About Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1916)
cTjt Ilivnl at J&etwMWddg PmirnHl VOLUME XVIII LUSITANIA DISPUTE SETTLED. BUT U. S. FACESJJEW ISSUE Lansing ,in Accepting Agree ' ment, Asks Assurances That Submaries Not Attack Liners Without Warning « Wv Associated Tress*) WASHINGTON. Feb lensing today accepted the Lusitania agreement as acceptable to the I ntte •states, in so u relatesto that , bat asked -Count von Bernstorf! for assurances that Germany ’W not carry its policy of sinking merchant ships without! warning to liners, even if they carry defensive armament. The question of what constitutes de fensive armament is to be determined later in away not yet agreed upon. It is suggested that the United States may propose thaV guns mounted on the stern of ships and capable of being swung from 15 to 30 degrees in either direc tion might come within that class. It was stated authoritatively that Germany. because of its unusual posi tion. canpot and will not accept the suggestion of the I nited States as it now stands that liners carrying arms shall be Immune from attack under pre vious assurances. German? is prepared to inform the United States that if- pas - Wenger liners leaving American ports with defensive armament are to t*e immune from submarine attack without warning, as the German gov ernment promised last September in the Arabic case, the Berlin governent ex l<ects some assurances that the liners will not attack the submarines. It was said that Mr. Lansing asked the ambassador if Germany intended to .abide by its promise given in the Arabic case, not to sink unresisting “liner.:’ without warning. Count Bernstorf! Is said to have replied that it was his personal opinion Germany would do so. He suggested the possibility of postpon ing the effective date of the new sub marine campaign to give time for nego tiations to clarify the situation. Sec retary Lansing, however, was non-com mittal WATT FOR APPENDICES. Secretary Lansing said today that be fore the state department came to a 'onclusion on the effect of the new submarine announcement it wanted to study th appedices attached to the noti fication which were coming by mail. The appendices contain descriptions of altered attacks on submarines by mer chant ships and a copy of the so-called secret British admiralty instructions to masters to destroy submarines when possible. The department wanta to ex- * to* assurances given to the United States by the entente allies that liners sailing from American ports would dismount their guns. German officials here auqe to the con clusion today that the state department considers that their new memorandum has upset to some extent the question of reprisals in the war zone about the British Isles, and also that of cruiser warfare in the North sea. NINE PEOPLE PEHISH 111 OPEN HOUSE FIRE Building Collapses and Gas Explodes, Total Damage Will Reach SIOO,OOO ißy Associated Fraas.) . MEXIA Tex., Feb. 17.—Clearing away of debris in the ruins of the old Mexia opera house and several joining struc tures was continued here today* in an effort to find additional bodies of vic tims of the opera house collapse and resultant gas explosion which cost the lives of at least nine persons and did property damage estimated between J 75.040 and , JIOO.OOO. Although a “lose check last night in dicated that everyone in the opera house when it collapsed had been accounted for, there was a possibility that other persons may have perished in it or near by buildings. A revised list of the known dead fol lows: Prof. A. B. Weisner, superintendent Mexia public* schools, and wife. Raj- Cox. Oscar and Claude Johannsenn. broth ers. ’ Paul Yeldeii. Prof. Bruton. principal of Mexia schools, and one negro. * Os the dosen or more injured the jen-year-old daughter of Prof, and Mrs. Weisner was most seriously hart but probably will recover. 'Uncle Bob’ Knox, At 93, Free to Be Married Again 7wvl»Tt,N. <ia._ Feb. 17.—“ Uncle Dob* Knox is’free again! The 93-year-old Mexican war veteran, who has been married seven times in his eventful life, this week secured his final verdict in his divorce proceeding against th% seventh Mrs. Knox, and Judge Fite has advised him to "go and sin no more.” But “Uncle Bob" won’t have It this way. He knows that this being Leap Year, there is no telling how many maidens will be seeking his hand in marriage, so he is making no rash promises as to the future. He states that he feelS'like he -he can marry as many times as he wants to. and he wouldn’t promise the court to stay out of double harness. According to “Uncle Bob," he began fighting while a youth, seeing service tn the Mexican war. and, aside from a few happy years with several of his wives with whom he was congenial, he has been fighting ever sirice. He acknowledges that he still has good eyesight, and is not likely to pass up a efignee for happiness if it romes his way. so before, the year is out. he may again contract matrimony. He’s just, ninety-three years of age, and hasfi’t even thought of the grave. SENATOR SMITH HAS HEW PLIN fOR THE 11. S. IBMT Propose to Give" Soldiers ful Trailing for Pursuits \ of Peace / T BT BAX.FK SMITH. WASHINGTON. Feb. 17.—A compre hensive plan for Increasing the army of the United States in keeping with Pres ident Wilsotfs preparedness policy was presented in the senate today by Sena tor Hoke Smith in the shape of an amendment to the military bill. The chief feature of the plan proposed by Mr. Smith involves the preparation of men in the army for peaceful pursuits as well as for war. It is believed that this central idea will have a tendency to cneck the pos sibility of militarism in America, and will, by making the army attractive, contribute at once to its popularity with all classes of Americans and improve its personnel and efficiency. The amendment provides that the reg ular army shall consist of 250,000 enlist ed men. and that this increase shall con tinue until September 1, 1921. The en listments shall be for a period of six years, two years with the colors and four years in a reserve force. No men under seventeen nor over twenty-six years ok! shall be eligible tot enlistment, and nond shall be enlisted who has not completed a course m a grammar school. UTILIZE POSTMASTERS. As a means of assisting the regular recruiting agencies of the army and the navy, it is provided that postmasters shall be named assistant recruiting of ficers under such regulations as the president ma^ - prescribe. The members of the reserve, .it is pro vided, shall report twice each year to their postmaster and shall receive 110 a year while members of the reserve. They shall be subject to call to the colors only in case of actual war, or when war is imminent. The feature of the plan that seems particularly appealing provides that in addition to the regular military serv ice soldiers on active duty shall devote ninety-six hours monthly to study and to receiving instructions upon education al lines not directly connected with the military service but preparatory to their return to civil life. SENATOR MAKES STATEMENT. Tn presenting his amendment. Senator Smith made this statement to the sen ate. which provoked unusual interest: “An army of 250,000 men with the col ors and 125,000 of them going each year tq the reserves for four years would make available at the end of five years 500,000 trained reserves, in addition to the regular army. “If the two years' training with the colors could be made also a training life .with vocational in struction ineJflffed. the service would be greatly elevated and it would be sought by more than the number allowed. "If the army officers are called upon to aid in preparation not only for war, but for peace, if they accept this as a part of their service following gradua tion at West Point and Annapolis, can any one doubt that their high sense of duty will bring a great contribution to the preparation for peaceful pursuits. “The young men serving for two years with the colors should be furnish ed opportunity while there to grow in mind And character. “The provision for the .use of post masters in the recruiting service is -suggested by the testimony or Generial Edwards before the senate committee on military affairs. He pointed out that other countries employ civilian officials to supplement the work of the military authorities to keep up the personnel of their military establishments. I feel sure the postmasters of the country would gladly respond to any call made upon them to assist in giving an ade quate army and navy. If the military authorities can use them they would be only too glad to fill any place in the national System. of defense that may be suggested to them. RECRUITING FACILITIES LIMITED. “I have no doubt the present recruit ing service both of the army and the navy is highly efficient, but its facili ties are limited. . With the plan of us ing the* post masters a young man could call at his postoffice and secure in formation as to the terms under which he could enlist. This would also pro vide a greatly improved system of en listment in the event of war. “But the chief feature of the sugges tion is that the two years with the colors be used equally to train the young men who enlist for the peaceful pur suits of life, as well as for service in the case of war. “The service with the colors should be made a preparation for both peace and war built upon plans that will be of real benefit to the men who enlist. The young men while with the colors should be encouraged to save half their pay, or it might be reduced and the pay while the reserves proportionately increased. “I present these suggestions hoping that the policy of preparing the -men with the colors for civil life may at least in some shape become a part of any plan adopted for an increase of the army.’’ , DEFENSE PLANS THINS SNIPE TEBT RAPIDLY Both House and Senate Mili tary Committees Will Soon Be Ready to Report WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.—Plans for increasing the regular army and for th® federalization of the national guard be gan to take definite shape today. The house military committee under took the task of framing a military fed eralization bill while the senate commit tee resumed work on its measure to in crease the regular army to between 160,- 000 and 200.000 men. The senate com mittee is said to have incorporated into Its bill provision for better manning of the coast defenses and other items over which there is no disagreement. Items over w'hich there is difference of opinion will be left to be worked out later. It is generally expected that the mili tary bills will be laid before the house and senate within three weeks, although the naval building program probably will not be completed until Afay. Chair man Padgett, of the house naval com mittee, however, plans to expedite the heearing s ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1916. BRANDEIS WRECKED ROAD TO HELP NEW HUVEN, urn SAYS Moorfield Storey, Boston At torney, Tells of Suits Brought by Nominee to Paralyze Fi nances of Rival System .(Bv Associated Press.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.—Moorfield Storey, a Boston attorney, charged be -1 fore the judiciary sub-committee of the senate today that Louis D. Brandeis ' helped to wreck the New York and New England railroad in 1892 and 1893 with the result that it was absorbed by the New Haven road. Asked as to Mr ‘Brandeis’ reputation as a lawyer, Mr. Storey testified: "I think his reputation in the Bos ton bar is that he is a very capable, very energetic man, and if necessary , to advance his objects, he is not scrupu . lous as to bis methods, nor is he to : be trusted.'* Storey had been summoned by the committee in its inquiry into the fit ness of Mr. Brandeis for the supreme I court. Senator Walsh told the witness that C. W. Barron, of Boston, had said Brandeis was once employed to help wreck the New England railroad. “I think that is true,” said Mr. Storey. He proceeded to describe the New England as a competitor of the New Haven between Boston and New York. HARASSED NEW ENGLAND. “Shortly before the spring of 1892, *' he said, “the New Haven began to harass the New England, which ran part way to New York over the New Haven tracks. The New Haven first refused to advance freight for the New Eng land. It seriously interferred with its trains and there was every indication that it was the purpose of she New Haven road to destroy the New Eng ! land. “Iji the spring of 1892; Mr. Brandeis brought a series of ten suits against I the New England railroad in Massa ' chusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. “He was acting ostensibly for N. F. Goldsmith, a Boston liquor dealer and small New England stockholders and some associates. The bills were de signed to paralyze the financial opera tions of the New England road. One suit was to prevent the payment of dividends on preferred stock, another to prevent the issue of mortgage bonds and another attacked the New England’s leases on certain branch lines. "In the following year the Massa chusetts legislature Investigated rela tions of the New Haven and New Eng land roads. I conducted the hearing. a»r. Brandeis testified there that he was counsel in all these suits which impaired* the nnances of the New Eng land road, throwing it into receivers hands in 1893 from which it emerged as the property of the New Haven. GOLDSMITH A DUMMY? “The suits, while brought in the name of Gsldsmlth, were really brought in some other interests. Goldsmith was 1 unable to pay the expense of the suits. ; It appeared that Judge W. J. Kelly, of | New York, now on the New York su preme court, was interested in the case. When I asked Brandeis if he made any I charges to Goldsmith and his associates he admitted that he did not and said i money) was paid to him through Judge ’ Kelly. “It was apparent that the suits were i not brought in the interest of his os- I tcnsible clients. Brandeis took direc i tions from some outside source. Names | of those directly interested never were disclosed but the result of the fight was that the New Haven road eventual ly took over the property of its competi tor.’* • Having concluded its cross-examina tion of Sidney W. Winslow, president of the United Shoe Machinery company, re garding his charges of unprofessional conduct on the part of Mr. Brandeis, the committee was prepared to hear today Messrs. Storey and Whipple and other witnesses regarding the Warren will and I Lennox bankruptcy cases. Tomorrow the committee plans to hear ' Austin G. Fox, of New York, who is ap pearing as counsel for those opposed to I Mr. Brandeis* confirmation, make sin opening statement as--to charges his clients expect to prove and to take the testimony of any witnesses he may pro | duce. ' Charged W ith Plot To Kidnap Boys An Extort Ransom (By Associated Press.) EL PASO, Tex., Feb. 17. —Jesus Vil lasenor, former officer in the Villa army, and Werper Fiche, a refugee from Mexi co, are in jail today, and Dr. Henry A. Magruder, a dentist, is out on bond, all being charged tn an indictment with conspiracy to kidnap the nine-year-old sons of William L. x Tooley and Herman Andreas, bankers of this city, and hold them fdr ransom of 350,000. H According to county officials, the plan was to take the children into the moun tains of New Mexico and then send word it> lhe parents demanding ransom. The I money was to be deposited at a desig- Inated spot, after which the two boys I were to be liberated. COLORED FARMERS HOLD CONVENTION IN SAVANNAH II ■ (Special Dispatch to The Journal.) SAVANNAH, Ga., Feb. 17.—The sec ond day's session of the Colored Farm . ers’ convention at the Georgia State In . dustrial college, which was held today, . was attended by a great number of peo . pie, .both white and black. There were , some excellent addresses heard today ’ J. D. Price, the state commisisoner of ■ agriculture, was to have been present i and spoke, but the death of Mr. Hughes. ! his assistant, and his own disposition kept him away. Chancellor Barrow. of the State uni : versity, was present at the opening ses-, i sion yesterday, and he was also out for a time today. The chancellor is very • well plbased with the way this school • Is operated. It comes under his direc » tion. as it is a part of the State uni versity. OFFICIALS OP’ STATE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, which meets at the Piedmont hotel Saturday at noon to arrange the date for the presidential primary and to pass upon other matters affecting the party in Georgia. On the right, Judge E. J. Reagan, of McDonough, chairman of the committee, and St. Elmo Massengale, of Atlanta, secretary. u / fl fl I f fl fl ■ Jk wj / 'OKI DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE TO PLAN FOR ELECTIONS Committeemen Divided on Plans to Hold Primaries or Convention for Delegates The meeting of the state Democratic executive committee in Atlanta on Sat urday wil be a most important one, and it is expected that there will be a full attendance of commlttteemen. At this meeting the committee will fix the dates for the presidental primary and the primary for governor and other state house officials. It will also formu late the rules to govern these primaries and decide how the delegates to the national Democratic convention in St. Lcuis shall be chosen—whether in pri maries or by a convention —and whether a convention shall be held to nominate the successful candidates for governor and other state _)o>use While there seems to be a strong dis position to hold a convention to elect delegates to the St. Louis convention, there is apparently an equally strong disposition against holding a conven tion to nominate the state house of ficials. In the former instance it is pointed out that delegates to the national con- do not In reality hold any of iffe: that they simply hold a position of honor for but a few days; that they receive no compensation, but on the other hand are required to pay their own expenses. Those who oppose convention nomina tions for state house officials take the position that the last convention, that Teld at Macon, went on record as op posing convention nominations, and they hold that in races where no candidate receives a sufficient number, of votes to elect there should be a second pri mary to decide the nomination. It is believed that the presidental pri- The Semi-Weekly Journal . ♦ ♦ ♦ Two Years Pictorial Review . ♦.. One Year Regular Our Special Club $1.50 Price Price for Both Q FOR those who may not be famil iar with the high-class charac ter of the Pictorial Review we give • below* a partial list of the contents of the March issue. Note tjje list of distinguished contributors. You will find that each and every issue is fully up to this high standard. ABT. Cover design ..John R. Neill EDITORIAL. - The Four Real Medicines .. Dr. Frank Crane THE SERIAL. The Ilcart of Rachael (Illustrated) ;Kathleen Norris SHORT STORIES. ’ The Pruning-knife (illustratedt Andrew Soutar Faith (illustrated) ..,. ... Wallace Irwin Eunice .May and the New Thought (Illustrated) Caroline Lockhart Billy Fortune and the Way Things Happen <illustrated)WHlhim R. Lighten SPECIAL ARTICLES. The Widow's Mite (illustrated). v American Girls in Opera (Illustrated William Armstrong Four Moderate Priced Houses. When You Plan Your Home, What Shall We Do About Birth Control. Preparedness: First of a new series of inti mate articles of Interest to Mothers Anna Steese Richardson Spring-time Is Wrinkle-Time .... Leila Briggs POETRY. ' x - It’s Hard to Walt for Summer J. Walter Briggs SPECIAL DEPARTMENTS. Taking Care of the Vegetable Garden Claude 11. Miller Daughters of the Golden Treasure Peggy Key Scott New Books to give to Old Friends. .Jane Lee FOR YOUNGER READERS. Dolly Dingle of Dingle Dell.. Grace G. Drayton A New Series of Cut-outs. HOME-MAKING AND HOUSEHOLD. Individuality in the Living Room. How Kathleen Norris Keeps House Sarah .Addington More Corn-meal Recipes . .Ellse Ward Norris The Fireless Cooker for Every-day Use Harriet Ludlum Wholesome Honey Dishes. « FANCY WORK AND EMBROIDERY. Charming Luncheon Set In French Knots. Embroidered Collars In the Newest Shapes. FASHIONS FOR THE MONTH. In this department is shown several pages of the latest and most authentic fashions. SENTENCE FOB AGED LOTT IS DEFEBBED BT COURT Appeal for New Trial in Case of Father Who Slew Son DOUGLAS, Ga., Feb. 17.—The jury in the case of G. Wash Lott, charged with killing his son, W. L. Lott, after consid ering the for an hour and thirty five minutes, returned a verdict at 7:15 o'clock last night, as follows: “We, the jury, find the defendant guilty, and recommend him to the mer cy of the court. “J. F. SMITH. Foreman." The court deferred pronouncing sen tence until a later date in the week, but the law" fixes the punishment under this kind of‘verdict at life imprisonment. The aged defendant was much affected by the verdict. Wheif 'the verdict was rendered the relatives of the defendant had dispersed, ana none were in the court room, except perhaps one or two of Lott’s sons, sitting back in the crowd. The defendant’s counsel have filed a motion for new trial, which was set for hearing at Waycross, on the second Saturday in April. It is understood that their principal grounds will be based upon the refusal of the, court to grant a mistrial when the widow of the the deceased went into a swoon and de veloped hysterics at the feet of the jury, and upon the further ground that the court refused to declare a mistrial when Judge Quincey, in arguing the case for the state, argued the defendant’s char acter, which had not been put in issue. mary will be held some time in April and that the state primary will be fixed for the early part of September. Saturday evening St. Elmo Massen gale, secretary of the committee, will compliment the members with a dinner at the Hotel Ansley. We have been very fortunate in arranging with the pub lishers of the Pictorial Review Magazine for a clubbing offer in connection with the Semi-Weekly Journal and offer the com bination to our readers at one-half the regular subscription price. Pictorial Review is one of the best magazines published. Its contributors include the foremost writers and artists of the time. The table of contents of an issue of this magazine pub lished herewith will show that this magazine will be of great interest to every member of the household and especially to the women of the family-. At the price at which we are offering tfiis combination there la not one family among our readers who cannot afford to have the best news and farm paper tn the south and the best magazine in the country coming to their home. At the regular price of Pictorial Review and The Semi- Weekly Journal this combination would cost you $3.00 —take advantage of this offer and save exactly $1.50. This combination in your home will assure you that every member of the family can be well-informed about every event of the day. \ Let us have your order now—sign the coupon and mail it today. • Address: The Semi-Weekly Journal, Circulation Dept., Atlanta, Ga. \ The Semi-Weekly Journal, Atlanta, Ga.: Enclosed find $1.50 for which send me THE SEMI WEEKLY JOURNAL two years and PICTORIAL REVIEW - one year. » Name. P. O R. F D,. State J MBS. BASKINS ARRAIGNED FOB MURDED OF HUSBAND Doctor Declares She Is 111, but ’ She Is Brought to Court (Special Dispatch to The Journal.) DOUGLAS, Ga., Feb. 17.—The case of Mrs. Maggie Haskins, charged with killing her husband, a preacher, at Leila ton, last May, was taken up for trial this morning. The case was called Mon day morning and her counsel read a tele gram from a doctor at Blackhear, stat ing that she was sick and unable to come to court. Upon motion of the solicitor, the court, by order, dispatched Dr. Gor don Borns, of Douglas to Blackshear, to examine her. and Dr. Burns returned with her in his car. A further postponement of the case was asked this morning on account of the illness of Attorney E. R. Smith, of Willacoochee, who was of counsel in the case, and the judge overruled the mo tion. The Jury has already been obtained, and the state is putting in evidence. It is understood that the evidence is all circumstantial and that Mrs. Haskins will claim that she knew nothing of the shooting of her husband, though it is understood the state will show that she was sleeping in the house with her bus band in an adjoining room the night he was shot, at a late hour, while In bed with one of his small children. Sitting with Mrs. Haskins and her counsel. Wallace & Luke, are her sister. Mrs. Hunter, and her brother, W. S. O’Quinn, both of Blackshear. A brother and several relatives of the deceased, who are prosecuting the case, sat with Solicitor M. D. Dickerson. The case will perhqps rearh the jury late this afternoon. NUMBER 40. PETROGRAD CUIIMS CAPTURE DF ENTIRE ERZERUM GARRISON Interest in War Operations Has' . • Shifted Its Center to’ Fields in Armenia, Persia and Me sopotamia (By Preu.) .. WASHINGTON. Feb. 17.—With the capture of Erzerum by the Russians, in terest in war operations has shifted its center momentarily to the fields of warfare in Armenia, Persia and Meso potomia. where the campaigns are ex pected to be notably influenced in thair course by the fall of the Turkish strong hold. , ’ The Russian estimate in the capture of the fort Is 100,000 Turkish prisoners | and 1,000 cannon. .'<• • , ; The current Turkish official state ment gives no clue to the course of events along the capture of the fortress, and. indeed, does not record that hap- *S pening. The only mention of the oper ations in this war is a declaration that the Russians, tn the fighting of the three days preceding, lost 5,000 dead and sixty prisoners. Unofficial advices from Petrograd say the Turkish army is fleeing westward from Erzerum through a difficult mountain region. Military observers in allied capitals, who regard Erzerum as the key- to Asia Minor, expect the Russian success to facilitate the capture of Trebizond, on the Black sea cqast to the north, giv ing possession to the Turkish gateway from Asia into Europe, while the Turk ish forces throughout Armenia will be put in jeopardy, it is argued. Opera tions on-a large scale by the Russian!; will now be possible for the forces of Grand Duke Nichoiad, It Is declared. According to the official account, the British Mesopotamia forces have be€n heavy sufferer in the recent fighting. The British losses In the battle at Batiha, west of Korna, aggregated 2,000, it is stated. Fighting on the western front has lessened dn intensity, probably because | of bad weather, and similar conditions prevail in Russia. Official Estimaeti 100,000 Men Captured at Erzerum ,1 (By Asiociated Prsaa.) \ ' d PETROGRAD, Feb. 17.—(Via Lou- ' don.) —The official Messenger estimates the Turkish garrison at Erzerum, can* | ture of which was announced yester day, as 100,000 men. • It is also estimated that more than 1,000 guns were captu?fed. It is -said there were 437 guns in the outer forts, 374 in the central fort* and 200 field guns at Erzerum. British Lose 2,000 Men* In Mesopotamian Battle (By AitociatMi Frew.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 17.—(Via London.) —The losses of one of the*Brit- • 3 ish expeditions in Mesopotamia In a battle with the Turks near Batiha, west of Korna, amounted to 2,000 officers and men, according to an official announce ment given out by the Turkish war de partment under date of February J.B. The statement also says that the Rus- yS .sians lost 5.000 men in killed in a three- . | day battle on the Caucasian rront. The text of the statement follows: “Irak front: One of our aeroplanes 1 flew over the enemy artillery positions at Kut-el-Amara, successfully dropping twelve bombs which had great effect. • "After his defeat Id the battle near Batiha, west of Korna, the enemy left many dead on his road of retreat. The enemy losses in that battle as establish ed up to the present amount to 2,00<> -J men and 300 animals. “Caucasian front: In the fighting which has been in progress during the last three days despite cold weather and snow, the enemy lost 5,000 dead and 60 , prisoners. “Dardanelles: A cruiser, a monitor and a torpedo boat of the enemy on Feb ruary 13 fired twenty shells on Tekke « Burnu and then Withdrew before the fire of our coast batteries. The fire of the warships did no damage. “Near Aden, in the woods between Sheik Hosman and Eluaile, an enemy , reconnoitering detachment was ambush ed, nearly all the men being killed. Those who escaped fled in the direction of Sheik Hosman, leaving behind all 1 their baggage.’’' Capture of Erzerum Great* Feat of Russian Arms (By AMcelated Preu.) PARIS, Feb. 17. —The capture of the great Turkish stronghold of Erzerum by the Russians is declared by the French newspapers this morning as the best item of news for the allies in many months. The military experts dwell upon the importance of the capture, de claring that it gives the Russians the key to Asia Minor and is a victory which will inevitably have far-reaching consequences. . , I General Berthaut. in the Petit Journal, says it is not only a deadly blow to Turkey, but an event whfdh cannot fail to have its effect on the other theaters • J of the war. Major de Civrleux says in the Matin: “The conquest of Erzerum is of more * importance-than would be £hat of any, other fortress in the whole war theater. si In Asya we are not faced by a strategic B chess board ruled across by railroads and excellent routes along which freali forces could be brpught up in a few , days. Erzerum was the solitary bul wark of the Turkish empire in Asia. Open spaces, suitable for operations on a great scale, now present themselves | to the forces of Grand Duke Nicholas, of. Russia.” Whole Family and Step-Son Sent to Pen for Burglary TWIN FALLS. Idaho, Feb. 17. —Flv« members of one family, including the father, mother, two sons and a step son. are to be taken to the penitentiary today to serve terms of six months to fifteen years for burglary and receiv ing stolen goods. The prisoners are J. D. Ross and his wife, sentenced to —serve from six months to five years, and one son sentenced to serve from six months to one year, for receiving stolen goods. Another son, and Roas’ step son, Orville Duncan, were given sen tences of from one to fifteen years for burglary. . Three young children of the couple, including a baby three weeks old, will be taken to a children’s home in Boise.
