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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 1917)
JUST INSIDE THE DOOR OF FARNAM STREET ENTRANCE- THE BEE'S NEW WANT-AD SHOP MAHA BAIL K THE WEATHER Fair VOL. XLVII. NO. 165. OMAHA. THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 27. . 1917 TWELVE PAGES. I'Jr&ntt Hi!V SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS AY NOON .Bee TT TTN f T? YT TjfNl fu OVER ' 3 ills ii ii I - sja n li II . h i ' . CM4JVS fiiSS ARMISTICE; TRANSFER TROOPS Enemy Infantry Inactive as Hindenburg Awaits More Re inforcements Before Making Attack; Artillery Fire is Heavy; Italians Retake Lcrt Positions on Col Del Rosso. (B.v Ansoclatrd Press.) London, Dec. 26. The Russo-German peace negotiations . . . .i .. . c i . .1 i . ., ment to give the Germans time to formulate their reply to the -jijr j rL Russian terms, were again delayed for one day, an Exchange Telegraph dispatch from Petrograd reports. The dispatch also says the Germans have asked for a further postponement until : January 24. I (By Associated Press.) While their guns bombard the western front, the Germans are taking troops from the eastern front f or use elsewhere, de- spite the provision of the Russo-German armistice prohibiting such action. The artillery activity in France has been moderate over most of the front and more Meuse, northeast of Verdun, nearly two years ago. WAITS REINFORCEMENTS. German infantry has not been active and it is probable that Field Marshal von Hindenburg is waiting for more reinforcements before making his heralded attack. Russian advices tell ing of the German withdrawals in the east add that some of the troops are being taken to the Roumanian front. Roumania is not taking part in the peace negotiations and the Ukraine, which lies beyond Moldavia and Bes-. sarabia, is opposed to the Bolsheviki. FRENCH MAKE RAID. South of Juvincourt, in. the Rhcims sector of Champagne, the French have carried out a raid. iatc.. the-Geroun lines and brought back prisoners. On the British portion of the front there have been raids in addition to the ar tillery duel,, but no large operations are yet indicated. On the northern Italian front, the Austro-German tactics appear to be to strike alternately at vital points on cither side of the Brenta. Checked at Monte Asolone last week, the enemy has struck toward the ranzela valley, west cf the river. After two nays of bitter fighting, the Italians have regained possession ot lost posi ZIW:: AusV . , 1 n i r - ...... f fro-German positions on Monte i er-1 u'ca, east of the river. j Huns Gain Prisoners. Merlin, claims th capture ot .000 ; prisoners i-. the gaining oi tne i.oi j. ei ; Garfield Testifies Uoso. which later was lost to the . ""eid lestihes. Italians, f Questioned by .Senator kenyon. Dr. Lecm'Trotzkv. tire Bolsheviki for- j Garfield said his organization is com rign minister, has protested to the j posed ot about 200 persons, chief of Germans against the transferreuce of j whom arc engineering experts, law- I roons troili the eastern trout, imtiM'is. co.u proucucr.s ami jorin i. also has ordered Russian factories to stop the manufacture of munitions, fie did not indicate whether his gov ernment would take any other steps against German violation of the arm- jstice - j nau ueen investigated, ne saiu, anu Germans Delay Answer. j each one had required services of en ,, , , .. , iRineers. expert accountants and law Peace negotiations at Lrest-Litnvsk ; yer. Dr. Garfield said his chief ad apparently arc making little progress, j yisers wcre volunteLrs and worked I he Germans have delayed their an-. withoi!t salaries or expense accounts, swer to the Bolsheviki terms and it is i Vr-yQ consumcrs 1)avc fet the reported that tne conference will he ; sI)ortaKt, becausc ti,e ,,ov(.rlllI)cnt las transferred to Stockholm shortly. In ; f 0lnp first ; its (lcnmul, but that the meantime tne majority party m , njIc has .been changed in the hw few the constituent assembly the social ; d Dr. Garfield said, revolutionists, lias convoked the as- - scmblv :o meet January 2 despite' People First. Bolsheviki disapproval. . " e are giving it to the people German savaeerv has been called ; jfficially to the attention of the Am erican troops in France. An Ameri can sentry has' been found with his tiiroat cut, and an official bulletin says 'he must have been so killed alter rapture" bv a force of Germans ; winch surprised nun. iiiiorinmion n enemy terrorism in driving women ami children from their homes in the occupied section; oi France and Bel gium to make room for German troops, soldiers and .war materia! also bus been given the American troops. ... ii- t . - a f The Weather r eirai'ii. Fair. TVmprtiire at Omaha YeMpr-ja . i-TictiPst vr.ipr'tay ,0'vf-st ; ec'e"('iij' i'!i ii'mii.-raUir'. l'r;!"'ijpl::! tion .... T-mr'-r!itnre ..nr :-.-lil thrt iinrm.il: N'i'mi! 1'inp' rut'jr Ovarii :v fi.r I!'.- fc.ti,! fi- i-n ;: V,n;:n! ;.r-.:ill!l.i OT'i. !.. V fur th" i . .. . ,,.1' .U..II 1 j 0 ."u ill.' n 1 p ' h ' ' lc, 5 a. w l : . F 7 a-nl J- W JJj I S a. in ! ' p' 7 p. n, .Li I p. rr,.. 2 ; Comparative I.ooal Rrnrd. j i 1 t . no;. U1. 1?H. ! s II 1.1 .I") T. V70U 7T violent on the right bank of the j the scene of the German attack U.S. MAY POOL ALL COAL TO SELL IT AT AUJST PRICE Private Consumer to Be Served Before Government, Fuel - Administrator TeJIs Senate Committee at Probe. Washington. Dec. 26. -Fuel Ad ministrator Garfield told the senate investigating committee today that if the war continued very long, the gov ernment would he compelled to pool coal and sell it at reasonable prices. Some coal operators, he said, were making the greatest profits in their history, but he considered high prices nulus to the great production the war demands, The fuel administrator said he saw little relief in prospect for the rail- roadc until ihfir on pr n f 10, i i: -nn tralizecl. nitei president ot the United Aline Workers of America. lie proceeded to give at length details of how com plaints against prices are handled. Forty such complaints of operators nrst now. he said. With a discon- tented people we could not make much progress in the war." Conditions are much better now that the severe cold wave lias passed and preparations are being made for the future, he said. ''I can guarantee thai we hnve the situation well in hand." Dr. Garfield declared. Dr. Garfield said he did not want to place blame tor Lici- tor lack ot iranspo; la- i . .. .1-1 .... . . . i '.Km on anyone hot ihd ne want to try to shift blame that might be at tached to hi:', administration. He adde that it was impossible for the 1 railroads to cope uith the situation. ; Traffic Responsible. j "Coal is responsible for one-half i e congested traffic and thousands of i cars are being backed up at tttlc iiciK iioiuiM Hiniunn which ine ran- road have endeavored to move large amounts." he said. "The oiilv thing , (Continued on I'asre To, oinrnn one.) 1- r. ... . . 1 1 l. ...t. :. -t. .1. Glum Looks Change to Smiles In Ranks of Seventh Regiment .Met: ijt tile Seventh regiment are congratulating themselves. The form er "unlucky" 'guards are happy once 1 more. Luck ot the .Seventh has ! 'changed, and once again it is to be known as the "Lucky Seventh," for the powers that be at Washington have corrected certain little delects and the regiment is about receive ei! f i recognition. Battalion officers are bu-y impart ing the goo, I ::ew; and hunting an r.rmory. I'.acii .mm is eonlnletit that .-" -. '.'.. ':) the near future I're-'di: t V ''' i'l i.e ; npr-.:' ed 'he . -; -i-iio: '.'1 'i reuiiint oi coinicd wrap B 0LSHEV1KI POWER BEGINS TO WANE; RED OPPOSITION Dispatches From Russian Capital Indicate Influence of Ruling Party is Declining; Lack of Authority, Re luctance of Population to Work and Scarcity of Foodstuffs Are Reasons Ascribed. London, Dec. 26. There have been occasional assertions in Petrograd dispatches that.the influence and power of the Bol- sheyiki was waning, but never with such unanimity as in special ,. . . , , , . . , 3 , . . i dispatches dated from the Russian capital Sunday and printed . . r I today. ED CROSS TO ALL NO HALT N BIG DRIVE Tired But Happy Workers.Will Storm Trenches Until 80, 0C0 Memberships Are Obtained. I Mo halt in the Ked Cross drive until the 80,000-mark is reached is I the spirit among tired hut happy i workers in Red Cross headquarters. jubilant over Omaha's record in pil- memberships, tlie campaign com mittee still believes it possible to double Omaha's original quota of 40.000. The executive commit leee is going to resolve itself into a hustling com mittee to "hustle" memberships from large down-town establishments which did not make as satisfactory a showing as the campaign committee desired, owing to the Christmas rush. Returns Are Incomplete. A number of labor unions and many canvassers have yet to turn in their figures and points in the county are still unrecorded. On the ba.sis of the government census, which places Douglas county's population as l''!l.'IOH, -10 per cent of tli e county is enrolled in the Red Cross society. "li the rest of the United Stales equaled our record, the Christinas week drive would total 4U.000.000 Ked Cross members in the United Slates, instead of the 15.000,000 the national society started out to get," said one of the committee. Omaha Wins Wagers. Henry Doorly, campaign manager, was counting the money cities who entered the friendly contest for mem bership owed the Omaha chapter. The wager was $100 for the city which would better Omaha's record per population. Mr. D.iorly says Denver, Dallas. Des Moines and To ledo each owe Omaha $100. Min neapolis and Kansas City evaded pledging themselves in the contest. The number of people in poor or moderate circumstances who came into headquarters to take out their memberships, 500 of them every day, is the. big outstanding feature of the ' campaign, according to the chairman. "It shows how truly the spirit of the people is with the Red Cross so ciety," he said. Totals on Omaha's response will be wired to national headquarters todav. ; Tokens of appreciation to some of the workers were given Christmas day. i State Director ludsou's office re- Illirt f'lr f I il If in til cr cIlrm-S,-,r in lir. ," . , ,' " ".' tate: Lexington. 24 members in the first three davs; Grand island, 5.000; Fender, 1.200. Judge Curtis I.. Day, " . ' MO" C' ' " ' w,rcs , r r '.Tr ' "C PpU Moon re.-.urrection morn in g.- .Mrs. A. O. Carmacl: of Onfer. Neb., reports ' KM) per cent for the Center chapter: 1.. H. Highland of A! lianee ?((; 11. If. Andrews of '..'alia- j no), ,'', ano .Mary .Maxwell o Dakota county wires the town ot Da koto City is 100 per cent and the en tire county is clear over the fjuota . 1 1 u , . .1 . i : - ii . , pers whose governor want, to 1,1 them to prance and victory. Glum looks have changed to smiles; knocks have given way .to boosts: shoulders have Ijcen thrown back; eyes arc brighter and the gallant "sojer" boys of the Omaha companies' hne taken a niw l-a.-e on life. The! whoH atmosphere of the headquarters; in '-'amain stri ct is charged with ac-1 tivity. and joy -real, pure, unadu't-J crated and mnarni.hed joy reigr.s j sunn tne. One or tlie captains vvas 0 1 ;-,'! cr ! 1 !u ;ood news that he : ''- ' - ''" 'e:'.:,nys 1. 1) v.Tvi'g W ed(a-.ti:; !uoViLk"J TROOPS BALK; IS GROWING DEFECTION GROWS. Nearly all make the point in one form or other that defection from the workmen's and soldiers' organizations is growing constantly. Among causes alleged are general lack of authority, the increase in drunkenness, the reluctance of the population to work and the scarcity of foodstuffs. The main desire of the soldier is said to he for peace. The correspondents cite instances of Bolsheviki troops refusing to march, declining to attack the Uk rainians and permitting the Cossacks to disarm them without resistance. Fighting, it is said, is t lie last thing they are willing or intend to do. A hostile spirit is reported to sur vive among the Baltic sailors and the Red Guard, but the former are not numerous enough to compter the Ukrainians and the Red' Guard is largely untrained. It is reported, therefore, that war against the Uk raine probably will not materialize on any serious scale. Bolsheviki leaders, the 1'ctronrad correspondent of ,the Morning I'ost j rji none SB tai urp whi 1 he corres pondent of the Daily News writes: German Hirelings. "There is a tremendous and grow ing opposition to the Bolsheviki among all classes. Men who formerly supported them are turning against them and 'German hirelings' is a common term of denunciation. There is much talk of meeting the present reign of terror with counter measures and bomb throwing is freely sug gested as the only method of exerting pressure on the Bolsheviki. This is not merely idle talk, as those who say it are those, who already have thrown bombs." , Reports of civil war activities, how ever, continue to be received. The Bolsheviki government declares definitely that its troops have cap tured Kharkov, N'icoliaev and are threatening the Ukrainian hold on Odessa. The Cossacks report the strengthening sof their hold oa thc. i-wnetz nasm. .None ot the reports, however, is more precise than recent reports of a similar nature. In the meantime nothing nuore is heard of the efforts at reconciliation between the Bolsheviki and the Ukraines. It appears that the Bolsheviki com missioners a're trying, although vain ly, to shift some of the discontented military units from the capital. A Renter dispatch from Petrograd says the I'raobrashensky regiment has de clared its disbelief in the intention of the Bolsheviki government to open the constituent assembly and has re fused to relinquish guard of the Tauride palace until the assembly meets, me ."semcnovsky guard regi ment has resolved not to arrest mem bers of the constituent assembly no matter what orders it receives. Delegates Return. In cousetpience of the postpone ment of the peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk because the Germans were not ready to reply to the Rus sian terms, the Russian delegates arc reported to be returning to I'etrotrratL .. .1.. il o ... ' . , Elicit .lpprfi eniiv iney are expected to await, the arrival of the delegation from the enemy powers which is to participate in a conference for dis cussion of the political aspects of an eventual peace conference. Various explanations are offered in Petrograd dispatches of the purpose of German concentration ot troops in the southwest. One suggestion is that part of these forces will be sent to Asia Minor. Jl is predicted a large force will be retained m the south- ua,(. west to assure possession harvest. nl the val- Kits ian A Reutt er dispatch from I'etroerad reports the arrest and imprisonment in Hie fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul of M. Vyshnegradsky and M. (Cnntlmiril nn rave Two, olimm Oiw.) Dodge Troops Denied Rails on Xmas Leave Des Moines, la., Dec. 26 Sev eral hundred soldiers from Camp Dodge returned. today from Christ mas leaves spent at home, many having been compelled to make the entire trip, in some cases several hundred miles, by automobile. Christmas leaves permitting use of steam transportation were grant ed only 5 per cent of the men in camp, and others who went home were required to sign affidavits that they would not use the steam rail roads on their journey. More than 200 men motored to Minneapolis, and other parties went i to Moi nc, Umncy, In.: h eol-i'lc, Ja.: St. Paul. Minn., and other points. SECRETARY M'ADOO DIRECTOR GENERAL OF GIGANTIC SYSTEM i V31XiAI-l G. H ADOO. SENATE ORDERS HEAVY WOOLENS FOR U.S. TROOPS Major General Q'Ryan Gives j Investigating Committee First Hand Information $f Con ditions at Front. Washington, Dec. 2o. First hand information about the equipment and training of America's fighting men in France and in training camps at home was given the senate military commit tee today by Major General John F. O'Ryan. commanding the New York National Guard division at Camp Wadswortlr; Spartanburg, S. C, re centlv returned from an observation tour abroad. Before the general took the stand the committee, on resuming its inves tigation of war preparations after a .. i. . ' t . , snoi i . inisunas rec ess, sent to tlie War department a resolution urging that immediate sfeps he taken without regard to departmental routine to sup ply deficiencies of winter clothing to men in the camps. The action was based upon late re ports reaching the committee as well as upon evidence hearl last week. Most of General O'Ryan's testi mony, particularly that referring to conditions at the front was heard in executive session. He was questioned for three hours with the door closed, but the public was given an oppor tunity to hear him for an hour during which he discussed chiefly the situ ation at home. Not Equipped for Fighting. General O'Kjan said his men were adequately equipped for Jraining, though nt for fighting and'that he would like to see them have two more months of training before they went t the front. He thl the committee that the great need of the war was artillery and recommended that the troops aboard be supplied with winter iioiuing oi Heavier quality. The resolution offered by Senator McKcllar'of Tennessee, declares that upon "unquestioned proof" there is a shortage of at least 20,000 overcoats J .1 7 Of .i , . . aii'i 1,1'ut wooien mouses m nine national armv cantonments. iis -oiopiion loiiowc'l the testimony last week of Ouarterinaster General harpe, who admitted shortage of winter equipment ii) .some camps, but said all necessary supplies have been shipped and would be 50011 received. J he. resolution sav I . r i , Cites Lack of Woolens. "ft appearing to the committee from unquef tinned proof addiic-d be fore it that, many enlisted men in Camps Wheeler, Shelby. Kearney, Dix. Jackson, Grant. Custer. Beaure gard and in the camp at Fort Worth, (( ontiimril on fngr Klvr, Column Ht, f ll As - I 1 ; ! if 1 4. i j "Aijlv.-:-. v..-.-. - Mediator to Settle All Disputes Between Packers and Employes Chicago. Oec. 20. Tlie formal agreement w hereby John k. Williams, fuel administrator for Illinois, be comes sole arbiter of all differences between the packing houses and their employes for the duration of the war was signed today. 1'y the a'i e('tne-:t, brought about by the federal government, there can be no strikes or lockouts while the i war !a-ts. ail '(notions Mr. Wil li;, o'is' decision w ill he lm; I. He will continue aNo as luel .'idmmMrator. 'J h a.vrcenn-tu 'va- rearnei ve- frd.ir jitter a series of eoi"'erf 11 -r conducted bv i'lesident 'il;,on's President to Ask Guarantees of Congress Promising Rail roads Will Be Maintained in Good Repair and Complete Equipment; Fixed Net Oper ating Income Abo to be Assured. illy oHtni 1'reuO Washington, Dec. 26. President Wilson announced to night that he will assume possession and operation of every railroad in the continental United States at noon Friday, De cember 28, and that he had appointed Secretary McAdoo di rector general of railroads. Secretary McAdoo, whose appointment is made Jy formal proclamation, is expected to direct the unification and opera lion of the roads through their present managements. He will retain his place in the cabinet as secretary of the treasury. ASK GUARANTEES. In a statement accompanying his proclamation the presl dent announced that when congress re-assembled he would ask that definite guarantees be given that the railroad properties will be maintained in as good repair and as complete equip ment as when taken over, and that the net operating income ill each case shall equal the average net operating income of the three years preceding June 30, 1917. The railroads will be taken over under war authority al ready granted by congress, through the secretary of war. RAILROAD MEN WILL NOT TALK OF RAIL CHANGE Heads of Lines Mum as Oysters When It Comes to Discussing ,the President's Action in Taking Over Roads. When the leading officials of the railroads operating in and out of Oma ha were informed that President Wil son will assume control of and op erate the railroads of the United States, Friilay noon with Secretary McAdoo, as director general, they were, as mum as oysters. Not one of them would express an opinion relative to what this means, so far as the transportation lines arc concerned. "1 am not saying a word," was the universal response of railroad presi dents, general managers and super intendent. One official high up in railroad cir cles, unbended a little, however, and went so far as to say: "I am not fool enough to talk on this subject," and then apparently for getting himself, added: "1 am not saying a won!; there is nothing to say a this time." bareTLot to kill soldiers by use of germs j Cleveland. O., Dec. 26. A plot to poison Red Cross bandages and spread wholesale death among the soldiers of America and its allies has been exposed and frustrated here. Revelations of the conspiracy were made today when it became known that Department of Justice agents were hunting the perpetrators of the deed. I In ce thousand four hundred sur gical dressings rolled by patriotic women in Toledo were infected with a mysterious greenish poison w hile in transit between Toledo and Cleve land. Immediately every one of the i .1400 bandages was burned. 1 The poisoned bandages were part ot the periodical shipments received at tiie local headquarters of the lake division ot the Red Cross headquar ters in other cities in (lie division. v.incli comprises UI110, Indiana and Kentucky. labor mediation been here tor a board, which I ias week investigating iaiui oolimics nt nit; siock yards. 'I he agreement practically is a con tract between the packes ami em ployes on one side and the United States government on the other. It gives the government, through a mediator, the right 1 1 control all labor di-putes in every big packing plant in the United States, and. according to 1-.1..... 1. :.. . 1. ...!. members ot tne mediation commission, 1 is the first document of its kind ever j said Mr. Stevens, the situation is im 'igned in this country. Under it there proving by reason of measures taken 1,1:1 'e neither s'rikc wr lockout in j by the board to adjust djjftrenc.es packing plants during the war. j wherever they arise, ' i MATTER OF NECESSITY. The president's statement follows: "I have exercised the powers over the transportation systems of the country which were granted me by the H i" t f 1- rn n r m f A ........ i. imc V- v.. wiigitaa ui nuguni, .131U, DC- . cause it has become ' impefaVeiy necessary for me to rio so. "This is a war of resources no less than of men. perhafi even more than of men, and it is Viecessary for the complete mobilization of our re sources that the transportation sys tems of the country ajrould be organ ized and employed under a single au thority and a simplified method of co ordination which has not proved pos sible under private management and control. "The committee of railway execu tives who have been co-operating with the government in this all-important matter have done the utmost that it was possible for them to do; have done it with patriotic zeal and with great ability; but there were difficul ties that they could neither escape nor neutralize. SOME ROADS SUFFER. "Complete unity of administration in the present circumstances involves upon us a grave responsibility, and the committee was of course without power or authority to re-arrange charges or effect proper compensa tions or adjustments of earnings. "Several roads which were willing ly and with admirable public spirit accepting the orders of the committee have already suffered from these cir cumstances and should not be requir ed to suffer further. In mere fair ness to them the full authority of the government must be submitted. I he government itself will thereby gain an immense increase of efficiency in the conduct of the war and of the innumerable activities upon which its successful conduct depends. "The public interest must he first served, and, in addition, the financial interests of the government and the financial interests of the railways must be brought under a common direc tion. "The financial operations of the railways need not then interfere with the borrowings of the government and they themselves can be conducted at a greater advantage. Investors in railway securities may rest assured that their rights and interests will be as scrupulously looked after by the government as they could he by the directors of the several railway sys tems. Immediately upon reassem bling of congress I shall recommend that these definite guarantees be given: Kept in Perfect Repair. "Fir.sJt, of course, that the railui. properties will be maintained during the period of federal control in as good repair and as complete equip ment as when taken over bv the gov ernment, and. second, that "the roads shall receive a net operating income cuual in each case to the average net income of the three years preceding June .10, 1917, and 1 am entirely con- tident that the congress will be dis posed in this case, as in others, to see ( niitlmie.l nn I'axe Two. Column Three.) Blame Labor Troubles for Delay in Ship Building By .Woriatd I'rrss.) Washington. Dec. 26. Labor troubles were blamed for much nf delay in the government's ship build- ! nig program ty Raymond B. Stevens, 1 vice chairman of the shipping boardj testifying today in the senate commit tee's investigation. Since the United States went to war. Mr. Stevens said, ship yards have In..; a total of 536,992 working days by strike and other disputes. Ibis, he tia tired. renrrsenU Ihp wnrl- of 20.000 men for a month H:mt;i,.