davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17

AMSTERDAM, March 16.-The As
sociated Press hears on excellent au-
thority that the Dutch government has
accepted the demands of the allied gov
ernments relating to the use of Dutch
ships in the danger zone.
Germans in Conference.
LONDON, March ia conference
was held at the Berlin foreign office
yesterday at which the situation Great
ed by the contemplated taking over of
Dutch shipping by the allies was dis
cussed, according to Berlin advices
sent by the Exchange Telegraph cor
at Copenhagen. He quotes
the Lokal Anzeiger as stating that
measures to be taken in the event OF
Hollands acceptance of the allied
terms were particularly discussed.
Uses Coal as BFibe.
The reports from the Wilhelmstrasse.
added the newspaper. indicated there
were no prospects of Holland accepting
the allied terms. In this connection
Germany's diplomatic representatives
at The Hague are reported as declar-
ing that Germany'ss Rhine tonnage
would be placed as far as possible ut
the disposal Of the Dutch and &1<4ts ~
npcf coal as could be spared for Ho1-
land would be shipped to her from
Germany.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
q. S. Aviation School at Purdue.

LAFAYETTE, Ind, March 16.-The
contract between the War Department
and Purdue University for the establish
ment of a ground aviation school at Pur-
due has been accepted by the federal au-
thorities at Washington, according to
word received by DR.. D. F. Stone, presi-
dent of Purdue. today. The school will
last six months and between 1000 and
1,5O0 soldiers will be cared for at the
university at one time. 1t is the fnten-
tion to turn out . class. Of SEQ every
sixty days. - -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
3 Die, 3 Hurt in W. Va. Fire.

CHARLESTON, w. Va. March IA
Three daughters of William Tuttie were
burned to death and three other members
OF the family were seriously hurt when
their home, at WaIgrove. near here, was
destroyed by fire today. The fire. ths
cause of which has not been determined.
also destroyed two neighboring residences.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Make Hun sympathizer Kiss Flag.

PADUCAH, KY, March f6.-Fellow
employees at the Illinois Central rail-
road shops here today seized Marshal
Meyers, made him kiss the flag and
declare his allegiance to the United
states. Meyers was accused of attack
ing the selective draft law, uttering
uroSGerman remarks and abusing the
national administration. He disclaimed
any disloyalty. however. 3, !.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
I. C. C. Elects Chairman.

: Interstate Commerce Commissioners
Winthrop N. Daniels yesterday became
chairman Of the commission for the next
year, succeeding Chairman Henry C. Hall
This was in conformity with the CONS
missions rule to elect each year he
senior member - chairman. Z
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Concessions to Germany.

It was indicated in Washington yes
terday that at the same time Holland
consents to turn her ships over to
Great Britain and the United States for
use in the war zone she will make GER
tain conciliatory concessions to Ger
many.
Holland has given evidences of a
readiness to make a voluntary agree
ment to that purpose. even agreeing
that the ships shall be sent through
the war zone.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Concessions to Be Made to Germany, 1t Is Re-
ported---Kaiser' Officials Confer
on Future Course.
WASHINGTON MUCH MYSTIFIED
AT QUICK CHANGE In SITUATION
Of Any New Proposals viii Not Prevent United States an
Britain From Taking Over Dutch Tonnage Tomorrow
According to Announced PIan


Although Germany has been threatening Holland with dire
things government should agree allow its ships
allied definitely the hands Of the
that Holland has decided
allied demands including the right the ships in
danger given understand that vessels
under provisions international
law agree allied
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
q. s. Grants Belgium $1,000. 900.

An additional credit Of $11,2o0, 900
was extended by the United States yes
terday to Belgium. making a total loan
to that country of s104, SOC. 900. The
tQtAi amount Of loans INV extended to
3le allies Y S4:sse.soe, 20. q.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Expected Short War.

AS the belief was prevalent through
out Germany at the outbreak of the
war that hostilities would continue only
a few months. Mr.. Becker believes these
papers show the promoters of the
scheme originally intended only to
enable Germany to obtain sufficient
wool for military and industrial pur-
noses during the war. But when the
British feet drew a blockade along the
German and neutral European coasts,
the deputy attorney general declares
the conspiracy developed into one of
boarding the wool until peace should be
concluded.
"This would have resulted in German
interests having large accumulation
Of textiles to minimize the effects of a
nossible British economic embargo
against Germany after the war;" said
Mr. Becker
i, That Schwerdts plan received liberal
financial support from the Deutsche
Bank was indicated by correspondence
Continued on Second paunA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Wanted Tax Paid First.
Changed Doors Fooled Him.

to the Office. and Charles, seeing the
sign of Income tax collector on the
door OF the office rented by Well, en-
tered and paid the $108,O00 to Wells
own assistant.
accused men the hearing on habeas
corpus proceedings instituted by them
here Friday afternoon was postponed
until Monday morning. Meanwhile De-
tectiYe Sergeant Mcfarland of Chi
cago is on his way here with papers
to take the men back to Chicago He
obtained requisition papers from Gov.
Lowden yesterday and went before
Gov Cox to2ey to have them honored.
He is expected here late tonight.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Prospective Work Varied,

The work in prospect includes stor-
age terminals at Boston, Philadelphia,
Charleston, S. c.. and twenty-eieht
other points; Signal Corps cantonments
ana aviation fields at forty different
points; powder loading plants and
ordnance depots on the Atlantic sea
board; housing facilities for ship work.
ers at sixteen different points; tubercu-
losiS hospitals at Denver. Col. and
Charleston. S. c.; mechanical repair
shops in Texas; three great office build
ings IN Washington in addition to those
under way; hospital at Fort Riley,
kahi: n an isolation hospital at Tenafiy
n. j.; extensions of the Springfield'
Mass. arsenal, gas-making plants and
gas shell-filling plants at MANY points
contracts have not been let for the
majority or the great projects and the
definite locations of all of them have
not been SO fully determined as to war
rant announcements at this time
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Subject to Approval.

The fee. according to this form, is liked
when the contract is let, and if the cost
exceeds the estimate because Of higher
labor and material prices the contractor
receives no additional compensation what
ever. Labor and material prices will be
subject to approval by the government.
Under other forms of the cost plus
contract. so widely attacked in Con-
gress. it was possible for a contractor
by running up labor charges and pay
ing extravagant prices for material to
increase his fee accordingly.
The board rejected the suggestion
that the government embark on the
day labor plan. because it was con-
WINGED it would entail inefficiency and
delay and because the board believes
the existing forces and organizations OF
contractors should be maintained as a
public policy. Furthermore, it was
thought that a central organization was
undesirable. because the work to be
done was so widely scattered over the
country.
A survey Of the work to be done by
the new construction division indicates
the magnitude of the government s
preparations to push the war to a sue
cessful conclusion. There are already
under way in the United States eighty
five big jobs agsregating .$2O5. 900. 900.
There are in prospect now 12O more
representing S27S.000.000. In addition.
there are forty jobs for housing troops
representing s390,o0O 900, while hos
pital construction alone represents s
s10.000,O00.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Camp Officers Make No Comment

ROCKFORD. ILL.,, March 16.-Ofcers af
Camp Grant would not comment today
on the mysterious deaths Of horses ship
ped from the camp to Covington, KY.
There were 727 animals in the shipment
which left the camp on March IL. The
horses were in good condition on thalr
departure.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
400 j. S. HORSES
KILLED BY POISON
Analysis Reveals BeIIadonna.
Animals From Camp
Grant.

BY the Associated Press.
COVINGTON, KY, March 1S.-The ton
of dead horses, part Of a shipment Of
726 government animals from Camp
Grant, ILL.,, bound for an Atlantic port
tonight reached approximately 400. and
veterinarians, it is said. have no hope
of saving the remainder. It is believed
here that the death Of the animals was
brought about by a carefully arranged
poison plot.
Guinea pigs inoculated with blood
still alive today and another day or two
may be required for positive diagnosis
to be made. Deaths of the horses were
not confined to those in any one car. but
spread indiscriminately among ani-
mails in all the live stock cars. Already
the loss to the government approxi-
mates $SS,000. The horses had been
carefully selected from several thou
sand purchased by the government
The analysis of the stomachs Of the
animals verified the first analysis yester-
day, which showed belludonna and croton
oil had been administered in some
form.
1t was believed that 1t was givsn
through the medium of drinking water.
and the fact that the horses had been
on the way from Camp Grant for Q
long number of hours without food
or water strengthens the belief Of
those investigating that the poison was
administered here.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
$40 ooo, 600 in Permanent Works.

Tie Americans. with the object only
of winning the war, are expending In
this region on permanent works about
s4o.oee. geo. French ports will be ex-
fcon<lnnod q T6urfesnfE F1Ce.Y
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Greeted at French Town.

me Secretarys train arrived at an
important town near the port at 8
o'clock In the morning. The prefect of
commanding the district and numerous
american officers were there to well
come him. His reception was simple.
The band. as Secretary Baker and Gen.
PersninS issued from the station,
sounded the salute to the colors- and a
battalion of American soldiers stood at
salute. That was the only ceremony of
the day. except small review of the
troops at the artillery camp.
Official lunches and dinners are hv
the Secretary's request omitted from
his program. He and Gen. Pershing re-
mained aboard the train at night and
spent most of their travelling days in
business.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Shares Held in Trust.

Preceding Kuhn a witness, Thomas
Prehn, naturaIized German president of
the Botany mills, testified that ma,
by Germans, although many of the Ger
man-oWned shares were held n~trust
Ey Americans. According to Mr.. Becker.
the wool boarding" scheme was con-
ceiyed by Eugene Schwerdt a wealthy
wool merchant of New York and Bos-
ton, arrested February rs and now
awaiting internment as an enemy alien.
investigation of the activities in this
country of Bolo Pasha, now under SEN
tence of death for treason in France,
that first evidences of the plan were
found in the papers of Hugo Schmidt,
formerly the American agent of the
Deutsche Bank of Berlin
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Walks Three Miles.
Berths Cor Forty Big Ships.

This new dockage, with two other
new frolstaxes that are being developed
IN connection with 1t. viii allow of
forty large. or sixty medium sized
steamships to be unloaded simultan-
eously.
Mr.. Bakers questions were frequent,
penetrating and often technical when
the engineers were explaining the rail-
way plexus connecting the various
ports, with the bases in the interior. He
asked particularly about grades. SO as
to estimate the requirements in engine
power and the heaviness of loads.
He rather astonished the engineers
by the detailed character Of his ques-
tioninSs, which touched the very prob
lens that bother them most
Sees Big Guns Placed.
At a heavy artillery training camp
Secretary Baker saw a battery of long
tion. They were swung over by auto
mobile tractors. and shallow recoil
trenches were dug quickly, butt with
unerring methods.
Mr.. Baker took a stand close to one
OF the great pieces and followed the ex-
plantations of the major in command. 1t
was one of the new guns from French
workshop and of type with which the
american artillerists are already max
Ing reputation on the sectors at the
front.
The Secretary had been told by
French officers of the skill of the Amer
lean gunners in handling this weapon
IN the management of which the French
artiilerists heretofore had considered
themselves unexce1Ied. Mr.. Baker be-
came so interested that he mounted the
cn1ef gunner's stand and looked
through the master sight and watched
the adjustment of the piece to the
range markings.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Sees Immensity of Progress
at French Ports and Says
He Is Satisfied.
WITNESSES LONG-RANGE
GUNS SET in POSITION
"Am Still Absorbing" He Declares
at End of 14-Hour Days Sur
vey With Pershing.

By the Associated Press.
ON BOARD SECRETARY BAKERS
SPECIAL TRAIN IN FRANCE, Wedaes-
day, March 13-Secretary Bakers first
work after his conference with the
French statesmen and American gener-
ads at the capital has been to begin his
study of what the Americans are doing
and ought to do in France by survey
of great port department.
T am still absorbing" said he at the
end of a fourteen-hour day. II must
say frankly that 1 did not know the
imuaensity of the enterprise which we
have undertaken in opening new ports,
and when I see what We have accom-
plished here I am satisfied
The American War Secretary at the
particular port in question was attend
ed by Gen. Pershing. Maj. Gen. Will
liam NJ. Black, Brig. Gen. w W. At
terbury and the officers Of the engineers
who have been creating a vast new
equipment for docking and unloading
ships.
Walks Three Miles.
The Secretary walked for three miles
along the American Army's dock front.
already constructed or in process OF
construction as an extension of the
bArths for number of ships placed at
the disposition of the Americans by
the french government. Two miles of
this new sea- frontage consisted Of
marshes on October last The ground
has been filled in from dredgings in
deepening the water fronts ana snips
new bertha On other parts of the
frontage concreted warehouses are go
ing up and a great system of switches
j, has been laid or is in the course OF be-
ing laid.
Il Ike TO come out here once week,
said colonel Of the engineers to the
aDd~Vesp- how different
thipgS look from what they did the
,reek hAfnrA Almost lose my way
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
New York Inquiry DiscIoses an
Alleged Conspiracy to Insure
German Textile Grip.
PURCHASES IN LONlES =.
OF BRITAIN FOR ENEMIES
Alien ownership Of Majority Stock
in New Jersey Mill Covered Up. .
Charges of Bad Faith.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
NEW YORK, March 16.-A mass of
direct testimony and documentary evl-
dence, indicating the connection of GER
tain American wool importing and
manufacturing concerns with an alleged
conspiracy to insure German interests
a balance of power in the worlds tex
tile markets after the war, was in the
possession OF state authorities at the
close tonight of an inquiry conducted
by State Attorney General Lewis.
To Send Evidence Here.
Deputy Attorney General Becker. who
had active charge of the investigation. in
dicated that a transcript of the evidence
taken will be furnished the War Trade
Board at Washington, which, it is ex-
pected, will revoke the exporting and i'm
PORTING licenses Of those firms which it
may be found violated their trade agree
ments by acting as dummies in the pur-
chase for German account of wool and
textiles in South Africa, Australia, South
America and elsewhere.
A feature of today's session Of the in
quiry was an admission by Otto Kuhn.
wool MANAGER of the Botany Worsted
Mills of Passaic, N. j., that his COM
pany had acted as the agent of German
interests in bringing wool from British
colonies into the United States in 1915.
This was done, he said. after the company
had agreed to abide by restrictions i'm
posed by the Textile Alliance, Inc, a
semi-official agency to which the Ameri-
can and British governments gave regu-
latory powers designed to prevent these
materials from reaching Germany.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17

CONTINUED on Second Pageo
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Inspects Vast Trackase.

Mr.. Baker spent large part of the
day in a rude observation car, which
was only fiat car hastily fitted al
the luncheon hour with pine benches
The car traversed the railway wards
OF the American forces, which spread
over the lowlands bordering a certain
water front in France. The yards will
be the biggest thing of the kind in
Europe when misunderstanding to
bring railway engineers from afar in
France to see.
Il The tracbage will be 22S miles and
will provide for $500 incoming freight
cars and $500 outgoing cars. as well as
5,zoO on the interior switches.
Gen. Pershing AND Brig. Gen. After
bury explained them in abundant detail
as the fiat car with Secretary Baker
was slowly drawn over the trunk and
switching lines during the afternoon.
A dozen or more French and American
engineers were in the party, some of
whom were members of the engineering
stan which constructed the yards, and
they added q point now and then to
Gen. Pershing's explanation
Qredges are constantly at work along
the water front, and nearby the ware
houses of steel and galvanized iron are
rising along the switching arteries
This development Is purely for Ameri-
can military requirements and will pro-
vide rather small harbor in France
with potentialities equal to those OF
: Hamburg, as one of the French Of
Z ncialsssaid to the correspondent.
0ANnnn mn T.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
YELLOW KID GANG
GOT 100000
Alleged Leader Changed Reve-
nue. Collectors Door, Say
Ohio Police.
VICTIM IS OUT 100000
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, March 10
Sums secured by the yellow Kid" gang
of alleged confidence men from score
Of middle-west bankers through the
sale Of alleged fake steel stocks here
will amount to close to 81 100000 in
stead Of $5oO,o0O, as originality esti-
mated, according to the police.
The story of "the changed doors" or
"a one-hunsred and eight thousand
dollar swindle" is repeated as the latest
chapter in the disclosures Of the opera
tions Of the gang of alleged confidence
men, leaders of whom are held here
According to the police. A c. Charles,
a banker of Kokomo. Ind, was the vic
tim of the latest ruse said to have been
successfully operated by the alleged
swindlers. "The yellow kid" or Joseph
Well. alleged leader of the gang. posing
as Alfred H. Wede, and representing
German capital. is said to have inter-
ested Charles in the purchase Of an In
diana steel plant for sS,5oo.0OO.
Wanted Tax Paid First.
Attorneys for Charles, according to
the police, worked all night figuring
the income tax to be paid on the prop
erty. which they found amounted to
s1es.000. Well insisted that Charles
pay the tax before the purchase price
was paid over.
We'll is alleged then to have rented
an office near that of the internal
revenue collectors office in Chicago,
placed one of his confederates therein
and. after the collectors office was
closed for the day. changed the doors
of the two offices. =
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
u. s. BUILDING PLAN
"PROF|TEER PROOF"
Experts Assert War Depart
ment Construction Division
Prevents Initiation of Profits.
PROGRAM IS GIGANTIC

With the creation of a construction
division in the War Department yester-
| day to handle the largest single building
program in history-aggregating $1,0S4,-
900, ,000-a board of eminent experts ap-
pointed by Acting Secretary Crowen re-
ported that the present form of con-
tract is "profteer proof"
The new construction division will re-
place the cantonment division. which did
the preliminary work of building National
Army camps, and will carry on an i'm
mense building program involving hun
dreds of thousands of workmen and ex-
tensive structures for the Army through
out the country. 1t will be under the
immediate direction of, the chief of staff.
Headed by Prof. A. N. Talbot of the
University of Illinois. president of the
American Society of Civil Engineers. the
board includes John Lawrence Mauran Of
St. Louis. president of the American In
stitute of Architects; Charles l.. Main Of
Boston. president Of the American Soci-
ETY. of Mechanical Engineers; John R. AL
pine, representing the American Fedora
ton of Labor; R. Goodwin Rhett of
Charleston. S. c., president of the Chamber
Of Commerce Of the United States; E. w.
S1ch OF schenectady, N. T., PRESIDENT OF
the American Institute Of Electrical En-
gineers; Frederick L. Crawford of Brook
lyn, n. Y, president of the General Con-
tractors Association of New York, and
Oscar A. Reum Of Chicago. representing
the Building Construction Employers AS
sociation.
Asked to Examine Contract.
Because Of the hundreds Of millions
of dollars involved the board was asked
to examine the present form of contract,
and. if necessary. propose new one. The
board reported:
'"The form of contract permits starting
actual work. weeks and even months be-
faEa~the details @A1nssn0xapaetely worked
out and delineated. and permits the gov
ernment to push the job at any speed 1t
may elect, changing at will its scope and
plan. but paying only what the work ac-
tua1ly costs, plus a fee which is SO rea-
sonable as to be above the reach Of fair
minded criticism
This form of contract, so thoroughly
approved. is known as the cost plus
sliding scale of fixed fee in which fxed
fees to contractors range from per cent
on contracts of 100000 or less down to as
low as 1S per cent on the very largest
sums.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
Orders Odessa Massacre.
Find Fifteen Warships.

AMSTERDAM, March ia telegram
rom Berlin to the Koelnische Volks
CONTINUED on Fourteenth Page.) ~.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
WEATHER.

Fair, warmer today; tomorrow fair;
gentle to moderate southwest winds.
Temperature for twenty-four hours
ending pm. last night: Highest, 5S;
lowest, 25.
Full report on page IA.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17

The Associated Pres II exclusively e1tit2sd -
the for republication Of all news dispa4cheS
credited to IL mot otherwise credited IN this
paper and also tAe ,ecai news pustissed sessaa.
All rights Of puhaieatssa Of special
dispatches herein are ala reserved.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17

ORTMAYER. Andrew Carl. lieuten-
ant.
STEVENS, Clifford J.. corporal
BRANNON, John j., private.
CAZAN. Peter, private.
MOCK, George, private.
HAWKINS, Jonn E, private.