- & - - riopiiwvpivtw rwtwr "-va'x-'"ifri,"i?-jw' i'wiMyBEpWPPiPlt FINANCIAL EDITION iie&ner I SIGHT I EXTRA NIGHT EXTRA ttimttttn f : c YQl.g-Q 8G PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1915. CortMdiiT, lots, nt thb Pcblio Lebom CoMMNf. PRICE ONE CENT? gt&x&t LJi- 'JEx i j?cfc EGYPT INVADED BY TURKS; SLAVS BEGIN BULGAR DRIVE; H1NDENBURG FAILS AT RIGA Ottomans Cross Border at El Arish. Battle on East of Suez Commons Votes Million More Men in Stormy All-Night Session The war Is striking into fresh territory, according to dispatches from ttrlous scenes of tlio front. Turks, 400,000 of them, havo started Ihey aro backed by 100,000 Germans 'lit Serbian campaign. f Russia lias countered wnn nnoiuer invasion, ner licet lias captured Virus, tlio principal Dulgar port on the Ulack Sea, and under cover of tlio Lilttck tho Czar's troops Iiavo mado a landing for sweep of Bulgarian soil to f form a Junction with tho Allies' beset armies In tho Balkans. Victory for Russia Is also Indicated In dispatches, which Btato that Hlndenburg's campaign has failed completely on tho Dvlnsk-Itlga front and f (i,4t tho Teutons In tho north aro retreating. I Asaulth's call for a now nrmy of 1,000,000 mon for early field service on la various fronts has been heeded by Commons, which, however, was a I' icene of an all-night session and sharp debate before tho vote authorized Lord a jatchener's request transmitted by tho Premier. The heat of tho debate in I irralgnmont of tho Cabinet's Dardanelles policy, It is said, but preludes a itv Parliamentary battle. f ICRCO-GEUMAN LEGIONS START INVASION OF EUYl'T LONDON, Dec. 22. The Turco-Gcrman drivo against Egypt v.. tin. according to advices to tho '.Eichango TcVcgrnph Company from Con- ittntinopie louaj. Three hundred thousand Turks and 100, 110 Germans and Arab Irregulars aro tak-i.at-t I., thn rnmnalirn. f Fighting Is reported to bo taking plnco l .v.riv nn ifevntlan soil between advance f parcls of tho Turks and British forces J tut of tho Suez Canal. Patrols havo attacked British guards la tho rcslon of Al Arlsli. I Part of the German army, under Field f llinhal von Mackcnscn, wlilcli crushed I tb Serbians Is said to havo been trans- I ported to Turkey to tako part In tho S Enrtlan campaign. f Nws of tho Turco-Gcrman operations ' mlnst Egypt has revived reports that f U bulk of tho British forces withdrawn from tho Anzac and Suvla fronts on L lh Oalllpoll peninsula wero sent to Port ' Eild to help protect tlio Suez Canal. vu. ic.itti.v n..n nvlilnnHv Intends I to follow the caravan route which strikes i Ue canal near Ismallla. k Strong fortincatlons nave been built by Host of tho defenders aro British colo- "tlals. aGtrman olllccra havo been at work for twoUis preparing for thDgyptlan cam- it Wn. . flMttt ntinntltlAa nt wni ftllnnllefl bn.VO : fan ihlpped almost dally over the Syr !u Hallway, and many batteries of Sjaary guns havo been transported to Jerusalem for use In tlio l-Jgypunn urivo. Expert engineers from tho German army, irlih characteristic precaution, havo -ken all necessary measures to see that M trooos lack noth mr. RSpeclal transport carts havo been built .io tarry ammunition nnu waier over mo Slant. Tho expedition will be well hnjulpped with aeroplanes. I COMMONS PASSES BILL FOIt MILLION MORE MEN LONDON, Dec. 22. After a nlcht of tho most heated war i debate In months, tho House of Com- jfcmoiu at:30 a. m., today ngrccd to pass uw uovernmem Dili caning i.uw.wu mora , Britishers to tho colors. Adoption of tho measure puts In the Held tho greatest British army In history, IU number estimated at about 4,000,000. With these millions tho Government aoks to strike for decUlvo victories In , every theatre of war and end tho conflict lthln another year. The sharpest shafts yet hurled In the House of Commons In arraignment of tho Dardanelles campaign preceded adjourn ment at dawn today. Before midnight tke bombardment of tho Ministry became o ttrriflo that one member Inquired if tie Zeppelins had como to town again. me shock of the first attacks rapidly SaSSed awttv. Atttr mlflntirlif mnnv mem E-kera fell asleep. Fiery periods of par- mmeniary orators wero punctuated hy , Iouj snores. The slumber scenes of Amer- , lean Congressional filibusters were out- ! done. The sharnest attacks on tho Govern- meat wero directed bv Sir Edward Car- fnn, who recently quit tho Cabinet be muse no disagreed with other memoers L retarding Balkan affairs. Sir Edward stchoed tho charge of John nedmond, Irish i"der, that a scundal lurked behind the .wnJanelles failure. Jlo demanded to ' Contlnufd on l'ure life, Column One WEATHER TD6 WCfitflAT fnrtnaaA in ha a rtmmnrt- r. '"II wib,uvi uw vuiuiV" Plate aubject, probably has more Innu l?C?i.on human happiness at this time m tb year than any other, It is not wj tho rich who hope for a "white VWUtmaB." fnr thnsA whn mimf i!fnAnH JJ the bounty of others know that vol- .er Kris Krlngles are mora plentiful "lea mow is on the ground than other vise. tVa !,.,,. .v,... r ... ... ut this. -White Chrlstmases" exist !"Y In the suburbs, in the city the J?k turns to slush, and Sir. and Mrs. h !ima Chopper must wade through n. yihen ,ney roch the point of tho And play Santa Claus. FORECAST For PkilmMnhin nnA irfriiiitii fartly cloudy weather and rising tern ?mture tonight and Thursday; mod- " ouiA winds. LOST 4ND FOUND irtoi (! " Saturday -moa.-old little white fcolilr lif.'u aPwera name ''Be,ie," green i.ffl? ,lur medal, liberal reward, 41(1 5fii.frSPE'. contatninx ehotosraohe to baih- 'uS. Su"-..wltb. letter SI" cut la the !. Hew ( returned to 2311 W Oxiord r. i&rkMJ Pearl lludJeJ e!la Din. Ilew.nl If Jjgeq to Ilttifiun'. Institute. Keith Bldx kW KmiS. iMP I'l-ATINUM BAR PIX lo.t. iflSSX i1." hBPln UUtrlct or Philadelphia; !. Mjood road. Ardmor. B w2iy '"' ,o'd opon-faee bracelet watch. V Mondf J?ake- InltUU U- M. W. on back. K C?tY" !3mbr li Betura to Ledger i iienurn ifsjiMcd ai3 en s0f if saj 47. the threatened Invasion of Egypt. from Mackcnsen's victorious cohorts of BIG-HEARTED JIM'S WIDOW HELPED SOME BY VISITING WOMEN 'But We Can't Do It All," They Say, "Though We Have Paid Back Rent House Cold as Ice" BABY DOWN WITH GRIP A party of women Journeyed today to the house at 1I2J South Napa street to call on tho widow of nig Hearted Jim Fltz slmmons, as they used to call tho waiter In a saloon on 9th Btrcct, across from tho rostofllce, until ho was shot dead thero Just a year ago whllo trying to protect a llttlo Italian bootblack from tho attack of a man who carried a revolver. Enough troublo for ono woman's lifetime was piled Into Napa street that Now Year's Evo when they brought Jim's body home and tlKTbddy" arrived at tho tlmo tho ton of coal ho had managed to get with J7 scraped together from the rem nants of his $12 a week did. But trouble. In n material seniin. nnlv began with Jim's death for tho family In isnpa sircet. Tiiero were lour chll dren (nnd r -ill are, by good fortune) and to support them Sirs. Fitzsimmons promptly had to put aside her grief and try -to dupllcato murdered JIm'e J1I a wcok. She couldn't. Ho had given her J10 nnd more of thnt JI2 each week and that was llttlo enough. She could only make $3 a week. In consequence tho llt tlo family faced eviction from n house that Is nearly as cold as tho outside air. Tljey will not be evicted, because the party of womon who had read a story about the Fitzsimmons family in the IJveninci L,EDCii:n Paid tho rent and then told tho Evenino Lcdqeii that It had not told the truth. "How hadn't It told tho truth?" "Because it's twice as bad In that house as you said It was," said the wom en. "That house la as cold as Ice. The baby has tne grip now. Didn't you know that?" NO DOCTOn FOIt BABT. No, the report of tho conditions In the Fitzsimmons' home had been received and written before the baby was attacked by tho grip epidemic. This baby, It appears, is 18 months old; name of James; named after his father. He becamo 111 late yesterday afternoon, and a doctor being out of tho question, ha was dosed with home remedies and actually la Im proving. One of the women In the party la an experienced social worker, used 10 the dif ficult business of separating the false from the true In what are known as "cases." She made Inquiries In the neigh borhood and found that Mrs. Fltzslm- Contlnued an Taxe Two, Column Three Autolst Held for Striking Woman Dr. Henry A. Strecker, an assistant medical Inspector for the city, today was held In 1300 ball for further hearing by Magistrate Beaton In the Central police station. The police said his auto ran down Mrs. Eleanor Wright, S3IH Chew street, Qermantown. The accident oc cured at Juniper and Market streets. Aid for Suffering Family The Kvenino Ledoer acknowledges re ceipt of J2 for the family of Mrs. Charles Worst, of 3057 Wclkel street, Kensington, who are suffering great distress through Illness and poverty. The rent of tin house was paid until last Tuesday by Benjamin Crooks, grandfather of the woman, who dle5 last week. HUNGARY WILL PLEDGE RUSSIA "OPEN DARDANELLES," SAYS APPONYI Would Be Granted as Condition of Peace, but Slav Influ ence in Balkans Must Be Destroyed. No End in Sight By CARL W. ACKERMAN BERLIN, Dec 22. Hungary Is willing to pledge Russia that the Dardanelles will always remain ppen for Russian commerce as a condl tlon of peace. Count Albert Apponyl, leader of the opposition In the Hungarian Parliament, made this statement In an Interview at Budapest. It U Important not only be cause of the dominant position the count occupies In Auatro-Hungarian affairs, but because he U an International peace leader. We can understand why Iiu:ua want such assurances," said Count Apponyl, but via cannot see why these guaran tees cannot be iriven without at the same 1 Um. maklnjr the political power of Uui I Ford's Chameleonic Program for Peace What Henry Ford said yester day: "I expect to remain In Europo until this great war Is brought to nn end. I will give my life to thnt mission If necessary." What rumor says today; Henry Ford plans to end tho peace trip to Europe in n perfunc tory manner nnd ns inconspicu ously ns possible, He is snid to be disappointed nt the lack of warmth in Norway for his plans to "get tho boys out of tho trenches." FORD MAY DROP PEACE MISSION; TOO MUCH 'FROST' Cool Reception in Norway and Lack of Interest in Sweden PLANS PERFUNCTORY END CHIUSTIANIA, Dec. 22.-Tlmt Henry Ford now realizes the hopelessness of obtnlnlng concrete results from his pence mission wns the general opinion of men close to him todny. Ford. It wns rumored, plans to end tho peace trip In a perfunctory manner nnd ns Inconspicuously as possible, llo Is deeply disappointed nt tho lack of warmth In the reception accorded the pence delegates In Norway and by the frank declaration of hostility on tho part of Danish authorities. These reports resulted from the fact that both Ford and Mmc. Schwlmmcr, who suggested tho peaco cruise, have been In retirement for several days. Ford Is recovering rnpldly from Inllucnza, It was stated today, and will be ablo to Join the peaco delegates when they leavo for Stockholm tomorrow. Norwegian students tendered a banquet to mombcrs of tho Ford pnrty last night, but It was reported that the bill for tho entertainment was sent to Ford's head quarters. Louis P. Lochner. Ford's sec retary, notified tho students that tho De troit manufacturer would contribute J10, 000 townrd new university buildings. Miss Kathcrlne Lcckle, publicity agent for Ford, Issued a statement addressed to tho Norwcglnn press today declaring that tho opinion of tho American press with regard to tho Ford enterprise had suddenly turned favorable. FORD PEACE PARTY'S ENTERTAINER DEAD Lloyd M. Bingham, Husband of Actress, Succumbs in Nor way to Pneumonia CimiSTIANIA, Dec. I2.-tloyd M. Bing ham, husband of Amelia Bingham, widely-known actress, ,and a member of the Ford pence party, died here today of pneumonia, . Bingham, ono or the first to accept Ford's Invitation, accompanied the ex pedition ns nn official entertainer. He mado many friends among tho peace delegates, but his Bohemennnlsm offended some of tho more purltnnnlcal of the voyngers. They succeeded In having called off tho concert Bingham had arranged to bo held In mld-Atlnntlc. and urged that he bo left behind at Chrlstlanla. Bingham became 111 In tho midst of this disapprobation. Ho contracted pleuro pneumonia aboard ship and was removed to a hospital the day after tho Oscar II reached ChrlBtlanta. Arrangements nro being made to ship his body to New York. The death' of the party's chief enter tainer threw a shadow over tho Ford arrangements today and It Is possible that meetings scheduled for this afternoon will be cancelled. "3IERRY XMAS" FOR NEWSIES Boys Who Sell Evening Ledger To morrow Will Receive Every Penny Paid Them by Their Patrons If those bright-eyed, wide-awake little business men, who dally present you with those pleasant "thank yous," when you toss them your pennies, for your Evbm 1N1 L.EDOKHS. aro unusually Jovial and happy tomorrow and "bark" a little loud er than Is their custom, you mustn't bo surprised. Santa Claus Is going to pay them nn ad vance visit nnd, when the copies of the Evenino LuDaEn are whirled from the presses, he will hurry In overy direction and give hustling newsboys all the copies they want to sell free of charge. Not a cent will be received from the boys for the copies of the Evening liHDOBn that the" WOO deserving salesmen Bell. The more they sell the happier they will be, and the brighter will be their Christmas and the Christmas of many little brothers and sisters and sick or poor papas and mammas. ela paramount when that power would be a permanent menace to our safety. "Hungary wants peace, but peace mak ing Impossible a return to the conditions that brought about this war. That Im plies destruction of Russian influence in the Balkans, TThlch Is used only ag gressively for expansion and conquest." Count Apponyl believes Russia Is the great stumbling block; In. the way of an early ending of the war. He tees no pros pects for an early peace. "Jn hi address to the 3elcbtag. the German Chancellor opened the way to an expression of tbe same gocd wilt on benair or tne .Entente rowers," he oU served. "Had they responded, a common ground for discussion might have been CUu4 ea Vr, Cetasu J4w U. S. DEMANDS MUST BE MET, REITERATES SECOND NOTE TO VIENNA; REFUSES TO PARLEY Austria Informed First Message Was Based on Official Report Further Evidence Obtained by Washing ton Will Not Be Divulged RENEWED DEMANDS OF U. S. IN SECOND NOTE ON ANCONA Holds Austrian Admiralty absolutely responsible for sinking of Ancona and deaths of Americans. Bnscs enso nltogethci on Austria's own story of the torpedoing of tho Anconn. , Refuses to discuss testimony of other witnesses ns to details of tragedy. . .... .,,.,, Declares culpability of submarine commander is clearly established. Declines to debate tho intcrnntional lnw or to discuss principles of humanity "wilfully violated." .... ... ,1 Flnnlly renews demands already made for disavowal of net, punish ment of submarino commnndcr nnd indemnity for deaths if Americans. WASHINGTON, Dec. 22. Reiteration of tho demands mado In the first noto on tho sinking of tho Ancona nnd n denial that Austria Is entitled to dctallH of tho evldenco obtained by tho United States aro tho salient features of tlio second com munication, made public todny. by Secretary Limning. Austria 1b Informed that tho protest Ib mainly based on tho olllclal report Issued nt Vienna and that tho Government of tho United StntcH docs not feel called upon to debato tho Issue for which it holds Austria responsible. Tho text of tho noto follows: "Tho Secretary of State to Ambassador l'cnflcld. "Department of Stiitc, Washington, Dec. 19, 1915. "You aro instructed to address a noto to tho Austro-Hungnrinn Minister of Foreign Affnlrs, tcxtually as follows: "'Tho Government of tho United Stntcs has received tho noto of your excellency relative to tho sinking of tho Ancona, which was delivered by Vienna on December 15, 1915. nnd transmitted to Washington, and has given the note immedlato nnd cnroful consideration. "'On November 16, 1915, Baron Zwledenek, tho Charge d'Affalres of tho Im perial and Royal Government nt Washington, transmitted to tho Department of State n report of tho Austro-Hungnrinn Admiralty with regard to tlio sinking of tho steamship Anconn, lit which U was admitted that the vessel teas torpedoed after her cnolncs had been stopped ami ichcii passengers xcerc still on board. This ndmlsslon nlono Is, In tho viow of tlio Government of tho United StateB, cufllclcnt to fix upon the commander of tho submarino which fired tho torpedo tho responsibility for having wltfttUlt violated tho recognized law of nations and cntlrclu disregarded these humane principles which every belligerent should observe In the conduct of tear at sea. " 'In view of these ndmlttcd circumstances the Government of tho United States feels Justified fn holding that tho details of the sinking of the Ancona, the weght nnd character of tho additional testimony corroborating tho Admiralty's report, and tho number of Americana killed or Injured aro In no way essential matters of discussion. The culpability of the commander Is In any case estab lished, and tha undisputed fact is that citizens of tho United States wero killed, lnjuredr j,njt,lnJenpardjiyJiiilay5c?s act ,, -.- "Tho rules of International Ia,w-nnd tho prmciplea of humnnlty which were IKlia wilfully violated by tho commnndcr of tho submarino havo been so long nnd so universally recognized and aro bo manifest from the standpoint of right and Justice that tho Government cf tho United Stutcs docs not feel called upon to debate them and does not understand that tho Imperial and Royal Govern ment questions or disputes them. "'The Government of tho United States thcrcforo finds no other course open to it but to hold the Imperial and Royal Government responsible for the act of its naval commander and to rencio the definite but respectful demands made in Its communication of tho 6th of December, 1915. It sincerely hopes that tho foregoing statement of Its position will enable the Imperial and Royal Govern ment to percelvo tho Justico of thoso demands nnd to comply with them in tho same spirit of frankness and with tho tamo concern for tho good relations now existing between the United States and Austria-Hungary which prompted tho Government of tho United States to make them. LANSING." KELLER HAD CHANCE TO MOVE A BODY IN TRUNK TO HIS CELLAR Detectives Find New Evidence Which They Declare Strengthens Their Case LIME FOUND IN CELLAR Edward Keller, accused of the murder of Daniel J. McNIchol, has been removed from his cell In City Hall to Moyamen slng prison. Detectives said today that the case against him had been strength ened by evidence that showed that Keller had had a chance to move a trunk from McNIchol's leather goods factory, 12th and Hamilton streets, to another section of the city before It was taken to Frank ford, It waa In a trunk that the body Iden tified as McNlchol'r was taken to the cellar of Keller's laundry at W3 Frank ford avenue, where, inclosed in a packing case, St waa dug up last Wednesday. 20 months after the dlsappearsnco of Jtc Nlchol. The trunk contained lime which had not altogether decomposed the body. A quantity of lime, similar to that which covered the body In the trunk, uas found by detectives today in the cellar of ISIS Wenaley street, a house formerly occu pied by Keller, A large piece of cement, about Ave by two feet, showed signs of having been removed from the floor of tho cellar. It will be moved and the ground beneath It searched. The lime was found accidentally. De tectives wero examining the cellar and brushed against the wall in one corner, Continued on race Kite, Column Three CELEBRATES HIS DIVORCE W. L. Moise Gives "Freedom Party," No Flowers A few hours after Judge Ferguson signed a decree granting a divorce to Wil liam U. Motse he staged a big "freedom party" In Atlantic City to which were Invited approximately CO of his friends. Mr, Jlolse, formerly a merchant in thU city and now chief of tbe Atlantic City Bureau of Credit, sent out the following Invitations: The' pleasure of your company Is rtoueatcj WUlUm L Uol ' hti Freedom Party Tuolir Evenloif. Dcmbr twtoty-orst at.Sao o'clock No. 5.- Dwcr Apartments Atlantic City No 0owr The guest of Mr. iolae were enter tained at a theatre parly, then dined ami wined at supper. The decree of Judge Ferguson concluded a legal ngbt of two ysara' awatloa. PITTSBURGH BANK FOR SAVINGS SHUTS DOORS; DEPOSITS $10,000,000 Institution Suspends Business by Order of State Depart ment and Receiver Is Named MANAGEMENT ABSOLVED PITTSnUrtGH, Pa., Dec. 21 The Pitts burgh Bank for Savings was ordered closed today by order of tho State Hank ing Department. According to the last statement of tho bank, made at the close of business November 11, the Institution had deposits of JIO.716,513, with surplus nnd profits of Jia.216. Tho capital 's $000,000. The bank was tho depository of thousands of wage earners anil school children. Within a few minutes after tho notice of the closing of tht bank was posted a big crowd collected about the buldlng, many of whom had Intended drawing out some of their savings with wlikh to make holiday purchases. There was much excitement but no disorder. The closing of tho bank li. due to de preciation of the Kuhn securities which were unloaded upon tho bank two years ago at the time of the Kuhu failure, ac cording to Receiver a. II, Getty. Two years ago the bank weathered a several days' "run" following the failure of the Kuhn enterprise. Later It was Continued on Tare Three, Column One Financiers in London Feel Peace Is Nearer London financiers feel that peace is nearer, but they believe the restoration of good will among the nations is further from earth than ever, says Francis W. Hirst, editor of the Economist, London. On a modest computation, as suming the war to end by March 31, next, Germany will face a war charge for debt in annual interest of ?500,000,000, against a French deficit of $450,000,000 and a Brit ish debt of $350,000,000. In the case of England this deficit is cov ered by new taxation. The American security mobiliza tion scheme is unpopular on the London Exchange, says Mr. Hirst, in an article on the financial situ- t ation sent by special cable to the 1 Eveninq Ledceb and published ex I clusivf 'y in this issue. QUICK NEWS GENERAL MUNRO APPOINTED HAIG'S SUCCESSOR LONDON, Dec. 2!i. General Munro, British commander at the Dardanelles, has been appointed commnnder of the British First Army in franco, succeeding: Sir Douglas Halg, who became commander-in-chief, it was announced this afternoon. MIDVALE STEEL COMPANY GETS $50,000,000 CONTRACT The Midvale Stfcl Company has virtually closed n 50,000,000 Dtcd contract with Trance, according to n seemingly well-authenti-cnted report in financial circles today. KAISER SICK? POSTPONES TRIP TO FRONT EL'KLIN, Dec. 22. Emperor William is ill. It wns announced today that he was forced to stop hla vis.lt to the western front ou n'.Jount of inilaimnation of the cellular system. The Kaiser's phy tjiciaiis have ordered him to remain, indooru. PROFESSOR TAFT ON WAY TO THIS CITY CHICAGO, Dec. 22. "I'm feeling much better today," remarked former President William H. Tnft as ho took a train for Philadelphia, on his way to Allentown, Po., where ho will muko n speech nt tho opening of a hospital. Mr. Tnft was still very hoarso nnd showed th effects of his Illness of the Inst week. MERCHANTS IN FOOD CONSPIRACY FINED WASHIN'OTON, Dee. 22. .ludgo Covington, In tho District of Columbia Supremo Court, today handed down a decision lining 30 Washington commis sion merchntitn $'JR each on n charge of hnvlng conspired to control food prices In violation of the Sherman nntl-trust law. Tho charges wero Insti tuted by tho Department of Justice a year ago. - BERNHARDT IN GOOD HEALTH AND COMING HERE PAHIS, Dec. 22. Sarah Ilcrnhardt Is enjoying good health. She Is nbout to leno for an Kngllsli tour and Intends to fulfil her American contract. Tho Paris correspondent of tho London Dally Telegraph reported last night that Mine. Uernhnrdt was dying. Cabled Inquiry brought tho foregoing dispatch from the International Nows Scrvlco correspondent at Paris. AUSTRO-ITALIAN LOSSES, 750,000 ZUniCir. Dec 22. Tho total losses In tho Austro-Itnllan theatre of war nro placed nt 7G0.000 men In killed, wounded and captured by Swiss military experts. Tho Italian losses aro reckoned nt 350,000 men, of whom CO.OOO nro prisoners and fiO.OOO nro dead. Wounded AustrlniiH declare that tho outsldo world knows nothing of tho tcrrlilo violence of lighting on the Austro-Itallan front. JAPANESE SHIP TORPEDOED IN MEDITERRANEAN TARIS, Dec. 22. A dispatch from Multn announces thnt tho Japanese steamship Sado Maru, 6227 tons, wns torpedoed and sunk Tuesday by a Ger man submarine In tho Mediterranean. Tho fate of tho passengers nnd crow was not known at tho time tho dispatch was received. DUTCH DEMAND RETURN OF SEIZED MAIL LONn'ONV-Dec. 22. A djspatch from Tho Hague says: "Tho Foreign Ministry announces that tho Netherlands Government has sent a protest to tho British Government ngninst the seizure of Dutch mall bags on tho steamers Noordam, Frisln nnd Rotterdam, nnd demanded nn immedlato return of tho mall. Th hope wus expressed In the protest that tho incidents would not bo repeated." ALLIES FORM JOINT RELIEF COMMISSION NKW YORK, Dec. 22. Tho Kntcnto Allies lmvo formed u Joint relief com mission, with headquarters) In Rome, to co-operuto with tho American relief clearing house In Paris for tho relief of the suffering In Serbia, Montenegro and Albania, nnd of refugees In northern Greece, according to ciiblo advices from Paris todny. Arrangements nro being mado to charter an American vessel to enrry supplies from Marseilles or an Italian port to Autlvnrl, Montenegro, for transshipment to Scutari, whero they will bo distributed. BRITISH E-BOAT SINKS SHIPS IN MARMORA RAID LONDON', Dec. 22. An Athens dispatch to Renter's Telegram Company says that a British submarine has sunk the German steamship Lcros and other craft In tho Sen of Marmora. Tho Lcros was owned by tho Deutsche Luvnnto Line, of Hamburg. It was 2679 tons nnd 271 feet long nnd wns built In 1905. When last reported It was at Constantinople. GERMANY HAS LOST 1,247,249, BRITISH SAY LONDON, Dec. 22. Harold J. Tennnnt, Parliamentary Undersecretary of War, announced In tho Houso of Commons today that tho total number of casualties published in tho olllclal lists for Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria and AVur temberg, up to November 30, woro 2,524,-160. Ho classified as follows those wl(o have been put out of action permanently: Killed or died of wounds, 484,228; severely wounded, 354,198; died of disease, 27,674; missing, 381,149; total. 1,247,249. Naval cnsunltlen, Mr. Tennant said, wero not Included in his figures. GERMANS TO CLOSE DUTCH BORDER WITH BARBED WIRE AMSTERDAM, Dec. 22. Tho newspaper Mnasbode says It learns from Oldenzaal, Holland, that owing to the increasing number of war prisoners escap ing over the German-Dutch frontier tho German Government Intends to close the whole frontier With barbed wire. Barbed wire linn been used nt certain places on tho frontier for nearly a year, and to make It a greater protection against llllct crossing tho wire has been charged with electricity. 20 FIREMEN OVERCOME IN NEW YORK BLAZE NEW YORK, Dec. 22. Twenty firemen wero overcome by binoko In a Are which wrecked tho six-story building at 221-225 Wost 17th btrcet early today, Eight of the fire-fighters were sent to hospitals; the others received treatment on the ground. Tho lire, once subdued, broke out ufresh nnd caught the fire men unawares, resulting In the score being overcome. Many thrilling rescues were made by the police nnd firemen, Mrs. Louise Lewis, overcome on the third floor, being carried to safety by a patrolman. The loss was $75,000. RED CROSS BACKS PLAN TO MAIL MILK FOR BABIES WASHINGTON, Dec. 22. Efforts already being made to obtain, through diplomatic action, the resumption of unhindered parcel post service between the United States and Germany, with tho Immediate object of employing such meant to send condensed milk to Germany and, Austria for the babies, Jiavo ben occ onded by the American Red Cross. The State Department hat. been asked to take prompt action In order that relief may bo given millions of babies In th central empires. GOETHALS SILENT ON CANAL REOPENING WASHINGTON, Dec 22. Major General George W. Goethals has notified the War Department that he Is still unable to make any prediction as to when the slides In Galllard Cut, in the Panama Canal, will bo sufficiently removed tp nllow the trafilc of the world to pass through the canal Several small vessels have been allowed to pabs through, but these drew 1 feet of water and less. The depth of the water In the locks and In the channel of the canal js to be 49 feet when the slides are removed. LONDON WARNED OF NEW AIR RAID LONDON, Dec 22. The possibility of further Zeppelin activity Is ogltatln London as the result of the receipt of a telegram from Ameland, Holland, that ..Kt... ., ntrahln ruiRRpri nvr North Ameland Round In n tvpRf-nrlv IriuiHnn Scotland Yard last night Issued a note desired to bold watch-night services they must take care to observe the orders regarding the shading of lights In churches, as "the possibility of attacks by hostile aircraft at this time of the year cannot be disregarded." of warning to worshipers that if they Cr i st