St. John's Daily Star, 1919-06-25

              The St. John's Daily Star. ■. Our A verage Daily Circulation, May, 7,628 Newfoundland ' THE WEATHER ProbsrS.W. Winds, Fair and Warm.V VOLUME V. ($3.00 per Annum) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1919. (PRICE: One Cent.) No. 14f GERMAN DELEGATION IS ON ITS WAY TO PARIS TO SIGN THE TREATY OF PEACE HUNS SEND DELEGATION German Commission On Way to Paris to Sign Peace ;Trea«y on Behalf of Germany. AREEXPECTED VERSAILLES TODAY Paris, June 24. — Herman Mueller, fe new German Foreign Secretary, will head the German delegation to sign the peace treaty, La Liberte says. The Gernjfcns probably will arrive at Versailles Wednesday morning, j WEIMAR, jjune 24—Yon Haimau-' sen, whawas on Sunday designated as Gjjrman representative to sign the tresy of peace, have tele-! graphed his 'resignation from Versailles .rather yian attach his name to the instrument. Ready to Sign. Paris, Jutfje 23—The long months tin dfring the peace negotiations, and tljje weeks of doubt whether Germany? would accept the conditions offered, or would invite by her refusal of oiem further invasion or 1-er-countryjrended late this afternoon when a acne announcing Germany's unconditional acceptance, was deliveied to the( supreme council of the conference.' The note was sent to M. Clemenaeau, and was signed by Dr. Hamel won Haimausen. It follows:"The mii?sster of foreign affairs ha? instructed mc to communicate to your excellency the following: It appears tojjthe government of the ' erman republic in consternation at the last communication of the allied and associated governments, that \V.e?e. governments have decided to wrest j; on, .Germany By force the acceptance o| peace conditions, even ihcse which presenting any material .Mgnificaiicef aim at divesting the German peoplil of their honor. No act of violence can shake the honor of the German people. The German people after frightful suffering in these last years, have no means of defending themselves by external actions. Yielding to superior force and without renouncing in the meantime its own view of the unheard injustice of the peace conditions, the government of the German republic declares that it is'ready to accept and sign the peace conditions imposed. Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my high consideration. Signed, Yon Haniel." ~*- \ Gift For London's Poor. / London, June 24—The Salvation Army has received from the Canadian military stores 700 tons of frozen fish for distribution among the poor of London. The concert recently given at (Juidi Vidi will be repeated at Canoi Wood Hcill tomorrow evening. The proceeds .v.ili go towards the enlargement 'of the Quidi Vidi school. During the j evening home made candy will be on I sale. QUEBEC'S VICTORIOUS PREMIER. §IR LOMER GOUIN, prime minisister of Quebec, who has secured an unprecedented endorsement by the electors of his province. Can Raise Some Ships Every Prospect of Salving Hun Warships in Good Condition London, June 24.—Three German warships which their crews attempted to sink at Scapa Flow on Saturday have been beached, and the Baden is moored in readiness for beaching, it was announced officially today. There is every prospect of salving the ships in good condition if the necessary apparatus arrives before bad weather sets in. The ships beached are the cruisers Emden, Frankfurt and Nurnburg. Two destroyers are afloat and eighteen have been beached. Commission of Inquiry. Paris, June 24.—The council of three has referred the question relative to the sinking of the German fleet in Scapa Flow to a commission of experts, which will determine whether the armistice conditions were violated. SOME SENSIBLE SUPERSTITIONS Not a Few Are Based on Facts of Everyday Life. There is frequently a commonsense reason underlying what, at first sight, seems to be merely a silly superstition.Take, for instance, the old belief amongst colliers, that a mine much frequented by mice is a lucky mine. We know now that mice are peculiarly susceptible to foul gases, and the presence of unusually large numbers of these liltle animals, therefore, is proof positive of the absence of any danger. Hence the luck. Then again, there is the "third to use a match"  iginated during th: Boer war. By the time the lighted match had been passed to the third man, some watchful enemy sniper would be pretty sure to spot it and let drive at it. And that was where the bad luck all too frequently came in. Our grandmothers used to hang a red flannel petticoaft over the window of a room wherein lay a patient sick of the smallpox, asserting that it hastened the cure, and also prevented "pitting." This was regarded as an "old woman's tale," until comparatively recently, when scientific men went carefully into the matter and discovered that the red rays do actually exert a bad effect on the bacteria or the disease, and a correspondingly good effect on the patient. LETTERS SELL AT $250,000 Historical Collection On Denmark Armistice Sold in London. It was 118 years ago that Lord Nelson, writing to his Emma, discussed the criticisms passed on the armistice with Denmark, and asserted that "it was intended only for a military one, and that all political subjects were left for the discussion of the ministers of the two powers." A Nelson dossier on the Battle of Copenhagen and its consequences proved to be the chief feature in the final day's sale recently at Sotheby's of the celebrated Morrison historical letters and manuscripts, the grand total of the four portions of the famous collection being returned at more than a quarter of a million dollars, which excludes the undivulged price paid by a few patrioits for the pathetic letter written by Mary Queen of Scots at dawn on the day of her execution in 1587, and presented to the nation in December, 1917. This Copenhagen series of despatches, including thirteen letters to Adjutant-General Lindholm, of the Danish Array, and his replies showed Nelson's admiration for the Danish soldier, and in one leetter Nelson magnanimously wrote, "But trust we can never be real enemies." Included was a umorous letter from one "Thomas Tugbar," who implored Nelson to capture and bring back the czar of Russia so that the showman petitioner could exhibit him. Nelson's note in reply that he would do his best is also in the series.—London Telegraphy  Republican Proposal. Washington, June 23.—War with Germany and Austria would be declared at an end by an amendment to the army appropriation bill introduced lute today by Senator Fall, republican, of New MexMft, with a view to removing from congress any blame for continuing war conditions pending ratification of the peace treaty. TOWN IS DESERTED. Forest Fires Drive People of Natal, 8.C., From Homes. Fernie, June 24—After fighting 24 hours forest fires which threatened to sweep the town, the inhabitants or Natal, B. C, were removed from the town in a special train early Sunday while a * volunteer fire corps under Chief McDougall extinguished flame after flame within the town itself until the fire in the immediate vicinity had spent itself. PLANES WITHOUT CREWS TRIED OUT Can Carry Load of Bombs, Drop 'Em on Enemy and Return. If the war had lasted a little time longer the Germans would have had] to face one of the most terrible inventions of the-war—bomb-dropping aeroplanes which carried no crews, and were directed by wireless a hundred or more miles away. A month before the armistice was signed an aeroplane was flown without a pilot or observer on board for over a hundred miles, at the end ot which distance it landed in an aero-j drome just as though it were being' piloted. •At any time during the flights,-bombs could have been released by wireless. A dozen of these aeroplanes, loaded up with bombs, could have been sent over German towns, allowed to drop their bombs, and brought back again for another attack unless brought down by anti-aircraft guns or enemy machines. Over the front line an incessant rain of bombs could have been kept up, the whole of the aeroplanes being controlled by wireless within sight of our own lines. It is probable that the wireless ?.eroplane will be sent upwith special instruments on board in order to find out the kind of weather there is thousands of feet above the earth. •Wetetoft't yet faww enough ab»ut the weather conditions at the heights aeroplanes usually fly. This is where the wireless aeroplane will be so useful. TYPING ELECTRIC SKY SIGNS Electric Lights Which Tell tfle News to Spectators. Just before the war broke out dozens of ingenious electric signs for advertisement purposes were bfemg erected in most big towns, while many big firms had cinematograph screens in public which advertised the things they had to sell. Since the war, however, the most ingenious invention for electric light signs has been invented, and has been used by the big newspapers of America. The sign looks, from the street, like an ordinary board with thousands of small electric bulbs fastened on to it. Each of these bulbs is attached to a special typewriter in the building behind, and as the typist types any message or advertisement, each key pressed down lights up certain of the electric vulbs, and so spells out each letter in turn. Above the typewriter is a small copy of the big sky sign, so that the typist can see at once if he has made a slip and hit the wrong letter. • A -switch enables him to turn out the lights forming any particular letter, or to turn out all the lights and start a new message to attract passers-by. Soon we shall be having the latest news flashed on these boards at niglit as soon as it has come off the telegraph wires. CENTENARIANS AFLOAT • Even without any submarine risks, the ship of today cannot hope to attain the ripe old age of its predecessors.Nelson's Victory was over forty years old when she took part in Ac battle of Trafalgar, and the Betsy Cains, which, according to tradition, brought William and Mary to England in 1688, survived until 1824. Lloyd's register for 1910 contained the Olivia, built in 1819, and, writing in 1833, Admiral Martin recorded that the small vessel in which James 11. escaped from Rochester was still in use conveying goods from one dockyard to another. New French Bank. The government of France has signed a decree approving the creation of a new French national bank for foreign trade with a capital of 100,000,000 francs (approximately $20,000,000). The new institution is designed to grant long-term credits to French importers. Hindenburg line is beginning to look like a rope with a noose on the end.—Wall Street Journal. Militarism Rears Head Warlike Demonstrations of Huns—Officers Appeal For Kaiser London, June 24—News of the German government's agreement to sign the peace terms has resulted in patriotic demonstrations throughout. Germany, the Exchange Telegraph's Copenhagen correspondent reports in Berlin, Munich and other cities, the despatch says, processions formed and marched along the principal streets, the participants singing war songs and cheering the generals of the empire.The officers' association, it is added, has asked the Dutch government not to deliver the former Emperor to the allies. In the telegram the officers' association said: "We can protect the kaiser with our bodies, but we rely upon the generosity of the Dutch people.' ' - » REAL BLUEBEARD WAS FRENCHMAN And He Has Modern Prototype In Andre Landru It is a somewhat curious coincidence that Landru, who is accused of murdering a number of his "wives" and cremating their bodies in his villa at Gambais, should be a Frenchman. For the original Bluebeard was also a Frenchman, named Gilles de- Laval, whose atrocious crimes shocked the world about the middle of the fifteenth century. How tremendous was the sensation created by the revelations which preceded the trial and execution of this monster of cruelty and iniquity, may Jbe judged from the. fact Ojat JR>i%k a«d operas* innTfrnerable have been written round his personality by such well-known authors and composers as Perrault, Gretry. Tieck, and Offenbach, amongst others. In Perrault he is a rich man who, in spite of his hideous blue beard, gains the love of six young women, whom he weds and muiders one after the other. He is about to serve a seventh in the same way, when she is rescued in the nick of time by her brothers, who have been surmr.oned 'to Bluebeard's castle by another sister.This follows fairly closely the story of Landru, so far as it has been unravelled. ' It is remarkable, too, that this individual's most striking facialfeature is his beard, which, according; to one account, is "blue-black in color." DEVICE TO DRAW STING OF U-BOATS Will Also Warn Ships of Location of Icebergs. invention of a hydrophone that is said to pick up the faintest sounds through the water at a distance of from four to five miles, and to show the exact location of the vessels creating the sounds, J. A. Burgess, formerly science master of Bishop Ridley College, St. Catherines, Ont., is believed to have devised something that will not only take the sting out of a submarine, but in peace time warn ships of the location and proximity of icebergs, other vessels, rocks or shores in the case of fog. Mr. Burgess has been conducting a series of tests on the North Sea, under the direction of the British admiralty for the past six weeks, with a view to the adoption of his invention for both war and mercantile i 1 CONGRATULATE CLEMENCEAU. French Pemrier is Praised by French Colleagues. Paris, June 24—Premier Clemenceau was congratulated on the result of the peace negotiations by his fellow ministers at a meeting of the French cabinet today. The acceptance of the peace treaty by Germany was discussed at the meeting which was presided over by President Poincare. The cabinet also examined various political and parliamentary questions involved in the peace settlement. « ■  Invitation to Admiral Kerr. Atlantic City, June 24—Vice Admiral Kerr was invited to fly his machine in a non-stop flight to here in a telegram sent him today by Albert Bell, president of the aero club of Atlantic City, "PLAYING POSSUM. Pledge Good Behaviour Turks Make All Sorts Of Promises to Council of Ten Paris, June 24—The Turkish delegation which appeared before the council, of ten on June 17 sent the council today a detailed memorandum which it promised at that time to draft. This memorandum gave at length the plea for the continuance of the Turkish Empire, which was made orally before the council at the hearing last week. The memorandum states that the Turkish government is prepared to recognize the independence of Armenia and to grant some form of autonomous government to Palestine and Arabia under the Turkish government.IRON WORKERS STRIKE The Reid Nfld. Company's ironworkers are still on strike. The men but have not yet come to terms re but have not yt come to terms re holidays and overtime. Negotiations are going on between the men and their employers and it is expected that an agreement between them will toon be reached. Some of the men are leaving the country. The development of the housing problem scheme will be awaited with anxiety by many of the workmen in this city. Houses are not the only problem to them except in so much as it involves another problem-—rent. in spite of the law passed last April by the house of assembly forbidding landlords to raise their rents after that date, rents have been steadily going up. PREPARE SECOND TREATY Allies Get Document Ready For Austria to Sign. Paris, June 24—Work on the Austrian peace treaty was resumed by the three council. The completion of tiie document to be presented to the Austrian delegates is desired as tperdily as possible and work on it is expected to be energetically pusfaeJ.In this financial expert were called before the council at today's session. GREEKS REPULSE TURKS. Hold Their Own Against Superior Moslem Forces. Paris, June 24—The Greek troops in Asia Minor are holding their own against superior Turkish forces, according to official Greek advices received here today. The Turks have entered Nassile, east of Eslin, which the Greeks evacuated Saturday in the face of superior attacks. NATURE'S WIRELESS MASTS According to Major-General Squier. chief signal officer of the United States army, every tree-top is a potential wireless tower. The discovery was made during army manoeuvres at Camp Atascadero, California, when it was found that telegraph and telephone buzzers inoperative because of the dry season and unusual character of the soil became operative when connected with the trunk or roots of a tree. During hostilities the American army ,with a string of stations using tree-tops at antennae, read messages from ships at sea and the principal European radio stations,' biit so far transmission with the tree-top radio has only been successful over short distances. ARE RACE OF PERJURERS ARE JUST RACE— Their Act in Sinking Warships at Scapa Flow Shows Huns Have Nc Respect for Pledges. SOME ANGLO-FRENCH CRITICISMS HARSH DARIS, June 24.—Viscount Gustav De Kerguesco, member of the naval committee of the chamber of deputies, told the; budget committee of the chamber yesterday that he had warned the French ministry of marine previously that the German fleet interned in Scapa Flow was not being watched with sufficient care. The budget committee then decided to ask Premier Clemenceau for further information on the subject of the sinking of the ships and the step the French government proposed to take to have the loss made good. Newspaper comment in some cases shows much bitterness over the acts of those whom The Figaro calls a "perjured race, with no respect for their plighted word." Some criticism is directed at the British admiralty, The Journal saying no article in the armistice forbade the maintenance o British guards abord the German ships. L'Oeuvere says the fate of the German ships was that proposed for them by the British government. Germany, says The Action Francaise, may one day, if we are not careful, scuttle the league of nation! as she scuttled the fleet. Premier Lloyd George and Sir Robert Cecil will be as couch responsible that day as are now the authorities at Scapa Flow. It is likely that the whole subject will come up for discussion in parliament. Distrust Germans. London, June 24.—Profound distrust of Germany is the predominant note in the London press comment* I 0:1 the German government's de' cision to sign the treaty of peace. It is contended the Germans proved ! themselves treacherous throughout j the war, the latest instance being the sinking of their fleet in Scapa Flow, and therefore it will be premature to celebrate peace until the treaty is actually signed. Even afterwards, it !is said, the allies must be continually on guard until the last penalty is paid. Breaches of Faith. Paris, June 24.—Word of the burning of certain French battle flags iby the Germans has been received I here. The peace conference opinion is inasmuch as the document stipulated that the flags should be re-1 turned to France by Germany, it is ! probable that a commission will be appointed to consider taking action 'in the matter. Socialist Criticism. Paris, June 24.—After expressing pleasure over the approaching signj ing of the peace treaty for the sake !of humanity, France and Germany, l'Humanity, the official organ of the socialist party, denounces the conditions of the treaty. "It is cynical and dangerous mockery," it says, "to give to what was called a war for right a conclusion of violence and iniquity. The nations of France, above all, had believed in the grand promises with which the courage of the combatants was sustained for nearly five years. They believed especially in the words of President Wilson, who much more than Prussian imperialism, is the conqueror of today." « » — ENTERS SCHOOL OF MUSIC. In the passenger list of those who left by the Sable I. yesterday was Miss Elsie Tait, who wishing to broader her musical education is on her way to New York to enter the "New York School of Music and Art," and become the pupil of Mr. Arthur Friedheim, the noted Russian pianist and the greatest Liszt playej. in the world today. Mr. Friedheim was not only a pupil of Liszt but lived with him for ten years, so that he is better qualified to expound the music of the great master as handed down to him by Liszt than any other living man« ■ » FROM THE THETIS The following message ha# been received by Messrs, Job Brothers from CapL Falk of these.s* Thetis:— "Off Cape* Ball? mo ice* fcrind west, fog clearing; should jreach>Blancj Sablon. #artyjomorroyr morning"^ —From The Passing Show, London. ij  "»"i"»">»«-t-t»»-<-i-»"«-«"fi-t-t"«"t"«-«"»-«-»-»-»-«-»-«-«-«-«-»"«"t-»"»"«"i ■ ■ •"»"« Also WOODTEX for BORDERS —..«■.».■,,.«■■»■■«■■»-».»-«->->-«••»-«■■«•-»■•«••»••»■���«•■«•■»■■«■■«■■■■■« 1|—..«..«!.«..»..« ll|ll>l»«' »'»-»-«-« Air Marked at the LOWEST PRICES PATRONS WILL DO well to see the Newest Designs and VERY ATTRACTIVE PATTERNS of the above before purchase ing elsewhere* *  Bowring Bros, Ltd. BATITRirQIi HI I LnlCd! 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