The Watertown news. [volume], December 20, 1918, Image 1

About The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919

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VOL. LVni.
DELAGATES TRANSFER
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
GERMANS VOTE
EBERT CABINET
FOIL AUTHORITY
Soviets, However, Reserve the
Right to Supervise Work
of Government.
TO ELECT PRESIDENT DEC. 29
There Will Be Two Adjuncts in Each
Ministry Appointed by People’s
Commissioners, Selected From
Two Social Democratic
Parties.
Amsterdam, Dec. 20. —The congress
of German soldiers and workmen’s
councils adopted a resolution, accord
Ing to a Berlin telegram, transferrim
legislative and executive power to the
people’s commissioners (the Ebert gov
ernment) until some other arrange
ment is made by the German national
assembly.
The congress further appointed a
central council of soldiers and work
men to exercise parliamentary super
vision over the German and Prussian
cabinets and with the right to appoint
and depose the people’s commission
ers of all of Genu any.
In order to supervise the conduct
of business in the imperial ministry,
adjuncts will be appointed by the peo
ple’s commissioners. There will be
two adjuncts in eatfh ministry. They
will be selected from the two social
democratic parties. The congress re
jected a resolution demanding the
complete elimination of the bourgeoise
class from the government.
May Elect President December 29.
Copenhagen, Dec. 20. —The German
government has decided to convoke a
conference of representatives of all
the states of the former empire on De
cember 29 to elect a president of the
German republic, according to a Ber
lin report. This step is said to have
been taken in order to avoid fresh
outbreaks.
Fear New Disturbances.
Berlin, Dec, 20. —When the soldiers
and workmen’s congress resumed Its
sessions it was evident that further
sensations were Impending to height
en the tension resulting from Tues
day’s clashes between the cabinet rep
resentatives and members of the exec
utive committee. The invasion of the
meeting hall by soldiers was the first
topic brought up for debate.
The chairman announced he had re
ceived word that the men of the Ber
lin garrison forces were surprised to
learn of the action of the invaders,
who were declared not to represent all
the troops quartered in Berlin.
The garrison troops declared they
desired to present their case at a ple
nary session or by means of delegates.
The congress voted that the latter
method be adopted and the debate
was temporarily adjourned.
Workers Force Way In.
The house then adopted Chairman
Lelnert’s suggestion that the congress
refuse to receive delegations whose
coming was not arranged for, such as
those of Tuesday. I* declared it
would not permit local petitioners to
stampede the session.
The members then proceeded to de
bate in executive committee and were
so engaged when word was received
that a delegation of workingmen was
outside demanding admission, under a
threat by Dr. Karl Liebknecht that
there would be a general strike in Ber
lin on Thursday if the request were
refused.
The congress finally agreed to ap
point a committee to meet a delega
tion after the plenary session, when
suddenly 30 workmen and several
women forced their way to the speak
er’s stand and the session again was
thrown into a tumult. The spokesman
of the Invaders demanded the right to
present resolutions demanding that all
authority be vested in the soldiers and
workmen’s councils.
Believed to Be Spartacides.
The chairman warned that speakers
were not permitted, while shouts came
from the floor that the Invaders be re
moved. General pandemonium fol
lowed, but the chairman finally re
stored order by compromising with the
invaders and permitting them to pre
sent their resolution. The invaders
then left the hull. They are believed
to have been members of the Sparta
cus group who are on strike.
15 KILLED BY GERMAN MINE
Bomb Planted by Huns Explodes Af
ter Armistice Is Signed.
Paris, Dec. 20. —A German mine
which had been planted in a bridge at
Guise has exploded, killing fifteen per
sons and injuring twenty-five, accord
ing to a Guise dispatch to the Matin.
TUe date of the explosion is not given
hut the dispatch says that it occurred
more than a month after the armistice
v-ent Into effect.
THE WATERTOWN NEWS
TERMS
President Wilson Home First
Week in February.
American Executive Changes Plans—
Visit to England Is Advanced,
Causb* Rumors.
Paris, Dec. 20. —President Wilson
plans to return to America in the
first week in February.
King Victor Emmanuel of Italy
called upon President Wilson at the
Murat residence The monarch was
introduced to the president by Gen
end Harts.
Discussion of the American pence
terms is under way.
There is evi* n e here that the re
actionary propaganda in America is
•mbarrassing the president in his
work for peace.
It is clear the president intends to
follow a straight course on his 14
points.
It is uncertain Just what effect the
Washington dispatches prominently
eaturing the utterances of Senators
Lodge and Knox will have.
Certain it is, however, that Mr. Wil
son's popularity with the French peo
ple is great enough to render harm
less efforts to cause mischief.
Talks with Frenchmen of all walks
of life show the president’s strength
Is growing. There ore a few papers
here that mildly question America’s
purpose. Support of the president is,
however, warm and nation-wide.
It is plain from everything Mr. Wil
son has done that he has a fixed plan,
and will adhere to it in spite of opposi
tion at home.
It is possible political complications
here may follow such a policy.
Mr. Wilson earnestly desires to
maintain and strengthen the friend
ship between America anj France,
people and governments.
However, no one can forecast the
effect upon the delicate balance of the
French political situation of what is
to take place at the peace table.
NEW WAIL FROM BERLIN
Industrial Chief Says Country Is
Ruined for Generations.
London, Dec. 20. —“Germany is ru
ined for generations, politically, indus
trially and economically,” Dr. Walter
Rathenau, president of the German
General Electric company, is quoted
as declaring to the Berlin correspond
ent of the Daily Express.
“It is the greatest calamity that
has happened to any country in two
thousand years,” added Doctor Rathe
nau, who is one of the largest em
ployers of labor in Germany.
WILL PROBE RAIL SITUATION
Senate Interstate Commerce Commit
tee to Call McAdoo.
Washington, Dec. 20. —The senate in
terstate commerce committee decided
to begin an “inquiry into every phase
of the railroad situation,” beginning
hearings Thursday, January 2. Senator
Smith, chairman of the committee, an
nounced that Director General of Rail
roads McAdoo will be the first witness
and that he will be followed by rep
resentatives of the raifroads, state
railroad commissioners, shippers, cham
bers of commerce and other interested
organizations.
1/VILSOM MAY VISIT DUBLIN
Mass Meeting Is Called to Extend In
vitation to President.
Belfast, Dec. 20. —The lord mayor
of Dublin lias called a mass meeting in
Dublin for Sunday to extend an in
vitation to President Wilson to visit
Ireland, He has suggested that simi
lar meetings be held in other centers
throughout the island. Commenting
on the action of the lord mayor, the
Belfast Telegraph says that everyone
In Ulster will joi# in the invitation,
“with the important reservation that
there must not be the slightest sugges
tion of politics.”
SAYS RAIL WAGE TO STAND
McAdoo Declares Increases Were Not
Established as War Measure.
Washington. Dec. 20. —The increased
wages granted during the war to em
ployees of the railroads will not be
lowered now that hostilities have
ceased and they must not be decreased
when the railroads go back to private
ownership —if such a transition takes
place—Director General McAdoo de
clared. The raises in wages to em
ployees <tf the railroads were not es
tablished as a war measure, but were
inaugurated as a permanent measure,
he added..
__
I‘FLU’ CAUSES 105,297 DEATHS
Washington Census Bureau Gives Fig
ures for Larger Cities.
Washington, Dec. 20. —InfluAiza
paused 66,534 deaths In the larger cities
between September 14 and December
j 14, while pneumonia killed 38,763 more,
| according to census figures.
jofaied-^^
I Put your
flag in
your window
THIS SPACE CONTRIBUTED BY
WATERTOWN NEWS PUBLISHING CO.
REDS ARE GAINING
POWERIN RUSSIA
Allied Policy Regarding Eastern
Operations Is Becoming
More Important.
REASONS FOR INTERVENTION
British Secretary of War Says Allies
Are Bound to Help Slavs
Wipe Out Bolshe
vism,
London, Dec. 20. —The bolshevlki
are gaining in power in Russia, It is
indicated in recent dispatches. ThD
is particularly true iu the bordei
states, where the Germans are with
drawing. Asa result of this situation
the allied policy regarding Russian op
erations is becoming more important
Reasons for Intervention.
In response to strong protests in the
press against the secrecy maintained
concerning military operations in Rus
sia and the insistent demand by lib
eral newspapers that the government
explain and justify the continuance of
fhese operations, Viscount Milner, the
secretary of war, has issued a state
ment to the effect that the alli Q s have
an obligation of honor to protect the
Rusians and other*? who have aided
them against the bolsheviki. For the
allies to scramble out of Russia now
would threaten to involve the whole
country in barbarism, the war secre
tary declares.
The cabinet member’s statement Is
iu the form of a letter in reply to a
correspondent.
Explains Sending of Troops.
“You ask me,” says Viscount Mil
ner, in his letter, “what right we ever
had to send British troops to Russia
to meddle with the internal affairs of
that country and how long we mean to
•keep them there now that the war is
over.
“The question itself shows that you
misapprehend the facts of the case as
well as the motives of the government.
The reason why allied, not merely
British forces —indeed, the British are
only a small proportion of the totaled
allied troops —were sent to Russia is
that the bolsheviki, whatever their ul
timate object, wer**. in fact, assisting
our enemies in every possible way. It
was owing to 11• *. action that hun
dreds of thousand-- < f German troops
were let loose to hurl themselves
against our men on the western front,
who handed over the Black sea fleet
to the Germans, and who treacherous
ly attacked the Czccho-Sfovaks when
the latter only des ; red to get out of
Russia in order to fi ,r hf for the free
dom of their own country in Europe.
The allies, every >■" ■ of them, vycm-
WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1918.
When you have that button pinned on your
coat, you can look the whole world in the face
—and feel proud.
It means you have answered “present” to the
Red Cross Christmas Roll Call for 1919. It
means that you have placed your personal
stamp of approval on the work of the Greatest
Mother in the and that you have given
her the moral support of your membership.
Red Cross work must go on!
As long as Americans are under arms across
the sea, as long as the results of war, pestilence
and famine afflict the world, the need for the
Red Cross will exist.
America has never failed in doing its full
duty that duty now is universal member
ship in the Red Cross.
io in the Red Cross
- all you need is a heart and a dollar
most anxious to :r old interference in
Russia, but it was an obligation of
honor to save the Czecho-Slovaks ami
it was military necessity of the most
urgent kind to prevent those vast por
tions of Russia which were struggling
to escape the tyranny of the bolshe
vik! from being overrun by them and
tbrowjn open as a source of supply
to the enemy.
Cannot Desert Russian Friends.
“I say nothing of the fact that a
vast portion of the earth’s surface and
millions of people friendly to the al
lies have been spared the unspeakable
horrors of bolshevik rule.. But in
course of this allied intervention
thousands of Russians have taken up
arms and fought on the side of the
allies. How can we. simply because
our owu immediate purposes have
been served, come away and leave
them to the tender mercies of their
and our enemies?”
HUM PROPAGANDA AT WORK
State Department Explains Reports of
Allied Disagreements.
Washington, Dec. 20.—Hernian prop
aganda still is at work in the United
States, the state department was in
formed in a dispatch froiy The Hague.
A Professor Brinckmann, who direct
ed propaganda in this country from
'i'he Hague during the war. was said
to he in charge of the present opera
tions.
Officials here assumed that the in
formation was sent from The Haaue
to explain the spreading of reports
that the United States and the allies
are not in agreement over certain is
sues to he dealt with at the peace con
ference.
The report to the department said
Professor Brinckmann is being liber
ally supplied with money and that a
vicious anti-American document is he
ng circulated by the Brinckmann bu
reau. The money to pay the expenses
•jf the propaganda office is being ex
pended through German official chan
nels, according to the department’s
statement.
FtX SOLD ERS’ HONOR MARK
Two Scarlet Chevrons to Be Worn by
Discharged U. S. Fighters.
Washington, Dec. 20. Secretary
Baker directed that each soldier hon
orably discharged he furnished with
two scarlet chevrons to lie worn on the
left sleeve as a recognition of his serv
ice to the country.
Blast Home of Car Man.
Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 20. —The
home of Charles E. Spence, a motor
man in the employ of the Kansas City
Street Railways company 25 years,
was dynamited. The house was badly
damaged, but none of the occupants
was Injured. Spence is one of the mo
fAirmen who did not join in the strike,
and has been operating a car since the
resumption of partial car service.
0
Wear your
button
Will you be wear
ing your member
ship button when
the boys com*
borne?
Join
TWO EX-KAISERS ILL
Former Empress Alone Attends
the Fallen Hohenzollern.
Emperor Charles of Austria and Four
Children Are Hit by the
Grip Epidemic.
Amerongen, Holland, Dec. 20. —For-
mer Emperor William has been con
fined to his bed since Sunday with a
severe chill. His indisposition has
brought about a renewal of his old ear
trouble, necessitating the calling in of
a specialist, a professor from Utrecht,
to assist the local doctor.
The cons amt worry of the last five
weeks and his virtual imprisonment
in Count Bentinek’s castle here have
changed William Hohrenzollern’s ap
pearance considerably. Instead of the
ruddy complexion he wore, his face
has become ashen, his hair and mus
tache gray and his features deeply
lined. Since he has lain in bed ill
his face has remained unshaven and
the seventy-two hours’ growth of
beard seems to have added ten years
to his age.
The ex-emperor’s favorite adjutant,
Capt. Sigurd von llseiuann, also Is ill
and the former empress has become
her husband’s sole attendant.
No strangers are permitted to enter
the castle grounds under any pretext,
while all arrivals in the village are
being most closely watched.
Copenhagen, Dec. 20. —Former Em
peror Charles of Austria-Hungary and
four of his children are suffering from
inffuenza, according to a telegram
from Vienna. The former emperor
has a very high fever.
BIGGEST DRINK IN WORLD
Seized Liquors to Be Dumped Into the
Father of Waters.
St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 20.—What state
officials termed the “world’s biggest
cocktail” will he mixed in the Missis
sippi river on Sunday. Hundreds of
dollars worth of liquors seized
throughout the state for violations of
orders issued by the state safety com
mission will be dumped into the “Fa
ther of Waters.”
It is understood that a considerable
quantity of liquor of high quality will
not be destroyed. It will he sent to
state hospitals to he used for medic
inal purposes.
4 NEGROES SLAIN BY GUARD
Blacks Shot Between Eyes When
They Attempt to Escape.
Bainhrldge, Ga., Dec. 20. —Guard
Story shot and killed four negroes, who
attempted to escape from the Decatur
county farm. When the negroes at
tacked the guard he tired, hitting each
one between the eyes.
THE SAVIOR OF PARIS
NOW MARSHAL OF FRANCE
MARSHALJOFFRE
MADE IMMORTAL
General Is Formally Received as
a Member of the French
Academy.
PRESIDINT W!LS(H PRESENT
French Chief Executive, Mme Poin
care and Mrs. Wilson Also Witness
Ceremony—Great General Re
fers to Vital Aid Rendered
by America.
Furls, Doc. 20. —Marshal Joffre now
is formally numbered among France's
10 Immortals. The victor of the
Marne was made a member of the
’rench academy.
Promptly upon the stroke of one
Marshal Joffre arrived at the institute,
Tossing the Seine over the Pout des
Arts, accompanied by his sponsor, Ga
briel Tanotaux, and his aid de camp,
Commandant Jouart.
President Wilson and Mrs. Wilson
arrived shortly before one o’clock and
were followed a few minutes later by
President and Mme. Poincare. Mme.
Poincare and Mrs. Wilson sat togeth
er in a box. President Wilson was
cheered as he took his seat in the vis
itors’ box.
Marshal Joffre wore the undress
uniform of marshal of France, hav
ing demurred at wearing the elaborate
costume of an academician.
Enters as Marshal of France.
“It is as a marshal of France that I
enter the academy,” said the noted
soldier. “And it is dressed as such
that I shall present myself there.”
After reviewing the part played in
the war by France, Belgium and the
other allies Marsha. Joffre said:
“However, so much heroism and
resolution would not have sufficed had
not the allied peoples taken part in
ihe 'battle. It was In the conviction
that they were fighting for right that
tlie allied nations found the strength
■to sacrifice and the certainty of ulti
mate victory. The power of these
noble sentiments has been evoked, in
terms which are ever prusent in our
memory, by' the great President Wil
son, while they inspired him to most
generous action.”
Tribute to American Aid,
Alluding to bis visit to the United
States in 1017, Marshal Joffre said:
“While in the midst of the Ameri
can crowds I was living hours which I
number among the sweetest of ray
life. I had divined the need for sacri
fices on their part awakened in the
soul of this generous people by the
heroism of our soldiers and the jus :
tice of our cause. In order that France
might live in prosperity, that Belgium
might re-establish herself, that liberty
might reign and right be reinstated
America arose and resolved to throw
into the fight her last man and her last
dollar,
“History does not record a more
marvelous achievement than that of
millions of men voluntarily breaking
away from their peaceful pursuits to
cross the seas, where lurked death; to
come thousands of miles from their
country to give up their lives for a
noble cause, a great ideal.”
Joffre Gives Credit to PcMu.
Jean Riohen’n replied to the. o-•• f t r> i
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of Marshal Joffre. Every mention of
President Wilson and the United
States was cheered. When M. Riche
pin referred ro Marshal Joffre as the
victor of the Marne the marshal arose
and said:
“It is not I; it is the Poilu.”
All eyes turned to a blind French
soldier who was standing at salute in
the front row of the balcony. The sol
dier stood at rigid attention while loud
cheers, led by President and Mrs. Wil
son, resounded through the hall.
As the audience filed out an old
man was heard reciting to himself In
a trembling voice:
“Any unit which can advance no
more must at all costs hold the con
quered ground or be killed on the spot
rather than retreat.”
The words were an extract from
Marshal Joffre’s order of the day at
the start of the battle of the Marne,
which opened the doors of the French
academy for him,
BERLIN IN NEW PLEA
Germans Again Appeal to Wilson
to Save Fatherland.
Must Have Food, Says Communica
tion Sent Through the Swedish
Foreign Office.
Stockholm, Dec. 20—The Swedish
foreign office has handed to American
Minister Morris a commnalcation
from the German minister In Stock
holm on behalf of the German govern
ment, appealing to President Wilson
for leniency to the German people.
r I he communication of the minister de
clares that unless the food situation
in Germany Is Improved there Is grave
danger of “more serious social dis
turbances.”
Loudon, Dec. 20.—An extremely con
fused and doubtful situation has aris
en in the Berlin congress of soldiers
and workmen’s councils, according to
dispatches from Berlin and telegrams
from correspondents of the
newspapers. Invasions of the congress
by irresponsible parties of extremists
are reported, leading to frequent up
roars. These have resulted in a state
of high tension with threats of the
Ebert government to resign.
The newspaper Yorwaerts, repre
senting the government, refers to the
danger of the whole apparatus of the
government falling apart. It takes the
most serious view of the situation.
NEW ZONE SYSTEM ADOPTED
Senate Repeals Second Class Postage
Rate System.
Washington, Dec. 20. —The senate
adopted, 34 to 22, the committee
amendment to the war revenue bill
providing for repeal of the present
zone system of second-class postage
rates and substitution of a rate of 1
cent a pound within 150 miles and 1%
cents a pound beyond.
CAPITAL SEIZED BY PETLURA
Ukrainian Separatist Troops Capture
Kiev—Hetman Abdicates.
Odessa, Dec. 20. —Ukrainian sepa
ratist troops of the Petlura forces en
tered Kiev, the capita' of the Ukraine.
The hetman of the Ukraine abdicated.
Telegraphic communication between
Odessa and Kiev has been resumed.
A division of French troops is expect
ed to arrive la Odessa to-morrow.
No. 90.