ITALIANS READY
TO STOP TEUTONS
ON PIAVE FRONT
lYlCll MIC III UIC wi wjjiv
nd Look Sturdy and Well
Conditioned; Assure
Commander.
(By AoocUted Fr.)
Italian Army Headquarters in North
ern Italy. Tuesday. Dec. 23. A gen
eral commanding an army corps on
the Piave front took the correspon
dent along the line occupied by his
corps today and pointed out the Aus-
. . t 1. ,.t i f
tro-Oerman nest on tne west nann "
the river, which is the only foothold
he has succeeded in maintaining.
The main purpose of the Italian
1 1 1 j,i;,t,v
commander was to carry a noIJa
greeting to his men in tne nrsi ",ic
irenches, but incidentally this visit to ,
the extreme front gave an opportun
ity for the general to explain the lay
of the land and why the enemy was
finding himself able to hang on.
As the party moved forward it was
noted that the defenses had been high
ly organized, so that any sudden rush
of the enemy would meet tremendous
resistance. The defenses comprise a
tring of trenches fortified for defense
with 'masses of tangled wire and con
structions after the Chevaux de Friz
order, with numerous projections.
Trenches Concealed.
Entering the first line trenches the
general led the way. The ground in
front was covered with low bushes
and scrubby vines running down to
the water's edge. Behind this ran a
high earthen embankment originally
erected as a dyke, but now serving the
enemy as a refuge against petty shelling-
In the foreground were three large
stone farm houses that had been torn
to pieces by Italian shell fire. One of
the had the roof, the upper floors
and two wings blown off, while the
jagged walls of the first story were
atill standing. It was still used, the
general said, for the enemy's machine
guns. They were silent then, as the
holidav season had by common con
sent afforded a lull. The heavy Aus
trian guns were heard now and then.
Have Many Machine Guns.
The general stated that the enemy
force in the Zenson curve was about
three battalions with an exceptionally
large supply of machine guns. Their
communications were principally
operated in the night hours.
The enemy's foothold on the west
bank of the Piave here was not re
garded by the general as a serious
menace to the Italians as it was
not a base which could be augmented
by an increase of the forces. It could
be cleared out at any time, he said
but the effort was not worth the sac
v rifice it would require in the face of
newtftril'8'up5. The bend was com
pletely controlled and hemmed in and
it was better. h thought, to let the
enemy sacrifice is men in holding
.. position useles to him,
The general had a cheery word for
the men in the, trenches, presenting
many of them With holiday gifts and
giving encouragement and praise to
all. The nen were in the best of
spirits, looked sturdy and well con
ditioned and were unanimous in as
suring their commander that they
could hold the enemy against any
further advances.
Bolsheviki Power
Begins to Wane; Red
Troops Are Balking
(Continued From !" Om.)
Putilof. managing directors of the
International Commercial bank and
the Russo-Asiatic bank in consequence
of the mention of their names in an
intercepted letter wherein General
Alexieff, former commander-in-chief,
begged Frof. Paul Milukoff, the con
stitutional democratic leader, to in
terest himself in obtaining 300,000
rubles to assist starving families of
imprisoned officers.
Letter ia Forgery.
Referring to the arrest of Colonel
Kolpashnikoff. attached to the Am
erican Red Cross mission to Rou-
manit, the Petrograd correspondent
of the Post says it has been suggested
that the letter alleged to have been
sent to the colonel by Colonel An
derson, head of the mission, stating
that the American ambassador, David
R. Francis, was ready to advance 100.-
(100 rubles to the account of the Red
Cross was a forgery. Such things are
not uncommon now, he adds.
It is reported from Brest-Litovsk
by way of Petrograd that Finland has
appealed to Germany to recognize its
independence and that the Germans
expressed their willingness to do so.
Leon TroUky, the Bolsheviki foreign
minister, is said to have shown his
irritation because the Finns applied to
the Germans direct instead of through
the Bolsheviki commissaries. A Stock
holm dispatch to the Post records the
arrival there of a Finnish delegation
to ask Sweden's recognition of the in-
lependenee of the Finns.
U. S. HAY POOL ALL
COAL TO SELL IT
AT AJUST PRICE
(Caotlnwd From Fag On.)
to do is just what we have done
asked Judged Lovett for a priority or
der for coal and to appeal to operators
to shoot whatever coal they can to
points where most needed. That has
helped to some extent."
Mines in eastern West Virginia are
shipping west and those in the west
ern part shipping east, causing con
gestion at meeting points, he said.
A change involves great detail in
changing contracts which are not
closed until next April
"Until conditions are improved, I
may abrogate these contracts and di
vert shipments to prevent congestion,"
said Dr. Garfield.
"I think that a wise plan," remarked
Senator Kenyon.
The committee plans to take up the
sugar problem Friday and probably
will allow Food Administrator Hoover
to reply to charges made by Claus A.
Spreckels, president of the Federal
Sugar Refining company, that the
i 'igar shortage wa-. cvjsfd by the food
I administration's fixed import price.
I Mr. Hoover, in a statement made
public by the White House last night,
declared the shortage was due to the
heavy shipment of sugar to Europe.
He averted that it a priee-lixing
! agreement had not been reached,
sugar wodd have been selling from
i i.i to ,"fl rents a pound and more than
J.'liO.uOO.Mju probably would have been
profiteered from the American people
STAR CHAMBER
SESSION DURING
WAR INQUIRIES
Washington, Dec. 2o. Conditions
in the American overseas forces and
national army training camps were
described today to the senate military
committee when it took up its inquiry
into war operations. General officers
of the national army just back from
:.-,: trin, :,, L-.lnf, were raii0j
j)y fne committee, which temporarily
(postponed further examination of
! Quartermaster .General Sharpe
Officers testitying included Major
f , j , R Q.Ryan of Camp
Wadswortli, .S. L., and Major Ldwm
St. John Greble of Camp Bowie, Tex.
I lie committee cioscu us noors io
hear General O'Ryan's statement re
garding the American expedit'on
abroad. His testimony regarding the
sufficiency of rifle and other ordnance
equipment, clothing and other supplies
of General Pershing's forces, the com
mittee felt, should not be made public.
War demands for bituminous coal
have been greater than mines could
meet, although the increase of pro
duction this year has been normal,
Fuel Administrator Garfield testified.
In an effort to alleviate conditions, he
said, the fuel administration was lay
ing emphasis on stimulating produc
tion rather than regulating price.
"When t,he operators complain that
prices fixed by the president are too
low, we are inclined to give them the
benefit of the doubt," Dr. Garfield
said.
Senator Kenyon asked the fuel ad
ministrator if lie had information of
dividends of some of the large
operators and he answered that he
knew big profits were being made but
believed them necessary to stimulate
production.
New Russ Government
Established Near Voronege
Seattle, Wash., Dec. 26. Nicholas
Bogleiavensky, Russian consul at
Seattle announced today he .had re
ceived a cable sent by way of India,
telling of the establishment of a new
Russian government at Voronege, the
capital of a province of the same name
between Moscow and Rostov, on the
Azov sea.
Death Toll of Pittsburgh
Rail Crash Reaches Twenty
Pittsburgh, Pa.. Dec. 26. Mrs.
Adelaide Bongiovanni, who was in
jured in the street car accident at the
South Hills tunnel late Monday, died
in a hospital today, bringing the total
dead to 20. Mrs. Bongiovanni, the
wife of a leading restaurant owner.
stated soon after she was taken to
the hospital that she had lost dia
monds valued at $10,000 in the wreck.
Boat Sinkings Show
Material Decrease
London, Dec. 26. The losses to
British shipping show a material
decrease for the last week. Accord
ing to the admiralty report to
night. Eleven British merchant
men of 1,600 tons or over were
sunk during this period by mine
or submarine, as well as one mer
chantman under that tonnage and
one fishing vessel.
WANTED AT ONCE Several experienced coat and suit
Salesladies to assist in serving patrons during this sale.
Jim
1508
iCOAT
3f Q 0 great has been the response
. days has become necessary.
3 be devoted to the display of coats. Extra special price concessions have
Wednesday's selling will be further reduced for Thursday. If you have
be here Thursday and share in these greatest of all coat offerings.
Hundreds
Sacrificed for Thursday
$1 050 o $OO50
COATS
S
i $25i & 295J $
COATS
i35J&395J$
COATS
THE BEE: OMAHA. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 27. 1917.
Secretary McAdoo !
Director General !
Of Gigantic System!
!
((..ntinurd from ra Ono j
that justice is done and full security I
asiired to the owners and creditors j
.,.., . ...,,-.,, ...u.rU '
ernment must now use under its own
direction or else suffer serious em
barrassment. "The secretary of war and I are
agreed that, all the circumstances
being taken into consideration, the
best results can be obtained under the
immediate executive direction of Hon.
William G. McAdoo, whose practical
experience peculiarly fits him for the
service and whose authority as secre
tary of the treasury will enable him
to co-ordinate s no other man could,
the many financial interests which
will be involved and which might, un
less systematically directed, suffer
very embarrassing entanglements.
U. S. Last To Tase Step.
"The government of the United
States is the only great government
now engaged in the war. which has
not already assumed control of this
sort. It was thought to be in tne
spirit of American institutions to at-!
tempt to do everything that was
necessary through private manage
ment, and if zeal and ability and pa
triotic motive could have accomplish-
ed the necessary unification of ad-j
ministrat on, it would certainly have
been accomplished; but no zeal or !
ability could overcome insuperable
obstacles, and I have deemed it my
duty to recognize that fact in all
candor now that it is demonstrated
and to use without reserve the great
authority reposed in me. A great na
tional necessity dictated the action
and I was therefore not at liberty
to abstain from it.
(Signed.)
"WOODROW WILSON."
Following is the president's procla
mation: "By the president of the L'nited
States of America.
"A proclamation:
"Whereas, the congress of the
United States in the exercise of the
constitutional authority vested in
them, by joint resolution of the sen
ate and house of represenatatives
bearing date April 6, 1917, resolved:
Great National Authority.
'"That the state of war between
the United States and the imperial
German government, which has thus
been thrust upon United States is
hereby formally declared; and that
the president be, and he is hereby
authorized and directed to employ
the entire naval and military forces
of the United States and the resources
of the government to carry on war
against the imperial German govern
ment; and to bring the conflict to a
successful termination, all of the re
sources of the country are hereby
pledged by the congress of the United
States.'
"And by joint resolution bearing
date of December 7. 1917, resolved:
" 'That a state of war is hereby de
clared to exist between the United
States of America and the imperial
and royal Austro-Hungarian govern
ment; and that the president be and
he is hereby authorized and directed
to employ the entire naval and mili-
tary forces of the United States and
the resources of the government to
carry on war against the imperial
and royal Austro-Hungarian govern
ment; and to bring the conflict to a
successful termination, all the re
sources of the country are hereby
pledged by the congress of the United
States.
"And, whereas, it is provided by
section 1, of the act approved August
29, 1916, entitled, 'An act making ap
propriations for the support of the
army for the fiscal year ending June
JO, 1917, and for other purposes,' as
follows:
(Mom
- 1510 Doudlas St
THURSDAY
In This Great Merchandise Event-Our $
to this Year-End Clearance that specializing on certain lines on certain
Thursday is Coat Day the major portion of our great second floor will
of Coats Surprisingly
tfi m7C!i$ilC00 &
COATS
$5522 &
COATS
COATS
"'The president, in time of war, is . determine, such systems of trans
empowered, through the secretary exportation shall remain subject to all
war to take pessession and assume ; existing statutes and orders of the
control of any system or systems of j interstate commerce commission and
transportation or any part thereof. ; to all statutes and orders or regulat
and to utilize the 6ame to the exclus- 1 ing committeees of the various states
ion as far as may be .necessary of all j in which said systems or any part
uther traffic thereon, tor the transfer 1
(ir transportation of troops, war ma-j
tnal and equipment or for such i
other purposes connected with the I
t'mergrncy as. mav be needful or de-
i sirable.
"And wh'reas it has now become
...i- ....:.,.;., ,.., .r.ntrol f
certain system, of transportation and'cra,l"n an1 control of street electric
to utilize the same to the exclusion linger railways, including railways
as far as may be necessary of other ! '-ommonly callled mterurbans, wheth
than war traffic thereon, for the trans-1 er such "'lways be or be not owned
Donation of troops, war material and j ,ir controlled by such railroad corn-
equipment therior and buy other
needful and desirable purposes con
nected with the prosecution of the
war.
Takes Control Friday.
v ,i r r w i w:
under and by virtue of the powers
vested in me by the foregoing resolu-
tions and statute and by virtue of all
other powers thereto enabling mes do j
hereby through Newton D. Baker.
secretary of war:
lake possession and assume con
trol at IS. o clock noon on the 8th day
of December, 1917, of each and every
svstem of transportation and the ap
pttrtenances thereof located wholly or
in part within the boundaries of the
continental United t.ates and consist
ing of railroads, and owned or con-
trolled systems ot coastwise and m
land transportation, engaged in gen
eral transportation, whether operated
by steam or by electric power.
Includes Entier Equipment.
"Including also terminals, terminal
companies and terminal associations,
sleeping and parlor cars, private cars
and private car lines, elevators, ware
houses, telegraph and telephone lines
and all other equipment and ap
purtenances commonly used upon or
operated as a part of such rail or com
bined rail and water systems of trans
portation to be utilized for the trans
fer and transportation of troops, war
material and equipment, to the exclu
sion so far as may be necessary of
all other traffic thereon.
"And that so far as such exclusive
use be not necessary or desirable, such
systems of transportation be operated
and utilized in the performance of
such other services as the national
interest may require and of the usual
and ordinary business and duties of
common carriers.
"It is hereby directed that the pos
session, control, operation and utiliza
tion of such transportation system
hereby by me undertaken shall be ex
ercised by and through William G.
McAdoo, who is hereby appointed
and designated director general of
railroads.
"Said director may perform the
duties imposed upon him, so long and
to such extent as he shall determine,
through the boards of directors, re
ceivers, officers and employes of said
systems of transportation.
Work Throufcti Owners.
"Until and except so far as said
director shall from time to time by
general or special orders otherwise
provide, the boards of directors, re
ceivers, officers and employes of the
various transportation systems shall
j continue the operation thereof in the
i usual and ordinary course of business
1 of common carriers, in the names of
t neir respective companies,
"Until and except so far as said
director shall from time to time other
wise by general or spe cial orders
ELL-ANS
Absolutely Removes
Indigestion. Druggists
refund money if it fails. 25c
IS
DAY
been made. All broken lines from
the slightest need for a new coat
fO50 t
5912 $ O
27751
s
"D75I
Mr &
650J&$75J$O775S
d0
S
thereof may be situated. But any
orders, general or special, hereafter
made by said director, shall have
paramount authority and be obeyed
as such.
Street Railways Not Operated.
'Nothing herein shall be construed
n"w affecting the possession, op
panics or systems. By subsequent
order and proclamation, if and when
it sian be found necessary or desir
able, possession, control, or opera
tion may be taken of all or any part
ot such street railway systems, includ-
sequent order and proclamation, pos-
r7""' J"? , .'
d ' i P rt 3 ,1 f t
h
' " ll'i
...... ..u,.,., I Jll.nn. LJ U J3t ?1?IUII rfllll
possession
control of which are hereby assumed.
Reasonable Compensations.
"The director shall as soon as may
be after having assumer such pos
session and control enter upon ne
gotiations with the several companies
looking to agreements for just and
reasonable compensation for the pos
session, use and control of their re
spective properties on the basis of
an annual guaranteed compensation,
above accruing depreciation and the
maintenance of their properties,
equivalent, as nearly as may be. to the
average of the net operating income
thereof for the three year period end-
I: ,e ' r res. 01 SUCtl
negotiations to be reported to me tor
such action as may be appropriate
and lawful
"Regular dividends hitherto de
clared, and maturing interest upon
bonds, debentures and other obliga
tions, may be paid in due course; and
such regular dividends and interest
may continue to be paid until and un
less the said director shall from time
to time otherwise by general or spe
cial orders determine; and, subject to
the approval of the director, the va
ious carriers may agree upon and ar-
Get Your Free Copy of The
Navy Art Calendar Today
The Omaha Bee is sending free to its readers a beautiful pa
triotic Art Calendar.
The. illustration on this calendar, the work of a well-known
artist, sums up in a striking poster the War Spirit of America.
It shows the figure of Liberty with drawn sword pointing the
way to a staunch American sailor, while over them both wave the
folds of the Stars and Stripes.
There is no advertising matter on this calendar. It is a work of
art, intended to serve as an ornament and a patriotic inspiration
through what may well prove to be the most trying year in Ameri
can history.
The calendar itself is practical and made for service. It is of
the form which has a separate leaf for each of the twelve months,
and a complete calendar for 1918 on the last leaf.
This is the American calendar for 1918. To get your free
copy, write your name and address plainly on the attached cou
pon and mail with a 2-cent stamp for return postage to The Oma
ha Bee Information Bureau, Washington, D. G
range for the renewal and extension of
maturing obligations.
Property is Protected.
"Except with the prior, written as
sent of said director, no attachment
by mesne process or on execution
shall be levied on or against any of
the property used by any of the said
transportation systems in the conduct
of their business as common carriers;
but suits may be brought by and
against said carriers and judgments
rendered as hitherto until and except
so far as said director may by general
or special orders, othewise detemine.
"From and after 12 o'clock on said
28ih day of December. 1917, all
this order and proclamation, shall
conclusively be deemed within the
possession and control of said direc
tor without further act or notice. But
for the purpose of accounting said
pessession and control shall date
from 12 o'clock midnighe on Decem
ber 31, 1917.
President Signs Proclamation.
"In witness whereof, I have here
unto set my hand and caused the
seal of the United States to be affixed.
"Done by the president, through
N'ewton D. Baker, secretary of war,
in the District of Columbia, this 2oth
day of December, in the year of our
Lord, 1817, and of independence of
the United States, the 142d."
The proclamation signed by: New
ton D. Baker, secretary of war; by
the President; Robert Lansing, secre
tary of state.
Memorial Mass Held in
San Marco Church, Venice
Venice, Tuesday, Dec. 25. A
memorial mass was celebrated in San
Marco church today in commemora
tion of the deliverance of Jerusalem
from the Turk. The ceremonial took
on unusual significance, inasmuch as
the Austrians had declared they would
' he in the Piazza f Sa M"co by the
holidays. Instead of this there were
fervent demonstrations over the ex-
pulsion of the Turks from the Holy
Litv.
Suited to the SiMn.
"Al! the reading we really need Is
found In th Bible and Shakejpeare," said
the man of rigid ideas.
"Te," replied Farmer Corntossel: "'rent
in' when we have summer boarders around.
Then we've simply got to take somethln'
with a sportln' page into It." Washington
Star.
Bee Want Ads Produce Results.
Extraordinary Special Event!
Our Old Fashioned Four-Piece
Suit Sale, with many new
features, is now on
Tailored Suits
EXTRA
PANTS
FREE
i THE OMAHA BEE INFORMATION BUREAU I
1 Washington, D. C. 1
1 Enclosed find a two-cent stamp, for which you will ,
1 please send me, entirely free, "The Navy Calendar."
1 Name
' Street Address
i City State ,
j 1
CHRISTMAS AW
STILL COMES TO f
BEE FOR POOR
Christmas relief remembrances con
tinue to be received for the co-operative
work of The Bee and the Associa
ted Charities.
Henry Westerhold of Pender, Neb.,
sent to The Bee office two boxes of
clothing, and ,V. A. Stach of I ehlmg,
Neb., sent one box. all of which have
been delivered to the Associated Char
ities for distribution among needy
families.
Dr. Irving S. Cutter, dean of the
college of medicine of the University
of Nebraska, sent a check for $5.
The relief work will be continued
this week and every article of clothing
and contribution of money will be
placed by Mrs. G. W. Doane, general
secretary of the Associated Charities,
to best advantage in alleviating dis
tress among homes in need.
Storms Work Havoc All
Over Germany for 10 Days
Amsterdam. Dec. 26. Early in De
cember Germany suffered from storms
and cold weather, says the Vossischc
Zeitung, the severity of which has not
been equaled for many years. For
more than 10 days rain, snow and wind
worked general havoc, interrupting
telephonic and telegraphic communi
cation. The whole country was in the grip
of severe frost, which in Berlin al
most entirely stopped horse traffic,
according to the Berliner Tageblatt.
which adds that "horses are in very
bad condition owing to lack of food
and to the fact that boy and women
drivers do not know how to handle
them properly, causing frequent ac
cidents." With each fall of snow Berlin fami
lies are faced with the duty of clearing
away the snow in front of their dwell
ings. Several mornings have provided
spectacles over which the newspapers
make merry, of all sorts and condi
tions of people busy clearing the snow
from the pavements. This official or
der is occasioned by the fact that
there is not sufficient labor to dis
tribute coal in the city, take away gar
bage or handle goods at the stations.
Union Made
$15
Union Made
EXTRA
PANTS
FREE
COME IN and look around. It won't cost yon
anything to compare these woolens with val
ues to be found elsewhere. Fix this location
firmly in your mind
COR. 15TH and HARNEY STS.