BLANKETED
The Boldiera of Belgium are poorly equipped for winter fighting, but blankets are being distributed among them
as rapidly as possible.
AMERICAN FARMS
ECLIPSE RECORDS
Total Output in 1914 Nearly
Ten Billions.
Decrease in Price of Eggs and In
crease in Cattle and Calves
Contribute to Result.
Washington, D. C. American farms
during 1914 eclipsed all records for
combined value of their products with
a total of almost $10,000,000,000.
' Secretary Houston, of the department
of Agriculture, announced Thursday
that the value of all farm crops, farm
animal products and farm animals sold
and slaughtered aggregated $9,872,
936,000. That 'was $83,000,000 more than the
grand total for 1913, the previous
record year, and more than double the
value of all farm products In 1899.
Crops this year were valued at $6,
044,480,000, and the estimated total
value of the animal products and of
the farm animals sold and slaughtered
wbb $3,828,466,000. The value of
crop production this year was Blightly
less than in 1913 on account of the re
duced value of the cotton crop, brought
about principally by the European war.
The corn and wheat crops, however,
were the most valuable ever produced
in the United States, bringing the
year's crop value total to only $83,
279,000 lesB than the total for last
year, despite the loss of more than
$300,000,000 in the value of the cotton
crop.
"The estimated value of the animal
products on the farm in 1914," said
the Agricultural Outlook, "is distinct
ly higher than In 1913, which was
itself a record year in the value of this
class of products. "
"This is due to general, but slight,
increases in production, except for
sheep and swine, and in prices, and
more especially to a small increase in
the average farm price of eggs and to
a more considerable increase in the
farm price of cattle and calves sold
and slaughtered.
"It must be borne in mind that the
amounts of these estimates do not
Btand for net wealth produced, nor for
cash receipts, nor for profit, nor for
Income In any sense. Each product is
valued, is in the census, when it
reached commercial form and the
grand aggregate of all items is to be
regarded as an index number, or from
relative rather than from an absolute
point of view."
The sales of crops last year were
estimated at $2,928,000,000; sales of
livestock $2,919,000,000, a total of
$5,837,000,000. The estimated value
of total Bales per farm was $892, and
sales per capita of rural population,
excluding towns, $139.
The value of the principal farm
crops this year was :
Corn, $1,702,599,000; wheat, $878,
680,000; hay, $779,068,000; cotton,
$519,616,000; oats, $499,413,000; po
tatoes, $198,609,000; barley, $105,
903,000; tobacco, $101,411,000; sweet
potatoes, $41,294,000; rye, $37,018,
000; sugar beets, $27,950,000; rice,
$21,849,000; flaxseed, $19,640,000,
and buckwheat, $12,892,000.
In the production of the foregoing
14 principal crops, this year's average
was about 10 per cent larger than in
1913, and 6 per cent smaller than 1912,
which year stands as one of the great
eat aggregate productions in the
United States. This year two import
ant crops exceeded previous records
wheat, with 891,000,000 bushels, fol
lowing the 1913 record of 763,000,000
bushels, and cotton, with 15,966,000
bales (preliminary estimate), the pre-
Boers Will Be Drafted.
London A dispatch to the Reuter
Telegram company from Cape Town
says that Walfiah Bay, on the south
west coast of Africa, was reoccupied
on Christmas Day without opposition
by a strong British force. A telegram
to Renter's Telegram company from
Pretoria, seat of government of the
Union of South Africa, Bays: "It is
officially announced that the govern
ment intends to commandeer men for
service in German Southwest Africa
and the Union of South Africa, as the
situation cannot be met by volunteers."
BELGIANS TRYING TO
vious record being 15,693,000 bales in
1911.
The value per acre of all enumerated
crops averaged about $16.44 this year,
compared with $16.52 in 1913 and
$16.15 in 1912.
Other Neutral Countries
May Join With America
Washington, D. C President Wil
son appealed Wednesday to American
shippers of non-contraband goods, such
as cotton, not to allow their cargoes to
be mixed with contraband articles.
The United States government, he an
nounced, could deal confidently with
the difficulties which had arisen in the
treatment of American commerce by
Great Britain only if supported by ab
solutely honest manifests.
This statement followed a discussion
by the President with his cabinet of
the general shipping situation and of
the note dispatched to Great Britain
protesting at length against the Brit-
NEW BRITISH ARMORED CAR
One of the new armored light cars
that the British are using to good ef
fect on the continent It carries eight
men and a Maxim gun in a revolving
top and has a speed of forty miles an
hour. When in action the driver sits
on the floor and guides the car with
the aid of a reflex mirror.
ish policy of prolonged detentions of
cargoes and other interference with
American trade.
Publication of a synopsis of the
note, the tenure of which was con
firmed at the White House and State
department, aroused much interest,
not only in diplomatic circles, but in
congress and official quarters generally.
Many diplomats of European and South
American countries made formal in
quiry at the State department concern
ing the note, and a memorandum on
the subject was promised them.
There was a confident feeling in
diplomatic quarters that Bteps would
be taken by other leading nations of
this hemisphere, as well as by some
European neutrals, to point out to
Great Britain their acquiescence in the
American point of view. .
Britain to Move Aliens.
London Notices to leave have been
served by the police on persons regard
ed as undesirable in the coast towns
adjoining the Tyneside district and
Sunderland. The persons affected in
clude aliens of enemy countries and
naturalized aliens of both sexes, and
also British-born descendants of aliens,
including the second generation.
Exceptions are made in cases of ad
vanced age or extreme youth. Those
affected must leave within eight days
to an area 30 miles from he coast, ap
proved by the military authorities.
Italy Irritates Vienna.
Venice Italy's expedition in Av
lona, which she occupied several days
ago, appears to have produced consid
erable irritation at Vienna, according
to advices from the Austrian capital.
It is thought there that possibly the
suddenness of the Italian move may
have disturbed plans attributed to
Prince von Buelow'a mission at Rome,
which is said to have included an offer
of Southern Albania to Italy upon her
agreeing to certain conditions.
nth w J s
3000i!taoOOOOOOQ004
KEEP WARM
BUSINESS FUTURE
LOOKS PROMISING
Secretary Redfield Sends To All
Cheering Message.
Prosperity for Whole Country At
Hand and Advice Is Offered
To Make Preparations.
Washington, !D. C Heartened by
months of close study of the business
outlook of the nation, Secretary Red
field, of the department of Commerce,
wrote a New Year's greeting to the
merchants and manufacturers of the
country, bidding them in characteris
tic language to reach out for the pros
perity he sees within their grasp,
There is no warrant, Mr. Redfield de
clares, for gloom or despair. The ill
effects of the European war on Ameri
can enterprise is passing and new vis
tas for commercial venture are open
ing with each new day.
"If you want prosperity, do your
share to bring it and do it now," he
says. "Get that addition on your shop
going; it will cost you less today than
six months hence. Is trade a bit dull
in the works? Get those improve
ments begun. Prices are low and
likely to rise. You've been thinking
of that contract work. Better start
yourself before things get the start of
you.
"This country slows down a bit now
and then, but it never stops growing
and it always moves up and not down.
We don't know what it means in moBt
of the United States to have real gen
eral distress. Think of Belgium and
Poland, O man with a grouch, and
slink into your hole and pull it in after
you. There think of your sins and
your blessings and come out with your
courage in working order.
"There are lots of good American
examples of pluck. Do you remember
San Fancisco and Galveston and Chi
cagoBoston, Charleston, Baltimore
and Dayton, and many others like
them? Remember them as did Edison
and lots of your fellow citizens, who
showed pluck when things were hard.
"Nothing is the matter with the
man with a grouch except an absentee
heart and missing nerve. Cheer up,
go to work, do your level best, quit
talking misery. The war's over yon
der, not here. Men are slaughtered
yonder theyr'e living here. It's all
clouds there clear day here.
"Get out and sell some goods. Plant
some more acres; do more work than
you planned. Talk cheerful talk and
you'll find this country of ours a pret
ty good place after all. "
four German Aircraft
Attack Dunkirk, England
London Four German aeroplanes
flew several times over the city of
Dunkirk Thursday, dropping bombs as
they went, acording to the Dunkirk
correspondent of the Daily Mail.
Soldiers in the streets fired on the ma
chines and one Taube Beemed to be
hit, but all got away safely.
The official returns of the casualties
show that 15 persons were killed and
32 wounded. The bombs were filled
with shrapnel.
For half an hour the whole city
crackled with rifle shots and bombs,
which threw up dense clouds of black
smoke. No sooner did one aeroplane
seem to depart than another arrived.
Buildings in all parts of the city were
wrecked, One child's arm was blown
off and an old woman was killed out
right The fifth aeroplane remained as a
sentry outside the town, ready to at
tack any of the allies' aeroplanes that
might seek to repel the air assailants.
40 Convicts Are Freed.
Columbia, S. C. Fifty-five New
Years' pardons, paroles and commuta
tions granted by Governor Blease re
duced the number of prisoners in the
state penitentiary, at the state farms
and in county convict camps to 149.
The governor's action put the total
number of prisoners to whom be has
granted clemency In his four years of
office at 1544. Sixteen full pardons
were granted, 24 prisoners were pa
roled and the sentences of 15 were com
muted. Twenty-eight of the 55 were
serving terms for homicide.
STERN WARNING
GIVEN ENGLAND
Meddling With American Ship
ping Must Cease.
Definite Statement Asked as to
Intentions of Future Conduct
Delay Is Forbidden.
Washington, D. C. The United
States government dispatched Tuesday
a long note to Great Britain, insisting
on early improvement in the treatment
of American commerce by the British
fleet. It gave warning that public
criticism was general over unwarrant
ed interference with the legitimate
foreign trade of the United States.
The document, constituting the
strongest representation on this sub
ject made by the United States to any
of the belligerents since the outbreak
of the war, was cabled to Ambassador
Page to be formally presented to Sir
Edward Grey, British foreign secre
tary. Its preparation was begun a month
ago by Solicitor Cone Johnson, Coun
selor Lansing and Secretary Bryan and
finally had the personal attention of
President Wilson, who revised its
phraseology with minute care.
As the detailed point of view of the
United States in numerous specific
cases of detentions and seizures of car
goes had been set forth in a series of
emphatic protests, most of which have
gone unheeded, this communication
was couched in general terms, cover
ing the entire subject of the relations
between the United States and Great
Britain as affected by the latter's
naval policy, considered highly objec
tionable by this government
Since France has adopted practically
the same decrees on contraband as has
Great Britain, the note is virtually a
statement intended for all the mem
bers of the triple entente.
The note declares at the outset that
the representations are made in a
friondly spirit, but that the United
States considers it best to speak in
terms of frankness, lest silence be
construed as an acquiesence in a policy
which infringed the rights of Ameri
can citizens under the laws of nations.
The document points out that com
plaints on every side and public criti
cism in the United States hold the
British policy as directly responsible
for the depression in many American
industries, a situation the seriousness
of which must be apparent to Great
Britain.
Reimbursement alone for cargoes
unlawfully detained or seized, it
states, does not remedy the evil, as
the chief difficulty is the moral effect
of British practice on American ex
porters, who are restrained by it from
taking risks or hazards which in no
case ought to surronud legitimate
tirade between the United States and
other neutral countries.
Feeling has been aroused on the sub
ject to such an extent, the communica
tion adds, that the American govern
ment feels compelled to ask for defi
nite information as to Great Britain's
attitude, In order that it may take
Buch measures as will protect Ameri
can citizens in their rights.
AMERICAN CONSULS TO BEL
GIUM MUST SUIT GERMANS
Washington, D. C. United States
consuls in Belgium must be acceptable
to the German military authorities,
and the withdrawl of some now there,
for the present at least, is desired by
the Berlin government. This was
made known in a formal notification to
the State department Tuesday.
Secretary Bryan declined to make
public the text of the German com
munication or to comment on it until
he had had full opportunity to consider
it. The understanding in official cir
cles is that the notice is similar to the
one sent Argentina and other neutral
countries.
It is said that while the German
government does not insist that con
suls in Belgium take out new exequa
turs from German officers, it an
nounces that such consuls must exer
cise their functions only by permission
from the military in control of the ter
ritory in which the consulates are sit
uated. The United States has consular rep
resentatives in Brussels, Antwerp,
Liege and Ghent.
Military Plan Offered.
Chicago A plan in line with Presi
dent Wilson's "citizen soldiery" idea
was submitted here by Lieutenant
Colonel Charles D. Davis, at the meet
ing of the Illinois National Guard and
Naval Reserve association. Under the
proposed plan militia regiments would
be mustered out of the state service
and into the Federal, but would retain
their state designations. Thus, the
First infantry, of Chicago would be
come the First Illinois infantry, U. S.
A. The present community system of
recruiting would continue.
Exiles on Way to Cuba.
Panama Ten persons deported from
Costa Rica as the result of the discov
ery of an alleged plot to assassinate
President Alfredo Gonzales, and start
a revolution in the republic, passed
through Colon on board the steamer
Calamares, bound for Cuba. The al
leged conspirators are said to be mem
bers of the Conservative party in
Nicaragua, who were attempting to
foment trouble in Coeta Rica.
U. S. Authorities Nip Plot
of Conspiring Filipinos
Manila, P. I. Disclosures of the
checking by American authorities of
an uprising of Filipinos set for Thurs
day night were made here Sunday.
Eight arrests have been reported, with
more to follow. Christmas eve had
been chosen by the conspiratorB In the
belief that the army officers would be
engaged in preparations for celebrat
ing the holiday.
Warning was given that 10,000 Fili
pinos in Manila alone planned a con
certed attack on Fort Santiago, the
Cuartel Espano, the Cuartel Infantent
and the Medical department. Acting
on this information, the military offi
cers instituted a patrol of the streets
at dusk and took other measures of
defense.
It is disclosed that secret agents of
the Filipino constabulary who are
members of the secret societies dis
closed the plans for an uprising, thus
enabling the constabulary and police to
disperse gatherings at Bagumbayan,
Paco and Navotas, near Malobon.
The uprising was conducted mostly
by followers of Artemio Ricarte, a
revolutionary now in Hongkong, to
which place he was banished by the
officials several months ago. Its fail
ure was due in part to poor organiza
tion and lack of good leadership.
Reports from Navotas, a town six
miles north of the capital, say that
simultaneously with the outbreak at
Manila on Christmas eve , 30 men en
tered the municipal building, seized
three policemen on duty there and in
effectually tried to open the safe.
Later the Filipinos seized several
attendants conducting midnight mass
and also captured the Filipino gover
nor, Meleandres. When reinforce
ments of police arrived the revolution
aries fired a volley and then retreated.
Later they encountered another force
of police with which they exchanged
shots and in this engagement the con
stabulary succeeded in arresting 10
men. In all 21 Filipinos were taken
prisoners at Navotas.
Diplomatic Issue Is
Raised in Belgium
London British authorities were
advised Monday that Germany had
announced its refusal to recognize the
exequaturs of British consuls to Bel
gium. This is regarded as preliminary
to Germany's formal taking over of
the government of Belgium.
It .is believed here that refusal to
recognize Brand Whitlock as United
States minister to Belgium would fol
low as a matter of course. Spain also
has a minister to Belgium whose status
would be questioned in the same man
ner. Ambassador Page is without offiical
information, but it is said he is keep
ing the State department at Washing
ton informed as to reports reaching
London concerning the situation.
Washington, D. C. The United
States government at a late hour had
received no notification from Germany
that American consuls, originally ac
credited to Belgium, would be required
to obtain new exequaturs or certificates
of authority. Until such a notice is
communicated 'and its form is ex
amined, high officials said the Ameri
can government would be unable to de
termine a course of action.
Officials here regarded the points
involved as of a delicate character and
would say only that they would study
various precedents before reaching a
decision.
In reply to a question recently as to
the status of Brand Whitlock, Presi
dent Wilson replied that Mr. Whitlock
would of course remain American min
ister to Belgium, even though he left
the country indefinitely.
Mr. Whitlock is now in Brussels
dealing unofficially with the German
military authorities, but is accredited
to the Belgian government, whose seat
is at Havre, France.
Bryan to Retire?
Washington, D. C. The Christmas
season political rumor is that William
Jennings Bryan is to retire soon from
the cabinet, and is to be succeded as
secretary of state by Senator Stone,
of Missouri.,
The politicans base their credence of
the rumor on their belief that the
Secretary of State must get out of
the cabinet soon to make his race for
the presidential nomination in 1916.
They say his candidacy is an assured
fact. Senator Stone, they say, will
succeed him in the cabinet because, as
chairman of the senate foreign rela
tions committee, the Missourian has
supported the foreign policies of both
the President and Mr. Bryan.
Steel Net Saves Fleet
London A steel net Btretched across
the entrance to Pola Harbor, the great
naval port of Austria, proved the un
doing of the French submarine Curie,
says a dispatch from the Milan corres
pondent of Lloyds News. In company
with other submarines the Curie was
attempting an entrance into the harbor
to torpedo an Austrian squadron at
anchor there. The Curie had pene
trated to the harbor bar when she
collided with the net An Austrian
merchantman gave the alarm and the
forts opened fire.
Oklahomo Battle Fatal.
Cleveland, Okla. An unknown rob
ber was killed, Chief of Police Fenton
was shot through the leg and two other-citizens
were wounded in a battle
here following an attempt to hold up
20 men in a pool hall. Fenton was
passing the place and happened to see
the men inside with their hands up.
The police chief stood in the front door
and emptied his revolver at the rob
ber, who returned the fire, wounding
the three men.
BRITISH LOSE 1
IN AIR BATTLE
Daring Attack on German Port
Unprecedented.
Attempt to "Dig Out" Warships
of Teutons Results in Battle
of Ultra Modern Forces.
London Assisted by light cruisers,
destroyers and submarines, seven Brit
ish naval airmen, piloting seaplanes,
made a daring attack Christmas day
on the German naval base of Cux
haven, at the mouth of the Elbe.
Six of the airmen returned safely,
but the seventh, Commander Hewlett,
it is feared, has been lost, as his ma
chine was found off Heligoland,
wrecked.
What damage was done by the
bombs thrown by the attacking party
could not be ascertained, but the Ger
man report of the affair says that the
raid was fruitless.
The enterprise of the British navy
in thus attempting to "dig out" the
German fleet brought about a battle in
which the moBt modern of war ma
chines, the British squadron, including
the light cruisers Arethusa and Un
daunted, which have been engaged in
previous exploits on the German coast,
were attacked by Zeppelins, seaplanes
and submarines.
By rapid maneuvers the ships were
able to avoid the submarines, while the
Zeppelins found the fire of the cruisers
too dangerous for them to keep up the
fight. German seaplanes dropped
bombs, which, according to the British
account, fell harmlessly into the sea.
The Germans, however, reported they
hit two destroyers and their convoy,
the latter being set afire.
The British ships remained in the
vicinity for three hours without being
attacked by any surface warships and
picked up the seven pilots and their
planes.
The others were picked up by sub
marines, but their machines were
sunk. Commander Hewlett, it is
thought, was drowned.
Bomb Is Exploded by
fanatic in Hindu lemple
San Francisco In the midst of the
mystic services of an Oriental cult, a
stranger identified only by the name of
Vevara, Sunday entered the crowded
little auditorium of the Hindu temple
here and at the very feet of the offi
ciating Hindu swami exploded a bomb,
which literally tore the bomb-thrower
to pieces, probably fatally wounded
Swami Trigunatita, the leader, and
threw scores of worshippers, moBtly
women, into a panic.
The stranger entered the temple',
while the swami was in the midst of
his address on "The Divine Peace,"
and with loud steps that attracted the
attention of all the members of the
cult, walked up the center aisle until
he reached the rostrum on which the
swami was conducting the services.
While the eyes of all followed his
actions, wondering at the meaning of
his strange conduct, the man was seen
to withdraw a small white package
from his black fedora hat and Btrike it
three times on the rostrum.
As his arms descended for the third
time there was a fearful explosion
that appeared to rock the entire build
ing, filed the air with debris and flying
glass. Blood and fragments of the
body of the bomb-thrower spattered
the congregation, for the moment
transfixed in their seats with the hor
ror of the action.
Italy Will Hold Albania Firmly.
Rome It is reliably reported here
that the Italian foreign office has noti
fied the powers that Italy is deter
mined that deliberations of the London
conferences in connection with Albania
shall be unconditionally respected,
hence she will not tolerate the slight
est attempt against the territorial in
tegrity, independence or neutrality of
Albania, will 'not allow a change of
government, and will prevent inhabi
tants from participating in the war.
The present revolution, the note
continues, obviously was projected to
create complications; but unless these
complications are avoided, Italy will
exercise complete liberty of actions
toward the restoration of order, de
spite the lack of interest of some of
the signatory powers of the London
conference.
More Americans Give Aid.
Paris It is pointed out here that
every day Americans are doing some
thing to win the gratitude of French
people. During he past week Alfred
S. Heidelbach, president of the Ameri
can chamber of commerce gave 10,000
francs for the benefit of the French
soldiers and their allies. Mrs. W. K.
Vanderbilt contributed 125,000 francs
to the American ambulance and Miss
Julia Aylward gave 100,000 francs.
Twelve children of Berkeley, Cal., con
tributed articles made by themselves
which were sold for 1000 francs.
Turks Send Heavy Guns.
Athens, via Rome The Turks are
transporting heavy guns from Adrian
ople to points on the Sea of Marmora,
near the Rosphorus, especially Santo
Stefano and Kadi Koi, on opposite
sides of the entrance to the Bosphorus
and commanding the approach to Con
stantinople from the Sea of Marmora.
,It is indispensable that the Dardanel
les be defended strongly, since the
forcing of the straits means the end of
Turkey.