davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
MAY SEIZE FARMS
Lane Threatens Confscation
Unless Tillage Is Increased.

Secretary of the Interior Lane wants
the American farmers who are enjoyfnE
the fruits of the generosity of the Fed
eral government in creating the vast
reclamation projects of the West 10
avail themselves of the superb advan-
tages they have for the production Of an
abundance OF foodstufTs now.
With 100000 acres OF tiIlable land not at
present under cultivation, the Secretary
first urges and then warns the dweIlers
on the projects to seize their opportuni-
ties or expect that the government will
step in and do their cutfvating for them
under regulations which will amount to
conflscation for the period of the war.
Secretary Lanes notice said:
Project people, do You realize that
there are 100000 acres OF land on pro-
jects for which reservoirs are built,
bitches dug, and water ready, that have
not yet been titled Do you realize that
this area, II put into crops, would add
S15O0O,0oO worth OF food in a single year?
Loyalty and patriotism. as well as
economic necessity, demand that you get
busy and put this land into food crops
this year and next. The United States
world crisis in which We are now pre-
cipitated unless our farmers do their
duty.
'These 10000 acres should be support
ing 5000 families this year and supply
ing food for an army division at the
front. Here is a great opportunity for
our citizens to render assistance These
lands are not public lands They be-
long TO private owners. and IL they do
not utilize their property, the time may
not be far off when our national needs
will require confiscation and government
cultivation. No one Is entitled to that
which he does not use"
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
Divine SARAH ILL
Mime. Bernhardt Near Death
In New York.

tBy the international News servIce.)
New York, April 16.-Mme Sarah Bern
hardt, supreme genius of the French
stage. whose tragic powers have moved
the entire civilized world, lies danger
ously i'll in Mount Sinai Hospital tonight.
At the age Of 72, the venerable trage-
dlenne faces a second operation after
passing the allotted span of life.
Her fate rests in the hands Of six of
the country's greatest specialists. A
slight improvement IN the distinguished
patients condition tonight caused them
to postpone the inevitable operation for
another day at least.
The Divine Sarah was taken I'll at
Lynn, Mass, on March last. Her en-
gaGements were Immediately Cancelled
and she was rushed to this city. At that
time 1t appeared she was suffering from
an intense cold and she was taken to
Charleston, s. c., to recuperate.
As no improvement manifested itself
in her condition, her friends brought
her back here to her apartments in the
Hotel Savoy. Her friends became in
creasingly alarmed and on Sunday even
ing DR.. Felix Marot. the famous French
physician, who Is accompanying her on
the American tour, called in DIR. Eman-
uel Libman. a diagnostician; DR.. Leo
Buyer, specialist on the kidneys, and DR..
S. W. Lambert.
These specialists quickly discovered the
great actress was suffering from infec-
tion OF the kidney, and at their advice
she was taken Immediately to the hospi-
tai to be ready for an operation II nee
essary.
At the hospital tonight DR.. z. Baruch,
one of Nine. Bernhardt's closest friends
in this country, and DR.. George z.
Brewer, professor OF surgery at the Col.
lege Of Physicians and. Surgeons, were
called into a conference with the other
specialists
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
Test Vote Develops
Opposition to Draft
House Military Committee Bal
lots 9 to 5 in Favor Of
Conscription.

The administrators plan for raising
an army by selective draft is confronted
by the sturdiest sort of opposition in the
House Of Representatives.
Even in the Committee on Military Az
fairs. where a test vote was taken. yes
terday, there Is sufficient opposition to
the measure as sought by Secretary OF
War Baker and the General Staff to
make II highly probable that majority
and minority report will be forthcom-
ing, with the committeeman themselves
at odds over the general plan.
Seventeen members participated in yes
terday's test vote They stood nine in
favor OF the administrators plan and
eight opposed. The eighteenth member
declined to vote aye" or mo" on the
measure as then being considered, but
said II the age of the recruits to be sum-
moned to the colors under the proposed
law should be advanced from 10 years
to q years, so that the government would
be relived of the charge OF impressing
men for military service in foreign fields
of battle who had not yet reached their
majority he would vote for the bill.
Two members of the committee were
absent at the unofficial test One is op-
posed to any form OF conscription and
the other fayors it. There Is one Re
publican vacancy yet to be filled, and
upon this choice depends whether the
administrations plan will receive even
a favorable committee report.
The question of conscriptioh is the
only important feature of the army
organization bill, regarding which any
serious difficulty is anticipated Re
gardless of how the committee may
vote, a bitter fight will be carried to
the House. The report may be ex-
pected not later than Thursday and
the legislative contest will begin at
once.
. Among the leaders in the House no
opinion Is vouehsafed regarding the
ultimate success OF the conscription
bill Even its supporters decline to
estimate a probable majority. although
Its opponents are equally dubious as
to the outcome,
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
SENATE TO PASS
BOND ISSUE BILL
This AFTERNOON
Measure, Reported Favorably
by Finance Committee, Will
Be Rushed to a Vote.
MUST GO TO CONFERENCE
Signature by President VIII Place
$3,O00.0o0.O00 Immediately at
Disposal of Entente,

Passage by the Senate OF the $500,
oOo0N war bond issue bill by this after
noon appeared certain last night.
Senate leaders late yesterday. following
a favorable report OF the bill by the
Senate Finance Committee, reached an
informal agreement TO expedite the
measure and obtain vote sometime this
afternoon.
Debate win begin on the measure at
noon today. Because of the growing de-
sire to have the money available i'm
mediately. practically all Senators have
decided to talk little and vote favor
ably"
The vote will be practically unanimous
for. passage of the bill virtually as it was
passed by the House on Saturday. al
though several slight changes, already
made. will render ut necessary TO send
the bill to conference.
Agreement Assured.
An agreement probably will be reached
within a few hours. and the bill will
be sent TO President Wilson for his sigma
ture, which will result in the immedi-
ate placing of s. 900, ,OO0,O 900 at the disposal
of the entente allies.
The Senate Finance Committee broke
all records in reporting the mSisure
to the Senate yesterday. Immediately
after the Senate met, formal notihca-
tion was received from the House of
the passage of the finance measure. and
the bill was promptly sent to the Senate
Finance Committee.
The committees consideration began
Immediately, and within less than an
hour the bill was favorably reported with
two slight amendments-one changing the
title. and the other providing that the
funds obtained from the sale OF the
bonds may be deposited in State banks
and trust companies not members of
the Federal Reserve system; and that
the s.. .OoO. .OOO. 900 of certificates of indebt-
edness authorized by the measure shall
be exempted from taxation.
Against lowering Exemptions.
In the House consideration was begun
by the Ways and Means Committee of
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo's sug-
gestions as to how to raise additional
revenue to finance the government during
the war Considers BILE sentiment has de-
veloped against the lowering of exemp-
tions on incomes to 5000 and $3.50 an
nualIy for married and single men re-
spectively. largely because OF the ire
mendous increases in the cost of food
us.
There is a we'll defined movement on
to exempt 5000 and 5000 incomes in
stead Of the lower figures named in the
Secretary's suggestions.
Consideration of the suggestions will
be continued today. q tentative draft Of
an emergency revenue-raisinG bill prob
ably will be begun during the day.
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
SOCIALISTS ADD
TO PEACE RANKS
Brethren in Holland Join In
Movement to Bring War
to Speedy End.
BY the InternatIonaI

CBy the International News SerViee.)
Amsterdam, April I6.-Big strides are
made by European Socialists in their
movement toward an international get
together on peace. Important develop
ments came today in quick succession.
And while the Socialists OF various bel
ligerents and neutTals were speeding up
their plans for a big confab at Stock
holm, there came significant official ut
terances from the governments OF Rus
Ella and the two Teutonic powers
Socialists of Holland decided today TO
join the ranks Of their party brethreT
from ether countries and send a delegs
ton to Stockholm, according to the
Dutch newspaper Het Volk.
A week from tomorrow the Reichstas
meets. Sessions will continue until the
end OF May. This Koelnische Zeitung
with Official leani8ss. hiHted today that
Chancellor Won Bethma mn Hollweg viii
make another important statement or
Russia.
In Vienna the Korrespondenz Bureau
today published a semi-ofiicisI state
ment extending. in behalf Of the Austro.
Hungarian government, q broad invita-.
ton 20 the Russian provisional govern
ment TO come to an understanding with
the central powers, saying this should
not be difficult now that the governments
Of Russia and the central allies agree
as to the nature Of pea-e that mus
come after this war
The Hungarian premier Count Tiszs
speaking In the Hungarian upper house
spoke along the same lines as did re-
Gently the German chancellor. sayinl
that no one thinks OF interfering II
the internal affairs OF the Russian
people" Any further statement at TIM
time he said. would compromise rather
than further the situation.
In Copenhagen today. at a big Socialist
peace meeting for women. the Danisr
minister without portfolio, StaUninE
himself a Socialist. speaking in tn,
capacity Of an intermediary FOR the Gel,
man Socialists with the Russian peac,
advocates. refUted all reports that tn,
former are trying to bring about 4
separate peace with Russia. Their ain
he emphasized. is TO bring about uni
versal peace.
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
WILL CURB PRICES
Federal Control of Meat In
dustry and Rates Arranged.

There will be complete Federal control
OF the meat producing and meat packing
industry OF the United States for the
period OF the war, according to ten
tative agreement entered into yesterday
between the representatives OF the pack
crs and the Secretary OF Agriculture.
For more than two hours yesterday Sec
retary Houston sat in conference with ].
Ogden Armour. Louis F. Swift. Edward
A. Cudahy, Thomas E. Wilson. OF the
former Schwardschild and Sulzberger
combination, and Edward Morris, of the
firm OF Nelson, Morris & Co.
The conference had been ARRANGED by
julius Rosenwald, of the Advisory Com
mission of the National Council OF De-
tense. According to the agreements en-
tered into. the preservation of a stand
ardized price for meat products based
upon the cost of production and trans
portation is assured for the period Of the
war.
The general demand for reductions in
meat prices and in the prices of orber
staples which are controlled by the pack
ems OF meats has convinced the heads
OF the packing industry that radical
measures are needed at this iuncture
IL was suggested to the Council of Ma
uohaI Defense that the packers would
md way to stop prohibitive prices
neinS set by middlemen through the cres
ton OF Federal agency for the distri-
hution OF the products of their industry.
rms was only suggestion advanced
as necessary method Of combating .he
tendency OF the middlemen to boost
meat prices in war time
A distribution center which yvou,d sr,-,,
nate the middleren was suggested In, +b.
packers as cure for the evil OF prire
boosting which the packers and pro-
ducers explained was a habit Of the mr.
Veyors of foodstuffs to the consumers
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
HERO WOULD AID
D. c. Man, Riddled in Euro
pean Battles. Asks to Enlist.

Riddled with shrapnel and bullets
while he did extended service with the
Scottish Black Watch Troop during the
first two years Of the European war.
Capt. J. + Trynor, OF SIC Eighteenth
street. is back home again and wants to
enlist in the United States navy
Capt Trynor. in an interview with
Chief Yeoman J. Franklin Jackson. OF the
recruiting detail Of the Presidents yacht
Mayfower, told him that fourteen
the British front did not deter him from
Ills desire TO be a real American patriot
and enlist with the colors now.
He served somewhere in FTanoy' in
the front trenches with the Scots price
troop. He was eventually so dlsauslI-
fed for active service, after his four
teen wounds, that he had to be removed
to an American hospital, where he lin
gered between life and death for nine
months. His wife nursed him back 10
life. and he returned TO America about
seven months ago.
Capt. Trynor has the Victoria Cross,
earned for signal service in an heroic as
sault by his troop on the German line.
He is believed to be the only American
on this side Of the Atlantic now who
can boast Of this treasure.
His ambition TO enlist in the navy SO
impressed Chief Yeoman Jackson, that
the latter is going to make an attempt TO
get the authorities at the Navy Depart
ment to have Capt. Trynor waived in a
physical examination. His wounds may
be considered physical disqualification,
Capt. Trynor meantime is doing his bit
in talking recruiting from the stages Of
local theaters and on the streets.
Any theater management or patriotic or
E-N.g
navy representative to talk before its
audience should communicate with Chief
Yeoman ]. Franklin Jackson, Lincoln
1850, branch Is.
Chief Yeoman jackson will speak at the
Gayety Theater this evening.
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
SEEK MORE BANKS
Reserve Board Mem
bers Would Enlarge System.

The Federal Reserve Board and the
twelve Federal Reserve Banks are pre-
pairing to inaugurate a big campaign to
induce State banks, trust companies, and
savings banks TO Join the Federal Re-
serve System, it was announced here
yesterday.
Under the Federal Reserve act, the
1900 national banks are by compulsion
members of the Reserve System, but
membership is optional with banks haV-
ing state charters. Up to the present
but forty State banks have Joined the
system.
All varieties of suasion have been
tried by the boards and the Reserve
Banks to attract the State banks to the
system. but so far these have failed, and
now the board and the banks are turn
ing to advertising.
The officials of the Reserve System
take the position that in view Of the
war situation it is highly important thai
the majoriy of the banks OF, the country
be welded together into one formidable
banking power. A minority of the Amer
lean banks are now members. News
paper advertisements are being prepared
showing the advantages to a bank of
membership in the system. 1t is hoped
that public demand that these State
banks Join the system may be created.
Reserve System officials have prepared
the advertisements to point out that d
banks strength is increased by MEM
bership and that therefore deposits are
safer. Bankers and economists nearls
all agree that the gold problem can
be better handled IL the gold supply is
concentrated through large membership
ST banks In the system.
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
Government Sues to Recover
Oil Lands for Use of NAVY

New York, April 16.-HearinEs in the
governments suit to recover for use of
the navy, s35, 100000 worth of California
oil lands, from the Standard Oil Com
pany of Cleveland, the Union Oil Com
pany of California, the Southern Cali
fornia Gas Company, and other corpora
tions, began today before Federal COM
missioner Hitchcock
The government charges that l.. 3.
McMurtry, of New York, staked out
claims on oil lands in the name of Frank
Chapman and seven others and subse-
quently sold the holdings to the Associa-
ton Oil Company of California for a,-
o5Sooo. The government claims further
that McMurtry obtained zfraudulently a
great deal OF oil land on government
grants made out to thirty persons who
acted as dummies. -.
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
Diplomats Watchless
When Asked the Time

Strange as Il may seem. diplo-
mats OF great warning nations do
net carry watches. Two OF 'em
proved IL at yesterday afternoons
session Of the d. A R. Congress.
Mrs. Robert Lansing. who was
seated in the front row OF the
stage, wished to leave to keep an
appointment Not having her
watch, she turned to Ambassador
Spring Rice and asked him the
time The Ambassador produced q
bunch Of keys. but no watch. He
shen asked Lady Spring Rice, 5ut
Lady Spring Rice was watchIess,
too.
Whereupon they called upol the
Italian Ambassador. NJ. CeIlerI. for
his watch, but he. too. lacked even
aa 5ngersoll. 1t was looking pret-
ty stormy, when tho Italian Envoy
remembered his wife's wrist watch,
and one by one they relayed the
time back to Mrs. Lansing, who
leer the hall
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
France Joins Drive.

france Joins Drive.
France sprsnE 20 the side OF Great
Britain today and hurled every ounce or
long accumulated strength and a world
OF embittered determination into the
drive that is to clear the republics sofI
OF the Teuton invaders.
II was a mighty leap. Upon a front Of
twenty-five miles between Soissons and
Rheims the infantry leEions OF Gen. Nj
velle took up the big push" ushered IN
a week ago far to the north BY Sir
Douglas Haig.
Ten thousand prisoners have been
counted so far. The whole German FIRST
line between scissors and Craonne was
captured
The German second line east OF
Craonne was captured
In these three facts, recorded in to-
nights official bulletin from the French
war office. may be summed up the re-
suits OF the French drive.
3OO-MiIe Battle Line.
Tonight along the entire western front
from the North Sea TO the Swiss border
80 miles-rages the long-expected titanic
battle upon which both the entente and
the Teutons pin their hopes Of victory in
the world war. Nerdun is a memory. the
Somme drive a shadow.
What is happening on the west front
now may be truly visionized only by com
bining all the great battles Of the Euro
pean war into one and then ADA more
cannon thunder. more bitterness, more
oioooshed sna consequences upou which
hinges the fate, Of Europe and the world
Even the conservative report OF Ire
Y 'eneh war office gives a Eood picture
OF the utanic proportions OF the battle
Desperate Battle
- desperate battle was fought along
The whole front. where the enemy had
EIoope1 very important forces and nu-
merous artillery"
Everywhere" it continues. the vsyor
CT our troops overcame the enerEeuc
defense Of our adyersarv."
Violent coUnter-thrUsts by the Teutons
were broken down by the French FIRE
with considerable lossey 10 the en-
emy, ii is further reported.
Tomorrow all Indications are tho French
Champagne army will fail in line. Both
Paris and Berlin today reported great
gun dueis on that front
Infantry Advances.
From soissons to Rheims and in IN.
western Champagne" said the Berlin
day report infantry fighting developed
this morning over wide sectors"
The French war ONCE communiou.
said:
The artillery fighting became ez-
tremelv violent during the night on the
front between scissors and Rheims"
Similar reports were made regarding
the st. Quentin front and the western
Champagne.
In Lorraine and Alsace. French and
Teuton infantry were at grips through
out the afternoon. At six points of the
German front in the AIsstian plain the
French had penetrated TO the second Car
man line
Upon the heels OF the on6cisl reports.
which dealt only vaguely with the sp-
parent beginning OF the concerted drive.
came dispatch from a correspondent
at British headquarters, which said:
News OF the opening OF the great
French offensive has spread like wild
FIRE through the British forces
Meanwhile the battle Of Arrss RACED on
with greater fury than ever Farther
and farther the British pushed forward
against Lens and ST. Quentin. A number
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
French High Commissioner
Soon Leaves for America

Paris, April lS.-Capt Andre Tardieu
VINO has been appointed French high
commissioner TO the United States. viii
leaNe ior america as soon as he can
adjust his affairs here.
II was stated today that Capt Tardieu's
task viii be TO oversee all the French
missions in the United States and TO o.,
all possible to draw closer the unity be.
tween the two republics. The commits
sioner is a member of the chamber OF
deputies.
The United States probably will be
represented at the Allied Economic
conference, which opens in Rome on
May II.
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
ALLIED DRIVE SPREADS
ALONG 3OO-MILE LINE;
10000 GERMANS TAKEN
Anglo-French Offensive Raging from North
Sea to Swiss Border-Supreme Test
Is Now at Hand.
(By the InternntIonaI View. seryiee.l }

London April l6 dawn tOdyjust the battle of Arrss
week Hhe whole of the 300m from the North the
Swiss border which had been compaceny looked during the
struggle between Lens and St Quentin esPd suddenly life
Tonight general Angrench offensive along the whole line
full The the front ham, and before another
week has gone BY expected world will the Ionsookedor
twentieth century battle, WHICH will decide the great
All day long the French big showed that they be in
With hour the the hunderou playing grim
prelude the great infantry drive which nehronze with the
the Hndenburs line the NORTH toward which the British today
with By ngha infantry battles already under way
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
WILL URGE DAYLIGHT SAVING.

Chicago. April 1s-Moving I'D the
clocks of the country an hour again will
be urged upon Congress as a wartime
measure by the Chamber of Commerce of
the United States, according to an an
nouncement today by Joseph H. DeFrees,
vice president.
''I am forming a national committee to
urge immediate legislation for daylight
saving upon Congress-" said ,DcFrees.
The plan has been approved by more
than two-thirds of the Chambers Of Com
merce in the country"
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
PROBE GERMAN SPY PLOTS

Chicago, April 1e.-Investigation OF al
legged spies and plotters, many of whom
already are under arrest. was taken up to-
day by a Federal grand jury here. One
case under consideration was that of
Gustave H. Jacobsen, wealthy Chicago
real estate man. who is at liberty on
bonds under a charge OF conspiring to
foment a plot against Great Britain in
Indiana in 1915. Several other persons,
under arrest in the East, are accused
with him.
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
Great Britain Requisitions
All Ships Flying Her Flap

New York, April 16-The British gov
ernment has requisitioned all shipping
flying the British nag. This infornna-
ton was given out hero today by B. A.
s. Franklin. Of. the International Mer-
camille Marine.
The requisition order becomes effective
beginning with the arrival OF vessels which
left their port Of departure on or before
March q. The new order will supply to
approximately 90 per cent OF the tonnage
Of the International Mercantile Marine,
The Washington herald., 1917-04-17
PRUss1ANs CUT BREAD RATION.

Copenhagen, April lS-A new 25 per
cent reduction in the. Prussian bread
ration has caused much excitement among
the people, according to Berlin dis
match to the newspaper Politikan today.
The dispath added that the German sov-
eminent had reassured the people by tell
ing them that provisions are now secured
until the next harvest.