Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, March 08, 1918, Image 1

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    maha Daily Bee
THE WEATHER
Cloudy
VOL. XLVII NO. 226.
OMAHA, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 8, 1918 FOURTEEN PAGES.
On Trilm. t Molili. '
Ntwa SUnei. tie.
SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS.
.HE
OFFENSIVE ON WEST FRONT HEARS;-
j1 "" ,y , .
; 0 .o,. : : 0 .
RUSS RADICAL LEADERS
INSTRUCT DELEGATES
TO SIGN TEUTON TERMS
Former Peace Delegate Pleads With Slavs Against Ab
ject Peace; Declares Germans are Drawing "Iron
Ring" Around Revolutionary Russia; Fran
cis Asks for Support of Allies.
(By Associated Press.)
Petrograd, March 7. The central executive committee of
the soldiers' and workmen's council, while recognizing that the
German peace terms were those of "political bandits," has
' called on its delegates to the Moscow congress to vote for the
ratification of the peace, says the Izvestia, the Bolshevik! organ.
This action is advised because the peace has afforded the
social revolution an "absolutely necessary respite," declares
the radical newspaper.
. PLEADS FOR WAR. 0
To a gathering of workmen's and
soldiers' delegates at Moscow on
Monday, M. Prokrovsky, leader of
the second peace delegation at Brest
Litovsk, explained th. treaty with the
central powers. Deeply, moved, he
begged those in sympathy with the
democratic revolution not to deceive
themselves.
The new frontiers traced by Cer
many, M. Prokrovsky declared, con
stitute a ring of iron around revolu
tionary Russia. He said the Germans
were endeavoring to stifle the revolu
tion, the conquests of which were re
duced to nothing by the economic de
mands of Berlin.
The decree nationalizing the banks
had fallen into abeyance because the
German terms had the effect of con
verting the banks into German con
cerns. Military evacuation by Russia
of Esthonia, Courland and Livonia
gave the enemy full authority in those
regions. - '
M. Ziniovictoff, president of the
Petrograd council of workmen's and
soldiers' delegates; M. Sverdloff and
others ;fom Petrograd addressed the
conference, s They said the 'Russian
' reprjesentativeswr e'obliged :to sign
the peace agreement as a tactical
measure ,: owing , to the situation
brought about by Ukraine in agree
ing to ignominious peace terms. The
meeting adopted no resolution.
- ' Francis Makes Plea.
Vologda, Russia, Wednesday,
March 6. In a public statement to
the people of. Vologda today on the
' international association as it affects
Russia, David R. Francis, the Ameri
can ambassador, said:
"America has no plans, or desire
for territorial conquest in Russia.
While the . present government has
never been formally recognized by
my government or any of the allies,
both Premier Lenine and Foreign
Minister Trotzky are aware, because I
so advised them, that I had recom
mended to my government that ' it
recognize any government the Rus
sian people might select and would
also earnestly urge that material as
sistance be rendered to such govern
ment, provided tha,t .it would continue
the war against the central powers.
Th? success of Germany would
result in the loss by the Russian peo
ple of all the liberties they have
gained by the . revolution. Conse
quently the free people of the United
States sincerely-hope that the severe
terms of the separate peace imposed
by Germany will not be ratified by
the Russian people."
FORTY PERSONS
FACE JUDGE AS
RESULT OF RAIDS
Sixteen women and 23 men arrested
in a raid on a restaurant and cabaret
known as the "Races" were arraigned
before Police Judge Fitzgerald Thurs
day morning.
T. F. Smith, Ernie 'Weill, P. J.
Chrisman and F. J. Boukal, musi
cians, were discharged. All other Al
leged inmates were discharged, with
the exception of Thelma White, who
was fined $15 and costs. Cases of
Charles Moore, manager; Ed Rasgor
'shek, bartender; Harry Riley, "Frog
gie" Howard and Patsey Carroll were
continued until Friday.
Other allege! inmates of the dis
orderly house were not so fortunate.
, Babe Anderson, 617 North Twentieth
street, was fined $25 and costs and
Dolly Brown of Sioux City was sen
tenced to 10 days in jail. These two
"were said to be "army vampires."
Corrinne Jewell, arrested, in. a . raid
on the Belmont hotel, was fined $12.50
and costs. Elvina Thompson also
was fined $12:50 and costs. -John
Flick and Edward Clark, state univer
sity students, were discharged with
a warning not to frequirnt "such
places." Mable Epps, alleged va
grant, provided some excitement by
making her escape while telephoning
for money to pay her fine.
Destroying War Material
Made Crime by House Bill
Washington, March 7. A bill im
posing severe penalties on persons
couvicted of destroying war materials
or conspiring to prevent its manu
facture, was passed by the house to
day by unanimous vote after it l-.ad
been amended to meet the objection
of members thatit would ooerate to
penalize workmen- in war plants w!ioj
went 'on. strike. A sinii'ar till has!!
lecn passed by tne seaate. '. "
ENVOY FRANCIS
LODGED WITH
SIAMESE MEN
Washington, March 7. Ambas
sador Francis, reporting to the
State department under date of
March 4, said he was temporarily
quartered with the Siamese and
Brazilian diplomats in a club house
placed at their disposal by the
mayor of Vologda. He added that
a few of the Red Cross and pub
licity workers were still in Petro
grad. The State department was with
out advices of the ambassador's in
tention to leave Vologda, but it
was pointed out that any move
was dependent upon his own judg
ment, although it was not expected
he would leave Russian territory.
A dispatch to the State depart
ment from Sweden said that the
British ' charge d'affairs, accom
panied by eight members of the
staff,, had left Helsingfors on
March 4 for Sweden via Tornea. .
GERMANS SEIZE
JAMBURG, NEAR
RUSSCAPITAL
Teutons Now Within 68 Miles
of Petrograd; Old Regime
Revived ' in Occupied
Towns.
(By Associated Press.)
London, March 7. The Germans
have captured Jamburg, east of Narva,
while the Turco-German offensive is
continuing beyond Trebizond, says a
Russian official agency dispatch re
ceived here today. This action, adds
the statement, is despite the official
announcement ' by the German high
command that hostilities against
Russia have ceased.
Jamburg is on the railway line from
Reval to Petrograd and only 68 miles
from the Russian capital. The Ger
mans were reported in yesterday's dis
patches to have halted at Narva, ap
proximately 100 miles from Petro
grad; Trebizond is on the Black Sea coast
of Turkish Armenia. The Turks were
reported to have reached the Tre
bizond region i their offensive when
the recent ptace treaty was signed.
The bolshevik government has been
showing concern over reports that the
central powers were continuing on the
aggressive against the Russians
despite the conclusion of peace under
the recently signed treaty.
Petrograd dispatches on Wednes
(Continued on Tag Two, Column Three.)
German Socialists
Decry Finnish Policy
Amsterdam, March 7. Interven
tion of Germany in Finland and the
consequent ill-feeling against Ger
many in Sweden is criticised severe
ly by independent socialists and pro
gressive members of the Reichstag,
a Berlin dispatch says. Baron von
Dem Bussche-Haddenhausen, under
secretary ot foreign affairs, in reply,
said that Sweden no longer raised
objections to Germany's action,
which was taken in response to ap
peals for help from Finland. The
occupation of the Aland islands as
a base, he said, had not yet taken
place. '
GERMANY THREATENS TO
SINK NEUTRAL SHIPS
(By Associated Press.)
Amsterdam, March 7. In an obviously inspired article the semi
official Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeittmg warns neutral states in con
nection with the negotiations by the United States to acquire neutral
tonnage and argues that vessels so acquired assume a hostile character
and must be treated as such no matter whether the tonnage is employed
within or without the barred zone.
The paper contends that such transfer of tonnage by neutrals is
tantamount to indirect participation by neutrals in economic war against
Germany and involves serious danger of complications "as already shown
in the history of the United States during the present war." It adds
that participation by neutrals in such negotiations is" an act hardly con-'
sonant with neutrality.
UBOATSHOSING
GROUND, BELIEF
OF OFFICIALS
Month of December Shows
Allies Sunk More Submarines
Than Germany Able
to Build.
Washington, March 7. More sub
marines were destroyed by the allies
and American naval forces in Decem
ber than Germany was able to build
during that month, according to in
formation reaching Washington.
This fact developed today in dis
cussions of the statement made to
Parliament yesterday by Sir Eric
Geddes, first lord of the Eritish ad
miralty, that the submarines were
being checked.
Whether succeeding months have
shown a net loss in German subma
rines is not known here. It is be
lieved that the anti-submarine cam
paign has proved so effective that in
creased efforts this spring will see a
steady decrease in the number of
U-boats available to prey on allied
and American shipping.
Officials Are Optimistic.
What officials know of plans for
pressing home the attack with in
creasing vigor explains , the feeling
of optimism that now prevails in of
ficial circles despite continued heavy
drains on ship tonnage through the
U-boats. The gradual decline in ton
nage losses was graphically pictured
to Parliament by Sir Eric with curve
charts.
American naval officials appear to
be satisfied that the weapons with
which thpy expect to crush finally the
submarine menace are forthcoming
Increased numbers of patrol vessels
of various, types, appliances and de
vices to make them more effective
against underwater craft and the in
creased skill of the navy personnel
are among the things upon which
they count. It has taken time to de
vise and build the weapons, but they
are beginning to become available
now. - ' . ,
i U. S. Help Appreciated.
When the.JJnited.States.f.ntcred. th?
war the navy contributed promptly
all that it had available to join in
the submarine hunt. Sin Eric paid
high tribute in his remarks to the
spirit and efficiency of American
naval units, crediting them with affair
share of what had been accomplished.
Vice Admiral. Sims' destroyer forces
have constituted only the advance
guard of what the American navy
planned to furnish for the fifht. Even
with that limited aid, the allied navies
have held the enemy and are now de
stroying one out of every four or five
German U-boats that put to sea.
Now America's real contribution to
the naval warfare is about to be felt.
With every passing week the strength
of the force will grow, for it is em
bodied in the most extensive con
struction program evefr undertaken
for the navy of any power
The new' destroyers and other craft
must be added to the patrol fleets
gradually as. they are completed.
Therefore, no sudden falling off of
tonnage losses is to be expected. It
has been stated publicly by higher
British naval authorities, . however,
that next August will 6how beyond
question that the U-boats have been
overcome. There are officials here
who are hopeful that decided results
will be apparent before then; perhaps
as early as May or June.
Roumania in Armistice;
Final Peace Pact Soon
Amsterdam, Wednesday, March 6.
The preliminary peace treaty signed
Tuesday evening at Bufftea, according
to a dispatch from Bucharest, was
signed by Foreign Secretary von
Kuehlmann-of Germany, Foreign Sec
retary Czernin for Austria-Hungary,
M. Montschiloff, vice president of the
Sobranje, for Bulgaria; Talaat Pasha,
the grand vizier, for Turkey, nd M.
Cartentojana for Roumania.
It was agreed that the armistice be
tween Roumania and the central pow
ers should run for 14 days from mid
night of March 5 with a period of
three days for denunciation. Complete
agreement was reached between the
signatories that the final peace should
be concluded within this period on the
basis of the preliminary treaty.
Omaha to Receive No Aid '
From Released Freight Cars
Omaha railroad freight men now
foar that Omaha will not be benefited
by the recent release of a large num
ber of freight cars from Atlantic coast
lines. These cars, it was reported,
would be sent into the grain, belt,
but few of them got as far west even
as Chicago. before they were com
mandeered and started cast again.
When Army Training
r
CITY COULD SAVE
ON FIRE TRUCKS,
ASSERTS BUTLER
Issue Postponed One Week;
Commissioner of Finance
Fights. WithnelPs Recom
mendation. City Commissioner Butler told the
city council the city could save $12,
000 by buying fire apparatus from sev
eral bidders, instead of adopting the
recommendation of Commissioner
Withnell of the fire department to ac
cept the combination bid kof the
American LaFrance-company.'
The council, after, a spirited discus
sion, decided to put the proposition
over a week, and during the interim
City Purchasing Agent Grotte, Assist
ant City Attorney Ti Poel and Otto
Bauman will prepare and examine
blue print tabulations of the technical
features of the bids.
The LaFrance company's bid of
$68,300 for nine pieces of motor ap
paratus was recommended by With
nell as being the best bid. The. su
perintendent and chief of fhe fire de
partment are contending for' stand
ardization of fire apparatus. LaFrance
apparatus was bought in 1916 and in
1917.
Butler's contention is that the city
is paying for the luxury of stand
ardization. The other commissioners
were willing to have him sho& where
in a saving might be obtained by go
ing against the recommendation of the
fire department officials,
A representative of the LaFrance
company explained to the council that
he was $1,700 lower than the only
other bidder on high grade apparatus.
BARE BIG LOSSES
IN GOTHAM VICE
INVESTIGATION
New York! March 7. Gambling
losses of $26,400 at chemin de fer pre
ceded the attempt of Captain Nicholas
Iseguine, Russiar army officer, to
take his life here some time ago.
This was brought out today at Dis
trict Attorney Swann's vice gambling
inquiry when Captain Iseguine was
called to the stand as a witness. The
testimony was sensational.
He testified to losing the money at
the Ritz-Carleton hotel in January,
and that the next day he was taken to
a hospital suffering from a revolver
wound. The witness objected to
being questioned on the subject in
detail.
Captain Iseguine came here f"m
Russia before the revolution as a
financial representative of the govern
ment. He said he was still getting an
allowance from the present Russian
government.
Omaha Woman Drops
Dead in Los Angeles
Los Angelc3, Cal., March 7. (Spe
cial Telegram.) A woman, said ic be
Mrs. Alice Duffy of Omaha, dropped
dead in a department store here
Wednesday afternoon.
Relatives of the woman reported
dead in Los Angeles cannot be lo
cated iu Omaha. Her name does not
appear in Omaha city or telephone
directories
WORRY Si,iySS2Z7
Camps Are Included
. , , v
POLITICAL
Member of Working Men's Ticket
File Petition for City Primary.
SHRAPNEL
M.-AV7-' Rooneyr-Frsnl! 0. Partner;'
II. r L. Birdwell, 'R C Becker and
Henry F. Wulf of the Working Men's
Nonpartisan and Economic league pri
mary ticket have filed their petitions.
H. H. Hartn'ett filed -before the refer-;
etidumv The seventh member '-of this
combination, T.; P. Reynolds, has yet
to file. , . ;
"Senator", Alfred Sorenson, fs really
in the race. .He told his friends last
week he would file and he has made
good his word. Mr. Sorenson, one of
the pioneer newspaper men of Omaha,
is at present publishing a weekly pa
per. In innate modesty he has not
come out for mayoralty honors, but
says he will be contented with a plain
city commissionership. '.
Mayor Dahlman plans o file for
mally on Saturday.
Candidate Ed P. Smith is seeking
to reinstate himself in the good graces
of the feminine portion of the elec
torate. His opening speech indicated
that and the pages of recent political
history show that a few years ago he
addressed a meeting of women, to
whom he did not lend aid a ii comfort
in equal suffrage. He is for the women
now, appreciating the possibility that
they may be. able to vote at the elec
tion if not at the primary.
In view of the status of the suf
frage amendment and the mixup over
it in the courts, it is not probable
the women will vote at the April pri
mary, even should the proposed refer
endum on the amendment collapse.
The election commissioner would
have to have a reasonable leugth of
time to register the womer and pre
pare the books for the election boards,
all of which means considerable work.
The election commissioner makes
it known that his office is open every
working day for revision of registra
tion. Voters who have moved within
the city or have moved into the city
or have become of age since the last
election must register if they wish to
vote at the forthcoming city election.
J. J. Cameron, secretary of the
Omaha Retail Grocers' association,
seeks a place on the city commission.
He is listed as "the grocers' and
butchers' candidate." He is advo
cating full publicity of all city af
fairs and "an honest, efficient busi
ness administration."
Martial Law in Brazil.
Rio Janeiro, (March 7. A presi
dential decree was issued today ex
tending martial law in the federal dis
trict and several states until May 6,
when congress convenes. Martial
law has been in force since Novem
ber in order to keep in check the
activities of, Germans who have at
tempted to embarrass Brazil in its
war activities.
FINNS SIGN PEACE PACT
WITH GERMANS AT NOON
(By Associated Press.) '
. Amsterdam, March 7. Official announcement was made in Berlin
today of the signing of a peace treaty between Germany and Finland,
and also of trade and shipping agreements and a supplementary pro
tocol. The treaty was signed at noon today.
Finland, by the conditions of the treaty, agrees to cede no terri
tory nor grant territorial rights to any fortign power without the
previous consent of Germany, who undertakes to exert herself to secure
the recognition of Finland's independence by all the powers.
BIG BATTLES OF
DECISIVE YEAR
SOON TO BEGIN
Officials Believe Conditions Nearing Point Where World
Will Be Stunned By Magnitude of Operations;
President Wilson's Predictions to Come
True in War-Torn Europe.
By Associated Press.
' Washington, March 7. It is felt strongly that the opening
of major operations in what President Wilson has predicted
will prove the decisive year of the great war will not be de
layed much longer.
Mud has been the determining factor of many previous
western front operations.
U-Boat Crew Brutally
Kills Wouhded Captain
London, March 7. How the
members of the crew of a German
submarine brutally killed the
wounded master of a Belgian fish
ing smack, who refused to leave
the vessel, is described in a Press
Association dispatch from Pen
zance. The submarine attacked the
smack with gun fire and the skip
per was wounded severely. He
urged his men, including his son,
to save themselves.
The submarine commander
forced the fishermen to row Ger
man sailors to the smack in or
der to place bombs aboard. One
of the Germans drew a revolver
and shot the helpless skipper
through the head in the presence
of his son. . , ,.,
NEW U S. FORCES
FACE ENEMY IN
FRENCH SECTOR
;'V.4.r':i( - - ' t . I '
Third Detachment of Ameri
can Troops Enters Front
Line Trenches; Repulse
German Raid.
. -
BULLETIN. .
With the American Army in
France, Wednesday, March 6.An
American patrol comprising one offi
cer and. eight. men which had been
missing since last night in the sector
northwest of Toul suddenly emerged
from a shell hole close to the German
lines today and made a dash across
No Man's land without a shot being
fired at them.
With the American Army in
France, March 7. The third Amer
ican force to' enter the trenches has
now taken up a position facing the
enemy. t
An American staff colonel, while
with a French raiding party for the
purpose of obtaining information a
few days before his men took up their
positions in1 the new American sec
tor on the Lorraine front, met a Prus
sian lieutenant in an enemy trench
and captured him.
The colonel, with an American cap
tain, brought the Prussian officer
back to the lines Jie Americans are
now occupying.
The German raids in this new sec
tor occurred on Monday night, a sharp
fight taking place, in which the Ger
mans suffered u repulse, with losses.
In it a unit which was among the
most recent arrivals disolayed the
customary American fighting energy
and apparently gave, the enemy a
much warmer reception than its ex
pected. Repulse German Raid.
Paris, March 7. An official state
ment issued today by the French war
office announcing the repulse of Ger
man raiding forces on trendies held
by Americans in a new sector of the
Lorraine says:
"In Lorraine a German rain oit
trenches held by American troops was
repulsed. Patrols ot our antes oper
ating in this region took si.me pris
oners." British Aviator Killed.
Fort Worth. Tex.. March 7. Bur
ton Hurlburt, royal flying corps cadet,
whose mother lives at Prescott, unt..
was killed this morning when he tried
to make a landing. He was flying
with an instructor at the time. The
latter, in the back seat, escaped un
injured. Hurlburt is the 36th tadet
killed here.
f) GROUND STILL SOFT.
So long as the ground is soft with
the winter rains it is impossible to
move forward great guns and neces- ,
advancing line. 1 '
Troops and supplies for Genera
Pershing's forces are now moving to
France on schedule time, it was
learned today on high authority.
While figures may not be pub
lished, it was stated positively that ;
transportation requirements of the '
army are being met by the Shipping
board, and the immediate situation as
to ships was described as satisfactory.
LOOK FOR SIGNS.
' In view of this assurance that the
United States will be able to maintain
its place as a fighting unit on the bat
tlefronts reports from the western
front are being scanned more eagerly
than ever before by officer!! here for
it.. .?. v-vf !t 101(1 imnairm
Even in Flanders, however, indi
cations this' year are that the ground
will harden early in the spring, per
mitting either stele to undertake the
enterprises planned.
, . Start Offensive Early ; -"J-'
til prevlVeirtprli' hassecn ;;
offensive, operations set in motion by
the allies". For that reason many of
ficers here seem to anticipate raiding
and minor assaults before the middle
of next. month, which will show in
themselves that the grouni ts, being
mapped, information obtained and
local strategic advantages estab-
lished bv one side'or th other n
preparation for a great effort.
lo others it appears proDabie mat
no offensive will be undertaken on
any considerable scale before May 1.
They base that view on reports that
the trench onensive m lvio started
in April, proved to be at least two
wccks iuu cany, x uc euua .iu noiu-
port could !not be brought forward to
consolidate aU the ground the troops
ahl in wrrmat trnm , th t-r
man control. . ' - ' : ' "' ' - '' ' '
Meanwhile, during the last few
davs there has been, less discussion
of a German offensive on the western
front. There are observers here who
never have been convinced that the
Germans actually intended to attempt
another drive at the channsl ports or
at Paris. To these officers, the ad
mitted - concentration of . German
forces has seemed a defensive rather
than an offensive step. They believe
that the German general staff fore
saw a great allied effort this year and
While much' has been said both of
ficially and unofficially of an expected
German offensive, nothing s to prob
able aggressive measures by the allied
forces has come over the cables. This
fact has attracted particular attention ,
because of the reiterated official dec
laration that the allied !:ne out
matched the German in gun and man
power and in view of the formation
during the winter of the supreme war
council, designed to make the warfare
more aggressive on the part of the
allies and the United States.
A substantial American army al
ready is in the trenches on the west
ern front and Secretary Baker has in
dicated that there may be at least
1.000,000 American troop3 in' Francs
during 1918. i ' , . -.
Refloat Big Steamer. 'l
A Pacific Port. March 7. The Pa
cific' Steamship company's liner Uma
tilla, reported aground on the south
ern Japanese coast, has been floated
and is nroccediner to Honekonz.-ac-
cording to company advices today, .
INFORMATION,
and '
SERVICE
In furthering , our policy of the
best possible service, we have in
stalled an information desk in
''the lobby of the Bee Building.
To the riprht of the elevators. A
step off Farnam street.
When you wish copies of back num
bers of The Bee, when you wish
to place a .Want-Ad, or when
calling for answers to your ad
vertisements, use this lobby
' counter. ' ' ; ' ;
Competent clerks are in charge,
who will give yu any informa
tion you may desire. This serv. '
ice will save you time and in
convenience. -": v-' i -
"Keep Your Eye On The Bee"
Improving Every Dyt ,