New Peace Move Seen in Capital Washington
Dispatches from Washington report Germany's strength on the Franco British front at 154 divisions, near the peak reached last July. Withdrawals from Russia and drafts from younger reservists enable the Kaiser to replenish losses and aid Austria in Italy. Winter finds German forces facing the allies in France nearly as large as ever, hinting at a possible new peace proposal, though the allies are believed to hold superior numbers in France.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Germany
France
Russia
Italy
Gary hold ups net 310 700 and escape
Four men robbed Gary saloon keeper Michael Binzen of 10 700 after beating him and killing Spencer Tillman a porter who carried the currency in a leather satchel The bandits escaped in an automobile and failed to obtain 15 000 Binzen had concealed The holdup occurred in Gary Indiana amid Christmas shoppers Police with rivet guns pursued but made only a few arrests The event centered in the Gary business district with Italian looking suspects reported
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gary
Ind
Michael Binzen
Spencer Tillman
Binzen
BRINGS INVALIDS HOME FROM FRANCE
A British steamship docked at an Atlantic port on December 20 transferring 1,206 officers and men and 803 women and children invalided home from France for railway travel to Canada. Among them was American Captain Miller R. Taylor of Macon, Georgia, with his wife and baby daughter. the child was born in London during a German air raid on October 31.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Atlantic
Halifax
France
Canada
Miller R.taylor
Macon
Royal Flying Corps
London
Austro German Offensives Renewed On Italian Front
The Austro Germans mount renewed offensives to pierce the Italian line near Rasano and Venita with heavy fighting around Mont Asoleone. Ital ians retreat after large reinforcements arrive as more than 2,000 Italians are reported captured. Elsewhere, Piave river clashes continue with pontoon crossings, while Champagne and Swiss border sectors see increased artillery activity signaling impending attacks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Venita
Rasano
Mont Asoleone
Piave
Champagne
Babst replies to charge of C A Spreckels
In Washington on December 20 Earl D Babst president of the American Sugar Refining Co testified on the sugar price fixing for the Louisiana crop and the beet sugar during a eastern shortage He said he was at a conference with planters but left before price talks A planters committee later bought 26000 short tons of raw sugar and agreed to up to 100000 tons at 635 cents per pound He denied any understanding with officials that ships would not be requisitioned He noted beet sugar price set by the Food Administration had no effect on the east due to transport limits He defended the push for higher priced branded sugar noting profits were small and pledging broad distribution to aid a sugar shortage
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Senate
Earl D.babst
American Sugar Refining Company
East
Claus A. Spreckels
Spreckels
Babst
Louisiana
The
Food Administration
Reed
Rabst
Philadelphia Gets Daily Coal Supply for City
Washington reports arrangements to furnish Philadelphia a daily 15 000 ton supply of anthracite coal for households. Famine conditions were brought to attention by William Potter, Pennsylvania fuel administrator. Potter secured a promise to stop coal confiscations by Director Krusen. Transportation conditions are improving per A W Thompson, chair of the eastern railroads operating committee.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Philadelphia
Garfield
William Potter
Pennsylvania
Potter
Fuel Administration
Krusen
Department of Health and Charities
A. W. Thompson
General Operating Committee of
Eastern Railroads
Newspaper Man in Porto Rico Sent to Prison
Vincent Balbas editor of Revista de las Antillas was sentenced in San Juan to eight years and $4000 fine after being found guilty on four of five counts in a U S district court case. He is to be confined at Atlanta prison, the first federal prisoner sent outside the island. His articles asserted Porto Ricans had no wartime interest and that the call to the colors was illegal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Juan
Porto Rico
Vincent Balbas
Revista de Las Antillas
United States District Court
Balbas
Atlanta
German Language Ruling in Chicago Divorce Case
Judge Guerin ruled Mrs. Frederick Gelderman justified in refusing to live with her husband when he demanded residence at his parents home where only German was spoken. He dismissed Gelderman's divorce bill.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Guerin
Frederick Gelderman
Gelderman
Ship tonnage to stop shrinking under Allied naval effort
British naval expert Arthur Pollen, after six months in the United States, credits Allied counter submarine measures for halting global ship tonnage decline. He cites changes in British command, American navy participation, and the work of Admirals Sims Mayo and Benson plus Secretary Daniels in fostering professional, coordinated action.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Arthur Pollen
Europe
United States
Associated Press
Pallen
Pollen
Great Britain
U.S
Sims
Mayo
Benson
Daniels
Navy
Woolen uniforms sent, Baker says
Washington December 20 Secretary Baker stated that woolen uniforms are provided and either at corps and cantonments or en route. He outlined steps to improve health at training posts. Only one Tec hical Department recommendation was delayed pending decision on observation camps for new recruits for two weeks before joining companies.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Baker
War Department
Merchant Captains Told to Follow Naval Guidance
Washington reports the Commerce Department issued instructions to merchant officers to obey naval convoy and gun crew commanders when military necessity requires. The guidance preserves merchant captain authority on navigation and crew discipline and stresses strict discipline and sobriety during wartime.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Department of Commerce
Railroads Granted Slight Increases
Washington Dec. 20 The Interstate Commerce Commission has authorized railroads to file slightly increased class rates from Rochester Syracuse Albany El Mira NC Williamsport Scranton Cumberland Md and other eastern basic points to Central Freight Association territory. The proposed increases would equalize rates already in effect from Buffalo and progressing westward as allowed recently by the commission in the Central Freight Association class scale rates case.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Interstate Commerce Commission
Rochester
Syracuse
Albany
Elmira
N. C
Williamsport
Scranton
Cumberland
British ship losses total 18 in a week in December
London reports fourteen British merchantmen over 1,600 tons and three smaller vessels sunk by mines or submarines in the past week, plus one fishing vessel. Haig’s quiet front notes minor raids near Guemappé Arras and Avion with prisoners and machine guns captured, while C on the Western front reports bombardments and patrol encounters across multiple sectors.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Admiralty
Field Marshal Haig
Guemappe
Arras
Avion
Passchendaele
Fou
Ploegsteert
Polygon Wood
Ypres
Paris
War Office
Juvincourt
Courieres Wood
Champaigne
Hartmann
Weiler
Schoerholz
Woevere
Regneville
Dixmude
Merckem
Furnes
Mediation Board Leaves St Paul After Twin Cities Standoff
The federal mediation commission, after three days probing the Twin Cities labor dispute sparked by the state safety commission’s ban on union buttons for street car workers, departed for Washington without releasing findings. Secretary Wilson secured union leaders’ pledge to withhold the sympathetic stake order that could halt Twin City industries until the president and officials review the board’s forthcoming report.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
ST. Paul, Minn
Federal Mediation Commission
Twin Cities
State Safety Commission
Washington
Wilson
Mediation Board
Grain embargoes in West are lifted
Washington December 20 grain embargoes on corn and oats moving into and through the middle west were lifted by order of the food administration to ease eastern congestion and allow return of box cars. Millers warned not to ship more than needed or embargoes may be renewed. clear instruction followed by note of caution.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Middle West
Food Administration
Force Italians To Give Ground On One Sector
Headquartered in northern Italy on December 19 Associated Press reports extremely heavy fighting in the northern mountains and along the lower Piave. The enemy made five attempts to cross the Sile and pontoons bridge crossings were repulsed after fierce assaults. In the north the assault focused on the San Lorenzo pass and the Brenta river area where Italian lines fell back under heavy reinforcements as both sides fought to control a vital link to the plains.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Italy
Lower
Piave
Sile
Old Piave
Mer
San Lorenzo
Tyassano
Brenta
Costello details graft schemes against former Chief Healy
Chicago Dec 20 Tom Costello former police reporter testified in Healy graft trial that Costello ran a paying system for promotions and saloon protection. He claimed he funneled 13 900 to the chief for vice protection and license restoration, with a plan to promote 30 patrolmen for 250 each. A raid halted further payoffs and plans, with Costello noting a list of susceptible locations and bribe prices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Tom Costello
Charles Healy
Costello
Healy
Taft Calls for Large US Force Against German People
Former President Taft told a Boston banquet that the United States must fight not only the Kaiser and Prussian military power but the German people. He argued for sending five to seven million American soldiers to France to defeat Germany, claiming two million would be insufficient. He praised Germans who fled Bismarckian rule and joined the US.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston
United States
Taft
Associated Industries of
Massachusetts
Mr. Taft
Germany
France
Leniists Take Over Fleets In Petrograd Decree
A Reuters dispatch from Petrograd reports a decree transferring full fleet administration to central committees as Leniists seize control of naval forces.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Reuter
Petrograd
Turks Violated Church Treasure Seizure Reported in Jerusalem
An official dispatch from France claims Turkish forces mistreated Christian priests before surrendering Jerusalem, looted the Church of the Holy Sepulchre treasure valued in the millions, and sent the Ostensory of brilliants to Berlin. Monsignor Camassei may have been deposed. Father Piccardo died from brutalities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
France
Jerusalem
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Berlin
Monsignor
Camassei
Piccardo
Musselmans
Asia Minor
Aleppo
Shipping Board prepares data for senate inquiry on shipbuilding
Washington December 20 shipping board officials gathered data on shipbuilding progress for the senate commerce committee investigation. Senator Fletcher met with shipping board chairman Hurley and later with President Wilson. Hurley said the board welcomes a thorough inquiry and will show the program is not as entangled in difficulties as some lawmakers claim.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Shipping Board
Senate Commerce Committee
Fletcher
Hurley
The
Wilson
Congress
Cossacks occupy Rostov. Don Territory independence proposal
A Petrograd dispatch reports Cossacks seized Rostov on Monday. General Kaledines, Hetman of the Cossacks, offers to end civil strife with a plan granting Don Territory independence and non intervention by the maximalists.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Petrograd
Rostov
Kaledines
Don
Navy expansion and supply drive under Sims inquiry
Secretary Daniels described naval war prep, detailing hundreds of ships under construction and a large fleet in service. Admiral McGowan explained centralized purchasing, including seizing tin stocks to stabilize prices, and the bureau's broad supplier network. The hearing, led by a House sub committee, adjourned with no set resumption date.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Daniels
Navy Supply Department
McGowan
House
House Naval Committee
America
Naval Establishment
Bureau of Supplies and Accounts
Admiral McGowan
Navy
Army
United States
Lst
Marshall Field III Awarded Lieutenancy
Houston Texas December 20 Among many promotions to Illinois troops at Camp Logan announced was that of Marshall Field 11 who was advanced from a sergeant in the land field artillery to be first lieutenant Field enlisted soon after war was declared and soon after was named sergeant
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Houston
Texas
Illinois
Camp Logan
Marshall Field
Land Field Artillery
Also Mentioned on This Page
West Front
Waylay
British Steamer Docks
C. A. Spreckels
Medical Department
Interstate Commerce Board
ST. Paul
Food Board
Chicago Cour
Police Department
William Skidmore
Mike the Pike” Heitler
West Side
Civil Service Commission
Church OF Jerusalem
Turkey
Lye
Colorado
Montrose
Colo
J. H. Bush
John O. Bush
Ira
Bush
Commerce Committee
M’gowan
Britten
Department
Admiral Sims
Marshall Field III