davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
Christian Science
Church Boosts Loan

The Christian Science Church is CO.
operating actively in the Liberty Loan
campaign under the direction of the
mother church in Boston. In this city
the work is conducted by a committee
representing the nineteen local Chris
tian Science churches and societies.
Nathan H. We'll, chairman of the COM
mittee, yesterday made public letter
sent to all local organizations. 1t fol-
lows, in part:
"The call for the third Liberty Loan
comes at the period of the greatest
stress in the world war. Our nations
allies are being pressed seemingly al
most to the limit of their strength and
endurance. In this crisis our prayers
and our resources are needed without
measure and without stint. The supply
Is as great as our need.
"The governor of the Federal Re-
serve Bank having invited the coopcra-
ton of the Christian Science churches
of this city to aid in making the loan
an overwhelming success, this commit
tee of representatives of all the Chris.
tian Science churches and societies of
greater New York asks your earnest
support, and invites all members and
those who regularly attend Christian
Science church services to subscribe
| through this channel"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
Army Officer Arrested
AS a Pro-Gerraan
Major J. w. Birkner, After
Dismissal by United States,
Is Held

DEFINING. N. NJ, April 12.-Maior
John w. Blrkner, 10Th Field Artillery.
was arrested at Camp Codv to-dav'
charged with violating the espionaee
act.
WASHINGTON, April 12.-For pro-
nounced German sympathies and dis
loyal remarks made in the presence of
TOUR fellow officers, Major John W.
blrkncr, of Lincoln. Neb., German
born medical officer of the Nebraska
National Guard, has been discharged
from the army and recommended for
lnternnent by the War Department.
AHldavIts of the four officers who
accused Birkner allege that his pro-
German sympathles were voiced at fire.
duent intervals and that he displayed
citation when the German armies made
successful drives and was depressed
when the Allies Won"
blrkner was discharged April a from
the army. Previous to his DISCHARGE
ms commanding officer, Major General
A. r. Blocksom, of the Gath Division. at
camp Cody, was directed to certify the
officer for internment
The dismissed officer was born in
Germany, and served in the Franco
Prusslan war. He suffered a gunsho OF
wound while in that service. He was
naturalized in Clay County, Nebras ska
in 1883, and during the same year, en-
'ered the service of the Nebraska Ma.
tional Guard as first lieutenant. He
was promoted to captain September 8
1908, and was given the rank of major
May Is, 1905.
The service records of the War De-
partment show Birkner. native OF
Nuremberg, Germany, was born May 90
1885. He was educated in the common
schools of Germany and was graduated
from the gymnasium of Speier in 1879
and from the Kingschale in Munich in
1876. He entered the Medical College
of St. Louis in 1881 and was graduated
in 1886. He speaks German, Latin
Greek, French and Spanish.
Birkner served with the Nebraska
troops on the Mexican border from
July 7, 1915, to January Is, 1917. He
was rcmustered into the Federal ser.
vice February %, 1917, and stationed
at Fort Crook. Nebraska, until the Nc.
braska troops were sent to Deming
N. NJ, last fall. War Department rec.
ords show Birkner is married and give
his home address as 1909 Sewell Street
Lincoln.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
kaiser's Vice-Consul in
Mexico Implicated in Leip-
sic Sailors Narrative
Names 26 Ships Sunk
Prisoner Admits He Gave
Sailing Dates and Desti-
nations to Foe

MARTINEZ, Cal, April 12-German
operations on the Pacific Coast, in
Guiding activities of the cruiser Leipsic
and details of systematic espionage
system directed by German vice-cor-
sui in Mexico, whose identity is kept
secret, were laid bare here to day, &C
cording to the Federal authorities, by
the seizure Of papers in the possession
OF Walters Peters. & sailor, who will
be informed for the duration Of the war
as dangerous enemy alien.
Peters was sailor on the Leips;c
from June, 1919, until she was sunk Oft
the Falkland Islands in a naval en-
gagement with British fleet. During
that time the raider sank twenty tx
ships, according to diary written bv
Peters and from which most of the
evidence on espionage activities was
obtained by the Federal authorities.
Peters admitted the authorship of the
diary and said the facts therein were
true, the Federal officials stated.
The activities of Peters, according
to the Federal authorities, consisted
of making daily report to the Ger
man vice-consul on the progress of war
activities in the United States. and
furnishing the German officials with
information concerning the departures,
destinations and routes Of vessels.
Included in the papers seized were
maps OF San Francisco and Seattle
harbors which were said to have
shown the position and power Of coast
detences at those places.
Peters was in the water six hours
after the Leipsic was sunk, according
to his diary, and then was rescued.
Afterward he made his way to Mexico,
met the German Vice-Consul at q Mex
lean port and was furnished with
money for transportation into the
United States. Federal authorities
were at loss to discover how Peters
reached Mexico. as after the naval
battle 1t was announced by the British
Admiralty that all the survivors had
been captured.
Peters arrived in the United States
shortly before June 5. 1917, when he
registered for the selective draft. Just
previous to the passage of the act re-
curing the registration of enemy
aliens, Peters applied for his first nat
urallzation papers, giving Denmary as
his birthplace. He did not register as
an enemy alien, the Federal autho critics
said.
Peters was a member of the San
Francisco Riggers and Stevedores'
Union. AS such, he was employed as a
rigger on various boats in San Fran
cisco Bay.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
Educators Oppose
Teaching of German
1t Aids in Spread of Kultur
in America, Conference
Thinks

PHILADELPHIA, April 12-To con-
tlnue the teaching of German in pub
lie schools is to aid the Prvssian war
lords in spreading kultur throughout
America, according to the general opin-
ION among educators attending the con-
ference of school men here under the
auspices of the University of Pennsyl-
Nania.
Arthur J. Jones, assistan. professor
OF secondary education at the uni
verslty, said that school men generally
believed that schools could get along
very we'll without the German Ian.
guagc.
DR.. 6. M. Phillips, principal of the
pennsylvania State Normal College
West Chester, Penn. referring to the
statement of Franklin X. Lane, Secre-
deiphia spends S7O,6oo a wear to teach
German and only $11 900 year to
train aliens in American citizenship
said:
In my opinion, the value Of the Ger
man language always has been exag
gerated, especially as to teaching it in
our schools. The value Of the language
think it will be very largely cut out
We can do without It,"
Dr.; Charles A. Wagner declared that
all German textbooks are dangerous.
We found many things in the Ger
man textbooks that in the opinion of
many are dangerous be said, "but at
this time it would be far more prudent
to simply cut out the German.
II think 1t is only right to stand
for the doctrine Of putting ban on
the German press OF the country There
is something wrong when foreigners
come here and try to perpctuate their
own institutions to the danger of Amer
icaniavp -
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
Defence Society Urges
WaronBulgar andTurk
Embassies and Consulates
Here Nesting Places for Spies,
Saws Plea to Senator

The American Defence Society,
through its chairman. Richard NJ
Hurd, yesterday telegraphed President
Wilson requesting that he ask Com
gress for declaration Of war against
Turkey and Bulgaria before the ad-
Journment OF the present session. At
the same time letter to Senator King.
of Utah, approving his bill calling for
such declaration was made public.
at war with Germany and at peace
with. her allies" said Mr.. Hurd, 1--WE
handicap overselves and give the
enemy advantages that should not be
his. NO man who stops to think for
moment believes that either Turkey
or Bulgaria is neutral as between us
and Germany, and nobody who thinks
can doubt that the diplomatic service
OF these two countries is in a position
to supply valuable aid and information
to our enemy.
"The embassies and consulates of
these countries afford safe nesting
places for spies and bases from which
parative safety. These are facts 'a amd
there is nothing to be gained by ignor
ing them"
In the letter to Senator King Mr..
Hurd says
This country can have no sympathy
with the Bulgarian government, which
has betrayed all friends in turn-Rus-
STA. Serbia, Greece, France and England
and which is owned and controlled
by Germany: Its King is an Austrian.
~ is the subservicnt tool Of the Cen
tral Powers, and yet we allow its min
lister to stay in Washington.
why talk Of humanity and seek 70
placatc the unspeakable Turk? Lam
guage fails in the attempt to describe
the folly of thinking that the Turk
who spares neither youth, age or sex,
who burns, Stays, murders, ravishes
sells into slavery, tortures, is quite
such slmpleton as to be deceived into
being good by gentle treatment.
bulgaria and Turkey have been alb
solutely absorbed for all warlike pur-
poses by Germany. Do we imagine
that the Bulgarian and Turkish embas-
sizes at Washington are associations ia
promote our interests?
Congress should pass this resolu-
ton. Action at home is more necessary
even than action abroad. Every dav
we read of explosions set by encmy
aliens. Are the Turks and Bulgarans
here wholly innOcent7n
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
British Prisoners
Tortured by Foe
Forced to Work Under She'll
fire, Beaten and
Starved

LONDON, April 12.-How British
prisoners of war in Germany are en-
shaved, starved and subjected to I'M
told cruelties is related in an Official
report Of government committee made
public to-day. The detention and EN-,
ployment Of commissioned officers
and men, says the report, "have
brought on these prisoners an amount
of unjustlfable suffering for which it
would be hard to find a parallel in
history"
The report is based on an accumula-
ton of evidence and shows prisoners
have been employed constantly under
shellfre, and that many have been
killed by British guns; that they have
been kicked and beaten, denied cloth
ing and adequate shelter; have often
been shot, and that deaths from star.
walton and overwork have been con-
slant
French prisoners have been subjected
to the same treatment. Some Of tbs
prisoners received neither letters MOI
parcels for eight or nine months after
their capture. Last November there
was in the Limburg station between
$4,000 and 10000 undelivered parcels
for British prisoners.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
Chaplin Can Be Sued
While Boosting Loan

Charlie Chaplin may continue his
work for the Liberty Loan, but it vii
not protect him from being sued here
Through his attorney, Nathan Burkan
Chaplin failed IN the Supreme Court
yesterday to have set aside the service
of a summons and complaint in d
100000 action brought by the Essanay
Film Company for alleged breach of
contract.
Chaplin commended that, being in New
York solely for the Liberty Loan he
should be immune from suit, and a
warrant of attachment against his prop
crty here, which the plaintiff also OBJ
tanned.
In denying the request, Justice Guy
said that, if granted every debtor in
the country could tour the country and
ask exemption on that ground"
Chaplin came East with Mary Pick
ford and Douglas Fairbanks. All three
have enlisted in the Liberty Loan cam
paign Also they have had vexing per-
sonal situations to meet. Chaplin was
sued for 100000, Miss Pickford was
sued for $103,7b0 for commissions by
Il former manager, and Mr.. Fairbanks,
according to announcements by Mrs.
Fairbanks, has separated from his wife.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
Twenty From Erasmus,
Brooklyn, Begin Years
Agricultural Drive
OFF to Madison County
Member Of New York States
Working Reserve; 1000
More Are Ready

The high school boys of New York
City started their agricultural drive
last night when twenty Of their num-
Der set off for Madison County, where
they will struggle with dairy cows and
garden truck till next October.
The first quota of the New York
State Boys Working Reserve comes
from the Erasmus Hall High School,
Brooklyn. Under the leadership of c.
R. Fay, teacher of economics and his
tory, the twenty lads left over the
which will be the Madison County
headquarters for boys from this city.
The boys will reach Cazcnovia early
this morning and will be distributed
among the farmers Of the neighbor-
hood
Many of the embryo farmers were
accompanied by their parents to the
Lackawanna station in Hoboken. If
there was any regret stirring in the
breasts of the youngsters over leaving
the city and their studies, they con-
cealed it.
Gave High School Yell
They boarded the sleeping car pro-
vided for them.
F. A. Rexford, director of student
service for the State of New York, said
that New York City could furnish
about 1000 high school boys for the
farms this summer, and that practically
all of them were ready to go now. The
high schools of the state, he said, could
supply about $4,000 lads for agricultu-
raj work. The boys will receive 1915
week for the first four weeks, So a
week for tbs next four weeks and s6.25
for the next four weeks. After three
months of farm training their pro-
fciency in agriculture, together with
the law of supply and demand, will de-
termine their wages.
The state authorities in charge of
supplying farm labor from the schools
have assigned the territory east OF
Cayuga Lake and south of the Mohawk
Valley to New York City.
Instructors TO Watch Boys
Instructors from the high schools
here will have supervision of the farm
workers in each county and see that
the boys attend to their work and be-
have themselves. The boys that left
last night have been excused from their
final examinations and will receive full
credit for their years school work. Mr.
Rexford said they were all good stu
dents.
eve found that the boys who spent
last summer on farms came back i'm
proved in mind and body" said Mr..
Rexford. eve sent away some poor
students, who came back full of inter
est in their studies and did excellent
work last winter"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
Enemy Alien s Talk
Lands Him in Prison
lie Told Cigar Clerk That
Kaiser, IF Here, Would
Lower Price ofTohacco


George Rudolph Franck, ffty-seven,
herman enemy alien, entered the
United Cigar Store, Psi Fifth Avenue,
brooklyn. yesterday afternoon, and
complained to the clerk of the high
cost of tobacco to fill his German pipe.
He shouted There is only one way to
stop the high prices and that is to
bring the Kaiser over and put him in
charge of the country"
In the argument Franck was in
formed that the Kaiser did not have
any chance of invading this country
and that, If he did, he would run into
the Atlantic ocean to get away from
the preliminary reception.
There amt. hey?" responded the
German. "Well, the Germans pushed
them back five miles yesterday and they
will do the same every day now that
Hndenburg has started"
The discussion had attracted crowd.
It was with great difficulty that po-
liceman from the Fifth Avenue station
rescued Franck. He was brought to
Manhattan, and Captain Hull forced
him to admit that he was born in
Kocnigberg, East Prussia. He said that
he came tc this country in 1886 and is
a manufacturer of slot machines and
also commission merchant He was
sent to the~-Essex County Jail pending
an investigation of his case.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13

he called in his secretary. who con-
tirmed the fact that such adjournments
had been taken from day to day at
his request. Later in the day | de-
livered to the Dock Commissioner at
his Office, Pier A, written offer on
behalf of the Occidcnt Dock Company
to lease Pier 60, North River, for n
term of ten years from May !, 1918
with provision for a renewal for an
additional period of ten years, at All
annual rental of $4,000"
Under British Control
The affidavit set forth that the Brs
toll City Line was freight line run
nlng between this cit yand Bristol,
England, and under the control Of the
British government during the war,
carrying government cargo altogether,
and its war work during the present
emergency was "of the highest impOr-
lance"
ut is of vital Importance that the
business of the line be not interfered
with or delayed and hindered in any
way whatever at this critical time. "
the affidavit related.
A copy of the 100000 offer, filed both
with the Dock Commissioner and the
Sinking Fund Commission, was at
tached to the affidavit, as we'll ass an
affidavit Of Mr.. Blair corroborating
Mr.. Arkell's statements.
Detectives, who visited the home of
Daniel F. Murray. one of the Hudson
Dock and Terminal Corporation d.
rectors, yesterday found Murray away,
but saw Mrs. Murray. When she was
told that they had called to inquire
into her husbands financial standing
and that he WIS the director of cor
poration, Mrs MURRAY LAUGHED heartily
according to the detectives, and told
them they better "see Mr.. McGooey,
who is the boss" Murray gets SIS a
week as a Waterman at the Columbia
Oil Company plant.
When efforts were made yesterday
to reach Mayor Hylan to make in
quiries in regard to the Hudson Cor
poration, Grover Whalcn, the Mayors
secretary, said the Mayor was "busv."
Mr.. Whalen said that he knew Mr..
Mccoy we'll, but did not know he was
connected with the Hudson Corpora
ton. Mr.. Whalen and Mr.. Mccoy
both have summer homes at Far Rock
away. He said that Mr.. Mccoy had
worked at Hylan headquarters during
the last campaign, and had contrib
uted $500 to the Hylan campaign fund.
Controller Craig also issued long
statement yesterday, maintaining that
political influence had nothing to do
with the granting of the lease. He
declared that the two companies con-
cerned stood on the same footing. as
they were equally known and unknown
to the municipal authorities"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
Ruling May Put
Phillips Back in
National Army
War Department Expected
to Announce Its Decision
in Few Days

While Charles Francis Phillips, the
former Columbia student who was dis
charged from the National Army en-
March as a felon, unfit for service,
is busy with his plans for organizing
"The Young Democracy" an anti-mil-
itarstc organization. the War Depart
lnent officials at Washington are Civ
ing his case careful consideration, and
expect to announce their decision re-
garding his future in few days.
Meanwhile, the local draft board, which
sent Phillips to Camp Upton and later
called the attention OF Washington to
his activities following his discharge
from the army, is waiting official in
structions before taking action.
Phillips announced yesterday that
despite efforts to prevent "The Young
Democracy from meeting, its conven-
ton would be held on May 4 and g.
Just where it is to take place he would
not say.
Phillips first attracted attention when
| when he was arrested charged with
conspiracy to evade the draft. He was
convicted and sentenced to one days
imprisonment and fine of $500. His
discharge from the National Army was
based on this conviction.
Immediately following his return to
civil life Phillips announced the forma-
ton Of "The Young Democracy" The
character OF its literature prompted the
draft boar! to report the matter to
Washington
Adiutant General Mccain, discussing
the Phillips case in Washington yester-
day, said the official investigation had
not been completed. He repeated, how
ever, that the War Department would
oppose releasing men on f1imsy grounds
and intimated that a definite decision
which would put Phillips back in the
army might be expected at any time.
Phillips and four of his followers
( held a meeting yesterday. He an
nounced later that Rebecca Shelly, a
member of "the Young Democracy"
had forwarded glowing reports from
Michigan, where she is at present, of
the interest she has found in various
sections of the country for the organi-
cation and its anti-militaristic policies.
The meeting of "the Young Democ-
racy" yesterday was attended by Phil
lips, Leila Faye Secor, formerly of the
| Peoples Council; Eleanor Parker,
| Cedric Long and Donald Winston.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
knight Silent on
Landing of Marines
[Staf Correspondeucc7

WASHINGTON. April 1.-THE last
information from Admiral Knipht'
commanding the Asiatic fleet, broupht
no suggestion of the landing of Amer
lean sailors or marines at Vladivostok
where already Japanese and British
forces have been landed, it was stated
at the Navy Department day.
1t was added that Admiral KNIGHT
could not land American marines therc
except to protect life. 1t was not de-
niod that instructions had been sent to
the feet commander on the subject
IT. was pointed out in Japanese
circles here to-day that the anarchv
prevailing at Vladivostok imperatiyeiv
required tho landing of Japanese ma.
rines because there arc thousands of
Japanese and Koreans in Vladvostok
to whom Japan must give protection.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13
PLAT Removal Explained
Park Commissioner Urged Ac
ton as Matter of ECONOMY

In view OF the protests which have
been received by Mayor Hylan in re-
gard to the removal Of Carl F. PLAT.
Tor thelast five years landscape archi-
tect of the Department of Parks. a
statement was issued from the Mayors
once Yesterday. explaining that tho
Board at the request of Park Com.
missioner John N. Hartman, OF Brook.
Ign, as matter of economy.
Commissioner Hartman was quoted
in the statement as saying that he did
not think the parks would suffer AZ a
result Of Mr.. Pilat's removal, and that
tho latter had agreed that his work
could be carried on without him.
Commissioner Hartman added how.
ever. that the Park Department. had
seen little of Mr. PLAT during the last
few months, who had been doinr can.
tonment work at Camp Lewis.