29 Dec 1916
Page 1
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Newspaper
The Mobile Item
Location
Mobile, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 29, 1916
Page
1
The postponed meeting of the State Harbor Commission is set for Saturday morning at 10 o'clock with full membership expected. A joint conference with the city commission may occur to align harbor improvements for the Port of Mobile.
Commissioner Harry Pillans said no time was set for a conference. Dr A G Ward chair of the state board said conference would be after the board meeting. J C Rich chair of the Special committee said it would be before the board meeting. The Thursday meeting was postponed to Saturday for full attendance with Gordon Crawford of Birmingham and F C Blair of Tuscaloosa expected at tomorrow's session.
A special committee report will compare Buck's plan for Hieronymous docks with Nesbitt's telpher overhead railroad to connect sheds and Magnolia Cotton property. The Mobile State Harbor Commission deems the session the most important yet, aiming to place Mobile on par with other Gulf ports for shipping facilities.
The forecast calls for fair tonight and Saturday with colder temperatures. Minimum about 48 and a high near 68 with moderate north winds. A high barometer area brings unusually cold weather across the central U S and into Colorado and Montana.
Chicago dispatch reports the federal grand jury in the high cost of living inquiry will wrap up sessions today without issuing indictments. United States Attorney Charles F. Clyne states no indictments will be read.
Frederick L. Huidekoper, founder of the Army League, told the American Political Science Association in Cincinnati that historians and schoolbooks suppress disasters and blunders caused by a total absence of a proper military policy. He said the United States never had a true military policy apart from an untiring capacity for blundering.
American pianos gained rapid global popularity in 1916 with exports topping 10 800 units. Australia New Zealand and the Philippines led overseas buyers, with notable growth to Africa and Asia while wartime Europe imports declined.
John M. Johnson of Bridgeport Kentucky received a six month sentence from Recorder Edington for stealing copper wire from the Mobile Light and Railroad Company powerhouse. Police presented a strong case, with Johnson offering no contradiction. the theft is part of a spate of wire thefts locally.
Weather forecast for Mabamar and Mississippi notes colder air tonight with Saturday expected to be fair.
Children attended a vaudeville program featuring the Cawthon orchestra with Baby Kacy Cullinane Lena Brettel Gussie Jones Char ley Jones and the Vautrot sisters. Paddy Burns King of the Newsies sang solo while Kid Kyser and the Country Cyclone staged a boxing bout and Joe Danenberg with Gordon Brown danced. The youngsters found the menu equally tempting and ate heartily.
Report describes a community effort where Rotarians and the colored newsboys were remembered after a banquet. Worded as a scene with newsies watching from outside and boys sharing donated goods like turkey and Cracker Jack among recipients.
After the dinner the youths thanked chairman W. H. Monk Jr and committeemen W. H. Armbrecht E. J. Higgins Lester Carroll J. H. Glennon and J. H. Barncroft for arranging the affair. They then visited Christ Church Chapter House to view the Christmas tree.
The War Department recommended Ashley River improvement at Charleston South Carolina to Congress. A 24 foot depth with 200 foot width to a standard wharf at an estimated 200000 dollars for first construction and 10000 dollars yearly for maintenance. The project hinges on local half of the first cost and a suitable dredge material deposit site.
Mayor Harry Pillans received a letter from The Quarterly of Rio de Janeiro asking for views of Mobile night scenes in the business streets. The American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil publishes the paper. The city clerk will receive the views.
Forces under Villa have occupied Saltillo, capital of Coahuila, according to Villa partisans in El Paso, while Carranza officials deny the report. An official dispatch also says Villistas suffered several severe defeats in the north over the last two days.
Madrid reports a government vote reviewing Madrid policy since the sinking of the Isidoro in August 1915. It states Spain held it illegal to destroy prizes and urged adherence to the Declaration of London, especially article 59, objecting to submarines leaving crews to the waves far from land.
The note recalls Spain’s vigorous representations that surprised the Berlin government by its radical neutrality stance. It disputes the Central powers' interpretation of international law that allows destroying ships of nations that protest. It adds that steps are being taken to reduce risks to Spanish shipping in the future.
September notes in Madrid protest vigorous torpedoing of Spanish steamers by German U boats. By October Berlin offered limited guarantees for Spanish fruit ships to sail unmolested. In December Lerroux and the Republican party pressed bills to ban provisioning of German submarines by Spanish subjects and vessels.
Attorney General William L. Martin arrived unexpectedly this morning and eluded local officials. He checked into the Battle House and was said to plan a several day stay. He did not meet officials by 2 PM and was absent from the hotel, with rumors linking the visit to enforcement of prohibition laws.
Russian official report says a 35,000 strong German force attacked Russian lines in Amara region, central Romania, with fierce fighting continuing to evening. Russian and Romanian defenses repulsed attacks near Rimnik Sarat and Boldu while Austro German units push on the Moldavian frontier near Sezmez.
Berlin reports Teutonic troops seized several positions in Romania with 1,400 prisoners, 18 machine guns and three cannons. Wallachia advance reached 20 kilometres northwest of Rimnik Sarat, and Ratchelu in Dobrudja fell. Along the Russian front no major developments noted.
German troops launched a strong assault on a three kilometre front between Hill 304 and Dead Man hill northwest of Verdun. French infantry and machine guns halted the attack, only one French trench south of Dead Man hill being penetrated by a small number of enemy troops after heavy artillery preparation. A German reconnaissance east of Hardaumont north of Verdun was dispersed.
The British war office claims a squadron of seaplanes on Wednesday destroyed the Chicaldar bridge across the Darn ish an river. The bridge linked the Baghdad main line and the Syrian lines, and its loss would sever rail connections with western Asia Minor and hamstring Turkish supply centers for campaigns in the Caucasus Mesopotamia Palestine and Arabia.
Berlin reports on December 29 that German forces on the Verdun front moved from the Somme sector to seize Hill 304 and the southern slope of Dead Man Hill. They reached the second and third French positions, took seven machine guns, repelled several French counterattacks, and brought back 220 prisoners.
Tugboats will assist the schooner C. W. Mills ashore five miles east of Fort Morgan as soon as fog lifts. The Mills ran aground Tuesday night in dense fog and is in shallow water with no immediate danger. Salvage is expected to float her without major damage.
A German assault aimed at the French lines between Hill 304 and Dead Man hill near Verdun failed to break through. Meanwhile Mackensen drives toward the Sereth line in Moldavia, pushing Russians back toward Rimnik Sarat and near Braila as Danube actions continue, with Bulgarian and Turkish help threatening the Machin bridgehead.
Washington reports the mixed Mexican American joint commission will meet Tuesday to decide how to respond to General Carranza's appeal for changes to the Atlantic City protocol. Luis Cabrera delivered a new Mexican communication to Secretary Lane, and a possible immediate joint session could follow if the reply warrants serious consideration.
Secretary Lane reviewed Carranza's communication on withdrawing American troops from Mexico. The document remains private, but officials say Carranza's demand for retirement of U S forces is reduced due to the northern Mexican military situation, and he does not repudiate the Atlantic City protocol.
Two prominent Nuevo Laredo women applied for permission to move two boxes containing 125000 in Mexican gold to the American side. The applicants are said to be Mrs Jesusarranza and the wife of Governor Mireles of Coahuila. The request likely will be granted.
Texas Congressman Jeff McLemore accompanied by Mrs. McLemore arrived in Mobile Friday afternoon and is staying at the Cawthon Hotel. The couple plans to travel to Washington D C after several days in Mobile. McLemore maintains headquarters in Houston.
Chief of Police G M Van Liew is asked to locate Clifford Redding of 1534 Race Street Philadelphia Pa. The request from Mrs F Redding notes the youth is short and stout with light hair and blue eyes. He has been in the city for three months and often visited Port Arthur Texas.
London reports that after days of conferences the Entente reply to the German note is ready for transmission to all allies. Delivery is expected early next week in Paris. The note, debated for length and clarity, addresses differences in aims between the sides.
The article notes Alexandre Ribot, France’s finance minister, who represents the ministry in discussion. Optimism is shown that the reply will satisfy Washington, with a U.S. note expected to follow Germany’s response within days after the German reply is delivered.
Copenhagen dispatch reports Denmark Sweden and Norway sending a joint note to urge support for President Wilsons peace proposal. The message appears in the London telegram dated December 29 and continues on Page Two.
Publicity plan for Mardi Gras to spend 20000 to 25000 dollars is discussed as the Carnival Association publicity committee meets at the Tourist Welcome Club at five this afternoon. Advertising contracts will be placed and campaigns to run by January 15 with messages urging cities from St. Louis to Jacksonville to visit Mobile for Mardi Gras. The effort includes promotions at the big land show in Mobile and aims to extend outreach beyond prior years under the slogan Make Mobile's Gras Grow.
A new group named the Pitt Funny Fellows has formed at the Battle House with fifteen members. They will assist the carnival committee in the 1917 Mardi Gras preparations, focusing on individual masking and public appearances beginning next week.
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