/ . • • ; • ... i w : VIGIIT EXTRA— Germans Refuse to Consider Proposed Armistice— f ' E KTEA HARRISBURG llSpfe TELEGRAPH M Star-3n&cpcn&cnt & J LXXXVII No. 50 14 PAGES TEN SURVIVORS OF NAVAL TUG CHEROKEE SAVED FROM RAFT GERMANY REFUSES ARMISTICE; BA TTLE HUN HORDE Despite Chancellor Von Hertling's Declaration That Germany's Intentions in East Are Not Aggression and Aggrandizement, Teuton Military Authorities Push To ward Russia's Capital; Uncertain Who Holds Pskov; Russia Will Defend Coun try Against Huns, Is Official Message Given Oat By Associated Fress Washington, Feb. 27—Although Chancellor von Hertling has declared Germany's inten tions in the cast were not aggression and aggrandizement, German military authorities have declined to grant an armistice on the Russian front in view of the Bolshevik offer to accept peace and the German troops continue their onward march. The Bolsheviki are now bending every effort to save the revolution and Petrograd from the hands of the invaders. It is rumored that the Germans have reached Luga, midway between Pskov and Petrograd. This is unconfirmed as is a report that the enemy has advanced to a point half way between Luga and Pskov. Meanwhile, the street fighting in Pskov goes on, the city changing hands alternately. • Workmen and troops from Petrograd and troops from.Moscow are being sent to check or stop the advance on Petrograd. Women and men are busy building trenches and defensive positions around Petrograd. The Bolshevik government, it is declared, will retire to Moscow if the Ger mans take the capital. Disagreement in the Council of \\ orkmen s and Soldiers' Delegates is reported and it is added that Foreign Minister Trotzkv will quit the government. A provision government has been formed in Esthonia with headquarters at Reval and the independence of Esthonia has been proclaimed. Chancellor von Hertling said that Germany would give self-government to Courland and Lithuania, but itls reported from Switzerland that a Saxon prince is To be made king of Lithuania which will be united to Saxony. — i RUSSIA WILL MAKE DEFENSE OF PETROGRAD Resistance of German Hordes Becomes Principal Task of Revolutionists By Associated Press London, Feb. 27.—The Russian' revolution will defend itself against Germany, says an official Russian statement sent out by wireless and which announces Germany has re fused to grant an armistice. The an nouncement reads: "A peace delegation now is on the way to ISrest-Litovsk. We expect any moment news that it has arrived ; at the place appointed for peace ne gotiations, but there is no armistice. The German government has for- j mally refused an armistice and Ger man detachments continue to ad vance. "We are prepared to sign their | peace of usurpation. We have al-! ready declared this, but there are many indications that the German; [Continued on I*age 10.] Ships Officers Arrested in Pro-German Plot A Pacific Port, Feb.' 27.—The captain, chief engineer and purser of the steamship Centralla were or dered arrested vo-day by federal au thorites. it was announced, after an investigation of an alleged pro-Ger-, man plot to supply 'Germans in Uwer California and South arvl Central America and allegations that the men uttered pro-German senti-1 ments and attempted to obstruct operations of the selective draft. UERMAN PI,AXES INFERIOR fy Associated Press Washington, Feb. 27.—Captured German airplanes brought to this country for study by aviation experts revealed that the Germans are using materials very inferior to the stand ards set for American planes and ap parently are very short of spruce and linen. THE WEATHER Fr IlnrrlKhurg nnd vicinity* Parti) cloudy unri xliKhtly wnrmrr tu-nlttht nnd Tfcuriwlay; lowest temperature to-night •■bout 33 degrees. For Eastern Pennsylvania i Part ly cloudy nnd slightly nanarr to-night nnd Thursday; gentle west winds. 1 EVERY TIME you pass the post office I PUT A NICKEL in another pocket for a THRIFT STAMP iCST You won't miss it PSKOV IS TAKEN AND RETAKEN; SLAVS BATTLE Town Frequently Changes Hands While Ritter Fight ing Progresses By Associated I'rtss London, Feb. 27.—l.uga. lialf way between INknv and Petro grad. has been occupied by the Germans, according to an un confirmed minor, a Keuter dis patch from Petrograd saj S . London, Feb. 27. —It is uncertain whether the Germans or the Rus sians now hold Pskov. An Exchange Telegraph dispatch from Petrograd under Tuesday's datf, but bearing no ' time, says the Bolsheviki "announce Pskov has been recaptured. AU reports confirm the earlier statement that the town frequently changed hands. I Another Exchange Telegraph dis patch says BorisofT. CO miles north east of Minsk, has been captured by the Germans, and that Orsha and Smolensk, northeast of Minsk, are being evacuated. Fighting at Rostov-on-the-Don ceased Monday night. The Cossacks retired and are being pursued by [Continued on Page i:.] Leaky Gas Tube Causes Death of Two Children By Associated Press Philadelphia. Feb. 27.—A leaky gas lamp tube which had been mend -1 cd with wax caused the suffocation : here to-day of two children aged : three years and seven months, re spectively, and their father. They had been ill and the bodies were found by the children's grand mother. who went to their room to look after them. She arrived in time to find the mother alive, but the lat ter is in a critical condition. Dr. Royer Will Act as Health Commissioner Owing to necessities of adminis tration in the State Department of Health. Governor Brumbaugh will to-day name an acting commission er of health to serve until a succes sor to the late Commissioner Sam uel G. Dixon is appointed. There is no deputy commissioner and as the departmental system was centraliz ed the Governor to-day consulted with Attorney General Brown re garding what temporary arrange ments should be made. During | Commissioner Dixon's illness mem bers of the advisory board of the I department and division chiefs had j charge of various affairs. It is probable that Dr. B. F. Roy | or, chief medical inspector, who "is considered nc*t in authority will be selected as the temporary head. WILL. INCREASE TRAINING AHEAS By Associated Press Washington, Feb. 27.— Immediate j steps to reduce the number of colli sions by student aviators by spread | ing out the training areas are about to be taken by the War Department. HARRISBURG, PA.,WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 27, 1918 30 BELIEVED LOST WHEN NAVAL TUG j CHEROKEE SINKS , Ten Survivors Get Away on Raft Following a Fierce Gale By Associated Press i Washington. Feb. 27.—Thirty offi | cers and enlisted men of the naval j tug Cherokee are believed to have j been lost when the vessel foundered ! yesterday morning In a fierce gale j off Fenwick Island lightship, twen j ty-two miles from the Delaware ] Capes. i Ten survivors, who got away on I the first liferaft, were safely landed; four other men got away on another raft, but two were washed over ; board and drowned and the other two died, probably of exposure. The four bodies were taken into Phila i delphia. The Cherokee formerly was a tug ;of the Luekenbach Steamship Line i and not long ago was requisitioned : by the Government. Due to Broken (>ear According to the captain of the j rescue ship the loss of the Cherokee : was due. to a broken steering gear. ! The tug was proceeding southward | and while the gale was ttt its highest , the accident to the steering machin j'cry rendered her helpless. The waves hit her broadside and broke in the ! hatches. After this the Cherokee re . mained afloat only a short time, j Members of the crew took to the life [ rafts and the rescue ship sighted one 11 ot these to which twelve men were lashed. All but two were saved. An other ship, the captain reported, . picked up a raft with six men on it. All were dead, he said. Official Anuounrrmrnt The Navy pepartment made this announcement: "The Navy Department is advised s that the U. S. S. Cherokee, a Navy . I tug, foundered yesterday morning off , the Atlantic roast. Of the forty , aboard —five officers and thirty-five , enlisted men—ten had been landed at last accounts, these having been j taken to Philadelphia. Four dead j were picked up by steamships, i "The ten known survivors got [Continued on Page 12.] ; Epidemic of Smallpox Is Costing Much Money • j The epidemic of smallpox in the i city and Steelton is costing the ■I county about $350 weekly, according •! to an estimate made by the Direc- I ; tors of the Poor. Under the law the ■| county is required to keep families ■'under quarantine when the head of :|the household is not permitted to ■ | work. M At present twelve families are de i! pendent on the poor board for pro | visions and fuel. In one house in • | Steelton there are 53 persons under i■ quarantine. It is esUmated the cost of maintenance for one person for | one week is about $3.50, and with | 100 now under quarantine, the week -1 ;ly expense is $350 and the monthly j cost. SI4OO. . • Because of an excess supply of j potatoes the Poor Directors have : given GO bushels to the Industrial 'home and 40 bushels to the Nursery 1 home. FRENCH WOMEN AND CHILDREN PRISONERS OF GERMANS SENT HOME IN i i I. f ill These women and children were taken prisoner by German sol diers at the beginning of the war. They were recently returned home because there was no food for the m in Germany. The photograph was taken at Evian on Lake Gene va, where the prisoners had been delivered for return to their home s. VENERABLE HEAD 1 OF ARCHDIOCESE DEAD AT PHILA.j Archbishop Prcndergast Sue- i cumbs After Brave Fight For Life , . i AUCHBISHOP PIiENDEROAST i As Metropolitan of Pennsylvania. J Archbishop Prendergast was superior to five Suffragan Bishops, whose sees were in Pittsburgh, Scrantoji, Altoona and Harrisburg. Once seen. Arch bishop Prendergaat would never I>e , forgotten. He iwas probably the tall est prelate of the Catholic Church In this country. 1 Philadelphia, Feb. 27. Most ; Kev. Edmond Francis Prendergast, ' Archbishop of Philadelphia, the spir- ' itual head of 710,000 Roman Cath- , olics and of 779 priests, died at the ' archepiseopal residence, Logan I ' Square, at 8.25 last night. He'had j [Continual on Page 10.] Air Mail Service Will Begin April 15 as Part of Aviation Training Plan Washington, Feb. 27. —Airplane 1 service between New York and Washington will be in daily opera- ! tion beginning April 18, the Post | Office Department announced to- ' day. Eight machines will be fur- i nished by the War Department. By arrangement between Post master General Burleson and Secre tary Baker, aerial postal service will be conducted for one year as part I of the aviation training system of i the Army. The machines will be piloted by Army fliers. | One trip each way will be made except Sunday on a fixed schedule. I The flying time between New York ! and Washington is estimated at less ' than three hours, Including a stop- ! over to deliver mall at Philadelphia. ! The landing fields and hangars will , be located probably In Potomac Park I at Washington; League Island at i Philadelphia, and Van Rourtlandt Park or Mineola in New York. j EDWARD BAILEY RETIRES FRIDAY AS BANK HEAD George W. Heily Succeeds Him as President of the Harrisburg Trust Co. Edward Bailey will retire on the first of March as president of the Harrisburg Trust Company. This announcement was made to-day af ter a meeting of the board of direc tors. During the last two or three ytears Mr. Bailey has frequently ex pressed a desire to be relieved of the responsibilities of the head of this important institution, but was pre vailed upon to continue in the dis charge of the duties of \he presiden cy. He will remain as chairman of the board of directors, however, and maintain"his active interest in the affairs, of the trust company with which he has been identified for more than twenty-five years, his twenty-fifth anniversary as president having occurred on February 3rd of this year. He and Mr. Abraham Fortenbaugh. president of the Hali [Continued on Pape IC.] Americans Retaliate Against Hun Artillery; Dugout Is Demolished Py Associated Press With the American Army in France, Feb. 26.—The American ar tillery Monday retaliated against the German artillery which had been phelling them but which, despite the intensity of the lire did no damage and wounded only one man. The Americans began by shelling Montsec, where buildings were de stroyed. They also effectively shot up a large, working party in a dugout from which cries for help were heard. The enemy to-day concen trated his fire on a certain town within the American lines. The weather cleared to-day and there was much aerial activity. Sev eral fights in the air occurred over and behind the American line, and in addition the American anti-air craft guns were firing all day long. Enemy planes attacked a sausage balloon In which an American cap tain was acting aq observer. The bal loon was ha'uled down hurriedly without having been damaged. Gas attacks caught some Ameri cans before they were able to adjust their masks and others overcome while they were asleep in dugouts. Laßue's Last Chance to Escape Army Service Is Turned Down by President Samuel Laltue. of New Freedom, the York county farmer whose selective service act have attracted wide attention, now is in the Army to stick. * I.aßuo is undergoing some kind of training at Camp Meade suitable for "conscientious objectors" and with his last appeal thrown out will stay there until he goes to France or the war is over. URue's friends, disappointed by the failure of his ten appeals for exemption, to-day learned that the last straw has failed them. Presi dent Wilson has refused to Inter vene. Under the rules a drafted man may appeal In some instances to the President. The President yes terday Informed the district appeal board that their ruling sending LaKue to camp stands. TO REGISTER ALL EXCESS FLOUR IN FAMILY LARDERS Housewives Will Re Made to Tell of All Supplies Over Normal SITUATION BAD, 'TIS SAID Move Designed to Prevent Hoarding in Time of Dire Need Every Harrisburg housewife Will be required within a few dkys to register all flour she has on hand above her normal supply, it was learned to-day through the State Food Administration. Draetieo regulations affecting every householder in Pennsylvania aimed to prevent thfe hoarding of the npw precious wheat are to be expected in a short time, Howard Heinz, State Administrator, warned to-day. The action is along the line [Continued on Pajn? 10.] WILL WELCOME ~ BRITISH LABOR COMMISSIONERS Great Rally in Chestnut Street Auditorium to Hear Patri otic. Addresses of Visitors Samuel Gompers, head of the American Federation of Labor, last i evening notified H. M. Brooks, head of the Harrisburg Central Labor Un ion, that members of the English Labor Commission to the United States will be in Harrisburg March 8 and Mr. Brooks at once began to make arrangements for a big rally to be held in Chestnut Street Audi [ Continued on Page .] Three U. S. Soldiers Killed aad Others Are Injured by Poison Gas By Associated Press Washington, Feb. " 27.—Artillery bombardments on the western front have increased in intensity, espe cially in the Yores sector, along the Chemin-des-Dames and on both banks of the Meuse near Verdun. On the American sector northwest of Toul the Germans have attempted unsuccessfully to wipe out the Amer icans with flaming gas and gas shells. The Americans soldiers were killed in two such attacks and nine suffered seriously from the effects of the gas. The American artillery I i.-? Ehelling the enemy positions heav ily. No official recognition has yet been i taken of Chancellor von Hertling's speech. It is regarded in Wash- I ington, London and Paris as a war | speech and not a peace statement The chancellor's purpose, an official | of the' French foreign office says was | to separate the entente allies, stimu late peace talk and impress Germany and the outside world with the no tion that the military caste had lost its power. Belgium, It is declared, hardly will answer the chancellor's peace hint. / German submarines have not let up in their campaign against Span ish shipping. The steamer Negurf, of 1,859 tons, is the latest victim. She is the fifth Spaniard to be tor pedoed within Ave weeks. Canned Products Held For War Needs; Family ' Stocks Not Disturbed Washington, Feb. 27. —All c&n ners weqe advised to-day by the Food Administration to hold for war purposes until further advices, all ••anned corn, peas, tomatoep, string beans and salmon now on hand. Keports of such holdings must be made at once, separate from those to be submitted before March 15. Canners who have no stocks are re quired to report indicating this fact Quantities not wanted will be re leased promptly. Reassurance to householders that the Government has no intention of commandeering and canned goods, preserves, homo-grown food or usual stocks of provisions kept for family use, was given to-dtty in placards which he Food Administration will distribute to cvo — poet office and public library in the country. The placards were headed. "Do Not Be Fooled by the Lies of the Enemy." Single Copy, 2 Cents NIGHT EXTRA 1 LATE NEWS 1 ■. ■ ■ .. i 4j| * * ltd ] I ASK U* : ® * i 'X, * * M , , with Prince Frederic! 2 ' * Sj *, X' 1 P £ • t. • .'• > J IT* * 1 f . <4 1 1 f „ It * • x *§• x 1 i X * I 4 a £ J1 T the Hong Konp; jockey Club races Tuesday 100 women $ B * • 4 and children were trimi 4* ® p.j'-h from Honp Kon .tJ 5 w 4 London—According to the *s> 4 Company. H4 pcrvr.s 3re '■ 'in - ;t! •. Gir: Ja* X Castle. # 4 NEWPORT CASE POSTPONI ' S A ? llarrisburg-—The case of he Oak Extract Co:v 4; against ihc Newport and Shermans Valley Railroad d;d X £ not come up for a hearing before the Public Service. X jl reason s of counsel. • LE SUCCEEDS FATHER X 3} rnor Bruiijfbangh announced to-day T T " ' ;• i • "i~ Peace m £ b" the 2 *f* J v • • : tb' *l* . „ 4* ± i t "f *3* ejfe • m 4* ' * X X s ''' * • 1 a 4l ISIIa r. Hrown. Harrlaburs. ""