davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1917-04-12
AMERICAS PART IN THE WAR
TO BE THEME OF DISCUSSION

The government today began to pre-
pare for important war councils to be
held here soon with commissions from
England and France. The State De-
partment announced it expects the ar
rival within a few days of a British
delegation, headed by Foreign Minister
Arthur ]. Balfour. and including Ad-
miral De Chair. representing the navy;
Gen. Bridges, representing the army.
and the governor of the Bank of Eng
land. 1t was learned authoritatively
also that a French commission. headed
by M.-Biviani, minister of justice and
former premier, will arrive about the
same time.
-Four officers of the British royal
navy-Vice Admiral NJ. f. Browning.
Can't. A. Lowndes. Lieut.. Commander A.
r. J. Southley and Capt. +. c.. Cheese
man-registered at the Hotel Lafayette
Yesterday. They were brought to the
hotel by the British ambassador, Sir
Cecil SpringR and at an carly hour
this morning left their quarters, pre-
sumably to keep an engagement with
some person and at some place un-
known.
Oficial dispatches on the coming of
the French and British commissions
only mention the possibility that Gen.
Joffre may accompany former Premier
Viviani of France, but do not give any
definite announcement. While 1t is pos
sible that joint sessions will be held,
arrangements have not passed the pre-
liminary stage and no decision has
been reached. Discussion, it is indi-
Gated, will necessarily be confined to
the very broadest phases.
An impression conveyed in some
quarters that the entente commission =
ers would seek to bind the United
States to the general arrangement not
to negotiate a separate peace is gener-
ally discounted here. though officials
take care not to express themselves
fatty in advance in a way that might
he misunderstood by the allies. 1t has
been stated that the United States will
not enter into alliance in the old world
sense of the term. but will commit it
self to unlimited participation in the
war until the aims which President
Wilson announced are achieved.
Not Likely to Press Issue.
An impression has been created that
the United States will feel itself free
Evening star., 1917-04-12

TO Judge when that moment has arrived
and Will not commit itself over and
above its own aims in the war TO an un-
ilmlte2 liability for territorial aims of
the ailies 1t is recognized that il
woulc be difficult to convey this i'm
preston to the entente without being
misunderstood, and it is thought that
also the entente commissioners are
fully enough conversant with the
American situation not to press the
issue.
The conferences will take up such
questions as the steady supply of mu-
nitions and food to the entente allies.
the proposed hree-billion-dollar loan,
naval cooperation, military particina
tion of the United States, readiust
ment of diplomatic relations between
the United States and the entente ma
tlohs, relations with the remaining
neutrais and future peace terms
Naval cooperation contemulates tho
policing of all North and South Ameri
can waters by the American navy al
towing the return of the British and
french vessels engaged in that work
ana hh me safeguarding by American
shlps OF at least part of the sea lane
TO Europe. Whether the latter viii
necessitate the actual sending of
American war craft TO the other side
mas NOT neen announced. but arrange
mentS already have been mada 10 &C.
the port of Brest. in France .s
American naval base if necessary
No Expedition at Present
The military participation of tho
United States Also will be disc,ss.a
in broad terms. though 1t is dec1ared
that this country will not attemnt 70
send an army to Europe for the nr.s-
ent. There is an intense desire on ~.
part OF the general public in tho A.
tente countries to see at least a s,,au
division of American troops at the
front. III"
) The complete reversal of American
relations to the entente nowers
through the abandonment of neutrality
/ IN FAVOR or war Will necessitate an en-
, tire readjustment of the country's din-
iomatic situation. The allied policies
Of blockade. mails censorship, black
| list and rationing of Holland and Scan
dinavia. originally necessitated by the
exigencies of war and protested by this
country as neutral. must now be con-
sidered by the United States from an
entirely new angle.
Evening star., 1917-04-12

waters.
The position taken by Costa Rica
is similar to that assumed by Panama,
which also failed to declare war, but
offered cooperation with the United
States.
channels of Brazifs severance of dip
lomatic relations with Germany came
to the State Department today in a
dispatch from the American charge at
Rio, who transmitted the governments
announcement to the press. The charge
had not been notified officially OF
Brazirs action up to the time of his
dispatch.
Evening star., 1917-04-12
sExpropriates Harvest Reserves.

LONDON. April ia Petrograd dis
patch to Reuters says that the provi-
sional government has ordered all re-
serves of the 1916 harvest of corn and
cereals which are fit for fodder to be
placed at the disposal of the state.
The entire reserves of the 1917 harvest,
except what is required for seed and
needs of the families of the peasants,
has also been appropriated.
Evening star., 1917-04-12
Jonas We'll, Philanthropist, Dead.

NEW YORK, April 12.-Jonas Well. a
widely known Jewish philanthropist,
has died at his home here in his eight
ieth wear. He was born in Baden, Ger
many, and came New York in 1860.
He amassed a fortune in the real estate
business and had given away nearly
81 900, 900 to various charities. He was
founder and president of Lebanon Hos
pital in this city and was one Of the
founders of the Jewish Theological
Seminary and the Federation of Jewish
Societies.
Evening star., 1917-04-12
.CARSTR|KERSW|N
VICTORY IN SENATE
Motion to Refer Resolution for
Investigation Defeated,
36 to 80.
MAY BE PASSED MONDAY

The striking employees of the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company
won. in the Senate today, the first round
in their fight to have a congressional
investigation of the causes of the
strike.
By a vote of Sc to 80 the Senate re-
fused to refer Senator Hughes resoIu-
ton, providing for an investigation by
committee of five senators, to the Sem
ate District committee. 1t was feared
by the friends of the resolution that it
might be allowed to die in the District
committee. or that 1t would be pigeon
holed for so long a time that all reason
for the investigation might have
passed.
Evening star., 1917-04-12

selected to supervise the construction
program. which is expected to involve
within the next year total tonnage
of 100000 tons. or more than now is
building in all the shipyards of the
world.
Built for the most part of pine and
mr., the ships will range from 1000 to
$500 tons. Most of them probably will
be equipped with oil-burning engines.
and all will carry wireless and be
armed. The engines will be standard
lied. as far as possible, so that damaged
parts may be replaced, if necessary. An
average cost of about $500 900 per ship
is counted on by the board Each will
carry crew of about thirty men.
The first of the vessels are to be
ready in about six months. and during
the year following the number afloat is
expected to pass 1000. Such q number,
officials believe, constantly will be aug
mented in the months that follow to
render it absolutely impossible for Ger
many to maintain her blockade with
Yany degree of effectiveness.
Plan to Exhaust U-Boats.
In their calculations the President
and the shipping board have had the
advice of the allied naval authorities,
and have computed carefully the abili-
ty of German U-boats to cope with
large numbers Of merchantmen Tney
are convinced that by building ships of
only 1000 or 5000 tons, and forcing
Germany to pay with torpedo for
each one sent tc the bottom. the United
States can exhaust the resources of the
/ submarine fleet for operating far from
| it's bases. The German resources can
| be still further dissipated by routing
! the American merchantmen through
hundreds of ocean lanes to scores of
European ports.
If the blockaderunning campaign
! does not actually end the war by de
| stroying Germany's faith in the U-boat,
the administration is confident it at
! least will thwart the German threat of
| forcing an early peace on the allies
| through starvation blockade. Of
| ficials are fully alive to the dangers to
| this country which might follow such
f! a peace and have been fully advised
| of the allies need of supplies. AL
| though the blockade is considered far
| from successful. they feel that an eff
| fective stroke at it is sure to have a
telling effect.
Evening star., 1917-04-12
RAISES $112, 900, 900 FOR WAR.
Total Subscriptions to Recent Aus
tralian Loan Are Announced.

LONDON. April IA Melbourne dis
patch to Reuters says that the total
subscriptions to the recent Australian
war loan were e22, 100000. The loan
was launched in January for s1S.0O0,-
900 at Az per cent. A previous loan
Of s1O,OO0,0O0 was issued in February,
1916, and was oversubscribed.
Evening star., 1917-04-12
All Shipyards to Help.

All Shipyards to Help.
Quickly built, Iigh. wooden ships of
1000 tons and upward are to make up
the first fleet of merchantmen. and to
insure maximum construction the ship
ping board has enlisted the country's
entire shipbuilding facilities. now the
greatest in the world. Upward of a
hundred private plants on all the
coasts will help. giving the boards
orders precedence over every other
class of work except the most urgent
naval construction. For the first year
production is expected to reach an av-
erage of three ships day.
Already lumber interests have given
assurances of an adequate supply of
timber at reasonable prices. Engine
manufacturers have pledged their CO.
operation, too, and all the necessary
machinery for the vessels can be as
out at the yards. At more than one
plant new ways already are under con-
struction to take care of the govern
ment building orders.
Labor Problem Difficult.
The question of labor, however, is
giving officials some concern, and a
call may be issued appealing for patri-
otic cooperation by laborers to insure
that the campaign against the subma-
rine begin at the earliest possible mo-
ment. The shipping board estimates
that 1901 men will be needed to work
all the plants to capacity and to COM
plete the building program in the time
determined This total is nearly
ten times the number of laborers now
employed in building merchant craft
throughout the country.
Volunteers for this class of public
service. it is pointed out, need not be
experienced in shipbuilding, as COM
paratively little expert labor Will be
required for the type of wooden YES
- sells to be built. Within a few days
the board will establish a labor bureau
to enlist such volunteers. The Ameri-
can Federation of Labor already is CO.
operating, and motion picture COM
panies are planning to display pictures
of shipbuilding operations as part of
the campaign for labor recruits.
Maj. Gen. George W. Goethals
builder Of the Panama canal, has been
Evening star., 1917-04-12

colossal proportions to break down the German
plenfuy supplied with
clothing determined President
Wilson this first physical against
her enemy.
army trenches be-
United States in the
against Germany providing great armada of merchantmen
nvadate about which have been rallied
fading hopes of Prussian conquest
DETAILS OF PLAN WORKED OUT.
weeks officials been
until revealed how scale the had
projected great attached the admin
istrations general war program.
Virtually every detail has been completed by
campaign in full swing Many officials believe
supremacy the submarine which will prove
cisive victory of the great
Evening star., 1917-04-12
Acts as Austrian War Minister.

LONDON. April 12.-Field Marshal
Won schleyer. chief of the war control
department. has been appointed tenn
norary minister of war for Austria
Hunrary, according to a Vienna dis
patch to the Central News by way of
scbieyer succeeds Gen. Won KIobatin.
who recently resigned.
Evening star., 1917-04-12
Cannot Pass This Week.

It was generally conceded. following
the vote, that the resolution providing
for the investigation would now pass
the Senate. A motion was adopted.
however providing that when the Sen
ate adjourns today it was to meet Mon
day Any further action on the reso-
luton, therefore, cannot be had until
that time.
The Hughes resolution came before
the Senate when the committee on con-
tingent expenses. through its chairman,
(Continued on Second Page
Evening star., 1917-04-12
Sam Chip, Comedian, Dead.

ROCHESTER. n. Y. April 1o-Sam
cbin. the comedian. died suddenly at a
hote, here last night after an attack of
acute Indigestion. For several years he
mad been associated with Mary Marble
in vaudeville. He was known in private
life as Samuel kornblun'. and resided
In 8SoollyA
Evening star., 1917-04-12
Aggravating Circumstances.

considering that the inquiry and the
conclusions cabled by the legation at
Paris on the subject of the torpedoing of
the steamer Parana established the fact
that the Parana was proceeding under re-
duced speed, was illuminated outside and
inside, including the shield with the name
Brazil and considering that the steamer
received no warning to stop, according to
unanimous deposition of the crew, and,
further, that the steamer was torpedoed
and was sheled five times. and that the
submarine made no attempt to save life
then, in the presence of such aggravatng
circumstances and in accord with the
note of February and the telegram of
February 13. sent by the Brazilian gov
ernment. to the legation at Berlin. the
Brazilian government sewers relations
with Germany.
AS soon as this became known great
crowd which had gathered before the
palace cheered for the government and
the allies. People ran through the
streets shouting and singing patriotic
Not Question for Indemnity.
Dr. Lauro Muller. Brazilian foreign
minister. has issued a denial of the re-
port that he advocated demanding COM
of the Parana and the punishment of
the submarine commander. rather than
a breach OF relations. DIR. Muller says
that Immediately after the Parana was
torpedoed he recognized that it was
not a question for indemnity. but for
action.
Herr PAUL., former German minister,
informed the foreign office today that
he would be unable to leave Brazil before
April IS. because he lacked instructions
from Berlin in regard to the arrange
ments for transferring the care of Ger
man interests to some neutral legation.
Herr PAUL. also said a delay would be
necessitated by the fact that he intended
to take with him to Germany all Ger
man consuls in Brazil and their families.
although the government is willing to
permit them to remain In this country.
The former minister demanded that
he be taken to Christiania on the steam
ship which the government has placed at
his disposal. He declined the offer of
police protection. saying he felt perfect
ly secure.
Evening star., 1917-04-12
BRAz| | NOT TO co
TO WAR AT PRESENT
Republic to Confine Itself Now
to Break in Relations
With Germany.
GIVES REASON FOR STAND

By the Associated Press.
RIO JANEIRO, April 12.-It is be-
lieved here that the government will
confine itself for the present to the
severance of diplomatic relations with
Germany, and that declaration OF
war will not be issued, at least in the
immediate future. A decision as to
seizing the German ships in Brazilian
harbors has been postponed. The Ger
at Petropolis last night.
The breaking off of diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany was officially an
nounced by the Brazilian government
in a communication to the press last
night A combination of reasons is
given for this action, the official ex-
PLANTATION reading:
Evening star., 1917-04-12
May Ask Republicans to Help.


A proposition is to be made that the
republicans be invited to share in the
original framing of the bill. as they
were asked to participate in the report
ing of the big bond issue. In making
up a tariff bill the practice invariably
is for the party in power to frame it's
bill and then show it to the minority.
In this case, however, there is dispo-
sition among some members of the
House to let the republicans have a
voice in the preliminaries. thus sharing
responsibility. One argument put forth
in support of this suggestion is that it
would expedite action through Con-
sress If the conflicting interests fought
out their troubles in committee and
brought in a harmonious report to the
House.
Here are some of the objects tenta-
lively proposed: A consumption tax of
l cent a pound on sugar. increased in
come taxes. especially heavy on those
above $4,000; material increase in
taxes on beer, whisky, wines and to-
bacco: consumption tax on tea ana cof-
fee: renewal of the Spanish war taxes,
including stamp taxes. patent medi-
cines, etc; candy, glucose. talking ma
chimes and records: amusement places,
soft drinks and soda fountains; bill
board and newspaper Advertising; au-
tomobiles and combustion engines of
all kinds; copper, pig iron. petroleum,
cotton and denatured alcohol. An
other suggestion is an increase of
more widely distributed than anything
else. The committee will not begin
work on the bill until next week. after
the bond bill has gone to the Senate.
Evening star., 1917-04-12
Officials Believe Militia
May Be Recruited to 10000
Under National Defense Act

Careful reconsideration OF the terms
of the existing national defense act
is responsible for the contemplated
change of She administrators policy
in regard to the mobilization of the
National Guard for war.
officials now think the law grants
the states the right to organize addi-
tional guard units up to the full limit
of 500 men to a congressional dis
trict. II that view is Sustained by
army legal authorities. such additional
regiments as any state may decide to
form will be recognized by the fed
eral government and be drafted into
the federal service, when that action
is taken with respect to units already
organized
Would Make Army of 44O, 900.
The effect of that change would be
to make it possible for the National
Guard to have a full strength of
100000 enlisted men in the first ele-
ment of the wartime national army.
The present policy of the War Depart
ment of drafting only those units now
existing and such additional units as
may be necessary to fill out divisional
organization, or which have armories
and other evidences of permanency.
would produce about 100000 men
The War Department has decided to
raise the regular army up to the fun
strength prescribed by the national
defense act-2S7, 900 - Immediately on
the passage of the war organization
bill by Congress. That means that
three additional increments. totaling
approximately 10000 men. would be re-
quired. Many new regiments would
be formed by dividing existing regi-
ments and filling each half up to full
war regimental strength.
Would Extend Exemptions.
A committee headed by Jane Adams
of Chicago has discussed with Secre-
tary Baker the exemption clauses of
the administrations army bill provid
ing for the additional forces to be
raised by selective draft. Men who
are affiliated with religious societies
which oppose war would be exempted
under the bill. The committe urged
that there are individuals unconnected
with any such sects whose religious
convictions also are against war. and
that these persons should be accorded
similar exemption.
The whole question Of religious ex-
emption has been thoroughly discussed
before the House committee by Mr..
Baker, and there is no indication that
the department will recommend any
change.
Evening star., 1917-04-12
GREAT FLEET OF VESSELS
TORUNU-BOATBLOCKADE
FIRST u. S. BLOW in WAR

Plentiful Supply Of Food, Clothing and Num-
tions for Allies Most Effective Possible
Aid for Present.
ENGLAND AND FRANCE ARE SENDING
NOTABLE DELEGATIONS TO AMERICA
Baour and Vivian Head Commission Coming to Consider To-
Operation in the Common War Against Germany-Gen.
Jofre May Be One Of the Members
Evening star., 1917-04-12
WEATHER

Partly overcast and cooler weather
tonight and tomorrow, probably follow
ed by rain tomorrow.
Temperature for twenty-four hours
ending at 2 pm: Highest. II, at pm.
today; lowest. Al. at 3 am. today.
Full report on page II.
Evening star., 1917-04-12
Secretary McAdoo Explains
the Revenue Bill to the Sem
ate Committee.
QUICK ACTION EXPECTED
AFTER PASSAGE IN HOUSE
Chairman Simmons Announces That
Little Opposition Is Looked
For in the Senate.

The $1,000, 100000 war revenue bill
committee today by Secretary McAdoo.
Chairman Simmons said no opposition
was expressed and he expects its quick
passage after it has been approved BY
the House. No foraml action by the
Senate committee will be taken until
then.
Mr.. McAdoo's idea was that at least
half the $1,000. .000, 900 should be raised by
taxation, the remainder by bonds.
Possible Subjects of Taxation.
Pending action by the House on the
bond bill, members of the ways and
means committee are discussing only
tentatively the possible subjects of tax
alton which are to be included in the
new tax bill. the preparation of which
will be the next task they must take
in hand.
They do not underestimate the diff
culties which will confront them in this
undertaking. which indeed will be of
magnitude comparable to the construc-
ton of a tariff bill, with this difference.
however, that in making up tarin
bill the object of every interest is to
get in" on protection and in this case
it will be to get from under taxation
One definite policy will determine the
course of the committee, it is said. and
that will be to spread the taxes in a
way to equaliZe the burden as far as
possible among all classes. Some mem
berS of the committee contend there is
departure from this program in the
proposition to make another drive at
incomes and great wealth. but this con-
tention is resisted by the proponents of
the policy. who insist that the wealth
of the nation must stand another haul
as well as the rank and file who must
contribute their bit" in the taxation
of multitudinous items entering into
their daily life. business and consump-
ton,
Evening star., 1917-04-12

Continued on Second Page.)
Evening star., 1917-04-12

An impression has been created that
the United States will feel itself free