St. John's Daily Star, 1919-02-08

              The St. John's Daily Star Hew found land VOLUME V. ($3.00 per Annum) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1919. (PRICE: One Cent.) No. 32 WELCOME HOME, WARRIORS The Bungles of Newfoundland's Rulers Are The Sole Explanation Of Your Failure To Receive Such a Rousing1 Reception On Arrival As Your Deeds Merit And Your Fellow-Country men Desired To Give STILL PERIL TO SHIPPING Menace of Floating Mines Not Yet Abolished Admiralty Officials Report.OUTLINE WATERS WHERE ARE MINES QTTAWA, Feb. 7—The danger to lives from floating mines has not yet been eliminated, and the naval repayment has issued instructions to masters sailing from Canadian ports cho must pass through the dangerous rone. In the meantime the department is continuing its mine sweeping operations off Halifax which have lately not been very productive of remits owing to the fact that mines after being in the water for a certain period get waterlogged and sink, g Vewels Run Most Danger ing vessels are probably now running more danger than any other kind of vessels through the fact that mnies sometimes get caught in the net and are shelved and dumped on the deck of the ship with the result that it is blown to pieces. Ihe dangerous areas as given out by the naval department include the Atlantic off Nova Scotia, ninety miles from Halifax, certain parts of the North and Baltic Seas, and the Atlantic Ocean, all the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, part of the Indian and China Seas and off New Zea-' land. I STRIKERS TO BE ARRESTED Warrants Issued for Arrest of Men Who Fomented Belfast Labor Disturbances.LABOR JUSTIFIES LONDON STRIKERS ! BELFAST, Feb. 7—Warrants were issued today for the arrest of the leaders of the strikers in Belfast. The warrants charge conspiracy to • prejudice and injure public safety. Members Justified ! London, Feb. 7—The national un■ ion of railwaymen today sent a letter to its electrical branches saying thar : the union had considered all the cir! cumstances in connection with the strike of London electricians and had j decided that its members on strike were justified in the action that they had taken, and the union therefore recognises the strike. The letter adds that the board of trade has not yet offered terms which the union can accept. The union, however, is still pursuing this subject with a view to reaching a satisfac-j tory settlement. Worlc Order Resumed London, Feb. 7—The electrical trades' union this evening ordered an immediate resumption of work by its member? pending action by the na-j tional body on the question of the change in the attitude of the government with regard to the strike. j CONFUSION WORSE CONFOUNDED BUNGLES AND MISMANAGEMENT MAKE A HASH OF RECEPTION TO RETURNING SOLDIERS. T AST NIGHT'S 'RECEPTION' is scarcely a matter •*-• over which the militia officials can feel proud enough to boast. The treatment of the returning men and their relatives provides no evidence of careful regard for the comfort of the veterans or the happiness of shore folk. The story of the affair is not a pleasant one. It is a 1 record of mismanagement, lack of foresight and bungling unsurpassed. The Corsican arrived in port before six o'clock. Four hours later the first of the city men were landed. In the j meantime everybody on shore was left uninformed as jto when the soldiers would get off the ship. Eager relatives were forced to kick their heels in cheerless uncertainty in the snow of the streets, exposed to a raw northeaster, nobody taking the slightest interest in their 'comfort of body or of mind. It does not appear to have occurred to the minister >ql militia nor to the bright intellects associated with him in the management of this affair that at least they could have kept the anxiously waiting throng on shore in' formed as to the progress of arrangements, the cause for the delay, the probable time of disembarkation and the order in which the men would come ashore. All this information was kept as dark as if the censor! were still on the job and lurking Germans were along ■■the waterfront, waiting their opportunity to blow ship | and complement skyhigh. And while shore folk were perishing in the cold the; thousand men on the Corsican were in no better plight, i They were lined up on deck as the ship entered the Nar- j rows, kit to hand and everything ready for instant debarkation. And for four hours they, too, shivered in t-he 'easterly breeze, deprived even of the advantage of being able to move about to keep warm that was possessed by the waiting thousands on shore. {welcome as they had a right to expect. After some contusion they found their relatives, received a package or |so of cigarettes from the Ladies' Reception Committee rand proceeded to their various homes as quietly as tho khe occasion were nothing out of the ordinary. The whole exhibition was one of a pitiful mismanagejmen't that robbed the homecoming men of the tribute ('that was their due and that prevented their admiring (countrymn from giving enthusiastic expression to their Ititude and their pleasure. For over a week the militia officials knew of the argement for the transportation of these soldier boys :>urs home. They had plenty of time to make the essary preparations for debarkation and for an adequate reception, day or night. It seems that they made (arrangements and unmade them and, generally, manifested the confusion and the panicky conduct common fto folk who occupy positions too important and too exacting for their abilities and who are faced with an calling for measures a little out of the com[mon. . j | The boys of the regiment performed their tasks [nobly and well; their relatives and friends cheerfully 'bore the anxieties, the deprivations and the sacrifices of X times; it has remained for Minister of Militia Ben-! :.and his official associates to stage the outstanding! em connection with our military affairs. He is the j uncrowned king of buffoons and can now retire content-,1 ed that he has set an unapproachable record of misman-' agement in connection with one of the most important j public events of the last four years. **# " # * rpHE big steamer Corsican I ladies and children, dependents ■*• bringing 1027 Nev.found-lof the soldiers, arrived in port! UTTER DISREGARD OF PERSONAL SAFETY RICKETTS, V.C. Displayed It On Yoar Behalf—What Do Yon Intend To Do On His Behalf? NO. 3102 PTE. THOMAS RICKETTS, IST BN., JR. NEWFOUNDLAND R. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on October 14, 1918, during the advance from Ledeghem, when the attack was temporarily held up by heavy hostile fire and the platoon to which he belonged suffered severe casualties from the fire of a battery at point blank range. Pte. Ricketts at once volunteered to go forward with Uris section commander and a Lewis gun to attempt to I outflank the battery. Advancing by short rushes under heavy fire from enemy machine-guns with the hostile 'battery, their ammunition was exhausted when still 300 yards from the battery. The enemy, seeing an opportunity to get their field guns away, began to bring up SAY, MR. CITIZEN, can you read even that bald official record of the super-heroism of one of your own countrymen without feeling a deep thrill of pride in the achievement and without experiencing a desire to whoop her up in order to give adequate expression to your delight? Not if you're an 'ornery human pusson.' Besides, get this. That achievement was done in no spirit of mere bravado. That heroic deed was the expression of the calm heroic courage of one young fellow who followed the path of duty, even tho it was a ten to one chance that that way lay the end for him of all tilings human. And, Mr. Citizen, he followed a path strewn thick with deadly and menacing risks, with his eyes open to the odds against him, because he realised his duty not only to his comrades of that terrible fight BUT TO* HIS OWN FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN. SERGT. THOMAS RICKETTS WTON THE VICTORIA CROSS IN PURSUANCE OF HIS PLEDGE TO SAFEGUARD YOUR INTERESTS, MR. CITIZEN. HE UNDERTOOK AND PERFORMED A ;DUTY THAT LED HIM TO THE VERY THRESH,HOLD OF DEATH. HE WAS ALMOST MIRACULOUSLY PRESERVED ALIVE. BUT, HE SHOWED A COOL AND DELIBERATE INTENTION TO LAY DOWN LIFE ITSELF ON BEHALF fOF US—HIS FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN. He came thru the ordeal sale{y. He accomplished, his duty triumphantly. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty were recognised by the bestowal on him of the world's most esteemed decoration—the Victoria Crosg. their gun teams. Pte. Ricketts at once realizing the situation, doubled back ioo yards under the heaviest machine-gun fire, procured further ammunition, and dashed back again to the Lewis gun, and by very accurate fire drove the enemy and the gun teams into a farm. His platoon then advanced without casualties and captured the four field guns, four machine-guns, and eight prisoners. A fifth field gun was subsequently intercepted by fire and captured. By his presence of mind in anticipating the enemy intention and his utter disregard of personal safety Pte. Ricketts secured the further supply of ammunition, which directly resulted in these important captured and undoubtedly saved many lives. '? The army chiefs have recognized the gallant Newfoundlander. His Majesty the King pinned the supreme decoration on his breast with his own hands and at a special appointment at the royal palace. WELL, WHAT ARE HIS OWN PEOPLE GO« ING TO DO TO SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION OF THE DISTINCTION WON BY THE YOUNGEST WEARER OF THE VICTORIA CROSS, SERGEANT RICKETTS, A NEWFOUNDLAND BOY? The Star suggested yesterday that our citizens subscribe liberally to a purse to be presented publicly to Newfoundland's V. C. some time next week. Even before the paper was on the street subscriptions had begun to roll in. Keep it'up, fellow-citizens, keep it up. Pile up a record total of contributions during the next three or four days. Make it worth while, that purse that it is proposed ot present to present to Sergeant Ricketts without any strings to it and for his own use in equipping himself (for reestabJishment in civil life and in putting himself in a position to earn a comfortable livelihood. THAT PURSE), HOWEVER BIG AND BULGY. AT THE MOST CAN BE BUT A RECOGNITION ,OF OUR OBLIGATION TO SERGEANT RICKETTS: WE CAN NEVER HOPE to DISCHARGE OUR DEBT TO HIM. BUT THAT PURSE WILL MANIFEST OUR SENSE OF APPRECIATION TO OUR V. C, THE YOUNGEST IN THE FORCES OF THE EMPIRE. IT'S UP TO YOU FELLOW^CITIZENSi 6=HOUR DAY 5=DAY WEEK Proposition Put to International Labor Conference! at Berne by Canadian Delegate. BRITISH TRADES UNIONS TAKE PART DERNE, Thursday, Feb. 6.—Gustav Francqu, the Canadian labor leader, proposed to the international trades union conference today that it claim a six-hour day and a five! day working week throughout the world. The conference was completed today by the arrival of four British and Italian delegates. Mr. Bunning, a delegate from England, announced that the British trade unions had finally decided to participate in the conference and had appointed three committees to prepare an international labor charter.DAMAGES MUST BE MADE GOOD France Opposes the Raising of the Blockade on Raw Materials - Paris, Feb. 6 (By the A. P.)—! Captain Andre Tardieu, one of the French representatives on the com- I mission on the society of nations, announced tonight that the programme for the society will be ready some time next week. He also said France' is opposed to the raising of the blockade on raw materials against Ger-' many until the damage to French in-. dustries has been made good. Germany was responsible for the. destruction of one-third of the factories of France and if allowed to resume production with equal facilities! it will be a serious economic handicap for us. In Conference With Wilson Paris, Feb. 7—Premier Lloyd George was in conference with President Wilson for a half hour at the \ Paris White House this morning. It is understood that they discussed arrangements for the business of the peace conference after the departure | of the British premier from Paris ■ in the near future. I Ordered Strikers to Work London, Feb. 7—The electrical, trades union this evening ordered an I immediate resumption bf work by, its members, pending action by the national bocty on the question of the change in the attitude of the government with regard to the strike. ARABS WANT FREE STATE Ask Peace Conference to Recognize Their Right; of Self-Determination ofi Government. UNDER BRITISH PROTECTORATE .1 PARISH Feb. 6—The supreme coun-j I cil to-day heard the claim of I King Hedjaz of Arabia, speaking, through hs soni, Prince Feisal. The prince maintained that Arabia, including Syria and Mesopotamia, [had a non-Arabic population of less than one per cent, and that the principles of nationality enunciated by President Wilson should leave the Arabs to govern Arabia with possibly j some mandatory to develop interi course with the outside world. The prinre is said to have advocat- Icd Great Britain as the mandatory I for Arabia. This has aroused sharp I criticism from French newspapers, ! owing to the French interests in Syria.B O »  SOCIETY OF NATIONS MEET Considerable Progress Made in Drafting Future Plans Paris, Feb. 7—The society of nations commission of the peace conference held a session last night which was attended by all the members and which continued for three hcurs. The commission made considerable progress and disposed of addi-1 tional sections of the plan for the society of nations. The commission will continue to meet nightly until a complete plan is agreed upon. Substantially one half of the draft of the constitution for the society of nations has been covered by the chief conference co/nmission dealing with this question, it was officially announc ed to-day. 1 t  CANADIANS IN ENGLAND Will be Demobilised as Quickly As Possible London, Feb. 7—-The third Canadian division was due to arrive in England to-day. Demobilisation may be affected by the strike on the London and Southwestern railway system. It is possible that military drivers and stokers may be forthcoming to convey the division to Bramshot. Anticipating the return of the division, several thousands of Canadian soldiers arrived in London, having been granted eight day's leave, with . orders to report to Bramshot and Whitley.  (Continued on Page 6) INotice to The| 1 Ladies! 1 See Our Large Selection (Dress Si Iks (i | Many Different Shades and |! I Extra Good Quality, 36 in. Wide]' [from 2.70 to 5.30 yd. | 1 Our Entire Stock | jLadies Coats] _ == i to clear at | &Q%£ Js*C« Discount. I 1 For Cash. j! I Bowring Bros., Ltd. J S3 i !;'ll,l>flllllllll!l!liill>llli!!llllilllllllllllllllllllllllllll!lllllllillllllli!llllllillll. Evidence Of The Best. I PALMER Kerosene or Gasolene. Make and Break or Jump Spark. "THE ENGINE WITH THE BIG REPUTATION." 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