NEWS NOTES OF CURRENT WEEK Resume of World's Important Events Told in Brief. London reports low unemployed, but recruiting la active. The Japanese government haB pass ed a bill for a war fund of about $25, 500,000. The Itulinn cruiser Plemonte haa been recalled from Bomallland, East Africa, The British ore reported to have beaten a force of 400 Germans in Nys saland, Central Africa. English authorities announce the British casualty list at 19,000, exclus ive of the last three days fighting. One hundred and ten Chinese stu dents, including ten girls, arrived at San Francisco en route to various American colleges. German authorities announce that the British cruiser Pathfinder was de stroyed by a German submarine, In stead of by a mine. The French government Ib furnish ing free transportation to all who will leave Paris, and it Is estimated that over two million have gone. The burgomaster of Louvaln says the Germans have promised to cease hostilities against the city, and that residents may safely return, The Bteamer Isthmian this week Bailed from Pacific Coast ports to New York via the canal with 500 tons of wood pulp for paper making. The sinking of a fishing trawler, which struck a mine in the North Sea, is reported. The skipper and a fire man were drowned. Ten others were rescued. A dispatch to the London Star from Newcastle sayB that the tramp steam er Ottawa struck a mine off Northum berland Saturday and went down. So far as Is known, none of the crew of 26 men was saved. A dispatch to the London Post from PariB says that a French military bi plane, caught In an air pocket above Bols de Vlncennes fell, killing two avi ators and four persons In the street. Four other persons were severely In jured. 1 Prince Frledrlch of Hesse, eldest son of Prince Carl of Hesse, and an officer In the Hanan Uhlans, has been seriously wounded in France, and Col onel Ernest Morltz von Arendt has been killed, according to a Copenha gen dispatch. Minister of War Mlllerand has sent a circular note to the generalB com manding the several districts of France ordering them to institute a vigorous Bearch for all persons who have failed to respond for military service bb required. The declaration was made by the foreign office at Tokio that there was no truth In the report circulated in Toklo and elsewhere that Japan had been in negotiation with Great Britain concerning the dispatch of a Japanese army to Germany. A dispatch to the London Dally Tel egraph from Copenhagen announces that a German squndron of 31 Rhlps, Including battleships, cruisers and torpedo-boat destroyers has been observ ed at various points along the Gulf of Bothnia, steaming east. The Rome Trlbuna's Vienna corres pondent Bays 6000 wounded arrived In Vienna on Tuesday, 5000 on Monday and 9000 on last Sunday. About a third of these are Germans. Budapest and Prague also report the arrival of large numbers of wounded. A dispatch to the London Exchange Telegraph company from Ghent says: "It is estimated that from 30,000 to 40,000 German sailors liavo arrived during the past two days at Brussels. This indicates that the German re serve Is completely mobilized." China officially notified the state department at Washington of its In ability to participate in the naval ren dezvous at the Panama-Pacific Expo sition. Conditions arising because of the war were given as the reason and the Chinese foreign office expressed Its deep regret. The eremenfs have delayed unex pectedly the Japanese advance on TslngTau. Floods cover the sur rounding country and are spreading and beyond Wel-Halen. It Is said It may be months before the Japanese can begin their investment of the stronghold, which now can bo reached only by boat. That German prisoners be pressed into the service in the highly hazard ous work of sweeping the North Sea mines was a suggestion made In the House of Commons. Great Britain now hai many small boats engaged in this task, and German prisoner crews under British officers would handle such craft if the plan outlined were adopted. "The cost of Bhoes Is going up," ac cording to a statement Issued In New York by a committee representing the delegates to a conference of the Na tional Shoe Wholesalers1 Association and the National Retailers' Associa tion. This statement places the blame on the European conflict, which has seriously curtailed the Importation of hides and skins. Heavy rainstorms do Blight damage in Western Oregon and Washington, but will benefit the late fruit Rudyard Kipling In an address at "Brighton, England, referred to the German attack as "organized barbar ism." Reports arriving here say that de Bertlons from the Austrian army are increasing dally. This 1b said to be especially true along the Roumanian frontier, and It Is declared also that many Austrian soldiers have reached Switzerland through the Tyrol. It Is said that 34 per cent of the men of the Mechlav regiments have disap Peace Must De Permanent Declares English Official Washington, D. C Two develop ments of the highest importance In connection with preliminary peace ne gotiations which have been In pro gress here have taken place. First Presldont Wilson received a communication direct from the em peror of Germany protesting against the use by the allies of practices con trary to the laws of war, deploring the shedding of blood and the destruction of property through a war brought on the German empire and Intimating a desire for peace. Second Sir Edward Grey, minister for foreign affulrs of Great Britain, sent a reply to the Informal peace overtures made on behulf of the Ger man ambassador to the United States, through Oscar Straus, of New York, and Secretary of State Bryan, to the representatives here of the allies' gov ernment. The message of the German emper or Is under date of last Friday. On the same day Dr, Van Bethmann-IIoll-weg, chnncellor of the empire, advised Count Von Bernstorff, the German ambassador here, that Germany had not gone Into the war for further ad ditions of territory. It is apparent there Is a movement on the part of Germany to obtain: Peace on the basis of the present war status quo. To place on the allies responsibility for the war. To relieve Germany of the charge of wanton destruction of life and prop erty. To explain that the wiping out of the city of Louvain was necessary, as a result of the conduct of the Belgians. As establishing the character of the warfare conducted by the allies, the emperor refers to the use by them of dum-dum bullets, abundant proof of which, according to his letter, exists. Sir Edward's reply was made to Am bassador Page in the course of a con ference. In accordance with the me diatory role which he has assumed Secretary Bryan will acquaint the Ger man ambassador with the nature of Sir Edward's response. This probably will lead to another conference In the next few days. It now will be for the German am bassador to drop the informal charac ter of his presentations and if he real ly 1b acting in accordance with the in structions of his government, to make representations under which the pres ident and Secretary Bryan can pro ceed with their efforts to terminate the war. i The British communication Is sig nificant in several aspects. It says that Great Britain, quite as earnestly as Germany, is willing to move for the restoration of peace. This In spite of the fact that Germany has won a succession of victories on land. It shows that Great Britain will not be content with a peace which will be merely a truce; that as far as possible she proposes to end war through the conflict now in progress. It shows finally that Great Britain is determined to stand by Belgium and to insist that Germany compensate that little nation for the terrible losses In life and property which she Incur red in the defense of her neutrality. The reply of Sir Edward Grey un doubtedly was made after consulta tion with France and Russia. Germans Deny Mining of North Sea; Ports Open New York. Count von Bernstorff, German ambassador to the United States, denies that there are mines in the North Sea. German ports are not blockaded, he declared, and neutral ships can enter them and can replen ish their coal supplies in these ports, as there Is no embargo on bunker coal. "Neutral ships which wish to enter ports in the North Sea must go to a point ten miles north of Heligoland, where they will find German pilots to take the ships into the harbors," he said. "Harbors in the Baltic can be approached directly and there are pi lots before every port." The ambassador gave out an extract from a letter sent from Belgium by his son, who is In a cavalry regiment of the guard, as follows: "In every village there are bombs and we have to make people drink wa ter they offer us. They are trying to poison us." British Recruits 300,000. Washington, D. C The British em bassy received from the London for eign office the following dispatch: "There is Increasing enthusiasm for recruiting In Great Britain. Three hundred thousand men have joined the regular army since the war began. The eagerness to enlist has grown markedly since British troops have ac tually been engaged with the enemy." Another message officially denies that the British cruiser Bristol had been disabled in an engagement with an unnamed German ship in southern waters. Belgium Will Aid Families. New York. Fifteen cents a day will be paid by the government of Belgium to every Belgian womnn in America whose husband is with the Belgian army. If she hns children, she will receive, in addition, 5 cents a day for each child, which will be increased to 10 cents a day in case the husband be slain, Pierre Mull, the Belgian consul general announced Saturday. This ap plies to all families of soldiers, regard less of their financial situation. Lassen's Violence Grows.' Redding, Cal. Lassen Peak contin ued In a state of eruption Saturday, two violent disturbances occurring, which were pronounced the greatest of the series of 42 Bince last May. Clouds of ashes descended at Mineral, 10 miles from the peak. Several per sons reported that they had Been flames emanating from the crater, but the forest bureau's observer, stationed not far from the crater, said he saw no fire. RUSSIAN FORCES ROUT AUSTRIANS Servians Also Assume Offensive and Take Austrian City. Siege of Belgrade Ends Germans Victorious in EastAustrians Also Beat Back Russians. London. News from Nlsh, Servla, that the Servians had captured Sem lln nnd an official announcement from Petrograd that Russian troops had succeeded in dividing the Austrian army in Poland, dominate the situa tion concerning the Eastern scene of war. The Petrograd dispatch says: "Tomaszow has been taken after a desperate fight. "The German troops near Myslnec and Chorzele, Russian Poland, have been repulsed with heavy losses. "The Russian forces have taken by assault the fortified positions of Opole and Tourblne, Russian Poland, and pursued the enemy a distance of 25 miles. RusBlan cavalry Is still driv ing In the rearguard of the enemy, '"It Is announced that the Russian troops have succeeded in separating the left wing of the Austrian army from the troops which were operating around Tomaszow and Ruwa, in Rus sian Poland." Telegraphing from Petrograd, the correspondent of the Morning Post says: "The Austrian retirement on the Vistula is being conducted with a sem blance of order, but the case is differ ent with the right wing operating near Tomaszow. The Austrians here are routed and fleeing in the utmost dis order. Driving in between the two wings, the Russians have cut off this Austro-German , army and completely surrounded it on the front and flank. The Russians have summoned this right wing to surrender. "The Russian cavalry has got be hind the retreating army with gunB and the situation of the Austro-Ger-mans now is desperate. ' To cross marshes and rivers with cavalry and artillery hammering it from the rear is more than any beaten army ever accomplished since Napoleon's time. Moreover, the Austro-Germans have lost the bulk of their supply trains and the men must be starving. "The number of prisoners now in Russia Is bo enormous that it is be coming necessary to send them further afield. A large number are being sent towards Siberia." The taking of Semlin was reported In a Reuter dispatch from Rome trans mitting a message received from Nish, the temporary capital of Servla. The dispatch said: "The taking of Semlin has caused great enthusiasm throughout Servia. The people are proud that their army, after seven weeks of war, not only has prevented a powerful enemy captur ing Belgrade, but has inflicted humili ation upon them by forcing them to evacuate their base of operations against Servia. The victory has had a most wonderful moral effect upon the army and people." Semlin is an important town of Austria-Hungary in Slavonia. It Is locat ed on the tongue of land formed by the junction of the Danube and the Save, opposite Belgrade, Servia, with which it was connected by a railway bridge across the Save. GREECE, R0UMANIA, BUL GARIA FORM ALLIANCE London. Telegraphing from Rome, a correspondent of the Dally Tele graph declares he has learned from diplomatic sources that Roumania, Greece and Bulgaria have Blgned an agreement which may be regarded as a real alliance, under the terms of which these three nations engage to interfere whenever necessary in order to prevent Turkey aiding Germany and Austria in the present war. If Turkey remains neutral, however, these three states will do the same. It Is reported in Rome, the corre spondent continues, that Berlin has become resigned to the idea of Italian neutrality, but she Is determined that Italy shall at least remain neutral un til the end. British Wipe Out 3000. London. The Paris correspondent of the Dally Express learns from the front that in the attack on the Ger mans Wednesday afternoon the Brit ish punished the Prussian guard in the severest possible manner. An en tire jaeger regiment of sharpshooters, numbering nearly 3000, was wiped out. "There is not the slightest doubt," says the correspondent, "that but for the superb handling of the German right by General von Kluck, a large part of Emperor William's forces would have been captured. The allied cavalry did wonders." Russian Corps Defeated. London. A Reuter dispatch from Berlin says: "The general staff announces that the Twenty-second Russian Army Corps, of Finland, has tried to force an entrance into East Prussia by way of Lyck. The Russians were defeated at Lyck," Lyck is In East Prussia, on Lake Lyck, 65 miles south of Gumbinen. Britain Gets Greek Base. Rome. The Tribuna publishes a tel egram from Brindisl asserting that the Greek government has conceded to Great Brttajn permission to establish a naval base in Port Mudros, Island of LemnoB. Great Britain can center three naval divisions there. Senate Extends Vreeland Act. Washington, D. C. An amendment to the banking law permitting state banks and trust companies with capi tal of $25,00 and 29 per cent surplus, or more, to issue federal currency un der the Vreeland section was passed by the senate. Incomes Made to Dear Share of "War" lax Washington, D. C An Income tax Increase of one-half of 1 per cent and a reduction of the minimum exemp tion from $3000 to $2000 and the maxi mum exemption from $4000 to $3000 were tentatively agreed on by Demo cratic members of the ways and means committee who are framing the emer gency bill to raise $100,000,000. It Is estimated that the proposed Income tax changes would produce $36,000,000 annuully. In deciding on the income tax In crease, the committee considered the fact that revenue from this source would not be available until next July, but the opinion was general that the Increased revenue from other sources would meet any deficit until that time. Under the proposed changes the In come tax would be 1 per cent on in comes of single persons in excess of $2000 and the same on married per sons In excess of $3000. In addition the one-half per cent in crease would be added pro rata in ac cordance with the Increased sur-taxes on Incomes In excess of $20,000. The committee agreed also that the Increased tax oh beer and malt liquors should be fixed at 50 cents a barrel, bringing in $35,000,000. On domestic wines an extra tax of 20 cents a gal lon will raise $10,000,000. Distilled spirits will escape an extra tax, but it was decided to tax rectified spirits 2 cents a gallon, realizing $2,000,000. Opponents of an Increased tux on whlskleB won their fight after three ballots had been taken. Proposals to levy an additional tax of 25 and 15 cents a gallon were defeated. On a proposal to make the tax 10 centB a gallon, there was a tie vote. Finally It was agreed to make the tax apply only to rectified spirits at 2 cents. WHEAT BONUS PROPOSED TO BLOCK FAMINE PRICES London. Extensive farming throughout the British Islea and the plowing of land at every place where it is available is urged in an open let ter issued by P. Lloyd Graure, secre tary of the Unionist agricultural com mittee. "If steps are not taken to assure a supply of wheat from May to August," Secretary Graure says, "we may see wheat riBe to famine prices. To avoid this, the government should offer a considerable bonus to all farmers to keep their wheat in stack until May of next year, at the same time reserving the right to purchase all the wheat at a price equal to the present price plus the bonus." Mexicans Agree on Plans tor Holding New Election Washington, D. C The basis for the recent assertion of President Wil son that he believed Carranza and Vil la would co-operate in restoring con stitutional government In Mexico was revealed Wednesday, when it became known that General Obregon, personal friend of General Carranza, had sign ed the proposals of General Villa for an electoral program. The program in full Is as follows: That a convention of the delegates of the constitutionalist army be called to arrange the date of the election for Congress, President and Vice-President. That no military man be a candidate for President or Vice-President or Governor of any state. That a civilian take charge of the provisional government to hold elec tions. That a general amnesty be declared .except as to those who committed the crime or participated in the assassina tion of Madero and Suarez. That the officers of the old federal army who can show clean records shall be taken into the new national army. That all reforms shall be put through In an energetic manner, but on a legal and constitutional basis. General Carranza already has com plied with the first proposal by calling a general convention for October 1 to select a provisional president. Germans Seek Boer Aid. London. That the Germans in Southwest Africa, where there are 30, 000 German troops, have been storing guns and ammunition for some time preparing for military action, has been made known to the British. It is said the Germans believed that the Boers would aid them. . Although the Germans proceeded with great secrecy, the British offi cials have been fully informed con cerning their action, know the num ber of arms in their possession and their military dispositions. Art Protection Urged. Washington, D. C President Wil son took under consideration a sug gestion from Ambassador Herrick at Paris that the United States approach the powers in an effort to have their armies regard historic buildings, mon uments and works of art as "interna tional property." Ambassador Herrick cabled the sug gestion after the diplomatic represen tatives in France of several neutral countries had indicated the desire of their governments to support the pro ject Import of Treaty Noted. Rome. The Corriere d'ltalia, com menting on the undertaking signed by the powers of the Triple Entente, in which it was agreed that none of the three would accept terms of peace without the previous consent of the other two, says that the undertaking will have enormous importance. In addition to its effect on Germany, it will serve as a warning to certain states, the paper declares. Australia Halts Exports. London. A dispatch to the Post from Melbourne says that the govern ment has prohibited the export of wheat, flour, tinned and other meats to any place outside the United King dom, except with the government's consent. This decision is due to the suspicion that Australian cargoes, os tensibly for South America, are really Intended for the enemy. Ijillprfes W AR is like any other business. Men who make their living by fighting grow wearied of the gume and need recrea tion, just as a coal heaver or a bookkeeper. Put a bookkeeper to work 16 hours a day and allow him no relaxation and he will .become dull. Give him moving pictures and a lot of other entertainments and he will brighten up perceptibly, He will make fewer mistakes. As it Is in bookkeeping, so it is in war. The soldier who has a chance to relax occasionally will shoot near er the mark than the one who is al ways aiming his weapons. So on the American fighting vessel today they have games of all kinds. Long ago they Introduced football nd foot races to be played on deck. They also played tennis and Indoor baseball and outdoor baseball teams. But Uncle Sam before Vera Cruz has given an object lesson on up-to-dateness which beats anything ever before presented. That Is the moving picture show. Have Best "Movies." The moving picture theater has be come so Indispensable at home that the secretary of the navy decided to take It along on foreign invasions, and while the sailor sits on deck after slaughtering the enemy with gigantic guns all day, he can sit up at night and take In the greatest wonders of the film show, and it doesn't cost him a cent. It 1b one of the greatest free attractions furnished by the navy de partment to make better fighting men. The best features are always to be had and the sailors Bee new pictures at regular Intervals. With the advent of the moving picture shows on ship board the recruiting stations can add another list to their attractions at sea. They have told of the wonderful scenery and the chances for promotion at big pay. The new advertising can tell of the moving picture shows. The picture films have not been introduced on all vessels so a man might enlist In the AntRiCAN Sailors navy and be placed aboard a cruiser with nary a movie in sight, but the time is soon coming when he will be spared that fate. The discovery of moving pictures on American men-o'-war was the source of great amazement to an English war correspondent who was admitted to an American dreadnaught one night after sunset. There was a faint glow in the west where the sun had gone down on the tropical forest back of Vera Cruz. Twilight lasted only a short time and night soon settled down over the har bor. The day had been hot, although it was yet early in the summer. But J the Jackles were happy and contented. They whistled as they walked up on deck for the evening's entertainment. The correspondent didn't know there was going to be an entertainment. He didn't know a great deal about battle ships anyway. He was just a corre spondent. Suddenly he saw several men seize a piece of canvas and spread it up on deck. "Funny proceedings," he commented. He watched them go on with their work. He saw them erect a real ma chine, but he could not understand what they were going to do with it out on deck. Then he saw the sailors line themselves out on deck and sit down as close together as they could. They were dressed In their light clothing. "My word!" said the Englishman. "I'll be blowed if they are not going to have a picture theater." The lights were turned out and Just at that InBtant the breeze from shore began to blow out over the harbor. The night which had threatened to be suffocatingly hot, was becoming cool "How lovely," said the Englishman, and be edged nearer to the crowd. Then the play on the screen began. Picture followed picture in swift succession. '' ' ' - - "The latest thing," said the English man. "ThoBe pictures Just came out In London and must have come over on the boat with me." Audience Decorous. Then came Paris pictures and Amer ican pictures. The American sailor crowd acted much as a crowd of pe'e pie on shore. They applauded. They were interested. Perhaps they were a little more decorous than an American civilian crowd would be, PerhapB they took their places with more order and then walked away with less confusion. Their military training has taught them how to do that. ' On board the boat were several Mex ican prisoners. They had been caught In the harbor pilfering from some freight boats and were taken on board the battleship to be sent ashore. They were brought aboard just before the pictures were run and the officer of the guard thought it would be a good act to let the Mexicans see tbe pic tures. They looked at them with won der and delight. It was their first in troduction to the movies. History tells how the soldiers of Rail at Trenton drank before tbe bat tle when Washington crossed the Dela ware and conquered them. History tells how the hosts of Babylon drank while Darius the Mede was investing the city, but the amusements of the American sailors and marines are not of that harmful variety. They see the movies and keep their brains clear. GOOD NEWS FOR MARKSMEN American Trap-Shooters to Be Given a Chance to Show Prowess at the Olympic Sports. The gloom that permeated every highway and byway of Mudville when the mighty Casey struck out, as re lated by one DeWolf Hopper in his melancholy lay of "Casey at the Bat," has settled like a wet blanket because the Olympic committee in solemn ses- on guard Duty sion has decided that baseball is not an international sport within th( meaning of the rules and regulation! of the International Olympic congress In striking contrast to the depres slon of the tans is the joy of gun bug of nearly every civilized country, foi trap-shooting will have its usual plac on the program. It will be recalled that during th last Olympic sports, an Amerlcar farmer "Jay" R. Graham of Illinois vanquished the "clay bird" busters ol the entire world for the individual championship and was one of the five Americans that carried off the squac laurels. And this with handicap of the gun-below-the-elbow Btyle required bj the Olympic rules, while the loglca. way Is that practiced throughout th United StateB the shooter standing at the firing-point with the gun to hie shoulder when he calls "Pull." That American trap-shooters will give a good account of themselves is t certainty; that the honor of again leading the world In shooting claj saucers will agaiu come to the Unttet States is the hope of every lover ol outdoor sport Pitiful Story of the Slums. Apropos of the pitiful overcrowdinj of the slums, J. G. Phelps Stokes, th millionaire -social worker, Bald in a re cent address In New York: "Let me illustrate our overcrowdinj with a story. "Three pretty girls of fourteen oi fifteen talked, as they sat making art! flclal flowers, about what they'd do ii they each had a million dollars. " 'I'd buy a house at Coney and liv there all the year round," said the first girl. " 'I'd buy automobiles and diamondi and live in Europe,' said the second. "The third little girl, heaving a sigt of divine content at the thought Mid: "'I'd sleep alone.'"