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The Weather Report New Haven, Feb. . 20 For Bridgeport and vicinity: Fair and much colder tonight and Thursday. VOL. 54 NO. 44 EST. 1790 TURKS IN PALESTINE FACING NEW FOE, DE CLARES SECRETARY BAKER IN WEEKLY RE VIEWALLIED FORCES GETTING READY FOR EXPECTED OFFENSIVE BY HUNS. Washington, Feb. 20 After extensive preparations silent ly and systematically carried on, it is apparent that both the Germans and the Allies are ready for the long expected offen sive in the west, Secretary Baker says today in his review of military operations for the week ending Feb. 16. "While there have been outwardly no new developments In the military situation in the west during the period under review," says the communique, "yet it is apparent that both the ene my and the Allies, after extensive pre parations, which have been silently and systematically carried on, are ready for battle. The Germans have recently withdrawn a number of their veteran west front units from the first line trenches and are busily training them in mobile warfare. "According to advices received, the German general staff hopes that by massing a large number of these pick ed shock battalions, which have been intensively trained, they may deliver a crushing blow. , "The bulk of the German forces are row assembled in the west. But a large number of these units are whol ly untrained in the method of western front warfare which differs radically from that conducted along other fronts. Furthermore, the German higher command realize fully that their forces will meet with far more difficult tactical obstacles than any hitherto encountered by an attacking army. A break through was possible, in Russia only after the morale of the Russians had been undermined; the same was true in Italy and we wit nessed how speedily the Italian line -was mended. 'TOOTlng the week there has been much activity of a minor character along the entire western front. "As has already ibeen announced, In Lorraine a segment of the line Is en tirely under the control of our forces. Along our front patrol encounters were numerous. The Germans under took a raid against our positions and. succeeded in inflicting a few casual ties. A small American patrol, while routing In No Man's Land was am bushed by the enemy. "The weather was very rainy dur ing the first part of the week and our troops were busy manning the pumps In an effort to keep their trenches dry. Later clear weather prevailed and hostile air craft made frequent flights to reconnoiter our positions. A marked Improvement in 0ur anti-air craft barrage is reported. Artillery duels took place and the Germans howered our lanes with gas shells. which, however, caused no casualties owing to efficient gas mask protee tion. "In Champagne, units of American artillery participated in an engage ment undertaken by French forces. This operation was the most import ant of the week in the west. After (Continued on Page 2) SIXTY MACHINISTS WALK OUT OF ORDNANCE PLANT MEN CLAIM THAT ONE OF THIS MORNING BECAUSE OVERTIME MADE TO Because one of the nmchinists employed at the- Liberty vOrdnance Co., plant refused to work overtime and was dis charged this morning about 60 machinists, toolmakers and in spectors on the day shift walked out at 8 o'clock today. EARTHQUAKE KILLS 10 SCORE IN SWATOW Amoy, China, Feb. 20 Reports reaching here today from the districts visited by earthquakes last Wednes day show some loss of life and heavy damage resulting. Two hundred deaths were reported from Swatow. Many persons were injured. One-fifth of the buildings, it was said, were destroyed and the rest were damaged. Great damage was reported from Chong Fue and delta towns. BERLIN APPROVES UKRAINE TREATY Amsterdam, Feb. 20. The Federal Council of the German) Empire, a dis patch trim Berlin says, has approved th-peac-treaty -wlta-xne UKraine, HALF TON GOAL LOTS TO PUBLIC ON NEXT MONDAY The family portion of one-quarter ton of coal may be increased to one-half ton on Monday, according to Fuel Ad ministrator Carl F. Siemon, who said, today, "We will do it if the present weather continues and the coal keeps coming in." Approximately 3,500 tons was added to the city's supply by ar rivals last night. "The situation has let Tip tremen dously," declared the administrator, "and. shipments seem to be coming with greater regularity." Several barge loads are reported to Ibe headed for 'Bridgeport and large train ship ments are expected today. . The elimination of Garfield holidays for Bridgeport has not been definitely decided. State Administrator Russell was to have had a conference with New England Administrator . Storrow to discuss the matter, but it was post poned until tonight. The fuel committees office at 142 Golden Hill street will be closed Fri day, Washington's birthday. The coal yards and offices will also close on this day, it being their first holiday in four months. WITHDRAW TRIAL OF SLANDER SUIT Owing to illness of some of the par ties the suit of Julia Fleischer against Jacob Weinstock, in which damages of $5,000 are claimed for al leged slanderous remarks, has been withdrawn from the trial list in the Superior Court for the present. The case was assigned for trial this morn ing before Judge William M. Maltbie and a jury. CORONER PHELAN AWAY. Coroner John J. Phelan left this afternoon for the West on a business trip to Chicago and St. Louis which will last for several weeks. During his absence the business of the coro ner's office will be cared for by Judge Henry C. Stevenson, deputy coroner. WORKERS WAS DISCHARGED HE HAD REFUSED TO WORK WORK 10 HOURS A DAY. Men-employed in the gun room re mainea at work, however, on govern ment contracts. It was said that these employed on the night shift will be informed of the walkout before Sight. The plant was formerly op erated by the Liberty Ordnance Co., and it was the attitude , of the man agement, not to recognize the shop committee which asked for a 10 cent an hour increase that led up to the walkout, it is said. Officials of the Machinists' union said that the shop committee a few days ago asked for an increase and instead of an increase in pay the man agement gave them increases in hours. The day shift, under the regulations set forth by the company, had their hours increased from eight to 10 hours a day and the night shift from nine to 12 hours. ' Samuel Lav-it of the Machinists' union., telegraphed to Washington this morning to have a government con ciliator come to Bridgeport to straighten out matter. i BRIDGEPOET, CONN., WEDNESDAY; Proposed $2, To B e naiie TROLLEY BRAKES FAIL TO WORK; OFFICER GRIPPLI TRAFFIC POLICEMAN JOHN RYAN KNOCKED DOWN BY QAR AT STATE AND MAIN STREETS THROWN 12 FEET, BREAKING RIGHT KNEE.AND INJURING HEAD. Traffic Policeman John Ryan,, was hurled twelve feet, had his right knee broken, his left leg badly lacerated and his right arm and head injured, when brakes on a Connecticut Company's trolley car, "1747", in charge failed to operate this morning at The accidont happened a few min utes before nine o'clock while the policeman- was directing traffic at the intersection of State and Main streets. He had' just closed the traffic along Main street and was giving his atten tion to the vehicles on State when the troljey in charge of McClosh, coming north on Main street strtick him. According to the story, told by the motorman, he tried to stop his car at the dead line, but his brakes refused to work, and although he shouted a warning to the injured policeman, the latter failed to hear him owing to the fact that the trolley vestibule was closed and there was no time to open the front wind shield. An automobile -belonging to the U. M. C. Company happened to be near at the time of the accident and Sergeant Connery, who had come to the assistance of the injured police man, carried him to this machine and to the Emergency Hospital. Dr. J. F. Keegan attended the minor injuries and then had Ryan removed to St. Vincent's hospital where' he now lies awaiting an X-ray examination of his injured knee cap. From what doctors say there is lit tie chance of the policeman ever re suming his duties on the force again, as the chances are he will be per manently crippled. ALLIED SHIPPING SITUATION GROWS BETTER STEADILY Washington, Feb. 20 The low point of available Allied shipping has been passed, two or three weeks earlier than officials expected, and confidence was expressed today that tbe amount of shipping available for the future would increase steadily. Several factors were said to have contributed to advancing the amount of available tonnage. Included among them were the increased efficiency of the offensive against the submarines and the beginning of deliveries from American shipyards." The transfer of neutral shipping to trade outside of the war zone, thereby releasing Allied tonnage for trans atlantic service, also contributed to the increase of available bottoms. Im provement in harbor defenses and facilities in France, so as to facili tate the unloading of transports, like wise tended to speed up the release of ships. Food Administrator Hoover in a statement today called on all patriotic ship workers to enroll in the public service reserve. No amount of in creased food production, decreased food use or food substitution and sav ing will help unless ships for sending food across the Atlantic are available, he said. RESUME SERVICE BY WATER LINES Water transportation between this city and New York has been resumed after much delay and a cargo by way of the Merchants' Line was received in this city this morning, the first shipment in two months. The "Sea board" of the 'Merchant Line docked this morning. The freight service of the New Eng land Navigation company has been resumed and the "City of Brockton" is making daily trips between this city, and New York. CORPORATION TAX BLANKS RECEIVED Blanks for federal returns of cor porations have been received! in this city according to information at the federal income tax office this morn ing. -These were mailed from the of fice of James J. Walsh at Hartford and as soon as they are made out will be returnable to that office. The stream- of applicants-to file individual returns continues and a large number ere accommodated by the feleral ofn- this morning. and Evening Farmer 000,000 Bond Issue d By Priority Board of Motorman Daraly McClosh, State ana Main streets OLDING UP Second Conscription Awaits Passage of Pending : Legislation. Washington, Feb. 20 Secretary Baker authorized the statement today that no date had been se lected for the beginning of the second draft. The government's disposition not to disturb the labor situation, particularly on farms at the planting season, is one of the fac tors entering the situation. The provost marshal general's office, it is understood, is disin clined to go ahead with the sec ond draft until congress has per fected the law by pending amend ments to change the basis of ap portionment and to authorize the president to call the military ser vice men skilled in industry and agriculture regardless of previous classification. The remaining increments of the first draft will begin to move forward to the camps beginning this week. It is probable that next month local beards may be asked to forward small increments necessary to succeed men going overseas, but the expected sum mons of balfa million men will be later. Plans for the second draft in clude calling 100,000 a month un til the second quota Is complete. In that way officials expect to avoid much of the confusion that accompanied the first call. The men will report in a steady stream and be assimilated into the military 'machine before the next lot is received. It has been definitely settled that the first contingents will be used to fill vacancies in National Guard divisions caused by the withdrawal of men for the orga nization of special technical units. Similar vacancies in the National Army divisions will have been fill . ed by that time from the final in crement of the first draft. BROKE CONTRACT ALLEGATION IN BUILDERS' SUIT Breach of contract for doing the work of lathing and plastering the new Colonial apartments at State St and West Ave., is the allegation in a suit for $7,000 being traea in the su perior court before juage William JU. "MXitKi. a iurv. The Timnlain ants are the Lenox Construction Co against the Colonial Construction Co. The latter owns tne Duuaings. " According to the complaint a con tract was made March 21 last for do ing this work, the total price to be $9,500. Work was commenced, and carried on until June 23, when it was suspended because the plumbing work had not been done. The Lenox Co. was ready to resume July 9, but at that time was informed tie contract was at an end. Only $295 of the money due had been paid. BOMBARD BELGIAN TARGETS . London, Feb. 20. Naval airmen continue to bomb docks, aerodromes and other targets in Belgium and have accounted for fur. German aero--tut, th. Admiralty announced in a statement last nint- DRAFT FOR NEW LAW mmm FEB. 20, 1918 Action Would Be Viewed as Highly Unpatriotic of City. PLAN TO INCREASE DEBT MEETS SNAG Government Discourse- ing All Municipal Plans to Issue Bonds. The city administration's plan again to increase Bridg port's indebtedness by the issu ance of bonds for sewers and warrenite will be frowned upon by the Priority Board at Washington when proposals are submitted for approval. The Priority Board recently issued a request to states; municipali ties and banks asking them to refrain from using bonds ag gregating more than $300,000 during the war. The city plans to float a bond issue of nearly $2,000,000. , . . . Before entering the market, bonds should be approved by the Congres sional committee, financiers advise. This committee gives approval when necessity is shown. Despite the re mark of City Auditor Bernard Keat ing today that the city might be able to prove the need of sewers and war renite, it is learned from an authentic source by The Times today that members of the Priority Board feel that conditions in this city do not warrant the saddling of the proposed issue and regard it as needless ex travagance at this-time. Action -of the Board of Appor tionment yesterday in cutting more than $1,000,000 from the requisition of the sewer committee and slicing more than $300,000 from the Streets and Sidewalks committee clearly in dicates that the administration plans to float another bond issue. Although the government has no power over states and municipalities in the matter of issuing bonds, the re quest is along patriotic and thrift lines and as a result many cities through out the country have withdrawn pro posals for bonds. It is the government's intention to discourage the sale of municipal r state bonds during war times, setting! thrift as the moral example. Provid ing the city administration persists in its desire to expand the city's indebt edness, it would not be able to sell the bonds at less than five per cent, dis count. The city of Cleveland recently ad vertised proposals for bonds at 4 1-2 per cent., but there were no bidders and a review of the Daily Bond Issue shows that none are being sold at less than 5 per cent. GUILTY IN MANY DEFEND CRIMINAL SESSION OPENS THIS MORNING WITH PRAYER BY REV. W. H. JEPSON JUDGE JOHN P. KELLOGG ' IS PRESIDING BABY DOLL .MAY BE TRIED. An unusually large number of offenders pleaded guilty to day in the Criminal Superior Court which, opened this morning, with Judge John P. Kellogg of Waterbury on the bench. Prayer was offered by the Rev. W. H. Jepson of St. Luke's church. NOT REPORTING ALL HOLDINGS OF ALIEN PROPERTY Washington, Feb. 20 A. Mitchell Palmer, alien property custodian, urged all banks, trust companies, sur rogates. United States attorneys and internal revenue collectors today to report at once any enemy owned prop erty known to them. Mr. Palmer says many persons, in cluding banks and trust companies, have failed to report enemy property and he has ordered an investigation Nine units of the Pennsylvania Re serve Militia are scheduled to be mus tered into the State service soon. SLAVIC MESSEMGEI WITH 0IIVE TWIG HUNTS TAKE 2,500 PKISONERS AND SEIZE BAIL- ROAD ROLLING STOCK UNREST GROWS AMONG WORKERS OF CENTRAL POWERS OVER DRIVE AUSTRIAN PUBLIC DE MANDS THAT HOSTILITIES STOP. LATE WAR BULLETINS Amsterdam, Feb. 20 In an address to the lower house of the reichrath in Vienna Dr. Von Seydler, the Austrian premier, declared that under the peace treaty with the Ukraine there had been placed at the disposal of the Central powers the Ukraine's surplus of agricul tural products. This surplus, the premier asserted, was greater than the Central Powers could transport. London, Feb. 20 German workingmen may rebel against the resumption of war against Russia. - Opinion expressed in newspapers of Germany is strongly against the new invasion of Slavic country. Murmurings in Austria are growing more distinct daily and the public is de manding a statement from Count Gzernin assuring them that Austria-Hungary regards her war against Russia ended. v , In the meantime the invading German forces have advance ed to the northeast and east of Dvinsk,.the German War Office'', announced today. The text of the statement adds that 2,500 prisoners, several hundred guns and a great amount of rolling stock were taken. MAY CLASSIFY RAILROAD MEN AS ESSENTIALS Washington Feb. 20 Deferred classification for railroad employes is under consideration between the war department and the railroad admin istration, it became known today. The war department objects to giv ing special consideration to railroad employes as a class, insisting that the case of each man should be consider ed individually as to whether he s indispensable. The policy does not satisfy the rail road administration, which contends that few railroad men are actually indispensable and that unless some uniform action is prescribed local exemption boards may be inclined to refuse deferred classification to thous ands of necessary employes who have no dependents. 1 Nearly 500,000 railroad men are within the draft age. But the actual number that would be affected by such a ruling is estimated at less than 200,000. ANTS PLEA SUPERI Practically all of the morning ses- sion of court was occupied in putting the jail prisoners to plea, the" minor cases being taken up first. Among those who entered pleas of guilty were Henry J. Hagen, who ad mitted his guilt in passing a bad check for $100 upon Owen Keenan, February t, Charles J. Van. who admitted thef of a bar of gold valued at $200 from the Adams Express Co., December IS last, and Charles A Long, who ad mitted theft of about 7,000 pounds of copper wire, valued at $1,100, from the Western Union Telegraph Co.. in De cember, 1912. Long was brought back from the South recently to answer to this charge. OR CT. About 25 of the prisoners faced the court, entered their picas, and where pleas' of guilty were entered sentence was deferred. At the afternoon session some of the prisoners who pleaded guilty were brought before the court for sentence. Attorney Robert G. DeForest. public defender, represented about two thirds of the prisoners who were . put to plea today. .. , ' ' ' s .. r Columns Classified advertising in this newspaper is effective, no matter what you may de sire to advertise. Try It once and see. ' . PRICE TWO CENTS The German Independent Socialists -are arranging for a demonstrative strike in the munition factories of the . empire beginning March 1, according1 ' to information received! from Berlin and forwarded toy the Amsterdam correspondent of the Exchange Tele graph Co. Gen. Hoffmann, the German mili tary representative at . the Brest- -Litovsk peace conference, has tele graphed to the Bolshevik government for a written authentication of the Russian wireless peace message sent yesterday to Berlin. Gen. Hoffmann, according to a Russian official state ment today, says the authentication must be sent to the German command in Dvinsk. The Russian 'official statement says a messenger from Petrograd is sent to the German command in Dvinsk. The Russian official statement says a messenger from Petrograd is sent to Dvinsk today with the original peace message, which was signed by Premier Lenine and Foreign Minister Trotzky. When the Brest-Litovsk negotia tions closed all talk in Germany was of peace. The school children were given a holiday and joy bells were rung. The public apparently did not discriminate between peace with the ' Ukraine and with Great Russia, butx' acclaimed it as a general peace with Russia. George Bernhard in the Vossische Zeitung emphasizes this point and wants an explanation of' who was re sponsible for this disappointment. The Socialist Vorwaerts takes. the ' same line and says: "The more we meddle in Russian affairs the more we get away from peace. What must be done is to stick" to t'he defense of our own soil and to make peace wherever possible .. without annexation or forcible ampu (Continueu on Page 2.) HUTCHESON SEES U. S. WAGE BOARD Washington, , Feb. 20 Newport News ship yard workers today, asked the wage adjustment board to s-pply the recent Delaware yard wage award to the Newport News district. The board conferred today with President Hutcheson of the Brother hood of Carpenters and Joiners and took up the demands of carpenters in the New York and Baltimore districts. RULE TOMORROW ON HEATLESS DAY recently commissioned as lieutenant- colonel in the aviation service, ana nd?; tmnfi f Hntv at t Via frnnt in France, was re-elected president of the .ew igiana leiepnone xe;- o-r-avVh r'n. at th nnnual meetine to-r day. All other officers -were re-elect- ed. Matt B. Jones, vice-president, is acting president, while Mr. Spalding , is ensraea in war serv;e. - TWENTY YEARS FOR EVADER OF DRAFT Camp Funston, Kan., Feb. 20. George Yea ger, 23 years old, of Troy. ' Kansas, convicted here recently by court martial cn charges of evading the draft, was sentenced today to 20 years in the Federal prison - in Leav enworth.