Norwich Bulletin from Norwich, Connecticut • 1

-11 1 1 (J VOL. LIX. NO. 50 POPULATION 29,919 NORWICH, CONN TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1917 TEN PAGES 70 COLS. PRICE TWO CENTS The Bulletin's Circulation in Norwich is Double That of Any Other Paper, and Its Total Circulation is the Largest in Connecticut in Proportion to PRESIDENT ACTION OF CONGRESS On Request to Grant Him Authority to Use Forces of United States to Protect American Ships TO PUT NATION IN STATE Bill Introduced in House to Empower President to Furnish Guns and Gunners for American Merchantmen Pro- vides for; Bond Issue of $100,000,000 to be Used at His Discretion for That Purpose Republicans Gave Evidence of Opposition to Granting Powers Asked by the President May be Supported by Pacifist Democrats.

Washington, Feb. 26. President Wilson took the inevitable step and asked congress for authority to use the forces of the United State to protect American ships and lives against the German submarine menace to put th nation in a. state of armed neutrality The immediate response was the introduction in the house of a bill approved in advance by the president empowering him to furnish guns and gunners to American merchantmen and to "employ such other instrumentalities and methods" as may become necessary; and providing for a bond issue, to be used in his discretion for war insurance and it encourage American commerce brave the submarine peril. The bill may be brought up in the house tomorrow with special rules for its immediate consderaton.

A similar bill will be considered tomorrow by the senate foreign relations committee. May Force Extra Session. The president's long expected action threatens to force an extra session of congress. Republicans give evidence of opposing the legislation the president asks, so as to force him to nave congress i special sessiofl to take a hand in th-next step which they feel will" lead to war. The- republicans are receiving" the passive support from the democratic element classed as pacifist.

The president's request for use "other instrumentalities" is the principal sticking point. Even the re-publcans and some of the democrat: y. ho hesitate to give him what hf asks, say they would be willing to glv hkn authority to arm American ships or act on a definite proposal, but are reluctant to "sign a blank check." Not the "Overt Act." Although (President Wilson told congress he was not acting because of the long feared ''overt act," news of the destruction of the Cunard liner Laconia, with Americans aboard, was received here as he was entering the doors of the capitol, and was passed from mouth to mouth through congress! while he was speaKing. mihuis retails, its seriousness could not be estimated, but it was apparent everywhere that it gave weight to the president's words, then falling upon a body of grave, silent legislators assembled before him in a sombre moment of American history, weighing the declarations which may lead the L'nited States to war. Rights of Peace.

But the president made it clear that America was asking to exercise none but the rights of peace: that he was not proposing nor contemplating war. -1 i .1 thu riwtit ne was minn-iue, v. of life itself, the rights of humanity, "without which there is no civilizations" rights deeper and more fundamental than merely the rights of Americans. Wo course of my choosing nor of theirs," said the president, "will lead to war. Wax can come only by the Wilful acts and aggressions, of others." Unrestricted Warfare.

Four weeks of unrestricted warfare, the president told congress, has seen the destruction of at least two American ships, American commerce driven in a large measure from the seas through fear of the underseas peril, and a resulting congestion of America's vital industries growing more serious every day. The fact that more American lives had not been lost, he said, due more to' the fact that German submarine commanders had exercised "an -unexpected discretion and restraint" than oecaiise of instructions under which they were acting. To be unprepared, with congress out of session, the president said, would be "most imprudent." Consequently he asked for authority to act. Congress Sat in Tense Silence. Standing at the clerk's desk in the hall of the house, calm, grave, speaking earnestly, in the attitude now become familiar, the president delivered his address while congress sat in a tense silence.

By common consent, the members refrained, from demonstration. Cheered at Conclusion. But at the conclusion of the address, when the president spoke of the fundamental rights on which are based the structure of family, state and liberty, and said: "I cannot imagine any man with American principles at his heart, hesitating to defend these things, the cheers broke forth and resounded through the chamber. Af once the wheels of the congressional machinery began turning. Secretary McAdoo conferred with the leaders who will have to do with authorizing the bond issue, and Postmaster General (Burleson, who looks after lining up administration forces in the house, was active in conferences.

The result was the introduction of a bill which was referred to the foreign affairs committee. tA be reported to the, house tomorrow, Sid a meeting of the senate foreign relations committee to discuss a similar measure. Opposition May D'elop. Tomorrow perhaps, or next day at the latest, will develop the breadth and' depth of the opposition the president must face, in onder, as Senator Williams recently expressed it, "to un-fool Germany." The most serious concern of the president's friends la that Mt of the situation an impression may awaits OF ARMED NEUTRALITY go abroad, as on previous occasions. that the united force of congress does not stand behind him.

Historical Precedent for Action. The armed neutrality which the president proposes does not look to war; whether it shall become war depends upon those who infringe upon the rights it seeks to protect. There is ample historical precedent for it; northern Europe under the leadership of Russia formed a league and used it to nrotect its commerce in the wars between Eigland and France and France and Spain. Although the president, when he severed diplomatic relations with Germany, invited other neutrals to follow his lead, he has not. so far asis known, suggested that neutrals join the United States in the armed neutrality he proposes.

All foreign governments, however, have been officially advised of his address to congress today and official copies have been delivered to their diplomats here. By wireless the text was sent to Berlin. Parallel Case in American History. The precedents set by John Adams to protect the commerce of the United States against the "predatory violence" of France during the wars draw a striking parallel to the situation which confronts President AVilson. Congress authorized President Adams to protect American ships and lives at sea by armed force and to raise an army.

Xow, as -then, congris is asked to empower the president to act as may become necessary. I sry confidence is expressed at the Wf.ite House that congress ultimately will act as the president asks, taking into account his efforts of more than two years to preserve peace as sufficient evidence that he does not desire to plunge the country into war. No Steps Till Congress Acts. Xo steps toward the arming of merchant ships are to be taken until congress acts. The convoying of merchantmen is not approved by naval authorities as an effective or desirable strategic policy.

One collateral feature has not been wholly cleared up. Efforts to have President Wi.son call a conference cf neutrals to formulate a uniform declaration of the rights of the nations not at war are going steadily forward and there are indications that they ara favored in administration Quarters. Suggestions to this effect have come from more than one of the European neutrals since diplomatic relations with Germany were severed. Introduction of the bill in the house embodying the president's suggestions followed numerous conferences on the subject between senate and no use leaders. Republicans Will Seek to Modify Action.

Republican members of the foreign relations committee let it be known that when the committee meets tomorrow they will seek to modify the measure in several particulars. They want to eliminate from the first clause the qualification to the authorization to the president for arming merchant ships, reading "should it in his judgment become necessary for him to do so," and to direct as well as empower the arming. The second clause, which would empower the president "to employ such other instrumentalities as may in his judgment and discretion seem necessary," they will seek to modify and make more specific. RIOTI NG RESUMED ON EAST SIDE, NEW YORK Police Reserves Called Out and Several Arrests Made. New York.

Feb. 26. Mayor Mitchell announced tonight, following the resumption of rioting on the East Side, which resulted in the police reserves being called out and seberal arrests being made, that a bill would ber introduced in the legislature tomorrow to empower the city to purchase food supplies and sell them at cost as a means of ameliorating suffering among the poor here due to the high cost of living. Governor Whitman, prior to his departure for Albany earlier In the day asserted that he. did not expect to send an emergency measure to the legislature as he was "convinced the situation was not critical." Joseph Hartigan.

city comnrlsEioner of weights and a material drop in the prices of potatoes and onions before the end of fne week. It would come, he said as the result of relief freight congestion and the fact that virtually all the potato and onion growing states of the country are now entering the market. Railroads in fifteen states. Mr. Hartigan asserted, have arranged to rush "onion specials" to this city.

Information furnished to him by wholesale produce dealers, District Attorney Swan announced. Indicated that the farmers were responsible for the-, increase in the prices of potatoes and onions. In December, he said, the farmers were receiving $1.47 bushel for potatoes, double the price In December, 1915. Mr. Swann declared there was no justification-for the increase In -the price of poultry, There in no scarcity, he said and farmers are not charg lag more than last year.

Cabled Paragraphs Two British Steamers Sunk. London, Fet. 26. 9.90 p. m.

Lloyds announces that the British steamer 806 tons, and the British steamer Algiers, 2,341 tons, have been sunk. New Italian. War Loan. Rome, Feb. 26.

"via Paris. 40 p. m. Official announcement was made here today that the subscriptions thus far received for the new war loan amount to 2,200,000,000 lire. Of this lire is new money, PRESS COMMENTS ON PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.

Meriden Record. It is a foregone conclusion that the power which President Wilson asked of congsess to use the forces of the United States to protect American rights on tlve high seas, will be granted. The time for quibbling has passed and the United States must risk the consequences of years of unprepared ness and sidestepping. New London Telegraph. The president has reached the only conclusion possible from the trend of events since the declaration of Ger many's unrestricted submarine warfare, vis: that we may be called upon at any time to defend.

In fact and not merely in words. our elementary rights as a neutral nation. Congress can do no less than grant him the authority that he asks for. Waterbury Republican. With such an uncontrollable weapon.

and such orders, the maintenance of peace with Germany is not worth Insuring over night. The news which met Mr. Wilson on the way to the capitol must have made him regard a breach as inevitable. Mr. Wilson commits himself to no definite policy, but his use of the phrase "armed neutrality" seems unfortunate.

Right now the Dutch are armed neutrals and Germany cares little enough for them. Bridgeport Telegram. The president is absolutely right in making this request. He should be given the power at once. If our ships cannot cross the ocean where they have a right to go, without escort, then let them go wth escort.

If they are to be sunk by submarines on sight, let them sink submarines on sight. If it is not time for America to declare jsvar on Germany, it is at least time for America to declare war on the German submarines war to the fullest extent." New York Times. The president is The time and the occasion for action have come. We must defend our people and our seamen in the exercise of their rights or make a cowardly surrender to the power that has forbidden us to exercise them. All partisianship, all pettiness, all thought of any other interest than that of the nation, now so seriously threatened, must be laid aside and the authority he asks for.

conferred upon the president." Providence (R. Journal. The president's recital of our rights and of the violation of those rights is unanswerable. Is there any reason why we should not assert and defend them? Why should we not protect our merchant vessels, the crews that man them and the passengers who wish to sail in them by arming them or providing them with convoys, or American life and property on the high seas, must be guarded, not by words alone but by material meads of defense. Springfield (Mass.) Union.

Congress should back up the president with a will in measures necessary to sustain the American honor. The right sort of legislators will gratefully respond to the chief magistrate in this endeavor. At the same time the legislative department will be wise not to tie its own hands or place itself in the position of weakly passing along to the executive those responsibilities that by right rest upon congress. Extraordinary situations call for extraordinary measures sometimes, but let us not be in haste to dispense with the established forms AMERICAN BOARD NOT TO RECALL MISSIONARIES In Control of Missions and Mission Colleges in Turkey. Boston, Feb.

26. The American board of commissioners for foreign missions and other boards controlling the missions and the mission colleges in Turkey have decided not to order the American missionary workers to leave that country. Rev. Dr. James L.

Barton, secretary of the American board, announced in a statement tonight. All American workers in Turkey have been given permission to leave, hut it is expected, he said, that none except those whose term of service has expired will quit their posts. TWO AMERICANS LOST ON LACONIA. According to London Dally Chronicle's Queenstown Correspondent. London, Feb.

27. 4.00 a. m. It has been definitely ascertained that two Americans were lost on the Laconia', according to the Daily Chronicle's Queenstown correspondent. OBITUARY.

Mrs. Mathew Maury. Roanoke, Feb. 26. Mrs.

Mathew Maury, sister of Mrs. Woodrow Wil-Bon, died here this afternoon after an operation for peritonitis. George J. Clark. St.

Stephen, N. Feb. 26. (Former Premier of New Brunswick George J. Clarke died today.

Mr. Clarke, who retied from office a month ago, had been in ill health for some time. John Edward Russell. Williamstown, Feb. 2.

The death of (Prof. John Edward Russell at the Williams college infirmary here late last night was announced today. He was 69 years old and for 29 years was a member of the Williams college faculty, having been for all but one of those years Mark Hopkins professor of mental and moral philosophy. He was professor of 'Biblical theology at the Yale Divinity school from 1886 to 1889. Dr.

William Q. Suffield, Conn, Feb. 24. Dr. Will-lam G.

Fennell. pastor of the Asylum Avenue Baptist church In Hartford, died here tonight as a result of a stroke of apoplexy; while on a trip to his summer shome In Suffield. He was found unconscious in his summer home and taken to the home of a friend where death occurred. He was (8 years old. Advance in France PUSH FORWARD TWO MILES OVER ELEVEN MILE FRONT ARE NEARING BAPAUME They Are Now But Three Miles From German Stronghold British Capture From Turks the Line From Sannai-yat to Kut-el-Amara.

President Wilson's address to a Joint session, asking for authority to place the United States in a state of armed neutrality as a counter to Germany's submarine warfare; a con-tin ution of the British advance against the Germans in France, the sinking of the Cunard line steamer Laconia, on which Americans were passengers, and the recapture by the British of Kut-el-Amara, in Meopotamia, from the Turks are the outstanding features in the world war. Germans Pushed Back Two Miles Over a front of eleven miles from the region of Gommecourt north of Ancre River, to the district of Gueu-decourt, south of the river, the British have pushed forward their lines to a depth of two miles, according to the BrUtish official communication. The manoeuvre has served to throw -forward the right and left wings of the British in an enveloping move toward Bapaume the German stronghold in this region, and to place the Briitsh center at Warlencourt-Eaucourt, a scant three miles from Bapaume. Raiding Operations. Bombardments and raiding operations are still in progress on the greater part of the remainder of the front in France and Belgium and in the Russian and A ustro -Italian theatres.

Turks Losing Ground. In Mesopotamia the British haw captured from the Hurks the entire line from Sannalyet to Kut-el-Amera. At the latter place the Turks have been forced to evaouate the position they captured from he British nearly a year ago and are now being driven back, harassed by British cavalry, says the British war office. Large captures in men and war stores were made by the British. In admitting a retreat from Kut-el -Amara, a Turkish official communication says the movement was prearranged and was carried out unnoticed 4y the British.

The Cunard line steamer Laconia, bound from New York for Liverpool, was torpedoed Sunday night, presumably the coast 22,679 Tons of Snipping Sunk. Including the Laconia, a. vessel of 18,099 tons, the latest reports show that known tonnage aggregating 22.G79 has been sent to the bottom in the last 24 hours. An official report from Germany says that since the commencement of the war 4.9SS.500 tons of shipping belonging to entente and neutral nations has teen destroyed or condemned by the ot iral powers. RETIREMENT OF GERMANS IS PUZZLING BRITISH Greatest Retreat on Front in France Since the Battle of the Marne.

From a Staff Correspondent of The Associated Press, British Headquarters in France, Feb. 2i6 7.40 p. via London, 11.30 p. m. The full extent of the German retirement in the Somme area has not yet developed.

Outpost fighting continued today between strong British patrols pressing forward over the newly yielded ground and the German rear guards who ffcll back under the fire of their heaviest calibred guns. There has been comparatively little light artillery fire, the Germans evidently depending on heaviest mounted on railway truck which would be rushed away at the Last mmont in case of necessity. The British continued to move forward all along the line from just Siiuth of Gommecourt to Le Transloy, th latter point apparently feeing the from which the German retreat swings backward. The line has been carried well to the northeast of Serre, while Irles and Warlenccurlar in British possession. Serre.

Pys. Warle-court and Miraumcnt, like other famous points in the Somme battlefield, such as Pozieres, Courcelette and Con. talmaison long ago ceastt! to have form as villages. The artillery fire they endured for months pulverised them to bits of stone and bricVc, the remnants of which wiH now be tised by the British in restoring the roa-is to a passable condition. The weather cleared, today tha airplanes, quick to take advantage of flying opportunities were up, closely observing- the Geynan movements.

The British line today was creeping neafi Bapaume, the famous German stronghold, regarding which there were reports that the garrison had blown up what had been proclaimed as impregnable fortified cellars and other various underground works, on which they had labored for the greater part two years. No official bint as to the probable line the Germans propose taking up could be obtained tonight from any member of the British staff. The German retirement, coming so closely on the heels of unrestricted submarine warfare, forms one of the most interesting phases of the great war. The backward movement has become the greatest retreat on this front since the battle of the Marne. GOMPERS PUBLICLY PROTESTS PROHBITIONIN DISTRICT.

Claims It Would Have Injurious Effect 1 nO nOO Ciaar Workers. Washington, Feb. 26. Samuel Gom-pers, president of the American Federation of Labor, today made public a protest against the enactment by congress of a prohibition law for the District of Columbia- In a letter to Chairman Johnson of the house district committee he asserted that such a measure would have an injurious influence upon more than one hundred thousand workers In the cigar industry, on whose Dehalf, as- first vice president of the Cigarmakers' International union, he protested. He declared prohibition ty law to be "an iniquitous proposition" that "violates the fundamental principles of human freedom" and fails to accomplish the curing of the drink evil.

Guns and Mounts for American Ships ARE STORED AT NAVY YARDS, READY FOR USE WANT TRAINED GUNNERS It is Estimated That of the 250 Sh ps Under American Registry Not More Than 100 Would Take Risk of Entering the War Zone. Washington, Feh. 26. Guns and mounts sufficient to arm any reasonable number of American merchant ships are now stored at navy yards, it was stated officially at the navy de partment today following President Wilson's appearance before congress to ask authority to provide weapons and men should the jieed arise. Efficient gunners are lacking, however, unless they are taken from active ships which can ill spare them.

Trained Men Imperative. Naval officials pointed out that men of special skill, trained to the minute, would be required as gun pointers for anti-submarine work. At best a U-boat is difficult to hit, as there is little exposed. Often a periscope hardly visible at more than a few thousand yards is the gunner's only target. 250 Ships in Trans-Atlantic Trade Recent figures shw that 250 ships under American registry are engaged in trans-Atlantic trade, but it is estimated that not more than 100 would apply for guns and take the risk of crossing the German submarine zones.

There will be no difficulty in furnishing that number of vessels with weapons, but supplying trained gun pointers for 100 guns would take just that many valuable men away from fighting ships. 1,000 Men in Fleet Reserve. There are about 1,000 men in the fleet reserve, of whom approximately 100 were trained gun pointers when they left the active list. Most of them are older men, however, and none has had any recent practice in gun pointing. It is said that no sufficiently expert pointers for work on merchant craft could be obtained from that source, although some- ammunition handlers and other members of gun crews might be obtained.

Of the 1,000 reservists about one-half have been drilled in gun handling, other than pointing. Naval View of President's Request. Navy officials construe the president's language as asking for authority wide enough to take any measures to defend American ships. That might -include -naval convoys, but the opinion of naval experts is against such a step both because it could not insure the convoyed ships against submarine attack and also because the efficiency of the fleet as a fighting machine would be seriously impaired if its units were scattered for convoy duty. Guns of Ample Range and Power.

The available guns range up to six-inch calibre. Most of them are old models but have ample range and power for the work desired. Range and rapidity of fire are vital factors in anti-submarine operations. It is important that the underwater craft be assailed before she gets into good torpedo range. Th-2 majority of cases reported show this to be 500 yards or less and the skill of the gunners should be sufficient to make it dangerous for a U-boat to chew herself at 5,000 yard's.

Naval oficlals were not inclined to difcCU33 the change in the status of a merchant sh'p which might result from placing a navy crew aboard. Whether the gpin crews would be placed under the orders of merchant captains or whether naval officers would command the guns and determine when and how they should be used was not made known. Naval Militia Could Not be Called The naval militia, more than 9,000 strong, could not be drawn upon for gunners because of its militia status. The terms under which the men could be called out for active service are limited by the constitution to suppression of insurrection, repelling invasion and enforcing the laws. Smaller Weapons Building.

In addition to guns aiow held in reserve at navy yards, the navy department has many smaller weapons building under contract. These could be hastened to completion at need for use aboard merchant craft, but there is no present indication that they will be needed. BILL TO REDUCE NUMBER OF SALOONS IN BOSTON. Yould Limit Liquor Licenses to One to Each 1,500 Inhabitants. Boston, Feb.

26. Temperance advoV cates today urged the legislative committee on legal affairs to pass a bill increasing from 1.000 to 1,500 the number of inhabitants required for each apportionment of a liquor license in a license community, and reducing from 1,000 to 750 the maximum number of saloon licenses in Boston. Sanfni-ri TiatHi of this cltv. chairman of the legislative committee of the Boston Federation or Jhurcnes, told the committee that the 'Boston licensing board always had issued 1,000 licenses and had thus violated the spirit of the law by, granting the maximum. He added that the board also had ignored the requests of.

people in. the residential districts who objected to the location of saloons near their homes. Robert A. Woods, a former member of the Boston licensing board, sent the committee a letter advocating the proposed bill and stating that at least 25 hotels and 50 saloons in this city were being conducted in violation of the law. "Chief" Bender Exonerated.

Philadelphia, Feb. 26. Charles A. (Chief) Bender, the Indian pitcher, was today exonerated by the coroner's jury of -blame in connection with the death of John J. who was recently knocked down and killed by a motor car driven by Bender.

Gerard Party at Corunna. Madrid, via Paris, Feb. 26. 9.40 p. m.

Ambassador Gerard and party arrived at Corunna, according la a message received here from the governor of Corunna this evening. The ambassador left Madrid yesterday afternoon and will take steamer from Corunna for the United States. Condensed Telegrams Wooden shoes are becoming popular in London. They 73 centa a pair. Mary Anderson returned to the stage in London to play Juliet for charity.

The House adopted the bill giving United States citizenship to Porto Ri-cans. The British army will soon number 5,000,000 men, exclusive of the India troops. The American steamship Doc bra, the first American ship to defy U-boata reached Maples. Bishop Greer of New York declared himself as in favor of abolishing the death house at Sing Sing. "Boycott eggs and use milk instead." advises the New York Health Board in Its fight on high cost of living.

The anti-alien bill is again before the Idaho Legislature despite the protests of the governor and Washington officials. German U-boat captain hare been warned by the home government that many British ships are loaded with poisoned food. Record crops are predicted by Washington officials on basis of winter wheat area. The 'seed shortage is not deemed serious. The Department of Agriculture is experimenting with Chinese plants with a view to reducing the cost of fod production.

Melvin Cedrose escaped from a sanitarium in Hastings and was later caught by Herbert Storms, a motor-man, in Yonkers. New York's proposed drastic liquor tax law would drive 5,000 saloons out of business, according to men prominent in the trade. John J. Dillon, New York State com missioner of foods and market, denied at Atlantic City that he inended to resign his position. Col.

Roosevelt, writing in praise of an editorial in a Pennsylvania newspaper headed "Let the Old Die First," said "bully" for you. John Munsuyer of Howard, Kan, is reported the most active in the West for his years. He passed his 103d birthday the other day. Export figures shows that the number of horses purchased in three years in the United States for the armies of the Allies were 1,088,688. Private E.

Ward Heath, 10th New Tork regiment, of Catskill, eloped while on a furlough from guard duty on the Poughkeepsie bridge. Mme Schumann-Heink, injured in a 8t. Louis' trplley crash, will be unable to her physicians announcement. York state asked the legislature to permit private development oi me State's 750,000 electric horse power. The House aareed to the Borland amendment to the Sundry Ctvil bill for an appropriation of $400,000 for an investigation of the high cost of living A arhm.rv firms declare that" the Import restrictions imposed by the British Government will compel them to close their London branch es.

Secretary McAdoo asked Congress to appropriate $1,400,000 for purchase of the New York Quarantine Station. The station now belongs to New York State. Suspected cf being a German agent, George Koo'o. of Philadelphia, an inspector at the Eddystone Munition Co. at Chester, was arrested at the plant.

Th. atnrL hmuflhl triolets tO the home of N. A. Victorine of Katonah near PeeksKill, Ivew iotk. nia mara a total of 12 in the family.

Victorine earns $2 a day. A I R(1 k. mr In a of 108 workmen on the war to the "VTitnr par nlfint were in 1 ured at Toledo when the car upset. Many of them may die. I Maawav- lahnr aaitator.

was sentenced to death by hanging at 3 TTViTf.iarn for fl. bomlb exDlOSlOn that cost 10 lives during a prepared ness paraue in juiy. xa i w. Gno uina for di vorce in New York city alleged that her husband prepared for the honeymoon by buying whiskey in plenty for a "dry" states' tour. Mayor Burns, president of the mayors' conference of New York state, declared he would solve the food problem by seizing food supplies held in cold storage and putting them on the market at reasonable prices.

The will of Roger Casement, the former British knight and consul, who was hanged in Pentonville prison August 3 as a traitor, disposed of his estate of 6 76,, to his cousin, Mrs. Parry. Thousands of tons of foodstuffs on the Pacific Coast are awaiting purchase n.nd shipment East. Of rice alone there are 125,000,000 pounds, and the price is lower than it has been for several years. The bill was introduced by Manuel L-Quezon.

president of the Philippine Senate, authorizing the organization of a Philippine army divisicn of 25,000 men in accordance with the national defence act has been approved. The old New Havsn postofflce building, soon to be vacated by reason of completion of a new and expensive structure, was sold at auction by Postmaster Troup Monday, for or $67,500 more than the highest offer received on private bids. BOND ISSUE OF $1,000,000,000 TO PROTECT OUR COMMERCE Bill Introduced in House by Chairman Flood of Foreign Relations Committee. Washington, Feb. 26.

After conferences with democratic and republican leareds. Chairman Flood of the foreign relations committee, Introduced late today a bill authorizing the president to arm merchant ships and use "such other instrumentalities as necessary" to protect them, on the bigh seas and providing for a special bond issue of $100,000,000. the City's Populatiort 26 Americans on Torpedoed Laconia SIX CABIN PASSENGER8 AND 21 MEMBERS OF CREW ONLY ONE CASUALTY Cargo Included 1,000 Bars of 8ilvn, 40,000 Bushels of 6,000 Bags of United States and Ca-nadisn MailHad One Defense Gun. New York, Feb. 26.

Americans, six of whom werT ca of the crew, were on board th r- liner Laconia. tmm xr-. -v ary 18 for JvluS7Yl: I tie vessel was sunk by a German submarine Sunday night. One casualty, as unidentified, was officially repo.teVby th "ne to Names of American Passengers. The names of the American passengers and their addresses as given by the Una wumiueu in Dart o- in the United States, TiFhoyd pi Gibbons, of the Chicago E.

Harris, wife of Lieutenant Colonel Frank E. Harris, (Continued on Page 8, 6th Col.) WATCHING CONDITIONS IN LATIN-AMERICAN REPUBLICS To Avoid Embarrassment in Case of Hostilities With Germany. Washington, Feb. 26. Aware of the embarrassment that revolutionary-conditions in nearby Latin-American republics might cause the United States in the event of hostilities with Germany, officials of the state department have surveyed carefully the situations in Culm I America.

It has been assumed that ana powenui enemy would seize the opportunity to organize actual operations in those countries or a-t least agitate such factions as could be reached to such activity that the United States would be forced to divert a part of Its energies in that direction. Reports to the department indicate that in all but one case the constituted governments are maintaining or are strengthening their control of affairs. The administration feels that with the maintenance of legal authority danger from that quarter is minimized and it has been indicated that it was that danger which Influenced the president somewhat in sending to Havana and to the capitals of all the Central American states the declaration of the policy of non -recognition of any government attaining power by illeeal means. Minister Gonzales' reports from Cuba today Increased the conviction of the American government government that the Menocal administration is gaining the ascendancy in that situation, and, different reports from Mexico indicate a slowly improving situation in that country. TRAIN STRUCK AUTO AT CROSSING NEAR I DDL ETOWN.

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Beckett of Hig-ganum Were Killed. "Middletown, Conn, Feb.

26. Sohn C. Beckett and his wife of Higganum were killed and "a man named John was seriously Jured when their automobile was st rk by a passenger train tonight at a crossing on the New York. New I-Tavon and Hartford railroad at IV-ckett and hl wife were each about 25 years old. It is thougnt tny ttigine of the automobile may have become stalled when the car started over the crossing, as the engineer of the train is quoted as saying that the first he saw of the car was when he was within a short distance of It and at that tlm It appeared to be standing still.

Tha car was smashed and the bodies of th victims tossed some distance away. The injured man was brought to the honpita1 here. Mrs. Beckett was at one time postmistress of Hlgganum. TWO SLEEPING CARS TELESCOPED BY FREIGHT On the Pennsylvania Railroad Near Altoona Details Are Lacking.

Philadelphia, Feb. 27. Two sleeping cars of tho (Mercantile Express weer telescoped by a freight train on the Pennsylvania railroad at Mount Union station, near Altoona, early to. day. according to Information receiv ed at the general offices of the company In this city.

It has not yet been learned whether there were any fatalities. The express left Pittsburgh at 7 o'clock last night and was due here at 4.18 a. m. Railroad officials expressed fear that a number of passengers had been killed. Two sleeping cars were so tightl jammed together that little headway had been made In extricating the occupants half an hour after the accident.

Relief trains bearing physicians and nurses left Altoona at 1 a. m. and should arrive at the scent very shortly. FIFTEEN TO TWENTY YEARS FOR WIFE MURDER. Bernard J.

Early of Nashua, N. Hn Pleaded Guilty. (Manchester, N. Feb. 26.

Bernard J. Early of Nashua pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter in causing tho death of his wife at Nashua Dec 4 last, when arraigned in the superior court here today. He was sentenced to serve from 15 to 20 years in state prison. Early's throat was cut with a bread knife. Early is 55 years old.

Delaware Retects Suffrage. Dover. Feb. 26. The Delaware senate today rejected the woman suffrage amendment, 8 to 6.

Movements of 8teamships, Bordeaux, Feb. 23. Arrived: Steamer Espagne, New York. Liverpool. Feb.

23. Arrived: Steam er Lapland, New York..