' mWMHU,.HIIWHll xii
FINANCIAL EDITION
NIGHT
EXTRA
Haienmg
NIGHT
EXTRA
re -
VOL. II NO. J)
THIJiADELPIIIA, FIIIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1915.
CoriMom, 1018. t the rcuo I.tootR Coummt.
PRICE ONE CENT
IB
!f
I
RUSSIA'S BESSARABIA DRIVE
FORCES RETREAT OF TEUTON
ARMIES FROM MACEDONIA
Sudden Slav Offensive Halts Projected
Attack on Salonica French Halt
German Attack on Hill No.
193, in Champagne
SUDDEN OFFENSIVES IN WESTERN
AND BALKAN CAMPAIGNS
The sudden Russian offensive in Iiukowinn and assaults on Austrian
invaders of Bessarabia and the renewal of German offensives in the west
Drcsatto important military developments. ,,.. ,
Already, nccordinp; to press dispntches, the Touton-Bulgnr armies
have been forced to withdraw on the Macedonian line, thus nlmndoninc the
project of driving the Allies from their base nt Snlonica. The Slav drive
Is intimately linked with the general Balkan situation. Diplomatically,
this has renewed interest duo to persistent reports that Rumania has de
cided to cast her national lot with the Quadruple Entente.
Two new landings by the Allies in the Near East are reported; the
British have transferred some troops from Snlonica to Orfano, n small
Greek port, 00 miles cast of Salonica, with the intention of checking any
possibility of a hostile ndvanco from that quarter.
LONDON, Dec. 31. Tho Germans and
Austrlnns have begun a general with
drawal nlong the entire Trout In Mace
donia, according to a dispatch to tho
Exclmngo Telegraph Company from
Home, quoting a messago from Salonica
to this effect.
Tho reported withdrawal Is attributed
to tho Russian ndvanco In Bessarabia,
tho messago Btntcs.
Tho British have, transferred some
troops from Salonica to Orfnno. a smalt
Greek port CO miles cast of Salonica, with
tho Intention of thus checking any pos
sibility of a hostllo auvanco from this
quarter.
This movement Is held to Indlcato that
the Allies no longer expect nny attempt
against Salonica from tho North.
FRENCH BEAT HACK FOES'
ATTACK IX CHAMPAGNE
PATHS, Dec. 31. Tho French "War Ofllco
today announced tho repulse of an at
tack mado last night by tho Clormans In
tho vicinity of 1III1 No. 103, which Is sit
uated near Tahme, In tho Champagne
region. Tho following communlnuo was
issued:
"In Champagno tho enemy attempted
during tho night to copturo with a bomb
attack a small telcphono post toward Hill
No. 103. Tho attack was completely
checked.
"Tho night was comparatively calm on
tho rest of tho front."
BATTLE ON SLAV KOIIDER
LINKED WITH BALKAN FRAY
PETROGKAD, Dec. 31.
A great strugglo Is proceeding on tho
tntlro southwest Russian lino and ap
parently Is equally ardent everywhere.
It Is Intimated that both sides are aiming
at tho accomplishment of exceedingly Im
portant tasks. Tha Russians nnd Austro
Germans are equally alert, each tldo here
nnd thero taking tho Initiative. The Rus
Ian campaign In nukowlna Is believed
to be Intimately connected with tho situa
tion in Rumania nnd the Balkans.
The expectation hero Is that tho outcome
of this gigantic but still obscuro struggle
wilt bo a. transformation of tho military
positions In tho Russian thentro ,of war.
While it is pointed out that Germany has
not lost Interest In the northern half of
this theatre, it is Intimated that her ac
tivity there is designed mainly to Inspire
the belief that she has not removed many
troops from that quarter.
It is unanimously agreed among tho
military observers that the aspect of the
Hasten) front will be changed within
three or four days.
Tho German and Russian official bul-
Contlnurd on Pace Tnn. Column lIe
$100,000 Fire nt Hempstead
HEMPSTEAD, N. Y Dec. 31. Several
firemen were overcome nnd a number of
families wore driven from their homes In
their night clothing when lire destroyed
five stores In the heart of tho town early
today. Tho loss is estimated at J100.000.
THE WEATHER
It is always hard to cstlmato the ulti
mate position of any span of time on the
pages of history, with merely the con
temporary viewpoint on which to go. That
Is true in reference to everything except
weather. While In this day and genera
tion each year weaves Its woof in un
Infinite variety of pattern, tho weather
years spin out their course with a monot
onous sameness. And so with I9IB. Wo
had our blizzards, our excessive heat, our
good days and bad days, and the tlnal rec
ords of tho year will be but little different
from those that have gone before. Would
It were the same in other things! But It Is
not. In tho big book of Time the signa
tures of the years stand out: "llosper
ously yours, 18 ," "With peace and good
will, yours, 19." This time we stand
and watch 1915 stride up to tho book and
splurge, In all tha crudity of a world re
verted to type:
"Death, misery, wretchedness 1915, his
mark !"
FORECAST
For Philadelphia and vicinity
Partly cloudy tonight, and Saturday,
with slowly riainq temperature; Sim
day unsettled with probably ram or
snow; light variable ivinds. '
LOST AND FOUND
LOST Liberal reward for return ol three
Quarter length leopard coat, with JJJ1
collar. cu. belt and buttons; aUo short eal
coat ulth ellow creoe Unln jnd seal iilllow
muff to match. Wnnm 310. ISM Cheitnut St.
WATCH AND PIM-I.ady'a Kold watch and
Pin. Dec. S. from M and Columbia t.
to. shopplnft district and ba;k: naroe eniiraiejl
on Inside ase "Josephine Berrodln." Heward
. It ret; tu 0113 Columbia ave lLlyi
DOO-,Lojt. Pekinese bron brlndls dog", white
shirt front and paws. Wk fce, mutky
mouth answers to name 0 "Kil " flJ?J
nd no questions asked If returned. IV.i
gpruc st. Mrs. James jliow.
DOG Lost. Thursday atfrnoon. In West Phi's
delDhla. Irish terrier do;, unswers to name of
; Patsv." Namo and address of on.r on col-
. lar Reward If returned to W. C. Fleck. OIW
Overbrook ave.. """"'
Other Classified Ads on Paots H aud 17
"Kazan," the Gripping Life Story of
z
BRITISH CRUISER BLOWN UP WITH
Piifci-Baaii
a:;1
4 I
BHBfls7
! f
The picture bIiows tho Natal, destroyed by an internal explosion while in hnrbor, as it nppenrcd in tho
Hudson River, January 3, 1912, after having brought the body of Ambassador Reid to New York from Eng
land. Tho picture shows the British sailors carrying the coffin from the launch to the landing stage, with
tho Natal in tho background.
HEIRESS FLEES HOME
OF WEALTH FOR JOB IN
A DEPARTMENT STORE
Leaves a Suburb of Woonsocket
for $8-a-Week Salary
and Room in a Board
ing House
"I NEVER WAS SO HAPPY"
To be a pretty girl, to live In Woon
socket, to be 13 and to bo heiress to some
thing between J300.OQ0 and JMO.000 is not
usually considered a despicable lot. Hut
it was despised by Irene Paul for no othr
reason but that Woonsocket Is Woon
Bockct. Rolng that, it cannot bo New
port or Philadelphia, and must be con
tent. Not so Miss Paul.
Sho ran away from her Rhode Island
home, where sho had everything the
uvorago girl would want, to tako an $8-a-weck
Job In n. department store and llvo
In a bonrdlne house. Sho does not want
to go homo becauso tho boys and girls
of Woonsocket tiro dull and prosaic.
To bo fair to Miss Paul, It should ho
Bald that sho did not llvo In Woonsocket
proper; not In the throbbing centre of
that stirring and vibrant modern place.
She lived In a modest suburb (perhaps one
might say "suburg") of Woonsocket, ono
Uxbrldge. There Joseph Paul, her father,
is the wealthiest man In the community.
He has had detectives looking for his
missing daughter since November S.
either the detectives were of the usual
variety of intelligence or Miss Taul Is of
the unusual variety, for they didn't tlnd
her. She managed for weeks to go to
and from her work Ilka any other sales
woman without being taken for an heir
ess. Mie hud a room at 1753 North Still
man street. Now she is in the care of
the Court Aid Society, ISth and Summer
streets, awaiting the arrival of her fa
ther. Sho says she never knew what It wns
Continued on Tare Three, Column 1'our
DYING AFTER I(! PLUNGE
Frank Fisher Falls 60 Feet "While
Working at New Bank Building.
Another, Who Fell, Disappears
Two men fell a distance of SO feet
through the maze of structural work from
the third lloor Into the sub-basement of
a building now being built at 141$ Chest
nut street when a rigger's board broke
at noon today.
One of them Is dying In the Jefferson
Hospital with a broken spine and frac
tured skull, whllo the other, who was
not even scratched, has disappeared.
Workmen are searching for him.
The injured man is Frank Fisher, 31
years old, 3062 Beach street. He la not
expected to live. Patrick Casey, of North
Stillman street, the workman who fell
with Fisher, Jumped to his feet before
any one reached him and during the ex
citement walked away.
The building Is being erected by Daly,
Welgland & Co., and -will be occupied by
the Franklin National Bank.
AUSTRIA BACKS
DOWN IN REPLY
TO U. S. DEMAND
Pledges Indemnity for
American Lives and Pun
ishment of Captain
"STANDS FOR HUMANITY"
Concurs in Washington Princi
ple of Snfcty of Passengers
on Torpedo Victims
LONDON'. Dec. 31.
Tho reply of the Austrian Government
to the second Amcrlann noto on tlio Pinking-
of tho strnmphlp Anconn, with tho
loss of Amerlcnn live, Is forwarded to
neuter's from Vienna by way of Amster
dam. Tho reply stntcs that the commander of
tho Austrian BUhmnrlne has been punished
for not RUlIlclcntly taking account of tho
panic nhnard tho Anconn, which rcudcied
debarkation more dlfllcnlt.
Austria offers Indemnity for tho los of
American lives caused by the torpedoing
or tho liner
Tho Austrian leply Is conflnr.ntoiy of
dispatches published In the EvnNiNti
l.rii'UMt forecasting the paclllc lennr of
the Vienna answer to tho second Ancona
note of tho United States, peremptory as
were Its terms.
Tho note says:
"In reply to tho second American
Ancona note, tho Austro-IIungarlan Gov
ernment fully agrees with tho Washing
ton Cublnet that tho snored laws of hu
manity should bo taken Into account also
In war, and emphasizes mat It, In tho
courso ot this war, has given numerous
proofs of tho most humane feelings.
"Tho Austro-IIungarlan Government,
too. can positively concur In tho principle)
that enemy private vessels, so far as
thoy do not fly or offer resistance, shall
not bo destroyed beforo tho persons
aboard are secured.
"Tho assurance that tho United States
Government attaches value to the main
tenance of the existing good relations be
tween Austria-Hungary nnd tho United
States is warmly reciprocated by tho
AuKtro-Hungariun Government, which
now, as heretofore. Is anxious to render
these relations still more cordial."
The Austro-IIungarlan Government
then communicates the results of tho In
quiry into tho sinking of the Ancona,
which was recently concluded.
SIXTEEN SHEIKS FIHED.
The inquiry showed that tho commander
of the submarine from a great distance,
In the first Instance, tired a warning shot
on the steamer, sighted at 11:40 in the
forenoon, which ho at tlrst believed to be
a transport steamer, nt the same time
giving a signal for the vessel to stop. As
tho steamer failed to stop and tried to
escape, the submarine gava chaso and
Continued on I'afe Four, Column Three
ALLIES ARREST TEUTON
ENVOYS; GREEKS ANGRY
Athen3 Enters Formal Protest
Against Seizure of Sa
lonica Diplomats
LONDON, Dec. 31 Tho correspondent
of the Times at Salonica reports that tho
consuls of Germany, Austro-Hungary,
Turkey and Bulgaria, together with their
families, have been arreated and are now
prHonera on a. French warship. The ar
rests were made on orders from General
Sarrall.
Greece has already entered formal pro
test, Tho news has created great excite
ment In diplomatic circles In Athena. Tho
German and Austrian Ambassadors vis
ited tho Foreign Office yesrerduy afeer
noon nnd inquired if the repoils were true.
General Sarrall, it la understood, has
justified his action by the explanation
that Oerman, Austrian, Turkish and
Bulgarian consulates harbored spies and
that the consuls themselves had sent in
formation to their countries concerning
the strength of the Allied formications
at Salonica. With their families they
were taken aboard Allied warships.
Bulgarian deserters have confirmed re
ports of , the withdrawal of Austro
German troops from the Greek frontier,
Salonica dispatches stated today. The
Austro-Germans moved northward with
out taking time to repair either the roads
or the bridges destroyed In the previous
lighting in Macedonia. It Is generally
believed here that they have been with
drawn to meet the new Russian offensive
in Bukowlna and Gallcla.
a Wolf-Dog in the Rugged Northwest, Begins on
BIG BRITISH CRUISER NATAL
BLOWN UP IN HARBOR; 300
LIVES LOST; 400 RESCUED
Warship Smashed to Pieces by "Inter
nal Explosion" News of Disaster
Held Back by Admiralty for
Nearly 24 Hours
THIRD BRITISH WARSHIP
BLOWN UP IN HARBOR
The Natal is the third British warship blown up, presumably by
internal explosion, while in hnrbor.
The battleship Bulwark was blown up in Shccrncss harbor on No
vember '2(5, 1!M, with n loss of about 800 lives. The converted cruiser
Princess Irene was blown to bits in Sheerncss harbor on May 27, 1015,
with a loss of about 300 lives, her destruction bcinR so complete that
there were no survivors nmonp; those aboard ship. The cnusc. of the
explosions was never learned, though it was rumored German spies were
responsible. . ,,...,
In addition to these vessels blown up in their harbors, the British
battleship Formidable wns destroyed on January 1, 1915, by an explosion
in the English Channel. It was never determined definitely whether a
mine or internal explosion sent her to the bottom.
LOSS OF 300
CHELTENHAM GIRL
SHOCKED TO DEATH
BY FIRE EXCITEMENT
Miss Anna Keenan Dies When
Frightened by Noise of
Engines Near Her
Home
ILL WITH PNEUMONIA
A death from shock resulted today In n
J10.000 tiro at Cheltenham, which caused
several Injuries, destroyed ono home,
damaged three other homes and drove
two families Into the street In their night
clothes. Miss Anna Keenan, 10 years old,
weakened by pneumonia, succumbed to
tho shock when bIici heard the clanging
nre engines and tho shouts of firemen
and residents attempting to save the
homo of John Dobbs, a builder nnd con
tractor, at Ilyers nnd Ileccher avenues,
where tho fire started. The homo of the
girl, who was tho daughter of Thomas
Keenan, a retired business man. Is a
square away from tho Dobbs home.
When tho llnmea and shouts aroused
the neighborhood, the young woman be
came hysterical. Sho was carried to a
secluded room, where the ghiro of tho
fire could not be seen and tho sound of
the battle with tho lire was muffled.
But tho excitement had been too much
for her weakened constitution, and sho
died shortly before 6 oVlock.
The lira razed the Dobbs home, spread
ing to the residence of Fred Castle, ad.
jaccnt, then sweeping across the street
to tho bakery of Charles Wendt. The
Dobbs home was the centre of u block of
framo structures, and tho utter loss of
the entire row was Imminent beforo the
flames wero brought under control.
Flro companies within eight miles, In
cluding those of Fox Chase, responded
Continued on Vare Two, Column Two
France Levies Income Tax,
But Will Not Enforce It
Franco has levied a tax on in
comes of more than E000 francs a
year, says Yves Guyot, editor
L'Agence et Economique et Finan
ciere. It will go into effect to
morrow. The tax will be due only. No
preparations have been made to
collect it. Every one liable to pay
will be required to make a decla
ration of income before the end of
1916,
The Chamber of Deputies has
passed a bill to tax consumers 15
francs a ton on French coal and
use the proceeds of the tax to cut
down the price of imported coal.
Gold in the Bank of France has
increased to $964,000,000, says M.
Guyot, in an article on French
finances sent by special cable to
the Evening Ledcek and published
exclusively on page 12 of this issue.
LONDON, Dec. .11. Tho British cruiser
Nntnl wns blown to pieces 111 Us harbor
.vrstrrd-iy afternoon, with a probable loss
of 300 1K-H
The official statement from the Ad
mit ally snlil tho ship was wrecked by
nn "Intcrnnl explosion." Tho Admiralty
fltntument reported that 400 of the Natnl's
crew of about "25 were saved. It Is be
lieved many. If not nil of these, were
nshoro when tho cruiser wns clink.
An Imnicillnte Investigation has been
ordered, but tho results have not been
made public. News of the disaster wns
withheld from publication for nearly 21
hours until tho Admiralty had received
accurate statements us to the number
of survlvoia nnd tho probable loss of lite.
This samo precaution wns tnken Inst
Mny when tho Princess Irene wns blown
to bits by a similar explosion In Shcrr
ness harbor. Officials explained at that
time that tho wms was withheld to pre
vent the circulation of wild reports con
cerning tho origin of tho explosion.
"Tho Nntnl sank in a harbor yesterday
nftornoon," s.ild the official slntcment.
Tho Nntnl was commanded by Captnln
Eric P. Black, II. N.
Tho Natal displaced 13.CG0 tons Sho was
built In 1903 at Barrow nnd had a speed
of nbout 30 knots. Sho was 4S0 feet long
nnd had a 73-foot beam.
Sho carried six 9.2-Inch guns nnd four
7 n-lnch guns, ns well as lesser armament
and two torpedo tubes.
MR. 1916 ARRIVES
TONIGHT ON WAVE
OF JOY AND NOISE
Balls, Banquets, Parties
and Merrymaking to
Greet the Newcomer
MUMMERS ARE READY
An elaborate welcome nwalts Mr. 131i
The greeting to this happy youth, borri
on n wavo ot prosperity, -wl" begin to
night and extend throughout tomurrow.
Tonight tho reception will begin with
Jubilation In the wuy or balls, banquets
and parties, and at midnight, when the
hist vestige of 1315 is being gathered
within the unrelenting arms of vonernblo
Father Time, a bedlam of rejoicing will
rock tho city.
And a few hours hence will como the
nrmy of mummers In all their glittering
glory, telling ns of yoro that tho New
Year Is here with Its happiness and hope,
launched on a stream of optimism which
threatens to engulf uny lurking gloom
which tries to survive.
Finishing touches nre helng added to
royal raiment and glided chariots nnd the
"shooters" are simply waiting for tho
word "go."
They are enthused as never before, for
It is generally ngrecd that the mummers'
pageant is gradually becoming n national
institution. The fact that the big show
has been advertised from Philadelphia to
New Orleans and as far v est as Chicago
warrants enthusiasm In this connection.
The p.irude itself will be a page of
Philadelphia's prosperity. Glittering cos
tumes, handsoma equipages, wonderfully
gowned women and amazing exhibits of
all kinds will tell how the wheels of
progress have been grinding In 1315.
Hut the mummers will not be content
with depleting what has happened. They
will give a peep at the future In the way
of Inventions. These will concern not
only warfare, but new way a of doing
Continued on 1'age Two, Column Three
L'INTERVENTORUMENO
SAREBBE IMMINENTE
La Russia E' Impeghata a Con-
quistare la Bucovina per
Darla ai Rumeni
Da I.ondr.i giunge la notizla che la Ru
mania e' vlclna ad Intervenlre nella guer
ra europea a Jlanco degli alleati del
I'lntesa. l.e forze russe Bono ora impegnate
in una vlolenta e grande orrenslva nella
Qallzla orientate e nella Bucovina, often
hlva cost' serla che 1 tedeschl e gll nus
triad si sono vistl costretti a rltlrare
truppe dallu Macedonia per parare nuesto
nuovo colpo. Ix scopo delta Itussla
sarebbe questo: conqulstare la Bucovina
In poche cettimane per darla alia Ru
mania. Questn la fortlncherebbe e nello
stesso tempo attaccherebbo l'Auatrla nella
Transllvanla o la Bulgaria sul Danublo,
mentre 1 russl continuerebbero la loro of
fenslva nella Gallzla.
(Leggero In 6a paglna le ultimo e plu'
dettagllate notlzle eulla guerra, in ital-lano.)
QUICK NEWS
GREECE AGAIN PROTESTS TO ALLIES
BERLIN, Dec. 31. Greece has made a second and stronger pro
test to the Entente Powers ngalnst tho erections of fortifications
about Salonica, nccordlng to reports received from Athens today.
TEN MEN MISSING AFTER EXPLOSION IN MILL
CHICAGO, Dec. 31. Early reports indicated 10 men nre miss
lutj ns a result of nn explosion, followed by fire, nt the American Lin
bced Company plant in South Chicago, 111 , nt noon today. Down
town fire licadquniters reported two engine companies had been
caught beneath falling walls.
JOE MURPHY. IRISH COMEDIAN. DIES AT 83
NEW YORK, Dec. 31. "Joe" Murphy, old-time Irish comedian,
died lu this city today, leavlug nn estate valued nt ?3,00O,000.
Muxpby wa3 known from coast to coaBt for his impersonation in "Tho
Kerry, Gow." He wno 83 years old.
ALLIES' POSITION SECURE IN GREECE, CASTLEMAN SAY3
PARIS, Deo. .11. Onnorul Cnntclnnu, chief of tho French General Staff,
who went to Snlonica to confer with tho Anglo-French commanders nnd
Inspect tho Allies' defenses, luiH returned to France, fully H.-itlBncd that tho'
ItiiluurluiiH nnd (icrmnnn can never dlslodgo tho Allies from their positions
In tlrepcc.
Whllo In Home on hit wny back In France Ocncrnl Cnstclnaii gavo out
nn Interview, In which ho declnrcd thnt tho Gorman nllles would auffor
tremendous losses nf life It they attacked nt Snlonica. Ono of General Castelnau'
aides Hiipiik'Uicntnl the Interview by Knylug:
"An offensive by tho llulgnrlun and German forces In Greece would cost
them nt lenot lfiO.000 men."
INDIA'S FREEDOM DEPENDS ON RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
nni.III, Dei1. 31. t'nlll the natives of India settle their own religious
differences there Is little- likelihood thnt their request for nrlC-KOvernmcnt will
be ki tinted, nflli'lulH said today, commenting cm the nctlnn of tho Indian
National Congress nt Unmbny yesterday. Tho congress adopted by unanimous
vote a resolution demanding self-government.
BRITISH BLACKLIST 102 NEUTRAL SHIPS
LONDON. Dec. 31. The blacklist of neutral shipping Issued by tho Gov
ernment now numbers 10J steamships. Hrltisli shippers nre mlvlscd not to
chnrtcr ships appearing on It, ns they nro suspected of nctunl trading with
Great Britain's foes, of other unneutral service, or ns representing German
capital. Tho gross tonnage of these vessels Is 80,000, which means n carrying;
capacity of 200,000 tons nvnllnblo to British shippers nnd neutral charterers
In nny wny dependent on IJrltlsli shipping. Neutral nations represented on tho
lint, with the number of ships of each nation, nro as follows: United States,
11; Norway, 3S; Sweden, 37; Denmark. S; Spain. 1; Holland. 4, nnd Brazil, 3.
KAISER CANCER VICTIM, PARIS MATIN SAYS
PARIS, Dec. 31. Tho Mntlu declares It has received definite advices from
Switzerland that Kmperor William Is rcnliv suffering from cancer Instead of;
a non-mallgnnnt furuncle, ns reported from Berlin yesterday.
Tho Matin ndds: "A I'nrls specialist was asked tho German Embassy
thrco months before tho wnr broko out If ho could r. nlto nn nrtlflclal palate
for nn Imperial invalid in case n serious operation wns necessary."
FORD PILGRIMS ARRIVE IN DENMARK
COPENHAGEN, Dec. 31. Tho l-'oril penco party nrrlvcd In Donmark-fronjl
Stockholm today on tho Inst lap of tho crulso "to bring tho boys out of
the trenches." Business Mnnnger Gaston Plantlff hurried out to see shipping;
men nbout chartering n. vessel to carry tho delegates to Tho Hague. It Is
possible, however, that tho party will accept Mayor Idndhngen's Invitation and
return to Stockholm for the peaco conference. Tho Ford lenders have
virtually nlmndoned hope of obtaining Germany's permission for their passago
over German soil on route to The Ilnguo from Copenhagen.
COAL FREIGHT RATE CHANGE POSTPONED
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31. Tho Intcrstato Commoi-.u Commission today
postponed tho effcctlvo date of the new nnthraclto c.al rates from the
nnthraclto region to tho seaboard from Jnnunry 1 to April 1, 1916, to give
tho rallronds moro time to prepare now tariffs. The new rates involve an
annual reduction of $8,000,000 revenuo to tho railroads. They have been
twice postponed before by the Commission.
RUSSIA TO SUPPRESS TWO CIVIC LEAGUES
BERLIN, Dec. 31. Tho Petrograd newspapers contain Indirect but con
vincing proof the Russian Government Is ready to dissolve tho Russian Town
ship League nnd the Russian Sclf-Government League. Tho existence of tho
leagues Is considered undeslrablo for tho present. Tho newspaper Retch an
nounces tho right of acquiring real estate, which wns conceded to tho Jews
within certain limits, will bo withdrawn. Tho Russian Government has dls-
solved tho Russian Clerks' Association because members of tho Duma delivered
speeches at tho association's meetings.
RUSSIA PUSHING ROAD TO OPEN RAND
LONDON, Dec. 31. By early spring, says a Morning Post dispatch from
Chrlstlnnia. tho new Russian railway from Petrograd to Alexandrovsk, on tho
Kola Fjord (In northern Finlnnd, on the north shore of the Scandinavian penin
sula, just east of tho Norweglnn border) will be completed, giving a direct cons
nectlon from Petrograd to nn Icc-freo port. Tho Northern Norway Company,
tho correspondent says. Intends to establish a regular line of steamers between;
Trondhjem and Alexandrovsk, providing nnother all-the-ycar communication
between Russia and tho rest of the world.
FLOODED LANDS BAR WAY TO EGYPT
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 31. "If tho Germans Invade Egypt they first will ba
obliged to cross an nrm ot tho sea 15 miles wide which tho British have caused
to bo flooded over the desert east of tho Suez Canal," declared Miss Fannia
Bradford, of tho United Presbyterian Mission, Khartoum, Egypt, who Is visit
ing In Mount Lebanon, having arrived from tho Orient on Christmas Day. "No
nlnrm Is felt in Kgypt over the possibility of an attack from tho Teutonjo
nllles," continued Miss Bradford.
CARRANZA AMENDS RULE OF SUCCESSION
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31. In preparation of his assumption of tho title ot
provisional President of Mexico General Venustlnno Carranza has Issued a de
cree changing the rule of succession. During the period of the revolution the
constitutional provisions wero suspended by tho Carranzlstas and the regula
tion provided that In case of tho death or removal of tho de facto head of tha
Government the authority would bo transferred to the military leader net In
command. Under the new decree the constitutional provision Is restored and
succession to the provisional Presidency will go to the Minister of Foreign
Relations.
MRS. VANDERBILT'S $10,000 EARRING LOST AND FOUND
HOT SPRINGS, Va., Dec. 31. Mrs. William K. Vanderbllt shared honors
with President Wilson and his bride in furnishing excitement for the visitors
here yesterday. She lost on tho golf links a pearl earring valued at 110.000,"
Almost the entire population except the Presidential couple took part In tha
hunt for the gem when a $500 reward was announced for Its recovery, Th
earring was picked up near tha 12th hole
the professional golf player.
TWELVE AIR BATTLES
LONDON, Dec. 31. The latest British ofllclal report tells of a. series ot
thrilling air encounters in the western zone. It says; "Thursday 16 ot our;
aeroplanes bombed the Comlnea station and lilt the station, lines and sheds
In the vicinity, Ten of our aeroplanes attacked heavily the aerodrome and did
considerable damage. In both cases all
the day there were 12 encounters with
engaged four of the enemy's, one of which Is believed to have been brought
down. Another was damaged and all four were driven' off. One of our aero
planes was brought down as the result
Page 7 in Today's
just beforo sundown by Adam Green,
FOUGHT ON WEST FRONT
the machines returned safely. During
hostile aeroplanes. One of our machines
of a combat with two machines."
Evening Ledger
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