The sun., 1919-03-10
VIII Line Up Strongly at
the Lexington Theatre
This Evening.
SOME FAVORING FORCE
Gov. Smith Says He Has No
Authority to Prevent
the Performance.
APPEAL TO HYLAN TO-DAY
Attendants and Actors De-
nounced-John Drew Calls
Plan "German Infamy."
APPEAL TO HYLAN TO-DAY

Persons who go TO the Lexington
Theatre this evening with the in
series Of German operettas scheduled
for production will be confronted with
p Gordon of soldiers, sailors and ma
rines standing rigidly at attention
while their band plays the national an
them. Such is the programme laid
down by the exasperated service men
who spent most of yesterday in In
effectual efforts to have the perform
ence interdicted by some legal method.
While the leaders OF the movement
among the men themselves and officers
of the War Camp Community Service
and other patriotic organizations are
making efforts to restrain the more
adventurous gobs and doughboys from
anything more than a demonstration
: of protest, 1t was evident yesterday
that the temper of the men was rapidly.
approaching the boiling point, result
ing in numerous individual threats
against the performers and those who
might attend
Opposition by the service men, par
ticularly the members of the Naval Club
at 500 Fifth avenue, who have been
making a fight against the proposed per-
formance for several days, was REIN
forced yesterday by protests TO the State
and municipal authorities from many in
dividuals and patriotic societies.
The men of the Naval Club sent
Geographic objection to Gov. Smith, and
they have prepared a petition signed by
more than 5000 persons for presentation
10 Mayor Hylan this morning The
American Defence Society, the Union Of
French Language Societies Of -NeX-.XnEk
and other organizations also have sent
protests to the authorities.
John Drew Calls 1t Insult.
Among the many individuals who pub
Iicly condemn the movement Is John
Drew, who. in a statement issued yes
terday, said:
Art is not international. never less
so than now. We know how the
Germans have obscured this Issue.
To present German operettas with
our President on the high seas and
our Twenty-seventh Division on the
eve OF their formal welcome is an in
suit to our intelligence.
This season of German operetta
10 either an act OF local madness or
else the inspiration of the whining
German Government, half imperial
and entirely hypocritieai. All my
life and that of my forebears has
been devoted to dramatic art, and I
say this present project Is transpar-
ant politics to obscure the issues OF
peace, TO antagonize the French and
TO proclaim through German press
agents that America is apathetic
toward German infamy.
Worst of all, the insult to our SOL
diers and sailors is too fragrant to be
described. ! am sure that in this pro-
test voice the sentiment and feeling
OF every one in my profession and all
other true Americans.
Perfecting Plans for Action.
In the mean ntiine the men ip uniform
who know by experience what 10 expect
from anything German, continue TO per-
feet plans for action in case the au-
'horities refuse to interfere, and tbs
hackers OF the Christians Producing
Company, who are staging the perform
ance, continue TO carry out their pur'
pose. .'r
The following message was sent tc
GOV. Smith:
1--WE. enlisted sailors and marines
Of the United States Navy. in a meet
ing at the Navy Club. do respectfully
q you will help US keep the city OF
New York American and not allow
these Huns TO insult our flag and
tie men who have given and are will
ing to give their lives that this our
country be free from German kultur.
We therefore appeal to you 70 stop
the presentation OF German operas
on Monday. March 10. at the LeXinG-
ton Avenue Theatre, New York city
In response 20 the telegram Gov
Smith telephoned that he had no power
10 act in the matter as there Is no State
law to prohibit performances in Ger
man. He said IL was In the hands Of
the Commissioner OF Licenses or thu
Mayor to revoke the license II in his oI
their opinion these performances wer'
glvah
peaceful blockade" Is Planned
While waiting for an answer from tn
Governor, a delegation from the Nava
club attended the War Camp Commun
ity's Sunday performance for soldiers
tnIlors and marines in the Manhattan
tipera House, at which Thomas Smith
Ouartermaster, first class. announce,
from the stage tho plans which had bee
arranged by service men for tonight
He said that all men who desired /
protest against the production would as
semble at the Naval Club. sos Fifth ave
aue, and march in military formation I
the Lexington Avenue Theatre. A ban
will be present.
On arrival at the theatre, according I
the plans announced by Quartermaste
Smith, no demonstration will be mad
other than TO stand at attention in iron
~ the theatre with the band playing tn
pational anthem. Just how long a peace
rli blockade OF this nature would b
maintained seemed rather problematica
Judging by the~ferocious roar that wen
up from the uroais OF the 1000 VIII
niled the house.
From, orchestra and galleries cam
cries Of '"Thatll be all right I" ''Wher
Is this theatre?" and other questions, ez
alamations and emphatic remarks while