North Carolina Newspapers

, IN -1 HOME: EDITION ISPA' i-OL.XX1V.NO.I20 WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 9, 1918. FIVE CENTS TCH GERMANS TO DRIVE A WEDGE RETAIN A PASTOR FOR RAILROAD MEN EXPECTED TO WIN TOMORROW CERTAIN TRAFFIC FORECAST TFBTf H-.TT 17 Tf HTTV TT Wfi f fff " mi) ALutu um Heavy Fighting on a Narrow Front in Flanders SLIGHT GAINS ARE MADE Enemy Sustained Heavy Losses Without Materially Improving His Poosition 500,000 NOW IN EUROPE Secretary Baker Announces That There are More Than a Half Million American Troops Abroad. Heavy fighting, although on a com paratively narrow front, is continu es in Flanders, where the Germans tean yesterday another attempt to " rfvp a vv odge into the entent lines and outflank the hill positions south-, vest of Ypres. This attempt failed and only a tern porary success was secured by the enemy in gaining a foothold in the allied front line at points between Voomezeele and LaClytte. Last night the British and French drove back sharply at the Germans and ousted them from the small bits cf territory thed had won. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the two German divisions which were engaged in this operation. Notwithstanding their heavy losses, tie Germans seem reluctant to aban do5 the effort, and this morning fomd them renewing the attack to the north of Kemmel in the Vierstreet reeion. A heavy machine gun fire forced the British line back at one point, but the recession, was a slight me and the ground remained disput ed territory. The fighting was con tinuing here when the day's report from British headquarters was dis patched. The British are continuing to Im prove their positions in'the Somme resion on tne nign grouna Deiweeniarr&igaed for ajprellminary hearing fie Sorame . end thClArttvEurthcr tfoi-an-ms!mWnS:"'WmisiW& progress Miras made there during1 the night. There was local fighting" In the Bucquoy region, -between' Albert and Arras, and south of the Somme the heavy artillery fire that hag been reported for some days past continued en the French front on bbth "Sides of tie Avre. Seemingly the eGrmans aret attack fag in the hope of driving the allies 1 i 1 1 . 1 -it 9 t'BCK toward tne ivemmeiDecK nver and its branches, or beyond "Poper inghe and thus outflank the heights running -west from Mont Kemmel. Very heavy losses were inflicted on tie enemy in his previous strong ef fort to penetrate this line, and the line abort Locre and its adjoining hills. It may be the attack is only a mask for stronger effort, although to break through the Voormezeele Locre line might be of marked advan tage to the enemy. Elsewhere in Flanders and in Pic ardy the infantry has been inactive. big guns, however, are roaring Without cessation, especially north and south of the Avre. east of Amiens. Aerial fighting is most' active and in a big air battle near Dousl, British aviators brought down eight of the enemy without any losses. Four more German machines were brought down at other points. Bad weather prevails on the Ameri can sectors in France. Northwest of foul an American patrol has been am bushed by the Germans. In this sec ( tor also the American heavy artillery tas been in action for the first time. ear Montdidier, in Picardy, the American gunners continue their ha rassing fire against the Germans. mi American army is growing rap tnVn strenSth- Although refusing io divulge the exact number of men no have gone overseas, Secretary JJfer announces that more than 600, T fen nave been dispatched since the Italian front rains have put stop to lively artillery and patrol -?6wnents. The British forces ad AW m northward from Bagdad In Kn i amIa- have captured Kerkuk, mfle, n ?v0rth of BaSad, and eighty tivp nfVi. L UI jviosui, ine ODjec ed Tu v driVe" Six hundred wound- .Brim- 1, Myd-George, the British ""nter, m the house of com his J ay wiU lead e defense of PrertnHe,.rnJment aSainst the attack MaSJ n ted b the letter written by enrai Maurice. BRuNswiacBAric w THE HARBOR BILL cmm?r;negtn' May 9The senate' !ion L mittee adopted a reso etcher In authorizng Chairman fiarbor h n lcslore to the river and 13.ooo fL , ltem appropriating Bru improvement of the ii 'J7 providing Eity nf lr terests establish uai uor. neces- Cp, " ropnatlon. Hoke Smith and Hard- lCB aeaint, "-cu iae commit- Drntcctsi iv. - .. item --"n.iuu vl me uruns- fiebyth6'aff been recommend- army engiaeer corps. A TTEMPT METHODISTS W INCREASE WAGES .BRITISH MINISTRY .FORM CORPORATION RECASTING OF PORT The Official Reports. BRITISH. London. Mar O. attack delivered last night by xMitiBu uoups me uermans were driven from the portion of the al lied front line they had entered on the Flanders front in the La-Clytte-Voormezeele sector, the war office announced today.- Further progress was made last night by the British on the front east of Amiens betweer. the Somme and Ancre rivers. A new German attack was made this morning on the Flan ders front' north of Kemmel. The enemy pressed back the British line slightly at one point. FRENCH." V Paris, May 9. Heavy artillery fighting on both sides of the Avre river on the 'front below Amiens is reported in today's official com munication. TIE JURY AT AH Evidence Taken i w . 1 hl3 , Morning -Verdict Proba ble This Afternoon. The entire morning in federal court was consumed in the taking of testi many in the case chargirig J. L. Bow ers, Hampstead merchant, with viola tion of the espionage act, and the case was given the jury by Judge Con nor just prior to. the noon recess for lunch with Instructions that they go to dinner and wait until afternoon for consideration. A verdict will very probably be handed down during the afternoon. " ' The evidence introduced was prac tically the same as that offered when Bowers, arrested by department of justice officials at Scott's Hill, was several days ago, and held for the fed eral court. His arrest was made fol lowing complaint of Hampstead citi zens that his utterances were sedi tious and that his efforts were, in their opinion and according to their way of thinking, being directed to ward thwarting the draft. The case of Norman George "Beck, young white man, who was recently brought back here on swindling charges, and who is understood to be a deserter and who is alleged to have impersonated an officer, had not been disposed of early in the afternoon. He sat through the morning's session of court garbed in the uniform of a United States army officer. Annual Convention to be Held at Wrightsville Beach Three Days. This year's annual convention of the state organization of funeral di rectors and embalmers will be held at Wrightsville Beach, June 17-18-19, according to a wire received early this afternoon from W. E. Yopp, who is now in Greensboro. The message was meager, merely iconveylng the information that Wilmington and Wrightsville will be called upon to entertain the members of this organ ization -for three days. It is not known at what hotel the delegates will be quartered nor where the ses sions of the convention will be held at this time. The coming of the fu neral directors gives Wrightsville 10 conventions for the season thus far. The organization is one with which the layman is but slightly acquaint ed and it is not known how many vis itors' will be brought to the city for the sessions. The number is expect ed to be large .however, and the coming of the undertakers will add that much vmore to the success of what promises to be one of the most successful seasons in the history of the beach. AMERICAN PATROL FALLS VICTIM OF , , A SILENT ENEMY With the American Army in France, May 8. An American patrol on the Toul sector fell victim to a si lent enemy ambush sometime last nigt. ; The Germans evidently U3ed bayonets and the butts of their ri fles. The Americans went out early in the evening and nothing further was "head off them until another pa- i.i . i ji a i. : x x. trot nappenea xo cross iub wub iire oiners uau oeeu auiuusuBu. nui J one sKot was fired during the encoun ter as VkB as was Known, . BOB CASE GIVEN NOON FUNERAL DIRECTORS ARE COMING IN JUNE General Conference Abolishes Four Year Limitation Period VOTE WAS APPLAUDED tmendment Was Adopted by Vote of 1'55 to 131 After :: iwo Uays Uebate. crvr ORE LAY DELEGATF.S .. . nmittee Recommends In- . . ase Number of Lay Rep rC J-esentatives ' to Annual Conference -to Ten. Atlanta, May ?. Methodist minis ters hereafter may retain a pastorate for a practically unlimited period. This is the result of the action of the conference of the Southern Methodist church today when, after a two days discussion, a paragraph was inserted in the discipline qualifying the time limit by empowering bishops to con tinue a minister in a pastorate on the request of a quarterly conference, supported by a majority of the pre siding elders in the bishop's cabinet at an annual conference. The law concern in c nraeM; o Fvo.uiu6 ciuw was icii unchanged, requiring him to mova at tne expiration of four years service. The amended minority report of the committee on revisals was adopt ed by a v6te of 155 to 131. The an nouncement of the ballot was re ceived with cheers by the delegates. With the prospects of a final vote on elimination of the time limit on pastorates before them, delegates to the general conference of the Metho dist Episcopal church, South met to day for. their seventh day's session with Bishop J. C. Kilgo, of North Car olina, presiding. The Rev. G. H. Lam beth, of Richmond, Va., led in thevdeh votional exercises. Bishop W.B. Thirkleld, of New Orleans, of the Methodist Episcopal church, occupied a seat on the platform with the col lege of bishops. After much debate the committee on revisaJs agreed torjeeommem cjciair petition ing to increase the number of ay delegates- to an annual conference from four to 10. Strong efforts were made to have one delegate from every church elected to an annual confer ence, but the argument was advanced that the number would be too large for the comfort of the communities entertaining the conference. The action of the committee in vot ing for 10 lay delegates was unani mous. Another measure passed in the committee favored the election of stewards by the church conference in stead of the quarterly conference. Members of the committee believe that the recommendation will meet the approval of the general confer ence. LATE SEh'ATIJR STONE Nebraska Senator Becomes Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Washington, May 9. Senator Hitch cock, of Nebraska, was made chair man today of the senate foreign re lations committee. Mr. Hitchcock, who was senior democratic member of the committee, succeeds the late Senator Stone m a re-arrangement of democratic committee assignments caused by recent deaths of several senators. The steering committee decided to increase the senate military commit tee by two members because of its im portance during the war, and named Senator Smith, of Georgia, as a mem ber. Senator Knox, of Pennsylvania, probably will become the new repub lican member. BRITISH FALL OFF IN SHIPBUILDING London,. May 9 (via Ottawa). In April merchant ships with an aggre gate gross tonnage of 111,533 were completed in yards of the United Kingdom and entered for service, compare with 161,674 in March, ac cording to an admiralty statement. The total for the year ended April 30, was 1,279,337 tons." Last month's output was achieved, notwithstanding a large increase in the repairing of merchantmen. The amount of shipping completed in allied and neutral countries in the first quarter of 1918 was 544,327 tons. Yards of the United Kingdom turned out 320,280 tons in this period. The ad miralty statement also shows that the total construction in 1917 in the United Kingdom , and allied and nep rrv countries was 2,907,786 tons of which the United Kingdom produced 1,163,474 tons. j HITCHCOCK EOS Recommendations of the Com- mission'Haye Srgestions. RAISE OF $300,000,000 - ill Director McAdoo is Expected to Announce Decision in Ten Days SOME DISSATISFACTION Union Men are Heard to Ex press Opposition to the Proposed Adjustment. , r. Several Features. Washington, May 9. In recommend ing wage increases of $300,000,000 an nually for 'all railroad employes whose wages were less than $250 a month In December, 1915, the railroad wage commission made several original and far-reaching suggestions on the prob lem of railroad labor which attract ed the close attention today of Di rector General McAdoo and other government officials. Mr. McAdoo is expected to an nounce his decision on the recommen dations in about 10 days. There are Indications that he will not accept them in their entirety. Some union officials already have expressed dis satisfaction with the amounts recom mended for the men of their organi zations, the increases ranging from 43 to 4.6 per cent., the highest paid men receiving the lowest Increases and the average being 15.021 per cent, ad vance over the 1917 payroll. Perhaps the provision of the rec ommendations likely to encounter most strenuous objection is the one that all wage increases allowed by the roads in 1916 and 1917 shall be deducted from the amounts now to be given. The commission .declared that its conclusions were based on a principle which was that the men were entitled to recompense" for the increased cost bf living, and in basing, its recommen dations on the pay rolls of December, 1915, in comparison with present Drices of necessities.' decided that it would be unfair to .laliow.;ertain: em ployes, who alf eay-Tiad FecIveJd0aXfff increases, to benefit twice. The commission declared in its re port that reductions in hours are not to be regarded as increases in pay, a stand frankly at variance with high railroad officials, who, during the hearings, asserted that the Adamson eight-hour law was in effect an in crease in pay, because the over-time resulting was inevitable and amount ed to many millions. Requests for an eight-hour day for all railroad employes and for time and a half for over-time were not act ed on by the commission. PRELIMINARY STEPS LI Department of Justice and Senate Set Machinery in Motion. Washington, May 9. While the de partment of justice was starting to day its investigation of aircraft pro duction, Chairman Chamberlain, of. the senate military committee open ed the way for his committee inves tigation by offering a resolution au thorizing: it. The resolution was re ferred without debate to the contin gent expenses committee. Sharp criticism of delays in produc tion were heard again in the senate, Senator Thomas, of Colorado, a dem ocratic member of the military com mittee, declaring there was evidence that a monopoly of production had been planned. . William L. Frierson, assistant at torney general in charge of the de partment of-justice's investigation in to airplane production, today started work by gathering all reports and doc uments of previous investigators for preliminary inspection. These includ ed the report of Gutzon Borglum, to President Wilson, the preliminary report of the investigating committee headed by H. Snowden Marshall, and a number of letters from individuals who believe they have discovered evi dence of graft or incompetency in connection with airplane manufacture Mr. Frierson probably will spejid a week studying these documents be fore outlining the full scope of the in quiry. KAHN SAYS CLAS ONE OF DRAFT WILL SOON BE USED UP. Washington, May 9. Speaking in the house today, Representa tive Kahn, of California, ranking republican on the house military committee, declared that in his opinion class one ' Of the ",.draft would-be exhausted within a year and that before the war was over the United States ; would need 8,000,000 men in Europe. FOR AIRCRAFT PROBE London Newspapers Speculate on the Probable Outcome. DEBATE OPENS TODAY General Maurice's Charges Will be Discussed by House of Commons. DIFFER IN OPINION Some Believe Vote Will Vin dicate Government and Crush Opponents ; Others Say it Proves Nothing. London, May 9. The intense inter est in the crisis brought about by the letter of Major General Maurice is re flected in the morning newspapers. They give much prominence to the prospects of today's doings in the house of commons and the attitude of political parties toward the gov ernment, and General Maurice respec tively, and speculate upon the prob able outcome Opinion is general that if former : Premier Asquith forces his motion to have a select committee investigate the charges made against-the govern ment by General Maurice, to a divi- siuii, me government will obtain a majority . which snmfi rnmmpntntnr-'1116 believe will be substantial. However, views differ as to how far this will satisfy the public. Some hold that a verdict by the house of commons, in support of the government, will simply vindicate the government and crush what they call the intrigue of the Asquithian oppo nents. Others say that such a ver dict will proved nothing except reluc tance to oust the government at a critical moment. The latter view is voiced by The Daily Chronicle, which, white predict ing a parliamentary victory for the government, says this would Indicate nothing more than reluctance by the commons at a moment . of national peril to overthrow the ministry, wlille no "definite and acceptable - al ternative exists. The chargesfjttdei clares,. ought to be disproved conclu sively or the affected ministers- ought to leave office. The Daily Telegraph has no doubt that the ministerial reply will be com plete and crushing, and says that if no vote of censure is passed it will be a salutary warning to the spirit of personal facetiousness and parti san bitterness. Fear is expressed by a section of the press most hostile to Mr. Asquith that if the government fall the "old gang" will regain power. The Morn ing Post voices this fear editorially. The Post also makes the suggestion that the unionist party might use its entire influence to force upon what ever party to take office should Lloyd George fall, the best men, without thought of party or politics. This suggestion is significant of the feeling growing among the conservatives that the time has come to supplant Lloyd George with a unionist premier. TJhe Daily Mail, which strongly supports Mr. Lloyd-George, says it is rumored that a considerable number of members are growing uneasy un der the rule of the premier. They maintain that what is practically a unionist government should have a unionist leader. The Daily Mail says the govern ment have themselves' partly to tftank for the position in which they isifjnd, having repeatedly shown timid ity and weakness in dealing with high military and naval officers who have failed at their posts. It adds that the government might explain why Gen eral Maurice was removed from the war office and whether he had a grudge to avenge. LION AT ST. MARK'S FINALS Wilmington Minister to Deliv er the Literary Address. REV DR MILTON Rev. Dr. William H. Milton, rector of St. James' Episcopal church, will deliver the literary address at St. Mary's school finals, Raleigh, Tues day, June 4. The commencement sermon will be preached on Sunday by Dr. W. W. Memminger. Dr. Mil ton is one of the best known Episco pal ministers in the state and an nouncement that he is to make the address will be learned with wide spread interest throughout the State. His address will precede the formal graduating exercises at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning. Threatens, to Dissolve -Chamber. Amsterdam, ' May 9. Count von Hertling, the German imperial chan: cellor, and Prussian premier, has de cided 'to dissolve the Prussian cham ber, if the third reading of the fran-! chise reform bill is rejected, The Co logne Gazette asserts. REV. DR. M Enough Money n Hand to In sure Organization. RESPONSES GRATIFYING Report of Canvassing Com mittee, Made This Morning Very Pleasing. . MANY MARE SACRIFICES Real Esktte- OrTered by Those Not in Position to Pay Cash Take Stock In Exchange. With enough money subscribed to insure organization of the proposed million dollar corporation, the sole object of which is to provide adequate housing facilities for the vast army of industrial workers and laborers that are being attracted here because of government shipyard activities, a call has been made upon the recently elected board of directors to met at the court house tomorrow at noon for complete organization, following which the corporation will be char- ter.ed and Plans perfected for actual building operations. It is hoped to start these within the coming two weeks. The report of the canvassing committee, appointed by the chair at the Tuesday morning mass meetings , 1 . at thls morning's adjourned session, showed that approximately a quarter of a million dollars had been subscribed. This is sufficient to start operations but a great deal more money will be needed, as the under taking is of a gigantic nature, and all Wilmington will be expected to lend a hand and participate in the proposed project. The morning session of Tuesday's adjourned meeting was called to or der by Chairman J. A. Taylor and was of a very interesting nature. Sev eral subscriptions were made, the chair calling on individuals, many of whom responded. It was announced that the desired 25 five thousand dol lar subscribers had been 'secured but thisdoes not mean that others cannot come into this class. Chairman Tay lor avised what was needed in order to Insure the success" of the undertak- ing and Wilmington assured him that it "would 1 e provided for. In addressing the meeting Mr. Tay lor state that any subscriber was privileged to dispose of any of his stock but urged that a policy of this nature not be pursued unless one had actually loaded up with more than one could carry. In stressing the soundness of the venture he called attention to the city council's resolu tion to extend streets and water mains and provide the houses to be built with sewer accommodations. Mr Taylor is of the opinion that the company to be organized should oe called the Liberty corporation. How ever, action of this nature was not taken and the name under which the company will be chartered will be determined at a later date possibly tomorrow. The sacrifices that are being made by many in an effort to help in what they believe is a patriotic duty was manifested during the meeting when one gentleman agreed to mortgage property that he owns in order to subscribe to the fund. C. C. Chad bourn was roundly applauded when he subscribed for two of his nephews who are in the aviation service al ready on the other side of the Atlan tic engaged in the solemn auty oi e-rtfirminatine Germans. C. W. Pol- vogt was applauded whence agreed to ded the corporation one oi two lots that he owns in the southern section of the city and buijff flKuse on the other provided the company will build on the property that be gives. In several instances citizens agreed to put their real estate in and accept stock in the company. There was a spirit of self sacrifice evident that bodes ill for the kaiser and shows that the war is being brought to the realization of all. Another feature of the .meeting was a motion by C. C. Chadbourn that a part of the stock be set aside nd rHsnosed of in $10 shares to the laboring men who will come here and any others who are not in position in mn tribute to the success of the undertaking in a more substantial manner. Chairman Taylor made It plain that all were wanted as part- ners in the corporation ana tnat tne little man . would receive the same consideration as the man of means. The motion , to appoint a committee to visit Southport and solicit sub scriptions died a natural death. Mor ris Lipinsky killed the motion almost, before its birth by saying that he thought it would be an everlasting shame to go outside the corporate limits of the city for old 1 nany un dertaking of this nature. The names of the subscribers to the corporation will be published at a later date, the directorate not deem ing such wise at the present. ASKS REMOVAL OF PORTO RICO HEAD. Washington, May 9. Removal of Arthur Yager as governor of Porto Rico was asked of President Wilson today by Samuel Gompers, president of the American "Federation of fabor. Mr. Gompers charged the governor with incompetence in handling the la bor situation in Porto Rico. New Arrangements Discussed at Tuesday's Meeting of -the Commission. WILMINGTON INCLUDED Trans-Atlantic Traffic Will be Diverted From Eastern to Southern Ports. IMPORT AND EXPORT The Plans Provide For Both Outgoing and Incoming Freight Coal and Oil --j Will be Constructed i VBv FRANK' D M-tBr- Washington, May 9. A recasting of the entire rort. terminal nt fic system of the United States is foreshadowed by the establishment of the port commission of the shipping board, which had its first meeting here Tuesday. Although all the important govern ment departments are represented on the port commission, particularly active parts will be played by Benja min Winchell, of the railway admin istration, and Samuel Fel ton, director, general of military railroads, who, will act for the war department," These two men will be actively s-' sociated with Edward F. Carry, the chairman, who resigned his position of director of operations for the ship--ping board to head the port commls; sion. It will he t.hfl rintviirf tha n o-ar or'. ganization to inaugurate a scheme of . transportation which is essential dur. . ing the period of war and which will 1 a j Mm . . . . nave ixemenaous euects on tne, na tion's commerce in the future. The complete revolution of aU American enterprises by war makes possible. business in which the government Is p.hansrfiR that Won Id hav been fournt just beginning a: consideratiwi vdf :;T rtous tta.ns for a iarrangemenV of . port activities, it . is possible to tor--cast some of the improvements that will be put into effect. It is'Obvioui that the first big promlem to be at tacked is the unnecessary and' dan gerous congestibn that " has long ex isted in New "fork. Through close . co-operation be? tween the representatives of the ralli way adminisrtator and his commis sion associates, it will be possible to SWltcn a greax uetti ui uu, n , . New York to Phladelphia, Newport News, Wilmington, North Carolina; Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, New Orleans and Galveston. This shift will be carried out with a clear view , of the adaptability or tne various , ports for trans-Atlantic shipments of - t I X t specific commodities. -DviioAalnhla fnr examnle. is the ? logical port for steel and other im yr portant products of Pennsylvania and nearby states. A great percentage of coal will be shipped via xm export News. Cotton that has been gplngr north will be diverted to uaiveston, Mobile, Savannah, Charleston ; an ! Mnrh flarolina. The i. V V llLLlllig, i , railway administration is now mak- .v nronoratinns in rearrange sched- ules and equipment to meet the new plan of direct snipments to ui , est port terminals. t - 4 It is practically certain that th port commission will arrange entire- & ly new ocean routes between the . United States and France. Trans Atlantic vessels will sail direct irum . various eastern ports to ueBisaf" ct aoHngtinnft. nick up their cargoes and return without stop to . the American ports to which they are; detailed. In this way, ceruiiu B-v will be cotton carriers, others will .al carriers win make regular runs to and from design nated coal disxxiDutiun vww- In order to carry oui iu rangement In the most scientific manner, it will be necessary tc- con struct coal bunkers and oil tanks at all important Atlantic ports as a nltminnHnP nseiQSS COaSl- trips by trans-Atlantic liners to pick f"ol Detore loaum For the same reason, the railway" ad ministration is sure to arrangedls hnton of Imports from France through whatever port the ship witt Incoming cargoes uses regularly as a point of departure for European, har- Dors. t The consequences are incalculable. Just as the oW tlon of the federal reserve banking svstem has diverted vast money from New fork, so willtne work of the port commission f commerce from New York harbor to Philadelphia and all important ports on the South Atlantic coast. The ad vantages of time and money saving are so apparent that there is no pos sibllity of a return after tbj war to the crude system that made Ner. York the bigsest shipoing PoaJ'J' gardless, of the palpable superiority of Philadelnbia, Newport rNews ana further .onth for commerce arbitrarily forced Into the New York district. w. u.-.t,HMJ 1 it :t.i if.'-. If a - !' Us : : m A , "T. ' i