T0 BE FIRST-CLASS WEAPON a ps 2 Statmest--in the Tests Made the Ross Rifle Showed Up Much Bette Than th Le-Enfid (Special to the Whig.) i Ottawa, May 22.--In a state- | ment the Government in reply to General Alderson"s letter on the Ross rifle says it was the ammuni- tion that was bad and caused all the trouble. The statement says in! part:-- "Prejudice has been met with and honest criticism has been encoun- tered. It was only to be expected that those accustomed for many years to another rifle. and that the rifle of their own country, should be inclined to view the introduction of the Canadian weapon as an innova-| tion. It was also to be expected | that the extreme conditions of active service would put to a severe test the confidence of the best friends of a weapon heretofore untried in actual war. Not unnaturally, then, | varying opinions have come both from the camps in Britain and form the trenches and from officers of high rank and low as to the relative merits of the Canadian and British arm. Ammunition Defective "The conclusions arrived at are the results of actual tests and of the extended use of the Ross rifle as im- proved for months in the trenches. In this connection it must be remém- bered that in certain engagements in the spring of 1915, some defective t ammunition which appears to have been hurriedly provided after the outbreak of the war, was unfortun-| ately supplied the forces at the front. dt is universally agreed that | this ammunition was responsible for much of the difficulties encountered. "Sir Max Aiken, is quoted by General Alderson as having signed a | report adverse to the Ross rifle, as| a result of certain tests in which! this ammunition i npart was used, | , 'Wrote a few days afterwards as fol- lows: 'I beg to say that at this test | of ammunition 1 was satisfied that | no case lies against thea Ross rifle | on account of jamming of ammuni-' tion. 1 think several offices who were present at this test, came to the conclusion, including a very i ficer w ho | Satisfactory Tests A "At these tests where 'kn' and 'e' ammunition were used, 100 rounds | by both the Ross and Lee-Enfield rifles were discharged without jams | and without misfires. On April 8 last a most important test took place ! in the presence of Major-Gen. Steel, | several other Canadian officery, and | of [Ldieut.-Col. Prismal, musketry staff officer. Col. Primisal's report says: 'The demonstration was divid-| ed into two parts. In the first part the men fired as many rounds in one | minute" they were able. In the ° second part two firers, one with the | Ross rifie and the other. with the | { by Lt.-Col. of the firers, the heat of the barrel and consequent difficulty in aiming were apparent. Both rifies worked well, extraction was good and the bolts worked smoothly. The am- munition used was D.A. 1915 "After this demonstration was con- cluded a series of shots with defec- tive ammunition, 'B 14," was fired, and greater trouble was experienced in extracting. with the Lee-Enfield than with the Ross rifle. "Ress rifle--Average rounds fired per man per minute, 22.3; average hits per man per minute, 21.3; aver- age score per man per'minute, 63.6. "Lee-Enfield--Average rounds fir- ed per man per minute, 19.5; aver- age hits per man per minute, 17.8; average score per man per minute, 47.7. "A team of seven men on each rifle was used in the test, Men Like Weapon "Genera J. C. MacDougall, in command of the Canadian training division at Shorncliffe, wrote in Jan- uary last: 'No cases of jamming of either rifles have occured here for months, and the confidence of the men in both weapons and ammui- tion has been established. Both rifles jammed in the past when using B-14 and G-14, ard certain marks of D.C. ammunition. The steps then taken were to withdraw the bad ammuni- tion." "A pronounced view is expressed McCormick, who has just returned from France: 'I have seen the Ross rifle in active service for the past year and a half. The gen- eral work in active service conditions proves the Ross rifle to be the most | popular, the surest and safest rifle used by any of the belligerent armies in the great theatre of war.' "The opinion of Major A. E. Swift, for many years chief inspector of emall arms in Canada and now on active service, will carry weight with | the Canadian people. He writes from the trenches: 'My experience is that any rifle will jam if it gets clogged with dirt. "The Lee-Enfield will do this also. 'I blame the cause Of the jams to the poor make of tion. One mark B-1915 is very bad, and if this mark of ammunition was guaged, I feel certain that in many | instances it would be found high to | guage, in other words, too large for our rifie chamber.' Ross Rifle Superior "Major-General Steele, writing three weeks ago, expresses the view | that as a result of the tests made on | the Hythe ranges on April 8, it will be seen that the Ross rifle is a su- perior small-arm to the Lee-Enfield, | capable of developing a higher rate sof fire, Whilst still maintaining its accuracy.' In conclusion the report says that S.M. Lee-Enfield, fired for seven con- pthe Prime Minister cabled through secutive minutes as many rounds as they were able. The results which are attached show that a high rate of fire can be reached: by trained firers. Constant practice in loading | and handling the rifle, however, is | necessary if a high standard of effle- iency is to be reached and maintain- ed. The seven-minute continuous firing illustrated practically the limi- tations of rapid fire, and the effect on both rifle and fires. The fatigue FIRST MRS. SABA GETS A DIVORCE. Wife of Alexandria Bay Man! Wins Decision in Cele- brated Action. Syracuse, NY. May 22.--After! waiting . in vain for nearly three months expecting thgt the attorney for John Saba, the 'Alexandia Bay Daptona, Fla., rug dealer, would of- | fer further evidence concerning the Syrian ceremonial annulment of his marriage, Justice Leonard C. Crouch granted an interloctory divorce de- cree to Mrs. Galeelah Habiab Saba. The decree was filed yesterday and gives Mrs. Saba the custody of her two daughters, the Misses Ida and Saba, and alimony of $5 a week. An additional allowance of $100 as counsel fees was granted to Attorney William W, Gerber and Harry B. Lewis, Canadian Casualties, Wounded---Daniel Sad Cobourg. Seriously ill--J. cBain, Mc- Donald's Corners. | { Rifle; A = Ros of ots Fell From i Srench. J Drive; 3 Ar oath pec [| rate for Victo : Rows From Nap bance Base || ; --Bitior ws Outalons: 1 Walt Maton's Bb Canon Wiaoeraid Instiuted: ¢-ibantern. dom Re a' proper channel to Sir Douglas Haig, commander-in-chief of the British forces at the front, virtually placing in his hands, after proper tests, the question as to the further utility of the Ross rifle. Sir Douglas Haig is a British officer, trained and accustomed to another weapon. The reference to him under such circum- stances will, it is believpd, be ac- cepted as satisfactory by the public of Canada. BASEBALL SCORES, National League. Results Sunday. New York, 11; Cincinnati, 1 Philadelphia, 4; Chicago, 2. Boston, 2; St. Louis, 0. Results Saturday, New York, 4; St. Louis, 1. Brooklyn, 8; Chicago, 5. Cincinnati, 6; Boston, 1. Philadelphia, 5; Pittsburgh, 1. American League, Results Sunday. Washington, 4; Cleveland, 3. Results Saturday. Washington, 13; Cleveland, 3. Boston, 3; St. Louis, 1. Chicago, 11; Philadelphia, 0. New York, 2; Detroit, 1. International League. " Results Sundny. treal, Newark, sam) , Montreal, 6; Newark, game). 1: 4 (first 6 (second Results Sathrday. Montredl, 4; Newark, 2 (first entrenl, 13; Newark, 9 (second game). Toronto, 4; Richmond, 3 (first game), Richmond, 5; Toronto, 4 (second » game). * Buffalo, 4; Providence, 3. Rochester, 12; Baltimore, 6. More McGill Scholarships. Montredl, May 22.--From 1917 onward the C. P. R. Sompavy > will {award ten McGill scholarships instead of five, as at present, to employees or sons of employees, who take the uni- | versity Sturse, which includes chemi- , mechanical and civil { eal, ice yn ing the '"'Tommies' .cigareties. D." nurse lighting cigarelles FRENCH DRIVE GERMANS: BACK From Positions o on Both Banks of Meuse. ENEMY UNSUCCESSFUL IN ATTEMPT TO RETAKE THE | HAUDREMONT QUARRIES. French Region Part of Ground Lost Saturday and Capture a Trench Near the Village of Vaux. (Special to the Whig. Paris, May 22.--French counter- attacks have driven the Germans from positions on both banks of the Meuse in a renewal of heavy fight- ing around Verdun, sthe War Office announced to-day. German attacks on both banks of the river have been repulsed. West of Deadman's Hill, each Ger- man assault met with an eruption of fire from French guns that threw the enemy back with severe losses. The French, by a successful coun- ter-attack, regained a part of ground lost Saturday in this region. On the east bank of the Meuse the | French carried out a stccessful at- tack against German positions near Vaux village, capturing a trench. "The Germans suffered heavy losses last night in unsuccessful attempts | to reconquer the Haudremont quar-| ries captured by the French earlier in the day. 2) War Tidings. A Greek collier was sunk day by an Austrian submarine. Russian troops have occupied Sa- | kiz in Persia, and have advanced to | the village of Ban. Thirteen air combats occurred on the British front Saturday. Two enemy planes were brought down. Dutch reports say three German aeroplanes were lost in the sea after Saturday morning's raid on England, A Reuter despatch says Emperor William returned to Berlin Saturday in order to settle the ministerial cris. is. Thurs T he enemy made a raid south-west of Loos, entering British front trenches, but were immediately driv- en out. A crater on Vimy ridge was also recaptured. In an engagement between four] French aeroplanes and three German! fokkers over Besanze forest, one .fok- ker was brought down and another forced to descend, and later wag de- stroyed by French batteries. AUSTRIAN LOSSES 40,000 LAST WEEK. in Tyrol Offensive -- Trent Hospitals and Barracks are Overtaxed. (Special to the Wiig.) Rome, May 2.--The Austrians lost 20,000 in killed, wounded and missing in the first three days of their offensive in the Tyrol Alps. Their losses for the last four days are believed to . have been almost equally as-large. The hospitals at Trent are report- ed filled with Austrian wounded and the barracks have been transformed into hospitals, PEP PIPRPLPRFP OPP REI NOS : "UNTAINTED AMERICANISM." Charlotte, N. c., May ¢ "Untainted Americanism," was President Wilson's © answering + cry to Roosevelt's insistent de- + mand for "Americanism." Speaking to a tremendous & crowd gathered here to celebrate 232. hig 4 Be CTIA To Photo at Midland station, for wounded soldiers. L One of the latest first aid to injured lessons being taught the nurses is the art of fight eicester, shows an "A, V, A A A A AA AAA SAAN tt |THE TURKS AROUSED ARE KILLING GERMANS. urn ny dak the Country's en ternal Enemies." New York, May. : 22 --A Ph from Bucharest says Turkish official, Bucharest | says: "Anger against Germans, Pasha, Minister of War, and Talaat| Bey, Minister of Inferior, is growing in the Turkish army and among the! people. 'Field Marshall Baron Von Der| Goltz did not die a natural death, as special | a high who has arrived in from Constantinople, | i 1 | | BIRRELL WAS EARLY WARNED 'That a Rebellion in Ireland Enver | | was reported, but was assassinated | in Bagdad by a Turkish staff officer, mander of cavalry, was assassinated by a Turkish officer after the Rus- sians took Trebizond. Several oth- er German officers have been killed in Constantinople, "An attempt to poison Enver Pasha was made recently in the Tur- kish capital. - An extensive anti- German consPiraCy was"diScovered in Constantinople - lately. The con- spirators had distributed a manifesto throughout the army calling on sol- diers to turn their arms against the country's 'internal enemies," Enver Pgdha and Talaat Bey, '"who have sold Turkey to Germans." | | ! FRENCH SUCCESSES, (Special to the Whig.) London, May 22.--In contin- ued heavy fighting around Mort Homme, the French yesterday occupied twp German trenclies near Haucourt and shattered Hill 287 occupied by the enemy. The Haudremont quarries were captured with eighty prisoners. Padded Pbpb FRENCH CROSS OF WAR Presented By French President Queen of Belgium. Special to the Whig) Paris, May 22.--President care personally presented a French cross of war to Queen Elizabeth of Belgium on a visit to the Flanders front, it was announced to-day. The Queen responded that she was proud | to wear the same decoration awarded | French officers. A NEW AVIATION RECORD i Poin- | ; : | nalty list contains the name of Stan- | Hikmet Bey, who was shot by a Ger-| man officer. Gen. Von Blumen, com- | | Lord | To| Was Brewing. ASQUITH GIVEN FACTS BY FORMER WAR SECRETARY MIDDLETON LAST JANUARY. Premier Notified Birrel: But the Lat- ter Made No Request of the War Office to Send Troops to Overawe The Sinn Feiners. (Special * She 'Whig London, May 2 To Vistount Mid- dleton, former Secretary for | War, to- | ddy accused Augustine Birrell, or mer Chief Secretary-for Ireland, of lax dealings with the Irish rebels, in his testimony before the Royal Com- mission investigating the rebellion. Viscount Middleton's statement that he had warned Premier Asquith of the seriousness of the situation in Ireland was one of sensations in to- day's testimony. He declared that he placed all the facts before the Prime Minister on January 26th, Premier Asquith evidently"called the matter to the attention of Mr. Birrell Viscount Middleton said he warned Wimbourne, Lord-Lientenant of Ireland only six days before the outbreak that grave results would follow if no action was taken. Oth- ers he said gave similar Warnings, Adjutant-General McCready of the War Office, in a letter read before the Commission, said that so far as he knew Mr. Birrell had never request- ed the War Office to send troops for the purpose of anticipating a rebel- lion and overawing the Sinn Feiners. Former Westport Man Westport, May 22.--A recent cas- ley Asa Puffer, of Lacombe, Alta. son of W, F. Puffer, M.P.P, for that constituency, and formerly of West- port. Stanley, who enlisted in a | draft of the 31st, is reported wound- ed. Before enlisting he was a stud- {-ent at the University of Alberta, and was taking the arts course. Carlstrom Flies 416 Miles in 4 Hours | i and 1 Minute New York, May 22.--Victor Carl-] strom, in a 160-horsepower biplane, | flew from Newport News, Va., to the| Sheepshead Bay Speedway in city Saturday, a distance of ute. - This hreaks the Amer'can re- cord for this distance, according to | } an announcement made by the Aero | Club of America. Dr. Karl Halfferich, secretary of the Imperial Treasury, has been ap- pointed to succeed Dr, Clemens Del- brueck as Vice-Chancellor, AND THE GAS CAME BACK. | Germans Got What They Prepared For the French. (Special to the Whig). Paris, May 22.--The (Germans at- the | tempted unsuccessfully to attack the 416 | French lines in the Champagne, us- miles, in four hours and one min-| ing gas. A shift in the wind rolled the gas back upon the German lines. Food Dearer In Berlin, «1 (Special to the Whig.) Berlin, May 22.--Food Prices in Berlin have reached new high levels, while the public await anxiously the naming of a new "food dictator" to administer food supplies, A Wandin he ew Ontario Mili ay Hoapral at Orpinglon, | MANY CHANGES IN PEMBROKE DIOCESE. Bishop Ryan Has Has Given Out a List of Recent Appoint= ments. Pembroke, May 22.--Announce- ment has been made of a number of diocesan appointments by Bishop Ryan, involving quite a number of changes in the stationing of the younger priests of Pembroke dio- cese, The appointments include the re- moval of Rev. T. J. Sloan, for the past three years parish priest at Whitney, to Astorville, near North Bay; Rev. M. Doyle, for two years assistant priest at Arnprior, goes to Whitney as parish priest, and will be succeeded by Rev, D. Breen, who for the past two years has been as- sistant at Eganville; the vacancy at Eganville will in turn be filled by Rev. Chas. D. O'Gorman, assistant at Brudenell, while Rev, Jas. Collins, of the cathedral staff, Pembroke, will go to Brudenell. There is a vacancy at Fort Coulonge, caused by the departure of Rev. Wm. Murray for overseas, andythis will be filled by Rev. Mich. O"@erman, at present assistant at Douglas, All the changes will take effect on June 1st. KING ALFONSO MAY WORK FOR A TRUCE. The Spanish Monarch to Sound Out the Peace Sentiment First. (Special to the Whig) Madrid, May 22.--King Alfonso may initiate peace negotiations in the near future, Madrid papers stat- ed to-day. 'The Spanish ruler plans first to sound out the peace senti- ment in each of the belligerent coun- tries. If results are satisfactory he will send Spanish statesmen to the belligerent capitals to work out plans for a truce. Peace Only Through Victory. (Special to the Whig), Paris, May 22.-- "Peace can only come through a decisive allied viec- tory." Premier Briand told a delega- tion from the Russian Duma to-day. "The Allies can regard the future with confidence," said the French Prime Minister. "Peace must not result from diplomatic intrigue, but came only through a decisive Allied victory, which alone can and will re- store the recognition of international law and right." * * TET a + (Special to the Whig.) # Copenhagen, May 22.---Vio- # # lent ecannonading has been # #4 heard in the Baltic off the Swed- # * ish port of Kalmar, indicating # "% that the Russian and German % # fleets have been engaged. * 4 RICHARDSONS TO SELL THEIR FELDSPAR MINE. Near Verona To the Pennsyl- vania Feldspar Mining Company. The Kingston Feldspar Mining Company property near Verona, owned by James Richardson & Sons, will likely be taken over by the Penn- sylvania Feldspar Mining Company. It is understood that Mr. Segsworth, son-in-law of W. B. Dalton, is putting the deal through and acquiring what is considered the finest deposit of feldspar in the world. The mine is about five miles from Verona, the main plant being near Desert Lake. The spar is shipped by boat and por- taged from Thirteen to Thirty Island lake. From there it is a thirty-mile railroad haul over the C. P. R. to Kingston. WANTS ASSURANCE FROM LABOR UNIONS As to Lack of Men Before Agreeing to War Prison- ers Working. It apepars to be very doubtful if the city will have interned prisoners of war at Fort Henry working on the streets this summer. Ald, Peters, chairman of the Board of of Works, is negotiating for this prison labor through W. F. Nickle, M. P,, but the latter, it is understood, is not in- clined to favor the proposal. A let- ter has been received by the chair- man from Mr. Nickle, it is learned, who states that he would not desire to move in the matter unless it is shown that it is absolutely imposs- ible to get local or other labor. He would want an assurance on this point from the labor unions as well as the Board of Works, and suggests a conference of both bodies. NOTHING MORE EXPECTED | At Present' With Regard To the Ross i to Tile. Whi; In, Ottawa, ay 22. here h ave been no decided points of interest in con- nection with the Ross rifie matter, and none are expected for the pres- ent at least. The Government proposes to rest the matter with the official rAvoriant made on Saturday in which the claim was advanced that the Ross rifle is Quite the equal of the British arm. Big Cattle Purchase. Brockville, May 22.--A Fy com- pany of ated in LAST EDITION FELL FROM WAS WITH THE 59TH BUT REJOINED THE 39TH AS PRIVATES. Transferred To the Royal Flying Corps--Lieut. Bateman's Compan~ ion Was Also Killed In the Aceci- dent, Belleville, May 22.--Lieut. George S. Bateman, son of Joseph Bateman, of Springbrook, was killed in an aero- plane accident at Gosport in Hamp- shire, near Portsmouth, on the 18th inst. His father received a cable that Lieut. Bateman, in company with Lieut. Selwyn, was making a flight and when at a height of 1,000 feet the planes gave way, and the machine dived, killing its two occupants in- stantly. Lieut. Bateman was attached to the 39th, and was with that battalion when it was quartered in this city early last summer. It will be re- membered that he, in company with Lieut. Reg. Elliott, made quite a sen- sation when, after being transferred to the 59th Battalion, they boarded the train carrying their comrades of the 39th to Quebec, and begged to be allowed to.go as privates. Their case was brought before General Sir Sam Hughes, and after reprimanding the pair, he attached them to the 39th, allowing them to retain their rank. Early in December of last year Lieut. Bateman was transferred to the flying corps, received his pilot's certificate in February, and was re- cently attached to the squadron at Bristol. He leaves a sister and one brother, besides his father. He was twenty- two years of age. bab Ad Atta date na tas i WAR BULLETINS, ) * Col. Marshall, who succeeded Col. Currie in command of the * 15th Battalion, SESE r ere £ a : some heavy blows Tn Mes 2 tamia are expected. oope- of The Austrian ¢ offensive in the Tyrol district is slacking. Ital- # ians claim the defeat of the Aus- # trians in Lagarina Valley, * ---- > The Russians are continuing * the advance toward Mosul. A & strong force of Turks is assem- % bled at Sivas to oppose the Rus- -* sians, PEPE PRP PP EPIL RS i DAILY MEMORANDUM City Council, 8 p.m, See top e 3, right band corner, for probavilities. : BORN CLARE AL Battersea, on 916, to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, a son. COOKE--In Kingston, on 1916, to Mr. and Mrs. T. P. © 159 Wellington street, a son. DOREY-At Gananoque, May 19th, to Wr. and Mrs. W. J. Dorey, a dau- ghter. HANSON---In Kingston, May 21st, 1918, George Hanson, a daughter. WHBDELER--AL Gananoque, on 15th, to Mr. and Mrs. William ¥ Wheeler, a son MARRIED STEWART -TURCOTTE In Toronte, May 18th, 1818, Laura Agnes Tur- cotte, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Turcotte, Sixth street, Kingston, Ont., to Ja eldest son of Mr. and Mra. William . at 484 Pape Avenue, To- ronto, Ont. ! DIED KELSO Kingston, on May 21st, 1916, Pte. Buphrim Donald Kelso, of the C. A. 8. C., aged 20 years and 4 months A miticary funeral will take place on day afternoon at 1.4 1 the residence of his mother, ' ey Vipe street, to Cataraqul cem- etery. SHEA--In Kingston, on 201] 218, Melina 8hea, only Jay 2 Bra at 0. D, 4 Lower Bag May Reuben 2st, T. 21st, ooke, May on Bunday, to Me. and Mrs. 261 Barrie street, "i Faia his 7 place ge afternoon to Cataraqui cemete