eee ee JECLARES U-B0AT MENACE DOOMED Chairman Saunders Reaffirms Personal Belief Only EDISON SAYS NEWS TO HIM Naval Consulting Board Leader Says He Is Sure That American Inventive Genius Has Solved Problem. William L. Saunders, chairman of statement that%a plan of aggressive operation against U-boats that could break the menace had been developed, ) the naval consulting board, whose | caused differences of opinion to ‘be expressed by other members of the poard, explained his position more exactly and cleared up a misunder- standing that had resulted from his interview. He said he simply had stated his personal belief in the ability of re- cent invenfions used in conjunction with known agencies to put an end to the activity of German submiarines, and he reaffirmed this belief. Other members of the board con- tinued to disagree with Mr. Saunders’ opinion, but some of them admitted that new inventions that promised to be effective against submarines had |! been tested by committees of the board and, while they were not as op- timistic as Mr. Saunders, several of | them agreed that he might be justi- fied in his opinion, and that their own hopes had been raised by what had been accomplished through their ex- periments. Basing his opinion on his own knowledge, Mr. Saunders firmly be- lieves that inventions reported by members of the board to Washington after experimentation are sufficient, if used in connection with destroyers and other known agencies, to close | the northern exit of the North sea to submarines and bring to bear against U-boats an aggressive campaign that will exterminate them. Concerning operations against cen- ters of enemy strength located on land he also believes that the means for their destruction has been devel- ‘oped by American inventors .and scientists. ; For many weeks Thomas A. Edison, a member of the board, has denied himself to all interviewers. He has virtually locked himself in his iab- oratory, where he has. been studying a problem of which he has steadfast- ly refused to speak. It is known to be in connection, with the submarine question. However, he gave out the following statement to th® public: “The statement that the submarine question has been solved was news to Mr. Edison. He did not know that any such statement was to be issued, nor does he know how the question was to be settled, as there has not been a meeting of the board.” From this it is evident Mr. Edison is working independently on a device intended to combat the ‘subsea men- ace. It was recalled that on occasions when Mr. Edison has denied himself practically to the outer world such as lately that he has brought forth an astounding invention. Lawrence C. Addicks, who has charge of experiments with under- water devices to detect submarines, gave out this statement: «J fear some of the statements re- garding the naval consulting board may unwittingly give the wrong im- pression regarding progress made in combatting the submarine menace, and conclusions are likely to be drawn that the problem has been fully solved or given up as hopeless. seywhile it is evident specific infor: thation as to progress made would be contrary to public policy at this time. as chairman of the committee Of the board dealing specifically with the submarine menace, 1 feel justified in saying good and satisfactory progress has been made and that we have now under practical trial some novel de- vices of great promise.” SEEDS HELD FROM MARKET Speculators Said to Be Holding Great Quantities. Seed speculators in the United States are holding from the market enough seed to solve the food prob- lem confronting the allied nations at war against Germany. “he food situation in Great Britain and France is serious and growing in- creasingly serious,” said a government official. “Enough seeds are now being held up by speculators to turn the scale in the situation if the depart- gnent can get hold of them so that they may be planted at once. There are now in private holdings 200,000 bush- els of soy beans seed which if plant- ed now would grow a normal crop of 5,000,000 bushels of soy: beans.” HAITI PLANS WAR President of Republic Demands That Congress Make Hostile Declaration. President Artiguenave of Haiti has sent a message tO congress demand- ing a declaration of war against Ger- many and a commission has been appointed to consider the question. This action was taken in conse- quence of the fact that among the victims of the torpedoed French steamer Montreal were flve Haitien members of the crew and three Hal tien passengers. NEW COMMANDER OF DEPARTMENT OF EAST Photo by American Press Association. GENERAL J. FRANKLIN BELL. This is General Bell's latest photo. It shows him at his desk on Gover: nors island, N. Y., the day he took command. AR ENVOYS IN WRECK No One Injured When Special Train Leaves Track. The special train carrying the French war commission left the tracks at Arcola, Ill, a small station on the Terre Haute and Peoria rail- road, about twenty miles beyond Terre Haute, Ind. The envoys were considerably shak- en up but no one was injured. The cause of the wreck is not yet known. Pennsylvania railway employ- ees who made an examination of the wreck expressed the opinion that the cars were derailed accidentally. Secret service men, headed by Wil liam Nye, began an immediate investi gation. The train was speeding east- ward forty miles an hour. General Joffre and M. Viviani were at dinner when the crash came. The dishes on the table before them were hurled into their laps. Tribute Paid to Lincoln. Marshal Joffre, hero of the Marne, paid tribute to the memory of Lincoln at the emancipator’s tcmb in Spring field, Ill, and with others of the French commission received an enthusiastic welcome to the capital of Illinois. Marshal Joffre silently placed a wreath upon the Lincoln sar- cophagus. With bowed heads and doffed caps the French hero, Rene Viviani, vice president of the French council of ministers; and the military and civil officials who accompanied them, filed into the tomb, paid honor to the war president and left without a spoken word. Balfour Addresses House. Arthur J. Balfour, head of the war commission, addressed the house of representatives on Saturday. He spoke of the bond of sympathy be- tween the “greatest and the oldest of the free assemblies now governing great nations in the world,” the Amer- jcan congress and the British house of commons, of which he is a meln- per, and told his audience that in the common cause of the future peace of the world “we shall quer.” To the surprise of the house and the galleries, President Wilson ap- peared in the executive gallery to join in the demonstration accorded Mr. Balfour. Two precedents of a century and a half were broken. It was the first time in American history that a British official has been invited to address the house of representatives and the first time that a president of the United States has sat in the gal- lery. SLAVS SAY “FORCE PEACE” Belligerents’ Peoples Told They Can Do I1t—No Annexations on Program. A call to the people of all belliger- ents to force their nations to make peace has been issued by the Counci! of the Workmen’s and Soldiers’ Dele- gates in Petrograd. Peace should be made without annexation or the pay- ment of indemnities, declares the res- olution. The council also passed a resolution declaring that the government's ex- planatory note to the allies of Rus- sia’s note of May 1 will clearly out line the provisions under which the nation will accept peace. The ex- planatory note declares that Russia does not aim at the domination of other nations, but only seeks to es- tablish a lasting peace on the basis of the right of all nations to determine their destiny. ' The council passed a vote of con- fidence in the government by a ma- jority of 35. About 2,600 delegates voted. Austrians Advised to “Honor” U. S. Count von Tarnow, the wunre- ceived Austrian ambassador to the United States, ‘before sailing for his home land, issued farewell greetings to his countrymen here and advised to “honor the land whose hospitality they enjoy and in which they earn their livelihood.” since arta, — surely con- CONSCRIPTION PLAN GIVEN OU) First Force to Have 18,538 Officers, 528,659 Men BE NATIGN SPLIT IN DISTRICTS Pennsylvania Divided Between Third and Fourth While Ohio and West ‘ Virginia Makes Up Eighth. The war department for the first time announced the composition of the forthcoming army of 500,000 men, which is to be raised by conscription. The army will be composed of 126 commands. The composition follows: Sixteen infantry divisions of 913 ofe ficers and 27,245 men each. Sixteen divisional hospitals of 24 of- ficers and 238 men each. Seventy camp infirmaries, of two men each. Two cavalry divisions of 607 officers and 16,021 men each. Two divisional hospitals of 24 offi- cers and 238 men each. Coast artillery corps of 666 officers and 20,000 men. Medical corps of 288 officers and 1,000 men. Sixteen brigades of field artillery (heavy), 48 officers and 1,319 men each. Eight aeroplane squadrons of 10 offi cers and 154 men each. Right balloon companies of 19 offi- cers and 1f nen each. Ten field hospitals of 6 officers and 3 men each. Ten ambulance companies of 5 offi- cers and 150 men each. Twenty-two field bakeries of 1 offi- cer and 67 men each. Six telephone battalions of 10 offi- cers and 215 men each. Sixteen pack companies of 14 men each. Six ammunition trains of 4 officers and 852 men each. Six supply -trains (number of men not given). : Grand total, 18,638 officers and 528, 659 men. The 28,669 men in excess of the 500,000 represent the number of non- commissioned officers to be in the army. These, as well as the 18,538 of- ficers, are to be obtained from the regular army, the national guard and the officers’ reserve corps, and are to be in addition to the 500,000 enlisted. The departn:ent also announced that the nation had been divided into six- teen military districts, each of which will have to bear its share of the bur- den of raising the army under the con- scription measure. ~The separate dis- |g tricts will thereafter be required to furnish sufficient men from time to time to keep the divisions from each at full war strength. The Tenth, Eleventh, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-eighth con- gressional districts of Pennsylvania are in the Third district,. while the rest of Pennsylvania is in the Fourth. Ohio and West Virginia make up the Eighth district. EVERYBODY FARM Governor ‘Brumbaugh Declares Food Crisis Is Before Us. Governor Brumbaugh of Pennsyl- vania issued a proclamation ad- dressed to the public safety commit- tee calling on the people of the state to take steps to meet the food crisis and to mobilize workers on the farms. The governor says: “That we are facing a food crisis in this commonwealth and in the world cannot be disputed. That in the next thirty days the quantity of food possible for our people and for the nations of the world will be de- termined by the amount of soil plowed and seed planted, is apparent. “I therefore call upon you as a mem- ber of the state of local public safety committee to use your utmost en- deavors to mobilize upon the soil of Pennsylvania the largest possible army of industrial workers. “Let Pennsylvania answer the call of our government not only with its quota of troops, but with a full quota of food. This is our patriotic duty and these our days of opportunity.” The Land of the Kurds. Kurdistan appeals to the archaeol- ogist. It was ruled successively by the Persians, Macedonians, Parthians, Sas ganians and Romans and is exceeding- ly rich in antiquarian remains, most of which are still unexamined. The Kurds are a wild, pastoral, partly nomadic people, are mostly Mohammedans and are very hostile to Christians, their cruel massacre of the Armenians being only too well known. Kurdistan be- longs to both the Turkish and the Per- sian monarchies, though chiefly to the former.— London Chronicle. OkLject of the Visit. “Did the titled foreigner call on you to ask your consent to his marrige with your daughter?’ “I don’t think so,” replied Mr. Cum- rox. “My impression is that he came to look me over and decide whether I was sufficiently good form to be invited te the wedding.”—Washington Star. He Got the Job. «1 understand that you told my elerk were seeking employment?’ “Your clerk misinformed you. I told him I was looking for work.” spake off your coat.”—Houston Post BRITISH NAVY EXPERT HERE WITH WAR MISSION Photo by American Press Association. ADMIRAL DE CHAIR. Britain’s naval envoy, whose {full name and title is Sir Dudley R. S. de Chair, is fleet paymaster and is held in high esteem by the British ad- miralty as an authority on naval mat- ters. He is already popular with American navy officers with whom he has come in contact at Washington. A GENERAL SURVEY OF THE WAR The French have scored another brilliant gain northeast of Soissons. They are now masters of the ridge crowned by the Chemin-des-Dames, having smashed the Germans back over a front of eighteen miles. Pris- oners taken in this new offensive num- . ber 6,100. The battle is going on with great ferocity and the casualties are tremendous. - The British troops have reached Chaisy, crossed the Hindenburg line toward Reincourt and are reported to have taken Bullecourt, says Reuter’s correspondent at British headquarters. Canadian troops have captured Fres- ‘noy. “Righting was of terrible intensity throughout the day at the main points of the British attack,” says the corre- spondent. “The battling has been in 1 (places of ding-dong order, which rs it extremely difficult to define funtion, but-I-think it may cer- tainly be claimed as a successful day | for our gallant troops. The most con- spicuous gains have been on the flanks of the long front, while toward the center, up the valley of the Scarpe, we have made less progress owing to the intensity of concealed machine gun fire. “Despite the opposition of massed German forces the Canadian troops took Fresnoy. Oppy, however, still proved too strongly held to attempt to carry it by direct frontal. attack without courting a heavier casualty list than the enterprise warranted. The wood in front of the ruined vil- lage literally was infested with ma- chine guns.” : The taking of Fresnoy and the re- ported capture of Bullecourt indicates that the British troops have smashed their way through the Hindenburg line at two points twelve miles apart on the Arras battle front. Fresnoy is near the northern end and Bullecourt near the southern end of the Arras section of the Hindenburg line. The new British attack takes in vir- tually the entire front on which the battle of Arras was begun on Easter Monday and evidently is a major ope ation. It is the fourth great attack which the British have made along this line. General Gurka, Russian commander in the west, has issued an order de- claring that the fraternizing of Rus- sians with the enemy troops must be stopped. He declares that such fra- ternizing, which has become a com- mon practice, enables the enemy to learn Russian military dispositions and also, by causing a lull on the Rus- sian front, leaves the Germans free to concentrate forces against the British and French. General Gurka warns the troops that if the fighting comes to a stand- still in France the Germans will throw all their forces against the Russians, who, lulled by promises of peace, will not be in readiness to repel the at- tack. The transport Arcadian was sunk in the Mediterranean April 15 with a loss of 279 lives, according to an admiralty statement. The Arcadian was hit by a torpedo from a Teutonic U-boat and sank in five minutes. Socialist Against Root. Maurice Reinstein, member of the Socialist Labor party, is declared to be now on his way to Russia to offer protest to the people of that country against the acceptance of Elihu Root as head of a commission from the United States. 300 Americans Lost. Incomplete statistics show Ger- many had sunk or attempted to sink at least twenty-two American ships and has sacrificed over 300 American lives, including women and children, during the war. i ENGINEERS T0 FRONT AT ONCE! Force Is Ordered Recruited For Duty In France e——— NINE REGIMENTS ARE CALLED Preliminary Training Is Believed Un- necessary—Technical Men Wanted. Not Part of Army to Be Raised. The war department announced that orders had been sent out for the rais- ing of nine regiments of engineers for duty at the earliest possible moment on the communication lines in France. These troops will be in addition to the | forces contemplated in the administra- | tion’s army plans. Recruiting points will be New York city, St. Louis, Chicago, Boston, Pitts- burgh, Detroit, Atlanta, San Francisco and Philadelphia. The department’s lows: «The war department has sent out orders for the raising as rapidly as possible of nine additional regiments of engineers, which are destined to proceed to France at the earliest pos- sible moment for work on the lines of communication. It is requested of the press that no speculation or Tu- mors regarding this force be carried, other than that given out. All details regarding the force will be given out as fast as compatible with the best public interests.” It was explained that these en gineer forces were not in any way connected with the army organization planned by the war department and already made known. They represent an addition to the total military pre- paredness program upon which the country is now engaged. In effect the regiments will be additional technical units of the army which the adminis- tration bill authorizes the president to organize in whatever numbers and on whatever plans he deems best. The strength of an engineer regiment is approximately 2,000 men, which would make a total of 18,000 men to be as- sembled in the new force. As it is specified that the troops are for use on communication lines, pre- sumably on railways, highways and statement fol- telephone and telegraph lines, it is as- sumed that the men will be drawn as far as possible from railway employ- ees and the forces of the telegraph and telephone companies. Additional officers to supplement those detailed from the “active list of the army, or from the officers’ reserve corps, prob- ably would be sought among the en- gineers now engaged with work of the same character as that which the troops will be called upon to do in France. Rochambeau Just Missed. The liner Rochambeau, recently ar- rived at a French port, narrowly es- caped a torpedo fired by a submarine, according to one of her passengers. The torpedo passed a bare ten yards astern. The Rochambeau immediately fired a dozen shells at the submarine. Whether they found their mark is not known. LIVE STOCK AND GRAIN Pittsburgh, May 8. Butter—Prints, 43@43%ec; tubs, 42 @42%c. Eggs—Fresh, 38c. Cattle — Prime, $12@12.60; good, $11.25@11.75; tidy butchers, $10.50@ 11.25; fair, $9.50@10.25; common, $8 @9; heifers, $7@11; common to good fat bulls, $7@11; common to good fat cows, $5@9.50; fresh cows and spring: ers, $40@86. Sheep and Lambs—Prime wethers, $11@11.50; good mixed, $10@10.75; fair mixed, $9@9.75; culls and com- mon, $4.50@7; lambs, $14@17; veal calves, $13@13.50; heavy and thin calves, $6@10. Hogs—Prime heavy and heavy mixed, $15.75@15.80; mediums, $15.70 @15.75; heavy Yorkers, $156@15.65; light Yorkers, $14@14.25; pigs, $13@ 13.25; roughs, $14@14.75; stags, $12.50 @13. Cleveland, May 8. Hogs—Choice heavies, $15.90; good mixed, $15.75; Yorkers, $15.65; pigs, $13.25; roughs, $14; stags, $13. Cattle—Choice fat steers, $11.50@ 12; choice to fat steers, $10@10.50; good to choice butcher steers, $9.50@ 10; fair to good butcher steers, $8.26 @9.50; common to light steers, $7.50 @8.50; choice heifers, $9@10; light heifers, $6.50@8.50; good to choice butcher bulls, $8.50@10; bologna bulls, $7@8; good to choice cows, $8@9.60; common cows, $5@6; milch cows and springers, $60@90. Calves—Fair to good, $11.50@12; choice, $12.50@13; heavy and com- mon, $8@11. Clipped Sheep and Lambs—Good to choice lambs, $13@13.75; fair to good, | $12@13; culls and common, $9@11.50; good to choice wethers, $9@10; good to choice ewes, $8.50@9.50; culls and common, $7@8. Chicago, May 8. Hogs — Bulk, $15.40@15.70; light, $14.50@15.65; mixed, $15.156@15.70; heavy, $15.10@15.80; roughs, $15.10@ 15.30; pigs, $9.756@13.70. Cattle—Native beef cattle, $3.90@ 13.30; stockers and feeders, $7.15@10; cows and heifers, $6.26@11.10; calves, $8.76@13.26. Sheep and Lambs—Wethers, $11.25 @13.75; lambs, $13.560@17.65. Wheat—May, $2.83. Corn—May, $1.63%. Oats—May, 67%¢. KEYSTONE Pililiirns sasssw assil IEW i The Fayette county public safety committee announced in Uniontown that a carload of seed potatoes will be placed on sale at cost within a few days. A feature of the announce- ment is an order prohibiting the sale of the potatoes to farmers who have cash to pay for them. .Ici.ooTs of the committee say thai Lirmers who have the money can buy po t, the top price, while those who have no money will be able to get seed po tatoes from the commitiee on tac notes. In a fire that destroyed th~ir home at a hamlet near Berwick, two ¢! If ''n —Cora, aged six, and Ray, aged 1our- teen—of John Spinor were burned (Oo death. The father and five other chil dren were saved by jumps. 2.2 father is in the Berwick hospital, suf- fering from burns from which he can- not recover. The mother, who had been called to the bedside of her mother there, tollapsed when told of her children’s death, and is also in a serious condition at the Berwick hos- pital. Conductor William H. Collier, aged fifty, of Altoona, was killed and Brakeman William J. Waite, aged thirty-five, of Tyrone, miraculously es- caped death when their train, which was parted to examine the coupling knuckler of two cars in the yards, came together without warning, due to a misunderstanding of signs. Collier was squeezed to death. Waite was pushed aside when his conductor was caught. The fourth voluntary increase gra nted by the H ( Wriek Onl com- pany in the Conhelicvine wou aid fifteen months is in eficct today. It is a 10 per cent increase. The last in- crease given by the company was last December. The independent com- panies, who have always paid the scale, will also grant an increase of 10 per cent. About 40,000 coke work- ers are affected. The Pennsylvania state department of agriculture announced this week that from present indications the wheat production in Pennsylvania for 1917 will be 23,751,000 bushels, with the possibility of a greater total. Fig- ures show that the rye crop will at least equal the 4,495,400 bushels of 1916. Governor Brumbaugh of Pennsyl- vania has issued a stay of execution of Henry Ward Mottern and Ernest Haines, Jeffersén county, from the week of May 7 to the week of Sept. 10. It is stated that this action was taken because the supreme court au- thorized new trials. Facing a labor scarcity and realizing that conscription will further deplete their force the transit company, OD- erating electric lines between Blooms- burg, Berwick, Catawissa and Dan- ville, is advertising for women to be used as extra conductors. 5 The H. C. Frick Coke company an- nounced that thousands of vacant lots owned by the Frick works in Alle- gheny, Westmoreland and Fayette counties will be turned over to the general public for cultivation free of charge. Mayor Smith of Philadelphia is- sued a proclamation non tha sale of fireworks in Philadelphia. ne proclamation contained an order for the arrest of any persons discharging a firearm of any sort within the city limits. Harmon M. Kephart of Connellsville became state treasurer of Pennsyl- vania Monday, succeeding Robert K. Young of Wellsboro. The new state treasurer announced he will retain the entire office force for the present. Mayor C. E. Rhodes of Altoona has received $1,000 from a local business man, to be used for thé purchase of seed potatoes for those who are cul- tivating gardens but who cannot af- ford to pay the prevailing prices. Sale of fireworks for July 4 is to be prohibited in New Castle. This action is being taken as a safety first meas- ure in order that no explosions that might appear of an accidental char- acter may take place here. The Trades and Labor assembly of New Castle has notified the officers of the American Federation of Labor that it desires an effort to be made to have congress fix a maximum price at which all foodstuffs is to be sold. The Pennsylvania supreme court re- versed the Fayette county court, which some time ago appointed receivers for Josiah V. Thompson, and the case stands the same as prior to the re- ceivership proceedings. The Pittsburgh Steel company an- nounces a voluntary wage increase of 10 per cent. The increase affects all employees of the company, both in the general offices and the Monessen and Glassport plants. An order for twenty-uve cars uve ue all-steel F-25 type, especially adapted for gun truck service and moving armor plate, has been placed with the Pennsylvania railroad shops in Al- toona. Howard Heinz of Pittsburgh has been appointed director of the depart- ment of food supplies of the commit- tee on public safety for the co | wealth of Pennsylvania. | In a special order hauded down by Judge J. W. King, retail liquor deal- ers in Armstrong couniy were dis | zected not to sell any bottle goods. re Bt tsa ms ET ei i i 3 © 3 i &
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers