North Carolina Newspapers

THE WEATHER- PAGES s rrsxn m v-i,v -.! iv r vrei Fair Friday, somewhat colder except ONE SECTION ' ' ' 4 t 10 : - ? w i -it it VOL. CI-O. 167. 0N AND SUPPLIES MOVING TO FRANCE ON SCHEDULED $pping Board is Supplying ALL Transportation Require- Jo ments of Army, ; u 1 - jjyOR OPERATIONS NEAR jnerican Army Officers Believe Ihat They Can Not be Much i Longer Delayed . ALLIES MAY MAKE :: DRIVE Germany's Great Preparations Probably for Defense Washington, March 7. Troops and cnDDlies lor uenerai rersmnss lurtes bow are moving to France on sched uled time, it was learned today on high authority. While figures maynot. he published, it was stated positively tnat transportation -requirements of the army are being met by the snipping board and the immediate situation was described as satisfactorily. . Reports Eagerly Scanned. In view of this assurance that the United States wiu oe able to-maintain its place as a fighting , unit on the bat tlefront, reports " from the western front are being scanned more eagerly than ever by officers "here for the first signs of the 1918 campaign. It is felt strongly that . the. opening of major operations in : what-. .President Wilson las predicted will prove the decisive year p the great war will not be much longer delayed. c Mud Determining: Factor. - Mud has been the determining -factor of many previous western .front opera tions. So long-as the ground is r soft with the winter rains, : it is impossible to move forward great guns and nec essary transport .trains, to. support ar advancing line. .Even -' in Flanders, however, indications .this year are that the ground will harden early m spring, permitting either side to "undertake the enterprises planned.. . April the "Drivims" Montkv ' ; In previous years April has seen of fensive operations set in. motion by the 1 allies. Vor that reason '.' many officials here seem to anticipate -raiding and minor assaults before the middle -of next month which wili show in them selves that the ground is being mapped. information obtained and .local, strate gic advantages established by one side or the other in preparation for a great effort. - ' ., . . French Attacked Too Soon. To others it appears probable, that no offensive will be undertaken on "any considerable scale before May 1. They round that view on reports that the KTench offensive in 1916 started in April, proved to be at least two weeks too early. The guns end transports touia not be brought forward to con ciliate all the ground the troops were Me to wrest from German control. ; Probably Xo German Drive. Meanwhile, duriner the last few (lavs., there has been less discussion" of : a Herman offensive on the western front. There are observers here who . have never been convinced that the Ger mans actually intended to attempt an- jwer orive at the channel ports or at Paris. To these officers the admitted "mceiuration of German forces has seemed a defensive rather, than an of fensive step. They believe that, the merman &neral staff forsaw a gyat aiued effort this year and were moving to offset it. AHied Plans Unknown. . . - aaiu ! nciaily and nnrttir.io n-o- r n n,aj erman offensive, nothing as to prob- - " - xiio-o Lxx CO xJJ Lxltl IXxLldx faehas come over tne cables. This act has attracted particular attention e of the reiterated official dec rationa that thn nn:.j n jucnes the Germans in gun arid man- inri and in view ot tne formation conn the winter of the supreme war ncu designed to make the warfare fflore as-pTAt-ow x . , , , ioo - " "os"c -" tne pan oi tne ai J and the i7Tiii is inh ntiaISAmerIcan ermy already urn c trenCQes on the western front mav Kary has lndicaed here mity be at loon . ps ln France during 1918. . . : 4J,ERICAXS WENT TO THE " ' With R0XT OVER DTJSTT ROADS Wertf i American Army in France, ed Sp, f 7' March 6 By the Assoclat- Wo;taken UP their position on the . alii ft fyn-n. . . . . . barv were Diuetea in lojrns "-S of tl 1! - x, . receiraj wnen tney suaaeniy Iher orders to 'move to the front, over transported in motor trucks Stream an inch deep in dust, cycuf13,01 cannon trucks and motor- t diint roaaa ..raieea v ciouaa Hade s , wtLich stuck to the men and aent clotheq, faces ' and equip ed Afrfy by the time they had reach from l;-0Wna cIose to the firing line, bori -lca they marched to their posi- ThevUr;nff the night- ' v J f Lf r.0Und themselves in a section tijght"ain,e where the ground rose in r6 h i " In some cass the enemy a8 th a mil.e away- Although this been 7- "rst tlme the Americans had n m tVi x .. .. arinn "-rencnes. the-units xrom me irer icklv tne .-. united states - parts of the United ew q,,, memseives to . tneir surroundings. LuckUy the weather Dine t first few" days, , but for tain h past unt" today snow: and "ector continuously fallen in ; this aons .v11 haa In tne American. posi- Duenthfrest of To V-" ' torly v? vthe fact that the 'ground is ona 'v the trenches are not con fn TMe 0141 18 unnecessary Atontlnued Oa' rg', Tvtfir ' TIME Trench Raiding Continues Along the French Front; v " Germans Claim Successes (Associated Press Summary) ; Continued trench raiding - opera tions along7 n French front are reported in official statements. In one of 'these an American colonel captured a ; German lieutenant. 'TJxe American troops' in' the Chemin des Dames and Lorraine sectors are not, as. yet, in full charge of the positions assigned "to them, but are training with French soldiers. The position north of Toul is the only one placed in control of the Ameri cans. ' - . The Germans report the capture Nf many allid soldiers in raids and say that the artillery '. fighting ; is growing ' in Intensity at various points. They also lay claim to suc cesses: In aerial fighting, bringing down 19 airplanes and two : captive balloons. - - t ' Andrew BonarLaw, chancellor of .the British exchequer, address ing; the house of . commons, spoke of the.; financial situation : as well 'as the jnilitary position on the French and Macedonian fronts. Mr. Bonar Law maintained that the en tente allies still maintain their su periority in man power in France. He also referred to the danger of a German 'attack 'in Macedonia, but added that a terrible price -would be exacted for every" yard gained by .the Teutons. There is no further " news 1 of Japariese intervention in Siberlal If such a movement had been started, however, it Is probable that little or 'nothing would be announced by Japan, where the curtain - of the censorship was drawn much closer early in the week. : ' - NATIONAL PARTY ADOPTS PLATFORM Convention Attendecthy 200 Dele gates, lOOof Theni Former Prohibitionists URGES RADICAL REFORMS Equal Suffrage, Prohibition' and Legis lation Favoring Farmer and La boring Men the Chief Plank ,r the Platform. ' Chicago, - March 7. Equal suffrage, nation-wide prohibition and radical legislation favoring farmers and la borers are the chief planks " of the platform of the national party adopt ed here today at a convention attended by about 200 delegates, 100 of . whom are bolters from -the prohibition party. The platform, after several hours of debate on the negro voting question and various points of the planks fa voring laborers, was adopted by .a unanimous vote. 4 . It is the first definite expression of the policies of the new party. - In regard to suffrage, the platform demands the right, of men and women to vote on all questions and enforce ment of the laws enfranchising negroes and others regardless of color or race. The prohibition plank pledges the party to work for nation-wide prohibi tion nd for immediate ratification .of the constitutional amendments. 'i Extension of the federal loan law is among the important legislation , con cerning farmers which is advocated. Advance loans upon crops or products in storage, government : insurance of farms and stock, federal Inspection of farm products at terminals and untax ing -of all farm equipment" and -measures to prevent the holding of large tracts of land idle are included. ' Limitation of immigration, shorten ing of working, hours, governmental insurancemore rigorous inspection of factories and working places, adequate enforcement of. child' labor laws, are some of the things urged, in the -labor plank. It is also advocated -that-the government forbid interstate shipments of articles made ; by children, womn employed more than eight hours a day of' six days a week; convicts under pri vate contract or persons employed in uninspected factories or mines. X Aboli tion of contract prices on labor. and he establishment of .the honor system la prisons is advocated. ' . ' Much of the platform also is devoted to the question bf International democ racy. The platform declares, that the party recognizes that the republic of the world is the goal for International political development and urges -abolition " of secret diplomacy, freedom of the seas'-and abolition of prohibitive or discriminatory tariffs or taxes f upon trade and commerce; . . - - - Other conditiOM advocated are free dom of speech both by word of mouth and by printed matter, th short ballot in tsate and municipal elections, right of absentee citizens to vote by affidavit, public ownership of public utilities and extension of the postal and parcel post systems. : "J ' " ' A telegram was sentto the British labor party congratulatmg them upon their activity. . i ' r 'V - ' .. SEVEN MONTHS AT SEA.' American Bark, Out , Since August; 34, . Beaches Port. Buenos-Aires, March'. 7--The Ameri can bark Normandy,- which 'it ': was feared had been- lost, arrived today at a r South American port. - She" left a gulf port August 24, and had not been reported . since - that day, . v WlIiMlNGTOIST, AURORA B0REAL1S - CLEARLY SEEN III NORTHERN SUES Made - the. Most Brilliant Display Last Night Ever. Observed " " in This Latitude. INTERFERES WITH WIRES Lights Took the Form of An Eagle With Full Spread Wings ; ' at Duluth - Washington, March 7. Brilliant lights in the sky over-the capital to- night brought a largt part the pop ulation into the streets to observe what, was thought to be a big flre. It was the . aurora borealis and officials of the naval observatory said the dis play was. the best they ever had seen in this latitude. ' . THOUSANDS IN NEW YORK - OBSERVED THE LIGHTS New York, March - 7. The aurora borealis was observed by thousands of persons . here tonight. The phenom ena was 5 visible from .8 to 11 o'clock when apparently it reached .Its maxi mum brilliancy. ' The 'long streamers from the" arc were well jtlnted,- red predominating. ' Telegraph and telephone' communi cation north and east of New York suffered by ' reason of the "'phenome non,, while .wire . service south -from Washington was affected shortly be fore 11 o'clock. , - . : ..'.'; - - - WAS THE MOST ELABORATE : EVER SEEN IN DULUTH Duluth, Minn., March 7. The mos t elaborate display of the aurora; bore alls ever seen in Duluth appeared to night. The lights took the form of an eaglewith full spread wings. GREAT INTEREST AROUSED , . , IN THE LIGHTS AT NORFOLK. iNorfblk, Va Mar eh - 7. Great inter-, est was. aroused through-'No'rf oik imd- vicihity-rtohight -ny aTtrang-u nation of the northern -horizon and there were, for some, time fears that a ship at sea. was on fire or that some large tract, of timber on the:cbast was destroyed, Careful -investigation fail ed rto locate any 'fire. -Norfolk news paper :offlces were besieged early in the evening by inquiries." Weather ex perts declared that such illuminations are of frequent occurrence just before equinoxes and ascribed' the- phenom ena to the aurora borealis. ; VISIBLE IN- TAMPA; FIRST t TIME IN A GENERATION Tampa,' Fls, March 7.: For the first time in- the present - generation the aurora, borealis was 'visible " in the northern : sky from Tampa . tonight. There was a.,vlyld;red glowj as-if a great fire was raging. . One report had it that Dade 'City, a town forty miles to ; the, north, .was afire, but Dade City reported the same glow far - to the north. WIRELESS APPARATUS FOUND IN BETHEL HOME Pastor Russell's Sueceasor Tells ": - Government Agents Apparatus . . Was For Amusement." , New York, March 7. A dismantled wireless apparatus ' which had ' not been sealed in accordance with brder5 issued by-; the .- government several months ago -was found by officers , of the army: intelligence bureau who yes terday made another, search of . Bethel Home, the headquarters : in Brooklyn of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and of the International Bible Students' Association,' , it - was . an nounced ; today. Both . organizaions formerly were ' headed ' by "Pastor" RusselL j '. The apparatus' was not seized. Officers who found the' wireless plant said they were met at the door of Bethel Home by a man who said he" was " Joseph , A. Rutherford," succes sor 'of "Pastor", Russell, as head of the several religious organizations. He told them the apparatus had been in stalled for "the amusement" of a num ber of young members of the Russell sect who live at the home. REBEL LEADERS ARRESTED. Will. Have to Pay Expenses - of Expe dltlonary Troops. San Jose, Costa ,Rica, March 7. All the leaders in the recent rising ;In va rious parts 'of Costa Rica have been captured, with the . exception of. Fer nandez GuelL . According to a govern ment announcement, they will be com pelled to . defray ; the expenses of the expeditionary troops who were mus tered to put' down ' . the : movement. Meanwhile they have. been given their freedom. - .'- - :. f -: T -President. "Tinoco has convened con gress and ' will present the report to that body on the; revolutionary move ment. . . . , MED AT FORT CASWELL. Tjeath Clatma Cecil S." Pierce, Soldier ; From Hnllaboroi. ' . -The remains - of Cecil . S. ; Pierce of Hallsboro, who died' at Fort Caswell, were brought to. -the 5 city yesterday under military escort and this morn ing were taken to his. home at 'Halls boro -where the funeral will - be held today, f . . ' . , -.: j.. .' '-. ? r-r.fl. -: Will Aet For Italy. - -- Berne, Switz.i - Wednesday, ; Mardh' 6. -The Italian ' government --. has 'requested-that -'the Swiss ambassador "to Petrograd take charge ot, Italian - in terests 4a Ru9Sla . . . . ; ,"' - FRIDAY MOBKIKG, SCRAP OFPAPER" Despite Formal Signing of Peace the Teutons Continue to ; Advance in Russia - : - PEACE MADE WITH,. FINNS - - - . ; 1x.-& . . . Rumania Bound to Transport Teu tonic Forces Through Molda-V via and Bessarabia :- (Associated Press Summary)' i In spite of the fact that a formal treaty, of peace has been .signed by the central powers and -the Bolshe vik government, of Russia, , fighting continues at vfrious points along the eastern front. . That GeTmany consid ers the conyentiQh she forced Lenine and Trotzky ' to sign .as - a "scrap of paper" is evidenced by the announce ment that the Teutons havo reached Jamburg, a town" 68 miles from Pet- rograd. The ;report of . the . subsequent partial retirement' ' of the Germans does not lend encouragement to the. belief .that further' Invasion 'of Rus sia has been, abandoned. - . ; The ' text of -"the peace treaty signed by Rumania, serves, itoo, " to show that the central powers are loath to fore go any conquests;', they "may make in Russia. One of the clauses of the. Rumania' treaty; bound that-country .tj assist in the' transport -of '::: Teutonic forces through i Moldavia .v and Bess arabia, on --their jway' to Odessa, r the "granary of Russia."' . ' . :-'r' -: Not only , are " the Teutons advanc ing against the demoralised-Slavs, but the. Turks also, are aggressors in Asia Minor. . . Repprjts .. state . that the Otto man troops 'are operating ; near" Treb izond, on the southern" shore of the Black' Sea.' -- . ' ' 3ermany has '--negotiated '"a -peace treaty with-the republic of Finland uy whidh'the '-latter agrees .notvt'cede any? terrrtoTywr ; gtaTrtefnteriai:- rignts r without the consent or ver many,' which inv cCnaideration- - f or this concession covenants to exert' her-ln-fluence tox secure recognition of the Finnish government-'; from ; other- . na tions. AIL claims ; for -war v costs or damages are waived,- and - the Aland islands will -be ; evacuated by the Fin nish troops and will not again be for tified. 'A commercial treaty will be negotiated- at once. ' : ' . ' ' Coincident with .'the continued In vasion of Russia 'by- the5 Teutons, the Bolshevik authorities baye" announced that they : will . hqt t permit ithe-revolution to - be - defeated -and have ex pressed the, determination- to .continue fighting a :"holy war? even If they are forced back to the Ural .mountains. American Ambassador -David R. Fran cis has issued a statement at, Vologda warning the Russians that a German victory means ; the return of r monar chical conditions and advising them not to ratify the treaty signed by Le nlne and Trotzky. The congress of the soldiers' and workmen's council, is meeting at Moscow and will -probably decide on the - issue of peace or con tinued war.- Conditions of the old re gime are reported td .have been re stored in German-occupied. territory. r MARCONI IS REQUESTED TO BE SPECIFIC IN CHARGES Washington, March 7. Charges in Rome by senator Marconi that there have been " scandals . and irregularities in ' connection; .with purchases -. for the Italian government, in - this ' country have drawn a reiuest by .cable from Francesco ; Quattrone,, member - of.the Italian mission here, that the senator be Specific In' his statements instead of reflecting , upon all officials' concerned in such purchases. ' , ... . t'S'i . ;, HEARINGS III H : ARBITRATIOfl CLOSED Six Questions Submitted by. Pack ers' Employes W Must Take Care of the Workmen at the Stockyards as Well as the v Hogs."1 Attorney Walsb- . Tells Arbitrator. . 1 Chicago, ' March 1 Hearings , In the wage arbitratiotl (between - employers and employes in the" meat packing in dustry before Federal .fudge Alschuler, acting as'arVltratpr, which began Feb ruary li were. concluded today. - It probably will be "several : weeks before the arbitrator hands 'down his decision. Attorney FrankP Walsh represent ing the .employes, in his closing argu ment, asked -;that each, of the ; six' de mands ; of the men ..be? granted, .assert ing .we must itake s care of ;-.the work men at the stockyards as well as the .hog&j."-iil-. iW-Xiii-"'-0--"-- ' i ' " jrx hiiTiiii nd flftr4thonBB.n(I men and : women 'employed 1 by. the - five ' big packing companies and 0 independent pskers 4wjli.rb9 affectedTu The questions submitted; to the arbi trator f or decision are to-n be, effective during the' war and are: ' Adoption ofthe basic y-hour!v day -with 'time ana ft, nauior ovwume anu double pay ,ot- Sundays and-' holidays; : - - xcoattatfe a Paga.iTwoj t lammsm" MAHCH 8, 1918 MOREiUrBOATS moWNIN DECEMBER THAN THE GERMANS COULD BUILD HE IS FOR SHARK'S MEAT 0 corporal - mia 11 see- by the papers that an , attempt is going-to; be made to- put whale meat on .the markets in America," remarked l-Sergeant Harry .W. Miller, of the United States Marine- Corps, in -an endeavor to while away the time until he is granted a cracks at 'the -Huns. "Did you say whale, meat?" : asked Corp. James M. Darmond, a strapping young marine who has j recently returned from the Philippines, hfl did," said the sergeant, Why ?,' . r -W ell, I done Know anything about whale meat,'1 said r the corporal, "but , When it. . comes to shark meat, that's . a -different story." c . ' - BE RE CLASSIFIED i Re-Grouping According to '-s the Physical Ability of the Men 1 - : r'.M' Ordered : NEWf' REGULATIONS ISSUED Men With Physical Defeets WiU Have - .. . Subject toitilLelmld.MetnoIn - S ..: ' Subject to Limited Mill ; ''. ' ' tary Service. ' . Washington, March : 7. Re-classiflca-tiozk according, to . physical condition of the -men called in the next army draft is provided in"; revised .instructions for medical "advisory.; boards which are be ing sent to the local boards throughout the 1 country. The - new -'regulations, made public tonight, require that every man summoned before the board shall be placed in one of the' following four classes:', ' ' .' ' ' . - (A) Acceptable for general military service; (b) acceptable for general mil itary service after being cured of -remedial defect; (c) acceptable for special or limited military- service In a speci fied capacity or occupation;") reject ed y and v exempted; from , any military service.' ' ' '" ' . . It 'is . the intention of the provost marshal general" to- provide later for the : fprther Investigation and classifi cation of jthe men' acceptable; for lim ited .or .special service so. that' record may. be ma"det of ,, the "sort of work each of these men. may be assigned to do without, endangering .his health. J . Under, the new regulations -many ail ments - and .defects which gained ex emption of. drafted men in the past now will result only , in . their , being llstec In - Group , B. i . Such .men If (hey choose will be given the -privilege of securing the services of .their family, physician in. the- effort, to remove the defect, but If they i have not? availed themselves of this "privilege - within a : Specified" time, they 'will , be-i called; into r military ser vice ' and ordered' toa cantonment base hospital, a reconstruction ' hospital or to a civic hospital, as may be - desig nated -by -the 'surgeon general." - r " 5 L'FOLLETTB AMENDS SUIT. Refuses to Appear for Examination in 5 . . Libel Case.' ' - Madison; "Wis., March - 7. United States Senator : " Robert "M. LaFollette filed an amended complaint today in his JlOtt.OOO' libel suit agaihst O. D. Bran denburg, editor of the Madison Demo crat, and the" "Democrat Printing Com pany, eliminating. 10 out of the 18 caus es -of action. The senator, also refused to appear in Madison for examination tomorrow, as desired by' the defendants, y The causes of action ' eliminated . in cluded printing of speeches by ' Roose velt,' Root and J. B. Winslow, Wiscon sinchief justice and also . the charge to' the 'grand jury by . Federal Judge W. R, Burns, of Houston,; Texas,' mention ing; LaFollette as a' subject for indict ment..' '.;-.';.-r".;':'.-;,;'.-;---':- 's-ta - The, remaining causes for action in clude .the" printing J of "speeches by Charles Edward Russell" and quotations front newspapers and editorials. " . - . ADMIRAL THOMAS PERRY ' ' ' -- -v ttf;s at snrrrHpnv pttwes: " Washington, March 7. -Rear' Admiral Thomas. Perry, retired1 of. Port Deposit, Md., died suddenly' today at v Southern Pines, ;NfcC., where he spent the winter. AI message received ' her ' tonight an nouncing his aeatn. aid., not. give tne causeC' Admiral Perry was a native of Elmlra. N T., He was born in 1844 and graduated 'froin the naval academy in " JlJ V i L f sif if! ml M .H'.ws- a, T new ,1 REGISTRANTS will WERE SENT Whether This Record Has Been Maintained, is Not, Now Known in Washington OFFICIALS ARE OPTIMISTIC Believe This "Spring Will See a Steady Decrease in Available . Undersea Craft U. S. NAVAL FORCE GROWS Our Real Contribution to Sea War- , . -. -.... .. , ,.. - i . . , fare About to be Felt ' Washington, -March : 7. -More subma rines were destroyed by' the allied and American naval forces in December than Germany was able' to build during that month, according .to information reaching ' Washington.-' "-This faqt de-' veloped today In discissions : of the statement made to parliament yester day by Sir Eric C Gecces, 1 first lord of the " British admiralty, that ; the subma rines were being -checked'. - ., ' ' To Increase Efforts. .' Whether succeeding. V months "have shown a net loss in German submarines is not known here. It is .believed, how ever, that the anil -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. - What officials . know : ot plans for pressing home the attack -with increas ing ; vigor, ' explains the feeling of op timism thar. prevails - in- Official' circles despite continued heavy drains on ship tonnage through the submersibles. The gradual decline in ' tonnage losses was graphically pictured . to 'parliament by Sir Eric with curve; charts.' ' . NeW Weanbns 'Forrhconilns:.' - V 5 American navaloffiCiais ''appear to :be satisfied hsV" the Weapons 1 with which they.'- expect to.; crush: anally-, the -sub creased numbers ' of Uatrol - vessels of j various' types,; appliances and :dCvlce to make j them more effective:; against underwater 'craft; ian,' the' increased skill" of navy 'personnel "are among the things upnhl'ch:tey.j count It has taken " time" to' , devise .'and-" build ! the weapons, -butthey are beginning to be come available' no w:s;' 3 '" .l - - - Give. America Full Share. V When the United : States', entered the war, the navy; ' contributed .promptly ail that ' It "natt' available to join in the submarine. . hunt. Sir' Eric ; paid high tribute in his' remljks to the spirit and efficiency ' of . American ;' naval units, crediting 'themrwith; a ' fair share of what has been accomplished. ; Vice Ad miral aims aesiroyer iprces, nowever, constituted " only the advance guard of what the. American, navy planned to furnish for the 'fight'- ; Even with that limited aid the 'allied navies have held the enemy and "are ..how destroying one out of every- four .or five German U-boats-that put to ea. : ; ", About to Feel Foil Power. - 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 construction- program; ever undertaken . for .the, navy of any power. . - . '. The new destroyers .and ether craft must be' added to the" - patrol fleets gradually- as, .they are '.completed. Therefore, no sudden falling off of ton nage losses is to be expected. ' ' It - has been stated publicly, by. high British naval authorities, however, ;that ; next August will, show: beyond question that the U-boats have been ..-overcome. There are officials here , who .'are hopef ul that decided results will be apparent before that, perhaps as 'earlyAas May -or June. PROVIDES FOR SALE OF GERMAN PROPERTY Would 4Give Government Perma ; nent Title to Big Concerns Legislation is Favorably Reported by ., , Senate Appropriations Commit--, . tee as Amendment to De- - v -fleieney BHL ' i. Washington, March ; 7. Legislation enabling the government to place in American, hands ' . permanently great German, commercial and industrial con cerns -in this country, which have been instruments , in spreading the grip of German kultur was. favorably reported to the senate, today ;iy; the appropria tions, committee.? It is in the form of an amendment to: the ; pending, urgent deficiency . bill, empowering t the alien property custodian. ;to4 sell .any enemy property taken over by his office., - The committee also approved another amendment.; giving the-- president au thority - recently asked for by - him to acquire' by p'urchaSe.,;ori;' title the great piers of the Hamburg'-Amerioah, and the Nortti ',; German-Lloyd ' steamship lines at Hoboken, N.J. . : - - In a statement tonight explaining the purpose of .the new- power, sought, .A. Mitchell Palmer," the. alien property custodian,, said? v ' - .... - f it 'Tower , under, the taw ; Is restricted WHOIiE KUMBBB 39,345 RAILROAD BUYING THE GOVERNMENT McAdoo's Organisation to Super vise Expenditures of More , Than Billion Dollars BUY LOCOMOTIVES - DIRECT Central Advisory Committee and . Three Regional Committees -to be Appointed , ; Washington March 7. Railroad pur chases, amounting to . between ?1,000, 000,000 and $2,000,000,000, this year wUl' be made through the railroad adminis tration assisted by a central advisory . committee of three railway purchasing : agents ; to be- appointed - soon. Director General McAdoo announced today." Re gional advisory committees will be cre ated" for the. , eastern, western and southern districts. " '. Vh ' s ' . The railroad administration will pur chase directly, all locomotives and all other, rolling stock and steel rails, while, most t other materials and sup plies needed for current operations will be purchased by the roads themselves.. All contracts for periods: of six. months or more , ? Willi require the- approval :of the regional1 committees before completion.';-..'.;.-; : --iii -; :-V. - . Mr. McAdoo . also announced that an advisory committee - of . - three : railroad executives, one -from i the north,- one' from . the west and . another, from the south; will:, be , named x within a- :. few days to assist: John Skelton Williams, director of finance for the -railroad ad ministration,, in .administering-. . the railrpads'.H money .matters this., year. This committee will, pass on the finan- . cial requirements- of - railroads . tleher 'for the renewing or maturing obliga tions and issuance of new securities, or providing f or jbettermerits ; , and . . addi- . tibns. ,-:--''-. -:;- ': ;-:i.---kf': " Coal and 'bther- fuel will be bought mainly by individual , lines to supply their individual needs, put 'undersuper-, vision " of - the"" ' regibn"al-c6mmitte"es: ICrossties and.lunjber, are . to be bought 'principally: by 'the Toads along" their . own; lines, but may; be ordered through -the central organization if they can not be bought in the ..territory through : which the. road passes,' "' . ." ;"Ali - other i supplies needed for .'ciir rent operations wlll be purchased ;ior the; time bein.gr says Director, Genai-al McAdoo's statement,, 'through the pur chasing ' department' of the respective roads,- but all contracts' for periods of six' months or longer must be approved by the regional committee before com pletion.' f i v. - -. . ; I.. - . .' . .' ' As fast as possible all purchases will. be centralized ; and - the - regional-' com mittees are .to- draft -recommendations for the accomplishment of this. In ad dltidn,"! the three ' regional bodies will be expected to report details of ' costs and contracts -to the railroad admlnls- -tratlOn with a view to giving all roads the - advantage - of"' efficient ; methods which may ' have been developed. " Railroad --administration - officials be lieve that eventually 1 they can : save more than 'a hundred millions - dollars a year by centralizing purchasing, al though no definite -predictions are made for this year owing to the necessarily slow process of 'organizing a nation wide buying, system. . ' ' - ? Members" of the "central '- advisory committee - and " the regional - commit tees will5 be' appointed ; soon. All will be practical' purchasing agents or vice presidents of - railroads.' The regional bodies, to be composed of 'three or f more are to have headquarters res pectively in- New " York, Chicago 5 and Atlanta and are to work in close co operation with the regional rail execu tive directors with headquarters in those cities. ,.. ; ? . , ;'.' x - In his capacity as director of finance for the railroads administration, Mr. Williams also will be assisted by an other advisory committee, of three rail road financial ' experts, ' one fsom - the north, one from' the west and one from the south; These, men 'will serve with out pay and. will help ."in the work of investigating" and providing plans to meet the . financial requirements of the railroads whether these needs relate to the taking up and renewing bf ma turing obligations and. the issuance .of new securities -or" providing, for better ments and additions.. .. . .. Mr. Williams and , his advisors will administer in a general way the dispo sitlpn of about; $4,000,000,000 represeiit ing the gross earnings from operations In a . year. -In .the past requirements for new. capital to; purchase . erjttibment and' make betterments and additions have been between 1 ?250,000,000 ana $750,000,000 -a yeardependlng on busi ness actlvityand money market conditions.-- ..-:..-: -' . :--'-:..; ;,' .r i. ; ROOSEVELT RETURNS HOME. 1. Colonel is Back at Sagamore Hill and , ..- r. -.Say He Feels Fine. ' ' Oyster Bay, N. March 7.--Colonel Roosevelt returned to4iis home on Sag-v : amore Hill here this afternoon after -having been for several weeks; in New Tork. City, where he underwent opera- -tions for-:ear trouble. . Mrs. Roosevelt -accompanied ;him home. , The trip ' from, NewYorkjto Oyster Bay: was made .in an automobile, and -.Colonel Roosevelt : declared that he' felt fine.- -f - - . Colonel ;Roosevelt-said-he expected. to regain -his .strength and be his own. self in, a short , time. -. Ha, intends- to . rest . during, the next three weeks and then ' to .be in condition . to make some of the . speeches which w ere " canceled because of his illness. ; ; j-- . 4. ' ;: Very few visitors will "be permitted , to . see Colonel ; Roosevelt during the -period of convalescence. Most of his ' time will be spent in reading and walk ing atout'fias estate. : ? I 4 J: