION J ALLIES Report Covers General Ac tivities of the Allies from November 11 to 20 BELIEVES BATTLE OF YPRES NOW NEARING THE LAST STAGES Artillery Fire of Germans Slackening Considerably and Infantry Charges Practically Ceased—Vast ly Superior Forces Face Allied Army in West. Russians Contending with Smaller Army London, November SO.—(4 p. m.) Field Marshal Sir John French, cob M Dander la chief of the Briffah force* la the Add, apeaks optimistically ol the position of the allies la a report made public here today. It covers in s general way activities from October II to November SO. Summing up, Field Marshal Frenci •ays: >| “As I close this ltspatch, signs are Ir evidence that we are possibly In the Iasi stages of the battle from Ypres to Ar mentieres. For Several days the artiller} f fire of the enemy has slackened consid 1 erably and his infantry attacks prautl ■- caily have ceased. "In remarking upon the general mllitar} situation of the allies, it does not seen to be clearly understood that the opera tions in which we have been engaged ein , brace nearly all' of the central part o Europe, in the east to the west. Th< combined French, Belgian and Britisl armies in the west and the Russian arm} in the east are opposed to the unltei forces of Germany and Austria. Enemy Superior in West “Our enemies eleated at the commence " -»«t pf the war to throw the weight o their lOi'Ccs against -Air a.ini s in tt> west and to detach only a comparative!: weak force, composed of very feiv, of th first line troops and several corps of sec ond and third line troops, to stem th Russian advance until the western force could be completely overwhelmed. Thei strength enabled them from the outset t< throw greatly euperior forces against u in the west. This precludes the possi billty of our taking vigorous offensive ac ition except when miscalculations ar made by their commanders, opening u: special opportunities for succesful at tacks and pursuit. "The battle of the Marne was an exam pie, as was our advance from St. Ome and Haxebrouck to the line of the Rive Lys, at the commencement of this bat tic. The role which our armies conse quently have been called upon to fulfl has been to occupy strong defensive posl ‘ tions, holding ground gained and invitln i the enemy’s attack, and to throw bac these attacks, causing the enemy heav losses in his retreat and folowlng him u with powerful and successful counter al tacks to complete his discomfiture. The value and significance of operation of this nature since the commencemen of hostilities lies in the fact that at th moment when the eastern provinces c Germany are in Imminent danger of be ing overrun by the numerous and powei ful armies of Russia, nearly the whole ac tive army of Germany is tied down to line of trenches extending from Verdu * on the Alsatian frontier to the sea a ^Nieuport .east of Dunkirk (a distance c ’ 2«0 miles), where they are held, with muc reduced number sand impaired moral' by the successful action of our troops Praises Royal Artillery “I cannot speak too highly of the ser\ ices rendered by the Royal artiller throughout the battle. In spite of the fa< that the enemy brought up guns of gret range and shell power, our inen have sui I (Continued on Page Two) . Motor-Driven Battleships Now a Possibility MOTOR. GUNBOATS in OPERATION AGAINST TROOP* CROWING HlVtp. Interest la the poslbllltles of motor gunboats or talnlatare battleshlpa appears to be quite general, judging from the correspondence of a description of such a craft and the good work done by her la Belgian waters. Humorous designs have been submitted for cruft of tbls type, some of them quite practicable and others scarcely so. It Is the consensus that these motor boat armored cruisers must sacrifice speed In order that they may be sufficiently well protected by armor, and that a speed of from 10 to 13 miles an hour would moot all require ments. Among the suggestions fur the construction of saeh vessels was one which called for a very thick {aside hull or lining of balsa wood, which Is even lighter than cork, the purpose of which Would be to keep the vessel afloat la ooee she were perforate* at or below the water Una. PRESIDENT WILSON NAMES COMMITTEE TO ARBITRATE FOR ENDING OF STRIKE Would Stop the Strike of Miners in Colorado Fields- Hopes Opera* tors of Mines Will Take Dif ferent Position From Their Former One WashlnRTtnn. November SO— President At ilNon tonight an. ouuced appointment of Seth Low of New York, t'harlea W. Mills of Philadelphia, and Patrick GU «Iu> of Clearfield, Pa., aa a com mission through which futpre differences be tween Colorado coal operators and their striking employes may be set- | tied. The commission, officials explained, was not to deal with the existing differences j which have caused rioting and bloodshed 1 in Colorado. Hywel Davies and W. R. Fatrely, the conciliators who have been attempting for several months to settle the strike, will continue in their efforts to have the operators and miners agree. In a statement the President expressed “the very earnest and sincere hope that the parties may see it not merely to their own best Interests, but also a duty which they owe to the communities they serve and to the nation itself, to make use of this instrumentality of peace and render a strike of the kind which has threatened the order and prosperity of the great vtate of Colorado a thing of the past.” Appointment of such a commission was contemplated in the plan for temporary settlement of the strike proposed by the President several months ago and ac cepted by the miners, but rejected by the operators. To Attempt Settlement The President announced tonight that the commission will place themselves “at the service alike of the miners and the operators of the mines of Colorado in case controversy between them should in the future develop circumstances which would render mediation the obvious way of peace and just settlement.” Mr. Wilson added that "merely to with draw the federal troops and let the skua tibn clear and settle itself would seem to be to bo doing something less than my duty after all that has occurred." He Colorado to withdraw th etroops from some of the districts, and will discuss the some of the districth, and will discuss the question with Secretary Garrison of the war department this week. “The strike has now lasted for 12 months, has attracted the attention of the wdiole country and has been accom panied by many distressing and tragical circumstances,” the President’s statement continues. “The mediation of the govern ment of the United States was offered early in the struggle, but the operators of the mines were unwilling to avail them selves of it. It became necessary to send federal troops to the district affected by the strike in order to preserve the peace, 1 but their presence could of itself accom plish nothing affirmative. Regrets Operator’s Position “After long waiting, therefore, I ven tured to propose a plan for temporary settlement. The plan seemed to me ob ■ vlously fair and sensible. The striking ; miners promptly accepted it; but the mine operators rejected it,-saving in response , to my earnest appeal that tnev objected to its most essential features, namely. ; the proposed arrangements by which the ■ miners might state their grievances 2 through a committee appointed by the j President of the United States. I think . the country regretted their decision and was disappointed that they should have * taken so uncompromising a position. 5 “I have waited and hoped for a change . in their attitude, but now Tear that there . will be none. , “I have, therefore, determined to ap point the commission contemplated in the } plan of temporary settlement, notwith - standing the rejection of that plan by the mine operators, in the very earnest and . sincere hope that both parties may see it r to be not merely to their own best inter est. but also a duty which they owe to r the communities they serve and to the - nation itself to make use of this instru - mentality of peace.” - TWENTY-THREeT DEAD [ FROM EARTHQUAKE J liondon, November 29.—(6:42 p. m.) . Twenty-three persons were killed and many others injured in the earthquake s Friday in western Greece and the Ionian l islands, says an Exchange Telegraph dis ® patch from Athens. On Santa Maura Island the earthquake _ caused strange convolutions. The moun _ tain of Pefkoulia crumbled away for a j distance of nearly twro miles and the 1 Ionian sea penetrated the valley to the t extent of about 126 acres. J Herrick Leaves For Home i, Havre, November 29.—(Via Paris. 11:60 p. m.)—Myrick T. Herrick, for mer American ambassador to Fiance, and Mrs. Herrick left here today on the y s earner Rochambeau for New York, t Fiior to their departure visits were t exchanged by Mr. Herrick and the _ £o\emor and the former ambassador and his wife called at the. great mili tary hospital. GREAT STRATEGISTS IN PRESENT WAR 1 -,-—-- - JTA.—_ Strategy play* the moat Important part In every lilac war. The nklllful nuinlpiilatliiR of armlet* haa often won even where the vletorloua nation Inn* been outnumbered In troop* and munition*. In the prewent eonffllet the valiant work ami *plendld military dlNcIplIue exerelned by the leader* linn won admiration all around. tieneral* .foffre, Foeh nnd Von Faheek are men of nplendld type and benrinu who kite done yrrent work, an ha* Duke Al brecht of Wurtemhiir*,' and the Crown Prince Kupprecht of flnvarla. RUSSIANS CLAIM ADVANTAGE IN NORTHERN POLAND BATTLE MOUNTAINEER IS CHARGED WITH THE KILLING OF THREE Claim Lowe Daniels Shot and Killed Three, Probably Fatally Injur ing Another Person Ashboro, N. C., November 29. Charged with shooting and killing three persons and probably fatally wounding another, Lowe Daniels, t^North Carolina mountaineer, was placed In the county jail here early today. When arrested Daniels is said by the officers to have been sitting in his house in Randolph county unconcern edly playing a banjo with the bodies on the floor around him. The d^ d are Edgar Varner, Cora Daniels, sister of the accused, and Ethel Luther, a sister of Daniels’ wife. Mrs Daniels also was seriously wounded. Details of the tragedy, which oc curred last night, have not been learned here. Daniels was removed from the Jail late today by the authorities and taken back to the neighboorhood of the crime for a preliminary hearing. GERMAN REPORT Berlin, November 29.—(By Wireless to London, 4:30 p. m.)—This announce ment was given out today at army headquarters: “There is nothing to report from the west. Yesterday attacks of the enemy southeast of Ypres and west of Lens failed. “In the east the situation on the right of the Vistula remains un changed. Russian advances in the neighborhood of Lodz were checked and were followed by successful at tacks by our troops. “There is nothing of importance to note in regard to southern Poland.” Exaggerated Reports of Successes Are Deprecated, Him ev er- - -Ger^iaos Also Claim Successes -A BATTLE PROMISES TO BE MOST DECISIVE OF THE ENTIRE WAR Germans Fighting Stub bornly, Although Partly Surrounded By Russians. Apparently Trying To Make Way to Northward To Join Reinforcements From Thorn Pejrograd, November 29.—(Via London, 10:45 p. m.)—A review of military operations in the last week at the rear of Lodz, as given out semi officially here, indicates that the Ger man army under General Mackenzen has been cut in three parts. The right wing still is struggling 15 miles west southwest of I^odz to unit:? With tho column sent to Its assistance from Wlelun. Tho center 1m 10 miles northeast by north of Ix>dz and still is engaged in a desperate effort to cut its way west to rejoin the left wing, which partially is cut off from the strongest position on the Vistula. This army, the review asserts, is moving buck before Russian onslaughto but is stubbornly disputing the Russian ad vance. In this quarter the Russian advance is from Gomhin, 50 miles north of Lodz. It Is estimated that the German cen ters are at leaBt 20 miles apart ami that the middle one is acting entirely on its own initiative, being completely isolated from the others. It is said the main bodies of the Ger man wing are maintaining a thin line of communications to the rear, extend ing in h semi-circle a distance of 40 miles. Russian experts declare the operations will not result in tho com pute surrounding of tho Germans but that the purpose of the German cam paign against Warsaw has been entire ly frustrated. The alleged failure of the German plan is attributed to what is termed a reckless attempt to cut the Russian center line. Only Power Plant Burned Lodz is said to have been under at tack more than once, but the only dam age sustained was the burning of the electric power plant and the suburban railway station. This is regarded as extraordinary in view of the desperate conflicts that daily have been raging on three sides. London, November 29.—(9:55 p. m.) Latest official Russian announcements still claim advantage in the fighting in northern Poland, but deprecate ex aggerated Teports of their successes. Germany . declares officially that the Russian attacks have been repulsed and that German counter attacks have beer, successful. The German Emperor lias joined Field Marshal Von Hidenburg In the east to of fer his advice and to encourage his troops. Enormous losses have been Inflicted on the Germans, according to the Russian statement, but no mention is made of the capture of German divisions, so fYeely claimed by the Petrograd correspondents of London and Paris papers. Some days must elapse before this bat (Ctstls«e4 tB Pass Eight) WOULD ABOLISH ALL BUT TWO OF NAVAL PRISONS IN THE U. S. Captain McLean, In Report, Shown Reason For Suggestion—Would Inaugurate Detention System Washington, November 29.—A Doll t f on of all but two of the naval prisons in continental United States, those at Portsmouth, N. H., and Mare Island. Cal., ami maintenance of disciplinary quarters aboard ship were recommend ed in the annual report of Capt. Ridley McLean, Judge advocate general of the navy, made public today. During the past year prisons have been maintained at Mare Island and Portsmouth, Boston, Norfolk, Cavite and on shipboard. Tn recommending the transfer of disciplinary barracks from shore to ship, Captain McLean proposed to close the Port Royal, H. C., detention bar rackft, and transfer the detentioners from that station to the gunboat To peka, which would be moored at the Portsmouth yard. The cruiser Phila delphia would serve similar purpose at the Mare Island yard. The reduction of the number of na val prisons is made possible. Captain McLean thinks, by an order already improved liy Secretary Daniels to sub stitute loss of pay or discharge for m..ny cases which previously have in volved imprisonment. The detention ships would deal with minor offenders or prisoners whose good conduct war ranted their transfer from shori prison. Of results obtained by the detention system. Captain Me Leah said: “Ah a humanitarian system it 1h cx-j collent In that it requires a recalcitrant to work for his rehabilitation and on discharge he is a better and more use ful man than when he entered the ser vice and by virtue of having accom plished his own redemption he is .1 stronger and more capable, self-reliant man.” British Ship Sunk By Mysterious Explosion . 7-. ..- ... I ..—. .■ •• — j H M. S BULWARK Another British warship aad the lives of hundreds of seen were lost wlwu fhe battleship Bulwark was blown up While I yin* In the Thames off Ahecracss, and only Ml miles from Loailon. Only 12 of her erew were saved and the loss of life will amount to between TO© and *00 men. It Is officially announced that the vessel was de stroyed by an explosion orlBlaatln* within har owa ntasaslsra, but It Is senerally believed that It wna the work of a Herman submarine. The Bulwark was of 13,000 tons displacement. She was laid down In 1H0P and' completed In 1002. She was 411 feet lone, had a beam of TO feet and drew 30 feet of water. Her arma ment consisted of foar 12-lueh and 13 0-lneh suns. Id 13-pounders, sin 8-pounders and four submersed tap ped© beats. CONGRESS TO OPEN A WEEK FROM TODAY; COMMITTEES MAKE READY FOR SESSION Speaker ('lark Expected the Latter Fart of Week—Underwood Will Reach Washington About the Same Time—Committees Meet Today Washington, November 29.—Senators tnd representatives already are returning to Washington for the reconvening of Congress a week from tomorrow. Speaker Clark will be bark from a New Kngland lecturing trip the last of the week and Democratic Deader Underwood will return from Birmingham about the same time. The House subcommittees will be in ses sion tomorrow. The naval affairs sub committee will begin hearings on the naval appropriation hill and the appro priations subcommittee will continue framing the legislative, executive and .In dicia I appropriation bill. The congressional joint committee's in vestigation of the armor plate question | has been completed by Senator xlUman| and Representative Padgett, chairmen of the Senate and House naval committee, it was anncuneed today. “It is too early yet to forecast the ro-1 port," said Representative Padgett, "the witnesses from the armor plate com panies declined to give us any informa tion as to costs. They contended it was their private affair.” I)R. BLAKE MARRIES FORMER MRS. MACKAY Groom Is An Attachee of The Amer ican Ambulance Corps In Parts Paris, November 29.—Dr. Joseph A. Blake, the New York surgeon, who for sometime has lived in Paris, and Mrs. Katherine Alexander Duer, formerly Mrs. Clarence IT. Mackay of New York, were married here yesterday. The wedding was private. The wit nesses wero Countess Henrietta de Bonneval, Francis Riggs, Dr. Walton Martin, chief surgeon, of Mrs. H. P. Whitney's ambulance corps, and Dr. Richard Derby, son-in-law of Theodore Roosvelt. Dr. Blake is at ached to the Ameri can ambulance crops in Paris. Mrs. Katherine Blake wns granted a divorce from Dr. Joseph A. Blake at Wlnated, Conn.. Inst Friday tin grounds of desertion. Clarence IT. Mackay and his wife, who was Miss Katherine Duer of New York, were divorced in Paris last February. The divorce was described as u "mutual divorce'* an In stitution known only to the courts of France. BRITISH COLLIERS HELD UP AT COLON Mystery Shrouds Destination of I'npr ■ lish Vessels—Are Without Proper Health Certificates Panama. November 29.—Sonic mystery surround? the destination of the Brit ish collars Kirmvoofi and Itoddam. held up at Colon yesterday because they were not supplied with health cer tificates. A hearing will be held to morrow in district court. Meantime the vessels will he permitted to pass through the canal in bond. It Is said they will await orders at Balbora and it Is conjectured here they will nit-el British warships at sea off the South American coast. The Kirn wood and Roddam were hound from Cardiff for Norfolk by way of Kingston. Jamaica. Shipping men in Colon, when the steamers were detained here, expressed thu. opinion that they had attempted to meet British war ships in the Caribbean But. failing in this, ran into Colon. Poincare Visits Troops Verdun, November 29.- (Via Paris, 3:f»6 p. m.)—President Poincare, Pre mier Vivlanl ami the speakers of the Berate and Chamber of Deputies yes terday visited the troops along the fping line in the Argonne. latter they inspected the military works near Ver dun and the ruins of Clermount. whom only the hospital of Aiite Marie re mains standing. Among the seriously wounded patients in tills hospital in Deputy Andre Muginot. ..... TODAY’S AGE-HERALD 1—French Issues official report. Russians claim advantage over tier mans. Germans in Kiel canal ready for attack 2 -Search for secret store of munitions. 3— Prosperity lunch held. 4— Editoria 1 comment. 5— Belgian workers renew efforts tod-jy. After orders for shrapnel shells. Birmingham tar shipped to Italy. Baptist training school convenes. 6— War wipes out class prejudice. 8—How the Germans fight a battle. GEMS READY 10 MEET ANY DANGER OF POSSIBLE ATTACK ON CANAL OF KIEL Take Precautions to Resist Attack Either By Land, Air Or Sea NO SECRECY AS TO PREPAREDNESS OF GERMANS FOR WAR Sailors Show Associated Press Correspondent Through the Submarines. Warships and Torpedo Factory—Navy Now No More Efficient Than In Times of Peace Kiel. Germany. November 29.—(Via Ber lin, The Hague and London.)—A pair of gray submarines lie at the dock where the American 8onderklasso yachts were moored during their last visit to Kiel. Warships anchored in the Fjord wear war paint and hove their torpedo nets rigged. A Red Gross flag tiles from the Imperial Yacht club. Skylights In the shipyard buildings have been blackened. Placards In hotel rooms request that the window shutters he closed at night. Machine guns have been posted on high roofs, and occa sionally sentinels may he seen on the tops of tall structures. A broad expanse of fortifications and barbed wire entangle ments surround the city. These precautions have been taken to prevent an attack on the all Important Kiel canal by air or land. Otherwise the Kiel of war days appears little different from the Kiel of ordinary times. In the harbor steamers and tugs with long tows go about their customary work. In town, although there is more activity, the peo ple seem to be pursuing their ordlInary course of life. No Undue Secrecy Tlie sailor men In tills great naval base did not maintain an attitude of undue secrecy toward the Associated Press cor respondent visiting Kiel. He whs taken everywhere cheerfully. He was showm through every department of tin* govern ment torpedo factory, into which in or dinary times only those connected with tlie service are allowed to enter. He was taken Into tlie newest submarine, aboard the biggest battleship, to watch battle practice with heavy guns And torperdo, and through tlie docks where torpedo boats and submarines are being refitted. The visit convinced the correspondent that war for the German navy differs from peace only in the existence of an actual, instead of a prospective enemy. Tin* navy's normal state of preparedness was so high that virtually nothing re mained to bo done to the war vessels after tlie outbreak of war except to peel off the paint from the inner walls to ob viate the danger of fire, and to apply a thinner coating to the outside for a simi lar reason. Tlie battle practice Is carried out with 1 ttlie more snap snd enthusiasm than in ordinary times. See Tips of Russian Masts Some of the officers and men said they had seen the tips of Russian masts, but thov had seen nothing of war except the strenuous outpost patrol duty in tlie win try Baltic ami North seu waters. The occasional hailing of a passing freighter furnished the only break in the monotony. But that work also Is part of the custom ary peace routine. These men unmistakably find it hard to remain patient, hut they take into con sideration the strategic grounds which govern the policy of the German fleet. They express little bitterness toward the British, but rather n desire to match strength with a worthy opponent. A large number of submarines are ap • proachitig completion. Several have been put Into commission sinc e the outbreak of the war. All are of the largest sea going type. Tlie Germans claim that already they hmc more of the big cruising type of submarines than have the British. Evi (Continued on Page Eight)