Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 43, Number 40, 28 December 1917 — Page 1

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PEACE TERMS BELIEVED BY WASHINGTON TOJKTRAP Allied Leaders Make No For mal Reply to Overtures of Czernin London Sees De sire for General Truce. LLOYD -GEORGE TALKS LONDON, Dec. 23 ."Achievement of the purposes for which the allies are fighting Is essential to the future freedom and peace of mankind," said" Pre mier Lloyd George In a letter which he sent today to the labor congress The premier's statement is regarded as the British reply to the German peace offer. Stephen PIchon. France's foreign minister was explicit in a statement made in the chamber of deputies, declaring that France could not accept a peace based on the conditions that existed before the war. The war would go on whether or not Russia made a separate peace, he said. The Question of Alsace-Lorraine, the res toratlon of which France demands. was a world question not a territor ial but a normal problem, he declar ed, and its solution depended whether the world would have a durable peace The French ministerial attitude was fortified, as shown in last night's Paris dispatches, by a vote taken in the chamber after M. Pichon's statement was made. An opposition resolution wa3 voted down, 411 to 90, and a resolution approving the declaration and expressing confidence in the ministry was adopted 384 to 0. (By Associated Prees German terms for a general peace and the suggestion that the entente Join the Russo-German peace conference have brought no immediate response. American. British and French leaders are silent, probably awaiting a direct message from the peacemakers at Brest-Litovsk. The attitude of the American government has not changed, and it is felt in Washington that the present German promise? bt , no annexations and no Indemnities, are insincere. An Alleged view of tt3 German peace terms In high British circle says that Germany desires a general peace and does not want a separate peace with Russia. British-newspaper opinion is divided. A recess in the peace negotiations has ben taken and the criaference will be resumed January 4, at a place not yet determined. To Make New Appeal. Leon Trotzky, the BU'sbevIki foreign minister, is said to be preparing a new appeal to the entente allies ' to join tie conference. It is indicate! in Russian despatches received in "London that the Bolsheviki place most of their hopes in retaining powr in the consumatlon of a peace which will meet the wishes of the Russian population, thus weakening the Cossack and Ukraine opposition. King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, an AmFterdam desrftch says, holds different views on annexations from those expressed by Count Czernin, who apparently la the German mouthpiece. A Vienna newspaper quotes the king as saylns that Bulgaria would hold what she had won, which seemingly is at variance with the generalization of no forcible annexations uttered by Count Czernin. German and Austrian newspapers generally receive Czerhin's statement warmly. Repulsed in their attempt to break the French fnes northeast of Verun tbe Germans Vave ceased their efforts while artillery on' both bides, koep up a lively fire. Check Surprise Move. In the Argonne yesterday the French checked a German surprise attack and French artillery broke up enemy troop concentrations northeast of Verdun. On the British front, the artillery duel continues at various points. On the Italian northern front, the Austro-Germans have not followed up their success of early in the week west of the Brenta and which they had a hard fight to maintain. Enemy artillery fire on the Asiago plateau is Intense, perhaps lu preparation for other attempts. In aerial battled over Treviso. British and Italian airmen acContinued On Page Two. THE WEATHER For Indiana by United States Weather Bureau Fair and colder tonight Cold wave in south portion. Saturday partly cloudy; continued cold. Today's Temperature Noon 15 Yesterday Maximum 33 Minimum . ...... 19 For Wayne County by W. E. Moors Fair and cold tonight; below zero. Saturday increasing cloudiness; continued told. General Conditions The northwestern cold wave Is moving south and east and will probably cause zero weather here tonight. A cold wave , covers a gTeat territory extending from the central states northward to the Arctic circle, the most severe be ing over Canada, east of the Rockies. The temperature Is far below zero in the north portion of the United States and Canada. The weather will prob ably continue cold for several daya excepting for occasional moderations with snow followed by the immediate return to cold.

NEW ENGLISH SEA LORD AND OLD Above, Sir Roaslyn Wemyss. Below, Sir John R. Jellicoe. LONDON, Dec. 28. The new sea lord of the British admiralty was, liks his predecessor, a hero at the battle of Jutland. But Vice Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, the new sea lord, found most of his fame eclipsed by Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, whom he has just succeeded and who was acclaimed throughout England and the ally countries as the Hero of Jutland. Vice Admiral Wemyss became second sea lord in August. Although little ..known, to' the-British he has always borne a reputation of being a first-rate fighter. Admiral Jellicoe has been elected to the peerage in recognition of his very distinguished services. The hope is expressed that his experience may be utilized later in another important post. There long has been strong criticism of the conduct of the admiralty, and discontent recently had deepened into sharp disappointment and dissat isfaction at the impunity with which German raiders again sank a British convoy. German Shell Kills American Private on Christmas Eve WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, Dec. 28. (By the Associated Press) A corporal of American engineers was killed and one private was wounded Christmas eve, when a Gorman shell dropped near a party of American engineers working in trenches on a section of the French front. The engineers for several weeks had been workng along the front with veteran French engineers for purposes of instruction. Under orders received from General Headquarters, divisional commanders of the American forces today issued orders suspending temporarily Pari3 leave for all officers and men. No ex planation was given. During a recent . moonlight night German aviators dropped bombs near a certain town and two American privates, who were in a camp in a wood. were killed. The German airplane flew low and dropped their bombs accurately. Quota is $1,000,000; Few Stamps Are Sold Wayne county's quota of War Saving and Thrift. Stamps is one million dollars. Postmaster Beck said Friday a partial report shows 1,500 war saving stamps and 15,000 thrift stamp3 have been sold since Dec. 3. London LONDON, Dec. 28. Opinion here on the reply of the central powers to the Bolsheviki terms, as far as can be judged from the editorials in the mornIns newspapers, follows two main lines. On one hand it seems to be. felt that the central powers have made a perfectly sincere offer to end the war immediately, while on the other hand it is declared that they have set a cunning tuap in which they hoped although vainly, to catch the allies. TI?e former view is not confined to papers generally regarded as having pacifist leanings. It is supported 6trong!y, for instance by the conservative Daily Express, which stands uncompromisingly for victory over the central powers and is an ardent apos

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BELOW-ZERO WEATHER IS DUE FRIDAY Weatherman Predicts An other Siege of Real Winter Weather for Richmond. Cold, biting, howling high winds Fri day struck Richmond pedestrians full in the face, and a scittish red liquid begun descending. And one of the coldest cold waves that Richmond has experienced this season is scheduled to strike Richmond and Wayne county Friday night, sending the temperature below zero, according to Weather Forecaster Moore. "The weather will probably continue cold for several days excepting for occasional moderations with snow followed by the immediate return to cold weather again," the weather man said. At noon Friday the temperature had fallen to fifteen degrees above zero and was steadily declining". It ia believed it will reach the zero mark some time before midnight. ARMINGTON SAYS WAVE WILL STAY FOR FEW DAYS. INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 28. The weather man has another cold wave up his sleeve and the mercury is going down the toboggan this afternoon, and is expected to 6trike the zero mark this evening or tonight, and may go five below. No heavy snow is threatened, however, although there will be flurries during the day. J. H. Armington, meteorologist of the Indianapolis weather bureau, could not say how long the cold wave will last, but indications are that it will be here for several days. COLDEST PLACE IN UNITED STATES HAS IT 49 BELOW. DULUTH, Minn,, Dec. 28. Government Forecaster Richardson of Duluth today reported that probably the coldest place in the United States today was Eveleth, Minn., where the official thermometer registered 49 degrees below zero. CHINESE ROUT TWO UNITS OF RUSS TROOPS PEKING. China, Dec. 28. The Chinese commander-in-chief ' at Harbin, Manchuria, on December-25 presented at the Bolsheviki headquarters the de mand that the two reserve Russian battalions which were under its control leave Harbin. The Bolsheviki authorities agreed, but during the night issued orders to resist. On the morning of December 26 the 618th iegiment opened fire on the Chinese who thereupon replied, killing the colonel and a number of men. The regiment then surrendered. The E59th regiment surrendered and gave up its arms. Rutin, the Bolsheviki chief, and Slavin and Lutski, his assistants, escaped. The Chinese now control the situation and the lives of foreigners are being safe guarded. Advices from Tokio under date of December 27, reported that the Russians at Harbin had surrendered to the Chinese and had been disarmed. WAR FUND BOARD TO BE SELECTED Fifteen men to serve on the Wayne County board for the direction of all future war fund campaigns will be named Friday evening at 7:30 o'clock at a meeting of Richmond citizens in the Commercial club rooms. The committee in charge of the meeting is composed of James A. Carr, Howard A. Dill, H. R. Robinson, Frederick S. Bates. Auditor Bowman and George E. Seidel. ADDRESSES COMMITTEE WASHINGTON. Dec. 28. President Wilson has addressed the house military committee, which desires that a bill to provide for the entrance of the Philippines and the Philippine scouts Into the national army become a law at this session of congress. Mr. Dent announced today that he proposes to press this legislation with a view of enactment. Papers Are tle of anti-Prussianism. In all the papers taking this view the statement of the central powers ia regarded as being addressed less to Russia than to the allies collectively, and the offer made through Count Czernin, is asfcumej to be an initial proposal, which the central powers probably are prepared to modify in the course of bargaining for nowhere are the terms of the central powers regarded as entirely acceptable in their present form. The Express says: "The terms may.be taken as Germany's first bid. The proposals, are of course, wholly Inadequate, but It is significant that th Idea -of conquest has been abandoned completely. This

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Left to right The WASHINGTON. Dec. 28. When the President was choosing a director general for the railroads of the country he chose a railroader, a financier and an enthusiastic workman his secretary of the treasury, William G. McAdoo. President Wilson no doubt gave consideration to McAdoo's previous experience and achievements in the field of transportation and railroad finance, notably his large share in the building of the Hudson tubes, regarded in New York as a conspicuous example of capable promotion. An earlier and lesser known job which McAdoo carried through was the reorganization of the street railways of Chattanooga, Tenn. Before he undertook that task he had earned some reputation as a railroad lawyer In the south, having served two roads in that capacity. McAdoo first became interested in railroad affairs in 1S85, when appointed counsel for the Central Rail

Young Woman Masters Tank When it Gets an Obstreperous Spell

LONDON, Dec. 14 (By Mall) One of the squadron of tanks whicn are at present stationed in London was sent out this week to collect a three million dollar subscription to the war loan from a downtown insurance company. Tanks, it seems, have their moods and this one happened to be feeling sullen and obstreperous. He had apparently had a bad night and wanted to go out and push something over. As soon as he got outside the gates of Wellington Barracks, he swerved around with an ugly gleam in his eye, made some heavy dents on the curbing of Bird Cage Walk, then sat down and sat tight like a balky mule. Persuasion, cajolery and threats all went unheeded. They told htm about the people in the downtown districts that were waiting with their three million dollars, but would he Etir? No, not an inch. The tank men took off their coats; a tank colonel and a tank major came and tried persuasion: the men with the banner who were to America Must Save Allies Now, Says Count Andrassy ZURICH, Switzerland, Dec. 28. Count Julius Andrassy, former premier of Hungary, writing on the peace question, says: "From the moment we were freed in the east, the whole situation fundamentally changed, and the central powers now also will gain supremacy in the west "It is no longer possible for America to give us the finishing stroke. She must save the entente." FIGURES ON DRAFT OTTAWA, Dec. 28. A Melbourne, Australia, dispatch to the Ottawa agency of Reuters' Ltd, giving the latest figures on the recent conscription referendum show that 889,000 votes were cast for the proposal and 1,072,000 against It. The Australian soldiers vote shows 23,000 for and 32,000 against it. Divided is the first indication that Germany has tgun to realize the true position with which she is confronted. "At the same time the demand of the allies for reparation is ignored totally. There is no doubt that the negotiations are a form of camouflage by which Germany Is attempting to talk to the allies through Russia. It Is a general peace that Germany and AustrhvHungary want and behind Czernln's words there is, we think, a perfectly sincere desire to end "the war at once. The offer, for what it is worth, Is obviously genuine. "German. Is pledged definitely to the principle of restitution, thereby bluntly repudiating Von Tirpitz and the

McAdoo stride, the McAdoo smile

road of Georgia and the Richmond & Danville railroad. Later he was president and reorganizer of the Chattanooga Street Railway company. The building of the Hudson tubes, conecting Manhattan by rapid transit with New Jersey, brought him into prominence. He was a big factor in 1912 in electing President Wilson, who appointed him secretary' of the treasury, and later gave him his second daughter's hand in marriage. William Gibbs McAdoo was born near Marietta. Ga., Oct. 31. 1863. His father was at different times a member of the Tennessee legislature, a soldier in the Mexican and civil wars, an attorney general for the Knoxville circuit, and a professor of English literature in the University of TenHis family lost practically their entire fortune as a result of the civil war. Young McAdoo left the university of Tennessee in his junior year to hasten his preparation for the law. march in front put the banner against the iron fence and waited. For two hours the mechanics worked at their charge with wrenches and hammers and tongs, and things seemed to be no better than before. At the end of the two hours a khaki-uniformed young woman drove up in a taxicab, carrying a small leather case. She stepped out of the taxi and into the tank, a policeman helping her. Wbat she said to the tank or what she did outsiders could not learri, but something happened inside, a slow rumbling began, then a quickened hum, and almost before the banner bearers could take their places in front, the tank had started on its way. Banks in Petrograd Seized by Bolsheviki PETROGRAD, Thursday, Dec. 27. Soldiers, acting under the orders of Finance Commissioner Menshinsky, today surrounded and seized all private banks in Petrograd, including the branch of the National City bank of New York. The manager. B. R. Stevens, was arrested and detained for a short time. Many bank directors were arrested. Several surrendered the keys to the bank vaults, but Stevens refused. J. B. Wright, counselor of the American embassy, called upon Mr. Stevens during the afternoon. The National City bank of New York was granted a license last January to commence business in Russia, with particular reference to the financing of railroad construction. The license given it was the first granted to a foreign bank to do business in Russia since 1870. on Peace other Pan-Germans, but while restitution is accepted, reparation is scouted. Reparation will be accepted as the price of the restoration of those economic relations without which Germany cannot live. "An authorative allied reply to Count Czernin might be a demonstration to the German people that the allies have no wish to contrive their destruction, hinder their development or threaten their independence. When they once understand what the allies stand for and. what really are the?r intentions, the German people themselves will complete the destruction of that militarism which has set out to conquer the world,"

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and McAdoo at work. When 29 he went to New York, and for several years had a hard struggle in the law. Then the idea of a tunnel to handle the immense passenger traffic across the Hudson river be his ereat oblective. Several schemes of this kind had failed. Alter a study of the failures, McAdoo aecided it could and would be done. He had a ereat fight to convince capitalists, but finally won. His success in the tunnel financing brought him into touch with many other big projects and made him a considerable figure in. New ork. w rrow artive in Democratic DOli tics, and was acting chairman of the Democratic national committee in in9 whpn Wilson was elected presi dent. He was appointed secretary of th treasurv March 6. 1913. in 1SR5. McAdoo married Sarah Hazlehurst Fleming in Chattanooga, They had six children. She died in 1912. Two years later he married Miss Eleanor Wilson. EXPLOSION IN STEEL PLANT CHICAGO, Dec. 28. A number of persons are reported to have been killed in an explosion of a blast furnace in the plant of the Inland Steel company at Indiana Harbor, Ind., today. The plant caught fire and is threatened with destruction. Ambulances from neighboring cities were rushed to Indiana Harbor. Officials of the Indiana Harbor fire department said at noon today they had heard of no deaths, but that a large number of persons had been injured. War munitions were being made at tbe plant, it was said. Property Will Be Sold If Assessments Are Not Paid Early in February Notices were being mailed Friday by City Treasurer Overman to more than 200 Richmond property owners, who are delinquent in improvement assessments, that they have until the second Monday in February to pay the charge. If they pay before Jan. 7 they will escape the added cost of advertising. If they don't pay by the second Monday in February the property will be sold for the costs at the regular tax sale. HERE'S CHANCE ON WAR CONTRACTS Richmond manufacturers may bid on the following contracts, according to a bulletin received Friday by Secretary Albus from the depot quartermasterat Jeffersonville: Carriage makers clamps, field army range dlppert 4,488 galvanized iron candle stocks, twist drills, claw hammers, 1,664 pieces of sheet steel 12 inches square one pass coll rolled, boilers with covers for army field range, meat forks, two prongs, bake pans, etc. Proposals A statement purporting to giv In broad outline the view taken in high British political circles of the German peace terms is printed by the Daily Express-. It says that two things are known here, first that Germany does not win! a separate peace with Russia, but a general peace, and second that " Germany fear Bolsheviki influence, being afraid of its effect on tbe German working classes. "A still upper lip is the attitude In this country at present," the statement declares. "The pe.oe terms are not sufficient to lead us to lay down cur arms. We must be watchful. It is up to Germany to show that she is eia-. cere."

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MEMBERS OF RAILROAD'S WAR BOARD ARE DRAFTED McAdoo Makes Five Trans portation Leaders Government Agents to Run Systems for War. TO WELD THEM ALL WASHINGTON, Dec. 28. As the first practical step in the government's operation of railroads which began at noon today, Director General McAdoo drafted the railroad's war board into the government's service to work out plans of unified operations and sub mit them to him for approvel. The following five railroad executives, each a leader in the business of transportation, will work out the plans for welding two hundred and fifty thousand miles of railroad into one great continental system for winnin? the war: Fairfax Harrison, president of the Southern Railway; Julius Kruttschnitt, chairman of the board of southern traffic; Samuel Rea, president of the Pennsylvania; Hale Holden, president of the Burlington ; Howard Elliott, of the New Haven. To Await Suggestions Director General McAdoo will issue no orders or directions for the Immediate present but will await recommendations of the war board before taking any measures to clear the congestion choking railroad terminals and tracks in the east. "Whatever can be done to make the railroads more efficient," said Mr. McAdoo. "will be done as soon as we find out what is necessary." Mr. McAdoo announced that he had. called on the members of the railroad: war board to work out a general plan, of operation. At noon, the hour fixed by President Wilson's proclamation for effecting governmental possession, Secretary McAdoo, the new director of railroads, was ready with his first official order designed to pool all traffic, equipment and terminals to relieve the congestion which has gripped the country; since the outbreak of the war. The-immediate-result of the orderwill be to wipe out competition and re-route traffic over the shortest lines Shipments will move directly to their destination, regardless of the company with which they originate, and terminals will be used in common toi effect maximum efficiency. Speedy movement of freight will be the first,' aim of the director generaL Old Men to Stick. In a statement issued last nighty Mr. McAdoo said he had given almost; no thought to the personnel of hisstaff, but made it clear that until hi plans mature, railroad operation "wHlj be conducted through existing railroad, organizations." Retention of present railroad officers and employes seems assured, but indications are that the huge salaries of railroad executives will be reduced and wages of operatives increased. President Wilson conferred with chiefs, of the four railroad brotherhoods and received their pledge of loyalty to government administration. The brotherhoods have demands for 40 percent wage increases pending with therailroads, but the government's definite attitude in this matter has not been disclosed. It is understood President Wilson assured the brotherhood chief that railroad employes would not becalled in the next or even a second draft Has No Definite Plane. I Retention also of Judge Robert S. Lovett, director of priority for the war Industries board is considered likely.. As the result of yesterday's conference between Judge Lovett and Director McAdoo, railroads probably will t receive instructions io tonunue ii take orders from the priority director. Appointment of a government traffic manager to supervise only government shipments and co-ordinate with Instructions ncv issued by the food and, fuel administration and the quarter-, master's corps has been recommend-: ed to the director general and a mem-, ber of the fuel administration may be. added to Mr. McAdoo's staff. Other problems confronting the government are the reimbursement of road 3 for the use of their properties on the basis of pre-war earnings, fi-. nancing the necessary improvements and tbe building of additional lines. Special legislation, which already has been drafted along the lines suggested in President Wilson's statement, accompanying his proclamation, will be required to settle these questions. Government's Obligation. If congress follows the president' Continued On Page Two. MANY NAMES ARE RECEIVED Tbe names of a number of Richmond young men who are in tbe serv-, tee were received Friday by Secretary Albus, Tbe names will be placed on thai large municipal service flag and the! work will be in charge of the Richmond Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Names may be telephoned or mailed to the Commercial club rooms. Tbe address of each- enlisted man is requested.

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