The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 330, Ed. 1 Sunday, February 27, 1916 Page: 1 of 60
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Hoy
STOM
POST.
GO TO. CHURCH
Today and you nvlll benefit. You may not
bo entertained but you will oortalnly bo
Instructed and Improvad .
A NEW COMIC
la to bolirm noxt Sunday'a Itauo of Tha
Post. It will hava four pagaa and wo
belltvt It will prpva popular.
VOL. 30 NO 330.
HOUSTON. TEXAS SUNPAY FEBRUARY 27-1916. 58-PAGES PRICE 5 CENTS
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Germans Broke the Outer Line of Forts
Crisis in Congress
Past for Present
Poison in the Soup
11 lnll&
French at Verdun
Slowly Gave Way
Were Forced Back on Each Side of Great Fortress
Which Blocks the Road to Paris-Way for the
Crown Prince's Army Was Blasted Out by
Most Terrific Gun Fire Known in History
President Left Unfettered to Carry Out His Diplo-
matic PlansClark Mann and Bryan Chiefly
Responsible for Preventing Congressional
Action on Resolutions of Warning
6Y WALTER S. GARD
Houston Post Staff Correspondent.
WASHINGTON February 26. So far as congress is concerned the crisis
over the stand against American citizens taking passage upon armed merchant
vessels of belligerent European powers is now considered past.
The refusal of Speaker Clark and of Minority Leader Mann to agree to
having the proposed resolution called up for consideration is the one thing
that saved the day for the administration. These two mm refused to counte-
nance any action on the part of the congress that might have been construed
s questioning the integrity sincerity and good faith of President Wilson.
Their judgment prevailed and the house and senate have settled down to the
even tenor of their ways.
Bryan's attempt through letter's and telegrams to inject himself into the
situation also materially aided President Wilson whom he opposed
Announcement from authoritative circles that President Wilson and Secre-
tary of State Lansing are willing to discuss with Germany and with the allied
nations the extent to which merchantmen may be armed as well as other
phases of the submarine controversy but will not debate the principle in-
volved in the administration's declaration that Americans are entitled to
the freedom of the seas served to pour oil on the troubled waters today.
Representative McLemore was not given a hearing before the foreign
affairs committee of the house today. He held a conference with Chairman
Flood and then announced that he would not ask that the committee be
called together. The McLemore resolution which was wired in these dis-
patches at the time it was introduced was the original resolution calling upon
congress to bar Americans from armed merchantmen.
M'LEMORE SAID HE
HAD BEEN MISREPRESENTED.
Around it centered most of the discus-
sion In the congressional cloakrooms dur-
ing the past four days. Helatlve to this
resolution and the subject to which It
pertuins. Congressman McLemore tonight
said:
"1 do not expect the committee on for-
eign relations to give consideration to my
resolution for the next three or four
days if then as It seems to be the opin-
ion of the committee that agitation of the
question be delayed as much as possible
until the administration's policy Is tried
out.
"In (hjroducing. this resolution. J was
moved solely Xy a desire to do thrt which
1 thought best for the country at lafge
and to avert if possible what I believed
to be Impending war with a natloa with
which we are now at peace.
"The main point of my resolution
which has been deliberately misinter-
preted by certain newspapers that are
moving heaven and earth to Involve the
United States In war with Germany was
to have the congress request the presi-
dent to warn all American citizens
against traveling on armed ships of the
Kuropean nations now engaged In war
and the idea of my resolution was ob-
tained from a similar warning Issued by
Kngland to her subjects at the time of
the Japanese-Russian war. That warn-
ing was Issued to lirltlsh subjects In the
Far Kast from the Kngllsh consulate at
Shanghai and was ns foilows:
" All subjects of the crown are notified
that the Hritisli government will not un-
dertake to be responsible for the safety
of uny British subject leaving this port
on a ship of either of the belligerent
nations.'
WOULD NOT
HAMPER PRESIDENT.
"As England set the example I natural-
ly supposed that the United states could
emulate her English cousins without caus-
ing affront to certain rabid pro-Knglish
papers of the big Northern cities that
have underground wires to Wall street
and want war at any price.
"It was farthest from me to reflect on
the president or to in any way humper
him In the application of his foreign pol-
icy but as the president during the ses-
sion of the last congress called on that
congress to reverse itself on the Panama
question that he might be enabled to bet-
ter work out hie foreign policy I felt that
the adoption of my resolution would be
acceptable to him and serve him a good
and useful purpose.
"I am dally In receipt of many letters
and telegrams from almost every section
of tha union Indorsing my resolution and
urging Its adoption. 1 am also In receipt
of a few letters from men who denounce
the resolution and advocate immediate
war against Germany and Austria.
Strange as It may seem a majority of
these warlike letters are from political
preachers and Anglicized college profes-
sors and when cattle of this kind shout
and scream war It is time for true Amer-
icans to put on their thinking caps and
give serious and calm consrueration to
what madmen say.
' Actinii on the advice of friends of the
resolution. 1 shall not press. the commit-
tee to give it consideration ar at least
until the president lias had ample oppor-
tunity to try out his policy and arrive if
possible at a definite conclusion."
AFTER 20 YEARS IDLENESS
HUNTED WORK DISAPPEARED
Chicago Man Never Returned From
Search for a Job Said
His Wife.
(Associated Press Report.)
CHICAGO February 26. According to
testimony In court here today Charles
II. McCormlck lived through 20 years of
married life without performing any
labor. Then on Labor day 1914 he went
out to look for work. He never came
back. Mrs. McCormlck was given a
divorce.
THE WEATHER.
(Associated Press Report.)
WASHINGTON February 26. East
Texas Sunday partly cloudy; Monday
cloudy warmer.
West Texas Sunday fair wsrmer;
Monday fair.
Louisiana Sunday and Monday fair.
Forecast for Houston and vicinity Sun-
day generally cloudy weather.
Temperature extremes and precipitation
at Houston for 24 hours ending Febru-
ary 26. 7 p. m.:
Maximum 66 minimum 53.
lYeclpltatlon none.
Atmospheric pressure at Ho'iston at 7
p. m. February 26 30.16 tea level level
reading.
Sunrise Sunday 6:50 a. m. sunset 6:20
p. m.
Comparative record at Houston for Feb-
ruary 26:
1915. 1014.
6 a. m f.3 63 27
10 a. m 68 66 50
Noon 61 63 56
3 p. m 64 53 56
5 p. m 63 58 (2
7 p. m 62 55 60
Relative humidity: 7 a. m. 42 per cent
7 p. m. 40 per cent.
Houston Calendar for Today.
Regulsr meeting of Sharks club West-
helmer's hall 3 p. m.
Municipal entertainment at city audi-
torium at 3 p. m
AMUSEMENTS.
Dreamland: Dancing.
Queen theater: "Peggy."
Zee theater: "Blacklist."
' Liberty theater: "New York."
lilt theater: "A Corner In Cotton."
Crown theater: "Vultures of Society.
Key theater: "Jordan Is a Hard Road."
Majestic theater: Vaudeville max I nee
and night.
Prince theater! ."The Garden of Allah"
putlnee only.
GIRL AGED 15 ARRESTED FOR
BILLING OF FORT WORTH MAN
1
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New York Tribune.
Suffrage Debate
Led to Hospital
John L Kierns Iron Moulder at St Joseph's In-
firmary Suffering From Knife Wounds That
Are Expected to Prove Fatal W R Young
City Employe Gave Himself Up to Officers
Said She Fired Fatal Shots at War
ren on Lonely Benbrook
Road.
(Houston Post Special.)
FORT WORTH Texas February :6.
Less than 24 hours after his arrest B. G.
Wiggins who was placed In the county
Jail on a charge of murder In connection
with tho killing of W. R. Warren hotel
proprietor December 22 was released by
the county attorney's department Satur-
day night.
Soon after his release complaints charg-
ing murder were filed in Justice Emmett
Moore's court against Katherine Harrison
15 and her husband Charlie Harrison 20.
They waived examining trial and bond
was set at $5000 in each case. William
Capps and James G. Harrison went on
the bonds and the couple were released.
Developments came fast In the murder
mystery Saturday. The county attorney's
department had subjected Wlggirui to a
severe grilling the previous night without
results. He denied he had anything to
do with the killing of Warren who was
found in a half-crouched position at a
lonely spot near the Benbrook road.
Saturday morning. Wiggins still protest-
ing his Innocence was arraigned before
Justice Moore and his bond was set at
$5000. This he was unable to make and
was again placed In Jail.
Soon after he was arraigned the county
attorney's department was notified by a
party that the man had nothing to do
with the murder. An Investigation was
started which eventually resulted to
story by Mrs. Harrison that she fired the
fatal shots and that her husband was
present at the time. A statement was
also obtained by the county attorney's de-
partment from Harrison In which he la
saia to nave corrooorated iris wife.
- SUED FOR U YEARS.
Got $3000 Judgment' but Case Not
Ended Tet.
(Associated Prist Report.)
CHICAGO February 26. Fourteen
years ago wnen Henry Uebeau was 10
years old he began suing the Chicago and
Alton railroad for damages on account of
an ampuiaiea leg. 'toaay a jury awarded
him 13000; the railroad entered motion for
a new iriai ana uie ena is not yet.
"You would not let your wife vote but
you would let a negro or a Mexican vote
along side of you."
That is the remark which sent John A.
Kierns an Iron moulder to St. Joseph's
Infirmary late Saturday night suffering
from knife wounds that are likely to prove
fatal.
W. R. Young employed as the foreman
of a gang In the city street and bridge
department hastened to the county Jail
soon after the difficulty and surrendered
himself to the county authorities.
Mr. Kierns favored woman suffrage and
the man who wielded tha knife opposed
it.
They met for a friendly chat In the
grocery store and saloon at the corner of
Mills and Stevens street. Their conver
sation drifted to politics and soon they
were discussing the suffrage question.
SAID DIDN'T MEAN
TO REFER TO YOU NO 3 WIFE
When Mr. Kierns made the above re
mark Mr. Young replied "Do you mean
to refer to my wife In that way?" Mr.
Kierns Is said to have denied that any-
such reference was intended.
In his statement made to District At-
torney John H. Crocker later at the in-
firmary Mr. Kierns said It all hapened
so quickly that the stabbing was over be-
fore he knew it.
At first Mr. Kierns started to walk to
the door of the store assisted by J. T.
Walker a friend who had witnessed part
of the argument but at the doorway he
fell and it was then noticed that he was
bleeding. Mr. Walker ran two blocks
to put In a call for an ambulance.
At the Infirmary Mr. Kierns' wife and
four children are watching over him In
the hope that some favorable report will
come from the attending physicians.
Soon after the difficulty Mr. Young ap-
peared at the grocery store and saloon of
Joe Trapollno at Louisiana and Capitol
avenue atopplng for a few minutes on
the way to the county prison.
ASKED FRIEND TO AC-
COMPANY HIM TO JAIL.
"Joe" said Young according to the
story told by Mr. Trapollno. "I want you
to go down to the county Jail with me. I
Just cut a man; I had to do it and I want
to surrender to the sheriff.
Further than that. Mr. Trapollno said
Mr. Young would not discuss the trouble.
Mr. Young is a man of middle age and
has two sons members of the police de-
partment. The wounded man resided at 2411 Noble
street.
The Houston Undertaking company's
ambulance was used to take Mr. Kierns
to the Infirmary. He received three deep
cuts In the abdomen and bled profusely
from his wounds before the flow was
checked by the attending physicians.
At 2 o'clock Sunday morning Mr. Kierns
was reported as sinking fast. This was
shortly after he had been removed from
the operating table.
OHUNGER GIVEN A SUSPENDED
SENTENCE FOR MANSLAUGHTER
Man Charged With Murder of J.
W. Bohannon Set Free--Drew
Two Years.
Guilty of manslaughter.
This was the verdict returned by the
Jury In the cse of F. L. Ohlinger on
trial In the criminal court for the killing
of J. W. Bohannon In Harrisburg on No
vember 22 last.
Sentence was fixed by the Jury at two
years but it was recommended that the
sentence be suspended and accordingly
Ohlinger was set free by Judge C. W.
Robinson shortly after 6 o'clock Saturday
night.
The vcrdlrt was no surprise to those
who had followed the case as thorugh-
out the trial the State had made It plain
that it would not ask for the death
penalty.
All of Saturday morning and the
greater part of the afternoon was de-
voted to the final arguments of 'the at-
torneys In the case.
The killing of Bohannon was the re-
sult of a dispute over a boundary line
of Olilingers property at Harrisburg.
PARIS HOT EXCITED
BY YERDUiN ATTACK
Said Longer It Lasts More Ger
mans Killed.
Military Critic of Temps Thought
Loss of Douaumont Would Have
Little Effect on Battle's
Result.
P. H. SWEARDiGEN NEW JUSTICE
OF COURT OF OYIL APPEALS
San Antonio Lawyer Appointed by
Governor to Succeed J. F. Carl
Who Was Named by Colquitt.
(Associated Prtst Report.)
SAN 'ANTONIO Texas. February 21
P. H. Swearlngen of this city has been
appointed associate Justice of the Fourth
court of civil appeals of Texaa by Gov-
ernor Ferguson effective March 15.
He sucsceds Justice J. F. Carl who was
appointed by Governor Colquitt three
years ago for a six years' term.
(Associated Press Report.)
PARIS. February 2G 5 p. in . Paris Is
extraordinarily calm in thf presence of
the great battle now in progress around
Verdun. There are no indications of ten-
sion or nervousness but only sober con-
fidence In the result prevails.
The desire among those who know the
defensive strength of the lines seems to
be that the attacks should continue for.
they argue the losses on the (Jerrnan side
would be in proportion to the efforts.
There were ft w persons around the
newspaper bulletin boards toliy and n i
crowds at the ministry of war or other
public offices.
The whole front from the North sea to
Switzerland Is on the alert anil all leave
of absence has been recalled. The French
maximum effort has not yet been made.
The total French losses in killed wound-
ed and prisoners since the Verdun battle
began it was authoritatively stated thi.s
evening have been less than the German
official communication claims In prison-
ers. The Temps military review which is
usually written by General De la Croix
sums up the situation thus:
"The battle being fought Is extremely
serious. Even should the heights of
Polvre and the Vauche be taken the
enemy would find us perhaps stronger on
the Froldeterre-Douaumont line from
which begin the defenses properly speak-
ing of the fortress covered with trenches
and hntterieB. This Is not a siege of the
ilermans; It Is a battle against one of our
armies. The garrison at Verdun and it.
forts do not igure in these combats as a
support. Tire big guns of the enemy might
destroy the fort of Douaumont without
destroying anything more than an inert
block of cement.
"The snow has not caused any diminu-
tion of the atlinks because they can not
be suspended They must he continued
to the end. The troops engaged would li
unable to renuln Idle long in the territory
captured while awaiting better weather
conditions. A thaw would render their
situation worse and It must already be
painful "
The Temps refers to the possibility of
the attacks continuing two weeks.
LYMAN ADMITS IDENTITY.
Wants to Finish California Term
Before New York Qets Him.
(Associated Press Report.)
TAMPA. Fla February 26-J. Grant
Lyman under federal court Indictment in
New York on charges of using the malls
to defraud whUe operating under the firm
of "John H. Putnam & Co." today admit-
ted his Identity at his examination.
l.yman expressed a desire to be re-
turned to California where he Is under
sentence to serve 1$ months on another
charge.
"My bond has not ben forfeited." said
I.yman. "If 1 choose to surrender to my
bondsmen I have every right to do so
When 1 am released from prison the New
Yolk authorities can do as they see fit
Nobody ran keep me out of jail if I want
to go In."
The Associated Press summarizes the war situation as follows:
Verdun greatest of French fortresses and widely considered virtually Im-
pregnable is trembling under an attack of unprecedented violence which
already is declared by the Germans to have breached the outer defenses at
one point and driven back its French defenders upon their inner lines in
other sections.
Under the eyes of their emperor whose presence at the front is officially
announced the German infantry has advanced to the charge on both sides
of the salient wherein lies Verdun and according to Berlin has stormed and
taken the outlying fort of Douaumont northeast of the fortress while on
on the plain of the Woevre to the east and southeast it has swept back the
French lines and broken their resisting power along a wide front forcing
them to retreat with the Germans in pursuit.
Fiercest Cannon Fire World Ever Saw.
The crown prince's armies engaged in the terrific battle have had their
way blasted out for them according to correspondents near the scene by
what is said to be the greatest concentration of artillery fire known to history
in which the monster guns of the Germans and Austrians brought from the
Serbian and Russian fronts have played an important part.'
With this mighty aid the Infantry have pushed down the valley of the
Meuse gained tho hills southwest of Louvemont not more trfan four miles
from the fortress and carried fortified positions to the east Berlin declares.
the Brandenburg regiments particularly distinguishing themselves in storm-
ing Fort Douaumont.
While this was going on the Germans in the Woevre were assailing the
French lines on the eastern side of the salient the two operations apparently
being designed to push in the sides of the projecting front a buckling process
which If kept up would soon result in the fall of the fortress.
Paris Does Not Concede All Losses.
The French however are defending their stronghold with notable
tenacity and according to various accounts inflicting terriblo losses on the
attacking forces. Paris has not conceded the fall of Fort Douaumont al-
though admitting that the fighting there had taken on an extremely sanguin-
ary character and it only mentions the Woevre region in an announcement
that the advanced post held for observation purposes along the line from
Ornes to Hennemont has been attacked by the German infantry.
The German attacks along the front are declared by Paris to be made with-
out regarji to the losses sustained.
Notwithstanding the concentration of attention upon the great-struggle on
the western front the current dispatches show that events of considerable
interest while not comparable in importance to those around Verdun are
happening In other war theaters.
French Claim to Have Retaken Position.
The French war office in its latest official statement describes the
battle around Fort Douaumont one of the outlying forts of Verdun as
desperate but makes no actual admission of the capture of the fort by the
Germans as claimed in the official communication issued at Berlin.
Fort Douaumont says the French statement Is an advance element of
the oM defense organization of the old Verdun fortress and goes on to say
that the position captured Saturday morning by the Germans after several
fruitless assaults wai reached again by French troops who succeeded in
advancing beyond that point and have maintained their ground. The
position referred to is not clearly defined.
Heavy bombardments by the Germans east and west of the Meuse
were met by vigorous counter attacks and the French have resisted the
attempts of the Germans to capture Champneuvllle and La Cote de Polvre
(Pepper hill) two positions of strategic Importance.
Russians Captured Persian C'ty.
From Persia comes the Russian announcement that the important city of
Kermanshah has been taken by storm by Russia's forces. Recent Fetrograd
advices have indicated an expectation that the southern movement of this
Russian army might eventually link it up with the British operation in neigh
boring Mesopotamia.
The advance to Kermanshah places the Russian column within 150 miles
of Kut-El-Amara on the Tigris near which a British force is at present
stalled on its march to the relief of General Townseud's beleagured army
at Kut.
In Albania the Austrians are evidently having things all their own way
particularly in the territory as far south as Durazzo. An official statement
Issued in Rome admits the evacuation of Durazzo by the Italians who recently
were reported to have been defeated on the outskirts of the city by the
Austrians.
German attack was being exerted south-
ward along the Meuse.
The capture of Douamont Is the most
Important achievement since the Inaug-
uration of the German drive at Verdun
an onslaught which for fury and for
weight of men and guns has few prece-
dents In the war. The French war office
has expressed confidence that notwith-
standing the admitted great strength of
the German drive. Verdun and its protect-
ing fortresses would hold out.
KEY TO FURTHER
ADVANCES IN FRANCE.
Fort Douamont lies four miles northeast
of Verdun. It Is one of nearly a score
of forts circling Verdun and In an integral
part of a cluster of seven forts protecting
Verdun from the cast. Forts De Sauville
. ... ... ... ii. A I . I.
i 1V Tavannes and St. .Micner in- unci.
below the position conquered by the uer-
msna and the city of Verdun.
The conquest of this fort was made by
the right wing of the huge attacking
army which has scored the greatest ad-
vance in the assault on the French posi-
tions. louamont is east of what has
hitherto been the principal line of pro-
gress being situated four miles east of
the Meuse rUer. The main force of the
ONE OF GREATEST
FORTS IN EUROPE.
These positions form what has been re-
garded as one of the greatest strongholds
of Europe. It is the strongest fortress of
France and is of particular importance
from the fact that it cITers direct com-
munication with Paris. i; miles to the
west. Verdun marks the northerly point
Every Live Merchant in Houston
Has caught the spirit of
Proposal Day Feb. 29
A day that doubles and triples the
purchasing power of your money
Buy on PROPOSAL DAY and Save
Money . . . REMEMBER THE DATE
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The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 330, Ed. 1 Sunday, February 27, 1916, newspaper, February 27, 1916; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth609265/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .