davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Toxic Statesman Seeks
Alliance With Britain
Marquis Shigenobu Okuma
Doubts the Stability Of the
League Of Nations

TOXIC, Dec % Marquis Shigenobu
Okuma, Japan's venerable statesman, is
strongly in favor of a renewal of the
ngiO-Japanese alliance, which expires
in 1921
Revision Of the provisions should be
made in consonance with the require
ments of the new world conditions, he
says, but the fundamental principle of
the alliance, that both England and
Japan should maintain peace in the Far
East and In India and protect their
mutual interests, should remain un-
changed.
with America and Great Britain as
its center, the league of nations can be
said to have greater possibility than
the Holy Alliance" he continues. "Con-
sequcntly if both countries act with
mutual consideration the league may be
influential. Once these countries run
counter to each other, however, the re-
suits cannot be predicted. We cannot
see at present the absolute stability
of the league of nations.
RUSSIA, with it's great population of
nearly 200, 100000. can become a strong
power if a great leader should appear,
even though the territories of Finland
and Poland have been cut off. The tenn
porary collapse of Russia Is not enough
to make the Anglo-J apanese alliance
unnecessary.
The league of nations cannot secure
the complete abolition Of armaments,
and all the nations are now striving
for the perfection Of their national
lefoDSes" "
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
French Bare Scandal
In High Cost of Shoes
Leather Imported From Spain
Used as Medium in Specu-
lative Schemes

PARIS, Dec. 26-Another scandal
connected with manufactures during
the war came to light day when the
results Of an investigation into the
manufacture of national shoes" were
published
1t appears certain manufacturers Of
fered to produce shoes just as cheap as
the government If they were supple d
with cheap leather. The government,
finding that leather could be bought
in Spain and brought to France for 10
francs per kilogram, as compared with
the French price of 20 francs. gave
licenses for the importation. But, it
was noticed, no cheap shoes made their
appearance, and the price of shoes in
creased.
Thirty-fve search warrants were is
sued to find what use had been made
Of the imported leather. The investi
cation shows that several holders of
permits to import this leather sold it
through Intermediates. Some had ex-
ported it to Mayence and Constanti
nople. Others sold theirs in France at
speculative prices, often at the French
rate Of 20 francs per kilogram or over.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27

hxing Of date was wise move, as
IL dispelled prolonging uncertainty
ne added, however, that the big task
lay IN the future, in Congressional
PROVISIONS for the return Of the roads.
"A large quantity Of equipment, new
ana reconstructed. is required imrledi-
ately," he said Extensive improve
mehts are necessary. Time is the es-
scnce as to providing them. The coun-
Try mas been going on. The railroads
nave not. The traveller and shipper
want aud will want service. The pros
perity of the country depends upon it.
nope Congress will appreciate this
and hasten action, and that the in
vestor, if satisfied with the legislation.
VIII come forward promptly, because
the need Is urgent"
some of these improvements, as ont
lined by another official. include a
union station at Cleveland to cost 500.
100000. ono at Cincinnati costing 500
100000, one at Buffalo costing $40
100000 and six others costing into tho
millions. In addition to this, he said
seventeen grade crossing alterations
were imperative, the cost of each
averaging $500,00O. From all parts OF
this region, he declared, demands for
improvements and new grade CROSSINGS
were being received. It must be re-
membered that the roads will be CON
fronted with the demands Of 500, 900
shopmcn almost simultaneously with
their return to the owners.
An inventory Of the 15O lines in
the Eastern region is being made it
was learned at the office Of Region al
Director A. T. Hardin.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Shower Bath Used
To Get Confession,
Says Army Witness
Texan Also Says Detzers
Sergeants Slapped Him to
s'Jog His Memory After
His Arrest on False Charge

Attempts TO force q confession from
him at the lie Mans camp Of the GRIM
inal Investigation department were de-
scribed yesterday oy Fred Wright, Of
Summerviile, Tex. a witness at the
court martial Of Captain Karl W Det-
ger, who is charged with cruelty to
prisoners at that camp.
Wright was at lie Mans on leave
and was arrested April IL. 1919, charged
with robbing cafe proprietor Two
sergeants Of the 30Sth Military Police
Company slapped his face ito jog his
memory" he said. while Captain Det-
ger looked on Then, he said they
pumped water on him.
member of the court asked the
Texan if he knew the sergeant who
had struck him
NO" replied Wright, gravely. II
guess | was just getting acquainted.-
He denied the truth of the charge
or robbery made againt him at the tins
Of his arrest when he and two other
attacked the proprietor of an estaminet
IN an effort to get him to open his
place late at night.
Il never had to fight or commit
burglary to get booze in France" re-
marked Wright.
He admitted to Colonel Charles II.
Allaire, president of the court, that he
had been drinking that night and
might have had ten or twelve drinks
Of cognac and some rum, besides.
but, Colonel" he added, in the IN
terest of precision, 81 never made it a
practice to count my drinks"
The other witnesses who testified
yesterday were called by counsel for
Captain Deter, who announced that
the accused would take the stand him
self at the end Of the case. The wit
nesses were soldiers stationed at I.e
Mans during the regime Of Captain
Deter. One of them, Leo J. Rasche.
former lieutenant, acknowledged ths.
Glenn R. Burrelle, one Of the prisoners,
had been handled roughly.
He said, however, that France had
"crime wave" at the time, that the
French held American soldiers respon-
sible and constantly were badgering the
military police to take action. The
other witnesses declared they never
had seen any brutality. Mr.. Rasche
made statement at q preliminary in
vestigation into conditions at Le Mans.
in which he said Captain Deter was re-
sponsible, but that he thought he mere
ly was acquiescing in q system that was
in vogue when he took command, and
urged also in his behalf that one of his
sergeants seemed to have q mania fox
beating prisoners.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
DIR. Hill Refuses
TO EnterPri
For Senatorsl1ip
Says No Self-Respecting Man
Could Enter Race Un-
der Present Conditions:
Will Vote for Wadsworth
Netr York Tribune
H,L ,,,&

WASHINGTON. " Dec. 26-Dr. David
Jayne Hill has refused to enter the Re-
publican primary for United States
Senator from New York. it was learned
today. Opponents of Senator James
w Wadsworth. jr.. sent a delegation
down from New York to see the dis
tinguished diplomat and historian sew
eral days ago and urged him to make
the race
Or. Hill told the delegation. it was
learned. that under present conditions
1t had been made very difficult for q
respecting man to enter such q
contest, especially a it involved two
tits, one in the primary and another
IN the general election DR.. Hill has
told personal friends that he thinks
Senator Wadsworth has made an ex-
celent Senator. and that he will vote
for him.
II am not candidate and so told
q delegation that waited upon me with
a view to my entering the race" said
Dr.. Hill to-day when questioned.
who We're in the delegation. and
what did they representa-" he was
asked
Il do not think any useful purpose
would be served by printing that" he
replied, "inasmuch as | am not ac-
ceptlng the invitation. | am actually
not sure of all the clements that were
represented"
Who are you for in the Senatorial
race he was asked
Il am for any good man the Repub-
hcans nominate" he replied II do
not think I ought to name anv one. in
asmuch as l am not a candidate nv
self
Republican politicians from New
I ork State who are in WASHINGTON
seem Convinced that the opponents of
MIR. Wadsworth will not be able to get
any one who is influential enough to
nave any chance TO run against him.
Among the men who have refused so
tar 10 throw their hats in the ring
against him are Representative Nor
man j. Gould, of Seneca Falls; Rep
resentative Bertrand H. Smell. of
Potsdam; John Lord O'Brian, Of Buff
falo; Representative William H. Hill.
Of johnson City; ]. Sloat Fassett, of
Elmira, and DR.. Hill
state Senator Frederick NJ. Daven-
port, Of Clinton, and Representative
Luther ". Mott, of Oswego, have been
lnation, but neither has declared him
self
nearly every section of the state AL IL
ready has lined up solidly behind
Wadsworth, while in some sections
notably Erie County, the leading indie
pendents are behind him TOO.
Unless there is a political upheaval
IN Republican politics in the state
beating Wadsworth will not be an
easy task, despite the opposition to
him on account of his stand against
woman suffrage and prohibition.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Ripley Says Santa Fe
Road Was Prosperous
Under u. S. O,unershir
CnrrjoI (,o,res,o,5,x,

special Correspondence
LOS ANGELES. Dec. 26.-The Santa
Fe Railroad has prospered under gov
ernment control, according to Presi-
dent f. P. Ripley, who is in Los An
geles to pass the holidays with his son,
Fred A. Ripley, and the latter's family
Mr.. Ripley expressed the opinion that
the railroads would be ready to take
over operation of their lines March |.
He said:
eyes. the Santa Fe has made some
money under government operation. As
Congress has made no provision for
handling the roads any longer, the date
set for the return of the property on
March /, l believe, is satisfactory to
all concerned"
In reply to a question as to what
may be expected in regard to service
when the company resumes operations,
Mr.. Ripley said:
at is rather difficult to express any
opinion along those lines at this early
date. 1t would be prudent to wait
until after the government has re-
see what is ahead of us first"
The action of the President in post
poning the return of the railroads from
January l to March was probably Fl
good thing for all concerned, said Mr..
Ripley
"In view of the fact that Congress ss
failed to pass laws for the protection
of the roads, the time extension will
probably suit every one. 1t will give
everybody a chance to prepare" he
said.
Mr.. Ripley will cease to be president
of the Santa Fe on January l and in
stead will become chairman of the
board Of directors. He said recently he
was already "out of harness" and that
W. Is. Storey was president of the road
The date of January is only for
mality,' he said
Mr.. Ripley came here to convalesce
from an operation. He may remain
in Southern California indefinitely
spending most of his time at his Santa
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Valuable Timber Is
Found in Deep Mine

Men employed in driving new
gallery IN gold mine at Charlotte
Plains. in Victoria. Australia. have
made an astonishing discovery. AT p
depth of 300 feet below ground thev
have come upon pieces of timber, per
fectly preserved which have every
appearance of having been sawn and
shaped by the hand of man.
This timber lies in the bed of an
ancient river now being worked for
gold and the timber is oak Now, oak
nas the peculiar property Of lasting
for centuries when buried in water or
wet sand. Oak piles have been taken
out from under old wooden bridges,
constructed by the Romans, and found
as sound as when they were put there,
nearly 1000 years ago.
Oak, known as bog oak, Is found
buried in Irish peat bogs and is per
fectly black, intensely hard and very
valua bic. At present there is an abso-
Lutte famine in seasoned oak wood. but
If we could suppress Bolshevism and
open up Russia to trade that famine
would soon be ended. Just before the
war 1t was discovered that the bed of
the River Moksha, for a length of over
400 miles. is simply full Of magnificent
old oak trees bedded in sand
The river is shallow and broad and
the oak can easily be raised AS q
matter of fact. a company was being
formed to work these wonderful de-
posits when war intervened.
Smaller deposits are found in Eng
land. There is Il pool in the River
Dart, known from time immemorial as
Oak Pool, in the bottom of which are
masses of fine old oak The strange
thing is that there are no oak trees
near the spot at present.-Vancouver
Sun
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Rhine on a Rampage;
Many Towns in Danger
Rising Waters May Flood the
German Shore; Damage in
France S2.OOO.OOO

GENEVA, Dec. 26.-Melting snow
from the lower Alps has swollen the
Rhine River to twelve feet above nor
NAL, threatening to food lower Basel
and towns along the German shore.
Tramway service in BASEL has been re-
duced one half. Serious foods are also
reported from Alsace.
Heavy SHOWS are continuing in East
ern Switzerland, a fresh fall of twenty
inches being reported from Dabos and
st. Moritz. Many trains are stalled
NANCY, France, Dec. 26-The floods
are subsidinG as rapidly as they rose.
The damage done BY the waters is esti-
mated at more than $2OOO,O0O. Most
of the metal and other industrial plants
ceased operations. Railroad communi-
cation is partly interrupted, large por-
tions of the track north of the city
having been washed away.
COLMAR, Alsace, Dec 26.-The plain
between the Rhine and the railroad
from Mulhausen to Schlestadt, is one
vast sheet of water. The inhabitants of
many villages in the valley have been
driven from their homes. At St.
CroiX. number Of houses have been
swept away and several persons in
jured.
TROYES, Dec. 26.-The Seine and
the Aube are rising rapidly. The IN
habitants of the Mathaux quarter have
been obliged to evacuate their dwell
ugS
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Unions to Press Woge
Issue Regardless of
Disposition of Roads

CLEVELAND, Dec. 26 Representa-
tives of the three big railway brother
hoods with headquarters in Cleveland
Will be represented Monday at two meet
ings Of the railway union officials in
Washington. one to consider pending
railway legislation, the other to arrange
for cooperation in obtaining wage in
creases.
The return of the railroads to their
owners in March does not lead the
brotherhood chiefs to fear their de-
mands for increased wages will be neg
lected, they said to-day.
Timothy Shea. acting president of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen
and Engncmen. said the brotherhood
representatives would insist that the
roads be returned without any restric-
tions being placed upon employees.
The employees, Mr.. Shea said, must
be permitted to use their economic
strength to oppose injustice, just as they
were permitted to before the govern
ment assumed control of the railroads.
This does not mean, Mr.. Shea said, that
they wished to become involved in a
strike, but that they must be permitted
to retain their rights as citizens.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Undersea "Bridge'' to
Hawaii Declared Found
Scientists Say 1t Extended 5000
Miles From South America
TO Continent in Pacific
Special Corr,sponderoe


PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 26.-Attempts
which were first started by a Phila-
delphan to produce evidence that a
s,00o-mle prehistoric "bridge" con-
nocted Hawaii and South America have
been reported successful recently by
William Alansen Bryan, professor Of
zoology and geology at the College Of
Hawaii
The work was first started by DR..
H. A. Pilsbury. a zoologist and curator
at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural
Science. in 1913. Or. Pilsbury, with an
expedition composed of men from the
Academy of Natural Science in Wash
ington, departed for Hawaii to study
the molluscs found in the mountains
Of Hawaii. Many samples Of these were
obtained, ard after two years of study
Of these molluses DR.. Pilsbury re-
turned to this country and since has
had two books published on his find
ings. Work on this would have been
continued had it not been stopped by
the war.
DR.. Pilsbury to-day discussed his
reasons for believing that a submerged
bridge" exists. He said that his re-
searches gave every reason to believe
that at one time there was continent
or large island, which embraced all
the small islands now in the South
Pacific. He submitted geological evil
dence to show that the present islands
naturally would have been a part Of
such continent as he believes to have
existed
Dr. Pilsbury pointed out further
that the species of snails now found
both in South America and Hawaii
could not possibly have moved from
one place to the other except over
land route of high altitude They are
fresh water snails and can live only
at conside ra Bile elevation over sea level
where they can get the water essential
to their life from the vapor blown
against the mountains by the trade
winds.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Soldiers Sentence in
Treason Case RENTED
No One Saw Private When 1t
Was Charged He Gave In
formation to the Foe
Neo York Tribuns
WnsbjipOtou B,ire0tf


WASHINGTON. Dec. 2s.-A full re-
mission of the unserved sentence of
Private Lawrence Perlmutter, found
guilty by military court of treason
giving military information to the en-
emy-was ordered to day by Secretary
OF War Baker on the recommendation
of Major General Z. H. Crowder, Judge
advocate general of the army
General Crowder," Secretary Baker
explained, made a determination Of
the papers in the Perlmutter case and
recommended that the unserved portion
OF the soldiers sentence be remitted.
"Perlmutter was tried and convcte d
OF giving information to the enemy. He
dlers taken prisoner by the Germans.
While they were being escorted to the
rear Perlmutter spoke to the German
ofhcer IN the German tongue
thereafter Perlmutter was used bv
the Germans as an interpreter when
other American soldiers who were cap
tured were being quizzed.
THE evidence in the trial showed
that on the night of Perlmutter's cap
ture an American officer overheard hin,
and German officer conversing in the
English tongue giving some vital mill
tary information to the German.
Inc GERMAN O1lcer was said to have
ia ked in broken English and Perlmut-
ter's voice was said to have been rec
ognlzed by the American officer in the
next room. General Crowder, in re-
viewing the case, held that Perlmutter
having demonstrated that he could
speak German, would have conversed in
that tongue. 1t also was shown that
there was hostility or bad feeling
against Perlmutter in the company, and
this fact, in conjunction with the fact
that no one saw Perlmutter when he
was said to be giving the military in
formation to the German officer, was
taken by General Crowder to estab-
lish a grave doubt as to Perlmutter's
guilt, and he recommended remission OF
the sentence. This I annrove .
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27

NOnClnue0 nom page
your adviser I invite you to lay the
facts before me.
"The more I have studied the con-
troversy which has arisen between you
and the District Attorney the more
| am persuaded that the real issue
first to be determined is whether or
not the District Attorney is faithfully
performing the duties of his Office II
you can lay before me evidence to the
contrary and such evidence is sus-
tanned to an extent warranting such
action, / shall remove the District At
torney. If, on the other hand, | find
that the evidence does not sustain
your conclusion, respect for the en-
forcement of law in New York County
requires the prompt eXoneration of the
District Attorney. In any event by
the course l am suggesting this matte =
will be brought to speedy conclus-
ion, with full opportunity to the pub
lie Of New York County to secure full
information as to the matters involved
in the controversy"
Both District Attorney Swami and
Raymond F. Almirall, foreman of the
insurgent grand jury, were out of town
last night. Mr.. Almirall telegrapheG &
from Pittsburgh in answer to a mes
sage from The Tribune that he did
not care to comment on the Governors
letter
New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Freight Tariffs Go Up,
Passenger Rates Stand
Railroad Heads Outline Policy
They Consider Essential TO
Build Up Nep Credits
Special CoryesDo,,dencs

CHICAGO. Dec. 26-Increased freight
rates, generally estimated at from % to
~ per cent over present rates. will
follow the return of railroads to pri-
vate ownership on March /, Chicago
railroad officials asserted to-day.
Passenger rates, however, will not be
raised, officials agreed. No Immediate
change III service will be felt. it was
said, but the addition of large amount
OF equipment to bring the roads up to
the growing requirements of the coun-
try will be ordered at once.
The increases in freight rates neces-
sary to enable the roads to meet the
increased cost Of labor and materials
are being worked out by committees at
the direction of Director General
Hines, Hale Holden, director of the
Central Western region. said Thev
will be presented to the Interstate
Commerce Commission by the RAILROAD d
corporations
Credit Declared Chief Need
Credit is the chief objective of the
roads," said William II. Finley. cor
porate head of the Chicago e. North
western, who will assume management
of the road after March /. Credit is
based on freight rates. With credit
the roads can get money for the neces-
sary improvements We are looking
forward TO legislation to establish that
credit"
"There must be an increase in freight
rates to enable us to make the improve
ments on our properties neglected dur
ing the war" said Samuel FELTON,, cor
porate president of the Chicago &
tariff, however, will not be q burden to
industry"
Belief that the roads Of the country
will enter an era of prosperity with the
granting of higher freight rates was
expressed by Harry Z. Byram, who
Will take the presidency of the Chi
cago. Milwaukee st Paul. when it
is relinqushed by the government.
1T all centers on the question of
finance" said Mr.. Byram eve need
appropriations to make long delaved
improvements. We must keep abreast
OF the growing requirements Of the
country"
Slason Thompson, editor of RAILWAY
railroad material and labor made the
increase Imperative
Operating Costs Increased
The first thing private owners will
90, II they can, will be to order more
,ooo"iU.' ives ana passenger cars, SAID
Mr.. Thompson. Passenger service
curtailed, will be restored 1t is figured
that an increase of 27 per cent in rates
would be needed to meet increased
operating costs"
Chicago shippers seemed in favor of
higher rates, agreeing that the roads
must have more revenue
The roads should be self-support
lng, said Arthur Meeker. of Armour
co. They are not self-supporting
now" van b
II believe the operators are to a man
in favor Of giving the roads revenma ~
enough to support themselves" sa.d
r. c. Honnold, of the Illinois C,ai
Operators Association.
Inc present run down condition Of
tn the railroads was charged by II. II.
Merrick' president Of the Association
stratIon. They should be permitted
to increase rates." he said.