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THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS.

Atfciated Press

Leased Wire Report

SIXTY-FIFTH YEAR. NO. 113.

SATURDAY, 'FIIJKUARY-26; 1910. SIXTEEN PAGES.

PRICE TWO CENTS.

VAG1AT

TALA

Member of Audit

Bureau ci Circulations 1

I

jjS

GERMANS STORMING FORTS

OF VERDUN; ONE OUT POST

FALLS INTO THEIR HANDS

Berlin Tells of Bombardment

and Capture of Another

French Stronghold.

IS REMARKABLE FEAT

Regarded as One of Greatest

Military Achievements

of the War.

Berlin, Feu. 26, (via London, 11:51

a. m.)It is officially announced that

Fort Douaumont, one of the fortifica

tions of Verdun, was taken by storm

yesterday afternoon and is now firmly

held by the Germans.

The official announcement is as fol

lows: "The armored fort Douaumont, the

northeastern corner pillar of the per

manent main liue fortifications of the

stronghold of Verdun, was stormed

yesterday afternoon by the 24th regi

ment of Brandenburg infantry and is

now firmly in German hands."

One of Many Forts.

Fort Douaumont lies four miles

northeast of Verdun. It is one of

nearly a score of forts circling Ver

dun and is situated just to the north

of the railroad running east from the

city of Metz.

Douaumont is one of a cluster of

seven forts protecting Verdun from

the east. Forts De Sauville, De Tavn

nes and St. Michel lie directly between

the position conquered by the Ger

mans and the city of Verdun.

The conquest of this fort was made

by the right wing of the huge attack

ing army, which has scored the great

est advance in the assault on the

French positions. Douaumont is some

what east of what has hitherto been

the principal line of progress, being

situated four miles east of the Meuse

river. The main force of the Ger

man's attacks, as indicated by the pre

vious official communications, was be

eing exerted southward along the

Meuse.

Important Achievement.

The capture of Douaumont is the

most important achievement since the

inauguration of the German drive at

Verdun an onslaught which, for fer

ocity and weight of men and guns, has

few precedents in the war. The French

war office has expressed confidence

that, notwithstanding the admitted

great strength of the German drive,

Verdun and its protecting fortresses

will be able to hold out

Europe's Greatest Stronghold.

These positions form what has been

regarded as one of the greatest strong

holds of Kurope. It is the strongest

fortress of France and is of particular

Importance from the fact that it offers

direct communication with Paris,

which is 150 miles to the west Ver

dun marks the northerly point of the

great French defenses against direct

attacks from German territory, the

most southerly being Belfort, as be

tween these two points lies the stretch

of frontier on which Germany touches

Frame. France has other fortified

points further north, though of minor

importance, as they were along the

line of contact with Belgium and Lux

embourg. The most important, prob

ably, of these latter was Mauheuge,

which was taken by the Germans with

sacrifices to them estimated at the

time, in September, 1914, as between

50,000 and 140,000. Since that date no

Important fortress has fallen to the

Germans on the western front At

the same period a desperate effort was

made to reduce Verdun, and some of

the Incidents of the fighting when then

occupied were of a memorable char

acter. French Buse Wrought Disaster.

During the siege of Fort Troyon,

near Verdun, in September, 1914, the

commander of the fort ceased to re

Ply to the bombardment. The Ger

mans, it was said, believing the fort

had been evacuated, approached in

order to destroy a redoubt. The com-

(Continued on Page Three).

CHICAGO GRAFT ROW

IS SIMMERING DOWN

Chicago, Feb. 26. The bearing be

for the city civil service commission

on the charges connected with the so

tailed split salary scandal, precip

itated by Mrs. Page Waller Eaton's

assertion that she had been forced, as

a city employe, in the bureau of pub

lic welfare, to split her salary to help

toward the support of Mayor Thomp

son's sister in law, was resumed to

day with Mrs. Eaton before the commission.

TEUT ATTACK IN

CHAMPAGNE ONLY

RUSE FRENCH SAY

Paris, Feb. 26. The Petit Parisien

says that the battle now raging before

Verdun was preceded on Feb. 12 by

a feint in Champagne intended to di

vert attention from the coming at

tack on Verdun. A curious feature of

the Champagne attack, subsequently

used at Verdun, was the rehearsal on

a miniature scale behind the German

lines of the attack about to be deliv

ered. A few days previously the sol

diers were ordered to assemble at a

given spot so as to reproduce exactly

the intended onslaught. There was an

imitation on a reduced scale of French

tranches and other features of the de

fense works. The scheme had been

worked out from aeroplanes of the

French lines and copies of the plan

on a scale of one to two thousand had

been supplied to each soldier. Cev

eral attacks were rehearsed until the

general in charge was satisfied that

the attackers knew Just what to do.

The attack in the Champagne on Feb.

12, which was conducted in three sue

cessive waves, failed chiefly because

the change of wind, the newspaper

says, rendered ineffective a large

quantity of asphyxiating gas and flame

throwers which were relied on for the

success of the attack.

Latest Bulletins

London, Feb. 26. Lloyd's an

nounces the sinking of tho British

. steamer Denaby of 2,9S7 tons, and

Tummel of oSl tons. Seven mem

bers of the crews are missing. Of

five survivors who were picked up

two died.

Washington, Feb. 26. The house

military committee late today vot

ed for a regular standing

army of 137,000 men, with a 2 per

cent allowance for recruitlne,

bringing up the number to 140,00(1,

which Is slightly more than the

war department asked. The repub

licans and three democrats car

ried the rote.

London, Feb. 26The Exchange

Telegraph company's Rome cor

respondent says that advices have

been received in that city from

Zurich that cholera is raging in

Croatia, and that Its victims,

chiefly women and children, num

ber thousands.

Ansonia, Conn, Feb. 2k-Strik-ing

laborers of the American

Brass company have voted to re.

turn to work Monday, accepting

the advance offered by the com

pany. Cortona, Italy, Feb. 26. A mil

itary train was derailed here today

and the locomotive, baggage car

and four coaches were wrecked.

Sine persons were killed and more

than fifty Injured.

Flies Petition; Prefers Wilson.

Springfield, 111., Feb. 26, Fred J.

Kean, of Belleville, of the state board

of administration filed a petition to

day as a candidate for delegate at

large to the democratic national con

ention. Mr. Kern's preference for

president is Woodrow Wilson.

PAGE POTS QUERY

TO GREATBRITAIN

American Ambassador Makes Inquir

ies Into Removal of 39 Germans

From the China.

London, Feb. 26. Pursuant to in

structions from Washington, Ambas

sador Page made inquiries today con

cerning the'removal by men from the

British converted cruiser Laurentic

of 38 Germans, Austrians and Turks

from the American steamship China,

off Shanghai. Th: matter is still un

der consideration by the British auth

orities and there are no indications

what reply will be given. Although

the circumstances of this particular

case cannot be ascertained here at

present, it is understood the action

taken was In accord with the policy

of the British government adopted

early in the war for the removal of re

servists of hostiie nations and of other

aliens regarded as hostile to allied in

terests. In well informed circles here it is

believed there will be no abatement of

this policy.

Kaiser Pays

VisittoShips

of North Sea

Copenhagen, Feb. 26. The Wil

helmshaven Zeitung states that Em

peror William arrived at Wilhelms

haven on Wednesday morning and in

spected the warships there. He con

ferred with the commanders of the

North sea fleet, the Zeitung says, and

departed the same evening.

It was reported unofficially early

this week that Emperor William had

arrived at the German front north of

Verdun and was supervising the at

tack on that fortress. It was said that

the emperor reviewed a rehearsal of

the coming attack and then gave the

order to begin the offensive on Sun

day night. There was no previous in

timation that he had departed from

the Verdun sector to Wilhelmshaven,

which is more than 200 miles distant.

There have been reports recently of

unusual activity on the part of the

German fleet, which has given rise to

speculation whether a dash into the

North sea was contemplated.

SIGHT AIR CRAFT

OVER ORE DOCKS

Aeroplane Is Seen Hovering OTer Wis

consin Town Fear F'elt for

Grain Elevators.

Superior, Wis., Feb. 26. Employes

of the Great Northern railway early

this morning saw an aeroplane hover

ing 3,000 feet over the ore dock at

Allouez for nearly an hour and a half.

It then sailed west toward the new

plant of the Minnesota Steel com

pany. '

When the machine was first sighted

an alarm was telephoned as a precau

tion to the big elevators on Superior

bay which are under guard of a spe

cial force of watchmen, as the eleva

tors hold millions of bushels of grain

for shipment to the allies, and it was

feared the visit of the air craft might

be for the purpose of attack.

FLOOD SUFFERERS

IN APPEAL FOR HELP

Natchez, Miss., Feb. 26. An urgent

appeal for help for flood victims in

Concordia parish, declaring that men,

women and children were almost

starving and were clinging to the sides

of the levees and house tops was re

ceived today by the Natchez relief

committee. About two thousand fam

ilies are said to be homeless. An ap

peal to federal authorities hasbeen

made.

NINE ACCEPTED FOR

THE LORLMER JURY

Chicago, Feb. 26. When examina

tion of jurymen in the trial of William

Lorimer on charges resulting from

the failure of the La Salle Street Trust

and Savings bank was resumed today,

nine jurors had been tentatively ac

cepted by both sides and two more had

been accepted by the prosecution.

The first four veniremen examined

today were excused for cause.

FAILS FIVE TIMES

IN ATTEMPT TO DIE

Chicago, Feb. 26. Stephen Bader,

61, despondent over his rheumatism,

tried to commit suicide five times yes

terday but physicians said today he

will live. Bader first cut his left wrist.

He didn't die. Then he cut his right

wrist and throat. Still he lived. He

stabbed himself twice over the heart

and an hour or two later he drank

wood alcohol. His groans brought

help.

CENTENNIAL BODY

HAS FIRST MEETING

Springfield, 111., Feb. 26. The first

meeting of the new state centennial

committee was held today in the office

of Governor Dunne. Dr. Otto L.

Schmidt of Chicago was appointed

chairman of the commission by Gov

ernor Dunne, and organization was

ocmpleted today by the election of

Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber, to be sec

retary. Mrs. Weber was secretary of

the old commission, which was held

invalid by the supreme court

DAY IN CONGRESS

II

8EXATE.

Resumed debate on Shields wa

ter power bill.

Judiciary sub-committee contin

ued Brandeis Inquiry.

Agricnltnral sob - committee

continued sisal investigation.

norsE.

Military and naval committers

worked on defense plans.

Poetoftice appropriation bill de

bated nnder tpeclal rule.

PORTUGAL IN

HINTED SPLIT

WITH BERLIN

Maddened by Attempts of

Plotter to Ruin Ships

Break Is Expected.

10 LET TREATY LAPSE

lortuguese Premier Says

Country Is Prepared for

"Eventualities."

..isbon, Feb. 25, (via Paris, Feb. 26,

4 a. m.) The Portuguese premier

staed in the chamber of deputies to

day that attempts had been made to

danage seven of the Teutonic ships

requsitioned by the government, and

that an explosive had been found on

the aeamship Buelow of the North

Germm-Lloyd company. The premier

added that he considered it in the

best interests of Portugal that the ex

isting reaty with Germany be allowed

to lapst and said that the Portuguese

governnent was prepared for all even

tualities 'hat might arise from the ex

ercising iy Portugal of her rights.

Dr. Alfinso Costa, the premier, in

answer to a question by Deputy Ca

macho regirding the employment to

which the tjuisitioned German and

Austrian vessels would be put, said

that the govcnmvnt's action in requi

sitioning them 1;;, been prompted by

the necessities i the nation's econom

ic situation. Tip requisition,, he said,

had been carrie' out simultaneously

in order to fore.rj;'. is far as was

possible, attemptsat wfl'ull damage of

the ships, which here "vas reason to

believe, could be Jade a.."! which had

in fact been made on sevr n of them.

An explosive appaalus hi i been found

in the boilers of th- steamship Buelow,

which would have aused an explosion

when the vessel mived. An explosion

was prevented, but '.he machinery was

damaged. These icts, ha declared,

were offenses punislable by the Portu

guese courts.

Dr. Costa further said that he con

sidered it was the best interests of the

country that the exsting treaty with

Germany should be cenounced and al

lowed to lapse on Jure 5, 1917. In con

clusion he said:

"We are prepared ftr all eventuali

ties that may arise fnm our exercis

ing our rights."

The North German-lloyd Steamship

Buelow is of 8,965 gnss ions, is 462

feet long, 57-foot bean and was con

structed at Gessterauerde, in 1906. She

has been at Lisbon snce soon after

the outbreak of the wtr.

START $50,000 SUIT

AGAINST THOMPSON

Chicago, Feb. 26. Mayor Thompson

Percy B. Coffin, president of the city

civil service commission, "Mike" Heft

ier and Thomas Costello are made

defendants in a suit for $50,000 dam

ages filed by Alderman Robert M.

Buck. The suit charges that the de

fendants conspired to ruin Buck's

character by publication of two affi

davits accusing him of sharing in the

profits of a vice ring in 1910 and 1911.

POISON ACT OF

CRONES LAUDED

BY ANARCHISTS

Chicago, Feb. 26. The police have

been roused to increased vigilance in

keeping a watchout for possible pois

oners or bomb throwers because of the

words of four speakers, who, in ad

dressing a meeting of anarchists last

night, lauded the act of Jean Crones,

accused of putting poison in the soup

at a banquet recently given Arch

bishop Mundeleiu.

"The act of Crones," said John

Loughman, one of the speakers, "will

lead to more poisoning. When one

man throws a bomb, another man gets

the nerve to throw one."

William J. Iiealey of the Irish Fel

lowship club, has been appointed of

ficial taster for the banquet to be giv

en by the club on St. Patrick's day. He

will remain in the kitchen and taste

each course before it is served.

The guests at the banquet include

Archbishop George W. Mundeleln,

William Howard Taft, Edward J. Mc

Dermott, lieutenant governor of Ken

tucky, and the officers of the Irish

Fellowship club.

Forces Flee,

Town Falls

to Invaders

The Austrians claim to have

captured some 700 Italians in the

fighting around Durazzo.

Rome, Feb. 26, (via Paris, 4:40 p. m.)

The report that Durazzo, an Alban

ian port on the Adriatic sea, had been

evacuated by the Italian troops there,

is confirmed.

An official statement says:

"The Italian brigade at Durazzo has

been withdrawn and has embarked,

the Albanian government having left

the place. The withdrawal of the

Serbian, Montenegrin and Albanian

troops from Albania has been com

pleted." GERMAN VICTORY

HITS WHEAT LIST

Quotations Continue to Sag Under

Strain of Military and Interna

tional Affairs.

Chicago, Feb. 26. Wheat values

broke five cents a bushel today on ac

count of depression in the New York

stock market. Apparently, many trad

ers here jumped to the conclusion that

the Wall street declines pointed to

increased tension over the plans of

Germany on armed merchant vessels.

May wheat dropped to 1.13 as

against 1.18 at yesterday's finish.

Heavy stop loss selling took place.

Rumors that Verdun had fallen ac

companied the fall of prices. Denials

of the rumors failed to check to any

material extent the downward plunge

of the market.

At the extreme lowest figures reach

ed, May wheat was down 5 at 1.13.

The market closed excited at 5 to

o'.ic net decline, with May at 1.13

and July at 1.10. Wheat dropped six

cents at Minneapolis and five cents at

Kansas City.

GETS $15,300 AS HIS

WAGES FOR 20 YEARS

Des Moines, la., Feb. 26. Lewis 0,

Bates, a farm hand who worked for 20

years on farms owned by the late Ed

ward Howell and his daughter, Jennie,

in this county without stipulated sal

ary, expecting his reward when he

and Miss Howell should wed, will re

ceive $15,300 as the result of a jury's

decision in the Polk county district

court

Bates contended he worked for 20

years without salary, but with an un

derstanding that when Mr. Howell

died he would marry Miss Howell. Mr.

Howell died and the death of his

daughter followed soon after. Miss

Howell did not leave a will.

Bates brought suit for $40,000

against the estate for back pay. The

case was on trial for a week.

SENTENCE ROBBER

OF CHICAGO WOMAN

Rome, Feb. 25., 7:30 p. m., (via Paris,

Feb. 26, 2:15 a. m.) Pietro Rossi

was found guilty today at Arezzo on

the charge of attacking, with intent

to rob, Mrs. Mary Falvelle of Chicago,

in a railroad train between Florence

and Arezzo on May 21, 1914. He was

held not wholly of sound mind and

sentence was given of eight years and

four ttnonths imprisonment.

Mrs. Falvelle returned to lie Uni

ted States following the attack and

died in Chicago on Dec. 11, 1914.

MEAT THREATENED

IN PACKERS' STRIKE

Sioux City, Iowa, Feb. 26. The

strike in the Sioux City packing houses

seemed no nearer settlement this

morning. The absence of men in the

cooling plants has imperilled great

stores of meat.

Extension of the strike to other

packers of the Missouri river valley is

hoped for by leaders of the Sioux City

strikers and it is predicted that emis

saries would be sent today to Omaha

and Kansas City in an effort to stir up

sympathetic action.

THE WEATHER N

'J

Forecast Till J P.M. Tomorrow, for

Bock Island, Davenport, Molina

nd Vicinity.

Partly cloudy tonight and Sunday,

slightly colder tonight with the lowest

temperature about lo to 20 degrees.

Temperature at 7 a. m., 26. Highest

yesterday, 34; lowest last night, 25.

Velocity of wind at 7 a. m., 16 miles

per hour.

Precipitation,' none.

Relative humidity at 7 p. m., 65; at

7 a. m., 80; at 1 p. m. today, 65.

Stage of water, 11.1, a fall of .1 in

last 24 hours.

J. M. SHERIER, Local Forecaster.

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS

ASSUMES A MORE QUIET

ASPECT IN WASHINGTON

THE WAR

TODAY

The tremendous German offens

ive aimed at Verdun is paining

force hourly and new and serious

breaches have been made in the

French lines, Berlin announces

today. The fortress is now men

aced from the east and southeast

as well as from the north and

northeast.

'ot only has Fort Donamnnt,

one of the outlying defenses of the

stronghold been taken, but French

resistance on the plain of the

Woevre to the cast, has been

broken, according to the German

Bulletin, which reports that the

Germans are pursuing their beaten

foe along the Woevre front to a

point south of the Paris and Met

highway, which runs through Ver

dun. The bnckling up process being

carried out by the Germans on both

sides of the salient in which Ver

dun lies would, if continued far

enough, compel the evacuation of

the fortress by the French, even

should the Germans be not able to

reach it by direct assault.

Although tne substantial suc

cesses noted are officially claimed

by the Germans, Paris has not

conceded them. "After the last en

gagement our troops retained

their positions in spite of the re

peated assaults of the enemy,

who no longer counts his sacri

fices," the afternoon bulletin de

clares. Regarding Doiiiimont, the outly

ing fort whose capture is an

nounced by Berlin, the French

statement only declares that in

this region the battle is still rag

ing and has assumed a most san

guinary character.

Berlin today claims the breaking

of the cordon of protecting

forts by the capture of Fort Itoua-

mont four miles northeast of Ar

dun. This, however, is not admit

ted in today's French official state

ment, which declares that despite

desperate German assaults the

French have maintained their pos

itions. The center of the crown prince's

forces has worked down the .Meuse

valley until it Is hammering at

the ridge of la Cote du Poivre,

south of Louvemont and about

fonr and a half miles north of the

main fortress.

All along the Verdun front the

Germans are hurling their men

against the French lines without

regard to sacrifices, Paris de

clares, the fighting being particu

larly desperate in the region of

Beaumont, almost directly north

of Verdun.

Accounts from Tarions sources

agree that the fighting has been of

a degree of Intensity virtually un

paralleled in war. Especially Is

this true of the artillery work. The

Teutons brought up many massive

12-inch and 17-inch guns from the

Serbian and Russian campaigns

and blasted out the French posi

tions with a pitiless bombardment

of high explosive shells of these

large calibres.

Artillery and infantry attacks

and fights with hand grenades

have taken place on the liussiun

and Galicia fronts, but not mater

ial changes In position have been

reported. The Russians have taken

by storm Karmnshuh, an import

ant Persian city, and are still

pursuing the Turkish army which

was driven from Erzernm.

At Washington it seems appar

ent that no action by either house

which might embarrass diplo

matic negotiations with the Ten

tonic powers over the submarine

policy will be taken at present.

CHICAGO'S MAYOR

ASKS BODYGUARD

Thompson, Unnerved by Threats

Against His Life Appeals to

Police for Escort-

Chicago, Feb. 26. As the result ot

threats that he says have been made

against his life, Mayor William Hale

Thompson has asked Chief Healey for

a police escort, it become known to

day. The mayor says the threats

have been made "possibly because oi

his activities in the campaign for the

coming primaries."

On his trip to three meeting which

he addressed last night the mayor was

surrounded by detectives, some in his

own car, others in a car ahead and

others on motorcycles.

Turbulent State of Congres

sional Affairs Become

Normal Again.

NOTE SENT BY AN ALLY

Lansing Receives Reply to

Circular to Entente

Is Kept Secret.

Washington, Feb. 26 Senator

lewis of Illinois, democratic whip

of the senate, today notified Sen

ator Stone that the supporters of

the president were ready for the

Gore resolution to warn Amer

icans against sailing on armed

merchantmen to come to a vote at

any time. "We are convinced that

there will be a safe majority

against the resolution," he said.

Washington, Feb. 26 Secretary

Lansing announced today that one

of the entente allies had replied

to his suggestion for the disarma

ment of merchant ships. He de

clined to give the nature of the

reply or to tell from, which gov

ernment it came, saying he prob

ably would make all the replies

puhlic when they were received.

Although Secretary Lansing de

clined to tell the name of the re

plying power,'it was learned that

it was Italy and that the reply was

argumentative rather than conclu

sive. It was pointed out that Ital

ian liners gave pledges not to use

their armament, except for de

fense, when clearing from Ameri

can ports. "

Washington, Feb. 26. The United

States, Secretary Lansing Indicated

today, may discuss the question of

what properly may be regarded as

armament on a merchant ship, it tho

question is raised.

Confidential advices from Berlin

have forecast a proposal for such a

discussion by Germany, which con

tends that armament permitted under

international law as defensive had be

come offensive with the advent of the

submarine.

Until the question is raised, Mr. Lan

sing regards it as premature to an

nounce the position of the state de

partment. One of the entente allies, to which

Secretary Lansing suggested disarma

ment of merchant ships, replied today,

but the nature of the reply or the

name of the government which mada

it will not be disclosed until all the

allies have answered. The impression

prevailed that it was not Great Britain,

but probably was France or Italy.

With the apparent quieting of tho

situation in congress, the submarine

crisis shifts to the negotiations be

tween Secretary Lansing and Count

von Bernstorff.

Mr. Lansing said today there was

no intention of transferring the nego

tiations to Berlin to be conducted be

tween Ambassador Gerard and tho

Berlin foreign office, as was intimated

in dispatches published abroad.

On the situation as it now stands.

President Wilson is firm in his deter

mination to insist on the rights of

Americans to travel on ships armed

for defense only.

Decree Inspired by f Ircularl

From German sources come sugges

tions that the Teutonic government

were inspired to issue their new noti3

by the American circular note to thV

allied powers, proposing disarmament

of merchants ships, and the German

belief is that the allies will not accept

the American suggestion. From Brit

ish sources comes the positive state

ment that the British government at

least has not rejected the American

suggestion but is consulting her allies.

The Issue is still kept alive, however,

by the attitude of the Italian govern

ment and the presence at New York:

of three armed merchantmen, the Giu

seppe Verdi, San Guglielmo and Na

poli, the last named having arrived to

day. Though technically an entirely sep

arate question from that of the right

of merchant ships to carry defensive

armament, the Lusitania case remains

in abeyance because the state depart

ment fears that the German pledges

to refrain from attacking liners with

out warning may not extend to future

operations. Therefore the department

has called on the German government

for information on that point and is

now awaiting a response.

Prominent Qulnry Man Dies.

Quincy, 111., Feb. 26. George Fisch

er, proprietor of the Fischer Iron

and Steel company, vice president of

the Rlcker National bank and one of

Quincy's foremost citizens died sud

denly of heart disease at noon today.

i