davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09
KAISER'S NEPHEW
IS CAPTURED BY
YANKEE SOLDIERS

London, Sept "a nephew OF
the kaiser is among II prisoners
taken by the Americans IN the last
IS hours fighting, according to a
front dispatch late last night
His name is not mentioned in the
dispatch The only detail about
him so far known is that he wears
a monocle
lie is the first kin Of the house
OF Hohenzollern to fall into Amer
ican hands.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09
THE WEATHER

Partly cloudy and cooler tonight;
Tuesday. generally fair and cooler.
Temperature at a m 5s. High
est yesterday 70. Lowest last night
50
Velocity OF wind at a m. miles
pe- hour
Preci ipitation. none
Stage Of water 81, a rise of ! in
last As hours
J. ii. SHERIER, MeteorologfsI-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09
Wounded.
WILSON NOT TO
TOUR FOR LOAN

Washington, Sept s-Dehnite
abandonment OF President Wilson's
plans for a transcontinentAl speak
ing tour for the fourth Liberty loan
was announced today at the White
house.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09
ITALY PROTESTS
DRY ACT BARRING
IMPORT OF WINES

Washington, Sept g A protest
es@lnst The provision i'm The war
me prohibition bill, barring the
--poria-igu ~ wines except those
+ II Transit after final passage Of
ID ,le measure, has been made by the
t-s.-an government through Am
9a4s4dor dl Celiere "a copy Of tho
s.Nest was transmitted 10 the SEN
-. loTeigl relations committee to-
&C! Dy Secretary Lansing.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09

No belief, however, is expressed
here but that the allies are still
holding the initiative and will com
pei the enemy to continue his re
tirement. 1t is pointed out that al
though the Germans are still hold
ing the Messines ridge forming the
northern bulwark of their line, the
French seem to be steadily maneu-
vering them from before the LaOn-
La Fere positions and st. Gobain
forest. which form the southern
huttress of the Hindenburg line and
there are no indications of any ces-
sation of this pressure.
Belittles Crisis at Front
Amsterdam, Sunday, Sept. SIN
a lecture on the war in Berlin, Lieu
tenant Won Freytag-Loringhoven,
deputy chief of the general staff,
cCntended that the present crisis on
the western front was less serious
tnan many others during the
course of the war.
THE position we occupied before
tie enemy counter offensive began
was the result of an abortive Of
fensive and therefore unsuitable
for a defense whose aim was the
effective economizing of forces,
the general is quoted as saying in
a dispatch from Berlin. THE posi-
tions had not been consolidated, as
trench warfare demands"
Are InVincible, He Says.
Lieutenant Won FreytagLoring-
hoven added that nothing like a
decision was in prospect. He said :
The thing now is to push things
so that Great Britain and America
recognize our invincibleness in de-
fensive war. We lack neither men,
war material nor raw material to
hold out for a long time We must,
however, not slacken in our de-
termination which must remain
alive in the army and at home. All
that might divide us must be post
poned until the end of the war"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09
RUSS WILL FREE
ALLIES'CONSULS
Offers Exchange of French and
British ENJOYS for Safe Con-
duct for BOlsheVikL

Amsterdam, Sept 9.-The Soviet
government of Russia is willing to
prepare for the exchange of diplo-
mats with Great Britain if the neu-
trail powers will undertake TO guar
antee that the Bolshevik represent
atives at London are given a safe
conduct home. The following state
ment by Foreign Minister Tchit-
/ cherin forwarded to the Vossische
Zitung by the Petrograd Telegraph
Agency outlines the conditions IN
der which the Soviet government
will act.
After discovery Of the course Of
action of the French and British
diplomats, whose activities were di-
rected against the Soviet power, the
government of the Soviet republic
found itself Obliged to isolate yari-
Gus agents of the powers named.
Nevertheless, the government as
before, is willing to prepare for the
exchange of diplomats if the neu-
trail powers will undertake TO guar
antee that NJ. Litvinoff and all Rus
sian citizens receive a safe con-
duct; that LitvinOff's and his col
labOratOrs' baggage be permitted to
pass without examination, and that
no further difficulties be put in the
way of his coIIaborators.
Those conditions must, together
with free exit from London and
passage across Scandinavia. be
rrr-a n h--
and Sweden. NJ. Litvinoff is being
Iotified by telegraph and on receipt
Of his answer confirming his de
parture r. H. Lockhart, acting Brit
ish consul general. and those ac-
Companying him then will be hand
ed over to the protection of the
Dutch representatives.
"In other disputed questions pre-
vious agreements will remain
valid"
Following an attack on the Brit
ish consulate at Petrograd on Aug
q, in which Captain Cromie. the
British attache was killed. the Brit
ish government demanded immed-
late reparation. In addition, the
British government placed NJ Lit
vinCff, Bolshevik representative in
London. under preventative arrest
London. Sept "a dispatch re-
ceived here today from neutral
sources in Petrograd says that thus
far nothing more serious than
preventative arrests have occurred
in the case of the allied consuIs in
FetrOgrad-
Washington, Sept British and
French consular and other officials
throughout Bolshevik controlled
Russia are under arrest pending
the outcome of negotiations now
going on between the allied govern
ments and the Soviet authorities.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09

With the British Armies in
France, Sept 9.-(By the AssO-
ciated Press s.)-Pield Marshal
Haig's forces this morning ad-
Vaneed in the area west and
northwest of ST Quentin and
are now five miles frem the
Hindenburg line. They are still
pressing forward.
The British made n fOrmid-
able thrust this morning north
of the Arras- Cambria road. In
Flanders it is stated that the
Germans have removed their
artillery to the east Of the Lys
river.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09

PLAN RAILROAD PENSION.
,- asAlngton, Sept 8 a uniform
r-s4Tance r-.. and pension plan for rail
employees Is under cCHsidara-
oF the railroad admiuistTa-
'4@-' Il Was announced
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09

CONTINUED on Page Nlnel
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09

Associated Press
Leased Wire Report
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09

M c m b ber of Aadit
Bureau of Calculations
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09

London, Sept. 9, q p. m.)-Push-
ing ahead today on the front be-
tween Peronne and St Quentin
British patrols have occupied the
towns OF Vermand, five and one
half miles northwest of ST. Quentin
and Vendelles, two miles north OF
Vermand
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-09

With the French Army iu
France, Sunday. Sept S.-lBy the
Associated Press The troops OF
General Mangin between the
Aisne and the Oise rivers now are
virtually behind their old wire en-
tanglements in their old trenches
Of 1917. All along the edge of the
forest OF Coucy and through the
western horn of the ST. GobaLu
forest the Germans are only 200
CONTINUED on Pare Ninal
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
i. S. Coal Exports

Coal exported from the United States
IN 1917 were larger both in quantity
and value than in any earlier wear in
the trade. the total quantity being
about 100000 tons. including bunker
coal, and the total value S1l3.0OO,O 900,
according to compilation BY the Ma
tlonal City Bank. In 1913, the wear
preceding the war, 2S,0O0 900 tons.
valued at $4,000 600, were exported
from this country. OF the 50 600 600
tons or coal passing out in the fiscal
year 1917 over 1900. 600 tons went to
Canada. while another 100000 passed
into the bunkers of vessels engarpd in
foreign trade. This 1900 900 ex-
ported to Canada is the largest in the
history of our trade with that country
and is valued at $4,000 600. about one.
cite.
Italy ranks second in the list Of
countries to which the United States
exports. the total TO that country in
1915 beng nearly 100000 tons. Cuba
ranks third, the exports to that island
belrS about 100000 tons in 1917
Panama took about 100000 tons. most
or which was for the coalinr station nj
tnat point. Argentina and Brazil took
Ebout 100000 tons each and Uruguay
100000 tons. N''
Exports of coal to South America
pave nearly ouadruplcd since shipments
from germany have been shut off.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Says $4,000 Capital
Cleared $50O,0OO
Former ce-President Sues the
Smiley Steel
COnpanV

Justice BLUR granted permission yea
terday to David H. Friedman, until
recently vice president and director
of the Smiley Steel Company and still
a stockholder, to inspect the minute
books of the corporation. In his argu-
ment counsel for Mr.. Friedman told
the court that the Smiley concern had
cleared $500,0O0 in the last year on a
capital of $4,000. Of which Friedman
had contributed $1,000. Friedman is
now the head Of the United American
Steel Company of Albany, and his ap-
pllcatlon to examine the books was
opposed by the Smiley Steel Company,
which protested that his object was to
get some Of the customers of the com
pany. with which he was formcly cor
nected. Tor his new enterprise.
Friedman's attorney denied any in
tcntion to pry into affairs of the Smiley
company. He said that from the read
ing of the minutes Of the last meeting
he understood that the company too,
100000 from the treasury to speculate
in securities of the United States Steel
Corporation. If that was so, he argued
that Friedman had a right to know it.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Output Of Copper Smelters

copper produced by the smeters in
the United States and Alaska in 1917
aggregated total Of 1888, ,395.e45
pounds, compared with 1912, ,776,3oo N
19l6' according to the annual compila-
Ilon of The Engineering and Mining
Journal Production of refined COZ,
per last year amounted to $3.50 ,24o sos
pounds compared with 100000, 900
pounds IN 1916. No attempt is made to
draw any deductions from the apparent
difference between smelters' produc-
ton and refiners' production. ut i !;
MANIFEST says this authority, "tba,
the refners did not make anvthin,e
IKE the increased output that a year
ago they were expecting to maxi
heir failure was partly due to strikes
IN their plants, partly to delays in OBJ
1aInsng la,l.r. raw material owing to freight
and partly to the increasing inefficjencv
of personnel and plant" The followin-, >,
tables slye the smelters' output in
pounds OF copper in 1917 by states
compared with 1916:
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Preparations for War
Work Tie Up Funds
Of Willys-Overland
Directors Reduce Common
Dividend From IL to 4
Per Cent Basis

Directors of tho lys-Ovcrland
Company yesterday declared "A dividend
Of only 20 cents on each S25 share of
the a1,OOO,O0o common stock outstand-
ing. the disbursement being reduc-
tion of so cents share from the pay
ment made in November. The COM
pany had been paying dividends at an
annual rate of " per cent since 1916,
but the action Of the directors has put
the stock on pee cent basis.
The reduction in the dividend had
been foreshadowed by a steady decline
In the price Of the companys stock
over a period Of several months. IL
sold early last year around S36 shar.
and lately has been quoted in tho mar
kct as low RS SIG. Yesterday sales
were made at 161s following the an
nouncement OF the cut in The dividend.
John N. Willys, president Of the
company, was quoted as follows rela-
tive to the action taken by the direc-
tors:
Subject to final audit Willys-Over-
land Company earned for the twelve
months ended December 81, 1917, net
profits of SS,5o0,00o. before deduction
of the Federal excess profits taxes
which cannot yet be determined, but
which it is estimated will not cxcec.l
S60O.OOO.
",The production OF automobiles last
year aggregated 10000, as compared
with 142,441 in 1916.
During the final quarter of 1917 the
company was in process of transition
from a peace to war basis. in order
to care for the manufacture on a large
scale of motors and parts of the Curtiss
Aeroplanc Corporation, as we'll MS for
heavy orders for the United States
government.
"This has called for large expend-
lures from earnings for plant additions,
new tools. dies and other equipment.
III addition, it has necessitated the ac-
emulation of large supplies of raw
and semi-hnshcd materials, the in
ventory amounting at the close of the
year to 100000.
Because of this fact directors have
deemed it advisable ct this time to
adopt conservative dividend policy
with respect to the common stock.
"With the factory rcadiustment now
completed, liqui lation OF inventories
III the. coming six months should be
very rapid and permit of the release
of surplus funds"
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Money and Credit

Although the banks strengthened
their cash position last week, as was
indicated in the bank statement, there
was ro important change in the market
at the beginning of the new week.
Rates as a rule were steady and offer
irgs were just sufficient to meet the
current demands
AT the Stock Exchange call money
ruled during the day at 4 per cent. com
pared with 3 y rcr cent on Friday.
In the market for fixed date funds
fair amount of business was reportcd
IN loans against industrial securities
as collateral running for ninety davs
and four months at IS, to 6 per cent.
Little was done in loans secured by a
mixture of railroad and industrial col
lateral, transactions consisting merely
in renewals of outstanding loans on a
3 L per cent basis.
Ruling rates for money yesterday,
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Phone Profits Cut Down

Telephone and telegraph companies,
like the railroads and other public
utility corporations, are struggling
against steadily rising costs of opera
tion and maintenance, which are eating
deeply into record gross revenues. The
Bell Telephone System in the United
States, reporting yesterday for the
eleven months ended November 80 last
showed total operating revenues Of
S2G9. 5,019, compared with S24O, ,S36.355
in the corresponding period of 1916.
Operating expenses aggregated S186 =
592,98O, compared with Sl59, ,OSS. Net
operating revenues were $S3 1862 ,039.
compared with $Sl ,638,76S in the corrc-
spending period of 1916. Taxes of the
system increased nearly S5,0OO,0OO over
year ago and interest deductions were
larger by more than S3,O0O,OOO, so thai
surplus earnings amounted to $l3,-
705,681, compared with 20,947 1855. On
November 80 the miles of wire owned
by the system totalled 22,195, ,963.
against 1887 ,485 on the corresponding
date of 1916; total stations, 10,43S, ,253,
against 9,782 ,S03
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Spectators Are Not
dealers in Securities
Internal Revenue Board Rules
on Plan for Reporting
Inventories

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-1ndividuals
who buy and sell securities for invest
ment or speculation will not be con-
sldered dealers in securities" under
the Internal Revenue Bureaus recent
ruling on the optional plan for report
ing inventories.
"A dealer in securities" said
Treasury statement tonight author
lzlng officially the new plan for re-
quiring inventories ''in order to come
within the meaning of Treasury deci-
sion 2609. must be mechant of securi-
ties, whether an individual. partnership
or corporation, with an established
place of business, whose principal bust
ness is the purchase of securities and
tnelr resale to customers. Taxpayers
who buy and sell for investment or
speculation, and Gin their individual
capacity officers Of corporations or
securities. are not Dealers"
Explaining that the Supreme Court
IN pending cases would pass on the
legality Of the ruling that income and
excess profits tax returns might be
made on the basis If inventories taken
"at cost or market price, whichever is
lower" the statement said:
IF as the result of the decision of
the Supreme Court, it is determined
that the return of income upon the
basis OF inventories at market value is
rot permitted by the law, any dealers
IN merchandise or in securities who
have made returns upon such basis will
be required to make revised returns
based upon Inventories taken at cost.
In returns filed on OR before March /,
dealers in merchandise or in securities
will be required to specify on what
basis returns were made"
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Wider Use of Acceptances

The efforts of the Federal Reserve
banks and bankers to bring about
wider use OF the trade acceptance is
beginning to bear fruit, judging from
recent published bank reports A COM
pilation including all the national
banks throughout the country, the
trust companies in New York City and
state and the state institutions cf Bos-
ton, st. Louis and Baltimore for vari-
Gus dates during November gives an
aggregate of $276,O03,O0O in acceptance
liabilities, compared with S255, ,757 900
shown in September reports and S263.-
100000 contained in the reports that
appeared last June. 1t is noted, how
ever, that in the face of the general
increase the acceptance liabilities Of
the New York City national banks have
been steadily decreasing in volume,
while the acceptance business of the
trust companies shows considerable ex
pansion.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
1917 Dutch Sugar Crop
Produces Surplus for Export

Recent reports Of a probable scarcity
of sugar in Holland are now dispelled
by official statements that not only will
the 1917 production be ample for do
mestc needs, but will leave a surplus
for export.
The reports about scarcity, says the
American Consul at Amsterdam. were
due to the fact that sugar beets we're
being fed to cattle owing to lack of
other fodder; but it is now authorita-
lively announced that considerable
part Of the 1917 crop may be fed to
cattle, still leaving an abundance for
the production of sufficient sugar
This is in spite of the fact that the
sugar beet area in Holland was 20 per
cent less in 1917 than in average recent
preceding years, the excellent crop off
setting that shortage.
The annual production Of beet sugar
in Holland in recent years has been be-
tween 230, 900 and 100000 TONS Of which
about one-half sufticed for local re-
quirements. The 1917 production is
not yet stated, but apparently it was
fairly normal.
The government controls the sugar
supply and has fixed a price which
brings sugar to the consumer for , to
10 American cents pound. according
to kind. This is only about three cents
above ante-war prices. Half the retail
price Of sugar in Holland consists of
the excise tax. However, it is stated
that the government loses about a cent
pound on the price it has fixed; that
is to say, sugar cannot now be pro-
duced and marketed at the government
price with any profit, and therefore
the government pays the dealers fair
compensation. This it also does in re
spect to various other articles of which
1t has fixed the maximum price.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Casualty Concerns
Arrange to Write
Prohibited Risks
Munitions Plants May OBJ
tain Workmen's Com
pensation

Concerns engaged in the manufac.-
ure OF munitions, or doing other unusu-
ally dangerous work, and classified
heretofore as "prohibited risks" will
no longer have difficulty in obtaining
workmen's compensation insurance 2s
last week at Hartford. Under this plan
ten Of the leading stock casualty COM
panies which write workmen's compen-
satlon lines, operating under the name
of "The Associated Companies" have
entered into an agreement to provide
n colnsurance and reinsurance method
Tor handling not only risks possessing
an obvious element Of collective hazard,
but risks which for other reasons in
vovc the possibility of too great loss
for any one company to assume.
The arrangement is an extension Of
the idea embodied in the plan put into
effect two years ago by these same
companies whereby the compensation
risks on coal mines were shouldered in
common 1t is in reality, according
to statement given out by w. G.
Cowles, vice president of the Travellers
Insurance Company and chairman Of
the Associated Companies, an extcn-
sion and slmplification of the long ex-
!stlng theory Of coinsurancc rendered
uniform and certain by joint and sew
eral policy rather than by independent
pollcles OF companies involving joint
and several obligation. Each company
viii transact its own business, fully
administer it's own risks, and in every
respect preserve it's identity. In this
way, in the belief of officials of the
companies interested, the maximum of
insurance protection should be made
available and can actually be provided.
The handling of coal mining risks in
this manner is said to have proven
satisfactory not only to the casualty
companies, but to policy holders, state
officials and the public generally.
The following companies are parties
to the agreement: The Aetna Casualty
and Surety Company, Hartford; Aetna
Life Insurance Company, Hartford; the
Employers Liability Assurance Cor
poration, Limited. of London, England,
United States branch, Boston; Hart
ford Accident and Indemnity Company,
Hartford; London Guarantee and Acct
dent Company, Limited, of London,
England. United States branch, Chi
Baltimore; the Ocean Accident ami
Guarantee Corporation, Limited, of
London, England, United States branch,
New York; the Standard Accident In
surance Company, of Detroit; the Trav-
elcrs Indemnity Company, Hartford,
and the Travellers Insurance Company,
Hartford.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Portuguese Currency Situation

owihg to the disappearance Of prac-
tcally all gold and silver in portposl ~ al
the country is on paper basis Tev
notes OF .. 10 and SO centavos hav.
been issued by the Bank of PORTUGAL
small coins of l and 4 centavos havn
ncen placed IN circulation to relieve
u'o q, scarcity of small change.
=, ne latest statement of the Bank OF
ror'ugal shows the total issue Of
,aper money as follows: Gold notes.
12o'o,s'sl3 2o escudos; silver notes, 16,,
.-,'s' escudos; copper notes, o.67O
The metal reserve was ooo5'7o
escudos. On August 5, 1914, the notes
IN circulation totalled 6.406 ga
escudos and the metal reserve 16.s44.-
III escudos. N'o1''
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Cuba Cane Sugar Meeting

The announcement was made at the
annual meeting Of stockholders of the
Cuba Cane Sugar Corporation yester-
day that accounts and bills payable
amounting to between $10,000,000 and
$11 100000 on September 80, 1917,
have been reduced to S6,0OO,OOO at the
present time. 1t was stated it would
be the company's policy to strengthen
its cash position SO as to eliminate,
SO far as the nature of the business
will permit, borrowing to finance this
years crop. The average price re-
ceived by the company for sugar last
year was about 451 cents pound,
compared with 4.60 cents allowed by
the food administration. AS to the
dividend policy OF the directors, it was
said that no consi sideration would be
given to payments on the common
stock until the end Of the present
grinding season, at the earliest. The
company has produced 273,000 bags of
sugar so far this year, against 900
bags last year.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Dollar in Foreign Exchange

Exchange on Paris continued to ad-
vance yesterday, check francs going to
so u. Sterling rates were steady. A
somewhat frmer tone developed in
rates on the Scandinavian countries.
Brokers were much interested in a
sharp decline in the exchange rate on
Argentina. The movement is believed
to be due to the efforts of the United
States authorities to improve the posi-,
ton CT the dollar in South America.
Closing rates yesterday, compared
with a week ago, are given in the table
below. American bankers have sus-
pended all dealings in German and
Austrian exchange, so that daily quo.
tations for either marks or kronen are
no longer available.
Quoted dollars to the pound.)