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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD * _ _ VOLUME XXAAV BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. WEDNESDAY, .ILLY 7, 1915 10 PAGES NUMBER 62 VIEWS OF GERMANY ON SUBMARINE WAR GIVEN INFORMALLY ■ 10 UNITED STATES This Government Has Con sidered Kaiser's Attitude, But Has Made No Reply, Says Secretary Lansing NO NEGOTIATIONS ARE ENTERED INTO BY THIS COUNTRY Germany Endeavoring to Learn What Proposals Would Be Acceptable as f Basis for Settlement 1 \ Washington, July B.-^-Germany has ► submitted informally to the United States through Ambassador Gerard in Berlin a tentative draft of Us reply to the note of June 9 which asked for assurances that American rights on the high seas would not be further violated by German submarine com manders. After careful examination of the con tents of the proposed note as outlined ^ by Ambassador Gerard, which coincides with Berlin press dispatches of the last few days, high officials are prac tically agreed that the United States cannot, without sacrificing important neutral rights, express its approval of the German proposal in their present form. The draft was shown to Ambassador Gerard with the idea of eliciting from him an expression of opinion and he promptly asked for instructions from Washington as to whether the United States could make concessions. Presi dent Wilson has been advised of the ait na tion in several long messages sent to his summer residence at Cornish, / N. H., and the impression obtained to night from reliable quarters that the American government very probably would instruct its ambassador within a day or two to decline to express any vii w until after the formal reply is ■* delivered to him. Proposals Not Divulged Just what Germany proposed lias not been officially divulged. Secretary Jjanstng today took the position that it would not he proper for him to dis close Germany's position as informal ly reported by Mr. Gerard without au thorization from tin* Beilin govern ment. He stated merely that there had been no exchange of views or in formal negotiations between Germany and the United States and declined to predict whether there would be. From Berlin dispatches and author itative sources here it is learned, how ( e\er, that the note as drafted by the German foreign office with Emperor William’s subsequent approval would give assurances that Americans might travel with safety on the high seas on certain conditions imposed by Ger many, such as the marking of bellig erent vessels carrying Americans, noti fication by the United States to Ger many of the date of departure and character of such vessels and an in snection insuring their noncarriage of munitions of war. President Wilson has before him the v«ews of several cabinet officials, some, of whom believe that It is essential to have Ambassador Gerard make clear 1 to the German foreign office that the United States can make no conces sions from its position as based on the accepted rules of international law and the naval prize codes of civilized nations. Whether the President docs or does not finally decide to have Am (> bassador Gerard tell the German gov ernment informally the views of the United States on the rough draft sub mitted, it was clearly apparent today that important changes would be nec essary in Germany’s attitude before it could be reasonably hoped that the formal reply would remove from the negotiations the critical aspect they have assumed. Message Not Clear One of the message's from Ambas sador Gerard was somewhat garbled In transmission and its meaning was not . clear. At first early in the day It was * believed by some officials that the sug gestions made might offer a basis fo* negotiation since it appeared that G«i - many was endeavoring to ascertain in advance what the opinion of the Uni ted States would he so that the final draft would be certain of acceptance. This caused a feeling of some optimism to be spread, but the arrival of ad (Continued on Page Tea.) ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••' I_ BRITISH CAPTURE GERMAN TRENCHES _ < London,/ July 6.—t8:15 p. m ) Field Marshal Sir John French, commanding the British expedi tionary forces In France, today re ported that his troops had raptured 200 yards of German trenches on the extreme left. He also an nounced that 80 Germans were taken prisoner in this engagement. "July fi. Since the last report there has been no change in the situation on our front. The fight ing mainly has hcen confined to Intermittent artillery duels, the feature of which has been the em ployment by the enemy of a large quantity of gas shells, particularly in the neighborhood of Yprex. HENDERSON CALLS ON MERRITT TO AID HIM IN PROSECUTING THE MEN HIGHER UP Governor Writes Solon That if He Has Information as to Graft HeShouldTurn It Over to Attorney General Montgomery, July fl.—< Special.» Replying to n ■tntement nm«le nt m Imnquet in Rirmlnghnm ln*t nlglit Ity Henry I*. Merritt, ehntrmnn of the leg Inlatlve Inventlgntlng committer, to the effect tbnt Alabama'* unrNl need nan to put fitrlpe* on Nome of the men “higher up,” Governor Henderson this afternoon ntl«lre*Med n letter to Mr. Merritt requentlng him to put nhat in formation he ponaeMNeN In the hand* of the attorney general In order that immediate action may he taken tnnurd the recovery of all moneys Illegally paid out of the atnte treasury. Mr. Merritt is quoted as haviug said that officials "have been stealing from ub;” “have been grafting from us,” and that "we need a purchasing agent lor the capitol.” The governor in his letter to Mr. Mer ritt calls attention to his letter to tho attorney general on July 1, directing him | to institute proceedings against all per- j sons who have unlawfully received money from the state. y The (tovernor’a Letter Following is the governor s letter to j Mr. Merritt: "Dear Sir: On June 1 1 sent a note j to the attorney general directing that he ' institute proceedings against those who | had unlawfully received money from tbe! slate or enjoyed emoluments or perquisites from the moneys of the state illegally. "I notice in today’s press your mention of the fact that Alabama's worst need was to put stripes on some of the 'men higher up,' who have been stealing from and grafting upon the state, and many I other irregularities which lead me to be lieve that you have information that the attorney general should be possessed of It: carrying out instructions from this of fice, and L request that you give this information to the attorney general that he may proceed without delay in recov ering for the state all moneys to which you have referred as being unlawfully paid from the state's treasury." MARTIN REPLIES TO THE GOVERNOR Montgomery, July 6.—(Special.) William L*. Martin, attorney general, tonight answered Governor Henderson's communication of Saturday instructing him to obtain testimony from the in vestigating committee as a basis for suits against persons supposed to have*, obtained money Illegally from the state treasury by declaring that he has been in almost daily communication with the committee with a view to protecting the state’s interests. Mr. Martin’s letter released to the public follows: "I acknowledge receipt of your favoi of the 3d instant directing my attention to the report of the investigating com mittee of the legislature for the pui pose of gaining information upon which to base suits for the recovery of public money spent without authority of lav. "The committee's findings are based to some extent upon investigations made by examiners, whose reports when completed will reach my office in the ordinary course of business. I have, however, been in almost daily confer ence with the committee in an effort to lend what assistance my office could toward protecting the state’s interests The report to which you refer in this correspondence has not been made pub lic and I am advised will not be until the legislature convenes on July 13." PLAN INDEFINITE SIEGE OF MEXICAN CAPITAL Carranza Forces Unable to Capture Mexico City—Draw Cordon of Troops About It to Cut Off Supplies—Hunger Riots Continue In City Puebla, June 3.—(Via Galveston. Tex., July 6.)—Carranza troops which (ailed to capture Mexico City after 14 days fighting and then were driven back in disorder, are planning to place the Mexican capi tal under an indefinite siege, accord ing to messengers who arrived today from ^ Mexico City. They reported that It ap parently is Carranza's purpose to starve the Zapata garrison Into submission. Zapata's troops within the city neverthe less have been instructed to keep out the Carranza forces operating unoer Gen eral Pablo Gonzales at all costs. All of those of the 400,000 population who are re garded as able to fight have been called upon to help. Carranza's Inability to take the city a week sgo has resulted In the demoralisa tion of his troops, and it is believed they v will not again venture far enough Into , the city te cause street fighting. Merchant* who have dosed their shops because of fear of looting should Ihe Car ranza forces enter are said to have given their moral support to keeping Carranza out. The people generally are desetbed as opposed to Carranza and In the opinion of many the return of his forces to the capital would result In riots. The Zapata forces Is said to number 25,000 soldiers, forces are said to number 26,000 soldiers, formerly In the old federal army. Guns have been mounted in all the passes lead ing Into the city and to all appearances the capital is preparing to undergo a siege. Hunger riots continue in Mexico City. The supplies of food daily grow more scant. Reports brought to Puebla are that Pablo Gonzalee' Carranza, forces were scattered In all directions after their de feat In the outskirts of the city. After being actually In the suburbs they re treated 30 miles. Appeals were sent to Carranza at Vera Ctuz for more troops and these were brought from Tampico and other coast points and hurried Into the Interior. P. MORGAN’S ASSAILANT FOUND DEAD IN POOL OF BLOOD IN MINEOLA JAIL CELL ..... i -- '[was frank holt and muenter same man? 11 - ■ " . I 4 That Frank Holt, who shot * 4 J. F. Morgan, ami who last * ♦ night committed suicide, was ? f Erich Mucntor. once a llm 4 V I vard instructor, who in Hh", * \ f murdered his wife and lias 4 4 Since been sought b> the 4 police, is the belief of Chief 4 4 Inspector Hurley of tie- 4 4 Cambridge (Mhsh.) detective hu- 4 ♦ reau. Mrs. Much ter died of ar- 4 4 sonic poison. 4 4 The descriptions of both men 4 4 are almost alike. 4 4 A Her Mrs. M neuter's death • 4 her ® unhand ran away to Chi- • 4 cago with his two children, * 4 and it is believed that he shaved • 4 his beard off there. t ! 4 Holt in a letter to his present 4 * 4 wife's father in Fallas, Tex., he- f 4 fore he committed suicide, de- • 4 tiled that he was Muenter. 4 4 So great were the crowds of • 4 people who came in automobiles 4 I 4 and on foot to Mr. Morgan's 4 t home at tiled Cove. L. 1 . after 4 4 the shooting, that guards were 4 4 stationed at all entrances to the 4 4 estate, forbidding any one to 4 4 enter. 4 ♦ ♦ LL-r FRANK HOLT; S CORNELL INSTRUCTOR ) ' ERICH MUENTER ”, HARVARD PROFESSOR / PICTURES OF MORGAN MAN ACCUSED OF POISONING WIFE COMPARE -' .... AUSTRIANS REPORT SOME PROGRESS. BUT RUSSIANS’ LINES AT MOST POINTS INTACT Czar’s Forces Stiffening for First Time After Long Retreat—British Report Minor (Jains in the West London, .Inly (I.— < |». m.l—The AiiNtro-Gcrmnn rush In the rant np penrs to be losing Its momenliim, ex. eept In certain sectors between the Vistula and the ling. The Russians have braced themselves and are hold ing at most poIntN along their line, al though the Austrians claim progress northeast of Krasnlk and nl*o along the Itlver \ leprx, in the neighborhood o. Taruorgorn. This is a critical sector s«> fai as a northward blow at Warsaw is concerned, but it is evident the Russians are stiffen ing theii resistance after their long re- i treat, and the British press, for the first time in weeks, takes a more cheerful view of the eastern situation. It is noteworthy that Berlin today ' claims only a gain on the northern Po land front, leaving the southeastern field entirely to the Austrians, w'ho empha size that an advance on the center ne tween the Vistula and the Bug was made by 'Austrians.'’ British Make Gain The quiet on the British front in Flan ders has been broken by a British gain of German trenches north of Ypres. The advance was made after typical trench warfare tactics backed by French ar tillery. The last 24 hours have brought many renewed rumors that the Germans plan a new offensive in the west, their aim being to duplicate their Galician tactics, and break through to Calais at all costs. These reports came almost simultane ously from Zurich. Brussels, Paris and Amsterdam. London papers give them prominence, although how much is guess work and how much is based on facts it is impossible to determine. According to the Zurich report, 10 German army corps, who have been recuperating in the interior from" the Galician campaign, are moving westward. The latest advices from Gen. Sir Ivan Hamilton, commander at the Dardanelles, took the Anglo-French expedition no fur ther forward, but made plain the gal lantry of the British and French troops, who are fighting under almost insur mountable difficulties. LEE COWART HELD OVER TO GRAND JURY Montgomery, July 6.—(Special.)—Lee Cowart of Birmingham, former com missioner of immigration, charged with embezzling $650 of state funds, was to day bound over to the grand jury by Judge M. H. Screws of the court of com mon pleas, in the sum of $500. Bond was promptly furnished by Mr. Cowart. Only two witnesses were' examined today, both of whom appeared for the state. They were John H. Chapman, warrant clerk of the auditor’s office, and James J. Campbell, cashier of the Exchange National bank. No witnesses were put on the stand by the defend ant. Cowart was arrested in Montgomery several weeks ago on the instigation of the investigating committee, before whom he wan several times * witness. Charge Montenegrin Officials Enlisted Recruits In U. S. Three Arrested in Chicago on Charge of Conspir acy to Violate the Neutrality of United States. Another High Official Is Sought by the Authorities Chicago, July B.—As u result of information gathered from a source of re servists who were taken from a train here a week ago, United States secret service men today arrested three Montenegrin officials, charging them with conspiracy to violate the neutrality laws of the United States. I The men were ('apt. Anton V. Hefero ! v H'h. a member of the American Red Cross and the Montenegrin Red Cross, who was taken in New York; B. Martino \ich. an officer in the Montenegrin army, and Savo Gjouraskovlch, pecretary of the Montenegrin foreign office, who were ar rested in Bisbee, Ariz. Government of ficers also sought Jovo Matanovitch, an | other high Montenegrin official. All are charged with enlisting recruits j for the Montenegrin army In violation of 1 American neutrality. The arrests developed from the deten tion here of 23 Montenegrins and Servians j taken from a special train while on their way east. They were reported to have j j told federal investigators that their ex I penRes to their native homes were being | paid with the understanding that after a visit with their relatives they would en list. They will be brought here for trial. Two Arrested Portland, Ore., July H. Jovo Matone vich and Peter M. Luburlch, Montene grins, were arrested as they stepped off a train from Seattle here today on a charge of conspiracy to violate the neu trality of the United States. They v ere given a hearing before a United States commissioner and bond was fixed at $10, 000 each. Federal officials alleged hey have been recruiting in Butte. Mont., and Seattle since leaving Chicago. The men were on their way to San Francisco. r~~i] Montgomery, July 6.— (Special.) After long months of waiting and an endless amount of idle speculation. Governor Henderson this afternoon an nounced the personnel of the state lax commission for the present adminis tration. The new board is as follows Thomas W. Sims. Mobile, chairman; Frank C. Marquis. Dora, Walker coun ty, and H. W; Strasaburger, Montgom ery, associate members. Mr. Sims, the chairman, is a prom inent young business man of Mobile and is closely connected with the work of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce. He was one of Governor Henderson's leading workers in Mobile during the campaign for governor and his friends regard the honor bestowed upon nim as a merited one. He succeeds John W. Mooring of. Anniston. Mr. Marquis is a leading clikten of Walker county and in the recent primary was a can didate for the legislature. Mr. Strassburger is. a prominent real estate man of this city and is eon pidered well Informed in' all matters cf taxation. The latter appointment will give intense satisfaction in Mont gomery, Mr. Strassburgor being one of the leading business men of the city. The associate members succeed Henry P. White of Centrevllle and Judge A. A. Evans of Montgomery. In addition to these three appoint ments. Governor Henderson named It. W. Solomon of Wetumpka as chief clerk of the board of convict inspect ors to succeed X»an G. Trawick. Mr. Solomon was fortnsrly rate clerk in the. office of the railroad commission* ENGLAND TO TAKE OVER CONTROL OF LIQUOR SUPPLY Lonriou, July 0.— l th.'IO p. m.t— In tier powers conferred l»y the defense of the r€>nlm net, the llrlttsh government to day, by an order In council, derided to take over control of the sale and sup ply of Intoxicating liquors in mnuy districts where war material Is being handled. Strikers Resume Work Chicago, July 6.—Resumption of work by some of Chicago's strikers began to day when 4600 structural Iron workers re commenced the labors thhy dropped more thaji six weeks ago. ... TODA Y’S AOE-HERALD 1— Morgan's assailant found dead in cell. Austro-German drive loses momen tum. Montenegrin officials arrested in U. 8. Henderson calls on Merritt to aid in prosecutions. 2— Detroit's showing causes surprise 2—Both sides heard by prohibitionists 4—Kditorial comment. 6—Urge bill to relieve city's financial distress. Auditorium movement brought to life Prohibitionists to meet again. Little coal goes to Memphis from here. 6— Society. 7— -Sports 9—Markets. 10—Hamilton tails how troops landed on Turkish peninsula. Reports Conflict As To Exact Manner In Which He Met Death Believed Prisoner Leaped to Death From Cell to Concrete Courtyard Fifty Feet Below—Keeper Says Pris oner Was Killed in His Cell—Sp iral Persons Heard Explosion Mmeolii, X. X.Inly 6- Frank Holt, tin* Cornell university professor, wlio shot .1. I\ Morgan in his home near (tlen Cove last Saturday, committed suicide in tIn* .jail here tonight. While several of the jail authorities declare that Holt killed himself by climbing through the opening at the top of his cell door ami then plunged to the narrow court below, Holt's keeper said he was positive that the prisoner was killed in bis own cell where he said he found the body. There were many conflicting reports as to the manner in which Holt met his death, but It was definitely established by I>1 cloghorn. the jail physician. Ihal Holt died of a fractured skull. Several of those about the jail said they heard an explosion, the report coming from Holt's cell. This noise, it was believed, was due to the failing of hoards from the top of the eell. Jeremiah O'Ryan, the keeper detailed to walc.h Holt, said lie was fifteen feet away from the cell when he beard a loud report He looked in the dl reel ion of the cell, hut ii was dark Entering, lie found Holt's nody In a pool of blood in (lie corner. The excitement that followed the noise broug'o Warden HuIbc and other jail authorities to the scene. District Attorney Lewis .1 Smith and Dr (’leghorn together with s< veral constables were soon on the scene and im mediately began an investigation. Dr CTeghorn denied the report that Holt had killed himself by chewing a percussion cap. DEATH CAUSED BY FRACTURED SKULL He repeated that death was caused by a fracture nt the top of the skull. An explosion which would have blown his head off would have followed an attempt by Holt to chew a percussion cap, the physician said. V thorough examination of Holt’s cell failed, according to the jail authorities, to disclose any weapon or Implements or any kind which Holt could have used to kill himself. Coroner Walter Ft. Jones, 'after viewing the .body* saids "Undoubtedly a suicide, and undoubted - Jy the man Jumped, f cannot give hh of ficial version until an autopsy is per formed by the jail physician. Dr. (Meg horn.” The body was then taken to the morgue in Hempstead, where Dr Cleghorn was prepared to perform an autopsy immedi ately. The autopsy is expected t*» dispose of a report current here Immediately alter the finding of Holt's body that ho had been shot and killed from the outside This was only one of a number of reports. HOLT CHEERFUL IN EVENING Keeper O'Ryan declared that Holt ap peared unusually cheerful early in the evening. He could not understand why Holt should write a letter which was found after his death, in which Holt addressed presumably his wife and children rh follows: "My Dears: 1 must write to you once more. The more F think about it the more T see the utter uselessness of living under these circumstances. Bring up the dear babies In fear of God and man. Good-by, my sweet. Affectionately. FRANK.'' An evidence of tlie great confusion which followed the report and the find ing of Holt’s body was a second state ment by Keeper O’Ryan to the effect that he was not sure if Holt’s body was found in his cell or in the corridor. This tended to strengthen the theory of District A! torney Smith and Warden Hills that Holt had killed himself by jumping from the top of his cell into the court below and that while doing so he had dislodged a couple of tlie hoards which fell to the floor with a loud report. I)r. Cleghorn. after performing an autopsy on Holt’s body at Hempstead, stated that Holt had died of a hemor rhage of the brain caused by a depressed fracture of the skull. Dr. Cleghorn said he found a large con tused wound, which extended from the top of the head to below the eyes, ami that both the top and base of the skull had been fractured. Dr. Cleghorn said he found no evidence** of an explosion or bullet wound. Frank Holt, who Hhot ,1. P. Mor gan in his home near here, after set ting tlie bomb that exploded in the capitol at Washington, admitted to de tectives at the Mineola Jail tonight that he lied when he suid that lie made the capitol bomb out of sulphuric acid and matchheads and said also that he did not tell the truth about his movements in Washington and New Y ork. Holt made these admissions when confronted by evidence lending to I show that lie made tin capitol bomb jin a bungalow which lie rented near here about 10 da vs ago. The.v followed i the positive identification by la-wis on of Holt as the man who had rent ed the bungalow and who found num erous bottles with corks punctured in the center, small vials and pictures of a dozen public buildings throughout tin* country, three of which were tnt rked. Frank Met'n11i11. a constable, who in - * ompanled Hie detectives on the search • f ih<' bungalow, said the marked buildings were the New York public llhrarv and the capita}, ’wjildlng* nt Al ! b«t»y. A YV and Wn.fr 1st urg. Pa No Reason for Ides Holt refused to say why he lied In the first place about the contents of the bombs anti his movements. He refused also to admit that he was the man who. under the name of Hen drick, received a shipment of 120 I minds of dynamite at Syrosset, Hong Island, although George W. Games, station agent at that place, tonight identified Holt as Hendrick. Throughout the day New York di tectives were working on a due which l*-d them to believe that Holt was the man who received the dynamite and who took it to the bungalow and there made a number of bombs. They were trying to trace a trunk full of bombs ,rhlch they hnd reason to believe Holt had shipped from the bungalow to a New* York address. The detectives learned that Holt left the bungalow last Friday morning with the intention of taking the first train toward New York. He missed it. hut got the next one at i:l9 a. m. Til detectives recalled that It was last Friday when Holt went t<* Washington and set off the capitol bomj*. They learned that when Holt hoarded the train he had a trunk and a suitcase which h«* had checked lo the Pennsyl vania station In New York. The detectives were unable to learn If Holt took 1 in trunk, which they be lieved to be full of bombs, with him to Washington or luul it sent from the station lo some New York address. In any event the police are convinced that In the absence of au\ dynamite In the bungalow, the explosive is In the miss ing trunk. They scoured the neighbor hood of the bungalow tonight and were unable to find am evidence that it had been burled. It was said that Holt's admission that* he had lied as to the contents of the bomb came after ('apt a in of De tective* Tunney had told him that ne (Tunney) knew for a positive fact that fulminating caps had been used in the making of the bomb. Captain Tunney declined, however, to tell how he reached this conclusion. In Bad Physical 1’linht The** developments followed rapidly on the heels of the announcement that Holt would not be arraigned for ex amination at Mineola tomorrow be cause he was In no condition, physical ly or mentally, to make the trip to Glen Cove or to be arraigned in the Jail. The condition of Mr Morgan con tinued to improve So encouraged were the physicians that they announced that they had virtually decided not to (Continued on I'nac Three! Paris, July 6.—(10:40 p. m-)—Tonight’s war office communication said: "The British troops have repulsed several counter attacks directed against the trenches they occupied last night southwest of Pilken. They captured 80 prisoners and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. “The Germans have bombarded Arras and in particular the cathedral with incendiary shells. Rheims, likewise, has been shelled. Vienna, July 6.—(By Wireless to London, 8:35 p. m.)—The Austrian war department today gave out the fcllowing official statement. "The Russians, who in the second battle of Krasnik, were defeated by the army of Archduke Joseph Ferdinand, are retreating in a northern and north eastern direction pursued by the Austrians, who are pressing to attack. "The Austrians on Monday captured the district of Cieszanow and the heights north of Wysnica. Under pressure of our advance the enemy is re treating on the Vieprz, beyond Tarnogora. Our booty in this fighting has In creased to 41 officers and 11,500 men and 17 machine guns. "On the Bug river and in east Galicia, the situation is unchanged. "On the Zlota Lipa and Dniester rivers quiet prevails. “In the Italian theatre: Fighting in the Gorizia district on Monday develop ed Into a general attack with the attack made by the Third Italian army. About four hostile corps advanced under the protection of a formidable artillery fire against our front from the bridgehead at Gorizia to the sea. The attacks were completely repulsed. The enemy suffered terrible losses. Thanks to the praiseworthy attitude of our troops, especially the infantry, all positions re mained In our hands, notwithstanding the numerical superiority of the enomyt “On the middle laonie and other fronts, then le nothing to report,”