MUST VISIT AND
SEARCH BEFORE
Germany Concedes Big Point to
United States in New Na
val Order.
KAISER’S NOTE CONCILIATORY
Answer to Wilson's Communication
Says Every Consideration Is
Shown Neutrals in Restraint of Sub
marine Warefare — Partiality Is
Charged to United States and Sale
of Munitions Is Cited as Evidence.
The German admiralty has is
sued a new order to commanders
of submarines that no more mer
chant vessels are to be sunk with
out first being visited and
searched and that the people on
board are to be given a chance to
save their lives.
Berlin, Germany (by wireless via
Sayville, N. Y.), May 5.—Following is
the text of the note of the German
government in reply to the American
note respecting submarine warfare,
delivered yesterday by Gottlieb von
Jagow, the foreign secretary, to Am
bassador Gerard:
"The undersigned, on behalf of the
imperial German government, has the
honor to present to his excellency, the
ambassador of the United States, Mr.
James W. Gerard, the following reply
to the note of April 20 regarding the
conduct of German submarine war
fare:
"The German government handed
over to the proper naval authorities
for early investigation the evidence
concerning the Sussex as communi
cated by the government of the United
States. Judging by the results that
the investigation has hitherto yielded,
the German government is alive to the
possibility that the ship mentioned in
the note of April 10 as having been
torpedoed by a German submarine is
actually identical with the Sussex.
Looking Into the Sussex Case.
"The German government begs to
reserve further communication on the
matter until certain points are ascer
tained which are of decisive import
ance for establishing the facts in the
case. Should it turn out that the com
mander was wrong in assuming the
vessel to be a man-of-war, the German
government will not fail to draw the
consequence resulting therefrom.
“In connection with the case of the
Sussex the government of the United
States made a series of statements the
gist of which is the assertion that the
Incident is to be considered but one in
stance of a deliberate method ol' indis
criminate destruction of vessels of all
sorts, nationalities and destinations by
German submarine commanders.
Repudiate Charge by U. S.
"The German government must em
phatically repudiate the assertion. The
German government, however, thinks
it of little avail to enter into details
in the present stage of affairs, more
particularly at the government of the
United States omitted to substantiate
the assertion by reference to concrete
t'scts.
“The German government will only
state that it has imposed far reaching
restraints upon the use of the subma
rine weapon, solely in consideration of
neutral interests, in spite of the fact
thst these restrictions are necessarily
of advantage to Germany’s enemies.
No such consideration has ever been
shown neutrals by Great Britain and
her allies.
Orders International Law Obeyed.
“The German submarine forces
have had, in fact, orders to conduct
the submarine warfare in accordance
with the general principles of visit
and search and the destruction of mer
chant vessels recognized by interna
tional law, the sole exception being
the conduct of warfare against enemy
trade carried on enemy freight ships
encountered in the war zone sur
rounding Great Britain. With regard
. to these no assurances have ever
\ been given to the government of the
United States. No such assurances
are contained in the declaration of
February 8, 1916.
“The German government cannot
admit any doubt that these orders
were given or are executed in good
faith. Errors actually occurred. They
can in no kind of warfare be avoided
altogether. Allowances must be made
in the conduct of naval warfare
against an enemy resorting to all
kinds of ruses, whether permissible or
illicit.
Danger Can’t Be Avoided.
“But apart from the possibility of
errors, naval warfare, just like war
fare on land, implies unavoidable dan
gers for neutral persons and goods en
tering the fighting zone. Even in
cases where the naval action is con
fined to ordinary forms of cruiser
warfare, neutral persons and goods re
peatedly come to grief.
“The German government has re
peatedly and explicitly pointed out the
dangers from mines that have led to
the loss of numerous ships.
Proposals Are Not Accepted.
“The German government has made
several proposals to the government
, I
of the United States in order to re
duce to a minimum for American
travelers and goods the inherent dan
gers of naval warfare. Unfortunately
the government of the United States
decided not to accept the proposals.
Had it accepted, the government of
the United States would have been in
strumental in preventing the greater
part of the accidents that Americans
have met with In the meantime. The
German government still stands by its
offer to come to an agreement along
these lines.
Can't Dispense With Submarine.
“As the German government repeat
edly declared, it cannot dispense with
the use of warfare against enemy
trade. The German government, how
ever. has now decided to make a fur
ther concession, adapting methods of
submarine war to the interests of neu
trals.
“In reaching this decision the Ger
man government is actuated by con
siderations which are above the level
of the disputed question.
“The German government attaches
no less importance to the sacred prin
ciples of humanity than the govern
ment of the United States. It again
fully takes into account that both
governments for many years co-op
erated in developing international law
in conformity with these principles,
the ultimate object of which has al
tvavs been to confine warfare on sea
and land to armed forces of belliger
ents and safeguard as far as possible
noncombatants against the horrors of
war.
Repeats Britain Is to Blame.
“But although these considerations
are of great weight, they alone would
not under present circumstances have
determined the attitude of the German
government. For in answer to the
appeal by the government of the Unit
ed States on behalf of the sacred prin
ciples of humanity and international
law, the German government must re
peat once more, with all emphasis,
that it was not the German but the
British government which ignored all
accepted rules of international law
and extended this terrible war to the
lives and property of noncombatants,
having no regard whatever for the in
terests and rights of neutrals and non
combatants who through this method
of warfare have been severely injured.
"In self-defense against the illegal
conduct of British warfare, while fight
ing a bitter struggle for national ex
istence, Germany had to resort to the
hard but effective weapon of subma
rine warfare.
Discrimination Is Charged.
"As matters stand, the German gov
ernment cannot but reiterate regret
that the sentiments of humanity
which the government of the United
States extends with such fervor to
the unhapy victims of submarine war
fare are not extended with the same
■warmth of feeling to many millions
of women and children who, accord
ing to the avowed intention of the
British government, shall be starved,
and who, by their sufferings, shall
force the victorious armies of the cen
tral powers into ignominious capitu
lation. The German government, in
agreement with the German people,
tads to understand this discrimination,
all the more as it has repeatedly and
explicitly declared itseif ready to use
the submarine weapon in strict con
formity with the rules of international
laws as recognized before the outbreak
of the war if Great Britain likewise
was ready to adapt her conduct of war
fare to these rules.
Britain Did Not Heed America.
"Several attempts made by the gov
ernment of the United States to pre
vail upon the British government to
act accordingly tailed because of flat
refusal on the part of the British gov
ernment. Moreover, Great Britain
again and again has violated interna
tional law, surpassing all bounds in
outraging neutral rights. The latest
measure adopted by Great Britain de
claring German bunker coa! contra
band and establishing conditions un
der which English bunker coal alone
is supplied to neutrals is nothing but
an unheard-of attempt by way of
exaction to force neutral tonnage into
the service of British trade.
Severely Chides United State3.
“The German people kifow that the
government of the United States has
the power to confine the war to armed
forces of the belligerent countries in
the interest of humanity and mainte
nance of international law. The gov
ernment of the United States would
have been certain of attaining this end
had it been determined to insist
against Great Britain on the incontro
vertible rights to freedom of the seas.
But as matters stand the German peo
ple are under the impression that the
government of the United States,
while demanding that Germany, strug
gling for existence, shall restrain the
use of an effective weapon, and while
making compliance with these de
mands a condition for maintenance of
relations with Germany, confines it
self to protests against illegal meth
ods adopted by Germany’s enemies.
Moreover, the German people know
to what considerable extent its ene
mies are supplied with all kinds of war
material from the United States.
Belittles Plea of Humanity.
"It will, therefore, be understood that
the appeal made by the government of
the United States to sentiments of hu
manity and principles of international
law cannot under the circumstances
meet the same hearty response from
the German people which such an ap
peal otherwise is certain to find here.
If the German government, neverthe
less, is resolved to go to the utmost
limit of concessions it has been guid
ed not alone by the friendship connect
ing the two great nations for over 100
years, but also by the thought of the
great doom which threatens the entire
civilized world should the cruel and
sanguinary war he extended and pro
longed.”
Germany Desirous of Peace.
“The German government, conscious
of Germany's strength, twice within
the last few months announced before
the world its readiness to make peace
on a basis safeguarding Germany’s vi
tal interests, thus indicating that it is
not Germany’s fault if peace is still
withheld from the nations of Europe.
"The German government feels all
the more justified in declaring that re
sponsibility could not be borne be
fore the forum of mankind and in his
tory if, after 21 months of the war's
duration, the submarine question un
der discussion between the German
government and the government of the
United States were to take a turn seri
ously threatening maintenance of
peace between the two nations.
Anxious to Prevent Clash.
"As far as lies with the German gov
ernment it wishes to prevent things
from taking such a course. The Ger
man government, however, is prepared
to do its utmost to confine operations
of the war for the rest of its dura
tion to the fighting forces of the bellig
erents, thereby also insuring freedom
of the seas, a principle upon which the
German government believes, now as
before, that it is in agreement with
the government of the United States.
To Warn Ships and Save Lives.
“The German government, guided by
this idea, notifies the government of
the United States that German naval
forces have received the following or
der:
" 'In accordance with the general
principles of visit and search and the
destruction of merchant vessels rec
ognized by international law, such ves
sels, both within and without the area
declared a naval war zone, shall not
be sunk without warning and without
saving human lives unless the ship
attempt to escape or offer resistance.'
“But neutrals cannot expect that
Germany, forced to fight for existence,
shall lor the sake of neutral interests
restrict the use of an effective weapon
if the enemy is permitted to continue
to apply at will methods of warfare
violating rules of international law.
Such a demand would be incompatible
with the character of neutrality, and
the German government is convinced
that the government of the United
States does not think of making a de
mand, knowing that the government of
the United States repeatedly de
clares that it is determined to
restore the principle of freedom
of the seas, from whatever quarter it
has been violated.
Asks for Demand on Britain.
•'Accordingly the German govern
ment is confident that in consequence
of the new orders issued to the uavai
forces the government of the United
States will also now consider all im
pediments removed which may have
been in the way of mutual co-opera
tion toward restoration of the free
dom of the seas during the war, as
suggested in the note of July 23, 1915,
and it does not doubt that the govern
ment of the United States will now de
mand and insist that the British gov
ernment shall forthwith observe the
rules of international law universally
recognized before the war, as laid
down in the notes presented by the
government of the United States to
the British government December 28,
1914, and November 5. 1915.
“Should steps taken by the govern
ment of the United States not attain
the object it desires, to have the laws
of humanity followed by all belliger
ent nations, the German government
would then be facing a new situation. 1
in which it must reserve to itself com
plete liberty of decision.
“The undersigned avails himself of
this opportunity to renew to the Amer
ican ambassador assurances of high
est consideration.”
VON JAGOW.
FINALLY GOT CLOCK RUNNING j
Not Probable, However, That Mr. !
Spriggs Will Let Anyone Know I
How It Was Accomplished.
“I ve.nothing in particular especial
ly to do tonight, so I think I'll fix that
clock,” decided Ossup Spwiggs. "I’ll
show the people in this house whether
I put off fixing it because 1 didn't
know how or merely because 1 didn’t
have time before.'”
And he lifted the handsome eight
day clock off the mantel and, after a
half hour’s concentration, removed
the back. Dusting off the jewel
mounted ditchy spring with the end
of his handkerchief and pouring oil on
the revolving gadgets and shimp-wind
ers, he screwed the back on again,
wound up the clock and shook it.
The clock continued in a state of
innocuous inactivity.
’’Humph!” Ossup Spwiggs exclaimed
to himself, and this time took the face
off and squirted eau de cologne into
the left port hole. Then, after breath
ing a prayer on the hands and rub
bing it in well, he returned the clock
it^, face and shook it again.
It remained in a condition of non
committal somnolence.
"Heck!” swore Ossup Spwiggs, and
hurled the blamed thing forcibly into
the stone fireplace. Instantly It be
gan ticking with sensible industrious
ness.
“Leave it to me!” sadi he loftily,
and placed the clock back on the man
tel and lit his pipe with the air of
somebody who really was somebody.—
Louisville Times.
CONDENSATIONS
The tonnage of the Great Lakes
fleet in 1914 amounted to 2,939,786.
The average annual Are loss in the
United States is about 82 for each in
habitant
Kentucky and Pennsylvania produce
nearly all the cannel coal mined In the
United States.
A Frenchman has invented an effec
tive silencer for aeroplane motors that
is said to reduce the power only 2 per
cent.
In the calendar year of 1915, In
which the United States made such
marked advances industrially and in
trade, the trade of the Territory of
Alaska showed an increase of more
than $12,000,000 over the preceding
year.
The inc>-oase in British living ex
penses, 47 per cent, since war began,
is serious enough, but living expenses
in this country are said by statis
ticians to have risen 42 per cent in the
single year immediately preceding the
outbreak of the world conflict.
Metals Free From Bacteria.
As It has been uncertain whether
bacteria can exist on such metals as
copper and silver, Natonek and Reit
mann of Czernowitz, have made an in
teresting test. Perfectly clean coins
were placed on a plate of nutrient
gelatine for several hours, and after
their removal bacteria were sown
over the plate. The spot where each
coin had lain, with a narrow border
around it, remained free from the
growth that spread ever the rest of
the plate.
BREAK IS UNLIKELY
GERMAN REPLY REGARDED AS
ACCEPTABLE BY U. S.
CANNOT QUESTION GOOD FAITH
/ _
Note Gives All That President Wilson
Asks for Is View Taken by
German Ambassador.
Washington.—Germany’s note has
postponed it it actually lias not avert
ed a diplomatic break with the
United States.
It was stated authoritatively short
ly after the arrival of the communi
cation by those close to the president,
Germany's assurances undoubtedly
would be accepted and before taking
another step the United States would
await the fulfillment of her latest
promises.
In sucli case the United States
might not reply to the note and
would await evidence of the actual
abandonment of Germany's present
practices of submarine warfare which
is declared. «
President Wilson is described as
being in a position where he cannot
question the good faitli of Germany's
assurances, which must stand or fall
by the future conduct of her subma
rine commanders.
The German embassy view is that
the note gives all President Wilson
asked for; that it signalizes a return
to “cruiser warfare"—the use of suit
marines as regular naval cruisers in
tercepting commerce with visit and
search and that, inasmuch as it
makes no mention of the armed ship
question, that perplexing feature of
the controversy is not. involved.
Congress took the note quietly and,
although members expressed a va
riety of views, I he general sentiment
seemed to be in favor of leaving the
situation in the hands of the presi
dent.
On the surface there was no sign
of activity in the group which has
been working to prevent the president
from pressing the situation to the
point, of a diplomatic rupture.
Cabinet members went over the
text carefully with the president, and,
while they uniformly refused to dis
cuss it. they reflected the view that a
break had been averted; that Ger
many's new assurances would be ac
corded by tlie test of time, notwith
standing the reference to the action
Germany expects the United States to
take against Grpat Britain’s restraints
on neuirai iraue.
They express this view with full
realization of the differences of
opinion on what conslitules a peace
ful merchant ship entitled to the pro
tection of international law and of
the president’s steadfast determina
tion not to permit the interests of the
United States with one of the belliger
ents to become entangled with those
of another.
The United States only recently de
claring its view of the rights of mer
chant ships on the high seas recog
nized and provided for the condition
under which Germany charges British
merchant ships by orders of the Brit
ish admiralty actually are acting as |
naval war vessels in attacking sub
marines.
*
Germany in its note reserves “com
plete liberty of decision” should the 1
United States fail to prevail upon j
Great Britain to bring its practices I
into conformity with international j
law. The official view is that the
United States for F*>me time lias been
and now is conducting diplomatic cor
respondence with Great Britain on
that subject and the success or fail
ure of the negotiations and Germany’s
consequent actic« must necessarily
remain for the future.
British Papers See Break.
London.—Interest with which Ger
many’s reply to the United States was
awaited here could hardly have been
exceeded in America. Ali the lead
ing newspapers printed the note prom
inently by sections in successive edi
tions. The greatest curiosity was
expressed as to the reception of the
note by the United States.
“it can only mean a break between
America and Germany,” says the
Daily News.
The Express characterizes the Ger
man reply as “insolent, cynical and
disingenuous” and declares it is an
ultimatum “because it means that un
less the United States attempts to
force the allies to raise the siege of
Germany, Germany will continue to
kill haphazard.”
Four More Rebels Executed.
Dublin.—Four more rebel prisoners
have been sentenced to death by
court-martial and shot. This was an
nounced officially.
Seek Union of Churches.
Saratoga Springs, N. Y.—Definite ac
tion intended to affect a union of the
Methodist Episcopal churches in
America was recommended in a report
submitted to the general conference,
which was held in this city recently,
by Bishop Cranton.
Boxing Bout Ends Fatally.
Waterloo, la—Erwalt Hankner, aged
28, died of concussion of the brain
two hours after boxing four rounds
with Gordon Vaughan. It is said it
was arranged tp settle a dispute.
Shoots Husband and Child.
Boise, Idaho.—Reports have reached
here that Mrs. C. T. Shoemaker of
Glenn’s Ferry, Idaho, while defending
herself against her husband, shot and
killed him and accidentally shot her
daughter, 9 years old. The girl died.
An investigation is being made.
German Ships Made Captive.
London.—A dispatch from Teneriffe,
Canary Islands, says that the German
steamship Telde drifted seaward dur
ing a gale and was captured by a
cruiser which towed her northward.
/
..•••* !
\ NEBRASKA |j
j STATE NEWS ;
♦ *■ ♦
DATES FOR COMING EVENTS.
May 14—Proclaimed “Mothers' Day"
in Nebraska.
May 16 to IS—State G. A. R. Encamp
ment at Lexington.
May 15-1S—State Dental Society an
nual convention at Lincoln.
May 23-24-25—State Hamers and Sad
dle Makers’ association meeting at
Columbus.
May .23, 24, 25—Nebraska Medical As
sociation convention at Omaha.
May 24-25—State Association of Com
mercial Clubs’ Convention at Omaha.
June 5 and e—Pageant of Lincoln,
presenting “The Gate City.”
June 5-6—Spanish War Veterans’
State Convention at. North Platte.
June 12 to 15—-Trans-Mississippi Bak
ers’ Ass'n convention at Omaha.
June 13-14-15—Annual convention of
Nebraska Elks at Omaha.
June 13 to 16—State P. E. O. Conven
tion at Alliance.
June 13-14-15—Great Western Handi
cap Tournament at Omaha.
June 19-20-21-22—American Cnion of
Swedish Singers, West. Div., con
certs and convention at Omaha.
June 20 to 24—State Stockmen’s con
vention at Alliance.
June 21 to 23—Fraternal Order of
Eagles, state meeting at Lincoln.
July 25—Nebraska Democratic con
vention at Hastings.
July 3-4-5—Mid-Summer Race Meet at
Kearney.
July 10-11-12—Northwestern Hotel
Men’s Association Convention at
Omaha.
The executive committee of the
Nebraska Press association met at
York recently, and fixed August 7 as
the date for starting on their summer
excursion through western Nebraska
and the meeting place will be at
Grand Island. A special train cf
sleepers will be provided and only
members of the Nebraska Press asso
ciation and members of their immed
iate families will be allowed to join
the party.
The lid is now on tight at Beatrice,
and in addition to being on the look
out for bootleggers the police are en
forcing the ordinance which prohibits
games of chance in pool halls, cigar
stores and confectioneries. A cam
paign is also being waged against
“speeding" and the mayor has warned
autoists that all violators of the ordi
nance will he arrested.
Contractors on the Chalco-Yutan cut
off of the Burlington are pushing the
grading of the fifteen miles that is to
connect the main line out of Omaha
with the Ashland-Sioux City branch.
At the ratefjat which the work is pro
gressing Upgrading will be completed
during the early summer, instead of
during the fall, as had been figured
upon.
At a meeting of the Plattsmouth
Commercial club steps were taken to j
inaugurate what shall be known as |
“home coining wepk." in which all for-1
mer residents of Plattsmouth will be j
invited to come and spend the week j
in the city as its guests. Many novel
features have been considered for the I
week. •
At a spirited session of the Fairbury !
city council it was decided to recon- j
sider the matter of granting licenses i
to the six pool and billiard halls ii. :
Fairbury and the proposition carried i
by a vote of 4 to 3. The license re- j
mains at $25 and the halls opened
after being closed for several days.
Building operations in Omaha for
the first four months of this year were
$1,746,707. as against $974,455 for the
corresponding period of last year. The j
total for April was $406,936; April
last year. $399,420.
The official canvass of the school
land proposition voted on at Crete re- j
cently gave those in favor of the bond j
a majority of 97 votes, and as a re- :
suit Crete will have a new $40,000
school building.
The Elmwood Booster club has been
reorganized and now goes by the name
of the Elmwood Commercial club.
The city council of Grand Island
has voted to reduce the number of sa
loons from twenty-four to twenty.
The whole of Gage county now has
but two saloons. Barneston anu Pick
erell each have one.
The Thayer county commissioners
have purchased a tractor to be used
in working the county roads.
Tlio price of horseshoeing has gone
up in Omaha for the first time since
the civil war. It now costs $2.50 to
have a horse shod with new shoes
and $1.40 with old shoes, in the me
tropolis. The advance in price is at
tributed to the increased cost of ma
terials.
Grand Island was elected as the
convention city for 1917 for the Ne
braska State Travelers' Protective as
sociation, at its recent convention at
Alliance. Two hundred delegates
were in attendance, the largest of
Rural school districts Nos. 15, 77
and 78 of Buffalo county have effect
ed a consolidation for high school
purpose-1. As a result a new high
schooj building will probably be built
at Riverdale.
Two hundred young men and wom
en were injured, none seriously, which
is very remarkable, when a specially
constructed stand collapsed during a
May day festival at Grand Island.
Work will commence in the near
future on Falls City's new postoffice.
The cost of the building will be about
$51,000.
For the first time in forty years
North Platte has no saloons. The bar
rooms all closed at 8 o’clock April
29th, as per the demand of the voters
at the municipal election April 4.
By winning the joint debate with
Cozad High school on the question of
“Preparedness,” Hastings High school
has won the right to compete in the
state interscholastic debate.
At a meeting of printers at Bridge
port recently the organization of the
Bridgeport Typographical Union was
completed. The union started off with
thirten members.
Charlotte, the 17-year-ol(l daugbt r
of Fred Mollring, living near Alliance,
was accidentally shot and seriou3iy
injured at their home. The girl saw a
hawk in the field near her home
and told her mother she was going
to shoot it. Getting an old fash
ioned pistol she started down stairs,
but tripped and fell. The wea
pon was discharged and the bullet en
tered her breast above the right lung.
At an enthusiastic gathering of
newspaper men at Edgar recently, a
permanent organization was effected
known as the Big Four Editorial as
sociation. A P. Scott of the Edgar
Sun was elected president, 'fhe new
society embraces the counties of
Nuckolls, Clay, Thayer and Fillmore.
Official primary returns from every
county in the state except Douglas
and Lancaster and unofficial returns
from tiie latter, give Senator Cum
mins of Iowa a lead over Henry Ford
for Nebrasa’s presidential vote at the
republican convention by a little less
than 2.000 votes.
Reports received at the office of the
Nebraska Sunday School association
at Lincoln, show that on the state
wide pledge signing day recently ob
served in the state Sunday schools,
25,002 persons signed the pledge to
serve God and do all they can to make
Nebraska dry in 101C.
The Associated Retailers of Omaha
and the Retail Credit Men’s associa
tion are to co-operate with the Pub
licity Bureau of the Metropolis in the
entertainment of the delegates to the
national convention of the Retail
Credit Men’s association, to be held in
Omaha August lS-lft-20.
The Union Pacific has discontinued
the special freight train recently put
| on the Kearney-Stapleton branch line
| to relieve the congestion of traffic,
j and now' it seems the shippers and
I the railroad will go to the mat again,
| with the railway commission acting
I as referee.
General Superintendent Ustick of
!he Burlington is at Omaha assisting
1 in figuring out the schedule for trains
Nos. 1 and 10, the Burlington's crack
train that will go back into service
between Chicago and Denver and
i through Nebraska, beginning .May 28.
What was probably the first chess
game ever played by wireless telegra
phy lias just been completed between
i Wayne normal and Wesleyan univc-r
i sity at University Place. The gam;
was won by Wayne normal after two
! weeks’ maneuvers through the air.
William J. Bryan, defeated candi
I date for delegate-at-large to the deni
j ocratic national convention, received
• eighteen votes as alternate, according
to official count thus far, and hence
may go to the convention as an alter
| nate delegate.
Damages of $50,000 are asked from
the Union Pacific railroad by Mary
Sroka of Omaha, because she alleges
her small son's left hand was blown
; off by a dynamite torpedo which he
found while crossing the defendant
company’s tracks.
The Kearney Commercial club, vot
ing whether to indorse'the prepared
ness propaganda issued through the
United States chamber of commerce,
voted seventeen for and seven against
the proposition after a red hot dis
cussion.
Tire fund for the erection of til?
new Sunnyside homo for old people
at Hastings was boosted by about
$200 as the result of a charity bail
given by the Woman's club of the
city. It was the social event of the
year.
Rev. Samuel Pearce Merrill, ac )
knowledged »by historians to have
been the first white child torn in Xe- j
braska, died in Rochester, X. Y., just J
rcccnllv. Rev. Mr. Merrill was born .
near Bellevue, July 13, 1915.
New York attorneys are looking for
a woman said to be in Nebraska, who i
is heir to a $4,000 estate. Site is the |
daughter of Frederick Seibei and i
Mary K. Held and was born about j
1860 at Uimbach House. Germany.
Concerts on June 19 and 20. in
which more than 500 voices and three i
famous soloists will ba heard, arc i
part of the plans for the convention j
of Swedish-American Singers, west- j
era division, to be held in Omaha
from June 19 to 22, inclusive.
The Seward city council has granted
licenses to four saloons, three pool I
halls, and one picture shew.
Elm Creek has organized a Commer
cial club and a monster booster meet
ing is to be hold in the near future.
Mrs. Mary E. McNamara, a profes
sional nurse, is having a hospital
erected at Hartington.
With every other class of cattle on
the market at South Omaha bringing
fancy prices, the thoroughbred variety
have taken to the tall prices also, lust
a few days ago forty-seven head of
Shorthorns sold for $17,000 at the
yards.
Members of several farmers’ unions
around Fremont, at a mass meeting
the other day, voted unanimously their
endorsement of Fremont's new miik
ordinance and passed resolutions
pledging themselves to comply with
its provisions.
Plan are’being prepared for the
erection of a new St. Joseph’s hospital
at Alliance. The sisters of the hos
pital are earnestly thinking of begin
ning tin' work of the new building the
last of this mouth or the first of June.
Evangelist James Rayburn, who con
ducted revival meetings in Fremont
during the winter, has been invited to j
hold a scries of meetings at North
Bend, starting in June.
The official board of the Christian
church of Plattsmouth has entered
into a contract with a local contractor
for the erection of a parsonage.
Captain Pratt of the Hastings col
lege track team, broke the state rec
ord in the discus throw, when he
tossed it 116 feet 4 inches, almost
five feet beyond the former mark, dur
ing a contest with York recently at
Hastings.
The republican vote at the recent
primary is 28,258 more than the re
publican vote two years ago and the
democratic vote shows an increase of
19,588.
Building operations involving
$12,000 or more are in progress in
B'.air this spring.
THE EUROPEAN WAR A
YEAR AGO THIS WEEK
May 8. 1915.
French took German position
near Lens and made big advance
along Fecht river.
British recaptured part of Hill 60.
Germans captured Libau, on the
Baltic.
Germany declared sinking of Lu
sitania was justifiable because she
was armed.
British destroyer Crusader sunk
by mine and crew captured.
May 9, 1915.
British repulsed Germans east of
Ypres and gained ground toward
Fromelles.
French made notable advances
farther south.
Austrians cleared Hungary of
Russians.
Russians made progress toward
Mitau.
Collector of Port Malone denied
Lusitania was armed.
Russians sank eight Turkish
transports.
May 10. 1915.
Allies made great attack toward
Carency and Souchez.
Germans gained near Nieuport I
and renewed bombardment of Dun- M
kirk.
Russians beat Germans west of
Mitau.
Germany blamed British "starva- A
tion blockade" for destruction of ■'
Lusitania.
Zeppelins dropped bombs on
British seaside resorts.
Italy called all reserves back to
class of 1376.
May 11, 1915.
French pushed strong offensive
north of Arras.
Russians gained victory in Su
kowina but were driven back in
Poland.
French column captured Esoka
in Kamerun.
Austrian troops crossed the San.
May 12, 1915.
Severe fighting on entire front in
Flanders, allies taking offensive.
Teutons occupied four more
towns in West Galicia.
Russians advanced in southeast
Galicia, repulsing Austrians.
British battleship Goliath torpe
doed in Dardanelles, 500 lost.
Italian steamer Astrea sunk by
mine.
British submarines sank seven
Turkish ships in Sea of Marmora.
Bryce commission reported on ^
German atrocities in Belgium.
Botha occupied Windhoek, capi
tal of German Southwest Africa.
May 13, 1915.
French captured Carency and
the Forest of Le Pretre.
Heavy fighting east of Tarnow.
Russians repulsed Germans in
region of Shavli.
American note sent to Germany
concerning sinking of Lusitania
and attacks on Falaba, Cushing
and Gulflight.
Great Britain ordered internment
or deportation of resident alien en
emies.
May 14, 1915.
French captured more German
positions.
Germans repulsed British attacks
near Ypres and advanced in direc
tion of Hooge.
Russians broke Austrian line and
drove them over the Pruth.
German advanced guards reached
Przemysl.
Escaped members of Emden's
crew arrived at Damascus.
TAKEN FROM EXCHANGES
The largest flower in the world
prows in Sumatra. It measures about
a yard across, and weighs, roughly, 15
pounds.
At the declaration of war the Brit- 4
ish army comprised 711,500 men. of )
whom, in regulars and reserves. 601,- ’ t
000 were in the British Isles. '
Royalties on oil and mining devel
opments, rents on state lands, leases
and fees pour in so rapidly to the
state of Wyoming that she may soon
be In the position of not having to
raise any taxes at all for support of
the state government, a pitiful pros
pect.
There Is a shortage of matches in
Prance, due largely to the decrease in
the output of home-manufactured
goods. Owing to this, France has been
forced to increase greatly its imports
of matchwood, etc., especially from
the United States. Sweden, Italy. Swit
zerland, Indo-China and Japan.
"Shocked into speech" was the word
at a recent banquet of electrical en
gineers at San Francisco, the toastmas
ter having attached to the chairs of
speakers a little device which caused
them, when he pushed a button, to
arise "promptly and with great en
thusiasm.”
Most Assuredly.
"This reformer says the cabarets,
should be closed.”
“Would that improve the public
morals?"
"I don’t know-, but it certainly
would take the ‘tang” out of tango.”
His Long Suit.
"You say you don't believe in those Y
new ideas. Could you tell me w-hat J
you dc believe?” %
"I’m sorry you asked me that. I’m
only good at telling what 1 don’t be
lieve."