davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
BRITISH REPLY
To PEACE NOTE
TO BE MADE IN HOUSE
BY PREMIER GEORGE
Will Be the Most Important
Utterance Since War Began
-Anxiously Awaited.

LONDON. Dec. Is. $50 p. m.-The
speech OF Premier Lloyd George in
the House OF Commons tomorrow is
looked forward to by the press and
public as the most important utter
ance of the kind since the memorable
speeches in which Fiscount Grey dis
cussed whether Great Britain would
come into the war. Mr.. Lloyd George
has recovered from his lndisposiIion
and was at work today. He will rise
TO address the commons tomorrow at
about four o'clock and probably will
speak for an hour and a half. The
prime minister's speech will be no:
only a reply to the German peace note
but also will outline the whole policy
Of the new national government. the
trend of which may be roughly antici-
pated from the fact that the new min
istry is avowedly in power, definite
object "of carrying on the war with
all the v.gor the: nation can command
to a successful end"
Today's news from government cir
cles included the announcement Of
the departure of Mr.. Balfour. the sec
retary for foreign affairs, for three
weeks vacation. Although his vacation
comes at an important juncture, the
organization Of the foreign office per
mits affairs to proceed uninterrupted
ly under the direction OF Lord Robert
Cecil and Baron Hardinge, the under
secretaries. while the larger questions
Of general policy doubtless will re-
ceiTe the attention Of the war cabinet,
over which the prime minister pre-
sides, Lord Curzon and Miner also
being members with wide diplomatic
experience.
It is recalled that Mr.. Balfour's des-
ignatlon as foreign minister met with
severe criticism from the Northclitfe
press and Lord Northcliffe himself
urged Mr.. Lloyd George to follow the
precedent of Lord Salisbury in direct
'ng foreign affairs as we'll as assuming
he premiership. While Mr.. BalfouR's
absence Is said to be due to indispo.
sItion following illness and there is no
suggestion OF its being prolonged be
yond three weeks. yet it has the ef-
feet Of leaving the shaping OF the lar
ger policies regarding the German note
and other foreign issues, largely IN
the hands o. the premier.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
COOK HOSPITAL AT
FA|RMONT BURNED
LOSS WILL AMOUNT
TO OVER $l25, 900
Iwenty-one Patients Rescued
With Difficulty y-One
Fireman Injured.

FAIRMONT. ". Va, Dec. IS
Twenty-one patients were rescued
with difficulty and one fireman was
injured during fire which practically
DESTROYED Cooks Hospital. 4 city in
sdtution here tonight. The patients
were removed to neighboring resi-
dences where they were cared Tor un'
til arrangements could be made 20
transfer them 10 other hospitals. Inc
destroyed building was valued at SZoO''
900.
Among the rescued were 20 women.
AS soon as the fire was discovered
rescuers rushed into the building anu
II persons were carried to safety.
Many Of the patients were taken to
the dormitory of the state Normal
where they are being kept until oth"'
arrangements can be made for their
removal. Others were carried INTO
neighboring residences.
The flames originated in an elevator
shaft on the fourth floor and are be,
lieved to have been caused by crossed
electric wires. Physicians tonight de-
clared the loss would not be less than
$125,000 The loss Is covered oy III
surance.
While the flames were raging a ru-
more was circulated that a woman pa
tient was still on the fourth floor. How
ard Woodward. aged %. a city fire
man. climbed a ladder and while
searching for her. the floor gave way,
throwing him to the floor below. Other
firemen rescued him and an eXamlna,
ton showed that he suffered cuts and
bruises and possibly internal injuries.
The hospital was founded II years
ago by DR.. John Il. Cook.
An investigation later disclosed tnat
the woman for whom Woodward was
searching had previously been res
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
WANTS VOTE ON
BILL
UNDERWOOD ASKS
FOR A REFERENDUM
Supporters Say 1t Will Carry
by Close Vote-Prohib.
Amendment Thursday.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Is. - Senator
| IJnderwood's amendment TO the Dis
trict of Columbia prohibition bill, pro-
viding for referendum 10 the .clti-
zens of the district, was debated at
length today by the senate without
reaching vote: Proponents OF the
referendum believe they have suf1i-
cient votes TO carry il through by a
close margin. A vote may be had TO-
morrow.
Before debate began on the refer.
endum the senate rejected by decided
majority Senator Smoot's substitute
facture or importation Of liquor, The
bill as il now stands would permit
importation of liquor for personal use.
while the district measure was under
discussion, on the floor, the judiciary
committee called a. special meeting
for Thursday to vote on reporting the
Joint resolution proposing Constitu-
tional amendment forbidding through
out the United States the manufacture
or sale of any kind Of alcoholic, malt
or spirituous liquors. Friends OF the
proposed amendment say il can De
| brought out of committee if MA.
jority will attend the meeting.
The house committee already has
ISpOI ltN FNuSll q l''S4NNtO'+'
Defends Referendum.
Senator Underwood occupied most
of the time today. defending the ref
erendum. He declared he believed it
within the power Of congress 10 pass
law whose operation would be de-
pendent on approval or disapproTal
! by the district and that the supreme
/ court has indicated in analogous cases
that this would not be considered a
determination Of the legislation func-
tion of congress. Senator Borah,
! Senator Sutherland and several others
iwere inclined to question this view.
The Alabama senator said he was op-
posed 10 woman suffrage but if the
! senate insisted he would support the
referendum amendment changed TO
INCLUDE all persons "regardless OF
Ise3."
Urging the referendum as Il fair
proposal Senator John Sharp Will
Iiiams of Mississippi declared himself
| in favor of an absolute prohibition bill
and announced incidentally that he
had crossed the Rubicon and had
determined never again to be a can
didate for the United States senate or
any other office"
The senator has just been reelected.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
NO W. VA. CONTESTS
IN NEXT CONGRESS

Special DispaIch Ia Tho In'cIIlrcnrcr.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Dec. Is
There are to be no contests over the
representation from West Virginia III
the house of representatives of tne
next congress. Senator Chiffon still
talks of making a contest against
Howard Sutherland. but ii is known
that he has been advised by members
of his own party not TO do so. There
was discussion on the part Of several
defeated candidates for seats in con-
gress regarding the filing of contests
with the house but it was stated today
that it has been definitely decided
there will be no contests. Represen'
tatives elect Neely. Bowers. Reed.
woodward, Cooper and Littlcpage. ell
shown to have been elected on the
face Of the returns. will be seated IN
the next congress without opposition.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
NATIONAL GUARD
A RANK FAILURE
GEN. WOOD SAYS THE
SYSTEM IS ALL WRONG
Not a Unit Fit for War Duty
-Favors Universal Train
ing and Big Army.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1S-The mob
ilization of the National Guard for bur
der service was described as a mill
tary failure. emphasizing the urgent
necessity Of abandoning the volun-
tccr system as the nations reliance Tor
defense In statements today by Major
General Hugh L. Scott, chief of staff,
of the army and Major-General Leon
ard Wood, commanding the eastern
department, before the Senate Sub
Committee considering the Chamber
lain Universal military training bill.
Both of the generals advocated uni
versal training. General WOOD declar'
ed that the country now was utterly
defenseless against a we'll organized
foe; that the mobilization was ] trag.
edy, and that If the suardSmen had
met good troops they would never
have known what hit them.
General Scott Told the committee
that lessons drawn from the present
war proved hat in case Of war with
a first class pOwe: the United States
would need Immediately a trained
force OF l,50D,0U0 men with another
SOC, OOu available within % days.
On the other side Of The question
the committee heard Walter l.. Fisher
of Chicago. former secretary OF the
interior, who opposed universal ser
vice though he stood for adequate de-
Tense measures and suggested a regu-
lar army of half a million. He thought
if the pay of privates were raised 10
$50 Il month the service would be more
attractive 10 recruits.
General Wood, from whose depart
ment went $4,000 Of the Guardsmen
sen, 10 the border. said Of the men
enrolled when the call came, an aver
age of 80 per cent Of each company
had TO be dropped for physical defecls S
and the organizations went 10 the DOT
der filled up with green men.
Worth All It Cost
''Hs been tragedy he said, but
worth all it cost if VIC only profit by
it. II was not the fault OF The Oil.
GERS or men but Of defective sTs'
tenn. IL We had been compelled 10
meet good troops down there, it would
have been n scene of Churnage. The
guardsmcn would never have known
what hit them.
What should we do with the Nation
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
ALLIES LOSE over
100000 MEN IN WAR

BERLIN, Dec. IS (by wireless to
! Sayville, y. " - The losses OF the
French army 10 date have been $500.
900 and Of the British 100000, ac
cording TO competent military author
ity," says an Overseas New Agency
statement today.
On the same authority, the. French
losses on the Somme up to the end
of November are estimated at not less
than 250.000 and those of the British
at $4,000. >.
The statement says:
! The total French loses since me
600 and the British losses 100000
, or altogether 100000. The figures
are based on most reliable data
| They do not include the losses OF
: the colored troops of both the French
. and British armies. but as these col
ored auxiliary troops are always USED
as much as possible in great attacks
the total Of French and British losses
probably is several hundred thousano
: higher.
! IN the engagements of the Somme
since July /; 140 French and British
divisions have been employed. These
were drawn from all parts Of ths
front from the ocean TO Switzerland
QS Va lHCSC Wv AStoAiSJ Ntb%A
short rests, returned twice or ever
three or four times to the front.
THE French losses on the Somme
iup to the end Of November are esti
mated as at least 250,000 and the Brit
! ish at $4,000 men. Thus the .tota
! of French and British losses on the
FSomme are conservatively estimated
as at least 100000 men. They. there
, fore exceed considerably the German
losses as estimated by Germany's
enemies at 100000 men. As a matter
; OF fact the German losses were much
less than 100000 men,. At the same
! time it must be taken into considera
! ton that about rs per cent OF all the
German wounded, after short time
are able TO return to the front, THANKS
! to the excellent medical care they re
ceive and the high standing Of Ge,
man Surgery" +"
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
FRENCH GAIN ON
VERDUN FROM I
CAPTURE 1000 MEN
AND OVER l07 CANNON
German Offensive Thrusts
Repulsed Germans and
Russians Gain In East.

The British prime minister Will re-
ply Tuesday afternoon In the House
of Commons TO the German peace
note, which had been transmitted by
the American ambassadors TO the Brit.
ish and French foreign Offices. and
also will outline the policy OF the new
government--a announcement 'tha'
will have a far.reaching effect on the
world war.
French troops have regained the en-
tire occupancy Of the Chambrettes
farm northeast of 'Verdun, and about
the center Of their advance of last
week. Prisoners taken In the latest
French thrust on the Verdun front
now total more than II 900, in addition
! 10 lis cannon and 107 machine guns
captured or destroyed.
Paris reports the repulse Of several
German offensive attempts in the
Somme region.
Unofficial estimates made in Berlin
places the losses of the French army
10 date at 3,S00.000 men and the Brit
ish losses at 100000. The Anglo
French losses on the Somme TO- the
end of November are estimated al
500 900, thej British share being 5oo'
600. The German losses on the Som
me are declared by the Germans To
have been less than 100000.
Maekensen Successful.
In the region of Buzeu. Berlin states
the soldiers of Field Marshal Won
Mackensen have been successful IN mi
nor engagements. Petrograd asserts
that in the region Of the F1llpecntl
railroad station, east Of Buzeu, hostlle
attacks were arrested.
The Babadagh- -Pecineaga line, about
40 miles north Of the TchernaVoaa,
Constanza Railway, has been crossed
by the Teutonic. troops, who now nave
taken virtually, all the ground they
held during their previous advance III
Northern Dobrudja. The advance In
Dobrudja brings the forces OF the
Central powers near the important
railroad and storage centers OF lDralla
and GalatZ.
ON the western Moidavian frontier
the Russians have taken two ridges OF
heights, according to Petrograd. one
ridge was in the Uzul Valley. and. tne
other east Of Glashutte, where more
than 200 prisoners were captured.
Except for the repulse OF the Rus
sian attacks by the Austro-G ermans
near Lutsk. in Volhynia, and near LDo
ron, in Galicia, there has been llttie
activity on!the other battle fronts.
Bt1tleship Damaged.
Berlin announces that French pat
tleship Of the Patrie class was Dam
aged heavily by torpedo from Ger
man submarine in the Mediterranean
!! sea on December 12, and that on the
previous day a French transport. car
rylng 1000 soldiers, was torpeooeo
fcouined on P.re rwelvs3
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
COAST HIT
BY A HEAVY STORM


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-A storm
moving northward along the Atlantic
coast tonight. left heavy SHOWS from
North Carolina to New York and will
continue north. the weather bureau
says, with snow, cold weather and
gales tomorrow.
The storm centered tonight off the
North Carolina coast, had travelled
from northeast Texas in twenty-four
hours, making a speed considered re,
markable by the weather sharps.
The cold snap which took temper:
atures 10 to 35 degrees below normal
over the whole country east of the
Rockies probably will last for several
days. The lowest temperature re
ported today was Is degrees below
zero at DEVILS Lake. N. D. a cold
wave was! forecast for the southeast,
ern states for tomorrow.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
DAY IN CONGRESS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s.-
SENATE.
Net at noon

het At noon
Military Affairs Eub-ooinmttteo
beran hearings on universal train
ing bill, Major Scott, army chief OF
stan, Recommending tho volunteer
system be d1sregarded.
Privileges and elections commit
teo named subcommittee to redraft
corrupt practices bill.
Joint subcommittee on public
lands began reconsideration Of oil
land leasing bill
Rerumed debate on District OF
Columbia prohibition bill.
Adjourned 1T $3.50 p. m. to noon
Tuesday.
Net at noon
Considered legislation on unGni-
nous consent calendar.
District Of Columbia appropria-
ton bill carrying Sl2,sa1, 100 favor
ably reported.
General Weaver, chief OF tho
coast artillery, testified before the
military affairs committee.
Adjourned at 4:57 p. m. to IL p
m. Tuesday.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
CORRUPT PRACTICE LAW
TO Be RE-DRAF TED

WASHINGTON. Dec. lS:--Aftcr nrlr1
considcration of senator Owens pol!ti-
cal corrupt practices bill and proposed
amendments. the senate Elections Com
mittee today appointed Senators Reed.
Walsh and Kenyon sub-committcc 20
redraft the measure and report 70 tne
Sen tc not later than January 3. Sena-
tor owen added to the array Of amend
rncnts ono to carry. out William Jen-
nlngs Bryans recent suggestion that the
government, publish pamphlet IN
Inticd snace to inform the people re-
gurding pending public questions.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
$4,000 TROOPS
COMING HOME
ORGANIZATIONS TO
MOVE IN THREE GROUPS
Muster Out Not to Be Con-
sidered Any Withdrawal
of Pershing sForce.

san ANTONIO. Tex. Dec. lS-Na'
tional Guard organizations .agsresrat'
ing 1G 900 troops today were Geslgnat'
ed ty General Funston 10 leave tne
border and return to their respective
states TO he mustered out OF the feder'
al service. He acted in compliance
with War Department instructions.
The troops designated include some
of. the units from The states OF Penn
svlvania. Michigan, Indiana. Missouri,
MARYLAND, Nebraska, Illinois. Iowa
New York. Wilconsin. virginia,
Minnesota. Kansas, North Dakota anu
Utah. .
The organizations will move home
ward in three groups 10 facilitate use
of rolling stock. Cars are now oelne
assembled for regiments lncluoed 10
the first group and the movements
from various border points WI peGin
in few days. General Funston eSll'
mated il would be January . before
all units in the last group had started'
The movement WAS. directed oF zen
cral Funston under authority OF gen
Department 10 reduce as he deems
hest the forces. of the National Guard
on The border. 1t involves 1851 men
which brings the strength OF mlllila
troops on the Mexican border TO !5,uop
men. The entire movement IS e1'
pected to be completed by January o.
Pershinq Not Affected
WASHINGTON, Dec. lS-lt was OF
ficially stated at the War Department
tonight that the order for the return
of 10000 National Guardsmen for mus
ter out of the federal service was 1ot
TO be construed as foreshaoo~lne q
movement out Of Mexico hy GeneFal
Pershing's column.
Officials also explained that force
of $1,000 guardsmen would De mann
laincd on the border until Persing was
withdrawn, and that today's order
merely was in pursuance of the pre-
yiouslv announced policy 10 reduce the
militia In the field 10 the minimum
necessary.
II is generally understood here that
when the expedition in Mexico is
Withdrawn the entire guard force Will
be returned 10 home points Tor muster
out.
General Pershing's withdrawal de-
nends largely upon the action or Gen
eral CarranZas on the agreement sub
mItted to him recently BY the MeNi'
can-American commissioners. when
authorizes a conditional recall of the
American troops in Mexico within ~
days from the. date it is signed by the
two governments.
Both state and war department Of
ficials tonight were still without lntor,
nation as 10 what action General Ca-:
rama has taken and until some indica,
tion OF his attitude is forthcoming. j
change in the policy of keeping Per.
ehing in Mexico is not expected.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
v, VA, Train ROBbER
JAILED At KEN0VA

HUNTINGTON. W. Va. Dec. ~
Postal authorities here believe II. Grady
Webb. the last IF quartet OF suspects
FOR whom federal officers have been
searching since the robbery Of a Balti-
more & Ohio train near Central. w. Va
October s 1915. Is under arrest ut kc-
nova, W Va. The prisoner gave his
name az Paul Shannon when taken into
Gust tody.
One hundred thousand dollars In un-
signed federal bank notes were taken.
while over 81 100000 III gold and ralu-
able registered mall was overlooked in
rho train robbery.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
THE WEATHER.

WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 1s.-
Forecast:
West Virginia-Fair Tuesday, es'
cest snow In the mountains; Wednes.
fair; little change In temperature.
ohlo-Fair Tuesday, except snow
near Lake Erie; Wednesday fair; little
change in temperature.
Western Pennsylvania-LocaI SHOWS
Tuesday; Wednesday probably fair;
little change in temperature.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
8UNNEI A TOTAL LOSS.

NEW YORK. Dec. ls.-The United
States army transport Sumner: which
xent aground on Barnegat. a. J.' q
week ago today. will be total loss IN
the opinion Of the officers Of the wreck.
ing steamer Rcsolutc. which returned
here tonight. The wrcckcrs. who dis,
continued their WORK last night. said
the next storm probably would destroy
the transport.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
co1DEsT 1N MINNESOTA.

DULUTH. Mimi. Dec. lS.-Ely was
the coolest spot in northern Minnesota 4
today. the mercury sinking TO 30 de,
grees below zel~. E.vcleth was second
with Is below. while Mt the state ex-
pertinent farm near Duluth it was q
below.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
rA1x DATES ANNOUNCED.
,c,,, D,sn,,ch tn ,h, Inlellirencer.

special Dispatch To The InlelEigencer.
CLARkSBURG. W. Va. Dec. 1S.-
Announcement was made today BY tho
West Virginia Fair association that It
had selected september TO- II. II and
13, 1917, for Its next annual fair.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
70 cEpE WEST 1npIHs.

COPENHAGEN. Dec. ~ (viu London.
6 p. M.).-Thc foreign office today pre-
sented to. parliament the dralt ol
rcsoIu,ion Tor the cession Of the Danish
West Indies 10 the United States.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
PRESS CONFERENCES REsU1uD.

NEW YORK. Dec. &.-Weekly con:
ferencps between President wilson ana
the washington correspondents were
resumed today after an interval Of moro
than year, - Z
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-19
Line Built IN 1905.


What is now the Steubenrille,
Wellsburg & Weirton Traction line
was built in two sections The first,
connecting Wellsburg and Steuben-
vile and passing through Follansbee,
was built in 1905. by West Virginia
corporation. the Tri-State Traction
company. Most Of the stock OF this
company was held by Washington.
Pa, parties. but the late D. ]. Sinclair.
Steubenville financier. and Cyrus Fer
Suson, prominent oil operator OF Holi-
days Cove, ". Va. were big share
holders.
The Tr-State Traction company
operated the Steubenville and Wells
burg line until 1911. when it sold out
TO the Steubenville. Wellsburg &
Weirton Traction company.
The line from Steubenrille to Weir
ton was built by this company In l9l |,
but largely through thc efforts. OF Mr..
Sinclair. of Steubenville. When the
new mill town in Hancock county
sprang into existence. Mr.. Sinclair. al.
ways interested in the development, OF
territory in West Virginia opposite his
home city. conceived the idea Of con-
meeting up this new territory with
Steubenville. by trolley. He succeed:
ed in interesting the now owners OF
the SteubenvilleWellsb line IN the
project and personally superintended
the construction Of the road.
important Connecting Link
1t was impossible last night to Oh
tain in this city any information aS
70 the future plans Of West Penn in.
terests regarding the newly acquired
line. The road. however, is an import
ant connecting link i'll the West Penn 8
system in this section Of he'Ohio Vai-
ley, joining. as it does in Welsburg.
ihe Panhandle traction line. which ID
4 part of the Wheeling traction system
owned by the West Penn. while IN
Steubenyille, connections can be made
with the. Steubenville-Mingo traction
line. owned by the West Penn.
The Panhandle tracks connect with
the Steubenrille. Wellsburg & Weir
ION line at Twenty-seventh street
Sellsburg, and the only thing neces
sary to operate through cars between
this city and Steubenville would be
the arrangement OF a schedule. Con
nections with the cars TO Weirton are
made at the West Virginia approach
To the Market Street tSteubenville)
bridge.
The Steubenville. Weilsburg and
Weirton Traction company, which HAS
operated the line since 1911, Is com
posed largely of Eastern capitalists
The company'S headquarters are IN
New York city. and D. C.. Morris, oi
that city is president.