iMtitatv NIGHT NIGHT EXTRA iCXtti Li VOL. II NO. 94 'HUMOR AND v Above, the Silver Crown Club is BRITISH LINER OFF EGYPT; MANY LIVES LOST; AMERICAN CONSUL ON BOARD Nationality of U-Boat Not Known. Many Women and Children Among 300 Passengers No War LONDON, Jan. 1. The bis Peninsular and Oriental liner Persia was torpedoed In the Mediter ranean Sea on Thursday afternoon with tremendous loss of life by a submarine, the nationality of which Is unknown. The Persia was sunk oft the Egyptian 'coast, southeast of the Island of Crete, Recording to advices received here. Among the first class passengers on board were Robert 'N. McNeely, United Etatea Consul at Aden, Arabia, and Daron John Walter Edward Douglas Montague, of Deaulieu, Four boatloads of the Persia's surviv ors were picked up by a steamship bound for Alexandria. It Is believed they were landed at Alexandria tins morning. Officials of the Una stated positively that there were no war materials aboard the liner. The. Persia left London December IS. Bhe touched at Marseilles and left that Port on December 2G. It was estimated this afternoon that between 75 and 200 persons lost their lives, including many women and children. Ottlclals of the company later gave out inn estimate that there were about 231 f passengers aboard. Including 80 women ,f pud 23 children. Besides American Con sul General McNeely ,two other Ameri cans. Charles H. Grant and Edward WQse,. were passengers vc m uiict Caatlnura on rase 1'uur, Column Three THE WEATHER FORECAST V V For Philadelphia and vicinity Vartly cloudy tonight and Saturday, Itvith slowly risinp temperature; Sumt Iday unsettled with probably rain or l snow; light variable winds. I,OST ND FOUND ant. I i.u ir-iil... TWe 31 eold curb bx rrom ran ana ibmhuui iu Ufaiket. Howard ( returned to lfi'1 & l'o . 802 Cbsntliut in i r . .... .. U n r cijmi n- ii iii j ott ran 'I 9i " Montague Glass' SPLENDOR ALTERNATE IN COLORFUL PARADE OP NEW YEAR shown as it appeared in the line of TORPEDOED . Ship Carried Material .WASHINGTON, Jan. l.-A new and most serious submarine controversy to day confronted tho United States In the torpedoing ot the British Peninsular and Oriental liner Persia in the Mediterran ean. Hot on tho heels of the virtual settlement of the Ancona case with Austria the sinking of the Persia, revived tension. Presence aboard the Persia of Ameri can Consul It. M. McNeely, of Aden, en route to his post, added to the serious ness of the situation. The StatsTepartment received reports fioin American" Consul General Skinner, at London, regarding the sinking of the Persia, and that Consul McNeely was a passenger, and other Americans were be lieved to be qn hoard. Skinner said most of the passengers perished. McNeely's fate was In doubt. If the American diplo mat met death, the attack upon the Persia promises to make one of the most acute and serious issues which the Government has yet had to face. President Wilson and Secretary Lansing gave the Peraja disaster their personal attention. The President was promptly sent every scrap of information received at the State Department While ofllclals were openlv amazed at the attack on the Persia, particularly so shortly after the transmission of Austria's reply on the Ancona case, they were dis posed to withhold judgment and comment until the facts are mow fully ascertained. They especially were interested in whether the Persia was warned and her passengers given opportunity to reach Continued on 1'uge lour. Column Tno False Fire Alarm Hreaks Up Parade When the mummers' parade arrived at Broad and Tusker streets today, some person pulled the tire box at that corner. The engine and trueks hurried through Broad street anil Jgajdjtr avenue, and for a time the ornitMMi of the parade was broken up- Tn excitement of the searcb for dre nearly caused a riot In tl crowds before it became known that 11 e ftlmu was fUe. Characters Diskss Christmas on march. Below, are two selections from 1916, LEAP YEAR, ROARED IN WITH WILD REVELRY Great Crowds Throng tp City's Centre Hotels Scene of Gaiety LASTS TILL WEE HOURS This la a bigger llttlo year than we thought It was. There is an extra day In It. Counting last nig' t there are two extra days In It. The ono that Is going to be tucked In at the end of February, to be known as February 29, will not bo nearly so eventful as last night. Perhaps because this Is a leap year they made more of Its entry Into history than Is usual. Every patriotic child, girl, boy, woman and man was out with a horn. Most ot the horns were painted red, white and bluo, but It was not patriotism for Amer ica that the people tooted; it was some thing greater than that; It was patriot Ism for the universe, which was turn ing over a new leaf. The city was cheer ing something more than the stars and 'stripes; It was cheering the stars. EVEItYBODY MAKES FRIENDS. It must be fascinating to dust the face of a total stranger with a feather duster at the corner of Broad and Chestnut streets. Thousands of faces, few of which were strikingly handsome, were as carefully dusted oft as If Jhey were the valuable marblo features of the Apollo Belvidere or the Venus de Mllo. It was symbolic of the cleansing change which New Year's stands for the spirit of noble resolution, of putting ona new face. But, more than that. It showed how Important was this festival, which Phila delphia makes more of than any other city so Important that for an hour or two everything turned topsy-turvy and one did not claim even the usually ac knowledged privilege of keeping his nose, eyes and ears as private property, but joyouMy aecti I the tickling of the lit tle ted fggithe. ousters and sneezed and chortled and stuck out his chin for more. Foi jb Itriet hour the word "stranger" had i meaning It was a clear, dry night. The people who drink too much nearly every night In the car did It again last nlcht. But. s a rule, the- kept themselves oft the streets ; they were hidden away in solemn, gilded looiue The guy, fresh streets, the rich and ruer night, the spicy air they left these to the children, as In former years. It was the chlldrtn's night, the one In, which are always suie to be at lowed to uy up late It a census had been tajten of the crowds It would have Cnntluued on V Three, Column Two PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 191 G. the comic division. The baseball players belong to the M. A. Bruder Club. $250,000 BLAZE IN WILMINGTON FURNITUREPLANT Foard - Massey Company Building Burned Cause Is Not Determined TWO NEW YEAR'S FIRES WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 1. File which caused damage of :00,COa destroyed the Foord-Massey Furniture Company building, at 7th and Shipley streets, to day. It was the feeond Hre of the early morning.' the first having damaged the warehouse ot tho Charles Warner Com pany. Tho flro originated In the third Door of the Shipley street building and used by the Foord-Massey company as Its up holstering department, but Robeit Foord. president of the fjrm, who Was at tho scene shortly after the nlarm was turned In, said he did not know the cause. The police are of the opinion that spontaneous combustion was caused by the large quan tity of paint and varnish stored on the third floor. When the tire was discovered smoke was Issuing from the roof of the John T. Feeney Company building, which ad joins the Foord-Massey Shipley e'reet property. Qu.K notion tiy the tiremen prevented the flames from reaching the Feeney store, although It Is believed it may have suffered considerable damage ftom smoke and water. For moro than three hours the Foord Massey property was ablaze, with the Homes bhootlng high, Into the air and licking the sides of the apartment house on 7th and Oinuge strvets. More than 200 persons, Including many women, some of whom were scantily clad, witnessed tho tire. In ordar that water might be put through the window, Robert Foord, head of the concern, climbed a SO-foot ludder and shot holes: In the win dows with a revojver- The damage is fuly covered by Insurance. The building was a ilve-story structure, 4 once used as a theatre. The tire In the Charles Warner ware house had Just been extinguished when firemen were called to the Foord-Massey tlre. One side of the warehouse was burned and the damage yII( reach $10,000, On account of the Foord-Massey tir. which liiemen tie still watching, the i Seventh street lino of trolley cars had i to be abandoned, Fifty Years a Fireman; Resigns SCRANTON. Pa., Jan. I. - Henry V. Ferber, superintendent of the Bureau of Fires, retired from oltlctfloUay. after com pleting 60 consecutive years hr'the lire department, the larft SO of hlch were spent in the oltice he relliuiuls'jvs. f- Page 5; Kazan," MUMMERS MUMMERS VIE IN SHOWING WORLD EVENTS Broad Street a Splendid Scene as 12,000 March in Glittering Army VIVID AND SPECTACULAR An army of happiness chasing the gloom. Such was the mummers' paradn today. What words can picture It? Color, gaiety, music and enthusiasm all blended together by fully 12,000 merry marchers made Philadelphia's .own big show a pacemaker which will live long In memory. Regulnr New Year's Day weather pre vailed until 12:15. when a very light flurry of snow followed by rain fell Just as the Talbot String Band wes turning City Hall. Most of the crowd, who were vet ei an mummer looters, held until the last club In line passed- I'mbrellas popped up hero and there, and the majority took the rainfall as a matter of course. From Porter street to Glrard avenue Broad stiect was an Immense stage, upon which the doings of the entire world were graphically shown In picturesque and daring originality. And the con stant laughter and applause when echoed from thQ thousands who packed the side walks nttested appreciation. It would havo brought Joy even to the heart of a Henry Fold, for all nations inarched along arm and arm. German barons danced with French lieutenants, Turk ish dignitaries laughed with English lords and Russia! general mingled hap pily nlth Austiian dUmtarles. NEUTRALITY THE KEYNOTE. Bringing the spiiii of peace closer home there were ferocious-looking Indians cavorting with diaphanous chorus gills, and brigandish Mexicans dancing vigoiously with Uncle Sam'a cowboys. And everywheie you looked there were clowns, clonns and clowns. Some ot these were not as foolish as they looked, for they wore glittering lalment which will undoubtedly Hgure In the prize money to be awarded as the city's apprecla lion. The mummers dealt candidly with ques tions which are puzzling rulere, diplomats and peacemakers, and they took a lUng, too, at thing, at home to show that they were both broad-minded and neutral. The world of industr. the fads and fancies of women the dreams of castle builders and Inventois did not escape the mimics. There were Governors In petticoats and Continued on 1'uce Two, Column One j a Tale of Love, a ConmoiiT. 101B, i the Fcmo Lrnor CoMriNt. EXTRA! vmZB WINNERS IN PARADE OF MUMMERS FANCY DIVISION First Mae, ?650 fcOSSSflil N1SW YEAK ASSOCIATION Second lrlo, $400 Ctt&t.B KLEtti NEW IfEAlt ASSOCIATION Tttlrd Prlae, ?200 g t tSB QllOWK 2SW YEAtt AgSSOOIATION Fourth l'riae, $130 COMIC DIVISION Ehsl Prize, $Gt30 mffim OAl'S Sepoad 3?rizo, $350 5. A. BRtlDEn NEW YEAH ASSOCIATION Third Trize, ?200 aU55TJ NEW YEAB ASSOCIATION Fourth Prize, S1CO B. K. OSWALD NEW YEAR ASSOCIATION Pifth Trizc, $75 2TABKY WAEE NEW YEAR ASSOCIATION Sixth Prize, ?CO SAUEK KRAUT BANE, OP POTTSVILLE, PA. CniLD DIES OP HYDROPHOBIA RncheJ Cohen, 0 years old, of J2G24 South Franklin street, died of hydrophobia this nlternoon In the Polyclinic Hospital. Accord ing to physlcinng this Is the first death of hydrophobia recorded thlsi winter. She was bitten by n homeless dog; nt 20th and Pine streets! p. week ago. CABINET UNABLE TO AGREE ON CONSCRIPTION BILL LONDON,' Jan, 1. The Cablnot was unable to agree upon the 4 orat ttti-ooMficeipUon 1)111 Jjs to take n yesimday.'s aion. Atoather tnentiug will be held early next week. .- SALONICA SHELLED BY AEROPLANES PAKIS. Jan. 1, Salonien. wrta shelled by aeroplanes on Thurs-' i! iy, it i , officially announced today. Heavy artillery flro is re j.uited fium the DortutnollOB. WIRELESS DISPELS FEAR FOR SHIP'S SAFETY NEW YORK, Jan. 1. The Greek fears have been felt. Is safe In tow making her way toward New York, today from tho coast guard cutter IJeneca. "WITH GOD, FOR GERMANY," KAISER'S GREETING nKRLIN (via Amsterdam), Jan. L Kaiser Wllhelm toduy Hent the fol lowing New Year's greeting to tho men the colonials: "Comrades, ono year of severe lighting has elapsed. "Wherever superior! enemies hayo tried to rush our lines and bravery everywhere I sent you Into battle you were gloriously victorious. "Thankfully, wo remember today above all the brethren who Joyfully gave their blood to gain security for their beloved ones, their homes and the Im perishable glory of the Fatherland. "What thoy began wo shall accomplish. We enter the new year with Clod for the protection of the fatherland mid for Germany's greatness." VON PAPEN ARRIVES AT LISBON LONDON, Jan. 1. The Holland-America liner Noordam, bearing Captain Franz von Papen, the recalled military attache of tho German Embassy at Wash ington, has arrived at Lisbon, according to a dispatch today to the Exchange Telegraph. The Noordam sailed from Hoboken December 21, bound for Rot terdam. Von I'apen carried a safe conduct from tha State Department. TEUTONIC ALLIES PROTEST AGAINST CONSULS ARREST ATHENS, Jan. 1. The Central Powers, with Turkey and Bulgaria, today made a collective protest to the Greek Goernment regarding the arrest of their Consuls at Salonlca. Premier Skouloudls made formal reply that Oreeie already had lodged complaint with England and Frnnce. The German, Aus trian, Turkish and Bulgarian Consuls at Salonlca were placed under arrest by order of General fiarrall, commander of tho Anglo-French forces, Skouloud'.s said. French nnd British troops surrounded the Consulates and trade tho arrests after a German aeroplane attack on the city. KING CONSTANTINE TO GO UNDER KNIFE ATHENS, Jnn. 1. King Constantlne will be operated n today or to-i.or-row. Professor Strauss, the German s,peolallst who attended the King J " Ing the summer, accompanied by Professor Esselberg, is expected to arrive here late today to perform the operation. KING GEORGE PRAISES FRENCH IN NOTE TO POINCARE LONDON, Jan. 1. King George has sent a New Year's telegram t presi dent Polncare, of France, In which he says: "Our two countries are united, in common with our allies. In the prosecution of a great cause, and it is a source of unfailing gratification to me that the two people are bound tu gether by ties which the heroism and sacrifices of our gallant so'dlt r anil sailors have rendered Indissoluble. I beg you to accept on behalf of m seif nnd my empire most cordial greetings to the great nation over which you pre side nnd an expression of my deep admiration for the splendid qualities of the lnd and sea forces of France, which hav bean In this war of such IneaUmabla value and which offer a sure guarantee of ultimate victory." AUSTWANS DROP GAS BOMBS ON ITALIAN POSITIONS ROME. Jan. 1. The following olllou.1 statement was tssaed by the ltujlao War OIBce today: "On the whole front artillery combats are In progress. The enemy I employing; the use of asphyxiating bombs, dropping many on our posUIohb la the Daona Valley and on the left bank pf the Chlese. Bog and Adventure, Is onge 7 PRICE ONE OENQl steamship Thessalonlku. for which prave of the Greek ship Paris, and is sloW according to a rndiograni received here of tho German army and navy and , tliey have failed. Before your loyaltyl ,' Si