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C GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY Petrograd advices say that during the informal conversations between tin? Russian and German representatives at Brcst-Litovsk, regarding the armistice on the eastern front, the Germans indicated that the points likely to be included in any of their pence negotiations are: Germany to have control of the Russian wheat market for fifteen years; all German goods to bo admitted to Russia duty free; no territory now Occupied by the Germans to be surrendered. Limine and his followers apparently have failed entirely to get from the German officials any promises that will appeal to the Russian people By unanimous consent yesterday tin- House agreed to consider on Monday the constitutional amendment for nation-wide prohibition, which already has been passed by the Senate. As passed by the Senate, the resolution provides that the necessary three-fourths of the states must act on the amendment within six years from the time of its passage in Congress. The judiciary committee extended the time to seven years and would make the amendment effective one year from the time of its ratification. Foreign Secretary Balfour told the House of Commons yesterday that a communication had lwen received by Great Britain from Germany last September through a neutral diplomatic channel to the effect that Germany would le glad to get into Communication with Great. Britain in regard to pence. The British government replied that it was prepared to receive any communication the German government, might decide to make and to discuss it with Great Britains allies. The situation in Moscow is reported grave, in a dispatch from Petrograd. The Bolsheviki; according to Petrograd newspapers, have placed machine guns in the streets, as they fear an uprising of hostile parties. The garrison, however, shows signs of insubordination and is reported to be disobeying the Bolsheviki commander, a private soldier named Muranoff. Considerable forces, the dispatch adds, are being detached from the west front to be sent against the Cossacks. A general inquiry into the operations of the war department in arming and equipping American forces was decided upon yesterday .by the. Senate military affairs committee. -Secretary Baker and other officials will be called. Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the committee, announced it would probably cover a wide range. Questions of shortages of clothing for the national army, health, deficiencies in rifles and field ordnance and army contracts, he said, would be inquired into. Germany suffereu a disaster comparable with a serious military defeat in the explosion last month which destroyed the Griesheim Chemical Works near Frankfort-Ou-The-Main, one of the greatest munition factories of the world, according to a statement issued yesterday. It is said to be impossible to reconstitute; -the works during the war. The statement adds that sooner or later Germany must show on her fighting fronts the effects of this staggering blow. It was announced yesterday that President Wilson has definitely determined that certain big financial institutions with headquarters in New York and Chicago, heavily interested in railway securities, have lost their fight to have their properties completely financed from the public purse. The roads are to be unified and operated practically as a single system, but for the present the pro-proposed loans of "at least one billion" will not be forthcoming. The capture of a carrier pigeon under whose wing was a message in German, was reported to the police of Halifax yesterday. The pigeon, probably wounded in the explosion Thursday, entered the window of a home near the burned area. Its number was "New York No. 29." The pigeon was turned over to tlie chief of police of Dartmouth, who declined to make any statement, pending the delivery of the message to the military authorities. The war situation is tense .on .the west front, liritish and French leaders have learned definilely of the arrival of vast German reinforcements anil are now awaiting, amid active artillery fire, some indication of the spot where the enemy will attempt to deliver his blow. The heaviest gunfire from the foe is directed at the lines northeast of Ypres, southwest of Cambrai and on the Trench positions between St. Quentin .and the Swiss frontier. After hours of grilling of "Pat" Donovan and five others in the states attorneys office yesterday, the 10,000 Stockmens Trust and Savings Bank robbery in Chicago last Wednesday has been cleared up. Donovans home was raided and a portion of the loot, recovered. Donovan, who is a teamster. Implicated three others. AMth a decision upholding the Idaho prohibition law, the United States Supreme Court Monday gave an opinion which may be one of the most far reaching victories for "bone dry" prohibition vet recorded. It was held that a citizen has no constitutional right to possess liquors for his personal use if a state wishes to forbid it. Many crops this year exceed the production of other years, while the value of the countrys farm products-, with a total estimated unofficially at S21 ,000.000,000, far exceeds any other vear in history. Final estimates of production of the princi pal farm crops were announced yesterday bv the Department of Agriculture. An armistice- of three months between the German and Roumanian forces, taking in also the Russians on the Roumanian front, has leen agreed upon, it is rejKirted. All the conditions proposed bv the l.oumanians were accepted by the Germans witli the exception of the one prohibiting the transfer of troops to other fronts. Following the complete collapse of their latest attempt to break through the Italian Asiago line, the Austro-Germans have swung their attacks to the Iiave defenses, according to dispatches from J.ome. I he situation continues tense, the dispatches state, but the Italian lines thus far are everywhere- holding firm. All.recht von Grnefe GoMebee, an influential member of the reichst.ig. writes in the Deutsche .emmg. the official pan-German organ, asking the kaiser to abdicate Von Graefe points out. that it is considered throughout the world that Prussianism militarism is inseparable from the Ilohenzollerns. Tanks aided in stemming the Teuton drive into . , SI,ite tl,,! mountainous character of the battlefields. In the first retreat they were the last i? ... -ack sacrificed themselves heavilr. Out of one detachment of 14 tanks. If! were destroyed while protecting the infantry retirement. Portugals successful revolution cost at least 100 dead and uOO wounded-in clashes between the rebels and the old government, forces, according to estimates yesterday. Complete order has been restored Colonel Paes issued summary orders for immediate execution of all caught looting or rioting. British tonnage completed .in the month of November was within measurable distance of the tonnage losses in that period by enemy attacks it was announced in the House of Commons vesterdav iy Sir Leo Money, parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of munitions. A Petrograd dispatch reports that the Cossacks are preparing to fight. Three trainloads are said to be at Bielgorod and three at Sumy, commanded by General Korniloff. Extremist red guards to the number ot about 1,000 are expected at Kharkov from Moscow. Ernest Miller, seven years of age. died within fiv minutes after he had been punished bv Miss Alice Mahler, principal of a Waterbury. Conn., school. tor several months Hie boy had been under treatment for a nervous affliction and weak heart. Inquirv.by a Senate committee into the causes for the shortage of sugar and coal, with a view of recommending legislation to improve the situation, was ordered by the Senate yesterday on motion of Senator Lodge. Thir British army in Palestine, accompanied bv trench and Italian forces, made formal entrv into Jerusalem yesterday. Included in the Turkish garrison were a number of German army officers. Approximately 1,000 of the 1.300 bodies recovered from the Halifax explosion, have been identified. At least 2,000 additional are missing, and the number of wounded has been placed at 0,000. Mrs. James W. Gerard, wife of the ex-ambassador to Germany, underwent an operation for appendicitis 111 New York yesterday. The operation is reported to have been successful. Charles Weeghman of the Chicago Cubs last night announced the purchase of Grover Alexander pitcher, and Bill Killifer, catcher, from the Plula-delphia club for 00,000. Dr. Morales, secretary of state of Panama, has introduced a resolution in the national assembly declaring the Republic of Panama at war with Austria-Hungary. Singh; shoes are now on sale at most London shops for seventy-two cents each, a concession to the many one-legged men retired from service. Thirteen negro soldiers were hanged at Fort Sam Houston. Texas, yesterday, for narticipation in the recent riots in .Houston. Emperor Karl of Austria -Hungary has Kon t the southwest front, according to Vienna dispatches.
