Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-29
THE WEEK
EpitOme of Events Ending De-
cember %, 1917.
WAR ACTIVITIES.

BY proclamation, the President took
over control of the railroads OF the
United States, appointing William G.
McAdoo. Secretary of the Treasury, di-
rector general. Announcement was
made by the War Department that Maj
Gen Tasker H Bliss would remain
chief of staff of the Army after retire
ment; Maj. Gen. Hugh l.. Scott, U. s. A.,
retired, former chief OF staff, was as
signed to command of Camp Dix,
Wrishtstown n. ]. Pledges Of loyalty
of the American forces in France were
forwarded to the American people by
Maj. Gen. Pershing, commanding:
Christmas holiday cheer, presents and
food were enjoyed by the men at the
front
In the investigation by Congress OF
various war activities: Rear Admiral
+. A. Bowles of the shipping board
emergency fleet corporation gave de-
tails of the ship construction program;
Herbert Hoover, food administrator, III
a public statement, explained the sugar
situation in reply to criticism, Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield charged the coal
barons with profiteering; MAJ. Gen.
Sharpe quartermaster general or the
Army, admitted shortage OF oVercoats
and other clothing for the soldiers AT.
rival at a Pacific coast port of vessel
dominated by bolsheviki gave cleW 10
a supposed world wide plot for revolts
against existing government, involving
the l. w w in the United states.
IN THE WAR ZONE.
Count Czernin, Austro Hungarian
foreign minister. spokesman for tne
Teutonic powers, declared peace terms
at the conference with representatives
of the Russian bolshevik government
at Brest-Litovsk. American AmpaSsa-
dor Francis denied charges OF the DOL
sheviki alleging American interference
in behalf of their opponents. kins
Emmanuel of italy spent Christmas DAY
at the front. German women were re-
ported begging and engaging IN ROY
ing in some German towns on ChTlsl-
mas The kaiser declared. on the YER
dun front that peace would be driven
home with the mailed fist. if necessary,
200 socialist critics OF the GERMAN
tocracy were put under arrest. vte
Admiral Rossiyn Wemyss was appoint
ed first sea lord of the British navy,
succeeding Admiral Sir ]. r. Jellicoe,
elevated to the peerage. Inc 1ernian
T-boat toll for the week was decreased
tacks on the northern front were re-
norted to have retaken gained ground
with a splendid conquest in the an
Futile German drives on the Nerduh
front in France were repor.eu' eiin,,
inc REVELATIONS of German intrigue
were quelled by troops. 4
NATIONAL.
w 7 F'lynn resigned as chief OF the
secret services. 6. W. p. Hunt TOOK OF
fee as Governor of Arizona. Rev j. T.
Gregg was appointed prihcipai u
Hampton Institute Va. California IRON
workers and telephone operators IN
Boston threatened strike. Sentences
were imposed by court-martiai upon
soldiers encamped at Admiral, Nd. TOT
rioting The American steamer rus
carora, missing, is believed lost with
her crew of thirty-five men. twenty
deaths resulted when troiiey car
jumped the track at Pittsburgh. bos-
ton water front was visited by sloo',
900 fire: fire at Long Beach. NY. caused
5000 900 damage T. Carl Jones, aviator,
was killed in an airplane accident at
La. Among those VINO oleo
during the week were: Senator r. u
r. Bathrick of Ohio, former Senator
Thornton of Florida. Richard II. Mad
dern, musician: w. W. Blackwell Tor
mer supreme chancellor knights OF
Pythias; W. G. Turner. sculptor; Or.
Hugo Schweitzer. chemist; Rev. DR..
Levi p. Gilbert, editor and divine: r. A.
Granniss. insurance expert; Rutland
NJ Garretson. Oldest New york realty
broker; Miss Martha Mays, nurse in the
family of former President Garfield.
FOREIGN.
The Pope sent a Christmas greeting
to the world. Vilhjalmur Stefanssen,
arctic explorer, long unheard from in
the far north. was reported arrived at
Fort Yukon. The French chamber of
deputies voted to extend terms of all
elective officials without reelection.
Canadian railroads were extended an
increase in freight rates. American
cavalry pursued Mexican bandits over
the Texan border and killed eighteen.
The British steamer City of Nagpur
was wrecked off Portuguese East Africa.
Among those who died during the week
were: Prof. G. II. Mcleod of McGill
University, Montreal. Can. q. A. Kit
tredge. pioneer railway builder in In
dia; Felix Moscheles. painter.