davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09

Barrow, England, Dec. s.-Wrapped
in flames and with the sea about her
ablazs from the cargo Of gasolene she
was carving, only two men of her
crew of thirty-six escaped death to-
day when the British steamer Vedra
piled on the shore near Barrow in a
heavy gale and broke up and was con-
sumed.
The two men rescued were severely
burned while swimming through the
flaming sea to tug. majority OF
the crew were trapped in the forecas-
tie of the Vedra and persisted there.
but many were burned to death in the
water. which was ablaze about them
with the escaping oil before they could
swim out of danger or be rescued.
So suddenly did the fire break out
when the vessel grounded that only
four of the ships company had time
to reach her weather side. These were
the chief engineer and three sailors.
Their predicament, however, was al
most as bad as that Of the others on
board who were unable to reach van
tage point, for hardly had the vessel
touched bottom when the jagged rocks
ferdam containing the oil.
Flowing in a torrent from the rent
in the cofferdam the gasolene invaded
the engine room, and in second had
ipnited and spread to all parts of the
doomed vessel and also poured through
rents in the hull to the sea outside,
soon converting the waves into roar
ing prairie fire.
Reaching the weather side of the
vessel the chief engineer gave the
three seamen with him lifebelts he had
picked up in his flight, and, mounting
the rail, plunged hesdlong into the
sea, trusting to his ability as swim
mer to reach a nearby tug which was
endeavoring 70 pull off the Vedra. The
engineer had only taken two or three
strokes when a huge wave picked him
UP and dashed him against the side OF
the steamer, killing him.
Two Of the seamen Immediately fol-
lowed the engineer and swan until
they were picked up, but in doing so
were badly burned. The other seaman,
unable TO swim, feared to take the
plunge and was burned to death where
he stood 8,
Meanwhile a number of lifeboats had
Coma upon the scene, but the blazing
water kept them from the ships side
and made it impossible for them to
give aid to the men imprisoned in the
forecastle, whose screams could be
heard above the roar of the flames:
The Vedra, which was bound from
Port Arthur, Tex, for London, is
total loss She was commanded by
CAPTAIN Brewster and was owned by
the Associated Oil Carriers Company,
of London.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
PLEA DENOUNCES
Aid TO GERMANY
Fuller and Coudert Say
Move to Stop Sale of Arms
Is Hostile Neutrality"

Paul Fuller and Frederic R. Coudert
united yesterday in an appeal to the
American people on behalf Of Belgium
and urged "every citizen who abhors
oppression and loves honorable peace"
to protest to Congress against this
projected injustice" which they de-
scribed as follows:
"Our country has proclaimed its neu-
trality, properly and prudently seeking
TO hold its people back from entry into
this terrible conflict of arms. But our
Congress, assembled yesterday in
Washington, is asked by two German
American representatives-Mr. Voll-
mer, Of Iowa, and Mr.. Bartholdt, of
Missouri-to pass laws prohibiting the
export of arms and ammunition intend
ed to help Belgium. This is not neu-
trality. unless it be a new category
which must be known as hostile neu-
trality.
Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska, has
asked the Senate to pass a similar law,
and his excuse is that though the eX-
1ort of arms and ammunition is equally
free TO her assailant, Germany, Ger
many's fleet is insufficient to protect
the arms and ammunition so shipped
from capture on the high seas. This
means that a Senator of the United
States asks this country to assist Ger
many TO overcome this disadvantage
in which she stands as against the
Allies, who have come to the assistance
of Belgium"
BY all international law, the appeal
states, such action is violation OF
neutrality. Such prohibition as is pro-
posed is called direct aid to Bel
GUMS assailant.
I'm the interest of the neutrality
for which our country contends" the
appeal continues, "in defence of the
naturalization of smaller countries
such as Belgium, Luxembourg and Swift
zerland-such aid to Germany should
be withheld and a fair opportunity
given Belgium to protect her coast with
the submarines which we alone can
manufacture and which Germany dur
ing the time of profound peace pre-
pared and manufactured for an assault
upon neutral territory"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
GERMANS TAKE NO
BELCIAN'S FOOD
Supplies Sent to the Starv-
ing People Go to
Real Sufferers.
[By cabls 70 The Tribun.l

Rotterdam, Dec. S.-Absolute proc,
has been afforded that there 1. no truth
in the statement that the commission
for relief in Belgium has TO PERM,
the Germans TO appropriate even a Dor.
ton of the food which has been sen.
TO Belgium for the starving people. A
representative OF the commission Ia,
shown an actual letter in which Field
Marshal Won der Goltz has guaranteed
these goods immunity from requi,.
ton. Brand Whitlock, the American
Minister, has also telegrsphed from
Brussels:
81 can assure you that there is no
ground for the alarm reported in your
telegram that German soldiers billeted
in houses are fed with food provided
by our commission. IL is practically
impossible for our food 10 20 10 any
but the starving portion of the popula-
ton. The commission is anxious that
such false statements should be nailed
to the counter and that there will bs
no check to the flow of charity toward
feeding the 100000 Belgans nov in a
state of actual starvation"
A week ago the commission was in
terrible position. One hundred thou
sand tons of food had been collected
in America, but a sufficient part had
not arrived here. The food sent into
Belgium already had been exhausted,
and from some towns came the piteous
news that they had not even a single
days supply. The Dutch government
was so touched by the terrible tales Of
distress that it lent ten thousand
tons of wheat, which is now on the way
TO the starving people.
The situation is still further relieved
by the Germans agreeing 10 hand over
TO the commission half the food they
possess in Belgium, on condition that
the commission afterwsrd replace l.
The Germans are placing no tax on the
food and putting no difficulties in the
way of its distribution.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
THEATRE CROWD
SEES HER RESCUED
Woman Trying to Leap from
Doctors Window Says Man
Attacked Her.

A theatre crowd at the corner Of
Third av. and 156th St, out to seek air
and refreshments after the first act,
last night saw a real life thriller
staged on a second story window ledge.
A woman at house on the corner was
hanging over the street, screaming and
threatening to throw herself to the
sidewalk.
Three policemen rushed TO the build
ing. ran up the stairs, broke open a
door and dragged the woman back into
the room. She tainted and recovered
only after an ambulance surgeon ar
rived from Lebanon Hospital. She said
she was Mrs. Margaret Collins, OF 944
Prospect ST., Brooklyn.
Mrs. Collins said that in the subway
she got into conversation with man,
who, after some time in cafe, told
her he was a physician and wanted her
to see his new Office, and there attacked
her.
DR.. Walter s. Banner, in whose room
the woman was, was in the theatre
crowd that saw the rescue. de said
he knew Of no one who had key to
his office. The police found no sus-
picious persons about the building.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
RUSSIA'S WAR COST
NEAR BILLION MARK

Paris, Dec. s.-According to a Petro-
grad dispatch to the Havas Agency, the
Russian Minister Of Finance, in a re-
port appended to the 1915 budget, est-
mates the cost OF the war to Russia up
to the end of October, old style calen-
dar November 49,, as 1,7s5,000,O0O
rubles 1885,, 500 ,OO0). The expenses
have been met by various issues OF
short time bonds, treasury notes and
loans, totalling 1,s50,000,000 rubles
(s925, 100000.
Further issues, both interior and for
eign, will be made as the circun stances
require.
The Minister OF Finance states in a
memorandum accompanying the budget
that through the prohibition Of the
sale of alcoholic liquors the country
has been deprived Of one of its most
important sources Of revenue, bu. he is
convinced that the creative power OF
the sober Russian people applied to the
enormous natural riches OF the country
will enable future budgets TO be based
on new principles.
To secure funds necessary to conduct
the war, the minister declares, the gov
eminent will have to have recourse to
further credit operations, an increase
in the existing taxes and the creation
of frIsh imDosta
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
Germans Fail in Strategic
Plan, Russian Report Insists

London, Dec. 9.-The Petrograd cor
respondent of "The Morning Post" tele-
graphs the following;
ain to-day's official communique very
little indeed is said about Russian
successes, but great deal about the
enemy's strategic movements. The
whole appears intended to give the
public TO understand that the war has
entered on an entirely new phase, which
will entail corresponding changes IN
the disposition of the Russian forces,
and that these have saved the day, all
but lost TO them a fortnight ago.
"The Germans have entirely failed
10 realize the plan which brought them
back into Poland after their flight from
before Warsaw-that is TO say, they
have lost three weeks time and more
than 100000 lives. To save disaster at
the hands Of Russia the Germans, 1t is
now officially stated, moved up from the
western frontiers a force exceeding a
quarter of a million men, who were
thrown into the fighting line. After
the terrible defeat of a fortnight ago
these barely sufFiced TO save the Ger
mans from disaster 1t has not enabled
Germany 20 recapture the initiative,
which remains with Grand Duke Mich
olas."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
RUSSIANS LOSSES
FIXED AT 100000
MOraht, Berlin Expert,
Says Cars Army Is Di-
minished by Third.
LRy Cab. % The rrlbnne. ]

London, Dec. 9.-Major Moraht, mill
tary critic of the "Berliner Tageblatt,
announces that the Russian war plan
has completely failed. He says mod
ern warfare requires that operations
of great armies shall be carried out in
accordance with plans carefully pre-
pared beforehand, and adds that
"Moltke's genius has been preserved in
a series of plans" He remarks that
Moltke was always able to adapt him
self to altered circum stances, and con-
tends that Moltke's influence is re-
vealed in the Germans leadership in
Poland. The major asserts that Russia
conceived no plan of her own until the
end of four months of war, and, &C.
cording to him, this plan was of abso-
lutely no avail, for it was not evolved
by master mind.
The consequence is, he states, that
the Russian armies have had to dance
to a tune set by superior German
strategists.
Major Moraht informs his readers
that up to the present the Germans and
Austrians have taken 100000 unwound-
ed Russian prisoners, and that on a
low estimate 100000 Russian soldiers
have been killed or wounded, and that
about 100000 Russian soldiers have
been sent home i'll owing to the I'M
sanitary condition of the armies.
'The German General Won Janson, it
appears, calculates that the full war
strength of the Russian army is about
100000 men, while General Won Blume
estimates the full war strength of Rus
sian field and reserve formations at
3,650,000 men. Major Moraht is in
clined to believe the latter's estimate is
more correct, and he says that, even if
this is the case, the Russians have al
ready lost S3 per cent of their fight
ing forces.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
RHODES SCHOLARS
AIDING IN RELIEF

Rotterdam, Dec. S.-The Rhodes
scholars from Oxford University who
were sent to the Continent TO assist in
the work Of the American Relief Com
mission in Belgium left Rotterdam to-
day for the various districts TO which
they have been assigned.
Cardinal MERCER, Primate Of Bel
GUM, has left for tour OF that coun-
try, for the purpose Of explaining to
plies of food are on the way, and 10
assure them that the American COM
mission will provide for the people as
long as is necessary.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
German Troops Brought to
Defence of Cracow Fortress

petroqrad. Dec. S.-The "Bourse Ga
,ot,o1 o1otes high authority to-day as
saving that the defence of Cracow, the
Celician stronghold, now being attacked
Inv the Russians, has been stitfened by
the addition of German troops to the
"Tbe German plan Of using only Ger
man troops in the northern campaign
along the Vistula River and OF sendlng
ali the Austrians TO the defence OF Ora
cow has been changed says this au-
thority. "The need of relnforcemenIs
caused the Germans to withdraw Aus
TRANS from Cracow to LODI. hence the
two armies are again mixed.
This same authority makes state
ment in line with the ofhcial commuhl-
cation of to-day which indicated thaV
the withdrawal of Russian troops from
LODI soon would be announced. He
saws that the Importance of LODI as
basis for military manpuvres has now
been lost, owing TO its position at the
point of an angle extending into terri
tory controlled by the enemy, and on
account of the difficulty of maintaining
4 -mmunications with the rear.
These circumstances, he adds, make
the continued occupation of LODI more
of a hindrance than a help, and when
active operations in that section are re-
sumed the Russian front probably VIII
be Strengthened.
The newspaper estimates the German
casualties in the month of fighting
around LODI at 100000, and says. the
percentage Of loss IS particularly high
among the commanding and commits
stoned officers. Even colonies, and oc--
casionally generals, it says, remained
on the firing line until they were able
10 escape only by means Of motor
cycles.
According 70 wounded German Off
GERS in the prison camp at BlelostoK,
Russia, a number of Turkish officers
arr serving in the Garman army IN
Poland. II is said that they have been
training in the German military schools
and were drafted on account Of the
lack of competent officers. Two TURK
ish officers who were sent from Con
stantinople to Berlin on mission In
connection with the shipment OF war
supplies are said to have been pressed
into the service in Poland.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
RUSSIA'S BUDGET
GIVES A SURPLUS

Petrograd, Dec. "a draft of re-
ceipts and expenditures for the Rus
sian Empire for the year 1915 has just
been made public. Ordinary receipts
are given at 3,080,108,3l4 rubles,
against 3,572, 169,47 rubles for the pre-
cedng year. Extraordinary receipts
are given at 1874, 200,100 rubles, against
Al, 490,925 rubles for the preceding year.
The total receipts are consequently es-
timated at 1924, 1903, Ala rubles (s1,617,-
154,207), against 3,613,669,398 rubles
Isl, 500, 1874 $500 for 1914.
Ordinary expenditures for 1915 are
placed at 3,O78,S14, 461 rubles, against
3,309 ,523,517 for 1914, and extraordi-
nary expenditures at 1855 ,493 ,953 rubles,
against 304 ,045,8S for 1914. The total
of expenditures is 3,234,30S,4i4 rubles
Isl ,617, 154,20O, against 1913, 569 1898
rubles (s1,S06, 7S4,69 in 1914.
The surplus of ordinary receipts for
the year 1915 over ordinary expendi-
lures is estimated at 1,293,S53 rubles
(S646,926), against a surplus of 262,-
645, 1856 rubles (S131 1922, 978) in 1914.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
HOSPITALS CALLED
SCANDAL TO CITY
Hebberd Assails OvercrOWding:
KingSbury Practice of
Double Charging.

The Hospital Saturday and Sunday
Association was entertained at the
Waldorf-Astoria last night by George
c. Boldt, who is one of the trustees
After welcoming the guests Mr.. Boldt
introduced Robert ELEPHANT, president
as POSTMASTER.
The speakers were John A. Kings
bury, Commissioner of Charities; DR.. s.
S. Goldwater, Commissioner of Health 4:
Robert w. Hebberd, secretary of the
State Board Of Charities; Mrs. Charles
Il. Alexander, president of the won
ans auxiliary; Mrs. James Speyer
treasurer of the women's fund, and T..
II. 0uterbridge.
Mr.. Hebberd said that while New
York had a greater congestion in pop
ulation and greater influx of immi-
grafton than any other city in the
world, it was far behind other great
cities in its public hospital beds.
For years" he said, conditions OF
overcrowding that have been a dis
grace to the city have existed in its
public hospitals. That these condi-
tions have not resulted in a public
scandal that would have been heard
from here to San Francisco is largely
due to the relief provided by private
hospitals and this association
Commissioner Kingsbury said he had
found ii was the practice in one hos
pital to charge a So ambulance fee to
both patient and city, and In another,
where patients paid for their own
rooms and private nurses, to collect
for them from the city as public
charges. while in many instances the
city was charged for persons who had
died.
Frederick d. Greene, secretary, re-
ported the receipts of the association
FOR the year as ,sl33,7Si 80. In 1910
the collections were slightly over $780,
600.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
RED CROSS SEALS RULES
Directions for Affixing Them
to Packages Issued.

Directions for using Red Cross
Christmas seals were issued yesterday,
as follows:
The seals should be placed on the re-
verse, not the address, side of Domestic
mail matter, though they may be placed
anywhere on packages going by ex-
press. Seals should not be placed over
strings with which packages are tied,
since this seals the package against in
spection and makes il first class mat
ter.
The seals may be used on the reverse
side of mail matter sent to foreign
countries except India, Australia,
Guatemala, Uruguay and Portugal.
They should not be placed on mail sent
to any of the belligerent European
countries. They may be used on the
face of checks, bills, legal documents
and any commercial paper.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
Flanders Towns Shelled
Constantly by Germans

by wireless va IcunDufgi y. ,.
Dunkirk (via London, Dec. 7 (de-
iayed).-A fresh battle has commenced
at Dixmude, both Pervyse ID Dixmude
being constantly shelled, and the roads
leading into these tow being under a
constant hail Of shrapnel.
A night attack is being made by the
Germans, and though the official re-
ports say little. the battle is being
waged as fercely as ever.
The German attack is the first strong
IL offensive movement by the enemy
for some weeks. The Germans sue
eeeded in bringing up fresh heavy guns.
They are now firing from range Of IS
Kilometres.
The constant night attacks have
caused the Germans further heavy
losses. The foo 8 form wellnigh i'm
passabIe barriers, and on each occasion
the Franco Belgian forces catch the
enemy in mid-water. Hundreds Of
dead bodies are floating on the water.
The Belgian army IL again bearing
the brunt Of these attacks. It's eff
cheney IL unimpaired. It's numbers
have been considerably strengthened,
and they continu5 10 play an important
part IN the struggle. which extends
from the sea 90 5 'tzcrland.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09

hurriedly brought forward in auto
mobiles.
Some Refuse to Leave.
Although the fighting in the region
of Arras has been going on for several
weeks, it is only within the last ten
days that the Germans have made the
tremendous effort which resulted in the
total destruction of the city. The pub
lie buildings and the cathedral are q
chaos of blackened stone and cinders
Eight hundred and forty houses, pri-
vate dwellings and factories have crum-
bled to the ground.
"A few inhabitants who refuse to
leave the city have sought refuge in
the cellars of their homes. As soon as
the bombardment dies down a little
these few hundred scurry after food
perhaps the hardest task Of all. Not a
single store is open; in fact, not a
dozen are left standing. IL is then a
wild hunt among the ruins Of what
was once a grocery or a wine shop, or
a mile fight TO the outskirts of the
city to the French lines, where the
troopers divide their food with the
unfortunates.
after o'clock Arras is desert
not living soul. not light. Gas
electricity, kerosene, are but remem-
brances. In their cellars, damp and
unlighted, the inhabitants listen to
walls crumbling overhead, and snatch
the few hours sleep which the Ger
mans leave them, for every half-hour
regularly a she'll is sent into the town
as a reminder of what daylight will
bring.
Bishop Sticks to Post.
"0ne man still watches and prays al
night in this city of death. The Bishop
Of Arras has refused to leave the ruins
of the cathedral, and with few planks
set against a piece of wall still stand
ing has built himself a shelter. He
has declared he will not leave until the
last of his flock has gone, and there
are still two or three hundred holding
him at his post. On Sunday, with the
aid of a few worshippers,.he cleared
away the ruins which had fallen be-
fore the altar Of roofess church, and
there said mass. Amid the charred
stones, burned chairs and benches q
dozen men and women wept, and then
sang the requiem of their destroyed
city and Of the hundreds Of their fell
low inhabitants buried benath its ruins.
"The burial grounds of Arras being
now a battlefield, the victims of the
bombardment were first Inferred in the
gardens and public squares. Finally
the fear of pestilence forced the in
habitants remaining to burn the bodies,
and the market place is now a huge
orematory. The bodies are placed be-
tween walls of cobblestones, and wood
is piled over them and set afre.
"All the water mains have been de-
stroyed, through the crumbling of the
street pavements under the shells, and
soon the Bishop and his flock will be
forced to leave Arras, whose smoking
ruins, raising themselves in the she'll
pierced sky, seem to cry for revenge
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
AVIATOR DROPS
BOMBS ON RHEIMS

Washington, Dec. s.-Rheims was
visited to-day by a German aviator,
who dropped three bombs upon the city,
Destroying property but injuring no
one, according to dispatches to the
French Embassy from the Foreign Of
fee TODAY.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
RUSSIANS LOSE
5000 in FIGHT
Continued from page 1

that German aviators, with headquar-
tsrs AT Czenstochowa, continue. TO drop
bombs on LODI. According, to the latest
reports. says the dispatch, the town
bsIl, three large factories and forty
ssvsn houses have been destroyed,
thirty persons have been killed and zoo
a Central News dispatch from Am
sterdam SAYS that, according TO mes
sage from Berlin, it is reported t'ere
that upward of 100000 prisoners were
taken by the Germans when they capt.
ured LODI. At.
News of the capture OF Lodz,. this
oesssoe saws. aroused extraordinary
enthusiasm at Berlin. The houses
there are decked with German and Aus
TRAN flags. No official report has yet
been received concerning the NUMBER
~ prisoners and guns captured.