North Carolina Newspapers

J 4 UU k CAHOLKJA i!3"E f.EWSFAPEJV CC."$Tn"CT(Yc, CL..i T.EUAELE "V.'HEfJ YCU SEE IT XJ THE CESEHVI IVZ SO." FOUNDED i69 CHARLOTTE N. C FRIDAY,' AiORNING, DECEMBER 20, 1918. PRICE Fi' Ollil'S PLANS annul SUttl CII British. Paper Speculates Upon "Precise Causes.1 r : LONDON VISIT UNEXPECTED ''Bjisiness Which ' Arrangements Previously Contemplated Hardly Seemed to lmHy." ? j London, Dec. ltvPresldcnt Wilson will probably be the guest of the king at Buckingham . palace during - Ids visit; to, England. Thte official an nonnocmcnt was made tonight '- London, Dec. 1.--There Is, undls galsad confusion , to". American ' cen ten We as the result of the change in President Wilson's plans regarding his coming to. London and ths most ; 'directly interested, are anxiously - waiting an official notice of the Pres ident's early coming, which was. not to be had up' to noon today. , With nothing more - definite , than '",the British official announcement of last -hlght to work upon, ' the " naval " representatives are making endeavors i to reach American naval headquar ters In Paris to learn what they can concerning the President's trip. , 4 ' ' In the absence of such notification, n it is recalled that the President is re- ported to have ceased to consider - himself art official guest of France i when the official reception ceremonies ended.-, - ' ' It was suggested in American cen ".. ters today that the President might come to England ,ln a French or Brit- tan vessel, although there Is nothing " 4 available at the BrltUh admiralty to ' show that such . plans are contem plated at. present . All of the American battleships 1 that were in European waters have . sailed for home, but 'there are plenty , t. - of American destroyers for the escort ' of any vessel bearing the President 'The reception of the President' In "London will not be participated In by .' the American army to any extent, ac i cording to Indications. , PRESIDENT; TO VfelT : ;,C sr DCDCutiirt nw fnjmcTaiao ,. i j?li nisi i lias PtWnwn'mTTe his depaAu pre from Paris on Christ- , i ...-i iium nrti i ii i n mas eve tor cnaumont - American headauarters. on General Pershlna's ' special irin ua: uqrmunu mornjng he will go by automobile to a nearby rest camp and dine with the troops. e turning tot Paris the same night ... I . . . 1 I ... . . American Ambassador snarp, as dean of the diplomatic corps, has ar ranged to present all the ambas sa ilors and ministers accredited to the French government, to President Wil , son on Friday, at the Murat palace. SOME CONFERENCES TO BE HELD IN ENGLAND? Paris. Dec 19. Amerioan observ , era deduce frpm the pressing invita tion to the President to come to Eng land during Christmas time that some conferences of the statesmen with the President there would logically fol low. It is understood, however, that the President favors the holding of all conferences in Paris as far as possi- It appears to be virtually settled that all the actual peace conferences will be held In Paris and that the in formal exchanges, which wilt lay the ground' work for. the final delibera tions, also will be carried on here. How long the President will remain ' In London has not been determined. ttut as he is due to return for the opening of ' the conference-here for nrst wee m January, u woum seem that he could not remain in England f pr long. . HARDING BEFORE HOUSE , , BANKING COMMITTEE Urges ,. Legislation . Authorizing . Reserve Banks to Increase T V Surplus to-100 Per Cent" , Washington, Dec. II .-Appearing before the house banking committee today In support of, Chariman Phe lan's bill to amend 1 the federal . re serve' act Governor Harding,; of the tAm . futru' hnopi nrvA : imm. dlate legislation authorising Increase of federal banks' surplus to 100 per cent or tneirpaia-in capital stock.. , : AlinOUgn pront Iff not ana SnOUlu not be the nrimarv object of the fed- eral banks operation, Governor Harding said the . banksV activities have been so remunerative that sev eral, banks, if the proposed legisla tion is authorized, would have 1Q0 per cent surplus January . 1 and that all would have that surplus by next I July:l.-i&.v;rf'J; ' "The board vews wtt,h some con cern the large amount of outstand ing federal .reserve notes,"- the ,wit- ness said, "but the banks have been'. obligee? to support, the government in its financing - and we now hope we can .;. reduce, , the outstanding notes." .., Federal reserve - banks' earnings. Governor Harding Bald. . cannot be deemed as any considerable asset to- ward paying off the national debt, , now about . ZO,ooo,000.000. , Such earnings, , he declared, would be a "mere bagatelle." - FORMER KAISER IN BED . WITH' A SEVERE CHILL -, Amsterdam, Holland, Deo; 18, "Wed ' nesday. (By the Associated Press.) -Former Emperor William has been ' . confined to his bed since Sunday With . a severe chill. His' indisposition has '' brought about a renewal of this old . trouble, necessitating the calling in .U,l .a- -specialist-- a . professor -irom Utrecht t assist the lfval doctor, 1 . : r ..,, : PROPOSAL TO SINK SURRENDERED : VARSniPS INTERESTS V-rTiSIiniGTOII Steps Initiated in Senate to Obtain Official Statement of Facts. , . Indications Are .Concfess Will Oppose Such a Measure. Pte Repprt Fronf Paris Leads to Wide Discussion in Na val Circles Senator- Lodge "Washington," Dec. 19.-Press 'dls patchea from Paris saying that the American peace delegates, with Brit ish support, will urge the sinking of the surrendered 'German warships' as the solution of the problem of their disposition, led to Initiation of steps to day in the senate to obtain an official statement of the fads and to widen discussion In naval circles. At ths state and navy departments' no In formation was available, Secretary Daniels repeating his previous state ment that he had never. heard the suggestion officially, while at the state department it was said that so far as known there no such project was In eluded in the American peace pro gram, i- "'':'-; v. - , The flrsr published suggestion that the ships he sunk came from London several days ago, but even before that It was learned, this had occurred. to some naval authorities , here as one possible way of settling a vexing prob lem. ''--V- - ' ' sVV' ' Admiral Benson, naval adviser to the American peace delegation, has been In Europe some time. His views, worked out with Vice Admiral Sims and officials of the British admiralty and the French ministry of marine, will have great w.elght with tire Amer ican delegates on naval questions aris ing at the conference, but there , Is nothing here to indicate what con clusion he may have reached on the disposition of the surrendered craft. There were many indications today that a proposal to sink the ships would meet strong Opposition in Congress. Correspondent Finds Well-to-Do Germans Feasting. In Rhine District One Is Baffled - by the Appearance of Plenty Jn the Stores. t-j?.' I 1 ' -""" TlM observer From , The Loniltin Times. The London Tunes. (Copy right, i UU, by Public Ledger Co.) With the British Armies. Dec. II. The occupation of our 18-wlle bridge head across the Rhine has been com pleted without Incident. I have vis ited our advanced positions . on the frontier territory north and northeast of Cologne. At each place, such as BenratH, Hlldren, Ohligh and Sollngen, I found our cavalry posts already go ing about their work as if they had lived there for weeks, the population accepting their presence with singular unconcern. , Sometimes one catches the eye of a man or woman which is ablaze with hatred. How could It bo otherwise? But I have met with no single dis courteous word or gesture in Ger many. I Half the people seem curious and the other half indifferent. . The children cheer the British troops and hot seldom women wave their hands. In Sollngen, as everywhere else, one is baffled by the appearance of plenty, even' luxury, in the shops and con fectioners' windows. Yet the people complained of the slendernesa of the ration and are honestly uneasy over the immediate outlook. The army had enormous stocks of food in the areas behind the front, but these were pillaged and wasted when the great collapse began. Reserve troops on tne lines of communication broke loose and robbed the trains and plundered the depots, squandering the stored food or selling it to the inhabitants for naltry prices. In the area I vs ited' today the ration recently was reduced to one-half pound of bread, one pound of potatoes daily and three, tenths vt a pound of meat each week. I was told in Sollngen the supplies would last between two and ; three weeks'. Alt ot this region Is a pros perous industrial country where the activity IS great and earnings were large during the war. 5fhe Very poor are. few and it. is only the very poor Who-have yet suffered, i i The Germans as' a nation were al- ways gross feeders. Those who can afford It here feed grossly now and seem to ha,ve done so throughput the t war. - The. actual bulk of food set1 I before one in' whatever restaurant one i enters is so large that at first I won - I uorru wneiflvr ii wm m muuio io our U,,I1V1"10 Lnati .Au uiuutaij. civllian would get." This "Was not so. j. no mass 01 wiii-iv-uo people wno frequent the hotels, restaurants and tea shops' are overeating themselves today just as they always overate in peace times. This opinion is that of every British officer now In this part of Germany. What Is more, it, is the conviction also of the poorer, masses. Throughout .the war we captured let ters numbering many; thousands In the aggregate written by peoplo In Germany . complaining bitterly over the indulgence of the rich while the poor , were suffering for food. Since coming here I found this belief was universal among . the poorer classes and is one or tne chief causes of pop , ular discontent In Germany today Hatred against the Hamster, the man j who hoarded food and sold It privately to, the gluttonous rich, and of the Hamsters' patrons is the strongest of all the mixed elements which have manured the ground Tor tthe seed of bolshevism and . revolution. That one class should pamper itself to waste the common stock - of provisions so that the poor must suffer, and. then throw; on us. the burden , of feeding those poor is obviously grossly un just but it does not lessen tho hard ships of the poor to whose cry, what ever our contempt for the reach may be,wer shall respond In humanity's name. , , - i Something like an organized effort .(Continued on Page Two.) 1 Offers Resolution. The Paris dispatch prompted Senator Lodge to Introduce today a resolution calling on the state department for Information as to whether the Ameri can delegates are advocating destruc-1 uon or tne enemy snips,, ana u so, oy what authority. . The resolution was left on the table without dlscusslom While Ule Impression has been given that the navy department would prob ably not look with- favor upon Bending the German ships to the bottom, some officers pointed tpday to practical ob stacles to absorption of the surren dered vessels by the allied and Ameri can naviea They said that, owing to the differences in design und equip ment between the capital craft of the German, fleet and those ot any other naval power.. th military value of Uhe ships to the victors is, far from as great, as might be thought - The German ships were built it was ex plained, on theories that differ fun damentally from British, American, French or Italian ideas of navat con struction. Only in ' the case of the most modern German dreadnaughts or battle .cruisers, one- officer said, would the extensive reconstruction necessary to make theis part of homo genous fighting fleets be justified. As a peacetimeoelement of the na vies .of the associated powers some officers-were, inclined to . think that the chief value of the majority of the surrendered capital craft would be as trophies of the victory, to be pointed to as an object lesson to any other power' that might become swelled with ambition of world conquest -ev. November 4, 1918, Fixed for Start of Revolution.- But Leaders, Including Dr. Lieb knecht, Were Afraid to Call i :' for Action. - ipeeIat'Catl te Tlie Observer From Tho London Times. ' ; (Copyright, 1918, fcy Public Ledger Co.) The Hague, Dec. 19.-George Lede bour. in his speech, to the soldiers and workers' congress yesterday, told how ma revolution was planned in 1196, and that the plan, which as sumed a firm shape In. 1916, was to prepare for 1919. The authorities themselves helped by summoning ev eryone known as an Independent so cialist to the colors, by which action regiments became revolutionaries. . The fourth of November was fixed for the revolution, but Herren Haase and Dittmann, even Dr. Karl Lleb knecht did not dare to call it into being. Ledebour's attack on Premier Ebert created wild confusion, and the groups which formed in the chamber abused one another and menaced one another with fists. Repeated threats were heard on -all sides that the contend ing parties would throw the others out Some . members tre& to. restore peace, but the whirlwind of ' exclte-1 ment ana-rage aia not suosiue until the exhaustion of the shouters. The meeting was characterized by a violent attack on Field Marshal von Hindenburg' and the supreme army command. A delegate from Mains spoke of Von Hlndenburg as a thorn in the side of the government. . . Ilerr Barth's speech consisted of a series of attacks'on the supreme army command. He spoke of the danger of a military camarilla. He declared it appeared with increasing clearness that a government crisis was develop ing. He had already, at the begin nlnov declared the present hour would bring a 'decision concerning his re maining in the government. Herr Ebert, who Immediately "fol lowed him, said one could -not co operate with a man like Herr Barth unless guarantees were' given against a skotition which might eventually arise through his action. Otherwise ho and his colleagues of the major ity socialists must consider whether they Could remain any 1 longer In the government r, . v ". It was clear the preat majority was on Ebert's side. The Frankfur- i ter Nachrichten says a majority of the Berlin regiments have adoDted I resolutions In support of the Haase- (Ebert government and for-the sum- : nioning qi h national asaemoiy. : Tne . riaimtuiici . aviiuiisv jaenair CUi rv- i spondent says this Is ' important vht h . couneuiiun- nun lit. Xiieoanecni i summons to .a general strike in or d it r to overthrow tne srovernment. Troops in 7the barracks are clrcu-' larized to rally around the govern-1 ment for, the decisive struggle for power announced by Dr. Liebknecht and make this4 conclusion of peace possible, to Geermany. ' Soldiers' councils Of nearly all Berlin and ' Potsdam regiments have passed reso lutlons In this sehse and demand that the government take over all"' ma chine guns .and munitions . In the great armament works. According to The Lokal Anzelger , the execu tive council of greater Berlin was to dissolve yesterday and make way. for a new executive council for the', whole empire to .be elected by the congreBi oi workers- - and soldiers' councils. ' .' GERMANY ENCULFEQ IN- -HOPELESS FOG OF RUMORS Special Cable 4oJThe Observer from The London Times. -, BY CHARLES TOWEIl. efCwrleKt,: nil, bjr Publld rdgtr C6.J . .Frajnkfort, Germany, Dec, , 19.i Gerrnany seems engulfed in a hope less fog of rumors, the worst of which come from" Berlin. I find "the story of the plundering of Frankfort to be (Continued on Page Two. ilflGIIT IIFLUEHCE Propaganda Machinery Set Up Throughout the World: - BECKER DISCLOSES FACTS Deputy Attorney General of New York Heard by Senate Inves : tigating Committee. Waslilngton. Dec. ' 19.- German propaganda alinoti at the , United States and conducted by a Professor Brinckmao at The Hague still is at work, the state department was In formed today in a dispatch from the neinerundii capital. s Washington, Dec. 19. Propaganda machinery set up by the German gov ernment in Berlin and throughout the world to spread Germanic ideas, and4 me methods of financing this in the United States, were disclosed today to the senate Investigating. committee by Alfred I Becker, deputy attorney general of New York.. The witness also told of his inves tigation for the French government or tne success of Bola Pasha, exe cuted as a French traitor, but added; that since apparently The Paris Jour nal did not change its attitude of loy alty toward France, the transaction was a "pure swindle" of the German government , Mr. Becker read documents gath ered partly by the Britlsh.Becret ser vice showing that the German foreign office and other governments at Ber lin maintained elaborate systems both before and after , the European war began to influence thought all over the world. Branches of the German DanKs ana commercial houses co operated In a vast cohesive organiza tion to promote friendly relations to ward Germany. Journalists, college professors, bankers, business men and commercial consular attaches many of them being citizens of the. country In which they worked were employ ed, Mr. Becker said. Usually the propaganda was insidious. Even Back In 1909. As early as 1909, said Mr. Becker, George von Skal, a former German reserve officer and later auditor of accounts of New York clty was told on a visit to Berlin by a representa tive of the foreign office's bureau, that he would be valuable In case of a future war to keep in touch 10 1 WD R Jfitt ihjrs rt 4aialted SUtmwivewnhtWnm that he acted in " this capacity after the united states entered the war, the witness said. The German gov ernment In May, 1914, tried in vain to buy the Ottoman Telegraphic News agency, with headquarters in Bagdad, to spread German propa ganda. The publication of a German edition of Current Literature, a mag azine, of which George- Sylvester Vler Ick, in the United States, and his fa ther, Louis Vierick, In Berlin, were promoters, was mentioned by the wit ness, together with , the Germanic museum at Harvard and the move ments to exchange professors with American universities, as German propaganda moves. One example of enemy propaganda, said Mr. Becker, consisted of the sys tematic effort late In 1917 to spread throughout the world the idea that Germany was on the verge of internal revolt, and that the kaiser would soon be overthrown. The fact that the dis semination of these reports was en couraged by the chief German gov ernment censor was convincing evi dence that the effort was propaganda, intended to paralyze the prosecution of the war, in Mr.' Becker's opinion. He said these reports had been sent out from Germany by George T. Odell, correspondent of The New York Even ing Mall, after the United States en tered the war. ' - Even Down to Present. Senator Reed interrupted to ask whether similar articles had been published, by other newspapers then, and even down to the present and that developments , had borne them out Mr., Becker said this was true, but Insisted that the reports were In spired by the German foreign office late In 1917. - y ? Mr. . Becker said the Trans-Ocean News agency- maintained a wireless service, intended, to influence mainly South American peoples, whilo the German South' American Institute, and the. German News service for Portu gal and Spain, subsidized by the Ger man government had similar func tions, '"-I-;', ' 1 Mr., Becker told the committee that enemy propaganda in the United States was disclosed incidentally dur ing hts investigation of the activities of I Bola 'v Pasha In promoting the financing of The Paris Journal, and in what was described as an attempt to form a new alliance between The (Continued on Page Two.) JO-JO SAYS Rain today and Saturday: a"j '? Ths wellposted 'fflftn' 1s wldomin a hole. is ' fiOTACLE WELCOME GIVEN FIELD MARSHAL HA1G AS HE ARRIVES. IN LONDON "Conquering Hero," Accompa nied J by Flvo' Generals, , Ac- claimed by Throngs of Brit ish People. London, Dec. 19. (British' .Wire less ' Service.) Field Marshal Sir Douglas, commander In chief of the British armies in France and Belgium, attended by Generals Plumer, Rawlln son, Blrdwood, Byng and Home, who were his mainstays in aiding to defeat the Germans, reached London today, and was accorded a notable welcome. The train bringing the field marshal to London was accompanied - from Dover by about 20 alrDlanes. which also hovered over the procession which passed through the densely crowded thoroughfares from the station to Buckingham palace, where : King George welcomed the returning war riors, vv";- -.v.o ;.".--', At the station the general were met by the-Duke of Connaught, rep resenting the king; the prime minis ter, the secretary for war, members of the army and air councils, repre sentatives of the admiralty and many Other distinguished persons. t ' The grenadier guards, with , their regimental colors and bands, were drawn up at the station to act as an escort to the field marshal, arid amid loud cheering as the band played ."See the Conquering Hero Comes," the crown equerries escorted Sir Douglas to a royal carriage In waiting to take the field marshal to the palace, BILL Senate Votes to Repeal. Pres ent Zone System July 1. Adopts Also Committee Amend- ment Affecting Insurance Companies' Tax Rates. Washington, Dec. .19. By adopting tne finance committee amendments to the war revenue bill affecting second class postage and insurance , compa nies, the senate today cleared the way for disposal of the few other con tested but important features remain ing. ' Leaders now have increased con fidence of passing the mil before ad journment :pext -ilMdayj'fe By a vote of 34 to 21. the senate proposing repeal next July present zone system of second-class postage rates and submission of a rate of one cent per pound within 160 miles, and one and one-halt cents be yond. Most of the day was spent in spirited discussion of this amendment and one by Senator McKellar, of Ten nessee, for a modified, zone plan,' which was rejected .without a roll call. The senate also approved the com mittee plan for new rates on casualty,! fire, marine and other Insurance com panies, except life insurance, r The new rates, based on premium receipts, are,, respectively: Fire insurance companies, 1 per cent; casualty, plate glass and similar companies, 1 ' per cent, and marine, 2 per cent on inland and 1 per cent on export policies. Sections Loft Disposal of these and many minor administrative and working changes left virtually only the income, war excess profits, inheritance' and luxury tax sections to be considered. A substitute for the committee's bill, proposing large tax increases, princi pally on the big Income and war ex cess profits, was introduced late to day by Senator LaFollete. of Wis consin, republican, who la expected to make a lengthy address tomorrow in its behalf. - - ,; Senator Kenyon, of Iowa, and others prepared to urge reinsertion ot the 20 per cent tax on luxuries., -. Disposal of the second-class post age section today was regarded .as removing a considerable obstacle from the bill's path. Senators. Hard wick, of Georgia, and McKellar led the fight on the committee amendment; which was defended by Senator Smoot of Utah. Opponents charged that second class publications are granted a large government "subsidy," while 'Senator Smoot declared the present zone sys tem tends to foster undesirable sec tlonalism and would drive many small publications out of business. t New Periodical Rates. -." Thirteen democrats and 21 repub licans supported the new periodical rates, with 15 democrats . and seven republicans in opposition. . The substitute bill. which -Senator LaFolletta i will advance tomorrow proposed mainly large increases in the war excess profits rates and individual Income surtaxes. : The LaFollette substitute also pro poses to retain the 13 per cent tax on corporation incomes, mut would cut the individual normal rate from 12 to 2, per cent and secure th bulk ot Individual. Income revenue from sur taxes. In lieu of the bill's surtaxes, ranging from 1 per. cent on incomes between $5,009 and 6,00O to S per cent on those over 11,000,000, Sena tor LaFollette'a ' substitute propose graduated .surtaxes ranging rrom 5 per cent on Incomes between $6,000 and $7,000 to 78 per cent on lncomoai over $100,000 i From individual Incomes, Senator LaFollette,; estimates ' that hia bill would raise $r,784,000,00O, compared with $1,432,000,000, estimated under the pending measure. RESIGNATION OF EBERT : ; .GOVERNMENT REPORTED :-. Paris,', Dec. 19.-r-The German gov ernment headed by Frederick Ebert has resigned -as -a result of events on Tuesday, according to a dispatch re ceived at Zurich from Stuttgart pays The Journtfl's correspondent there. - t , , i , ,nii .,..,.:,,-.. ji 'I STORM WARNINGS DISPLAYED. ' Washington, Dec. ll Storni warn ings have been , ordered displayed on the South Atlantic coast from George town, S. C.Uo Jacksonville, and on the Gulf coast from Bay St Louis to Cedar TCcys, the weither bureau- an nounced tonight. DEFINITE PCS' HLWiI GLASS OUTLINES III PMT THEIIEl'l Expresses ' Confidence That p American People Will . Not Re lax Efforts to Meet Govern ment's Needs.' ( - 'y. r Washington, Dec 19. Confidence that the American people nvill In no wise relax their efforts toward meet ing the government's immediate flnan clal requirements was expressed"" by Secretary Glass In a statement tonight partially outlining ,the policy , of tha treasury under his administration. Plans for meeting governnnnt ex penditures as have oeen outlined y Former Secretary McAdoo," including the offering of another Liberty lpi the continuation of ;the sale of "war Svings certificates, and the retaining organizations for the sale of such securities, jWill be , carried out,, he Said. ' i V-v-'"-; ". ' ; 1- : ' "I am sure that the treasury , de partment can with confidence offer another Liberty loan," said the state ment which was addressed a to the American people, "and continue the sale of war savings certificates know ina- that the organizations will re stond once more to thej call for service." Government expenditures. Including transactions, in the principal of the public debt during the current fiscal year up to and Including . December 1 6, when Mr. Glass assumed offte, have exceeded $9,800,000,000, the sec retary said, in reviewing the financial status of the government Expendi tures "for November were nearly two billion dollars. .The proceeds of the fourth Liberty loan so far received have all . been spent, Mr. Glass said, and the remain ing installments will be needed to meet maturing treasury-certificates of indebtedness, v More than half of the estimated expenditures of the govern ment for the current fiscal year, re cently placed af eighteen bmion dol lars by Mr. McAdoo, have been spent lnTTre1Irst:flve and one-half months. Bills for production, of war materials which had reached the peak at the time the armistice was signed, must be paid and the great expense of de mobilizing the army met. , V In view of these facts, Secretary Glass said another Liberty loan must be issued before the end. of the fis cal year, next June, and the Bale of war savings stamps and certificates must be pushed, most energetically. $4,842 CASUALTIES YET TO BE PUBLISHED Washington, Deo. 19. Casualties of the American expedltionasy forces, which have not been published, but which have been announced officially by General . Pershing, had been re duced at nooni December 18, to a total ot 66,892. These, the war de partment announces today, were clas sified as follows: ,v J v-. v. -,',':, Major casualties, including killed In action, died of wounds, died of dis ease and died of other causes, 1,680; wounded. 64,862; mtsslng . and pris oners, 350, . , A large proportion of the 64,842 names listed as wounded are minor cases, it was said., many patients hav ing long since recovered and returned to duty. Officials explained that the total is really less, due to the fact that General Pershing's tout Included marine casualties of 1,202 killed and more than 4,000 wounded, which al ready have been published by the ma rine headquarters here. . x ; .' ."'T ' ' DECLARES GERMANY IS RUINED FOR GENERATIONS London. Dec. 19.- "Germany Is ruined for -generations, politically, in dustrially and economically," Dr. Walter Rathenau, president of ; v tne German General Electrlo company, is quoted as declaring to the Berlin cor respondent of The Daily Express. "It is the greatest calamity that has hap pened to any country in two thousand years," added Dr. Rathenau, who is one- of the largest employers of 'labor in Germany. "If the indemnities are high we shall have nothing with which to expand oud. industries and there will be a great tide of emigra tion, probably to South America, the far east .and certainly to Russia.- The result will . be the-1' Balkanization of Europe." ASKS ALL FRIENDS 0F NAVY TO JOIN RED CROSS i Washington, Dec. 1 19. Secretary Daniels today issued a statement call- Inir nn all friend nf th Amwln.n navy to Join the Red Cross during the Christmas roll call now In progress. ' "To the President's wish that every American become a member of this truly American organisation for world wide relief, I add and I feel I speak tor tne personnel, or tne navy a re quest that ail mends of the American sailor become identified with and heln to perpetuate the beneflcierit work of this organisation," said the secretary. l,C.fc.:.-a.ffei.. i' .ri.i- - . BELIEVE TOBACCO WILL , j ADVANCE EARLY IN .1919 POLICY BISIRnlll .'' ---V"'.'"''-"-'!! ' ' '.'.-';-:!"!'-,-:.V-'.'-'!-' , Richmond. .Va., Dee.? 19. That the price of tobacco will advance soon after the first ot the year Is the con tention of tho Virginia grower and Jobbers, attributing the advance . to the high ? prices being ' paid for the raw product The tobacco 'markets close Saturday, for the Christmas re cess and figures show that millions of dollars have been paid to Virginia farmers. ( ....!; . : ,..- a- i. ... r. t-. ..'', i :'... : ''H (. , : f I1 HOT S1 I r lull yiilson Usir.3 Opportunity (a ' Assess Public Opinion. ' GAUGING SENTIMENT IN , . '' ;. FIANCE AND BRITAIN Satisfied That Peoples Are Largely in Accord With Him. AMERICAN MISSION' BUSY Feeling Among All Entente Con ferees Is That r Making of 4 Peace Is First Task. y ' ' , - - - : Paris, Dec. 19.- Definite plans fo the peace conference are not aha ping as rapidly as aomo of the American) commissioners expected. Meanwhile President Wilson la taking advantage -of opportunity to assess public opin ion in France, . and incidentally In Great Britain. Ills advisers, say that he . Is entirely satisflcd that these peoples are largely, In accord with the principles he ha announced a,. . necessary to durable peace. -' , , The members of the -American mission are employing their Umo before the peace delegates from tlra vartona countries actually assemble, in a series of Informal confettinccs, ' which eventually will include a rep- " rcecntatlve Of each ot tho entente belligerents.' Neutral states will not come into these discussions. , . : The feeling among all the entente confereea ' to that the making of peace should be - their first task, , that they may determine upon 1h broad outlines of; a league ot na tionsr which, later, representatives of neutral oountrics wlU assist in com- pleting. , ". i' WhUiB -; the American''; eommlsstoti . , era are holding these Informal cx- , changes, which are designed to rlear np divergencies of opinion, the Pres ident to constantly giving the closest ' attention to immediate problems. He ., is receiving report from the- United States, from i American diplomat lo ' agencies throughout the world antt front vth4-!ft!on..'eij?tntlsator bronghtoere ; tor the, pnrpoeeuj)!. stud-lng the many: special problems which wlU arise, ... These. Investiga tors are continnlnjr their atndlea with the advantage now of being on the ground -and In intimate contact with original sources of information. , The President may change- the pro gram of his movements while await- . lug the opening o.f the conference, it was not supposed until today that he would visit England before he next year, but lie has received urgent , Invitations to come soon. , WILSON AND CLEMENCEAU IN INTIMATE DISCUSSION Paris,. Deo. 19. Premier .Clemen ceau, and Colonel House visited Pres ident Wilson this morning. The call-, ere arrived at the presidential resi dence about 10 o'clock. The French premier and the Pres ident were engaged for more than an hour in an intimate discussion. Colonel House also conferred with the President during the morning. The President's engagements tor the . day caused him to postpone his plans for recreation but he hoped, fo take a short drive with Mrs. Wilson, , An invitation has been extended the President to visit London at Christ mas time but it is Improbable he will accept as he has fully planned to dine Christmas day with the .American troops In the field. - - , - ' MAY RETURN TO STATES ' EARLIER THAN EXPECTED Paris, Wednesday, -Dee.' 18. The reason given for President Wilson's desire to make an early visit to Eng land, it Is understood. Is that he has found it might be necessary, to re turn to Washington much sooner than he expected. Whether this means .a ' change In the President's entire pro gram, including his Journey to Italy, Is not, known here-" - ' " :' An interesting feature of , the dis cussion of the President's Intended visit beginning next Thursday, is that the present British cabinet is -tech-ncally not In a position to apeak for the government until the result of the recent elections are known, December 28. ' There la little doubt however, that Premier Lloyd George and his as sociates .have; been 4e-elected. wilson keeps posted ; .on affairs at hc:,:z Paris. Wednesday, Dec. 18. Dur ing President Wilson's Inspection of the ' American , peace mlsMon head quarters In the Hotel De Crillon, to day, an official photograph was made of the President, and the other c"!e gates by army photographers. . "li i photograph was taken In the confer ence rroom ,of ; the . American head quarters. ? j President Wilson continues to re ceive, exhaustive reports of , what going , on in Washington -and ti n United States. President Wllsoti will i' no r r In the official welcome to I i v; p (Continued on rar1 T good rzacv; ,The CoddfeUows' f ing committee rcuct : -much money t!:cy ; spend. 'Mere is r today or your t' ' : too late. - . Tel ' : 254 Fill! A