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mwft . v i? THE WEATHER. Fair Thursday, except rain In north Portion Friday; Friday, fair, moderate outheatt winds. Highest temperature yesterday, 73 de grees; lowest, 64 degrees. The World's Greatest Story France as She Is Today By Geo. Randolph Chester Now appearing in The Journal VOL. XXL NO. 59. PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 28, 1918. PRICE FIVE CENTS 111 Hi Ml IIIMI7MII W WW i TEUTOISiOIE rOWARD THE . CAPITAL This Despite Germany's At tempt to Change World's Opinion Her Interest. 3AS SHELLS APE USED IN ATTACK merican Sector Reached to Deadly Effect With the Poisonous Explosives. While the Herman Tmneriftl Gov .'rnnient is trying to convince the . 'rrld of it? disinter stediiess in Ras- jia's future, the Teutcnic annie? ' idvance toward Fetrograd continues.' Gorman batteries bombarded the . American sector with gas shells and ;hrec Americans are reported to have Jied from the effects of gas, and " nine others suffered severely. There ; is strong indications of a long herald- j ?d German drive along the French ! rnd British fronts impending. An intense aerial activity is reported, to- L-ether with raids, over a wide area ?n the fic-htin? fronts. . PrirroH FoK 97 Henem! TTnff- S tiar.. commanding the German irmv"."i mricn lurpeao Doau invaciinir Russia, said the Teuton ad- ,"4,t ats are, st.VI --e v o'ld 'ont'-uir i'itil a trw pece is signed, carried out along ines laid down in German peace , erms . " J FIND I ITTI E D1FFICITLTY J IN OCCUPYING CAPITOL i ; London. Feb. 27- If special dis 1 pjtrhes from Fetrograd gaup-e accu-1 rately the situation then the Ger- art Castle was sunk in the Bristol "The ten known survivors got away . rns are likely to find little difff : channel at 4 a. m. yesterday. She in the first life raft. Four got away i i -ilv n occupying the city with was outward bound and had all her ; on the second life" raft, but two were , trained troops. Russian soMieM lights-burning. There were no pa-j washed overboard and the other two r-'te frankly refuse to fight and sav tients on board. ' (were dead when picked up by a Brit- "w hav hd enough of fighting- Jf "Survivors have been landed by anjish steamer." tS Germans "come let them take us." American torpedo boat destroyer. The navy department lator made There is a stiffer attitude anion F.isrht boats are still adrift. Fur-' public the names of the? ten surviv the workmen from whom, if at al!.ther information will be published as ors landed at Philadelphia. They res:pta""e t the Gcimns must , received." are: n-r. Even tho'ich for lack of train- According to the Exchange Tele-, Boatswain E. M. Sennott. Boston. t- inc r resisLainc biiuuhj t litt'e valu". thev are said to be en- rolling with ertiuiasm m response to the call of the Bolsheviki leaders. REN. PERCHING T7F.PORTS CASUALTIES IN ARMY Washington, Feb. 27. One AmeTi ran soldier was killed and two slight !v wcundod in action, jnd Homer J. Terry, of Porterdale, Geortria, were i among the three other soldiers who died of natural causes, General Ter shing reported today. GROWING STRAIN BETWEEN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA Washington, Feb. 27- Further ev idence of the crowing strain of rela tions between Germany and Austria yver the refusal of Austria to par ticipate in a renewed attack upon Russia i9 contained in an official dispatch from France, which refers to a meeting between Emperors Wil iiam and Charles. The dispatch said there is little doubt that a serious ronflict has arisen between the two aowers, which Germany has deter ninel to settle by violent measures f necessary. , IAPAN PROPOSES TO OPERATE IN SIBERIA Washington. Feb. 27. Criticism at Home of a failure of Japan to plav a larger part in the war. is said to -ave been influential in bringing the Japanese government inquiries to the Entente and United States to test the;r feelings toward a proposal"1 to institute joint military operations in Siberia to save vast quantities of war upplies and it was said when the proposition was first broached it was ,-ot wholly acceptable to America, though changes may modify negotia tions. GERMAN DIPLOMATIC LETTERS READ AT TRIAL San Francisco, Feb. 27. Intercept ?1 Grman diplomatic correspondence nded to show how German maHi ttion carried a band of Hindu plot ters into private audiences of min isters and financed their aims to vard a revolt agaist British rule in India, was introduced by the United States government today in closing it. case aeainst thirty defendants rharced with fomenting a revolution In India. Most of the correspond Tice was dated at Rye. New Yok. ince the summer . residence of the Grenr.an Embassy. LT. S. MAY REHABILITATE SPAIN'S RAILROAD SYSTEM Washington, Feb. 27. Rehabilita tion of the Spanish railroad system s planned by the United States to nake possible the shipment of large quantities of supplies from Spain to General Pershing's forces. Spain has mbargoed goods to France and all allies because her railroads have INDEFINITE, RESPITE BEEN GRANTED FIVE CONVICTED TROOPERS Washington, Feb. 27. An in definite respite has been granted five negro Boldiers of the 24th infantry, . sentenced by court martial to be hanged for partici pation in the Houston riots. The number and character of appeals for clemency reaching the presi dent from clergymen and negro orgaizations caused the respite. The president has notified the war department that he will sus 'pend action on the cases until he has received the record of the court martial proceedings in the cases of over thirty other mem bers of the regiment now being tried at San Antonio. Thirteen of the rioters already have been hanged and a' large number are servig prison terms. HOSPITAL SHIP ic nnru nr.r. t iSteamshiP Rescues Ten of 1 S P R E Y F 0 R A ! Crew f FVt severai SEA SLINKER! erDyingli STEAMER SENT DOWN BUT FOR-' TITXT 1 T17I If 1 Tt .-..-. n w Tm iuii.iir,iii. hau rsuTstu iiui mrw nnnn ifit np whom thLW ABOARD, 161 OI WHOM ARE MISSING . , 4 . Msociatea i L,onaon, reb. 2i. The British hos- piw" niP .lenart Castle was sunk Psterda-V in, the Bristol channel, it "".uuncc omciauy. mere were no parents on ooara. burvivors were J ne uienart castle, b bu tons gross fn( 4.40 Ion,? was built at Bel- fstn 1?06- She was owned in bouthampton. , The Bristol channel is an arm o? the Atlantic extending into the south-J colcl" var Vl oreai, rrix,am De- tween Jnirland and Wales. The official report follows: "The British hospital ship Glen-! L'rapn company 101 persons are 1 missing from the Glenart Castle. THIRTY-FOUR SURVIVORS . ARE LANDED AT SWANSEA Swansea, Wales, Feb. 27. Thirty four survivors of the Clenart Castle have been landed here. The number of persons on board is said to have been 200. WAS FORMER LUCKENBACK i STEAMER BEFORE THE WARi New York, Feb. J27. The tug Cherokee, formerly wa known as the Edgar F. Luckenbach land was requi sitioned by the Unitei States navy in October 1917. She was built in 1891 at Camden, N. J.J and register ed 273 tons gross. The tug prior to being taken over for government use was engaged in towing barges be tween North Atlantic Coast ports. Two. of the eleven members of the Cherokee's crew died soon after being taken aboard a British tank steamer which responded to the sink ing ship's S. O- S. call, according to officers of an American steamship which arrived here today. The of ficers said they picked up the Chero kee's distress signal early vesterday and headed toward the northeast end lightship of the Delaware capes where they sighted the. British tank er. Officers aboard the British ves sel signalled that they had picked up eleven men, a part of the Chero kee's crew, whom they had found on a raft an hour previously. LIBERTY THEATRE TO OPEN MARCH 1 On Monday, March 4th. the Liberty Theatre will open at 1S-20- West In tendencia street in the building form erly occupied by the Empress. In opening his new vaudeville and picture house it is announced that it will be under the management of James Ar nold, who has had twenty-five years of experience in this business. Mr. Arnold promises Pensacola theatre goers clean production in a modern hojse. Carpenters and decorators have been at work on the building for some time remodeling and renovating it, and when opened to the public next week it is expected to at once prove popu lar. ALIEN SLACKER BILL IS PASSED Wasnlngton, Feb. 27. The so called alien slacker bill, authorizing the deportation of aliens of draft age' claiming itiuiwry exemption ana au thorizing the drafting of any aliens for agricultural of manufacturing work was passed by the house to night. It is applicable for citizens of countries at war with Germany, and provides they be forever barred from citizenship. THIRTY ill LOSTOSTTEiPTIlie Si! QIC SHIPTO BLA Tug Cherokee, Formerly Luckenbach Steamer, Founders in Storm. SURVIVORS ARE BROUGHT TO, PORT J Washington, Feb. 27 Thirty of- I ficers and enlisted men of the naval ?u c,herokee are believed to have been lost when the vessel foundered fieruay morning in a fierce gale ff Fe"wi jsland liffhtship 22 miles from the Delaware capse. I Ten s"rvvors who got away on the j first -life raft were safely landed; our other men got away on another .raft, but two were washed overboard -- A. 1 . . ana drowned and the other twn AoA probably of exposure. The four bodies were taken into Philadelphia. The Cherokee, formerly was a tug oi me uctcenbach steamship line and not long ago was ivii was requisitioned Dy me Euvernmem. The navr department made this announcement: "The navy department is advised that the U. S. S. Cherokee, a navy tug, foundered yesterdav mornine off the Atlantic coast. Of the forty aboard five officers and C5 enlisted men, ten naa been landed at last ac- counts, these having been taken to Philadelphia. Four dead were picked un bv steamshins 1,. I'. Arkernian. seaman. H. P. Povnter, fireman. R. H. Hall, seaman C. E. Barker, chief machinist'3 mate. R. A. Kozeck, fireman. P. H. Warmack. fireman. A. A- Wailim, oiler. E. L. Gudsret. fireman. B. F. Brumfield. radio electrician, ARRIVING STEAMER BRINGS IN SURVIVORS An Atlantic Tort. Feb. 27. A British steamship which arrived here today signalled the quarantine sta tion that she had aboard ten surviv ors and the bodies of ten of the crew of the Cherokee. Later the navv department was ad vised that incoming shins were car rying four bodies to Philadelphia and that the ten survivors previously re ferred to were the only, ones known out of the complement of five offi cers and thirty-five enlisted men. A wireless station yesterdav morn ing picked up a call for help from the Cherokee, then about fifteen miles off the coast. Immediately a naval coast patrol crew manned a small cutter and started out in a fifty mile gale to search for the distressed tug After an all day hunt the crew re turned last night and reported that nothing had been found. It is sup posed passing vessels had picked up the survivors and the dead before the cutter reached the scene. The Cherokee was 120 feet long. The captain of the ship which res cued the survivors said he picked up yesterday morning the Cherokee's call for help. No trace of the tug culd be found but a life raft to which 12 men -were lasted was sighted. When the men wer finallv taken on board, he said, all of them were either unconscious or partly so. The crew worked over them for hours and ten were restored to consciousness. Two died. WAS FORMER LUCKENBACH TAKE OVER SMALL TOWN Fetrograd. Feb. 27. Nevo Tcher kask, capital of the territory of Don Cossacks, was captured by revolu tionary troops, it is officially an nounced. STORM WARNINGS ARE HOISTED AT PENSACOLA TODAY Washington, Feb. 27. Storm warnings were or dered displayed tonight on the Gulf coast, from Pen sacola to Brownsville, Texas, the weather bu reau announced. GUILTY ill J. W. Cook, Atlanta, Real Estate Man, Sentence to Year in Fen. MAYOR CANDLER v WAS PROSECUTOR Woman in Case. Be Tried Tomorrow for Her Alleged Connection With Affair. Atlanta, Feb. 27. J. W. Atlanta real estate man. victed of attempting to Asa G- Candler, the Cook, the! was con blackmail millionaire IT ... . . i AUa3 or oi Atlanta, and sentenced to year in the penitentiary and fined (one thousand dollars, which i3 maxi- j mum penalty for the charge. The trial -was one of the speediest in the history of local courts. A rob- tion for a new trial was made( and March Ifith wa fn- , a a.. '""""n aigumciiis n niie VOOK s oona was lived at three thousand dollars The case acrainst Mrs. Mare-arpt Hirsch, indicted pointly with Cook, will be called Friday. Because of the prominent parties interested, crowds . thronged the courtroom. Mayor Candler's testi mony was largely a repetition of a statement he gave to the grandjury, denying he had ever tak3n liberties with Mrs. Hirsch. The defense depended solely upon a brief statement of Cook. In response to questions by Attor- iney Reuben K. Arnold, associate the prosecution. Mr. counsel ior Candler- said he became acquainted with Mrs, Hirsch in the summer of 1917 when she came to his office In the city hall accompanied bv another woman. She was interested in sell ing an automobile by tickets for the benefit of the Red Cross. She was in doubt as to whether the city ordi nances would permit, this plan. Sev eral days later the. mayor testified Mrs. Hirsch came to see him he be lieve it was in his office in the Car er building to request his as sistance in handling some tickets on the automobile at a dinner to be given in honor of Brigadier General Eben Swift. Here Attorney Arnold"" asked the mayor some questions that were ruled out bv Judee Hill on the ground of irrelevancy. Arnold then took up the Mavor Candler. General Swift and Mrs. Hirsch. "I had nothing to do with the ar rangement of that gTOup," said Mayor Candler. "The photographer selected the people he wanted in the picture and I simply consented to his arrangement. My recollection is fcnf about a dozen people were., in the snapshot, although, only three pf us appeared in the newspaper repro duction." . Continuing his account of his ac quaintance with Mrs. Hirsch. the mavor said: "Mrs. Hirsch call! on me a time or two later m mv onice in xne Candler building- The conversation all the time was about tickets for the automobile. She did nothing that indicated she was not a. lady. . She visited me once in my office in the city hall. I think that was last Jan uarv. She was interested then in se curing enforcement of the laws agaist cruelty to animals. She asked that a new humane officer be as signed to this work. , . t Vier acrain' on Februarv 4 on Forsyth street, on my way from the citv hall to the Candler building. She asked me for a conference that afternoon in my office in the Cand ler buildig. I told her it would be impossible, but I wouM see her on Wednedav afternoon, Februarv 6 at 4 o'clock in my office in the Candler building ' She d'd not state the mat ter she -wished to discuss with me, although she made mention of the Humane society. ' On Wednesday afternoon. Febru arv she came to mv office in the Candler . building. She removed her coat and at down beside the table. The door from mv private office into the hall was locked on the outside, as it alwavs 13. " . "She had hardly seated herself, be fore she sprang up and . exclaimed that she saw a man outside the win dow. I remarked that it was proba blv a window washer and turned around to look, but saw nobody. Mrs. Hirsch claimed it was "not a window w-rsher but a well dressed white man standing on the ledge. I again turned vad to look out of the window. When I turned back to.Mrs. Hirsch J i -removed her hat and had! opened the door leading into the hall- j a maa was standing in the door and immediately enwreo me of fice. I had never seen him or heard of him before. He said: "Our honorable mayor, this is v . . - - . , . i j j ai (Continued on Page Eight) OU 0 CKi RELATIONS OF ARM ARID RED GROSS P General Orders Recently Is sued by Secretary Baker .Defiines Them. LINES CLEARLY ESTABLISHED Until Now Two Organiza tions Been Subject to Or ders Commanding Gens. Washington Bureau The Pensacola-Journal BY GEORGE H. MANNING. Washington, D. C, Feb. 27 The re lations between the Army and the Red Cross in camps and cantonment in the United States are clearly e- ! tablished in General Orders, ro. 1. issued by Secretary of Wrar Baker These relations have not heretofore been well defined but have been sub ject to the wishes and orders of the commanding: generals in charge. It is his desire, as it should be the desire of all officers of the Army, Sec retary F.akcr says In his order, to d everything; possible for the comfort and welfare of the soldiers, and in thai connection to make- full use of the as sistance offered by the RW. Cross. Henry F. Davidson, chairman of the Red Cross War Council, in a letter to IT. B. Wallace, Director General of Military Relief, American Red Cross, f tates that Secretary - Baker's order opens up a ?arg-e and important work for the Red Cross and that in order t to conduct ik properly the organiza tion will imnfediately increase its per sonnel and number of representatives in each army camp. . ; The proper activities of J the Red Cross-a s d methods for carrying .them on are outlined bj Setfetary Baker in General Orders, Xo,'17, as follow; 1. To distribute sweaters, mufflers, helmets, socks, comfort kits, etc., and to receive the assistance and coopera-, tion of all officers in making the dis tribution fair, equal and where most'! needed. ' ! 2. To render emeryencj' relief of everj kind upon the request or sug gestion of an ofFVrer in charge. Ah officers are instructed to avail them selves of this assistance whenever, in thei opinion, advisable. 3. :' To relieve the anxiety and t sustain the morale of soldiers who ar worried about their families at horns and to promote th comfort and well being of these families, authority is given to th& American Red Cross to tjuHce one or more repeentatives of ihe Home Service Bureau of the De partment of Civilian Relief at the ser vice of the men of each division of the army wherever located. The sol-: diers should be informed through offi cial orders of "the presence of such representative and that the Red Cross is able and willing to serve both sol diers and their families when. In need jof any helpful service. 4. To conduct canteen service sta tions for furnit-hing: refreshments to feoldiers when traveling through the country, to furnish emergency relief to the sick and wounded when en routj and to see that they are conveyed to a hospital when neessary and request ed by the commanding officer. 5. A representative of the American Red Cross may b attached to each base hospital to furnish emergency supplies when called upon, to com municate with the families of patients, to render home service to patients and such other assistance a pertains to Red Cross work, I 6. A Field Director of the American Red Cross is to be in charge of th work at each d-ivlsion headquarters. 7. Officials of the Red Cross, as signed on duty with the -troops will wear the regulation Red Cross uni form and Insignia. 8. - The commanding officer at all camps and cantonments are authorized to furnish to the Red Cross anything they may request, within reason; such as warehouses, offices, light, heat, tele phones, etc., to assist them in prop erly carrying on their work. FLYING CADET IS KILLED IN PLANE DROP Houston, ' Texas, Feb. -Ham mitt K. Elliott, who enlisted as a fly- j ing cadet from Hadden Heights, New f Jersey, was killed near here this af ternoon when he failed to right his airplane when essaying a tail spin- AERO CLUB HELPS. New York. Feb. 27. Stirred by the increasing number of fatalities in the United States army training camps, patriotic New Yorkers are , - , a -.1. backing a plan to furnish athletic coaches to cadet flyers and forbid them to ascend unless - they are in perfect physical and mental condi tion, the Aero Club of - America an nounced. ' NCI I SUB-OFFICE COAST SURVEY INSTALLED AT NEW ORLEANS Washington, Feb. 27. To keep more directly in touch with ship ping in the Gulf of Mexico and te coast the geodetic survey will establish a sub-office in New Orleans March 1. Captain J. B. Boutelle will be in charge. The sub-office will co-operate fully with steamship lines, yacht club3, mariners and others so that dangers discovered, changes in channels and various other kinds of information needed by the survey for keeping its nau tical publication up to date, shall be made available to the public as promptly as possible. A complete .file of the latest edi tions of charts and publications will be installed at the office. SMILEAGE BOOK CAMPAIGNOPENS IN CITY TODAY NEW DRIVE LOOKING TO REACH SOLDIERS IN CANTONMENT AND TRAINING CAMPS IS STARTED. Pensacolians will be given an op portunity "of doing, their bit to what is known as the Smfleage Campaign, and in ' lending co-operation to this movement, and in purchasing one of the Smileage books, it is a mwe in me ngni direction, ior n is neip ing a soldier or a sailor in the train ing camps or cantonments. The campaign opens in this city today. and the books will sell at $1 each. In the thirty-two big national army and national camps large theatres and tents have been put up in which regular theatrical companies will give regular shows, such as "Turn to the Pvight," "Inside the Lines," and "Cheating Cheaters." Real vau deville from Keith's circuit by spec ial companies, who will play only at the camps; the best concerts, movies and lectures will also be given. All this is being done urider the direc tion ' of the - war department commis sion on ' training camp activities. Smileage book coupons will admit the soldier free to these entertainments, and it is up to those who are not in the camps to help brighten the hours of "the boys" there. Beginning this morning, a drive will be made to sell at least one thousand books in Pensacola, at one dollar each- It is hoped that the cam paign will-be finished this week. W. C. Mackey is general chairman In charge of this local drive. He has appointed ten sub-committeemen, as follows: Mrs. J. W. Malone, D- B. MacMillan, F. E. Osgood, Mrs. Max U Bear, S. T. Mc Adams. C. F. Zeek. Jas. A. White. George W. Howe. H. A. Lurton and Hunter Brown. These sub-committeemen are expected to name ten workers. URGE APPOINTMENT OF ANOTHER FEDERAL JUDGE IN FLORIDA Washington, Feb. 27. A delega tion from Florida, consisting of for mer Senator Nathan Bryan, George C. Bedell, Jacksonville; J. C. Cooper, Jr., Jacksonville: W. H. Hunter, Tampa, and W. W. Dewhurst, St. Au- Sistine, appeared with Congressmen ark, Kehoe, Sears and Drane. be fore the house judiciary committee todav to urge the passage of the bill providing an additional United States Judge for Florida. This bill, which was introduced in the senate by Sen ator Fletcher, and in the house by Congressman Clark has passed the tenate. ANOTHER BIG PRIZE DANCE TO BE GIVEN Among the many enjoyable dances given for the service men recently, and . one, of the most successful one, was given at the popular hall Tuesday day evening, the service men's Grand Priz Waltz Ball, at which one of the local bands , furnished music The other attractions were the gold prizes offered for the best lady and gentle men dancer on the floor. The lady prize was won by Miss Ruby Norwood, while Mr. Frank Anderson, U. S. X., carried off the gentlemen's prize. So much elated over the success of Tuesday evening dance, the entertain ment committee has promised another enjoyable dance for this evening, a feature of this being the Jazz band and cash prizes for both lady and gen tlemen dancers. BREEZY TESTIMONY AT PROBE OF PACKERS Chicago, Feb. 27. Letters setting forth a desire that John Eversman, recently assistant secretary of the Republican national committee, to represent packers at Washington, and of his employment by the Wilson Company as its Washington represen tative, enlivened the hearing today of the federal trade commission's in guiry into ha rQ,lf '""trvJ. SKIPPER HELD FO BRING ALiEypy Captain of Dutch Schooner Taken in Custody at In stance District Attorney. UNDER BOND FOR . HIS PRELIMINARY Government Claims Brought German Citizen Into the United States. Cantaln T? Xxr-r.A-. Dutch schooner Hoogaiand I was ar rested, at tflA 1iMM.lA T -A I States , District Attorney John L. Neelev vesterriav tft.n. - iv tl8 of TOlating' the "trading with the enemy act- by bringing Robert Rerlrof .r. -iu- -l Tli the United States. JI was released m oona, ana jus nearmg is mat for this mnrninir Kcfnyo f . Sullivan. Robert Trlry 4V. the government alleges was brought to this rounfcrv kv rUm.j. tu- man, surrendered to the, federal au thorities Monday, statinsr.that Ha had registered on the ship aa a Dane, but that he was afraid of beinr -- ered and shot aa a spy. He formerly lived m Tensacola and left here last April, after the declaration of war stating that he liable for military dutv in Cermantr. a d. ... - of Berlin. T Trifle? tti 4.Mjt-. ixt. wbuujk who ine enemy act," all intercourse with the ciicinjr ia uroiaaen except when per mission is given by the . war trada board.' Section 3, (b) makes it an offenM lrmJKA lf- fVlA Ptefe 4a M . , ivaiuvuii! w ix an s port or attempt to transport, into or xiwiit me u ru lcu oiates, or ior any owner mait nv .- charge of a vessel of American reg- lony tu innnpon, or attempt to trainsport from any place to any an enTn v n a11 .mw : J v. wmj Vi VHVill m kllllj with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that the person transport, ed or attempted to be transported in buvu buujcci. or citizen. COOPER CHARGED WITH MAKING FALSE STATEMENT Paul Cooner was arrested bv United States Deputy Harshal C. P. McMillan yesterday afternoon on a warrant charging him with violation or the selective service act by mak ing a false statement as to his lia bility for military duty. . ; . It is . specifically charred that Cooper stated on his ouestionaire that his wife was solely and entirely dependant upon him . for support, whereas the government allege, she holds a position paying a salary upon which she could live. Cooper is employed at the air sta- " tion and the government alleges that the dependency of his wife is Pot true, and that it is ot ground for ex emption, or deferred classification. BALFOUR REPLIES TO GBRMAN CHANCELLOR London, Feb. 27 Foreism Secre tary Balfour, replying today to ' speech of the Germn Imperial Chan cel or, regarding the doctrine of bal ance of power, said until German mil itarism had been abandoned and there existed a hall or court armed with executive powers makinar the weak as safe as the strong, it would never be possible to ignore the prin ciples of an underlying struggle for the balance of power. Balfour told the house of commons he was unable to find in the Chancel- ors, speech any basis for af ruitful conversation of any hope for peace. He said the Chancellor s attitude con cerning Belgium was completely un satisfactory and his lip service to President Wilson's propositions were not exemplified in German practice. EIGHTEEN BRITISH ; SHIPS TORPEDOED London, Feb. 27 Eighteen British merchantmen were sunk by mine or submarine last week the British admiralty report. Fourteen of these were more than 1,600 tons- Seven fishing vessels were also sunk. Base losses for last week show a considerable increase over the previous week when fifteen, vessels were destroyed.