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DAKOTA FARMERS LEADER

DEFENSE F HOUSE COMMITTEE FIXES A PRE.

PAREDNE83 BILL—COINTINEN-

h V- ' TAL PLAN SET ASIDE.

A PEACE FORCE OF 575,000

' " . v ' . ' ? ' i i i

Measure Will Grant Nearjy Entire Program Suggested for Regular Army by Ex-Secretary Garrison—

••• • Fl ret Year's Expense $174,000,000.

IP

Weitem Ne«sp*per Viüca Nw< Service.

: Washington, D. C.—National pre-parednees legislation Look a long step forward in congress Monday when the house military committee reached a practical agreement on the outline of

,the army bill it will unanimously pre­sent for passage. Chairman Hay was

v authorized to frame the measure, which is a compromise for the con­tinental army plan advocated by for­mer Secretary Garrison and President Wilson.

y* Complete federalization of the Na-' tional Guard will be submitted for the

proposed continentals, and the White House was informed during the day. that the committee was a unit in sup-

. porting the plan, only the language : and minor details remaining to be

A., worked out. The measure will grant ., virtually the entire program mapped

out by Secretary Garrison for the reg-' nlar army, and even go farther than

he recommends in providing for re­serve military supplies. A total peace strength of 675,000 men in the stand-

' - ing army and the Guard combined will be provided for, with reserve systems

? to more than double the force in war. *• The expense for the whole system

> tbis year Is roughly estimated at $174,-' -- 000,000, exclusive of Panama canal de­

fenses, carried in another bill, pro* : posale for additional military schools

in ajfl states carried in the McKoller bill favorably defeated by the com-mlttee, with an appropriation of $3,-

<100,000 for this purpose, and whatever v:> more may later be decided upon in

'carrying out a scheme to foster the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in the United States, giving the country Its

, own , supply, of ingredients for explo­sives. The first year of the Garrison plan would have called for a total ex­penditure of $192,000,000. (

TWO DIE. IP ELECTRIC CHAIR.

, Double Exyeutje.n ,ln the Pennsylvania J,«.: ...J . Prison. ; " Beälefonle, Pa.—Roland S. 'Penning-

^•f'ton and George H. March were elec-l^-Jtroeuted Monday In the death house xM»f the new penitentiary here for mur-Slider in November, 1913, of S. Lewie fffTMnkerton, In Delaware county. A & jhard fight was made to save the men, -.'^"their cas6 having been carried to the pj Supreme court and then taken before

ithe hoard of pardons five times. Pen-S^äeington h said to tiave been the first -Tynperson of 'Quaker extraction to suffer

the death penalty in Pennsylvania»; •

. . Btatowe 420,000,000 Pounds. London.-—The house of commons

lias passed, new votes of credit.to the •mount of '£420.000,000. This is ex-

-'..pected to carry , the war to the end " of May. bringing the total sum appro-

^h yrlated by means of votes of credit sV'slnce the outbreak of the war to £2,-

082,000,000—a #um, according to Prem-i «• ler Aequlth, "not only beyond prece-K'dent. but actually beyond the imagina-

. y, :tlon of any financier of this or any Other country." ' —r-! : y V :

Anonymous Lottere of Warning. t New York.—American citizens who booked passage on the French liner Hspagne, scheduled to sail from New

& York for Bordeaux, Prance, Thursday, ^-'"February 24, received anonymous let­

ters calling attention to the proposed new submarine policy announced by Germany and Warning them not to em

fbark, according to Information re-ieeived by officials of the British con-iisulate here. "v ; 'vfv

Ciar»S Meii Push Forward, iv,"' | London.—The Russians have occu­

pied the entire Lake Van district, the Turks retiring southward and yren evacuating Bitlis, according to a Petro­grad dispatch received in Rome and given out hwa by .the, Wireless Press.

the other wing*,* according to the (Uspatch, the Russian) advance guards ' kve arrived within a short distance ok Ttebizoiid, on the Black sea coast.

• • - •• ' :l Marooned and In Danger.

Nätchez, Miss.—Reports of acute fferlng and appeals for relief reach«

Matches 'from Concordia and Ten-has parishes in northern Louisiana,

here a half? flogen towns not heard .»from tor several days were said to Tw inundated, with their. inhabitants

;«Haarooned and ia immtnent danger.

Must Pay the Tax. , ' Washington, D. C.—The supreme «•an has upheld the corporation tas as imposed upon mining companies.,

K Sioux City, la.—Oral arguments on appeal Of George Pelrce, former

>4volice chief>'*o the supreme coart from t the verdict 6f the district court jury,

hrhlcli convicted him of conspiracy, llrbe heard by supreme court Ju»

at the May- term at Des Mennes. Notice to that effect haa been received fcy Coanty Attorney O. T. Naglestad,

the prosecution, and Henderson Friboi|rg, attorneys for the d» , Pelrce isT under a three-year

•entence at the Fort Madison peniten­tiary imposed bi Judge John W. An*

Russia to Ivy Warships. is .negotiating with

M tbe Immediate purchase oi WtmtißS warshlpa which were captured

B# ' j&ina1is. Ni>. James P.

ei the dtttilet oeeart, died at his «iuto lMnaty 21 ct the grip

South

NEWS OF SOUTH DAKOTA

Wwrtern New,paper t!n!nn Sen Serrlce.

Miller Odd Fallows have purchased a building which will be converted in­to a lodge home for the Odd Fellows and Rebekah lodges, instead of rent­ing.

Armour automobile owners have or­ganized an association, and during the coming spring and summer will materially aid in improving the pub­lic highways leading to and from Ar­mour.

Witten voted upon the proposition of incorporation and it carried by a vote of 7 to 1. Witten expects a rapid growth, as the crops in that section for the past two years have been ex­cellent.

The proposition to bond consolidat­ed school district No. 1 in the sum of $8,000, for the purpose of building a new school house, carried at Roslyn by a majority of 16. A total of 166 votes was polled.

Farmers In the territory adjacent to Mitchell have drafted articles of incor­poration for a co-operative supply house, and will establish a warehouse in Mitchell. The organization is cap­italized for $100,000.

A large number of the farmers pi near Wessington have organized a farmers' club, and will hold meetings at intervals to discuss various branch­es of modern farming and other mat­ters which will be helpful to them.

Miss Emma J, Hemauer of Sioux Skoug's candy kitchen, Sioux Falls, has entered the "Beauty and Brains" contest being conducted by Photoplay magazine, according to a communica­tion received from that publication.

Sioux Falls is one of 1,727 communi­ties throughout thetcountry which are considering some preparation for a Baby Week" campaign, according to

a bulletin issued by the Children's bu­reau of the U. S. department of labor.

Sol Bloom, one of the oldest mer­chants in Deadwood and well known through the northwest, suffered a par­alytic stroke at his home there and is In a serious condition. Mr. Bloom whose exact ace is not known, is be lleved to be close to 85 years of age.

At the family home in Sioux Falls, occurred the death of Rev. Thomas Thompson, aged 64, one of the best known clergymen of that section ol South Dakota and adjacent territory in northwestern Iowa and southwest­ern Minnesota. Death resulted from a stroke of paralysis.

At a meeting of farmers in the vicin­ity of Miller which was addressed by H. O. Bratsberg of Aberdeen, presi­dent of the Farmers' Equity Union oi that place, steps were taken toward the organization of an Equity Union at Miller and the building of a farm­ers' elevator.

George Davis of near Lantry, who started with three ccrws and two year­lings a little over five years ago, now has a herd of 43 head of cattle, and expects a crop of calves this spring of 22 head. During this time he has bought seven head of cattle, but has sold the same number, tha herd being the natural increase.

A shortage of horses is being feared In the state owping to the activities of French army horse buyers, who claim that they have purchased and shipped upwards of 1,000 horses from near Mobridge alone during the last year. They are still buying and paying fan­cy prices for horses to be u?ed at the, European battle front.

Frank J. Purdy of Mitchell has Just been appointed by United States Sen­ator E. S. Johnson as one of the sef> geant-at-arms in the senate at Wash­ington to fill a vacancy. Mr. Purdy will leave as soon as he can dispose of his bill posting, painting and paper-hanging business, either by sale or lease. He has been active In the Dem­ocratic faction In Mitchell for sev-• r i f . y e a r s . ' > ' • •

A course in embalming and sanitary science offered this year for the first time at the University of South Da­kota and preliminary to the state ex­amination of embalmers at Pierre on May 18, will start, at Vermillion on March 8 and continue uptil April 19. The scientific subjects, *hlch include work in anatomy, bacteriology, chem­istry and 'sanitary science are under the direction of the college of medi­cine. Mr. Callaway, of Vermillion, will have charge of the practical work of embalming and funeral direction.' ' A controversy extending over a number of years between the farmers whose land adjoins the public high­way between Brooklyn and Pleasant townships in Lincoln coanty, near Beresford, finally has been adjusted to the satisfaction of all concerned. The difficulty arose over a survey made In the' pioneer days. It was deter­mined by the farmers Interested that the old homestead survey made in 1878 by Horance Austin should be the standard in future. The claim of the residents of Brooklyn township was that they were short about a rod of land, which cuts a great deal of figure now tSet SaflB lend in that vicinity has become so valuable. In the pio­neer days a few acres more or less made little difference.

A complete file of almanacs since the year 1778 has at last been secured by the department of history, after a number of years' search through sec­ond hand lists. The almanacs give a snrpristns let of cwrrent event mate­rial of the times, and are found very moNI in tsCsnmo library work. Very freyssntly questions ssked. by dtlsens of the state oonoemteg conditions of

the nee of these booklets. Macs of

SOLVES A PROBLEM PERISHO TELLS BREEDERS WHY

BOYS LEAVE FARM FOR ' CITY.

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

From the Capital City, the Various State Institutions and from

Many Different Parts of the Sunshine State.

Western Net. «paper ünlon New» Service.

Pierre.—It's the eternal feminine! E. C. Perisho, president of the South

Dakota State college at Broolcings, told the members of the Interstate Farmers and Breeders' association, at Sioux City, Iowa, that he had dis­covered the reason why the, boy and girl in the country gravitated to the city. His answer to the age old prob­lem is woman.

Pretty city maidens who go to the country as teachers. are responsible for much of the social unrest among the farmer sons and daughters and the desertion of the farms, according to the educator.

"If I was a member of a board of education in any rural community I would not employ a city school teach­er unless I knew that she- was inter­ested in farm work, for if she is not interested in country life- it will mean ruination to the school. The teacher must be interested in the things in which the people are interested.

"1 know of a community where a etty girl was employed as a teacher ind in a few months she had turned the ideals of the pupils topsy turvy. She did not like farm life and soon destroyed the pupils' liking for the country."

President Perisho declared that one of the greatest problems to be dealt vith by the farmer is the longing of the boys to get off the farm and the similar desire of the girls.

He outlined four arguments why the younger generation want to leave the farm. They want to get away from •.he isolation of the country; they want to get in more congenial com­pany; they want to be where they can be-in better homes, and they want to be connected with big things. In combating these arguments President Perisho said that the telephone änd the automobile have left but few Iso­lated rural communities, and modern improvements now can be applied to the country home as much as in the cities. Agriculture, he declared, is the biggest thing in the country.

He urged the establishment of the consolidated public schools. They are helping keep the boy and girl on the Iowa (farms, he said. Within the last decade the, cities in South Da­kota and Iowa have increased in pop­ulation three times as fast as the ru­ral districts, which has indicated that there is a sort of migration from the farm to the city, President Perisho asserted. The loss in the country population has been greater than the gain in the growth of the cities, he stated. . «-

Another tragical situation is to be found on the farm in that 40 per cent to 60 per cent of the farmers in sec­tions of Iowa and South Dakota are renters, and in most cases their leases run only a year, declared the speaker. , Despite the fact that the rural pop­ulation has decreased and the percent­age of renters has increased, the last decade has been prosperous. Presi­dent Perisho pointed out that farm products have increased 72 per cent in price, while goods purchased by the farmer have increased only about 23 pter cent; - Farm values have In­creased 128 per cent.

Andrew E. Lee of Vermillion, S. D., former governor of South Dakota, pre­sided at the sessions.

Short Course "for Redskins, i A farmers' short course for Indians

will be held at the Cheyenne Agency near Forest City on April 8 to 10, in­clusive. At the short course the fol­lowing subjects will be discussed: Seed testing, Lon 8. Tolliver; corn growing, Henry LeBeau; potato grow­ing, Henry Swimmer; alfalta growing, Basil Claymore; miscellaneous gar­den crops, Edward White Face; cattle, Isaac Gilbert; horses, Harry King­man; sheep, Albert LeBeau; hogs, Frank Kinney; poultry, Mrs. James Pearm^n; dairying, Mrs. Julia A. Smith; root houses, T. J. Sheppard; preparation of soil, I*eter Three Legs; fertilizing, Henry Hodgkiss; cultiyat-ing, George Larrabee; harvesting, Har­ry F. C. Woods; shelter for stock, William Nichols. All the speakers on the program are Indians except Messrs. Tolliver and Kinney, and the program indicates that the redskins of the Cheyenne reservation are mak­ing rapid progress, in agriculture.

Watertown Man Chosen. Orin M. Lane of Watertown, S. D.,

has been nominated by President Wil­son to be register of the land office at Rapid City, S. D.

Avlatrlx at State Fair. C. N. -Mcllvainev secretary of the

itate fair, was in Chicago last week to sign contracts with Miss Ruth Law, the famous aviatrix who astonished thousands at the San Francisco world fair last summer with her daring aero­plane eights. Miss Law Is the only wenn filer la the world who loops the loop, flies upside down aad other­wise emulates such aviators as the tale Pegood. Lincoln Beachey and Alt flmtfc. n Is expected that she *• teoneef tke

A resume of the week's events condensed for readers of the Dakota Farmers' Leader.

Preao Proves Success. Proso, a hardly grain raised on the

high, dry plains of Siberia, has been transplanted In the uncultivated soil of South Dakota and proven such a success that it soon will rank with alfalfa as a profitable crop, declares E. E. Perisho, president or South Da/-kota State college. South Dakota hav­ing failed to force nature to produce crops not suited to Its soil, has ex­plored and experiment-id until it has found adaptable crops, said T.Ir, Peri­sho. "Every acre of South Dakota land soon will be under cultivation," says Mr. Perisho. "Proso is a hardy grain capable of producing food both for humans and for stock. In a few years there will not be an acre in the state that will not produce twenty to thirty bushels of this grain. The State col­lege is concerned with two agricul­tural objects," he declares. "One is the conservation of the fertility of the soil. Nature has endowed the soil ot South Dakota with three qualities, to replenish which would entail more than the cost of a farm. These are potash, phosphoric acid and nitrates. A farmer is foolish to exhaust these valuable minerals, merely to wring the last cent of productive value from th-e soil. He should replenish these min­erals from time to time. The college's other goal is the development of crop? in western South DaXota, where the soil is unsuited to th«i raising of corn wheat and the avery ge crops. Alfal­fa, proso and other grains are being substituted."

RENEWED ACTIVITY ON WESTERN FRONT 6525555

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Celebrate Growth of Normal. The biggest ovent in the history of

the Northern Normal and Industrial school of Aberdeen was celebrated when nearly 9b0 students, training school' pupils and members of the fac­ulty marched through the streets of the city in commemoration of the er rollment of the school's 700th student. Edward Matthews of Arnott, Hughes county. Stops were made at several of the business houses of the city where souvenirs of the occasion were given those in the parade. The pa rade wound up at the Orpheum thea­ter, where the entire house had been purchased for the third performance of "Teh Birth of a Nation." In the parade were the 718 students off the normal, the 41 members of the school faculty and the 108 training school pupils. Thirty-one school organiza­tions, all in a flourishing condition, of "The Birth of a Nation." In the an elaborate program was rendered at the normal auditorium, Gov. Byrne who is a candidate for the vice pres­idency, being- the principal speaker of the evening.

Dogs Carry Hog Cholera. "Fourteen per cent of South Dakota

farms, where hog cholera exists, have It because cholera virus was carried there by roaming dogs," says Dr. C. C. Lipp, veterinarian at the South Da­kota State college. He states, also, that the recent oubreak of foot and mouth disease was spread to hundreds of farms by dogs: that rabies in ani­mals is spread almost exclusively by dogs, and that other diseases, like tu-berculois, contagious abortion, black­leg, anthrax and chicken cholera, may be spread by roaming dogs. This Is not a complete list of bacterial dis­eases, but complete enough to make a serious case against the roaming dog. "A good dog," says Dr. Lipp, "is a valauble addition to any farm., A worthless dog is one of the greatest nuisances, and may become a source of actual dinger; A good dog is good only as long as he remains at home. As soon as he leaves the premises un­accompanied by the owner, he be­comes both worthless and dangerous, regardless of his breeding or intrinsic value."1 - vi

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Grazing Permits Will Be Granted. Officers of the forest service will

hold a meeting in Custer' in March for the purpose of granting grazing per­mits on different sections of the Har­ney National forest,,in that vicinity. This will be pleasing news to the stock raisers ftnd homesteaders of the vicinity, who will be glad to avail themselves of the opportunity to again lease land on the forest reserve for the grazing of their stock. During the meeting officers of the forest serv­ice, will discuss with the applicants for grazing permits the matter of range allotments, the best distribu­tion of stock on the forest reserve, the question of wat6r supply and proposed changes in the method of handling the surplus lands of the reserve as may prove of benefit to both the settlers aid the forest service vnf---V-I™

_ y

, Seed Corn in Demand. Partners in this part of the state

who have raised seed corn which will meet the required tests are hearing from seed dealers all the way from the north line of North Dakota, down Into central Iowa in regard to the amount of seed they can furnish, and a good price is held out to them It their seed will come up to require­ments. Rett Dean of Stanley county, who secured a crop last year which tests out 80 per cent fertile, has sev­eral offers for his crop at a price which will give him a fine return for his work In securing this seed.

After Antelope. : Deputy Edholm of the state game

department has gone into camp north­east of Belle FOurche, to make an organised effort to capture a hand of antelope to locate on the state game reserve in the Black Hüls. There are yet several Imnds of these animals ranging in the northwest counties of the state, and regardless of the abso­lute prohibition against killing these, the bands Me growing smaller each year, and it is hoped that enough oi themhe captured to allow them tf

ob the state

1—Heavy artillery action in Flanders is followed by Germans yeueiraunt; trenches' southeast of Poperinghe. 2—British have been shelling Lille with heavy artillery. 3—British pour heavy artillery tire into Lens and Lieven. 4—Paris claims important gain at Frise, on south bank of Somme river. 5— German's launch heavy artillery action against French line between Oise river and Reims. 6—Germans capture 700 yards of Frenc{i trenches at Ste. Marie-a-Py, in Champagne district. 7—South of Lusse, east of St. Die, Germans report destruction of French position by mine. 8—Near Abersept Germans report capture of French first line trenches on a 400-yard front, and 200 yards at Seppois, in upper Alsace. Paris reports recapture of positions

WILSON ENTERS RACE UNEARTH BOMB PLOT

GIVES CONSENT FOR USE OF HIS .NAME IN OHIO.

Unwilling to Engage in Contest, but Desires Voters to Indicate

Their Wishes.

Washington, Feb. 16. — President Wilson formally gave his consent on Monday that his name be used as a candidate for renomination. In a let­ter to the secretary of state of Ohio the president stated that he was un­willing to enter a contest for the re-nomination, but was ready to permit the use of his name In the coming pri­mary in order that the Democrats of Ohio might make known their prefer­ence.

The president made known his po­sition in order to comply with the Ohio primary law, which requires can­didates for delegates to the party con­ventions to make known their first and second choices before February 25 and also requires that the candidates for delegates have the consent of their choices to make use of their names. The president was formally notified of the requirements of the law last week and he wrotd Charles Q. Hildebrandt, secretary of state of Ohio, as- follows:

"I am inclosing to you a letter the occasion of which I dare say will be quite obvious. Friends in Ohio have called my attention to section 4951 of the general code of Ohio as amended In 1914 with regard to primary elec­tions and have requested that I indi­cate my willingness to have my name used. I accordingly take the liberty of sending you the inclosed letter as formal permission under the statute."

The letter the president inclosed was as follows:

"While I am entirely unwilling to enter into any contest for the presi­dential nomination of the Democratic party, I am willing to permit the use of my name that the Democrats in Ohio may make, known their prefer­ences In regard to that nomination.

"In order, therefore, to satisfy the technical requirements of the statutes of the state of Ohio, I herdby consent to the use of my' name as a candidate for the presidency by any candidate who seeks to be elected a delegate to the national Democratic convention."

IMPORTANT NEWS ITEMS

Copenhagen, Feb. 17.—The Swedish government has decided to ask parlia­ment for $6,200,000 to defray the cost of maintaining neutrality defenses, says a dispatch from Stockholm.

Amsterdam, Feb. 17.—According to the Echo Beige, three persons were tilled and ten wounded at Assenede, Belgium, when German soldiers fired Into a crowd assembled to protest against further German requisitions.

asff! ____________ Battleship Oregon Retired. 1

Vallejo, Cal., Feb. 17.—The battle­ship Oregon, "bulldog of the navy," went on the retired list when she was turned over without formality to the naval militia of California at the Mare Island pavy yard.

Wilson's Petition Put on File. Sfe-Springfield, HI., Feb.. 17.—Charles

Boesch enstein, Democratic national committeeman for Illinois, filed Wood-row Wilson's primary petition as a candidate for the Democratic nomina­tion for president. ,

llllnolsan Mexican Captive. Springfield, 111., Feb. 16.—George F.

Huakey, former resident of this city, has been captured by Mexican bandits and held for $850 iMsom, according to a letter received here from Mr. Huskey's

£.

Arms on Canadian Border. Washington, Feb. 16.—Agents of the

department of Justice have located several secret stores of arms and am­munition along the Canadian border. They fear an invasion of Canada and

its are watching eech supply

CHICAGO POLICE FIND PLAN TO MURDER AND WRECK.

Gigantic Conspiracy Disclosed by Ar­rest of Italian Held as Accom­

plice In Poison Case.

Chicago, Feb. 15.—An anarchistic plot that proposed a veritable holo­caust among churches, public institu­tions and the clergy of the United States was disclosed by the Chicago •police.

Among the effects of John Allegrinl, anarchist confidant of Jean Crones, alleged poisoner of Archbishop Mun-delein's banquet soup, were found let­ters that planned crimes that reduce the wildest dreams of a Borgia and make the poisoning of a hundred ban­quet guests a mere detail.

Already, according to Deputy Chief Schuettler, incendiary fires, some "de­structive and some less successful, have attacked more than fifty churches in Chicago alone.

The existence of an anticlerical or­ganization of "destroyers" is regarded as certain by Chief Healey, Capt Nicholas Hunt of the detective bureau, and Deputy Schuettler, who last night completed the study of translations of Allegrini's letters.

Allegrinl has been formally arrested and charged with conspiracy to com­mit murder. Previous to his formal detention he was held in close confine­ment after being taken into custody ment after being taken into custody.

Allegrinl and Crones were members of a committee of fifteen who are di­rectors of the tremendous conspiracy.

Plans and specifications indicated huge Chicago buildings were marked for early destruction.

Detective Sergeant Paul Ricclo, who made translations of the bristling let­ters, deducted that certain of the ring­leaders in the international conspiracy have headquarters . in Rome, in the very shadow of the Vatican.

AMBASSADOR MARYE TO QUIT

Washington Report Says U. S. Diplo­mat at Petrograd Has Broken

Down Under War Strain.

Washington, Feb. 17.—United States Ambassador George T. Marye, at Pe­trograd, Russia, has broken down un­der the wfcr strain. He has decided that he must retire from the diplomat­ic service. Confidential advices re­ceived here on Tuesday say that the ambassador either already has re­signed, or will do so In the Immediate future.

Ambassador Marye's confidential secretary, Ray Baker, reached the United States Monday, and hurried to Washington. He declined positively to discuss the report that he had been commissioned by the ambassador to present his resignation to President Wilson. Ambassador Marye was born in Maryland, but has lived for many years in California.

Army Aeroplanes to Manila. San Diego, Cal., Feb. 18.—Four ot

the United States army's new hydro­aeroplanes, which have been given tests here recently by Floyd Smith, a civilian aviator, are to be shipped to Manila.

Refuse to Indorse Whitman. New York, Feb. 18.—By a vote of 36

to 8, the committee on resolutions of the Republican state convention on Wednesday refused to incorporate in the main platform an indorsement of Gov. Charles S. Whitman.

Aetna Nitro Plant Burned. S*£$ Gary, Ind., Feb. 17.—The nitro plant

of the Aetna Explosives company near here was destroyed by fire. Officials off the company declared the jilase originated from a leaky steam pipe. A loss of about |20,000 was caused.

For U. 8. Ownership Inquiry. Washington, Feb. 17.—By a vote of

89 to 33 the senate went on record as favoring congressional Inquiry into the advisability of government owner­ship of public utilities as gov­ernment regulation sad control.

RUSS TAKE EDZERUM GRAND DUKE REPORTS GREAT

VICTORY OVER TURKS TO THE CZAR.

BATTLE LASTED FiVE DAYS

More Than 40,000 Turkish Troops Were Made Prisoners by Russians —Losses on Both Sides Heavy—Two German Commanders May Be Lost.

London, Feb. 18.—Led by Grand Duke Nicholas, the Russian army of the Caucasus has captured the great Turkish fortress of Erzerum, in east­ern Asia Minor.

The following official statement was given out on Wednesday in Petrograd:

"Grand Duke Nicholas has tele­graphed to the emperor as follows:

" 'God has granted to the Prave troops of the army of the Caucasus such great help that Erzerum has . been taken after five days of unprece­dented assaults."

" 'I am inexpressibly happy to an­nounce this victory to your imperial majesty.'"

The blow is the most serious yet struck at Turkey. Early relief of the British forces operating in Mesopota­mia, including the beleaguered garri­son of Kut-El-Amara, is predicted.

The fall of Erzerum is expected to open the way for a crushing advance by the Russians through eastern Ar­menia in the spring. Constantinople itself might be imperiled. By this contemplated drive the. Russians, it is said, hope to bring Turkey to her knees.

Bfore than 40,000 Turkish troops were captured in Erzerum with the Investment of the fortress, according to Tlflis dispatches. Two noted Ger­man leaders, Field Marshals von der Goltz and Limon von Sanders have recently been reported at Erzerum. It is not yet known whether they es­caped.

The Russian campaign was unpar-alelled in military history. The ad­vance was pressed across a bleak and rugged country, over mountains and through narrow defiles in Arctic cold. Russian official reports state that at places the soldiers fought their ad­vance through snow fifteen feet deep and in a temperature of 25 degrees be­low zero.

The grand duke's message was re­ceived shortly after a report from his headquarters that nine of the defend­ing forts of Erzerum had been taken with the bayonet. The soldiers swept up the mountain sides and swarmed through gaps made by the heavy guns:1

Erzerum is the chief town in Ar­menian Turkey, and as the center of important roads and strategic lines Is of vast importance. Its capture opens a new road to Constantinople.

It has a population of about 45,000. and lies at ao altitude of 6,250 feet in the Caucasus mountains. It was first held by the Turks in 1517.

LUSITANIA CASE HELD UP

Lansing Satisfied With Revised Agree­ment, But Wants Assurances on

Liners' Safety. >

Washington, Feb. 18.—The Luslta-nia case Is held up and the entire question of submarine warfare re­opened as a result of the German and Austrian declarations that armed merchantmen shall be sunk without warning, it was declared on Wednes­day by a high official of the state de­partment. After a conference with Count von Bernstorff, tltto German am­bassador, Secretary of State Lansing announced that the Lusitania case de­pends "upon how submarine warfare is to be conducted in the future." The revise of the Lusitania answer, sub­mitted by the German ambassador, la satisfactory to the administration, and it was admitted that it would be for­mally accepted, provided the adminis­tration is told that passenger ships are not to be sunk without warning.

NINE DIE IN THEATER FIRE

School Children Lose Lives During Panic in Opera House at

Mexla, Tex. -

Mexia, Tex., Feb. 18.—Nine persons were burned te death and fifteen peo­ple injured when a fire here destroyed the opera house, where the public schools were holding an art exhibit. Several other stores and residences were destroyed by the flames which originated In a grocery store recently closed.

The dead: Ray Cox, Oscar Lohau­sen, Claude Johansen, -Paul Yeldell, Ray Hltt, Prof. C. Burton, A. Wefs-ner, superintendent of schools; one negro, name unknown; little son ot Professor Burton.

Most of those burned to death were children caught in the panic. Professor Burton and Superintendent Weisner died while trying to save the children.

Drop 168 Bombs on Bulgare. London, Feb. 18.—Thirteen French.

aeroplanes on Wednesday afternoon raided the town and camps of Strum-nitza, Bulgaria, dropping 158 bombs. Several fires were caused. All the ma­chines returned safely.

British Destroyer Damaged by Fire. New York, Feb. 18.—The British de­

stroyer Viking was towed into Dover harbor afire on January 29, according to advices to q New York shipping firm, having been discovered In a sink­ing condition In the channel.

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Accept Aked's Resignation. San Francisco, Feb. 17.—Trustees

of the First Congregational church an­nounced their acceptance of the resig­nation offered by Dr. Charles F. Aked, their pastor, now a member. of the peace board at The Hague J t *3

ä* •-> # v ;; u. S» Plans a New Query. Washington, Feb. 17.—The United

States, in the near future, may make some Inquiries of Germany and Aus­tria as to how they Intend to deter­mine whether merchantmen are armed

sinking then without warnins

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