Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, May 26, 1918, Image 1
r -? - ; - p ' v C OMAHA INVITES SCRUTINY OF ITS PROliu COKii . V v j i . IN ALL a at 'AR ACTIVITIES. ItVthe Strenuous Life " """""" . .. ) War News and World News Are Absolutely Essential Now to Keep Abreast of What Is ' Happening All About Us. All the News in The Bee. THE WEATHER: . For Nebraska - Showers j probably cooler. ' The Omaha Bee Hourly Trmpmtaret. 9 1 p. m 81 a. m. 7 in. B . m. I k m. 10 . in. 11 m. It m.... KM M 71 , 72 , 74 77 1 t p. ra... i S4 8 p. m 4 p. ra M 5 p. m M p.' m. .......... 115 1 p. m it VOL. XLVII NO. 50. OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 26, 1918.5 SECTIONS 44 PAGES FIVE CENTS. ,1 SUNDA Y JllvJ UWL UVl I.' i V CARRANZA AIMS BLOW AT U.S. IN BREAK WITH CUBA Suspension of Diplomatic Relations With Island Govern ment Regarded at Washington as Indirect Action Against This Country and Forerunner of In- terruption of Friendly Intercourse. (By Associated Press.) Washington, May 25. In Mexico's sudden breaking off of diplomatic relations wi';h Cuba is seen an indirect action against the United States. Those here most familiar with Latin American affairs profess to see in it the forerunner of more direct action, possibly an interruption of intercourse between the United States and Mexico. , Although without, official information of a detailed char acter, it is understood here that Mexico's real grievance against Cuba is the recent incident in which ' the Mexican minister to Argentine, Senor Ysidro Fabela, was delayed in Havana, while some official, ostensibly a Cuban customs inspector, searched his baggage, and probably removed some papers said to be of an international character. tl:. V.r in tiO 1 Ills HILlucili ia utui-vu vv i " - the real cause of the break, and those who entertain this belief are firm in the conviction that Mexico was con vinced that the United States was re sponsible for the incident. When Senor Fabela's luggage was searched it was maintained by some that the person who did it was not a Cuban official at all, but some other agent in the disguise of a Cuban in spector or gendarme. Later, however, ' it seemed to have been satisfactorily : established that the man really was a Cuban inspector. Gives Cuba Free Hand. iA break between Cuba and Mexico, i it is felt, disrupts practically nothing ' but a long standing friendly relation, in the opinion of those inclose touch with the subject, it may actually give Cuba a free hand, as the Mexican for V eign minister says in his announce- ment, but, perhaps, not in the manner suggested. American agents for some time have been reporting German agents operating in Cuba, some of - them crossing 'frequently ' to- the United States as Cuban citizens or Mexican citizens . A severance of ' diplomatic relations probably would leave the Cuban government feeling more at liberty to investigate their ac tivities. When first class powers are con cerned, a break in diplomatic relations inevitably has been followed by war. Between lesser powers this rule often fails to hold good. Break Denied at Havana. . Havana, May 25. The exact situ ation with reference to the diplomatic relations between the Cuban and Mex ican republics is difficult to define in . view of the wide divergence of in terpretations placed upon the depart ure of the Mexican charge d' affaires from Havana who, before sailing, paid i courteous and friendly visit to Pres- . ident Menocal. Apparently his departure had no more significance than that of any other diplomat returning home to make a report to his government. That the Cuban charge in Mexico has r been recalled recently is merely a co- ( incidence and not connected with any question pending with Mexico. Sub-Secretary of State Patterson stated to the press that the reports that diplomatic relations have been broken Oil were groundless and showed a uispatch fron. the Cuban charge in Mexico, Senor Santamaris, : stating that the latter had been in formed by the Mexican minister of foreign relations that the recall of the Mexican charge does not consti j tute a rupture of diplomatic relations. TEN AEBESTED AS VAGRANT IN NIGHT RAID ONOABARET The morals squad, headed by Ser geant McDonald and ' Sergeants Wheeler and Samuelson, swooped down on the Orpheum gardens, con ducted by Peter Loch, Saturday night about 11:30 o'clock. Ten inmates of the Harney street cabaret were ar rested as vagrants. -This raid was the largest since the inauguration of the vice crusade by Commissioner Ringer. All inmates were examined for disease under the recent city ordinance and in conform ity with the agreement with federal afficers. Packers' Employes Move for V Readjustment of Hours Employes of the four big packing plants in South Omaha have joined in a general movement among the large packing centers of the company in asking a readjustment of working hours. ' In the department where the men are worked in single shifts, the men are asking that their dav's work be gin at 7 a. m. and close at 5:50 p. m., with half hour off at noon, v Under the present svstem the men are called to work at whatever hour - they are awnted and then worked through an eight-hour day. The cut ting and killing gangs complain that on some days thev are not called to work until noon. 1 Packing house officials and. union leaders will present the matter to Judge Altschuler, arbitrator, Chicago. THIRD SPOUSE TURNS UP IN VAMPIRE CASE Another Omaha Man Brings to Light More Details About Checkered Career -of "Roberts" Woman. John N. Hansen, shipping clerk at the Baum Iron store, who claims to be the rightful husband of Fannie Hansen, alias Mrs. Ruth Roberts, alias Mrs. Harvey Zellmar, army vampire and self-confessed bigamist, is seeking a divorce from his much married wife, alleging desertion and extreme cruelty. Mrs. Hansen, who has had as varied a matrimonial career as Nat Goodwin, has another hus band in France, fighting on .the western front, and another in the military prison at Leaven worth. There is a suspicion that there are a couple more civil ian husbands lying around loose somewhere waiting to be identified. Mrs. Hansen is of French-Canadian birth and her maiden nameaccording to her story to John N. Hansen, was Fannie Bettencourt. She is a woman of strangely fascinating personality and has a peculiar lure for susceptible men. They Meet at Fall River. lie met her ..t Fall River, Mass., where she represented herself as sin gle person, and he ell in love with her and proposed marriage. She accepted and they plighted their troth, being wedded, in the fall of 1909. Shorty after the marriage she pro duced a son, whom she explained to the astounded groom, was her son by a former marriage. The lad, now about 15 years old, is with his grand parents at Ware, Mass., where she also has two brothers living. " A year after the marriage the couple came to Omaha and here, Mr. Han sen declares, , his real grief began. His wife began playing Theda Bara roles in real life, is his allegation, and she had numerous affairs with men, abandoning him and her home, to return only when she got into serious trouble. Variety of Charges Made. He alleges that she is well known to several Omaha detectives because of her penchant for forging checks and passing them on department stores. He says he had to straighten several of these matters out. He also says that she purchased a bill of furniture from one of the large installment out fitting houses of the city and dis continued on Pf Two, Colnmn On.) Jazz Band Creates Mistakes Players "Police!" "Automobile thieves!" A woman, excited and 'tngry, calling at the top of her voice, attracted a large crowd to the mouth of the alley on the south side of Sixteenth street,, between Farnam and Harney streets shortly before noon Saturday. A negro was at the steering wheel in a car and four others were en gaged in trying to push the machine backwards out into the street. : When the excited woman began to yell the negro at the wheel tried to get out of the car, but the woman, belligerent and determined to the core, ordered him back into the car, and told his companions to remain A fx (Fu OMAHA NIGHT IN AK-SAR BEN DRIVE FIXED FOR JUNE 3 Hustling Committee About 200 Ahead of Record at This Time Last Year in Membership Campaign. SHOW SCHEDULED FOR DEN. June 3 Omaha night. June 10 Stock yards and packing houses night. June 17 Seward, Neb., night. June 20 Nebraska State Editors' night, June 24 Nebraska City and Plaats mouth. night. July 1 I-M-I-N-K Trap Shooting association night. "Dad" Weaver, chief factotum of the kingdom of Quivera, reports that his loyal knights of the hustling com mittee are getting along fine in the Ak-Sar-Ben membership campaign, and that they are about 200 ahead of the record at this time last year. The big drive that was scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, on account of the Red Cross work and other activi ties which have concentrated attention for the last week, has been postponed to June 3, the night of the opening show, combined operetta showing the beauties of the land of "Rum Bay," circus and the great spectacle of the burning of Berlin. Those who join the Ak-Sar-Bcn on or before May 30 will be free from the terrors of initiation and it will be worth hustling in that $10 initiation fee to be mmune from the ordeal. Those who have deferred taking out membership ar urged to do so at once. There will be a rehearsal Monday night at 8 o'clock, and all members of the initiation crew are urged to be on hand. Recruits are also wanted to fill out the remainder of the cast. Members of the initiation crew say that the show this year will be the biggest "scream" ever, eclipsing any other show held in former years. It is full of concentrated pep, tobasco and forty-rod-lightning. Mrs. Ward Burdic Parker Dies After Long Illness Mrs. Ward Burdic aPrker, aged 23 years, wife of W. B. aPrker and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. R. E. Scrimigre, died Saturday, after a long illness, at her home, 4720 North Twenty-seventh street. Funeral notice later. Stir as Woman for Auto Thieves where they were until the police came. The crowd became threatening when Frank JudsOn of the Red Cross forces appeared. He showed a badge to the woman and convinced her that he had some authority. When the quieted down he found she was owner o, the car and he explained that the negroes were members cf the Adams Jazz band and were try ing to get her car out of the .vay to make room for the Red Cross truck, from which auction sales were held, so they could give a concert to rt tract a crowd. The concert by the scared musicians was not needed. The crowd was al ready there. Real and Play Quota Now Reached; Whirlwind Finish Washington, May 25. With sub scriptions to the American Red Cross second war mercy fund es timated now at more than the min imum quota of $100,000,000, work ers in the campaign rested tonight in preparation for a strenuous clos ing day Monday. Officials expect a big outpouring of dollars at the finish and expressed confidence to- FA nffcht that -the fund- would be heiv- ny oversuDscriDeci. A message from King Albert of Belgium to President Wilson, thanking the nation for its aid to the stricken people, and another from General Pershing commend ing the Red Cross work in France were received today and were ex pected to give impetus to 'the war fund drive. . CHARGE ENEMY IN FACE OF FIRE OF MACHINE GUNS Americans Victorious in Thrill ing Hand-to-Hand Encounter With Germans in No Man's Land. (Br Associated IVeM.) With the American army in France, May 25. An American reconnoitcring party commanded by Lieutenant A. P. Craddocok of Lynchburg, Va., had a thrilling hand to hand encounter with Germans in No Man's land, in Picardy last night. In the face of a continuous fire from two machine guns they charged the enemy. Al though Lieutenant Craddock and several of his men wer esefiously wounded they continued fighting and drove off the Germans. One of the Americans was shot in the head and body, and lay on the ground stunned. When he came to, he found a German holding him by the shoulder. He whipped out his pistol and killed the German. Another American detachment dur ing the course of the night penetrated enemy organizations in the Boias Allogne, attacked a German post and killed five Germans and took one prisoner. The prisoner told the same story as thousands of others who have been taken by the British and French that he would give anything to see the war ended. He apparently knew nothing regarding future German movements. ' American troops carried out a silent raid in the Picardy sector Friday, in flicted a number of losses on the enemy in killed and brought back prisoners, according to an official statement issued by the American headquarters tonight. Husband Held by Police; Accused of Threats on Wife L. W. Lamb giving his address as the Windsor hotel, was arrested Sat urday night on complaint of his wife, Kate Lamb, 1112 South Tenth street. He is charged with threatening to kill his wife. Mrs. Lamb alleges that her husband for some time has been living in Casper, Wyo., and that he just returned. She remonstrated with him for drinking and she says he threatened her with a gun, Harry Lauder's Own Story of Waf Zona Experiences Will Be Found en Page 5, Section D, HALF OF WHEAT FLOUR IS SAVED FOR WAR USES Supply Sufficient Without Fur ther Restrictions by Continu ing Use of Substitutes in ' Same Ratio as Now. Minneapolis, May 25. Food ad ministrators of six northwest states meeting here today in executive ses sion declared that one-half of the nor mal consumption of wheat flour is being saved for war purposes, made possible by government restrictions calling for an equal amount of substi tutes with each flour purchase and the six-pound monthly ration. Although some administrators as serted that tlicir state wer? ready to go on a wheatless basis for the sum mer, A. C. Loring, representing the milling division of the food admini stration, declared that such a step would be unnecessary. General ob servance of restrictions has improved the wheat situation said. In line with the government's or der that wheat must be marketed by May 15, reports were made showing that 98 per cent of reserves have been disposed of. . Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wyoming and Min nesota were represented at the meet ing. The administrators left tonight for Washington, where they will at tend a national conference. No Further Restrictions Required. Washington, . May 25. Further restrictions on the use of wheat are belieyed by some officials of the food administration to be unnecessary. Food administration figures today show that on May 4 there were 45, 000,000 bushels of wheat on farms, and 37,000,000 bushels in elevators. About 23)00,000 bushels of wheat, its equivalent in flour, is held by dealers. The allies have asked that during May, June and July 16,000,000 bushels a month be shipped. This will leave an approximate balance of 57,000,000 bushels to meet domestic demands. CONGRESS GIVES UP VACATION Republican Leaders Reject Program ' , Mapped Out by President Wilson. MUST SOLVE TAX PROBLEM (By Aanoctated Freu.) Washington, May 25. Prospects for a postponement of revenue legis lation and an early adjournment of congress again appeared to have vanished tonight when democratic and republican leaders failed to agree on a program presented by President Wilson for a special ses sion after' the November elections. The republicans, according to ad ministration .spokesmen, blocked the proposal by refusing to give assur ance (hat a bill along lines proposed by the president would be passed within a definite time. Tonight democratic leaders pre pared to go ahead with the framing of a bill. The republicans gave out a state ment declaring they were ready to go ahead with the legislation at any time the administration desired and aid its passage "without unnecessary delay. The conditions proposed by thenot be completed at this session, BOMBING ON HUGE SCALE INTERFERES: WITH HUNS' PLAN German Army Blinded Through Losses of Airplanes in Battles and Movements of Troops and Supplies Hampered by Repeated Aerial Attacks on Military Positions Behind Front Lines (By Associated Proa.) , No signs are observable, according to correspondents at the front, of the enemy's intentions as to the time and place of the delivery "of his expected stroke. The artillery activity, ' indeed, seems less marked than for some days past, while the aviaiors nave Deen ODiigea to let by the advent of less favorable It seems not improbable, however, that the magnificent work of the allied airmen has had much to do with the slowness of the enemy in putting his offensive in working order again. They have established themselves as masters of the situation to such an extent that the Germans have been forced to keep well back of their own lines. RICHANDPOOtl GIVE $350,000 TO RED CROSS Omaha People' Profligate in Their Offerings to the Greatest Mother in the World.' "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Omaha and Nebraska tested this maxim of the Christ last week and found that it was true. " Never, before had there been such a week of giving in Omaha and Ne braska and, indeed, in the .United States. Rich and poor alike poured out their money into the treasury of the Red Cross with a generosity that astonished those who did the work of receiving it. The blessedness of giving was felt as it had never been before. Many told of the feeling of duty done that filled their hearts when they had giv en to help the boys "over there," to help the people of devastated coun tries, to help little children, to clothe the naked, feed the hungry and min ister to the sick. "It is simply astonishing," said Everett Buckingham, chairman of the drive in Omaha. "Why, when the first Red Cross drive was put on people looked at solicitors as though they were asking something almost impertinent. Today all is changed. People not only respond generously to requests for contributions but they send their money or bring it to head quarters. Make Sacrifices to Give. "And one of the finest things about it is that the people of small means are denying themselves in order to give. When packinghouse and smel ter laborers and paving and grading gangs give a day's pay to the Red Cross, earned by the sweat of their brows, it is a sublime spectacle." . Last night predictions were made that the city will go over $350,000 in place of its quota of $200,000; and that the state will go to $2,500,000 in place of its quota of $1,300,000. Actual tabulation of returns from 75 counties outside of Douglas last night amounted to $1,011,598.77 and the counties are 'still going." Omaha is Still Going. The city is also "still going." Mon day is included in the drive and many (Continued on Pago Two, Colnmn Three.) president, according to a memoran- dum submitted by him to the senate committee and the house ways and means committee were that he would assent to adjournment of congress about July 14 or earlier, if possible, provided democrats and republicans would agree to a special revenue ses sion about November 11, after (flec tions, and co-operation in enacting a bill providing for raising one-third of the government's expenditures by taxes. The president also suggested that the principal levies be made on excess profits, incomes and non essentials or luxuries. That congress will be in session all summer if the revenue bill is gone into was the belief tonight of some of the leaders. Predictions as to the time required for enacting such legis lation ranged from three to six months or more, while some caoital leaders hold the opinion that. It can- aown in tneir intense labors weather. O USE TONS OP BOMBS. The allied aviators, on ; the other hand, have been able to carry out photographic observations and bomb ing work on a large scale for long distances in the enemy's rear territory, Bombing operations have been so extensive that tons of explosives have been unloaded on mliitary objective many more than "1,000 tons to date. Unquestionably this has seriously interfered with German movements. of troops and supplies. Furthermore, " the activities of the battling aviators on the entente side has swollen the German losses of machines to con siderably in excess of the 1.000 re- ; cently reported to have been brought down since the opening of the enemy's, spring onensive. isnemy Partly Blinded. . This nartial blindinsr of the "ene"mv has naturally tended to Veep him less weir informed of dispositions on the allied side and ' probably ' served to make him more hesitant in making decisive moves.. ,.; t ri ;' A - In the aerial activity the Americana are taking an increasing part, and it now develops that in the Toul sector held by the American army an ex clusively American pursuit squadron i rvnpra finer with marker! siirrc tn date. : ' - The allied Infantry raiders haye t ti - .1. . Deen active equany wun ine aviators, but here the Germans have more nearly matched their opponents. The enemy raiding parties have been espe cially active on the front of General von Huter s army south of the somme. but their successes in taking prisoners from whom to secure information have not been marked. ; Firty-three Lost With Moldavia. -A total of fifty-three Americans lost their lives in the sinkinsr of the British steamer Moldavia off the Eng. ; lish coast Thursday morning. The men were all members of Company ' B, 58th United States infantry. Fourth division. The, remaining,' American soldiers on board, 427 men of the 58th infantry, were safely landed together with all other per sons the steamer carried. t Virtual severance of diplomatic relations with Cuba is announced by 't the Mexican government. Mexico has recalled its representatives at Havana, ; it is stated. Havana reports, however, that the Mexican charge turned over his affairs to the Mexican consul gen eral. The feeling is expressed in the -Cuban capital that it is not Mexico's intention definitely to cease diplo-1 matic intercourse. - - , . REPUBLICAN CLUB LISTENS TO SPEECH "ONAMEEICANISM: An enthisiastic meeting of the mem- bers of the Douglas County American Repulbican club was held at its quar ters in the Omaha National building Thursday night. The club now has more than 100 members, although it has been or- ganized only a few weeks. W. F. Gurley made an address, in which he pointed out the necessity for republican organization because of T thp war - , He spoke also of the necessity of republican organiaztion in the city and county to gua:itce good local government. , ' E. A. Benson also made a talkj in which he called attention to the patriotic action of the republicans in ; congress, who, in the interest of do-1 mestic harmony, have cast partisan ship aside in their support of Presi dent Wilson in his desire for almost autocratic power. . Ten-Year-Old Negro Boy Drowns in Missouri River Willie Brooks, 10-year-old' negro boy, was drowned in the Missouri; river, near the Acetylene Manufac- Hi riner rnmnanv'e nlonf fm U vwHipnuj a avium, asi VUtailft, shortly after noon Saturday. Ttis 1ari ha A Kn in iwimmini ritt a number of companions and ven tured too far out, getting caught in ' the swiftly moving current. The body was recovered Soon after the acci-"- aent Dy a watenman at the Acetylene v plant. , k 1 ' The boy is believed to be the sort. of Mrs. Zethor Brooks. 2216 North? Twenty-fifth street "Mrs. Brooks' son ' has been misting aince- early morning ' 4 L fcjUMq., ...At.