davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
wHoLEsALe PRODUCE MARKET

BUTTER-Elsin print. t0>3ei EiEtn ube'
process. sses.e: store packed. sosce.
Eoos-NeArby. +s0ttc; southern. 800.
cHEEsE-Nsw York stats, factory. nsv.
fo92ie.
PoULTRY-Ilys hens. per h.. iIeisc; ross-
tiers. per h.. l29i1c; turkeys. per ib.; fsoi
spring chickens. per h.. iso2oo; ducks. Per
H.. Heise; geese. per ie.. bgise; keats.
young. each tsc.
DRESSED PoULTRY-Hsns. choice. per
h.. Ifoise; chickens, per H., is93oei turkeys.
per h., 2s91sc: ducks. per lb.. lsQ2oo; roos-
ters per lb., lbc, geese. 49, per ID.
GREEN fRUITs-Apples, new, Per bbl,
oranges, N0oq6.oo; Florida oranges. tlte
qs.0o boz; lemons. per box, ts.N1t.0o; pears
per box, 76cgtz. 10; sraps fruit. H.eo0AM
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MeCormiek. per
bbl., too0Ato; Western. per ~ bu. sack
st6o0%b; sweet potatoes. C.e9s.bo; string
beans. per basket. n,7S8.oo. psppsrs, per
crate. ts.ooos, %; esrrots per bunch: aossi
sCsscO: ,S,s sSSSmssr, @ ssss:! ss 3 9eSassi S.s
ssbogs,oo pet crate; new cabbage. u.to9tea
per doz.. S5cuu,0 70; romsine, lettuce. 81 cool. %
per basket; lettuce, 1Sca,.oo per basket cram
berries. per bbl.. tl6oQs,So: per boz. ti.sSo1So,
squash, Florida, u.6o62.oo per basket n.fs0
a.@ per crate; Florida tomatoes. S.oo0eoe per
DRESSED MEATs-Pork, small 10 medium.
Ib.. ice; heavy, lb.. ii9i2hc.
GAME-Rabbits. No. l, per doS.. 90;
No. 2. per doz.. N.sog2.oo.
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
EARLY TRADING RELATIVELY Y
TAME, PRICES UNSETTLED
Liquidation Develops and Car
ries GENERAL Level One or Two
Points Below Saturdays
close-Steels Fluctuate and
Copper Group 10 Under Pres
sure--War speciaIties IT.
regular.

0Ew YORK, Dec. 1S.-Todays
stock market In the first hour was
Q relatively tame affair with prices
unsettled. As the hour advanced con
siderable liquidation developed whioh
carried the general level one to two
points below the previous closing. "
9. Steel opened " to y lower, and re-
acted a point or so further to 112%,
thereafter moving closely around 113'
Lackawanna steel was over points
up in the initial transactions, but
lost all of this. gain by the END OF the
hour.
pressure, Anaconda reacting ". Utah
losing nearly 2 points, with lesser
losses in the rest OF that list; Centra,
Leather made an early gain OF =
points but later lost IL all.
The equipment and war spocialties
were highly irregular, American Loco
motive reacting more than points.
Crucible Steel receded fractt ttoneny
but Westinghouse and Pressed steel
Car made slight advances. The ship
ping shares sold about points low
er. The motor stocks were largely
In the speciality list u. s. Industrial
Alcohol lost points to ITO. Inter,
national Paper, which early advanced
nearly 2 points, reacted sharply TO Q
point or so below the Saturday CLOS
The railroad list was . fraction 70
point or more lower. Union Pacinc
lost a half. Reading sold about a
point down.
Tedsy's Qsetatiens.
Quotations today up to 1850 o'clock
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
MILITIAMEN ORDER
TURKEYS FOR XMAS
District Soldiers Will Enjoy
Real Dinner on the
Border.

LEON SPRINGS. Tex, Dec. 1S.-Just
before going into battle" today the
District militlamen made requisition
on the quartermaster at Fort Sam
Houston for 1900 pounds of turkey
for their Chr istmas dinner and then
sent their mesh sergeants to San An
tonic to purchase the "trimmings"
The citlxen- soldiers did not antici-
pate heavy casualties on their side,
and their confidence In this regard
represented by man-sized silhouette
targets, painted olive drab. which
bobbed up at unsuspected times and
as skirmishers over the neid. were
annihiiated. The militiamen used
ball ammunition and the battle prac-
tice was thoroughly realistic. The
S:. n tss :a' SIX per per cent
considered good In the regular army.
The District soldiers participated In
similar maneuvers yesterday, the
milItiamen being surprised ey S9ionsI
here. who unexpectedly ordered them
out TO repel an Imaginary attack on
Leon Springs.
The miiitiamen will leave here on
They will march all Wednesday night
and reach Camp Wilson at dawn
announcement vas made today that
Company r, District militia, finished
third In the competitive drill recently
held In the brigade. Company X,
Fourth Illinois. won the drill and Si5
In cash. Company II. Third Iilinois.
was second. and Company j. Seventh
Capt Edward II. Brian. Company NJ.
left yesterday for Washington. hav-
Ing been summoned TO the bedside Of
his father. Deputy Public Printer In
the Government Printing Onice. who
was stricken with paralysis several
daya
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
RevoIts Against Asphyxiating
Cigars From Ma and Carpet
Slippers From Sis.
NO MORE 0. K. FOR BILLS
That is, II Sheppard Bill Should
Be Killed by the
Senate.

Father has at last protested!
The nominal head OF the family.
who. for Christmasss since w. Shake
speare was EnEiand's most popular
song writer. has been the recipient of
Christmas gifts In the nature Of n
hose for the hack yard. or an un-
yielding pillow for the divan In
mothers living room. has at last
stood on his toes and yelled his ulti-
matum.
Some Thisss Taboo.
No moro festive. eloquent ties. No
moro back-biting safety razors.
Homemade slippers. with . vicious
seam indiscreetly left inside, are alb
soluteiy taboo.
CATERS that would cause a gasr
from an audience IL worn by q
Broadway chorus man will be respect
fully declined. SILK shirts with q
parasoi pattern are frowned on.
The works of Jabes SPAWN, the
celebrated but disceuraging humorist
OF the Renaissance, although bound
In alleged morocco and csrise buriap.
win be accepted with . deep but pain
full silence.
A smoking jacket that somehow or
other suggests motnsr's sport coat OF
1903 will be hardly appropriate. No
more will contributions Of only q
kindly nature be received
Dsughter Exercisss Brain.
"whst will I get father for Christ.
maasT" asks the young sweet thing,
who is sweet when she wants to be.
"why not those studs and links!
They'll be useful when he breaks out
In evening clothes"
REALLY, they're too expensive,
Father was awfuily peeved when he
received the bill for his Christmas
present last year." she answers with
. naivste quite beftting q college
girl who 10 able to conjuGate . Latin
verb through ten mysterious lenses.
starts . Revolt.
Father has revoitsd. He has been
the victim OF . frame-up for many
years. with q sieiiy smile of ap
parent gratitude he accepted the gifts
that were useful to him as . wins
glass at . German party. He sor
rowfuiiy handed mothers gift Of Z
box OF asphyaiating cigars to the
chauffeur and departed for his den
for q long siesta to be induced by q
brief session with his cornoob and
iongcut.
hut one man In washinSton has
taken the initistiv. ~ the shsppssa
ate effect. he win directly proceed "a
his office the morning after New
Year, and whom confronted by the
usual pile OF bills for his presents
will omphaticaiiy refuse payment
VIII Ds Up Against IL
Mother will then be compelled 10
TO without gas" for her hivver for
. few weeks IN order TO pay her due
and honest debts. Daughter will be
merely . spectator at bridge for a
few engagements. while son will be
forced 70 the nscessity OF ducking his
turn TO school.
And. 70 quote one OF our present.
day artists. father 10 right"
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
KISSING DANGEROUS PAsrIMe

ALLENTOWN. Pa. Dec. 1a-Pro.
miscuous kissing was denounced by
Or. Charles ID. schaeffer. chief sur.
geon OF the Allentown Hospital. In an
address to . mixed audience gathered
TO foster interest for higher appropri,
ations by the new Legislature for insti.
tutions 20 care for epliptics. feeble
minded and other unfortunates. He
discussed II among swethearts and
warned young mothers against allow
ing their babies to be kissed by
strangers. He declared he spoke from
the depth OF experience, as he had
tients seriously or fatally diseased by
kissing.
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
BALTIMORE GRAIN MARkgI

BALTIMORE. Dec. Is.--wheat cas-.
Ter, December, January. and spot
No. 2 red, si.63N. No. 2 red, western.
spot, 81 i.ovH. Receipts, bt.o3o bushels,
No exports.
Corn, quiet. December and spot,
mixed, new, esA cents. No. ) yellow.
new, esgssh cents. Cob corn, $3.50
9S44O per barrel. Receipts 3i,TeI
Oats, steady. standard white, beh
eeipts, ss,s2s bushels No exports.
Rye, easy. No, 2 western, export.
81 .4sqsi. 40. Receipts, b,+os bushels.
Hay, steady. No. ! Timothy, si7.oo;
No. 1 clover mixed, $3.50. Receipts.
50 tons.
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
POLICE CAPTAIN !
OPPOSES LICENSE
Captain Schneider Says condi-
tions Improved Following :
Close Of Establishment.

Testifying before the Excise Board
today In the case of John J. Dugan.
applicant for q wholesale liquor H..
censc at 1109 Fifth street northeast.
Capt. Henry Schneider OF the Ninth
precinct ssid that conditions In
Northeast Washington have improved
since the closing OF n Wholesale es-
tablishmont I'm the neighborhood OF
the proposed location, The proprie-
tor was denied a license at the be-
ginning OF the license year, Novem'
Ten applications for liauor licenses,
six Wholesale and four retail, were
considered by the board. Protest
was made In each case by a. E: Shoe.
maker, attorney for the Anti'saioon
League.
Prepertyswner. Protest
In the case OF Michael NJ Lyons.
applicant for a transfer OF retail
license from o06 Pennsylvania avenus
northwest to 52e Eleventh street
northwest, protest was made by oliver
Metterott and other propertyowners
on the ground that the establishment
would affect property. values.
The following applications were
considered: Retail, Charles p. Stohl.
man. e33 ID street northwest; Martin
Roth, 420 ii street northeast lanes
o. Holmes, 22s Four-and-a.halfs street
southwest; Louis Baldecci from J. y.
McGrann at 1704 Pennsylvania ave
nue. northwest.
Wholesale Applications.
Wholesale, Margaretha Danhakl
1893 c street southeast: Denis +. Nc
'Carthy. 202 L street northwest; John
J. DuGan, 100 Fifth street northeast;
Bernard II. Martin, 223 N stree,
southwest; Angelo Chicca, 1925 -Four
teenth street northwest. and John o.
DonoKhue. 900 Third street southeast.
The board reserved decision in all
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
BUNK GETS "sUNKEp."

ST. LOUIS. Dec. is-Joe Bunk. Of 1881
North Fifteenth street. was ''bunked."
He met a stri niger at Fourteenth and
Market streets The stranger Juygest-
ed a walk. VIXEN they reached Ninth
and Olive streets the stranger produced
q check Tor g55 on the Union Station
bank, payable TO Charles d. Daniels,
and bearing the signature Cashier -
He asked Bunk TO let him have $40 and
gave the check for security. bunk has
the check. The stranger has tni ncEty.
The police havi the report.
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
LArlN.AMeRlcA USES CANAL.

Forty.two vessels of Latin-Amcri.
can registry passed through the Pan.
anna canal during the nscai year
Panapa Canal Record, available TO.
day.
or those, four were Peruvian, three
Hondursn, one Nicaragusn, thirty
three Chilean, and one Panamanian.
vessel enumerated was q different
one
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
HAWK FLIES 800 MILES
Carries Bottle All the Way From
Montana to Bopota.

RED LODGE, Mont. Dec. 1s.-on
August 10 last Eddie Hotchkiss
caught a large hawk In his oat nsid.
tied bottle containing his name and
address about the birds neck and re-
leased II. BY October 20 the Same
bird had flown at least 3,7oO miles 20
Bogota, Colombia, the South Ameri-
can republic, where II was killed by
Louis Felipe Fulda, according TO a
letter just received from the latter,
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
NOTHING TO FIGHT FOR.

A husky colored boy who was being
urged to enlsitI
"whatfo' should All go an be Q
soldierg" he asked.
.strong fellows like you ought 10
nsht for their country" said tho re.
cruiting sergeant.
"Yassah. responded the negro. dat
kind o. talk IL all right 10 de fab.
nsnsn an,, , en- hon,dn!p hn ron Sn usy e1h, ~,
your countryy
"Mef All ain't got no country. An
was raised In dc city"
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
A POETS sEoINNiNo.

Richard lie Gailienne was talking
rather bitterly In q New York cafe
about tho decline OF poetry.
Mr.. Ls Gallienne said:
There goes Quiller. knew he'd
be a poet. He was found. you know.
In q basket on q doorstep"
but said aid . PhotoP,ay, writer. be
"It was q waste basket he wa
found in," Mr.. Le Gailienne explained.
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
TWO FINGERS IN TRAP
Farmer at Any Rate Catches s'
Least Part Of Thief.

PARIS, Ill. Dec. 1s.-Unsuccsssfui
In trying TO catch q thief who had
been stealing his corn nightly. Jerry
Conlin, . farmer west OF here, set an
marauder and the next morning found
two human fingers In the trap.
The sheriff and township constAbiss
are looking for q corn thief minus
two fingers.
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
HORSE STEAKS CHEAP.

LONDON. Dec. 1s.-In London's Bel
gian quarter. entirely In the posses
sion OF Belgian refugees. horse flesh
today 10 selling at IL cents per pound
for steaks, 10 cents per pound for
horse sausage. 0nd IL cents per pound
for annexed horse flesh.
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
NIckeLs BUY HIM AUTO.

MINNEAPOLIS. MINI. Dec. lS-B,
saving Buffalo nickels for three years
N. M. Carlson Is now the owner OF an
automobile. lie saved 7.s65 coins. Nov
he is sayinx dimes TO buy gasolsA&
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
TooAYs SALES.

Potomac Electric Consolidated os.
81 900 q 1914.
After csiinw.bs:h Raiiwsy pre-,
~Mer.enthsier, Sales.
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
INEVITABLE CONCLUSION.

"Can you foresea what the effect
OF this latest excitement IL going to
Uitimats Consumer (wesriiy)-Not
exactly; but I take II for granted
it'll make the price OF something TO
up.
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
PAINT OUT CIGARETTE.

CHICAGO. Dec. IA cigsretts ruin
cd s3o.cp worth Of perfectly good French
art. ladies Of the Archie Club believed.
The subject was q sailor iad-bsauti-
fully done-but he was smoking q vile
anyway. they had it painted out
The Washington times., 1916-12-18
Wash. Market SIS t1elD % 80.
". M cold stSrase ,t,nost ~ sionw 49,.
Riggs Realty (longl g's lQ1h 80.
Riggs Realty lshort o's 10i 49,.
IT~a nssItv b's 1O4 4.

TYPE MACHINE STOCK.
sMergenthaier Linotype. 10e los
Lanston Monotype 500. 10 TN
xsrNyyNsr qTOCK
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
MISSIONS TAXED TO
FIND AID FOR NEEDY
CONTINUED from First PageN


urgent" supt. Kline declared. land we
would welcome any contributions OF
clothing. Many of the men in our
bread line were caught by the cold
spell without winter underwear. and
those with overc"1ts were considered
tuTe @u contnues will 1se iSs some SM of tRo
funds OF the diet kitchen to purchase
gloves for the men. as many OF them
can hnd humble employment II their
hands are covered"
Superintendent Bennett and A. W.
Chaney. secretary OF the Central Union.
are prepared this winter to shelter $50
men in the large building operated by
tween tive Sixth and Seventh streets. "
Mission To Use Chapel.
The overflow crowds can be taken
care Of in the heated chapel on the
lower floor. where derelicts can make
pillows out of their coats and be COW
cred with the blankets furnished by the
mission. At the GOSPEL Mission in John
Marshall place. twenty rooms capable
of accommodating R5 men with beds
are available. and the overflow can find
sleeping room on the benches OF the
chapel and on army cots.
While the Central Union Mission ca
ters only to men. the Gospel Mission
has a department given over to wom-
en-, At noon in the latter establish
ment. medical attention Is given 10 all
who apply, but the demands for this
relief have not been noticeable thus
far this winter.
The early winter of last year taxed
the capacities of the two larger mis-
sions. and except for the demands last
night, the accommodations OF the two
charities were not found Inadequate.
Both institutions do great deal OF
outside relief work. notably to wom-
en- and children to whose homes are
taken daily food and clothing.
The Salvation Army relief station In
Pennsylvania avenue Is also active in
relieving suffering. although the DE-
mand this winter has not been in eX-
cess of that OF the last year thus. far.
Adjutant Brazier is in charge Of re-
lief work and he Is assisted materially
by numerous officers Of the local bar
racks.
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
RENEWED APPEAL FOR AID

The Associated Charities Citizens Relief Association
their appeal for immediate help They have in care at the
present time 442 families consisting Of approximately 1900
individuals The number of applications daily increasing
They trying every call and responsibility that comes to
them for the prevention of distress among the poor and
afflicted in Washington. Fhey ask your immediate coopera
ton and generous support
Contributions be sent to the Social Service House.
street northwest
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE:
MILTON E. ALLIES, Chairman.
HOWARD S. RESIDE, Treasurer.
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
Low PAY
FOR STEEL RIOTS.
Industrial Relations Committee
Reports Excessive Hours
Injured Workers.

Low wages and excessive hours OF
labor so brutalized the foreigners em-
ployed in the steel plants of East
Youngstown that the recent rioting and
Wholesale destruction of property. re-
sultlng in the death of three strikers
and injury of twenty-five others. was
but the natural ending Of an intolerable
situation. according to n report of the
Committee on Industrial Relations, is
sued today.
The revolt OF the East Youngstown
workers, according TO George +. West,
author of the committee report, so
alarmed the United States Steel Corpo-
ration that as a direct result Judge
Gary, the president, Immediately order
ed 10 per cent wage increase for the
10000 employees of his corporation so as
TO prevent the strike from spreading
over the whole country.
Says Guards Fired Too Soon.
Guards of the youngstown Sheet and
Tube Company are charged by Investi-
gator West with having been hasty in
opening fire on the crowd of strikers
around the gates of the company bridge.
The steel Industry of the country 10
scored IN the report for its opposition
TO unions. II is charged the United
states Steel Corporation has been aDIe
TO keep its wages on a low scale by
reason Of the existence IN this country
OF huge surplus OF unskilled labor
constantly replenished from Europe
SO long as the steel employers could
maintain, with the aid OF charity, TWO
men for every job. discomfort was
smothered," says the report. Recent
prosperity, IL IS argued. has made un-
skilled labor n scarce article. and this
gave the East Youngstown men the
opportunity to rebel.
Living Conditions Called Horrible.
Labor and living conditions in East
Youngstown are described as horrible.
Banies of the workers. because Of bad
sanitary conditions, die at an appalling
rate. Forty-one per cent OF all deaths
I'm Youngstown during 1918 were or chill
dren under hve years. Foreign porn
steel workers earn less than $500 q
year. the report says, and live IN
squalid. oVer-crowded houses. 1t is as
serted that during the last two years
and a half the Youngstown Sheet ana
Tube Company, employees of which
struck, has paid n dividend of l. per
cent.
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
Austrians Set Up Civil
Rule At Cettinje; Ask
Montenegrins to Return

ROME, Jan. 1S.--Austrian authorities
have set up q civil administration in
Cettinje, and have issued a proclama-
ton calling upon Montenegrln refugees
who fled to the mountains. to return TO
their homes.
Vienna dispatches transmitted via Zu-
rich today report that commissioners to
fix terms for an strO-Montenegrin
peace agreement will be named within
ten days.
Reports that Montenegro has sur
rendered and indicated a Willingness to
discuss peace terms. though lacking Of
icial confirmation, have created pro"
found impression here. The newspapers,
however, generally refrain from COM
ment, awaiting more details.
Grave fears are felt here Nor the
safety OF several thousand Serbian ana
Montenegrin refugees, reported in i'm
minent peril of massacre by Albanian
tribes. Since the withdrawal Of some OF
the Serbian troops from the Scutari
region, the Albanians have gained cour-
age and are reported to be massing In
large numbers for an attack.
Dr., Ryan, of the American Red Cross,
In conjunction with English Red Cross
authorities, Is making hurried arrange
ments to charter ships to transport
these refugees to the Island of Corsica.
The Austrian official statement. an
nouncing Montenegro's unconditional
surrender, evidently had not reached
Rome when this dispatch was filed.
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
Church Lectures Will
Continue All Week

The series OF lectures being conducted
this week in the Fourth PRESBYTERIAN
Church. Thirteenth and Fuirmont
streets northwest. bv the Rev. Dr.
Robert V. Miller. OF Hendersonvllle y.
c.. on Christian Life and Service"
based on the teachings OF the New Tes-
lament, given for the benefit of Bible
students and Christian workers of the
District. will be continued afternoons
and evenings IN to and including Fri
day.
At the meeting last evening the sub
ject was The Seven PARALLELS of Reve-
latlons." This afternoon tho topic was
The Working Of God" and for the
meeting this evening at s O'Clock THE
Lamb of the Throne" has been Sc
lected.
Tomorrow afternoon he viii deliver
an address at 2'30 O'clock on Two
Kinds OF Christians" and in the eve
ming on "Three Appearances of Christ."
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
President Approves
Merchant Marine Bill

President Wilson today approved the
new merchant marine bill. and the
measure will be presented in the House
early next week. Congressman Alex
ander of Missouri. after comforting with
the President on final details OF the BILL
said he believed It would meet in every
wey the demand for a merchant marine,
and that II will pass.
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
For Sufferers
Get q Free Trial of Pyramid Pile
Treatment That Has Saved a
Vast Number from the
Horror of Operation.

Until you have seen what Pyramid Pile
Treatment can do for you, no case can
be called hopeless. Letters from people
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
WouId-Be Suicide Is
ThWarted With Pistol

BELOIT, Kan, Ian. lS.-As a deputy
Rheriff finished reading a warrant in
which he was charged with a serious Of
Tense, W. f. Coepfll. thirty-eight, a resi-
Gent of Hunter, an inland town near
Beloit, seized a razor which he had
concealed in his clothing and slashed his
throat.
Although attempting TO take his life,
Coeptil dropped his razor when the
deputy thrust a revolver in his face
Loapfl did not sever the juglar vein
or trachea. His wound was dressed and
ne has a chance of recovery. Coepfil
was brought here from Hunter and
locked in the county Jail.
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
To Discuss Camp.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Jan. 49,
Governors and adjutant generals, or
their representatives, from seventeen
States met here today to discuss plans
foI the Southern military citizens train
mer. States expected to join are Mary
land. Delaware, Virginia, West Vir-
ginia. North Carolina. South Carolina,
missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia.
Alabama, Florida, mississippi Tennes-
see IlIinois, Indiana and Texas.
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
To Address Center"

Prof. Edward ]. Ward, the COM
munity center expert. and p. I. Moran.
president OF the Washington Chamber
of Commerce, will speak at a com
munity meeting OF the Jefferson AmidOn
Community Center organization. IN the
Jefferson School hall. tomorrow after
noon at 2:30 o'clock. The meeting was
arranged by Mrs c. \. Chapman, presi'
dent,
The Washington times., 1916-01-18
Two French Generals
Relieved of Command

MARSEILLES, Jan. 1S.-General Gal
lieni, minister of war. has relieved Gen.
eral serviere, commanding the Fifteenth
Legion, and General Bernard. governor
of Marseilles, of their commands. as the
result of a report made by General
dAmale.
Deputy Rouisson. of Marseilles, has
notified Paul Deschanel, the president
of the chamber of deputies, that he Will
interpellate the government on the rea-
son for the war minister's action.