Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, March 13, 1917, Image 1

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    The Omaha Daily Bee
Want-ad
Night Service
to 10 p. m.
Tyler 1000
VOL. XLVI. NO. 229.
OMAHA, TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 13, 1917 TWELVE PAGES.
On lriim. it Hotili.
Ntwi Standi, It,. 6c.
SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS.
THE WEATHER
Snow j
TRAINMEN STRIKE
SATURDAY UNLESS
THEIR TERMS MET
Persistent Reports Current in
New York Country - Wide
Walkout on End of Week
if Conference Fails.
ARE READY TO BEGIN WAR
Representative of Brotherhood
Says Hare Waited Reason
able Time for Court Edict.
COMPLETE TIEUP PLANNED
New" York, March (12. Persistent
reports were current in railroad cir
cles here today that a country-wide
strike would result if a satisfactory
agreement is not reached at the con
ference on the question of the eight
hour workday to be held here Thurs
day between the railroad managers
and representatives of four brother
hoods of trainmen.
Reports have been sent to the rail
road presidents by agents of the man
agers stating that plans had been laid
by the brotherhoods to begin such a
strike Saturday night in the event
their demands are not met at the con
ference. Inquiry at railroad headquarters
failed to bring out the source of the
reports, although it was learned defi
nitely that such information has been
sent them. This information stated
that the brotherhoods' leaders con
sider they have waited a reasonable
time for the supreme court decision
on the Adamson law and "they are
going to begin hostilities in a few
days," as one railroad brotherhood
representative put it. The plans of
the union leaders, the report said,
called for a progressive strike begin
ning Saturday night and looking to a
complete tieup by the following
Wednesday night.
Hiram Johnson
Quits Governorship
March Fifteenth
Sacrameitto, March 12. Governor
Hiram W. Johnson, United States
(enator-elect, announced his resigna
:ion of the governorship today, effec
tive March IS.
No announcement followed an un
substantiated report that he would
resign the senatorship and keep the
governorship.
.. Governor Johnson's second, term of
four years waa slightly more than
half completed. He was elected
United States senator, running on the
republican and progressive tickets, by
nearly 300,000 plurality, although the
slate went demo:ratic for the presi
dency by a plurality of 3,700. The
governor is registered as a progres
sive. An effort was made by many of his
supporters in the state to persuade
him to remain in office until Decem
ber, as some other governor's, includ
ing La Follettj of Wisconsin, have
done under similar circumstances.
Governor Johnson will be succeeded
automatically by William D. Stephens
of Los Angeles, a former congress
man. Stephens was appointed lieu
tenant governor after a considerable
interval following the deattrof Lieu
tenant Governor John Eshleman, Feb
ruary 28, 1916. .
Chinese House
Approves Break
With Germany
London, March 12. A Peking dis
patch to Reuter's says that the house
of representatives, at a secret session,
approved the government's diplomatic
policy, including a rupture with Ger
many. The Chinese foreign office an
nounced on February 19 that it would
sever diplomatic relations with Ger
many if the unrestricted submarine
warfare decree was put into effect. On
March 4 the Chinesecabinet agreed
that the relations should be broken,
but President Li Yuan Hung refused
to accept the decision of the minister
and Premier Tuan Chi Jui resigned.
Three days later, however, the pre
mier resumed office after President Li
Yuan Hung had agreed to give the
cabinet full power to frame the coun
try's foreign policy and also on con
dition that parliament should vote on
the question of a breach with Ger
many, The Weather
For braka Snow: not much change In
temperature.
Temperature at Omaha Yesterday.
i Hour.
I a. m.
a.
T a. m .
Highest yesterday,
lowest yesterday..
Mt'iin temperature.
Precipitation
Temperature and precipitation departures
from the normal for the last two years:
Normal temperature 3f
Deficiency for the day 2
Total excess since March 1, 117 n
Normal precipitation 4 Inch
Excess for the day J Inch
Total rainfall since Mrwh 1 44 nin
Deficiency since March 1 03 Inch
Deficiency for cor. period 1)16.. ,3 Inch
Ecs for cor. period tlS 1.10 Inches
Lv A. WELSH. Meteorologist.
De.
'. . 3(1
31
l-T-?7crr:iU5rj a a. m 32
lar 6 p. m US
- 7 p. HI 38
""aammaaaamiajtj I p. m It
Compare::-. Local Record.
1117. HI 6. 1915. 1914.
34 73 37 68
30 42 28 27
32 &S 32 ' 42
.42 .00 ' .00 .00
TORNADO SWEEPS
EASTERN INDIANA
Twenty-One Are Killed at New
Castle and Thirteen Others
at Smaller Towns Nearby.
FOUR ARE KILLED IN OHIO
ESTIMATED DEAD.
New Taut! tl
llagarstown 4
New Llftbon 3
Mount (Summit S
Morrinnd 8
Cincinnati, O S
ISmokvlIlt, U. 1
Total .
.as
New Castle, Ind., March 12. With
twenty-one persons dead and 200 in
jured, New Castle today began clear
ing away the debris left by the cy
clone which swept the southern part
of the city yesterday afternoon. Fully
500 homes were destroyed or badly
damaged. The estimates of the prop
erty loss remained at about $1,000,000.
The death list began to dwindle
early today, when persons who had
been reported killed began to appear
or wrre found anion? the iniured.
Searching of the ruins continued, but
as no more bodies were found the
hope was expressed that all had been
accounted for.
The city was under police and mili
tary control approaching martial law.
Several companies of Indiana Na
tional Guard were patrolling the dam
aged districts. All saloons and fac
tories were closed. Workers from the
factories were busy clearing the
streets.-
Two Injured Die.
Two more were added to the list
of dead today, bringing the total to
"twenty-one.
Mrs. Peter Day, 58, died from her
injuries at a hospital, being the fourth
of a family of six to meet death
in the storm. Three daughters were
dead when found. A fourth daugh
ter escaped injured by being in an
other part of the city. Feter Day,
head of the family, was injured.
The unidentified body late today
was said to be that of Ernest Mc
Lean, 11 years old. His brother,
Jesse McLean, one of the seriously
injured, also died today.
Strikes City from West.
The tornado struck the city from
the west after leveling tip rolling
mills of Blue river valley. It swept
through the entire width of the city
from Sixth and Twenty-fifth streets.
The first homes in the path of the
twister were practically leveled to the
ground, after which "the wind appar
ently raised slightly, taking the roofs
from the houses from Tenth to Twen
tieth streets, where it pgain dipped,
sweeping practically every house be
fore it to Twenty-fifth street. The
greatest damage was . done, iu the
south part of the city, where a great
many of the factory employes reside,
and several thousand were homeless
throughout the night. Two hundred
special officers were sworn in by
Mayor Watkina and a strict patrol
of the affected district., was main
tained. Course of Storm Erratic.
The tornado cut a path from 300 to
500 feet in width through the city for
a distance of eighteen blocks. It en
tered the city limits near the south
west boundary line and worked its
way in a zigzag manner north for
two blocks and then cast. It turned
south near the eastern limits and left
the city in a southeasterly direction.
Because of darkness and a heavy
fog last night it was impossible to
tell the extent of the damage. A
chill wind was blowing and added to
the suffering to those not rescued
promptly. Three or four ruins caught
fire and at least one body was found
badly burned after the fire was extin
guished. The -storm lasted only a
few minutes.
The entire city turned its attention
to rescue work, with Major P. A.
Davis of the Indiana National Guard
and Mayor Watkins in charge. Three
companies of the Indiana National
Guard were here before 1 o'clock. A
(Coo tilled on Page Two, Column Two.)
Storstad is Sunk
After It Had Hoisted
Belgian Relief Flag
London, March 12. The sinking of
the Norwegian steamer Storstad, in
the service of the American Commis
sioi. for Reiief of Belgium, o:curred
in latitude 51.20, longitude 11.50 (in
the Atlantic off the southern end of
Ireland). The submarine fired about
fifteen shots at a range of three to
fcotr miles. The Storstad stopped and
hoisted the Belgian relief signal. The
submarine submerged, but half an
hour later the Storstad, which had
not resumed its voyage, was torpe
doed as it lay stationary in the
water with all the crew on board. It
sank at 12:10 p. m. The crew, includ
ing one American, has been accounted
for in its entirely, but the fourth en
gineer died of expoture 'jefore the
men were rescued.
Jury in Thaw Lunacy
Case Begins Its Work
Philadelphia, March 12. The jury
of six had its first sitting today in the
lunacy proceedings instituted two
weeks ago by Mrs. Mary Copley
Thaw against her son, Harry K.
Thaw.' The proceedings are con
ducted behind closed doors. Thaw
was not present, nor was District At
torney Swann of New York rep
resented. Under the laws of Pennsylvania the
jury must first "inspect" the person
whose sanity it must determine,
therefore no testimony will be taken
until the jurymen visit St. Mary's hos
pital, where Thaw is recovering from
self-inflicted razor wounds.
Thaw cut his throat on January 11
while police were searching for him
on a criminal charge. While the New
York authorities vere pressing for his
extradition Mrs. Thaw instituted the
lunacy proceedings.
PICKING MEN TO
TRY WOMAN FOR
MURDER IS SLOW
"We Don't Hang 'Em Down
There," Prospective Juror
Who Hails From South
Tells Attorney.
SENSATIONAL DENVER CASE
Mrs. Stell Newton Moore Smith
in Court Charged With
Slaying Husband.
STATE ASKS FOR DEATH
Denver, Colo., March 12. Little
real progress was made today in the
selection of a jury to try Mrs. Stella
Nehvon Moore Smith, accused of the
murder of her husba"d, John L.
Smith of Denver. Thirty-five tales
men were examined. Two were ex
cused, ten were "passed for cause"
by the state and the others were chal
lenged for cause by the state. With
another panel to report tomorrow
morning, attorneys estimated at least
two more days would be required to
fill the box with accepted jurors.
The district attorney, William E.
Foley, examined the talesmen himself.
The usual routine questions were
asked and then he shot at each man:
"Have you any conscientious scruples
against capital punishment."
Don't Hang Them in South.
Most of the talesmen ,answered in
the affirmative. A few said they had
"in this case."
If the talesmen got by this ques
tion the district attorney would ask:
"Would the fact that the defendant
is a woman have any influence with
you?"
This question evoked the only bit
of contrast to the dreariness of the
afternoon's proceedings. John C.
Scranton was the talesman who pro
duced it.
"t would," he answered. "I come
from the south and we don't hang 'cm
down there."
Scranton was excused, challenged
for cause. ,
The state will ask the death penalty.
Betrays No Emotion.
The court room was crowded and
a large number of persons were un
able to get in. The crowd began to
gather three hours before court
opened. Mrs. Smith was dressed in
a fashionable white gown. She be
trayed no emotion.
John Lawrence Smith vas shot and
killed early on the morning of Jan
uary 13, 1917, by his wife, Stella New-
ton Smith, the divorced wife of Wil
liam A. Moore, a leading Denver at
torney. Mrs. Smith, after her arrest,
told the police she shot Smith when
he attacked her while intoxicated and
after he had subjected her to indigni
ties and threatened to attack Mildred
Moore, aged 12, her daughter by her
first marriage. Mrs. Moore is the
daughter of Alfred Britton of Chi
cago, who acquired a fortune in the
Texas oil fields. Smith was formerly
a chauffeur in the Moore household.
Woman's Story.
The shooting took place at the
Moore home in the fashionable resi
dence district. Mrs. Smith told the
police that, after shooting her hus
band with a small caliber revolver,
she obtained a larger weapon belong
ing to Smitlr and fired a second shot
into his mouth as he lay on the floor
of her room. JohnBindle, a servant
in the household, corroborated the
statement concerning the second shot.
A coroner's jury returned a verdict
in which Mrs. Smith was charged
with shooting Smith "with felonious
intent."
The Smiths were married in 1913
at Oakland, Cal., and for a time lived
at Oakland. They had been separated
for some time preceding the shooting
Mrs. Smith was occupying the Moore
home with her little daughter under
a ccurt agreement with her former
husband by which she wai permitted
to visit the child. Moore was quar
tered at a c"own-town hotel.
Police investigation immediately
after the shooting developei that Mrs
Smith urged the servant, B indie, to
send for her divorced husband to
come and get their daughter. Bindle
telephoned to Moore, saving that
Mrs. Smith feared her husband would
injure the child, and Moore took the
little girl away in a taxicab shortly
before the shooting. Moore, it was
said, did not enter the house.
Later Mrs. Smith telephoned Moore,
saying: "I'-e killed him. B-ing the
police."
House for Paying Fare
Of Veterans to Vicksburg
(From a Starr Correspondent.)
Lincoln, Neb., March 12. (Special
Telegram.) With only one man pro
testing, Swason, of Clay, the lower
house of the Nebraska legislature in
its first night session, passed the ap
propriation bill giving $20,000 to as
sist in paying railroad fare of Grand
Army veterans to the Fiftieth anni
verary of the battle of Vicksburg.
Swanson was afraid it was setting
a bad precedent, but Fred Johnson ot
Adams informed the house that there
was no precedent being set.
"This is probably the last time the
Nebraska legislature will have the
chance to honor the old soldiers,"
said Mr. Johnson, "as they are rapid
ly passing away, and I believe we
should pay this tribute to their deeds
of valor."
Before Mr. Johnson could read the
resolution passed at the Saturday
night patriotic meeting the members
began calling for a rising vote and
when put nearly every member sprang
to his feet and the bill was ordered to
third reading with a, whoop.
Five small irrigation bills were sent
the same way and after Murtcy had
managed to have his school land leas
ing law made a special order for
Wednesday at 10 o'clock the house ad
journed after being in session only
about half an hour.
FRENCH 77-MILLIMETRE GUN ON S. S. ROCHAMBEAU The first allied merchantship
to arrive at the port of New York armed fore and aft. The picture shows the Rocham
beau's 77-millimetre stern gun, attended by two expert French, the Crusades.
.fjjHwaa - VJS i'sS.j . l
I -aaas'QL VWl ajj
. : ' . I
SUIT Of S S.J50CHAJWRl-.AtJ
GERMANS ABUSE
YANKEECAPTIVES
American Prisoners Arriving in
Switzerland Tell of Their
Sufferings.
STRUCK BY THEIR CAPTORS
Zurich, Switzerland, March 11.
(Via Paris, March 12.) Laden with
presents showered upon them by the
Swiss, fifty-nine of the Yarrowdale
prisoners arrived In Zurich today.
Although emaciated from their im
prisonment and lack of food since
their arrival in Germany, on Decem
ber 31, they arc in fair condition.
The sailors said they were con
vinced thatthe raider which., sank
their vessel was the "Ritz ot Bremen.
They describe it as a brand new ves
sel of about 3,000 tons capable of
eighteen knots, equipped with one fun
nel, two masts, one talse tunncll, tour
torpedo tubes, seven rapid-firing guns
and a wheel house which was hidden
by the sides of the ship. The funnels
had a device by which the stripes
could be changed at will and the ship's
doors were constructed as to cut on
all light when they were open.
of Sever Treatment. '
The men told of the Severe treat
ment to which they had been sub
jected in the German prison cainps
at Neustrelitz, Dulmen and Branden
burg, where they had been successive
ly interned after having been brought
into Swinemuende on the Yarrowdale
and where they, as Americans, they
said, were apparently singled out from
others.
During their stay in Germany they
reported they had subsisted on one
allowance of soup daily and had made
their long journey to the border on
one "meal." There was hardly one of
them wilt) at one time or another, they
declared, had not telt that hst ot a
German camp guard and the suuad
of five soldiers, which brought them
to the border had exercised the privi
lege ot abusing them up to the last
possible moment.
Well Treated By Swiss.
The men tell of the terrible suffer
ings they underwent during a period
of severe cold weather in Germany
due partly to lack of fuel, but more
to the absence of the shoes and cloth
ing, which they had lost. Since their
entrance into Switzerland at Rors
chach, they say they have been roy
ally treated by the Swiss.
I he party includes all of the Ameri
cans detained except one seaman
named Bulleat ot a 1-rench Canadian
family, claiming to have been born in
Massachusetts, who at the last mo
ment was held in Brandenburg. They
were accompanied by one Brazilian
and one Spaniard.
Navy Will Hurry
Up Construction
Of Subsea Chasers
Washington, March 12. Prelimi
nary -steps were taken by the Navy
department today toward contracting
for the quick construction of 100 or
more high-speed coast patrol boats
of a new type for scouting against
submarines. At a conference in
which a score of builders were repre
sented assurances were given that de
liveries could be begun within four
months.
There was no announcement, but it
is understood that contracts will be
awarded shortly. Plans prepared for
tne patrol noats call tor cratt 110 feet
long propelled by half steam engines.
Details of their armament and equip
ment are now being worked out, but
probably will not be made public.
Some of the companies represented
in today's conference have turned
out large numbers of "chasers" for
the British government. They will
nave to make changes in their plants
in order to build the larger boats
wanted by the American government.
Representatives ot the major ship
builders also appeared at the depart
ment during the day, bringing data
concerning their, corporations anil
plants, for which Secretary Daniels
recently asked. The information is
for use in determining the allotment
of new construction and also is de
sired for the guidance of the govern
ment in tne event it becomes neces
sary to exercise the authority granted
by congress for commandeering pri
vate establishments.
secretary Daniels announced that
bids for six scout cruisers of the
thirty-five knot type, designed last
year, would be opened Wednesday.
BEAT PUBLICITY
BUREAUEXPENSE
Appropriation for Advertising
Not Given in the Lower
House.
DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
Lincoln, March 12. (Special.) Nc.
braska will have no publicity bureau
and will have to get along with such
publicity as naturally comes to it from
the fact that it is a mighty good state,
though badly handicapped by a demo
cratic legislature. The house today
decided that in the interest of econ
omy, no money should be given to
publicity through the creation of a
publicity bureau and the $25,000 ap
propriation was killed.
Jacobson called attention to the fact
that other nearby states with less
actual resources arc getting more pub
licity than Nebraska, the best agri
cultural state in the union, and Bates
brought out some other argument
why the appropriation should be
made, but to no avail and the appro
priation was stricken out of the meas
ure, by a vote of 41 to 27. JJ,'h bill,
then went to third reading estab
lishing the bureau, but giving )t no
funds to spend in publicity work.
Banks Not Executors.
The committee of the whole stuck
a knife into the vitals of the Niclson
bill, empowering banks to act as ad
ministrators, executors and guardians,
after Mr. Peterson called attention to
the fact that there is nothing in the
law which prevents bank presidents or
cashiers from acting individually in
those capacities.
Following arc some of the measures
considered and placed on the third
reading calendar:
Requiring rallruud companies to hava tele
phones In dopota, over which employes must
Rive information to the public, but allow
ing:, an arrangement with local telephone
exchanges whereby It may furnish such In
formation for the railroad coroporatlon.
HallioadH to have bulletin bounln In all
depots, giving accurate Information on
trains.
Licensee of Insurance agents subject to
cancellation upon complaint of two persons,
after a hearing before the county Judge In
the county from which the complaint cornea.
Governor authorised to appoint United
States senator, In case of vacancy, to serve
until next election.
School Tax More.
Fred Johnson's hill raising the limit
of school tax in all districts from 35
to 45 mills, was recommended to pass,
an amendment proposed by the com
mittee pn revenues and taxation which
lowered the maximum to 40 mills, be
ing defeated.
The Hopkins bill to put police
magistrates under the nonpartisan
judiciary law, also got through the
committee of the whole.
Ruling in Rivers
Damage Test Case
Is Against U. S.
Washington, March 12. Paramount
federal authority over navigable rivers
and government exemption from dam
age liability in their improvement, the
supreme court decided today in Ken
tucky test cases, does not extend to
their nonnavigable tributaries.
Justice Pitney, who gave this opin
ion, said owners of land on streams
are entitled to compensation for land
taken when such streams artifically
were made navigable.
The ruling against the government,
the Department of Justice had told
the court, would establish a precedent
of "tremendous importance" regard
ing government liability for damage
to private property upon tributaries
of navigable waters in improvement
of the latter. Many pending suits
and claims turned on today's de
cision. Half of Washington
Street Car Men Strike
Washington, March 12. Prac
tically one-half of the strett railway
lines of the capital were being op
erated today by strikebreakers. The
other half, owned by another com
pany, was running us usual with reg
ular men, who had come to terms
with their employers. Recognition
of the union was the chief question.
Service on the lines under strike,
while infrequent, was being main
tained without disorder and the com
pany expressed its confidence that
operations would return to normal in
a few days.
CABINET CRISIS IN
FRANCESEEMSNEAR
Persistent Obstructive Tactics
of the Opposition Threaten
Overthrow of Ministry.
WILL QUESTION BRIAND
Paris, March 12.--The attacks of
the opposition in parliament have pro
duced a situation of such character
that both the friends and the adver
saries of the government admit today
that it can.iot continue. The general
opinion is that the opposition, which
has been resorting to obstruction by
refraining front voting must over
throw the cabinet and assume re
sponsibility for solving the problems
which form the basis Tor its assaults
on the ministry or else ceases its at
tacks. Deputy Petitjean or Paris will inter
pellate the cabinet tomorrow, the
Journal says, on its general policy,
opening the way for a comprehensive
declaration by Premier Bnand as to
the position of the government. The
Petit Journal, however, says it is
doubtful whether a conclusive debate
will take place tomorrow or whether
cabinet changes will intervene, making
tomorrow a session purely a- formal
one, pendiiiT a declaration from a
transformed ministry.
Arrest Paymaster
In Alleged Bomb
Plot in New York
New York, March 12. A German,
John Lambert, alias Carl Humbert,
was arrested here today, charged with
being an accomplice of Fritz Kolb
and Harry Schwartz, who are being
held in Hobokcn, N. J.( as alleged
bomb makers.
Humbert has been indicted by the
Hudson county, New Jersey, grand
jury and has been sought as the pur
ported "paymaster" in an alleged plot
to blow up munitions and munition
plants.
New York, March 12. Heramba L.
Gupta, a Hindu student at Columbia
university, arrested here yesterday,
was arraigned today on a charge of
violating the neutrality of the! United
States by conspiring with Fram von
Papen, former German military at
tache to this country, to organize a
military enterprise here to free India
from British rule. He was held in
$5,000 bail for the federal ground jury
after waiving examination.
The com) laint states that Gupta
acted in conjunction with Von Papen
and that Von Papen at various times
paid to . the student large sums of
money to send him to Japan in fur
therance of the enterprise. The bail
of Dr. Chandra Chakraherty, another
Hindu, and Ernest Sekunna, a Ger
man chemist; both held on similar
charges, was reduced from $25,000 to
$5,000 today.
Chakraberty, Sekunna and Gupta
obtained bail through a surety com
pany and were released.
Two Hundred More
Food Indictments ,
Will Be Returned
Washington, March 12. More crimi
nal indictments simi.ar to those re
cently returned hi New York against
approximately 200 corporations and
and individuals are expected soon
in the government's nation-wide in
vestigation of the activity of dealers
in coal and food sun's.
The indictments probably will be
returned by one of the federal graund
juries sitting in the middle west. In
quiries are being made by grand
juries at Detroit, Cleveland and Chi
cago and the government's plans call
for further grand jury investigations
at Cincinnati and probably some ther
points.
Attorney General Gregory conferred
today with George W. Anderson,
United States attorney at Boston, in
charge of the investigation; Frank M.
Swacker and Robert M. Childs, who
have been conducting the iuvestigatin
at New York and in the west.
T. V. Truman Elected
Head of Albion Schools
Albion, Neb., March 12. (Special
Telegram) The Board of Education
of this city announced this morning
the election of T. V. Truman of
Weeping Water as superintendent of
schools for next year.
FORMAL NOTICE
AMERICAN SHIPS
WILL BE ARMED
Foreign Nations Notified Ves
sels Will Carry Guards to
Protect Lives of
Those on Board.
GERMAN ( ORDER QUOTED
Nary Department Will Equip
With Ouns All Ships Whose
Owners Request It.
MAY MOBILIZE THE NAVY
Washington, March 12. Formal
notice that American ships traversing
the German submarine zone are to
carry "armed guards for tht protec
tion of the vessel and the lives of the
persons on board" was sent by the
State department today to embassies
and legations of all' foreign govern
ments in Washington.
Following is the text of the com
munication as made public by the
State department:
'In view of the announcement of
the imperial German government on
January 31, 1917, that all ships, those
of neutrals included, met within cer
tain zones of the high seas, would be
Mink without a.iy precautions being
taken for the safety of the persons
on board and without the exercise of
visit and search, the government of
the United states has determined to
place upon all American merchant
men sailing through the barred zones
an armed guard for the protection of
the vessels and the lives ot the per
sons on board."
The Navy department's position is
that it will equip with arms all ships
whose owners apply to it.
Would Mobilize Naval Reserves.
Mobilization of the complete fight
ing strength of the navy has been
recommended by naval officials. The
approval of President Wilson is re
quired before orders can be sent call
ing out the reserves, assembling the
naval militia and releasing all active
onicers now on shore duty for tea
service. '
Immediate graduation of the first
class at Annapolis would be included
in the plan in order to make up as
far as possible the threatened short
age of officers.
An active recruiting campaign also
would be necessary.
Navy recruiting continues to show
a great increase. For the first eight
days in March th net . gain was IS
men, Many of the recruits are com
ing from districts where the Navy
league is actively co-operating with
the department . On March 1 there
were 59,037 enlisted men in the navy
and on March tl, 59,753. . , .
Rochambeau Given Clearance.
Permission for clearance of the
French liner Rochambeau from New
York, the first belligerent merchant
man to arrive in an American harbor
with guns mounted fore, as welt as
aft, waj today granted by the Stale
department, which ruled that the Ro
chambeau, as a - passenger-carrying
vessel plying usual routes, was a
peaceable merchantman, entitled to
take adequate precautions against ille
gal attack.
Undoubtedly the Rochambeau rul
ing will lead to a general policy of
arming vessels to the fore. It was
thought at the time that it had been
sent into port largely as a test of the
policy of this government, and now
that a wide armament is allowed it is
assumed that other entente merchant
men will follow suit. j
Whitman Issues Call for
Congressional Election
Albany, N. Y., March 12. A proc
lamation calling for a special election
April 12 in the Fifteenth New York
congressional district to fill the va
cancy caused by the recent death of
Representative Michael F. Courv. a
democrat, was issued by Governor
Whitman today. Ihe district has a
large democratic majority.
Concord, N. H March 12. The
successor to Congressman Cyrus A.
Sulloway, who died Saturday, will not
be chosen in time to take his seat
when congress convenes in special
session April 16. Examination of the
statutes today showed that fifty-seven
days must elapse from the date upon
which a rescript is issued before the
election can be held. Mr. Sulloway
was a republican.
Firemen's Relief Fund
Enriched by Sum of $10t
Jcjhn Beno, head of the Beno store
of Council Bluffs, has given to the
Omaha Firemen's Relief fund the sum
of $100 in recognition of the work
done by the Omaha fire fighters
when asked to assist the Council
Bluffs department to check the bad
fire across tne river Sunday morning.
The Sunday Score
March 11
Advertising in The Bee
(Wsrfleld Agency Measurement)
Same Day
In Inches 1917 1916
Local Display 1094 1140
Foreign Display.,.. 404 Vi 169H
Automobile 625 H i 263
Total Display. .
Classified . . . .
,.2024
,. 680
1672
703
Total 2704 2276
CAIN.... 428 INCHES
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