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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 1917)
f he Omaha Sunday Bee PART ONE NEWS SECTION Paces 1 to 12 THE WEATHER Showers VOL. XLVI NO. 49. OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 20, 1911-SIX SECTIONS FORTY-FOUR PAGES. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS. U. S. REGULARS SOON OFF TO FRANCE; RUSSIA READ BACK HER ALLIES NEW MINISTER TO PUT ARMY UPON FIGHTING BASIS Kerensky Will Maintain Iron . Discipline and Expresses Confidence In the Result. By AtMMkted PreM.) Evidences are multiplying that the taost energetic efforts are about to be made to rehabilitate Russia's great army and make it again an 'effective, aggressive lighting force. The government expresses its con viction that the Russian army will Hot .suffer the Germans to destroy Russia's western allies. Minister of War Kerensky, in as suming his nw post, announces his in tention of maintaining an iron disci pline among the troops and expresses confidence in the result. The recent intensive fighting on the British front in France has subsided and the activities along the French lines in the. Aisne region are con fined mainly to counter attacks by the Germans. The Italian offensive, with Trieste for its objective, is therefore being watched with perhaps more interest than any of the other vast military operations in progress. General Cadorna's armies have a heavy task before them, with the cream of Austria's fighting forces de fending the naturally strong defen sive positions in the Isonzo region. The Italians, however, admittedy are making progress, having already taken more than 6,000 prisoners and numerous guns, while the Austrian reports claim the capture of some 3,0U0 prisoners. Millions of Imported Goods Taken from Bond Washington, May 19. Withdrawal of imported goods'from bonded ware houses so as to avoid payment of the 10 per cent ad valorem tariff provided for in the pending war tax biil has reached proportions never before ap proached in the nation's history. Figures reported to the Treasury department show that in New York alone goods valued at nearly $3,000, OOU was withdrawn in a aingle day and that the withdrawals are continu ing at a rate of $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 there daily. I n other ports of entry similar eon dilions exist and the pace in most places is growing steadily. Millions of dollars in revenue that would be collectable ,if the goods remained in hund until the tax bill becomes a law thus is being lost to the government. The war tax carries no provision that will enable the government to collect on the goods withdrawn. French Torpedo Boat Destroyer Sunk by Mine Paris, May 19. The French tor pedo boat destroyer Boutefeu was sunk by striking a mine in the naval engagement between allied and Aus trian vessels in the Adriatic on May IS. according to a semi-official state ment today. . The announcement reads: "A number of French destroyers and hydroairplanes took part in the recent naval engagement in the Adria tic, the destroyer Boulefeu striking a mine and sinking while assisting a British cruiser on which was the Ital ian admiral. The officers and almost all of the crew was saved." The British cruiser referred to was the Dartmouth. It was struck by a torpedo after the main engagement, the British official announcement of the encounter stated, but returned to port. . Small Tornado Tears Down Barn Near Cornlea Fremont, Neb.. May 19. (Special Telegram.) A large new barn was demolished and a new house on the farm of Albert Hittner, near Cortilea, was moved several inches off the foundation by a small tornado in that section of the country Thursday even ing. No-one was injured. The twister covered a small strip of country and was followed by a slight sprinkle of rain. s The Weather For Nebraska Probably shower. Temperature! at Omaha lestcrday. Hour. J?. 7 a. m 65 ' " a. m fc 6fl 9 a. m 69 rTTTv 10 a. ra 71 y 3 p. m 83 4 D. m 82 6 p. m t a 3 n m 1 itAA. 7 n. ni.. an Comparative Local Record. !?. It6. 1915. 1914. Highest yesterday..,. 84 68 4 70 Lowest yesterday t 60 39 61 Mean temperature..,. 73 fit 42 66 Precipitation 00 .12 .64 .12 Temperature and precipitation departures front the normal: Normal temperature '. 4 Kxcess for the day 9 ' Total deficiency since March 1 71 Normal procipltation 14 Inch Deficiency for the day , .14 inch Total rainfall since March 1 6.32 Inches Deficiency since March 1 7 Inch Deficiency for cor. period, 191ft.. 3.30 Inches Deficiency for cor. pprlnd, 191.1.. 3.75 1nihs L. A. W13UMU, Meteorologist. i Senate Passe Big War Budget Viva Voce Washington, May 19. The larg est appropriation bill in American history the war budget measure, carrying $3,342,300,000, including $750,000,000 for American mer chant ships was today passed by the Senate by viva 4oce vote. WILSON ISSUES STATEMENT ON FOOD CONTROL Powers Sought No Greater Than Other Nations Com pelled to Take; Hoover Dictator Without Pay. Washington, May 19. President Wilson outlined the administration's food control program in a statement tonight -and declared the powers asked for by the government are no greater than those other governments at war have been compelled to take. There is no intention, he said, to re strain or interfere with normal proc esses of production. The statement also makes formal announcement that Herbert C. Hoover has been asked to become food administrator and that he has accepted on condition that neither he nor his immediate assistants shall re ceive any pay for their services. Necessary Only in Few Cases. "Although it is absolutely necessary that unquestionable powers be placed in my hands," says the president's statement, "I am confident that the exercise of those powers will be nec essary only in the few cases where some sman ana seinsn minority proves unwilling to put the nation's interests above personal advantage." , The statement in full follows: "It is very desirable in order to pre vent misunderstandings or. alarms and to assure co-operation in a vital mat ter, that the country should under stand exactly the scope and purpose of; the very great powers which, I have thought it necessary in the cir cumstances to ask the congress to put in my hands with regard to our food luppliej. , Line of Distinction. Those powers are very great in deed, but they, are no greater than it has proved necessary to lodge in the other Eovernments which are con ducting this momentous war. and their object is stimulation and conserva tion, not arbitrary restraint or injuri ous interference with the normal proc esses of production. Iney are in tended to benefit and assist the farmer and all those who play a legitimate oart in the preparation, distribution and marketing of foodstuffs. It is proposed to draw a sharp line of distinction between-the normal activities of the government repre sented in the Department of Agricul ture with reference to food produc tion, conservation and marketing on the one hand and the emergency ac tivities necessitated by the war in reference to the regulation of food distribution and consumption on the other. Objects Sought to Be Served. "All measures intended directly to extend the normal activities of the Department of Agriculture in refer ence to the production, conservation and the marketing of farms crops will be administered, as in normal times, throueh that department, and the powers asked for over distribution and consumption, over exports, impons, prices, purchase and requisition of commodities, storing, and the like, which may require regulation during the war. will be placed in the hands of a commissioner of food administra tion appointed by the president and directly responsible to him." "The obiects sought to be served by the legislation asked for are: Full inquiry into the existing stocks of foodstuffs and into the costs and prac tices, of the various food producing and distributing trades; the preven tion of all unwarranted hoarding of every kind and of the control of food stuffs by persons who are not in any (Contlntied on Fage Eight, Colnmn ThrM.) President Wilson Issues Proclamation Calling Upon Young Men to Enroll for Military Duty Washington. May 19. President Wilson's proclamation putting into effect the selective draft provision of the war army bill has been sign ed. It is as follows: A proclamation by the president of the United States. Whereas, congress has enacted and the president has on the 18th dayof May, one thousand nine hun dred and seventeen, approved a law which contains the following provisions: Section 5. That all male persons between the ages of 21 and 30, both inclusive, shall be subject to regis tration in accordance with regula tions to be prescribed by the presi dent; and upon proclamation by the president or other public notice given by him or by his direction stating the time and place of such registration it shall be the duty of all persons of the designated ages, except officers and enlisted men of the regular army, the navy and the National Guard and naval militia while in the service of the United States, to present themselves for GOV. NEVILLE TO OPEN OMAHA FOOD CONGRESS HERE All Nebraska to Join in Con servation Conference This Week at the Omaha Auditorium. Conservation of food resources Is to be taken up scientifically from all angles this week in Omaha, when from 1,500 to 2,000 delegates from all parts of the state meet at the Audi torium for the State Conservation conference, called by the State Con servation and Public Welfare com mission. The dates are May 22 to 25, inclusive. Governor Neville will be present to open the conference formally Tuesday evening, May 22. Mayor Dahlman will speak also upon the occasion of the opening, welcoming the delegates. Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo is to be here Thursday, May 24, and will address the meeting in the after noon t 2 o'clock. Vrooman Here Tuesday. Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Vrooman is to address the meeting Tuesday evening, his subject being "What We Are Facing," outlining the food situation which now confronts the nation, as he sees it from the standpoint of a man in his official position where he has access to all the information as to crop conditions and supply. Chancellor Samuel Avery of the University of Nebraska will preside on the opening night. Delegates have been appointed by the mayors of all the cities and towns in the state and by the heads of all im- (Continund on Page Fight, Column Four.) and submit to registration under the provisions of this act and- every such person shall be deemed to have notice of the requirements of this act upon the publication qf said proclamation or other notice as aforesaid given by the president or by his direction; and any person who shall wilfuly fail or refuse to present himself for registration or to submit thereto as herein provid ed, shall be guilty of a misdemean or and shall, upon conviction in the districf court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof, be pun ished by imprisonment for not more than one year, and shall thereupon be duly registered; provided, that in the call of the docket procedure shall be given in courts trying the same, to the trial of criminal pro ceedings under this act. Provided further, that persons shall be sub ject to registration as herein pro vided who shall have attained their twenty-first birthday and who shall not have attained their thirty-first birthday on or before the day set for the registration, and all persons His Busy Days. FEDERAL JURY GIVES $15,000 TO SWIFT HEIRS Judge Woodrough Instructs Verdict Be Granted in Fa vor of Missouri River Victim. A jury in federal court yesterday awarded $15,000 damages for the death of Mrs. Mary Swift, one of five persons drowned when an automo bile plunged off the end of a road into the Missouri river. The verdict was for the full meas ure of damages asked. The accident happened the night of July 29, 1916. Plaintiffs brought suit against Sarpy county. Negligence was alleged. Federal Judge Woodrough, when the evidence was all in, instructed the jury to return a verdict for the plain tiff. I his is an unusual procedure on the part of a judge." He left the amount to be fixed by the jury. "The county is expected to insure the safety of its roads," said Judge Woodrough in instructing the jury. Witnesses for defense testified that there was a barrier consisting of three posts in the road about sixty feet from the place where the road ended suddenly in the river. One witness said he saw this barrier the night before the accident occurred. No Barrier There. Witnesses for the plaintiff declared there was no barrier there at that time. Testimony 'also showed the terrific rate at which the river was cutting away the land at that point at that time. It sometimes carried away land of a width of sixty to eighty feet in a single day. they said. so registered shall he and remain subject to draft into the forces here by authorized, unless exempted or excused therefrom as in this act provided. Provided further, that in the case of temporary absence from actual place of legal residence of any person liable to registration as provided herein, such registration may be made by mail under regula tions to be prescribed by the presi dent. Sec. 6. That the president is hereby authorized to utilize the servic of any or all departments and any or all officers or agents of the United States and of the several states, territories and the District of Columbia and subdivisions thereof in the execution of this act, and all officers and agents of the United States and of the several states, ter ritories and subdivisions thereof, and of the District of Columbia, and all persons designated or ap pointed under regulations pre scribed by the president himself or by the governor or other officer of M'onilnunl on Pago Hcvrn, C'oluma Five.) j HOUSE RETAINS WAR TAXES UPON LIGHTJp HEAT Sensational Speech by Len root Precedes Vote Sen ate Comitttee Discusses the Liquor Schedule. Washington, May 19. Voting on amendments to the war tax bill occu pied the house again today. The first vote was on Representative Len root's amendment to strike out the 5 per cent taxes on light and heat bills. It failed li6 to 58. The tax is intended to raise about $30,000,000. Decision of the commit tee not to attempt to raise $2,245, 000,000 which Secretary McAdoo be lieves will be necessary to meet half the expense of the first year of the war, made the light and heat tax unnecessary," I. enroot contended. Tax Aimed at Poor. "You would tax people who will almost have starvation facing them in twelve months," he shouted, amid applause. ' Congress may yet have to reach the humblest home in this land, but it should not do that now when there are other sources to be taxed which would be less burdensome on the poor man. We might, for instance, tax automobiles now in use. There are about 3,000,000 of them in use. Would it not he better to tax them than to enter the workingman's home for a tax now?" Senators Discus Liquor Taxes. - Important changes in the war tax bill were discussed, but none was de cided upon today by the senate finance committee. Prohibition of the use of land for growing tobacco was among new suggestions. Sentiment in the committee is strong for an amendment to slop whisky production, or at least to pro hibit use of grain for that purpose. Elimination of at least considerable modification of the house increases on postal rates is probable. Senators said today that public and congres sional sentiment appeared overwhelm ing against the proposed postal tax. Full Kegiment of Marines Will Be Sent to Europe Washington, May 19. A regiment of marines, commanded by Colonel Charles A. Doyan and composed of veterans of active service in Haiti, Santo Domingo and Cuba, will accom pany the army division to be sent to France under Major General Persh ing. Secretary Daniels, in making the announcement today, said the marine regiment would have a strength of 2,6(X) men. It will be armed, equipped and organized in the same way as the army regiments of the Pershing expeditionary force. Organizations which will compose the regiment will be brought home from the tropics immediately. Seven Million Dead And Forty Million Wounded During War London, May 19. The number of men killed in the war hus far was estimated at 7,000,000 by Arhur Henderson, member of the war council, in an address today at Rich mond. He estimaed the total cas ualties of the war to be in excess of the population of the Unied King dom. (The population of the United Kingdom, according to he census of 1911 wee 45.370.530.) RUSH TO ENLIST IN REGULARS AND NATIONAL GUARD Announcement of Troops Or dered to France and of June 5 as Registration Day Stimulates Recruiting. Washington, May 19. Reports to the War department today indicated a tremendous stimulation of recruit ing, both for the regular army and the National Guard, as a result of the announcement last night that an army is to be sent to France and the pub lication of the president's proclama tion fixing June 5 as registration day for the selective draft army. Mail trains leaving Washington last night were laden as never before with registration cards, enrollment blanks and all the data necessary to regis ter 10,000,000 men for the new armies. The first shipment went to state and municipal officials in the far west and other most remote parts of the coun try. Floods of Blanki to Follow. A steady flow of blanks for nearer states -will follow and in six days every section of the country will be fully supplied, giving state officials a week to study their task before June 5. Preparations for sending of the first expedition of regulars moved for ward swiftly today, but entirely with out publicity, except as to the partici pation of the marines, a full regiment of which was ordered abroad with the regulars to make good the "first to fight" slogan of the corps. It can be said authoritatively, how ever, that the government proposes to give the troops every possible advan tage of training and equipment to fit them for their task. All military advisers have agreed that additional training within sound of the guns at the front must be given to torces taken to trance belore they take their places in the line. Pershing Will Select Place. The regulars of the expeditionary force are certain to have that train ing. In placing new divisions in the line of battle Great Britain has fol lowed the practice of accustoming the men gradually to the work before them. The first 100,000 of the Kitch ener army was put in with each bat talion flanked by veteran British or French troops until it found itself. Presumably General Pershing will select, in conference with French and British officials when he reaches the scene of action, the location for the American training camps and tiis part of the line to which American troops will later be assigned will also be determined then. The first expe dition probably also will pave the way lor ine armies that are to totlow it as soon as they are ready. The machinery to build those arm ies was in full motion today. Accused Coal Dealers Are Found Not Guilty Cleveland, O., May 19. The jury in the trial of six retail coal dealers. charged with combining to fix fuel prices in violation of the Valentine anti-trust law, returned a verdict of not guilty this morning. Ten dealers were indicted, but the court dis charged four of them because of lack of evidence. Robbers Shoot Detective And Seize $6,000 in Cash Chicago. May 19. Five robbers sfepped from an automobile on the west side today, shot down a private detective guarding a payroll mes senger, slightly wounded A passerby, and escaped with $6,000. John Byers, the detective, was shot in the head. A Self-Explauatory Letter ' In as) MNtunl IteRSCHMAS- Be GAHJ)Y StulDiiEmioisim , W.NISTtTi XMC Utf ,t( nn m r-.l.aalBi Mate. labr. (WllatMU fa at ftut In toatlat f T MUgm, Marine b uitiiwi i,om r mp iMrtMB ruff, tiua tui f 42,000, 7 v lwr artirw trim It pntatlr to lAt.nsHlftf U ru, Ut Tht tW hM rt f Um Uab mj ottor Mnftpt Ut Vlt4 lulu, tM U w U i itrllrlni rnirll r lit), Trtitnf fvnr, vltk lrcnUtlM T M,000 U M l0 t intrlwU 4,000 flap Ttal vmli hHmh t raftrtaMw r aMntiWMl If lb flM vert tot tolttf eU.tr lfeutt fc; IM oMM atbott, tbtf Mai iuv kMi toofkt b pU for fey tf rw4w. Ttot flap Mrrlet mr tevrlB in twt Hit typo, sad t later yu that hav raaalia iibmfm Intjulrl, rtaultlni la twar mIm ta tMrvkmata, laclritluala aai aaaaara tarauitoiit Nibraaka. larth at laaia Pakow, lanaaa, ltwa an VtaUrn muturl, tata la alaa aMtfcar MMMtrallo. M, t af Ma fldt rn af lla flaU aat vaa imt luaawo it miUa. awt W PERSHING WILL COMMAND FIRST ARMYTOJUROPE President Announces Twenty Five Thousand Men Will Be Sent Abroad Soon as Practicable. BULLETIN. Washington, May 19. American troops when they go to the Euro- Eean battlefront may take placet to uttress the little Belgian line, ao tenaciously holding fast to a strip on the extreme west all of Belgium that escaped the German invaders. Washington, May 19. United States regular troops, led by Major General Pershing, will carry the Stan and Stripes to the European battle front. Under orders from President Wil son, a division of approximately 25, 000 troops will go to Franco at toon as possible to co-operate with British and French forces. General Pershing and his staff will go to Europe ahead of his troops at as early a date as possible. He was automatically relieved of his command of the Southern department by the president's orders designating him to command the troops to be sent to Europe. , This is the answer of America to France's plea that the Stars and Stripes be carried to the fighting front without delay to hearten the sol diers battling there with concrete evi dence that a powerful ally has come to their support against German ag gression. Action Follows Signing Bill. Announcement of the order followed signing of the selective draft war army Bill by the president, and the is suing of a statement that under advice of military experts on both sides of the water, the president said he could not employ volunteers nor avail him self of the "fine vigor and enthus iasm" of former President Roosevelt for the expedition. ' The army law provided for an ulti mate force of approximately 2,000, 000 men to back up the first troops to go to the front. When the bill had been signed, the president affixed his name and signature to a proclamation calling upon all men in the country between the ages of 21 and 30 years, inclusive, to register themselves for military service on June 5, next. Sift Ten Million Men. The proclamation sets in motion immediately machinery that will en roll and silt 10,000,000 men and pave the way for the selection of the first 500,000 young, efficient soldiers with out crippling the industries or com merce of the nation or bringing hard shiD on those at home. Even before the bill was signed the War department announced the full strength of the National Guard would any state or territory to perform any duty in the execution of this act, are herebyTequired to perform such duty as the president shall order or direct, and all such officers and agents and persons so designated or appointed shall hereby have full authority for all acts done by them in the execu tion of this act by the direction of the president. Correspondence in the execution of this act may be carried in penalty envelopes bearing the frank of the War department. Per sons charged as herein provided with the duty of carrying into effect anv of the provisions of this act or the regulations made or directions given thereunder, who shall tail or neglect to perform such duty, and any per son charged with such duty or hav ing and exercising any authority un der said act, regulations or directions, who shall knowingly make or be a party to the making of any false or incorrect registration, phvsical exam ination exemption), enlistment, enroll ment or muster, and any person who shall make or be a party to the mak ing of any false- statement or certifi cate as to the fitness or liability of himself or any other person for serv ice under the provisions of this act, or regulations made by the president thereunder, of otherwise evades or Contlnud on Pogo Two, Column On) Motor Cars and College Pins ' Under Ban in Reserve Camp Fort Sheridan, III., May 19. Fra ternity pins, college yells and motor cars were placed under the ban at the reserve officers training camp. lral, .