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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 1915)
THE OMATTA SUNDAY TiEE: DECEMBER 20, 1915. KAISER AT HOME I Kansas City Girl Quest of Her Sisters This Kansan Once Kept Napoleon From Sleeping Sleep of the Just ON CHRISTMAS EYE 4 D J: i : it Indiipoition of Emperor Enable Him to Attend Family Tree Celebration. STAGED ET BIO PALACE HALL BERLIN (Via London), Dec. 25. Emperor William this year, be cause of his indisposition, was able to spend Christmas with his family t Potsdam. A allRht "Inflammation of the cellular tissues," about which no further bulletin has been Issned. confines him to his apartments, but not to bed, and he was able to attend the celebration of the Hohenaollern family Christmas tree, or rather Christmas trees which entertain ment as usual was held this Christ mas eve In the big hall In the new palace. The emperor, empress, their daughter, their daughters-in-law and grandchildren each had an InrtivlJual Christmas tree. araduAtrd In six, on which his or her gifts were arranged end also gifts for the sons unable to leave the front. Before the family Christmas tree cele bration at the palace each princes at tended Christmas exercises and later su perintended the distribution of gifts at public celebrations held under her spe cial patronage. Nation la Cheerful. Germany is celebrating the second war Christmas under the worst con ceivable climatic conditions. now has been steadily falling throughout the en tire empire for a week, giving every promise of a white Christmas, but a twenty-four-hours' rain has converted the yulotlde enow mantle to deep mud and slush. In spirit, however, the nation Is mak ing of it a cheerful Christmas. En couraged by the long record of German victories and the satisfactory conclusion of the Serbian camping and having made up their minds there Is no Imme diate prospects of peace, the people gen erally seem determined to Ignore the probability of an indefinite continuation of the war and minor discomforts, such . as bread cards and other food regula tions, and will celebrate the great Uer man festival In the traditional spirit. A large proportion of the nation's man hood, of course, will observe the day in the trenches and botnbproofs. Last year almost every dugout and shelter had its dwarfed but gaily decorated Christmas tree and the men received Christmas gifts and other cheer from home. A similar condition will prevail . tomorrow. Retara for Holiday, The army authorities this year ' have been most liberal In granting Christmas furloughs and thousands of veterans will spend Christmas with their families. JTor a week past the atreeta of Berlin and of other cities have been crowded with returning soldiers dressed In their war-worn uniforms. All the merchants report that they have had a good Christmas trade. The dealeis in jewelry and other luxuries aay they have very nearly sold out their nares. and the stocks of the eapenalve florists and confectioners are almost de pleted. The toy dealers and. the estab lishments patronised by the masses also have done an exceptional business dur ing December, which 1 considered to show there Is no appreciable scarcity of money. Pope Hopes that Peace Will Come in Answer to Prayer ROMS (Via Parla.V-Deo. Fore Benedict today. In replying to the Christ mas greetings, extended on behalf of the acred college by Cardinal Vannutelll, feelingly alluded to the "terrible war In Europe," and spoke of the Immense car nage and crueltlea as unprecedented In history. The pontiff again expressed an ardent desire for peace and said that, in con formity with the wishes of many of the faithful, he had consented to make an addition of the words of "Queen of Peace, pray for us," to the Litany of Loreto and expressed the hope that the Mrgln'a Intercession with God would oon bring an answer to his prayers. Pope Benedict's reply to Cardinal Vanu telli'e greetings was delivered on the occasion of the reception by the pontiff of the sacred college. Prosecuted Without Any Title Whatever 8AN FRANCISCO, Dec !6.-Whether a baron or Just a man was Indicted here for use of the mails to Incite mur der, arson and for attempted Interfer ence wlih foreign commerce, was an Is sue rained here today. I'outi,-! for Huron ors;e Wllhelm von Brlnckfn. one of three so Indicted, ob jected, and sskid that "lieutenant" t eubstltuUd for ; Uiron' In the iiidb.i ment "Well, we'll seep aay all titles mA prosecute him as George Wllhelm vn lirUickcn." aald Judtfe Maurhe T. Lw ling, before whom the matter came In the United States district court. SKI AMBULANCES OFF TO THE FRONT OF WAR PARIS. Pec. SS. The new ski ambu lance section of the French army, organ ized ty If. It. Harjee. left today for the Alpine mountain front. The new section was formed with the object of carrying the wounded over the snows of the winter on ski sleds Instead of em ploying mules as formerly. The section comprises twenty-five skis In charge of fifty men, among whom are many Americans and Norn triune who are cap tained by Herman Webster of Chicago. DISCOVERS SERUM FOR WHOOPING CCUGH CURE HEPJJV. De. fc By Wireless to Bayvl!le. The Overseas News agency gats out the following Item today: "Great Interest has been aroused In Berlin rued'oal circle by the Itotloe that rr. Kraua of Buenos Ayrea lias dljtcov. rred a seruta for the cure of whooping eaugb. In spite of the fact that little 1h known of the Inventor In bacterio logical circles. It la sal that teaU of the serum aure its succes." - f ryA-t,. : , : . - - -if V'j V . ' if i Hiss MilJrei Nar? WILSONS ATTEND A TREE CELEBRATION President and Wife Spend Evening in Old-Fashioned Virginia Xmas Jollification. NEGROES GIVE A PROGRAM HOT 8PRINQS, Va.. Dec. 84. President and Mrs. Wilson spent to night In an old fashioned Virginia Christmas celebration, held In the spacious lounging room of their hotel. 1 It was their first appearance In the public part of the hotel since they arrived Sunday to spend their honeymoon. A big and gayly decorated Christ mas tree filling one end of the room, was presided over by a dusky Santa Claus. Before it disported fifteen negroes, whose antics and musical efforts kept the president and everybody eUe almost convulsed with laughter. When Mr. Wilson and hla bride in- Peered they found m. erowd nf marr celebrators, Including many other honey moon couples standing, waiting for them to take reserved places. Mrs. Wilson wore an evening; gown of black chif fon velvet, with flesh colored cloth at the neok. She wore a diamond brooch, given her by the president, and a small wrist watch. It was near midnight when the party broke up with hearty exchanges of Christmas good wishes. Earlier In the evening the president and Mrs. Wilson, on returning from an automobile ride, had been surprised by finding on their dinner table a bril liantly lighted little Christmas tree sur mounted ey a dove or peace. Take Another Step To Isolate Germany LONDON, Dec. 28. By a royal procla mation published In tonight's Gaxette, the exportation to Switzerland of vir tually everything that might be service able to Germany Is prohibited unless consigned to the Socle te Sues De Sur veillance Economlque, which corresponds with The Netherlands Overseas ' Trust, with which the government has a similar agreement. Thus the British policy of preventing goods from reaching; Germany through neutral countries has been carried a step farther. !HRE IS .THE NEW VON I H1NDENBURG TARIFF BILL fcf,m4-Vl LondnnV-Dee. H-Fleld MorabeJ ttiadanburg has proclaimed a ae tariff for Russian Poland, which ah, mm muntf great reductions from the Hussion tar ff- Leather, for Instance, Is reduced from 4 marks per metrlo hundredweight to M marks; steel plates from U marks to SO pfennigs to f marks steel bars from marks S pfennigs to 1 marks 40 pfennigs: cutlery from JTO marks to 0 marks; glassware from S3S marks to u marks; rice from I marka to 4 marks: notat flour from IS m. 'to II marks, aud beeswax from 44 marka to is marks. - FOUND GUILTY OF FORGING NOTES FOR QUARTER MILLION NEWARK, O.. W. ii.-A.fter being out ell night a jury In common pleas court today returned a verdict of guilty In the case of A. L. Rowlings, a former prominent bwlneasman of this city. Kawtlnc. who formerly conducted a large piano house, was charged with the fore., ern of notes aggregating tXO.ftio. His creditors Included many firm In cities throughout the country. Sentence was de ferred. a rate Kiserl beo.4. ROCHLSTKIt. N. T.. Dec J.-Dr. John O. Roe. known Internationally as aa esprrt In plastic surgery, particu larly of the noM,,difl. here.toda.y. If ( RILLED SPEEDING FROM GIRL YICTIH Auto Party Fleet Away After Striking Woman and Machine Orertorni. ONE . DEAD AND TWO HURT LOS ANGELES. Cal.. Dec. 16. Endeavoring to make their escape after running down and seriously Injuring a woman, according to po lice reports, Charles nerron. a mo tion picture actor, was killed, and hla two companions, Jamea J. Oorm by, a chauffeur, and Duchallu Dai- ton, an animal trainer, were in jured here tonight, when their auto mobile overturned. Oormby was placed under arrest at the Emergency hospital. Miss Florence C. Whitman, 25 years old. a stenographer, was struck by an automobile as she alighted from a street car near her home, her arms filled with Christmas presents. As witnesses hurried forward, the autombolle, it was charged, speeded away, and after a chase of several blocks by other machines, over turned against the tree in rounding a corner. Ilerron was killed almost instantly. Dalton and Oormby were hurled to the sidewalk, badly out and bruised. Oormby waa found In an apartment a short distance away, where officers said he tied after the second accident. Carranza Orders an Army to Chase Villa EL PASO, Tex., Deo. . A Christmas message expressing the confldenee of the de facto government in the early re storation of order In Mexico was sent throughout Mexico tonight by Carransa officials here. Advices were received by General Obregon, commander-in-chief of the Carransa army, of the tentative sur render of General Jose Rodriguea, the largest remaining organised Villa force. A committee. It waa said, is en route from Rodrtcues headquarters at Casaa Qrandes to arrange terms. The whereabouts of General Villa re mains a mystery here. General Carransa has instructed Oenere! Obregon to dls- patoh an army westward from Chihua hua to pursue Villa. A croup of former Villa generals today conferred with General Obregon. Gen eral Isabel Roblee was selected after- ward to muster out the surrendered sol oiera. 1 ney are to De disarmed. Dald. clothed and given the choice of joining Carransa In the campaign against Gen eral Zapata or being sent to their homos. Death Call Comes to Miss Martha Parratt Mis Martha Parratt. for many years a teacher In the publie schools of this city, died Friday afternoon at the home of her brother-in-law, John Bamtord. 4Q1 Dodge street. Miss Parratt had been Ul for the last fiv weeks. She la survived by two sla- tera. VS rm IT ' W. mA xm . I ,r - "rw. JL. Ki. Kruse. and by two brothers, B. j. par- or juos Angelas, cal., and John 1L Parratt of this city . Sho waa well beloved br alt i 1. her and leaves a host of friends. Funeral rrsngmeois will ee announced later. SIR EDWARD GREY BACK AT WORK AFTER REST IvONDON. Deo. HL EIr Edward Orey. secretary for foretcn affaire, returned to the foreign office today, apparently much Improved In health by hla rest of more than a week In the country. He was visited by Karl Kitchener, secre tary for war. and later by the Greek minister In London, with whom he had a long conversation. BRITAIN DENIES BAN ON MEDICAL GOODS Embassy Issue. Statement Prohibi tion Not So Sweeping at Had Been Said. AN EXPLANATION IS GIVEN WASHINGTON, Dec 25. A statement waa Issued by the Blitlnh embassy to night denying that Great Britain had extended to hospital supplies of. all kinds Its prohibition against the shipment to Teutonic countries of such supplies made of rubber. Difficulties encountered by the Amer ican Ked Cross In obtstnlng permits for the passage of hospital stores have been brought to the attention of the State de partment, and yesterday It waa learned that the department bad communicated with the London foreign office seekird) to facilitate the dispatch of large quan tities of goods accumulated at the New Tork headquarters of the Red Cross. Officials of the society say they hare been unable to obtain permits for the shipment of supplies of any description to the central powers. Hope All Will Be Well. In view of the British embassy's state ment however, it Is hoped that this sit uation was the result of some misunder standing which may now be cleared away. The statement follows: "A statement has been published In the press to the effect that Oreat Britain has suspended the Issuance of permits for shipments of hospital supplies of any description from the United States to Germany, Austria, Hungary. Bulgaria and Turkey." The facts are aa follows: "On May 11 the British government communicated to the I'nlted States gov ernment a list of articles which they were prepared to accept as - coming within the description contained In the Declaration of London, article xxlx (1), as articles serving exclusively to aid the sick and wounded and therefore not lia ble to be considered as contraband of war, provided that a general agreement between the belligerent powers could be secured. It was not until December I that the British embassy waa Informed that Germany had agreed to this list. But the articles mentioned on the list have been given permits since the war began. Not Iwcladed la List. "Rubber goods, such as gloves and rubber sheets, were not Included In this list, and rubber being contraband of war and an article of great Importance from a military point of rlew, such goods were not allowed to pass Into Germany, rhe British government, however, after careful consideration of all circumstances offered to allow all hospital stores. whether on the list or not, to pass freely on receipt of a guarantee that these stores should be used exclusively by the American Red Cross and destroyed after being used. "This guarantee the American Red Cross waa unable to give, their units having been withdrawn from Europe. They have recently applied for permits very large consignment of rubber goods on account of a Netherlands so ciety for the use of the German Red Cross In southeastern Europe, Including MOS meters of rubber tubing and 1.000 square meters of rubber sheeting. This proposal, in view of recent attempts to smuggle rubber into Germany, requires careful Consideration and U now before the allied rorernments. "It Is absolutely untrue that 'th nrn. blhtUon has been extended to all .nn- pUea.' The State department and th. American Red Cross society have been inrormed of the a bore-mentioned dr. enmstances In letters dated the Ost and tM instant1 Hunt for Submarine Bases at Canal Ends PANAMA. Dee. K. Maine nn.i Oeorga w. Goethals. coventor of ih canal sons. Brigadier General Clarence v inwards and Rear Admiral Albert w. Grant commanding; the Atlantic submarine flotilla, at conferences be ing held here, are said to be discussing locations for submarine bases at both enda of the Panama canal, with a rlew 10 ponging m Urger underwater fleet to the Isthmus. It l also understood that they are ar ranging the location of various mine fields and other defensive measures in which a submarine fleet would play an active part. At the conclusion of the' icy win roaaa recommenaa tlona to the War and Navy departments. There are now two warships in canal waters, the Columbia at Colon, and the Cleveland at Balboa, Platte County Fair Will Buy Grounds COLUMIBUS. NEB.. Dec. 28.Speclal) -A m retina- of th. ..kh.u.r. .k. A meeting of the stockholders of the Platte County Fair association was held In Ryan A Byrnes office tor the purpose of electing officers and a board of man agers for the ensuing year, which was well attended. Arrangements were com pleted for the organisation of a perman ent fair association and the following officers were elected: Carl Rohde, pres ident; J. C Byrnes, vice president; Jerry larng. secretary; rred Wllle. treasurer; and Carl Rohde R. F. Dickenson. Kmll lxsekt. J. l. Byrnes. Bruce Webb, C W. Ilolllngshead and Fred Wllle, board of managers. C W. Ilolllngshead Wus elected as a delegate to attend the an nual meeting of the county fair mana gers to be held In Lincoln on the ldtri of January, u. A committee was appointed to buy per manent grounds. Fear of Blindness Brings Fatal Seizure SIOUX FALLS. & D., Dee. SS. (Special Telegram.) Complaining that hla vision waa blurred and that he feared he waa becoming blind. Wlnlfield & Roberta, since 1888 a resident of Sioux Falls, re tired to his bed and waa found dead a short time later of heart failure. He Is survived by a widow and four children. FRANCE ORDERS HUNDRED MILLION HAND GRENADES NEW TORK. Dee. B.-Cor.tracts for 100,000.009 hand grenades for the French government, it was announced here were placed today with a syndicate of eastern Pennsylvania Iron founders. The price ass not stated. John Munslnger of Howard, Kan., once kept Napoleon Bonaparte awake a few hours longer that the French emperor wanted to be kept awake. Cannon at Waterloo could not keep Napoleon awake all the time, for he Is said to have slept on his horse a few moments at a time throughout the day, catcMng up much needed reM deiplte the roar of shot and shell. But John Munslnger of Howard. Kan., now 108 years old, once kept the great Napoleon from sleeping. Munslnger was a baby In Wittenberg. Germany. Napoleon was on the march Into Russia. The vest army of France penned through Wittenberg on the way to the fatal invasion of the CMr's land. In Wittenberg a large division of the army camped for the night, and Napoleon and his wife, Marie of Austria, cast'ng about tor headquarters for the night selected the large home of Mr. Mun slnrer's father. John Munslnger was then a baby, and his tiny squaulfl over some article of diet that did not agree with him, kept the emperor wakeful for a part of the nlnht, hut the great Corslrsn did not complain. It made little difference. In fact for Napoleon gave little thought to sleep in those days. H was planning the great Invasion of Russia. When the Munslnger ha by had grown to boyhood, when the Mofcow expedition hnd sunken Into the annals of epoch-making military failures, when Napoleon was scowling his life away on the Island of St. Helena, then John Munslnger's father took the boy on his knee and many a time related the story of that great march and of the night when Napoleon and Marie of Austria slept In their home In Wittenberg. The old gentleman related that Napol eon and his empress sat up late, very late, talking over the great canipaUn. Napoleon mapped out hla plan of Invasion and declared he would hurl the Russians to defeat with the same speed and expe dition that had marked his other cam paigns. The 10m pre as Marie Just as stubbornly told her lord It could not be done. She repeated over and over that winter would overtake the French, and that the French soldiers from their warmer latitudes could never survive the frightful winters of Russia. History tells the tale. Napoleon. waa stubborn, and the march went on. But history has never related the tale of how the empress aought to dissuade the em peror from that fatal military blunder, under the roof of the Munslnger home In Wittenberg. M. T. Munslnger of Wayne, Neb., SANTA GLAUS COMES HERE0N A VISIT Jolly Old Man Playi the Glad Game and Distributes Presents to Gas Co, Employes' Children. CIGAES FOB All THE MEN The children of the Omaha Qas company's employes had an oppor tunity to see old Santa Claus right at home and at work In his toy shop. It was the annual Christmas enter tainment given by the company at Washington hall. The scene was the north pole with great Icebergs and a coupla of polar bears and there sat Santa asleep In front of his work bench. Eight little brownies came tiptoeing In to muslo and went through evolu tlona before the sleeping Banta. Then they gathered around him and began to sing and suddenly he woke up. He Jumped up, patted each brownie on the back and then, on request of one,' sang a song for them, dancing around while be sang. Then he pointed to the clock. Time waa precious and he didn't have quite all the toys finished. Bo he put the brownies to work helping him. They worked on all kinds of things and soon they were done. Then Banta hurried into hla coat and cap ana put his pack on his back and down went the curtain. Dowst the Chimney. . The next scene showed him coming down the chimney Into a good child's room and tilling the stockings. Tho boys and girls In the audlenoe held thelr breath with Interest. WMlam E. (Davis, South Omaha manager, filled : the role of the good saint. And after ! ,. this came the distribution of Dres- 1 ents. All the children had tickets and j six because of defective eyes, nine be they gathered around the place where i cause of heart affections, seven for de the glfU were given and every one was formltlea, eight for akin dlseaaes. six for made happy with a gift and also candy. . nasal troubles and thirteen for defective There were cigars for the men and candy J and other presents for the women. It was the twelfth Christmas enter- tatnment given br the eomnanr to ita employes. Nearly 800 were present A program preceded the little drama and Lln" X , tn""M Touched the -celling was brightly illum- mated. Gold Medal to Wood. O. W. Clabaugh. vice president of the company, presided and Introduced Rev. T. J. Mackay, who delivered an address. Harry DUbrow sang "Song of Thanks giving" and later rendered "Loch Lo mond," and had to respond to an en core. Little Fredericks famnHaii ...... . . lightful recitation , "Bess and Santa Claua," and C. Regnler Davis played a cornet solo. -Th. P.Ims." An impresslv. part of the program was! th. presentation of a goli medal to Harry Wood for long and faithful .,rv- Ice. The company presents a gold medal each Christmas to th. employe who has ,. , . iT t, 2rn "T ,C" tH. l0n" serVi d J ent,ou-; sen Ice dates from 1890. The Diveenta- tlon speech waa by Vtce-Presldeni Tel.- baua-h. llr Woad rannndH m,ft. of thanks and appreciation. TWO HIGHWAYMEN SEARCH DELIVERY WAGON FOR TURK After i hls;hwavm. ..d ...eeh. Presented with an envelope containing a , ""P0 V the war and although no L. 7 J t m ! T,? th th Christmas greeting, and a reataursnts were permitted to remain the pockets of Lynn St. Claire, delivery , Jd ptece green g. an , ZJZ Tlv H"0"-!"??" I Christmas turkeys were distributed a. . thronged until a late hour and the tra-Twenty-nlnth and Leavenworth, they dl- to emDlov. f h. Richardson ! dltional booths enjoyed an un...,,.ii- rected their attention to the wagon. "Slx-blts ain't very much, sonny," de clared th. highwaymen. "T ain't got a couple o' turkeys back there In th. wagon, hav. you?" St. Claire replied In th. negative, but the highwaymen insisted on looking for themselves. e H ", - -h V f (JollJl eK JJ (UTlSin$9Z nephew of John Munslnger of Howard. Kan., passed through Omaha recently on his way home after visiting with his aged uncle In Kansas. Some time ajro the one-hundred and third birthday of the old gentleman waa celebrated at How ard. On that occasion a little calcula tion was made and It was found that he has twelve living children, forty-eight grandchildren, eighty-three great-grandchildren, and eleven great, great-grandchildren, thus completing five living gen erations. One his one hundred and third birth day he enjoyed his dinner with the rest told many Interesting stories, wrote his autograph for all guests without the aid of glasses, and danced a lively jig In the center of a cleared floor for the edifica tion of those present "How did I live so long?" repeated the old gentleman. "Why, I never get the blues. That's how I lived so long. Blues are what kill people." ' After further conversation the old gent leman confided to the guests that he claims an athletic championship, too. "Tes, sir," he said, "I claim I can out run any man of my age." Frick to Make Good Savings of Children Lost in Bank Crash PITTSBURGH Deo. . Joy prevailed in the hearts of Pittsburgh school child ren tonight ss a result of the announce ment late today by H. C. Frick, mil lionaire coal magnate, that he will pay In full as a Christmas gift all the ac counts of the 41.000 children depositors In the Pittsburgh Bank for Savings, which waa closed here last Wednesday by order of the state department of banking. The deposits amount to $167,136,68 and payment will be made In cash Just as soon as the necessary arrangements can be com pleted, which will probably be about January t. In order to Induce children to save, a school savings fund was started many years ago. Through an agreement with the city board of education bank col lectors visited the 1S3 schools In the city weekly. Penny by penny the deposits of the children increased until they amount ed to nearly S17O.00O. Then a few daye before Christmas announcement was made that the bank had been closed and a gloom fell over the city. When Mr. Frick, who Is In New Tork was Informed that thousands of enlldren were depositors, he at once communi cated with II. C. Mk-Eldowney, president of another local bank, and announced that he would take care of the fund In such a way that the school children would not loee a cent Flat Feet Keep Men Out of Navy More men fall to get Into the Cnlted States navy because they have flat feet than for an other minii Tkia i i.- closed by the annual report of the local recruiting of flee. Out of 178 rejections In the first quarter of thla vtir thirtv. three were becsusa of flat fet tw,nt,. teeth. It Is estimated that It costs about 1300 io gei eech man accepted, counting the salaries of the recruiting staff, railroad lares or accepted men, office expenses and so on. Out of every eight applicants six fall to pass the physical examination. Chokes to Death While Eating Meat While eating a email piece of steak In Loula Beatty's "Uneeda Quick Lunch" at 115 North Fifteenth, early last night. ; John Hall, a stone mason, aged . who m' 1721 davenport street, choked i" "T, ' m ",w ,n wlndp p. Wa" 'MlD ' th- f"nte1r; l""" T ?h ? e n , !' f " fWhen b Ml ,orw'rt - . . . . t " "i?, ta, bUt man was dead before the obstacle in his u'1 removed. Coroner Crosby wM unable , ,.., , . . , , , . nythin of hU rtUUvM Gold and Turkeys For Store Employes Each employe of Beaton sv w . - - - i Drug company. This has been the cue- j good trade In toys and candy, torn of the house for the last twenty Hundreds of sold ers In French grey years or more. Belgisns In blue and British in Khaki re A new crisp ti bill was given to every I Ueved the sombre colors worn by one of the employes of Hastings A Hey- I civilians. A brilliant full moon madeup den as a Uken of the appreciation of for the restrained lighting of the streets th. efforts tt the employes In mikln, .Thui.r. n... .i., , - - 1U a Success. AMERICA ASKA DATA ON JAP SHIP SINKING StAte Department Begins Inquiry Concerning- Torpedoing of Yasaka Mara. MAY COMPLICATE SITUATION WASHINGTON. Dec. 25. The state department today began an In quiry into the sinking In the Mediter ranean of the Japanese liner Yasaka Maru by cabling the American con sular agent at Port Said, Egypt, to gather and forward promptly all available details. Prompt action followed receipt of unofficial reports that the vessel had been -torpedoed by an Austrian sub marine without warning, thereby en dangering the life of an American citizen who was on board. Should official verification of the re ports be received the matter will be made the subject of further dlplomatis correspondence with Austria-Hungary. Officials made no attempt to conceal the fact that the sinking of the Tasaka Maru under the alleged circumstances would seriously complicate the negotia tions over the sinking of the Italian steamship Ancona, which already threat ened to result In the breaking eft of diplomatic relations. Eases the Tension. Bsron Erich Zweldlnek. charge of the Auatro-Hungarlan embassy here. Is un derstood to have told Secretary Lan sing, during an informal conference, that in preparing a reply to the second Amer ican note the Vienna foreign office would be guided by concern for the good re lations at present existing with the United States government. This tended to ease somewhat the existing tension, though there was no indication that Austria had decided to comply with the demands of the United States for dis avowal, punishment of the commander of the submarine and reparation by the payment of Indemnity for the Americans killed or Injured. The United States does not contem- . plate entering Into extended dtplomattc exchanges over the Ancona case. Unless some good reason presents Itself for further negotiations the United States. It Is said, will consider as final the reply to Its second note, which Baron Zweld lnek Informed Secretary Lansing today probably would arrive some time before Wednesday. Has Kn Infonsmtloa. During his call upon Mr. Lansing the charge was understood to hare discussed Informally the press dispatches concern ing the sinking of the Tasaka Maru. However, he had no Information to Im part. The state department cabled instruc tlona for a report to Edward Lyell Brurtow. consular agent at Port Said, press dispatches having reported that the survivors, including; the American cttlsen, had been landed there. Tho department also expects that In formation regarding the sinking of the vessel may come from diplomatic or consular representatives In other places particularly Paris. - a French gunboat having rescued the survivors. Contract is Let for Deep Oil Well Project PLATTSMOTJTH. Deo. JS.-(Speclal)- ' Charles II. Baker of Des Moines, and H- Pollock of Plattsmouth. who are prospecting for oil and gas in south east Cass county, have signed a contract with L. Deltrlch of Kansas City, for the drilling of a test welU Machinery with a capacity of drilling J.000 feet has been hipped to Cass county from the south ern oil fields, and work will be be gun Immediately upon the arrival of same. E. F. Schramm, assistant professor of geology. University of Neoraska, has se lected the anticline, or ledge of rock which shows evidence of a great up heaval south of Plattsmouth and north east of Union, as the most favorable location. Funeral Services For Margery McCord Private funeral serrloes were) held Fri day afternoon for Miss Margery Mo Cord, who died suddenly Thursday, Rev. Edwin Hart Jenks, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, which Miss MoOord attended, had charge and spoke from the text in Matthew xix: 84, "The maiden Is not dead, but sleepeth." After the services at the home. Twenty-second and Cass streets, the body waa placed temporarily in a receiving vault in Forest Lawn cemetery. Later it will be burled at St. Joseph, Mo., the former home of the McCord family. FLAUGHER COMMANDS GEORGE CROOK G. A. R. POST George Crook post. Grand Army of the Republic, elected officers last night at headquarters at the courthouse, and se lected delegates to the state encamp ment. Officers elected, were as follows: Com mander, D. S. Flaugher; senior rice commander, C. T. Smith; Junior vice commander. M. L. Flatta; quartermaster, J. T. Beatty; chaplain. Perry Hough; of ficer of the day. Frank Miller; officer of the guard. Charles Wicks; surgeon. F. W. Simpson; patrlotlo Instructor, George P. Garllck; trustee for three years, F. W. Simpson; delegates to state encampment, R. N. Willis, E. E. Melick, and O. H. Swlngley; alternates. M. L. Platts. E. B. Eagen, and Charles Wicks. C. F. Bonnie was Initiated and mus tered In as a new member of the post. BOULEVARDS OF PARIS THRONGED WITH PEOPLE PARIS, Dec. 25. The second Christmas Eve of the war was even lees solemn than the first Parisians are becoming accustomed to the unusual conditions - - ywture piaoes wre Crowded ta eanalfv sssws I