Harrisburg telegraph. (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, February 13, 1915, Image 1

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    Murder Myslery Unearthed by finding of
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH
LXXXIV— No. 35
WE'RE IGNORANT OF SKELETON'S
EXISTENCE, DECLARE OLD COUPLE
Authorities Thought Mr. and
Mrs. Coleman Hoopes, of
Cleveland, Ohio, Might
Have Lived at 133 South
Fourteenth Street When
Body Was Buried in Cellar
"SOMEONE TUNNELED,"
SUGGEST AGED PAIR
"Floor Was Cemented," Say
Hoopes; "It Is NOT!"De
clares Plumber, "Who
Explains Bones Were Un
earthed in Common Earth
Basement
Mr. and Mrs. Coleman Hoopes, of
Cleveland, Ohio, say they know noth
ing about the skeleton found yesterday
in the eellar of 133 South Thirteenth
street.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoopes lived for about
ten years in the house where Ihe
skeleton was found, moving to Cleve
land about a year ago. It is believed
the body—the skeleton of wliieh was
found—was buried about ten years.
Another family by the name of
Kbersolc lived in the house of the
skeleton before the Hoopes. A ques
tion as yet unanswered is "Might the
I'bersole's know anything about the
mystery, and if so where do the Ebcr
soles now live."
Hoopes iSaj They Know Nothing
Dispatches from Cleveland to-day
state tlun Hoopes and his wife, an
aged eouple. live at 2115 Hraiuard
street, that elty. but that the old peo
ule deny all knowledge of a body liav-
JJi been buried in the eellar of the
flßlison llill residence while they lived
"i re. The dispatch from Cleveland is
as follows.
"Hoopes and his wife live here,
but deny they know anything of |
skeleton. They say they moved
into the house nine years ago and
lived there until a year ago. when
they moved to Cleveland. They
say the basement was cemented
and that if a body was buried |
there while tliey lived in the house
someone must have tunneled un
der as the cement was never
broken.
"They say some disreputable
people lived next door and think
these |>coplc may have done the
tunneling."
Plumber hays Cellar Is Xot Cemented
K. C. Cashman, plumber, whose men
discovered the skeleton, said this aft
ernoon that the eellar lloor is "NOT"
cemented and that he is making fur
ther excavations in search for the
missing parts of the skeleton accord
ing to the directions of Coroner Kck
ingcr.
The coroner is busy looking up rec
ords of families who have occupied the
house since its erection. The case Is
entirely in his hands and the police
say they have no authority until fur
ther evidence secured to act U|>on.
Neighbors Say Mrs. Hoopes Was "Off
Persons in the neighborhood say
that Mrs. Hoo|ies.was a writer for
magazines and spent most ol' her lime
••lose at home with her literary efforts,
and did not mingle much with neigh
bors. Many intimations were that she
was a queer eliaractcr and some said
she was a little "oil"' ami several inti
mated lhat she was a "witch."
With shreds of cloth wrapped about
the skull and bones, the skeleton of
a human being—believed to be that of
a girl of about Hi years of age—was
unearthed yesterday by workmen of
11. Cashnuin, 20ti South Thirteenth
street, plumber, while searching for
sewer trouble. The skeleton was
found about two feet beneath tin
surface.
According to Dr. R. L. Perkins, who i
examined the skeleton, said this morn- 1
ing that th bones were slightly char- 1
red, which leads to the belief that 1
the body was buried in quicklime. The
entire skull wasn't found, only the left
side and part of the lower jaw beinv,
picked up by the plumber. It is
thought that the skull might have I
been crushed by a heavy blow. Near
ly all the bones of the skeleton were
tound, however, in the gruesome
grave.
Bones in Hole Three Feet IXing
Th,> plumbers, Charles Thomas, and I
his helper. Samuel Hillman. were sent;
by C. R. Cashnian, registered plumber,!
to repair a leak in the sew er pipe, i
and were digging in an offset from the
cellar wall where the outside steps,
lead up. The ground was soggy and i
they had dug about three feet down j
when they fame to the bones, which *
[■Continued on Pnge ».]
** 1 THE WEATHERI
t'or ilarriHliurv. nml vicinity: !
t lutldy, probably rnin to-night or I
Sunduyi wnrm-r .Sunday lowrxt '
Irmpernture to-nisrlii nbiMit ;ts
defrert.
For KnMeru l'rnnnylvnnlnI Cloudy
find warmer to-night and Mu»dav|
prwlmtily rains frrxli rant wind's.
tifncral Condition*
It I* 2 to 24 degree* colder from
•he Great l.nkea nml the l'|»|ier
Ohio Valley eaxlnnril to-the ei>n«t
nnd h genernl full of 2 to 2." de
cree* hn* occurred In the «em
lierature In the Hnrfcy mountains
nnd In the SouthweMt.
m i
Temperature! n n. in.. :|O.
Sunt nUea, diST a. rn.; net*, 5i33
p. in.
Moon: New moon, t«-dny, at Jts.lt
P. in.
River Singe. Five feel above low
water mark.
1 enterda)'* 'Weather
Highest temperature. 17.
Iflivrnt temperature, 30.
Mean temperature, -12.
Auruial temperature, 29. J
I 1
T T is said that St. Valentine's day is for youth.
For lovers and romance and joy, &
Sy That staid married folk have no clairr to its name,
jg> But love can remain love, my boy!
The trials and the troubles life brings us with time
It is true disillusion, annoy,
But hearts lie too deep for these external things
To really affect them, my boy.
jjcj No matter how gray at the temples you grow
Or how portly your figure, I joy
In the knowledge that God has spared you to me, <5
For YOU are my valentine, boy! gj
£y —ANNA H. WOOD. §
Written for tlie Telegruph. ,'S
Si BORN IS FATHER 1
IS PLACED IN ORAVEj
Dr. Paul P. Allen, Well-known
Physician, Dies at Cham
bersburg
Special to The Telegraph
Chambersburg, Pa., Feb. 13. Or.
Paul P. Allen, a graduate of Medico-
Chi and an active young physician of
this place, died on Thursday after but
four days' illness with penutnonia.
He was buried yesterday afternoon on
account of the mental and physical
condition of his wife. While the cor
tege was at the cemetery a son was
born to the widow and was at once
named Paul. The posthumous child
and the mother are doing well to-day.
Mrs. Allen was Miss Gertrude Wheeler
of Gerinantown.
ISLET IS OPERATOR
ON OCEAN STEAMER
Last Year's Graduate of Central
High Is Expert Wireless
Telegrapher
Jh
Photo by Mtisser.
PAUL It. MIBLEY
Paul H. Nisley. 2406 North Sixth
street. If now one of the wireless op
etators on the steamship Jefferson,
which plies the Atlantic ocean from
New York to Norfolk.
lie is a graduate of Central high
school, class of 1914. Nisley took
much interest in Wireless telegraphy,
and. with the exception of a few in
struments, made an entire set, which
he used at his home. He had not been
practicing long before he was able to
pick up messages from many places
In the eastern part of the. United
States.
Last September Nisley entered the
Marconi School of Wireless Telegra
phy, in New York city, and owing to
the experience he received in operat
ing his station at home finished the
course in one-third the required time.
He then underwent an examination in
Hrooklyn. The Bureau of Navigation.
Department of Commerce, uwarded a
first grade license to Mr. Nisley as a
radio operator after lie passed the
examinations at the radio telegraphic
convention in adjustment of appa
ratus. transmitting and sound reixl
ing, knowledge of the international
regulations and acts of Congress to
regulate radio communication.
Mr. Nisley is not yet IS years of age
and is one of the few wireless op
erators holding a first grade license
under that age in the United States.
SAYS NEUTRAL FLAG WILL lIK
USED Foil SAFETY OF NEUTRALS
H y Associated Press
London. Fob. 13. 12.15 P. M. —That
the British government will have no
difficulty In giving an early reply 1o
the American note on the use of the
American (lag by British merchant
men is the contention of the afternoon
papers of I.ondon, which virtually
unite in expressing the opinion that a
neutral flag will be used by British
vessels only as an intimation to Ger
man warships that there are neutral
passengers and goods aboard.
HARRISBURG, PA., SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 13, 1915.
mCOMING CHILDREN
j CROWD CITY SCHOOLS
Enrollment of 250 "Six-year-olds"
Boosts Total to Nearly
11,000
More than 250 "six-year-olds" have
been admitted to city schools during
the first two weeks of February, ac
cording to estimates of various school
authorities, although complete district
reports ha.ve not yet been completed.
The period just closed is the only time
•lor enrollment of beginners after the
opening of schools in September; al
though higher grade pupils who have
just moved to town can he entered at
any time during the school term.
The total enrollment in the Harris
[Continued on Page !».]
FILIBUSTERING UGAIN
BREUKS OUT IN HOUSE
i
j
Republican Opposition Prepared
to Hold Its Lines
Intact
By Associated Press
Washington, Feb. 13.—While the
i administration Democrats were re-
I framing the ship bill for a new drive
(in the House, the Republican filibus
ter blossomed out anew to-day in the
J Senate, where Senator Gore tried to
have the commerce committee dis
| charged from consideration of his
| substitute which is to be used as one
j ol the bases of compromise.
I Senator Burton took the floor for a
ispeech that promised to last all day
and it was apparent that the Republi
can opposition was prepared to hold
its lines firm until the administration
compromise took a thoroughly deli
j nite form.
i Senator Weeks, author of tho bill,
■ which is also a par) of the compro
mise, predicted it could not be accept
ed in the Senate with the amendments
I proposed by administration leaders in
I the House.
Count Says Demands
From Washington Will
Not Change Situation
Hy Associated I'ress
Berlin, via Bondon, Feb. 13, 11.35
A. M. —The text of the American note
lias not vet been made known to the
German press, and the comment up
to the present time has been based
entirely on news agency dispatches
ifrom Washington giving a brief synop
sis of the communication,
j The Koelnische Zeitung has repub
lished prominently from tiie Tages
j Zeitung an article by Count Von Ke
jventlow, tiie naval critic, concerning
| Germany's declaration of u marine
I war zone around the British Isles. In
this article Count Von Reventlow re
ifers to the report that the Washington
: government intended to ask how Ger
many purposed to make neutral ship
ping in these waters and says:
"This marine war zone was an
nounced by the German government
for the very reason that safety of navi
gation therein cannot be guaranteed.
The vessels of neutrals enter upon this
war zone only at their own risk. This
condition of affairs and the conse
quences it may bring after February 18
cannot be changed or influenced by
any representations or demands from
Wamwgton."
Berlin Issues Statement
on Raid of Aeroplanes
Berlin. Feb. IB (by wireless to T.on
don. 3.15 P. M.). —The official state
ment issued to-day hy the German
army headquarters says:
"In the western theater of war
enemy aviators again dropped bombs
on the coast as they also did yester
day (Thursday). The bombs caused
regrettable damage to the civil popu
lation. while from the military point
of view we suffered only slight losses.
"On the extreme western front ar
tillery ammunition was found which
doubtless originated in American fac
tories.
"The number of prisoners taken
during the attacks which were re
pulsed yesterday to the west of Souain
was increased to-day by 4 officers and
47K men. Before our front 200 of the
enemy's men were found killed.
ASST. CHIEF HURT IN
FALL DURING FIRE
Tumbles From Roof While Direct
ing Men at Blaze, Which Burns
Black's Plant
DIAMOND TIPPED SAW LOST
Damage to Marble Cutting Works
and Stable Nearly $7,000;
Partial Insurance
I
; | /■/'
ASSISTANT CHIEF HALBERT
Assistant Fire Chief Edward Hal
hert. 91!4 North Second street, was
hadly injured about the head and
! chest, when he fell from a roof, dur
! ing ii fire this morning at the stone
| cutting Plant of John Black, Seven
teenth and Mulberry streets. The as
j sistant oliief was picked up uncon
scious and sent to tlie Harrisburg hos
! pital in charge of Dr. A. Leslie Jiar
; shall.
The lire, which started in the stone
cutting department, a frame building,
spread to the stable adjoining another
frame building. Both buildings were
destroyed along with valuable ma
[ Continued on I'aije 9]
BEGIN OUTDOOR WORK
I WHEN FROST DEPARTS
Commissioners Lynch, Bowman
and Taylor Ready to Start as
Soon as Weather Permits
"Work on all the city Improvement
jobs will be resumed just as soon as
the frost is out of the ground and the
weather is otherwise favorable for
outdoor work."
I City Commissioners M. Harvey Tay
] lor, Harry F. Bowman and William
< H. Lynch, superintendents, respective
| ly, of the departments of parks, puh
j lie safety and streets and public im
provements ,all made practically that
, same statement to-day in discussing
I their plans for early Spring work.
| The indoor engineering work on the
| plans for the construction of the two
I miles and a half of parkway road that
j will extend from the present end of
the Cameron drive at the almshouse to
connect at Reservoir is being com
pletted by the park department. Much
of the line of the highway will wind
through low, swampy ground and on
the slopes of hills, which makes it
i especially difficult for working pur
j poses in this kind of weather, accord
ing to Mr. Taylor. Another big earlv
■ Spring job will be the grading of Syca
| more street playground and perhaps
the new uptown playground. The
location for this hasn't been definitely
■ decided upon. Other outdoor park
I work will include the construction of
the new concrete bridge In Cameron
parkway over Spring creek and the
finishing up of the new entrance to
Reservoir. Arrangements have also
been made by Mr. Taylor to proceed
with the treating and planting of the
river front slopes a-s soon as the
weather permits.
Lynch Plans Early Start
Commissioner Lynch has planned an
' early start on the score or more of
I sections of streets which are to be
paved and on a dozen or more sewers.
The work incident to the construction
I of an asphalt repair plant will come
• a little later, as it will not be necessary
for the city to set up the structure
much before the middle of May. Con
tractor Charles P. Walter, whose con
tract expires April 1. must turn over
all the streets In first class shape be
fore he can be released by the city.
Plenty of water piping will be put
down during the early Spring and
Commissioner Bowman is only awaitinc
favorable weather to begin. Work of
this character that has already been
scheduled includes the following 6-inch
water mains:
Wiconisco street. Sixth to Jefferson;
Penn, Emerald to Seneca; Monroe. Cal
der to Verbeke; Monroe. Tferr to Cum
berland; I'axton, Ralston to Nine
teenth; Mulberry, Eighteenth-and-a
llalf to Twenty-first; Yale. Kugene to
Mulberry, and a 10-inch pipe in Green
street from Woodbine to Seneca.
MAY AGAIN I IA YANKEE FLAG
New York, Feb. 13.—The possi
bility that the Cunard liner Orduna.
due to leave this port to-day for Liver
pool, might again fly the American
flag upon reaching the Irish Sea, as
she did for several hours after leaving
Queenstowli on her last voyage west
ward. was discussed in maritime cir
cles here to-day. but no statement was
made by any of the line's officials.
M'ADOO CHANGES ORDER
Washington. 1). C„ Feb. 13.—Secre
tary McAdoo has revoked his order of
last October, prohibiting collectors of
customs from giving out information
concerning the character or destina
tion of cargoes outbound from ports
ot the United States.
GERMAN* PRESENTED
WITH AMERU NOTE
Ambassador Gerard, at Berlin,
Reported to Have Made
Delivery Last Night
REPLY IS EXPECTED SOON
Washington Believes Germans
Will Put All Blame on
Great Britain
fly Associated Press
Washington, D. C., Feb. 13. Admin
istration officials had unofficial infor
mation to-day of the presentation of
the American note to the German Gov
t rnment concerning the Herman sea
war zone proclamation. The communi
cation was delivered to the German
Foreign Secretary last night b v Am
bassador Gerard, at Berlin.
Unofficial advices were that officials
of the German Government declined
tor tlie present to comment on the note,
ixcept to say that it was couched in
friendly language. It was urged that
the German reply. which would be
made in due course, probably would
say that its action was fully justified
by the attempt of Great Britain to
starve the German nation, "women and
children as well as soldiers."
The note to Germany and also that
to Great Britain pointing out the dan
per to neutral shipping of any unjusti
fied general use of the American flat?,
continued to absorb attention in of
ficial and diplomatic quarters to-day.
Manv officials believed that the I'nlted
States would be assured by Great
T'.ritain that It has no Intention of
sanctioning general use of neutral
flans by merchant ships.
To Ask "Hardscrabble"
Viewers Within Few
Days, Says D. S. Seitz
Further developments in the set
tlement of the "Hardscrabble" prob
lem will he taken by City Solicitor D.
S. Seitz within the next few days when
he asks the Dauphin county court to
appoint a hoard of viewers to assess
benefits and damages'on the question
of taking over certain properties on
the western side of Front street be
tween I Terr and t'alder.
The viewers will get to work at once
it is understood, although possession
will not ho taken over until after the
whole problem of benefits and dam
ages has been settled. When the
lamount is adjusted incidentally it will
not be necessary for the property own
ers to wait for a year or two to get
their money pending possible litiga
tion. They will lie allowed to keep
their homes tintil the amount is set
tled upon and then the city will give
a Judgment for the sum. This can be
taken over by any hank and will be
interest bearing.
: England Asks Prices
on 1,000,000 Shells
By Associated Press
| Pittsburgh. Feti. 13.—The Pittsburgh
; Foreign Trade Commission to-day
I asked local manufacturers for prices
! on 1,000,000 drop forgo shells for use
1 of the British artillery.
| The value of the contract was given
•as $4,000,000. It was also stated that
a considerable tonnage of projectile
i steel was placed here during the
week.
PANIC IX THEATER
Special to The Telegraph
Hagerstown, Mil., Feb. 13.—An au
| dience of 200 persons, mostly women
J and children, was thrown into a panic
j when a film caught fire In a moving
picture theater on the second floor of
j the Knights of Pythias building in Wil-
I liamsport on Thursday night. Young
I women had their clothing torn and
i others lost their hats and other be
| longings. Fifty boys and girls \t-ho
were in the front part of the hall made
their escape through the rear exits
into an alley. Several girls fainted
and hau to be carried from the the
ater. No one was injured.
I BERLIN DISAPPOINTED WITH
NOTE SENT T<. ENGLAND
By Associated Press
I Berlin, via London. Feb. 13, 4:59
|a. m. —Disappointment, that neutral
I powers have not asked specific guar
i antees from England that sho desist
from the misuse of neutral flags, is
expressed by the "Kreuz Zeltung"
which says such guarantees are im
probable now since "the most power
ful" neutral has not oven protested
decidedly. The paper asserts that sales
of arms and ammunition "not to men
tion ampler support of our enemies
now tolerated" cannot be reconciled
with President Wilson's unobjection
able Interpretation of true neutrality
at the beginning of the war.
RUSSIANS RESUME BATTLE
By Associated Press
Geneva, via Paris, Feb. 13, 4.05
| A. M.—The Russians have resumed the
: battle of Dukla Pass, fighting mostly
; with the bayonet, according to the
j latest advices received here. During
'the struggle the Ausfrians are report
'ed to have lost 8.300 in killed and
I wounded.
I BRITISH STEAMER ORIOLE
SAID TO HAVE BEEN SUNK
By Associated Press
! Havre, via Paris, Feb. 13, 1.55 A. M.
—Shipping circles here now consider
it practically certain that the British
steamer Oriole was torpedoed and
'sunk by a German submarine. Tho
i last time the vessel is known to have
I been seen was at 2 p. *m. January SO
[near Dungeness in company with the
London steamer London Trader, which
lis also missing.
There is equal certainty that the
London Trader shared the fate of the
Oriole. A telegram from Rouen says
James Cullen. a. survivor of the Trad
er, was landed there by the steamer
Poland, the captain of which stated j
another ship whose name he could not. i
five bad saved fhree other sailors;
from the Trader.
VETERAN TO TAKE LONG TRIP j
William J. Myers, 1826 North Sixth
street, retired freight conductor of the
Pennsylvania railroad, will leave Mon
day on a two months' trip. He will j
visit Washington. D. C., and from there
will go to Florida nnil Cuba. On his'
return Mr. Myers will stop off at points I
in Georgia and Tennessee. J
14 PAGES
HEAVY FIGHTING IS AGAIN
REPORTED IN PROGRESS IN
ARGONNE AND THE VOSGES
German Submarines Believed to Have Sunk Three More
British Submarines; English Airships Make Spec
tacular Raid on German Naval Bases; Battle in the
Carpathians Still Undecided; Austrians Suiter Heavy
Defeat
Heavy fighting is in progress once
more in the Argonne and the Vosges.
which have <iow become the most bit
terly contested sections of the west-1
ern battlefront. Otherwise the oppos-|
ing armies in that war theater are at
a standstill. The activity of German!
submarines is believed to have been
responsible for the singing or injuring j
of three more merchantmen. Great I
Britain's spectacular aeroplane raids, I
her reply to this menace, was direct
ed at the German submarine bases.
The event of immediate importance
In the east Is the German victory in
East Prussia, which according to Ber
lin reports was an imposing one. it
is assumed in Germany that danger of
Russian invasion in that region is end
ed, but it is not yet clear to what ex
tent the conduct of the campaign will;
be affected.
In the Carpathians the battles for'
possession of the passes are still un- j
decided. A Geneva dispatch states that,
the Austrians have suffered heavily I
from Russian bayonet attacks in Dukla
Pass.
Germans Gaining
The persistent German attack in
the Argonne has gained further
ground, the Berlin War Office an
nounced to-day. More than half a
mile of French positions is said to
have been won. There has been furth
e: lighting in the Vosges, also, and
the Berlin official report states that
all attacks of the allies were repulsed.
The French communication gives few
details of yesterday's fighting, laying
particular stress upon heavy artillery
contests.
The German War Office states that
on the wester front was found artil
lery ammunition "which doubtless l
originated in American factories." I
"Regrettable damage to the civil
population" was caused, it is said in
Berlin by the British aeroplane raid
over Belgium, but only slight losses
were sustained by the Germans.
Berlin is already celebrating the
I striking victory said to have been won
lover the Russians in East Prussia and
| further successes are noted in to-
I — —
i STATE GETS INJUNCTION 4
# Montgomery, Ala., Feb., Feb. 13.—Chancellor Chapman a
M to-day granted the state a temporary injunction restraining a
I the Montgomery "Advertiser' from printing liquor adver- a
# tisements. The case has brought to test the new law pro- a
J* hibiting such advertisements in all papers circulating in the a
C BERLIN REPORTS NO DAMAGE J
\ Berlin, Feb. 12, by wireless to Sayville.—The War Of- f
( fice made the following statement to-day: "After a long in- g
j \ terval hostile warships yesterday reappeared off the coast. J
i a Enemy airmen dropped bombs over Ostend, without doing g
j \ military damage." ' J
! 1 EMPEROR WANTS WARSAW ( 1
j London, Feb. 13, 3.40 P. M.—Emperor William received '
J % Field Marshal Von Hindenburg on the eastern battlefront | '
j ■ on Friday and it was decided to make a renewed dash for (
9 Warsaw next week, according to a dispatch from Amster
a > the Exchange Telegraph Company. I
( I WHEAT NOW DOWN TO $1.49 (
Chicago, Feb. 13.—Wheat to-day led to wild downward %
' • swings in price. Weakness developed Mght at the outset, a
| but did not become extreme until the approach of the final |
, 1 hour of the session. At that time, a violent lurch took place i
' and May wheat went to $1.49 a bushel, whereas the price I
' I not many days ago was $1.67. July went down to $1.28j4« '
I MAN RIDDLED WITH BULLETS
a Lexington, Ky., Feb. 13.—A dispatch received here '
% from Irvine, Ky., to-day stated that a man named Houston •
% Underwood, who lived in the center of that town, was call- , '
I ed to the door of his home last night and his body riddled
I with bullets. Ten men were said to be in the band that '
| di'i the shooting. / '
New York, Feb. 13. —An appropriation of' $200,000 for
> the relief of Jewish war sufferers has been made by the
% American Jewish Relief Committee for sufferers from the | '
1 war, according to an announcement made public to-day. The |
# amount will be divided equally between Russian and Ger- I
a man Poland. f
■ ——- t 3SBBBEKPTT" - ~~~ ff"
I MARRIAGE LICENSES I
m John Cinlen llellcr, llerixlun, nml Vera Minerva Vnllr), Obrrlln. Ik
K Jnhn White nntl HUNI Sivlltcr, Steelton. D
■ William K<l»ar<l Himur and Mnry Viinn I mlirrcrr, (''lulling Creek. (L
K Winiom Marshall Kline nntl II nth Kllxahetb Miller, vlty. 7
Hotter and llelieeea llolllnicrr. elt.v.
* POSTSCRIPT.
day's official report. It Is stated that
In Northern Poland as well as East
I Prussia the Russian attacks have fail
ed and that the Germans have been
.uniformly successful.
Peace Nearer Than Was
Expected, London Feels
Special to The Telegraph
London, Feb. 13.—1n an almost im
perceptible manner the idea is growing
in city circles that peace Is nearer
than is generally supposed. Many
straws seem to be pointing that way.
Responsible reports from Germany
and Austria indicate a rather sudden
growth of economic difficulties. The
•financial and economic stress in Hani
| burg especially is severe,
j German resentment toward tho
| American note of protest against the
i terms of the war zone proclamation is
I construed as significant of a desire of
{Germany to llnd a way for terminating
j with dignity a war in which it is no
longer possible to gain a tasting ad
vantage. It is considered possible that
I the efforts of your government may
i furnish a convenient pretext for peacu
.the conceded food exhaustion. Many
| peace reports are in circulation in llol
j land, as well as here.
First Exchange of War's
Disabled Prisoners Feb. 16
Special to The Telegraph
Berlin, via London. Feb. 13. —Tho
first exchanges of disabled prisoners
'of war under the plan of Pope Beno
) diet were arranged to-day through tho
Berlin Embassy. One hundred and
forty-six prisoners, unfit for further
service, will leave Germany February
i Ifi and Great Britain will release 107
Germans.
The exchanges apparently are not
on a numerical basis, but all thoso
who are disabled will be included with
in the scope of the order eventually.