davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
SWISS TO REPEL
ALLINVADERS
United States Is Thanked in
New Declaration of Re-
public's Neutrality.
NIGHT ASK ALLIES AID
Determination to Resist In
volatility Of Territory Is
Firm and Cnwaycring.
MIGHT ASK ALLIES AID

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15-Tn thanking
the United States for tie declaration to
observe strictly the neutrality Of Switzer-
land, the Swiss Confederation. in a COM
muncaton made public to-day by the
state Department. declares IT will main
tain its neutrality by its own forces and
vii, repel a violation OF its frontiers.
The communication received to-day by
the state Department is signed by Presi-
dent Ador of the Swiss Confederation
and addressed to the Charge d'Afraires
at Berne in the absence Of Minister Sto-
vail. II is as follows;
Mr.. CHARGE p'ArFAIREs:
In note OF the third instant YOU
were kind enough to inform the Political
Department that you had been charged
by the Department of state TO inform
the Federal Council that the presence of
American troops in Europe. taking part
in the war against the Imperial German
Government, has led the Government OF
the Union to inform the Swiss Conted-
Grafton that. the same as its cobelliger-
ents in Europe, the United states will
not fail to observe toward Switzerland
the principle Of neutrality and inviola-
bility Of its territory so long as this nen-
trality is maintained by the Confedera-
ton and respected by the enemy.
"In the name o. the Federal Council
I have the honor, in acknowledging this
declaration, to beg you TO transmit to
your Government the thanks Of the Fed
eral Council for this new proof of the
sentiments of friendship that the United
States has always manifested toward
switzerland.
THE Federal Council can only renew
the declaration of neutrality tina; it had
the honor TO notify to Washington April
90. 1917, insisting particularly on its
firm and unwavering determination 10
maintain and defend its neutrality and
the inviolabilty Of its territory by all
means at its disposal against any person
AT the same time the Federal Council
has the honor to declare that by virtue
of its sovereignty and in accordance with
the declaration Of the Powers who signed
the treaties OF Vienna and Paris of 1915,
in particular that OF the Goth of Novem-
ber the Swiss Confederation. To whom
II apper;ains to take the necessary meas
urcs for the defence OF its territory. will
maintain It's neutrality by its own forces
and will repel a violation of its frontier
II that occurs.
referring to these acts and to It's
declaration of neutrality OF August 4
1914. as well as 70 later declarations
especially the notification made at Wash
ington by the Swiss Minister on April 90
1917. the Federal Council believes that
it appertains only to II to decide in what
condition II might appear opportune to
appeal to the assistance of foreign
Powers.
Receive. &C., &C ApoR."
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
IN
SECRET COUNCIL
German Socialist Leader Treat
ing in Stockholm With
Bolshevik Delegate.
PARVUS INTERMEDIATOR
Is a Native Of Russia Who Be-
came German Subject
SINCE War Began.
PARVUS INTERMEDIATOR

STOCKHOLM, Dec While the Boi.
shevik Government in Pctrograd is pro.
claiming its intention Of conducting all
negotiations openly and is declaring its
hostility to all monarchies, including Ger
many, Phillip Scheidenann, the German
majority Socialist leader and strong sup
porter of his Government, is holding
rew!y appointed ''workmen and soldier
governments plenipotentiary and rep
resentatlve in Stockholm" NoroVSky,
also known as Orloffsky
Herr Scheidemann arrived here last
Sunday and went to a room which had
been engaged for him by former Rus
sian subject named Parvus, now Ger
man subject, The secret Of his pres
ence here and OF his conferences with
Norovsk! was kept so well that Il was
only learned TODAY.
\ further interesting light is thrown
on the situation by the fact that Leon
Trotzky, Bolshevik Foreign Minister
whose stockholm representative is now
working through Parvus as intermedi-
! AIRY, denounced the same Parvus in a
newspaper he conducted in Paris AS a
traitor.
The SocQl Dcmokrnten. which pub
fishes a long expose of the affair, as
serts that when the Dutch Scandinavian
conference was endeavoring to bring
about general democratic peace tho
Leninites did their utmost to oppose it,
But now. when it is a question
~ separate peace" SAYS the news
paper-'with every possibility Of an i'm
perta list'c peace AT Russia's cost first
OF all and th"n ~ .he COS, az the whoe
western d.mocracy--tnis traitor is in
vited to Stockholm by the Rol.heyibl
as the proletariat's representative
The Soc,di Dcmokrntcn recalls the
German minority Socialists recent at
tacks on the efforts OF the majority
Socialists to represent the German Gov
ernment as desiring an honorable and
democratic peace, with the right of all
nations to decide their oHr destiny, and
says with reference to tho present
Bolshevik secret conferences with
Scheidemann:
This manner Of conjoininC two 10
litical parties with such radically differ
ent principles is inCorcaivah hle, except on
the assumption Of moral bankruptcy on
at least one side. and after all the last
weeks have taught us concerning the
Bolshevik methods IL is not difficult to
see where such bankruptcy already eN-
lists"
Farvus, who acted as intermediary
between chedemann and Norovsky,
poses as a majority Socialist and enjoys
the German Governments confidence TO
such an extent that he was among the
men mentioned at the time OF the last
Government changes as possib Min
lister of Finance
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
New War Council Appoint
ed to Minister to Needs
of Pershing's Army.
BLISS Is ACTIVE HEAD
Red Tape Methods No Longer
VIII Hamper Work of
Force at Front.
Special Despatch to THa StS.


WASHINGTON. Dec Ito expedite
and centralize all matters pertaining to
the maintenance and supply Of Gen.
Pershinss force Ap France. the War
Department to-day announced the crea-
tion Of special war council. The plan
has been under consideration for some
weeks as a result OF the increasing need
for speedy and systematic action to
meet needs for the American troops
abroad.
The war council will be headed by
Secretary Baker and will be made up
Of Major-Gen Bliss, Chief Of stan (;
Major-Gen. Henry @. Sharpe. Quarter
master-General; Ma jor-Gen. william
Crozier. Major-Gen. F.. NJ. Weaver and
Mator-Gen. +. II. Crowder. The council
will act through the Chief OF Staff.
1t " planned to add general officers OF
wide experience to the council from time
to time, and arrangements will be made
to have members Of the council spend
sufficient time near the European battle
fields to become familiar with the needs
Of the American forces
One feature Of the councils work Will
be ito establish the closest possible CO.
operation between the War Department
and Gen. Pershing's armies in the neld.
There has been difficulty in 'estab blishin g
proper relationship along this line.
Being on the spot, Gen. Pershing in
many respects has been able to under
stand the military needs Of the hour
better than the authorities here. His
recomme nd ations have had to he re-
feried to the various bureaus concerned.
which operation has consumed time and
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
U. S. TO MAKE ITS POWDER.
San Francisco Man VIII PuiId Fed
ernl Explosive Plants.

WAsHlNGToN, Dee I5.--Government
explosive plants to supplement the pres
ent output of private manufacturers are
to he built in the immediate future. It
WAS disclosed tonight in an announce
nent by Secretary Baker of the ap-
pointmrnt of Daniel G. Jackling OF San
Francisco to take charge ~ the con
struction work
The number and location Of the plants
was not disclosed. but Mr.. Baker an
nounced that their construction would
entail an expenditure Of moro than
500 900 900
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
SCOTT IN LAST REPORT.
Chief of stan n econ m e nds Chm nges
in Army system.

WASHINGTON. Dec 15.--Reorganiza-
ton OF the War Department on a sound
General Staff basis. nd adoption Of uni
versal military service as "A national
policy arc recommended in the last an
nual report OF Major-Gen. Hugh l.. Scott
as Chief Of Stan. The document. made
public Tonight. is devoted almost wholly
to a discussion Of the staff question. Gen.
Scott explaining that his long. absence in
Russia and his Impending departure for
France" gave him little time TO prepare
an adequates account Of the army y
preparations for the war.
After referring to what has been ac-
complishcd in the way OF prepa ration.
Gen. Scott deplores the paucity OF Cen
eral staff officers FOR work of such un-
paralleled Importance" and ascribes this
shortage to the act Of Congress In 1916
which limited the total number Of such
officers to fifty-five. only half Of whom
could be held on duty in Washington at
any one time.
The staff did not reach "A strength of
forty-seven officers until Congress in
creased that body In May. 1917. the re-
port says, and adds that had dhis num-
Coufiu Nod m Thirf, u1o<
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
Escape of Ex.Czar
Reported and Denied.

PETROGRAD, Dec. 15.-Ad-
vices received at the Smolny
institute, the Bolshevik head
quarters, to-day said that former
Emperor Nicholas had escaped
from the monastery near To-
bolsk, Siberia, where he was con-
fined and that . special train,
manned by sailors, had been sent
in pursuit Of him. It was sup
posed that he was on the way
to Harbin, about 1000 miles to
the east.
Later in the afternoon an Of
fetal denial was made at the
Smolny Institute that the former
Emperor had escaped.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
Calls "The Sun" Fund
Troops Greatest Aid.
TN a letter to THE SUN Amos
Pinchot says:

AN a iCItct W Aiib NJSAN NuHOS
Pinchot says:
"From personal experience as a
private in the Spanish-American
war ! realize that whether a SOL
der is well or sick, hot or cold,
wet or dry, there is always com.
fort in good smoke.
Tobacco in civilian life may
be d luxury, but to smokers in
active military service it is. I be-
lieve, a real necessity. There are
mighty few, if any. funds that,
dollar for dollar, will do more to
help our soldiers along than
yours, and we heartily wish you
the greatest success in your
work"
Mr.. and Mrs. Pinchot sent a
check for s2.370.94, represent
ing 20 per cent. of the net pro.
ceeds of the sale of their furpi-
ture and pictures.
Another remittance came YES
terday from Seneca G. Lewis,
representing profits on additional
sales Of his march song, "Colum-
bia." This brought receipts
from Mr.. Lewis to date. to
$1,506.S2.
The great Christmas concert
for THE SUN Tobacco Fund
takes place in the Waldorf-As-
toria grand ballroom tomorrow
night. Also the fund will re-
ceive a share of tomorrow
nights receipts at the Thirty
ninth Street Theatre. where the
screaming farce whats Your
Husband Doing?" is on.
WARMING! THE SUN TO-
BACCO FUND has no connec-
tion with any other fund, organi-
zation or publication. It employs
no agents or so'icitoys.-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
DEsERTER GETS 20 YEARS.
IL DishonOrably DISCHARGED From
u. :. Army, Pay withheld.

CAMP MEADE. Md. Dec IA SEN
tence OF twenty years imprisonment at
hard labor. dishonorable discharge from
the army and forfeiture OF pay was to-
day imposed upon Private Lawrence w.
Trefemphen of the l54th Depot Brigade,
charged with desertion.
Trefemphen was absent from October
| TO October %, when he was arrested
AZ Staunton. Va.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
Bandits Cut Mexican Line, Report

LAREDO, Tex, Dec, l6--Announcement
to-day that train service on the Mexican
Railway had been discontinued for points
beyond Monterey led to reports that
bandit attacks are frequent in that Sec
tion and that n section OF track has been
destroyed between Monterey and Saltillo.
Confirmation was impossible.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
FALSE TEETH KILL WARRIOR.
First Night Home Fatal After Es.
caping War Perils Two Years.
Spscjol Cabie Despdtch to THs sun

LONDON, Dec. 15.-An. amazing in
stance OF what chance may. do to a
man Is afforded by the case OF Albert
Crome. who enlisted two years ago. was
trained and sent to France, where he
spent fifteen months. participating In q
series OF desperate fights and
military adventures.
He never was wounded but became Ill
and was sent home on leave to re-
cuperate. On his hrst night IN England
he was awakened suddenly. swallow cd
bis false teeth and died.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
WARNS FOE MAY
INVADEENGLAND
Lloyd Georges Grey's Inn
Address Interpreted as
Yelled Prophecy.
PRESS ANALYZES SPEECH
Mystery Surrounds Premier's
Demand for Steps to Meet
, "New Contingencies"
PRESS 'ANALYZEs SPEECH
Special coeie Desso,ca 10 tn. sus.
Copyright, 1917, all yjohts y.s>r,.h


LONDON. Dec. io.-Did Premier Lloyd
George In his speech at Grey's Inn on
Friday night attempt to warn the coun-
try that there was reason to fear the
Germans were contemplating a serious
enort to invade England? This Question
Is raised prominently by the Eyentno
Star In commenting on the Premier's
speech. and It IL likewise suggested in
other analyses OF the address The pas
sage which is regarded as mysterious
and to which most interest attaches is:
Much greater progress has been made
In manpower. especially in the last few
realize. but II Is not enough to enable us
to face new. contingencies without
anxiety unless we take further steps to
increase our reserves Of trained men,"
This could not possibly refer to the
last German attack on the west front
because that had been already dismissed
by the Premier. Therefore 1t refers
presumably to the possibility either OF n
Salonica attack or an invasion OF Eng
land.
Kaiser witAhelA Approval.
Whether the Government has special
reason to expect that such an effort 10
ooatsmnlstsA BY the German stsa b not
stated. but II 10 known that IN tho au-
tvmn Of lsl6 It had perfected arranoe-
ments Tor a dash against England-Vo
land ah asfny and awaited only the
approval OF the Kaiser. which was not
given.
Such an enterprise" continues the
Evening Star. could hardly hope for
success In establishing a permanent front
on British soil. even under the conditions
OF aerial and undersea warfare. but 1t
might seem to the Kaiser worth while
to sacrifice some tens Of thousands OF
fghtins men OF the second grade. re-
Gently released in the east, In order to
strike at the base of the allied armies
while simultaneously launching an at
tack in France"
Such views are mt uncommon in Eng
land. where the people are convinced
that the Germans are preparing. not
only a great effort in the west. but
possibly also an immense surprise effort
on the chance of afpecting the whole
strategy of the war. which the inva sion
Of England would accomplish insta ntly.
That serious military results could
come from such an enterprise Is re-
garded as impossible. but the indirect
results might be grave even IL the Ger
mans failed to effect a landing in con-
siderable force.
Jingo Organs IndoYse Address.
Aside from this interesting discussion.
comment on the Premier's speech 10
almost universally favorable, lingo or
sans like the Globe and the Morning
Post, strongly indorse the tone Of the
address, the Morning Post assuming
that it commits the Government to com.
pletA opposition to the lea Rue Of ationn
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16

WASHINGTON, Dec. Senator Gore
of Oklahoma went TO "A sanitarium here
to-day for treatment for nervous trouble
and insomnia.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16

Continued on Third Page.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
Rig Hotels short Of Coat.

A few Of the city's big hotels are sc.
verely menaced by the shortage ]. w
Rogers, one of the managers OF the Wal
dorf-Astoria, said last night that the
supply Of coal there was just enough to
last until 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon
Ralph Muschcnheim Of the Hotel Aston
said I'VE still have enough TO last a few
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-31
Wilson Fixes Price
OF News Print Paper
Publishers Declare Ruling on
"Oficial Bulletin" an I'm
portant Precedent

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.-ln an order
which newspaper publishers declare
will serve as an important precedent
President Wilson has fixed a price OF
21a cents a pound on news print paper
for use in publishing the governments
daily "Oficial Bulletin The order
fixing the price was issued by Secretary
Baker at the Presidents direction
under the national defence act, which
empowers the government to COM
mandeer supplies needed for war pur-
poses. 1t was directed to the Interna-
tionsl Paper Company, which had de-
clined to furnish news print for the
Bulletin" at less than cents pound.
Newspaper publishers who learned
of the order to-day voiced the hope
that it might open the way for cheaper
news print paper to publishers gen
orally. They called attention to state
ments by the President that the Ad-
ministration's price policy will be one
that provides the same price for the
public as for the government.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-31

Senator Ransdell would put tax on
cigarettes. ranging from two cents on
those retailed for not more than hVe
cents TO 80 per cent on those sold al
20 cents or more.
Senator Hollis proposed TO eliminate
the provision lowering the minimum
incomes TO be taxed from $4,000 on in
comes Of married and $4,000 Of unmar-
ried persons to $4,000 and $1,000, re-
spectively.
Senator Simmons insisted that the
pre-war values should in all cases pc
used in determining taxable values. In
other words, he said, the value OF a
railroad upon which profits are TO be
estimated must be the value OF that
railroad before the war and not the IN
creased value which it has obtained IN
consequence of war conditions.
In a general way the new war prohts
tax provides that all corporations, part
nerships and individuals making more
than $4,000 a year shall be subject 70
this tax IL their profits exceed 10 per
cent.
Rates for Excess Profits
All profits in excess of 10 per cent
upon actual capital invested and the
5000 exempted are TO be treated as
excess profits and are ta8ed accord
ingly. The tax upon profits in excess
of 10 per cent, but not in excess OF 10
per cent, is to be IL per cent OF the
excess. Profits in excess OF Ia per cent,
but not in excess of 25 per cent, are
taxed Is per cent. Between 20 and 5O
per cent the tax is 20 per cent, and so
on up until tax of 60 per cent OF the
total excess profits is imposed upon
profits of 300 per cent and above.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-31
Airmen to Drop
Wilson's Note
In Germany

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3O.-President
Wilson wants his rejection Of the
Pope's peace proposals to be read by
the German people.
Because the note was indirectly ad-
dressed to the German people, appeal
ing TO them in the name OF democracy
and humanity TO Danish the rule OF
Hohenzollerism, the President is par
ticularly anxious that the military
autocrats of Germany shall be baked
in their efforts to keep the message
from the people. A..
Secretary Lansing said to-day that
the Administration was going TO take
steps to see that the German people
were supplied as generously as pos
sible with copies of the peace rejection
reply.
Il is probable that a systematic
plan will be worked out, in coop, ration
with British and French aviation corps
to send copies of the note into Ger.
many by aeroplane, as was done Win
the Presidents war message.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-31
Japan to Fight
With u. S. to End,
Ishii Tells Senate

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3o.-A message
Of fellowship and good will from japan
was delivered to the Senate by VS.
count Ishii, Ambassador on Special
Mission, with an assurance that Japan
is in the war to stay. and will fight
shoulder to shoulder with America to
victory.
The Ambassador and other members
of the mission were received on the
floor of the Senate with formal cere-
mony by Senator Salisbury, President
pro TEN in the absence of Vice-Presi-
dent Marshall. His address, read IN
English, frequently was interrupted py
applause.
Viscount Ishii said in part:
"No words at my command can give
ADEQUATE expression to the profound
appreciation | have of this honor you
confer upon us.
al shall not, however. abuse this
rare privilege by attempting to talk at
length. But | grasp this occasion to
say to you that the whole people OF
Japan heartily welcome and profound
" appreciate the entrance OF this
mighty nation into the struggle against
the insane despoiler OF our civiliza-
tion.
eve of Japan believe we understand
something of the American ideal OF
life, and we pay our most profound re-
spects to it.
81 assure you, gentlemen, that the
japanese ideal of national life is, in its
final analysis, not so very far removed
from yours. We conceive of our nation
as vast family, held together not by
the arbitrary force of armed men, but
by the force of natural development.
"You must be free TO be Americans,
and we must be free to be Japanese.
But our common enemy is not content
with this freedom for the nation or for
the indvidual; he must force all the
world to be German. too!
ave of Japan took up arms against
Germany because solemn treaty was
not to US a scrap of paper. We did
not enter into this war because we had
any selfish interest to promote or any
ill-conceived ambition to crafty.
ain this war, as we move together
shoulder to shoulder. to a certain vic
tory. America and Japan must have
the other. We nave much in common
and much to do in concert. That is
the reason / have been sent and that
is the reason you have received me
here to-day.
81 have an earnest and abiding faith
that this association in the highest,
most sacred and most trying of human
activities-the armed vindication of
right and justice-must bring us to a
still closer concord and deeper con-
fdence one in the other. sealing for all
time the bonds of friendship between
our two nations"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-31
BRYAN Backs Wilson
In Reply to Pope
Saws "New Democratic Wine
Cannot Be Put in Old Auto
cratic Bottles"

CHICAGO. Aug. 3o.-President VIII
sons rejection Of the Pope's prohered
peace was Endorsed by William Jen-
nings Bryan at a luncheon Of the Ad-
vertising Association Of Chicago to-day.
The former Secretary warned all
Americans against q discussion Of gov
ernmentsl actions that may lead to dis
sension.
when the government has acted"
said Mr.. Bryan, call discussion should
cease, for the government acts for the
good of the people. and dissension
caused by unwarranted discussion is
traitorous.
"The man who puts up his opinion
against the ways and means in which
the nation is conducting the war is
guilty of treason" he declared.
81 was asked to-day aboua my opin-
ion Of President Wilson's reply to the
Pope" said Mr.. Bryan. 81 will merely