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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1917)
A PART ONE NEWS SECTION PAGES 1 TO 10 H Own i WAT TP A1E in THE WEATHER Fair , VOL. XLVII. NO. 131. OMAHA, SATURDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 17, 1917.-EIGHTEEN PAGES. V, SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS GERMAN ADVANCE CHECKED BY FLOO. Di LIFE OF NEGRO NOW HANGS IN BALANCE SMITH JURY ASKSTO HEAR TESTIMONY After More Than Twenty-Four y Hours' Deliberation, Request to Hear Evidence Given by Four Witnesses. The jury in the trial of Charles Smith for the murder of Mrs. C. L. Nethaway, after remaining in contin uous session more than 24 hours slept in hotel beds tonight under the watch. ful eye of a bailiff. No agreement on-k a verdict has as yet been readied. 'The clerk of the court was busy all day yesterday transtribing from his notes the record testimony which the jury asked to have read to them when they reported that they stood 9 to 3 Friday morning. The testimony which they wish to rehear is that of Dr. McCleneghen, Mr. Herdman, Mr. Nethaway and At torney D. F. Seacat's statement of the rase for the defense to the jury at the close of the trial. Will Take up Day. 7 he reading of the testimony when it has been prepared will occupy a good part of today and it is doubtful whether a verdict will be reached be fore nightfall. The jury has had in its possession for examination since Friday morn ing all the articles in evidence in the trial. Mrs. Nethaway's clothes, shoes, hat, purse, gloves, beads, the under wear with which her hands were bound and the' skirt from which the front had been cut with a knife were among the articles turned over to them for inspection. The remarkably keen-edged steel hunting knife found on the scene of the crime and the belt and sheath into which it fits, left at the Willgate home when the knife "$500 for Every Dead German" Says Boy's Dad Dallas, Tex., Nov. 16. Finance Commissioner William Doran of Dallas, today announced he had offered his son, Robert Doran, who left some time ago for France, to serve under General Pershing, $500 cash for every German he kills. STAtTaVET GOAL IN "Y" WAR DRIVE ARTILLERYMEN TAUGHT T being taught dismount MEN TAUGHT TO RIDE ON CAROUSEL Members of field artillery battery the whirling carousel horse. The men learn to mount and and down and around. v - Quarter of Million Dollars, Its Quota, Raised and Another $100,000 to Be Gathered Before Work Stops. v. was takpn. wfre also included in the exhibits carried to the jury room. " Defense Objects. The defense objected to allowin the jurors to axamine the exhibits on the ground that it would tend to in flame their minds. The objection was over-ruled. Charles Smith, the negro charged with the crime, appeared brokeji in spirit and rested his head-on his arms, folded across a bible, when the jury filed into the room for additional in structions. He held a new white handkerchief .In his hand. The jury retired Thursday night at the close, of an impassioned appeal for the conviction of the ;accused negro by Louis J. Piatti, attorney for the state.. Court Room Stirred. The . crowded couirt room was stirred to the pitch of hysteria by the recital of the assault and mur der of 'young Mrs. C. L. Nethaway, with the fidelity of the motion picture camera, by Attorney Piatti Thursday afternoon. Burgess Soon to Direct Sale of Savings Stamps Washington, Novi 16. (Special Tel egram.) Ward J. Burgess, Nebraska director of the war saviygs fund com mittee of which FfgP A. Vanderlip, president of the National City bank, is chairman, said today that jrn all prob ability the conference of state direc tors would be finished this evening., in which event he' would go to New York before returning to Omaha to start the campaign for war savings through the purchase of thrift stamps to be issued by the Treasury depart ment. These stamps will bear 4 per I cent interest. . Queen Lil's Estate Small. Honolulu, Nov. 16. It was an nounced here that the value of the estate left by the late Queen Liliuoka lani would not exceed $200,000. Her jewels, including her crown, valued at $1,750, are appraised at about $10,000. The Weather ' Vor N'ebraak Fair. Tcmperntnrts at Omaha Yesterday. Hour. Dep. 5 a. m , . 49 6 a. in 47 7 a. 4i , 1. ti 9 a. m . . i 4 S i 10 a. in SI 11 a. m 65 Nebraska, with Omaha overleaping its goal ly $16,630, passed its nuni munr quota of $250,000 yesterday and is now driving toward a new goal of $350,000 its share of a national fund of $50,000,000 for Young Men's Chris tian association work among soldiers and sailors'. NationaJ headquarters was notified last night that Nebraska had raised $251,400. The total subscribed by Omaha was $116,630. The following telegram sent last night by Dea'n Ringer, state Young Men s Christian association war work council chairman, to Campaign work ers over the state, explains the reason for Nebraska's new goal: "The sentiment of association lead ers and strong business men seems to be unanimous that i view of develop ments in certain world conditions, at least $50,000.000 will be needed and that under the present unanimous and patriotic support for our war work program we should press on and make the total for this effort so big that another campaign, at least, before next fall, will be but a remote neces- fiitv CtPf this witrrt tn vmtr urnrkprc at the earliest possible moment, urg-1 ' ing concerted effort to reach the new goal." Many Sections Yet to Report. While Omaha and several other places in the state have passed their apportionments, many sections of the state have not reported. Fearing the final figures-may ehaw this state short of its maximum share, all places that have reached their quota are still driv ing hard in an effort to make tip any edficiency, 'Workers in a number of places started late," said I). Burr Jones, state campaign manager. "They may not reach even their minimum quota. Tbey are only now getting their wrk well under way." "Workers are busy in all the dis tricts, but this shows we are faj from being able to report that every part of Nebraska has passed its quota," said Mr. Jones. "In many of these places the work of the Young Men's Christian association is not known, and we must depend upon the parts of the state where the people are fa miliar with what we are doing." "Cook, Neb., where there art a lot of Germans, is going over the $700 mark right away," reported an en thusiastic worker from that place last night. Grand Island district No. 14 report ed for the first time last night, say ing $16,000 had. been raised'' there. District No. 9, headquarters at Norfolk, reported $9,000 last night. Scottsbluff, headquarters for dis trict No. 18. reported $16,000 raised and the campaign going stronger every minute. 1V i i 1 1 r3k. mm, w hit w m f I "IE AlNJNGi SO IRIDIC LORD NORTHCLIFFE DECLINES TO LEAD NEW AIR MINISTRY Denounces Official Jealousy and Incompetence; Praises , United States Methods in Caustic Letter. 12 m 61 .... f.6 os . .. cs 8 5 p. m 65 6 p. m 62 7 p. m 61 8 p. m 59 2 m 1 p. ni . . 2 p. ni . . 3 p. ni . . 4 p. m . Comparative Local Record; 1917. 1916. 191 Nebraska Men March in Huge Review at Cody Camp Cody, N. M., Nov. 16. (Special Telegram.) Twentyfive thousand soldiers from Iowa, Ne braska, Minnesota and the .Dakotas will march in the first general re view here tomorrow morning, leav ing this camp in charge of cor porals' guards. , Every regiment, detachment and auxiliary will participate. General H. A. Allen, Iowa brigade comman der, will command the j column General F. G. Mauldin, division commander, will review the troops on the polo field west of Deming, through which city the column will march. It will be the greatest bojly of soldiers ever mobilized in New n'exico. At night the Deming Chamber of Commerce will entertain the com manders at dinner. BULLETIN. London, Nov. 16. Viscount Cow- dray, chairman of the British' air board, has resigned as a consequence of Lord Northcliffe's letter to Pre mier Lloyd George. - : LondonN;iSLojDi:,iorthT cJiffe, in a caustic letter to the prime minister has declined to become head of the new air ministry, and roundly denounces the official jealousy and incompetency that has so seriously hampered the allies' conduct of the war. He points to the thorough and sys tematic preparations for war being made in the United States and the splendid work in Canada and says with great frankness that he intends to maintain his independence and will not be "gagged by a loyalty that Tdo not feel" toward the present ad ministration. Thc-Jetter follows: "I have given anxious consideration to your repeated invitations that I should "take charge of the new air ministry. The reason which compelled me to decline that1 great honor and responsibility are in no way con cerned with the office which js rightly to be set up. They are roughly as follows: Praises United States. "Returning after five months spent in the virile atmosphere of the United States and Canada, I find that while these, two countries are proceeding with their war preparations with a fervor and enthusiasm little under stood on this side- of the Atlantic; while tle United States instantly put into operation conscription over which we wobbled for two years and is making sho.-t work of sedition mongers; while Canada already has given such proofs of thoroughness as the disfranchisement of conscientious objectors and the denaturalization of all enemy aliens naturalized within the last 15 years; while, we for' our part are asking immense sacrifices from these peoples, there still are in office here those ,who dally with such urgent questions as that of unity of war control, eradication of sedition, mobilization of the whole man and woman power of the country and the introduction of compulsory food ra tions. Will Not Be Gagged. "I had a personal experience while in America of the obstruction and delay in certain departments in Lon don, which, for example, postponed (Continued on rage Two, Colnmn One.) RADICALS FORCE KERENSKY BACK IN FIERCE FIGHT Bolsheviki Leaders Arrested irr Kiev; Government Controls Central Parts of Moscow; Reds Hold Suburbs. 68 45 G6 .00 44 S3 .00 1914. 4S 43 35 24 ; 42 34 I Hlg'nst yesterday. . i l.owiat yesterday.. . r9n tftmrprature . . rreclpllatlon M .00 .07 .00 Tenipranru'and precipitation departures from the normal: v , Normal temperature . ..7 EceBV'or the day............ 19 Total deficiency since Marc'i 1 2i Normal precipitation 03 inch Deficiency for the dav. ....... 03 iarh Total rainfall since Jnirch 1. . ..21. JO Inches Deficiency since March 1 6.70 Inches Deficiency for cor. period, HIS. .12.07 Inches Deficiency for cor. period, 1915.. 1.3S inches Report From Stations at 7 V. M. Ctatlfift ftn A State Temp. High- Raln- of Weather 7 p. m Theyenne. clear 4 Davenport, clear 56 Denver, clear 40 Des-Moines, dear , S 0lt:e CUi. ralo 50 jander. cloudy.. Korth rialte. aln 44 Wha. cloudy.. 61 phtn. Dt. cloudy..... 4ii Rapid City. Pt- cloudy. 46 Salt take City, clear.. 46 Saul F, -'"ar l Sheridan, clear......... 4. Sioux City. Pt. cloudy.. i Vaientlne, cloudy 46 I Old Soldiers Protest Ousting of G. A. R. Women From Court House et. 42 f.4 E0 t;x St o 41 4S 5J 64 50 fall. .0! .00 .00 On .! .u .00 .ill i .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .01 A committee composed of promi nent numbers of the Grand Army of the Republic protests vigorously against the ousting of Grand Army of theRepublic women from their roonis in the court house by the county commissioners to make way for the "Woman's Patriotic society," a club of 30 Omaha women headed by Mrs. George A. Joslyn. T-.i. Woman's Patriotic society Js a knitting club and it obtained the Grand Army of the Republic rooms from the county commissioners for a place to hold tfleir meetings and knit for the soldiers. The Grand Army of the Republic i rooms lia' e been used tor the same purpose by three societies .vithin the A. WELSH, Meteorologist. organization having a membership of 400 women. The Woman's Relief corps o the Grand Army of the Re public, the Ladies of the Grand Army J of the Republic anu the Daughters of Veterans of the Civil War arc tjie societies now using the roonis . for their meetings and their Red Cross knitting work. The protesting committee is com posed of Major R. S. Wilcox, Captain C. E. Adams, J. B. Beatty, Captain Mallison, Andrew Trainor, M. J. Fe nan and L. Ai..Haverly. - The committee says it believes it can present the arguments for the Grand Army of the Republic women without accusations of lack of patriot ism, as the members all served in the army of the United States in the civil war. "Wc don't believe that 400 women should be ousted front their (jn- j to make room for 30 who are to take up the same sort of work." The wpmen of the Grand Army of the Republic are expert knitters and assert that they have done their bit in making sweaters and socks for the soldiers. 0 - V ( By Associated rrees.) Petrograd, Wednesday, Nov. 14. 10:20 a. m. Premier v Kerensky's forces, which advanced from Gat china to Tsarskeo Selo, have been de feated by the workmen's and soldiers' forces between Tsarskoe elp and PulkoVa, 1Z rnfle'3 fr6m. Petrograd. The Kerensky contingent have re treated o Gatchina. , RIOTOUS DISORDER. Dispatches from Kiev say that the Cossacks and military cadets are in control in that city after considerable street fighting. The Bolsjieviki made a stand at the government palace where later their leaders were ar rested. Moscow advices are to the effect that the government troops control the central portion oFthe city and the Bolsheviki the outlying districts, where there is much disorder. The victims in the street battle are esti mated at from 700 to 2,000. In Kiev, while a patrol of Cossacks was passing through Krctchka street, the principal thoroughfare, they fired shots in the air to disperse the crowds. A bomb was thrown upon a passing street car, killing or wound ing several persons. (By Associated Tress.) Restore Communication. Communication with Petrograd has been restored, but no direct news has been received from the Russian capi tal. The Bolsheviki are still in con trol in Petrograd, while Premier Ke rensky's troops are variously reported to be in flight or to be marching on the Bolsheviki stronghold. Efforts of the socialists to arrange a settlement with the Bolsjieviki and to bring about a new coalition government have failed. Other reports say that the Maximalist leaders, Leninc and Trot zky. are losing their popularity. There has been little fighting ac tivity of moment o the. eastern and western fronts. The American troops in France continue to harass the Germans on the patrol actions and with artillery fire. There have been more clashes in No Man's Land, from which the Americans returned un scathed. American patrols have reached the wire entanglements be fore the German trenches and Amer ican gunners have put German ma chine guns out of action. Hold Zenson Invaders. Fresh Austro-German attempts to cross the Piave have been rendered futile by the Italian defense. The Italians are holding in check those troops which crossed near Zenson, and in the marshland near the Piave the invaders have ' been unable to make any progress in the face of Ital ian counter attacks and artillery fire previous to the opening of the flood gates. The greater portion of the popu lace of Venice has left that city, from which all' 'portable artlreasurcs also have been removed. , The city, which is now but a scant 17 miles from the battle line, may not be defended in the event of an attack, in order to spare the monuments and art treas ures that remain there. Loyal to America; Three Are Victims' Of Ax Hfurderer Virginia, Minn., Nov. 16. Three persons, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Alar, and a boarder, Peter Trepich, were killed last night by an ax murderer. Their bodies were found today in their home here with a note of warning to all other Austrian families in Virginia who bought Liberty bonds or sub scribed to the Red Cross. The bodies were horribly mutilated. They had been slashed with knife in addition to being; beaten, with an ax. All were In their beds. Wholesale arrests have been made. Police say that the murderer, after completing his work of killing, stood under the shadow of a large cruci fix and washed his hands. Then he sat down at the kitchen table and wrote the note of warning. WANT REICHSTAG -TO TALK PEACE IN EXTRA SESSION Independent Socialists Demand That Suggestion of Bol sheviki Be Taken Up Immediately. - London, Nov. 16. The independent socialist group in the German Reich stag has requested the president to convoke a,n immediate session of the Reichstag to discuss the peace offer of Nikolai Lenine, leader of the Rus sian Bolsheviki, the Amsterdam cor respondent of the Centrals-News ca bles. The indepetrdent. socialists also ask that the Reichstag take up considera tion of the new state of affairs as re gards Courland, Lithuania and Poland. No word has reached this country of a peace offer by the Bolsheviki to Germany, although telegraphic com munication has been interrupted for nearly a week. The program pf the Bolsheviki calls for an armistice, but it is understood their purpose is to address their proposals to all the bel ligerents and not to arrange a sepa rate peace with Germany. Hope Abandoned For Kansas City Now Long Missing Washington, Nov. 16. The British steamer Kansas City is believed to i have been lost at sea. Nothing has been heard of it since it was separated from its convoy in a storm on Sep tember 5. The only person aboard of whom the navy has record is J. H. A. Muir, whoscaparents live at 26 Mary Mount road, Roland Tark, Maryland, a sub urffof Baltimore. Predict Enemy Subs' Off American Coast New York, Nov. 16, Predictions that enemy submarines will soon make their appearance off Ameri can ports, that the submarine will be found to be the best antidote for the submarine and that the great world powers in the near future will have flotillas of - "contrasub marines" especially . built for op erating against undersea craft, were made by speakers who addressed the annual- convention of the so ciety of naval architects and mar ine engineers here today. IULIMS FLOOD PIA VE MARSHES AND SAVE VENICE N Open Water Gates of Two Rivers, Drive Enemy From Vantage Point and Inuftdate Territory Twelve Miles Wide, Preventing Bombard' ment of City. (By the Associated Press.) Italian Headquarters in Northern Italy, Thursday, Nov. 15. -The flood gates of the Piave and Sile, or old Piave, rivers northeast of Venice, have been opened by Italian military engi neers and the enemy is now faced by another Yser of inundaJ) tion. O TO DROWN ENEMY. The action of the Italians in open ing the flood gates of the Piave and Sile rivers probably means an sttempt to drown out the Austro-German forces which crossed the lower Piave several days ago at Grisolera, about 17 miles northeast of Venice. The flooding of the triangle formed by the two rivers and the Adriatic also prob ably would make ineffective any Ger man attempt to debouch in force against the right flank of the Italian army along the Piave. South of San VENETIANS FLEE HISTORIC CITY FEARING ATTACK Government Offices Removed, Stores and Factories Closed, But Mayor, Descendant of Doges, Remains. fry AMoclsted I'mi.l Venice, Thursday, Nov. IS. Venice is now almost deserted, the popula tion having been reduced from the usual 160,000 to 20,000. Despite the proximity of the enemy lines at the mouth of the Piave river and the unsuccessful efforts the Aus-tro-Gerruans have made .to take the long triangle between the mouths of the Piave and Sile rivers, the remnant of the population is calm. The city may not be -defended in case of an attack in order to spare the. monuments and art treasures. The mayor of Venice, who is a descend ant of thevDoges, and a chamberlain to the queen of Italy, announced to day that he would remain st his post, City is Desolate. , The outward appearance of the city is very desolate, much like when the Austnans made their last descent upon it more than 50 years ago. All the main hotels, cafes and factories, and the jewelry and glass shops patronized by tourists are closed. The Hotel Royal Danieli, on the Grand canal, remains partly open, and two well-known cafes on the Piaxza of St. Mark, the Florian and Quadri, are still open. There is nothing open along the Lido. The city authorities are furnishing trains and ships to take away any of the remaining population who wish to go. The best known centers, such as the Rialto bridge, St. Mark's square and the square where the gondolas are hired, are now deserted except by a few stragglers. There are five shops open, and they are selling .goods at any price to save them from passing into the hands of the enemy. There has been much activity outside the lagoon, and yesterday several guns bombarded the enemy positions at the mouth of the Piave river. Consuls Remain at Posts. Some foreign consuls remain, but most others residing here temporarily have gone. All the places along the Grand canal arc closed and the occu pants have deserted, though a few noble families and some descendants of the Doges remain with the firm purpose of not abandoning the city under any circumstances. AH the government offices have been re moved outside the city, but the gov ernment prefect, Count Cipia, re mains at his post. " Fishing Steamer Manhattan Is a Wreck in Pacific Seattle, Wash., Nov. 16. The fish ing steamer Manhattan of Vancouver, B. C has been wrecked off the north l'acilis coast according to wireless mesages received here today from the steamer Mariposa, which said a boat from the wrecked vessel containing six menibers of the crew had been picked up. Several boats containing 28 other members of the crew are missing, according to interpretations placed here on the mesagc. Cafe Men Who Ignore Meatless Day to Be Placed Under License A 11 German Eff oris Have Been Repulsed Rome, Nov. 16. All along the mountain front from Asiago to the Piave river the attacks of the Austria-German forces, which are seek ing to crush in the Italian line, have been repulsed, it is announced officially. All the positions at tacked yesterday remain in the. hands of the Italians. , On the "Venetian plains artillery battles of intense severity across the Fiave river are in jirogress. . , Restaurants and hotels which do not conform to the regulation of meatless' Tuesday and wheatless Wednesday undoubtedly soon will be placed under license, J. F. Letton of Omaha, chairman of th hotels and restaurants committee of the state food administration, believes. - Every effort, however, will first be made ' to bring about conformity without the licefTse system. Mr. Let ton has found a great deal of con fusion prevalent in the state as to which days nave been set apart as wheatless and meatless. He points out that officially Tuesday is meatless and Wednesday wheatless day, and these are the days the committee is seeking to have thus Observed in the state. "On meatless Tuesday," said Mr. Letton, "hotels and restaurants should not serve beef, mutton, veal, lamb, pork or any of the bv-prod ucts of these, such as animal fats of any kind. Instead, all kinds of fowl and fish should be substituted. This also solves the problem of the small sandwich dealer, who can just as well serve chicken, duck, turkey or fish sandwiches one day of the week, and make, as much money or more on them than he can on beef sandwiches. "On wheatless Wednesday, rye, graham, corn and breads other than wheat shoujd be served, and instead of pie and cake theTc should be sensed rice, farina, pudding, ice cream and water ices."' Mr. Letton is sending a letter to this effect to all the hotel and restau rant men in the state. Richard Kitchen, chairman for the second dis trict, Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties, is sending a letter to the hotel and restaurant keepers of this district urging their co-operation Pons di Piavs the Sileand I&vCTiva r ew are very close together 4nd near here flood gatea were constructed to hold, the rivers in check so as to pro tect the Venetian lagoon. On both sides of this triangle f he land is st or below sea level. Now Under . Water. The, flood was loosed at the point where the enemy succeeded in cross- J ing the Piave near Grisolera (four miles from the coast), and the whole J region where he gained lodgment is ' now under water. The inundated territory forms a huge f riangle bout 12 miles on each ; side, with the apex at Dona di Piave. t The enemy had been driven back, but , still held on within this triangle until ' the dykes from both rivers released the water over the low-lying plain. ' The chief menace at that point was that the enemy might be able to ap- nroach Venice through the lagoon or j bombard the city from his position J between the rivers. The indundartion'! interposes a barrier of water 12 miles acoss and several feet deep. Reports which have reached head-" quarters ffom other points on the ' front are also favorable. . s Germans Captuge Cismon. . ' Berlin, Nov, 16, The town of Cis- . mon, on the northern Italian front, has been captured, the war office an nounces. Near the Adriatic, onhe western bank of the Piave, Hungarian troops advanced and captured 1,000 Italians. s . Drastic Eules Are r . . Planned to Curb Alien Activities Washington, Nov. 16. New regu- ; lations governing enemy aliens, much more drastic and planned tojje more effective than those now operating, were up for fimil consideration at to- day's cabinet meeting. "They are expected to efficiently deal with the menace of tires, bomb plots, the conveying of information to Germany and other activities in tended to hamper the government in the conduct of the war. The regulations have been drawn , by Attorney General Gregory, wha favors strong action to deal with the menace. When finally approved they will be embodied in a proclamation by President Wilson. The question of forcing all enemy aliens away from the vantage points of the seaboard, as well as forbidding them entry to cer tain barred zones, is one of the princi pal considerations. Norwegian Towns Boycott German Citizens and Trade Christiania, Nov. Ij5. The Tidens Tegn says the Norwegian Water as sociation has adopted a resolution proclaiming a complete boycott of Germany, German shipping, Girtjtan trade and German citizens in Nor way. -. v ' " The chairman pf the association said that if German , ships were un able to load or unload in NorwaV, the prohibition against exports could be abolished and that if food should be refused to German subjects, they would soon leave the cojntry, Thus the lives of Norwegian sailors would not be exposed to the, present dan cers. ' Similar resolutions have beenJ Xppted ja pth.ee JKorwegiaa toya. : X':