f - -
i
r
WEATHER FORECAST
T.-rr
Xortli Carolina Probably rain to
nic!. r turning to snow Wednesday;
roMor.
i
FULL LEASED WIRE SERVICE
W V-w lMH
VOL. XXIII, NO. 349.
WILMINGTON, NCRTH CAROLINA;, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER 25, 1917
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
CHRISttVlAS DAYMtKTH LEHEM A DAY OF REAL REJCJNG
.V ,1-,
i, :r .
m n Tw in t "rTrT rt'-
1 u OliiV I riVl.VJJVljA&vb
y ILMIlMEQM OlSPATGH
TimmXPEDlTMlStAIt
FORGE
CAPITULATED
First War Christmas for Amer-f
ica,
rourtn tor European !
Belligerents I
LITTLE FIGHTING !
EXCEPT IN ITALY)
Military Operations Almost r.tj
a Standstill The Kaiser !
H-37. Premised a
Offer Today
New Peace
-Vni.'i'ioa's first war Christmas in
ma:1' years finds tlie sons of the Unlt-
ed St:ites training in camps here and!
in Trance and guarding the ocean :
h(- from submarines. Todav also
the fourth war Christmas for tho
IeaiKng belligerents of Europe
ami!
for the first time in hundreds of years
Bethlehem and Jerusalem, where oc-j
curie ti the most important events in
the life of Him whose natal day it is,
are in the hands of Christians.'
Military operations are almost at a
standstill except on the Italian front
where the Austro-Germans persist in
their efforts to break the Italian line.
The British official press bureau has
announced that no further official war
statements will be issued until this
afternoon.
- Last Christmas tide the world was
discussing pe; terms dff ered by the
Central Powers and it is reported that
this day also may be marked by a
proffer from those countries held in
the sway of Prussian military autocra
cy. Peace negotiations between the
BcL-lioviki government of Russia and
t! Central Powers have progressed so
tar
that it is declared the Russians j
toiiay will receive an answer to their
t?rms from the Teutonic allies.
Professing a desire for a peace
which the Entente Allies say they can-ias
not accept with honor, Emperor Wil
liarr declares to the worn that his
soldiers must bring a Prussian peace
by battering in with the iron fist and
the shining sword the doors of those
who will not have peace."
American troops in France have
been joined in the celebration of ;
Christmas by French children and I
they ; end a message of cheer to those
at home. American soldiers and sail
ors will participate in holiday festivi
ties at various camps in England and
France as well as in London and
Pan - aiu other cities and seaports.
Th- political situation in Rumania
is said to be disturbed and the Bol
sheviki authorities in Petrograd have
received reports of a revolutionary
Plot, against King Ferdinand. In the
teinuuv south of Moscow the Bolshe
vik; claim
to have defeated 6,000 Kor-
sheviki also are said to have begun
an a't.ick on Kharkov.
SOCIALIST PAPER
AGAIN PUBLISHED
(By Associated Press).
t( ruam. Dec. 25 The Vor-
A:
v; :' . tiif! Socialist organ, reponed
to h;iv. been ordered to suspend pub
lication for three days, appeared tin-exper-tf
fiy Sunday. It says its rus
pension was due to criticism of the
Pifivi; -inning of war invalids under the
heading: "Let them go."
Tho Vorvaerts quotes in its de-ff.-ns:.
n ;r von Vonder, the food
con; relit r. It quotes him as denying
h;.v:i, ( xcused or tolerated certain
cond, i, no alleged, but as admitting
that M.ci! trading has assumed rro
i)ortj(, , -.vhich threaten to endanger
r'MKl r.upply.
CONSCRIPTION PLAN
BADLY DEFEATED
(Vy Associated Press).
'ir.ey, Australia. Dec. 25. Further
I'M l
IV')'n tho
referendum have in-!
''",;,--fd ).; . vote against compulsory
in h:: -y i-.-ivicp and defeat of the plan
! : now beyond doubt.
TI o poliriral situation is very uncer-;;:un-
1' re mi or Hughes has made no
' ' ' ' M' n; thus far but in certain quar-'JfT-;
iiw ro is ovidence of opposition to
'-n tinned leadership of the Nation
;,'isi.,. tlie dominant partv. It is not
' "i'iol able that Frank G. Tudor, a fbr-
r' cabinet member, will be permitted I
mii. .Nationalists to form a govern-
rr' fC tile Labor nnrtv Hvlnc tht
n opportunity to put into er-
f'-'Ct
conscription. ; '
CHRISTMAS FINDS
PARIS MINE ON
H COLOR
I Hundreds of Soldiers and Sail
ors bpend Day in French
Capital
A. BIG DINNER WAS
PROVIDED FOR ALL
Supply of Turkeys Exhausted
Iiarly by Demand for Great
j American Bird Many
Entertainments Given
(By Associated Press.)
Paris, Dec. 25. For its fourth war.
Christmas, Paris has taken on a decid
ed American color. In addition to the
500 American soldiers regularly sta
tioned in and around the city, there are
in Paris one thousand or more on leave
from camps, including a number who
have seen service in the trenches. The
engineer regiments serving behind the
British
front, and who, were-jeceniixL
engaged with tne liermans are repre
Isented and there are also several hun-
ared sailors from an American patrol
fleet off the French coast.
The poultry situation the last few
days was dominated by the demand
for turkey, the greatest in the history
of Paris. To supply the soldiers and
sailors from the United States, vthe
markets were exhausted hefnrp. nrmn
yesterday. All the American fighting j
men will be given a Christmas dinner
as possible to the real Ameri
can feast. The American Y. M. C. A.
hotels are filled to capacity. Special
entertainments were given there last
'night and Christmas dinners were serv-
ed today. The American Soldiers' and
Sailors' Club and the American Univer
sity Union also are looking after es
many guests as they can accommodate.
The various college fraternities aud
alumni associations are giving special
dinners and entertainments to mem
bers. At the Soldiers' and Sailors' Club
each guest received a Christmas pres
ent. No American soldier in France has
been overlooked, as the Red Cfross pro
vided gifts for all of them. The Amer
ican ambulance at Neuilly has a Christ
mas tree for the patients and the ether
American hospitals provided dinners
members last night at their old head
quarters. mmm death
CAUSES A GLOQM
Official Washington Expresses
Sorrow Over Loss of Nevada
Senator
(By Associated Press).
woohintrr.Ti -nr. -TVio Hojfh nf ,
Senator France Griffith Newlands, of,
Nevada, who succumbed to a sudden
heart attack at nis home here last
mas activities
of official Washing
ton today.
Senator Newlands - was stricken
while at work in his office at the Sen
ate building1 in the afternoon, but was j
able to goto h'- home and his illness
was not generally known until the an
nouncement or nis aeaui. iiie mem
bers of his family did not realize' the
seriousness of his condition and a phy
sician was not called for several
hours. The attacks Ta.er became
acute and he died at 10:15 o'clock.
Mrs. Newlands and her brother were
with him when the end came.
Arrangements for the funeral had
not been completed today. Members
of the family here awaited wprd from
a daughter, Mrs. Edith N. Johnstoni
of Sajita Barbara, . CaL Another
daughter,' Mrs.N William "B. Johnston,
lives in Boston,' " - Z
The entire populace and residents
emn ceremonies This scene is most
CAROLINA FARME
Sixty-Eight Farm Loan Asso
ciations Joined, and $418,
430 Secured
By GEORGE MANNING
.u .-,t , - i
thusiasitically availed
tnemseives or i
the opportunity to make long-terra
loans on their farms at five per cen:
from the Federal Farm Loan Bank
system is shown by a report issued by
the Federal Farm Loan Board review
ing the operations of the system up to.
Decehmfcer 1.
The report shows that 6S farm Joan
associations have been formed by th
North Carolina farmers; that loans o
uewi ayynuu iui ui
mese assuciaLiuiis , lhul i-t-utrtaf
Farm Loan Board has approved lpanfe
of $2,199,046, and that loans amounting
to S418.430 have been finally closed. j
The farmers of the Southeastern ar3
Western States have taken full a 1
vantage of the Farm Loan systen,
while the farmers in the North At
lantic and New England States ha e
exhibited an apparent lack of desire o
embrace its advantages.
The farmers of Virginia have for l
ed 48 farm loan associations and ?
plied for leans of $5,524,618; Tenness e
has formed 81 associations, Alabaca
59. Mississippi 95, California 74, Okk-'
homa 8.8, Colorado 99, New Mexico '6
and Washington 96.
On the other hand the farmers Df
Pennsylvania have formed but 10 as o-
ciations and applied for loans of ttit I
i oro .Terspv ha .fnrXi
nine associations; Delaware one, Cm
necticut one. Maine six, New HariD
sbire, one, Vermont two and Rhcde
Island two. !
This actractivitv in connection with
the Farm Loan Bank system in tlii?
South and apparent indifference trj-
WaiUS It IU llir- l-SUI Lllf ctSLCI II OlctLfS Ip
undoubtedly uue in a large measure tp
the fact that the Norrheastern farmeip
have been always able to obtain loan?
from th banks at between 5 and 7 p
cent, while in the South, the figur
nf the Treasury Department show tie
bankers have held the farmers up. to a
average interest rate 01 over y pi
cent and in many instances much higi- j
er. 1
Kansas has received the large
amount of loans, getting $3,594,000,
and Louisiana has received the sma
est amount, having obtained only $830, :
although the Louisiana farmers have
formed 14 associations and applied for
loans of $2,038,161. , ,
"Up to December 1 $29,824,655 htid
heen actually paid out to iarmers 01
the united btates. ine total or loans
approved by the Federal Land Bants,
including those closed and those
awaiting verification of title and other
formalities, is $105,136,529.
The ieport also shows that the , to-
tal loan applications made to (he
welve Federal Land Banks has ben
t .'19.760,740, which has been cut down
bv reductions and rejections to e-5s
thrn $180,000,000. The interest fate
undor the farm loan system has been ;
.increased from 5 per cent to 5 1-2 'per
cent -nd the increased rate wm.aEpiy
to all applications which have not yet
been .approved by the Federal Land
Borrowing under the Federal Ffrni
Loan av-tem is done through" 'od-op-:.
erative farm loanassociations organiz-
ed by farmers, each association, being
composed of ten or more fariner bor-
rowers
least $
Farm
Buch co-operative associations. ; t
OT Mi
i
i
i
i
. r,rt - 'i rrnup Borrowing? ;av wgnt. ine causo m iuvv. -jr - ,7-- QV Amoni Members i orUongressTemainms
noc Up to December 1st the known, - . YZ:T:X 7r 1 .women, nine of Here over the holidays spent the day
Loan. Board had chartered 1,839 . . . ,n . A IChmnthP... w . . 'quietly in Iheir homes, or, no.tels. .
rpu u;r. oni v Qaoc noflrhv nrnp.pfl v in? Tn Tnft i nurcii or iaviLv iui oui
i npressing. ,
RS SHflFER FIRST M
) LQAnS MfiilGJIN DFFIGLR
TO SO HB TOP
!
. i
Fqmer University of Chicago
Football St;ar Tells of the
J
FRENCHY SAID "GUESS"
A ur DHVC r I TCQQPTl!
uvio vvi
But Time Spent in Uuessing
Came Near Proving Serious
to Sammies Cut Wire
Preparatory to Charge
(By Associated Press).
Chicago. Dec. 25. Lieutenant wai-
ter B Schafer, former half back on! in several sections and that 5,000,000
the University of Chicago .footbiall jnew members, the maximum fixed by
team, claims to have been the first the directors probably would be en
American officer to go over the top rolled,
into "No Man's Land," under tne Dar
rage of French gunners,- according
to a letter exhibited today by Schaf-
er s
fraternity brothers at tne iuiu-
way School.
Schafer, in his letter, told of the
manner in which the small body of
American troops crept out in the night
under a peppering of bullets, to cut
away the barbed wjre entanglements
in order that a heavy assault might
ibe made the following aay.
11 Wdl a " " & A"f ,1 time
told in the trenches that it was time
fr. wr ctart " said Schafer. "Just as
we were making final preparations, a
French officer came running from an
outpost yelling 'Guess! Guess!"
"Guess what?" we asked him.
"Guess! Guess!" was his only reply.
"I'll bite. I'll guess your right
hand;" said one of my men, who look
ed at his clenched fist.
Nnni Non! Guess masks," shouted
' the Frenchman as he seized his safety
helmet. . ,
"We had just time to put on our gas
masks before the danger came and if
1 jj -uvi mim-h lnnppr there
might have been sad results. We went
out into 'No Man's Land' and I know
we nan Kiueu mm
that I was the nrst Amenuau
to go over the 'top for Uncle Sam."
. . : f p r rT
iuipp COAL MINED
THAN LAST YEAR
tpfl Press).
Wellington. Dec. 25. While several
' sections of the country actually are
j,--: TTo-nt nf cnal mines nro-
c ffprine for want of coal, mines pro
cin?. bitumenous coal turned out
,np Murine November than in any
mpnth in history, with one excep
!tion. -the Geological survey reyu; ..
These i mines now are practically,
one month ahead of 1916 production
and if the present output . is mam tamed,
production this year will be nine. pef
cenuu.. .
This year's output in- necemuw ia
estimated at 502,01,000 tons.
.J. J 4
MOTHER AND CHILDREN CRE-
MATED.
4, Greenwood, S. C. Dec, 25. Mrs.
t. l -Whitman and;her six ehil-
clren ranging, in age from three to
st. thirteen years, were burned to vjtoai QeainllfnA' ;"LJ ,Tm" n
aeatn in iiieii "0,1 uaw . - 1
T 7 7
EMBERSHIP DRIVE
A GREAT SUCCESS
Enrollment of 1 3,000,000 Re
cruits Brings Total to Around
1 8,000,000
(By Associated Press).
Wn?hiniTtnn. Tip.c. 25. With an
xtaflt.o nearly mMQV&glim
c'ruits indicated as the result of
Christmas drive, directors cf
the
thej
American Red Cross today estimated (
nre-pruzation's total membership at :
u'uuu- lfleiiew emu, m . "rt i
nieuis a reguiai uicuiuuouhi yi.
1 000, announced a week ago at the open-
ing of the Christmas campaign.
i A , j i ;v. ,T,.,,1-
; Reports received last night anaou!-;
ing the success ot t&e unaertftKing saui
the drive would be continued this week j
NEW YORK ALIVE TO
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
(By Associated Press). - i
New York, Dec. 25. New yowls j
Christmas spirit today was uncheck-j
ed by war. The. holiday' generosity j
characteristic of the city, everywhere
was abundant. ' Charitable organiza
tions, in their work of providing din
ners for the poor and homeless, re
ported that despite the extraordinary
demands made upon everyone's finan
ces, the calls of -je needy were even
more promptly answered than in nor
mal times.
Unusual efforts wera made to pro
vide holiday cheer for the soldiers and
sailors of. the United States and the
Allies. While thousands of khaki clad
men trom the army cantonments en- Misses Schofield and Fell, members of
joyed their dinners at home, those ! the organization, made addresses. Otn
who could not make the trip to far-jer shakers included Louis Barthou
away States, were entertained by nu-vand Eugene Brieux.
merous societies. Old fashioned j
Christmas dinners were served and
presents distributed.
BROKLYN TO TRAIN
AT HOT SPRINGS
(Bv Associated Press)
New York, Dec. 25. The Brooklyn i
. . . -r t i -ii j : :n I
JNationai League Daseoau ream wui
ncnin en to Hot. Snrines. Ark., for its
spring training, it was announced to-
day. The recruits have been ordered
to report there on March 18. I
A spring tour with, the Boston Red;
Sox has been arranged the first game;
to be played at Hot Springs on March
31. Other games will be played at?
Little Roek, Memphis, Atlanta, Chat-'
tanooga, Knoxvilie, Bristol and tticn-
mond.
Oh the return from the South, a se
ii uum - " '
ries of games will be played witn tne
New York Americans.
EIGHTEEN KILLTO-
IN TROLLEY WRECK;
.
(Bv Associated Press).
Pittsburgh, Dec. 25. Two of the pas
sengers who were injured wnen
Knoxvilie street car was torn to viecf:t
after a wild, dash through the 5outh
Kills tunnel late yesterday, died in.
rnitais tms morning,, "sl"s ii! !
- - .
U . WAAA. A,A V - ' - h , ' .
. mm ZONE H9D
Turkey and All Trimmings,
Music, and Few Hours Off
Duty
CHRISTMAS TREES
ON THE WARSHIPS
Every Vessel in Harbor Had a
Tree Admiral Sims Spent
Day With Jackies' Enjoy
ing Celebration
(By Associated Press).
Base of American Flotilla, in Brit
is!' Waters, Dec. 25. Every sailor in
the flotilla had a real American Christ
mas. The sailors ate turkey and mince
pie and had all the other trimmings
that go with a Christmas dinner. There
was music at meal time and a few ex
tra hours off duty and each sailor was
happy.
Jackie was a bit angered at old Santa
Claus for being late with his parcels,
letters and cards from the folkVback
home, but he consoled himsell with
the thought that he will be happy when
he finally gets them.
.The feature of the Christmas cele
bration was an entertainment at the
Naval Club house. It was staged by
American sailors and soldiers troin
the famous "Black Watch' Regiment."
Admiral Sims, who came all the way
from London to be with his boys over
the holidays, was a smiling spectator.
While the show was progressing
ashore, a group of 30 singers from
churches made the rounds of the de-
were, held ashore.
rne crisp December weather seemed
to enliven the holiday spirit. Every
ship fortunate enough to be
a harbor
I had a Christmas tree.
Most of the
rces were of the iQy variety, but they
were unrisimas trees, some aestroy-
ers had- trees lashed to the masthead
dntl all were decorated. The sailors
'.on one vessel displayedxa spirit of good
by pIaying tQ off.er?
'pev decorated the ward
room with
holly and provided an elaborate' menu,
with one cigar and two cigarettes tor
each officer.
This is the bill of fare provided cn
all ships:
Cream celery soup,
Sweet pickles, Celery and chow-chow,
Rhode Iseland trukey.
Spiced ham, , - Giblet gravy,
Fruit dressing, Asparagus,
Sugar corn. Steamed Potatoes.
Cocoanut layer cake. Mince Die.
( Fregh appleS)
' Black coffee and cigars,
Many homes near the base were
thrown open to the American officers.
ine cnusn auiuirai cuuumaiiu tug lum
station was host to Admiral Sims and
the highest ranking officers of the
American flotilla.
Joffre Presided
(By Associated Press)
Paris, Monday, Dec. 24. Marshal
Joffre presided today at a manifesta
tion in the Sorbonne, organized by the
"Franco-American fraternity" which
thus far has given aid to 47.000 Frnech
war orphans. American Ambassado
Sharp sat beside Marshal Joffre. The
SHIM SPENT
MET CHRISTMAS
America's First War Christma
Without Elaborate Festivi
' ties at Capital
" ! !
(By Associated Press.)
Washington, Dec. 25. Quiet cere
monies, few in number, marked the
celebration of Washington's first war
i VJUt 1U AU.UU . A A WUIUWU A. W AA WAA AJ A WAA V !
Uho av Ci,rrmm.iH hv ha famiiv 1
.mam frhm SfirretaHea Raker and
, . , ,. ,
.aCA-Uaaaa? VVU T V J iilg VUV AiUVlUU AAJAAA
ciation, went forward to soldiers and
sailors at home and abroad.
The President,' as has been his cus-
torn since"cbming to the White House,
yesterday motored out to a country
i club -where he plays golf and distribut
ed gifts to about 50 children who live
in the vicinity
This morning the
president and Mts. Wilson attended
cnurch and later a tree was lighted
. TraidPT,pa Tnnde.hildren at
the white House. More than 125 tur-
keys were presented to White House
rPTfi not ex- cuiyiujcco t gjuovi "'""""i-
Pershing's Men Stopped
At Sun Down and Opened J
Festivities V ?
i A RUSH TO OPEN
CHRISTMAS PACKAGES
Truck Load After 'Truck Loairl
or rresents rrom
Home
Kolled Up tJehind the Lines 1 ;V
Yesterday Afternoon
(By Associated Press.) v'SV
With the Amrican Troops; in France, "I
Monday, Deb. 24. The -American x- ft
peditionary force tonight capitulated tfxiM.
to Santa Claus. With- a .light snow
falling throughout the zone, every- 7.
man in General Pershing's army-
"dough boys," cavalry meri, artillery 0;
men, marines, engineers, "mule skin - fe;
"cis otuyyeu worK us tne sun went ;
down and started in to do the bidding V
ot the jovial Saint temporarily in com
mand,
First there was a rush to open the "
Christmas packages from home,' for J
dOring the day, mail truck aiter mallsfp
truek, had arrived in the various ifeft
towns; where the troops are quarter-;
ed, loaded to the top with presents. ; J
The mail arrived at the base port
late, and extraordinary efforts were 1,
made to get it to the soldiers prompt-V,-;
ly. .
So many a lonely American fighter; $
who had about come to the. conclusion r
that his friends at home had forgotten :'"'('
him, had cause to rejoice. With their V ' V
new sweaters on, new pipes in their,;- v,'
teeth, some of them smoking fragrant I " "
cigars, the men of the army then set
to work in earnest making it merryi' ji
for the children of France. " '
At some distance from the Amer
ican zone the railway engineersfttji
the British front and other engineers r'-.r.;
at the French front were spending U'bi'
their Christmas eve under fire, but' a
even there the children of ; nearby .;; -neighborhoods
were being cared Mot-'X, -It
was in the headquarters town "of ' fe
the first division to land - on; French,.:';
church there was pretty small, the
m. v. a. nut was commandeered. Dur f;
ing the afternoon the American of fl-
cers and men worked hard erecting a
gigantic Christmas tree and decorat- ; v !
ing it while sentries posted outside Y
kept inquisitive youngsters at a safe i'
distance. Finally the doors were ;
opened and the procession filed in, - ".
each little French boy and girl dress- :. -ed
in his or her best and accompa-
nied by the mother, or. in the cases of yv.
the little refugees, whose mothers and, V, ..
fathers are missing, by the woman" ' T
who is caring for them. ':-'.'"vi;;:
There rar a tense air of expectancy "
until the lights were suddenly flashed1''-
on and the tree and Santa Claus re- :7 ': ,
realed. The revelation was the sig- '
nal for a chorus of shrill, joyful cries , "
from the assembled youngsters,, who '
were all eyes for the tree with its .,' '
glittering tinsel set oif here and there ;'
by the customary red, white, green". Y'
and purple lights. Crossed American. Y ''
and Frencb flags were numerously - ;
displayed and from every branch .
there hung boxes of candy, jumping -jacks,
candy sticks, drums, dolls and
other play things and a plentiful ' , -
sprinkling of apples and oranges.. ,
Piled high at the base of the tree
there, were boxes containing toy sol-lj.
diers, guns, uniforms, tops, , sewinfif ''&.
sets, heavy woolen mittens, muffiers,' ' '
warm coats, dresses, and shoes. .-.;y"0-x
Then the real, live Santa Claus, who Y Y;
in reality was none other than . the . :
French interpreter at - headquarters;
stepped out. His springing activity ; .V
called forth another appreciative :
chorus from the. youngsters, and liosjt Y
of khaki clad soldiers standing in the ;
rear, some of them still covered with V''
the mud of the training " grounds, , T
grinned as they heard the children
ShOUt. . -.
The only reason any soldier of the - "j p "
division was absent from the celebra-;,
tion was because there wasn't room v
for him to crowd in. For it was the
men themselves who provided the ; -bulk,
of the money and; they naturally : ;
were eager to see the children being ;v ,
made happy by the soldiers', gifts. . v
i Each of these gifts - had been intend- ; .
ed to fill as nearly, as possible the'. ,
heart's desire of : the individual chHd ; . -
and as quickly as the child s name -was
called from the box containing
the present, the , smilmg, bashf ill j
young citizen of France walked - up .
and received it. Then Santa Claus
. , . , .
assistants, who were pertain designa
'the
fruit and small toys to ail. .
Tnere were entertainments of a '
similar, nature throughout the army
zone on Christmas eve, while the f es-;
tivities were planned 1 for , Christmas ,
day at some places. The men them-,; -selves
in addition to the.presents they "
received from relatives i and friends, ' !
got many from ; other i sourtiessucli;
as the . Red - Cross and the J tobacco ' '
fund, which later distributed : quanti
ties of "smokes";:on?behalf of many T
newspapers in the United States. De-'
spite" the fact, that there was a;turkey
f limine, many; of the units - mani ged
o purchase a number o f these "birds'
in France While others who were, less -,
(Continued' on, Page EightT. ; "
A-V '
S " " v,v.- " ---- - . . , V - .-j - i va
y.