davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1917-12-27
PRESIDENT PROCLALNS RAILWAYS UNDER H. S. CONTROL;
McADOO is DIRECTOR GENERAL WITH UNLIMITED POWERS;
OPERATING INCOME ASSURED 3 YEARS AVERAGE THE BAS
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLA LAMATION

except
shall continue
the and ordinary Of the business
of carriers the their respective companies
except director shall from time to. time
otherwise special orders determine such systems Of trans
portation existing statutes and orders Of
the Commission to all statutes and orders
regulating Of the various in which said systems
ORDERS general special
hereafter made by said director shall have authority and be
obeyed such.
affecting the possession
electric railways including rail-
called nterbans whether such railways be be not
owned controlled by such railroad companies or BY sub
order proclamation and when shall be found
part street railway including subways and tunnels
and by subsequent order and control and opera
enquished the thereof
railroad and systems possession
and control Of which hereby assumed.
The director shall be after having assumed such
and control enter negotiations with the several companies
respective properties the basis Of
annual guaranteed above acuns and the
equivalent nearly be- to the
ending negotiations reported
for such action be appropriate and lawful.
But nothing herein contained expressed implied hereafter done
hereunder shall impair rights
the stockholders bondhoder creditors and other having
receive Just and adequate for the use and control and opera
their property hereby assumed.
bonds dbentu other obligations be paid in due
such regular dividends and interest continue paid
unless the said director shall from time time
special orders determine and subject to the Of the
the various carriers and for the
extension Of maturing obligations.
Except with the prior written OF said director
execution shall be levied
said
carriers; suits
against said carriers and judgments rendered hitherto until
aftar day December
within
director without further
said and control shall date from IL
81.
OF The % be
Done by the President through Newton Baker
the District of Columbia this twentsxh
Of the United States the hundred forty-second
WOODROW
NEWTON D. BAKER Secretary Of
BY the President:
ROBERT LANSING Secretary Of State
The sun., 1917-12-27
He Receives Urgent Appeals
From All Over Country
to Take Action.
MAY BE no OFFENCE
Baker Said to Be Convinced
That Evidence Is Too
Strong.
Spcc,ai Despntch to TuE SrN

WAsHTSGroS, Dec. 26.-There are
growing indications here that Major
Gan. William Crozier. chief Of the bu.
reau Of ordnance, will have to step down
nom his position Of administrative au.
thofnE rs u result Of facts already dis
closed by the Senate Military Committee.
secretary Baker is understood to realize
tnat no adequate defence can he made
At 'Crozierisnl as AN issue. Appeals
arc reaching the President from all
parts of the country TO take the bull by
the horns and let Gen. Crozier go.
Despite the defence which Gen.
Crozier has made against charges of de-
lay. confusion and red tape in the ord
nance department there has developed
general impression In the public mind
1t is said. that the interests Of the army
have not been best served by the methods
which Gen. Crozier employed.
The Testimony of Col. l. n. Lewis. in
ventor Of the Lewis machine gun. who
charged that Gen. Crozier discouraged
his efforts even after European Govern
ments adopted his gun as an efficient
weapon, has undoubtedly had much to
DO toward crSstallizing the sentiment
against "Cro9ierism,'' as it is now called
President Wilson is known to he ad-
verse to permitting his judgment to be
influenced by popular ~k,mor in matters
Of this character, hut in cases where
clAmor is based on specific facts the
effect on the President is known to be
different. Therefore it is regarded MS
very probable here that the President
viii weigh carefully the evidence by the
Senate committee and take action ac-
cordinsly.
Secretary Baker declines to comment
on the general result of tho testimony
concerning Gen. Crozier which has
featured the committee hearings He
defended to-day tha action OF Gen.
CroziAr in writing to Judge Hand OF
tho United States District Court In New
York In June Of last year as a character
witness for Capt. Hans Tauscher OF
Krupps, who was on trial on charge of
aonspiracy to blow up the Welland
Canal
Mr.. Baker said there was nothing ont
~ the way for an army officer to act
q, character witness, and that this ap-
7eared to bc all that Gen. rrozier had
done. He added that Gen. Crozier and
capt. Tauscher were naturally brought
into relationship by circumstances.
The sun., 1917-12-27
ADMIRAL WEMYSS
SUCCEEDS yELLICOE
Important Post Hinted for Re.
firing First Sea Lord.
Special Gable Despatch to The Sus from the
London Ti'nes.

Special Gable Despatch to The suS from the
London Ti'nes.
Copyrighf, 1917, an rights reserved.
LONDON Dec. 2o.-Vice-Admirai Sir
Rosslyn Wemyss has been appointed
First Sea Lord at the Admiralty. sue
ceeding Admiral Sir John r. Jellicoe.
The latter has been created a peer In
recognition of his services. Tho change
has important Significance. There Ia
an official intimation that Admiral Jelli
coe's abilities soon may be utilized IN
another important post.
Admiral Jellicoe was made supreme
commander of the home fleet at tho
outbreak Of the war He previously
had commanded both the Atlantic and
the Home fleets and had been Second
Sea Lord He was made First Sea Lord
the summer after the battle OF Jutland
and Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty
was named to command the Grand fleet.
Admira, Wemyss was made Second
Sea Lord last August. He had been a
Rear Admiral since 1912 and. though
little known to the public. has fine
naval record.
The sun., 1917-12-27
COAL SITUA TON LMPELLLNG
CAUSE FOR TAKING ROADS

,,.nr, :,
ase OF tne'f net operating income
~, % .ne tnree years ended June so. 1917.
lhis VIII lhc'ude one bad year--lslS.
'ne worst year the railroads have had
SINCE lss9-and two good years. 1918
ana l9l'' Tho average net operating
income upon which the proposed guaran-
oee zee IL 20 De based would be about $947,-
ooo,ooV' which would represent A return
upon thc oook cost OF tho railroads Of
auou. o'so per cent. In 1916 the return
was 90 per cent. IN" net operating in
so,re ior these years was a. follows:
ioie' ' s.ls.ooo ooo 1916 N,ot3.o0o. 900;
The sun., 1917-12-27
spec,a, Despatch 10 THr srx.


= WASHINGTON, Dec, c6.-As fore
shadowed In THE SUN. the President has
acted under the authority vested in him
by the rider to the army bill pa ssed
August 2s. 1915. under which he was
empowered in time OF war to take pos
for the transportation Of troops or war
material, or "for such other purposes
connected with tho emergency as may
be desirable"
While opinion has differed here among
lawyers as to whether or not authority
was conveyed in this statute to ac-
complish the present purpose OF Gov
eminent operation OF all the railroads
for commercial as well as war purposes,
the President. after consulting certain
eminent lawyers, who assured him that
II did contain all the necessary author
!ty. decided tonight to invoke this law
and act at once to end the transporta-
ton nlVddle. One of the most powerful
impellihg motives was the coal situa =
ton. which in the last few days has
threatened to become moro serious.
New Legislation to he Urged.
While tho President has put his plan
into execution at once. without awaiting
ths reassembling Of Congress. ne made
known his intention tonight to recon-
mend to Congress legislation covering
the financial details OF the plan so far
as these may be required by Congress
sional appropriation. This will cover
the sums necessary to guarantee rail-
road earnings and the money to keep the
properties and equipment in good re-
pair.
The railroads are to he reimbursed
during the period Of their operation by
the Government on the basis Of the
The sun., 1917-12-27
Expert Gays Tobacco
Is a Real Necessity
"TOBACCO is a necessity, no

"ToBACCo is necessity, not
a luxury. We must have
tobacco" declared the British
Food Controller, Lord Rhondda,
in London yesterday. Condi-
tions in America do not differ
greatly from conditions in Eng
land. And it is generally agreed
that the need is much greater
with the solder than with the
civilian. You can help supply
this necessity Of the Americans
at the front by contributing to
THE SUN Tobacco Fund.
The Akron Club is going to
help with a splendid entertain
ment at the Plaza Hotel next
Saturday night. The performers
held a dress rehearsal last night
which gave promise of great
things. Besides three act
musical farce, "One Minute,
Please," there will be dance and
song novelties and general dane
ing. Read about it all on page S.
Tonight Is Tobacco Fund night
at the Drury Lane Theatre, III
West 125th street. A special
picture will be shown and Vir-
einia Pearson, the Fox movie
star, Aill make two addresses.
Charles A. Phipps of Boston
has donated aspen Of blue rib.
bon chickens which will be sold
for the fund at the great poultry
show which opens in Madison
Square Garden tomorrow morn
ing and continues till Tuesday
night.
WARNING! THE SUN TO-
BACCO FUND has no connection
with any other fund. organiza-
ton or publication. II employs
no agents or solicitors.
The sun., 1917-12-27

international politics with the heat that
might mark couple OF young students
Of the New Thought school.
Sailor had a cane near his cot. He
Seixed the weapon and belabored the
Russian until he was unconscious. Mag
istrate McQuads, In the Yorkville Court,
hold Sailor without bail to await the
report Of the physicians who are attend
ing the Blind Russian.
The sun., 1917-12-27
SNOW ON WESTERN FRONT.
II Interferes with Major Oper
ations in France.

LONDON, Dec. 26.--Snow has inter-
fered to a great extent with major opera
tions In France. but there has been
spirited artillery activity In several Sec
tors. Berlin reports an increased bonn
bardment southeast of Ypres, on the
Belgian front, and near Marcoing and
Moeuvres. on the Cambria front The
British official reports refer to hostile
artillery actions near Havrincourt and
east of Yprcs.
French guns sicncad spirited she'll
ing on the right bank of the Meuse. near
Bezonvaux. Successful French raids
have been made near st. Quentin and In
upper Alsace.
The sun., 1917-12-27
GREEKS MAY SERVE q. S.
Given for Subjects
Of Nation 10 Enlist Here.

WASHINGTON, Dec 2G.---Greece has
given official authorization for enlist
ment Of her nationals in the American
army, Not only will the customary
punishment in such cases not he In
Hl7ted but the volunteers will be re-
nardod.
formal statement from the Greek
legation to-day said that any Greek
'"rvlng IN the United States forces and
'nentioned for gsllsntry would receive
IKE honors from his own country.
''reece has many thousands OF well
Gsincd troops who arc residents OF this
eountrv.
The sun., 1917-12-27
TWO CHINESE JESUTTS HERE.
BelEisn Refugee ana Coiieasue
Will Work in Orient.

Tho Rev. Chan Pek Tok and the Rev.
Simon Tang. two Chinese members Of
tho Jesuit order. arrived in this city
from Portugal yesterday. They will
leave San Francisco for China early in
January.
Father Tok was ordained in Louvain
twelve years ago and was stationed In
Enghien, Belgium, when the war began.
He made his way to Oporto just before
Engheln was captured by the Germans
He and Father Tang win do missionary
work in China
The sun., 1917-12-27
BLIND MEN FIGHT OVER WAR.
German Beats sightless Russian
Uucouscious With Cane.

Two blind men, inmates OF the Home
for Aged and Infrm on Blackweli's ISL
and. became enraged yesterday during
an arsument concerning tho war and
fought to a. fnish. Gustav Sailor. who
came from Germany. took the German
end OF the discussion against Alexander
Bugnd. who is 80 and a former subject
of Russia.
The sightless men faced each other a.
they sat on their cots and waded into
The sun., 1917-12-27
MORE BEER FOR ENGLAND.
Order Permits 30 Per Cent. In
crease In Output.

LONDON, Dec. 26.--The Food Con-
trollcr has issued an order permitting
brewers tn increase theiN present output
by 20 per cent. in the first quarter OF the
new year,
Orhe order also permits an additional
Increase of 10 ~ per cent. for brewers
supplying "necessitous munitiOn areas"
The sun., 1917-12-27
Government Takes Hold at Noon To-
morrow, With Financial Account
ing to Reckon From End
of the Year
TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH LINES
AND WAREHOUSES; ARE INCLUDED
Right Is Reserved to Take Over at Later Date
All Street and Interurban Electric Railways,
Including Subways and Tunnels


WASHINGTON, Dec 26-President Wilson by procla-
nation tonight takes possession Of all the nations railroads
including their auxiliary water lines and places under
the charge of Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo will
have the title of Director General Of Railroads Mr. McAdoo
will not resign as Secretary of the Treasury.
Under the proclamation the control of the railways will
to the Government at Friday but for
ing purposes Government control date from midnight
December 81 which the beginning of the railroads
The widest possible conferred upon Director
General McAdoo who becomes in effect dictator of rail-
roads,
Complete provision is made for the maintenance of the
railroad properties and for proper return bond
holders.
The sun., 1917-12-27
GLAD ARCHIE MAY BE CAPTAIN.

col. Roosevelt IL dee-lighted. lie
'"trd last night from Washington that
''h fershing wants to make Lieut.
Ni'ni' Rnose, plt captain.
Nt'ur'lly am ovrijoyed.' said Lis
him"
The sun., 1917-12-27

Eerlin despatch by way Of Amster-
dam says that tho commission provided
Tor N the arlnistice agreement pro-
ceed"! for Fetrograd to-day It is
headed by Count Won Mirbach, former
German Minister To Greece. 1t will
undertake. to reach an agreement with
the Russian authorities for the Exchange
OF civilians and incapaciated soldiers
and also. II is claimed. TO restore re-
lations between Russia and Germany"
The commission includes a number Of
ofiicials OF the Foreign and War Offices
There have been many assertions in
recent Pctrograd dispatches that the in
huence and power Of the Bolsheviki were
waning. but never with such unanimity
as in special despatches dated from the
Russian capital Sunday and printed t.
day. Nearly all make the point In one
form or other that detection from 'he
Workmen's and Soldiers organization is
growing constantly. Among the causes
alleged are general lack of authority,
the increase in drunkenness, the re
luctancc of the population to work and
the scarcity Of foodstuffs. The. main de-
ste of the soldiers is said 10 be for
peace.
The correspondents cite instances OF
Bolslsvik troops refusing TO march. de-
clining to attack the Ukrainians and per-
mitting the Cossacks to disarm them
without resistance. Fighting. 1t is said.
Continued on Third Page.
The sun., 1917-12-27
BOLSHEVIK FAIL
NEAR; GERMANY
DELAYS PARLEY
Fearing Lcninc's Collapse.
Asks Month to Answer
Russian Terms.
SENDS COMMISSION EAST
Slav Revision Against Radi.
Gals GrOws-Own Troops
Refuse to Fight Cossacks.

PETROGRAD. Dec. 2a.-It is re.
ported that the German delesation
which was expected IN Petrograd
Thursday is proceeding to Dvinsk In.
stead. fearing a visit 10 Petroersd
would he mislnterpreted. There Is an
un"ficial report. which cannot be con.
hrmed, that the Russians have given
lie Germans forty.eight hours In
(which to accept or reject tine Rus.
Sian peace proposals.
The sun., 1917-12-27
British L,vi.r Cost Up 100 r. G.

"''''s" A~vsss C0.s Op iO0 ~ C'
LONDON. Dec 10 fby maiD Tho cost
of living in Great Britain has risen 10e
per cent. since the war. according to
official figures presented In the House Of
Commons.
The sun., 1917-12-27

LONDON. Dec. 26-The postponcn,ent
OF Russo-German peace negotiations for
month, until January -. is sought by
the Germans. according to an Exchange
Telegraph report.
The negotiations were TO be resumed
Monday. but again have been delayed
Ohicially it is stated tina, the delay is
due to desire for time on the part OF
the Germans in formulating their reply.
but In reality it would seem that. the
Teutons see the rapidly nearing collapse
OF the Bolshevik regime and are prcpar-
ing 20 Stand from under.
Various advlces from retrograd as
well as from other points in Russia and
even from Germany seem to Indicate the
fact that the enemy has lost faith in
the ability of l,enine and his followers
10 establish any government that will
have the sanction OF more than y very
small class Of Russians. German troops
again are moving toward the. Russian
border. especially toward the south.
The possible object of this Is seen in a
desire TO protect the big wheat crop OF
southern Russia
The sun., 1917-12-27

Continued on Third Pd1e.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-17
AU5TR|ANS HOPE
FOR SPRING AND
PEACE To CONE

BERNE. Switzerland April 16.-(De-
layed in transmission Peace and
spring weather are the two things
above all else that the AustriaHunga-
rian people most desire at this time.
During a long stay at Vienna, whence
he has just came to Berne, the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent observed
every indication that both the govern
nent and people are Austria-Hungary
are now willing to accept any peace
proposal that leaves Austria-Hunga-
rian territory intact, and makes no
claims for war indemnity. At the same
time, it is apparent that the monarchy
and the people would rather continue
fighting than to accept humiliating
peace terms. Demands upon the dual
monarchy's economic and human re-
sources have almost reached the limit
of bearableness, already, and the peo-
pie are hoping for spring in order to
hasten the production of crops to re-
lief the food stringency.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-17
ALLIES PUSHING
GERMANS BACK
WESTERN FRONT.

NEW YORK, April 17.-(Compiled
by the Associated Press from European
cables during the day l-Along hun
dred and fifty miles front the French
and British are today pushing back the
Germans in a titanic struggle for mas
terry of the western front, striking after
the British had been hammering Ger
man positions in the Arras region to
bits for a week. The French struck
along a twenty-five mile front along
the Aisne river today, and carried Ger
man positions there to a depth of two
to two and a half miles, capturing
more than ten thousand prisoners.
They maintained all the new ground
won, despite counter attacks, deliveries
IL unexpected strength.
The total German casualties during
the last twenty-four hours are estimat-
ed at 100000 men.
Both British and French official re-
ports indicate that bad weather is
hampering operations. Nevertheless,
the British have advanced to within
two and half miles of LIE Catelet,
where they cut the main line of COM
munication between the German posi-
tions at st. Quentin and Cambria, and
tie French. apparently, are seeking to
isolate the important railway center of
Laona and turn the south end Of the
"Hindenburg line" the British having
already pierced the northern end. The
Joint operation is apparently aimed at
rolling up the present German front,
thus forcing a retirement on a greater
scale than has yet been witnessed on
the western front. French operations
are considered worth watching.
In Mesopotamia, the British contin-
ued their advanced up the Tigris, and
are today seventy miles northeast of
Bagdad, where another battle is ap-
parently impending.
The German war Office statement
says one of the greatest battles in
the history of the world is taking place
en- the Aisne river. and asserts that
French attacks were repulsed last
night, with the capture of 1000 prison
ers by the Germans. The fighting con-
t:nues today
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-17
STEWART COURT GETS
DOWN To BUSINESS

LUMPKIN, Ga, April 17-Stewarr
Superior court convened for the
spring term Monday morning at 8
o'clock, Judge 2. A. Littlejohn presid-
ing. John Allen Fort, solicitor gen.
eral, is present and looking after the
interests of the state in an able man
Eer, while W. Thad Glover, official
court stenographer, is also present
Will Humber was made foreman OF
the grand jury, and that body went to
work as soon as charged by the
court.
There was quite good crowd pres
ent at the first day of court, but as
the farmers are needing all the time
they can get to put in on farm work,
all who have no business at court are
at home
There is quite a deal of business
on the civil docket, and court this
week will probably last until Thursday
or Friday. Then, next week, accord
ing to custom. the criminal docket will
be taken up.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-17
EXTENSIONS BEING
MADE IN GAS MAINS

The gas department of the Americus
Lighting Company is developing con-
siderable activity in practically every
phase of its operations, the work hav-
ing begun in several parts of the city
where gangs of workmen are busy
under the direction of experts.
New mains are being laid on Brown
street in order to increase the service
and to prepare for future extensions.
On Barlow street the mains will be en-
larged and several other sections of
the city will also be served by larger
mains.
All dead ends" are being tied into
circuits, and thus the pressure will
be maintained more efficiently and
more satisfactorily.
1t is intended to move the headquar-
ters of the Americus Lighting Com
pany, but detailed announcement OF
this will be made later
The new owners of the public utili-
ties are anxious to improve the service
and an energetic "gas" campaign will
be inaugurated here shortly.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-17
COTTON SEED HOUSE
DESTROYED BY FIRE

A cotton seed house on the planta-
ton of Charles and Uriah Murphy.
about miles northeast Of Americus,
was totally destroyed by fire last night
the total loss amounting to about $500
The building contained a considera-
bic quantity of fertilizer, cotton seed
meal, corn and other products, as well
as many agricultural implements.
Footprints leading away from the
structure across a field showed that
the fire was of incendiary origin. The
authorities are investigating the case
and it is understood that a good clue
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-17
BUSINESS COUNCIL
TACKLE PROBLEM

On Thursday night the Business
Council of the Chamber of Commerce
will hold its regular monthly meeting
at the offices of the Chamber, the topic
for discussion being the critical situa-
ton now prevailing in the state, as
well as the entire nation, in the matter
Of food production.
DR.. A. Nj. Soule, president of the
State College of Agriculture, will de-
liver an address to the Business Coun.
Gil and the general membership of the
Chamber of Commerce upon the part
to be taken by the business men of the
state in increasing the quantity OF
food products raised in Georgia.
The urgency of the situation will be
graphically portrayed to the business
men by DR.. Soule, and an effort maize
TO secure the fullest cooperation OF
the Chamber of Commerce in the cam
paign now being waged at the request
of the federal government.
Every member of the Business Coun-
ell and the general membership of
the Chamber of Commerce is urged to
be present at the meeting on Thursday
night.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-17
ANOTHER AMERICUs
BOY Gets PROMOTION

Information has reached this city
that Ed B. Everette, Jr., son of E. B
E.verette, has been appointed as a petty
officer at the naval training school for
recruits at Norfolk, Va.
The young man enlisted in the navy
almost two weeks ago, along with a
number of other boys from Americus
and has been sent to Norfolk to pre-
pare for active service. His appoint,
ment as petty officer in a company of
about 100 recruits means that he has
been found especially fitted for the
work. and will be given every oppor.
tunity to perfect himself in the depart
nent for which he has shown prefer
ence.