PAST ONE. NEWS SECTION "TT " ii it ii i JOJEV Omaha Sunday . .Bee THE WEATHER. Cloudy VOL. XIJV NO. 25. OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER C, 1914 FIVE SECTIONS FORTY-TWO PAGES. SINGIjE copy five cents. COUNTY FAIR TAKEN TO. BENSON BY USE OF MANY $1 BILLS Cash Pawed Out to Pay Feet of New Members Who Outvote West-Enderi. ELECTION HEAR BEING A RIOT RUSSIAN PRISONERS IN BRANDENBURG ON THE MARCH One of the features of the great struggle on the east era side of the European war is the large number of prisoners reported as being taken by both sides. The picture shows a number of Russian prisoners, among them Cossacks, under guard of their German captors. Sheriff and Deputies Take Charge of t . Angry Mob of Men at the Court House. ' BENSON DIRECTORS' SLATE WINS ' Crooked Politics Charged by Farmers Who Are Defeated. WALSH EXPLAINS USE OF FUND Bruit Man Declares o Voe Bought, bat Money Rained by Vollaa-e. to ray Mrmber ' ehla Kecs. Farmer from the wont end of Doug las county we.ro acquainted with the poli tical methods of clty-dwtllers and subur banites yesterday during tbe annual elec tion of directors by the Douglas County Agricultural society, held at the court house. By the liberal use of money, the lively election wu swung In favor of the Benson "slate," and that town was thereby assured of being the location of the next county fair. ; The directors will formally choose thd fair location, when they meet sometime next year, ' so the complexion i-f their j...Anv.inA hM th annual ex- WJWU " - - - - hlbttiwh of live stock and farm produce shall be held. The last fair was held at Elkhorn, and the farmers and townspeo ple of Elkhorn, Waterloo. Valley and the west end of the county were anxious to have It there again next fall. Likewise, Benson, Florence and South Omaha were urged a locations. - Competition on the question became keen, and at the last minute, a hot f lgUt seemed Imminent, with the west-enders liable to win. 80 James A. Walsh, patri arch of Benson. x-oflclo member of the county agricultural society's board of directors, and political generalissimo of his part of the world, rallied his cohorts, flnanclaally speaking, and the result was a fat fund for the creation of new mem bers at U per member. Each of them would pay his dollar as membership fee. and would have a vote In electing directors and. Indirectly de ciding the location of the next fair. ;Of course," Walsh explained, "It was un derstood that the new members could vote Just as they wished, but they would '"naturally recognize Bepson as'.tho best place-tor the fair." ' 8a each' new mem ber was handed tbe Benson slate along with hia ereenback. . . Stack of Dollar Bills. a .toxu nt 11 bills two or three inches high "wm rapidly distributed from the county store room to prospective Benson slate voters by several Bensonltes lust before the meeting -began. : Several hun dred new and old members of the society; jammed the society's room In the ba-i ment of the courthouse, fighting . to payi their U membership fee and get a cor- tiflcate- or receipt, so they cduld vote. When the smoke cleared away, it was found that the fight over the fair loca tion hod resulted in 2C0 new members and the addition of $350 to the treasury. Previously, there had been only 128 mem bers in the society. . Secretary J. F. McArdle' and ' Treasurer Lewis Hender son almost got writer's cramp from sign ing receipts for new membership fees. Then the fun began, in an effort to beat the Influx- of Bensonltes and othw city and suburban men who would vote for the Benson ' candidates, the west enders started the meeUng early. They had already adopted an amendment to the constitution, which practically dis franchised the east-enders,' before the main ' body of the latter had paid their ' fees, and entered the criminal court room, .'where the meeting was held. - Sheriff Prevents Fights. Amid scenes of wild confusion, and with farmers and city men lumping on the county' fine furniture with their nailed heels, while newcomers rapidly crowd-ad the room, a motion to reconsider the reso lution was made. Old-time farmer mem bers of the society grew so wrathy they could: hardly talk, and excitedly stam mered that the "city gang was buymg ths society." No order was possible In the face of the surging assemblage, which ' might have become a mere mob, had not Sheriff Felix McShane ahd a large squad of his deputies been scattered through the crowd to prevent personal encoun ters. President Charley Wltte of Elkhorn finally declared that the motion to ro- I .... . - .ft., ha h4 an, ! oeeded in getting a rough division through the house. Appeals from his decision, sharp allegations of "crooked politics" and finally a motion to lay the whole matter on the table, followed In rapid ';-'vVH' ' Ii -r' n hi " ! ' :- A 'J- ! kA V;-' -7 ii i Tv V vJ -m 1 v( '5-?fVv St' ' " t "! " "1 .V. V - :. ... tu I I i J JfW x , .a l I 1 11 1 1 i 11 si r 1 1 1 nisi 'GREAT BIG GIRL OF GOLDEN WEST' HELD Miss Jessie Cope Arrested on Charge of Trying to Bribe U. S. ' Authorities. ' ' OFFERED TO ,; DIVIDE . SPOILS Alleged that ?lri Approached Fed eral Officer , with. Proposal to .. .1 .' .-Kxtort Money from "Mo- era Alexander." ' German Critic Takes Exception to Attitude of United States CHICAGO, Dee. 6. Miss Jessie Cope, oomplalnant in ' the white fclave Indict ment against .Colohel Charles Alexander. a 'millionaire .M .PFOvl4ewL.'..B.! L. ' arrested hers this afternoon on a .charge of attemnted bribery .1 -.t -". - ' is- -cha r-CXtlrMtar )!$X&tofTr home U said to be In Las Angeles, oi- fcfed to share S50.000 with federal oft J rictals If they would ntd her In extorting that sum from Colonel A lexande'r; ' t'MliLhapl.Igoe, former member of the Ulineis - legislature . ahd at present first assistant im tbe! office-, of the United; States district- attorney, la aM to have, pretended to fall ' In with the sohtroe In order 'to -obtain evidence.' His testimony Is salpd to have formed the basts for her arrest . -.j , 1 , , , t , '1 ( ' . Mlaa Cope Arraigned. Miss Cope- was taken Into custody at downtown hotel . by . L.' C. ffTTeeler, a special agent of the Department bf Jus tice.. She was arraigned before ' United States Commissioner Mason this after noon and held In bonds of $5,000. Heating was set for next Saturday.. "Vou are charged with attempted brib ery," the commissioner Informed the de fendant. 1. . . . - : "And what am I to do T" she inquired. Her demeanor, was composed. Commis sioner Mason explained the usual pro cedure and advised her to retain an at torney. ... .... ' "I really don't know what this - Is about," she-commented. ' Statement by Hr. 'Isroe. ' ' Assistant Attorney Igoe gave out tbe following statement ) 1 :'' "Upon the arrest of Colonel Charles Alexander, at Providence yesterday t the press reports declared that both he and r.ls attorney charged, the ' complainant, Miss.' Cope.i with attempted . blackmail. Hlnton O. Clabaugh, division superin tendent of the Department of Justice, has wired the ' attorney today for" Alex ander requesting, any . ahd' all . lnforma-' tlon to . support ' the alleged charge of blackmail. During the investigation of the complaint of Miss Cope by federal officials' at Chicago suspicion as to her good faith In the matter existed. Miss Cope had many conferences 'with a. Mr. BERLIN. Dec. S.-(Vla London.)-The attitude of the United States Is com mented upon by Count Ernest von Ke VentlewT the nsv!, critic, in an article In ths Tag&e!Ui! V" today, In which ne says that England nd France are ob taining from America materials of war, while Germany Is not enjoying similar asslstaoc. Referring to the diplomatic discussion between the United States and England, concerning the holding up by British war ships of American' cargoes as provisional contraband,' Count von Reventlow says: ."If England and France are willing to favor the United (Kates as much as pos- Without departing from their policy C Msfvint Germany t the expense ot smHli neutraf nations,-' the reason ll that botli ' Countries have ordered many '' mll- sl Me'smh -of -'war'' materials (Continued on Page Four, Column Five.) Tempera tare at ft . CLOUDY h Caimparatlyo (Continued on Page Two, .Column Six.) . . 1 . In,' the United States, and that American Industry Is working feverishly to supply the wants of both these warring nation, (rom woolen covers, shoes and horseshoes up .to collapsible submarines. ' A sub marine, '.'transported in parts, according to; the trans-'Atlahtlc viewpoint, does not constitute-. contraband ' of war, nor does the fabrication thereof for' the use of belligerents 'amount to a breach of neu trality. 1 -J fc. i. . I t ...,'! "Enough; these are business considera tions, which naturally dominate the ideas of contraband and the treatment of the American commercial marine." Commenting on the declaration of Premier Salandra In the Italian Chamber of Deputies today (Friday), the Nord Deutsche Allgemelne Zoltung says that Italy's attitude in reserving for Itself the right to take a hand In the political read justment of Europe, so far as Its own Interests are Involved,-' should make a great Impression In Europe, "Premier Salandra made it clear," says the newspaper,' ' "that Italy's neutrality la self-imposed and voluntary on Its part For, this reason,! Italy has reserved the right to act ; independently, Bhould de velopments threaten Its position as a world power through Intended territorial gains, -then- Its policy- of aloofness, main tained up to the present time, would no longer be binding. "For the friends and allies of Italy," the Nord Deutsche Algemelne 7"2eltung continues, "this announcement oomes as no surprise. .The Salandra oablnet Is sure to have the support of tht majority of the Italian, parliament for this national patriotic policy. Italy's allies realise fully that" the Italian kingdom could not' be ex cluded from a European settlement" , BRITON BATTLESHIP REPORTED HISSING Australian Battle Cruiser of Anti podean Dominion of Empire Cannot Be Found. BERLIN HEARS SUCH IS CASE Robber, Peppered ; 1 With Bullets by a Quick Policeman BAN FRANCISCO, Dec. S.-An unidenti fied robber was shot and probably will die as the result of a bold attack on a special policeman last night after he had held up two liquor establishments. The bandit Is in an emergency hospital with bullets In his brain and body, while Irving M. Brown, Che special policeman, la uninjured. ' It was just after Peter Zlgneau had been held up In his saloon and robbed of $30, that Brown entered by a side door. The robber was just leaving. "This fellow just held roe up," Zlg neau cried. to Brown. '.'Yes. and I want you," said the rob- bea) making a threatening advance toward Brown and reaching for his pistol. .. Brown .was; too: quick, however, and shot the robber twice before the latter had, time to fire. . . . . , A few minutes - before a . robber, , ap parently the same one, held up. a bar a block from Zfgneau's. He took, the bar tender and three .patrons Into) the back yard at the point or a gun ana aeparieq 0the richer. While robbing these men the bandit remarked:, .. , . , t '.' '.'Take a good look at me. This Is my first, job. A am hungry and must have the, money." . f .,.. BILL IRWIN GIVES PR00F0F THANKS Man Helped by the Salvation Army Reciprocates with Honey Saved from Hard Labor. , German Soldiers ' in Poland Told They Might Disband if Victorious The Weather - Forecast till 7 p. m. Sunday: For Omaha, Council Bluffs and Vicinity Cloudy; not much change In tempera ture. ... Omaha Testerday. Hours. Deg. i a. m ?4 a. m 25 ' 7 a. in a 1 8 a. ro.. 2b ! a. m a 10 a. to..,...: 2 I ' 11 a. m 30 i m 34 1 p. m J p. in 3-i S p. 111 37 , 1 P. n M 5 P. m 3ti i P- m 3 1 P- m u Loeal Record. 1314. liUJ. UU. 1811. 37 47 46 M ...... tl .'43 1 Jl 8) 44 30 43 T XI .04 ( recipiwuiun. depar- Highest yesterday . lowest yesterday . Mean temperature . Precipitation Temperature and LI turea from the normal: Normal temperature 31 ! Jieflelency for the day...'. 1 1 Total excess since Msrch 1 810 ' normal precipiini.on 03 Inch If icieucy for the day 03 lm h Total rainfall same Marco 1. ...24 i Inches Deficiency since March 1 4.04 inches Iericlency fur cor. period, 1SII3. I to tnciie Le(IUncy for cor. period. jli. 1. 67 inches (Copyright. 1914, by Press Publishing. Co?) PETROORAD," Dec. '6r(Speclal Cable gram to New York World and Omaha' liee ) The general impression from all sides is that- the Vlstula-Warte fighting has been more severe than anything ex perienced before during this war on any front. The Germans In the early conflict christened it "the Imperial battle," for they bad been Impressed by the highest authority that upon their success de pended tbe whole future of the war, and as reward for victory were promised they would be disbanded to their homes. The Germans still persist In their niassed formations against rifle, Maxim or bayonet, and as a result their losses have been appalling. - Experts estimate ths Germans have lost two-thirds of their army In Poland. There were several critical moments during the fighting north of Lods. One Russian division held Its ground against I two German army corps and finally drove them back. But for the late arrival of on Russian army corps ths battle would have finished In a complete Rus sian victory a week ago. The strategic position meant a complete German de feat, bad all gone right. As it was, large numbers of Germans got out of the trap, and the subsequent fighting has been a curious, tactical spectacle, with the Rus Blans and Oermana In alternate strips covering a considerable area of the Polish battle field. The Oermana have alter n'ated furious attacks with retreats. The kaiser's sons, Prince Oscar, and Prince Joachim, are reported to have neaped only by taking flight In an aero plane. If there was a point besides their war machinery, upon which the Germans par ticularly prided themselvea It was their marching power.. Yet even here the Rus sians have shown themselves Immeasur ably superior. The granJ duke officially noted a while ago that seme Russians eorps had marched and fought continu ously for months, had taken fortified positions and had covered more than tot miles. The Russians do their marching flat foot, . whereas the German records are made by means of motor traction. Over Polish roads In the autumn season the Germans find their methods bally handi capped, whereas the Russians continu ously Unproved their records aa the men got more and more hardened. One corps covered twenty mllee In one day and thirty-six the next, and went Into the fight on their arrival with an ardor superior to that of the attacking Germans, who bad ths worst of It GOES INTO HARVEST HELD Comes Bark with Fifty Dollars and Gives Half of It to the Werlc Belagr Carried on by the ' Salvatloa Army, Bill Irwin, a former helper at ths Sal vation Army Industrial home, appeared at that ulstltutlon Saturday evening after three months' absence. In which be bad saved . 150 working in the harvest fields. He turned $36 over to Captain Kline for his own keep and Instructed the captain to use the-other 25 to' give some poor family , a good , Christmas. On last New Year's eve, Irwin, thinly clad andtn a half-starved oondltlonr-ap-peared at the home and asked for some-' thing to eat and a place to sleep. Captain Kline provided the fellow with both, and in the morning, despite the fact that he was In no condition to work, then the man helped, about the place and made himself so useful that the home became his permanent residence. In the early summer he thanked the captain for bis kindness and declared he would try to get work outside. ' Appreciates Help. "Captain." he said, "I don't know how to tell you what your friendship has done for men; the home has been a true haven of salvation and I hope that I may be in a position some day to materially' show my gratitude." ' ' On August i Captain Kline received a check for $10, algned Will Irwin, and dated Geneva, Neb. Yesterday the man appeared and turned over the sum above mentioned to the captain. Irwin will spend the winter at the home, already has entered upon the work of the depart ment and is the busies man among tho helpers. "You never can tell when you help a down-and-outer whether he is going to appreciate it," said Captain Kline. . "Irwin has made good and I only hope tiat I will receive calls for aid from a hun dred of Just his type." Work at the home with Christmas but few days In the future Is progressing rspldly. . People of the clly are respond ing to the Army's call for aid with un usual vigor, and quantities of clothing and merchandise are being brought dally to the Industrial home. A big shipment of linen for the armies of Europe haa juat been sent east and another will fol low next Saturday, Wireless Mesa are to Rayvllle Tells of Story of Baa-llsh Naval Loss Received by Italian Newspaper. BERLIN, Deo. a (By Wireless to Bay. vllle, I I.) Information given out to the press today by tho German official press bureau says that according to a report received by the Italian newspaper Con-lore Delia Bora, the Australian battle cruiser Australia pparwitly is jmlMrtng. The Australia Is a droadnaught cruiser of 19,100 tons. It la 678 feet long, 79 feet beam and has a mean draft of X! feet. It was built at Oydobank In 1012 and Is capable of traveling twenty-six knots aa hour. The estra!la carried eight twelve-Inch guns, sixteen four-inch guns and three twenty-one-inch torpedo tubes; The Au; trails was last reported in Hawaiian waters last September, when the Walson Navigation company steamer Wllhelmlna picked up a - wireless message from the dreadnaught saying that It was in full chase of tho German cruiser Nuremberg. Kaiser Prohibits Making Pictures of ' Ruins Caused by War AMSTERDAM, Dec. 6. (Via London.) The German military authorities at Ant werp, says the correspondent of the Tyd In that city, have prohibited the photo graphing of the ruin j there,' by means of the following proclamation: "Whoever, without permission, photo graphs ths ruins caused by the war, or distributes or sells such photoes, or dis plays In windows, portcards or Illus trated papers displaying such photo graphs, will be punished by a maximum fine of 6,000 marks (fl.300) or by one year's Imprisonment. The Day's War News Italy's attituds In ths European war has aga'n becoms a sourcs of concern In view of Premier Balsn dra's declaration that his country was In no way bound to fight with Germany and Austria. Ths newt phase of ths war, so far as was Indicated by ths day's dlepatches, is heavy fighting in Alsace, where the French havs succeeded in maintaining a foot hold on German territory sines ths opening of hostilities. Dispatches from Petrograd in dicate that the Germans who fought their way out of the Rus sian trap performed a most des perate and valorous feat. Ths heavy fores southeast of Lods, which was hemmed in, is said to havs cut Us way with bayonets, step by step, for fifteen miles. The desperate character of the hand-tohand fighting In assaults on trenches, ths uss of hand gren ades and bomb-throwing ma chines are described in a British official eye wltnoes report Issued today, which also discloses that the allies are using tunnel-boring appartus tor subterranean ap proach to ths Gorman entrench ments. Today's announcements from the French and German War offices contain claims of progress on both sides. At one point north of the Lys, says the French report, an advance of 600 yards a noteworthy movement In view of ths character of the operations was made. ... BATTLE OF LODZ MOST BLOODY OF THE ENTIRE WAR Allies Now Say Opentiom in North ern Poland Resulted in Strate gic Defeat for Germ an i. SITUATION IS APPARENTLY SAME Reports from British Obierrert In dicate that Conditions Are Un changed from Week Ago. LOSS OF LITE IS ENORMOUS Germans Fight Way Through Rus sian Lines Over Heaped-Up Bodies of Comrades. G ALICIA CAMPAIGN IS STILL 017 Pnemysl and Cracow Bar Russian Invasion of Hungary. SERVIAN ARMY IS REINFORCED Of fin la l Revert frose Tleasua AA salts Parswtt ( Retvwattast Serbs Is Covered by m StroasT Hostile Force. - MORE FUNDS RECEIVED FOR BELGIANS' RELIEF Following Is the semi-weekly report of Belgian relief money received at Lincoln: Previously, reportnd $3, WW. 9.1 Hanky I'anky oompony, Unooln... 14.26 First Christian Church, Lincoln.... 60.UU By John Inness lor Bhelby. Neb., and vicinity 9909 Other TCensington club, Lincoln... K.OO The Belgian relief committee haa al ready shipped 2,900 sacks of flour to Belgium. GERMANS CLOSE -GAP ONTHE RIGHT Troops Rushed to Fill Breech -Between Main Army, and .the Body Isolated. i TWO - DAYS' BATTLE AT LASS Fartowa StrasTgle la Os fas- Passes aloa of Town Hear LoSit Maes Are Closely Draws) 1 -' i Bast Preset, - PETROORAD, Deo. 8. (Via London.) Ths heaviest fighting In ths vicinity of tas"(lurlnr-ths tt two days has o curred In ths course of maneuvering for the possession et Laak, fifteen miles southwest ot Lods, On the Bscsercsow line, Which Is fifteen or twenty miles long, east ef the Wart a, the fighting appears to Indicate that tho Qermans have been heavily reinforced and that they are filling the gap between tho right wing and the isolated body which has been striving to turn the Rus sian left lilacs Closely Draws. The German defense on tho northern front In East Prussia occupies a posi tion along ths river Angeraph from Qum- blnen to Darkehmen and thence to the northern extremity of the Masurian lakes at Angerburg. Hero the Russians are entrenched close to tha Oerman line. On the east front of ths lakes and to ths Vistula ths Russians havs taken a posi tion slightly back of their litis of advance of ten days ago. Both sides appear to be awaiting ths outcome or the struggle at Lods. Ths main Oerman forces In this region are concentrated about Mlawa. The military crltlo of ths Bourse Oasette reckons that ths loss of ths Auatrlana In prisoners Is equal to their number of dead and wounded, and places the fighting strength ot Austria now at two-thirds of what It was at ths begin ning of the war. Cites Small Per Ceat at Laa. He cites the smaller percentage of Aus trian artillery falling Into Russian hands and says this Is accounted for by an ex planation In a recent Issue of tho official war messenger, that sines ths second Austrian retreat from Poland, the Aus trian artillery is always withdrawn from the field before ths final Issue of ths battle. This, hs declares, amounts to be ginning a retreat before they are actually defeated. , The critic also points out ths largs pro portion of officers, Including oolonels and lieutenant oolonels. among ths Prisoners. as Indicating the demoralisation of tha Austrian army and the loss of ths fight ing spirit LONDON. Dec 6. While report continue to come Into London that the battle of Lods haa ended In as Russian victory, any official con f'rmatlon still 1 lacking, and It la apparent to British observers that conditions In the north of Poland today are virtually the same aa they wars a week ago, after the German army had been saved - from over whelming defeat by the brilliant op eration of General Mackensen. Details of tbe Lods flghtlns; are beginning to filter through, and they easily prove It to havs been the most bloody struggle ot the entire war. The Germans are described as fight ing their way through the Russian lines orsr the heaped-up bodies ot their, comrades. Berlin claims heavy captures ot prisoners In this strug gle, -while from Kiev comes the an nouncement that the fortress there Is crowded with German prisoners. Incidentally, Kiev report that since the beginning of the war 130,000 soldier and 2.600 officers have passed through Kiev as prisoners of war. The allies hay ceased claim ing a'tremandotss victory in northern Poland, but they do assert that the operations there have been a strat sglo defeat for Germany and tactical victory for Russia, ' Praasaysl , aa Crsvoaw Iataot. Ths Russians would appear not yet to have been diverted from their attacks In Q allele, and tha Invasion of Hungary, but the fortresses of Prsemysl and Cracow still are Intact and are likely to put up a stronger defense against ths Russians than did the Belgian forts against ths Germans. Unless a decisive defeat can be Inflicted on ths Austrian army at Csenatoohowa, It Is argued In London, It Is not probable that ths Russian army of the south will bs In a position to begin any serious Invasion of Blleala until Cracow has been reduced. An eye witness with tha British forces In Francs reportj that both sides In West Flanders are engaged In siege operations, and that tha Qermans hare almost en tirely abandoned their Infantry assault in lores along tha western battle front. - Aastrtaa Aavaaee Halted. An official report from Vienna admits that ths advance of the Auatrians has been prevented by violent attacks from strong hostile forces ooverlug tha Servian retreat No hint la given aa to the Identity of these forces, but the opinion Is expressed In London that Rus sian aid haa reached tha sorely pressed Serb Berlin reports that such help will be no longer possible, for the reason that tha blowing up of the great tunnel near Tekljn has blocked communication with Roumanla and made Impossible tha Paasags of Russian transports along tha Lianube. Little Human Interest Stories of the Big World War Now Raging Flarnt la Two Feet of Saow. I Throughout tho elty ths streets were GENEVA (Via Paris), -Pea (.-During the last three days there baa been a slow but general movement ot tha French In Alsace against ths Oerman landwebr forces. The movement also has begun In Lorraine. Burnhampts, near Thann, with five miles of railroad, was captured yes terday. Tho Vosges mountains are deep In anow and at ' Tete de Faux, near Coldy Bon horn me, at an altitude of 7,860 feet, the advance guards of the armlea are fighting In snow two feet deep. Tbe men In the trenches In Alsace are suffer ing greatly from tha cold., A as I r la Confiscates Oil. VIENNA (Via London), Peo. I. The Austrian government haa confiscated the entire output of oil In Auatrla-Hungary. Refiners have been forbidden to supply oil to the trads. The stocks In the hands of dealers will be sxhausted within ten daya. It la said. Celebrate Victory la Vlraaa. VIENNA (Via Ixmlon), Dec. 5. There was great Jubilation In Vienna when the news of the occupation ot Belgrade by the Austilan forces was published. uBWileu wun nags. The newspapers were filled with praise of ths Auatro Hungary troops. Bay's Wish Nat Gratified. ROME. Pec. s.-The Glornale D'ltalla says that a soldier from Trtsta, who was at ths front In Oallcla, wrote to his mother expressing a great desire to see her again and saying he was ready to be taken prisoner If by doing so he would be able to embrace her once mora. Ths letter reached the mother with this ad dition from the Austrian general staff: "The soldier was shot November It, 1911" Italian Delesrate Is Militant. ROME, Pec. 4. The speeches made In the Chamber of Deputies were strongly anM-Auatro-Qerman. Deputy Chiesa in his speech, said ha desired to see grow out of the present tragi a events prepara tions for tha formation of a future United Htates of Europe. Deputy Calajannl de clared, amid thunders of applause, that he hoped soon the Italian trl-color ahould wave from the top of tha tower of Bt. Juatua-ln Trltate. American Steel Men to France to Figure on Bridge Building NEW TORK. Deo. ..-Frederick Hoi brook and William & Patten f tha HoU brook, Cabot o Rollins corporation: A. B. Adams, a contractor, and threa representatives of the Lackawanna Etael company, sailed on the Lnsltanla today for Franca, where, tt la reported, they will visit ths battlefields, and later sub mit bids to tha French government for the reconstruction of bridges destroyed by armies of the allies and by Germany in the war. The. proposed contract will call for an Immense amount of work and tha ahlp ment of millions of dollars worth of American Bteel to Franoa, It la said. Representatives of aha Lackawanna Bteel company would not oonfinn or deny the report previous to tha sailing of tha Lualtanla. Taf t for Moderate Military Increase NEW TORK. Peo. a. -Moderate In creases In the strength of the army and navy of tha United States were ad vocated by former President William II. Tart, In an address tonight at the un iversity dinner of tha Brooklyn Young Men's Christian association, at which he was the quest of honor. Mr. Taft Indicated lack of sympathy with the contention that the country waa virtually defenceless as Us armed forces now stood, but he thought improvement in our military and naval rcuuroe, bhoulii be brought about to a certttln dvgiee.