Italian Army Fails to Hold Austro-German Forces in Huge Drive on Northern Italy Defenses * Ife HARRISBURG lllllili TELEGRAPH £tar~ Jitftepcnftcnt • ■ LXXXVI— No. 291 18 PAGES HUNDREDS KILLED WHEN CITY IS VIRTUALLY DESTROYED IN BLAST OF U. S. MUNITIONS FEAR SAFETY OF TRANSPORTS; MASSOF WRECKAGE American Ammunition Ship Collides With Companion Vessel in Rockingham Harbor During Severe Storm; Explosion Which Follows Kills Crews; Wrecks Hundreds of Homes, Destroys Communication With Outside World; City of Halifax Reported to Be Burning; Immediate Steps Taken to Aid Heavily Afflicted People Amherst, X. S., Dec. 6. Scores of people have been killed, hundreds of build ings destroyed and a portion of Halifax set on fire by an explosion which occurred after the collision of an American ammunition ship and another vessel at Rocking ham, according to telephone messages reaching here this morning. The explosion was so terrific that it destroyed the installation in the telegraph and telephone offices for thirty miles around Halifax, and it was heard at Truro, sixty-one miles distant. It is* reported that the American munition steamer was moving out from her pier, and was rammed broadside by another vessel. Instantly there was a tremendous c plosion, which destroyed the two ships and killed their crew. The concussio nresulting caused the roof of the railway depot at North street to collapse, while all the warehouses on the water front for a mile and a half were damaged. The premises affected in many places caught fire. The force of the concussion was so great that freight cars were blown off railway tracks along a stretch of nearly two miles. Messages asking for fire engines and fire fighting apparatus, doctors and nurses, hospital supplies, etc., were received from Halifax by a number of localities in Nova Scotia. Special trains were made up with everything required that could be secured. Rush Aid to Scene of Accident At Truro, Windsor and here the city councils met this morning and decided to take immediate steps to render aid to the afflicted people at Halifax. It is understood large quantities of food were destroyed and that citizens of Halifax may soon be in danger of starving. It was decided carloads of food must be dispatched at once. The damage to the Western Union and Canadian Pacific Telegraph Companies and Nova Scotia Telephone Company is so complete it is likely to be days before wire communication with points outside Halifax can be restored. Rockingham is located well within Halifax harbor, at the mouth of Bedford basin. It is at the northwest portion of the harbor and since the war has been used as an examining station for Amherst. It was at this portion of the harbor that ex-Ambassador Bernstorff and party were held and examined on their wav from the United States to Germany. The whole northern section of J Halifax is a mass of wreckage and fires have brooken out in a dozen parts of the city, according to re ports received shortly after noon. The area of destruction covers sev eral miles. The Canadian govern-] ment depot used by the Canadian Pacific railway is described us hav ing entirely collapsed while a big government repair plant at Willow Park in the northwestern section of; the city is wrecked. The vessels collided soon after 8.30 j fliis morning and it is presumed thej munition ship was hit 111 the stoke-! hold. Instantly flames were seen to pour from her. The crew appear-! Ed t• • be making an effort to get the fire fighting apparatus to work when! the explosion suddenly ocurred. ! The Queens llotel on llollis street near Sac.kviile street' marks approx-j imatcly the southern limit of thej devastated area. it. is reported. The berth of the Canadian cruiser! Niobe was near the area affected but mi reports have reached here as to] whether the ship or her crew were, injured. St. John, N. 8., Dec. S.—A large port of Halifax, N. S., is in flames THE WEATHER] For Hnrrisburg anil vicinity! Gen rrally olouHy to-night 11 ml Fri day; not much change In tem perature, lowest to-night about •J8 ilfitreM. I'or Klantern Pennsylvania > Cloudy to-night iinil Friday, not ntueli change In temperature; moder ate northeast wind". Hlver The Susquehanna river anil all its lira lichen "111 fall slowly or re main nearly stationary. A stage of about 4.0 feet in idleated for llarrlsburs Friday morning. General Condition* Cloudy and unsettled weather pre vail* over the grenter part of the United State* this mornlnis. A slight disturbance, central a lonic the South Atlantle count, lins lteen attended by light to moderate rain* In the Fast Gnlf States anil In Georgia and Florida. 1-lght snow* have fal len locally In the l.ake Hcglon and In the Missouri and t'pi er Mississippi valleys and rain anil snoiv have continued in the >'orthwestern States and in the Western Canadian provinces. Temperature: 8 a. m., 31!. Sum Itlses, 7>20 n. m.| seta, 4i311 p. m. Mooni I.ast quarter, 11:50 a. ni. to-day. Illver Stage 1 4 feet Above low water murk. Yesterday's Weather Highest temperature, 42. Lowest temperature. 30. Mean temperature, 30. Normal tcomeraliu*. 3b Hundreds Killed; Thousands Injured Halifax, X. S.. Doc. 6. Via Havana Hundreds of persons were killed and a thousand others injured and half of the city of Halifax is in ruins as the result of tltc explosion on n munition ship in the harbor to-day. It is estimated that the property loss will run into the millions. The north end ol' the city is in flames. ' *■ 1 following an explosion in tlie harbor this morning. Two vessels, one of them loaded wth munitions of war, including high explosives, collided. Many buildings alons the water front were torn to pieces and many persons are believed to have been killed. Other shipping in the harbor suf fered severely and the crews of sev eral vessels are said to have been killed. Wires Down Wire communication between this city and Halifax was interrupted soon after tile explosion and before more than fragmentary reports had been received. The munitions ship blown up was said to have been an Ameri can. At the moment of the explosion a fierce storm was sweeping the harbor and it is supposed that the collision of the vessels was due to this. It was reported that a transport was in the harbor at tho tme, but nothing definite concerning this could be learned. Men Work Frantically One of tlic buildings that suffered severely was occupied by the Western Union Telegraph Company, and was the terminus of tlio cable lines to the United States. One report says that two telegraph operators were killed and another that several employes lost their lives. It is possible the censorship at Hal ifax may prevent details of the dis aster becoming known immediately when wire communication is restored. Meantime frantic efforts aro being made by the telegraph companies here to restore their lines to some point 111 the vicinity of Halifax and within easy reach by cooler. Transports in Harbor Later it was stated positively here that there were several transports in the harbor when the explosion occur red. Nothing as to the fate of these was obtainable. Neither is it known whether the transports were illed with troops or occupied only by their crews. Attempts to communicate with Halifax by telephone failed as none of the wires which went down uur ing a storm Sunday had been re stored. Efforts to ruise some point on the peninsula were continued. radio is the most likely in- HARRISBURG, PA., THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 6, 1917 'trunient of communication and this source was being worked to the limit this forenoon. The last word received by wire from Halifax regarding the explo sion said the military had taken charge of the Canadian Pacific Tele graph Company and had ordered all the telegraph operators out of the building. Only two operators in the office escaped injury. Scored of persons on the docks were killed. The fire start ed in the northern end of the city which bore the brunt of the damage. Chief Military Million For many years Halifax has been the chief military and naval station on the American continent. Its har bor, one of the most spacious in the world, is large enough to float the entire British navy and is strongly fortified. In addition to the fortifi cations there is a government dock yard containing an immense drydock. The city's population according to the 1911 census is about 47000. Hali fax is the eastern terminus of the Ca nadian Pacific Railway and the Ca nadian government railways. Steam ship lines operate between Hie port and points in New Foundland, Great Hritain. the United States and the West Indies. Since the outbreak of the war, Hal ifax has assumed a more mportaint position than ever, as it is the prin cipal port from which men, munitions and supplies are transported from Canada to the battlefields of Flanders and northern France. Authentic Advices Lacking in Canadian Capital 13y Associated Press Ottawa, Dec. fi.—Authentic a.dvices os to the loss of life and extent of damage done at Halifax were still lacking at the capital up to 12.30 to-day. The authorities aro unable to get into direct telegraphic com munication with Halifax. Officials of the naval department were trying to get into touch by wireless. Dead in Halifax 300; Report From Truro, N. S. Hy Associated Press Truro, N. S„ Dec. 6.—(2.30 p. m Atlantic Time).— Three hundred dead and many hundreds injured was the estimate this afternoon of tho casualties resulting when a large ammunition ship rammed a passen ger liner near their piers at Hali fax to-day. Reports reaching here early this afternoon said it was feared several scores of people lost their lives yhen tho railway station at Halifax col lapsed. Twenty-five railway work ers were killed on the track near Richmond. The advices further stated the ship which collided with the munition vessel was u. lied Cross liner. TWO TOR HUNS TAKE 11,000 PRISONERS IN ITALY CLAIM OF BERLIN Large Forces of Reserves Hurried to Cambrai Area Con vince British That New Effort Will Be Made To Wipe Out Salient Berlin, Dec. 6.—Eleven' thou; by the Austro-Germans in their i front of Northern Italy, it was of) war office. Strong Italian posit: war office.. Strong Italian positi Northern front were taken and captured more than sixty guns, t Tn- the Cambrai sector and on the northern Italian front, the enemy has resumed his efforts to dislodge the allied troops. The British re pulsed German efforts near Cambrai and cast of Asiago, the Italians are WOMAN AT LARGE WITH SMALLPOX; EPIDEMIC FEARED Danger Increased as Victim Has Few Marks on Her Face Suffering from smallpox, Susie Jones, colored, 1121 North Seventh street, who was under quarantine at that place until arrangements were made .to remove her to the con tagious disease hospital, escaped this morning and is now at large either in the city or some nearby town, city health officials believe. The woman is tall, stout, and is [Continued on Page 14.] ONLY 7 HAYS left for men between I lie ages of 21 ami <ll years to enlist in tlie war against tlie llun. After tlia time all registered men must take their chances in liciiig placed !n whatever branch of the service the government decides. isand Italians have been captured new offensive on I lie mountainous fficially announced by the (lennan Lions in the Meletta region of the lions in the Meletta region of the held by the Teutonic forces who the statement says 1 j engaged in a furious battle with the 1 j Austro-Germans. | German attacks in the Cambrai I area, under the leadership of Gen- I oral Von Der Marwltz, are against : [Continued 011 Page ll.] BIG STORES TO ASSIST IN SALE OF BABY BONDS Postmaster Silos to Get Assist ance in Floating Two Ril lion Dollar Loan "Baby" Liberty bonds probably will be put on sale in numerous depart ment stores, shops and bunks as well as in corporation offices during the next week. Ths action is expected to follow a cr"M made to-day by Postmaster Frank C. Sites for the assistance ot loyal citizens to aid the Government in floating the popular sr> certificates which sell at $1.12. In other large cities, merchants generally have come forvtnrd and es tablished booths in their stores at which the certificates and 25-eent thrift stamps are sold. Mr. Sites made public the following instructions from the Secretary of tlie Treasury: The Secretary of the Treasury has [Continued on Page 14,] U. S. ENGINEERS DIED GALLANTLY BEFORE CAMBRAI Two and ti Half Companies of Railway Men Cut Off by Enemy Fire FIND REFUGE IN DUGOUTS Casualties Among Americans Relatively Small, Says Unofficial Report fly Associated Press With the American Army in France, Wednesday, Dec. s.—How American railway engineers gallantly fought and died with their British j comrades in arms on the British i front before Cambrai last week was told to-day in a semi-ofliciul state ment. "Two and one-half companies of railway engineers," the statement says, "with a strength of ifeht of ficers and .165 men were encamped at Fins on November 30. hav ing com pleted their work in the neighbor hood. At 6.30 fojir oflicers and 280 men went to GouzeacoXirt, arriving at 7 and starting to work with Canadian engineers. The entire contingent was [Continued on Page B.] Penn-Harris to Be Under Roof by First of Year The new Penn-Harris Hotel will be under roof before the first of the new year, if weather conditions per mit. Announcement of this fiiet was made this morning- by the contrac tors in charge of construction. Men are working in day and night shifts. The concrete construction is being rapidly completed, and everything will be in readiness tor the inspec tion of the owners. Progress on the floors is ver.v rapid. The seventh floor is now un der construction, and it will be com pleted by the end of the week. The framing of the eighth floor was bo gun to-day by workmen. The first, second and third floors have been stripped of the concrete forms, and nre ready for partitions. The gran ite work has been begun. Plans for installation of tem porary steam heating facilities have materialized, and the finished parts of the Building will be heated* in a few days. This move has been taken in order that the cold winter weather will not hinder building operations. I Single Copy, 2 Cents HOME EDITION BROWN CALLS ON COURTS TO FREE THE ATTORNEYS Asks That Court Sessions Be Curtailed to Let Lawyers Help the Drafted Men OF PRIME IMPORTANCE Adjutant General Beary Asks For Complete Data About All Police Forces in State Attorney General Francis Shunk Brown to-day sent a letter to all Judges in the state asking if they would not shorten court sessions and grant continuances of cases for the next thirty days to enable the attor neys of Pennsylvania to give aid to registrants under the draft law. The Attorney Genera! wrote his letter aft er learning from Provost Marshal General Crowder of the action of the District of Columbia judges and law yers at a meeting held yesterday when it was determined to so dispose of legal matters so that lawyers would have as much freedom as pos sible to help men under the draft law answer questions and ascertain their rights. "I have sent a letter to the judges of the courts in Pennsylvania coin mending to their attention the action [Continued on Page 1(!.] New Increase Not Permitted on Coal Now in Local Yards By /Issnctaleti Press Washington, Dec. C.—Coal jobbers i and retailers will not be permitted to I charge the authorized 3ft cents a ton advance on anthracite, effective De . cember 1. for stocks in their posses sion on that date, the fuel adminis tration announced. The Increase will bo permitted only on coal shipped from the mines after 7 a. m. Decem ber 1. The'fuel administration hopes to check any effort by dealers to se cure the higher price on coal which left mines before the increase was .ordered. $ • T WAR RESOLUTION TO PASS TOMORROW f ♦ rom the £ x Won Austria-Hungary was to-day brought into the House T i 4* o dissenting votes „ , T *'=•<• committee and at the request of Chairman Flood the 1 £ Houst ave its unanimous consent to take up the resolu- , T tion to-morrow at the beginning of the session and pass * Ait before to-morrow-night. • t ■' 2 # U. S. TROOPS FOR ITALY J [ _ Washington, Dec. 6.—The House Foreign Affairs *' *2* * i 4 mittee's report on thfc war rbsolution declares the £ IT United States probably soon will send troops to Italy. * J eg J ; | BRITISH ADVANCE LINES M 4* slightly > | ! T ir line southwest of La Vacquerie on the Cambrai .* ' "2* I > 4 1 ' X official statement says, the British troops withdrew to the * ' V * ♦ southwest of Noyelles-sur-L'E6caut and Bourlon wood * t T CONGRESS MAY SETTLE R. R. TANGLE 2 —Railroad presidents composing X' T the railroads war board to-day informed Chairman New uplands, head of the congressional committee dealing with J! £ transportation problems, that if Congrebs removed the T, prohibitions which forbid # unification of the roads to. 4* <4, WOUld bt * a , 4 * * 2, 11 4j ceded by „ , X * • tit ' * 2*; • ' ton "to President W £ d.men, it is understood, estimat T 1 be needed tc t X r facilities for handling 'war traffic in 1918. J*• J FRENCH LOSSES FOR WEEK J* X Bee. 5.-r-Losscs of French ♦ T . cugh submarine attacks in the week ended December [ \ 41 were: More than 1,600 tons, two; less than 1,600 ton*. ! f X o; fishing boats, two. T ,cked but ' * ir not sunk. t 4* *' ' * a, . • * J MARRIAGE ■ • > I r Itlclifird D. linker, York, n<t Mill® CJ. Mower, WormlfyNhurgi <4 Charlt'M . .lolly, <iettyuliurtt. and Mary K. enrn, llarrlatburgf Hay 1 " Franklin and Viola Maihlen, Harrlnburg;. a , 25 HUN PLANES INVADE ENGLAND; 2 BROUGHT DOWN Six Airplanes of the Enemy Fleet Force Way to City of London HAIDERS ARE CAPTURED Crews of Roth Machines Are Ileld Prisoner by British London, Dec. 6. About twenty-five airplanes raided England to-day it is announced officially. Of thesfc six reached London. Two of the rafters were brought dowi\, the crew of three men on each machine being captured. Bombs dropped by the raiders caused a number of lires in London [Continued on I'age !.] SSO Fines Imposed on Men Alleged to Have Operated Raffles on the West Shorn Carlisle. Dec. o.—riiley Probst, of liarrisburg, and Bert Smith, < £ Cumberland county, have been fln< d SSO and costs on charges of con ducting turkey raffles near Worn - leysburg during the Thanksgiving season. The arrest of the men was ordered by the district attorney who is now said to have planned further arrests during the Christmas holi days if the raffling is resumed. Uussel Moliinger, of Harrisbu -r, was fined SIOO and costs on a chai re of having assaulted R. D. Backi a stoss, also of Harrisburg. The aftermath of a recent raid on disotderly resorts came when fi iit women pleaded guilty and were sen tenced. Cora Andrews, the alio, ed proprietress, was lined $250 anil r n tenced to six months in jail and l ei daughter and two other girts Coi'rtd in the .place with soldiers from Ih< Gettysburg camp were lined e vli $25 and costs.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers