BIG CROP OF CORN IS FORECAST.
Three Billion Bushel Crop Promises
To Be the Answer to President's
Call for Greater Food Production.
Wheat, Oats and Potatoes Show
Big Increase Over Last Year. Re
port on the Principal Food Crops
Indicates That More Than Six Bil
lions Will Be Raised Thi? Year.
Washington, July 3. ? A billion
bushels increase over last year's
production in the principal food crops
is the response American fanners
have made to President Wilson's mid
April appeal saying that upon them
"rests the fate of the war and the
fate of nations."
The extent of the farmers' response
was disclosed today when a produc
tion of 6,093,000,000 bushels of prin
cipal food crops was forecast in the
department of agriculture's July crop
j-eport. It shows this year's corn crop
will be the largest in history evcept
one and that four, and possibly five,
other crops will make new high re
cords.
The corn crop, which with favorable
weather from now on may equal the
record yield of 1912, shows an in
crease of 541,000,000 bushels over
last year with a total of 3,124,000,
OOObushels. The acreage is 14 per
cent larger than last year.
The combined winter and spring
wheat crop will be 38,000,000 bushels
more than last year's, with a total
of 678,000,000 bushels.
Barley, with prospects of the third
largest crop ever grown, will exceed
last year's production by 38,000,000
bushels with an output of 214,000,000
bushels.
Oats promise to exceed last year's
crop by 201,000,000 bushels, the total
production being: forecast at 1,453,
000,000 bushels. That is slightly un
der the record. Improvement between
now and harvest, however, may result
in a record crop.
White potato production on a 22
1-2 per cent increase in acreage will
be a record-crop with 452,000,000
bushels, or 167,000,000 bushels more
than last year, not taking into ac
count the home garden production
which this year is estimated to be
much larger than ever before.
Rye, another record crop this year,
will amount to 56,100,000 bushels or
8,700,000 bushels more than last
year.
Sweet potatoes will register a new
high total with 82,200,000 bushels, or
11,000,000 bushels more than last
year.
Rice production will be 34,400,000
bushels, the second largest crop ever
produced.
Production of tobacco will break
another record with a crop of 1,
225,000,000 pounds, which is 64,000,
000 pounds more than was grown last
year. ? Associated Press Dispatch, in
News and Observer.
Mrs. C. G. Moore Entertains.
Kenly, July 7. ? The Priscilla Club
met with Mrs. C. G. Moore Thursday
afternoon from four to six. The home
was artistically decorated with flow
ers, ferns and flaps. The color scheme
was red, white and blue.
The hostess, assisted by Mrs. H. M.
Grizzard, served a delicious salad
course and ices.
The members present were Mes
dames L. C. Wilkerson, J. G. High,
H. M. Grizzard, F. M. Aycock, W. T.
Bailey, J. T. Barnes, W. F. Hooks, H.
P. Johnson, C. P. Jerome, J. C. Bow
man, J. W. Harden, J. R. Sauls, C. G.
Moore, L. Z. Woodard, G. B. Wood
ard and A. J. Broughton.
Capt. H. L. Skinner, one of the
proprietors of The Banner Ware
house, had a pleasant smile on his
face when we met him yesterday
morning. The Captain told us that he
had just received two loads of tobac
co at the Banner, for grading. He
seems well pleased with the outlook
for high prices the coming season.
PROHIBITION AND FOOD BILL.
Senate Passes Measure Forbidding
the Distillation ot Grain Into Bev
erages. President Directed to Take
Over All Distilled Spirits in Bonded
Warehouses and Pay for It on
Cost Basis Plus 10 Per Cent. Meas
ure Delays Other Important Legis
lation.
A Washington dispatch published
in Sunday's papers says that the
senate went on record Saturday in
favor of "bone dry" national prohibi
tion during the war so far as whiskey
and other distilled beverages are con
cerned. Liquor legislation was written
into the Food Control bill in one of
the Senate's bitterest contests which
would strike at consumption of dis
tilled intoxicants by commandeering
stocks in bond in addition to absolute
ly prohibiting their manufacture or
importation. The beer and wine indus
tries would be left undisturbed.
In lieu of the section of the House
bill to prohibit the manufacture of
foodstuffs into beverages of any de
scription, the Senate substituted, by
a vote of 40 to 37, a provision prohib
iting manufacture and importation of
distilled beverages during the war,
and added, 65 to 12, a clause directing
the President to take over all distilled
spirits in government bonded ware
houses and pay for it on the basis of
cost, plus 10 per cent.
While the final prohibition legis
lation will be evolved in conference
between the two houses, it is general
ly regarded as probable that the
House will accept the Senate's change,
after a fight in behalf of its original
section.
The Senate provision would limit
consumption to stocks in retailers'
hands or withdraw before the law
goes into effect. Stocks of distilled
beverages in bond were estimated at
between 200,000,000 and 300,000,000
gallons and the annual normal con
sumption at 130,000,000.
To purchase this enormous quanti
ty of liquor, or what is left of it, after
withdrawals, it is estimated that the
government would have' to spend
from $300,000,000 to $1,000,000,000.
The probable loss in Federal revenues
is placed at from $200,0000,000 to
$400,000,000, although this, as well as
the cost of purchase, would depend
entirely upon how much liquor was
withdrawn tax-paid before the com
mandeering.
The Senate's action promises indefi
nite delay in enacting the war tax
bill, additional delay on the food con
trol bill, and indefinite postponement
of adjournment of Congress. The re
vised $1,670,000,000 war tax bill was
withdrawn immediately after the final
vote upon the liquor question to seek
new sources of revenues in case tax
ation on distilled liquors is eliminat
ed.
The Senate's vote to have the gov
ernment virtually buy, for industrial
purposes and thus withdraw from
consumption or revenue purposes, the
great stocks of distilled liquors held
in bond followed rejection of a pro
posal to deal with beers and wines, a
proposal to authorize the President
to suspend manufacture of the "light"
intoxicants being defeated.
It was estimated that manufac
turers and dealers probably could
raise funds enough to withdraw from
bonded wrrehouses at least half of the
existing supply of liquor or enough to
meet consumption demands for a year
or more.
One feature of the bill as it now
stands ? the prohibition of the manu
facture of distilled spirits ? will not
be subject to change in conference
and therefore is certain to become
law.
Weather In the Cotton States.
New Orleans, La., July 9. ? Nearly
normal temperatures prevailed in
eastern, and an excess of from six to
ten degrees in western portion.
Moderate to heavy rains reported
Sunday in the Carolinas, and south
em portion of Georgia, Alabama, and
Mississippi, and light showers in
northern Georgia and a few other lo
calities. Moderate precipitation re
ported Monday in South Carolina and
southern Louisiana and scattered
showers in North Carolina, Tennes
see, eastern Arkansas, northern Mis
sissippi and northern Louisiana.
Heavy rains ? South Carolina, Con
way, 1.06; St. Matthews, 1.64; St.
George, 1.26. Georgia, Valdosta, 1.04.
Alabama, Thomasville, 1.60; Eufaula,
1.08. Louisiana, Rayne, 1.70. North
Carolina, Wilmington, 1.84.
|
STOP CROWN PRINCE'S ARMY.]
Attacking On Wide Front (iermaiw
Are Hurled Hack With Heavy lxiss.
Republic's Troops Lose Some
(?round. Petain Captures More
Territory Near Allies. Russians
Fighting on Thirty Mile Front in i
(ialicia. British Drive Down Six
teen Airplanes.
The war summary for Sunday
given by the Associated Press in
Monday's dailies follows:
North of the Aisne the French
again have checked the German
crown prince in an effort to regain
the line of the Chemin des Dames.
Attacking on four sectors aiong a
front of seven and a half miles north ,
of the Laffaux mill to the Froidmont j
farm, the Germans were met by de- J
termined resistance on the part of
the French and, sustaining heavy
losses, were repulsed completely ex
cept on the eastern end of the lint
between Bovettes and Froidmont
farm. Here, on a front of nearly two
miles, the fighting was desperate and
the French after several hours were
able to regain some lost elements.
East of Cerny, on the eastern end
of the Aisne front, Gen. Petain's men
in an attack were able to enlarge the
ground captured on July 1 near Allies.
On the left bank of the Meuse, north
east of Verdun, the French took the
offensive and carried three strong
salients. One was west of Le Morete
Homme and the other two southwest
of Hill 304, the dominating height
west of the Meuse and against which
the German prince threw ineffectual
attacks during the past week. German
efforts to dislodge the French were
fruitless.
The artillery and infantry fighting
in eastern Galicia is spreading. The
Russian attacking front now has
lengthened to 30 miles and fighting
is in progress around llalicz, the key
to Lemberg, capital of Galicia.
German efforts to dislodge the Rus
sians from the positions gained at
Godov and Koniuchy a week ago have
been repulsed by Gen. Brussiloff's
men. Attacks some mileS to the
north and around Brzeznny also fail
ed. At Stanislau, south of Halicz, and
near Huta, south of Stanislau, the
Russians have made attacks, but ac
cording to Berlin, they resulted in no
gain of ground.
On the British front in France
there have been several small raids,
but no infantry engagements. In the
air, however, there has been great
activity. British airmen broke up
German airplane squadrons and car
ried out successful raids against
German air domes, depots and troops.
Sixteen German machines were driv
en down and eight British machines
are reported missing.
Important developments may be
expected from Berlin within the next
few days.
Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, the im
perial chancellor, is expected to make
an important speech dealing with
the question of peace in the reich
stag Monday or Tuesday.
MT. ZION ITEMS.
The following have been on a visit
at the home of their parents recently.
Dr. and Mrs. J. T. Taylor, of Madi
son, N. C.; Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Tay
lor and son, Claud, Jr., of Atlanta,
Ga., and Mr. B. H. Taylor, Atlanta,
Ga.
Miss Lucy Sanders is visiting in
Smithfield this week.
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Carroll visited
at the home of her father, near
Smithfield, Sunday.
Mr. B. H. Taylor, Misses Mary and
Gladys Taylor visited Mrs. C. T.
Nicholson at Franklinton, N. C., last
week.
Miss Lizzie Sanders, of Raleigh, is
home for a month's vacation.
Mr. Jim Batts has recently pur
chased a car.
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Penny, of Gar
ner, spent Sunday at Mr. N. B. Pen
ny's.
Miss Helen Rankin, of Reidsville,
has been the guest at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Taylor.
Miss Emma Wcllons visited in this
section last week.
We are glad to note that Mr. R.
Y. Penny is off the sick list.
Mr. C. C. Williams was in Raloigh
yesterday.
The following tttended the church
at Mt. Zion Sunday: Mr. T. L. Mc
Cullers, of Raleigh; Mr. J. M. Tur
ner, of Garner, and Miss Emma Wcl
lons, of Smithfield, N. C.
Mr. Linwood Wrenn made a trip to
Raleigh last week. July 5, 1917.
( in OF LONDON IS Fl'RIOUS.
Because of Inadequacy of City's De
fenses. Say Papers. People Are in
I'uly Mood Declares Weekly Dis
patch. Won't Endure Obstinacy.
Every I^ondoner Recognized Satur
day's Raid One of Fear and Ter
ror. Demand for Reprisals.
London, July 8. ? An intensified de
mand for reprisals has followed the
uir raid of yesterday. All the Sun
day newspapers declare the people
of London are furious at the inade
quacy of the city's defence as it was
revealed yesterday.
The Sunday Times says the crying
need of 1917 is for airplanes r.s it
was for shells in 1915 and declares
the government must be compelled to
realize that the airplane will be the
ultimate rnd deciding factor of the
war. It insists that thousands must
be built with the help of America to
carry the war into enemy territory.
An aviation expert says in an article
in the Times:
"There is a huge output to be had
from America if our new ally will
consent to accept ready-made designs
from Europe and not insist on want
ing to do her own experimenting."
Lloyd's News, also demanding
greater airplane production, says:
"The raiders yesterday came at
their leisure and bombed at their
leisur3. Their flight over London was
so slow that it looked like a parade.
They seemed to despise our defences."
The Observer asserts that most of
the enemy machines were compara
tively slow biplanes and that the fast
British machines made rings around
them. It is held that the low alti
tude maintained by the Germans
showed their contempt for the city's
defences.
The Weekly Despatch contends that
the people are in an ugly temper and
no longer of a mood to endure official
obstinacy.
Reynolds newspaper says:
"Every Londoner recognizes that
yesterday's raid was one of deliberate
murder and terroism. If there was
military damage it was only a modi
cum. The man in the streets wants
a policy of reprisals on Rheinish
towns put into effect immediately.
Kennedy Jones, director of food
economy, 9aid there should be rvo
more shilly-shallying with the ques
tion of reprisals, and disquieting re
ports that Lord French is hampered
in the discharge of his duty by other
departments must be deposed at once
and for all.
GENERAL PERSHING'S ORDER.
American Commander In France
Calls on Men To Deport Themselves
In Such a Way That No Damage
Shall Be Done to Private Property.
Honor the French As Those of Our
Own Country.
General Pershing, who is in charge
of the American army in France, has
issued the following general order to
his troops, says a Paris dispatch, pub
lished yesterday in the daily papers:
"For the first time in history an
American army finds itself in Euro
pean territory. The good name of the
United States of America and the
maintenance of cordial relations re
quire the perfect deportment of each
member of this command.
"It is of the gravest importance
that the soldiers of the American ar
my shall at all times treat the French
people, and especially the women,
with the greatest courtesy and con
sideration.
"The valliant deeds of the French
armies and the allies by which they
together have successfully maintain
ed the common cause for three years,
and the sacrifices of the civil popu
lation of France in support of their
armies, command our profound re
spect. This can best be expressed on
the part of our forces by uniform
courtesy to all the French people
and by the faithful observance of
their laws and customs.
"The intensive cultivation of the
soil in France under conditions caus
ed by the war makes it necessary that
extreme care be taken to do no dam
age to private property. The entire
French manhood capable of bearing
arms is in the field fighting the ene
my and it should, therefore, be a
point of honor to each member of the
American army to avoid doing the
least damage to any property in
France. Honor them as those of our
own country."
GERMAN AIR RAID ON LONDON.
Attack is Made in Ilroud Daylight
With Machines Flying Low and at
Slow Speed. 37 Art* Killed and 141
Injured. Three Plane* Shot Down.
A London dispatch dated July 7th,
says: The second descent upon Lon
don by a squadron of airplanes was
made this morning between 9 to 10
o'clock when the business section of
the metropolis was most crowded.
Although the German contingent
was larger, more daring, more delib
erative in its methods and descended
much lower than on the visit of June
13, the number of killed and wounded
was one-third the previously casual
ty list. The destruction of property
may have been greater, but that it is
impossible to estimate.
Thirty-seven persons were killed
and 141 injured, it was officially an
nounced this afternoon.
The flight of the Germans over
London lasted about 20 minutes.
English airmen engaged the enemy
for several minutes over the metro
polis and anti-aircraft guns were fir
ing briskly, but without destroying
any of the twenty or more invading
machines.
The admiralty was able to report
tonight, however, that naval airmen
who followed them to sea brought
down three machines. A British
squadron sent up from Dunkirk to
intercept the returning raiders did
not encounter them because they had
taken a more northerly route, but the
British airmen met and destroyed sev
en other German machines.
The weather was hazy and most
favorable for crossing the channel
without being observed. On their for
mer visit, mado in similar weather, the
Germans kept hij;h up in the mists,
but today when they neared their ob
jectives, most of them descended.
Hundreds of thousands of people
on roofs, from windows and in the
streets saw the remarkable spectacle.
All London heard the noise of battle.
At fir.it there were a few minutes
when the anti-aircraft guns were
crashing sharply s^nd the machine
guns were rattling aloft. Then came
three or four minutes when the
heavy explosion of bombs and the
shattering of glass was the dominant
sound; then a few minutes when the
artillery fire receded into the distance.
The Germans steered a course
across London from the northwest to
southeast. They dropped the last of
their supply of bombs on a section of
workmen's dwelling and crossed the
Thames. Some observers say that a
giant airplane piloted the squadron
and that the bomb carriers were in
the center, flanked by scouts for
fighting off the British airmen.
The low altitude and slow pace at
which the Germans crossed London
and the dare devil way they circled
over their objectives has caused
great surprise. As the raiders left a
fierce running fight ensued between
them and a strong force of British
machines toward the mouth of the
river. None of the Germans had been
brought down when the combatants
disappeared from view, but the Brit
ish squadron continued their pursuit
and engaged them heavily.
The Death of My Little Hoy.
On June the 13th, the death angel
came into our home and took from
us one sweet little member of our
family, Elton Clide Thorn. He was
taken with diarrhoea the second day
of June and was sick for twelve days.
I know it was the Lord's will to take
him to a sweeter and better world
than this.
Had Clide lived until the 2Gth of
July he would have been 17 months
old. I am sad, O so sad, but one
blessed thought comes ringing: we
shall meet with our loved ones again
if we arc faithful to do the will of
our Master. O, may I ever look to
Jesus that I can some day see my ba
by again. Clide was a well, healthy
baby all of his short little life. He
could just begin to talk a little, could
call the kitties and biddies, but when
he was taken sick he did not ever
notice anything much more. O, how
lonesome it is here at this place for
father, mother, brother and sister,
without Clide. Though we must say:
gone to rest our little darling and here
no more we will see his face: but our
hearts are sad and lone.
MOTHER.
Women as a rule don't marry men
for their money but are always wish
ing that they had.
NATIONAL GUARD IS DRAFTED.
President Issued Formal Call For
the Transfer Into United States
Army Effective August 5th. Last
Step Taken Making State Troops
Available For Duty in France.
Washington, July 9. ? The last step
necessary to make the entire national
guard available for duty in France
was taken today by President Wilson
with the issue of a proclamation
drafting the State troops into the
army of the United States on Au
gust 5th.
To make certain that the purpose
of the National defense act is car
ried out, the proclamation also specifi
cally declares the men drafted to be
discharged from the old militia status
on that date. In that way the consti
tutional restraint upon use of militia
outside the country is avoided and the
way paved for sending the regiments
to the European front.
Prior to the application of the
draft, regiments in the Northern and
Eastern section of the country are
called into the Federal service as na
tional guardsmen in two increments,
to be mobilized on July 15 and 25.
Many units already are federalized
and presumably they will be mobil
ized with the other troops from their
States. The guard from the other
States will be mobilized on the day of
the draft. The arrangements was nec
essary to provide for movement of tho
regiments south to concentration
camps without congestion and to the
same end the division of States into
these increments was revised from
the original schedule.
The operative date of the draft
was delayed until August 5, so that
all regiments can be taken into the
army simultaneously to avoid in
equalities in the relative rank of
officers.
AMERICAN TROOPS TO GO SOON.
Unloading of Supplies About Finish
ed; Rolling Stock Being Concen
trated. Men to Live in Houses.
A French Seaport, July 8. ? The
American troops today entered on the
final steps of the mobilization that
will prepare them to leave within a
few days for a permanent training
camp somewhere behind the firing
line. The unloading of supplies is al
most finished and rolling stock is be
ing concentrated here. The days have
been used profitably for a double
purpose.
The more important one was to
put the majority of the soldiers
through a vigorous grind of eight
full hours each day. French officers
who had seen service at the front
took part in these exercises. The drills
included a daily plunge in the sea.
Another advantage taken of the
time spent here was to employ small
er groups of the more seasoned
troopers to put the final touches on
the camp so it will be in first class
shape. The camp in the last few
days has been expanded enormously
until today it extends for miles and
can accommodate a large number of
men. Water has been piped from the
town and the system is equipped with
every modern device.
The drill ground is not only ideal
for the purpose, but has the advant
age of being at a distance so men get
a daily hike of five miles.
For the men arriving at this and
similar mobilization bases the Amer
ican system of living in tents or
wooden shacks will be followed, but
when they arrive at a permanent
camp they will be billeted among the
townspeople and live in houses.
Few, if any of the soldiers know
just where they are to be sent, but all
are enthusiastic at the prospect of
getting nearer the scene of action.
Their health is of the best with the
exception of a few cases of mumps.
This morning a military funeral
was held for the only man who died
since the American troops arrived
here. He was Boatswain's Mate J. J.
Dunn, who was drowned when he fell
overboard from a launch and was car
ried under before his comrades could
reach him.