Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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JAPAN TRYING TO GET SITE ON COAST OF COLOMBIA THIS ISffiOND ATTEMPT Negotiations Led by Ambassador in Spain Fell Flat and State Depart ment Has Written t^ffer, Says Washington Kcport—Republic oT Panaina is Favorable to Ui S. Inforination forthcoming from an authoritative source Ju Wasli- ington is that Japan has renewed tier attempts to obtain a footing on the western hemisphere. At the present moment, it was stated on liigh authority, Japan is negotiating w.th Colombia for the punhase of a site on lier coasts. Titf,-o negotiations are of eom- paratively recent origin, it is feald, aipi follow the fniluro of Japan u> consumn.ate a similar bargain with the republic of I’anaiua. Japan approaclied l'auamjt< accord ing to the liiterntional Nows Ser vices Informant, tlirough her- ambas- aador to Spain, who broached the subject last summer to the i'ana- manian minister at Madrid, Antonia Burgos. Tlie negotiations, begun ver bally, finished with a four-page docu ment. .written fu French, setting forth the terms on which Japan would make the purchase. Immediately Mr. .Burgos-got pos session of this document he toft Spain and came ditfifiUy.tQ Washing ton, where he presented himself \if tiir state department and laid lielorc Secretary Bryan all tlie evidence, ver bal and written, showing Japan's in tentions. . The document itself, which Is •aid to tM-ar the signature of the Japanese in .1 'lad id, i' now tiled way in the ar<hi«<s of the state department. MAY WARN C1HZENS TO STAY OFF ARMED SHIPS •n*' • - • * *' .* . ' ’ . I/'aders Tell President Sentiment Is Against War Over Armed Ship Issue. President Wilson. Friday reciterat- ed his determined, opposition to ac tion by congress in bis conference with Speaker Clark and Representa tives Kitchin and Flobd. Tli^ House, deader told the presi dent a considerable sentiment exist ed in congress tor warning Ameri- ^.cans to keep off armed ships of bel ligerent nations hut that they did not know what effect the president’s let ter of Thursday night to Senator Stone will hate. The leaders assured the president no action would he taken by the House Friday blit that they ventured no prediction about the future. *Tliey tain that undoubtedly much senti;- ruent whs in favor "of the argument that Amerisajis'-should not sail on armed ships aiid make it possible for the l nited Slates to be drawn into the war. NEED BIGGER NAVI NEW NAVAL MICYTT.SKS.v Rase,VS TO BE given only in «. s. beilt to keep ahead of Teutons Five and Half Miles From EXECLTIVE SESSION THE GERMAN NAVY EXPERTS ASK AUTI1CR1TY WANTS TO BEAT ALL NOW City—French Lose 'Ion Thou sand In Prisoners. LINERS TO HAVE WARNING AS HAS BEEN AGREED The Island named la the document Is Colba. situated in the Pacific at a | distant e of more than two hundred miles from the roast of Panama. Included In th« offer made to Panama lor the Island. It la under stood. was a guarantee by Japan that she would protect Panamas Inde pendence. . . Dr. Imn Kushebio A. Morales. Pan amanian niinlste Mates, recalls th the visit to Wa»h; The president told the House leaders he felt the l nited States must stand for the right of Amer icans to die freedom of the seas and that the honor, of the nation must be protected a. any eventual- it). The president informed the House leaders he hoped he would be able to conduct the diplomatic negotia tions with Germany in lyich a way that war would be avoided, and re iterated his hope that Germany would explain the apparent discrep ancies between the assurances pre viously given and the warning that armed merchantmen *'ould be sunk without warning after February 20.' He told the leaders that tbo position of the United States would be weak ened U congress took action such as has been proposed. S|>e.tker < lark, Mr. Kitchin and Mr. Flood, all expressed the ho|»e that the t idled Slates would not go to war over the armed ship Issue. Thtv left the W'lipe -Home saying they believed the situation serious. One of them said it had not been changed by the conference except that they understood the position of | the president more clearly and be lieved he understood the sentiment of many membera ot congress. . "I think the chances are that Ger many will postpone this threatened l>erfortnanre until April 1. or at least until the middle of March.'’ said to the Fnlted circumstances of gton last summer of M “Mr B mine.” h uer he Kuropc f< Itjg marr spent hta Genoa. W Bun irgos is a very old frknd of 1 > said, “but until last suin'* 1 had newer been out of I ir a great mru 1 ) years. Ilav-1 <*d an Italian lady, he had | spare tune at Jds home in | re re for many years he was! it while consul gf acral. “Mr I turro* was my gue he was I: n Washington. Tin lie gave f or bla presence her* desire to ehow his wit® m>n part of |i he Uniled State*. 1 In Madrii 1 in summer and lh< Italy’! it ram■»* into tlie w . rvmaialn g In Mad/id or g Genoa al ike unpba-.int “U is quite true that Mr pSld M'G itsI visits to. tbe r paftm.-nt while he wax in Y ton. but. of course, it wd* buslne-s to inquire into his I Speaker Clsrlt Friday sfter his con- j fereuco with President Wilson. 1 “There is s rumor to that effect and la postponement would give us more I lime.*’ Speaker Clark told the president I that if a revolution of warning, such president opposes, were forced In the hotii'c It would pass 1 jorlsv of two to one. president spent practically the morning Friday discussing | pha-es of the foreign situation. He | also saw Henry Morgcnthgu, Arnett* ! ran ambarvador to Turkey, and then , lock up the International attuation 1 with the cablnei. ‘ KNOCKS Otf MONEY I Attorney General IVelicves A«)lutn lint HUM to tliMMMK) ('iillforniau RepreseUtativ« Shows De- fencelessncss of Western Goast— Admirals Talk of Tivo-I’ower Standard—Badger Says Diplo macy Defends F|Mm Force. Inttirnational considerations which moved tbe navy general’ board • to cliangfe its tiiae-honored policy last iyear and declare tjja’. the U-iiited States navy siiould'-eriual 'the strong est afloat by not later than 1!*23, will be oiselo.sed to tire House naval com mittee in executive session by Hear Admiral .Charles J. Badger, a mem ber of^ the board. Examiaation of TWqiiral lladgor in open session has concluded, the ad miral eons®enfly refusing to discuss, except behind closed • dooTs’, the board's views of dangers that may Con'rout the nation. The subject came up when Repre sentative Stephens of California, seeking to show that the 1’apiftr coast was inadequately defended, asked if the board in altering its policy did duj not have in miml* the possibility that the country might have to fate simultai'cotisly.enemies in the i’acltle and Atlantic oceans. Admiral Badger said he could answer only iu execu tive session. He explained, however. tha.t a fleet capable 'of dominating the 'I'acHic o'-ean was the only sure protection for the Pacific coast, and said that the earth slides in the I’anama canal had made impossible for the present, and possibly for another /ear, the use of the fleet in either ocean. Fur ther discussion of the canal closur** also was deferred to the closed ses sion. — Admiral Badger, expressed the opinion that should the United State* adopt a two-power standard navy, such as recommended by the general board. Great Britain would not alter her rate ot construction until the gap between the two fleets had been materially reduced. Earlier In his testimony he hod said he did not consider war with Great Britain even a remote possibility. Replying to a question by Repre sentative Callaway, the admiral said that in framing the tw eighty-five mtilwiiv d program, it first prni General BoanT Abandons Former ^ Strategy and Now Wants a Navy That Is the Kqual of Any Afloat— Admiral Badger Appears^ House Committee. Before Tlie object of .the building policy formulated in 11K)U by tlie. navy genet al board as it has been dis closed before the House naval com? mMice, ivis-’ to keep the l nited. States , ahead of Germany iu the iaie for'natal supremacy. new policy the h ■»«r d h not my it ver. rUy r ■rtv* t M i*< nn Bur- i.i that it he Pan- i reason of econ- tl gos rereived word, from I'u after his return to Madrid, had been decided to close t aiiin h cation In Spain. The given for this .action w as one OTny:** ~ Supplementing this statement, an [ official of the legation said: ’’The i island of Colba is unique. It Is the further?: t away from the Isthmus of any of th® scores of islands which be-' long to Panama. It is. moreover, the | only island which stands by itself J miles away from Its nearest neigh-1 bor. Th'* nearest land to Colba is The f the Idch N.-t • e-program for the development e state Hospital for tlie Insane ■ was .provided by the general >ly will very probably have to Tl iidoned for the present year a court decision Is secured, legislature approapriated one j hundred thousand dollars tor the im- j provement work. An error in tlfe | appt upr.afion. b ll cauigil. kJAt.li'U AY.'. (Sawyer, comptroller general, to w rite a letter to the -attorney gen eral. a c, ng for an opinion as to the | legality of paying out the one hun- j died thousand dollars. | “I am of the opinion that the ap propriation act does not appropriate the one hundred thousand dollars for repairs.” says Mr. Peeples, in his hundred and liar building *ed under its id been going rue nereesary 'if as possible on the theory that It to rot as many big s) added tn the fleet in tl slide time. ”Do you think wo reason for desiring supremacy of the sea that England has”* Representa tive Callaway asked. “Not at present perhaps,*’ the wit ness replied; “but eventually we would have do fearh out for our . pos ture the same irld trade, and anybody ay of our getting ,, have to be dealt fT the I s’and of Ccbaco. one of a group | O,,m,on about 15<> miles from Panama. Also It is neared the west coast of the United .' : tatcs than-any. other island that hi lojigs to PariYitna. “There is so little known about the , position of. Panama that this statement may not be mubTSctooil unless it is explained, that Panama Itself is almost due south of Buffalo. N. V. With this act understood, it is obvious that the further west one goes fifim Panama the nearer one pels to-a point due south of Cali fornia. “The inference in total distance between Panama and San Die'go and Colba and Pan ^iego probably ap proximates JtiO miles, i “tt any such negotiations! vvere in- timiite.d by Japan I can state’-posi tively that they came to nothing. The Republic of Panama has no doubt as to its independence being guaranteed. Ar.d it has no doubt as to its choice between the United States and Japan as guarantors of its .independence. “The only fact I am at liberty to state at this.time is that Panama lias no intention of granting any conces sions of any kind to Japan. For years istration. to acquire a stretch of fer- ritory,bordering on Magdalena bay, in Mexico. It was the report of this activity that leif the Unit* 1 Ptritis Senate on August 2, 1012, to adopt the follow ing resolution propos, d by Senator 1 odge/hy a vote of M to 4, the nega tive votes being those of Senators ! Cummins ot Iowa, McCumher of North Dakota, Percy of Mississippi, and Stone of Missouri. “Resolved, that when any har bor or other place in the Ameri can continent is so situated that the occupation thereof for naval or .military purposes might threaten the communications, or tlie safety of the United States, the govern* nient of the United States could . not see without grave concern the possession of «hhTi harbor or place by any corporation or association which has such a relation "TYV'an other government, not American, as to give that government practi-- cnl power of control for national purposes’.” _ - In explanation of the resolution, there have been attempts by more Sella , or L()d> . e gai(1 • ••. The declara tion! oiio^Japanese ambassador to the £| on r f» g t g on the generally accented Twit'eil States to neg< Mate a com- p r | nc ]p] e Hint every nation has a niercirl treaty with Panama, ,,u t ' right to protect its dwn safety; and such a treaty is yet to he signed.” j jf frels that the possession of any Cphin hla owns no island in the given harbor or place is prejudicial Pahffif... and la. of Course* even f ur-, to its safety. It Is its duty and right ther aomoved frdm the United States to intervene.’- / than Par ama. These disadvantages It was po’nted out, are offset, how ever. J\v tb.e fact that a stretch of roasfal territory in folombia would of|er Ja’Sin a hase'even lietter suited The Senate added that the opening Of the Panama canal gave to Magda lena bay an importance that It had never before, possessed, - as the Pan ama routes pa«s in front of it. No to lt«J needs than a relatively small b P |pjr n Joint re«o'utlon requiring tfie Island. | concurrence of the flou*'e of repre- T' ii paftiilnilsm oxnrossed-In dlplo- soatatives and the s.gnalur* of the mafic quarters concerning the Uo^m- j presfifent.*' the re«dTuTTon adonled a' biaw .treaty now pending in the Even- 1 above was an etpreas : on of opinion ate! was riyed as a reason whv Ja^an of the Senate only. The House took mig*'*'po«s hly find folomhlv 'nclin-. no action - * /? ed »»\a cqnlesee tn her proposition I , These latest e»forte on the part of . AwtHaw® Fare ItaltaM. Jaepp fa estshllsh a h*ae near the The usual activities hv th* An* west rosst of the f’nlted-Sisres reeal! | tr<>B> lt»H««*s oi, ike Aeatro- ber attempt, during the Taft admia- • Itallaa fraat eoatlaa*. w ho stood In U a fair dfal would with.” Admiral Badger repudiated a sug gestion that military men viewed all international problems from the standpoint of form while statesmen looked upon force diplomacy as equal arms of government. _ “Ultlmstety. however.” be added, “dlplomary depends on forre. When diplomacy falls tt must either aban don its object or rail In force.” Adnllra! t’ameron McR.* Winslow stated Thursday that the entire Pacific fleet, which he eon mends. The statement was made by Rear Admiral’. Badger, a iutTp'.ef of the geneial bqa.rd, who explained that the policy, had. contemp'ialod a fleet of forty;-eight first line battleships by 19,1‘t to accomplish its purpose; The statement did not i'u_into the record of the. hearing and Admiral Badger did not amplify it to show why the board had thought swell a cause necessary. The adnitraL yia?5 replying to a suggestion that tlie ob- jei t of the old-policy, abandoned this year "by the board for tlie first time, was to keep the American navy in jecond place. While that was the effect it had. he said, the real -object war to keep gJUi’ad of Germany. '| This year the hoard lived as it* j 1>olir,v the creation by ItVJ.'i of a Ih-ct •-•liial to tlie Jitovt |MMverful afloat at Hint time. The committee did not go Into the board’s reasons for changing its ideas beyond drawing out th** explanation that th£ board believed a fleet t>-n per cent, superior to any fighting force that might be brought against it would be neces sary to insure against the invasion of \f erlvan soil Urd r que-t.onlng by Represon'i live Kell}*, Admiral Badger said the con ’ruction of three additional dreadnoughts and eight battle cruis ers would place the navy on a par With the capital ships of the German Germany now haa twenty-two dreadnoughts and eight battle rruls- ers. he said, according to the best available information, while the Unit ed States has all told nineteen ship of the dreadnought class built or building. Tn equal Great Britain’s probable fleet within two years. Admiral Badger said the United States would be obliged to have a total of forty dreadnoughts, fifteen battle cruisers, twenty-five swift scouting craft, two hundred submarines and two h-m* dr*-d and fifty destroyers. He was not favoring such a program, but merely answering questions by Representa tive Hi tler. Such a fleet could not Tbo French have beon forced back still further on this dofensos of Ver dun in the face of the gieut German drive for the fortress and the Teu-. tons are not more than > Uvfe and 1 a half miles distant. ■Thursday night the li’ncs, as estab lished by tlie official bulletin, ran to the east. Frldy they, stretch along the crest of 'hills east of GbampneU;' yllie, five and a half miles north of Verdun, somewhat to the rear of.the former position of Samogneux, and behind the old llrieji at Beaumont, showing the evacuation of the latter village by the French. According to Paris, the Germans have halts in their offensive for the moment at least, whether be-paYrsi*' the attack 1 as spent its force or be cause the assailant.- are pausing to consolidate their new positions and prepare > for'fTirther assaults' js nat yet apparent. No’fresh attack was' made duping the night on tin; French linos and the artillery lire ha* dlmin- iah’ed in violence^ , The German \var office announced Friday the e«t<t are ' of. all French positions ui the region north’of Yer- dtin'Tia far as the ridge of l.oude- mont.-just south of’Beaumont. - The n dm her of prisoners has been increased by more than seven thou sand to over ten thousand: Capture of the fortified villages and farms of (Tiampneuville, Cotel- late, Marmont. Beaumont, Chairm bri-Mes and Ornes. was announced. The text of tho German oificial statement follows; . “WiHtcxn theatre On the right t TO DISCUSS ARMAMENTS Confidehilal Advices From fb ’ n (live Tenor of V’/omlng It*-,. Germany Insists That Submaruu's, However, Must Not be Mcwaced by y . ' ' ' Merchantmen. i t'onlUlentlal ailvlecw from Becliw Indicate that -Gerniany noon will Inform the l nited Staton tiutt 1m-r previous assuraneen - tliat unriwlut- ing liners will not, lie attacked without warning, hold good foe fatuis: submarine operationn, pro? v kl»<f, however, that such liners do not cat i y armauiont. The Gi rinan government will *on« leftd, advices slate, that what Is < l ar. i tbrj/e l as defensive arniamemt, really, is ohfmislvo qnnameot whe* submarines are. concerned, and will propose iltscusaion with the United States of what deftusiye arnament properly may be. As none of the British and Frensh liners clearitig from American ports carry any guns whatever, nuch ao- surancea from Germany will b« tw the nature of reassurances for tk« safety for the neutrals they carry, even under the terms of the new sub marine campaign. How 1 far such assurances will (• wards meeting the state depart- bank of the fiver Meuse *ur sire-! ment's objevtiou. that the Lusitania ci *. * ; r< v’ou'' ’y reported w« re ex- j agreement as at present drawn ap- ploited Thur: lay In different dire, j plies only to Hie past and not to th® tions. The fortified villages and future, probably only can be detwr- fiirm« of Champneurlllo, rotellate. | mined when they are formally iabi Marmont, Beaumont. CliambeUes and Ornes wer^ raptured. “In addition all the enemy's po«l- tiops ns far as the ridge of Ixiudc- Tnimt were rtvptnred by storm -— “The sanguinary losses of the enemy again were extraordinarily heavy, while our losses were normal. “The number of prisoners taken was increased over seven thousand to more than ten thousand. No In formation can jfet he given with Re gard to the booty in matertnls which we captured.” i* WILSON IS OPPOSED TO WARNING PASSENGERS Pre*ideal Wonts Coagrese to Kdep Hands trff of Internal ionsl '— Situ at ton. r urn t in two It blight years, be cot he added, strutted K •Iru he r< oimbi aid d State* * could h Hie still before Secretary l-ausing. When the assurance* are to b« «»• peeled from Berlin wa* not dleelos«d, but It I ed they will arrtva wTrhTAThe’TfTfTrreiriTFyy • Tiinrfi waa no intimation that the date set tow the opening of the new campaiga. - Marrh 1, will be postponed, aKhongki that I* regarded a* a remote peaal- blllty. ’1 lure were intimation* from offW elnl quarter* that the United .States would not pernitt the negotlatlona over the general subject of ana®d ■hip* to be drawn out laueflnltety. It 1* believed, however, that with Germany informing the United States that the past assurance* a’ill apply to unarmed linen, but adhering to lt*«lntention to sink without warning liner* that are armed rather than place their submarine* and crews t» what the Berlin government •wa shier* iii-edtes* danger, and asking Yrf United State* what dcfenalv® armament It consider* Jnarified nn- dcr Internatlotul law, that dip! imatt® negotiations may be somewhat ex tended. In reiterating assurances regarding the future condurt of submarine war fare. It is considered probable that Gertiicny will state flatly that ta all the previous negotiation* It has t If mig ht hi an ea^y xictim (we a single good enemy battlc'hlp. Admiral Winidow made the statement smil ingly. Pressed by Representative Steph ens of Vallfornia for an exact de scription. of the condition of the ships under his roimrtand. ho said the force was wholly inadequate, even with al! its reserves called out, to meet any probable enemy In >hg Paeiflr. What plans the navy department bad for meeting an emergency there or irt # tlie-Atlantic, however, he said were matters of strategy which he did net care to rovefal except in con- <ff-' , tial session. Admiral Winslow told the. naval committee that gunnery -on .Ameri can ships started on the down grade soon after it had been brought to Its most efficient point during I’resident Rfiosevelt's incumbency. “lust 1 itely,” he added, “the de partment. began working out a new system of finding faults With our gunnery. They are fipding them. In my opinion, however, if we had a eeneral staff our efficiency would never havo goned own/’ - * r*— , ■The. admiral maintained that the original'plan, under which the gen eral board was created, was intend ed to lead to a general staff. That, lie said.,j was the vital need of the navy; all milita-ry functions should be under tlie direct control of pro fessionally trained naval officers. He declared that np secretary of ■the: navy had* ever had, or possibly could have had, the knowledge neces sary to pass upon the questions which he must decide under tin- present sys- Admiral Badger urged "however, •tonr. -fo ntrswer to a question ho said sident WiKyn is unchanged in his opposition to having congrewM pass resolution warning American* In | to keep off armed merchantmen of I the European belligerent* and con- *resentatlve Butler said con-1 grewi leaders have been so advised, ion experts of the navy had told U was stated authoritatively Wed BflSmttte® that th® maximum I nesdsy that discussion of auch a . r of eapits’ rhtps that CuulJ h move did not come up at the ppesl-1 proceeding under th* asanoipthtuk * n at one time In the Un'ted | conference Monday night with! that unarmed liners only wer® th® Chairmen Stone and Flood ot the 1 issue and that It had always und®r- rongre** committees dealing with I stood that the question of a rated foreign affair* and with Denfocrstic merchantmen did not enter Leader'Kern, but wa* revived, in quite anofher way. Tlie offb ial account is that Fenator Hoke SuutA recently went Jo Senator. (0 „ Kr , Stone to discuss th* form In which | such a resolution inigbt be intro duced if it were found neeossdry. It was said that Senator Stone at that time opposed such a resolution'. Tbe White Houho conference, it was said authoritatively, was held so Tfie"president might discuss Ihe exact io lime in the U itv-two and that complIVd In two yes I labor could be found. Ad- io r thoqrht the armor out put would riot pe'-mit such rapid con struction and Representative Butler agreed, saying he had been told “by' the man who sell* armor to the gov ernment” that the maximum possible output was sixty-four thousand tons OO’itr. or enough to equip eight or nine heavy ships. Uhairman Pedgott remarked that armor manufacturers had told the -tTTvrsrtgtrtnr rnmTilsrlnB tart year that they could produce only twenty- eight tons annually. In urging an Increase in battleship and lint tie cruiser construction. Ad miral Badger snid he did not wish to be iinderypnid a* saying the present .one wa* — . .. morouglily efficient one. “Tlie only trouble with-it,” he said. .‘‘isMhat it 1* not hlg enough for pos sible needs. It ts a good fleet, well drilled, well equipped and well or ganized.” Regarding the present place of the 1 nited Stall's fleet among the - navies of tho world. Admiral Badger said he classed it as third In fighting power, with-France a close fourth. “Japan is coming t^long,’’ he add ed, “but has-a good deal To do to equal our.fleet.” i 'A"' Rejirei-entative"* Kelly questioned Admiral Badger as to the five-year building program advocated by'I’resi- dont Wilson. He asked if it actually meant any inerease’ whatever,over the old congressional policy pf two capital ships a year. The admiral was inclined to think not, hut later agreed with a statement pt Repre sentative fallaway that under the old two ships a year program it "would take eight years to authorize sixteen ships and -at least eleven years to build them, as against eight years under the five-year plan. Chair man Padgett said* the net result of the capital ship program urged by the administration was to add six battle crui'ers and maintain the old rate of building dreadnoughts. tutu* of the submarine negotiations with congress leaders. Congressmen who were at the White House said there was consid erable discussion of Senator Gore’s resolution to warn Americans off bel ligerent merchantmen, hut there was very .little prospect of passing it unless desired by the administration. Just now the president 1 wants to be free to handle the international situation and the word has been pass ed that the administration would like as little discussion in congress ■as possible; TEST DRY LAW mere V conference between ProeltfenO Wilson, Senator Stone and Reprw- ■ t. t • Flood, cl ilnnan ®f the onal committees dealing with foreign affairs, and Senate* Kern, the Democratic floor leader* v as held In order that the president might jnferm the congressional lead- et® oa tl>? status of negotiations with Gorman; over submarine warfare, dhimtur auss. K .w£»-iilfli-ifi|jA W estern and Southern Attorney Gen erals Join Their fuse. . Fifteen southern ahd western at torneys -general with Attorney Gen eral I’ceples of this state joined Tuesday with the supremo court of (lie United States an .argument In support of the West Virginia liquor law prohjfiiting the rl&eipt and pos session 1 pf intoxicating liquors for .personal use and of* the federal Webb-Kenypn-liquor Taw prohibiting the shipping of intoxicating liquors into states for pee in violation of state laws, . V . e SEN. LODGE BACKS WILSON; EVENTS FAVOR PRESIDED he did not hpljev^tho riavy now to be even moderately efficient. What was lacking, said -lie ad miral, was authority vested In a board of trained naval officers to co-ordinate-all the military work and keep the fleet at fighting pitch all _ _ times He believed no ships shhuld !,board s plan congress would bo asked* be placed In reserve,, but that all j to authorize four dreadnoughts.'and should be kept constantly In com- dhree battle cruisers this year.lnstead mission and fully manned In'order | of two of each as proposed by tjie that sufficient men Tnipht be :rained j president. » Asked wAiat authority he would Russian Front Quiet. On the ■ Russian ' front, from the Riga region to East Gallciar there have been engagements at various points, but no great results have been engagements at various points, that Hie arrangement of the five-year ; no £?reat results have Heen at- program suggested' by the general t a * ne d by either side, board would produce ,,the shies tjjto or three years before the administra tion schedule and without going be- yond the TrttmUatod apnrop-iatj.m of one hundred mijjion dollars a year for new construction. Under the Rulgars and French Clash. Again the Bulgarians and French have come In contact on the Graeco- Servian frontier The Bulgarians were forced tto retire after a lively enfrsgement. leaving , a half dozen prisoner^: in the hands of the French to »ee the president-to learn what the facts in' the negotiation* really were. Tho president thought Sena tor Kern and Representative Flood should have the same Information and asked them to be present. The president told the three load ers that while the foreign situation was grave, it was not critical. It ta understood that he said the United States would remain firm in it* posi tion that merchantmen have a right to ariYTTrffHSPPfensive purposes. Secretary Lansing discussed the situation further with the president this morning, but said he had ro* reived no Information regarding Uv? German situation. The president does not bellera there should he much discussion ot the foreign situation in congress, be cause of the danger of embarrassing the negotiations, being carried oa by the state department. tate® fromanp wyet q ey-®wii iwdee-Ttr the staff, he said he would have the entire military'»fde of the service ab solutely under the staff. ’Tf.it Is • question of mnunting s foorteen-tach or a •tvt**n-|reh ran ” he said, “naval officer* should <*e ——Tn mrr ynr ms Tn the British parliament Prejnler, AsquUh. in- replv to questions con-* , rondHikes pre»teu«lv set down were ^ T , mhe m# Tbve iertuded fN. re^*rut «n thry* gnB§ I of H^lr 4 *** Tho aavy war eoltaga. th® adslral throw of “TVossiss atlltariaa ” nearly done sway with under sev®ra! Hsogvwjaytaa cernlng the possibility of near*, re- ] “The wsr college ” he added. *Ts Itera’ed his former prononn < 'ymeB*le PPP |v'iig better bsrklnc from Mr. that there would be'wo pe®-c onT'f Of^'e** *h»o it ever has hxd'* Fnxfir*rnt of law* to permit pro- Congresijlonal ITglit Murks Ttsse day—Cabinet Finn fcs Its Support. The fight in congress over wsralag Americans off arqred ships marked time Friday, with the preliminary situation and other development® favoring President Wilson’s position. Senator Lodge, ranking Republl- cah^mdmber of the foreign relatioi* comniTtfe'e,' "declared in a statement .Friday that he was in full aecoed f-wiTli President Wilson's views on th® submarine issue as expressed In bla letter to Senator Stone, and that Ita would stand by the president. Senator Gore. Democrat, Intro* dured his resolution warning Ameri cans. and Senatoh Jones, RepabllcaBw introduced a resolution requiring m ^ break in diplomatic relations to hw rafiL was a very valuable adjpqct and , re ^ re<1 congress, rtfu-r nations had followed thP | The cabinet dlscussdd the rituatlow ..Btenewa oanii.Ui— aB d_*j miB |,tratl °* such !r-rt’u*ion« vet It had been '' **'* wrrrT Csc mefnl solidly behind the president. ■oerift® hr select In® ed h*- ,K e navy de*s'tni®®t, •reed byjb« sdmlral. ' Gerwux® Territory Ci Andrew Ronsr Law, th® colonies an at basil red and thirty n