St. John's Daily Star, 1919-02-10

              The St. John's Daily Star Newfoundland VOLUME V. ($3.00 per Annum) MONDAY, FEBRUARY Ijk 1919. /0 (PROBS : N. E. Gales With Snow; Colder) No. 33 IS ATTENDED BY MILITARY Naval and Military Chiefs Present at Conference Session to Debate Technical Problems. DEMOBILIZATION FULLY DISCUSSED DARIS, Feb. 7—Many important matters were before the supreme War council of the great powers and the military commanders, on all fronts when it met to-day to consider primarily the extension of the armistice with Germany which expires on Feb. 17. Although the final decision went over until to-morrow the session was interesting from the number of subjects demanding attention that were represented by the naval and military chiefs. Reports were made to the council by '.he military high commands on •ie objects of demobilisation and the relative forces of the powers to be maintained in the occupied region?. The Versailles military council also submitted a report as to the military forces available for the disturbed regions of Turkey. The naval branch of -the council presented recommendations formulated as the result of consultations among the' British, French, Italian and American naval commanders, bearing mainly on the turning over of the German submarines, blockade restric non?, and the surrender of the German commercial fleet. This fleet, it is said, is ready to be lurried over, but the allies thus far lave not agreed upon the allotment ol the steamers among the various allied nations, nor upon the compensalon for the use of the vessels- The commission on blockade also presented a report favoring the lightening of the blockade recommendaioiis in the Adriatic. A tendency *as manifested in some military quar er? to impose further drastic terms on Germany when the armistice was .'xtended. No decision was received to-day as to what measures might >c taken. After hearing these views of the military representatives, the •ouncil of the great powers decided to continue the discussion to-morrow when the decisions will be made without the presence of these representatives. This last move was regarded in some quarters as significant of the gradual change from war condition to these of normal peace times. DOCK NEARS COMPLETION New JRoyal Albert Dock Will Accommodate Fifteen Large Ships at the Same Time. LATEST EQUIPMENT TO HANDLE CARGO LONDON, Feb. 9—(via Reuters Ottawa agency)—The great work of the extension of the royal Albert dock is near completion, and it is expected* that the new portion will be brought into use before next autumn. Work was begun in August, 1912. The existing Albert dock has a meter area of rather more than 73 acres. The approximate water area of the new dock is 64 acres, with a depth of 38 feet. The entrance lock which is 800 feet wide, with a depth of 41 feet eight inches below high water of tides, will be divided into two compartments respectively 550 and 250 feet in length. By three pairs of steel gates worked by hydraulic machinery the lock is being so designed as to be capable of extension by means of a floating caisson to 910 feet. This would allow the Rocking of a ship as large as thhe Aquitania. That is to say 868 and a half feet between perpendiculars and 97 feet beam- At its full equipment the new dock will offer berthing accommodation for 15 large ships. It will possess a transit shed as YA-ell as the most modern appliances for rapid handling of cargo. These are placed parallel with the quay wall, an intervening space of 32 feet being left for barges. Ships will berth alongside the jetties and by means of electric cranes cargoes may be transferred from ships either into barges lying between the jetties and the quay or directly onto thhe quay itself. FIRST PICTURE OF PEACE CONGRESS HERE'S THE FIRST PHOTO TO REACH THIS SIDE THE ATLANTIC OF THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE PEACE CONFERENCE IN THE "CLOCK ROOM" OF THE PALAIS D'ORSAY, PARIS. PRESIDENT POINCARE HAD JUST FINISHED SPEAKING FROM THE CHAIRMAN'S PLACE BENEATH THE CLOCK. ON HIS RIGHT (INDICATED BY THE ARROW) IS PRESIDENT WILSON, AND NEXT TO WILSON ARE, IN ORDER, SECRETARY LANSING, EX-AMEASSADOR WHITE AND GENERAL BLISS, WHILE ON POINCARE'S OTHER HAND ARE THE BRITISH DELEGATES, LLOYD GEORGE, BALFOUR, LAW AND BARNES. IN THE CENTER OF THE PICTURE IS AN INTERPRETER (A BRITI SH OFFICER) READING POINCARE'S SPEECH IN ENGLISH. COL HOUSE HAD NOT ARRIVE WHEN THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN, NOR HAD PREMIER CLEMENCEAU OF FRANCE, WHO TOOK POINCARE'S PLACE AFTER THE LATTER HAD READ HIS SPEECH. THE SHOUTING AND THE TUMULT DIES OUR VETERANS ARE HOME. The excitement and the enthusiasm created by their arrival is beginning to die down. The men are dispersing to their homes. Soon they will have settled down to civilian conditions again; will have become submerged in the ordinary population and engrossed in the business of earning a livelihood as before they entered the ranks of our glorious regiment. In the meantime we have duty to perform. We have an obligation to recognise. It is up to us to show the 'veterans of our local force that we comprehend in some measure the importance and the value of the services they have rendered their country. On Saturday we urged the citizens of St. John's to let their practical appreciation of the soldierly qualities and soldierly services of the men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment take the form of the presentation of a goodly purse to our outstanding hero, Sergeant Ricketts, V. C. One influential body, the City Club, has taken this matter up with energy and with success and expects to have the sum of one thousand dollars in hand for presentation to our super-hero some time this week. Good work that! An example that other city organisations might well follow. Whether donations come into this office or are handled by the various city societies and organizations, there should be a general move on the part of our citizenship to do Ricketts, V. C, the honor ihat is his by right of achievement and to give him that assistance for his re-establishment in civilian life that he has earned by outstanding bravery on the field ci battle. Sorrje very encouraging amounts have been received at The Star office. Acknowledgment thereof will be made in this paper in due time. The Star looks for general and enthusiastic response to this presentation of the claims of Ricketts, V. C. upon our gratitude and our liberality. RICKETTS, V. C. By D. CARROLL. Private T. Ricketts, V. C— Who is he? What's his degree Socially? True soul of chivalry. Moulded heroically; Whose signal bravery, Brings to our Country Joy in his gallantry! Bright shall his memory Shine thro* the years to be, Newfoundland's pride, for he Brings to her history Glory, whose poetry Thrills this Old Colony. Hail to thee, Ricketts. V. C! Join with mc all of ye Winds from the Arctic Sea- Glad Bay whose tides in joy Sang his first lullaby— Tempests that sturdily Nurtured his infancy— Northlights whose wizardy Charmed his youth's fantasy— Lodestar whose constancy Brought him in safety Over dark waters, to home and security. Cliffs that have sheltered The breed who has fathered thee— Mothers and sires of the hamletThat cradled thee— Extend a welcome that's worthy Of him and yet, Honor, no honor too great For this son of ye! When in future years Ricketts, V. C, War tales are telling In homes by the sea, Many a youth shall The story inspire, Many a heart shall Thy valour admire. Undimmed renown cling To thy memory, Bnght be thy fame for aye, Ricketts, V. C. Proudly acclaim him—■ Rejoice in your plenitude, Honor the deed of him, Boast of his fame. Honor yourselves in your bounty today to him. Give of your best to his soldierly name. Ask ye his pedigree? Manhood majestically— God's own nobility— Of such is he! Ring cheers from every side— Shout, shout his name in pride Over this Island wide, RICKETTS, V. CI Royalists Overcome Portugueset Republic a n Forces Are Marching On Oporto. Paris, Feb. 9—Forces of the Portu-j guese republican government aggre-1 gating fifty thousand men are approaching Oporto, the royalist strong hold, according to advices reaching here from Lisbon today. It was announced that attacks by the royalists upon republican troops had been overcome and that the railways are operating under normal con- j ditions. t ■ m» i  The Alconda took on board English mail off the narrows yesterday. | Restoration Of Kingdom Resolutions For Re-establishment of Hungarian Monarchy Passed. Copenhagen, Feb. 7—A resolution | demanding the re-establishment of the kingdom of Hungary was passed yesterday at a public meeting at Budapest, according to a despatch today j from the Hungarian capital. Great enthusiasm is said to have been manifested at the meeting when the resoi lution was adopted. The agitation for the restoration of I the monarchy is reported to have j caused great unrest and the- government is taking strong measures to sup[ press the movement. Begin Drive On Bolshevik Attack Made By Allies' Forces On Position On Petrograd Road. Archangel, Friday, Feb. 7—British and Russian troops, supported by American machine gun and trench mortar units, began an attack at ten o'clock this morning against the bofsheviki on the Petrograd road, south of Kadish. There has been no final reports of the result of the fighting. The infantry went forward after the Canadian artillery in a bombardment of several hours, had silenced the enemy artillery. The attack was made for the purpose of protesting the American positions about thirty miles eastward from a flank attack. The bolsheviki are shelling the American positions in the Vaga sector 1 continuously. BIG HOUSING PROPOSITION Great Britain Will Build Three Thousand Houses For the Working Classes of the Country. BILL TO BE LAID BEFORE HOUSE SOON  I ONDON, Feb. B—(Reuter's)— Dr. Addison, president of the local; government board, has obtained sane, tion from the war cabinet for his proposals for housing the working classes. He will take an early opportunity of laying them before .the house of common?. A circular on this subject has already been issued to the local governing bodies, and yesterday the president made a fur-' ther explanatory statement fhs; present measures are to be confined to England and Wales, but similar plans relating to Scotland will be proceeded with. Hitherto because new housing was a crying need, the government had not promised any financial assistance dealing with the slum areas, now, how ever, exactly the same assistance v.'ill be given for any losses incurred by local authorities in new schemes for clearance and improvement of sanitary areas where the local govern ment board is not satisfied that requirements cannot be met simply by the provision of new houses on a new site. The necessity for housing is urgent the government wants the authorities to move at once, therefore there is a time bmit to the assistance. It' will be given only for schemes submitted to the local government board within the next two years, unless cir cumstances are quite exceptional. The government is helping in other ways. Housing commissioners have been appointed while special steps are being taken to make sure that bricks and building material are available.The local government has also arranged the standardisation of fillings but this does not mean that the houses will be built on one pattern. The Government is anxious to avoid such' a calamity. The settlement of the question of prices to be paid is a difficulty that it is hoped will be overcome by authorising valuers from the board of inland revenue to advise local authorities as to the worth of any land selected for the erection of houses.The bill implementing the government's housing scheme will be pressed forward promptly, but there is no need for local authorities or public utility societies to wait for legislation, as the existing powers are sufficient for immediate action- Dr. Addison declared that owing to the stoppage of building operations by the war, it would be necessary to erect at least a thousand dwellings for the working classes throughout the country. flliOllllllflllllllllllll!lllllllllll||iiilllll|||!ll!ll!llil|||||||||||||||!lllllllllllillll| jNoticeto Thef 1 Ladies! I See Our Large Selection (Dress Silks) | Many Different Shades and g §Extra Good Quality, 36 in. 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