Coldest Wave in Years Causes Suffering in Many Parts of Country; Coal Situation Unchanged
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH M
Star- Jndepcn&ent
LXXXVI— No. 311 12 PAGES
BRITISH CHECK
HUN ATTACK IN
NEW OFFENSIVE
Terrific Fighting on Two-Mile Front in Cambrai Region
Marks Beginning of Much-Heralded Attack of Kaiser
to Force German-Made Peace; Artillery Active in
Other Sectors; Both Sides Claim Prisoners
London, Dec. 31.—The British in successful counter
attacks on the Cambrai front have regained the more
important territory on Welsh ridge taken by the Germans
in yesterday's attack, the war office reports.
Germany struck her first strong blow
oh the western front since tho her
alding of a great offensive and the
British have held it in check. The
attack, which resulted in heavy fight
ing, was made on a short front on
the southern end of the salient be
fore Cambrai. The fighting continues.
The attackers gained a foothold in
liritish trenches, but later were eject
ed in part by counterattacks. ill®
German thrust was on a front ot
more than two miles between Mar
coing and La Vacquerie, and against
positions which tlie British have held
since the retirement after General
lJvng's successful blow.
In the center the Germans were
held for no gain, but on either end
of the assaulting front they entered
the British front line. The Britisli
counterattacks drove the Germans
from part of these positions and re
sulted also In the capture of some
prisoners. Berlin claims front line
positions and a "few hundred pns
oners were captured.
The Germans also have been active
at other points along the front but
their local attack in the Ypres sector
and their raids northeast o£ Verdun
brought no successes. These efforts
follow upon heavy German lire in
these three sectors—Cambrai,
and Verdun —and may be forerunners
of determined attacks.
Another advance along the Nablus
road north of Jerusalem has been
made by the British forces in Pales
tine. Against stubborn Turkish re
sistance the British progressed three
miles and captured Bireh, ancient
Pereoth and three other towns. Prog
ress also was made between the Na
blus road and the Mediterranean
coast.
Germans Wreck Ancient
Church From Airplanes
By Associated Press
Padua, Italy, Dec. 30. The an
cient monumental Carmini church of
Padua, containing frescoes by Titian
and Campagnola, was the center of a
vast conflagration last night which
lighted up the skies for miles around.
The fire started from incendiary
bombs dropped by enemy airplanes
in another raid which scattered
widespread destruction and death.
The dome of the massive church
burned throughout the night, making
a majestic spectacle, but the solidity
of the ancient walls dating from
1250 and the copper roof saved the
main structure and paintings from
destruction. The bomb hit the outer
edge of the dome which was soon a
liery furnace r>eing 160 feet in the
center of the city.
One building was pieced from top
lo bottom and torn to pieces by a
bomb which buried four pesous, three
of whom were children. The church
of San Valentine and the ancient pal
ace were hit and partly wrecked,
other private buildings also were
Struck.
While the destruction of property
was great, reports indicate the loss
of life was not as severe as on Fri
day night.
The correspondent to-day visited
the Carmini church, where mass was
proceeding in the baptistry. The
altar was covered with wreckage but
the walls and roof had not been dam
aged greatly. A number of hangings
and tapestries were burned by red
hot metal from the roof. The tall
campaKiiite was saved and the bells
wore inging to-day. A monument to
Petrarch in an adjoining square was
scorched and surrounded by debris
from collapsed houses.
The frescoes saved were the meet
ing of Joachim and Anna by Titian,
ami the birth of Chrlpt and the
Adoration of the Magi by Campag
nola. The Carmini church was
erected to commemorate the end of
the vrutal tyranny of one of the
Hohensiauffen chiefs who raided
Northern Italy 700 years ago.
THE WEATHER
For Hii rr lull unc nl vicinity!
I'robahly no\v 10-niuhc or on
Tuesday; not MO cold, lowest
temperature to-night about 10
degree*.
For F.ufitern Pennsylvania: Prob
ably Nnow late to-night or nn
Tuesday, not quite MO coldf light
north winds, becoming ent.
River
The Susquehanna river nnd all Hi
branches will continue general
ly Icebound and nearly Mtation
mfJr'
General Conditions
I.OW temperature Mtill prevails
over tlie eastern part of the
I'nlted States, with readings be- |
low *ero in the Middle Atlantic I
and New Kngland State*. The
line of frec/Ing temperature
extend* far down the Florida
penlnMula this mornlnft, Jack
sonville reporting a minimum
of 18 deftrec* and Tampa, 20 de
grees.
Temperatures 8 a. no., aero.
Sun: Rlmcb 7:20 a. m.; sets, 4il
p. m.
Moon: Rise*, 0:13 p. m.
Hlver Stage: Four feet above low
water mark.
Yesterday** Weather
Highest temperature, 7.
I.oneat temperature, Jf.
Mean temperature, U.
Normal temperature, 31.
FRENCH DRIVE
BACK HUNS ON
ITALIAN LINE
Austro-Germans Feel Shock
of Severe Infantry Rlows
in Monte Tomba Region
I
TAKE MEN AND GUNS
Victory Is Decisive and Is
Won in Face of Stubborn
Opposition
Itome. Hoc. In the Monte
'l'wmlln region on the northern
front tlir French linve eaptureil
enem.v iionltlunn between Ostcrin
ill Monfereno nnil Mnrnir/Jiie, tlir
war office iinnouneex. They also
captured II limit I.tMK) men nnil
Mixty machine mini nnil seven
cannon.
The Austro-German lines on the
Italian mountain front felt the shock
yesterday of a French infantry blow
and were shaken, if not broken, by
the impact.
The French stroke was delivered
on the easterly end of the mountain
j line near its juncture with the Piave,
the assault being directed at Monte
Tomba. The attacking columns broke
into the enemy defenses on the moun
tain at some points and apparently
made good their hold, as Berlin ad
mits a penetration of portions of the
Tomba positions.
The Austrian official statement
makes the French victory appear even
more significant as it announces the
preparation of "counter measures"
against the French. This expression
has previously been used in state
ments from the Teutonic side in ini
tial announcements on occasions when
striking successes have been made by
enemy forces.
Both French and British troops
have been for some .time aiding the
Italians in holding their present front
their activity having been almost en
tirely of the defensive order, how
ever. Yesterday's attack was the first
offensive move by the French on this
front, so far as tho official statements
have shown.
Richcreek Given New
Trial on Murder Charge
Frederick Richcreek, convicted of
first degree murder on a charge of
shooting an old peddler along the
towpath of the canal near Middle
town, was granted a new trial to-day
in an opinion by the county court,
signed by Judge S. J. M. McCarrell.
Among the points raised by James
H. Stranahan and A. Ross AV'alter,
counsel for Richcreek, it was con
tended the court erred in stating that
the defendant was bound to establish
his plea of accidental killing by a
preponderance of the evidence. The
court agreed with this exception
citing a Supreme Court ruling and
basing the granting of the new trial
on the point. After reading the opin
ion Judge McCarrell said: "X want
to say in addition that the verdict
of the jury was fully supported by
the evidence. The jury was warrant
ed in rendering the verdict it did."
Many to Welcome in
the New Year Tonight
After midnight to-night the year!
1917 will be history. Judging from
the events that have transpired dur
ing the 3tJ5 days just past it was the
most important year in the history of
the city, state and nation.
Watehnight services will be held
in a number of churches. Worship
ers will usher in the new year, with
service and song. Praying that the
new year will bring peace to the war
weary world. In other instances
bands of merry people will parad?
the streets waiting for the birth of
the new year. They will celebrate
its arrival with noise.
County and city office* will also
be closed to-morrow. Many stores
and places of business will also ob
serve the holiday. There will be no
formal celebration, the Mummers
having postponed their parade be
cause of the war.
For the accommodation of all who
will usher in the new year to-night,
including those attending watch serv
ices, all city cars will run until 1
a. in. The suburban cars will run
as usual.
CLKMKNT COUNTY AUDITOR
Wllliamsport, Pa., Dee. 31.—Gen
eral Charles M. Clement, of Sunbury
recently relieved of command of
Camp Hancock, was to-day appoint
ed auditor of public accounts of
Northumberland county.
CROZIER DENIES
OPPOSITION TO
LEWIS WEAPON
j Was Not Prejudiced Against
Inventor of Machine Gun,
Is Testified
| APPROPRIATIONS SMALL
| French Munition Heads Gave
J Ordnance Chief Assurance
of Adequate Supply
By Associated Press
Washington, Deo. 31.—The Senate
j inquiry a wain was turned to the ord
\ nance situation when Major General
• (.'rosier was permitted to take the
i stand again to-day to reply to re-
I cent statements made by Colonel
j Isaac Lewis, inventor of the Lewis
! machine gun, rejected by the War
; Department in favor of the Brown
j iniLr type.
! Before beginning General Crozier
■ asked to be put under oath and then
■ read a prepared statement dealing
first with borrowing artillery from
the allies for General Pershing's
forces. Desire to make America's
forces of actual aid on the lighting
front as soon as possible was a prime
| factor, General < 'rozier said, in the
I artillery loans from France. Cor-]
| respondence was produced in which
M. Tardieu, of the l-'rench high com-
I mission, asked the War Department
to order French artillery and that
French deliveries exceeded the num.
j l>er promised.
: Conferences between the heads of
the British, French and American
J governments abroad regarding fur
\ nishing of artillery to America's
! forces were recited by General Croz
! ier. He produced a letter from Gen
eral Bliss, chief-of-staff, stating
j British and French munitions heads j
had formally assured him their ar
tillery and ammunition production
had so increased they would be able
to completely equip all American
forces arriving abroad in 1918.
"I am not attempting to excuse the
situation that requires us to depend
on our friends for heavy artillery,"
said General Crozier, "but the re
sponsibility rests on the whole coun
try." I
Wanted More Artillery
[ How he had, during previous years,
often asked Congress for larger ap
propriations for artillery and that he
and other army heads had many
times called the country's attention
to the need for more artillery, was
related by the general.
Machine guns, General Crozier
said, were never expected to become
such an important weapon but the
Germans, realizing better than any
one else their great future, proceed
led to secure them in quantities.
Turning to the charges that pre
judice had kept the Lewis gun out
of American equipment, General
Crozier detailed the official records
of the department.
All the boards formed to test ma
chine guns. General Crozier pointed
out, were not subject to his jurisdic
tion. The board in April, 1916, found
the Lewis gun had many desirable
[Continued on Page 3.] •
Scarcity of Teachers May
Force County Schools to
Combine Different Classes
Because of a shortage in the num
ber of teachers available for county
schools. Superintendent F. E. Sham
baugh in a letter to hundreds of
patrons throughout the country pre
dicts that it may be necessary in a
' number of districts to consolidate
| smaller schools. In several districts
I this plan is already being considered
seriously he reports.
Attention is also called to the im
portance of holding community
meetings in the schoolhouses as a
means of increasing interest in the
social life of the place and in mak
ing the school the center of this
work.
All patrons are urged to co-operate |
in the work of the schools. Super
intendent Shambaugli asserting that
it will be a big help because it is
through the school room that the
national ideals opposing autocracy
find expression.
Only One Change in
Prothonotary's Office
('harles E. Pass, who will take the
oath of office as prothonotary of
Dauphin county Monday of next
week is at the court house learning
the details of the office under the
direction of Prothonotary Harry
Holler and his clerks.
Asked if he contemplated 'many
changes in the force Mr. Pars said
to-day: "I do' not. I feel very for
tunate in having been able to retain
the services of Prothonotary Holler
as my chief deputy. Mi. Holler t.<
more familiar with the. details of the
office tliaJi any other man in Dauphin
county, due to his long service as
clerk and ps prothonotary. Elmer
Hummell will remain as a clerk and
Elmer Erb will retire from the
clerkship he now holds to take up
the practice of law."
Republican Club to
Elect and Hear Speech
The Harrisburg Republican Club
will hold its annual election this
evening. Following the election
Prothonotary-elect Charles E. Pass
will make a patriotic address. Promi
nent Republicans from all over the
city will attend. The club has just
completed a very prosperous year.
SHOT CHICKENS
Charged with shooting at a flock
of chickens while hunting -.nd steal
ing three that lie killed Albert Robin
son entered a plea of guilty to-day
and was sentenced to six months.
Other cases disposed of include:
Henry Kuncli, larceny, two months:
Harvey Itodkcy. pica of guilty with
drawn.
HARRISBURG. PA.. MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 31,' 1917
The New Year's Greeting of the Beast
READING SLICES
ITS PASSENGER
SERVICE FOR WAR
To Carry Freight Instead
Under New Govern
ment Plan
Plans for making the Philadelphia
and Reading Railway lines one of the
great freight carriers of the east al
ready have been taken up by Gov4
ernment officials with officers of the
company. As a result the company
has sliced its passenger scnedule to
pieces for the period of the war.
j The Pennsylvania lines are to carry
passengers where the two lines serve
the same points. To compensate the
Heading, freight from the Pennsylva
nia lines will be turned over. This
will, it is said, permit the Reading to
I haul a great amount of freight to
the coast.
Increased traffic will also come
from Pittsburgh over tho Western
Maryland to Hagerstown and from
there, to the Rutherford yards over
the new cut-off recently constructed
and connecting with the Cumberland
Valley Railroad. It is understood the
Reading is to look after coal and
other freight traffic on a much larger
[Continued on Page B.]
Police Searching For Men
Listed as Delinquents
■ By Local Draft Boards
Police are looking up the names
of the registrants in the First.regis
tration district who do not return
their questionnaires seven days after
they are mailed. According to the
rulings of the draft regulations a list
of delinquents must lie turned over
to the police at tho end of each
seven-day period, who look them up
and make a report to the draft
board. Chief of Police Wetzel said
that the chief cause of delinquency
reported by his men is that the reg
istrant has moved from the address
on his registration card, without
giving a new address. In a number
of instances, tho registrants are not
even known at the address they gave
on June 5.
Two registrants are reported to
have given fictitious addresses by the
residents at the address they gave.
A number of registrants were re
ported as simply neglectful. One
registrant was reported as having
moved to Michigan, without giving
an address at all, while another went
to his home in Georgia, in a few
cases the registrants were found to
have enlisted.
One alien registrant in Cowdon
street reported that he was sick in
bed and bis baby put tho question
naire in the tire to see it burn. The
police, when they find a delinquent
registrant, warn him to turn his
questionnaire back to his draft
board. When the relgstrant is not
found by the police within five days,
a report or the case is returned to
the draft board, which files it with
the Adjutant General's Department.
Only one draft board in the Vity is
giving the list of names to the po
lice.
V. S. EXPORTS REACH
NEW HIGH RECORD'
By Associated Press
Washington, Dec. 31. America's
exports were estimated to-day at the
Department of Commerce to have!
pnssed the $6,000,000,000 mark in
1917, a new high record. Imports
were less than $.1,000,000,000 and
tho trade balanco In favor of tho
United States probably will be more
than $3,150,000,000.
GOVERNMENT TO
ACT PROMPTLY IN
COAL SHORTAGE
Passenger Crews Will Be
Transferred to Freight
Trains, Is Belief
By Associated Press
Washington, Deo. 31.—Immediate
| action by the railroads to relieve the
| critical coal sltortage, particularly
| in New England and other sections
suffering' from the cold wave, was
being considered to-day by Director
General Mt'Adoo anfl members of
the railroad war board.
Plans designed to bring about a
speedy movement of fuel into the
affected areas were being perfected.
! Greater use of'the water routes in
;to New Englatid' from Hanrpton
| Roads probably will be made.
In addition to effecting' a vYoer
movement of coal the treatment of
iabofr questions will be one of Y&e
I chief railroad prol lems to be deijt
| with by the director general. Heart®
; oi the railroad brotherhoods havft
! been summoned to confer with thft
| director general' Thursday regarding
relations of labor and the new gov
ernment railroad administration.
Reading, Pa., Dec. 31.—As soon
as the order goes into effect annull
ing Ufty-four passenger trains on'ihe
Heading Railway, it is believed that
coal shipments will be made without
delay, unless the-weather Interferes,
as it is proposed to ."speed up" iii
this particular.
Although so many passenger trains
j will be annulled, the crews will not
be without employment. It was said
| here to-day that the crews would
Ibe transferred to freight trains,
where they are most necessary. This
means prompt shipments of coal and
freight- under ordinary conditions.
Includes All Shops
The control of the railroads of the
country by the government it is
learned here to-day includes all of
the shops and. storehouses, in fact
I all property owned or leased by
them. At leatet 4,500 Reading peo
ple are now in the government em
ploy. These work in the Readifig
Company's carshops, ..locomotive!
shops, etc.
It was rumored workmen j
would be brought here from Camp
Meade and other cantonments to
work in the shops but the officials
stated that they knew nothing of any
such move.
, .
Bursting Waterback
Throws Fire in Her Face
Pearl Delancey, aged T3, who re
sides at 1102 Cowden street, was
seriously burned about the face and
neok ind hands about9.3o this morn
ing while trying to light a tire in the
stove in the kitchen. Miss Delancev
was working over the tire when the
water pipes, which had frozen dur
ing the night, burst with an explo
sion and threw the tire into her
face. She extinguished the lire with
her hand, but not until after she had
suffered severe injuries. .She was
building the fire to heat the house
for the return of her'aunt, who re
sides there. She was removed to
the hospital in the police ambulance.
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
GETS 10-YEAR SEXTKXCK
By .•IssvciatrJ Press
St. Louis, Dec. 31. Robert W.
Frank. Jr., of St. Louts, who failed
to go to Camp Funston when he was
called in the selective draft, has been
sentenced to ten years Imprisonment
In the Federal Prison at Ft. Leaven
worth, Kas. Frank was convicted by
court martial. He said ho was a
contientious objector.
K. OF C. CAMP
WORK PR AISED
BY SEC. BAKERI
Men Look Forward to Can
tonment Huts With
Great Pleasure
A recent report of the Commis
sion on Training Camp activities,
published by the War Department,
contains a tribute to the efficient
work being done by the Knights of
Columbus in the various Army train
ing camps This statement is of in
terest to Harrisburg'because of tho
campaign about to open for the
Harrisburg diocese's share of the
Knights of Columbus War Camp
Fund. The city itself will raise not
less than $25,000, this sum having
been agreed upon at a meeting of
the executive committee Saturday.
The War Department pamphlet
containing the reference to training
camp activities of the recreation
commission has the following to
say:
"Jujit as the Young Men's Chris
tian Association represents tho
Protestant • denominations, which
will constitute roughly CO per jent.
of the new Army, so the Knights of
Columbus represent the .Catholic
denomination, which will .constitute
35 per cent of the Army. While this
latter society is a fraternal organ
ization, it \vill sustain, exactly the
name relation, to the qamps as.is sus
tained by the Young Men's Chris
tian Association, and will hold no
meetings to>which ajl the tro.ops in
the'camp are not invited, regardless
of religious .or other preference. In
cited, the. admission of both these
societies to- military, reservations
wao upon the condition that they
would not limit their activities to
[Continued, on Page 3.]
German Airplanes
Destroyed by British
London, Sunday, Dec. 30. —Five
German airplanes were destroyed or
put out of action yesterday by the
Jritish, who lost none of theirs.
"Two hostile machines ■ were
brought down irt our lines on Sat
urday," says an official statement
given out here to-night "A third
was brought down in the enemy's
lines. Two other hostile machines
were driven down out of control.
None of our airplanes is missing."
McAdoo Considers Plans
For Revision of Salaries
By Associated Press •
Washington, Dec. 31. Plans for
raising the pay of the rank and tile
of railway workers and reducing
some of the very high salaries paid
to executive officials, were discussed
to-day at a conference between Di
rector General McAdoo and the Fed
eral Board of Meditation and Con
ciliation. The bohrd now has bo
fore it the pending demands for wage
increases, ranging as JilgE as forty
per cent, for the four great brother
hoods. • "
AUSTRIAN SIIII'S ItKSTORKI)
Amsterdam, Deo. 3t—Fourteen
Austrian steamers seized by the Rus
sians in the course ol' the. war will
ho stored to their Austrian owners in
keeping with an agreement reached
at Brest-Wtovsk, according to a iii.
patch from Vienna. The total gross
tonnage of the steamers is 40,000,
Single Copy, 2 Cents HOME EDITION
BRITISH REPLY
TO HUN PROPOSAL
WILL BE SERIOUS
Russia and Germany Reach
Agreement; Still Perplex
ing Problems in Way
CONFLICT IN SIBERIA
Red Guards Murder French
Agent and Set Town
on Fire
By Associated Press
London, Dec. 31. —The Manehes- I
ter Guardian says it is the intention |
of the British government when the I
Austro-German terms of pea&e are !
presented officially to return a se- '
rious and reasoned reply. Premier 1
Lloyd George has arranged to visit j
France, according to the newspaper,
to confer with Premier Clemenceau I
on this subject.
The Austro-German neace terms j
referred to are those presented by !
the representatives of the central
powers at the negotiations with the j
Russians at Brest-Litovsk. These j
negotiations were interrupted for ten ]
days to give the entente allies oppor. j
tunity to state whether they would ;
join in them. The principal point j
in the Austro-German outline of j
peace terms was acceptance of the |
[Continued on Page B.]
American Aviator Killed
While Making Test Flight
By Associate Press
Paris, Dec. 31. —An American avi- J
ator was killed yesterday while mak
ing a test flight at an aviation cen-|
ter before French and American pi- i
lots and observation aviators. AI-,
though tho wind was blowing vio- j
lently he made a loop successfully, I
but on attempting to repeat the feat |
he fell. Jle was dying when picked
up, but insisted on reporting to his'
American comrades with his last I
breath the observations which he had
made.
T ' £
*S " POWELL MEN GO JL
-&
4 Harrisburg—Auditor General Charles A. Snyder hat. -y
** dismissed five clerks anrointed bv A. W, Powell in the w
i #
* office of the Allegheny county mercantile appraiser ever X
"fa T
j # which he.-has authority* Indications afre that there will
"* be similar action taken in the Philadelphia mercantile &
.4 appraiser and register Of wills office, \yherc the Auditor *T
# General has a dozen or so appointments. *s
I WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION T
£ • f
Washington." Dec. 31.—Irntnediate measures will be
4* taken to relieve the coal shortage in New England and
Tin New York, Director General McAdoo announced to- y
4 day. Orders, he said will be issued before night giving to
JL coal shipments preferential- movement *F
> MINES WORKING FULL HANDED 3
j4t Scranton, Dec 31. —The thermometer went to seven ,
i ! 4 ',-
T degrees below zero this morning, but in spite of the handi- ♦*
J cap of cold weather the mines of the Lackawanna valley j*
Tat noon were rerorted to be working nearly full handed ▼
I J* and getting out the average production.
COUNTER MEASURES THREATENED £
! X Vienna. Dec 31.—Via London-7~Counter measures JL
| A :*y
; against the French are incourse of preparation in th*
4 Monte Tomba area, the war office announced. £
X RAILROAD INVESTIGATION RESUMED T
T. Washington, Dec. 31.—Investigation of the railroad H*
4* situation was resumed by the Senate Interstate Com A
J mcrce Committee to-day with Chairman Hall, of the J
4 Interstate Commerce Commission explaining-data show- 'JL
2' ing the financial condition and expenditures of the
4* carriers " L
•y *
FEDERAL HEARINGS THURSDAY |T
"* Washington, Dec. 31.—'The Federal Trade Commis
-4* sion .to-day announced that the open hearing on the
? II
,4* packing industry' will be conducted Thursday in Phila- X
* * delphia with Commissioner Victor Murdock presiding. *
I HENDRICKS TO MANAGE CARDINALS !jjt
€ * St. Louis, Mo.. Dec. 31.—Jack Hendricks, manager' of !* *
the Indianapolis Association team, to-day signed a con- '
II |
$ tract to manage the St. Louis Nationals next session. ,
4 ' ' L ,
. ■ _;,
? MARRIAGE LICENSES •!
1 • I
J, Or* ll W. l.miiliN, I'HUliuKh. null \iinn M. N|>nhr, Mrrtnnldi. :
liurm AU In W. >( nitil Kvn W Hiker, llnrrlHbuiKi (liurlra •. * '
llntlle and llrrthn Mi tlUlrr, I liirrlnliuric. | I
MILDER WEATHER
EXPECTED HERE
IN SEVERAL DAYS
Closing Month Proves to Jit-
Coldest of Any Decem
ber on Record
NO IMMEDIATE RELIEF
Much Trouble Experienced in
Keeping Homes Warm
and Pipes Open
"Tliere'.s a warm wave up in South
Dakota," consoled the weatherman,
i running: a trained finger over his
! map. "It was two degrees below
there yesterday morning and now it's
! '■ lo degrees above."
"You think that warm wave will
| hit the Susquehanna?" chattered the
| reporter from under the collar of
j his sweater.
"Xot to-day," ventured the weath
j ormau with a frozen smile. "It was
zero in llarrisburg at seven-thirty
this morning, and I should say it
would stay near there the rest of
the day. You see there's a cold
wave in ahead of that warm one, and
it doesn't seem to be moving very
] fast. However, it ought to be a O
little less chilly by this evening, ant'
[Continued on Page B.] I
Foresees Secession of m
Lower California^
San Francisco, Dec. 31. —Fielding
J. Stitson, a Los Angeles, capitalist, ■
announced here to-day he had been
advised that he was appointed
i "diplomatic representative at Wash- ■
ington" of Governor Kstaban Cantu, J
lof Lower California. "I believe,"
he said this foreshadows the seces
i sion of Lower California froiu H
i Mexico."
! Mr. Stitson refused to discuss liis
' announcement further than to say 1
; he was to meet hero to-day a per- ' I
[ sonal representative of Cantu and M
expected to receive from his con- fl
Ilrmation of his appointment.