DECLIIETQ
WASHINGTON INSISTS THAT
HOLLAND MUST SEND FOR
THE GRAIN SHE NEEDS.
VESSELS ARE HELD BACK.
Netherlands Government Directs 'l hat
None Shall Sail tor United States—
Switzerland Meat Agreement Is
Cause for Much Surprise—To Sup
ply Germany With Cattle.
WASHINGTON, 1). C., June 15.—
While supplies of breadstuff's are be
ing accumulated at ports for trans
shipment to Holland and other neutral
nations of Europe in accordance with
the agreements entered into by this,
government, the war trade board has
decided not to release three additional
ships of the requisitioned fleet, as re
quested by the Dutch government, and
will insist that Holland send some of
the 400.000 tons of vessels now tied
up in its ports to get the grain.
The vessels which Holland may
send, however, will have free conduct,
and wdl be permited to return to heme
'caters. The government is anxious
to see that every promh-e made shall
be l;tpt and that the fail interests of
the rtutral nations shall be prolericd.
The government has made one con
cession by permitting three vessels of
the requisitioned fleet to sail for Hol
land with grain in order to meet the
immediate needs. Two of them are
carrying 8.000 tons of grain across the
Atlantic and another, the Hollandia, is
en route from Argentine to this coun
try, where she will add 500 tons of
giain to her present cargo of 5,500
tons. She will then be permitted to
continue her journey.
The war trade board does not feel
that it can release the additional ship
ping requested, as this would serve
further to reduce the tonnage immetk
lately available for the purposes of
this nation. The grain will be ready
if Holland decides to send the shipping
after it. About 15,000 tons have been
moved to embarkation ports, and at
least as mucn more win do on nano
by the time the vessels arrive here.
The government has promised Holland
100.00 tons, of which 50,000 will be ob
tained in the United States and 50,
000 tons in South America.
Provision also has been made to
meet the agreements made with Nor
way, Switzerland, and Sweden.
News of the proposed agreement
between Switzerland and Germany, by
which the former country is to supply
the central powers with from 15,000 to
17.000 head of cattle monthly, in re
turn for coal and other materials, was
received here with interest, but no of
ficial statement could be obtained.
If the French government protests,
as intimated, however, it seems cer
tain that this government will back it
up. There was nothing today to in
dicate that there might be serious
complications.
There was a good deal of doubt ex
pressed here that Switzerland would
be able to supply the central powers
with the number of cattle mentioned
in the proposed agreement, as its
herds have been depleted by slaught
ering because of the lack of fodder.
The Lnited States has not with
drawn from its policy of refusing to
license the export of fodder to the
neutral nation of Europe since it first
was adopted in July, 1017, and as aj
result no fodder has been shipped.
So far as Germany is concerned, the
move to force Switzerland to give
even this supply of cattle is seen here
as a desperate effort to obtain suffi
cient meats and fats for its troops!
and, if possible, to increase the ration1
of the civilian population, which has
now been cut down to about five j
ounces a week.
The Germans were able to maintain
a meat ration up to this time which
was sufficient to prevent unrest
among the people only by reason of
the fact that it was necessary to
slaughter large numbers of cattle not
only in the neutral nations but in Ger
GREAT MUNITIONS PLANTS ARE
BLOWN UP ANI) SHELLS DROP
OVER WIDE AREA.
FAMOUS CATHEDRAL IN RUINS.
Explosions Cause Fires in All Parts
of Stricken City and Devastation
Is Widespread—Generally Believed
That Explosions Instigated by Bol
sheviki.
AMSTERDAM, June 15.—Twelve
explosions of immense proportions
and twenty or more of lesser extent
occurred in munitions plants at Kiev,
June 8, according to information
reaching Amsterdam today. The ex
plosions caused the exploding shells
to fall in all directions all over the
city, and great damage has resulted,
chiefly from fires that originated from
the shells. The famous Scjerinetz
cathedral was almost entirely destroy
ed, many business structures were
either blown down or consumed by the
flames, and dozens of residences were
destroyed.
It is reported that the explosions j
were deliberately set off, as a result j
of Bolsheviki machinations against ■
the Ukraine leaders who are opposed
to German aggressions in the Ukraine!
country.
l';ev is the capital of the Ukraine!
and is the largest city in the prov- 1
ince.
SUMMARY: The allies’ strategy
and tenacity completely checkmated
the Germans, who have abandoned the
Aisne river drive without having se
riously affected the general situation.
It is believed that the next German
move will be made on the Picardy
front, a part of which is held by
American forces, in another attempt
to reach the channel ports.
In the Aisne drive, the Germans
trained 180 square miles of allied ter
ritory. The Huns made the poorest
showing in this drive than in any of
I ho rn-pcodinn- drivps
ONLY WITHAL.
She’s clumsy as a hippo. She
Has an ingrowing1 face;
And that’s the reason, seems to me. |
Her parents named her Grace.
many, as a result of the failure of the
German fodder crop and the restric-j
cions which have been kept in force by i
die United States. With this supply]
depleted and the neutral nations now
in possession only of such herds as are
needed for home consumption, the
outlook for the central powers is not j
n bright one.
One official pointed out today that l
the 15,000 head of cattle which Ger
many asked of Switzerland was in
’act but a small part of the meats j
which had been obtained from neutral
sources by the central powers before
che drastic action taken by the United
States was made effective. It has been
.-barged that great quantities of meats
im! fats in various forms had been
shipped into Germany.
Pending further developments, how
ever, no official here would comment
for publication on the situation which!
lias now been created, and it is not
probable that this government will i
take any steps to stop the consumma- j
tion of such an agreement at present.!
None of the neutral nations will re
ceive fodder, however, while there is j
the slightest danger that it might be !
used for the purpose of furthering the;
cause of the enemy.
THE HAGUE, June 14.—The Dutch
government has prohibited the sailing
of all Dutch steamships from Dutch
ports. Sailing vessels and coastal fish
ing craft are excepted from the rul
ing.
SUMMARY.—Not only have the Italian armies, aided by British^
;md French forces, held the Austro-Hungarian armies on a front 100
miles in length, as a result of yesterday’s terrific fighting, but they
have turned on their aggressors and arc regaining ground that was
lost in the early stages of the battle. Hard fighting all along the Ital
ian front continues with unabated fury today. Yesterday, the Austro
Hungarian forces captured Capo Sile, which is twenty miles from Ven
ice. Thus far, the Italian and allied forces have captured 4,500 Aus
trian and Hungarian soldiers, while the enemy claims the capture of
12,000 Italian and allied troops.
ALLIES START COUNTER OFFENSIVES.
ROME, June 18.—Italian forces, in conjunction with French and
British troops, have started a counter offensive against the Austro-Hun
garian armies on the Italian front. The counter movement has met
with partial successes thus far, rectifying the lines at several points
on the front.
AUSTRIANS THROW MILLION INTO BATTLE
PARIS, June 18.—Ninety-two Austrian divisions, consisting of
eighty divisions of infantry and twelve of cavalry, have been hurled
into the greatest battle Italy ever fought. Austrians comprise three
fourths of the Austrian army. The remaining one-fourth are Hungar
ians. The size of an Austrian division is unknown, but it is believed
that approximately one million men are in the Austrian army and par
ticipating in the offensive on the Italian front. Papers taken from
Austrian officers, taken captive by the Italians, show that the Austri
ans intended to cross the Piave river and reach the Treviso-Monte Bel
luna road on the tirst day. In two days’ lighting, the Austrians suc
ceeded in realizing only the minimum assigned for the first day„'s oper
ations, according to Rome dispatches.
CONFIDENT ITALIANS WILL HOLD.
ROME. June 18.—The JlHian armies are prepared to meet t the j
Austro-Hungarian offensive which has been launched. The people of
Italy are confident that the Italians will be able to break the blow di
rected against them, along the entire front. There is a feeling of tense
expectancy throughout the country. Women crowded the churches yes
terday offering u] supplications for victory for the Italian armies.
Throngs gat acred at houses of worship to pray for the success of the
troops. Many brought costly jewels as offerings.
ENEMY EMPLOYS HR EAT PIXCER MOVEMENT.
WASHINGTON, June 18.—Rome dispatches today say that the
battle on the Italian front will assume gigantic proportions. The Aus
1 ro-11 ungarian forces are attempting to break down the Italian defense!
by the great pineer movement. The lighting will continue several days j
before a decision is reached. Vienna claims the capture of 10.000 Brit- j
ish, French and Italian soldiers.
AUSTRIANS SUFFERING HEAVY LOSSES.
ITALIAN JI EA1 )QU ALTERS. June IS.—Bitter lighting eontin-1
lies today along the Piave river. Italian batteries are inflicting heavy |
losses on the Austrians. Italian infantry have repeatedly engaged in
counter attacks and have succeeded in killing large numbers of the en
emy.
AUSTRIANS CROSS PIAVE RIVER.
LONDON, June 18.-—Tin* Evening Standard says that the Aus-!
trian forces occupy lire west bank of the Piave river, from Goneglianoi
railway to Zenson Bend, a distance of a male and a half. Fourteen
bridges have been thrown across the river by tin* Austrian forces. These
eire under ;i heavy Italian fire.
REORGANIZING LINE FOLLOWING DEFEAT.
LONDON, June IS.—Official: The Austro-Hungarian forces.arc!
toda.x 'vorganizing their effectives along the front held by the British
in Italy following a severe defeat administered by the British forces. j
EMPEROR CHARLES AT THE FRONT.
AMSTERDAM, June 18.— Emperor Charles, of Austria-Hungary,
is with Jus.armies on the Italhm front., according to a dispatch from
Vienna. No German troops are employed on the Italian front, says the
dispatch.
GERMAN ARTILLERY ACTIVE
LONDON, June 18.—German artillery is active today along the
Ancre river, south of Albert.
EXPOSE REVEALS THAT AGENTS MADE
CONTRACTORS PAY COMMISSION FOR
OBTAINING CONTRACTS FROM U. S.
WASHINGTON, June 18.—Special agents of the department of
justice yesterday made a raid on the offices of hundreds of government
contractors and obtained several thousand letters and documents con
taining proof of an elaborate system of obtaining contracts on an illegal
contingent fee basis. Commissions paid on these contracts ranged from
5 to 25 per cent and the aggregate fees thus illegally obtained will prob
ably total a million dollars.
Hundreds of contracts from the government were made under
these arrangements. In certain cases, it is ascertained, the contractors
and manufacturers were threatened with being deprived of contracts
if they refused to negotiate with these'tigents, on the commission and
compensation plan. Some of the agents represented to the contractors
and manufacturers that they had influence over certain members of the
congress.
The contractors and manufacturers who were the victims of this
pernicious grafting system offer to assist the. government in stamping
out the illegal system and in bringing the illegal agents to the bar of
justice.
The expose is causing a big sensation in the national capital and
there is some talk of a congressional inquiry into the whole system of
letting government contracts.
*
AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE |
CAPTAINS ON ATLANTIC TO BE
GIVEN 25 PER CENT INCREASE
SHIPPING BOARD WILL PAY.
Due to German Submarine Menace on
American Side of Atlantic Ocean,
Masters of Vessels Privately Owned ;
and Operated Will Be Given More
Money.
WASHINGTON, June 18.—Due to
the German submarine menace off the
Atlantic coast, the United States ship
ping board, at a meeting held yester
day, decided to give a bonus amount-'
ing to a 25 per cent increase in the
salaries paid to officers of vessels of
American register, privately owned
and operated.
This bonus will hereafter apply to
all American vessels in the Atlantic
coastwise trade, and the West Indies
and South American trade.
Since the enemy submarines have
made their appearance on the Atlantic
coast, it is considered a grave risk to
ply vessels in the dangerous zones.
GERMAN COMMANDER IN UK
RAINE REPORTS ANNIHILA
TION OF RUSSIANS.
BATTLE WEST OF TAGANROG.
Hun Forces and Bolsheviki Red
Guards Engage in Desperate En
counter Near a Russian Port on the
Sea of Azov and Victory Goes to the
Invading Troops.
AMSTERDAM, June 15.—General j
Knoerzer, a telegram t< General
Eichorn, commander-in-cmei. the
i
German forces in Ukraine, reports
that an army of more' than 10,000
Bolsheviki red guards had been prac
tically annihilated one day last week
by German forces under his command.
The battle occurred west of Taganrog
and near a Russian port on the sea of
Azov.
The red guards sought to resist the
invasion of south Russia by Hun
troops and a terrific battle followed.
With the annihilation of the Bolshe
viki army participating in this battle,
General Knoerzer reports that there
is not likelihood of further opposition
from this source and that the German
aggressions may continue undisturbed.
went to front to
FIND HER HUSBAND
LONDON, June 15.—Three years
ago Lady Robert Sheffield Stuart
qualified as a hospital nurse and went;
to France, firm in the belief that her!
husband missing since the battle of;
Neuve Chappelle, was alive, and hope-j
ful that she might learn sows news of
him. He was a captain of the Royal
Scots Fusiliers and with four brother
officers was severely wounded. Cap
tain Stuart insisted that his comrades ;
should be removed before he was tak
en off the field, and when the stret
chei’-bearers returned for him he had
disappeared.
Lady Stuart made eager inquiries}
wherever her duties led, but her pa
tient quest thus far has been unre- i
warded, and the missing officer is j
now presumed to be dead. He was the i
heir of the Earl of Castlestewart, his |
elder brother, Viscount Stuart, having I
fallen at Loos.
A MILLIONAIRE.
A wealthy man is Oswald Rand,
Five years ago, they say;
He bought ten barrels of whisky and
He has the stuff today.
GENERAL VON HINDENBURG
NOT DEAD AS REPORTED BUT
IS SERIOUSLY ILL.
RESTS IN STRASSBURG CLINIC.
Disease Is Spreading Among Officers
and Men, Indirectly Owing to the
Destruction of Waterworks by Al
lied Aerial Bombardments in Towns
Behind Lines.
GENEVA, June 17.—According to
news which has reached Basle from
Berlin, Field Marshal von Hindenburg
is not dead, as reported, but in a seri
ous condition in a private clinic at
Strassburg, where he was brought by
train on a stretcher from the western
front, suffering from typhoid fever.
This disease is spreading among the
German officers and men, indirectly
owing to the destruction of water
works by allied aerial bombardments
in towns behind the German lines.
The Swiss papers remark that no
official mention of Hindenburg has
been made in the German press since
the beginning of April.
RECENT OFFENSIVE OF HUN AR
MIES RESULTS IN TREMEN
STOPPED BEFORE COMPEIGNE.
Took But Three Days for Allied Ar
mies to Mow Down One-Third of
Men Composing Crown Prince’s
Forces Employed in Abortive At
tempt to Reach French Metropolis.
PARIS, June 17.—Official: A third
uf the great German forces participat
ing in the recent offensive, who were
under the command of the German
crown prince, were killed in the first
three days of the vicious attacks by
the allied armies.
When one considers that the Ger
man forces, electrified by their form
er success in the year 1914, in reach
ing the Marne river, expected to over
whelm the allied armies and advance
along the road to Paris, passing
through the city of Compeigne, which
was their first objective, the import
ance of June 11, the date which the al
lied forces compelled them to halt, can
ae seen.
Allied commanders figure that the
next Hun offensive will be started on
the Arras front, occupied for the most
part by British forces under General
Haig. The allies are prepared to
meet the foe, no matter where he may
renew war operations. The halting *
of the Huns before the city of Com
peigne is evidence that allied resist
ance is strong enough to meet the en
emy, at any point on the front.
MUNITIONS MAN
UNDER SUSPICION
LONDON, June 15.—Charles Alfred
Vernon, employed in an important ca
pacity in the minister of munitions
iepartment, was arrested today,
charged with conspiring with Sir Jos
eph Jonas, to give important informa
ion to the Germans. Jonas was a for
mer lord mayor of Sheffield. He and
Vemon are alleged to be Sinn Fein
;rs.
HELP.
“I see that a man has produced a
stingelss bee,” said the Old Fogy, as
le looked up from his newspaper.
“Well,” commented the Grouch, “a
stingless bee might not produce any
more honey than the other kind, but
it would turn out to be improvement
in the end.”