The Ottawa Journal from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Page 1

captured ray POSITIONS AFTER BRILLIANT ATTACK French Force Drove Hun From Their Trenches on Front of I.J00 Metre. GERMAN COUNTER ATTACK FAILED TO REGAIN GROUND Hunt Suffered Heavy Losses the Violent righting wnjcn I i followed. Americas Assoclaied Press. PABIS, Mweh 9. Oerman positions on front of 1.600 metre, varying In depth from 600 to 800 metres, were carried by the attack in the Champagne made yesterday by the French, the war offloe report.

A German counter-offensive was repulsed after violent lighting. Two German attacks in Avocourt wood, on the Verdun front, were repulsed. A BWIXIATT SrCCESS. Th announcement follows: "Supplemental Information has bMD received shewing that the at- made jeotoidar by-our troops between Butte du Meanil and Msie-ons da Champagne waa a brilliant. success, notwithstanding the snow.

which rendarad tha operation difficult, oar troops blaw np enemy positions on a front of l.Soe metres, varying In dspth -from 0 to too matraa. Law In tha day tha Uer-mans deUvrd a violent countcr-offanaiva on tha left of this sector. 'Aftrva furious combat with hand sary who suffered neavy losses, i ne number of prisoners taken by us waa II. Including three oncers. "Attacks by tha enemy on one of our trenches at Avoeoart wood, on the left bank of tha Mouse, wore repulsed.

Tbars waa. Intarmlttaat caanoaadlng on the (remainder of the frontt t'Mirnn in SM DEICERAO Ha Made No Reply to U. S. Note Regarding Hi Attitude Towardt Germany. I MEXICO CITT.

March It Is understood hero that Oeoersi Car- max Is stlU dellboraUn- on the reply to the recent note from the United States which, while not hay. Inf bean made publlo here, "Is believed to have asked for an outline or Mexico's position In international affairs as between Germ any and tha United States, and to have made certain representations retarding ths curbing of German Intrigue. Ths war department announced last nlcht that bandits commanded personally by Francisco Villa suffer- "id a severe defeat Wedneaday at San -Andres, In tha mountain district or Chihuahua, by foroaa under General Eduardo Hernaudes. Oenerei Her--nendeg captured among Jit her. booty "a half million cartridges.

Thla to believed to be virtually all of Villa's ro-aerv supply of ammunition. PLENTY OF POTATOES, -BUT WHAT ABOUT PRICE? aoeaM Th deuraal. TORONTO, March Mall and Empire (ConservaUve) says In editorial note: "It to aU rirht for tha Ottawa authorltlos to point out that there are enough potatoes in Canada. That to not tha question. The question Is, how are those who hold up prices to and tt a bag to be dealt with? Ths very fact that there are enough, or more than wnough, potatoes, according to official asse-tlon, adds to the condemnation of tha apathy at OtUwa.

CHURCH USHERS STRUCK. NEW YORK, March Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church ushers struck because Dr. Jowett criticised their "Christian spirit In letting strangers stand while there waa room in rich pewholdere pews. tSSTH AT THE REQE1TT. Headed by thefr brass bead the tilth Battalias wtU attend the Regent Theatre tonight at the tori la- tloa of the IT" ni -1 V.y.- Saturday: Fair And folders OTTAWA, TEIDAY, MAEOH 9, 1917.

PRICE 2 CENTS. VOL. XXXJL-No. 78. FRENCH BLOW UP ENEMY POSITIONS ON FRONT OF 1,500 METRES British Army May Now be Before Bagdad Further British Success on Somme I TJC fl nTT A A I iT TOIVT AT HfliiF mmm A Il-M V-T XI.

'iT X- JL-rfJLl AXl 1 1 XX J-y "1 GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT WAS SIMPLE SLAUGHTER tLOKDpN, March The morning today print long eeita- iot Count Eeppella. Whoa career 1 reviewed la most Instances oispss-atonatsty' and la aome eases with tri butes to his patriotism and pereever- anoai The reputed amblUoa of Count BeppeHn to lay London in rain and hH alleged ooatjdenee la the ability of his' machines to achieve thla object are recalled, while failure to realise aaoh an amblUoa la retarded by some of the writers as saaVtent ground on which to base tha etate-ssent that Ksppslln'o osrssr cf Strange vicissitudes ended la nesee spars SISTER OF GEN. FRENCH SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. United Prres Cable. BAIXlNlaU, March I.

Mrs. Hurley, a sister of Lord French, commander-in-chief of tha British Home Defense Corps, -was severely wounded by sn enemy shsll whllsssat-od In an ambulance, according to word received here today from Monastir. Mrs. Harley Is In command of an ambulance unit attached to tha Serbian army. She la an ardent suffragist worker, and has been on active eervlce In the Ambulance Corps for soma time.

PRISONER ADMITS SHE OFTEN WISHED LLOYD-GEORGE DEAD Had Frequently Expressed Hope That Both He and Mr. Henderson Would Die. DENIES THAT SHE EVER PLANNED THEIR DEATHS Miss Wheeldon Says Scotland Yard Man Posed as an Anarchist American Associated Press LONDON. March t. The taking of new testimony In the trial of Mrs.

Alice Wheeldon, her two daughters and Alfred George Mason, husband of one of tha daughters, waa resumed today beforo Jua- Ti.it... m1i.m Wr1cmr' clmritKl- WHhasg. splrtnf to mnrdsr Premier Lloyd-George and Arthur Henderson, Labor member of tha war council. The case waa delayed yesterday because of ths illness of a. Juror, which necessitated the sweaiiny In.

of a new Juror and tha repetition of the Submitted by the prosecution up to that time. Wished They Were Dead. AU the evidence given before the Srevlooa Jwry havinc been repeated this moralng Mrs. Wheeldon con tinued her testimony. Replying' tl jaag aw, ana aomittto, tnaa sns Ooanlamtal on Page JL arrrAtf A pastgs gets CALL FROrJ SHELBURNE Rev.

P. W. Aiidersoiu Mackay Asked to Return Has Not Given Answer. Rev. P.

W. Anderson, M.A- B.D., pastor of Mackay Church, Ottawa, baa received a telegram ektendlng a unanimous and hearty call to him from Knox Church, Shelbnrne, tha church which ha served for five veers before coming to Ottawa. Tha telegram, stated that there was "much enthusiasm" at tha Shelburne meeting. While Mr. An derson was In Shelburne a handsome hew church waa built-, and the cost almoat-MvereL It I now free of debt.

Tha circumstance Is extremely rare In tha history of tha Presbyterian church where a' minister Is asked to return to a church which ha had al ready served. Mr. Anderson has not yet sent word regarding his deetstoa, Mackay Church. 'Ottawa, had a moat successful year last ysar In every sense, aad perfect harmony prevails. BIG FALLING OFF IN MEAT CONSUMPTION IN BRITAIN LONDON.

March S. Reports on tha consumption of meat ahoW that the average amount need in London before voluntary rationing was undertaken waa MIT tons a wsek. It haa now fallen to S.TSS tons, so the plan of rationing Is considered a suocese. Lord Davenport, the food comptroller, has about determined to Ax maximum prices for tea, coffee, butter, cheese and lard. There are protects against ths extension of the maximum price plan because of the failure In the case of potatoes.

Ths country to now almost totally deprived of potatoes because the re mi era refuse to sell at tha maximum price. si oa aad defeat at one of the lowest Points his flsctuaUng fortunes, His least appreciative eommentor -snya: Hla chief feat In that ha klUod or wounded l.lee British dtlseaa mostly HAn.rAmh...... fc- .1 I and gave Germany bar greatest dis- "nwwnm oi no war. raahn Passed OretV TVlS Vll ni ,1 ui. I wiiwiwh I.

one of 4he romaeata to oontanded that CMaiil 1, biUons to an extraordinary decree and that, with the help of ha) aagW heerm, he developed a asaehlne which la natoo la some respects and which since tha war axploded the fallacy that too giaat rigid airships are eee ileao. PREDICTS THAT KAISER WILL NOT LIVE VERY LONG Prominent Spaniard Who Saw the Emperor. Says He it in Wretched Health. ONLY KEPT GOING BY POWERFUL STIMULANTS Kaiser Blames Britain Entirely For, tKe Break in Relations With the U. $.

American Aiwjrlatrd NEW YORK, March A despatch to the Herald from Havana says: One of the most prominent Spaniards In Cuba to-day showed to mo a letter he received yesterday from an uncle In Madrid. The writer of tha toUsr says he baa Just returned home from a trip to Germany, where he saw tha Kalssr, with whom he had a talk concerning the crisis In the relaUons between Germany and tha United States. Ha said tha Kaiser blamed Great Britain, which, ha asserted, was responsible for false reports in Germany and America, and charged that President Wilson was Influenced entirely by Britain, In WrtScfaed Health. "The Emperor Is In wretched health and kept going only by most powerful stimulants," the writer of the letter sard. "His physicians are administer-Inc morphine in large dosss aa ths only means of affording him rest and sleep.

Excitement keeps him alive, I believe. I am convinced that the war Is nearlng the end and that the Em- perpr will not live i will not live ajx moot ha after Ha said that while In Berlin be learned authoritatively that there wae a powerful wireless system operated between Germany and the north coast of Spain. The writer of the letter to the head of one of the most Illustrious Spaaiakt families. HONS OAKI HCIKtY. OYHt'TliE? i Claim Capture of 600 Prisoners and Several Machine Gun Admit French Gain.

Untied Pries, BERLIN, via Bayvllls wireless, March loaf afflears and 00 men of ranks ware take a prisoners, with several machine gens and mtna throwers. In German successes achieved against Resales forces In the storming of postuons on tha tides of Magyaros (Rumanian front), tha war office announced to-day. Admit Gain By txsck. French forces strongly atlaoksd German south of Rlpont. taken by the Germane February IS, and enured Isolated tronobas on height Its.

They wars repuleed aad a counter attack brought back the trench seoUone en the hill into German possession, but. a farm on lowland to still hsld by the enemy. Ia reporting thla batUs to-day the German ofBolal report revealed a vast amount of geaeral flrhaag throughout the western front. BERLIN CLAIMS ALLIES LOST MANY AIRPLANES By Osasftlsai Plies, BERLIN. March (via SayvlUa).

The aotanta military forces on the various fronts) loot II airplanes during February, as compared with 14 lost by tha German army headquarters announced lo-day. Its statements on these aerial results rssds: "During February we lost It airplanes. Our enemlee on the western, eastern and Balkan fronte lost 1 airplanes, of which IT are In our poaaeeslon, and 4 were observed to fall beyond our lines, while five were forced to descend." NO LABOR DISPUTES IF U. S. ENTERS THE WAR TCalied Press IHesatia.

WASHINGTON. March Labor disputes that rent England and France a year ago will not be repeated In thla country, ahould the United States be plunged Into war. Thla was made plain today as the executive council of the A at erica Federation of Labor went Into session to lay the foundatlono for a vast Industrial army that will keep the nation's armed forces supplied. Today's an set lag to preliminary to a general conference here Monday of the office re of every national and international labor anion In the United States. VKJOROUS DEJCIALS MADE.

BERLIN, March Vigorous denials that Germany has eeaaae construction of Eeppellna, aa re-Ported from foreign eosrcee, made by a high metal to-day. "The) censtiueMsn eosllssoo, he said. "It to false that them la not enengti material. Wa havo plenty and there are plenty e( workman also." Berlin suffsred frest, a mild ansa! I pox eeare to-day. Thsnasade of resident havo been vaccinates.

ronowwf also very of a few sssis hare, M. HOW DOES TILTS PICTURE STRIKE YOU. A -l't rVr ft lfif 'n v3K I vv.v -jj-n- C- This is part of the crowd" lined up this morning to buy tickets to the championship hockey game. Recruiting officers visited the line, were often insulted and got no results. A woman reporter from The Journal "looked them over" and says: "Nine out of ten were healthy, normal young men from IS to 25 years." The Journal photographer was threatened by a few, who-, however, clung to a safe place in the line.

A manufacturer, telephoning The Journal this morning, said "This is a sight to make the angels weep. It is an insult to every father and mother who have given a son to the cause." SAY STARVATION WOULD BE RESULT OF STATE CONTROL Liverpool Steamship Owners Association Declares Government Measures Quite Insufficient STATE MANAGEMENT SAID TO BE FAILURE u3i, Under Government Control Time and Carrying Power of Marine Has Been Wasted. 1 By Caaasiss Praaau 'X'iirp ipondcpca othaanniad Tress The aawual iwrve-ofioSa Uvrpet ateaauhlp Ownenr Association, whlr.h includes pntctlcalljr the Lapertant ship owners In England, emphasises the seriousness of ths shipping alt na Hon and declares that all the measure thus far taken by the Government are Insufficient, The report Insists that stale management of ahlpplng baa failed and must tail and empresses the opinion that only tha most radical curtailment imports and a similar radical umita-Uoa ef the amount of tonnage need far military purposes can save tha nation from the moat serious shortage of food and vital raw materials. Direct stats managsment of ahlpplng to Impossible, says the report. The stats to so bad a manager that stats control of ths nsUon's tonnage would moan quick State Control rnllareT "Ths Inevitable results of stats management havo waste of time, loss of ocean carrying bower, and therefore the Imports," the report states.

"If those be reduced under stats management by only 1 per and. Judging by all past experience It might well be reduced by It per cent and upward the nation would be faced, with Immediate ehortago of eesentlal supplies, privation and panic prices Weighed against such perils, the saving of freights, oven If cargo were carried tor nothing, to negligible factor. To satisfy military amends since the ooUtreaJcof the war, about one-third of the British mercantile mar. la has bean devoted to purely war purposes. One-third of the British BMreaatile marto haa a oerryitvg capacity la, ocean trade, in the course ef a pear, of upward of ions weight of Imports sod exports.

It to anantfeet that If the remain-ng two-thirds bad been utilised In reportioa to the ona-tbird under military coot 1. the nation must hsvs starved loaf ago," Moat Pay Th Price. Touch! rag on the subject of dripping under neutral flags, tha report sye: "It Is Inevitable that foreign tonnage will accept the most sdvsn-'ageoue employment offered: therefore, to meet the additional war risks, the United Kingdom must be prepared to pay tor their ssrvloe, above sad not below the rate offered by tha neutrals." DUTCH-BELGIAN FRONTIER CLOSED BT THE GERMANS LONDON, March t. Ths closing of ths Dutch-Belgian frontier by the German ralUtary authorities Is re ported in a Central Newt despatch from Amsterdam. HAVaV ARRIVED aAF-fcXT.

United Prase. NEW YORK. March Five big hip. Inclndlng th. Norweiea-American liner Borgonafjord.

arrived her to-day. Th ths re were Murage. American, tram Havre; tavoon, Brttleh. from London: Minnehaha, Brttleh, from London, and tha Virginian, American, from Marseille, MXLLINERYt hULUSESlYt Smart etrlea aenalble styles, svery- thlng that's now for spring: How we Invite every aadr to pay us a vUHt la Ira that this pear fairness say previous aoaaoa, also that wo ana glr ye th style that wiu sau por taste at a great savtac. r-opamr prises, tat Aw JdWelHngtoa street.

CAPITAL'S FAMOUS UNIT CHOSEN FOR A REVIEW BY THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF Ottawa Heroes of Historic Charge at "Desire Trench" Are Signally Honored By the Leader of the British Force in France Men Have Corae Well Through the Winter. wiii OFFICERS AND MEN CONTINUE IN FINE SPIRITS CONFIDENT OF VICTORY THAT IS SOON TO COME By aastt to The EvcaUaa Jrmrnial froxa Ha correspondent with a popwlar Ottawa battalirae. AI THS FRONT, February 11. Sine arrlvUir In France, many -xteor--aWvr bn--oeordtl the" Cntawn regiment (number wlfnnnj-V r-Sffl sot's Jiut mora. than tha aUaWllW pastvay dims, Jl rna ate' Dousisrajaig, Cmmarreier-fn-Chto( at the Brlthrfe armies la Franoe.

ifjlMHtfl the batuhdj had aty beea out of tha line one day after a isngthy tour of 'duty. aB rank presented an' annsaranos of efflelancy aad Btsees whleht slldud from the Commandsr-ln-ChJsf a most favorable sxpreesioa of approval. A Rsahwenl WKk Sfdrlt. In the Held, under strenaona eondltlon of eervlce, with Its attsndlng successsa soon develops a "soar" la a unit, and In th Ottawa regiment this spirit Is very much In evidence. Although th battalion has been repeatedly reinforced and reorganised, tha "esprit do corps" of Its original l.tO office re and men.

who made It famous, still Uvea, and th keenest feelings of pride were developed when the announcement waa mads that the Commander-in-Chief, the whose sholdsrs rest ths respon-stbllltlss of directing th destiny eliaots than two million men now In th Bald, had selected thla unit for aa Inspection. yy A GlortoeM Whales- Day. Ths afternoon waa one of thoao gloriously bright wintry 'days so typical of th Canadian wintsr. The battalion was drawn up In Una when Sir Douglas Halg arrived, accompaaled by General Byng, Commander of tha Canadian Army Corps; Generaf Watson, Commander of the tth Canadian Dtvleloa, and General McBrUn, Commander "ot 'tfie fjth Canadian Infantry Brigade. The CoftTmanderla-Chlef was met by Colonsl C.

M. Edwards, DAO, who aooompanlsd him aa the long line was minutely Inspected, Hardened by many weeks of exposure to -th worst wintsr weather In, many years. Sir Douglas Halg was delighted with the physical eon dtUon of all ran kef Marched Past the CTnaef. Following the inspection, the Ottawa regiment marched past ths Commander-in-Chief la a moat creditable manner. Afterwards he stated to Colonel Edward his plsasur ea meeting a anlt which had performed such splendid eervlce In th Held, adding hte best wishes for ths future anon seas of th battalion.

Throughout ths Field Marshal evinced the keenest mtersst In each man and officer, which Interest waa more than reciprocated by all ranks, who fully appreciated tha honor of seeing the most outstanding personality in th British army today. Bale Is a Big Man, Pbya-ealJy. i Sir Do us lea Halg haa great stain re and a dignity of bearing worthy of "the part ha la pi-ylng la history. The blue blood which he Inherits from his Bosttlsh ancestors, his habit of command, and the courtesy and aoblilty of mind whloh th eon trot of hundreds of thousands of men aonfSr. gives to hia gesture aad his words a ten oh ef grandeur and humctttty.

The steel eyes of this dstermlnation and strength of will. His modulated voice shows bow high a hjart beats to his warrior It was' assy to undsrstand ths prestige which he sxeralaas and ths sdmlratlon which he hes won. THE JOURNAL MAN. HAYE BEEN RELEASED Were Held Up By the Huns For Several Weeks Q-arantjoe Was hnposed. Caaadlss Prmi, LONDON, March A despatch from Berlin says that ths Americana aad thr neutrals whe were on board th eaptared ateanur Tar-row dale, left Oeraeany ea Wedsee-day, The Spanish, American aad Brae, Ulan ptiaoasrs were cent from the prisoners' camp at ta BwltMrlaad by way Xladaa aa WsdnserHy nftsrnosa.

aoeordJng tea noilan deapatek to stater's by Way of Asaetordaaa, Members other. throogh Various frontier towwh. The despatch aaya that the prison? were rslsassd- an th era ratio of tn que ran ua tonpoaM orrr7Jt easf pf spottsd ff-ar. IT WAS TAKEN TODAY leader of men show his Implacabls A CANADIAN WOMAN WAS ZEPPELIN'S WIFE Was Daughter of Petrolia. Ontario, Oil Expert.

Who Went to Austria. The late Count Zeppelln'a wife was a Canadian girl, who once lived In Petrolia. Bar father acquired eontdrbl money aad expert Petrolia daring th Inter was seat to Austria by. tha Standard -Oil Compear. became very rich and In tha social activities ef the family.

Ua daughter goat Count SeppeUa. Mr. Bagh CUrk. M.P.wba recall tha ultasmstaims it net member her naaaa, but there may eupply nddiUeeml tery, oums Jewraal reader wa anal detaUa th ON SPARKS STREET. THEY CERTAINLY ARE A BEAUTIFUL EH, WHAT? Healthy, Young, Unmarried Men Lined Up in Hundreds to Buy Hockey Tickets.

'SMART" REPLIES MADE TO RECRUITING OFFICERS Apparently No Response to Call of Duty. While Others Fight Their Battles Abroad. At least one hour before the eale of hockey tickets tor the big OUawa- Cuutdtea ram hers tomorrow night. opened this naralnav tbr was a Una young men, nrhlch stretched along tha aorta bid of Sparks street from Metcalfe to O'Connor. 1 Th tickets ar sold at the office of th Ottawa HockeyClub at 141 Sparks street, aad th sal did not open until nine Before eight o'clock the sidewalk was practically Mocked and even after the office opened tha Una Scpparsntly get longer until nearly 1 o'clock.

The rush for ticket attracted much attention and many passing were greatly Interested In the popularity of Canada's national sport In wartime. Many of tha military officers at tha base recruiting offloe, seeing an opportunity, despatched about a scars of sergeants and non-comrala- sloaed officers to tsmpt the young tens Into uniform. For an hour ths recruiting officers passed up and down the line asking the young men to enlist. They were unsuccessful. "Saeart Alec- Replies.

"It's too wet today. said ons burly hockey enthusiast. "I'm mors interested ia hockey you," was the response to a pa-other young man whe looked aa If he could play a good game of either war or hockey. Til loee my place In the line and not get a ticket. Net today thank you," waa the response to a path-tbetio appeal of Private Murray, formerly of the Dominion Police.

Too doors opened and although tha ticket sell era did their very best to supply ths demand for tickets the 11ns kept lengthening at one end ss It shortened at tha other. An Wanted F.ffort. Still ths msn In khaki psrslsted In trying to lead their companion in the way of dnty. It was no use and tbey were only wanting their time. As ths lins moved forwerl the recruiters worked In the opposite direction.

They found out that ons youth waa mit of job sod to get money to buy the tlcketa he bed sold some srticlea oeionging to nio mother. Tm not going to enlist. Thsre srs lots of others without me," emphst-Icslly ssld a stslwsrt youth, but not man in the long line told tbs sergeant that he wss unfit snd pr ifer-red other excuses. Whin ths recraltsrs csms bsck to ths reerultlag ofBce there was reenter commotion. Others called Ot uwa young men "slscksrs" snd there were fsw who wished they had permlaetoa te call out the lltth Battalion and compel the hockey teas to Jola the army.

Call It a magrnea. Lt-CL a B. Bco bell ssld that It wss a disgrace to the country aad Capt W. P. Orant remarked that it waa appalling te think that a recruiting officer bad to drive miles for msa when there were ee aaaay ef them la Ottawa, whe were of military age.

Capt. Jos. Thackeray said be felt ashamed th youth of th city. wumraa esxAin, a P. St, neonate-.

WTfOOl'tO. Marsh LNooa grain aetatloae. Wheal, May U. July UMt. Oct.

Oatm May ak. July an. WE HATB THE GOOD. Tea, and at th old ptioa. Ya know what that nssna te yen aa ease.

Why pay th high prices for stepls dry gsedo, heslsry, uaderwear, fnrnlahlnga, rwady-ta-woar, ate-whsw you -tea eeve real money the tar that en rer lean A. A. Twor- aier, Ud, Welllnntea HUNS CONTINUE RETIREMENT ON THE WEST FRONT New German Lines Now Run -From Buoquoy to Bapaume, Reports General Maurice. BRBlTISH ARMY IS NOW BEFORE BAGDAD Operations Against the Turks 1 Have Upset German Plans in the East. American Associated Proas.

LONDON, March 8. Delayed by censor further retirement of the German lines on the Somme front in franc, and tha arrival of the British army before. Bagdad in Mesopotamia, may be predicted aa early events affecting the military situation, according to the views ezpreaaed by Major-General Frederick B. Mar-rice, chief director of military operations at the war office, in his weekly talk with the press. CUT OUT DANGEROUS SALIENT.

Osneral Maurice said: "During tUe past week on the western front the Germans have kept up a alow retirement until their new line extends approximatsly from Buoquoy to Bapsums, thsrsby accentuating the dangeroua sallsnt from which ths snsmy la hes to retire rsthsr than risk msetlng our offensive along that llae. May Have Been Reaobed. "In tbs sast our cavalry Is within wr. mttew t- BagwaaV whtehv tie -In a valley, aad is Indefensible except slong tbs river' Dials, six miles sway, where the Turks may maks a stand and which point General Maude commander of ths British forcssl may have reaobed by this tiro a our last asw waa sent March sixth. "This campaign Is by no msan an Isolated action and the last where a series of opsrations have blasted the Germans Plans.

The Bnsslsn hava' been rapidly elearla Psrsia but on aaoonnt of. tha payai ienia th country ratfaef taaa aaoa of tha Turk further ad vase auaybtslow." (. REPORT MOTE OF DURANGO CITY Villa and His Army Now Said to' Be On March to Attack Torreon. Bry Caaadlaa Piece. EL PASO, March Partisans hers of Francisco Villa aaaart that has captured Du range City, capital of the state of Doran-.

go, and haa started a march on Torreon. They say ha haa recruited his force to 1,000 men. many of Gabriel Gavtra's de facto forces at Durango City having Joined him. This Information, the VU-la Junta says, waa obtained In a letter from Torreon. Other reports say Americana are leaving Torreon tearing another Villa attack.

Military authorities received Information last week that Vina had gone to the state of Du- rango. PRESIDENT HAS RIGHT TO ARM MERCHANTMEN Lansing Says That Wilson Can Go Ahead Without Congressional Sanction. By raaadlaa Preee. WASHINGTON, March c-retary of Slate l-analng and Attorney Osneral Gregory have given President Wilson their opinion that ha has legal authority to arm American ehlpe for protection ara4nt submsrtnee without rng Conavssslonai enaction and the Preeldent'e decision sa to wbst he will do wss expected torfxy or tomorrow. Th Senate's modlflcstion of its rules to guard against another filibuster on th armed neutrality bill led some ofBclaU to believe the President would now call a apeotel session of Congress soon to pass on the neutrality measure.

In vlsw of th long Unto which probably would be required to eassmble and er-gsnlse ths now House, however, and the Preetdent'o known desire for sarly action to get American ship to moving again. It waa intimated in certain edanlnlsu-awvo ouartsrs the PreeMent would direet the arming of ships by oaecotWe order. WILL RENOMINATE STONE FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP Tfalred -WASM1NOTON. ehaJrmaa of tha Mat voratgn.ro- latlen ommlttos. Pea star Lewi, I tela th tTaftt- od Proas today wbll th Djtmw ue 1- ,1 i'' stearin siweaw, Uve sesskm to pea apwa tn onv z.

I aaltts asMsriew, i a 1.