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NOT YET BEGUIJ
Blow May Be Launched at Any
- ' Moment, However.
ALLIES ARE NOT IDLE
Every Hour Being Utilized by
Them to Strengthen Strategic
Positions; Confidence Reigns.
Bv . the , Associated Press
Still anohter week has passed, and
the Germans hare not begun their
expected new offensive agxlnt the
all lied forces In Flanders and Picardy.
-And, as yet, there is nowhere any"
Indication that it Is the early Inten
tion of the enemy again to try to
break the battle front and reach the
channel ports.
It is not improbable, however, that
the blow will be launched at any mo
ment Aviators winging their way in
reconnaissances behind the German
lines still report a continuation by the
Germans of their work of bringing up
fresh troops, guns and stores for what
is believed everywhere will be their
greatest attempt to win a decisive vic
tory. Meantime, the allies are not Idle.
Every hour is being utilized by them
to strengthen strategic positions and
every hour finds them the better pre
pared to withstand an enemy on
slaught The morale of the troops is
of the highest and confidence reigns
among the men of "the unified com
mand of General Foch that the enemy
will not be able to carry out his pro
gram to the full, and that whatever
ground he may gain will be dearly
paid for.
Americans Kot Scoonharr
In the work of strengthening the
battle front tne'-Ameriians are piay
in no secondary.. roleT steady!
stream of the khaki clad lads from
overseas to the fighting llne"haa served
' greatly to .reassure the British and
French contingents that have hereto
fore so valiantly held their own
against tremendous odds. Those of
the Americans already In the trenches
have given and are still giving a good
account of themselves, harrasslng the
Germans with their artillery and out
gaming In combats In the open.
Even the Germans at home pre
viously adopting the tactics of -sneer-.
ing at the Americans now are becom
ing aware of their strength and virili
ty. No less an authority than the
semi-official North German Gazette is
remarking on the "maturing" Ameri
can reinforcements behind the allied
line and wondering "how the lightning
trained Tankee will hold his own
against the German lads who have
had military training from their
youth."
Nowhere along the battle front has
there been fighting of any great mo
ment. Several new raids have been
carried out successfully against Ger
man positions by the Americans, Brlt-
ly put down. Heavy artillery duels
have been In progress on various sec
tors between the Germans and the
British and French. The shelling by
Germans of Field Mashal Haig's po
sitions east and northeast of Amiens
has been particularly heavy, gas pro
jectiles being used In great numbers.
Another "Silent" Raid.
The Americans In the Montdldler
- actor have carried out another of
their "silent" raids, leaving their
trenches without artillery support snd
overwhelming an enemy trench. Six
Hermans were killed and one soldier
was made prisoner by the Americans-
who returned to tneir own nne. i ne
British near Bucquoy in a similar ad
venture, captured 14 Germans and two
machine guns and in two other raids
took 15 prisoners and a machine gun.
In the Allette river region the French
also brought In captives.
v mere sun w conmuri.ure . na
tivity over and nenina tne Dame une
and numerous fights in the air ccur
In the Italian-theater the Austrian
have essayed several rather strong at
tacks against the Italians in the moun
tain rerlon of the north but every
where have met with repulse. Along
the lower Piave river and In the Ton
ale region there have been Intensive
artillery duels.
AMERICAN PATROL IN
SHARP FIGHT ROUTS ENEMY
With the American Army In France,
May 26. (By the Associated Press)
An American patrol had an engage
ment last night in the wineviue sec
tor with a German patrol carrying
, light machine guns, and routed tne
enemy in a snarp ngnt. tevenu oi un
Germans were killed. Their bodies
were dragged back by their com
rades. There were no -American
losses.
. On the same sector a German ser
geant crept into the American lines,
holding up" his hands and shouting
"kamerad."
' He said he had enough of fighting
for the kaiser and Von Hlndenburg.
He was sent to the rear.
The artillery action generally was
light In lheTouTland Luneville sec
tors. American airmen concluded sev
eral missions successfully without en-
countering the German machines. ;
AMERICAN GUNBOAT IN
r CHINA STRIKES A ROCK
' Shanghai. Wednesday. Mayy 21, (By
I the Associated Press.) rAn American
gunboat proceeding to - Chungking
Tuesday. Although badly" damaged
he succeeded In returning to port
til
Amsterdam, Slay 26. "Heavy
losse." were Inflicted on the Ameri
cana on the Picardy front in tle
rcpnbe of strons American patrols
yesterday west of .Montdldler, It Is
claimed In a semi-official German
report rcceiTCd today in a Berlin
telegram.
The report la the course of a
description of yesterday's military
operations, says:
"WW of Montdldler strong
American patrols, advance against
our front . One American patrol
was, entirely, cut up by onr fire.
The others were thrown back by
counter-attack. The Americans
thereby suffered heavy losses."
U. S. AVIJLTDRS
VEBY
Have Done Much Toward Ac
complishing Results Sought.
Killing Off . Enemy Airmen and
Preventing Them Getting
American Information.
With the American Army in France,
Saturday, May 25. (By the Associa
ted Press) The activities of the
American air squadron operating in
the sector northwest of Toul seem to
have had results even more effective
than was anticipated. When it first
began its work there were between
30 and SO summonss to activity com
ing in to our aviators daily. Gradually
the number of calls has dwindled un
til for several days the average has
been only two a day.
From a strictly technical military
standpoint, the operations of ' the
American airmen have two objects.
The first is to kill , off the opposing
airmen, while the seoond is to keep
the enemy from flying his machines
on the American side of the line and
thus preventing him from taking pho
tographs, regulating artillery fire, or
in any 'way 'securing Information.
any 'way securing
tnmi m d aocontpiumtng-bott
The records show that the new I
EFFECTIVE
squadron has already taken a cred- re. . w T. . ,
liable toll of enemy pilots and ob- .? J?Ti :MA UEto,n- 5n'
servers, while for a German airplane Col - nd ShlpVCook J. W. Cov
to come over the American lines now ! "Kto,n ' Dur". Okla.. are recom-
is a rare occurrence. This situation
contrasts sharply with that which pre
vailed when these aviators first start
ed operating. It was a rare occasion
then when one or more enemy air
planes was not encircling over or be
hind the American lines, operating
with almost complete freedom.
Moreover. Recording to information
obtained from a German officer avia
tor brought down within the last few
days, the fear of the American avia
tors has been instilled into the Ger
man flying corps. This prisoner fur
nished the Information that the line
from St. Mihiel to Pont-a-Mausson,
within which the American airmen
are operating had come to be regard
ed as a dangerous place for German
pilots. Our fighting aviators could
not possibly have heard a more wel
come tribute. .
FOUR AMERICAN AIRMEN
MISSING ON BRITISH FRONT
American Headquarters on the Brit
ish Front, Saturday, May 25, (By the
Associated Press.) Four . American
aviators have been reported missing
on the British front, two of whom
were brought down behind the Ger
man lines since 'April (May?) 12. The
names of the missing men are not yet
available.
There Is no confirmation as yet of
the claim of Thursday's German offi
cial etatement that three American
airplanes were brought down on Wed
nesday 6n the Lys front.
AMERICANS IvIAKEf RAID
IN MONTDIDIER REGION
With the American Army In f ranee.
Saturday, May 25. (By the Associated
Press.) American forces in the Mont
dldler region carried out a silent raid
upon enemy positions yesterday, kill
ing six men and capturing one. With
out the assistance of the artillery the
Americans slipped into the enemy
trenches and quickly accomplished
their work.
DR. JOHNSON TO KNOW HIS
FATE WITHIN THREE DAYS
Middlesex, N. C, Dentist Clearly
Indicates He Is Not Worrying
About the Outcome.
Special to The Observer.
Richmond, Va.. May 26. Within
three days Dr. Lemuel Johnson, Mid
dlesex. X. C. dentist, charged here
with the murder of his wife on De
cember 20, 1917, by givinacher poison,
will know his fate. The oase is to be
resumed at 1.0 sw m. Monday with the
defendant on tfie stand for a grilling
cross-examination.
Throughout the trial Johnson has
assumed the attitude of an Innocent
bystander and he clearly indicates he
Is not worrying about the outcome. '
The young brother of the dentist
Arrived here Saturday and will sit be
side him in the courtroom during the
closing days of the trial. His father
and mother, both ill in the Norfh
Carolina home, will be unable to at
tend the trial.
.Muers Ittui Washington
: With the American Army In France,
May 26, By the Associated Press.)
It was announced tonight, that the
Issuance ef -omwHtntqu had- bee
discontinued on orders to headquar
ters from Washington. .
VI PHI
iUiilyULil t llUUt OLiK
PEBSIG J0JLIS1D :
AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT
Only Those for England, France
and Italy Will Be Given Out
- at Headquarters ' in France
Hereafter.
Washington. Iay General
Pershing's daily communiques here
after will be issued for the press of
the United States exclusively at the
war department here. Copies for the
paper, sof England. France and Italy
will be given out at the headquarters
of the expeditionary forces, where It
is understood they also wil Ibe avail
able -to American correspondents but
only for their Information.
Decision to have the communiques
Issued here is understood to have re
sulted from two considerations. The
first was to prevent further conges
tion of already overcrowded cable
wires which would result from each
American correspondent cabling the
communiques separately and the sec
ond was to make the communiques
available In Washington for all news
papers of the United States at the
same time. -
U. S. NAVAL OFFICERS AND
MEN RESCUED 34 MEMBERS
OF CREW OF FLORENCE H.
Stories of Heroic Daring Told
in Report of Rear Admiral
Wilson to the Navy Depart
ment . Washington. May 2C. Stories of the
heroic daring of American naval offi
cers' and men in rescuing 34 of the
75 mmhni rf th rrw tf thh Amor- I
ican munitions shirf Florence H. which I
pnivvv hi n re run
caught fire and broke In two in French tr session
waters last April 17. are told in the With an all summer session re
report or Rear Admiral Wilson, com-
mending American naval forces In '
r ranee . maae puouc tonignt by tne
navy department.
Lieut H. D. Haislip. of San Mateo.
Cal., who at the risk of detonating his
depth charges and destroying his ves
sel, promptly charged 'hi destroyer
through, the-pvase-ef- M4wg- awe? -e(-
"""V"" "."'"'
V"".. . .lsr7.T'va1. maa, ?l
iiuiiur anu huiu iiie-saving meaais.
They leaped Into the sea and rescued
a man who. exhausted, was in the
midst of exploding powder boxes.
Six officers who commanded life
and motor boats which entered the
wreckage to rescue men who were
being badly burned about the head
and arms, two surgeons and a chap
lain and 48 seamen who were with
them are mentioned for commenda
tion. The French vice admiral command
ing the district. In commending Lieu
tenant Haislip said he gave "proof
of a superb contempt of danger and
remarkable qualities of seamanship."
ROOSEVELT AND TAFT
HAVE AMICABLE CHAT
Two Forme Presidents Talk fori
Half Hour in Chicago Hotel.
Chicago. May 26. Theodore Roose
velt and William Howard Taft. former
Presidents of the United States, met
tonight In a Chicago hotel and held
their first extnded amicable conversa
tion since the national republican con
vention In 1812. "It was at that con
vention held In Chicago that the prog
ressive party was born and Colonel
Rosevelt made Its nmlnee after the
republicans had nominated Mr. Taft
This occurred In the dining room.
Colonel Roosevelt was at dinner when
Mr. Taft entered and made his way to
the colonl's table. The men gripped
hands and smiled broadly while the
other diners rose and cheered.
After the greeting, the former presi
dents sat down and engaged in ani
mated conversation for half an hour.
Finally, as Mr. Taft rose to go they
shook hands again, each seemingly In
the best of spirits.
Neither the colonel nor , Mr. Taft
would divulge the topic of conversa
tion. "Mr. Taft heard I was here and im
mediately came to see me." said Mr.
Roosevel. "We had a very enjoyable
half hour's talk and I was very happy
to see him again."
Mr. Taft said:
"I heard the colonel was here be
fore I saw him. I missed the oppor
tunity of seeing him at the dinner to
Marshal J off re in New Tork. I was
J very glad to see him this time."
IVIloo oiiiMovn unnoLt
TO RESUME HER FLIGHT
Blnghamton, N. T., May 26VMiss
Catherine Stlnson, aviatrlx, who at
tempted a flight from Chicago to New
Tork last Thursday and alighted here
when the airplane's supply of gaso
line became depleted, was to resume
her Journey today. She tried several
new, "propellers on the machine this
afternoon, but none of them had the
reauislte pulling fore.
Miss Stlnson is suffering from & se
vere cold -and under the care of a
physician, but she announced her in
tention of flying to Tfew Tork tomor
row if the airplanes .worked properly.
PERUVIAN VESSELS TO
SAIL TO FOREIGN PORTS
' Lima. Peru. May- tt. The govern
ment has authorised the sailing of
Peruvian vessels to foreign ports.
On May 11 the government prohib
ited the sailing of Peruvian merchant
htp4tsid--( -ertbf-eentrafr-.
South American waters without pe
cial permits -
-
JU1IUIIUUU II
rn nrirnu i n n -
DN REVENUE BILL
Members Are Not Satisfied but
Are Resigned.
WILSON TO TALK TO THEM
Body Now Prepared to Revise
Program and Abandon Plans
for July Adjournment,
Washington, May 26. Dissatisfied
but resigned, Congress is prepared to
revise its legislative program this week
and abandon plans for adjournment in
July.
President Wilson is expected to
state formally in a few days why rev
enuo legislation before the December
session is regarded as Imperative.
Since the democratic and republican
leaders failed to agree on plans pro
posed by the President for a special
session after 'the fall elections, the
work of forming a new tax bill will
proceed at once unless there is seome
unexpected development.
Final conferences on the question
will be held tomorrow. Senator Sim
mons, chairman of the senate finance
committee, plans to see Secretary Mc
Adoo and a compromise movement to
afford Congress a summer , vacation
later on may follow. Leaden hope
the administration may consent to an
adjournment after the revenue bill
has 'made substantial progress early
in the fall, possibly after it 1ms
rarxha
the senate, ana defer com-
pletlon of the measure until the win
rarded as a disappointing certainty, a
slowing down of recent speed on leg
ui&tion is enacted. Week-end re-
cesses are planned during the summer
while, committees work on the tax
bill. , This week, .however, much im
portant legislation is on the program.
The record . BeeaKing tarmy -appco
pVrioirbnt-tiaiiifif 4mt $i2oor,
090,0e, witn its provision or cauuiw
all men to the colors ( who can be
trained and equipped, Will be taken .up
Tuesdaly by the house under an agree
ment to give it the right of way in the
hope of its passage early next weak.
Tomorrow the house plans to pass the
ntw urgent deficiency appropriation
bill carrying $123,000,000.
Increase of the army also is sched
uled for consideration by the senate
in discussion of the resolution of Sen
ator Reed authorising 3.000.000 more
men, unanimously reported by the
senate military committee. Some op
noHitlon already has been devloped in
the senate to the provision In the!
house bill and champions of the Reed
resolution hope to make It the basis
of a compromise.
The aircraft Inquiry of the senate
military subcommittee headed by
Senator Thomas will open formally
tonrorrow with . a meeting t odlscuss
procedure.
Proposed Increase to $2.50 per
bushel of the government's minimum
guaranteed price for wheat will again
I be considered tomorrow by senate and
house, conferees on the agricultural
appropriation Dill wun prospects oi
defeat of the proposal by continuation
of the present .deadlock.
CHARGED WITH SELLING
SPOILED MEAf TO ARMY
Complaint Against Swift &. Co.
and Morris & Co. Made by
Trade Commission.
Washington, May 26. Sale of
spoiled meat and other food products
to the army with the knowledge that
the food was "unfit for human con
sumption." Is charged in complaints
issued today by the federal trad,e com
mission against Morris & Co., and
Swift & Co.. two of the five great
packing companies.
It is alleged that thousands Of
pounds of unfit meat and chickens
were sold to Camp Travis, Texas. Moat
of it was detected and condemned,
but. it Is said, some of It may have
been passed and consumed.-
Details of the Information upon
which the action is based were with
held by the commission. '
)0.J0 SAYS
: Showers today and probably Tues
day, ,
'alking abouLTUut trip to Europe."
won't be such a novelty after the war
Is over .;;.: ....v.
HI
Iff
Mi
i
I
HnpiiMiwiiyLii
LllU I mr nimni u niirnnniimn
MUimULlilllM K'
menace of the submrrine UP LUltb Ut rtUtliAL UPlHAILLI
- .T, - - - i - - - -
... s sBil lllilMIIHMPn mi isisnnft
L
Great Britain and America in
April Built 40,000 More Tons
of Shipping Than the Enemy
Sunk.
Pa rls, May 26. As proof that the
allies are rapidly overcoming the sub-!
marine menace, George's Leygues,
minister of marine, informed the army '
and navy war committees of the sen
ate yesterday that Great Britain and
the United States alone had construct
ed In April 40,000 tons more shipping
than was sunk by the enemy.
The ministers declared also that the
means employed to rid the seas of sub
marines had-become increasingly ef
fective since January and had given
decisive results.
The minister pointed out the tre
mendous strides recently made by the
allies In repairing ships damaged by
torpedoes or mines and declared that
co-ordination between the allied na
tions had become so smooth during
the last four months that the tonnage
restored to the sea exceeded 600,000
tons weekly. Great Britain, he said,
had repaired 698:000 tons in one
week recently while France . had ef
fected repairs upon 360,000 tons In one
mcrhth. The Increased building and
more efficient and speedier repair
work was constantly bringing better
results in the transport of troops and
supplies.
As to th elncreasing destruction of
submarines which was constant, said
the minister, the figures for April
were excellent, showing an increase
over the preceding months but were
far surpassed by the results known to
have been attained thus far in May.
Jacques Mumesnll, under secretary of
aeronautics, announced to the com
mitteemen that the program for the
construction of naval machines pre
pared In U17 bad already been
equalled in 1918, but that a new and
more intensive effrt was planned.
GERMAN PATROL ARMED
WITH LIGHT MACHINE
GUNS 4-DRItEN BACK
Work of American Patff of One
Officer and 20 Men in Lor
raine Sector Cited in Persh
ing's Communique.
Washington, May 26. General Per
shing's communique for Sunday issued
tonight by the war department tell
how an American patrol of an officer
and 20 men in the Lorraine sector last
night drove back and inflicted losses
upon an enemy, patrol armed with
light machine guns and assisted by
machine gunfire from the enemy lines.
The .communique for Saturday, de
layed In transmission, says:
"Yesterday In Picardy our troops
executed a successful silent raid and
inflicted on the enemy a number of
losses In killed and prisoners. There
is nothing else of Importance to re
port."
Following Is today's statement:
"In the course of parrot encounters
our troops drove back the enemy and
inflicted a number of casualties. Last
night in Lorraine one of our patrols,
consisting of an officer and 20 men.
gained contact with an enemy patrol
of about, equal strength which was
supplied with light machine guns and
assisted by rrfachine gunfire from its
own lines. In the fighting which en
sued our patrol drove back the enemy
killing several of them."
ARMY CASUALTY LIST
CONTAINS 28 NAMES
Five Officers Named in Sunday's
Roll Five Soldiers Killed in
Action.
Washington, May 26. The army
casualty list issued tdday contained 28
names, divided as follows:
Killed In action, five.
Died of wounds, two.
Died of disease, five.
Died of accident, two.
Wounded severely, seven.
Wounded slightly, five. ,
Missing. In action, two.
Five officers were named. Lleuts.
Walter Victor Barnesby, 222 Thirtieth
street, Newport News. Va.. and Paul
B. Kurtz of Germantown, Pa., died of
accident; MaJ. 8mauel L. Wilsop of
Lexington, Ky., Capt. William J. Bur
dell of Hot Spring's, Ark., and Lieut
Frederick H. Cone of New York city,
were wounded severely.
HOLDS THE AMERICAN
"HORDES" IN CONTEMPT
Amsterdam; May 28. Regarding
the American "hordes" training In the
French camps, the semi-official North
German Gasette of Berlin remarks:
"Fresh reinforcements are mean
While maturing In our recruiting de
pots behind the front and we will wait
and see whether the lightning trained
Yankee will hold his own against the
German lads who have had military
training from their youth."
STEAMER 'CLAN MATHESON
- A SUNK IN COLLISION
London,' Saturday. May 25.-The
British steamer' Clan Matheson has
been sunk In a collision. Lloyd's ship
ping agency announced today.
The Xln Matheson was a teamer
of -4.500 tons gross, built In i91t at
Sunderland. She was owned by. Cay
ger, Irvine A Co., Limited, of Glas
gow.- .The last mention oi nei; an me
eWpirtnxcor(U,WMAa.JDecembec464
last, when she was reported at a Urn-
ted State's Atlantic port. , ;
UUIIUIIIIL. IIIUIIL.IIUL.U III I III I Ull
U I N U Mil
57 (&J (Bit XsO
L
Red Cross Officials Set No Limit
to Mercy Fund.
Contributions Expected to Far
Exceed $1 8,000,000 on This
Final Day.
Washington, May 26. With the
American Red Cross' second $100,
000,000 war mercy fund already over
subscribed by $12,097,104, officials to-
nignt were setting no limit to the out
pouring of dollars on the closing day
of the week's drive tomorrow. That
that dally average of something more
than $18,000,000 would be far ex
ceeded they had no doubt.
On the face of returns at head
quarters here tonight, 11 of the 14
divisions had oversubscribed, with the
gulf leading the home divisions in
nercantaee with 210. but the foreign
tonning them all with 800., The three
divisions which had not attained their
quotas were expected to go over the
The Pbtomao division shows 14,800,.
290 and the southern division xb.iui,
Greater New York lacks $1,3.66
of equalling Its quota. Philadelphia,
with an allotment of $4,500,000, has
subscribed $10,281,000. Detroit has
given $5,600,000, nearly four times
Its minimum.. Pittsburgh his at
tained only 56 per cent of its $4,000,
000, while Chicago has turned inr only
47 per cent Of Its $7,000,000. Bostn
Is another of the larger cities behind in
the campaign. '
GRACE LUSK TRIAL TO
BE CONCLUDED THIS WEEK
Defense Resting Its Entire Hope
of Favorable Verdict on Plea
of Insanity.
Waukesria, Wis., May 26 The fate
of Grace Lusk will be placed in tne
hands of the Jury before the end of
the third week of her trial for slaying
the wife of Dr. David Roberts, at
torneys in the case announced today.
The defense, navmg aammeu um
the school teacher shot and klHed Mrs.
Roberts, Is resting Its entire hope of
nhi.ininr a. favorable verdict on the
plea of Insanity. To this end Miss
Lusk's attorneys have pointed to the
stories told on the witness stand by
both the school teacher and the vet
erinarian as proof that the defendant
did not have the mental capacity
to distinguish between right and
wrong. l
To combat this contention the pros
ecution has introduced testimony de
signed to show that, although Miss
Lusk declared on the witness stand
she could remember nothing of the
actual shooting, her recollection of
events immediately before and after
the tragedy was clear.
The state also sought to show a de
liberate plot on the part of the school
teacher to eliminate Mrs. Roberts
from "the triangle" so that she could
marry the doctor.
Tomorrow more expert testimony
will be Introduced by both sides re
garding the sanity or Insanity of the
defendant.
ENTENTE ALLIED AIR RAID
CARRIED OUT OVER LIEGE
Longdoz Railway Station Is De
stroyed and Twenty-six Per
sons Are Killed.
Amsterdam, May 26. The. Rotter
dam Maasbode reports that an entente
allied air raid has been carried out
over Liege, The Longdos railway sta
tion was destroyed and twenty-six per.
soas were killed.
The Longdoz railway station Is the
lunctlon point for lines running to
LNamur and Maestrlcht.
A dispatch from London last Wed
nesday said early that morning two
bombing formations sent out to attack
th important railway triangle at
Liege had dropped 22 heavy bomb
and that large fires were started b
the explosives. .
LOOKS FOR BIG TRADE
'AFTER THE WAR ENDS
Washington. May 26. In announc
ing today the result of a survey of the
foreign markets for cotton Unters. bat
n and waste, made by American
consuls, the department of commerce
said it believed the af ter-the-war
trade" in these commodities will great
Iv exceed the total of $11,000,000 be
of. more than 50 count
ine manteis
ea are ' de
scribed in the report
TWELVE M LL ONS
Effective Next SaturdaV; Retro
active to Last January IM PROBABLY
$300,000,000
ADDED TO ANNUAL PAYROLL
Departs -From Commission's
Recommendations Slightly. -
NEW WAGE BOARD CREATED
All Increases to Be Determined
Upon Percentage Based Upon
Pay in December, 1915.
Washington, May 26,-General pay '
Increases for nearly two. million raH-;
road employes were announced today
by Director General McAdoo, effec
tive next Saturday and retroactive to
last January 1. carrying out substan
tially recommendations of the rail
road wage commission. The aggregate
of the increases probably will be more
than $300,000,000 a year, half of
which will be distributed within a few
weeks as back pay in lump sums
ranging from .about $109 to nearly
$2 OTP each.
The director general departed from
the wage commission's recommenda
tions in the following particulars:
The principle of the basic etent
hour day is recognlaed, but owing to
exigencies of the war situation, hour
of employment are not actually re
duced and overtime is to be paid pro -rata;
future adjustments of pay aro
to be made on the basis of eight .
hours. ! ' ' ' "' , ' J ' " i
In addition to the ordinary ecalo
.of . increase, -da lberera . employed,. ,
tnatntv nn track work aro to get at
least J cent an hour more than
tney receiveo hwi uwun .
A minimum of SI cents an hour Is
established- for the" shop trades, In- :
eluding : machinists, bollermakers and t
blacksmiths. ; r . .
Women are to receive the same pay
as men for the same work and negroes
are to get the same as white men
for similar employment. - . 1 ;
Saw Waare Broad.
, To work out a multitude of Ine
qualities and other injustices caused
by varying rules of employment and .
condition of organization, the direc
tor general created a new board of . .
railroad wage and working condl-
tlons consisting. ot three labor repre- '
sentatlves and three railway execu- -tlves
which will conduct extensive
Investigation, and recommend .wage .
and other employments changes. ..
All Increases now ordered will bo
determined according to, a percent-. ;, .
age scale based on pay received In , .
December,- 191$, and any increases '
which have been allowed within that
time will be deducted. In many cases ,.
raises in pay In the last ; two and
half years are about equal to the "
Increases now approved " and conse
quently these employes, will get little ,
or no more. To correct Just such sst
uatlons when Injustices are apparent
will be one of the. principal ouues oi
the new wage board, wnose creation,
was suggested by the railroad wage . , .
commission. In no cases are wages .
to be reduced."-"' -'-jfcv-'.!----
Who Get increases.
Mn working on the monthly," dally, , s -
hourly, piece work and train mile ba- . .
sis will benefit by the new allowances. ,
and members of .the four leading i-ail-
jway brotherhoods whose pay wa . ) .
raised through operation oi mm aomi-
son act are to receive irom .JD w
per cent additional, a smaner increase
than thev had asked of railroads
shortly before the government: took. J
control. " :
The wage order appuea to an em
ployes of the 164 roads: now under ,
rtr,l management, but .not to the
so-called short , lines unless .they are
,aina kv th rnvernment alter juiy
1. It affects employes f 'termlnal.
union station, and switching com pa
nles, lighters, ferries and tugs owned -by
railroads, but not employes of rain
road boat lines on im nm, !
or coastwise trafflCv Although pullman y
cars now are under government oper-.
atlon, pullman employes will not ben-
eflt unless the raiiroaa nammmmuun ,
decides eventually to retain manage-""
ment of the cars. "'
In announcing nis decision. r. c- . ;
Adoo appealed to railroad employe
to forget dissensions and disappoint,
menu arising under private control, '
and to remember that the success of
the war depends largely on .their ser- ,
vices. i
May Increase Rate.
To meet the expense of the wage
Increase, the blggesj ever granted to
railroad or to any other class of em- -
ployes at one time th railroad; ad- '
ministration has discussed raising
freight and passenger rates.- f
The percentages of wage increase
range from 43 for men who received
$ 4 6 a month in December. 115. down .. .
to a small rate for those receiving Just
under $250 or more in 1815. is -
With the exception of office and , , ,
messenger boys mder 18. who- are ' v ,
given smaller Increase all .employe,
who received less than $4$ a month, ' ;
ar given a flat lncrease-bf120rwlth "
tne provision mm i"" y-:.
the day shalLget a minimum , of IV,
cents an hour aboye the .rate six
months aro. , t ,
Table of Increases. v
' Th table of Increases, as announced, .. ,
itemized for each dollar of wages re- ; ;
ceived in December, 116, may be
summarized as follows:
Monthtv rate - , Increase abov
In 115 ' : HI P ' '
i 46 to $ tro.n to $2t.S .,
6!LtO..J J?4, $21.60 to $22 S
(Continued on Page Two.)
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