STORMSWEEPSOVER NEW ALBANY, II ?fsr TWENTY-FIVE TOFIFTY ESTIMAT ED KILLED AND OVER HUN DRED INJURED. Ikm^ WRECKAGE IN PITH ? State Troop* Asked For.?Aid Rushed From Louisville and Jeffsrson.? Work of Devastation Leaves Many Homeleas. ? ? New Albany, lnd.?Between 26 and 60 persons were killed and probably 100 or more were injured by a storm which swept over New Albany, demol ishing scores of residences and several industrial plants. Twenty-five bodies have been re covered. and it Is expected this nura- 1 ber will be materially increased when all the debris of wrecked buildings has been cleared away. The lighting system for the resi dence section of the city was put out of commission by the storm, and the work of rescue is proceeding with difficulty. The storm, struck about two miles from New Albany and moved south west. Entering the city at State street, near Haly, ti swept through three blocks. At the intersection of State and Pearl streets, It left the ground and then struck again at Vln ceunes street and the Charlestown road nearly a mile away. At that point, dwellings in three blocks wero demolished. , * In its progress along the Corydon Pike, the storm uprootted hundreds of trees and destroyed many small houses, many of whose occupants were injured. The streets In the path pi the storm were a mass of wreckage and l( was soon seen that outside assistance was 'needed to meet the situation. An appeal was made to the city authorities of Louisville, who sent a large number of policemen to the scene. In addition, every available officer from the Indiana Stftte Refor matory at Jeffersonvllle and from the Jeffersonvllle police force were hur ried to the stricken district. A call was made on the Governor for state troops, and It was reported that these were on the way. Numbers of citixens from surrounding towns hastened to New Albany and offered such aid as they could. PLANS FOR PARTICIPATION OF UNITED STATES IN WAR. Preparations Are Talked Over at Cabinet Meeting.?No Half-Way Measures. Washington.?The American Gov ernment has .decided upon sweeping measures to be put into effect, follow ing the expected declaration by Con grass son after it meets April 2, that a state of war exists between the United States and Germany. Fully appreciating Germany's poli cy of acting in war first and talking afterwards, the Government has de termined to provide against every possible emergency. Questions Involved were discussed at a Cabinet meeting, to which heads of departments carried reports on pre parations already made and others contemplated. Regretfully the Government appar ently has decided that since Germany is making war upon the United States through ruthless killing of Americans and destruction of their ships, the issue must be met with steps much more far-reaching than mere attempts to protect individual merchant craft. Once a state of war is declared to ex ist, aggressive measures are expected f to be taken. As outlined after Friday's Cabinet meeting, the preparations of th?l Gov ernment are not to be for a short war, or a war marked by half-way meas ures. A complete program has been prepared so that everything will be carried out in a systematic manner. The exact measure of American par ticipation In the war Is not expected to be revealed until after the Presi dent addresses Congress and until public sentiment crystalUes. Whether an army will be sent, abroad is left to the future. But this possibility is being taken into con sideration. and the Government pro poses to be ready for it as soOn as practicable. *" ' ' * j ar" , Detailed plans requV'B* icngres sional action are expected to be com plate when Congress meets April t. Prior to that time, the Democratic and Republican leader* will confer with the President and members of hla Cabinet" Speaker Clark and Rep resentative Kltchin returned to Wash ington from the South The President haa not yet written hla address1 tp Congress, although he haa a general Idea of what be will propose. ' ' ' The measures decided upon are military, naval. Industrial and finan cial. The; afe understood to be most comprehensive. The Army plans have bfeen fully drawn. Their first object will be to fully protect the United States against any contingency. The naval program contemplates the bufldfhg of vessels of all classes aa rapidly aa possible, and the man niag of tbem when completed. RAILROAD* ASK PERMISSION TO INCREASE FREIGHT RATES Wasklagtoa.?The chief railroads of the Km! petitioned tb- Interstate com merce commission to amend its rules to preurtt a general Increaae In all fright rates. Western railroads noti fied the commission that Htey, too. woald ask lor a general increaae In fretgh^ratea ail probably will follow the Eastern ruads In asking for a sua penatoft of ??? rales The proposed increases probably will raage twtween ? It and IS per cent. NEUTRAL NA1KT0 OFFER MEDIATION TO AVERT WAN BETWEEN ^GERMANY AND U. 8. MOTHER TEUTONIC SCHEME < y ? ? Proposal Probably Another Move to Confuse the leeue and Divide Senti ment Here, It Way Washington Re tard* the Matter. , Washington.?Word that a neutral European Nation might offer media tion to prevent open war between the United States and Germany has come to the Administration without caus ing surprise or In any way affecting the Government's plans tor meeting the situation forced by submarine ruthlessness. Such a proposal Is re garded here as nothing more than an other scheme fostered by Germany with the hope of confusing the Issue and possibly dividing sentiment In this country while the destruction of American lives and ships on the high seas continue. At the State Department officials would neither deny nor confirm that the Government already had been ap proached qn this subject, although it was admitted Informally that some such move was not unexpected. It was very emphatically stated that no suggestion ot mediation or discus sion would be considered unless It was accompanied by abandonment of illegal assaults upon American ship ping. a course which there is no' rea son tor belivlng the Imperial Gov ernment is giving a thought. The feeling In all quarters here is that the United States has with In finite patience and forbearance done everything possible with honor to avoid the virtual state of war now ex isting through Germany aggression. So long as this aggression continues, officials *a. there Is nothing to do but adopt measures of defense, and 110 basis exists tor discussion. Suspend* Eight-Hour Law. During the 10 days that must elapse before Congress assembles in response to his call. President Wilson will give close personal attention to the prepar ations going forward through the War and Navy Departments. He saw no callers today, but was In touch with both ot the Departments. One of the duties he performed was the signing of a formal proclamation suspending the eight-hour law as applied to plants engaged on naval work, as step auth orised by Congress as a part of the general plans for speeding up con struction. "V???* ANOTHER VESSEL FLYING AMERICAN FLAG IS SUNK. Hsaldon ia Torpedoed In North 8?l Without Warning.?Twenty of Crow Lost. Washington. ? American Consul Mahln. at Amsterdam, cabled the Stale Department that the American steam er Healdton, sunk by a submarine off Terehelling. Holland, was torpedoed without warning, and that 20 of the crew were drowned. I'he Consul's dispatch follows; "Standard Oil Ship Healdton, from Philadelphia for Rotterdam, cargo oil. torpedoed without warning 8:16 even ing of 21st, 25 miles noflh of Ter-' schelltng, Holland. Twenty of crew drowned. One died ot injuries. Oth ers (taken) to north of Holland. Sub marine seen after torpedoing. More details to follow " The sinking of the Healdton adds another grave chapter to the story of war waged against' American ship ping by Oermany to be laid before Congress by President Wilson at the special session he has called for April 2. It can cause no immediate change In the altaatton. Since Ihe destruction of three Amerlcsn ships last Saturday and Sunday. Administration officials have considered that a state of war existed, and It is to met this situation that Congress has been summoned to authorise steps beyond the srmlng of merchantmen. RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. IS RECOGNIZED BY UNITED STATES Petrograd.?The United States U the first nation to recognise formally the new govern Bent of Russia Am baseador Ft am is made-* iirWlminarv call on Foreign Minister MllukolT. Ac companied by his staff. Including the naval and military attaches, he went to the Martnsky palace, where the Coun cil of Ministers was assembled, made the formal recognition and presented congratulations and felicitations on behalf of the United States. BIO DEMONSTRATION ?.... IN NEW YORK CITY New York.?bed by more than 40 patriotic and civic organisations and clolege clubs, a crowd that filled Mad laon Square Garden enthusiastically pledged Itself to the support of Presi dent Wilson and urged that there be no more delay on the part of the Ual , ted States. In entering the European war against Germany. Among the speakers were Elihu Root, who pre sided; Dr. John Orler Hlbbon. and ( harlea 8 Falrchild. .... . ... POOD GUESTNON GROWING SERIOUS WITH GREAT BRITAIN. Ir. Increases In wages to trainmen of about 25 per cent, at a cost to the railroads estimated at from 140,000.000 to $50,000,000 a year. The court, through Chief Justice i White, declared' both carriers and j their employes, engaged In a busi- j ness charged' with a public Interest, i subject to the right of congress to! cotnpulsorily arbitrate a dispute af-' fecting the operating of that business.j "Whatever would be the right of an j employe engaged In private business' to demand such wages as he desires, j to leave the employment if he does not gefthem and by concert of action , to agree with others to leave on thej same condition," said the opinion, "such ! rights are .necessarily subject to llm-1 ltatlon when an employment is accept ed In a business charged with a pub lic Interest and to which the power to regulate commerce by congress ap plied and the resulting right to fix In case of disagreement and dispute a standard of wages as we have seen necessarily obtained." J In delivering the opinion, the chief justice departed at this point frou his written text to emphasize the posi tion of men operating trains In a time of national emergency by comparing them to soldiers-facing an enemy. ALEXANDER RIBOT IS NEW FRENCH PREMIER. Announce* Formation of New Cabinet. r?Painieve l? Minlater of War. Pari*.?Alexandre Rlbot has formed the following Cabinet: Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs?Alexandre Rlbot. Minister of Justice?Rene Vivian. Minister of War?Paul Painieve. Minister of Marine?Rear Admiral Lacaze. Minister of Munitions ? Albeit Tbomas. Minister of Finance?Joseph Thi erry. Minister of the Interior?Louis J. Malvy. Minlater of ? Public Instruction? Jules Steeg. Minister of Public Work*?Georges Desplas. Minister of Commferce?Ktienne Clement el , Minister pf Agriculture?Fernand David. ? Minister of Subsistence?Maurice Vlollette. ~' Minister of Labor?Leon Bourgeois. Minister of the Colonies?Andtu Magjnot. PRESIDENT TAKES STEPS TO MCET U-BOAT MENACE. Washington-* Preparation for ag gressive action by the Navy against the German submarine menace began at the direction of President Wilson. i FIFTEEN WERE DROWNED WHEN VIGILANCIA SUNK. Plymouth, via London. ? Fifteen members of the crew of the American steamer Vtgliancla lost their llv&s when the steamer was torpedoed by a Oerman submarinA The survivors were in life-boats from Friday morn ing until Sunday afternoon. Among those drowned were several American cltixens. Including Third Officer Nells Peldorth and Third Engineer Car' Adeholde. This Information was giv en out by Capt. Frank A. Mlddleton. BRITISH DESTROYER SUNK BY GERMAN SUBMARINE, London.^A British destroyer and a merchant vessel were sunk and an other destroyer was damaged In the German naval raid at Ramsgate. the pdmlralty announced. OFFICIAL MAIL RIFLED. New York.?Twenty-six mall bawa addressed to Washington and the British embaasy at Washington were found to have been rlflel on board the ('tinaril liner Saxonla upon Bar arrival EXTRA SESSIM Of GOB GALLED TO MEET APRIL 2ND CONGRESS EXPECTED TO MAKE POWMAL DECLARATION OF WAR ON GERMANY. . WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO VOTE SUM FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE \ ? ) ' , ? i i? President Will Probably Be Clothed With Authority to Uu Armed Force* of the Country aa President McKlnley Waa Empowered to Do at tha Outbreak of the War With Spain in 1MS. Washington.?President Wilson met the constantly lpcreaslng probability of war with Germany by summoning Congress to assemble In extra session Monday. April 2, two weeks earlier than -the date he had chosen before the latest assaults upon American rights on the seas. When the President addresses Con gress. he Is expected to show how a state of war actually has existed for some time because of the unlawful aggressions of German submarlt.es. Congress is expected formally to de clare a state of war existing, vote a ltrg sum, probably half a billion dol lars. for National defense, and clothe the president with authority to uae ! the armed forces of the United States, as It empowered President McKlnley | to deal with the menace of 8pain In I IPS* 8uch action woultf-Hot be a declara tion of war except In a technical sent", and whether Mre United States and Germany actually go to war In the fullest acceptation of the term will de pend on what the Imperial Govern ment does before Congress la assem bled or after It acts. r * Germany Expects State of War. Dispatches from abroad declaring that the German Government expect ed a state of war within the next 4S hours jriaced an ominons aspect on th< situation. * Much to, chatige tha President's (resent' Intentions or the oourae of the Government in the crisis may develop before April 2. The first American armed ships will by that time have reached the war zone. The ruthless destruction of one of them undoubt edly would be an act of war. On the other hand, sinking of a sub marine by one of the armed merchant men probably would be met as an act of war by Germany. Even the arming of American ships with the avowed purpose of defending them against U boats may be declared such an act. In any 01 these events, practically nothing would remain fexcept for Con gres to acknowledge a state of war ex isting from a certain specified data, probably last Sunday. ? when three American ships were sunk with loss of 'life. . The next few days, until Congress meets, will be daya of tense anxiety, of eager waiting and watching, fraught trlth possibilities of tremen dous consequences to the United States. President Wilson and his advisers in the Cabinet and In Congress have rio Intention that war shall be de clared by the United States. By the hostile acts of German submarines they believe Ihe Imperial German Government Is actually making war on the United States, and that it shall be recognized as such" 'a state. To meet such a condition, the armed forces of the country and all the Na tional resources are to be put In a state of readiness. Then whether the Nation shall enter the war hi Its full sense will depend upon how much further Germany carried her acts of afgratsion. In every sense, war, If It actually comes, will be a defensive war, free from ambitions of spoils or territory In which the United 8tates. the Presi dent publicly declared, shall want nothing for Itself, and shal seek only to preserve the rights of civilisation and humanitv. In auch a situation the Unite! States might even become an actua' participant In the hostilities on the European Continent without becom ing a political ally of any of the En tente Powers, simply casting Its weight of men... money and moral Influence Into the battle against a common enemy. In laying the wiiple situation be fore Congress, the President Is ex pected to detail fully the warlike acts of Oermany aaglnst the United States, and to pay particular attention to the future of the American Government as the great conflict draws to a close. It Is not Improbable that he will ask Congress to declare a state of war existing, although there Is some Indication that he may only outline the Congreee of tha United < States to convene In extra sea- 1 [ ; alan at the Capitol In the city < 1 | ! ! of Waehlngton on tho aocond ! ! ; day of April, 1917, at 12 o'clock, ; < > noon, of which all persons who < > | shall at that time be entitled J | ? > to act aa members thereof are < > j | hereby required to take notice.'* ] | "Given under my hand and 1 > I the seal of tho United States of | ?' ; America, tho 21st day of March, j ?j ! in tha year of Our Lorti, one ! ! ' thousand nlna hundred and ' 1 ! seventeen and of tho independ- ' ] ; ence of the United States the J ' . . 141st." J ; WOODROW WILSON j; FIRST DOTY OF NATION IS TO PREPARE FOR KIR EX-PRE8IDENT TAFT DECLARES THAT THERE IS WORSE THINGS THAN WAR. Germany Haa Forced This Country to the Very Verge of Hostilitiss. Richmond. Vs.?More than 4.000 people heard former President Wil liam H. Taft declare that "there are worse thlnca than war. and one of those Is the dishonorable yielding to lnvaalon of your rights because you are atrald to light for our rights and pialntaln them." Mr. Taft was speaking la the In terests of the League to Enforce Peace. He continued: "The lint duty of the United States, when war li Inevitable, la to prepare. We have proceeded on the theory In the paat that the Lord looks after children, drunken men and the Uni ted State#. But Is is time to awaken to the realization that we are forced into war with the most militaristic Na tion In the world. Even now, we say that with the British Navjf and the armies of the Allies we are not In dan cer. We ought not to lay that flatter Ins unction to our souls." Mr. Taft dramatically recited the Instances by which Germany has forced the United States to the very verge of war. anl declared that "President Wilson Is empowered with authority to ar mthe merchant marine and that its gunners have the right given them as American citiuena to use their weapons aaginst the skulk ing submarine." "During the present crisis and throughout the war which la at hand, the duty of the League to Enforce Peace Is to stimulate military pre paredness on the one hand, and on the other to spread Its gospel of world organisation for permanent t-eace af ter this conflict is over. f "There Is nothing lnconstateDt in these two purposes. If we are to change our foreign policy and pro mote a league to enforce peace, the Aemrican people apst be advised of Its character and Its need. This take* time. The war Is on. Its duration Is uncertain. We may Be confronted with questions as to the form ci peace within a year. We should keep the matter before the people so that they can form and express a public opin ion tint will aid the President and our representatives." Gov. Henry C. Stuart presided at the meeting and Introduced the form er President. Lat?r In the evening Mr. .Taft delivered an addrees before the University Club and.,this after noon he spoke to the Lee Camp of Confederate Vetera njp. EXPRESSIONS OF PATRIOTIC ORDER EVOKED BY CALL Washington. ? Member* at Con graee vtfll In Washington received President Wilson's call (or in extra session April. Z with patriotic expres sions and confident predictions that the close organization fight in the house would not be permitted to delay action on the grave question* to be submitted by the president The sen ate organised and adopted Its aatl flllbnster rule during the recent pxtra session. American Bark Overdue. London?The American bark Brown Brothers has been posted as r rerdua. INCREASED ACTIVITY NOTICED IN THE NAVY DEPARTMENT ) Washington. ? Naval preparations for war were marked by increased activity with the advancement to April 2 of the date of the extra ses sion of congress. No actual war steps wer taken by either the war or navy departments, but there were many In dications that preliminary plana have been worked out for rapid mcliillia tioo of both services. The navy's problems are thoe' medical Inspection of school children so as to discover physical defect* In their lnclplency. the act to protect tbe citlien from,being defrauded by the sal* of nostrums for IncurabM ? diseases, tbe establishment of tM borne and school for cripples, the state-wide quarantine law, this law providing rural sanitation, were all de signed^ and" are calculated to aid th* citlxen in the world old battle for I bread. They deal largely with tlm physical necessities of men. but In ad dition to their commercial value they are shot through with the spirit of hu manitarian Ism. On the other band the constitutional amendment calling for a six Instead or a four months school, the act authoris ing the incorporation of rural com m unities. the liberal appropriation for moon Ught schools, the expansion of tbe work of rural libraries, the act providing for a system of state high ways, the act to encourage tbe instal lation of running water and electric lights and telephone* In country homes. Ibe appropriation to relieve tbe loneliness of country life by giving wholesome. instructive and entertain ing exhibitions in country school houses, the establishment of the home for delinquent women, the creation or U>e state board of general welfare and public charities, the ?[fecial aft (or the building of a new home for tbe blind, the three million dollar bond tsa sue to encourage the building of better _ school houses In the country, and to provide adequate Quarters and equip ment for our educational and chari table Institutions, all recognise tbe truth that man cannot live by bread alone, but requires for his proper de velopment the enrichment of his so cial and Intellectual life. in addition to these measures that so vitally touch the life of the pe001e. the admlnlstratloa-of the state's affairs were placed upon a more Intelligent and humane basis by tbe prison reform bill the consolidation of the three hospitals, the act to eetabllsh a management, the act to eetabllsh a new and modern system of accounting In the state departments and instltu- .? tlons. the law creating an educational commission to consider the entire school system of the state. been < granted an Iredell corporation com posed of Q. V Halyburton. J. W. 81ms and J. S. Rearer, all of the rtchiltr of Stony Point. The company, which has an authorised capital of fM.OOO will operate what will probably be tha only asbaatoe mlna In North Carolina. Tha mine, situated on Mr. Halybur ton'* (arm near Stony Point, promises to be a rich one. asbestos being found on. several acres. Experts declare aa beitos present in lailge quantities. Ma- - . chlnery Is being Installed. Waraaw Attache M. C. of L. Warsaw.?Waraaw has always plant ed gardens, but thla spring more than aver before, the fancy of gardneri has turned to thoughts of growing veg> tables There art vary few homes that have not at least a small garden spot, and every available sftot la being utilised The high cost of seed pota toes baa deterred many from planting them In large'quantities, but others^ With the _ Idea of growing thSts for taarket, have planted more than evar before. J. C. Ross haa planted It a eras on hi* farm near towa.