St. John's Daily Star, 1917-12-27

              The St. John's Daily Star Vttw found land VOLUME 111. ($3.00 per Annum) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27,1917. (Price: One Cent.) No.  SNOW FALLING ON WEST FRONT IMPEDES OPERATIONS London, Dec. 26.—Losses to British shipping show material de- \ $■ crease for the past week. According to the Admiralty report to- | night, eleven British merchantmen of 1600 tons or over were sunk | pj during this period by mine or submarine, as well as one merchant j jjj ship under 1600 tons, and one fishing vessel. Big Decrease In Shipping Losses; Jellicoe Retires as First Sea Lord .f!.T..tl.T..^.y..T.»..^.^..^.'».if>.J».ill..lKJ»..ft.^j|i.li.'K3lliMt]|i3 London, Dec. 26.—Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss has been ap- j pointed First Sea Lord, in succession to Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, 3 according to an official announcement issued tonight. Admiral Jellicoe 3 has been elated to the peerage in recognition of his very distinguish- \ ed services, and the hope is expressed his experience may be utilized ] later in another post. DESPERATE STRUGGLE CONTINUES BETWEEN ITALIANS AND GERMANS MUST EITHER FIGHT OR RETURN HOME Arrangements Made by Allies Whereby Subjects Must Either Join Voluntarily or Return to Native Land MEW YORK, December 26—Plans for the conscription of British subjects in the United States were described here to-day by Sir Fred Edwin Smith, Attorney-General of Britain, who ar* rived in this country yesterday to lay vie matter before the Government at Washington. Arrangements to have British subjects of military age returned to the country of their origin unless they have already joined the military forces voluntarily, have already been made with virtually all of our Allies, After three years of war, Sir Frederick said, it was found there were thousands of Russian Jews in London who had not joined the English forces, and wouldn't return to Russia because thjey feared political persecution there. They were given the option of joining British forces or returning to Russia, despite the agitations they started, in fact the British Government had no choice, for public opinion absolutely refused to allow the forcible withdrawal of Englishmen from their business with aliens of military age, in a homely phrase, *stole their jobs,' he said. ■ «  The Argyle left Burin early yester:ay morning, going west. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. Italians Still Hold Teutons from Further Advance Towards Plains. Rome, Dec. 26.—The text of today's official report reads: The struggle on the Asiago Plateau was resumed at dawn yesterday. The enemy concentrated his efforts on our extreme right between Col del Rosso and Val Frenzola, but he was unable to advance beyond the dwelling of Sasso. Our Gostalunga and Monte Melago troops several times resumed their attacks on Col del Rosso and on_ Monte De Val Bella, which they recaptured but were unable to retain. In ttc afternoon the fighting diminished in intensity. On the left bank of the Bretna an attempted attack to the west of Ostili and on Osteria was promptly checked by our barrage. ■ » « Snow On West Front London, Dec. 26.—The war office statement issued this evening says: With the exception of hostile artillery actions in the neighborhood of Havrincourt and to the eastward of Ypres, there is nothing of interest to report. Snow has fallen along the whole front. Petrograd, Dec. 26.—1t is reported the German delegation that was expected at Petrograd on Thursday, is proceeding to Dvinsk instead, fearing that the visit to Petrograd would be misinterpreted. There is an unfacial report which cannot be confirmed, that the Russians have given the Germans 48 hours in which to accept or reject the Russian p«ace proposals. Guard at the entrance to devastated area in Halifax. STRIKES DELAY SHIPBUILDING Delays to Shipbuilding Due to Strikes, Equivalent to Half a Million Working Days. WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.—More than half a million working days, the equivalent of the labor of twenty thousand workmen for a solid month, have been lost to the Government's shipbuilding programme* through strikes and lockouts, R. B. Stevens, of the Shipping Board, today told the Senate Investigating Committee. A total of 536,992 working days were lost. This situation, however, is now much improved. On the Pacific Coast the Shipping Board has put in a uniform wage scale, and is arranging a similar scale in the East. Mr. Stevens said, to make the shipbuilding programme successful, we must double the numbeT of men engaged. There are now employed in the country's yards about 150,000 workers. "What are the prospects of getting these additional men?" asked Senator Harding. ■ "I think it can be done, and it must be done, if the programme is to go through," Stevens replied. "There are many industries from which men can be drawn and trained in a short time to make them good shipyard workers. The fact that there is a slowing up now in many industries, due to the war, is helping us in this respect." -* , To Extend Steel Schedule. New York, Dec. 26.—According to "Iron Age," the War Industries Board, after a conference on Saturday with the Federal Trade Commission, has recommended to President Wilson an indefinite extension after January Ist, of prices for steel promulgated late in September, and those built upon them in the past three months. It is expected, the periodical says, that the President will issue a proclamation shortly, extending the operation of the present schedule. Whether a definite period will be named remains to be seen. ■♦ i » Enforce Regulations. London, It is announced that the severest penalties will be enforced in cases of violation of regulations. Two days after the Halifax explosion, five men were brought in court at Nottingham, charged with a violation of the safety regulations in munition factories, though several Government officials were sent before the proceedings to warn the offenders that they would be dealt with more severely than heretofore. The number of persons employed at the largest works in this district is equal to the entire population of Halifax. ■ ♦ * After Deserters. Ottawa, Dec. 26.—An order in council, passed Dec. 24th, provides for the payment of a reward of ten dollars to any member of the civil police or any peace officer who arrests and delivers into military custody a man who is absent without leave from the military forces of Canada, through failure to comply with the Military Service Act. . The order in council also provides for the payment of expenses incurred in effecting arrest and while the deserter is in civil custody ■ >  Profiting By Example. London, Dec. 26.—The Halifax explosion has resulted in the adoption of much stricter regulations in connection with the maufacture and transport of explosives throughout Britain. THE MERCANTILE MARINE Submarines Parole Captains Merchantmen Instead of Making Prisoners London, December 26—The correspondent of The Associated Press says:, Commanders of German submarines no\. usually require captains of merchant vessels to give their parole instead of making the mprisoners as heretofore.According to the annual report of the London-American Trading Co., a large British shipping concern, when the men are paroled they can't re-enter the merchant marine during the war. The companies employing them give them half-pay until they obtain other employment. We have several captains in our employ who havye sunk more than, one German submarine, and a good many of our ships have had scraps with the enemy, says the report. Some have come home with holes in their funnels or sides, others have failed to return, but when ships have been torpedoed and gone down the survivors hurry back to the office of the firm, make a hasty report, and then ask merchantile shrdlu shrdl shrdlu hrdl cheerily "when is the next ship to be ready." That is the spirit of the mercantile marine. FIERCE FIGHTING CONTINUES. Desperate Battle Raged all Christmas Day On the Italian Front. Except on the Northern Italian front military operations continue far below normal. In France, where snow has fallen along the entire front, only bombardments are still raging. West of the Bretna, Dvina, on the Italian front, all Christmas Day fierce fighting continued. The battle raged throughout the morning with great violence. The Berlin war office admits that the Italians threw heavy counter-attacks against the invaders on the Col del Rosso and neighboring sectors, but asserts all of them broke down under heavy losses. • mm *  Soldiers* Vote No Conscription. Vancouver, Dec. 27.—A special despatch from Sydney, N.S.W., to The Vancouver World, says: The majority for anti-conscription is growing as late returns come in to be counted, with many places to be heard from. The majority in favor of no conscription stands at more than 160,000. The first returns from the soldiers' vote abroad, shows a substantial majority against conscription, contrary to all predictions. The fact is causing comment throughout Australia, and is giving the advocates, of voluntary enlistment much satisfaction. ■ t  Italian Shipping Losses. Rome, Dec. 27.—Losses to Italian shipping during the past week from submarines, were three steamers of more than 1500 tons*, two sailing vessels of more than a hundred tons, and one sailing vessel of less than 100 tons. Two steamers were damaged by torpedoes and were run ashore, while one sailing vessel was damaged, but was towed into port. —'. 1 » . British Steamer Wrecked. London, Dec. 27.—The British steamer City of Nagpur has been wrecked in Delago Bay, Portuguese East Africa, according to a despatch to The Times from Lisbon, the passengers numbering 259 were.saved as was the cargo. WANTED: A KING TO GOVERN POLAND Germany Wants a King for Poland, But Not Quite As Badly As She Needs Poles for Her Army. AMSTERDAM, Dec. 27.—1n an interview in The Vossiche Zeitung of Berljn concerning the selection of a leader for the new Kingdom of Poland, Prof. Kucharzevski, the Polish Premier, says: There is a strong leaning among certain classes for what might be called an Austro-Polish solution to the question, especially as the Poles are almost unanimous in their opinion that there is no member of the Polish sympathizers in Poland. There were many advocates of the plan of having the Emperor named King of the Country. On the other hand there are many thoughtful Poles who would prefer an independent Polish Kingdom with an Austrian archdue on the throne. We can't postpone the appointment of a King until a suitable basis of suffrage has been adopted. In the interests of the country, and particularly with a view to the establishment of a Polish army, we must undertake the choice of a King before that time, and afterward submit it to the approval of the Polish Parliament, to be created. KAISER HAD NARROW ESCAPE Train Left Station Only An Hour Before Allied Aviators Destroyed It By Bombs Geneva, December 26—The German Emperor returning with his staff from the Verdun front had a narrow escape duing the reprisal raid of the British air squadron on Mannheim on Christmas Eve, according to a despatch from Basel. Only about a nhour earlier the Emperor's special train left the station which was partly destroyed by bombs. A section of the tracks was torn up, cutting off communication North, in fact the Emperor's train was the last to leave the Mannheim, and no trains arrived at Basel yesterday from that city. Two bombs fell on the palace and one on the suspension bridge across the river; the structures were badly damaged. An ammunition factory in the Northern suburbs was blown up. Only a few were killed here, however, as the employees were having a holiday. A considerable number were killed or in jured within the town anr several were blown into the Rhine. Christmas in Germany Geneva, Dec. 27.—Features of the German Christmas, according to news from across the frontier, were women and children openly begging in the snow-covered streets for food to appease their hunger, and riots in some of the towns. Only the rich enjoyed a good but ordinary dinner, and for this they paid high prices, as much as five dollars. Most of the churches in Germany were closed owing to lack of coal. ■ ■ The Conscription Vote. Melbourne, Australia, Dec. 26. (via Reuters Ottawa Agency)—The latest figures in the referendum are 870,000 for and 1,050,000 against conscription, including the first returns from the Australian military forces, which, it is officially announced, are 17,000 for, and 23,000 against. • ♦ • French Shipping Losses. Paris, Dec. 27.—1n the week ending Dec. 22y one French steamer of more than 1600 tons, and one less than that tonnage were sunk by submarines or mines. No fishing vessels were lost. • ■.  Met No Success. Petrograd, Dec. 27.—The Peasant Delegation which went to Kiex to effect a compromise between the Bolsheviki authorities and the Ukraine Rada, report that they had no success. Admiral Jellicoe, who had performed notable service in the British Navy as Commander of the Atlantic and Home fleets, also as Second Sea Lord was made supreme commander of the Home fleet at the outbreak of the war. In the summer following the Jutland battle, a change was made, the First Sea Lord turning over the command of the Grand Fleet to Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty. Jellicoe is 58 years of age. CHAOTIC RUSSIA. British Sayt Russia Is Now Divided Into Three Republics. London, Dec. 26.—1n consequence of the postponement of peace negotiations at Brest Litovsk because the Germans were not ready to reply to the Russian terms, the Russian delegates are reported to be returning to Petrograd, where apparently they are expected to await the arrival of the delegation from enemy powers, which is to participate in a conference for a discussion of the political aspects of an eventual peace conference. The correspondent of The Morning Post at Petrograd, telegraphs that the British Ambassador, Sir George Buchanan, published on Sunday a statement refuting the charge of interference in the internal affairs of Russia, and adding, that as there are now three independent republics in Russia, it is difficult to avoid the appearance of having relations with more than one. —  TOBACCO A NECESSITY. Lord Rhondda Says Tobacco is Not a Luxury. Its Loss a National Misfortune. London, Dec. 11 (By Mail)— Tobacco is a necessity, not a luxury, declares Lord Rhondda, the Food Controller, in a statement published: "We must have tobacco," he said. "I believe that its loss would be a national misfortune. ■It means much. both to the manual laborer and to him who works with his brain. "Business men would eat a great deal more if they did not have tobacco. I hold that the deprivation of it would work great discomforts." Some system of "rationing tobacco, however, is forecasted by the newspapers.NEW RUSS. GOVERNMENT Russian Consul has Received News of Establishment of New Government Seattle, Wash., December 27—Nicholas Bogleiavensky, Russian Consul here, announced to day he had received a cable sent by way of India telling of the establishment of a new Russian Government at Veronege, the capital of the province of the same name, between Moscow and Roster, on the Azoy Sea. The cable did not say who led in the formation of the Government. The Consul asserted he believed the leaders in the movement were members of the Kerensky Provisional Government, who have fled from Petrograd. High Cost of Living. London (By Mail)—The cost or living in Britain has risen 106 per cent. since the war, according to official figures presented in the House of Commons.Tuesday's west bound express arrived at Port aux Basques at 6.35 p.m. yeterday. U.S. TO TAKE CONTROL OF ALL RAILROADS All Railroads in the United States WPI Be Operated by the Governmen. —McAdoo Director-Geneiri WASHINGTON, December 26—President Wilson announced to-day that he will assume possession and operation of every railroad in the Continental United States at noon, Friday, December 28trT. He has appointed Secretary McAdoo Director-General of Railroads. Secret tary McAdoo, whose appointment is made by formal proclamation, is expected to direct the unification and operation of the roads through their present managements. He will retain his place in .the Cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury. In a statement accompanying his proclamation, the President announced that when Congress re-assembled he would ask that define guarantee be given that railroad properties will be maintained in as good repair and complete equipment as when taken over, and the net operating income in each case shall equal the average net operating income of three years preceding June 30th, 1917. EXPLORER RETURNED Steffansen Reaches Fort Yukon From Trails in Arctic Regions since 1913 Seattle, December 26—The arrival of Vilhjalmur Steffansen at Fort Yukon apparently ends the voyage of Arctic exporation that began when he left Victoria, 8.C., July 17th, 1913, at the head of the Canadian Government expedition aboard the steamer Karluk. The fact that Steffansen arrived in Fort Yukon about ten miles inside the Arctic circle indicates that he did not complete his intended Eastward trip through the Northeast passage from Melville Island. Word was brought from the explorer in 1916, by Dr. R. M. Anderson, who was in the party when it I*ft Victoria, who said Steffansen hoped to reach the Atlantic Ocean late in 1917, and end his adventures with an ascent of the St. Lawrence . River to Montreal. His plans probably nere changed by the fact that ice broke late along the Arctic during the summer of 1917 and made navigation impossible. To reach Fort Yukon. Steffansen probably retraced his steps Trom Mel-*--ville Island Westward to the mou'h of the MacKenzie River, then over several hundred miles alone; a snow trail across Rat Portage and down Porcupine River to the fort at the junction of Porcupine and Yukon. Electric Power from Canada. Washington, Dec. 27.—Orders were, issued today that no new war contract! shall be placed before the War Industries Board, certifies that there is power sufficient for their manufacture in Buffalo. Formal assurances have been given the Canadian authorities, that approximately the one hundred thousand electric horsepower imported from * Canada, will be used only for manufacturing war products. i ; 1 ».i»-;  GENEROUS GIFT (Editor of The St. Jclin'a Daily Star) OIR,—This morning I received the following cable from the Prinre Minister, Sir Edward Morris, London: "Will Job sent mc Christmas box two thousand dollars from self and friends New York for comforts wound ed soldiers which I am distributing." I am sure the magnificent gift of Mr. W. C. Job will elicit the praise and approbation of every one interested in the boys of the Nfld.- Regiment. A? Sir Edward Morris says, he is looking after the distribution of the comforts to be provided by this sum which is an assurance that every one of the boys who is in hospital or wounded will participate. I am, yours faithfully, J. R. BENNETT, Minister of Militia, piiiiiiiiiiniiiiiniiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiNiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiill I WHAT SHALL WE GIVE JACK | I FOR CHRISTMAS? 1 I NOW is y°ur Chance | I OR You Will J I NEVER get the I I Opportunity to give j I the Boy a First-Class | I OVERCOAT I 9 Every Garment made from §§ EbGOOD MATERIAL and DEFY = y COMPETITION for FIT and | jj APPEARANCE. | tg Value Never Before Equalled, g I WE CAN FIT ANY BOY | I from 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 up to 1 I 18 and 20 years old. §§ I Prices Ranging from g I $6, $8, $10, $12 to $15 § 1 See Them and you will jj I Certainly Buy Them. 1 -j -Also Men's Tweed and Nap B j OVERCOATS 1 I from $10.00 to $25.00 ea. g IBOWRING BROS., LTD. I lllillillllllllllllllllllillHllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilliilllllllllillllll^.