Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 1920)
r . Omaha , Da: -r VOL. fiO NO. 41.- tut.rtd it Smm-CIm Mattw May it, I KM. at OiMka P. 0. Ud Al Martb I. ((7a. omaha, .Wednesday, august 4, 1920." ; ' Bt Nail (I vaar). UalM 4th Zona. 0tH an Muadat. 19: Dalit Only, W: Simony. 14. Outlldt 4th Zoaa (1 aar. Dail tad 8uada. SIS: Oallv Oalt. Ill: Sunday Oalv. i THREE CENTS The ly Bee : ' IWETAL PLANE WRECKED IN CRUSH HERE Larsen Monoplane Blazing Air Mail Trail Smashes Into House on Its "Hop-Off" at Ak-Sar-Ben Field. DAMAGED SHIP WILL BE HELD HERE FOR REPAIRS Accident Cheats Mrs. T. J. O'Brien of Trip Across Moun tainsEddie Rickenbacher And T. J. O'Brien Passengers. The JL-6 all-metal Larsen mono plane, carrying four passengers, crashed head-on into the single room home of, Charles , Jensen, Sixty-fifth and Center streets, at 10 a. m. yesterday out its "hoo-off" from Ak-Sar-BAji field. No one was injured. The accident delayed departure of the, three monoplanes that were to carfyr 13 persons to the Pacific coast. v The Jensen home was completely wrecked. Plane Damage Slight. The stordiness of the Larsen plane was emphasized in' the slight, damage sustained, a broken pro peller, smashed radiator and in dented left wing. Captain H. E. Hartney, pilot, and Lieutenant Colt, mechanician, both army officers, were in the front seat of the machine. Eddie Ricken bacher, American "ace," and T. J. O'Brien of Omaha were passengers in the cabin. ' Cause of the accident was due to the inability of the Mercedes motor, 185 horsepower, to "wind up to the required speed," according to Cap tain Hartney and Eddie Ricken bacher, ' The JL-6 made a beautiful stretch south across the Ak-Sar-Ben field on its intended "hop-off." Apparently enough speed vas not attained to permit a rise be fore the plane reached the south fence. Several spectators ducked their heads as the wheels of the plane barelyvkipped over the fence. An instant later it glided low across Center street and htad-cn into the Jensen dwelling. The house itself and 'f urnituje inside were com pletely wrecked, The accident .ras; the first serious mishap to a Larsen plane, John Larsen, owner, said. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen- were not hdrne at the time of the accident. ' " .. Trip is Postponed. The accident Caused Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien to postpone the trip to the Pacific cqast with the party, and in cidentally to tob Mrs. O'Brien of the honor of being the first woman to tross the Rocky mountains in an airplane. Mr Larsen declared that Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien would join the traveling party on their return trip to fly from. Omaha to New York. Captain Hartney, Lieutenant Colt and Eddie t Rickenbacher will Con tinue the trip to the Pacific coast in the other planes, Mr. Larsen said. The damaged plane will remain at the Ak-Sar-Ben hangar for repairs. It will be piloted Irom Omaha to New York upon 'return of.the aerial party from San Francisco," Mr. Lar sen stated. : Nearly 100 persons witnessed the accident. Fearing the passengers were injured, the spectators rushed to the scene f the collision. As un concerned as though nothing had happened. RickenTiachcr and O'Brien smiled as they stepped from the cabin of the jlane. Record-Making Ship. The TL-6 was the machine that successfully flew with passengers from Omaha to Philadelphia., with out a stop, a month ago. Its motor had weakened some since its de- (Continued on Page Two, Column Three.) Geological Officials Are making Survey Of Alaskan Oil Fields Washington, Aug. 3. Navy and geological survey, officials are in vestigating rece-ntly discovered oil supplies in Alaska, Secretary Daniels announced today upon his return to Washington after a tduf of Alaska and the west. U is hoped, he said, that the Alaska oil lands eventually .will yield a large part of the oil supply necessary for the Pacific fleet. Coal deposits totaling ' between 400,000 'and 500,000 tons are already in sight in the navy's coa) reserve lands in Alaska, Mr. Daniels said, with good prospects for a very much larger supply. Arrangements are being made to roine; and wash the coal for the use of the Pacific fleet, the secretary said, adding that the Interior department also would de velop large deposits of coal on gov ernment land, for commercial uses. Probe Death of Locklear ; And His Companion Los Angeles, Cal., Aug. 3. An investigation was started todav bv the corqaer's office of the deaths of Lieut- Omer Locklear and ...Lieut. Milton Elliott, aviators, whose air plane last night crashed to the ground m the Hollywood section without having righted from a tail spin started at a heighv- of" 1,000 teet Plan Print Paper Conference. Washington. Aug. 3. A forestry and print paper conference will be held at New London, N. H., August 24, 25 and 26, it was announced by the America forestry association. Both the United States, and Canada (will Ijc represented, Nebraska Woman Home From Turkey, Where She Aided in Relief Work ' f Miss Ina Gittigns arrived in Oma ha -yesterday after, a year of work in Turkey under, auspices of the Neap-East Relief committee. She is visiting; her brothers, B. J.; Gittings and V. W. Gittings here. Before goig to Turkey a year ago Missn Git- tigs wa3head ot the women s physi cal education department in the State uiversity. Most of my work was in Adana, a city that is now besieged and 10 of our relief workers are reported to be still in the city," she said. "The Turkish nationalists are threatening every town and city. We moved most of our Armenian orphans across the island of Crete to a tem porary camp." Miss Gittings returned by way of Italy, Switzerland, France and Eng land. She expects to engage in a financial campaign for the Near-East relief committee in Nebraska, begin ning next fall. She will spend most of the summer at her home m su perior, ilteb. , SERIES OFNAPPY PARTIES DISRUPT STATE COLLEGE Two. Professors of Illinois Uni versity Mast Hunt New I Jobs Next Year. ' Chicago Tribune-Omaha. Bee Leaeed Wire. Champaign, 111.," Aug. 3. A series of snappy parties given by a wife of a professor of the Uni versity of Illinois, an unsuccessful police-raid -and the .rapid rua of rumors throughout the summer school body has ; resulted in PresU cent Kmley announcing that two members of' the faculty will not be with the school when the fall term opens. Two Other instructors have been mentioned, but as yet have not been requisted to resign. Several new angles have devel oped, and it is whispered that a few Champaign business men will be implicated in the tale. One man announced over a long-distance tele phone that suit for alienation of the affections of his wife would be be gun within a few days against a prominent resident of Champaign. Ihis professor also ,says lie ex pects to file suit 'Tor a divorce. Ihe two instructors who will not be with the school when 'the fall term opens are Professor Le Roy Wilson and Ralph Jones,- who were in the athletic department here. the professor making the com- plaint has not been asked to re-A sign, Dean -'Kinley said. Another instructor in the engineering school has also been mentioned in the case, the president admitted, but has not been asked to resign. . ' Ihe parties, at least some of them. are said to have been held in the home of the romnlainincr nrofes- sor, wnich was located on the edge of town. It was there the police went one night, in response to a call from the professor. The' house was surrounded, but' "the man in the ..... i -J TU. i- . vase waa uui luuuu. A lie puncc are stilP mystified. They do not know whether he was there or whether he got away Irefore the police arrived. J.T. Morgan Company Will " House Offices In One Building Nw York. Aug. o.-The vast en terprises of J. P. Morgan & Co. in this city will be grouped under one roof, it was learned today through the firm's Acquisition of the Mills building at Brodway and Exchange Place. This, structure will be re placed by a 33-storv office buildine. The property adjoins the present Morgan banking house. ' , Bandits Wound Detective . In Attempted Robbery Chicago. . Aug. 3. Frank Mc Guirk,a detective, was fatally shot in a battle with three men vho at tempted to rob the office of the Illi nois Vinegar company. The ban dits were driven away by the de tective's fire without obtaining money. , Pet' Canary Chokes to Death on Seed; Has ' Elaborate Funeral Newark, N. J., Aug. 3. The scriptural assurance thaf spar rows shjll not fair unnoticed was given material application to a pet canary bird today. VJimmie, the little songster, choked to death yesterday on a water melon seed, and so grief stricken was his owner, Emidio Russomanuo, a 65-year-old cobbler, that friends con tributed $200 for a funeral, in cluding a hearse, . a little pluih lined casket, " five mcurperi' coaches and a 15-piece band. The cobbler plans to erect a monu ment late) , at " WARNED i if? ' V:.C I ' Word Is Passed v.iong United States Citizens ' on Advice From Washington to Leave Warsaw as Soon as Possible. PASSPORT REQUESTS MORE THAN DOUBLE Occupation of the City by Red Forces Fixed for August 9 Sale of Alt . Intoxicating Beverages Prohibited. T Warsaw, Aug. .3. (By The Asso tia,ted Press.) News of the progress of armistice negotiations between Polish and Russian bol sheviki representatives was await ed impatiently by Warsaw Monday, but at six o'clock officials said no uports had been received. , In the meantime, reports from the front were not as encouraging, as they had been for some days, and many foreigners continued to prepare to leave , the city in the event of its imminent capture by the soviet armies. ; Word was passed among Ameri cans here, upon advice from Wash ington" that those desiring to re main in Warsaw, should it appear the bolshevik would take the capital would do so at their own risk. It was said " the American authorities Would request their passports, wnich x will be returned afterward if individuals requested them. It was the indications were that few if- any, Americans would remain, although some naturalized citizens might desire to stay in Warsaw. Many Ask Passports. Applications for passports vizes by persons wishing to leave Warsaw have more than doubled at the Amer ican consulate since the beginning of th soviet offensive whi,ch is now hammring at the gates of Poland. Consulate employes worked all day Sunday and did not leave their desks until late at night. As a war measure, the military au thorities have prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages, with the excep tion of beer, in the Warsaw district. This order will stand until revoked and was based on a law adopted by the Polish Diet last April. Music in cafes has been prohibited and many musicians, actors and artists hive gone to the front. i,,. Vf Set Dte of Occupation. f t - London, - August The 7 occupa tion of Warsaw by " the bolsheviki has been fixed for August 9. says a despatch to the LBhdon Times, from . Berlin quoting a wireless to the National Zeitung. The Polish gov eminent, the despatch adds, is tak ing necessary measures and has placed the fortiffications under com mand of French engineer officers. The defense has been entrusted to General Haller. The, Russians occupied Bresf Litovsk August 1, it was announced in Monday's official statement from Moscow, received today. Further progress of the soviet troops todard I Warsaw on the road frorruBialystok is reported in the communique. On the Crimean sector, fierce fighting is reported along the line of the river Konskaia. Crown Tribunal Work In Ireland Will Go to The Courts Martial London. Aug. x 3. Duties of crown tribunals m Ireland will be taken over by courts martial, even to the extent of settling civil dis putes, infliction of fiiies and the binding of accused persons over to keep the peace, under the terms of the new Irish bill, which was" made public this morning. . Military courts also will take over the duties cf court and will have the 1 power to decide cases without jury. In trials for crimes punishable by death, however, one person who need not be an officer shall sit as one of the judges. He must be appointed by the vicefoy trom a list approved by the lord chancellor of Ireland or-the lord chief justice of England. r v Persons convicted bv them may be imprisoned in any part of Great! Britain. Ihe bill -makes provision for excluding Ulster from the working of the law by stipulating that it shall be effective in the whole or any part of Ireland. Police Secure Name of Slayer of Young Scout Buffalo, N. Y.. Aug. 3. Confes sions ,ma ade to the district attorney here today by three boys alleg.that Norman Kelley, IS years old, was the slayer of Edward Pokgrant, a Boy Scout, who was shot dead m the woods near Ebenezer on Sunday. The boys, the confessions allege, were in camp when Pokgrant and a companion rode up on a bicycle. Kelley, it is alleged, firsts shot the tires off Pokgrant's I bicycle', an 3 when the boy turned to run, fired another shot tint killed im. Meningitis Caused Death of Ninth Marquis of Queensberry Johannesburg, ' Union of South Africa, Aug. 3. Meningitis caused the death of Percy Sholto Douglas, ninth marquis 6f' Queensberry, which occurred here - yesterday morning. First , .announcements were to the effect that his" death was- n rr tin tixc due to pneumonia, and later there were rumors that charges against some persons with whom he had beep associated had been made. ' An autopsy was made later and de veloped the fact that ha died from auoingftifr W1 h INVESTORS START ANOTHER RUN ON , EXCHANGE. KIN(1 Closed With Hundreds . ' Waitins ill Unt Will Open Again Today. . Boston, Aug. 3. Offices of the company headed by Charles Ponzi, whose alleged operations in foreign exchange are under federal and" state investigation, were closed after an other aH-day run by investors, with the announcement they would be opened today and payments con tinued to depositors desiring their funds returned. 'vWhen the offices closed,, a long line of investors was'still outside, the last hundreds who had come after reading a statement by a publicity agent formerly employed by Ponzi that the company was insolvent. AH claims were paid in full Mon day, it was anounced.'the principal being returned to holders of 90-day notes which had ,not matured, and principal and SO per cent interest be ing paid in matured notes. Ponzi estimated that he had paid out $3, 500,000 during the run which began a week ago, but insisted he had plen ty of money. - v ' Last night police were placed on guard attthe offices as a precaution, it . was explained, against breaking and entering. Those who had been unable to force their way to the doors were dispersed without difficul ty. Conferences were held between federal and state officials, but with out definite development. . Ponzi was closeted with Attorney General J.. W. Allen, for more than an hour list night. Edwin L. Pride, auditor employed by the federal authorities to investi gate Ponzi's accounts, said that so fan he had found no indication of criminality. , . Miners Not to Blame For Coal Shortage, Union Leader Says, Atlantic City, N. J., Aug. 3. Wil liamvGreen, a vice president of the American Federation of Labor, the executive council of which is in ses sion here, in an address today said: "If there is any, suffering during the winter from a coal shortage it will not be chargeable to the mine workers, because today there is. actual suffering among the journey men, due to. the partial suspension of operations by the owners who are unable to get. tars. . "There are no wage grievances to be presented from the miners to the council," he continued. "The scale is satisfactory. What is needed are more cars. The men are ready and willing to work to overtake the re ported shortage, Some of the men are today "working on half time be- j cause of Over production iat the mo j cause of over production at the mouth of the mines." " c JL . Airplane Carries f ' Armed Men in Search For Bank Bandits Davenport, la., Aug. 3. An air plane driven by Lieut. F. C. Brierly, and Fred Wallace, both men heavily armed, was started in- pursuit of tls bandits who robbed the Moline, 111. Commercial Savings bank. When last heard from, the aviators were : scouring Henry and Mercer coun ties in Illinois. The bandits are known to have escaped in that di rection. ' Shortly before noon six men held up and robbed the bank of a sum estimated at $20,000, accfrding to the police. The robbers niade their es cape in an automobile. The robbers shot Charles Mohler, a barber, when he ran out of his shop across the street to give the alarm and he may die. I Police ar rived as the baVidits were leaving and a revolver battle ensued on the streets, but the bandit. car got away. Take Movies of Harding at 1 Work "Making Up" Paper Marion, O., Aug. 3. Senator Harding, the republican presidential nominee, is going to prove to the public that he is a real printer. To day he threw aside his coat, rolled up his sleeves and "made up" the first page of his paperrwhile motion picture machine recorded his actions All work at the newspaper plant suspended while the pictures were being made and employes gathered about to see their boss working while they loafed. The senator kept up a rapid fire of conversation with his foreman while at work. Nebraska City Garage Owner hissing From Home : Nebraska City, Aug. 3. (Special.) Fred King, Who has conducted a garage in this city for two years, is missing. His wife uoon her return Tirom. Vlslt t0 ,Tecumseh Sunday hjuhu.. a note irom tne nusoana stating tthat he had lelt home and for her to take charge of th garage and collect what she could; It is be lieved by relatives, that he had be come discouraged over business af fairs' and left town. His parents are wealthy retired farmers. . . :, Judge Gaynor of Supreme 'Court of Iowa Found Dead Des Moines, Aug.' 3. Frank Gaynor, 68, justice of the Iowa su preme court, since 1913, (was found dead in bed this morning. Death was said to have been due to heart failure. He seemed in usual health when he retired last night. He was born in Hamilton, Canada. . Plattsmouth Will Have , Special Train to Den Show Plattsmouth, Neb., Aug. ' 3. (Spe cial) The Commercial club is ar ranging for a special train to Omaha next Monday' night, when Jarge number from here will attendvPlatts moutb night at tjic AJs-Sar-Bca. gen, TERMS OF FRENCH BELGIAN PACT ARE PUBLISHED Belgium to Support France In Future Armed Conflicts If Latter Is Not the ' Aggressor. ; Washington, ' Aug. 3. (ify The Associated Press.) General terms of the defensive, military alliance be tween Franca and Belgium-as dawn ftp by Marshal Focn of the Trench army and the Belgian chief of staff were, received here today in official circles. ' ' Military support of France by Belgium in future armed conflicts is pledged upon condition that France-prove not to have been the aggressor. Belgium also reserves the right to remain neutral in all disputes between the interests of France and other nations in France's colonial possessions. Details as to Frances pledge to Belgium have not yet been received. The alliance is . to endure for a period of from five to IS vears. It is understood that before official promulgation the terms will be sub mitted to the leagmv.of nations fcr approval following similar action by the British and Japanese govern ments in advising the league that future drafts of the Anglo-Japanese alliance""woud be submitted to the league in order to bring its pro visions in conformity with the aims of the Jeague. Attempts of Belgium to induce Great Britain to join 'with France in the defensive alliance, the official advices stated, have sb far been in vain. Turk Nationalists Flee Into Mountains Before Greek Advance Washington, July 3. -Turkish na tionalist forces are fleeing into the mountains' in Anatola, according to advices to the State department from the" American legation at Athens. This in formation' is based on a com munique issued frdm the Greek head quarters in the Asia Minor fighting zone where Greeks are pushing the campaign against the Turks. The communique' stated Greek, ad vanced lines were pressing the enemy in Anatola and that the largely de pleted ! forces of the, nationalist Turks, under command of Mustapha Kemal, were escaping toward the mountains. In" their flight, the Comr mUnique said, the nationalists are avoldjng approach to villages where Musselman populations are reported waiting' to attack fffini and "kill them without mercy." Anthracite CoalBoard . Mee1s to Draft Report Washington, Aug. 3. The anthra cite coal commission, appointed by President Wilson to adjust vwage schedules in that industry, met here today and started at once on the preparation of its report. The com mission has just concluded hearings which extended over a period of sev eral weeks. The report probably will be ready for submittal to Presi dent Wilson in 10 days or two weeks, it was said today, v $76,404,453 Reduction Made In National Debt In July Washington, Aug. ' 3. The gross national debt was reduced, a total of $76,404,453 during July, according to the Treasury department today, 'fihis leaves the publit: debt at $24,222,917,-013.- The reduction was ac complished through the retirement of that ; amount of treasury cer-ififinfcbftdbesa-.. - GRAND JUP WJLL -iR0BE ALLEGED COAL SHORTAGE Judge . Orders Investigation on Theory That Profiteers Are v Back of High Prices. Clilcaro Trlbune-Oninha Bee Leased Wire. Chicago, Aug.N 3. There his been so many hints and open charges that the coal fannr.e is nofa famine at. all, but is a scare instigated and urged along by the profiteers, much the same as the "sugar famine" was put over and netted millions for its sponsors, that Judge Crowe ordered a rigid - grand jury inquiry "into the whole affair. .A thorough investi gation of every angle of the coal situation will Ue made, and if any profiteers-are uncovered they will be prosecuted Jo the' limit. "A coal famine threatens Chi cago," said the iudge. "As the win ter approaches, if this situation is not relieved, great hardship and suf fering, if not many deaths, will re sult. I strongly urge" you to make the most thorough and rigid inves tigation to determine whether any person or person firms or cor porations arecngaged in a criminal conspiracy to bring about ' this shortage for the purpose of ma nipulating prices of coal." Railroad officials today gave as surances that they would do every thing in their power to avert further coal shortage. Under service orders already provided, coal shipments will be given, the preference. The Illi noisCentpl,1 which serves about ISO mines of which 19 are operating, will sidetrack everything else and bring in coal. ' ' ' The railroad officials believe the miners will be back at work in full force by next Monday and cars are being assembled, at all mines. Farm ers throughout Illinois are already hauling their winter supplies from the mines nearest them and this will re lease many cars for, the city de mands. v "". . Nevada Town Is Flooded : ' : By -Cloudburst In Hills Toopah, jNev., Aug. 3. Tonopah residents were clearing the city of debris carried in last night when, after a cloudburst, water from sur rounding hills l'.owei! down- the main street. At one time the street was three feet unf.er water. Houses were flooded and several antomo biles were carried along by the wa ters. Thunder and lightning ac companied the cloudburst. Audiences in two theaters - were obliged to remain in their seats several hours before the flood sub sided. The water washed out sev eral hundre4 feet of track on the Tonopah & . Goldfield railway be tween Tonopah . and Miller. No trains ,were . operated today. Loss was estimated . at $30,000. '" ' , Cops Guard Denver Cars N Strikers Tear Up Switch - Denver, Colo'., Aug. 3.--The first street car to be run since the strike of union motormcn and conductors Sunday morning was taken from the barns, at 3 o'clock this afternoon by a crew of strike-breakers guarded by four automobile loads of police men. Sirjkers offered no opposition. . Before the car completed its scheduled trip ' through the down towji' section, strikers tore up a switch 'over which it was to' have passed. . After destroying the switch the strikers disappeared in the crowd. A striker later was arretted charged with destroying the switch. Governor of Tamaulipas Ordered to Stop Gambling Laredo, Toe., Aug. 3. The gov ernor of Tamaulipas has been or dered by President De La Huerta to suppress gambling in that state, according to a message from, the president to Arturo Saracho, consul htre. Such action was requested by citizens of both Laredo and NuevO OPPOSE BRITISH REORGANIZATION PLANS FOi! ROADS Proposed Amalgamation of All Lines Into Groups Brings Forth Storm of Protests. Washington, Aug. 3. Proposals of the British government for re organization, of' the management of railroads iiv England have met with Strong . opposition on" the ground that the plan is impractical, accord ing to a report of the American chamber of commerce received to day at the Department of Com merce. The government's plan, the report said, calls for the amalgamation of all lines into groups which would be controlled by , boards of manage ment consisting of shareholders, who would be in the majority ad ministrative officials and employes. Rates would be fixed, the report stated at levels high enough toield revenue equal to the combined net pre-war incomes.of the companies absorbed in each group. Thcrail wav hoard is said to be oooosed to She plan, and, according to the re port, notified the government it would not assist in working it out if itwere put into effect. Census Figures for ManyTc owns Given Out Today Shows Increases Washington, Aug. 3. Ashtabula, O., 22,082; increase 3,816, or 20.9 per cent. Washington Court House, O., 7,962; increase 685, or 9.4 per .sent. Dover, O., 8,101; increase 1,480, or 22.4 per cent. ' Moscow. Idaho, 3,956; increase 286, or 7.8 per cent. Michigan City, Ind.. 19,457; in crease 430, or 2.3 per cent. Mount Vernon, N. Y., 42.726; in crease 11,807, or 38.2 per cent. Cleveland Heights, O., 15,236; in crease 12,281, or 415.6 per cent. Wyandotte county, Kansas, includ ing Kansas City, 122,218; increase 22,150, or 22.1 per cent. , Grand Forks, N. D., (revised), 14, 010. Previously announced as 13, 950. t Newark, N. J., (revised), 414,216. Previously announced as 415,609. (Error due to duplication,) Convicted Doctor Wrote 13,900 Narcotic Orders St. Louis, Mo.; Aug. 3. Dr. T, S. Manning of this city, under a two year sentence for alleged violation of the- anti-narcotic acty wrote more than 13,900 prescriptions for nai" cotics between January 20, last,' and July 20, local federal officials an nounced today. Wilson Needs No Doctor. , Washington, Aug. , 3. Rear Ad miral Cary T. Grayson, President Wilson's physician, started on his vacation today, explaining' that he was going by direction of the presi dent.. Dr. Grayson said the presi dent had shown such marked im provement of late that it was not neceasary to put him in the care of another physician. The Weather. Forecast. Nebraska Rain and warmer Wednesday. ; Hourly Temperatures, C a. m 65 6 a. m..,. 6 7 a.: m. j, 67 S a. m ; . . . 6( 0 a. m..., .67 10 a. m 71 p. p. p. p. p. si 83 85 85 8 p. i p. m... 81 42 aeon..,. 9 AGE REGARDLESS T Failure of League of Nations To Take Action in Numerous European and Asiatic Rows Remains Unexplained. ' STAND TAKEN BY AMERICA IS OF GRAVE IMPORTANCE Whether Membership by U. S. Would Have Caused Allies to Act or Not Is Subject" of Growing Speculation. By ARTHUR SEARS HENNING. tii lento Trtbune-Omuha lies Leaded Wire. Washington, Aug. 3. Was it be cause of the inability to call on the United States for an army that the , league of nations, dominated by the principal European powers, declined to invoke the processes of the cove nant to stop the war betwetn Rus sia and Poland? This is a question that is assum ing greater importance daily as the league continues impotent to func tion, as promised by its authors, and as the American people debate , the wisdom of assuming the obliga- , tions to participate in foreign wars inherent in adhesion to the cove nant. , The failure of the league to take' cognizance of "any of the numerous European and Asiatic wars origi nating after the end of the war with Germany never has been satisfac torily explained. Lord Robert Cecil sought in vain to-induce-they league council to take stepp to stop the Russo-Pelish war. It would not even act under that section of tha-" covenant providing for the commer cial boycott and blockade of i na tion declining to arbitrate. England may have opposed a course involv ing the possible" boycott of Russia, for i.loyd George at that time was negiating with the .bolsheviki for a reopening of commercial inter course. ' Speculation Growing. Nor wast the-league council will ing to consider the use of force against the nation that-refused to accede to pacific settlement of the dispute. It was reported that pop ular, sentiment in England, France and Italy would not tolerate the dispatch of troops or warships to aid the Vague in stopping the Rnsso-Potish war. Whether the. league', would have beeii' galvanised into action had the United States been a member, and therefore subject to a requisition of troops and naval forces, is a matter of interesting speculation. If Earl Curzon, British foreign . minister, did not have this precise aspect of the question in mind, he certainly did not hesitate to blame the United States for the impotence of the league in the course of a speeth in parliament recently. The text of the debate, hiterto unreported in this country, reached Washington today.. i ..- Replying to numerous interpella-' tions concerning the failure of the league to take cognizance of the ' Russb-Polish and other wars, Earl Curzon said it "was useless to dejjy the painful disappointment we had suffered by the defection of the Unit ed States and it was useless to deny that the work of the league of na tions had been crippled by that de fection. It never entered into the mijid of anybody that the country which, to a large extent, inspired tbp league, would be the first to stand aloof, or that the real sponsor of the league would be absent from the christening ceremony." ' Refused Officers of League. He added that no effort had beed soared to induce the United States to reverse its attitude. He said the (Continued on Pars Two, Column Three.) . Armed Raiders Steal Ammunition From an ; Irish Lighthouse WARS of mm .London, Aug, 3. Armed raiders ' held up the occupants of the Mizen head lighthouse, County Cork, Sat tirday, and took away 1,200 pounds cf signalling ammunition. TheRoss lare coastguard station also was , -raided and the signalling apparatus ' taken. ; . y According to some of the news papers today, successive ' raids cn i'ghthouses have been one of the reasons for diverting transatlantic l'ners ' from - Queenstown, The ' Graphic today says that the divert-' ing of the vessels was in ne wise connected with Archbishop Mannix of Australia', but was due to the in itiative of the steamship companies . who have foundit increasingly dif ficult to obtain pilotage and were jllarmed at the crippling' of light- . houses. The newspaper adds that the companies also complained of irregularities 6f the railroad service at Queenstown. s Doctors Meet to Confer On I Fighting Bubonic Plague Galveston, Tex., Aug. 3. Health officers fom cities along the gulf coast, state health officers from a number of interior states, and sur geons" of the Unj)ted States public, - health service assembled here today , for a conference on methods of com batting bubonic plague. Canadian Crops' Good. Ottawa, Aug. 3. With the dau- . feer period already passed-and cut- ,, ting ' parted in several western . areas, the crop situation from end to end of Canada is in excellent con- dition. according to Dr. J. $. Gris dall, deputy minister Qf agriculture, who has just returned from t ' 7