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POSTSCRIPT
EDITION
EEaSPSI
PI
EDITION'
VOL. IV. NO. 73
PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1917
PRICE TW9 CE1
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HALIFAX HORROR GROWS
AS RUINS ARE SEARCHED
FOR EXPLOSION VICTIMS
Estimates of Dead Range from 500 to
5000. Property Damage Far in the
Millions Thousands of Persons
Are Homeless
Pitiful Scenes Enacted at Temporary Morgues in
Churches, Theatres and Schools Business
Absolutely Suspended and Troops Guard
Streets and Buildings
HALIFAX (by telephone to St. John, N. B.), Dec. 7.
Conservative estimate's made by city officials today of the death list
from yesterday's frightful explosion place the total at close to 2500.
HALIFAX, Dec. 7.
Estimates of the number of dead uud injured as a result of the
collision between the munition ship Mont Blanc and the Belgian relief
ship Imo continued to grow today.
...Ull! I 1 ..! . .. L
i i3 uuuiuuiiui uouics were ucuil; recoercu lrom tne ucuns cu iiunureus
of wrecked houses and leports of missing continued to pour in, Chief
t of Police Hanrahan estimated the missing and unaccounted for as
' high as 2000.
Thousands are homeless, and chuiches, theatres and schools arc being
use as tempoiary hospitals and morgues.
FRAGMENTARY REPORTS ON DEAD
Somo progress is being made in the relief work, but estimate of
the dead are as yet bused solely upon fragmentary repoils.
These estimates run from more than 500 to the 2000 the poiico esti
mate as dead or missing. Many of the latter, it is realized, may later be
found when complete order is restored.
The property damage will mount far into the millions. There is
scarcely u window left intact in the city.
In Richmond, a suburb across the narrow arm of water that' is
Halifax harbor, the loss of life was heaviest. Frame and business buildings
collapsed like 'paper houses when the force of the explosion btruck them.
On one ship in the bay forty men were killed.
Twenty-five wagons loaded with dead have arrived ut one of the
improvised morgues.
Business is absolutely suspended. Armed soldiers and sailors arc
patrolling th city. Not a street car is moving and parts of the city
were in darkness all night.
Many private houses have been thrown open for the caro of the
wounded and to provide a covering for dead bodies.
WORK OF RESCUE IMPEDED
The work of icscuc is greatly impeded by the masses of debris
thut litter sections of the city where loss of, lifo was heaviest.
Among other buildings leveled by the blast tho railway station, the
9M..jircna.rtnk, military gymnasium, u .sugar-refinery and a large, elevator
', are blackened ruins today. Scores of persons were in these buildings.
Many were injured and some killed.
Women wero seen digging In tho
ruins ot their houses Wagons which
went about tho streets picking up rub
bish and trying to open tho thorough
fares occasionally found fragments of
human bodies projecting from plies or
Junk. Thero were many corpses burled
us "unidentified."
The present plim la lu bury them all
Is one long grave, llko a trench grao
on tho battlefield Temporary morgues
have been established in arIoua parts
of the ruined section Somo uro In
houses. In one house bodies wero placed
on tho shelves of a closet. The cold
weather preents Immediate, danger of
a plague from tho great masses of dtad.
No accurato count of wounded has
et been attempted. Hundreds of blight
Injuries have been attended to
Troops quartered here have given up
their barracks for women and children,
and they will llvo for tho tlmo being In
a city of 500 tents erected on the Com
mon. The Academy of Music and mail)
other public buildings are crowded with
weeping women and chlfdrcn. Their
homes are shattered or burned ruins.
A part of the town of Daitniouth, a
suburb of llallfa, also caught tho forco
of, tho explosion and is lu ruins
Virtually all tho north end of the city
ot Halifax is In ruins, an urea IjIiiK torn
and Jumbled from the North street i all
way station as far as Arlovillo to Bed
ford Basin and covers about two squaro
miles.
Buildings which wcro wrecked by tho
explosion Immediately disappeared in
the fire that followed, when stoves and
boilers were torn asunder.
Schools and other avaliablu buildings
in the Wcyburn bection of the city havo
been turned Into morgues or hospitals.
Doctors and nurses uro working wltli
unondlng energy rendering aid to the In
jured. Many of thoso less seriously In
jured havo gono Into service for tho
moro gravely wounded.
bUPFMBS OF I'OOD AWUVB
Supplies and food from all bcctlons
of Canada and parts of tho United
States are rushing here.
Tho twisted and battered Mont Blanc,
whoso dangerous cargo caused the dis
aster, lies still lilblo In tho narrows
Tho Belgian jollcf boat Is beached on
the Dartmouth side of tho harbor near
what Is known as Tufts Cove.
The collision that wrecked tho muni
tion ship nail on her port side and the
bow of the Imo pierced nearly to the
engine room. The relief ship, .hoping
to keen water from lldodlng her victim,
kent ahead, shoving the Mont Blano on.
Ptre, however, broke out, and tho bklpper
of the Imo crdered tho .snip to back
uw.iy and tho crew to the boats.
The Mont Blano was in flames, a
iltckload of benzlno blazing briskly. The
sailors knew an explosion was certain.
They rowed for shore and took to tltelr
heels. Tho burning vessel drifted toward
Halifax ami blew up. .
Bitter cold added to the sufferings of
homolesj victims today. Members of
families, separated during the panic, be
sought police to nnu tneir lovca ones.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN
FLEE STRICKEN CITY
' MONTTlEAU Dec 7,
A great exodus from Halifax', city of
horrpr, nus begun, according 10 inior
matlon reaching hero today. Whllo
policy soldiers. United States sailors
and civilian 'volunteers uro digging In
the debrlii of the ruined portions ot the
city for dead and maimed, a stream of
worn!), children and some men are
flocking' rm tho town.
Prsaaratlon to card for these refu-
ilsn'Mta nuuie in many noaroy
"Wl Jf" n."f "n;
.- !. - 1
I r C .1-1 !.. C 1 1 1
AIM NEW BLOW
AT ITALIAN LINE
Germans Kenew Effort to
Roll Back Defenders
on Piave River
SUCCESS DOOMS VENICE
LONDON, Dec. 7.
On the bamo section of tho Italian
front where Austro-CJerman armies
tiled vainly for weeks to break through
and to roll down belli uG the Italian
forces standing on tho 1'lavo Itlvcr, tho
Teutonic invaders aro again trying to
forco a decision.
Tho task of breaking through has
again been given to Field Marshal Con
rad von Iloelzcndorf, of tho Austro
Hungarian uimy, who commands tho
group between tho Brcnta und riavo
V alios.
In tho new battle, which was renewed
on Wednesday, tho German War Ofllco
claims capturo of 11,000 men and moro
than sixty guns, but they suffered very
heavy losses.
Advices from Itomo today admitted
that tho Italians had given up some
ground In tho mountains of tho Aslago
plateau, but their main lines aro holding
Intact and tho dents given them by the
Invaders uro not serious,
Tho 'leutons aro driving to break tho
Italian lino hi tho Venetian Alps und
to overrun the "wall" which overlooks
and commands the Italian rear on the
Piave. If they are successful a, general
Italian withdrawal may bo necessary,
with evacuation of Venice
British and French veterans are light
Ing with the Italians and havo given a
brilliant account of themselves In the
latest burst of hostilities.
WASHINGTON-, Dec. 7
Moro than 100 British aviators havo
arrived safely on tho Italian front to
aid In stemming the advance of tho
Austro-Gerinau armies, according to
official advices reaching here today.
Word of the arrival of tho British
aviators ufter a record-breaking flight
from the western front, across tho Alps
to northern Italy may now be printed
for the llrst time. '
Single machines havo niado longer
flights than that undertaken by the Brit
ish squadron, but never has salong a
trip been taken by so large a fleet of
aircraft. Word that the men and ma
chines had reached tho Italian front In
safety was taken to mean that there had
boen no inlshyps of any kind on the way.
City Appointments Today
City appointments today Include
Thomas J. Kose, 110 West Susquehanna
avenue, uud Louis Kiehlie, 2500 North
Heese street, clerks. Bureau of Water,
salaries (1000 u year each; William A.
Johnson. 1818 Sharswood street, fireman.
Bureau of Water, salary J0OO ; Donald
8. Frey, 1617 North Fifty-ninth street,
clerk. Department of City Transit, $900;
Lucille B. Teed, 831 South Fifty-ninth
street, housekeeper, Bureau of Charities.
I7S0; Will'am C. Wolfersberger. 211
West Hlttrnhouse street, and Charles F.
Hchurf. 330D South Cro&key street, aroht.
lQUi' itWlUWD. pjUHwint tfCJtr
BYNG TRICKS
FOE; RETIRES
TO NEW LINE
British, in Strong' Posi-
tions, Await Germans'
Ureatest Attack I
WITHDRAWAL ORDERLY
Teutons G a i n Unoccupied
' Ground Closely Packed
Ranks Pelted With Shells
By WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
WITH Till: IIIUTIMI AltMIUS IN
'i m: rn:Lf, Dor 7
Tho Llrltlih army cxpecti Gcrniuiv's
biggest and perhaps Its final offensive
effort of the war shortl
General Bv tig's retirement from Hour
Ion was regarded today us the llrst
prime preeautle nan measure for the
British to withstand such a shock.
As tho British sec it, Germany Is now
at the zenith of her military power.
With PussK out of tho war, German)
Is enabled to draw oji Increased man
lwwcr heretoforo held along tho Itus
slin lines. Mio Is apparently preparing
to throw every ounce of her energy Into
n, supremo attempt at a military victory
before the arrival of American troops
on the lighting line
In the Bourlon sector tluro were only
two alternatives open to General B)ng
Ono was to push ahead and the other
wiih to btep b.ickw.nd to u. moro becuic
footing. With tho Russian situation
permitting tho enemy to mass tho fones
on the Cambral line, tho backward btep
seemed the mil) thing to do
Tho withdrawal puts tho British Into
.1 much better posture, to receive the
expected attack It wus carried out
perfectl) so perfcttly that tho German.)
looked foolish in their uttutks on un-
cccupled laud '
Iho Bodies shelled the uninhabited
land and thereabouts for hours with n
hurricane barrage. Then they attacked
with denso mibscs Their storming
waves found tho forest of Ilourlou gar
i Ironed only with thu dead.
Patrols from tho enemy lines later
cautiously wormed their way to tho
ruins nearby like warv mlco approach
ing 11 suspicious bit of cheese. One d ish
of British shrapnel sent them scurrying
back. Then came thick waves of more
German "shock troops," i barging over
the crest and upon both sides i f Bour
lon. They were charging positions oc
cupied at that moment only by ground
rats When they got thero and wcro
tr)lng A puizlo out the withdrawal
British IJuiis pelted their closely packed
masses with shells
Tho British did not leave a slnglo
piece of material In tho evacuated sec
tion Ven telephono wires wero neatly
rolled up and taken away, i:vory dug
out was destroyed.
.Today tho German airmen In flocks
were trying ?lili"all their Vilsht to" find
out what was occurring behind Byng'H
lines of retirement
POLICE SEEK INCENDIARIES
Fourth Fire in Year at Station House
Arouses- Suspicion
The fourth flro In a jeur In the Sixty
first and Thompson streets police sta
tion has caused Lieutenant Smiley, of
tho station, to suspect Incendiarism, and
he has assigned Detectives Seal, Wootan,
Slbro and Martin to investigate.
Tho fourth lire stvrtod In the patrol
crew's quarters last night when tho
crew was out with tho wagon. Dremcn
of Engine Company No. 41, next door to
tho police station, walked over and ex
tinguished tlm flames 1 heir suspicions
were aroused by one-half of a celluloid
collar, which they found on the tabic.
Of tho threo previous fires, ono started
in the patrol room and two In tho police
station proper.
$5000 Willed to Charities
Five thousand dollars to bo divided
among tho Pennsylvania Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, tho
Women's S. P. C. A., the Home of thu
Merciful Saviour for Crippled Children
and the Home for Incurables is left b)
the will of Mary A. Day, who died re
cently in tho Women's Homeopathic
Hospital, leaving an estate valued at
7000.
Another will probated today was that
of William H. Galbralth, who died lu the
Lankenau Hospital, leaving an 9800
cstato to his widow and a daughter.
U. S. CONSUL GENERAL
AT HALIFAX IS SAFE
Ethelbert Watts, Noted .Phila-
dclphiuti, Escaped Death
in Big Explosion
Lfholbcrt Watts, noted Plrtladclphian
and American Consul General at Hull
fax, is safo. Mrs. Watts, who lives at
tho family home, 1021 Clinton street,
received a telegram from him advising
her that ho' and his helpers had escaped
death and Injury lu tho frightful dis
aster. Mrs. Watts wus overjoyed to
know her husband was safe, and jet
grieved deeply for tho sufferings of
others. ""
Tho Stato Department ut Washington
has been much worried us to Mr, Watts's
fate, no word having been received from
him since tho disaster. Consul Free
man, of S)duey, N, S., has been ordered
to Halifax- to Investigate. Why the
Stato Department did not receive a mes
sage from Mr. Watts Is not explained.
Mr. Watts entered the consular service
In lf96 and held Important posts In
Switzerland, at Cairo, Egypt where ho
signally served the United States during
the Spanish-American Wax- at Kings
ton. Jamaica, ut Brussels and later at
Halifax. lie went to Halifax a few
months ago to relieve Consul General
Kben Young, to whom a leave of absence
was granted. '
Appointed Consul of Venezuela
J. J. Tumey has been appointed consul
ad honorem of the United States of
Venezuela In Philadelphia. Ho has as
cum hUi dut tea-aa-consul, wlth oc
ana wmnsiu'JHUwm.
"FIRE WILSON"
NEW DEMAND
OF 1000 COPS
Resolution Requests the
Mayor to Dismiss Three
ueparimeni imeis
INTIMIDATION CHANGED
Crooked Politicians
Used Police, Charge
In demanding the dlsmissul of
Director Wilson, Assistant Direc
tor Davis ami Superintendent
Robinson, by resolution, the police
said :
"For 3, cars the police in Phila
delphia have been used us tools
by crooked politicians.
"Those politicians arc respon
sible for tho intolerable existing
conditions in the police depart
ment. "Tho climax was reached on
September 19 last, when Eppley, a
member of our department and
association, was murdered by a
thug imported to this city by poli
ticians. "We are unwilling to endure
another year of intimidation and
oppression.
"We want immediate relief. Wo
believe the first step should ho a
change in the management of thp
police department."
Philadelphia polhcnieii who aro threat
ening to stitkc have asked Ma)or Smith
for the ' heads" of l)lre t( r W llson, As
sistant Ulrcctor Harry C Davis and Su
perintendent of Police Ilobinbon
Tim demand wnx mado In the form
ot a resolution passed ul H meeting of
tho Patrolmen's Benevolent and Protec
tive Association at lb'.'G Arch street
Mcto than 1000 policemen attended
tho meeting
Director Wilson and hlb two highest
assistants wcro accused openly of In
timidation and oppression" by the police
"Wo aro unwilling to endure opprec
sloii and Intlmld itloii for another )c.ir,"
the resolution said "Wo want Imme
diate relief '
'J his Is tho llrst tlmo In tho history of
Philadelphia that tho polleo thus have
risen openly against their superiors
Yestcrda), also for tho llrst time, saw
polliemcn lu this city guirdlng against
a posslblo outbreak by other policemen
Thero will bo no immediate strlko of
tho police.
Open "hostilities" havo been post
poned until next Thursday. An Impor
tant meeting of tho association has been
called for that day.
Tho resolutions branded present police
xinrililnnH In this cltv as 'Intolerable."
They wero passed after a. sensational
Jccna t-Clty mil wnciiauu rescnesud bo(h ,U)U of congress ultt ut
anu nny niounieo men prevciueu iv r
fifty
patrolmen from meeting and voicing
their opinions of dlsscntlon.
The doors of Councils alto were closed
on the members.
Intensely aroused, many members of
the association wcro for calling an Im
mediate strike. Cooler heads advised
a temporary delay and fixed tho meeting
for Thursday in order to give Mayor
Smith time to act,
Tlio resolutions point to tho killing of
Detctlvo Hppley on primal y election
day in tho Fifth Ward murder as tho
ciimax of cslstlnB Intolerable conditions.
Iho resolutions follow:
Where.13 for many jears tho polleo
of Philadelphia have been tho subject of
criticism and have been regarded with
contempt by tho polleo department and
citizens of other municipalities, and
Whereas, for )enrs the polite of this
city have been used as tocls by crooked
politicians who arc responsible for the
luplorable conditions now prevalent lu
oui department, and
Whereas, A climax was reached on
September ID last, when ono of our com
rades and members was murdered by a
thug brought to this city by tin. so poli
ticians und again today, when members
of our own organisation were ordered
to drive us from City Hall plaza, where
we planned to hold a peaceful demon
stration, and
Wlicreas, The cllUcns of Philadelphia
are entitled to protection from tho De
partment of Public Safet), and It Is to
Insure this protection that wo uro en
gaged !u the present struggle for a
squaro deal from our superior officers;
and
Whereas, nearly p. ear will elapse be-
tontlnued on Pan HliUen. Column Tito
COUNCILS GET REVISED
TRANSIT LEASE TODAY
Changes in Smith-Mitten Pro
posal to Be Submitted at
Meeting of Committees
Iho revision of tho SmtQMltton
transit lease will bo presented to the
Joint Commltteo on Finance and Street
Itallwa)s this afternoon at tho blxth
meeting of Bio committee to get tho
views of ull Interested parties. The
meeting of tho commltteo will bo held
In" Boom 436. City Hall,
Tho revision ot tho lease comes a's the
result ot many conferences held be
tween Major Smith, ofllclals of tho de
partment and tho Philadelphia llapld
Transit Comparer since October 26, the
(date of tho lost councllmanto meeting.
Dr. William Draper Lewis, th,e Mayor's
legal advisor lu trunsit matters, was
asked at that meeting to mako amend
ments to the lease, meeting the objec
tions of several persons who expressed
their opinions on the faults of tho lease
at the hearings before tho Joint Com
mittee on Finance and Street Railways
of Councils.
The latest terms were worked out by
Director Twining, Doctor Lewis, Thomas
13. Mitten, president; Kills Ames Ballard,
chief counsel, and A. L. Drum, ch'ef en
gineer of the Philadelphia IUpid Transit
Company, It Is believed that transit
officials will present an anal) sis of the
new lease to ass'st the meinbersVf the
committee In digesting its different
phases. ,
The city's transit officials would not
discuss 'the new proposals . last flight.
They have already, been passed upon by
HIIUl.,Wliq M ail, 11XMW9VJ. WW
BATTLING SMOKE
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More than one half of thp city's fire-fighting force was called into bcrvice today when fire threatened
destruction to the extensive oilcloth and linoleum plnt of Thomas Potter Sons & Co., along the
truck of the New York brunch of the Pennsylvania Kailroad, lit Second street, Glcnvvood und Eric
avenues. A two-hour heroic struggle saved the main buildings ufter damage estimated between
?10u,uu0 and $.250,000 had been done.
NEW WAR SPIRIT
STIRS CONGRESS
Austrian Declaration Will
Be Rushed Through .
Both Houses
DEBATE TO BE LIMITED
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.
America will bo at war with Aubtriu
within twcnt)-four hours unless ull
sli-n.s fall. To do thu" President's bld-
noon today and purposq to sweep the
war d duration through
Virtually no debate was in sight. 'Iho
temper of Congress la stripped ot paci
fism Despite tho strong sentiment for In
cluding Bulgaria and Turkey In
America's enemy list, tlicio appears lit
tle likelihood that Congress will depart
from President Wilson's counsel tint
they bo not Included now.
However, members of tho Seualo For
eign Kelatlons Coiuiulttco reserved tho
right to offer a separate resolution for
u declaration against two lesser vassals
of German).
Tho Stato Department bald lu erfect
thero Is somo i banco of detaching Tur
key, at least, from the Central Powers
and making a beparato peace with her
Secretary Landing reiterated tho Admin
istration's position III opposition to tin)
Turko-Bulgar declaiatlon, but declined
to stato whether tho Administration ac
tually would block suih a trend now.
Ho manifestly believed It advisable to
ponder a bit while the Americans are re
moved from Turkey.
The House plans to sit a limit on de
bate. Probabl) bv tonight tho resolution
will clear tint Lraiith and tho only dis
cordant nolo in prospect was a possible
speech from Socialist Kepresentatlvo
London.
In tho Senate unanimous consent to
consideration of the' resolution In ueccs
rary for immediate uctlon, and tho only
potential obstacle thero is Senator La
Koltette.
HOOVER GOES AFTER
FOOD DISTRIBUTORS
r"-r
Rejection of Shipments Un
justifiably to Be Caubc for
Revocation of License
WASHINGTON-, Dec. 7.
Herbert Hoover In his war on waste
In foodstuffs has gone ufter the scalps
of licensed distributors In biff cities.
The food dictator today sent out in
structions to all State administrators
designed to round up food handlers who
havo been following tho peace tlmo prac
tice of hoodwinking farmers und other
shippers by rejecting shipments un
Justifiably and permitting them to go to
w astc.
Consignees now under llcenso who
refuse without good causo to unload
shipments of perishables will have their
licenses revoked. This action is ex
pected to have a salutary effect In speed
ing up the unloading und movement of
refrigerator cars, in addition to pro
venting a very largo wastage of food.
$5700 LOSS IN GAIIAGE VIIIK
BlazoRturts When Employe. Stum
LflK&VVith Lantern in Hand
WheiiXKJ employe cf McKlwco Broth
ers' GarugK at K08 South Twenty-third
street, stumbled with u lantern In his
hand early today u lire resulted, causing
a loss ot )5700.
Thomas Taylor, a mechanic, was the
man who stumbled. Tho lantern felt
into a. pile of rags, Wnlch quickly took
fire. John Snyder, another employe,
rushed to Taylor's assistance and the
two succeeded In removing twelve of
the fourteen automobiles In 'the place.,
Tne jgjermge. wag iwriiy uvairoycsi, me
tbu:,..aM:ue..two.loft.MM
AND FLAME AT POTTER FACTORY FIRE
QUICK
PIIILADELPHIAN DIES AT ASHEVILLE, N. C.
J. Blair Kcnncrly, piouiiucut I'niludclnhia coal operator,
(lied yesterday lu AsUevllIe, N. C, where he went last September
iu, tho hope of legalulng the health he had lost from overwork.
Hib wife nud daughter Vivian weie with hlui wheu he died.
Tho body will be brought to Philadelphia tomorrow.
SUSPECTS PLOT AGAINST BABY WAR BONDS
LANCASTER. Pa., Dec. 7.-Abi!,taut Postmastci Whitson
said today that lenoitb made by letter cauicis who are conduct
ing ti voluiitaiy campaign for the bale of baby war bonds reveal
what apneais to be a county-wide proiuguuda to block the sales
ut blampa ami lutificateb. Cabes aie btuig investigated where
mailmen Uuvu been ntcubed df "knocking down" ou tho bakb.
llumoiu of giutt iu the, bitltu have bciii heard iu ull bectloiib.
THOUSANDS OF BUSHELS OF GRAIN BURNED
ABi:itDi:i;X, S. V, Dec. 7. Tho rrcuuuu-lJaiu elevator, part of its con
tents of ilS.OOO bushels of grain and adjoining otllco bulhllnfr wcro destroyed
by lire today, with n loss of more- than J50.000.
DENMARK MAKES TRADE DEAL WITH GERMANY
i
COl'HNllAcinx, Dec. 7. Negotiations by Austria, und Germany for Dan
ish coal, ium, steel, agricultural products, etc, havo been concluded. Nego
tiations by Great lirltalii for agricultural products uro still being conducted.
MORE BRAVE AMERICANS DECORATED
AMUIUrAN 1'IUUV IIUADQUAKTGU8 IN ntANCU, Dec. 7. Amer
ican Sanitary Section No. C, serving with tho Vcrnt.li unny, which has been
twice clled for splendid conduct before tho enemy, received their decorations
today. Uvery member received tho A"ar Cross and permission to wear
tho fouirugo (knot of bruld over the shoulder), which murks a unit officially
ictoRiiUed by franco for bruvery.
CADETS PROBABLY WIN ELECTION IN RUSSIA
I'ETnoURAD (vlu London), Dec. 7. Tlio DIcto Narodu fours thut tho
Cadets lmvo been victorious Jn tho elections lu must parts of tho countrj uud
wains tho Bolshevists of tho consequences.
BLISS WILL SEE WAR AT CLOSE RANGE
LONDON, Dec. 7. An opportunity to get u. glimpse of tho twentieth cen
tury warfare ut close range wilt bo given to General Taskcr II. Bliss, chief
of btaff of tho United Stutcs army, who urrlvcd ut British headquarters to
day to bo tho guest of Field Marshal Hale. General Bliss was ono of the
American representatives ut tho llrst meeting of tho Supremo Iuter-Alllcd
War Council at Versailles icccntly.
WOULD REVISE SOUTHERN FREIGHT RATES
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7. General revision of freight rates by southern
curriers Is proposed In an application filed with tho interstate Commerco
Commission today, foodstuffs, Iron and steel pioducts, petroleum, cotton
products und other commodities uro Included, Gcnct'al Inci cases uro plan
ned, but a number ot decreases uro proposed.
AUSTRIAN EMPEROR YEARNS FOR DAY OF PEACE
AMSTERDAM, Dec. 7. The Austrian Emperor at the reception of the
Austrian delegations, remarked to the presidents of the Parliaments: "It
will be the finest day of my life when I can conclude peace."
CECIL DENIES ALLIED TREATY AGAINST POPE
LONDON, Dec. 7. Lord Uobcrt Cecil, Minister of Blockade, denies that
England and franco entered into uny treaty or understanding to support
England against tho Holy tico If tlio Holy Seo attempted to take steps toward
peace. Asked In the Houso of Commons why no reasonable reply to thu Pope's
noto was mado by England, Franco und Italy, he bald: "Tho British, French
and Italian Governments considered no reply necessary beyond that returned
by President Wilson."
OPPOSES CLOSING OF SCHOOLS TO SAVE COAL
WILMINGTON, Del, Dec. 7. President Miller, of the Broad of Educa
tion, will havo a conference neat Monday with State Fuel Administrator Ten
Weeges, relatlvo to the threatened closing of the schools of tlio city to help
conserve tho fuel supply. Ho and other members will strongly oppose the
plan. It is understood tho fuel administration wants to close the school. 'take
their coal and distribute n for,pttMto;ue'and then bva tk-bclvatda,la &t
NEWS
POT OF TAR
OILCLOTH W(
n- Ai !... ...'
oix-.tt.iarm daze mm
town Factory Blr
Traffic on P. R. R&
LOSS MAY BE $78
- i
Several Firemen Overcome
Smoke unci Falling Wall;
dangers Lives of Othe
V
Unofficial estimate of the An 1
is place at $250,000 by a newa'ji
reau. The loss is fully covered;
insurance. Trains this nftcrneemt
being operated on two tracks of I
Ncv York division of the Pe
vania Railroad at reduced speed.'
A spectacular lire, which tempoft
tied up tralllc pn tho New York dlv
rf t tin Dnntiat tuttln t)a I1tfin A nnrl i
thousands of persons to tho scene,
discovered today in tho coating bv
Ing of tho Thomas Potter's Sons' ,4
pany, Incorporated, oil cloth ma
turcrs, Second street and Erie s
blx alarum broucht the balk mi-
city's Are flghtlnv apparatus tei
scene, which nt one o'clock had tbejl
under tonlrol. TSe Ions roar n
S7S.000. rf
cue uro was caused uy iue,on
turning of a pot of boiling tar on,
lourtn uoor or tne building shortly .
fore nine o clock. An ularm was til
in Immediately and the cntlro fores
S50 workmen attempted to cheok('
iimuc-a vtui me company appar
iney wero rorccu to nee, however,
mo engines arrived, nnd tho
alarms wcro turned lu In quick
The building has two wings. Is ot sflsjpi
construction, llvo stories high. Itjpjj
and Is 111 close proximity to tho PesiVv''!
UUUUI UUU IC'CL VV1UQ UV QUU UBIIiaE
is)ivania Jlallroad tracks. Numsraw'9
small buildings burround It.
In tho administration hulldlnc. a-fewiJ!
hundred feet uvvav. vtein ihlrtv on fnMw.Jl
women clerks and stenographers. vTJtstvl
reiuseu 10 leave, nowever, and went BM
to their desks when tho city apporaV
arriveu
beveral llremen wero sllchtlv over
by tho dense wuoke that Issued from I
burning building, but were revive :
mo scene, fchorlly after 10 o'cto
portion of the wall on tho south1!
coiiaptea una mo lives of ten
were endangered. VJT
I.lmer Laury, a negro employed 1M
Plant, was prevented from leaplnrl
the fourtii tloor of the buildlnr.
llremen rescued him wth the aid of-eiO
tension ladders. &J
-V2
DTTDT ITOAlUKi inTP4Tiro
niJRIiIVHil a A I lrt!,nr''.a
ON TUBES RESENTEB
";': 'V
f ' -, fvirr).
, i 'i , .,,----r
Business Men Warmly
Service Desnite Postiriitt
General's Argument.,-1
The Philadelphia Bourse, BoSfd '
.irau.e, tjnainuer ot commerce, to
clal i:chango and other con
bodies of tho city, united In theJet
tuiiiiiiiuve uii mo retention ot unr.s
niatic tuuo man service, are pn
to make u light at tho present)
of Congress for tho continuance' of i
ube ervice In this city. The attack.)
tho tuba Kervlcn hern nnil In rtthfti-AMfc
und the arguments In favor ftf lhi(i 5-J
aDomioii comainea In rostmasier'OSSJy!
cral Burleson's report, were anw j
today by Umil I'. Albrecht. preaH
of tho Bourse and acting chairman!
tho joint committee, as follows: i,v'1
"Tho rostmaster General, after.ta
unsuccessful efforts. Is again endeavajsvil
Ing to abolish this most esscnUal'SBaRlj
transmission facility and to 'aubtKsjfiW
lor bonfe unknown reason motortn
All of the charges against theVt
which ho makes have been dtsnroYtn
actual tests conducted by tho
interests of Philadelphia, New Torkl
me other clyes concerned, and BMf i
ut -exuruuuut, unjusc ana exirav
waste of public funds' as he cb
izes the tube contracts can, as !"
knows, be answered by Government!
chaso and operation of the tubsaJU'r 3
"Win stntaniant 4l,of 41.A " 'fc -
ance of the tubes will be fought br:t
'financially or personally Interested'
unfair and untrue. Tho united su
and financial Interests of Phlh
seek the retention and expansion.
tubes because without them
here would be hampered and,
and immense sums lost on bank
whilo the grain business virtually.'
come to a standstill. They nave )
financial nor Personal Interest t
sense that Mr. Burleson so unfairly )
pnes.
"Tlio Postmaster General ma
real argument vrhen tie says that
postal omplo)es favor the tube'
tlou. Pew, Indeed, would be)l
enougti to openly rivor tne iub
they know that the Head of the '
serv Ice opposes thein. Why Mr- ',
son persists in his retrogressive ,1
when he stands alone and when
ut the last session made It mas
upon him to extend the contracts ,
another )ear. no one knows. The
ot the Postofllce Department la to 1
tate mall dispatch and to relieve as
congesteu street tranic, wmen r
the movement of tho motor vehle
hi ubo by the postothce autborU
the central districts ot this and
tltiM. ,
"Because of our extremely ;
streets, the unbearable conge
vehicular traffic and the distance .
North Philadelphia Station, wh
distance trams touch l'niladelp
receive mall, Philadelphia Is
dependent upon the tubes. It t
master General should succeed
latest attempt, Philadelphia. C
placed a day behind In business"
' ! .
THE WEAT
rim FoitEgABTi
l'or Philadelphia and
anu continued coldtonightf,t
eat temperature about IS i
urdau Increasing cloud tneii;
northerly winds.
r tf
LKNOTH orpAt
Sun rliM..T.04 a. ni, I Sua sU.
DKZAWAMS.KITKK.TmS
CHKSTNUT ST
Ixiw water .SiSTiuw. 1 1
Mich iwUr.SilB .. 1 1
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it
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