St. John's Daily Star, 1918-01-12

              The St. John's Daily Star Newfoundland VOLUME IV. ($3.00 per Annum) SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1918. (Price: One Cent) No. 10. MAIN CRISIS OF WAR REACHED SAYS BRITISH MINISTER OF MUNITIONS '..PISTON CHURCHILL SPEAKS ;)N PRESENT WAR SITUATION [ Appeal To Send Numbers Of rican Soldiers To Europe Promptly AIM MEN AT HELM ire Open To Maintain Room friend And Foe—National Freedom . Jan. 12—Winston Spencer hi!! British Minister of \7uning the American Lointo-day began his remarks support from the Amerin at ions to their leaders. de a powerful appeal for the ol large numbers of in soldiers to Europe. d the invitation of the :on Club. Churchill ming, for two principal first is that we now have main crisis of the war: that the great issue of this I - satisfactorily resolved 1 . ctive action of States as a factor in the ve Found Leaders al at the the two Anglo-Saxon' ould each have found ■ no by the marc h of events ■•'; 'w.o so far poraries as to right a id tl power to cl lien ,e in the name is a whole. They also that paramount authority ponsil " y of which and Fortifying of which no safe i!d be found or be followed. ;vei an here and across the j desires that we may mee? c: ' ' curity from our • eseril p i] to do his utmost to streng•cn and sustai authority of the n al 'l ■ ' • May they encourage them in their responsibility and free them from embarrassment and dirhcuT' ties so that they may concentrate their whole energy on the daily enemy in front, and have no anxiety or jealousies at home. May they be free from every i cause of distraction and devote them- I selves to the selection and the seizing ! of the essential points of the policy by ! which victory depends. After all, Churchill continued, this is a very crude point of self-preservation. Concrete Statements We have had within the last few days two statements of our war aims and they have been broad, definite concrete statements. The sombr and majestic pronounce' ments of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the President 02 the United States are in complete accord. They have been ratified by the unanimous assent of the British and American people. So far as I can see that great branch of the human family which speaks the English language and in its wide state covers or influences the greater portion of the habitable globe has reached a complete unani', mity of moral conception and practical aims. Latin Nation Accepts Our views also have been accepted by the Latin nation, who are our valiant Allies and they have been received as if they were the very draught of Hie 1 and hope by the little shattered states who look to us to rescue them from I their present torment. Who can doubt I that if these statements of our War Aims were translated into war achleve: ments. if they passed from the earliest i aspiration into the granite of the real'■ ity a very bright future would be open' ed to mankind in which in the Presi: dent's fine phrase the world would be j saved for Democracy would be appar! ent. There would be a future in which A NARROW SQUEAK.—Ger man shell misses positions READING'S ADIEU TO BRITISH COURTS Solicitor General Hiwart's High Tribute to New Commissioner at Washington.JONDON. Jan. 12.—British courts took formal leave today of Ear! Reading, who has been appointed British High Commissioner to the United States. Solicitor General Hiwart on behalf of the Bar which was largely represented at the ceremonial, expressed its deep appreciation of the devotion to duty and public spirit which had prompted Earl Reading to accept this high office. Never before, Hiwart pointed out. had the King appointed a Chief Justice to discharge such duties, but in the present crisis no other course was open, he said the Chief Justice was being called to his supreme task by the unanimous voice of the English-speaking world. The satisfaction of the appointment has been expressed on both sides of the Atlantic, said the Solicitor General. He rested on the firm belief that Earl Reading would bring every side of the difficult and complicated problem not only to a perfect impartiality of temper but unsurpassed clearness of vision. WOULD END CIVIL WAR. Kaledines Intentions .Not to Fight Bolsheviki London, Jan. 11.—Special despatches yesterday reported the majority of Cossacks and the population of Don district in general grouping themselves around the Don Military Government under General Kaledines, whose aim was said not to fight the Bolsheviki, but to consolidate democratic organizations in the Don district with a view to bringing an end to civil war. The territory of Don takes in an area more than 63,000 square miles, comprising a large part of the lower basin of the Don River in Southern Russia. The population is mainly Cossack, whose social structure has been on a military basis with the chief governing official wearing the title of Delman. General Kaledines, holding this office, was reported late last month to have resigned, but was re-elected to the office afterward by 562 out of a total of 638 votes. ENEMY RAID REPULSED. London, Jan. 12.—The official British statement issued tonight says: The enemy early this morning made a raid south of Armentieres, but was repulsed. Hostile artillery showed increased activity north of Ypres throughout the day. AFFECTS THE THEATRES. Boston, Jan. ll.—James Storrow, Fuel Administrator, refused today to exempt theatres from the early closing order which is to become effective throughout Massachusetts Monday, but granted an extension of 15 minutes for night performances after a conference at the State House. The managers agreed to start at 7.45 p. m. and clase at 10.'5. SPANISH ELECTIONS. Madrid, Jan. 11.—King Alfonso today signed a new decree dissolving the Cortes. Elections will be held Feb. 24th, and the new Parliament will meet OFFICIAL CONTROL PAPER INDUSTRY Ohio Publisher Counselled Economy Consumption—Attacked Plan As SociaKs^p, Washington, Jan. 12-4-The proposed Governmental Control of the newsprint paper industry was fire in the Senate again today, wilrfjpenator Harding, an Ohio publisher; Ji&ding the opposition. He counselled/economy of consumption and attack*^-the plan as Socialistic. Under a unanimous an agreement was reached 3fcte today for a final vote on the pri|fcj£aper resolution to be taken  beginning at 2 p. ml will be limited to ten a vote on rhe final paslaglr tHert as soon thereafter as possible. RETAIN FLANDERS SAYS VON TIRPITZ Coastal Annexation of Belgium Not Necessary.—Silent re Resignation of Ludendorff. JONDON, Jan. 12.—A despatch to "" the Central News from Amsterdam says that Admiral von Tirpitz, former German Minister of Marine, and foremost advocate of Germany's submarine warfare, declared that while the Germans must keep Fianders, the coastal annexation of Belgium to Germans was not necessary and that a solution of this problem could be found. Regarding the political situation, Admiral Tirpitz is reported as saying that all sorts of things might be possible, but that he did not think they would go so far as an agreement on an armistice by which the operations of submarines could be paralyzed. He would not make a statement dealing with the reported resignation of General Ludendorff, but he said he refused to believe that things would be allowed to go so far as to make it impossible for Ludendorff and Hindenbiirg to gain a definite victory for Germany. i^i—.—- RUSSIA'S NEW ARMY. Trotzky Says Will Not Wage War But Revolution. London, Jan. 11.—Confirming the previous reports that the Bolsheviki are preparing to re-establish the fighting power of the army against a possible final break in the negotiations with the Central Powers, the Petrograd correspondent of the Daily News says that they are not attempting to reanimate the old worn-out army, but to create a new and much smaller one. Concerning this new army Foreign Minister Trotzky is reported to have said it will wage not war, but revolution. Its front trenches will be barricaded against oppressors. The Bolsheviki doubt if the German soldiers will advance, but if they do and take more territory, they will be no hearer an end of the war. The correspondent says that the greatest difficulties of the Bolsheviki in these preparations are transports and supply, of which the former is the less hopeful question. Ensign Kryletke, the Bolsheviki Commander-in-Chief is reported to be organizing a volunteer army, and has ordered all officers to return to their posts they held before the Bolsheviki revolution. THINKS U. BOATS WILL WIN WAR America Taken Seriously.—Claims Shipping Loss 10,000,000 Tons —Value $5,000,000,000. [ONDON Jan. 12.—Germany is depending on her JJ-boats to defeat the American menace and bring about peace, declares The Berlin Tageblatt, a copy of which has been received here. The entire Entente hopes, says this paper, are now based on the expected help from the United States. Whether the Americans will be able to provoke a fighting army in numbers sufficient to bring about a decision, whether they will be able to finish sufficient ships, and whether they will J hen be able to provide supplies of food and war material, are questions upon which opinion is divided. But there is no doubt the Americans must be taken seriously. The hope of an early peace depends almost entirely on the efficiency of our submarine weapon. Reviewing the first year of Germany's submarine campaign which ends February Ist, The Tageblatt asserts that the Central Powers have succeeded in completely upsetting the economic life of the Entente, and adds that the submarine campaign, which has now become the principal factor in naval warfare, is being expanded and developed still further. Summarizing the results of the underwater campaign since February Ist, The Tageblatt claims the U-boats have sunk on an average 821.000 tons of shipping monthly from February to December, and for the whole year 10 million tons; that the building of new ships by the Entente and neutrals during the vear will replace only between 2,500,000 and 4.000.000 tons of these losses. The paper says the monetary loss to Germany's enemies as the result of the gear's \Dork by U-fooats will reach $5,000,000,000, figuring the value of ships at $250 per ton and their cargoes at the same amount. NEUTRAL SUBJEGTS MAY BE RELEASED Must Appeal Through the Representatives—War Department is Willing to Co-operate. WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.—Citizens or subjects of European neutral countries, regardless of whether they have taken out first papers for American citizenship, will be freed from liability to military service in the United States if they appeal through their Diplomatic representatives here. iMinister Sulzer of Switzerland today reached an agreement with the State Department whereby the Swiss already drafted and serving in the American Army, shall be discharged if they desire, upon proof of their Swiss citizenship.Similar arrangements may be made by other neutral representatives. The War Department has signified its willingness to co-operate in securing the quick discharge of drafted aliens entitled to release. EX-MAYOR AS FLIER. New York, Jan. 12.—John Pirrrey Mitchel, who has retired as Mayor of New York, was today appointed Major in the Aviation Corps of the United States Army. WILL NOT CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS ON NEUTRAL SOIL SAYS GERMAN WOULD RESUME NEGOTIATIONS WHERE BROKEN AT CHRISTMAS Fixed Determination Central Powers Not to Accede Russian Suggestion. " NO LONGER GENERAL PEACE. Quadruple Alliance Agreed Conduct Negotiations According to Von Kuehlemann. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 12—A despatch says that the Central Powers may withdraw and their peace terms become null and void. Von Kuehlmann said the first task of the conference was to resume negotiations at the point where they were broken off at the time of the Christmas adjournment. Referring to the fixed determination of the Central Powers not to accede to the Russian suggestion of transference of the negotiations to neutral territory, he said Germany and her Allies were not in a position to conduct elsewhere the negotiations begun at Brest- Litvosk, although they were willing to have final formal negotiations carried on and signatures to preliminary agreements affixed at some place to be agreed upon after the debate. Atmosphere Important. He continued; as for the conduct of the negotiations, the atmosphere in which they take place is extremely important. It must be mentioned that since the conclusion of the exchange of views before temporary interruption of negotiations much has happened which it appeared was calculated to create a doubt as to the sincere intention of the Russian Government to arrive at a speedy peace with the powers of the Quadruple Alliance. I may refer to the tone of certain semi-official declarations of the Russian Government against the Central Powers, especially the declaration of the Petrograd Telegraph Agency. It reproduced in detail the reply M. Joffe is alleged to have made at the sitting of Dec. 18th. which as protocol shows originated solely in the imagination of its author. False Report Co; jses. This entirely unfounded report has had a good deal to do in confusing judgement in regard to the course of the negotiations and to endanger their results in explaining why the Central Powers refused categorially to transfer the negotiations to tieutral territory. Count Czernin said both parties had direct telegraphic communication with their respective governments which nei ther could forego without interminable prolonging negotiations and rendering them difficult. The second motive is more important. You gentlemen invited us to take part in general peace negotiations. We acepted the invitation and came to an agreement about a basis of general peace. On this basis you presented ten days ultimatum to your Allies who have not answered and to-day it is no longer a question of negotiations of general peace, but rather a seperate peace between Russia and the quadruple alliance. The Count asserted that the transfer of negotiations to Neutral ter ritory would give the Entente an opportunity to interfere and endeavor to pre* vent separate peace. Refuse Opportunity. He added: we refuse to give the Western Powers this opportunity bu' we are ready to conduct final negotiations and sign the peace treaty at a place to be fixed. Regarding the questions on which an understanding has not been reached, we came to binding agreement at the last plenary session to submit them to a commission to begin work immediately.Ail four members of the Quadruple Alliance entirely agreed to conduct negotiations to the end on a basis explained by Dr. Von Kuehlmann and my self and agreed upon with Russians. If the Russian delegation is animated by the same intentions we shall attain a result satisfactory to all; if not, then matters will take the necessary course, but responsibility for the war will fall exclushe'y on (Ui Russian delegation. The Turkish and Bulgarian represent atives associated themselves with these remarks in the name of the German command. General Hoffman protested most strongly against the wireless messages sent out from the Russian Military station containing abuse of German military institutions and appeals of a revolutionary character to the German troops. This transgressed spirit of armistice, Germany's allies joined in protest, and at the proposal of Leon Trotzky, head of the Russian delegation, the sitting was adjourned. NOT NEUTRAL SOIL. Austro-Hungarian Minister Wants Conference at Brest-Litovsk. Amsterdam, Jan. 11.—Count Czernin, Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, discussing the situation of the peace conference at Brest Litovsk on Thursday, said that as Russia's allies had not replied to the invitation to participate in the negotiations, it was now a question of a separate peace between Russia and the Central Powers.He gave reasons for not wishing to transfer negotiations to neutral territory, and said that if the Russians were animated by the same intentions as the Central Powers, the result of the negotiations would be satisfactory; if not, the responsibility for the war would fall exclusively on the Russians. Dr. Von Kuehlemann, the German Foreign Minister, said he considered what the difficulties which had interrupted previous negotiations were not sufficient to justify the failure of the peace work and a presumable resumption of hostilities. He said it is the fixed and unchangeable determination of the Central Powers not to conduct elsewhere the peace negotiations begun at Brest Litovsk. LONDON PRESS TICKLED. London, Jan. 12.—The morning newspapers welcome heartily the decision of the House of Lords on woman suffrage, which gives the vote to about six million women and ends the long wrangle which has troubled the country for years. It is true that the third reading of the bill is to be disposed of, but it is not believed that this has any prospects of success even if pressed to a vote. AMBASSADOR LEAVES. Washington, Jan. 11.—Almaro Sato, Japanese AmbassadoT, left today for Tokio, turning over affairs to Counsellor Tauaka, who will remain in charge until the arrival of Sato's successor.THE NEEDS OF POLAND People Want An Army On Broad National Bases. Amsterdam, Jan. 11.—Before leaving Berlin Professor Kucharsevski, Polish Premier, announced he had put before the German Emperor the most urgent wishes of our Young Kingdom and had discussed with the German authorities the chief current questions concerning participation by Poland in the negotiations at Brest-Litovsk and the creation of a Polish army on a broad national basis. He suggested the abolition of a number of oppressive regulations in Poland; laid stress on the necessity of obtaining amnesty and discussed arrangements to hasten the assumption by the Polish Government of an administrative department and the question of a department of Polish diplomatic representatives to friendly and neutral nations. A despatch from Vienna says that the Polish Council of the Regency has arrived there for a conference with the Government. PEACE TERMS "OFF." Amsterdam, Jan. I I.—The Central Powers have withdrawn their peace terms made public at Brest Litovsk conference on Dec. 25th, it was announced by Dr. Kuehlemann, Foreign Secretary, in his speech at Brest Litovsk conference with the Russians yesterday. Owing to the non-accepttance by all the enemy powers of these terms, Dr. Kuehlemann stated that the document had become null and void. SAVING ELECTRIC POWER. Jersey City, N. J., Jan. I!.—What was described as a general industrial shut down took place here today when electric power for commercial purposes was discontinued for 24 hours by the public service corporation under its plan to conserve fuel by withholding electric power three days a week, in different sections of the State. 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