- 'ww? ""sr ''v "" 5? " i-jfei Tprgry T-MjFpi ys"T BWWPHW r iJititQtr NIGHT EXTRA ttttmn I VOL. 1I-S O-B? PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1015. Corixionr, IBin, t ins Pdbuo I,twn Conrini. PItlOE ONE CENT K'$5,P- ? H-?W?&tr-i- - f.. W f KAISER CONFINED f TO BED; ILLNESS k REPORTED GRAVE - 1 War Lord Has High Fever, Private Advices to Hague Declare K THREE SONS SUMMONED I Three Specialists in Attend- ance Christmas Celebra tion Called Off LONDON', Dec. 23. Emperor William's Ulncss la moro ser- ' lous than tlio ofTlcInl nnnounccment Is- tiled In Berlin would Indicate, according to iv dispatch received from The Ilnguo todaV. The message says that private advices reaching high ofllclnls In the Dutch capi tal state that the Kaiser Is confined to his bed with a high fever nnd that he Is under the care of two specialists. It adds that three sons ot the Emperor have been summoned to Berlin nnd that all plans for n Christmas celebration at the German royal palace have been abandoned. Emperor William has been freo from EMPEROR WILLIAM II The Kaiser is believed to be more seriously ill than reported. He is said to have high, fever. His malady is described in German as "zellgowebenzuendunfj." Illness, so far as reports have Indicated, Bines early this year, tho lost previous report of his Illness having been cir culated on January 31, when ha was said to be returning to Berlin because of throat trouble and to be suffering from a chill. There was no onlclal confirmation of the reports, however, and nothing psore was heard of them. A little more than n. vear ajrn. on Dfl. iCember 8, 1914, there was official admls Ion that the Emperor -was 111, the an nouncement stating he Was suffering from a feverish bronchial catarrh. It was said, however, that he was able to give his attention to reports on the war situation from the General Staff. au sorts of rumors were circulated in Continued en rage To, Column lire WEATHER Poss'bl- our epidemic of grip (and to oays weather Is particularly grlppy) Is f result or tr. war, Most regrettably we Kaiser Is laid up again, and perhaps hat la really what Is the matter with him. Not that his Influence Is great enough to affect general health as well genercl political conditions; but they y that, even In times of peace, grip always travels westward from Europe, returning tourists bringing home with tnem a slight epidemic each fall. It ould not be unreasonable that a more virulent kind of grip was being en gendered In trench-covered. Europe these Jys. and that we are to nave "the war jrought home to us" la a new and most olaagreeable way. In any event, the Christmas spirit is making us hope the Kaiser will speedily 'Set well. rDPn pit For Philadelphia and vicinity Un iettltd and warmer tonight, with prob ably linht rnin' KViffau nannrnthl fair: LOST AND POUND UtH0?,1? "!?yM .'r4 for lam soil- "' milium W turVl 5d 4iU at. elevate! station. Re- Sff w The Carroll, southeast corner Broad . .:s 'w my. DJND AND PLATINUM BAR, PIN loft. I' &" " returned' lo . iiucuoi s -4lSt4ooaj:oa.iJ. Ardmore! 127 vi " "turned to 8. MacDoauid Smith. S.-tfc- oM oMn-hce bracelet watch. Bi!!iF- Pmber " Return to Leitet J.?P,f0!,8 POCKET Ol'IDB, loat. near Jenkiotowu station reaard U returned to jJcUr Si hell IS13 Ptainond . Otktr CUatlAcit Ud e Poo' It ad H app and Birsky, "POSITIVELY NOT A Taft on Politics I'm through with politics. I will pick no candidates for tho Republican nomlnntion for President. Has Roosevelt been indorsed by Re publican national committeemen? How should I know? Should ho become tho candidato? (Enigmatic smile and silence.) Pennsylvania has many great citi zens, but I am not picking candi dates. I'm through. I will positively not be a candidato. If I am nominated unanimously? I am not n candidate. (More enigmatic smiles.) TAFT A SPHYNX ON CANDIDACY OF ROOSEVELT "How Do I Know?" He Re plies When Asked for His Opinion "I'M OUT OP POLITICS" Former President Taft, a Bmlllng Sphinx on tho subject of Itooscvclt's cnndldacy, professedly uninterested In politics, but overflowing with advice on matrimony, arrived In nnd departed from tho city today on his way to Allcntown, whero ho will speak at the dedication of tho Nurses' College this afternoon. "How do I know?1 ho, replied when asked If Colonel Itooscvclt would, In his opinion, become tho Republican candi dato for tho Presidency. And a smile of long duration was hlB answer when he was questioned as to tho appropriateness of such a selection. THROUGH WITH POLITICS. "I'm through with politics," ho Bald. "I positively will not bo a cnndldate. No, not If nominated unanimously." Asked if ho considered any of Penn sylvania's "natlvo sons" of presidential calibre, he replied that this Stnto has many great citizens, but that ho will pick no candidates. "I'm through with politics," he re peated. Ho praised Henry Ford, who is one of his best friends, ho snld. "Besides, I have the greatest regard for a roan who acta In. the eapaolty-of..,a peacemaker," ho ndded. Tho former President looked oiaer man on nis m. visit to this city. His cold, which was unusually severe, seemed better. STRONG FOP. MATRIMONY. tti rAtlrpnrn rilsannenred when politics was shelved for matrimony. "Ah!" ho said. "Now, wnai nner unnsi mas present could a bachelor rocelve than a nice bride? I consider myself a prac tical man when It comes to mnrrlngo; not that I wish to nppear conceited, but I really am very sensible. I demonstrated i, whan t mnrripd nn it vmmcr man. nnd In my selection. Every bachelor who Is confirmed siiouia cnango ms imou uiiu become sensible." Doctor Taft arrived from South Bend, Ind., at the North Philadelphia station of the Pennsylvania Rallrond, where he was met by a delegation of Allcntown men. Among them were Harry W. Kress. Dr. C. D. Schaeffer, chief surgeon of tho Allentown Hospital; Dr. A. H. Balllat. Edwin J. Trexler, John Eckart, Continued on I'ag-e Three, Column Two "BIG BUSINESS" SEEKS TO NAME ROOSEVELT IN 1916, SAYS HAM LEWIS Illinois Senator Asserts "Inter ests" Want Colonel to Beat Wilson, but Republican Chiefs Will Balk Plan SAYS PENROSE IS "KING" The bier Interests of the country will seek to nominate Colonel Roosevelt as the presidential candidato at the Repub lican national convention In Chicago next June, but he will demand a platform of principles which will cause the bosses to desert him. This prediction was made today at the Beltevue-Stratford by United States Senator J. Hamilton Lewis. And this will be the end of the colonel In the convention, according to the Senator. 'My opinion Is that, while Republican bosses think they are playlnsr Roosevelt. Roosevelt Is really playing them," the Senator said concerning the, present po litical situation. Senator Lewis was In the city to attend the annual festival of the New England Society of Pennsylvania last night at the hotel. He left today for Chicago. De spite the purpose of his visit, the Senator could not prevent some of his Southern Inclinations from asserting themselves. He ate his regular breakfast of hot broiled hominy and bacon and coffee. He said that his health had not been good lately and he Is on a diet. At break fast he consented to give Bome of his views on the present political and inter national situation. 'Take out your notebook and pencil," he said greeting n reporter. "I am In a hurry, though, and have to leave for Chi cago In a minute or two," Then, becom ing serious, he said: "The Republican rank and file are try ing to cling to Democratic measures and get a candidate tq represent the Demo cratic spirit under a Republican form of government. But the masters of the Re publican Organization are bent on doing what Senator Root, of New York, told the Union League of Philadelphia ought to be done, I. e.. to pick a candidate satisfactory to the big Interests. In other words, another Mark Hanna. "These Republican masters are looking for any man for a candidate, with any thing for an Issue, who will conform to the standard of tho bosses and secure the aid of Jhe masters of finance. They feel Continued on Pae To, Column Two Montague Glass' CANDIDATE" TAFT BRIDE IS LOVELY CHRISTMAS GIFT WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT M'NICHOL'SlOLD- WATCH FOUND ON PAWNSHOP CLUE Was Pledged in Kensington Avenue After Disappear ance in April, 1914 BROKER TO SEE KELLER Tho missing gold watch belonging to Daniel J. McNlchol was found tml.iy by tho pollcu when Harry Rosenthal, a pawn broker, 2C29 Kensington avenue, notified them that a watch with McNIchol's Ini tials on It nnd of tho same enso number was pawned In his shop In April, 1DH, shortly after McNlchol disappeared. Tho body found In a trunk In tho cellar of 100! Frankford avenue hns been Iden tified as having been that of McNlchol. who disappeared M months ago. Kdwnid Keller, of 3119 Frankford avenue. Is In the county prison charged with tho mur der of McNlchol. He declares the body In the trunk which was burled in the cellar of the building ho used as n laun dry after McNlchol disappeared Is not that of McNlchol, and tho police conHld ercd tho new evidence revealed today as of prlmo Importance. CASE NUMBER A CLUE. In tho trunk, In n pocket, ofrthpsu(tpn the" hodj-. ''were found Uvo Tiotebooks, In tho back of ono of which wbr a cnhi pleto Identification outline. This coin cided with the case number of tno mlsx lng man's watch. This number wns sent to every pawnshop In Ponnsjlvnnia, New York, nnd Important cities In nearby States, In the hope of tracing the natch. Rosenthal told the police today that tho watch remained In pawn on year, nnd that after that time ho sold It at auction. It was purchased by a reputa blo person, who was easily found by tho pollcu. The watch Is a 17-Jowclcd Elgin, with a heavy hunting case. It has been Iden tified by McNIchols lclatlves ns nn heir loom given tho missing man by his fn thur. It had been In tho family for gen erations. The pawnbroker will go to the prison late today to confront Keller. The-police say they have a description of the man who pawned the watch, but declined to say whether this description could npply to Keller. It became known today that the trunk In which McNIchol's body was found Continued on Vac Two, Column I'ivr JUDGE E. A. WALLING NAMED SUCCESSOR OF JUSTICE J. P. ELKIN Erie County Jurist Appointed by Governor to Fill State Supreme Court Vacancy WHITTELSEY GETS PLACE JUPGE SS70r A TRUING HARRISBURG, Dec. I3.-Governor Brumbaugh today announced the ap point of Judge Eir.ory A. Walling, of Erie County, to succeed the late Justice John V, Elkln on the State Supreme Court bench. At the same time he tilled the vacancy caused by the elevation of Judge Wall ing by appointing Captain Ed. L. "Whlt teUey, of Erie, to the Common Pleas bench of Erie County. Emory A. Walling was born In Erie County, and after his admission to the bar practiced In the Erie courts. In I8SI he was elected to the ofllce of District At torney, but resigned In December I, 1831, having been elected a member of the State Senate. In ISM Mr. Walling was nominated foi tho bench as President Judge of Erie County and was elected for the ten years' term ending in January,. 1907. He was re elected, for a. second term. His rulings have given general satisfaction and very few of his decisions were reversed. He was a candidate last year for Su preme Court, to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Chief Justice FelL New Characters, Taft on Marriage Ah! What n fine Christmas gift is n bride I Bachelors who arc confirmed should hange their minds and become sensi ble. Marriage is sensible. I am sensible on thnt score, I showed it when I married as a young man. And my choice showed I was sensible. I claim to be a practicol man. I don't wish to appear conceited, but I proved that I was sensible when I married. I'm a practical man on that subject. (Benevolent smiles,) FLANDERS ROCKS UNDER GREATEST OF BIG GUN DUELS German and British Artil lery Engaged in Mighty Combat Around Ypres DAILY AERIAL BATTLES PARIS. Dec. 23. For a week the mightiest artillery duel of the wnr hns been raging In West Flanders, From the North Sea to Armcntlercs tho ground lins rocked and ronred be neath the shattering riro of heavy Ger man, British, French nnd Belgian guns. With only a few hours respite In the dead of night the artillery hns literally drenched tho ground with hundreds of thousands of shelli of every calibre. Ypres. tho ghost of what was once a beautiful city, has again been raked by tho lire of tho big Oerninn howitzers, When the cannonade was opened last week by the Germans It wns reported that tho Kaiser hnd ordered another drive townul Calais nnd that tho bombard ment was made In preparation for Infan try attacks The Germans hnd masseil nn onormouu number of men cast of Ypres and their ammunition supply nns bound less. The German artillery was concentrated against the British positions around 1'operlnghe, noithwest of Ypres, nnd the nngllsh guns replied. 1000 GUNS IN DUEL. From Ypres tho duel extended north nnd south, nnd toon 1000 or moro big guns were-thnrrderlng',ln the'-ifiarshlnhas-nnd along tho sodden hanks of tho Yser River and the Vser Canal. Trenches hue been torn to pieces by the heavy salvos, ana the wrecks of what were onco hnmlcts or farm build ings havo ngaln been battered. Nothing wns overlooked by the artil lerymen. Patches of woodland, clevn tlons of ground, trenches, buildings nnd all exposed lines of highway wero brought beneath the big gun tire. Whllo the rolling drum llro of the ar tillery blasted tho countrysldo below, air scouts have been unusually nctlve In nn effort to search out tho locations of enemy batteries. Numerous duels have tnken place high In the clouds above the naming guns which were dueling on earth. Frequently the artillerymen working tho hlgh-anrlo guns were as busy as their fellow nrtlllerylsts who were throwing shells ngninst tho enemy trenches. Dispatches from towns behind the front sny that every battery In Belgium Is In action. Tho nrtillery tiro around Ypres Is called "Indescribable." Poperlngho is said to have been wiped fiorn the earth. BRING UP FRESH TROOPS. Tho British nro rushing up reinforce ments, some of tho troops being new levies that were never beforo under lire. They could not have faced a more deadly baptism than the terrific cannonade from tho German guns. The following communique was Issued at the War Otilce this afternoon: "The night wns comparatively calm on the entlro front. To the south of Arras, In tho region of Beauralns, our artillery pursued Its destructive tire upon the enemy's works, "In Champagne there wero grenade combats to the east of the Navarln farm and In the sector of Hill No. 153. "In the Vosges, at Hartmnnnsweller kopf, the situation Is unchanged on our left, whero counter-attacks have been launched by the enemy. Our right wing continued to advance yesterday." LARDARO BOMBARDATA DAI CANNONI ITALIANI Non E' Confermata la Notizia dello Sbarco Russo nel Porto Bulgaro di Varna II generate Cadorna ha annunclato nel euo ultimo rapportn che le artlgllerle Italiane che sono otate messe In poslzlone sul montl dl Cadria, recentemente con qulstatl dalle forze Italiane, hanno bom bardato le opere fortlflcate dl Ladaro, evldentemente I due fortl sulla sinistra del Chlese. I lettorl rlcorderanno che qunndo lo forze Italiane stavano con solldando le loro poslzlonl sul Cadria, essl furono non solo attaccatl dalle fanterle nustrlache che tentavano dl rlconquls tare le perdute poslzlonl, ma anche bom bardati dalle batterle dl Lnrdaro che speravano dl tmpedire agll ltallanl dl mettere In poslzlono" le loro grosse artlgllerle. Invece ora sono 1 fortl dl Lardaro che, non cssendo rluscltl nel loro Intento, sono a loro volta attaccatl dalle artlgllerle nemlche. La notlzla dello sbarco dl truppe russe a Varna per una, Invaslone della Bul garia non e' stata confermata. Sembra che si sla trattato soltanto dl un nuovo bombardamento. da parte della Aotta russa del porto bulgaro. La sltuazlone nella, Penlsola Balcanlca non e' ancora. chlara. Non 1 sa se gll austro-tedeschl Intendano attaccare gll alleatl in terrl torlo greco. ma, b1 dice che essl vadano concentrandoal nella zona dl Gveghell, sulla ferroyla dl Salonlcco. Non ' nep pure confermata ancora la notlzla della nuova offenslva turco-tedesca contro I'Egttto. (Leggere In t pagina le ulUme e plu' dettagllate notlzle sulla guerra. in itall-ano.) Will Discuss the Panama Canal JAPANESE LINER SUNK BY U-BOAT; WAS NOT WARNED American on Board Ship Torpedoed in Mediterra neanAll Saved BREAKS PROMISE TO U. S. Washington Foresees Trouble Unless Berlin Promptly Dis avows Act of Commander LONDON, Deo. 23. Additional details nbout tho sinking of tho new Jnpancso liner Ynsnka Maru, In tho eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday, received hero today show: First. That tho vessel was. sunk with out warning. Second. That there was ono American on board. Dispatches received in Fnrls from Malta on Wednesday snld that tho submarine wns of German nationality. If this Is Into Germany hns apparently broken her promise to tho United States not to sink any moro passcngor ships without warn ing. Tho agents of tho ship's owners at Port Said report that there wero 120 pas sengers nnd a crew of 1C0 on board the liner, which when destroyed wns on her way from London to Jnpancso ports. Among tho passcngors was W. J. Leigh, an Amerlcnn. He, as well ns all the others, wns saved. Tho passengers were picked up by a French gunboat nnd landed nt Port Said after being In small boats for about nine hours. The Port Snld ngents report that tho passengers all express great admiration for the skill nnd bravery of tho captain and members of the ship's crew. SINKING OF JAP LINER MAY RESULT IN 1IREAK WASHINGTON, Dec. 23. Stnto Depart ment olllclals wero gravely concerned this nftcrnoon over tho report that nn Ameri can citizen was aboard tho Japanese liner Ynsakn Maru, sunk by n submarine In the Mediterranean Tuesday. No official advices of the sinking of tho vessel have been received here. It Is expected that Ambassador Page nt London will send a report on the sink ing of tho vessel ns soon ns ho enn get the facts. Officials admitted If tho re port Is confirmed that the vessel wns tor pedoed without warning by n submarine Hying tho German Hag It may crento n delicate situation between this country and Germany ngaln. Through Ambas:ndor Von Bernstorft Germany pledged thnt no moro liners would bo torpedoed without warning. Ofllclnls say that no action of any kind will be taken until olllclnl reports nro received, but that If It Is established thnt n German submarine attacked the ves sel and no warning wns given that Ger many probably would bo asked to ex plain. In view of her promises It was pointed out that Germany would have to disavow tho attack at onco If It desired to con tinue friendly relations with this country. U. S. INDICTS KOENIG IN CANAL PLOT CASE Chief German Conspirator and Two Associates Planned to Dynamite Wei land Locks NEW YORK, Dec. 23. Paul Koenls, chief of tho Hamburg American police nnd declared to be the "brains of the Teutonic conspiracies," wns Indicted by the Federal Grand Jury this afternoon on charges growing out of the nlleged plot to blow up the Welland Cannl. Richard E. Lyendecker nnd Edmund Jus tice, chnrged with complicity In the Teu tont6 activities, wero also Indicted. Two Indlcements were returned ngalnst Kocnlg. One charges him with attempt ing n military expedition against a friendly Power In tho plot to destroy tho canal. The other makes the same chnrgo In connection with the mission on which he Is alleged to have sent Justice nnd Frederick Metzler to uebec. There, the Indictment charges, they were to Bpy upon British transports In an effort to determine tho number of Canadian troops being sent to Europe, and. If possible, destroy ships and property. Lyendecker was indicted on the Well and charge only nnd Justice Is chnrged only with the mission on which ho Is said to have been sent to Quebec. Metz ler, who was Koenlg's Beceitay, has made a confession and was not Indicted. The Indictments were returned before Federal Judge Mayer. The defendants will not be given a hearing until after the Christmas recess of court. At tho same time a ruling will be made on Max Breltung's motion for a separate trial on the indictments growing out of the al leged activities of "Lieutenant" Robert Fay. AGENT OF KOENIfi UNDER AMtEST, SPIED AHUOAD William McCulley Was Sent to France and England by Plotters NEW YORK, Dec. S3. The allegation that Paul Koenlg, alleged chief of the German secret Bervlco In this country, Bent an agent to Italy, France and Eng land to secure military Information was made today, when William McCulley was detained at police headquarters at the in stance of the Department of Justice. McCulley, who is said to have been an associate of Koenlg's, is the man who Is. reported to have gone abroad. McCulley Is said to hae successfully evaded the de tectives watching tho French and Brit ish ports. Old Man Hit by Car Dies Samuel Smith, 85 years old, died today In the Samaritan Hospital from injuries received when he was struck by a trolley car last Tuesday at Germantown road and Sedgley avenue. Smith was an inmate of the Masonic Home, at 333J North Broad street QUICK $28785,178 APPROPRIATION BILLS PASS Appropriation l)llls for 11 of its most important departments of the municipal government were passed by both branches of Councils today. The total appropriated for 1010 is well within the $3l,8S7, 088 estimated revenues of the city. The 11 bills passed today total 928,785,178. AUSTRIAN AVIATORS BOMBARD SCUTARI BUCHABEST, Dec. 23. Austrian aeroplanes bombarded th town of Scuturi Tuesday, dis.patcb.c3 announced. 500 "TRUSTY" CONVICTS TO GET 3 DAYS' LIBERTY RALEIQir, N. C, Dec. 23. Three dnys' liberty from prison bars In tho Christmas present Governor Craig Is presenting to "trusty" convicts. AH "trusties" In North Carolina's Stato and county convict camps, under orders just Issued by Governor Craig, will bo released tomorrow morning and bo at complcto liberty Frlctny, Snturday nnd Sunday. They -must -show up to bo locked up ngnln by noon Monday. Governor Craig estimates that COO convicts will thus sccuro tho Yuletldo liberation gift. SHIPPERS LOSE SUIT FOR REFUNDS AGAINST RAILROADS WASHINGTON", Doc. 23. Tho Intcrstato Commcrco Commission today refused to grant refunds of many millions of dollars to shippers In tho San Francisco Chnmbor of Commerce, tho Bonrdmnn Company nnd others at Los Angeles, Sim Frnnclsco, Snn Diego, Sacramento, Snn Joso, Crockett nnd Al varedo, Cnl and Reno, New, asked from tho Southern Pacific, Santa Fo and other railroads for switching charges of $2.50 a car from 1910 to August 12, 1014. Tho Interstate Commerce Commission In 1910 ruled that the railroads must discontinue the charge for switching enrs belonging to these shippers. FAIRMOUNT PARK LAKES OPEN TO SKATERS Hunting Pnrk Lake, Coneom.-.- Lake and Chnmounlx Lake, In Fntrmount Park, mo open for skaters today. It Is expected thnt the skating will con tinue through the Christmas holidays wltjiout Interruption, ns thero is no indication from tho weather man of a wnrm wavo coming toward this city. The other lnkes In Fntrmount Park havo not been olllcially declared open to skaters. They have been coated with n film of Ice for many days, and prob ably tomorrow this will ho thick enough to warrant their being opened to the public. : x ROOT NOT A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT JIINNKAI'OLIS, Minn., Dec. 23. Ellhu Root Is not a candidate for the Presldet cy. In n letter to tho Republican State Central Committee today tha forme:' Now York Senator said: "I nm not n candidato for the Presidency. If my name Is put on the ballot I shall bo compelled to Insist upon its being withdrawn." It is likely tho name of Theodore Roosevelt will not go on tlfo ballot. AUSTRIANS FAIL "IN SURPRISE ATTACK IN GALICIA PKTROGIIAD, Dec. 23. Austrian troops clad In white uniforms to afford concealment In tho snow mndo an unsuccessful attempt to enpturo Russian works near Huczncz. in Gallcln, the Wnr Oillco reported today. The advance wns detected by Russian outposts, nnd machine guns forced tho enemy tp flco. Rus.Hlnn artillery dispersed German troops erecting defensive work In the Jncobstndt-Dvlnsk regions and put to lllght several enemy aviators. It wae announced. West of Trcmbowln, In Gallcla, the enemy carried a Russian position, but wns quickly driven out. FOOD AND PEACE RIOTS INCREASE IN BERLIN LONDON, Dec. 23. Peace and food riots in Berlin nro assuming formida ble proportions, according to tho Amsterdam correspondent of tho Central Nows Agency. Ho telegraphed today that tho residence of tho Imperial Chancellor von Rethmann-IIollweg Is guarded to prevent an attack by the women participating in the demonstrations. No ono Is permitted to enter tho Imperial olllces in Wilhelmstrasse beforo presenting evidence as to the business to ho transacted. TWO TURKISH BARKS SUNK BY RUSSIANS PETROGP.AD, Dec. 23. Two Turkish barks bound for Constanza with cargoes of benzine wero sunk by Russian wnrshlps and their crews captured, according to dispatches received here today. BRITISH CASUALTIES AT DARDANELLES 112,921 LONDON. Dec. ,23. The British forces at the Dardanelles had suffered 112,921 casualties up to December 11, It was announced In the House of Com mons today by II. J, Tennant, Under Secretary of War. ' BABE BURNS TO DEATH AS MOTHER BUYS XMASv TOYS An 18-months-old baby was burned to death while his mother Wits nt a store nearby buying htm Christmas toys The dead child Is John Tobln. son of Mrs. Mary Tobln, of D30 South 2d street. He was taken to tho Pennsylvania Hospital, but died on the way. The police believe the child fell against the stove. DR. CHAS. B. PENROSE CRITICALLY ILL IN BALTIMORE Dr. Chnrles R. Penrose, of this city, brother of Senator Penrose, Is critically ill In the Hotel Belvldere, Baltimore, suffering from brbrfchlal pneumonia. Ills brother, Dr. Clement A. Penrose, of Baltimore, has been attending him. NAVY YARD MAY LAY OFF 3000.WORKMEN Several departments at the Philadelphia Navy .Yard have exhausted their appropriations and unless more money Is Immediately furnished by Congress 3000 workmen will be laid off. It is said that 40 per cept. of.thQ yard employes have already filed application for employment with the Remington Arms Com pany at Esslngton, where work will be carried on to complete the order for 1,000,000 rifles for the Russian Government. WASTAGE AT FRONT AMOUNTS TO 1 ARMY INjl MONTHS LONDON, Dec, 23. Harold J. Tennant, Parliamentary Undersecretary st War, declared in the House of Commons: "For every man we lceep abroad, we ought to have at home In reserve 1,8, this being a year's supply of men at a monthly wastage ot 15 per cent." Thus, he declared, the army of 1,250,000, which Premier Asqulth yesterday said was the present British force abroad, required 2.250,000 reserves In training at home, or a total, force of 3,500,000 nec essary for the prosecution of the war on the present basis fqr one year. At the rate of wastage indicated by these figures, the loss to British .armies abroad would amount to their entire original strength In slightly less than seven months. - ' ' SWISS ARREST U. S. CONSUL'S CLERK AS SPY GENEVA, Pec. 23. The secretary of the Austrian Consulate here, Herr Taussig, has been arrested on a charge ot espionage.' Tho charge. It Is said, grows out of his alleged denunciation of Mrs. Merrick Hlldebrandt. of Louis ville, Ky., recently expelled from Germany after her arrest and Imprisonment on a charge which sha Jatd was not made known to her, Mrs. Hlldebrandt came to Geneva and caused a strong protest to be forwarded to Washington against what she declared to be the unwarranted treatment accorded her by the German authorities. POWDER MILL BLAST KILLS 300 GERMAN WOMEN LONDON. Dec 23. According to advices to tho Amsterdam, Telegraf. for warded by Renter's correspondent, a powder factory and several ammunition, depots at Muenster, Westphalia, have been blowp up. great damage was don to the town, the newspaper adds. Later advices from 4wsterdijm state that 300 of the 600 women employed In the Muenster powdey mil! were killed. in Tomorrow NEWS Evening Ledger ii . .-Fri Tg 1. -