davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21

navy department and went into con- Terence with members of the general board. Information for the president, and tentative plans for further naval activities were discussed.
 The only argument known to have been advanced in official circles against the early calling of congress was that the president himself can do almost everything possible immedi- ate1y. But in spite of this argument the preponderance of official opinion seemed to be that congress should be summoned as soon as possible so that the full power of the governm ent would be assembled in Washington.
 Expansion of War Risk Insurance.
 A further step in the plans to pro- after the cabinet meeting when the federal war risk bureau, under the di- rection of Secretary McAdoo, announc- ed a new policy of insuring American ships under which policies would be written on all vessels except those car rying actual munitions of war.
 Motor Boat Patrols.
 Plans for organizing patrol squad rons of privately owned motor boats and yachts along the Atlantic coast were discussed tonight at a confer ence between Secretary Daniels and Captain George R. Marye1. an assist ant for operations. who has just re- 1IOIA d bIAp IO NEW IOIhs DOS- ton and other coast points. tn enroll available craft. Captain Marvell re- ported he had arranged contracts with many owners of small. speedy boats suitable for mounting guns and chas- ing submarines or patrol1ing the coast, to turn their vessels over to the gov ernment in an emergency. A number of boat owners also agreed to volun- teer as reserve officers.
 Both Secretary Daniels and Secre- tary Baker spent several hours at their offices tonight. going over department business.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
CHARGED WITH coNSPIRocY
 TO DEFRAUD NEW HAVEN ROAD
Frank osborn, a Conductor, and Two
 Cthers-40,0oo Spurous Tickets.

Hartford, Conn, March Exchanged with forgery and with conspiracy to defraud the New York, New Haven 6 Hartford railroad. Frank Osborn of Springfield. Mass. conductor on the New Haven, and Adolph Wilkins and Harry Gordon of New Britain were arrested on bench warrants today and after appearance before Judge Donald T. Warner of the superior court here, held for the June term of the court under bonds of $5,000 each. In de- fault of bonds they were locked up.
 According to the allegations made to States Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn. by the railroads detectives the men un- der arrest had printed about 10000 hailroad tickets for various points on the railroad. which they sold on the train and on the street at rates less than the regular price.
 The authorities have not yet found out where the tickets were printed but it is understood they have Information which they believe will clear up this point. At least one more arrest is ex- pected, it was intimated.
 Osborn, who is about fl years old, had been in the employ of the road for about 20 years. the last seven as q conductor running between Springfield and New Haven.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
TRAPPING OF TWO
 GERMAN SUBMARINES
Reported by Captain Smith of the
 American Steamer Alaskan.

Newport, R. l., March 2o-The trap ping of two German submarines was reported tonight by Captain E. l.. Smith of the American steamer Alas kan which arrived today from La. Pal lice, France, for New York, according to the pilot who brought the ship in to the harbor. The U-boats, Captain Smith said, were detected lurking be- heath the surface of the sea by keen eyed observers of the aircraft patrol. The airplane signalled for trawlers and circled about directing the placing of nets. In a. little while the nets were drawn quickly about the unsuspecting SubmerSibles, which were hopelessly enmeshed and brought to the surface They were lying side by side in the harbor of La Pallice when the flask an sailed. B; q
 The steamer. which is owned by the American and Hawaiian Steamship Company of New York, left Boston January 2s with horses and a general cargo for La Pallice. During a series of violent storms on the voyage over, 1o2 horses were swept from her decks and lost. The return trip was even more stormy. She was eighteen days on her homewaNd passage and finally was forced to put in here for fuel oil and water. She proceeded tonight for New York.
 Captain Smith was in command of the American steamer Kansan, the frat ship to be held up by the U-53 skipping off the nantucket Iightshup. He was allowed to proceed, Lieutenant Rose. commander of the submersible, being credited with referring to the i'm ci6ent as ''an encounter with a regular sea lawyer"
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
WANTS PROCEEDINGS OF
 couRTMARTIAL SEN FEfNERs
John Dillon Calls Attention to Viola
 ton of Asquith's Pledge.

London, March 20. 1O.53 D. m.-Pro- testing in the house of commons to- night against the governments refu- sal to publish the proceedings of the court martial of the members of the Sim Fein in Dublin. thus violating Former Premier Asquith's pledge, John Dillon, one of the Nationalist leaders, who also referred to the recent state ment of Andrew Bonar Law, chanceI- Tor of the eNchequer, regarding a set- clement of the Irish question and a general election, said the Nationalists would not injure the government i'm the prosecution of the war.
 But there were other ways. MT. DiI- lon said, of punishing the government, which had let itself loose in Ireland. The Nattona1ists would welcome @ general election and would oppose the bill for prolongation of the present parliament, in order to force an elec- ton. If MT. Bonar Law raised anti Irish feeling in London he would find the Irish could fight as well, and many things would come out of the situa- tion that the honorable gentleman and his friends would not like.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
BENNY" CHANGES HIS STORY
 ABOUT MEETING MRS. HILAIR
Admits He Met Her at a Broadway
 Subway Station Thursday.

New York, March 20.-Benjamin Sternberg, otherwise known as Ben n.y." detained by the police as a ma terial witness in connection with the murder of Mrs. Elsie Lee Hilair, whose body was found last Friday in her room in the Hotel Martinique, has made an important change in the story he told the police when he surren- dered yesterday, Inspector Cray de- clared tonight.
 In his original statement, the police say, Sternberg asserted he did not see Mrs. Hilair on Thursday, the day she registered at the hotel as Florence Gray, Boston," He now admits. In Spector Cray said, that he met her at Brooklyn subway station Thursday and that they rode together to the Grand Central station, where they left the train and started for a theatre.
 At Broadway and Forty second street, Sternberg is quoted as having said, he changed his plans and left Mrs. Hilair to go to a pawnshop, where wife. He asserted that he did not re- join her and did not see her again The police declare Sternberg told them originally that he was not in Manhat- tan at any time Thursday.
 It was Thursday afternoon that Mrs. Hilair went alone to the Martin ique, wearing jewelry valued at $2,50e, and registered under an assumed name The jewelry was missing when her body was found the next day. She is believed to have been strangIed late Thursday.
 Sternberg said he became acquainted with the young Brooklyn matron through a filtration at matinee in a thea Ire.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21

Washington. March 20.-For two hours today President Wilson discuss ed the international crisis with his cabinet and heard urgent suggestions that the date for the extra session of congress fixed for April 16 be set for ward to consider further steps in de- fense of American commerce against German submarines. It is understood there was not @ dissenting voice against this advice.
 The president himself did not ey- press his views, and so far as cou16 De learned later had not finally determ- ined upon the course to be pursued. The prevailing belief was that he would announce the call for an earlier meeting of congress tomorrow.
 Question Is What Shall Be Donef
 Among officials virtually the unanimous opinion is that in spite of the technical armed neutrality status of the United States, actually a state of war exists as the result of the ruth less destruction of American merchant ships and the killing of American cit izens in defiance of international law and of the most solemn warning one nation can give another. The only question is what shall be done about it, further than the arming of mer- chantmen to resist submarine attack if they get the chance.
 The cabinet members generally are said to have expressed today their will ingness to support a programme based on an early call for congress and a formal declaration that a state of war exists between Germany and the Unit ed States
 Tonight the president went to the theatre-a thing he frequently does when he has made preliminary deci- sion on a grave question and wants distraction in order to look at the prob lem anew with freshened mind.
 No New Naval Orders.
 After the cabinet meeting Secretary Daniels, saying that no new naval orders had been issued. hurried to the
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21

berlin, March IS iBy Wireless to The Associated Press from Staff Correspondent, via TIckerton, N. J., March 20).-The German evacuation of Bapaume, Rove. NoT0n and Peronne is but part of a great strategic un- dertaking which promises to revolu- tionize warfare on the entire western front and constitute one of the most decisive moves in the war
 Just as a month aZo the Germans evacuated an important sector on the Ancre, but kept the fact secret for week. while the British bombarded the empty trenches, so today's report shows the most import I4it development of 1917 on any front. The sector in cluding the evacuated cities virtually covers the great Somne battle front. Reports from this sec.:cn of the front tell of effective work of destruction carried out before the occupied land was given back to the French and the British, so that it will avail them noth- ing as captured soil, according to views expressed here.
 To End Trench Warfare.
 With the fronts as long as they are in this war, and with the enormous amount of territory held by our troops" said a high German military authority today, "there is no particu- lar military significance attached to any especial section oS the enemyS s territory. Therefore, we can give up AN our troops that freedom of movement needed, and end trench warfare. That is what this really a a.nounts to. We are now getting the enemy out of their trenches.
 ForestaIls Spring Drive.
 "The giving up of t!ns portion of our front puts an end to ah their finely laid spring offensive plans. Ever since &orembeP hundreds or thousands of men have been. at work building trenches. munitions Icpots. railroads and cable lines to prepare for the biggest spring offensive of the war. nothing. In the face of our with drawal all this is seless. Four months work, of millions upon millions of dollars in value has been rendered useless and valueIess. while, more important still. all the enemy plans are likewise of no worth. They must make entirely new onas to cope with the new situation.
 This is a difficult matter, entailing weeks, yes, months of work. and re- quiring an enormous quantity of new left at the mercy of cur plans. New Positions Taken Up. '1t is most important to remember that the new positions we are taking up back of the old froht are built with the aid of every possible device de- veloped by two and half years of warfare. The old positions were the result of the breaking off of the un- finished offensive towards Paris. Many portions of our positions were held only with the greatest difficulty. The trenches were difficult to maintain and the artillery observation points,
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
TWO ESCAPED CONNECTS
 SHOT TO DEA'
In a Battle With Posse in a Suburb of
 Birmingham, Ala.

Birmingham, Ala, March 2o.-DaVid D. Overton, the former county clerk under sentence of death for the murder of Judge W. T. Lawler, was shot to death in a Birmingham suburb tonight by a sheriffs posse sent out to cap ture him and six other prisoners who had escaped from the county jail early in the day. In battle between the posse and the prisoners. Tony Ma limo, another convicted murderer, also was killed and J. L. Lathem, held on a forgery charge, was seriously wounded. The other convicts escaped.
 About fifty shots were exchanged during the fight, which took place in a thicket near Birmingham College. The sheriff, notified by a negro that the prsoners were hiding in a thicket, sent six deputies to round them up Over ton and his companions at first at mand to halt began to fire. The first shot, the deputies said, came from Overton's rife. The posse replied with a volley and several minutes of gen. eral firing followed before the con- victs retreated into the darkness, leaving their three wounded behind.
 The battle was scarcely Tnore sen + sational or dramatic than the jail ds- livery to which it was the sequence The seven men, three of them under death sentences for murder and three others held on murder charges, in 6 concerted revolt overpowered and dis armed the jail guards, turnbled into an automobile waiting nearby and were gone before an alarm could la given. Within a few minutes armed posses .were sent out in ell directions and an alI-day man hunt through the city and the surrounding country fol- lowed.
 The officials believe that Overton and Malino, the two who lost their their lives, were the leaders in plan ming the jail delivery.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY
 AND NAVAL RESOURCES
Is Urged in Petition Sent President Wilson by 1s0 Members of Vale Fac ulty.

New Haven, Conn, March 2o.- Prompt and adequate development of the military and naval resources of the country for proper protection of the nation is urged in a petition sent to President Wilson tonight by about 190 members of the faculty and ad- ministrative officers of Yale Univer- sity. The petition says that the honor of the nation is at stake and declares that "a country Of a hundred million persons, with vast resources yet unde- veloped cannot afford to stand under a protectorate."
 "And yet" 1t continues, i've are act ua1ly relying for the safety of our commerce upon the fleets and armies of Great Britain and her allies, which, in addition to bearing the terrible strain of the greatest war in the his- tory of the world. are also serving as the bulwark of our integrity and our free institutions"
 The signers include President Ar thur T. Hadley. Dean F. s. Jones of the college; Director Russell H. Chit tenden of the Sheffield Scientific school and Professors William H. Taft, Irv- ing Fisher and Henry w. Farnam.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
EVIDENCE OF
 COURT SCANDALS IN RUSSIA Establishes Weak Character and Lack of Foresight of Nicholas Romanoff.

Petrograd, March 20, D. m., via London, 11.50 p. m.-Is would be un- profitable to go fully iuto all the court scandals or the constantly accumulat- clearly established the weak character and incredible lack O. foresight of Nicholas II and his apparent ignorance of conditions which spelled his inevi- table downfall. Most surprising of all was the emperor's stubborn refusal to be guided by the counsel of members of his own family and his quiet as- sumption that all was well with the country at a time when the whole nation was on the brink of active rev. olution.
 Grand Duke Nicholas Michaelovitch made most persistent efforts to ap- prise Emperor Nicholas that the country was in danger and the throne tottering, but the emperor showed no more signs of being stirred by this warning than by that of the dowager empress and a multitude of other per senages who approached him.
 Late in November Grand Duke Nicholas Michaefovitch took to the palace a letter which he had written and read it aloud to the emperor and empress. It expressed in most blunt fashion the danger the country was in and showed how only by the promptest action the emperor could save the em- pire from complete collapse. The grand duke took no pains to conceal the RaSputln scandal, but when the name of the empress was mentioned the lat ter snatched the letter from Nicholas S Michaelovitch's hand and tore it up.
 When the emperor received in si- lence the statement that Protopopoff (minister of the interiorl had been foisted upon him by Rasputin, and listened to the other accusations with out denying or showing signs of being the least confused by them, the grand duke lost all patience and shouted at his majesty:
 Do none of these things move you |? You make me think of Alexander I.''
 An appeal to the emperor signed by seventeen grand dukes made no greater impression, and Vladimir Purishkevfch, vice president of the Union of True Russians and a pronni- nent member of the dunna. paid a fruitiess visit to the palace on the same mission. All spoke freely to Nicholas of the growing danger to the dynasty and the necessity of his pro- tecting himself against the influence of the empress. To all these the emperor replied:
 What has Alexandra to do with politics? I refuse to believe that she is unpopular among the people,
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
BELIEVE TWO INTERNED
 GERMAN SAILORS ESCAPED
Police of Philadelphia Are Said to be
 Working on That Theory.

Philadelphia, March 20.-Notwith- standing the navy departments an- nouncement that all the sailors of the the Philadelphia navy yard, who last been accounted for, the local police were tonight working on the theory that at least two of the Germans made good their escape.
 Search of the waters around the yard for the bodies of Lieutenant Chorth and Hermann Schroder, ma chinist's mate, reported to have been drowned in the attempt to swim 300 yards to the mainland. was diScontin- ued late today. A large squad of de- tectiVeS was detached to watch rail- road terminals and all other exits from the city and filters" containing de- scriptions of Chorth and Schroder were sent broadcast. A report that one of the men had been captured in the southern section of the city to- night was denied by the police.
 Electricians today strung wires over the meadows in the vicinity of the navy yard and erected a large num- Der of high-powered arc lights. To- night the meadows were as bright as at midday.
 Mayor smith announced that the in termed crews, numbering about 75O men, would be- transferred to Forts Oglethorpe and McPherson early to- morrow His announcement was made after communicating with navy de- partment officials at Washington.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
TO coNTRIBUToRY
 SYSTEM OF OLD AGE PENSIONS
Developed at Legislative Hearing in
 Massachusetts.

Boston, March 20.-Opposition de- veloped at a legislative hearing today on a bill providing for a contributDry system of old age pensions. Miss Ed ma Spencer of the special commission on old age pensions opposed the meas ure if it was designed in any way to take the place of the non-contributory plan recommended by some of the com missioners. Erwin R. Hurse, actuary, of the Massachusetts Savings Bank Life Insurance department said the bill was a duplication of the work Of that department and Frank W. Whitcher, president of the state board of trade, urged that consideration of this and similar questions b. deferred un1l all danger of war had passed.
 Representative J. Weston. Allen of Newton, sponsor for the measure. said it would be merely extend what the state Is doing in teachers and state employees pensions. Participants, he added would get back every cent con- trfbuted with interest.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
Notable Gain by
 British and French
FRENCH CAVALRY WITHIN AZ
 MILES OF ST. QUENTIN
BAD WEATHER FINDERS
On Their Part of the Line the British Have Taken IA More Villages and Are Within Twelve Miles of St. Quentin.

Despite bad weather and difficult conditions of terrain effected by the devastations of the Germans in their retreat both the British and French armies in France have made further notable gains.
 Fourteen additional villages have been entered by the British forces from Arras southward to Ham and they have passed the general line of Canizy, Entree- -en -Chaussee, Nurlu, Velu and St. Leger. The forward march beyond Entree- -Chaussee places the British troops within twelve miles of St. Quentin.
 French Cavalry Near St. Quentin.
 On their part of the line, however, the French have thrown their cavalry Quentin and also have reoccupied con- siderable territory between the Somme and the Aisne. Paris reports that the losses of the French troops in their pursuit of the Germans have been in- significant.
 Berlin Version of Retreat
 Berlin in it's official communication says that in the retreat of the Ger mans they have rendered the field se- lected for the coming engagement with the entente forces useless from mili- tary standpoint. having rendered ev- erything unserviceable which could have been of advantage for their op- erdtions. A high German military au- thority told The Associated Press that the manoeuvre of the Germans had ended the plans of the entente for their spring offensive and that from strong new positions the Germans will give battle to the British and French as they come across the devastated bat tlefeld.
 Quiet on Other Fronts.
 From none of tl7e other fronts has there come a report chronicling par ticulariy sanguinary engageme There has been an increase in the out post skirmishes in Russia. In Mace French war office reports the capture of Teutonfc allied positions, nine ma- chine guns and twelve hundred pris- oners. The Berlin war office, however says that all the French attacks here have been without result.
 On the Austro- Italian front the usual artillery duels and minor in- fantry operations are still in progress
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
DEAN JONES' VIEWS IN CASE OF WAR
Would Turn Vale Campus Into Train ing Grounds and Dormitories Into Barracks.

New Haven. Conn, March 2O.-Dis- cussing Wb5t Yale would do in the event of war. Dean F. s. Jones of the college in an interview which the Yale News will print tomorrow. says he would like to see the university grounds turned into training camp, the, dormitories into barracks, the commons dining hall used as a mess room. the athletic fields as pa rade grounds, all extra curriculum activities eliminated and the students, while attending classes, giving the greater share of their attention to mil itary preparedness. He would also like to see the students. should call for volunteers come, formed into a distinctive Yale organization, if pos- sible.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
SESSIONS OF NATIONAL
 DEFENSE CONVENTION
To Be Conducted in New York on
 Lines of a Public Forum.

New York, March 2o.-Sessions of the national defense convention to be held here next week under the auspices of the National Guard association of the United States will be conducted on the lines of public forum. 1t was an- nounced tonight Prominent pacihcists have been invited to attend
 The anSSSuRced purpose of the con- veation is to encourage military pre- paredness.
 The national guard commanders of many states will be present and it is presented.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-21
BERLIN EXPLAINS GERMAN RETREAT
Declares It is Strategic Move to RevOIutOnize War
 fare on the Western Front
ONE OF ITS OBJECTS IS TO END TRENCH WARFARE

Render Ineffective the Preparations of the Entente Allies for Great Spring Drive-Have Devastated the Evacuated Territory That Will be of Little Use to the Eney-Staemen Excuses Acts of Barbarsm by Declaring That the Germans Are Fighting for Their Existence.