Nebraska Newspapers

    THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIDUNE. NORTH PLATTE. NEBRASKA
HW THE GREAT
NOTABLE EVENTS OF THE VEfiR 1915
European Conflict Develops Into a Struggle to the Death, With Dead
lock on Eastern and Western FrontsSerbia Overrun by
Teutons and Bulgarians Trying Period for the
United States General Carranza Rec
ognized as President of Mexico.
THE EUROPEAN WAR j
Ttao year 1915 hns been so distinc
tive) from a hlstorymaklng viewpoint
that In nil tho nges to corao it will
stand opart from thoso that have pre
ceded it nnd from thoao which aro
to follow. During Its entire length,
tho greater nations ot tho European
continent have abandoned themselves
to a policy of bloodshed which lias
fallen llttlo short of delirium. To
tho neutral onlooker it has been a ro
vival on a huge Bcalo of tho Irration
al and murderous activity which char
acterized tho earlier, ages ot mankind.
It has been tho completo overthrow of
nil tho paciilc theories which had ap
parently gained so strong a foothold
at tho tlmo of tho firing of tho first
gun in tho present conflict.
At tho beginning of the yenr, it was
evident that it was to be n struggle
to tho death. It was plain that the
Teutonic plan to force a speedy set
lenient by dint of superior armed
preparedness had failed. Six months
had olnpBed and llio Teutonic allies
wero still faced by threo great na
tions, their strength unbroken and
their determination inflexible. Aus
tria had boon driven ropeatcdly by hor
Russian invaders and twlco tho Sorbs
bad routed Austrian armies sent
against them. On other fields, also,
Teutonic efforts had been futllo. Thus
far Turkey had boon of llttlo assist
ance and tho holy war had failed .to
como into being. German Southwest
Africa bad boon lost and German in
fluence In Asia had been smothered
by tho Japanese.
As an offset, tho Germans still held
practically all tho conquered territory
which bad fallen into their hands.
Their lines still held firmly In Po
land, in Flanders and in Franco. It
was apparent that as yet tho Teutonic
combination showed no sign of weak
ening, and a war of attrition seemed
Inovitnble. Both in tho cast and
in tho west tho military opcVatlons
of tho enrly part of tho year woro
practically without declslvo result.
Tho fighting in Poland had resolved
Itself into n completo deadlock. In
January, tho French-English comblno
mado threo attompts to break tho
Teutonic hold on French territory, but
accomplished little. Tho Gorman un
successful drive nt Warsaw and tho
rout of tho AuBtrians in Galicla left a
slight balance In tho January lighting
In favor of tho allies.
From a strictly military viowpolnt,
February was a promising month for
tho Teutonic allies. By tho middle of
tho month, German troopB wero ad
vanclng all along tho front from
tho Vistula to tho Nicmcn, and thus,
BOYon months after tho breaking out
of tho war, German Boil was practi
cally cleared of its Russian invaders.
Tho doadlock an tho western front
was still unbroken.
Scene 8hlftc to Dardanelles.
"With tho advent of March, thoro
camo a suddon and dramatic change
In tho war situation. Tho scono of
military activity was shifted to tho
Dardanelles. Uy tho third weok of
tho month, Romo, Athens, Sofia aud
Bucharost wero centers of great po
litlcal activity. Tho surrender of
Przomysl, March 22, was tho moat
stirring victory for tho allies slnco tho
battle ot tho Marne. Tho German
assertion that tho military power ot
RusBia had dwindled into InBlgnlll
canco was disproved nt onco and tho
allied causo gained instant strength in
all tho neutral capitals. Ono ot tho
greatest strongholds in Europo had
been taken by tho Russians.
Tbo disaster to tho allied fleet at
tho Dardanelles, which occurred dur-
Ing tbo third weok ot March, put nn
end to tho expectation of forcing tho
straits by naval means alone. Gor
man prostlgo advnnccd percoptibly
and tho difficulty of tho task under
taken by tho allied fleet was now tin
derstood. In this month, also, tho
British won tho battlo of Neuvo
Chapello after a bloody fight.
In April tho French mado a bold
offensivo stroke against tho Gorman
position between tho Mouse nnd tho
Moselle the famoim St. Mlhtel wedgo
which resulted in a tremendous loss
of men on both sides, with smull ad
vantage for either. Nowhere had tho
allies mado appreciable gain in tor
rltory. The invader held his own
Etubbornly and with success. About
tbo middle ot tbo month, Zcppolins
mado thoir appoaranco over English
towns, inspiring great Interest nnd not
a llttlo apprehension, but doing com
paratlvely small damage. About this
time, also, tho attempted submarlno
blockade ot tho British coast proved
to bo ineffective, in tho closing days
ot tho month nnothdr great Teutonic
offensivo swept against tho allied lines
In Belgium, thrusting tho enemy back
upon Ypres, with great loss of llfo on
both sides.
In May tho Germans sent their best
troops to tho nld ot the hard
pressed Austrlans. Dy tho middle ot
tho month they had worked a star
tllng change in tho situation. Przo
mysl was retaken, the Russian cam'
IHD
palgn in Galicla was shattered and
tho czar'B armies wero booh back
whero they started out In tho previous
Septombor. Russia had suffered the
greatest disaster in tho war. A now
Gormnny milltnry hero had been re
galed In tho person of Mackensen,
who was now held with Illndenhurg
In popular esteem.
In tho last days of the month, Italy
Joined forces with tho allies against
Austria-Hungary.
Fall of Warsaw.
Tho campaign In tho West was
trangely quiescent. Tho allies kept
to their tronchea nnd tho outslda world
wondered. Up to Juno 15 thoro was no
claim of progress by tho allies. Tho
Teutonic claim that its side was still
engaged In successful warfare on all
fronts was not disputed. The splendid
resistance interposed by tho discred
ited Turks camo as a surpriso to the
world. Russia was unahlo to rally her
badly demoralized forces to make a
winning dofonso of Lcmberg. Onco
that point had fallen, Warsaw bocamo
tho main objective. It was not until
August G that German troops mndo
thoir triumphal ontry into Warsaw,
capital of Russian Poland.
Soptcmbor marked a decided chnngo
In tho Teutonic campaign In tho East.
Vllna fell on September 9, but imme
diately afterward tho Russians won a
sorleB of successes over tho Austrians,
capturing 40,000 prisoners. Tho escape
of tho Russian armies from the net
planned by tho Gorman strategists
was complete. Tho great Teutonic
drlvo was brought to a halt, and in Do-
comber tho Germans withdrew slight
ly and intrenched for tho winter.
Tho month of October marked a de
cided rovival of military activity on
all fronts. After a long porlod of com
parative quiot in tho West, a despcr-
ato offensivo movement was mado by
tho allies. Tho French drivo In Cham
pagno was ono of tho bloodiest at
tompts yet mado to plerco the German
lines. After three wooks of incessant
gunfire, tho French troops loft thoir
trenches, September 25, and rushed
tho wholo of tho first German lino.
Noarly 20,000 Gorman prisonorB wero
captured, and upward of a hundred
Held guns, thus fnr tho greatest single
capture by tho French during tho war.
But tho Gormans woro not compelled
to relinquish any groat amount of ter
ritory. In Artols tho allies did not sue
coed in breaking through tho Gorman
lines, but secured soma coveted posi
tions at an appalling cost.
This brief porlod of allied success
was followed by an unexpected turn
of political affairs in tho Balkans. For
a second tlmo tho Greok king showed
his lack ot sympathy with tho allies.
In tho spring ho had provented Vonl
zolos, his premier, an avowed sup
porter of tho allies, from sending
troops to tho Dardanelles. Now, when
tho allies woro depending upon the
G rooks to hold tho Bulgarians In chock,
Constantino declined again to act.
Serbia Is Overrun.
Bulgaria announced her intention to
cast her lot with tho central powers
and tho lattor opened a campaign hav-
ing Turkish relief for its apparent ob
Jcctlvo. On Octobor 10 tho Germans
crossed tho Danube and proceeded to
ndvanco southward, every stop contest
ed furiously by tho outnumbered
Sorbs. Franco, England and Italy de
clarcd war on Bulgaria. All at onco
thd center of military activity was
transferred to tho Balkans.
In November both tho long-expected
allied offensivo in tho West nnd tho
Teutonic drlvo in tho East camo pruc-
tlcally to an end. Tho allies failed to
break tho stubborn Gorman linos aud
only achlovod a possible moderate
success In Champagne and Artols at
tremendous cost. By tho mlddlo of tho
month military operations In Russia
woro practically at a standstill, tho
Gormans having failed to accomplish
tho object ot thoir campaign. At that
time tho big Gorman drlvo to tho Gold
on Horn began to monopollzo tho at
tontlon of tho public. Tho proltralnary
invasion of Serbia by tho Teutonic al
lies now including Bulgnrla waB bo
gun with notablo promptness. In fact
as early as October 27, tho lnvndlug
armicB met in tho northeastern part of
tho kingdom, by November 1 Kragu
yovntz, tho chief Serbian arsonnl, had
fallon, and by November G tho Bulga
rianB wero in Nish, Sorbla'B provl
sional capital and rnllroadcontcr. By
Novomber 19 It was announced that
tho invading armies hold four-llfthB ot
Sorbin, and toward tbo closo of tho
month Germany declared semiofficially
that tho campaign was ovor. By tho
mlddlo of Decombor tho Franco-British
forces had boon driven out of Serbia,
Thoy fell back to Salonlkl, which, with
tho consent ot Greece thoy prepared
to dofend.
Slnco May 24, when tho Italian army
crossod tho Austrian frontier, tho tight
ing has boon continuous, especially
ulong tho Isonzo front. Tho strongly
fortlflod and stubbornly defonded town
of Goritz was tho Italian objoctlvo tor
wooks. In October tho Austrian aoro
planes dropped bombs upon Vcnlco
destroying art specimens und damag-
Ing a church. Tho Italian liner An
cona, hound for Now York, was sunk
by a submarine flying tho Austrian
flag on November 9. Moro than a hun
dred passengers wore killed, Including
several Americans. Tho United States
made n vigorous demand on Austria to
disavow tho act and punish tho com
mander ot the submarine
On December 15 tho British war of
fice announced that Gen. Sir Douglas
llalg had superseded Field Marshal
Sir John French as British commander
in France aud Flanders.
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES
Strictly neutral as has been the pol
icy elected by this country, the gov
ernment has been brought fnco to faco
with many serious problems which
have arisen from tho conduct of tho
'European war. Ono of these was tho
solzuro and detention by Great Britain
of vessels carrying American goods to
neutral ports in Europe. A protest
was mado by Washington and on Jan
uary 10 Great Britain replied by of
fering reasonable redress for any mis
take of that nature.
Early in February, Great Britain de
cided to seize grain and flour ship
ments to Germany even if intended for
noncombatants, und, two days later,
Germany declared the waters around
Great Britain and Ireland to bo a war
zono, and announced her purposo to
destroy overy enemy merchant vessel
discovered therein. Neutrals were
warned of tho danger sure to follow.
On February G, tho Atlantic liner Lusl
tanla mado tho passage from Now
York to Liverpool flying tho American
flag as a protection against hostile
submarines. On February 10, tho
United States sent notes to Germany
nnd Great Britain concerning Ameri
can -Bhipplng in the war zone. Ger
many was wnrned against committing
a breach of tho rules of navnl warfaro
and Groat Britain was reminded that
Berious consequences might follow tho
uso of tho American flag by British
vessels. On February 1G, Germany of-
ercd to withdraw from her crusado
agnlnst British merchant ships if tho
British would permit tho sending of
food to tho civilian population of Ger
many. On tho same day, the British
govornmcnt seized tho American ship
Wilholmlna, bound for a German port
with wheat for civilian consumption
Tho German note In reply to tho
American protest against tho subma
rine blockade disclaimed all responsi
bility. Great Britain affirmed its in
tentlon to send tho wllhelmlna to a
prlzo court. In replies to inquiries
from tho Washington government,
neither Germany nor Great Britain
Bhowcd any disposition to recodo from
tho positions already announced. On
April 11, tho German ambassador pro
tested to the stato department against
tho attitude of the United States to
ward the shipment of war materials
nnd British treatment of American
trado with Germany. On May 1 tho
Amorlcnn oil carrier Gulfllght was
sunk off tho Sctlly islands by a Gcr
man submarine.
Destruction of the Lusltnnla.
On May 7, the big transatlantic liner
Lusltanla was sunk by a German sub
marine off tho coast of Ireland, with
a loss of nearly 1,200 lives; including
upwards of a hundred Americans. On
May 13 tho United States protested
against tho Gorman submarine policy
and declared Its intention of main
talning tho rights of American citi
zens. On May 25 the American steam
or Nobraskan was seriously damaged
by a torpedo off tho south coast of
Ireland. On May 28 tho German reply
to tho United States note of protest
In regard to tho submarlno policy In
tho so-called "war zone" was received.
Final statemont of tho Gorman posi
tion was reserved until a common ba
sis of fact as to tho status of tho Lusl
tanla should bo established. On May
31 Germany made ofllclal announce
ment that tho Gulfllght had boon sunk
by a Gorman submarlno whoso cap
tain failed to recognize tho American
flag.
On Juno 8 Secretary of Stato Wil
liam J. Bryan resigned his office to
avoid signing a second note of pro
test to Germany against submarlno in
terference with merchant ships. On
tho following day this note was sent
and assurances wero asked that in fu
ture American ships and lives should
bo safeguarded. On Juno 22 tho Brit
ish govornmcnt sent an ofllclal noto
to tho American ambassador explain
ing efforts mado to protect neutral
shipping. On Juno 28 tho British
steamer Armonlan was destroyed by
a German submarlno off tho coast of
southern England and a number of
Americans in tho crow lost their lives.
On July 8 Germany replied to tho
second Washington notp regarding
tho submarlno war against raorchant
ships, promising safoty to United
States ships In tho war zono if specif
ically marked, nnd suggesting that the
American flag bo placed on four hos
tile steamers for tho safe transporta
tion of American passengers.
More Diplomatic Notes.
On July 21 tho United States sent a
third noto to Gormnny, with tho state
mont that tho Gorman roply to a for
mor noto had been "very unsatlsfnc
tory," and that a repetition of tho
acta complained of would bo regarded
as "doliboratoly unfriendly." On Aug
ust 3 several notes from Great Brit
ain concerning Interference with Amer
ican trnuo in the war zono were
mado public, in which it wus
claimed that Great Britain was do
ing nothing In violation of interna
tionnl law. In tho caso of tho William
P. Frye, nn Amorican ship sunk by
tho Prlnz Eltol Frlodrlch, January 28,
Gormany ngrood to furnish indemnity,
and tho United Stntes accepted the
offer and proposed that the mattor be
referred to Tho Hague court.
On August 19 the British liner
Arabic was torpedoed by a German
submarlno and several Americans
were drowned. A lively diplomatic
controversy followed, and tho tension
In tho United States was at the break
ing point. On September 7 the Ger
man government notified the United
Statos that tho captain of tho subma
rlno had torpedoed tho Arabic in self-
defense, believing that sho was about
to ram him. On September 9 the
United States asked Austria-Hungary
to recall Doctor Dumba, Its ambassa
dor, charged with bolng activo in a
movement to cripple American manu
facture of munitions. On October 5
tho German government disavowed.
tho act of the submarlno captain who
sank tho Arabic. At thin timo It was
announced that tho pending French-
British loan of $500,000,000 had been
oversubscribed.
Tho United States secret service.
Octobor 24, arrested a young man who
called hlmsolf Robert Fay and de
clared that ho was a lieutenant In tho
Gorman army and camo to America to
destroy merchant vessels of tho allies
and American munition plants. Early
in December, tho Washington govern
ment demanded tho recall of tho Ger
man attaches, Boy-Ed and Von Papen,
on tho ground of pernicious activity.
They wero recalled by tho kaiser.
Dr. Carl Buenz, mnnaglng director
of tho Hamburg-American line, and
two employees of tho company wore
convicted in Now York in December
of conspiracy to docoiyo the govern
ment in sending vessels with supplies
for Gorman warships.
THE CIVIL WAR IN MEXICO
In tho early part of tho year it wn3
evident that Francisco Villa had tho
ambition to become tho political War
wick of the republic of Mexico. On
January 7 ho deposed tho provisional
governor, Gutierrez, and installed Gen
eral Garza In his piaco. Ho was still
master of tho situation at tho City of
Mexico, and Carranza still maintained
his stand at Vera Cruz. Meantime, tho
fighting went on uninterruptedly, with
varying results, but none declslvo.
In Juno tho situation on tho border
and elsewhere became so irritating
that tho United Statos government
felt compelled to give official warning
to tho factional leaders that failuro on
their part to como to some agreement
would necessitate intervention. De
spite this intimation, the forces of
Villa and Carranza continued to keep
revolution aflame, and by midsummer
tho Mexican situation seemed to be
moro inexplicable than over. Villa's
star waned percoptibly. A new mili
tary Influence, General Obregon, took
tho center ot tho stage. He assumed
tho leadership of tho Carranza faction,
and his military successes wero con
siderable In July General Gonzales,
another Carranza supporter, fought his
way into Mexico City, displacing Gen
oral Zapata, who held tho place in the
Villa interest. Later. Gonzales was
driven out aud the situation was bo
threatening to life and property In tho
capital that, in August, American bat
tlcshlps were ordered to Vera Cruz,
but wero not put into action. In this
month, also, an appeal signed by Sec
rotary of Stato Lansing and tho repre
sentatives of South and Central Amer
ican governments asking all warring
elements in Mexico to get together in
an attempt at pacification was sent to
tho various leaders. During Septem
ber tho fighting on tho Mexican border
grew moro desecrate. There wero
many fatalities boforo United States
troops gained control of the situation.
On October 19, nine of tho principal
governments of tho American heml
sphere, headed by tho United States,
recognized tho do facto government of
Mexico of which Carranza Is tho chief,
OUR LAWMAKERS
The Sixty-third congress came to a
closo on March 4, its final act of spe
clal Importance being tho adoption of
a resolution to strengthen the powers
of tho president in tho enforcement ot
neutrality laws. Both brunches agreed
to tho conference roport on tho naval
appropriation bill calling for two new
battleships, six destroyora and eight
cen submarines. Tho president's nom
Inatlons for tho promotion of army
and navy olllcers connected with tho
building of tho Panama canal wero
conllrmed by tho scnato, so that Colo
nol Goethals and Brigadier General
Gorgas becamo major generals.
On January 26, tho West Virginia
legislature decided to submit a worn
an suffrage amendment at tho 1910
election. Two days later, in Tcnnos
see, tho houso passed a bill for a ref
erendum vote on woman suffrage, at
roady passed by the upper houso. Ar
kansas declared for prohibition. In
Iowa, prohibition again becomes ef
fective on January 1, 191G. Both Idaho
and Utah adopted prohibition bills.
March 5, tho North Dakota leglsln
turo passed a hill abolishing capital
punishment. South Dakota had taken
similar action January 30. March 10
Hear Admirals Fletcher, Howard and
Cowlos woro mado admirals, a now
naval grado established by tho last
congross. March 18, Governor Spry of
Utah vetoed tho state-wido prohibition
bill. April 7, tho Alaska houso passed
a mcasuro submitting prohibition to
tho voters. A weok later, It agreed to
tho scnato bill abolishing capital pun
ishmeut. June 3, tho government plea
to havo tho United States Stool cor
poration dlssolvod was denied by tbo
United States circuit court for New
Jersey and the defendant was held to
bo a lawful enterprise.
Resignation of Dryan.
Juno 8, William J. Bryan resigned
tho ofllco cf secretary of state, declar
ing himself cut of sympathy with tho
presidents policy toward tho Euro-
pean war. On the following day, Presi
dent Wilson appointed Robert Lan-
Blng, counselor for tho stato depart
ment, to take charge ot tho office. Mr.
Lansing was made secretary of stato
Juno 23. State-wide prohibition be
came operative In Alabama on July
On July 22, tho interstate com
merce commission pormitted advances
in express rates and on August 11 it
allowed increases in carload freight
rates on 41 railroads in the middle
West. On tho following day, It srdored
reductions in freight rates on nnthrn
cite coal. August 2t, tho Eastman Ko
dak company was declared to bo an il
legal combination nnd ordered dis
solved. September 10, tho members
of tho constitutional convention of
Now York state adopted tho proposed
constitution, but it was overwhelming
ly defeated at tho polls November 2.
Stato-wldo prohibition triumphed in
South Corollnn, September 14, by a de
cisive majority.
President Wilson announced, Octo
ber G, his intention to vote for woman
suffrage at tho Bpecial election in Now
Jersey on October 19. At that election,
tho proposed constitutional amend
ment was defeated by a majority of
50,000. Novomber elections wero hold
In eight states. Four of these Ken
tucky, Maryland, Massachusetts and
Mississippi choso governors. In three
states Massachusetts, Now York and
1'ennBylvanla woman suffrage was
rejected by largo majorities. In Ohio,
a stato-wldo prohibition measure was
defeated by a majority of 35,000,
Changes in tho national house of rep
resentatives reduced tho Democratic
majority to twenty-flve. The Sixty
fourth congress opened December 6
Senator Clarke of Arkansas was elect
ed president pro tem of tho senate and
Champ Clark was re-elected speaker.
POLITICS IN OTHER LANDS
February 12, tho protocol of tho nntl
opium convention was signed at Tho
Hague by representatives of tho Unit
ed Statos, China and Holland. March
5, Gen. Vllbrun G. Sam, leader of the
revolution which overthrew Davilmar
Thcodor, was elected president of
Haiti. March 7, the popular minister
of Greece, Eulothcrlos Venlzolos, re
signed,) his policy ot activo participa
tion in tho war on tho side of the al
lies not meeting the approval ot King
Constantlne. A now ministry was
formed, with Demetrlos Gounaris at
its head, but ho was soon succeeded
by M. Skouloudis.
April 2d, tne Danish diet passed a
constitutional amendment giving tho
ballot towomen. Boforo it can becomo
law this measure must also pass tho
next diet. May 4, Italy repudiated her
alliance with Germany and Austria,
deqlnrlng that Austria's invasion of
Serbia constituted a sufficient cause.
May 25, tho British Liberal ministry
was reorganized on a coalition basis.
Ex-Promler Balfour, Bonar Law, six
other Unionists and a Labor party
man accepted portfolios. May 29,
Theophile Braga was elected president
of Portugal. Juno 6, tho new Danish
constitution was signed by King Chris
tian. Ono of its most important fea
tures is tho extension of tho suffrage
to women. July 21, the voters ot Al
berta, western Canada, carried pro
hibitlon by a large majority. In the
latter part of tho month, a new rovolu
tionary movement broke out in Haiti
and tho president, General Sam, was
killed. Tho United States cruiser
AVashington landed marines to stop
further carnage. Juan Luis San Fuen
tes was elected president of Chile on
July 25, and Dr. Jose Pardo was in
augurated as president of Peru on Au
gust 18.
September 16, a treaty between tho
United States and Haiti was signed at
Port au Prince, providing for Ameri
can supervision of tho finances and po-
Uco regulation of that republic. Gen
eral Dartlnguenavo was recognized as
president.
In November, It wa8 announced that
a majority of tho Chinese provinces
had voted unanimously for the restor
atlon of the monarcblal form ot gov
eminent with President Yuan Shlh-kal
as emperor, and on December 11 be
announced his acceptance of the
throne. Tho Japanese mikado, Yoshl
hito, was crowned at Kioto Novem
bcr 10.
INDUSTRIAL AGITATION
Early in tho year, tho meetings of
the Industrial relations commission
held in Now York city, attracted much
attention on account of tho promt
nenco of some of thoso who wero
called to testify. Tho chief purposo
of tho investigation was to obtain the
opinions of well-known capitalists and
employers on tho present relations of
capital and lubor. Jnnuary 19, guards
In a factory near Roosovelt, N. J
fired on a group of striking workmen
killing one man and wounding several
others. April 1G, In Chicago, l.GOO
carpenters went on strike for nn In
crease in wages. June 14, motormen
and conductors on tho Burfaco and
olovnted railways of Chicago, 14,000
in all, struck for higher Wages and
a completo tie-up resulted. Tho dis
pute, however, was settled by arbltra
tlon aftor two days ot business paraly
sis. The carpeutors' striko in that
city, which had crippled the building
industry for sovoral months, was end
ed by a compromlso wage agreement
July 10. Ten days later, a striko of
60,000 garment makers in Now York
city was averted by a wage Increase
ot from 12 to 15 per cent.
In July tho employees of tbo Stand
ard Oil plant at Bayonno, N, J went
on striko and serious rioting followed.
During tho lawlessness which pre
vailed, two strikers wero killed and
many policemen nnd onlookers woro
injured. After a weok of disorder, a
wage increase wns obtained and the
strlkere resumed work. July 22, a
strike for higher wages and Bhorter
hours nt the Remington Arms works,
Bridgeport, Conn., resulted In a vic
tory for the employees. August 4, a
threatened strike involving 00,000
workers on woman's garments, In
Now York city, was prevented by an
increase in wages.
In September, tho long and not In
frequently violent dispute ovor indus
trial conditions at tho mines of the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company was
brought to nn end. John D. Rocke
feller, Jr., mndo an oxtendod visit of
nvostigatlon to tho property and as
an outcome suggested a plan for ad-
ustlng differences which was accept
ed by tho miners In a formal refer
endum vote. An ngroement was
Blgned to maintain tho present wage
scale and tho eight-hour day until
January 1, 1918. Tho demand for
union recognition mado by tho minors
was not granted, but many conces
sions wero mado by tho company in
favor of the employees.
In July a miners' atrlko practically
put a stop to tho great Welsh coal In
dustry. After sovoral conferences
botweon Mr. Lloyd George, tho Brit
ish minister of munitions, tho colliery
ownora and ropreBontativoa of the
minors, tho trouble was sottlod July
20, and tho men went back to work.
Further strikes and lockouts were
prohibited by law.
As early as Juno 30, tho state ol
Amorican foreign trade showed a bal
ance ot exports over Imports of more
than ?1,000,000,000. This was a new
cxperienco for the United States.
The yield of wheat for tho year, ac
cording to tho latest reports, exceeds
1,000,000,000 bushels, the largest on
record. A corn crop of 3,090,000,000
bushels, nt current prices, makes if
tho most valuable over harvested Id
the country. Tho American oats crop
1b also one of the most bountiful o
record.
LAND AND SEA DISASTERS
A seismic horror which recalled the
Messina eartbquako ot soven year
ago, occurred January 13. A large dis
trict in central Italy, cast of Rome,
was laid waeto and nearly 30,000 lives
were loat. At Avezzano, 96 per cent
of the population was destroyed and
the property loss was moro than f 100,-
000,000.
February 10, earthquake, hurricane-
and an accompanying tidal wavo vis
ited tho American Samoan group and
caused great destruction on the Manua
islands. In tho latter part of June,
severe earth shocks wero felt through
the Imperial valloy, in southern Cali
fornia. July 7, a violent atorm swept
over Missouri, Illinois, Ohio and In
diana and left wide destruction in its
wake. July 14, southern China floods
destroyed 80,000 persons. Some parte
of Canton wore ten feet undor water.
August 3, a cloudburst at Erie, Pa.,
flooded a large area of tho city,
drowned 25 persons and caused great
damage to property. August 11, an
earthquake shock was felt in Italy,
and Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboll bo
came active. August 1G, a tropical
storm which developed Into a hurri
cane struck the Texas coast and raged
violently for two days. Nearly 200
persons were tho victims of its fury
and the proporty loss was computed
in millions. September 29, a hurri
cane dashed ovor tho lower Mississip
pi valley and gulf coast, destroying
300 persons and a great amount ot
proporty.
January 21, a boiler explosion 00
the armored cruiser San Diego oft
the west coast of Mexico resulted in
the death of six American sailors,
March 2, there was an explosion ol
gas in a mino at Loyland, W. Va., and
over 100 men woro killed outright.
March 25 waB tho dato of tho shock
ing submarine accident which resulted
In the Binklng of tho United States
boat F-4 during maneuvers In Hono
lulu harbor. Her entire crew of 21
was drowned. April 3, a Dutch
steamer, tho Prlns Maurltz, foundered
off tho Virginia coast and 69 persons
lost their lives.
On the last day of April, a big fire
at Colon, Pannma, destroyed 22 blocks,
killed 11 porsonB and entailed a prop
erty loss of $3,500,000. May 22, Eng
land experienced tho most consider
able wreck in tho history of its rail
way system. Moro than 150 persons,
mostly soldiers going into quarters,
were killed near Carlisle.
Steamer Eastland Horror.
Tho most conspicuous horror of the
year for Americans was tho overturn
ing of tho excursion steamer Eastland
at her pior in tho Chicago river, July
24. In broad daylight, a few feet from
tho shore, 852 persons, largely women
and children out for a holiday, were
drowned.
A tornado of hugo proportions
swept over parts of Nebraska, South
Dakota, Iowa and Kansas, Novomber
10, destroying much property and
causing tho death of a dozon poisons.
October 28, a parochial school at Pea
body, Mass., which was unprovided
with Are escapes, was burned nnd 21
girls lost their lives. A factory fire
in Brooklyn, N. Y., November 6, re
sulted In tho death of 12 persons. On
Novomber 10 tho gun plant of tho
Bethlehem Steel company burned with
a loss of $3,000,000, and next day
there was a million-dollar flro In tho
war material plant of tho Hoebling
Sons company at Trenton, N. J.
Flames destroyed much of Avnlon,
Catallna islund on November 29. The
snmo day an explosion In the DuPont
Ppwdor company plant at Wilmington,
Dol., killed 31. On Decombor 9 tho
DuPont powder town of Hopewell,
Va., was burned down.
(CopyrlKht, 1916, by tho MeClure Newspa
per Syndicate.)
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