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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1918)
The Omaha Daily Bee VOL. XLVIL NO. 198;, THE BEE: OMAHA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1918. oN.7r:d.,oii,!.r SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. u. BATTLE GERMAN ,1 SOCIALIST ADERS UNDER ARR I? THE WEATHER $J Fair I s. moors N FRANCE; GERMAN STRIKE IN GERMANY WANING UNDER IRON RULE OF MILITARY - - - 0 m General Von Kessell Threatens Trial by Court Martial and Summary Execution for Strikers Failing to Resume Work Today; Deputy Dittman of ReichsUg Arrested for Treason. (By Associated Press.) Amsterdam, Feb. 3. Ending of the strike in Germany on Monday is predicted in a semi-official statement issued in Berlin on Saturday evening. It follows: "The strike everywhere is on the wane. Many factories now are working with full staffs, and it is assumed the strike will he ended entirely on Monday. This opinion is confirmed by reports from all parts of the country." , After more than half the ship yards workers at Hamburg had resumed work, the strikers' committee there resolved to call the workmen out again Saturday, according to a copy of; the Berlan Lokal Anzeiger of that day received here. PUNISHMENT THREAT. f London, Feb. 3. General von Kes sel, military commandant of Branden burg province, in which Berlin is sit uated, threatens summary punishment of strikers, who fail to obey his order that they resume work on Monday morning. An exchange telegraph dis patch from Copenhagen says the proclamation set 7 o'clock as the hour at which they must return to work, adding: , "Employes failing .to resume work will be tried by court martial, which is authorized to impose sentence of death, execution to take place within 24 hours of the time the sentence is imposed." DITTMAN HELDJFOR TREASON. Deputy Dittman of the Reichstag, who was arrested -while addressing strikers, is accused not only of in fringing martial law, but of inciting to high treason, according to the Berlin press. The Lokal Anzeiger says he urged in his speech that the strike must be maintained. WORKERS STILL RESTLESS, Germany's workers ' are still In a restless mood and although the strike movement appears to be on the wane. largely through . the adoption o drastic measures by the authorities, there are threats of further demon strations and a continuation of spor adic disorders. . Berlin and its environs remain the center of the -disturbance. The city , is under military control. Factories where strikes are in progress have been militarized, say dispatches, and the workers warned to report for work by Monday morning or undergo military discipline. Riots on Thursday. The most serious disturbances ap pear to have occurred in Berlin Thurs day when crowds got out of hand, 0 jverturned street cars, interfered with " workers who had kept to their em ployment and frequently collided with the police. In one case when a panic broke out after a shot had been fired the police are declared to have charged, with drawn sabers, 30 strikers and many onlookers being wounded. At Span dau, an important suburb, there were similar disorders and a mod is re ported to have attacked soldier guards. Angry Over Arrest. A nationwide demonstration is threatened over the arrest of Deputy William Dittmann, one of the inde pendent socialist leaders, for attempt ing to address a street crowd. The completeness of the military control . of Berlin is indicated by the reported refusal of Chancellor von Hertling to order the deputy's release when asked to do so, giving as a reason that he was powerless to interfere, as the cap ital was entirely in military hands. At the same time a great number of so cialist leaders were arrested in Berlin. The semi-official statement sent from Berlin on Friday night declares that Friday'-s disturbances were of a minor nature, that men were return ing to work and that prevailing opin ion was that the strike had passed the high water mark. Krupp Plant Runs. The Krupp plant at Essen was in full swing, it was asserted, while work was again proceeding in the ship yards, at Hamburg and Danzeig and (Conttnafd on rae Two, Column Fonr.) The Weather For Nebraska Fair. Dep. ... 8 ... 6 ... 4 ... 1 Hour. 5 6 7 8 10 11 13 1 2 a. fn. , a. in. . a. m.. .. m.. a. in., a. m.. a. m.. m 3 :::::S 7 p. m. p. m 8 v. m 9 p. m p. m .If p. m 7 p. m 6 Comparative Loral Record. 1918. 1317. 1916. 1915 Highest yesterday 10 34 11 84 Lowest yesterday 1 6 4 , 19 llean temperature 20 8 26 Precipitation 00 -00 .07 .00 Temperature and precipitation departures from the normi'l: Normal temperature ; 21 deficiency for the day 15 'iota; deficiency plnc-3 March 1 7S8 Normal precipitin 03 inch Ix-fleiency for the day OS Inch Total ralnfnU sine March 1 22. 4S Inches lf'ficlncy since March 1 7.50 inches Ueflcleacy for cor. period 1916.. 12.61 Inches Xeticieiic for cor. period 1115.. 0.64 inches 4 "j p NEBRASKA MEN ARE DISCHARGED AT DEB, N.M. 124 Soldiers Let Out of Serv ice; Declared to Be Aliens, Allowed to Return to Homes. (By Associated Press.) Deming, N. M., Feb. 3. Qne hun dred twenty-four alien soldiers of the 34th national guarddivision, compris ing former national guardsmen of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and' Nebraska, were ordered discharged rfrotnvthe army today "for the good of the service. Y. , " . JThe action was taken on instruc tions from the adjutant general at XWashington. The men, who jwere members of 16 organizations in the division, which is in training at Camp Cody near here, will not be interned but will be given travel pay and al lowances and permitted to proceed to their homes. They will not be recom mended for re-enfistment, however. This action follows the discharge yesterday of seven Austrians and one, German, who were ordered held for civil officers as enemy aliens. The eight men discharged yesterday were alleged to have made statements dis-j loyal to the United States. Warn Dealers Against 1 Undue Profits on Wheat WashinKton. Feb. 3. A scale ofl profits for wholesale and retail deaU ers in wheat flour was suggested by the food administration today with the warning that any margins charged in excess of those proposed would be considered for invesigation. The scale follows: Wholesalers Gross maximum prorfit not to exceed from 50 to 75 cents a barrel. . Retailers Gross maximum profit on original mill packages not to ex ceed 80 cents to $1.20 a barrel; on less than original mill packages not to ex ceed 1 cent a pound. 224 Britons Go Down on Ship Sunk by Germans London, Feb. 3. The British armed boarding steamer Louvain, Lieutenant Commander M. G. Easton commanding, was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in the eastern Mediterranean on January 21. Seven officers and 217 men were lost. This official announcement was made tonight. Dr. W. J. Leary, Captain in Army, Leaves for Kelly's Field, Texas Dr. William J. Leary, who was com missioned as captain in the United States Medical Reserve corps, left last Tuesday for Kelly's Field, San An tonio, Tex., where he will serve with 4-tbe aviat.on division. He was born in Omaha, was grad uated trom Creighton college of arts in 1904,-as a valedictorian of his class, serveu as police surgeon, and was an interne in St. Joseph's hospital. Dur ing the last two summers he was in charge of the life-saving crew at Mu nicipal beach, Carter lake. A ftiend of Dn Leary wrote these lines: "In his going to seivc with Uncle Sam, Omaha has added another full-fledged citizen to the number of boys in khaki, who will do their full share." Waldorf-Astoria Bought By Dupont for $20,000,000 Nev York, Feb. 3. A company in which T. Coleman Dupont is finan cially interested l.as been formed to take over the Waldorf-Astoria in this city, one of the bests known hotels in the world, it was announced tonight by George C. Boldt, manager of the hotel. The safe involved ?2O,0OOJ0O0. American Guard of Ifonor for H$r Who Are Decorate t. ' l. vr Vs. v. "... v L v, , V AJ t I 1 if AMi $LJ'M 3 MEN SHOT IN ST. LOUIS STREET CAR LINE STRIKE Surface Roads, of Mound City Almost Completely Blocked as Result of Labor Difficulty. , 1 1 1 ii t St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 3. Street rail way traffic in St. Louis was almost at a standstill today as a result of the strike of motormen and conductors who went out last midnight. About 60 cars were operated today, a trifle Conductors Strike; Hit Preference to Woirien St. Louis Mov?' Feb. 3. A de mand for discontinuance of al leged discrimination in favor of vonten 'conductors! anl fr higheV wages was presented to the United Railways, the local traction com pany, by officials of a newly or ganized union of car employes to day. The men claim that women con ductors are given preference as to daylight runs. Conductors and motormen said they understood a strike would be called at midnight, Sunday night. more than one-tenth of the normal Sunday service. Fifty arrests were made for minor acts of violence. At dark all cars were returned to the sheds, andvit was announced that no effort would be made to operate any of the lines tonight. Three men were shot in strike riots tonight, according to reports received at police headquarters. Albert Hoeldge, a striker, said he was shot from a car window. Another striker was shotat the car barns in the western part qf the city Police raided the headquarters of the Industrial Workers of the World and arrested 30 men. The secretary of the organization denied that the Industrial Workers of the World had ! any part in fomenting the strike. tyomen Urge U. S. to Join In Russ Peace Farley New York, Feb-'3. Resolutions urging the United States government to join Russia in peace negotiations on the basis of "no forcible annexa tions afid no punitive indemnities" and "immediate recognition of the de' facto Russian government" were adopted at the convention of the New York state branch of the Roman's peace party here today. - A plea for the passage of the fed eral woman suffrage amendment also was contained in resolutions of greet ings to be sent President Wilson. . II I I I IIIS1IIMI- 1 . American troops in France actingO as guard of hor.or tor rreifch heroes being decorated for bravery tinder fire. The scene was an inspiration for our boys at the training camp where the ceremonies took place. GERMANS LACK TORPEDOES; POOR QUALITY USED Factories Unable to Furnish Enough to Keep U-Boats Busy; U. S. Destroyers Good Dodgers. (By Associated Press.) Base of American Flotilla in Brit ish Waters, Feb. 3. Shortage of tor pedoes t'3 one of the most serious facts with which the directors of the German U-boat war arc now faced. It is a well. known and admitted fact that German factories- rt't"present absolutely unable to turn out first class torpedoes in anywhere near suf ficient quantities for the needs of the submarines. In fact, the underwater craftre being turned out faster than the torpedoes with the result that re course has been had to various ex pedients to keep the submarines sup plied with their chief weapon. Germany's fleet of U-boats must carry thousands of torpedoes. Thou sands more must always be ready in reserve. Ip fact the reserve supply should be larger today than a year ago to allow for the more frequent calls made upon it. The Augmented destroyer patrol is responsible for this. They have made the submarines use up more torpedoes and have caused them 4o return to their base more frequently for reloading. Torpedo Rations. Eight may be said to be the' aver age number of torpedoes carried in one submarine. The number ranges from four to 12. according to the type of submarine. The U-53 which raided shipping off the Atlantic coast of the ' United btates carried 1U. More re- j cent types load as many as 12. Mine layers can accommodate two, four and six, depending on their saze. In connection with this shortage is the interesting fact that all .U-boat commanders, now are strictly "rat ioned" as far as their supply of torpodoes is concerned, and are not permitted to waste torpodoes on long "chance shots" except under circum stances which they muse explain in detal as justifying the expenditure of the precious underwater missies. Must be t Close Range. Recently the German factories have been turning out a smaller torpedo which is less acturately1 tested, but which may be used with a fair degree of certainty at close range. Of late very few German torpedos has proved effective unless at fairly close range and it has become unusual for a U boat commander to" make any at tempt at a merchant ship unless he can get within 500 to 600 yards. The Germans are now using two types of torpedoes. They may be described as short-charge and full charge torpedoes. The short-charge is the one used mostly against mer chant shipping and is fired at 500 to 600 yards. The full charge, which 'ias probably twice the destructive force and is better made, is reserved for men-of-war. j It is fired at a greater distance and is used less freguentlyl than the cheaper torpedo. U. S. Destroyers Alert. But the comparative immunity of the American destroyers from tor pedo attack despite the loss of the lacob Tones and the slight disable ment of the Cassin is noteworthy in this connection. The Germans hate the American destroyers as one of their worst enemies in. their most fertile field of action and there is scarcely an American destroyer but has had one or more German tor pedoes fired at it, yet only twice have the torpedoes found their mark. The Americans and the British with whom they are co-opciating so successfully in this game of hunting "tin-fish", attribute their immunity to the moblity of the destroer The alertness of the American naval men coupled with their well known keen ness for offensive tactics against the submarine have beon responsible for their slight losses. Sharp lookouts and skillfull maneuvering enable j them to cheat the Germans so often. French for Bravery Xi ULSTER STICKS, STATES CARSON; : NO SURRENDER Declares Unionists Alone Have Shown Reason in Effort to Settle Irish Question; Solu tion Long Way Off. r Belfast, Feb. 3. In a speech before the unionist council today, Sir Ed ward Carson said that pie circum stances had arisen at the Irish con vention indicating the possibility of trouble over the steps the govern ment should take if the convention should break down. If he remained in the government, he declared, he wouldnjiave to be a party to its delib erations and support any policy it adopted. On the other hand, he was Wi free,-because of his pledges as a covenanter. ( He protested against any attempt to create an atmosphere that Ulster is unreasonable, declaring: "Ulster alone in Ireland has shown any reason at all. Some of our old friends and supporters, who are calling out for a settlement, really mean sur render. If by settlement people have in theif minds surrender, there will be no settlement." London, Feb. 2. The series of re ceptions and ovations that Sir Edward H. Carson, leader of the Irish union ist party, is receiving in Belfast does not promise well for a harmonious solution of the Irish question in the near future. BOSTON OPERA CO., HARD HIT BY WAR, WINS COURT SUIT Boston, Fb. 3. Judicial notice of the fact that grand opera in Boston never was a financial success, even when subsidized in peace times by the late Ben D. Jordan, was taken by the federal court yesterday in dismissing claims for damages filed by Walter M. Smith, a musician, and Edoardo Ferrari Fontana a singer, against the Boston Opera company in bank ruptcy. Referee James II. Olmstead re ported to the court that contracts with Smith and Fontana were terminated by the company1 in 1914, soon after the outbreak of the war. "I am of the opinion," the referee held, "that if grand opera could hard ly be a suicess in peace times even though subsidized,, it was rendered impossible by the existence of a uni versal world war, and therefore feel that a public calamity over which the party had no control, to terminate it." These findings vere embodied in a decree filed by Judge Hale. Fire at Naval Base. Norfolk, Va., Feb. 3. Fire at the United States naval base at Cherry stone, Va., today destroyed a large warehouse containing food and cloth ing. A relief vessel carrying supplies has been sent from Norfolk. SH0NTS RAPS WOMEN'S DRESS; DEFENDS "C0NDUCT0RETTES" (By Associated Press.) New York, Feb. 3. Theodore P. Shonts, president of the company that operates most of New York City's car lines, having decreed some time ago that the "conductorettes" recently employed to replace men should wear bloome,rs as part of their uniforms, now comes forward to defend the costume against the criticism that it is irrhnodest. In a letter to critics he made public' tonight the railway president saysJ "Compared with the distorted figure of the days of tight lacing, the unsightly bustle, the unwieldy hoopskirt and paptalette, as well as the present what shall I say near waistless party or theater gown, the cross-saddle riding habit, the average summer resort bathing suit, the peek-aboo shirt waist, the short street skirt, with its far-short-of-reaching high top shoes, I repeat, as compared with these, I consider the neat, business-like uniforms of cyir conductorettes, with its knee-length semi military coat, closely buttoned collar, easy fitting bloomers and puttee covered legs, a splendid example of a modest, practical utility dress. "If, in favor of common sense and patriotism women have courage to sweep aside hide-bound conventions that they may the better do their bit, why should we attempt to handicap them with false notions of modesty about dress?" SAMMIES OCCUPY SECTOR 150 MILES LONG IN LORRAINE Entire American Front Resounds With the Boom of Big Guns; Many Spectacular Air Fights Are Staged; Germans Now Giving Their Attention to Sector Held by Pershing. (By Associated Press.) With the American Army in France, American troops are occupying a sector of the Lorraine front in France. This an-? nouncement is permitted by the military censor. The whole American sector is resounding with the boom of guns. Artillery fire became exceedingly active along the Amer ican front on Saturday. Enemy snipers wounded two Amer. icans slightly in the morning. -O BATTLE IN THE AIR' ' . MARCH SLATED FOR CHIEF OF U.S.ARMYSTAFF General Bliss Will Stay in France to Represent America on Inter-Allied War Council. Washington, Feb. 3. Speeding up of genera! staff activities is expected to follow the appointment of Major General Feyton C. March as acting'' chief of staff of the army, announce ment of which depends only on ad vices from General Pershing that-the officer can be spared from his duties as chief of artillery of the expedition ary forces. Secretary Baker wouM not discuss his plans today, but it is known that he has determined upon General March as the most suitable officer to take over the work of this impor tant post. General Bliss, the sta.T chief, will remain in F'rance as the permanent representative of the United States on the supreme war council, which determines policies to be carried out on the various fronts. Both officers and civilians who hav; returned from I'rance recently have brought back word of the impression General March 1 ad created by the energy and skill displayed in organi zation of his branch of the service under General Pershing. Private messages from France have mdi cated that the Amcricar. commander approves the selection and will not block General March's appointment, but so far as is known no official reply has come from General Persu ing. ' Hitchcock for Munitions Director in Spite of Wilson (Froirv a Staff Cilrrtapondeut.) Washington, Feb. 3 (Special.) Discussion of the proposed war cabinet and director 'of munitions bills will continue in the sear.te next week notwithstanding President Wil son called to the White House yes terday a number of democratic sen ators and told them to put an end to the agitatVin. j I Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska and Senator Wads worth of. New York members of the military affairs com mittee, and in favor of hese mea sures had both givei. notice Thurs day they would speak the one on Monday and the other on Tuesday. Government Orders Ten Solid Concrete Ships Washington, Feb i. Contrary for 10 3,500 ton concrete, ships were let today by the shipping board to the Ferror Concrete Shipbuilding corpora, tion of Redondo Beach. Cal. The first vessel is to be delivered within six months-and the other nine within a year. The building company will use a new plan of construction, recently patented, by which it claims it can build the vessels more rapidly than under old methods of working concrete. A shift of the wind today deared away, the ' mist which has hindered aerial operations and other activities for several days A number of battles in the air were fought by patrolling planes early tbis afternoon. In one instance the French aviators defeated an attempt of German fliers to cross behind the American trenches. The artillery and snipersalso have been. ""increasingly active. American 7S's" are harrassing traffic behind the enemy trenches. The Germans ,-erjA' confining their fire largely td the American trenches. Throughout Friday night jmachine guns rattled ceaselessly from German positions. - Newspaper Men at Front The correspondents permanent' accrediated to the American army have been informed that they may proceed virtually to any pint within' the zone of fire except the trenches, without escort and without special permission to any brigade head quarters, a few kilometers behind the trenches after first reporting their presence within the rone to the head quarters of .. -Ihe- -.,d(visior . of which the brigade Is a part Unless " there is some occurence which makes it inadvisable in the opinion of. the" brigade commander for corresnpn- dents to move nearer the f-ont ihey may walk from ' his headquarters to regimental headquarters behind the lines. Sine all roads immediately behind the front are within easy German gun range and under German observation, not more than two correspondents may move forward together. They must wear gas masks in alert positions and helmets. , Newspapermen must obtain special permission to visit' the trenches and must be accompanied by an escorting officer. - Line ISO Miles Long. The fact that American troops were in the trenches in Lorraine was revealed by the German war office three months ago. At that time, ac cording to an official German an nouncement, the Americans wets on the front at the Rhine-Marne canal, which intersects the battle line near the German border, due east of Nancy. This announcement was made in the official report from Berlin of the first German raid on the Ameri can positions in which three Ameri cans were killed, five wounded and 12 captured. . . The eastern end of the iftttle line in France and Belgium runs through French and German Lorraine. French Lorraine, in which is the American sector, is included in the departments of Meuse, the capital of which is Ver dun; Meurthe-Et-Noselle, whose cap-, ital is Nancy, and Vosges, with the capital at Epinal. The length of the front in French Lorraine is about ISO" miles. Old Battle Ground. ' This section of the battle line ex tends into the Meuse from the Marne near St. Menehould 'and runs east ward to the north of Verdun, south to St. Mihiel and east to the German border. There it turns to the south east and almost parallels the border to the vicinity of Leintry. Below l.eintry it cuts across a section of French soil, past Badonviller and Senoncs and to the east of St. Die, and again erosses the German border at a point west of Colmar. The re mainder of the line to the Swiss boundary is in Germany. Since the battle of Verdun there has been no fighting of great impor tance along this front. For the most part it runs through high and broken country. Since the' present battle line was established early in the war there has been comparatively little activity on the front to the east of the Ver dun sector, the nature of the country making large operations imprac ticable. Funeral Services fbr ' Elkan Seligsohn Held Funeral services for Elkan Selig sohn, who died last Friday morninff, were held in Temple Israel at 2 o'clock Sunday, Rabbi Frederick Coha officiating. . Mr. Seligsohn died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fred Hadra. 212 , South Forty-first street, after a two weeks' illness. He was born in Rus sian Poland and was 81 years oW. He had been a resident of Omaha 35 years. He had been a member of the congregation of the Temple Israel for many years and was-prominent in the church work. Burial was in ritasaui Hill cemetery. - t - 1