Arizona Daily Star from Tucson, Arizona • Page 1

Forest "Politics" In This Criois and Vote for, the Fusion Ticket or Tucson! VOL. LXXVIII. NO. 292 TUCSON, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 7, 1917. Br Moll or Carrier.

SOa month. On Trains and at Newetanda, to per 0099 fli mm TO .1 Etqiiey ali Plentiful as attack in nay oeguii BY NHS lliin Id LATLUILU Fires Break Out in Many Parts of City As Result Of First Raid in Month; Two of Raiders Captured More Than 2,000 Known to Be Dead As Result of Collision Between French Munition Steamship Mont Blanc and Relief Ship Imo; Explosion Wrecks More Than Half of City of Halifax; Scores Thought to Have Perished in Fires Following Blow Up; Hospitals, School Houses and Private Homes Filled With Wounded; Deaths Are Continuing Hourly Declared Canada'sGreatest Disaster (By Associated Press.) WASHINGTON, Dec. .7 Five thousand are believed to have been killed in the explosion in Halifax harbor and the fire which swept North Halifax and Dartmouth, according to a dispatch from a naval commander reaching the navy department early today. The naval dispatch said these figures had not been verified, HALIFAX, N. Dec.

7 With the toll of dead steadily mounting it was believed early this morning that more than 2,000 persons perished' in the explosion and ire which followed the collision yesterday morning in Halifax, between the munitions-la1 den French ship Mout Blanc and another vessel, the Imo, loaded with supplies for the Belgian relief commission. i The disaster which has plunged, the Dpmmiotr into mourning probably will rank as the most fearful that ever occurred on the American continent. Residents 6f Halifal and thousands of volunteer relief workers who have come into the city have been almost dazed at the extent of the horror. Charred Bodies in Morgues. Temporary morgues have been Established iu many Pathetic Scenes Mark Disaster; U.

Red Cross Rushing to Aid HALIFAX, N. Dee. 7. The horrors of an air raid possessed the minds of many when the explosion on the Mont Blanc shook this fortress town to Its foundations today. There were three distinct shocks.

First, a comparatively light rumble like a selsmatlc disturbance startled the city. A moment later a terrific blast made even the citadel quake. Then a crash of glass throughout a wide area completed the confusion. FEAR AIR RAID. Thousands of persons rushing into the open saw a thick cloud of gray smoke the north end or the city.

This strengthened their conviction of an attack from the air. As far as possible the frightened ones were herded in the southern part of the city. Great erowdsassembled In open lots and remained there for hours until they believed ail danger was past. SUFFER FROM COLD. Systematic efforts were being made tonight to Identify the dead, but great difficulty was encountered, as numliers who were killed had suffered injuries which made recognition Impossible.

Notwithstanding the prompt and generous succor from nearby places there was much suffering among the homeless tonight. The temperature was below freexing. Man injuries' were causedvby ice falling from houses. IMO IS BEACHED. The S.

S. Imo, which appeared to have escaped serious damage, was beached after the collision, as she, too caught fire and seemed for a while threatened with' destruction. Her crtw escaped. A large steamed moored at the north end was torn from her haus-ers by the concussion and set adrift in midstream. SEARCH WITH LANTERNS.

Among the, notable- structures wrecked was St. Joseph's church and the school building ail joining. The search among the ruins fpr bodies continued tonight under a great handicap, as the "city was In darkness, and the search was directed by ami lanterns. Fear of food shortage is entertained by some, encouragment is found -In the word that train loads of provisions are already on the way here from several points. The immediate feeding or homeless ones amid the confusion remains, however, a serious problem.

A second outlet for news of the disaster was established after several attempts tonight. After the restoration of one telegraph wire, the cable line lo the New England coast wa0 repaired and this helped the news going forward. RELIEF FROM BOSTON. BOSTON, Dec. 6.

A train carrying relief wdrkers and medical supplies was assembled by the governor at Boston, for Halifax, at 10:15 p. m. tonight. On board were eleven physicians, quartermasters and nurses, all members of the state Red Cross workers, and a party of newspaper men. The baggage car was filled with medical supplies and hospital cots.

A. C. Ratshesky of the state committee of purity was in charge of the work. Railroad orfi-cials announced they would co-oerate to put the train through in record time. IMO NORWEGIAN SHIP HALIFAX, N.

Iec. 6. The S. Imo, which collided with the Mont Blac in Ifalfax harbor, was a Norwegian vessel of 3.161 tons, last reported to have arrived at an Atlantic port in the United States Oc-vtobcr 9. QUITS KEY TO SEEK WIFE NEW YORK.

Dec. At 10 o'clock tonight there wag a sudden break In the story of the Halifax disaster coming into the offices of the Associated Piess over the wire of the Canadian Press, the only one In operation to that city since the explosion. Efforts to raise Halifax were Ineffectual. An 2 our later It was learned that the operator wlvo had been sending from the stricken city had left his key when a messenger brought him news that his wife had been dangerously Injured. While sending the atory he (Continued On Page Two; Nail German Lie That U.

S. Would Violate Neutrality of Swiss (By Associated Preet) WASHINGTON, Dec. of th United States to scrupulously respect Swiss neutrality has given the keenest satisfaction in Switzerland, according to dispatches reaching Washington. Th dectara. tion by the American government wie regarded there as having completely neutralized th Insidious efforts of German propagandists to lead the Swiss people to believe the United States intended to send troops throuqh their country to attack the German flanks.

buildings to which bodied of men, woiikii and children are taken. Most of them were so charred that they Vere unrecognizable. (By Associated Press.) NEW YORK Dec. men came to New York from all parts of the country to prey upon persons ready to contribute to war charities, Michael Oelahunty told District Attorney Swann today, not guilty to an Indictment charging him with forgery and grand larceny In connection with the raising of funds to aid soldiers' dependents. The defendant announced he would help in the war charities Inquiry and went before the grand Jury.

"It was tne easiest graft I ever en. gaged In," Delahunty said to the prosecutor, "Every person I met fell and fell hard. It was easier than picking up rocks along the Palisades. I was not the" only one doing It. 'Dead-sure' men came from all over the country to New York, whence It had gone forth the graft was easy, and the town was soon filled with 'con' men.

"That's what spoiled the game; some of them were not satisfied with a couple of hundred dollars and started out to use sledge-hammer methods and people began to take notice. Right there' is Where I quit." Lester Wlnkleman, Indicted with Oelahunty, also pleaded not guilty and will testify before the grand Jury. EH LIFE BE Woman's Affidavit That She Swore Falsely at Bomb Trial Now Is in Hands of Wilson Labor Committee (By Associated Press) SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. President Wilson's mediation commission has been given a copy of an affidavit In'1 which Mrs. Alice KidwTll, a witness before Ihe grapd Jury which indicted Thomns Mooncy and others on a chaYgc of murder growing out fa preparedness day parade bomb explosion here last ye-ir, admitted that her testimony had been Incorrect, It was announced today.

The commission, headed by Secretary of Labor William B. Wilson, hade a special Investigation here into the proceed ings which led to the conviction of Mooney and his subsequent sentence to death, which is stayed by appeal. The Investigation was made at the request of Resident Wilson. The finding has not been made public. In her affidavit Mrs.

Kidwell said her testimony, as well as that of her daughter, Mrs. Estelle Smith, and a third witness, had been entirely false, and had been actuated by a desire to obtain advertising for a dental office In which Mrs. Smith was employed. Subsequently, Mrs. Bmith, an Important prosecution witness against Warren K.

Billings, sen tenced to life Imprisonment on a murder charge which grew out of the explosion, told Mrs. Kidwell she had been offered 1.000 to testify, the affidavit said. Mrs. Kidwell did not testify at any the former trials resulting from the explosion, because the defense had ob tained letter written to her husband. a prisoner in the Folsom state peniten tiary, telling him arrangements had been made for his release, in connection with her testimony at the Mooney trial.

The afftde-vtt -will have a moral. rather than a legal, said Edwin MuXenzie of counsel for defendants In the murder trials resulting from the ex plosion. Burleson Condemned in Letter to President by Postal Men of Phoenix (By Associated Press) I'HOENIX. Dec. Resenting the report of I'ostmaster General Burleson In opposition to th organisation of postal employes Into unions, the following, protest was telegraphed' to President Wilson tonight: "Speaking for the organised workers in Arieona, including postal employes, we most earnestly protest against 'he unwise- and unfair Insult to organised 1, the advisability Of having at the head of the postal service, employing such a lare number of men and women, an executive who knows and understands the prob lems of men and women who labor for a living.

The retention of Burleson as postmaster general would be detrimental to the service and unjust to the emplores. (Signed.) J. CROAFF." THOMAS A. FRENCH." Mr. Croaf is secretary of the local Portal Worker's union and presidentelect of the state federation of labor.

M-. French is secretary and treasurer the state federation. MY SAVED 5 to S. Tnousanus or persons seeking trace or relatives and friends have passed by the long silent rows, attempting by. the flickering light of lamps and lanterns, to identify the Eut Italians Hurl Back Foe With Heavy Loss; British Line on Cambrai Front Shortened By Retreat (By Associated Press.) AMSTERDAM, Dec.

6. At the recep tion of the. Austrian delegations, says a Vienna dispatch, the emperor remarked the presidents- of the parliament: "It will be the finest day of my when I can conclude peace." life ITALIAN HEADQUARTERS IN NORTHERN ITALY, Wednesday, Dec. Austrian attacks on the Italian front reached the maximum of intensity toward 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. They came from two directions, the first on the left of the Italian line around Mu lct ta eHights, and then on the right, around Monte Tondarecar.

The first assault on the left was met hy strong artillery fire, which mowed down the advancing infantry with heavy losses and the capture of" a number of groups of prisoners. Toward 5 o'clock the Infantry rushes were definitely repulsed and the enemy's action on the left became a sullen bombardment with heavy and middle-calibre guns. At the fame time the niain action shifted to the Italian right with an Intense shelling which lasted five hours. This was followed by the loosing of gas and by attacks in force near Mont Tondarecar. Here the was sanguinary both' In attack and in counter-attack.

The Italian first army, which Is meet' ling the brunt-of the attack, Is again giving splendid demonstrations or its offensive and defensive qualities. SHORTEN BRITISH LINE Tha carefully lalt t)utW-of General Byng to withdraw his at various points on the' Cambrai salfeht to more tenable positions have been carried out in perfect order, and apparently without the Germans even 'having knowledge of the movement. The falling back was made necessary by wedges driven into the salient last week bj' the Germans, which on several sectors threatened disaster to the Brit ish- should they continue to hold; their positions. From an arc extending before Cambrai, a distance of about eighteen miles, the new Britl front has been lessened to a length of about ten miles, witn th bases in the Gonnellu region. BERLIN MAKES BIO CLAIMS.

As a result of the backward movement the Germans claim the reoccupation of Graincourt, Anneux, Noyelles and the woods and heights north of Marcolng, and that their uncontested gain has been to a depth of. about two and a half miles over a front of six and a quarter miles. The Berlin war office asserts that since the German offensive in the Cambrai. region began British plrsoners in excess of 9,000 and 114 guns have been taken. ITALIANS AGAIN EMBATTLED.

On the Italian front the Austro-Ger-mans are making frantic attempts to break through and debouch upon the plain to Venetia. In the Asiago plateau battles of almost unprecedented violence are taking place, the Teutonic allies using a great array of guns and men in their efforts to overcome the Italian r-sistence. On the Meletta sector the en-enmy made some slight advances, hut only through the sacrifice of large numbers of men, the Italians, resisting determinedly. An attempt to carry the Italian line of defense In the upper Brenta Valley met wtih repulse and heavy casualties. The Berlin war office, announcing the taking of the Meletta positions, says that In the new offensive of the Teutonic allies 11,000 Italians have been made prisoners and sixty guns taken.

I TEN-DAY From Berlin comes the announcement that an armistice of ten days, to begin Friday at noon, has been arranged for the entire Russian front. In verification of previous, reports that the Rumanians were not seeking an armistice with enemy, is a Rumanian official (communication saying that attempts by the en emy to fraternize with the Rumanian troops weer put down with shot and shell. Denial also is made that the new Ukranian government had opened nego tiations for a separate peace with the central powers. ANOTHER RAID ON ENGLAND. Another air raid on East eEngland, the first in more than a month, was made early Thursday morning by some twenty-five German planes, six of which reached the London area.

Two of the raiders were brought down and their crews made prisoners. The material damage was relatively slight, but sevn persons were killed and twenty-one Injured. ARMISTICE BEGINS FRIDAY BERLIN, Her. An official communication issued to-lav sars: "Yesterday the authorised representatives of the chief army adminstrations of Germany, Austro-Hungary, Turkey Bulgaria, concluded in writing with the authorized representatives of the Russian chief army administration, a uspenskn of hostilities for 14 days for the whole (Continued on Page Two) BY T0UI6HT House Agrees to Vote Upon Resolution Today; Action In Senate Also Highly Probable, Assert Leaders OTHER HUN ALLIES ARE ONLY OBSTACLE But Sentiment in Favor of i Declaration on Bulgaria And Turkey Is Believed! Checked in Both Houses (By Mil4 Preit) 1 WASHINGTON, IJec. t.A dectaratiou of war srith Austria-Hungary promised lonlfht to voted by congress within the next twentyfoor hours.

Consideration or the war resolutions will begin tomorrow In both senate and bouse. -Developments today virtually wade tt certain ihat sentiment of including declaration against Turkey and Bulgaria, in spite of President Wilson's address, has been- Administration l.aders of both houses tonight eapressed; confidence that debate would be comparatively brief, and thai the. declaration would be approved bj overwhelming vota. u. t.

fop. italy. Th house, after Chairman Flood hid submitted a report stating that a state or war with Austria actually had existed for some months and that American troops, probably soon would be fighting on the Italian front, formally agreed to proceed tomorrow with consideration of the resolution as unanimously reported by its committee. After several hours' deliberation the senate foreign relations committee unanimously approved a resolution In somewhat similar form and di rected Chairman Stone to place It before the senate tomorrow. UNANIMOUS CONSENT NEEDED.

I VJnaolmous consent, required under the senate rules for immediate discussion of the resolution, wlJl be sought by Chairman Stone, who believed tonight that no senator would object and that the matter would be disposed of before adjournment, differences between the senate and house resolution would be quickly adjuatit and the final draft sent to the president tomorrow night. Objection by a single senator, however, would forco over the resolution until Saturday. Tile. house committee's report dealt In detail with the causes for the declaration, reciting Austrian submarine depredations, her approval of the German submarine policy and Ihe intrigues and plots of her official representatives itt thi1 country. NO TURKISH CASUS BELLI.

representative Hood spoke at length upon the reasons for not extending the declaration to Germany's other allies. He said such a step merely would strengthen Germany's hold upon Bulgaria and Tur key, while for the present, at least, there could be no question of direct military operations by the United States against those countries. None of the allied powers, he declared, had even suggested that the prosecution of the war could be bene ficially affected by such declaration: neither Turkey nor Bulgaria has commit ted aggressions against the United States, and the latter has not even broken diplomatic relations. Mr. Flood pointed out that while Turkish Interests In the United States are Insignificant, those of th United States In the Ottoman empire are very large.

There is nothing to fear from Turkv in this country, he said, as most of them are Christians, and Armenians. ALL. IN PRESIDENT'S HANDS. Representative Miller of Minnesota, a foreign affairs committee member, made a brief argument for Including Turkey nd Rnlnria In the declaration. Tie attitude of the house was evidenced by enthusiastic cheering of Representative Flood's- reply" that declarations against them would follow as soon as the dent believes It to be expedient.

Con tinned on Pag Two) Star Barometer New Mexico: Friday, generally fair: fair in 'Vest, an! colder portion. Arizona: Friday and Saturday, generally fair and somewhat colder. (By Associated Pres. LONDON, fleo, 6 After several weeks of respite, London, in the early hours of jhls' morning experienced another German air raid one of the most determined but the most futile yet attempted. The first warnings were received from the outlying districts shortly after 1 o'clock, when a group of Goths crossed the coast of Kent.

Apparently their intention was- to make for London, but. after dropping bombs along the coast, they made off seaward again. A little less than two hours later an- other group started up the Thames, but, like their after flying they had come. It transpired that these were only preliminary slacks made with the ''object of drawing forth gunfire and disclosing the location of the defenses, for an hour later, five groups of machines crossed the Essex and Kent coasts and fie direct to London, attacking the city from two directions. The raiders were met with the tremen-1 dous barrage tf the London defenses.

The firing continued for upward of an hour and. by the slackening In one district only to increase In others, it told the now fully awakened Londoners of the progress of the enemy machines, five or six of which made their way through the barrage and flew directly ocrass the city from the south to, the north. Seveiaf bombs fell in the suburbs but without doing any great Unlike the previous raids the Germans re-Ued more upon Incendiary than explosive bombs with the result that a number of fires broke out. Two of the raiders were brought down and their crews captured and others were damaged. According to the announcement made In the house of commons by the chancellor of the exchequer, seven persons were killed and many injured.

Troops of Felix Diaz Win Battle At Texas Border (By Associated Press) LAREDO. Texas. Pec. 6. Kourtoea federal soldiers were killed today when three hundred alleged followers of Felix Was attacked and captured Guerrero, a small Mexican garrison town opposite Zapata, Texas.

The Dial commander is said to be-General Almazan. His casualties. If any, are unknown. American troops tonight are guarding the river crossings In the Zapata vicinity. El, PASO, Texas, Dec.

6. Letters 're ceived here today from the state 01 Tamapulas told of a battle last wee between the forces of Juan Almasan, tile Felix Diaz and the federal troops in command of General Tlrzo Gonzales, at a point fifty miles south of the border. Almazan, who was wttn -vina at one time, crossed the border into the state of Nuevo Leon several months ago nd is leading the so-called Feilcista movement In northeastern Mexico. Women Jurors' Find Pacifist Pastors Guilty (By Associated Press.) LOS ANGELES. Dec.

Rev. Floyd Harding -of At water, Rev. Robert Whltaker of I-os Gaos. an- Harold W. Storey of- Whittier.

so-called Christian pacifists, who were arrested here on August 1. last, while holding an alleged peace meeting, were found guilty by a Jury In the local police court today of disturbing the peace, holding an un lawful assembly and falling to disperse at the order of the police. The Jury, which was composed of nine ramm and three men. was out mree hours. Sentence wiU be passed tomor i row.

I The men were arrested at a meeting in a downtown office building. Among the statements adopted at this meeting. its was alleged, was that "conscription Is ior than slavery." nd that the giving of one'a life for one's country wis a "mockery," Storey, who waa speaking hen the police raided the meeting. declared to have- said that American soldiers were no better than Prussian soldiers. Th rfrfoniUnts contended they wee merely taking pap In a religion, gather mg.

ones they sought. Virtually every building in the city which could be converted into a hospital is filled with wounded, many of them so desperatel injured that there is no hope of their recovery. Scores have already died in these temporary hospitals. An army of rescue workers is searching amoug the, mins for bodies and for those who have survived amidst the wreckage left by the explosion and fire. City in Darkness All Night.

The city was in darkness tonight except for the flames from the fires still burning in the wrecked buildings in the north end. Ihe electric light and gas plants have been virtually destroyed and the only lights available are kerosine lamps. They furnished the illumination by means of which the surgeons and doctors toiled heroically throughout the night. Soldiers, sailors and police patrolled the streets tonight and upon them fell th? major portion of the burden of searching among the ruins for the dead and wounded. The Canadians were assisted in this work by volunteers from an American warship in the harbor.

Two and Half Miles Burned. The flame-swept area covers approximately two and 1 1 i i i xi. uiit utiL folium- mum. ai uveitis iu wiiai is Known as me North Street Drag, extending north to Pier 8 on the Richmond waterfront and back to a point running parallel witli (iftttimrrm strnut Villiinrr in. on luff clnnrliiur 1IU.

1 OIU UUtllj in this section of the city. Only a pile of smouldering mins marks the spot where lit4 great building of the American Sugar Refining eomiKiny stood. The dry dock and all the buildings which surrounded it were destroyed. The Richmond school that housed hundreds of children was demolshed and it is reported only three escaiietl. Worse Than War's Horrors, Canadian officers who have seen long service, in France 'characterize the catastrophe as "the most fearful which ihas l)cfallen any city in the world." Chief of Police llanrahan late last night estimated the number of killed at 2,000 and other city officials expressed (the belief that it would exceed that numlier.

Among the dead are Edward Condon, chief of the fire dejiartment, William Brunt, deputy fire chief; Captain Peter Broderirk of the fire department; the wife and sou of Rev. William J. Sweatman, of the Kay Street Methodist church and Dr. Murdock Chisholm." fain Twn.