Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1915 — DIGEST OF WORLD'S IMPORTANT NEWS [ARTICLE]

DIGEST OF WORLD'S IMPORTANT NEWS

EPITOME OF THE BIG HAPPENINGS OF THE WEEK. TO BE READ AT A GLANCE Items, Both Foreign and Domestic, That Have Interest for Busy Readers, Arranged and Classified for Their Convenience. European War News News has reached Romanshorn from Friedrichshafen to the effect that during the British raid on Cuxhaven, one of the latest super-Zeppelins was destroyed by bombs dropped by aviators. An official statement Issued at Berlin says: “In East Prussia the Russian cavalry was driven back in the direction of Pillkallen (four miles from the Russian frontier and south of the Niemen river).” - - v * * * The evacuation by the Germans of the village of Mistrzewice, five miles north of Sochaczew, related officially by the war office at Petrograd, is regarded by military critics in London as “ringing down the curtain on the Third German advance toward Warsaw.” ♦** . . Seventeen bombs were dropped on Dunkirk, France, by four German air raiders. Fifteen persons were killed and more than thirty wounded. A number of women and children were among the victims. * * ♦ « Germans attacked the Portuguese fort at Naubilla on December 18 and obliged the Portuguese to retreat a little. There were many losses among the Portuguese. * ♦ • Grand Duke Nicholas reports Germans withdrew from line of trenches on right bank of Bzura and driven from a village on Rawka. Heavy artillery fighting is going on, Germans making sharp counter-attacks. Farther south Russian offensive developing rapidly. Along upper Vistula Germans defeated.

Main Austrian army, under General Boehm-Ermilli, which was prevented from joining the western Austrian army by the Russians on Christmas day, apparently is nearing dissolution. Vienna officially admits that the Austrians are “avoiding the Russian attacks,” and that attacks in Carpathian passes are “vfery severe.” Petrograd reports that the repeating Austrians, estimated to number 175,000, are struggling in disorderly fashion through Carpathians, with retreat becoming more and more disorderly. Russia claims 200 officers and 15,000 soldiers were taken prisoners in nine days.’ « « * While the Franco-Belgian troops were occupying St. Georges, in the environs of which there has been most bitter fighting, and establishing themselves firmly in that position two miles east of Nieuport, the French forces commanded by General Pau, operating in Upper Alsace, were investing Steinbach, in the Vosges, north of the line between Cernay and Thann.

♦ • • Four of the German big guns were so badly damaged by the British bombardment of Zeebrugge that Hiey are being taken back to the Krupp works for repair. • • • Russians have driven a wedge between two Austrian armies in Galicia. Czaf’s troops took possession of a 20mile strip of territory after crossing the Biala river. Advices also received at Petrograd from Galicia say Austrians are retreating precipitately and western Austrian army badly crippled. Investment of Cracow by Russians again raised. • * • About five hundred refugees of different nationalities are being transported from Jaffa to Alexandria on the United States cruiser Tennessee, Captain Decker, her commander, reported to the navy department at Washington. , • • • • Domestic The HamburgjAmerican freight steamer Dacia has been purchased by Breitung & Co. of New York and will carry cotton to Bremen. ♦ ♦ * The raiding of a crap game at the penitentiary at Jefferson City, Mo., by a guard in which a number of bogus silver coins were taken from, convicts led to the discovery of a counterfeiting plant in which the money was manufactured. * * * The board of aidermen of Morristown, N. Y„ has advertised for a “capable fire chief.” Salary $lO a month. •»♦ . ' Henry Miller, general manager of the Wabash-railroad, announced his resignation at St Louis. • » * Walter Smith was killed instantly and C. Dorsch seriously wounded by Canadian troops patroling the Canadian border at Fort Erie, Ont., opposite Buffalo. Both men are Americans. The men were hunting ducks out of season ftx/Canadian waters.

Three bandits who robbed passengers in the two sleepers of the Sunset Express on Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio railway, got $7,840 and jewelry valued at $3,000 at Cline and escaped. Jose Martinez, a. wealth? Mexican, was overlooked by bandits. He carried $16,6'00, besides jewelry of great value. . • * * After ten rounds of the best boxing seen ip New York in years Charlie White was the winner over Joe Shugrue by a big margin. ; * * *1 ■ Within the last six weeks 12 ships laden with meats and animal prodruets valued at $5,350,000, belonging to the Chicago packers and bound for neutral ports have turned their prows toward English ports under persuasion of the big guns of British warships, cargoes declared to be "conditional contraband” and confiscated. American note to Britain . caused packers to take hope claims Will be adjusted satisfactorily. ' • * ♦ . Mexican Revolt ''V , - ■ ■.. i ‘ . Four thousand followers of General Carranza defeated 5,000 men under Gen. Ufemio Zapata at Tepeaca, Mex. . ■ .• • ■ •

A heavy force of Villa troops has begun an attack on Tuxpam, an important oil town .between Vera Cruz and Tampico. » * * < - Telegraphing to the American Red Cross at New York, Consul General Hanna asks that 2,000 cheap blankets be sent him at Monterey, Mexico, to relieve the siiffering natives who have appealed for help. He reports that food supplies are short. •• • . Personal - CJohn F. Dietz of Cameron Dam, Wis. r had his sentence of life imprisonment commuted by Governor McGovern to 20 years. Dietz was convicted of the murder of Oscar Harp, a deputy sheriff. , _ • , Lieut. “Jerry” White, a prominent Kenosha pioneer and widely known among Grand Army men, died at Kenosha, Wis. * * * It is rumored in Rome that the kaiser has had a relapse and that his condition Is serious. It is impossible to obtain confirmation of the report.

Capt. Bill McDonald, former President Taft's bodyguard, was married at Dallas, Tex., to Miss Pearl Wilkinson.of Quanah, Tex. She is less than half his which is sixty-five. * • • John C. “Uncle John” Packard, oldest soldier in central Illinois, met a tragic death at Clinton, 111., when he fell downstairs and broke his neck. A ■ * ♦ » Washington President Wilson fold callers at the White House in Washington that all the information reaching him indicated business in the United States was steadily improving. ♦ * *

The United States government dispatched a long note to Great Britain insisting upon an early improvement in the treatment of American commerce by the British fleet. It gave warning that much feeling had been aroused in this country, and that public criticism was general over unwarranted interference with the legitimate foreign trade of the United States. • • • Justice Lamar of the Supreme court at Washington granted appeal from refusal of federal district court for northern Georgia to release on habeas corpus proceedings Leo M. Frank, under death sentence for murder. Frank sentenced to die January 22, but Lamar’s action effects an indefinite stay of execution. • « • It was the Russian* cruiser Askold which threatened to shell the village of Banais, near Tripoli, not the United States cruiser North Carolina, according to a cablegram from Captain Oman of that warship, received at the navy department at Washington. » • * The state department at Washington has made public a cablegram from Ambassador Penfield ,at Vienna, expressing the thanks of Emperor Francis Joseph for the Christmas gifts to the Austrian war orphans sent on the Christmas ship Jason. ♦ ♦ * , Foreign The Swedish Cargo steamer Irma sank during the gale that swept the North Sea. Fourteen men drowned. Two rescued. ♦ • • Five thousand horse's have been purchased for the British army in Argentina by Cunningham Graham, a government agent, who was recently sent to South America. ♦' ♦ * ■ Colonel Doveton, late conservator of forests in India and a cousin of Admiral Sturdee, died in Batb, England. . Marquis Della Chiesa, brother of Popo Benedict, arrived at Madrid from Rome. It is believed he will discuss with King Alfonso the pontiff’s -efforts to re-establish peace in Europe. ■ ——- • .» »... . ..< ' The Royal Mail steamship Trent went down at her dock at Tilbury, England, with her inward c&rgc aboard.