Explosion of Munitions in Philadelphia Kills Many at HARRISBURG iSSggii TELEGRAPH M $1 \c Star-Jn&cpcnbcnt " - LXXXVI— No. 216 12 PAGES SWEDES SERVE AS SPIES FOR GERMAN NAVY State Department Discloses Plot Whereby Sweden's Le gation Forwarded to Berlin's Foreign Office Informa tion as to Ship Sailings That Enabled Teuton U-Boats to Sink Neutral Merchantmen; Directed Work of De struction Washington, Sept. B.—How Sweden's legation in Argentine, acting as a secret means of communication between the German charge in Buenos Aires and the Berlin foreign office, trans mitted information of the sailing of ships and directions for their destruction by submarines was revealed to-day in official dispatches made public bv the State Department. Notes Made Public \ i The following was issued at the i ■ State Department: "The Secretary of State to-day | I made the following statement: "The Department of State has se- ! ■ cured certain telegrams from Count I Luxburg, German charge d' affaires ■ at Buenos Aires to the foreign office lat Berlin, which I regret to say H were dispatched from Buenos Aires I by the Swedish legation as their own ■ official messages, addressed to the ■ Stockhqlm foreign office. "The following are translations of I the German text: " 'May 19, 1917. Number 32. This I government has now reelased Ger- I man and Austrian ships on which H hitherto a guard had been placed. In ■ consequence of the settlement of the ■ Monte (Protegido) case there has ■ been a great change in public feel- H ins.'. Government will in future only H clear Argentine ships as far as Las ■ Palmas. I beg that the small steaui ■ era Oran and Guazo, 31st of January ■ (meaning which sailed 31st) 300 I tons, which are (now) nearing Bor deaux with a view to change the ■ flag may be spared if possible or else Hsunk without a trace being left ■ ('Spurlor Versenkt') (Signed) "LUXBURG." Inside Information " 'July 3, 1917. Number 59. 1 H learn from a reliable source that the ■ acting Minister for Foreign Affairs ■ who is a notorious ass and Anglo- Hphile. declared in a secret session of Hthe Senate that Argentine would de ■ mund from Berlin a promise not to more Argentine ships. If not to, relations would be broken ■ off. I recommend refusal and, if ■ necessary, calling in the mediation ■of Spain. " 'LUXBURG' " "Sink Without Traces" " July 9, 1917. Number 64. With ■ out showing any tendency to make ■ concessions postpone reply to Argen ■ tine note until receipt of further re ■ port.-. a change of ministry i 8 prob ■ able. As regards Argentine steatn ■ ers, I recommend either compelling ■ them to turn back, sinking them leaving any traces or letttng ■them through. They are all quito " 'Luxburg.' " I Copies of official dispatches sent to Berlin foreign office by Count the German charge in Bu ■ in cipher through the legation there, as its own were made public Secretary Lansing, without any ■comment as to how they fell into Hthe hands of this government, or any of what is to come as the of the disclosure. Informed in Advance I Copies of the State Department's ■nnouncement were delivered at the Bame time they were made public to Argentine embassy and the Swe- legations here. I Beside revealing the means in Germany used Sweden in her in Argentina, the dis- show how the German at the time Argentina was a critical diplomatic contro ls With Germany over submarine of her ships, was sending THE CIVIC CLUB'S H SECOND FLV—MEASURING DAY SEPTEMBER 29 9 to 12. ■ Prizes awarded: 5 cents a pint for all files. ITHEWEATHW I F °r Horrl*hurg and vlelnltyt Light rnin tliU afternoon, proh nhly continuing into Ihr nlKhti Sunday partly <>loudyi not much I change In tfmprraturr. I For Ktrn I'ennny lvaniai Haln to-nlghtt Sunday partly cloudy; H continued cool) moderate north wind*. I River ■ t, *s. mnln river will rlae nightly. The lower portion* of the .North I I 1"*, branohea and the I Jiinintn will rise aomewhat thl* I afternoon and to-night, and I s>*°bnhly begin to fall Sunday. The upper portlona of the >'orth H a ?r branehea will prob- I ably remain about atatlonary. A I Mage of about 4.7 feet la Indl- I cated for Ilarrlaburg Sunday I morning. HTrmptratnre, s a, m ., R4. HSuni Rlaea, SiSS a. m.) aeta, 6i27 P- m. ■ Ul,fr Stagei 4.4 feet above IOTT- I water mark. ■ Veaterday'a Weather M Highest temperature, 811. ■ •'Oweat temperature, 54. ■ ''"i" tcmperutnre. 2. ■ Aoruial temperature, 07. ■ through the Swedish legation infor mation of the sailing of certain ves- I sels with recommendations that they I be "sunk without leaving any trace," | and in other dispatches was inform | ing his government how to. regard Argentina's protests against the de struction of her shipping. Withholds Comment In the absence of any official com ; nient whatever on the disclosures, it appears that the manifest purposes of the United States in publishing the correspondence were two. First, to show the relations between Ger many and Sweden, at least so far as ; ! the legations in Argentina were con temned; and serond, to disclose to I' Argentina, where German influences seem to have been strongest in all ] South America, the manner in which Ithe German diplomatic agent at her capital was giving secret instruc tions for the destruction of her ship- I ping, and the manner in which he was guilding his government in deal ing with Argentina diplomatically. Germany recently gave Argentina a promise that no more of her shipping would be submarined in violation of international law. It was announced that Argentina ac cepted Germany's promise as a sat isfactory solution to the situation which threatened a break in diplo matic relations, if not actually war. North and Cowden Street Plot Gains Favor as Girls' School Site While the city school board yes terday afternoon postponed the selec . tion of a site for the new gitNs' high school, it was intimated unofficially that the North and Cowden street plot facing the Capitol Park Extension zone seems to be gaining in favor. Centrally located and with at least ten thousand more square feet than .; the one in Front street, the directors are carefully considering the advisa j bility of selecting the larger plot, it I was said. At the session yesterday afternoon i lack of discussion favorable to the I Front street location when the site ; question was before the board, point -1 td to the growing sentiment in favor i j of the North street plot, in view of the rapidly-growing public opinion ' for the latter. > | When the question was opened for : | discussion. A. Carson Stamm asked • l whether definite figures had been ob s.tained on the coVt of the two sites 1 1 under consideration. President George A. Werner and Secretary Hummelbaugh explained i that it is estimated the Front and ' Boas street property will cost about • SSO,OOO and the North street plat about SIOS,OOO, not including the valu ation of the part of this site already owned by the board and on which the , Wickershain building is built. , Verus T. Hitter, architect for the , school, stated at a special meeting of . the board that should the Front street site be selected a four-story building , i will be needed. Some of the directors, • j it is understood, will oppose any move . which will necessitate a four-story t j structure for a girls' school. i Because of the present division of . opinion it was admitted even before s the board went into session that no ■ effort would be made to force an is sue and have the directors decide without proper consideration. Director Harry A. Boyer took this stand in making a motion to postpone the selection until lafer. "I am sure the majority of the board agrees with me in that none of us feel prepared to act at present and make a wise choice," Mr. Boyer said. His motion was carried without a dissenting , vote. Certifying Arrests of Men Branded as Slackers Local draft boards in Western Pennsylvania have commenced to certify arrests of men as "slackers" to the State draft headquarters, and it is expected that within a short time names of men who cannot be located will be certified by the Ad jutant General to the War Depart ment for action. did not appear were rounded up and did not appear weer rounded up and examined, pleading ignorance in most cases. In the latest cases the men evaded notices and were placed under arrest. Draft headquarters has called at tention of local board members to the fact that aliens who have de clared intention to become citizens since registration day, June 5, are now subject to draft. KAISER VISITS RIGA By Associated Press Amsterdam. Sept. 8. Emperor William has arrived at Riga, a Ber lin dispatch reports. He reviewed the troops and distributed decora tions on the battlefield, MUNITIONS BLAST KILLS AND MAIMS IN PHILADELPHIA Explosion Wrecks Room in Which Detonating Caps Are Dried FIREMEN SAVE BUILDING Injured Cannot Give Coher ent Account of Supposed Accident Philadelphia, Sept. B.—Three work men are known to have been killed and twenty-three persons badly in jured in an explosion at the Frank ford Arsenal in this city early to-day. According to workers, the explosion was accidental, there being nothing to indicate that it was caused by an outside agency. Two of the twenty three injured are young women. Major Montgomery, commandant of of the arsenal, and his aides are in vestigating the explosion and decline to make any statement until they have completed their inquiry. Care lessness of a workman, it was be lieved, was the cause of the accident. Kir*' Polluna llliiat The explosion occurred in one of three small buildings known as deto nating drying rooms, where the caps for three and six-inch shells and small-arms cartridges are dried. The building in question has its walls packed with cinders and every pre caution was taken to prevent acci dents. Fire followed the explosion and spread to several other small build ings known as the artillery assembly unit. In these building's were three and six-inch shells, but prompt work of arsenal employes and city firemen saved the buildings and their contents from destruction. \lnetcen lit Hospital Nineteen of the injured were treat ed at a nearby hospital. One is ex pected to die. Later all but five of the injured were able to go to their homes. None of those hurt was able to give a coherent account of what happened. Three Inveatlßiitlonn To-day's explosion was the second fatal one to occur within the past five months. Two men were killed by the bursting of a shrapnel fuse in the high explosives building last April. Three investigations were under way soon after to-day's explosion, in which Federal officials, the police and coroner participated. Prominent Speakers on Program For Big Teachers' Institute Prominent educational leaders from various parts of the United States have been listed as speakers and instructors at the annual county teachers' institute which opens in the House of Representatives, No vember 12. While County Superintendent F. E. Shambaugh has not completed his program for the sessions the fol lowing speakers have been secured: Dr. William Henderson, of Univer sity of Michigan; Dr. C. T. McFar lane, of the University of Colum bia; Dr. John Dennis Mahoney, head of the English department, West Philadelphia Boys High School, and Mrs. H. F. Fetterolf, Harrisburg, who was one of the instructors last year. About 410 teachers are ex pected to attend the institute. Announcement was made to-day that Morgan Moore, a student in the Lykens High School, has been awarded first prize in the "Thrift" essay contest conducted in Dauphin county by the National Educational Association. Scores of pupils in the county schools entered the contest. Whisky Making Passes Into History Tonight to Save Grain For Food By Associated Press Peoria, 111., Sept. B.—At 11 o'clock to-night Peoria will cease to be the whisky making center of the world. Thousands of gallons of liquor will remain in warehouses hero, but Its manufacture ends to-day under the food conservation law. Manufacture of whisky will cease throughout the nations at the same time. Millions of bushels of grain which would otherwise be ground up for liquor will thus be released for food. Stopping whisky manufacture, in stead of curtailing the government' 3 revenues, will increase them for the next two years, officials believe. Coupled with the operation of the pending revenue bill the withdrawal from the stock already accumulated probably will treble the revenues within the next twelve months, as the present law imposes a tax of sl.lO and the revenue bill contem plates a tax of $3.50 a gallon. A stock of approximately 230,000,000 gallons has accumulated in the bond ed warehouses and on the shelves of wholesale and retail liquor dealers. Approximately 190,000,000 gallons are in warehouses and upon that quantity the government will collect taxes as it is withdrawn. CLOUDY WEATHER TO-MORROW Partly cloudy weather for to-mor row 'in Harrisburg and vicinity is forecast by E. R. Demain, weather forecaster. Little chance in tempera ture is expected. The Susquehanna river will probahly reach a stage of about 4.7 feet by to-morrow. Dur ing the last twenty-four hours 1.55 inches of rain fell. The highest tem perature reached yesterday was 69 degrees. ITALY LOSES THREE SHIPS By Associated Press Rome, Sept. B.—Only three Ital ian ships were sunk during the week ending September 2, it is officially announced. One Bmall auxiliary sail ing vessel was damaged by a torpedo attack. HARRISBURG, PA., SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 8, 1917 RUSSIAN ARMY IS Sp- 3 an •- ~"' O* sr * X j^ , *X-~* -^V '* 7 <£o <x ® *■ •"• A>TE,kU 2\ Only one line of retreat is now left open to the Rusian army in flight from Riga. The Germans have thrown out big forces from Uxkull, where they crossed the Dvina. southeast of Riga. This limits the Russian retreat to the railroad line from Riga to Venden, and Pskov. The retiring troops are constantly shelled by the pursuers. A German battle flefet is in the Gulf of Riga bombarding the flank of the beaten army. EARLY MORNING MARKET TRIP CAUSES MERE MAN TO MARVEL He Sees Much in Chestnut Street Trading Place to Bring Queries of Unanswerable Nature; Problems of Titanic Weight The "market specials" on all the car lines were crowded this morning. From 6 o'clock on they were filled with folks going to market and folks and baskets coming home. It was wet and nasty outside. The passen gers were wet and fretful. There was an odor about each car that caused many persons to wonder whether they really should have eaten breakfast. This odor was a conglomerate one, composed of the smells that come from wet clothing, wet hair, freshly ground coffee, on ions, hot bread, perfumes of many kinds coming from wpmen of the same number of kinds, dahlia, gladi CONTRACTS LET FOR BUILDING BIG SEA FLEET Merchant Ship For U. S. to Be Launched Every Two Days By Associated Press New York, Sept. 8. —Three ehip building companies with headquar ters in New York have signed con tracts to construct standardized steel vessels of approximately 5,0u0 tons each at the government owned yards to be established at Chester, Pa., Newark, N. J., and Hog Island, Pa., near Philadelphia, according to an announcement made to-day which stated that when top sped in the construction had been obtained it was expected that a boat would be launched every two days. The companies are the Submarine Boat Corporation, which will be lo cated at Port Newark terminal on Newark Bay; the Merchants Ship building Company, to be located at Chester and the American Interna tional Corporation, which will build its vessels at Hog Island. The vessels of the fleet will be driven by turbino engines. It is estimated that fifty thousand men will receive employ ment, either at the yards or at the plants supplying material for the construction of the fleet. The announcement said that ap proximately 100 fabricating shops throughout the country, will be en gaged on the steel work with the ships so standardized that one shop can specialize on one particular part of the ship and manufacture that item for all the ships of the fleet. Governor's Troop Mascot Dies, It Is Believed Over Grief at Departure Nick, mascot of the Governor's Troop, is dead, and it is believed that sorrow over the prospect of having to leave Harrisburg brought on his early demise. This seems to be the most reasonable explanation of Nick's untimely death. Nick was a fine, big bulldog, pre sented to Private Harry Willis about six weeks ago. The dog seemed to thoroughly enjoy the position he oc cupied, and the deference paid hiqa was as sweet incense to a canine of Nick's intelligence. He had learned many tricks, and was fast becoming a general favorite. oli and aster blooms, cheese, meat loaf, cinnamon buns, sauerkraut and bologna. All the market houses were thriv ing. Stall owners who have places on "the Hill" and at Chestnut street were kept busy replenishing their stock on the "Hill" from that at Chestnut street market. The HjU sold out, almost, before 9.?0. But it will be restocked at opening time this afternoon. Chestnut and Broad street markets were crowded more so than ot any time this summer. A mere man who tottered home at [Continued on Page 3.] SAYS LOCHIEL SCHOOL NOT FIT TO HOUSE CATTLE Board President Indignant at Idea of Abandoning Plan For New Building "The Lochiel open-air school isn't fit to house cattle," George A. Wer ner, president of the city school board, declared at the meeting yes terday, when it was intimated that a motion may be made at the meeting September 21, to abandon the plans to build a new open-air school yt Fifth and Seneca streets. The discussion of the advisability of dropping the minor building pro grams for the present started after bids had been opened for the Harris school annex. It was estimated at first that the four-room addition could be erected for $25,000. Bidi yesterday indicated it will cost $40,- 000 to construct the annex. A. Carson Stamm, ex-president of tho board, made the motion to post pone action indefinitely. In his ad dress to the board he pointed to the urgent need for everyone to use all available resources in aiding the gov ernment in the successful prosecu tion of the present war. Abandon Harris Plan "If we go on with this building work we will issue bonds at four per ceht. competing with the next Lib erty Loan bond campaign. This na tion is at war now and every energy should be devoted toward the prose cution of it. If wo build this annex it will take money which the gov ernment needs, and labor which the industries need and I do not believ.i we should put ourselves in the posi tion of compeUng with the govern ment." Similar remarks were made by Director Author D. Bacon and Di rector C. E. L. Keen who first asked if the plans could not be modified so as to reduce the cost to within the estimate. The vote to abandon [Continued on Page 3] American Wins War Cross in Thrilling Flight in Air By Associated Press Paris, Sept B.—Edwin Parsons, of Springfield, Mass., a member of the Lafayette escadrille, has brougnt down his first German airplane and has been cited to receive the war cross. Parsons dived straight at the enemy as he fled and his lall alone i prevented a collision. J STREET CAR CO. WORKS ON CHANGE IN RUNNING TIME Schedule Experts at Work Today on Recommendations Made by Bion J. Arnold BE IN OPERATION SOON Scarcity of Labor Holds Up Double Tracking of Market Street; Material on Hand Recommendations of Bion J. Ar nold, the Chicago expert whose re port on street car conditions in Har risburg ws made public yesterday, will bo put into effect at once in so far as revision of schedule, speeding up of cars during nonrush hours and arrivals in Market Square and other changes of like character are con cerned. This was announced at the offices of the llarrisburg Railways Company to-dny by President Frank 13. Musser. "We have several schedule experts at work on the changes advocated l>y Mr. Arnold," said Mr. Musser. "The recommendations contained in the survey, In so far as they do not involve questions to be decided after conferences with the Public Service Commission, will be put into op eration as soon as the details have been completed." Market Square Changes The trolley company has been! sending its cars in Market Square on ! the hour and multiples thereof, on the theory that this would enable! transfers to be made there without! delay to the passengers changing from one line to another. It is Mr.' Arnold's idea to relieve congestion at the Square, where many cars fall be- ' hind their schedules, by running cars I into and out of the Square a few ! minutes ahead of the hour and a few minutes after the hour, thus encour aging passengers to transfer at j Fourth and Walnut streets. Fourth and Market streets and Cameron and Market streets. The changes advo- 1 cated by the expert will be put into . effect as soon as the schedule ex perts have made the necessary re-' visions. .Short Stop Eliminations Other matters to be taken up at I once are the, elimination of short! stops, the speeding up of schedules] during nonrush hours and improve ment to lines in so far as possible. "Not all of the recommendations contained in the Arnold report are new." said President Musser. "Some of them we, have noted for our selves. Take for example the double tracking of the Market street hill. We realized some time ago that this was necessary for prompt handling of Steelton special and other Hill traffic, and we ordered the rails and other material away last spring. We have this on hand, but have been un able to' get men to do the work. Many experienced road repairmen and construction hands have gona into the army, others have been taken into the employ of the govern ment for such rush work as that on the aviation plant at Middletown. As sootl as possible this important bit of reconstruction will be under taken." Discriminating Thief Steals Best Suits From Whitney Home A discriminating thief entered the home of George M. Whitney, 1605 North Second street, yesterday, dur ing the absence of Mrs, Whitney, and stole Mr. Whitney's best suits of clothes, two suits belonging to Mrs. Whitney's father. Judge Thomas S. Hargest, an expensive leather handbag and a gold watch. Bureau drawers were tampered with, but as the Whitneys do not keep valuables around the house, no money was secured. Mrs. Whitney, upon leaving the house to make a call, left the key to the kitchen door in its accustomed nook for the cook. The robber evi dently knew something about the premises, for the key was used to gain an entrance, the door being locked afterwards. Going upstairs, the thief removed a bundle of soiled garments, ready for the cleaner, from the top of a cedar chest. These he dumped upon the floor. From the chest he re moved the clothing and the traveling bag. He 'departed through the front door. Mrs. Whitney was not absent from the building more than twenty min utes, and it is evident that the un welcome visitor made good use of his time. The case was reported to the police. Nation's Meat Packers Plan to Solve Problems Brought on by War By Associated Press Chicago, Sept. B.—Packing inter ests of the entire country united in a voluntary and officially sanctioned combination to solve the meat prob lem made acute by the war, accord ing to an announcement following a meeting of the packers here. The details of the plan will be kept sec ret until laid before Herbert C. Hoover, Federal food controller, at Washington next Wednesday. Harvard Hospital Unit Unhurt by Attack By Associated Press Cambridge, Mass., Sept. B.—A cablegram containing only the words "all well" from Dr. Benjamin K. Emerson, of Worcester, temporarily In charge of the Harvard Hospital in France, was received last night by Herbert White, manager of the unit. Mr. White interpreted the message as giving assurance that the men reported as killed or wounded in the German aerial bomb attack on American hospitals In France Thursday, were not members of this unit. Single Copy, 2 Cents HOME EDITION GERMAN DRIVE INTO RUSSIA IS SLOWING DOWN Approach of Season of Bad Weather and Necessity of Building Military Lines of Communication Expected to Save Petrograd From Attack by Kaiser's Hosts; Fighting on Western Front Confined to Artillery and Aircraft Copenhagen, Sept. 8. —Leading German military circles con sider that with the capture of the important naval bases of Riga and Duenamnende, operations on the Riga front have virtually been ended, says a Berlin dispatch to the National Tidende. It is considered too late in the year to advance farter, as this would require the building of new roads and the establishment of depots. On this account the dispatch says it is unlikely that Field Marshal Yon Hindenburg will permit the troops to continue the advane? with Petrograd as the objective. Despite the continued retreat of Russians on the Riga l'ront indica tions are not wanting that the Ger man drive in this region may have reached nearly its limits. The absence of German naval co operation on a large scale in the Gulf of Riga with the forces operating on land in the region seems to lend additional color to this view. Petro grad reports that only German sub marines have been in the gulf and that indeed a Russian naval force is stationed there ready to engage any enemy warship contingent that may appear. l'rcnch l'ront Quiet The Franco-Belgian front is wit nessing some local infantry move ments but for the most part the ar tillery and the airmen are the only branches of the service being active ly employed by either Bide. London reports heavy patrol fighting on the Ypres front during the night, a suc cessful British raid near Gavrielle $ t RUSSIAN CITIES SHORT OP FOOD 4> L |t * : P 3. T <rf x 4* <7* . It have asket V Pieschehonoß,<mimster of supplies T T ; X T | MO: V, ' 11 X N T INTRENCH 4 X T Bei he -Russians are hastily entrench- ♦ day's army heado tatement. German cayalry is in touch with them i this new line and advanced Rus- L 4 IF' ENGLAND SUPPORTS WILSON'S NOTE I QL 4* $ X I* son';, X Bcncd . ; p* effect Grc.*t Hr X 4 as ir recently. X J? R PORT IS SUNK ' X * * T An Atlantic Port Sept. B.—News of the destruction o: * * *| ffrom a German submarine on August 13 wasbrought here * * '* ej| ' T and "war. on her way to New York. * * 4 RUSS SHELL GERMAN WAR CRAFT £ ! j -r craft h f * H* ' ' X discovered a German submarine and enemy ships, Sppar- • '*-■ ently trawlers, • rved in Irbensk Sound. ' J BRITISH PATROLS FIGHT * [ ** London, Sept. B. 'ln patrol fighting on the Ypres j* ► **\ | mt last night the eny suffered considerable casualties a | northeart of St' Julie says to-day's official statement. In I ;-' y * * the-neighborhoo io; Gavrella a successful raid was car- I, * y of our troops. , ± ? . X f MARRIAGE LICENSES . Kiewton Swuln aiul I urn A. Snylnr, Sterltnn) Kunnrll W. Wkla l and Anno K. Mjtmk, Three Mile Inland; Hurry B. Chubb, liar- * 9 ei* rlnltiirs. and Helen K. Ilnnt)', Steeltont Jenn Vnnee and Jennie In- < rlerl, Steel ton; Geo r*e N. Martin and Mary M. Stone, Mechnnlca- . T bnm. K * . f and the heavy shelling of Lange marck by the Germans. No infantry action of importance developed how ever. The Paris statement announced local attacks by the Germans in Lor raine, to the east of Rhetms and on the Aisne front, which were broken up by the French fire. Vienna claims the driving back of the Italians in the Hermada uector Where General Cadorna has been pushing towards Triest. It Is assert ed that all the ground Won by him ! there in the present offensive have been recovered and that more than K.OOO prisoners have been taken by the Austrians up to the present. SENTENCE COMMUTED By Associated t'ras Amsterdam, Sept. B.—Accordinr to a Vienna press dispatch Emperor Charles has commuted to eighteei. years' penal servitude the death sen tence of Dr. Kriedrich Adler for th< assassination of Premier Stuergkh a'_ i Vienna last October.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers