St. John's Daily Star, 1917-12-06

              The St. John's Daily Star Newfoundland VOLUME 111. ($3.00 per Annum) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1917. (Price: One Cent) No. 301. RENEWED HUN OFFENSIVE ON WEST FRONT EXPECTED London. Dec. 5.—Unofficial despatches from Berlin on Monday carrieed a rumor current there, that the Roumanian Government had sounded Berlin and Vienna regarding conditions for an armistice and peace pour parlers. There has been no confirmation of this from non-German sources. Petrograd, Dec. 6.—The Duma has issued proclamations to all the nations pleading for support as the only elective body-in Russia. The Lefts have issued a petition to the Allies against the annexation of Courland, and asking for protection from Germanism.Roumania Talks Peace IMPORTANT DECISIONS OF INTER-ALLIED CONFERENCE An explosion of a serious nature has occurred at HALIFAX- It is thought to have been caused by a Munition Ship which blew up, doing extensive damage to the Waterfront, and probably the Naval Dock, but as communications are Interrupted the full extent of the Damage is unknown. MUCH LIVELY ARTILLERY ACTIVITY Germans Report Minor Success for their Arms On the Western Front —Roumania Negotiating For a Peace ArmisticegERLIN, December 6—The following is the text of to-day's official statement of operations on the Western theatre, with Crown Prince Rupprecht's Armies on the Flanders front. There has been much lively artillery activity. In the afternoon the fighting increased considerably between Inchy and ourlon. Enemy attacks south of Moeuvres broke down. We took a few prisoners. Sections of British trenches at and South of Marcoing were cleared of the enemy. South of St. Quentin there was increased artillery and mine fire on the part of the German Crown Prince and Grand Duke Albrecht. In many sectors lively reconnoitering activity on both led to violent fighting. Ox the Eastern front and the fronts | of Arch-Duke Joseph and Field-Marsha] \on Mackensen, negotiations for an armistice are spreading to the Routroops. In Macedonia, strong enemy detachments which pushed for- ward to the West shore of Ochrida Lake and Northeast of Doiran Lake, were driven back. HUNS PREPARE FOR TITANIC OFFENSIVES Allies Expect Aggressive Action By the Huns at Cambrai and Northerilltalian Front BRITISH WILL STRAIGHTEN FRONT ITALIANS READY tfpß ONSLAUGHT WHILE for the moment there are no infantry operations of great magnitude in progress on any of the numerous battlefronts, indications are not wanting that shortly the Cambrai sector in France and tne Northern line in the Italian theatre will again witness titanic struggles with the Germans and Austro-Hungarians the aggressors. Already the Germans in Cambrai region have brought up fresh reinforcements with the object of blotting out the salient driven into their line by General Byng's dash, a small portion of which they have reconquered but at a fearful price. Both before Cambrai and in the Italian sections the armies are awaiting with complacency the enemy's assaults, while near Cambrai it is conceded that the British will be forced, by reason of the dangerous salient held by the enemy in their lines, to somewhat straighten out their front. Optimism is expressed that on the whole General Byng's forces will be able to give a good accounting for any attacks the enemy may launch. Likewise the menace of a dash by the Au; tro-Germans through the hills and ouiupon the plains of Venetia has been provided for as far aff reinforcement q, the Italians by British and f renchitroops and the bringing up of fresh guns is concerner. If Field Marshal vc i Hoetzendorff, commander of the enSiny troops, should be able to breach .the line and gain his objective it will only after one of the most sanguinary encounters of the war. In Mesopotamia the British and Russian trcbps have carried out a successful operation against the Turks. This has great significance in as much as it is the first report of the fighting of Russians with the British in this region since they formed a junction after the British captured Bagdad. Although the British official report characterizes as "shameful" the reports from BAlm and Vienna that Roumania has proposed to enter into negotiations for an armistice with the Teutonic Allies, both Berlin and Vienna reiterate that negotiations are in progress. Mines or submarines were responsible for sinking last week 16 merchant ships op 1600 tons or over as compared with 14 for the previous week. Only one vesjel under 1600 tons was sent to the bottom, however, as compared with seven for the preceding week. VATICAN DENIES PORT'S ACCUSATION Is Pained and Indignant at the Charges and Regards Them as Insulting— Fist Reiterates Its Charges [ONDQN, Dec. s—Cardinal Bourne, ArAbishop of Westminster, has communicated to The Morning Post a statement from Cardinal Gaspari, the Papal Secretary of State, answeri-jg The Pofft's accusation that the Vatican was implicated in the disruptive propaganda in Italy and is unneutral. Gaspari declares the accusation is an atrocious calumny and says, "the Hierarchy and clergy in Italy have given most open and most generous help to the country's cause and have received unreserved praise from the Italian parliament and government." The Cardinal adds that long before the issuance of the Papal peace note, which £ said to have been amoung the chief causes of the army's lowered the clergy generally and army chaplains particularly, were laboring against the destructive propaganda which had been begun and was reported to he giving unrest to the civil authoritiesThe the Cardinal declares, is painsd and indignant at The Post's and regards them as insulting. Referring to the accusation that the Vatican espoused the Austrian cause, Gaspar reaffirms the full and correct neutrally of the Holy See. He says that c&nplaints have been made in Central Europe that the Vatican is looking excessively towards the west, seeking to regain its former position in France; and to obtain wider influence in the jritish Isles and North America. He..Hr "If $ome nations seem to be more favored by the Papal note, these certainly */ere not Germany and Austria- Hungary, but those of the Entente, par- France and Belgium. The peace jiumed at was not a German peace.*l Carcinal Bourne tells the Post that Pope Benedict has been urged from each to break with the governments >)f the other side, thus throwing confuslm into the religious life, now more pecious than ever before, of millions of families, and punishing the people? for the mistakes and misdeeds of theijr leaders. The? Supreme Pontiff, he concludes. I doesn't depend for instruction upon those who long before the war worked to diminish the authoritv which thev are now invoking, nor does the Holy See shape its action by the flickering lights of human praise or blame. The Post in an editorial examining Gaspari's statement, virtually reiterates its original accusation and cites incidents which it recards as nroof*. AUSTRIA IS READY FOR PEACE Austrian Emperor says he is ready now to make Peace at any time, but Integrity of Monarchy must be assured.Inter-allied  AMSTERDAM, Dec. 6.—A despatch received here from Vienna quotes Emperor Charles of Austria Hungary as saying in an address to the Austrian delegation that the Dual monarchy is ready at any time to conclude a peace that would guarantee the integrity of the Monarchy, he added, however, that his country wouldn't cease to fight until its enemies renounced their intentions of dismembering it. "The glorious successes of our victorious armies and the daring of our fleet," said Emperor Charles, "fill us with patriotic pride. After the glorious defence of our position, we are now, as before, ready at any time to conclude an honorable peace which guarantees the existence and integrity of the Monarchy. "Guided by this ideal we greeted with joyful satisfaction the nobleminded intervention of the Pope and will in future neglect no opportunity to end as soon as possible the costly struggle and great sacrifice the war has caused and is causing. "In spite of these intentions our Government has declared its readiness to accept the Russian Government's invitation to enter into negotiations for a general peace, and may the blessings of the Almighty rest upon this work for peace and restore the peoples of Europe to a state of reconciliation and mutual trust. 'The sorely tried Russian people, the first of our enemies who are ready to respond to our peace appeal, may be sure that we sincerely desire to restore our former friendly relations with them. "On the other hand we must regard it as our sacred duty not to lay down the sword which our plunder-seeking and rapacious neighbors forced into our hand until our enemies unequivocally have disavowed of their plans of dismemberment and oppression. We will remain masters in our own house. "Our alliance with the German Empire has been gloriously strengthened bv our victorious march southwest. Most cordial and fraternal relations bind us to the progressive Bulgarian people. I confidently hope a period of fresh prosperity and secure development await the closely allied Ottoman Empire." ' Peking. Dec. 6.—Rebels have taken the city of Chunking. A state of panic exists there. Japanese marines have landed to protect foreigners. REPORTS DECISIONS OF ALLIED CONFERENCE Gives Findings of Committees on the Various Phases of War Situation Dealt With DIFFERENT EFFORTS OF ALLIES WILL BE BE CO-ORDINATED LONDON, Dec. 6.—A statement issued by the inter-Allied Conference in Paris today, is as follows: The various committees constituted by the inter-Allied Conference dealt* a& a whole, with the technical question of the conduct of the war, the details of which cannot be published. HoweveT, at the conclusion of their deliberations the Committees decided to publish the following resolutions i The Financial section, meeting under the presidency of Louis Roltz, French Minister of Finance, held numerous sittings, in the course of which the various financial questions interesting to the Allies, were successfully examined. At the end of its labors this section unanimously adopted the following resolutions: The Delegates of the Allied Powers in the financial section, consider it desirable, with a view to co-ordinating their efforts to meet regularly in order to draw plans for the payment of liabilities and the settlement of loans and rates of exchange, and thus assure concerted action. Oscar T. Crosby, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and M. Roltz, told the section that in their opinion this regular meeting ought to be a permanent organization, Resolution Adopted. Other resolutions were adopted, to the effect that although the dispositions manifested by all the delegates evidenced sentiments of the financial solidarity of the Allies, this solidarity ought to be affirmed in practice by methodical co-ordination of efforts, which alone should determine the judicious utilization of the resources of the Allies, and the best distribution of their strength. The Armament and Aviation section representatives of the Allied nations examined the conditions of their various war manufactures and considered practical means of avoiding all duplication and the direction of the effort of each nation to the production of things for which it is was best fitted in matters of first importance. An inter- Allied Committee was formed for carrying out a common program and decisions were arrived at. Co-ordinate Actions. The sections of Imports, Maritime Transports and Supplies of the Allies, considering that the means of maritime transports at their disposal as well as supplies at their command, ought to be utilized in common for the conduct of the war, decided to create an inter- Allied organization, with a view to coordinating their action in this direction to establishing a common programme and constantly kept in mind and enabling them, while utilizing their resources to the full, to restrict their imports in order to release as much tonnage as possible for transport of American troops. The Blockade section examined, in the first place, the conventions of the Allies with Switzerland, regarding the questions of blockade, the draft of an army to negotiate between the United States and Switzerland was approved, and the United States will nominate delegates to participate in the deliberations of the inter-Allied Commission at Berne." The section decided to make disposit ions necessary to enable the commiss-. ion in regard to food supply in Belgium and Northern France to accomplish its program. As to provisions and transports the section submitted to the Conference a declaration to the effect that the prolongation of the war having led to the consumption of products of all sorts, out of all proportion to the production it was evident that the available resurces, whether in Alied or neutral countries, were unequal to the actual needs and that it would be necessary to extend the general principles laid down by the American Government. The Naval section held a conference at the Ministry of Marine in Paris on Nov. 29., M. Leygues, Minister of Marine, presided. The Conference comprised representatives of the Naval Powers. It was decided to create an inter-Allied Council in order to assure close contact and more complete cooperation between the navies of the allies. The mission of the Council will be to watch over the general conduct of the war and assure co-ordination of effort on the sea. Individual Responsibility. The Council will make all suggestions necessary to assist the decisions of the Governments and will hold itself cognizant of their execution. Members of the Council will address to their respective Governments all reports they deem necessary on the subject. Individual responsibility of the Head quarter staff and Commanders at Sea to their Governments concerning the immediate operations as well as the NAVAL FIGHT OF GREAT VIOLENCE Naval Expert Predicts Desperate German Ef forts on the Sea—Will Mass All Her Forces For One Huge, Fierco Effort TORONTO, Dec. 6.—Arthur Pollen, eminent naval expert, in an interview here today, predicts a naval battle of unimaginable violence and destructiveness, as one of the probably closing scenes of the war. Pollen came here to address the Local Navy League, the Canadian Club, and other organizations. ', "If Germany sustains a crushing defeat in the west," said Pollen, *T will expect to see her entire fleet employed in a desperate attempt to achieve control of the seas, and as a result take part in an engagement with the massed powers of Britain in such a battle as the earth has never seen. "A battle that will result in the utter destruction of G-nnany's great fleet, and doubtless, a very great part of ovxi>. A battle m which entirely new methods, new engines of destruction, ariS new tactics v/ill be necessarily employed, and for which, in all likelihood, Germany would assemble her entire fleet of submarines, all her Zeppelins as supplementary participants. The submarine would not likely be a strong factor to such a colossal battle of the sea, although a long range torpedo unquestionably would." (Continued oh page 2) I We Are Prepared to j BOOT and SHOE i Any Man in Newfoundland ! With a Pair of I BOX CALF or VICI, McKAY WELT I | For $3.20 or 4.00, 4.20 I I and 4.50 a pair. I I Or a Pair of . ■ # I BOX CALF or VICI KID, I i GOODYEAR WELT I I at $6.00 a pair. I I j TAN CALF, GOODYEAR WELT I j at $6.50 a pair. I BLK. & TAN DONGOLA, I I "ROMEO" SHOE. I I $2.30 and $3.00 pair. I MEN'S KID SLIPPERS, pr. I j MEN'S FELT ROM EOS, 2.1^1^ I OUR FOOTWEAR LOOK WELL FIT WELL [ And Reputed to WEAR WELL. If BOWRING BROS., LTD. I * DULEY'S 4 1 9 FOR XMAS GIFTS 1 ! SHOP EARLY. /1 Now is the time to buy while everything is new, / ftl to-day we want to talk about our / I Umbrellas and Walking Sticks/ B We have Ladies' and Gentlemen's in fine natural woods with ornate Silver mountings. / In selecting our Umbrellas much care has Been MR1 exercised to ensure daintiness of design, qualiw in B' the covering and the finest of wood in the harale. Bj' Come early and make youri selections /while ■ everything is at its best. \ J Si. We welcome you whether a purchase is fitended Sr» T. J. DULEV $/Co., I I The Reliable Jewellers Mr St John's, N.F. H