St. John's Daily Star, 1917-05-29

              The St. John's Daily Star Newfoundland VOLUME 111. ($3.00 per Annum) TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1917. (Price: One Cent.) No. 122. STEADY GAINS BY THE FRENCH French Successes In Battle Of Craonne Imperil The Whole Hinderh""*  RUSSIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS ARE IN RUINOUS DISORDER RUSSIA IS ON THE VERGE OF ECONOMIC DISASTER Socialist Ministers Say Only Salvation Is to End The War At Once INDUSTRIES UTTERLY DISORGANISED THROUGH ATTITUDE OF THE WORKMEN OGRAD, May 29—The induscrisis in Russia is so acute that, ing to a recent utterance of the ter of Finance, M. Shingaroff, oniracle can save the country from mical ruin. The demands of the en were so enormous, he declarat it seemed impossible to keep dustrial wheels going for any of time. ialist Ministers at a recent Min-1 Council stated the only possiihey saw of settling the difficulty 3 bring the war to a close. ither the Coalition Cabinet nor the -appointed commission to regue difficulties between capital and has yet foui|i a way to settle the rial crisis. The Commission is of the Ministers of Finance, . and Industry and Labor, but, there is a wide divergence of between the Minister of Finance ose of the new Socialist Minister bcr, it seems prcbable that this will be confronted with the difficulties as attended the previ. ffort at a reconciliation, investigation into factory conditions in Petrograd leads to the larm:t inevitable, conclusion that unie Government soon finds a means oj adjusting the present difficulties most of the industrial enterprises working for rational defence will be compelled c within a few months. The nding features of the labor situare as follows: An investigation shows that virtually the same difficulties that prevail in all the big factories of Petrograd are apparent in authentic reports from Moscow, Dunaetz and Ural districts and indicate general disorganisation. In many factories the demands by workmen for increased wages are actually greater than the entire profits of the factories under the best conditions of production. The workmen, through their committees, are in virtual command of the factories and all business has to be submitted to them for approval.The wages in the majority of factories have already been increased from one hundred to one fifty per cent., but there has yet been no offset by an advance in the prices of the output. In one of the works at Petrograd the workmen recently demanded the immediate payment of 13,000,000 rubles, normally $6,000,000 to cover an increase of fifteen kopeks per hour for each workman since the beginning of the war. The directors of the organisation immediately communicated with the Government and asked to be placed under voluntary arrest as a protection from the threats of the workmen, which, as usual, accompanied the demand.The directors were two days housed in the Ministry of Justice. The Government finally informed the Directors that the matter would be consic|red with the demands of the workmen held temporarily in abeyance and the Di- ' rectors returned to the factory. The eight-hour day has become effective in all the factories. Not only have the prices of products not met the advance in wages, but payment has been so slow that industries are in urgent need of working capkal. Manufacturers find it difficult to borrow money, as the banks, naturally, are not eager to extend credit to factories which are in control of temporary workmen's committees and as a result some factories, according to this information, will be compelled to close within the month. No man can.be dismissed without the consent of the committees and idleness is prevalent. President Kutler of the Union of Trade and Industry, attended a recent conference showing the demands of the workmen of Dunaetz and Ural districts far exceeded the profits which any of the concerns could hope to realize. The. Socialist Ministers who were present declared the only possibility they saw of settling the question was the winding up of the war first of all. In some of. the works, according to the statement, the representatives of the owners decided to cede all profits to the workmen, but even this did not meet their exhorbitant demands. In the Urals, the increase in wages demanded reached 30,000,000 rubles, while the business doesn't exceed 200,--000,000 rubles. "$* 71 7&  The golden eagle is possessed of such strength that it can lift and carry i off with ease a weight of eighty pounds.; LEADERS IN COMING IRISH CONVENTION Here are five leaders who will sit in the convention soon to assemble to plan Irish home rule, following a call issued by Premier Lloyd George. Top left, John Redmond, noted Nationalist leader; lower left, Sir Horace Plunkett, Sinn Feiner and organizer of the Agricultural Organization society. Right, top to bottom: Sir John ( Lonsdale, Unionist whip; William O'Brien, National leader; Sir Edward Carson, Ulster Unionist, famous opponent of Redmond. FRENCH HAMMER WEDGE INTO THE GERMAN LINES Steadily Open a Breach Which Must Soon Force Hun Retreat ARE ALREADY FAR ENOUGH ADVANCED TO ASSURE AN EVENTUAL SUCCESS WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES NEAR " CRAONNE, May 29— Steadily, through one entire week, a battle has been raging around Craonne, which may ultimately force Germany's retirement to the Meuse. The French communiques have not mentioned the fighting, except incidentaly, but it has continued incessantly, bit terly and victoriously for the French. Already the French, have descended from the Laon Plateau into the valley of Ailette. Today they were steadily driving a two-edged wedge into the German lines. Once this wedge is sufficiently plunged into the enemy's front, the French can turn either north or south, or in both directions simultaneously. A successful movement in either direction v\l be sufficient to force a German retirement to the Meuse line to save the Hindenburg front northward through Laon, St. Quentin, Cambrai, and Douai. Already the battle has advanced sufficiently to insure this result; if it continues favorable to the French but several weeks of continuous operations are likely before the decisive moment for this stroke is reached. That the Germans appreciate the exact degree of the menace was indicated to-day by the number and fierceness of enemy counter-attacks launched against the French. WILL SUPPORT THE U.S. GOVT. Chili Will Assist Brazil; In Facilitating American Operations Against the Germans HUNS A MENACE TO ALL AMERICA SANTIAGO, CHILE, May 29—Chili will support Brazil in adopting vigor ous measures against Germany, says the | Diario IHustrado, commenting on the new aspect of the international situa- J tion brought about by the action of | Pres. Brax of Brazil in urging Congress to revoke the decree of neutrality , in the war between the United States j and Germany and to authorize meas- j ures for the defence of the nation's ; dignity. "It is no longer a question of a Con-1 gress of American neutral nations nor of formation of a theoretical policy to bring about united action" says this newspaper. "Recent events have wrought a great change. Pan-Americanism and the Monroe Doctrine have a deeper meaning now than ever before. Brazil has accused Germany of acts prejudicial to pan-Americanism. To-day it is Brazil and two other nations will offer facilities for the United j States warships engaged in this work, j Chili will be as friendly to the United ! States as Brazil and Uruguay." 7%. !& IS- 9& New Chinese Premier Peking, China, May 28.—The Chinese Senate today approved the nomination of Li Chung Hsi as Premier in succession to Tuan Chi Jui, who was dismissed by the President. The vote was 365 to 31. The Chinese House of Representatives approved of his nomination on Sunday. CAN ENFORCE COMPULSION 'Essential Only For Political Parties to Agree On the Measure, Canadian Officer States ' — ! OPPOSITION BY THE LABOUR MEN! 'qTTAWA, May 28.—"1f both parties ' agree on conscription," said Lieut.--!Col. Blondin, today, "there will be very (little trouble in enforcing it in the province of Quebec. I am not worrying iover that agitation down there. As soon jas possible my province will understand that both parties are behind conscription and united to carry the war to a successful issue, and there will be little opposition to compulsion. The campaign of General Lessard and myself has resulted in a great change, of oplinion on the military situation." While the labor leaders now in Ottawa are content to remain •in an attitude of "watchful waiting" in the interests of organised workers throughout the* Dominion, on whose: behalf they recorded strong protests against the selective conscription measure, there is plenty of activity, for scores of messages are coming from unions from all parts of the country endorsing the stand taken by the Executive Council of the Trades' and Labor Congress of Canada, which contain local resolutions'of strong protest against the compulsory service bill. Interest now among a number of men here i;eems to hang upon the submission bill. In the Commons' debate there will be closely followed on Friday of this week a big Convention of labor men, representing eighty international unions, who will convene in Ottawa to discuss all w*r measures which the Goverment has announced or which they have in view. Againsi Conscription Toronto, May 28.—Petitions against the .passing of conscription are in circulation in Toronto, says The Daily News. There was a story abroad today to the effect that some sixty telegrams were sent out bearing the names of a number of prominent Roman Catholics, said to be one hundred, asking co-operation of the recipient by sending a request to Sir Wilfred Laurier to declare against conscription. Vote Down Conscription Quebec, May 29—Only two members of the Quebec City Council, Aldermen Frank Dinan and George Grb~onsee, voted against the anti-conscription resolution, which was passed on a division of nineteen to two. TWO NURSES KILLED ON. U. S. SHIPS Mrs. Edith Ayers and Miss Helen Burnett Wood of Chicago, were killed on steamer U. S. Mongolia while en route to,Europe as Red Cross nurses. The navy department is investigating to find why the brass cup of a shell fired by a naval gun in practice on the Mongolia boomeranged, killing the Chicago women and injuring Miss Emma Matzen of Columbus, Neb, Helen Woods «nd Edith Ayres STRIKE NOT SETTLED Paris Labor Troubles, May, However, Soon Be Over Paris, May 28—The strike situation in this city was stationary to-day because of the holiday. Indications were that most trade differences would be adjusted. The Government's appeal to employees and employers to reconcile their differences as a matter of patriotic duty, has had favorable effect. There was complete calm to-day in all quarters where the strikers had been most active. CANADIANS MUST UNITE Mr. Balfour urges Strong Universal Effort in the Dominion to Boost the Allies to a Victory CANADA'S VERY LIFE AT STAKE QTTAWA, May 26.—Parliament today heard a reasoned appeal by a great imperial statesman for united effort by the whole people of Canaci rubers of Parliament, the of French and English-speal final testing triumph of freedom and democracy over militarism and'autocracy. ' Rt. Hon. Arthur James Balfour, ex- Premier of Great Bri ! Foreign Secretary, gave hi •ternoon to a pa Commons in ; hour address, . oned, beau ifull; . master of del to the movir appeal . ■ rranee, d weeks md on the ger today, and I he reprevas enlhu= appeal to the hear ctirred the Common ever been stirred before. • The appeal oi our today was not an emotional appeal, but it wa? none the le?s compelling in its call for universal patriotism among all sections of the people, and the sinking of natural diversions of party in one corn* mon effort for one common purpose. Mr. Balfour spent fifteen minutes in a brilliant summing up of the reasons why we are fighting. The other fifteen minutes of his speech was devoted to laying down the fundamental principles as to how we should fight, namely, with a wholehearted common effort that coordinated democracy might triumph, liberty and civilisation be prc?cn x\, and that in the end democracy might come out of the struggle, not merely conqueror? in a military sense strength in the belief that freedom »s the only path to national greatness. The fight is the fight of all Canadians- who love liberty and justice. "Gentlcm. her, cot traie your c*r p us" to win." T t in brief. ' ige. The address, although given withbat f hi -fully pre? Ps > tical ciT COB, brinszing he.-" 3 at stake ard and form do vnl Mr. - rand i would soh-e - trating her efforts on the war to the YOUNG NFLD. CAN HELP • RT. HON. SIR EDWARD MORRIS, PC, K.C., LID. Prime Minister of Newfoundland O IR.—Today we beg to call your attention to the practical and patriotic effort of the Princip I of the Springdale School in offering ptizes to encourage the pupils under his charge, to do something to increase local production of food. It was a happy thought, and, doubtless, one born of serious consideration of the time, that led Mr. Butler to exhort his scholars to each undertake the cultivation of a plot of land, however small, to embark on poultry raising and egg production, and to engage in activities calculated to comfort and sustainsustain our gallant men who are on active service. The lead given the schools of the country by the Springdale Street institution. Sir, should receive the utmost encouragement and support from your Government.Mr. Butler has enrolled the vanguard of a great potential army of boy and girl workers whose activities on the land, if directed into systematic channels, handled sympathetically and backed up in a manner calculated to keep alive the enthusiastic patriotism of its youthful workers, may produce results that shall prove the economic salvation of this country. various' denominations throughout this country are upwards of fifty thousand pupils of all ages. Proceeding on the extremely conservative estimate that ten per cent, of these boys and girls can share in activities such as the Springdale Street Principal is endeavoring to encourage in connection with his own institution, we can conclude that here is an army of over five thousand workers, waiting only the word to inspire and the help to enable them to undertake work of the utmost value to Newfoundland. But these potential youthful industrial soldiers must be provided with equipment. They must be recognised, nwbU- Doubtless practically all of the necessary preliminary work can be done through the Superintend cuts of Education. With the Government, though, rests the responsibility for availing of such a splendid opportunity and of improving it to the vital welfare of the people generally. We need not sugest to you, Sir, the many means that can be utilised to set this great force to work to fight the menace of food shortage, indeed of actual starvation, that We may have to face in the coming months. But we do urge you, earnestly end hopefully, to take immediately the necessary steps; to public a scheme of adiviiies, to outline a plaiLO} mobilisation,mobilisation, to designate substantial rewards as for outstanding examples of energy and success, and to place at the disposal of this potential army of Workers all they need in the way of land and of supplies of various kinds. The example set by Mr. Butler Sir, is an inspiration to the teachers of the whole country. We arc sanguine iliat you, with your full know ledge of the lessons and trend of the times, will not suffer to pass an improved such an opportur/Uy of helping our people to work out their own economic salvation. —JUNIUS Jr. The average duration of Luimn life is 45 years in this country, and 50 in Norway, but only 32 m Sgain. Enrolled, in the schools of ihclised and directed and encouraged. I (C I MOREJEW ARRIVALS! I: sUnch NURSE CLOTH I 35 cents yard. | GINGHAMS & ZEPHYRS | 16c, 18c, 22c yard. 1 TABLE DAMASKS From 42c to $1.50 yard. | TABLE NAPKINS 1 $2.00, 2.20, 2.75, 2.80 doz. 1 _ 1 A few more 10-4, 11-4,12-4 I 1 SATIN QUILTS, | «—  1 At Old Prices. 1 I.:r ■ • j 1 See Our Special Line | is j Side Board & Tray Cloths j 40 cents each. j »■ ■ i . • • ».i ' ■ » H'l'l'l I ■ •<•"• • • ■ "■"»"■■■'■'■'■"■'■"■"* I Bowring Bros., Ltd. j