The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-24

optimistic report from the worldwide field of Christian endeavor during the three decades since the worlds union was linaugurated"
 Washington. December 2S.-Freight bill of lading provisions, permitting the in- stitution of suits for loss, damage or de- lay only within two years and one day, were held to be unreasonable, unjustly discriminatory and unduly prejudicial by the interstate commerce commission to- day in deciding the case brought by Jacob k. Decker & Sons against the director general of railroads and others. An Or der was entered requiring the modification within 50 days of such provisions so that in cases where the carrier has not de- clined a claim in writing before the be- ginning of the last six months of the tow-year and one-day period. writ there en may be entered within six months from the date the claim is definitely de- clined, but not after.
 New York, December zS-Three new freight steamers of approximately 5000 tons each have been contracted for by the Southern Pacific Steamship company, it was announcd today. The new ships are to be built by the Downey ship building corporation and will be added  and Gulf of Mexico ports The vessels will be oil burners
 London. December 2s.-A bolshevik communication received from the re- zion of Bakmut, about 125 miles east of the Yekaterinoslav, says: After fierce fighting with the troops of Gen. eral Mamontoff and General Shkurob, our cavalry flung the enemy back to nI odo oniensk town. From November 20 to December 20 the reds occupied 125,0oo square versts of territory, together with Kiev, Kharkov. Boltava and Ss sfaller towns. and captured 2Ss soldiers and s9 officers. On the Turkestan front the reds have occupied Balaishem, southeast of Krasnovodsk, and captured 500 prisoners
 New York, December 23-The state department has been asked to verify the report that Bjelai Munif Bay, for mer Turkish consul general in New York, and his wife. have been murdered by revolutionists in Budapest, Herbert J. Lyall, attorney for Bjelai Munifs in terests in the United States, announced tonight He said he doubted the truth of the report, as he had received a let ter from the consul general last Mon day. stating that his wife, formerly Mildred Desmond of Colorado Springs Col, had committed suicide while visit ing at an estate near Budapest.
 Washington December 23.-Another Philippine mission will arrive in the United States in February or March to ask Congress for immediate action on the Philippine independence question, Maxine M. Walaw, secretary of the former mission announced today on reaching here to take charge of tht publicity campaign in behalf of Philip pine independence The mission will represent the two houses of the Philip pine legislature and will be composed of prominent Fi1ipinos affiliated with both political parties and of capital and labor interests of the islands.
 Washington, December 23.-Reports to the postoffice department from many parts of the country today showed the Christmas mail to be 25 per cent heavier this year than last, when it reached the greatest volume known up to that time, it was announced today. No congestion either on the trains or In postoffices was reported One office reported an increase of 1855 per cent.
 TopekaA Kan, December 23.-An in crease of 25 per cent in the harvest wage paid in Kansas in 1919 over the pre-war wage paid in 1913 is shown by report issued today by Edward c. Paxton, field agent for the United States bureau of crop estimates in Kan sas Harvest laborers received on the average of $5.42 day and board in 1919 as compared with s4.14 in ISIS and S2.14 in 1913.
 act Trn1 nd T,.t~ n, volunteers acted as bearers today at the funeral of Savage at Ballysodare, Sligo, his native place. The ,Sip& Fein cclors were over the coffin. The grave yard was surrounded by police, but nothing untoward occurred.
 Dublin, December 23-There are still no arrests for the attempt against the life of Viscount French, the viceroy No demonstrations occurred today when the body of Savage, killed in the attack on the viceroy, left Dublin for Sligo
 New York. December 23.-Several hundred disillusioned Italians who, re- turned to their native land after the signing of the armistice with the idea of living on their savings, arrived here today on the liner Patre. They re- ported that the high cost of living was worse problem in Italy than in the United States and that they came back to stay.
 Philadelphia, December 23.-The 1892 ton cargo carrier American Press which was named as a tribute to the loyalty and cooperation of newspapers throughout the nation during the war. was launched here today. Miss Eliz- abeth c, Stone of New York, daughter of Melville F. Stone. general manager sor.
 Brussels December 23.-Paul Fly mans. foreign minister. made a long statement today on Belgium's foreign policy. Concerning the revision of the treaty of 1889 he was unable to enter into details. as negotiations were un- finished But however they might re- suit he said Belgium would not enter into any agreement in the direction. of returning to neutrality or restriction of her sovereign rights.
 Milwaukee, Wis. December 23.- Judge A. w. Sanborn today ordered 31,- 900 pounds of sugar, seized last week from NJ. Le1ch. Beloit. confiscated and turned over to the state fair price com mittee. Leach was fined $100 and costs. lie was charged with hoarding under the Lever act. Leach will receive 11.32 price, it is claimed he paid for it
 Chicago, December 23.-Walter Pre- dovich, chairman of the Jugo- Slav re- lief commission just returned from six months spent in Jugo-Slayia declared