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DAILY EDITIOn
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KlXTt-SEVKXTIl YKAK NO. 2AO
U.S. FOREIGN
TRADE NOW
IS LICENSED
ZJave Is Taken by President
. Wilson to Release Many
? Ships for Transporting of
Troops to Battlefields
tt S. ARRANGES FOR
NEUTRAL TONNAGE
Less Essential Exports to Be
Reduced; Trade Routes
. Ordered Cut
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15. AH
foreign trade of the United States
exports and imports was put under
lice dm today by President Wilson as
a part of a general program of the
American and allied governments for
releasing snips to transport troop 3
sad supplies to Europe.,
The less essential exports and Im
ports will b reduced to a minimum
and materials regarded as necessary
wlH be transported by the shortest
hauls possible. The allies are work
rag in close cooperation with the
United States and the trade routes
of the world in many instances will
be shifted, to bring the most econ
omieal operation of tonnage.
Foreign Trade Cut.
V The allies already have cut their i
foreign trade sharply, but will maks
farther redactions as part of the gen
eral plan. American representatives
sitting in London will work with al- i
Red representatives in eliminating j
and re-arranging ocean, commerce to
free ships for war service.
Licensing of American exports &nd
imports will be bandied by the war
trade board, which baa created a
special contraband committee with
final powers in deciding the country's
foreign trade policies. .The board,
which already issues licenses for the
lane number of commodities over
which the government has exercised
export and import control, will woik
with the state department, the de
partment of commerce and the ship
ping board in arranging trad
routes. , .i-. ,
Special Division Formed. '
The shipping board has formed a
special division under Dean E. F.
Gay of ' Harvard university, to pre
pare statistical data on shipping and
commerce. To bring about a proper
coordination between the shipping
board and the war trade board it is
likely that a controller of ship and
cargoes will be named to see that
ships are used in the most economical
f manner.
There will be no; hasty decisions,
it wss said tonight, in determining
what exports and imports to be elim
inated. - Trades Interested will be
V given hearings and the plan, to to
put the program into effect as grad
ually as is possible In view -of tt-e
imperative need of diverting jressels
to the war zone. -
Neutral Tonnage Arranged.
American ships taken oat of the
' non-hazardous trades and put into
trans-Atlantic service, would be rc-
placed where It can be done by neu
tral tonnage for which the govern-
, ment now is negotiating. This ton
nage will not fill the need entirely,
however, and licenses for goods re
garded as non-essential will not be
granted.
ontrorof exports, and Imports and
of banker coal by the United Stales
and the allies gives them control of
neutral tonnage and officials predict
that virtually all the ocean-goine.
ships owned by the neutrals will bo
In the American and allied service be-
' fore many months.
Officials declined to speculate to
night on the changes In routing of
America's foreign commerce likely
Jo grow out of measures to be put
T? into force. It is known, however.
that the war trade board Is Inclined
to turn to Latin-America for more
' materials and to cut .corresponding--ly
the country's trade with the Ori-
n 0L It Is probable that many ar
ticles, such as rugs and art objects,
how received from Japan and China
Jrtll not be granted import licenses.
It Is likely that as many raw ma-
. terlals as possible -will be brought
P from the south.
War Product To Be eetird.
America's trade balances will be
affected constderablr br re-dlstribui-
lag commerce and one of the con
cerns of the government Is to main
tain them on as favorable a basis as
Possible.
Control over exports 'and Import
H1 be used to bargain with both the
allie, kni neutrals for products the
united States must have to prosecute
the war.. - . ...
A war trade board statement to
. day outlining the government's plans
' said:, :.
"The pnrpose and effect of these
proclamations are to subject to con
trol the entire foreign commerce of
the United States and after Febru
T 16, 1916. no commodities may
he exported from this country or Im
ported Into this country exceut un
der license. '
The military situation and the
tonnage situ a ion have made Increas
inly apparent the necessity of instl-
v
HUNS CONSIDER
WAR ON RUSSIA
IS YET EXISTING
Warfare . Most be Revived
With Ending of Arnutice,
Says Kuehlmann
TROTZKY MOVE IGNORED
Active Military Measures May
1 Be Taken Despite Rus
sian Order
AMSTERDAM. Feb. 15. That
Germany and Austria were still at
war with Russia was the belief ex
pressed by Dr. Richard von Kuehl
mann. the German foreign secretary,
at; the concluding session of the re
cent peace conference at Brest
Litovsk after Leon Trotzky, the Bol
shevik foreign minister, had made
his final statement that Russia was
out of the war and her armies would
be demobilized, but that she would
desist from signing a 'formal peace
treaty. '
The acts of war, Dr Von Kuehl
mann said, ended when Russia and
the Teutonic allies signed the armis
tice, but when the armistice ended
the .warfare must be revived. lie
added that because one or two of
the contracting parties had demobil
ized their armies this fact would In
no wise alter the situation,
i Ciermany Denies Interference.
Germany was pictured as a peace
loving, non-aggressive nation In the
speech of Dr. Von Kuehlmann. lie
said the Russians should have no
fear that Germany held any designs
on Russia.
1"I need only refer M. Trotzy (the
Bolshevik foreign minister) to the
permanent basis of the German
policy, which, up to the time when
war with Russia was forced on the
German people, consisted in the pres
ervation of good and friendly rela
tions between our eastern neigh
bors, Dr. Von Kuehlmann declared.
"Germany's . policy will always con
tinue as soon as the war as reached
a satisfactory conclusion, to strive
for the friendliest relations with
newly organized Russia by avoiding
all interference in its internal af
fairs." j Dr. Von Kuehlmann said the Ger
man idea in drawing the frontier
lines for Poland, Courland and Lith
uania was to observe the racial point
of view as suggested by the Russian
delegations and "we have done this
in accordance with historical de
marcation and ethnographical posi
tion." "As regards the future lot of these
peoples." Dr.Von Kuehlmann con
tinued, "although we believe their
wishes already have been expressed
in aecordance"w1th the principle of
self-determination we are ready, by
a systematic extension of existing
representative bodies, to provide for
the possibility f a further expres
sion of tbe national, will on the
broadest possible basis. The deter
mination of the time and form of
this expression of popular will must
be decided by existing representa
tive bodies In those territories."
j Kuehlmann Explains Part.
I Ai to a separate peace ' with
Ukraine, Dr. Von Kuehlmann said
the central powers must reserve the
right to be their own Judges as to
what states they should recognize.
They had recognized the Ukraine,
be added, and there was no use dls
cuss'ng tht question any further.
; Count Czernln, Austro-Hungarlan
foreign minister, expressed surprise
that Trotzky had Introduced the sub
ject or the Ukraine at the peace con
ference. j .
I "The relations between tne
Ukraine and the Petrograd govern
ment." said Count Czernln, "do not
concern the central powers, and our
conclusion of a peace with the
Ukraine cannot be regarded as an
unfriendly act toward the Petrograd
government. We signed no treaty
of alliance with tbe Ukraine against
the Petrograd government, but only
a treaty of peace which makes tha
Ukraine so far as the central powers
are concerned, merely a neutral
btate." . , ,
i Replying to Trotzky's Inquiry re
garding the frontier south of Brest
Lltovsk, Dr. von Kuehlman said:
"In drawing these frontiers we
attempted to find a middle course
between racial divisions and the his
torical frontier." .
Dr. yon Kuehlman proposed a nc-w
text for the second article of the
peace treaty, to the effect that cer
tain frontier territories, which were
not defined, should no longer be
subject to the territorial sovereignty
of Russia and that In the future the
lot of these territories should bo
decided In agreement with their re
spective peoples according to agree
ments whicn uermany or au- -Hungary
shall make with them.
War Still Exists.
The point was. Dr. von Kuehlman
added, that evacuation of certain
territories by the central powers was
promised on condition that the Rus
sians evacuated Turkish territory
simultaneously. A sub-committee
having failed to reach an agreement
on the new frontier proposed by tbe
central powers, another Plnr
meeting was held Sunday, when M.
CONTROVERSY
IS POLITICAL
SAYS WEEKS
Senator Charge Wilson With
Deliberately Injecting Par
tisanship Into War Effici
ency Discussion
ATTEMPT TO CURB
INQUIRY IS FLAYED
Monitions Cabinet Is De
mandedBaker's Reply
Held Flippant
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5. Presi
dent Wilson was charged with delib
erately .(injecting politics into the
controversy over war efficiency -by
Senator Weeks, a Republican mem
ber of the military committee, in a
speech today vigorously criticising
the war and other branches of the
government. ,
"Not a question indicating parti
sanship was raised until the presi
dent deliberately injected politics in
to ; tbe situation," Senator Weeks
charged, "by an attack upon the
chairman of the committee (Senator
Chamberlain of Oregon. Democrat),
and .the committee itself, and by
calling to the White House many
Democratic party leaders, not for
consultation purposes, but to Insist
that a discussion of this question on
tbe floor of the senate be prevented
if possible Have we come to such
a place that the action of the most
Important committee in congress at
this time Js to be forbidden by the
president?"
Referring to Secretary Baker,
Senator Weeks said after praising
many, army achievements:
Baker's Reply "Flippant.
"Neither do I wish to unjustly,
or unreservedly criticise the heal
of the war department. He has had
to deal with a multitude of ques
tions, the disposal of many of which
meet my approval."
Referring to Mr. Baker's reply
when asked by the committee if
other men could not have done
things better, that he did not know
all he men in the world and could
not Judge of their capabilities. Sen
ator Weeks said the answer was
"somewhat flippant" and that it is
impossible to expect a department
whose head makes such a statement,
to make many changes which an out
side Investigation have shown to be
necessary.
"One of Jhe notable features of
the present situation." Senator
Weeks contended, "Is the virulence
used In attacking those who favor
the committee's plan (of centraliza
tion.) They are referred to as plot
ters, mischievous meddlers and even
as servitors of the enemy. Every
means of false suggestion has been
used to discredit a sincere and loyal
attempt to make a change which
will materially Increase the efficien
cy of our war administration."
Asserting that it is "physically
Impossible", for the president to In
dividually co-ordinate and direct all
of the government's functions. Sen
ator Weeks added:
Politics Played Is Charge.
"Can it be possible that the presi
dent will be embarrassed by such a
cabinet? It would seem as If be
would be embarrassed to a greater
extent by a perpetuation of the dis
jointed system which now exists."
"If I were to criticise the secre
tary personally. It would be that he
had undertaken to do too many
things himself, some of which might
have been left to subordinates. If I
were to make a further criticism, it
would relate to his temperamental
relationship to the war: Doubtless
he hinrself would admit that he Is a
pacifist by nature. For example,
even now, he is opposed to universal
military training and I cannot di
vorce myself from tbe conclusion,
based on bis own testimony, that he
has been inclined to plan for prose
cution of the war and this condi
tion has to some degree permeated
the department on the basis that
we are 3000 miles away from the
front, instead of hastening prepara
tion with all the vigor we would ex
ercise if our borders were the battle
front."
Right to CrttiHe Defended.
Asserting that It is "physically Im
possible" for th.e president Individu
ally to co-ordinate and direct all of
the government's functions. Senator
Weeks added::
"Can ft be possible the president
will be embarrassed by such a cab
inet? ' It would seem as if he would
be embarrassed to a greater extent
by a perpetuation of tbe disjointed
system which now exists, a system
which failed to produce ships, not
withstanding the shipping plans;
which has failed to deliver coal, not
withstanding the unbounded -coal
supply we have; which has been re
sponsible for a failure to protect our
soldiers against sickness and furnish
them with suitable clothing.
Airplanes Are Few
"We are the inventors and leaders
In airplanes and yet we have no air
planes. We have the greatest steel
(Continued on pace 2)
HILKM. OlIKGON, MATUllMi MOIl.M;, FKIIItl'AltV J, 19IM
. '- ' " ' ' T. , I , y- , , 1
"KING'S AGENT"
SEEKING LOAN
THRICE INDICTED
Edmond Rousselot Sought
Sum of $50,000,000 From
Morgan for Spain
PERSONAL PLAN URGED
$ 10,000 Borrowed From Con
fiding Woman; "Official
Letters" Received
NEW YORK, Feb. lSu How a S13
a week telephone operator, posing
as "his excellency, the Marquis Ed
mond Rousselot 11 Caatillott. confi
dential representative of his majesty
King Alfonso XIII of Spain." opened
negotiations with the banking house
of J. P. Morgan and company, for a
loan of $50,000,000 to Spain, and,
by promising that Spain would enter
the war on tbe side, of the entente
allies, brought the - state depart
ment Into thematter. was revealed
In the federal court here today when
three indictments were returned
against Edmond Rousselot, under the
espionage law. , 1
Rousselot was pressing his plan
for the loan when chance caused his
arrest on another charge, and bis
castle in Spain quickly toppled.
William Plenum Hamilton of the
Morgan house was foreman of tbe
grand joury which returned tbe in
dictments and was familiar with tbe
entire transaction, because he was a
member of tbe firm to whom th
matter was entrusted.
Personal Inaa Uurged.
When the subject of the loan was
broached to the bank by Rousselot,
who had been properly identified Ly
W. E. D. Stokes of New York City.
the Lank Immediately communicated
with secretary Lansing, who opposed
the loan to tbe Spanish government
through an individual and suggested
that it be taken up through the reg
ular government channels. Rouselot
objected to this method of procedure,
explaining that tbe loan was to be
made personally to Kins Alfonso,
and it was because of this secret ar
rangement he could promise that
Spain was to Join the allies.
-- f 10,000 Borrowed From Woman.
It developed that Rousselto had
not confined his operations to bank
ing houses, but numbered among his
confiding friends one woman from
whom he had. borrowed 110,000 on
oil stocks of doubtful value, but for
the redemption of which he had pldg
ed his ''ancestral estates."
Another of his friends was a prom
inent actress who told the author
ities she had been introduced to
"Count Rousselot" and believing him
to be in the French- diplomatic serv
ice, had visited an English warship
in the harbor with him. As his cre
dentials were well covered with seals
which seemed to be all right, they
were taken over the ship and shown
every courtesy, she said.
"Official Letters' Received.
Rousselot established himself in a
suite of a fashionable hotel and there
received many letters wb'ch are de
scribed as being covered with crests
and - seals and addressed to him as
"marquis," "county," and "king's
messenger. f
These documents, when examined
by the authorities, preyed to be let
ters apparently written by Rousselot
to himeslf. One of them, "purport
ing to have come from the'r king of
Spain, bore a large red seal impre
sed by the stamp of tbe commission
er of deeds of West Chester county,
S. Y. He a3so had a rubber stamp
bearing the words "Ministre de la
Guerre." wiheb. the authorities al
lege, he used wible posing as a
French diplomat. When represent
ing himself as tbe agent of the king
of Spain, he used a crest cut from
the advertising of a leading furrier,
they declared.
Mr. Stokes Makes Identification.
A little later Rousselot moved to
the Hotel Anson ia. where he ' told
Mr. Stokes, the owner, that he was
(Continued on page S)
U-BOATS SINK
BR1TKHCRAFT
Eight Vessels Hunting Sub
marines Downed by Enemy
Destroyers
LONDON. Feb. 13. F.igbt Dritlsh
craft which were bunting submar
ines have been sunk by raiding flo
tilla of enemy destroyers. It was an
nounced officially today. After hav
ing sunk the vessels, seven of which
were "drifters." and one a trawler.
In the Dover straits, the enemy ships
returned rapidly northward before
they could be engaged.
DOVER, Feb. 15. -Men wounded
during tbe German naval raid
Birtish drifters and trawlers in the
channel today were brought here and
are housed In the market place,
which has been converted Into a tem
porary hospital.
The firing Isted 45 minutes and
was plainly heard on shore.
ARMY ORDER
ASSURED FOR
SALEM FIRM
Quarter Million Dollar Con
tract for Evaporated Vege
tables Believed Certain by
Salem-Kings Company
TIP IS GIVEN IN
WIRE FROM McNARY
Big Plant Is Temporarily
Closed in Preparation for
Heavy Work
fialem has been singled out by the
United States government to furnish
supplies for her army and navy, and
this time it is to be in the shape of
evaporated vegetables, amounting In
dollars and cents, before the contract
shall be concluded, to about a quar
ter of a million dollars
Upon receipt of a message from
United States Senator McN'ary with
Information that tbe war department
is to purchase a large quantity of
dried vegetables. Manager. McDaniel
of the commercial club at once got
Into touch with the management of
the Salem-Kings Products company.
That the contract will be landed by
the company is virtually assured.
The plant has been closed down tem
porarily while tbe machinery is be
ing prepared to handle the big order.
The temporary closing of the plant
gave wise to rumors yesterday that
the closing was permanent, but this
was quieted by Manager Jack Walk
er when he explained tbe prepara
tion that Is being made.
"We expect an order from th
United States government to furnish
It, with a large supply of dried or
evaporated vegetables," said Mana
ger Jack Walker of the Salem-Kings
Products company. "We hare 250
tons of potatoes on hand now, and
twenty carloads of turnips on the
way."
Manager Ivan McDaniel of the
commercial club yesterday received
the following telegram from Senator
Charles L. McXary:
"I understand from the war de
partment that they have directed
Quartermaster General Goethals to
purchase a large quantity of driei
vegetables."
Upon receipt of this information,
Mr. McDaniel replied to the senator
that the club and the Wittenberg
King company would work together
In an effort to land the contract for
the Salem plant The company al-
(Continued on page 2)
PLEA FGIt UNION OF CHURCHES
IS MADE BY1 REV. L M. BURKE
Minister Believes Energy and Money Are Wasted and
That Purpose Is Not Realized by Denominations
Would Destroy "No Man's Land" That Separates
The need of an economical and
efficient church, brought about
through cooepration and union, is
the theme of an Interview from IJev.
Edgar Maxwell HuAe, pastor of the
Saiem Unitarian church. His re
marks are applied directly to Salem.
Mr. Burke insists that denorolna-tions.-if
they are to fill the purposes
for which the church exists, roust
come out from their narrow trench
es and abolish the "No Man's Land'
that divides them. He nobis that
narrow insistance upon gf-parate
statements of faith is making the
church inefficient and he plt-ads for
an open-hearted and sincere effort
"to get acquainted and practice
bortherly love In earnest."
"We ehould then find." says Mr.
Bruke. "that we are one at heart
and our differences would blend
themselves Into he united whole."
He thinks that to bring this about
each organiration could contribute
somtthing of value to the union, but
that each also would doubtless have
to sacrifice something of Its Individ
ual creed. Mr. Burke says: :
"Inasmuch as Christ came not to
b ministered unto, but to minister.
His church shall be that which, fill
ed and moved by His pplrit of min
istering love, seeks to become the
Center and source of all beneficent
and philanthropic effort, and to take
a leading part In every movement
which has for its end the alleviation
of human suffering, the elevation
of man and the betterment of the
world.
Times lernand Efficiency.
"The. demands of the twentieth
century are knocking at our doors
with their stern insistence upon
economy, efficiency and cooperation
of a real and national service. How
are we to answer these demands?
Many of the individual churches
STRIKERS DEFY
SHIPPING BOARD;
ACTION PLANNED
Chairman Hurley Demands
That Shipyard Employes
Return to Work
FAIR ACTION PROMISED
c
Wilson Gives Personal Atten
tion Compulsion May
; Be Necessary 5
WASHINGTON',. Feb. 1S.4-A re
newed demand that WIllam li
Hutcbeson, president pf the. United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and. Join
ers, send striking shipyard employes
In eastern plants back to work pend
ing an adjustment of their griev
ances, was made tonight by Chair
man Hurley of the -chipping board.
Karlier In the day Hutcheson had
answered a previous appeal with a
communication declaring it would be
impossible for him to act until he
had some definite proposition from
the shipping board as .to working
conditions. , y
llutcltewon Iefie Khlppifur Hoard
Hutcheson's virtual defiance of
the shipping board presents a situa
tion on which officials decline tv
comment. Mr. Hurley's request that
the men be put back to work imme
diately carried no threat and ship
ping board officials would not say
what steps they have in mind.
Reports today that lcal exemption
boards are preparing to call into the
military service striking shipyard
workers within ihe draft age',
prompted the shipping board to send
telegrams urging that such action be
not, taken. Deferred classification
for shipyard workers has been put
by the provont marshal general's of
fice in the charge of the industrial,
section of the shipping board, head
ed by Meyer Bloom field, and the
board desires that all draft ques
tions be considered In Washington,
Wilnnn Follows Situation.
President Wilson Is known to be
giving personal attention to the la
bor situation and is following every
move in the shipyard strikes.
In his communication tonight to
nutcheson. Chairman Hurley points
out that tbe beads of the carpenters'
and joiners union were the only ones
who declined to leave adjustment of
difficulties to tbe shipbuilding labor
adjustment board. Even tbe carpen
ters locals, despite this attit ude, Mr.
Hurley declared, have asked to be
inclnded in the agreement.
Hutcheson, in declining to ask the
strikers to return to work, called
Chairman Hurley's attention to -a
(Continued on page 2)
have attempted an answer, but that
answer has been at once feeble and
Inconsistent with the spirit of the
times. Kvery institution Is seeking
to adist Itself rationally to Its en-
vironrueni ana loose inai are sur
viving the storm and stress of the
time are dotng " by employing the
eternal. God-made. Christ-tauRht
principles, tbe basic principles em
ployed by nature throughout the en
tire urjranic and inorganic realfrv. th?
principles of ecenomy, efficiency and
cooperation as serving the means of
man and the ends of God. These
principles form tbe trinity upon
w hich ! society must build to reach
that high plane of civilization, that
Kingdom of God, which Christ pic
tured with such loving klndnex.
with such tender sympathy and with
such lasting service That one great
canvas lives down the centuries as
the one great, magnificent art treas
ure that neither heathen tribes nor
barbarian hordes can destroy: a
canvas 'radient with His love, bathed
in His tears, and dyed In His. richest
Mood. Every Christian man, woman
end child has a share In that picture.
But, alas, the picture is Incomplete,
4t is In the semblance of a puzzle
with the parts ununited. -Kara
cburch; Is but a portion of that 'pic
ture and until all are fitted together
that grand painting will remain in
complete. The epportnnlty now Jies
berorej n to unite that picture as
Chrinti Intended that It should be
unitedj making It complete as Christ
intended It should be complete. Each
church has its place, each should
lend Its peculiar color in Its unique
contribution.
IenHninaOonalism Cause Vate,
"Are we serving our community
economically No, must be thei
(Continued on pas? 4)
VIJCU FIVE (X.M4
HUNS MAKE
GAS RAID
AMERICANS
Three Hours of Poisonous
i Fumes Are Met by Effici
ency of U. S. Forces and
Enemy Is Unsuccessful
BRITISH AND FRENCH
SMASH GERMAN LINE
Widely AdvertisedOffensive
Does Not Occur at Ap
pointed Time;
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
IX FRANCE, Feb. 16 Tbe Germans
opposed to the Americans early to
da ymade an unsuccessful bombard
ment wun gas sneus. uerman air
planes In large numbers also were
driven off by the American machines
and anti-aircraft batteries.
Gas shells In considerable num
bers from the German guns fell with
in the American sector early this
morning, making necessary tbe wear
Ing of masks in all parts or the
trenches for more than three hours.
One American was Injured by an ex
ploding shell," but so excellent has
been the anti-gas training of llm
men that not a single case of gas
poisoning was reported. The dura
tion of the shelling was two hours,
but traces of the poisonous fames
remained for another hour after the
bombardment bad ceased.
I'. 8. IlaUeries Drive Off Planes.
Visibility was good today in the
clear, cold atmosphere end as a re
sult there was much aerial activity
on both sides. German airplanes In
large numbers repeatedly attempted
to cross the American lines but were
driven' off either by anti-aircraft bat
teries or by tbe air squadron.
The American artillerymen rapid
ly are attaining a high, degree of
efficiency Today they continually
fired shells that exploded so close to
the enemy airplanes that the aviat
ors were compelled to dodge and
duck and scurried back to a safer
srea, pursued across the sky by a
tra'l of shrapnel puffs.
The artillery on both sides desnni
ed activity today. The American
gunners shelled the German rear
lines and communications effective
ly. ; . . -v..
Friday, the day set by influential
German newspapers for the startne
of the much advertised German of
fensive, has passed, and no aggres
sion on the part of the enemy ma
terialised. On the contrary, both the
British and French armies deliver
ies at widely separated points on the
western front smashes at the Ger
man line. These attarV aithtnvH
they were merelr in 'nature of t-aida
were successfully carried out and re
sulted In the canture of . rrfmnr
and the infliction of casualties on the
enemy.
Canadians Capture Prisoners.
The Canadians on the f a
Ins sector a rain entered ntM
and brought back prisoners. Near
Courey the French In a similar roan-
-uTer, Daggea a number or Germans.
In the Butte du Mesnll region of
Champagne, a lively artillery dul
was In Progress at 1st uprnnntt
the Americans in all probabilty par-
iiiwuug. .-ear veraun ana in the
Wbevre sector violent hnmhninnr
Iff in progress. .
Along the sector of fh frnnt c
of St. Mihlel where an American
force Is holding tbe line, Jt Is quiet,
owing to the inclement weather and
the morass caused by heavy rain
The Germans in front of the Ameri
cans are busy repairing trenches and
constructing dugouts to renlare
those which, have beon rfst
recently, by American gunners hand
ling their 75's. -
FTencht Aviators Attack.
Over the entire front h art,i
activity by both sides continues In
tense. French avlatnra ,tib
ed with bombs numerous towns of
mwuary importance, notably Metz.
the famous fortress tnm wt
mile north JT the American sector
. udint, jorge quantities of
explosives were dropped and con
flagrations were observed.
Northeast of Jerusalem the Brtt
I?h have penetrated Turkish posi
tions to a depth of two miles on a
front of sir miles.
German torpedoboa t destroyers
early Friday morning made another
of their sudden attacks on small
British craft, sinking eight of them.
The Germans beat a hasty retreat to
the north before Brtfeh naval forc
es could engage them.
Huns After Itumanian Peace.
Iate- German newspapers assert
there are indications that peace ne
gotiations between the central pow
ers and Rumania are In prospect. It
is assumed by some of the newspa
pers that Rumanian delegates al
ready have reached a riven point
where they will discuss with repre
sentatives of the central powers de
tails for the conference.
Although reports of tbe eonfer
'ence at the imperal German head-
(Continued on page 2),
on
(Continued oa page 2)
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i