Hammond Times, Volume 12, Number 143, Hammond, Lake County, 7 December 1917 — Page 1

MAKE IT A REP CR9SS

J COLDER rCHRISTMAS WEATHER VOL. XII., XO. m "De tivere7jby" TmSS carriers, 30ore month; oa streets and at newsstand, 2a per copy; tack numbers 3c per copy. HAMMOND, INDIANA, i kida v, 1)i:ci:miu:u t, v.m :! m lit M SrSa U ft-. fcl I;

W-U-'yJIx ii il

J! AXvillUO

THOUSANDS DIE

HUNDREDS LEA V

Applicants for All Branches of Service From Gary, East Chicago, Whiting, Crown Point and Other Cities of County. THESE ARE FACTS OF ENLISTMENTS Enlistment of men bet-ween the ag-es of 21 ana 31 stops Dec. 15. Every branch of the service is now open, including- the cavalry. Married men, those elizible for the draft who have not besa certified for service and assigned, and all others who can pass the physical examination may enlist. Whatever your trade is now you can follow it in the service if you en. list hut if you wait for the draft there is no selection. If they say trenches then trenches it will he. All reports to the contrary are not correct. Now is the time. Bnlist today. In the Hammond recruiting office, clearing- house for enlisunents in Garj, Fast Chicago. Whiting. Hobart. Crown Point. Lowell, West Hammond and Hammond, was today filled with youthful patriots who departed on every train for Indianapolis. In Chicago the candidates wait in long- lines to apply for enlistment. The great last rush for enlistment is on. A week from Saturday enlistment will bo denied men between the ases of 21 and 31 and they must await the draft and tako the branch of service alloted them. The present recruits arc selecting the character of work they arc best suited and trained for and while this is largely non-combatant it is just as necessary to the winning of the war to have the mechanics and clerks as the men in the trenches. Recruiting- Sergeants have sent for assistants to cnabla the office to handle the men. There is a steady stream in end out of his oftio of the finest type of youns men it has been his privilege to enlist. Moreover the men ore ef such intelligence that they know exactly what branch they desire to enter. One in a while a laugh sweeps the busy recruiting office. A young man of serious demeanor the other day presented himself to the sergeant and said that lie desired to enlist us a lieutenant. Put the undercurrent is strong and unmistakable. The recruits have otic big issue in mind lick Germany. The arc out to help win the war. Two prof essionil men enlisted today. One was Hugh K. Wh.-ley. physical director of the 'Whiting schools, and the other Attorney P.. Hohuberg of Hammond. Of course it is natural that the. young men who have good jobs should wait until the Inst few days but if the rush continues they may have difficulty in getting served. An indiccnlally the best jobs in the service will be given to the first who go. It is announced that all who are able should be prepared to leave by Wednesday or not. later than Thursday of next week Those who enlisted this morning follow: ! Frank Stanish. Aviation Corrs. Whit-j jug. Ind. j Key A. Muenich, Hngineer Corps, 67 Ann stret. William 1 Toung, Knginccr Corps, 43 ! Uoty street. j Virgel W. L)ay, Aviation Corps, 6G0 I llohman street. j Georgo II. Hoffmann, Signal Corrs. j 326 Fine street. John A. Kotzer, Aviation Corps, 2S3 j Michigan avenue. I Harry S. Hilbrich, Kngineer Corrs, 16 roty street. I Hugh i;. Whalcy, Aviation Corps, j Whiting, ind. j Clarence Ii. I.ightcap, Aviation Corps,' 15 Waltham street. "Wallace Guedry, Engineer Corps, I Dutchtown, la. Alexander S. Bayer, Engineer Corps, Whiting, ind. J. M. Lent, Engineer Corps. Hammond. Panicl Kuss, Engineer Corps, 'Hammond. E. 7.. CarnacI, Aviation Corps, Hammond. Kei tt K. Jones, Aviation Corps, Hammond. Forty-seven have enrolled for enlistment and will leave for Indianapolis the first three days of next week. Among these are John A. Kotz and Louts I. Tcbodo, two city firemen from No. 1 station. They have entered the aviation corps. 'Bulletins (By United Press Cablegram.) BEBXItf, (Via iKindon), Dec. 7. Capture of Jrlontesisemo and 4, COO additional prisoners was announced by the war office today. This makes the total reported captured in this region, 15,000.

east ghigagd man sues up his life

Tli- first East Chicago man to give ' his J fe for his country is Polrh F.iod-; zjSii, 4 C' 7 Magoun avenue, who died in j I'lan.'e the day before Thanksgiving of heart failure. This information came i to the ynung man's family in the shape j of a cablegram from Col. ISurgas with J the Engineers Corps of the American ; Kxpe-Jitionary Corps. Fonicwbcre in. ! France, j Biedzjki was 2i years of ag:p ami enlisted 6 months ngo in the service. Ho ' va5 ii mo'.der. single, and had been cmployel both at the Oreen Knginecring j Co.'s riant and the Hubbard Steel I Foundry. WAD EDICT BI SENATE , Bl I.I.ETI. j WAMUNGTOV, IJt. 7. The senate j ndonted the wnt resolution. The vote ' not uniuilmouft. I. a Kollette not pres. ent. The resolution declares a sitnle of war nealnst Austria. Hungary. With the scniite's approval it was certain the house late this ufternoon would take the snnie uctlon. The senate's vote followed stirring war speeches by Senators Stone, Lodge j and Hitchcock. Senator Hitchcock snid his ohjec-j tions to n state, of war against Austria nrre cleared imay by President Wll- J son's st".nd assuring Austria free access to the Adriatic. Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, ranking Republican member of the foreign relations committee, spoke imainsf including Hulararia and Turkey at this time, but he added: "The only reason for leaving Turkey out Is the dnnger to American lives and property in Turkey. 'We tlo not touch Bulgaria in a military sense, but we have a Hulgarinn legation at Washington, and if the of- j ficlnis are frieadly to us they are traitors to their own country and its ally, Germany." , j WASHINGTON. Dec. 7. Congress moved rapidly toward a formal declaration of war against Austria-Hungary I this afternoon. A vote tonight appears I likely unless La Foiletle in the senate j or some radical in the house attempts ,a miibuster. - : I'oulit that the senate would take lip the war resolution was removed w hen unanimous consent was given for its j immediate consideration. ,a Folic' t was absent at the time. The house took up the resolution immediately after convening. Both h. uses were expected to pass the measute with little debate. Tl. 1'. Hiekmnri. a former v. eii-k)i"-.vn H.-jtumoml man wr'-t" e.--' id ty to S-r-R'.in' V." !'-h le-jrardinfr !h" 5laii(!erous story i-iri'ulii t "d h pro-.;iriiiiii:j in Hammond, that his sen had b- en : hot a? a deserter. Nw Toil:. !...-. Z, 1317. Dear Sir: I irc-ivol word i roin my -1 ln tighter a few days nso. ftatini. you had called Ik r hy pli'.ne a;-!.inT if fie-re was any truth in a r-port that has h en cireuiaTcd in Hanmiund that Toy s..n Charles, now in I he toart artillery, st itioned at Fort "oust il-.it ion. X. It., pal deserted and sen t need to l shot. As foou as I received her letter I iminedi;:.tely started an iu est i tral ion and K-t the lommandinK- officer of h:.s i-ompany on the lonff distam-e phoiu-. Tie stated that Chf-rles was there in Rood health, and n.'t fn any trouble of any kind, and for me to write or wire yon at one and deny the rumor, and to state that they had not had a desertion from that fort dux-ins; the past six months'. Later v. e received a lttcr from Charlie and he said ho had also received word before T phoned that such a rr -port had been circulated about him, bit' that joii had denied it in the Hammond Times. if this is true. plear neeept my than'.is for your prompt action in the matter. For your information will say that I have ' isited the fort where Charles and theHarnmond high school boys are loea'ed twice in the past two months, and they are all in the best of health, and doins; fine, and it is a shame such a report was circulated about any of them. We received a ninu of their Thanksgiving dinner this morning which was printed on a very elaborate card with the American flajr in colors cmbosse'i in the cover. I", cave a roster of the three companies of regular? stationed at the fort, and the menu didn't look Uk army rations, but more like the menu of our swell hotels.

ADOPTED

I DBWBTHE IILE STORY I

E REGION

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Mayor-Elect Leo McCor- i mack Gives Out First j Authentic News of His! Cabinet Appointments to Times. East Chicago's great fight Is over. Mayor-elect Leo McCorrr.ack today authorised THE TIMES to make known the first authentic list of appointments. J. K. lieppa is to be city controller and the man who will be mayor should anything happen to llayor-clect McCorrr.ack. M. E. Crites will be city attorney, Tom Williams, one of tha city's most ropular men will b new chief of police and Abe Ot t nheimcr, president of the board of public works. The full list of the appointments given o.u by the Mayor-elect is as follows: City Cont roller J. Kalman Koppa. 'ity Attorney M. Ii. Crites. Hoard of Public Works A. Ottenheinier. Noble Morrelli. Sam AVeehsler. Foard of Safety James Clements. James Johnstone and James Calvin. Foard of Health Dr. F. 1,. Townsley. I)r. J. .V. Teegarden and James McWuade. City Engineer C. 1C. Wallace. Street Commissioner .John Lumieen. F.uildiiig Commissioner H. Landflcld. City Mechanician Warren Kipp. Electrical Inspector W. It. Pepplrt. Chief of the Police Department T. D. Williams. Asst. Chief of the Police Dept. William Hughes. Chief of Fire Dept. C. A. Spencer.Asst. Chief of Fire Dept. Chas. Smith. (By Tnited Press.) 1VA?Hl(;TO-, ii..,.. 7. steps furth-J cr to purge thin country of spies and I traitors, taped on President Wilson's! r'-eommenua lions to congress. w ere .taken by Attorney Cenernl Cregory in his annual report today. Cregory recommended laws to hobble the entrance ai d exit of aliens, to make violatioiof the president's alien enemy regulation a "prison at hard labor'' offense instead of an "interment camp and a nice soft berth affair." The vast extent and completeness of the spy and traitor traps the department of justice ban built up in this country since war was d'clared was rt veal'-.l in the rerort for the f!rt time. Atty. ;ret,nry diselose.l that hundreds of expert secret agents from every otic r department of the government have been nioboIi;:ed under justice to meet the situation. The attorney general paij. high tribute to the "very effective work" of the olunteer spy and trnit-.r deteetiiiK orjr'riizatinns that have sprung up over ih" country to help the government wipe t,ut that menace. He mentioned especially tho American Protective l.a sue. which he said had proven invaluable. "Its membership," said Gregory, "which is carefully guarded, includes hading men in various localities who bae v oUuiteercd their services in securins any kind of information of alue to the nation.'" HreKory also highly commended the I. .oil and district draft boards and the dratted men. declaring the number of defections from duty in all three groups lias b.en very small." He recommended : Kvtensioii of the statute of limitation on bankruptcy cases lv three jears, appointment of it priority federal ju.h: do the work of judfres over seventy who refuse to resign because the constitution doesn't compel them to if they behave themselves; a law niakinc ex tradition from state to state unneces- ! sary on federal indictments; a law to prohibit common carriers transporting; materials mined or made,. p,y' themselves; and authority to sue any! interstate correspondent in ny federal district. j Completion of factories t Fort Feav-j enworth and Atlanta prisons, paym. ut of prisoners or their famili -s for their i work and -.file of rill products to the j government was recommended. j (By United Press.) ST. JOHN, N. B., Dec. 6. Half of the suburb of Richmond ir. Halifax Is rated and lire was still sweeping- the section when communication was established with Halifax this afternoon. The bodies of the dead clutter the streets while literaUy hundreds of Injured are wandering- about the vrreck suburb ia a daze, moaning- and buntingfor their dead. (By United Press.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 The senate foreign relation committee this afternoon voted unanimously to report to the senate tomorrow the resolution de-clarlrg-war oa Austria-Hungary.

TRAITORS JIBE!

"OUR IMMEDIATE rvL.v..

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President Wilson, addressing congress, calls for war on Austria. The photograph 'was snapped at an impressive moment -when President Wilson was delivering his stirring address to congress asking declaration of war on Austria-Hunpary. Vice President Marshall (left) and Speaker Champ Clark of the house presided jointly. They are at the desi behind the president.

MISS RftTLlFF BtTAlHED II Gmi' POINT III High School Boy Disciplined for Tearing German Songs From Text Book. (EY H. R. CROSS.) CROWX POINT. INT., Ic 7. Miss Mary P.atliff, teacher of Cerninn in the Crown Point high school, is to be retained. W. K. Viimer. a member of '.he board of education, toelay of the teacher and nrsic to the defense eoicaiini e I to a reporter that Miss ftatlilT had been pi. -i.tly v rouged by the refle.-ti.us cost on her jtitric! e in and that he Imped she would be put rikrht before the public again. Tin- disturbance started wh'n the county ceiuii'-il of defense, acting on reports made to it. insi meted 1 Id Cre.un Point board of education to Investigatereports that Miss Uatdirt had mad " patriotic n-marks, and had lor class sing lii-rm.in semss. The lalte-r s n .angered one pupil, Ivan i 'ou ri w riht . that he tore the o fiend in sonsrs from the Ge rman bock. "It is net. true that Mis--; Tiatliff unpatri'.'ic fiiin rUs." stated Mr. today, "and the pongs wen- in toular l'1'.'iiraiii of the German eDean Ce.urtwrtght h-is h- cn .,; i r-e-1 j for tearing the leaves cut of the ori2.-d te xt hook. I . e;c-..i- r th.it Hat 1 iff bis been greatly v. f-t. u-e !. ti :a deiI m. r l'e-K"-i 1 : lilllll M.s. Mr. V-'ni'-T Sia'e;l that tic- bean! .,fj eeluenl ;..ri did n-t hear any t.-.-t im.env j by the pupils at Its lie( ;m: the board i-; safisfieai as lo liff's pat rie.ei Ism. n.l tl i Mi COL. RILEY D1STR SEN Appointed Head of Thrift Drive for Tenth District; Will Appoint Aide. PufTH I1FNT '. INF.. H"c. 7 Col. W. ... Ililey eif Fas! Chi. hi.;.. 1 as been appojnleel elislriet chairman t'..r the Tenth in the five million state thrift eiri-e iSouth l'enel will be beael'i in rters for Indiana for the campaign fer the sale of thrift stamps ami war savins stamps. Pining F'lS the? goal ot the Indiana committee, of wbu-h J. P. Oliver eif this city is chairman, will be askei to borrow I ,"."00.(1(10 for tli.i government. The executive ceemmiltec is composed e,f M. Oliver. Will 1 i. Hayes of Indianape.li-? and Frank F. lie-ring of this city. Mr. Heriti? is secretary and will hav as his assistants H. M. Htmhintson, W. K. I.ampot nnl 1. S. c-imms. who will be in ehiejce- of speakers, advertising and publicity and work through the public schools. The executive committee has appointed the following congressional district chairman: First. K. U. Fnlow. Fvansville; Second, It. W. Aiken, Sullivan; Third, Samuel KIsley, New Albany; Fourth. W. H. O'Brien. Fa w re nceburg; Fifth. James S. Poyse. Terre Haute; Sixth. K. H. Hawkins. Connersv ille; J Seventh. Stouphte.n I-let.-her, Indianao olis; Fighth, l-'rank Hall. Muncie N'inth George I'inwiddie. Frankfort; Tenth, Walter J. Hi'.cy, Fast Chicago; Flcventh. Frank M. Kistlrr. Feigansport ; Twelfth, Samuel Foster. Fort AYayne: Thirteenth, Rome C. Stephensem, South Bend.

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K ARMY NEXT WEEK

TASK IS TO IVIS WAR," WII.SOS TELLS SIXTY-FIFTH COXGUESS

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(By United Press Cablegram.) SSLIN, Dec. 7. Oerraan troops termed ikjtfstice farm and cleared! Iarcoin,T cf tha eneir.v. today's of ficial statement from Cam1;rai asserted, North of lavacqnrrio Gorman troops maintr.ined their positions. The ene-.r.y . . , . penetratc-d them for a time but wire thrown back by ccunter-attscts. . IBv TTnited Press Cahlsrnm.I , -r, ox. eiuan, Xei. ij., i.ec. v. iirsi reiuges from the Eaiifzx disaster arrived i hero today. TIio party included two j women who were in. class rooms at St. Vincent academy when the Sit. Blanc blew np. The women wero uninjured. BY , WILI.IAiX PHIXUP EIM3flS. (By United Press Cablegram.) viXM. IBS E-EiTiiii, Attn.ii.ts u -iii; jjec. 7. Xi;e iiriT1Su : . , , t-,.Ki uwnuaj a-aiw pei-ja fivji rlvrt e.f 'ie che-r'W , -jiai cucrt o: ..ic war snor.iy. nono.,i t,,,.. TVr, -rte. 11ueaeiai Byn? s lercmeut lrom Bonr. ion war, reffarded today as tho first j precautionary mcssuro fcr the Brit-

iish to withstand such an assault. As;1""" " l"e

tho Entit-h scc It Germany is now at ' the zenith of h;r military power. With Russia out of tho war Germany is cnaljlod to draw an increased arm power heretofore held alr:iT tha Russian liues. She is apparently prepnrin"- to I tlirow every or.nce into a supreme atj tempt at r.uiitr.ry victcry befcra arrivr.l f American trocps on the fightinij- l-uc. (By Unite.! Fress Calilec'r.im.) . PETROCtRAD, Dec. 7 1'iUl text of ; I tha armistice tis-1-seir.cnt sirced r-y tha j J CVth Russian and tha 31rt Gcnnin in- ! iantry divisions, as published tiero to- i nay, e;-.3v.-s bo ETipiuation that German trocps uiiisi not; do u;ea against the r.l- t j lies on other fronts. Encli stipulation ! was spccificlally pleuced by Poreign j leXiniEtcr Trotzky in. a raccnt speech. Germany apparently is to be parr.dttetl to transfer all the troops sha tlesiras from tho Russian, fronts to use ag-aicst tho allies. (By United Fress Calls jraui.) FARI3, D-jc. 7. Repulse of two German attacking" waves which followed a violent bombardment aronnd Beaumont cn th ri?h bank of tho Meuso was announced In today's official statement. ! Thee attackers were thrown back in fierce j defensive nrc. activo artillerying- was

reported clous tho Rhone-Rhine caaal I , Jl snow n up tor .xamm.-it ;.-.t. wnen t p-oar for the safety of American Conrogion. . -ailed, thus his r. -ntenlion a. id ;f nal dis- sui Of-tieral Walters of Halifax were . . l-osal at Fast Cl.i.-ag. polb-o s' eti.-n 'o-; voiced at the state department today.

AMZRICATT FZXLD IIEADQUARTR3, rEA?CS, Dec. 7. American sanitary section No. 5, now serving with the French army, which has been cited twice for splendid cenduct befjra th-j j caeiry, deceived their decorations toflay. Every member received the wur J cross anci permission to wear tho four-

v -aX oi. mj over me snorucisr) l.,lvid McCalkn. nrr'st-d as were which marks a un'.t oiflciaUy xocog-- the foil, wing- two last r.Uht bv Hamaized by Prance 7or bravery. . mond authorities, for information from i Cleveland where the- man said he reg

(By United Fress.) TORONTO, Dec. 6. Advices here today said there were no Canadian mili tary units for embarkation in Halifax today. Neither were these any on transports. Certain signalling- units which left recently are believed to have already sailed while an Ottawa and i Kingston unit which was expected to be la HaUfax is still ia Windsor, Novia Scotia. Build a room in your attic. Use Bestwall. Paxton Lumber Co. u-24,

IKS! Ml (By United Press.) HALIPAS, Dec. 7-North HaUfax is ! vast funeral pyre today. Many bodies j ara incinerated in the burning ruins of j this city of fiesoIatiott ana woe. Snow ; . , , ... i la manteling- with a cloak of white ! e'-eet lci:c-ueel areas where tho flames j have swept hiding- unknown hoiTors be- ! ath. Hospitals are crowded with injured. Dead lino in ghastly ranks. I bitter wind is sweeping through shatj tcred windows of ruined houses. 1 The police estimate of 2.COO dead is the latest statement of the death, toll. j Aa eqaal nnmoer of seriousiy injured , are uelnff cared f or . j Exhausted relief parties are digging j desperately in the confusion cf debris j hoping- to find among those bailed some . j Many of the rescuers v DiiPT.inf v.'iie-. trie French t-. 1 1 n : f i n n k ii ; n - - --- ' -Mount Elanc blew tip after colliding- . with a BeUrium relief vessel and its , - -'i--"-'fs " ! Aid tlie ctaos of destruction, grief. : " A '""" "inoie man '' lhe rest staEd out ia a11 thalr frntfulieneath one pile of wreckage lay a girl imploring- God to end her agony. TI-.o rescuers worked feverishly to reach her. But when the last timber was lifted the firl was dead. (5 tlfl L Te.m C'innors who escaped govern- , no m authorities yesterday was caught ; the fc-cotid time by Haninion.1 polie e last i night. Today lie rests in a evil at the (Fast Chicago jail to await the pleasure of the draft hoard lie f.. re whom he ! failed tee appear for exam ina t to i. Af ter lie had been released by Conn ion- -; r Charles Surprise-, j; was t.-,-i nifi h ay hy mo e onm, issioiie r.

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Coi.t;.- said it was his brother w h ; t-arly toelay to investigate the fate of caused the Me nem wrt-e-k at Iyer two ; Americans in the vicinity of the exployars ajrii when be was que st leuii-d ; ...i..n. The American consulate at Haliabe 'lit it' His answers were evasive and! fax is within two owl a hclf blocks of I'll the com in is.slom r to believe it might ! the water front and close to the cu--

havc been biui instecd of bis bre.tlii-r th.'.t neatly killed a. SCel-e of pe-ep-e. The ....pimis.ii!ier or.!, re - poli'-e to istered. Ife had forgotten his serial number aid e'.id not know whether or not. he had been called to appear for cxanimation. Fenihan was discharged after proving t" 'he sat isfaet ie-n of the . (,urt '"" was years old. ami Jasper Pomilia was taken to Harvey. 111., hIit.- he finiel he bad been tw ice for examination and both limes the exe mption board told him i they eliein't want hini. minors adv. on ,.aSo eleven for Friday and Saturday. ,iiinr v i 1 1 u i J t- ti uu uiUeK, pel i ,aiii j v i 12-7-1

APPALLING SCENES ARE

Frozen Bodies Found by Hundreds Where Force of Explosion Was Spent. (BULLETIN.) (By United Press Cablegram.) ST. JOHN. N.P. Dec. 6. Hospitals were filled with injured and improvised wards were hurriedly set up in the corridors. Late this afternoon nurses and doctors began to arrive on pecial [special] trains and the work of ministering to the wounded began. Pitiful scenes were enacted in the suburb of Richmond as the wounded began to recover from the stunning effect of the blast. While fire raged through the section where bodies of the dead were burled in the wreckage and lay in fantastic positions as they had fallen when the explosion came, cries of the injured and dying filled the air. Sobbing women ran frantically about searching for their children. (By United Press.) HALIFAX, Dec. 7.-The appalling death toll here as the result of the explosion of the French munition ship, Mount Blanc, when she was rammed by the Belgian relief ship here yesterday was steadily increasing early today. The rescue of bodies progressed slowly. Conservative estimates of city officials this morning placed the dead as close to 2,500. AN APPALLING SPECTACLE. The scene as dawn broke over the city beggered description. Here and there about the smoking ruins of what had been their home men and women scantily clad and with blood shot eyes clawed at the wreckage with bleeding hands in an effort to find lost relatives. Freezing cold and a heavy snow storm added to the sufferings of wounded and shelterless today. FROZEN BODIES GREET EYE. Fires believed extinguished have broken out again. There is no reliable count of dead. Two thousand is a low estimate in the belief of those working among the bodies now frozen stiff in grotesque and horrible attitudes of death agony. Many of the injured are dying. Po- lice are attempting to round up lost children who are wondering through the wilderness of wreckage weeping for mothers. Even worse conditions have turned up at North Dartmouth, across the bay. It is a place of death and suffering. SPECIALS BRING RELIEF. The worst damaged section of Halifax is shut off by guards. A special train bringing carloads of food, clothing and other supplies arrived this morning from St. John. Surgical workers are overwhelmed. There are not enough doctors and nurses to handle the unnumbered rounds of wonded. More help is enroute and is eagerly awaited. Some of the surgeons on the ground were themselves injured by the explosion but have been working without rest for more than twenty-four hours. MANY SOLDIERS KILLED. Scenes in first aid dressing stations in the war zone were outdone by the spectacle in Halifax when men, women and children, suffering from terrible injuries, some scorched black but still alive, were carried to surgeons. Heavy damage was done to the Canadian military barracks and a number of soldiers were killed. The military hospitals were the first to be pressed into services. The congestion of wounded in Halifax will be relieved by taking some of the injured to other towns. Some may be removed by boat. FEARS FOR CONSUL. Fear for the safety of American Consul General Watters of Halifax were voiced at the state department today. Consul Freeman of Sydney, N.S. left early today to investigate the fate of Americans in the vicinity of the explosion. The American consulate at Halifax is within two and a half blocks of the waterfront and close to the custom house. Efforts were made all night to get in touch with Halifax by the state department cable but the best that could be done was to order Freeman to go there. COMMANDER MAKES REPORT The department's anxiety was heightened by the fact that Watts is always prompt to report such matters. That no American ships were involved in the disaster appeared more likely this afternoon from the fact that no mention of any included in the navy department's reports. Secretary Daniels announced that the commander of on American warship which arrived in Halifax following the explosion had landed a guard to co-op-ate with the authorities in policing the stricken district. Presumably it was the commander who reported that 5,000 were killed.