.1
-'3
vol. xeyi o. 17.
COMMANDER
ASKS
mm
Served With Imperative Notice
Last Night That Time Um
it Was Nearly Up.
EXPECTED NAVAL AID
Will be Interned at, Norfolk
Navy Yard .Until End of
the European War.
Allies Kept Guessing Until the
Last Minute.
Newport News, . V&, April1 7. Com
mander Max Thierlchena of the Ger
man auxiliary .cruiser Prinz EJitel
Friedrich, asked the United States gov
ernment through port authorities here
tonight to intern his ship and crew for
the war. Up to the last moment ! the
German skipper kept, up the appear
ance of being ready for a dash to sea,
and when the time for decision Anally'
came he explained that failure of "ex
pected relief to arrive had; made it
necessary to intern rather than "de
liver crew and ship to fruitless and
certain destruction" by British and
French warships awaiting off the Vir
ginia Capes. - - '
Tomorrow the commerce-raider will
make her last cruise of the war. She
will be taken to the Norfolk . navy
yard across Hampton Roads from the
shipyard here where she has been laid
up since limping into port on March
10, after the remarkable commerce de
stroying voyage from the Orient dur
ing which she sent the American ship
William P. Ffye to the bottom.
Late tonight Admiral 'Fletcher, com
mander of the Atlantic fleet which .ar
rived in Hampton ROada. today,.", took
charge of the situation. A conference
will be held early tomorrow between
Admiral Fletcher, Rear Admiral Helni
and Rear Admiral Beatty and Collector
Hamilton, acting for the Treasury De
partment, to arrange details of the in
ternment before the Eitel Friedrich. is
taken to the navy yard. r '
The German commander delivered his
announcement in writing when Collec
tor Hamilton boarded the Eitel F"ried-,
rich with an imperative notice fcom
the Washington government that . the
time for his stay in this port would
expire at midnight tonight and that he
must leave American waters : by 4
o'clock in the morning, of - April 8.
Had Announcement Ready. . ' -
Before the customs collector had a
chance to deliver the message from
Washington Captain Thirichens handed
to him the written announcement of
his decision.
Determination of the German com
mander to intern his ship immediately
. operated to lift the American embargo
against merchant ships of Allied Eu
ropean nations leaving this port. More
than a score of British merchant ves
sels which had been cleared but held
up were immediately permitted to leave
port and customs houses at Newport
News and Norfolk were kept open .un
til 10:30 o'clock tonight issuing clear
ances. Captains of British merchant
ships clamored for clearances about the
customs offices and scores of ships
were sailing for the Capes long before
midnight.
Actual internment of the Prinz Ei
tel, it was arranged in conferences be
tween Rear Admiral Beatty, com
mandant of the Norfolk navy yard,
ftear Admiral Helm, of the battleship
Alabama, and Collector Hamilton,
ould be accomplished tomorrow, the
sea raider to be taken-to the Norfolk
navy yard at Portsmouth, Va. There
breech blocks of her guns will be re
moved and connecting rods of her en
gines will be detached.
Collector Hamilton received final in
structions from the Washington gov
ernment late today. When he veached
the Eitel Friedrich, he found Captain
Thierichens awaiting him. The Ger
man officer did not "wait to hear the
message from Washington but handed
to him a sealed envelope containing
announcement. The letter was as
follows: " V
Commander's Letter.
"1 inform you I intend to --intern
M. s. Prinz, Eitel Friedrich. The re-
expected appear not to arrive
i time so the number and force 6f
e enemy cruisers watching .the en
TiiiH'fi to the bay. makes to me im-
ros.vil, the rlash tn tVi vfmen wlth-
out
any hone of success. T have de-
f' .r "ot tot deliver crew and ship to
:ntless and certain . destruction. - .'Be
obliged for the courtesy shown for
'"l-lnited States authorities, I am ex-F!.!,t,-
your orders. - r
t " have sent the same information to
-e:.r Admiral Helm, U. S. A. Alabama.
"Respectfully,
'-ned) "THIERICHENS." "r
while Collector Hamilton read the
t.noiui cement which he immediately
-lansmitted to Assistant Secretary, of
-'e Treasury Peters at Washington
.er. was a spirit of gloom pervading
'e commander's cabin which spread
over the ship. Officers and crew
Tf ":,.rd to be downcast. Commander
;"nchensr himself, declared that the
.on he had been forced to take made
- fick, that he was heartbroken to
i'-; c.,Tirellea to resort to ; such' a step.
M-.nu.aiiy he stated that he had
'rJntended to intern if it were pos-
IT
s-.t.cm. ii, iaai ne naa nopeq
' e arrival of German forces to do
. with the jBritish and French
PS off the Amnripan nnast '. atyl
'at-sii
; ! "U
the
flear the way for his re turn v to
'i,fa sea. .' -. . ,
mtn't Want to Intern.
"ouia like to have gone to sea
Commander Thierichens r de-A-'untihued
oa Page Two)
KIT'S,
OF
PRINZ EITEL
THE
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT INTERN
BkYAN0RGES,DEMOCRATS TO
WAR MN LIQUOR INTERESTS
SITUATION IN
JV ' ,
Secretar f State Makes Public a Letter to Democratic Na-
lio Committeeman of Iowa, Regarding Prohibition
. Issue in That State Democrats Urged to Vote
V for Principle and Not for the Man.
Washington, April 7.-r-Secretary
Bryan, tonight made public a letter he
had written to L. W. Kennington,
Democratic national committeeman
from Iowa, expressing the hope that
Iowa .Democrats would take a stand
for prohibition and vote against offi
cials who , could be controlled by jthe
liquor interests.
In a statement given out with the
letter, Mr. Bryan said he hoped to see
the Democratic party take the prohibi
tion side wherever the question is rais
ed and that if the liquor interests in
sisted on making an: issue in the se
lection of . a national committeeman
the people opposed to the liquor traffic
could not afford to ignore it.
"ijdo not know to what extent the
liquor question will be an issue in the
campaign next year," Mr. Bryan added.
"At the present time it does not seem
probable that it will find a place in the
platform of -either the Democratic or
the Republican party, but there is no
reason why the national committee-,
men .should not represent the senti
ment Of the party on this subject, as
on other subjects."
Mrr Kennington had written Mr.
Bryan that his name was being used in
behalf of a candidate for the national
committee.
. - Mr, Bryan's Letter. -
-In "his letter tO;Mr. Kennington, Mr.
The iegisiatu7eof''l6wahas v6teHest8:' i conaclenoelfesisi-ki -their.;
statutory prohibition and has also sub
mitted to the- 'people a prohibition
amendment tQ the constitution. It be
comes necessary, therefore, -or the vot
ers of Iowa to act . upon the liquor
question, both in choosing another leg
islature and in voting upon the amend
ment submitted. The , Democrats of
Iowa, constituting a considerable por
tion of the ; voting population, m.st
take action upon this subject both ta
the nomination and election of legisla
torsand also directly as they vote up
on the prohibition amendmnet. .
- "I take it for granted that the Dem
ocratic party will, act upon the .sub
ject in its state and local conventions,
and even if it does not, the individual
action taken by the - members of the
organization will, to a greater or less
extent, commit the party on this sub
ject and thus affect the party's
strength in the state.. ,
As to National Committeeman.
"It is proper that the national com-
BATTLE PENDING
For Control of Railroad From
Mexico City to Border.
CONDITIONS IMPROVE
Duval West, President Wilson's Per
sonal Representative In Mexico,
Is Now In the Capital City
Conferring- With Leaders.
Washington, April 7. Advices indi
cating that a battle was imminent
which wouldj decide whether the Villa
Zapata forceswere to control unmo
lested the railroad route from Mexi
co City to the border, or General Obre
gon, Carranza . commander, would cut
off the Northern troops from commu
nication witb the capital, attracted
wide Interest here, today. .
Officials "attach much importance to
the outcome pf the contest expected to
be fought about Queretaro where the
two armies haVe been concentrated.
Fighting continues near Tampico, but
indications are that - both sides have
drawn on their forces there to
strengthen their lines about Queretaro.
That : has sriven . officials some
onuciats some reuej.
hi.Mnft thev Tselieve there is less like
lihood" of . attacks on the old tanks "at
Tampico.
Conditions at Mexico City City are
unchanged. Duval West, personal
representative of President Wilson, has
arrived there and will confer with the
Villa-apata officials. .His mission is
understood to be to report comprehen
sively on conditions in all parts of the
republic. i j f . i '-; . ' '
Washington, . D. C, April 7. Repre
sentative George - E. Hood has recom
mended. William E. Fussell for ap
pointment as postmaster at Bowden,
Duplin county. .
Hartford.'. Conn, April 7J A woman
suffrage amendment; was rejected by
the Connecticut house, of representa
tives'joday.li to 10G. : O - ; .',
BETWEEN ARMIES
WELMTNTGTOK, N.
VESSEL
IOWA STATE
mitteeman should represent the atti
tude of the party on this question; in
fact, the liquor interests have already
ruled out one good man because he is
'dry'. The only way in which the sen
timent of the party can be made evi
dent in advance of a convention or an
election is for each person to vote as
he thinks if he acts as an individual or,
as his constituents think, if he acts as
a representative.
'"The liquor question is a moral ques
tion and our party's hope of success in
the states of Iowa for years to come
will, in my judgment, depend upon the
manner in which it meets this question
and the position it takes upon it.
"If I were a citizen of Iowa, I would
make my opinion on the subject mani
fest by casting whatever influence I
had in favor of the selection of offi
cials who would not be controlled by
or 'under obligations to the liquor in
terests, but would be positively and
definitely committed to the home as
against the saloon. The brewer, the
distiller and the saloon keeper are in
conspiracy against all that- is pure in
society, against all that is sacred in
tne family against all that is good in
industry and desirable in government.
I do not mean to say that every brew
er, every distiller, or every saloonkeep
er is consciously conspiring, but the
business in which these men are en
gaged is the enemy" of progress and
civilization and they are not in position
to - oppose the . influence that dominate
it.. Those who represent the liquor in-
uiciuuua, uiey ueuauuii Lilts iiiui viuuaia
through whom they act, and any party
to which they dictate. The Democratic
j party can only hope for success when
it gives expression lu nigii.iuea.is uiiu
makes itself the champion of the nob
lest, principles and the best policies.
Only One Side to Take,
f "Whenever, a moral question is rais
ed, therefore, there is but one side to
it, unless the party is willing to sell
its soul for a support which cannot be
more than temporary and which can
not, be accepted even temporarily
without the forfeiture of public re
spect. "It does not matter much what par
ticular individual is chosen as national
committeeman, but it matters a great
deal, whether he stands on the moral
or .immoral side of the line that sepa
rates the forces that are soon to en
gage in political battle in Iowa. It
would be far better to take an obscure,
man who is right on the liquor ques
tion than a well known man who is
wrong on the liquor question, for an
unknown man ceases to be unknown
when he becomes the exponent of a
righteous cause he borrows strength
from his cause; whereas individual
strength and personal influence dwin
dle into nothingness under the blight
of an unholy alliance with an immoral
cause.
"If, therefore, anybody asks you my
opinion, you may say that in any con
test .between a 'wet and a 'dry candi
date for national committeeman, I am
for the dry candidate, and that I shall
be greatly disappointed if the Demo
cratic party in Iowa does not throw
the weight of its great influence
against the liquor interests, and all
that they stand for or desire."
Mr. Bryan's Statement.
Secretary Bryan's statement follows:
"The letter to Committeeman Ken
nington explains itself.' It was being
urged in behalf of one candidate that
I favored his selection. When this
was brought to my attention I felt that
if my opini-on was desired,' it ought to
be given to all and that the reasons
for that opinion should be stated so
that the Democrats of Iowa would
know what weight, if any, to give to it.
"Prohibition is an issue in Iowa and
this fact is so clearly understood by
the liquor forces that one of the lead
ers of the wet element of the Demo
cratic party in Iowa objected to a very
excellent man on the ground that he
belonged to the drys.
"If the Jiquor interests insist upon
making the question an issue in the
selection of a national committeeman,
those opposed to the liquor traffic can
not well ignore the issue. As a matter
of fact, .the liquor question now being
before the people of Iowa, it could not
be ignored in the selection of party of
ficials no matter which side desire to
ignore it. .
; "I . do. not know to what extent the
liquor question will be an issue in the
campaign next year. At the present
time it does not seem probable that it
will find a place in the platform of
either the Democratic or the Republi-
can party, but there is no reason why
the national committeeman should not
represent the sentiment y Of the party
on this subject as on other subjects.
. "Prohibition is not an issue in all
the states, but wherever it is an issue,
I hope to see the Democratic party
take the prohibition side.
"It cannot ally itself with the liquor
interests t without losing its .moral
standing and the moral standing of a
party is the thing that gives it perma
nent strength. "A surrender to vice or
immorality seldom gives even a teiryjo
rary, advantage to a party but even if
temporary advantage could be secured
by such a course, it would be at ..the
expense of the permanent welfare of
the party. It is not only right for a
party to" take th6 moral side of a ques
tion but it pays "to do so." ,
Cn THURSDAT MORKIKG, APRIL 8, 1915
BOTTOM M IAT TOP
Railroad President as Honest
Now as When Shoveling Coal.
MARKHAM IS A WITNESS
President of Illinois Central Railroad
Testifies Before Federal Commis
mission on Industrial Rela
tions at Chicago.
Chicago, April 7. A colloquy about
the honesty of s the man, who, starting
at the' bottom," advances to the head
of a great railroad, as compared with
jone who becomes the head of a great
organization enlivened today's session
of the Federal Commission on Indus
trial Relations.
The argument was between Charles
H. Markham, president of the Illinois
Central railroad, who was on the wit-
ness stand, and Austin B. Garrelson,
president of the Order of Railway Con
ductors, and a member of the commis
sion. .,
"The strike of fjie shopmen of 1911
on' the Illinois Central and other so
called Harriman lines," Mr. Markham
stated, "really grew out of the at
tempt of the American Federation of
Labor to organize the crafts of each
railroad system and it was opposed
regardless Of cost,
"The proposed organization was a se
rious menace," he said, "and if carried
to a logical conclusion it would have
left the railroads and industries along
their lines, ; helpless in the hands of a
few men."
"The railroads are in the hands of a
few men as it-is," suggested Mr. Gar
relson. ;
Cheeked" .by Responsibilities.
"But they are checked by their re
sponsibilities to the stockholders, to
laws and to the public," the witness
replied. ; . " -
"Are you, Mr. . Markham, any more
honest now; than when you were shov
eling coal at Tucson?" Mr. Garrelson
asked. j "
"Not a bit; but my responsibilities
are greater-" ' . . .
"When itveomes to the honesty of the
few men who control most things, is a
man less rones,because - he .chooses
to rise tnTOngh the TaboTflir orthCT
railroad business to the presidency of
a union, instead of to the head of a
railroad company?" : . . ;
"No essential difference hypotheti
cally but the history of the Knights of
Labor, the! American Railway Unton
and similar organizations have been
bad'
Mr. MorUham declared the employes
of the railroad received his most' sym
pathetic oon: ' t ation and thai lie : hp.:1
no objections to unions such as 'ne ic
brotherhoods of Enginemen or the
Conductors,, as they, were all railroad
men but unions which include both
railroad and nonTrailroad craftsmen
were a menace.
ES
Selects J. L. Gibbs as State
Fish Commissioner.
E. H. FREEMAN MEMBER
New Hanover Man Appointed' as Re
quired Republican Member of
Board Supreme Court De
livers 13 Opinions.
(Special Star Telegram.)
Raleigh, N. C, April .7. Governor
Craig announces the personnel of the
State Fish Commission which he ap
points under the provision of the Fish
Commission act of the recent Legisla
ture. Ed Chambers Smith, of Raleigh,
and A, V.-Cobb, of Bertie county, are
appointed for terms ending June- 1,
1917; T. F. Winslow, Perquimans coun
ty, W. M. Webb. Carteret county, and
E. H. Freeman, of New H-anover coun
ty, for terms ending June 1, 1919. Mr.
Freeman is the Republican member re
quired. '
Governor Craig also directs the com
mission to elect J. L. Gibbs as fish com
missioner and explains that Mr. Gibbs
was appointed -by him as shell fish com
missioner two years ago and has made
good in that position; that Mr. Gibbs
is a brother-in-law of Senator Sim
mons, but that the senator really ad
vocated strongly the appointment of
M. B. Sawyer, of Elizabeth City, "
- Supreme Court Opinions.
The Supreme Court delivered 13
opinions this weekly : delivery day as
follows i - 1 i ... '
Fowle vs.' McLean, Beaufort, modified'
and costs of the appeal divided; Batts
vs. Thompson, defendant's appeal, Wil
son, affirmed; ' Stanland vs Rouark,
Brunswick, no error? Powell vs.- Pow
ell, "Robeson, reversed; McRainey vs.
Railroad, Robeson, new trial; Herring
vs. Atlantic Coast Line, Pender; no er
ror; Bank vs. Wilson, Cumberland, no
error ; mmoer uo., vs. cottingnam, et
GOVERNOR
NAM
con
al., Robeson,! affirmed; Guthrie; vs. CityTjainedthem with huge cigarettes and
of Durham, reversed;; Lloyd Vs. . Town
of Venable Orange, no - error; Mot sin
ger vs. Sink,: Forsyth, new trial; King
vs. iMayberry. Surry, .affirmed; ,.;Mc-
' (Continued on Page Two;'!' '
ITALIAN
ADRIA TIC; MOVEMENT OF FLEET
VEILED IN ABSOLUTE SECRECY
SULTAN OF TURKEY GRANTS
AN AUDIENCE TO NEWSPAPER
MEN; CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS
Mehmed V. Believes Mies Will Never Force the Dardanelles
Well Posted Concerning Developments, and Eagerly Fol
lows Description of Operations No Doubt as to
the Outcome of Turkey's Part in the War.
Constantinople, April 7, via The
Hague to London "I am convinced the
Dardanelles cannot be forced. The
brave conduct of the Turkish troops in
the recent operations permits me to.
conclude that although the Allies use
every means at their disposal they will
be unable to achieve their purpose."
Thus spoke Mehmed V, Sultan of. Tur
key and first Caliph of the Moslem
world today, in an audience granted to
the . Associated Press correspondent.
The Sultan throughout the audience
expressed the greatest confidence in
Turkey's ability to withstand the on
slaught of the Allied forces, and fol
lowed with keen interest a description
of the Allies' operations" of March 18,
against the Dardanelles forts, given
by the correspondent of the Associated
Press, who acted as spokesman for
those who had been accorded the au
dience. The Sultan's discussion of 'the bom
bardment showed, that he was well in
formed on the affair but he was great
ly interested in the human aspect of
this tremendous action. What was the
effect of the enemy's fire? What im
pression was made upon the mind by
the Turkish troops and what .wiis the
fate of the . population of the towns
near the forts bombarded? These were
eager questions the Sultan' asked,
r In Cordial Spirit. .
' Mehmed V was in. a most cordial
frame of mind. .Mariv incidents relat-
the Sultan's face smiles of satisfaction,
appreciation. and amusement. ..How th
-correspondents had been, obliged to
malve a hasty retreat when Kale Sul
tanie was reached by the Allies shells
appeared .to be of special interest to
his majesty. " r'1-. '-'5 -' --
When one of the corespondents told
the Sultan that he had been rendered
nervous in Chanak Kalessl, by the ex
plosions of large shells which impell
ed him to stoop at every detonation (
and how an: old inspector, who also
was retreating touched him on the arm
each time saying "yock kismet." The
Sultan was much amused and touched
the newspaper man -on the shoulder
and explained that the' JuSe of the word
'"kismet" was. improper under such
circumstances,-and that ."kader" should
have been used.. . ; :
- His majesty asked of the sinking of
the French warship j Bouvet and the
British battleship Irresistible. That i
the former had disappeared within
three minutes brought a lookntp the
kindly gray eyes of his majesty asif
he regretted that so many human .be
ings had perished without a chance to
fight for life.- '
The Sultan then asked. if his $rooos
appeared happy and contented.' Tie
answer brought a new; smile of satis
faction to his face. :
Luck is Efficiency.
"It has been v said that it was luck
that made our victory on March 18 so
complete and great," he remarked "but
be in the Turkish have a saying 'Luck
is infatuated with the efficient.'
"It appears unjust 'to -me that the
Allies want to force the Dardanelles
and take Constantinople just to import
foodstuffs from Russia. But our army
and" coast defense forces have shown
their ability and willingness to do
their duty. I am speaking here not
alone of the Turkish defenders of the
Dardanelles but also those Germans
who so efficiently and bravely co-operated
with them.
"I would thank you if you would
say for me that my admiration 'for the
German troops in the East and West
is so great that it is impossible for me
to express in words my high opinion
of their valor and efficiency. Concern
ing the chief commander. Emperor j
William, I can only say we in Turkey
pray that he may enjoy the best of
health for many years.
.The Sultan was informed that Em
peror William was sending-with Field
Marshal von Der Golta iron crosses of
the first and second .classes, with
which he intended to"a decorate his
majesty and the Sultan-appeared high
ly pleased. ; ?
"I am proud of being presented with
medals which decorate so many brave
men," he said. - J ' : " ,
So far the sultan had occupied him
self "entirely with recent developments
in. the Dardanelles- Addressing him
self to the American correspondents
present, he said: " -
Welcomed Americans. -
"I am pleased to see that-two Ameri
can journalists had an opportunity to
witness the attempts to force the Dar
danelles. I value, the opinion of neu
trals, highly and wish to express the
greatest satisfaction that the relations
between the United States and Turkey
are so cordial." -- - J v
Although in his 71st year the mon
arch rose from the divan with alacrity
and shook hands with the. correspon-
dents in a democratic fashion at the
beginning of the audience, i ; -
The audience took place at Dolma-
baghoheh Palace, Brig. Gen. Salih Pa
sha the Sultan's first - aide . de camp,
acting i- as marshal. . Salih Pasha- re
ceived the , correspondents .and enter7
coffee;,.' A little- later; a. cOurt- official
announced that his- majestywas ready.
I. Then followed; a long.march through
magnificent balls decorated - in Euro
pean style; and finally a splendid stair-
WARSHIPS ARE
way with crystal ballisters was as
cended to the second floor where his
majesty, was awaiting in a private par
lor. '
Nothing from the Orient.
The audience was somewhat remark
able because of the absence of any
thing 'to remind one of the Orient. The
sultan was seated oh a divan but arose
Upon the entry of the correspondents.
He then invited the mto seats. which
was an unusual honor, for all but the
highest officials are usually left stand
ing. His majesty expressed his pleasure
at meeting men who had been in the
Dardanelles, and, on behalf of the jour
nalists, the Associated Press corre
spondent thanked his majesty for the
cordial reception. This done, the sul
tan -started-the conversation with the
remark: "Kindly relre your exper
iences during your stay on the Darda
nelles." .
. - The sultan seemed to be in the best
of health. He wore the conventional
red calpac, or fez of Turkey the em
blem that all Ottomen are equal a
low: white collar, grey cravat, blue
serge suit and black shoes of comfort
able cut but no jewelry.
The room was extremely plain, but
decorated in a manner that seemed to
be a compromise between Turkish and
Western art. In the grate crackled
a cheerful fire. , .
-Although located .almost in the cen
ter of Galata-Pera, on -the Bosphorus,
the paiace is .quiet owing to the fact
that .it. is,-cut off " from the streets by
large gardens,r laid out mostly in Ital-
This was the first audience granted
by Mehmed ;V-to , American .newspaper
men. - '
LEHOAr APPEALS TO
Tllk S1PKKM10 tOl'RT
Private Detective Working in Leo
Frank Case at Atlanta.
M.
private detective, today appealed to the
simwmt Vr.i.r frnm v i nnnviMinn f -
violation bf the Atlanta, Ga., ordinance
requiring private detectives to be li
censed. He contended that the ordi
nance as enforced not only deprived
him ' Of constitutional rights, but
abridged- the constitutional rights of
Leo M. Frank, by whose friends he
w ;:s employed'
Lehon was arrested while invti -icing
the conviction of Frank for Hie
rnuruer of Mary Phagan.
PLANS COMPLETED
Federal Reserve Banks to Have
Gold Fund at Washington.
IN OPERATION IN MAY
Federal Reserve Board Makes An
nouncement of Final Step in
Clearing System Between
All Reserve Banks.
' '
Washington, April 7. The Federal
Reserve Board announced tonight that
it had reached a general understanding
With representatives of Federal Re
serve banks for the creation of a gold
fund in Washington for use in clear
ings and settling balances between
those banks. The plan is expected to
become effective next montn.
When the fund is create anC put in
operation the last important step in es
tablishing the clearing functions of the
Federal Reserve Sjstem will have been
taken. Federal Reserve banks already
are clearing for member banks in their
own districts.
It was said tonight no agreement
had been reached on amount of the
gold fund to be deposited here. When
it was firstconsidered everal months
ago a committee of governors and
members of "the board spoke of $25,000,
000. art of the $25,000,000, it was
hoped at that time would be put up
by the Treasury Department, but in re
cent discussion the question of a gov
ernment contribution has been left to
the future and the banks alone are ex-
f pected to complete it. .
j . Officials are inclinedto believe there
j will be no actual large movements of
gold from Washington to the various
banks in payment of balances, the idea
being that it will become largely a
matter , of bookkeeping with the gold
here for. shipment if any reserve hanic
demands it. . :"y - .
The Reserve banks ' will be ' allowed
to count 7 the gold - contributed jto the
fund as part of their reserves and will
receive :some interest on it through
charges made for clearing checks. .
CLEARING HOUSE
WHOLE NUMBER 39,163
NEAR
Fleet the Finest in History of
Country Several Mighty
Dreadnoughts.
jNOW READY FOR ACTION
Battles on Both Fronts in Eu
rope Rage, But Results
Are Unknown.
To Renew Bombardment of
Dardanelles Soon.
On the Italian Frontier, April 7, via
Paris The warships of the Italian
fleet departed, suddenly on Monday
from the Mediterranean naval stations
at Spezia, Gaeta and Maddalena Island.
They concentrated at Augasta, Sicily,
and at Taranto. They are thus within
a few hours of the Adriatic.
The departure of the warships caused
a profound impression, particularly at
Spezia, where until last Sunday the
harbor was crowded with dread
naughts, cruisers and torpedoboat de
stroyers while the town was filled with
officers and sailors.
Italy now has the finest fleet in her
history. It is headed by several new
dreadnaughts, of which the most for
midable is the Conte Di Cavour, which
corresponds to Great Britain's Queen
Elizabeth. . .
Future movements of the fleet are
veiled with absolute secrecy. It is as
serted that only the king, and one or
two of the highest officials are ac
quainted with plans decided upon. t
SANGUINARY ENGAGEMENTS.
Carpathians' Still the Scene- v-f Desper
ate Fighting Reports Meagre. '
London, April 7. The Carpathians 'V
in the East and the hilly country be , "
tween the rivers Meuse and Moselle in
France-v-ee-ntlnue to-bQvJsoenes ofsan'- -guinary
engagements, but little or ' no"J
news is forthcoming of the progress
iof the battles.
Except in the Uzsok Pass, in the Car
pathians, where the Austrian's, assisted
by Germany, are offering stubborn re-
sistance, the Russians are said to have
crossed the first range of mountains,
land can look down the southern slopes
toward the plajns of Hungary. It. is
(asserted that part of the army which
' has crossed the mountains is maneu
vering to get Denina tne Austro-uer-mans
holding -the Uzsok Pass. The
Austrians admit conditions are bad, and:
they are anxiously awaiting German
reinforcements.
The Austrians also are fighting- In
Bukowjna, but this is a secondary op
eration. The engagements in progress
in Northern Poland, where the Russians
are trying to push back the Germans
into East Prussia also appear to be
unimportant. :"" ' ""r'
French n Offensive.
Between the Meuse and Moselle the
French are on the Offensive, attempt
ing to force the Germans to give up St.
Mihiel. The German official report
claims all French attacks were repulsed
but a semi-official statement from Ber
lin says that according to a "prear
ranged plan the German outposts re
treated from Regnieville and Fey-en-Haye."
The French some time ago re
ported the capture of the towns and
since claim to have made almost daily
progress.
The Belgians have, regained BOinv
ground they lost rrr Flanders, but else
where there has been no change in the
West.
Although no announcement has been
made, the general expectation in mili
tary circles here is that a combined land
and sea attack on the Dardanelles will
begin shortly and that at the same time
the Russians, now apparently in com
mand in the Black Sea, will bombard
the Bosphorus forts.
In Africa, General Botha's Union of
South Africa forces continue their vic-
'torious march along the railways, but
(thus far have not overtaken the main
I German - army.
I In. England the drink question re-
; mains uppermost in the minds ot the
people. The cabinet met today to dis-
cuss what governmental "action should
be taken, but announced no decision.
Meantime, hundreds of public met)
are following the king's example and
!are banishing alcoholic liquors from
1 their households. Churches are mak
ing a plea to the people that they at
least take the pledge to abstain from
liquor until the war is over. !
DESCRIPTION OF FIGHT13U.
Germans Fall Back, According ' to Pjre- .
arranged Plans French Retreat.
Berlin, via Londtn, April 7. Ger
man headquarters has issued the fol-
1 lowing description of the fighting in,
France between the rivers Meuse and
Moselle: ,
"When the enemy's Infantry began to
deploy, the German outposts -retreated
according to a prearranged plan, from
Regnieville and Fey-en-Haye to their.'
main position on Easter Monday. - f
"The French attack against the sou
thern front, at first to the ' north of
Toul and then in the forest of LePre
tre began simultaneously with -attacks
against our north wing, south of
the Orne. and between Eparges and
Combres, but the French nowhere were
successful, they , being everywhere
thrown back. . , ".
"The severest fighting took place be
tween the Meuse and Apremont, where,
in the wooded country, the French were-'
able to approach close to the German'
(Continued on Pas Eighty ' '
1
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7
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