mitljfidi) Herald
VOLUME 37.
SMITHFIELD, N. C? TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1918.
Number 31.
BRITISH LINE STILL
HOLDING OUT FIRM
^Nowhere Has Enemy lieen Able
To Gain an Inch of Ground.
Northwest of Armentieres Enor
mous Numbers Killed in Fu
tile Assaults on Lines.
Thousands of German Dead At
test to What Degree Army
Has Answered Haig's
Order.
(Sunday's War Summary.)
The entire allied line in Belgium
and France is holding firm.
Nowhere have the Germans been
able, notwithstanding the great num
bers of men hurled against it, especi
ally that portion in Flanders where
the British are holding forth, to gain
an inch of ground. Field Marshal
Haig's order that no more ground be
ceded is rigidly being complied with,
as is attested by the thousands of
German dead now lying before the
British positions southwest of Ypres,
where it is the ambition of the Ger
man high command to break through
and envelope Field Marshal Haig's
forces and gain an open highway to
ward the English channel.
Northwest of St. Mihiel the Ameri
can troops have been compelled to
withstand a series of persistent as
saults, second in intensity only to
those delivered by the Germans
against the British in Flanders. And
the honors at the end rested with the
Americans, who met the foe at every
style of fighting he offered and de
cisively defeated him.
Along the front held by the French
Sunday saw nothing of greater im
portance than reciprocal bombard
ments on various sectors, the troops
of both sides remaining in their
trenches. Likewise in Italy the big
guns were doing most of the work,
although at several points enemy pa
trols attempted to carry out diver
sion but met with no success.
At Neuve Eglise, northwest of Ar
mentieres, where the Germans are en
deavoring to drive their wedge in
farther in order to outflank Ypres, the
heaviest fighting has taken place.
Throughout Saturday night and Sun
day battles of a most obstinate char
acter took place, the Germans throw
ing thousands of men into the attack,
notwithstanding their loss in killed or
wounded. Several times the village
changed hands, but at last reports the
British were still in possession of it
and holding tenaciously under repeat
ed German onslaughts.
Nowhere along the eight mile front
where the Germans are trying to
drive through between Wulverghem
and Meteren have the Germans met
with anything but repulse and the
price they have paid for their at
tempts to breach the British line has
been enormous. On no sector have
they been able to surmount the stone
Wall of the defense and for the mo
ment at least there seems to be justi
fication for the hope that the-4urn in
the tide of battle is at hand.
Documents captured from German
prisoners show conclusively that the
great new offensive of the Germans
was launched with the intention of
separating the British and French
armies and crushing of the British.
The latest German official communi
cation dealing with the situation in
the region of St. Michiel, where the
AmericansKare defending the line says
that the Germans inflicted heavy loss
es on the Americans. The same re
port gives the Germans credit for
gains of ground on the Lys battle
front, where the British are opposed
to them.
In Finland the Germans are con
tinuing to overrun the country and
the fall of Helsingfors is daily ex
pected, according to advices from
Stockholm. Detachments of the en
emy also are within 12 miles of the
Finnish capital in the harbor of
which German war vessels are lying.
? Associated Press .
Buying and Selling Cows.
Messrs. Edgerton and Edgerton
brought in a car load of milch cows
and sold them out at Kenly recently,
at prices ranging from $105 to $175
each. Mr. H. F. Edgerton is now in
the western part of Virginia buying
hogs and cattle for their trade.
GREAT NEED FOR MORE MONEY
School Teachers in Large Numbers to
Quit Teaching Because of the
Small Pay.
"All over the State public school
teachers are notifyiag the authorities
that they cannot continue in the ser
vice at the salaries offered at the pres
ent time," says a statement by the Le
noir county board of education in
defense of the proposed tax levy in
the county. The levy, to be voted on
May 18, would provide more than $30,
000 a year additional to the schools'
present income, which would go to
pay larger salaries, increase school
terms and improve the schools. The
teachers's action is not from any lack
of love of their work, says the board.
"Their reason goes deeper ? it arises
out of grim necessity." nl the course
of an array of facts and figures just
ifying the teachers' course the board
makes the admission that most teach
ers in Lenoir county have been mak
ing only $30 to $40 a month, and as
sert that they "can no longer attempt
in vain to make a living from one
source," when there are so many op
portunities open to bright women
now, in government employ and else
where. The school child *needs instruc
tion by competent teachers now more
than ever before, the board declares,
since when the war is over the world
will be a greatly changed place and
education will figure tremendously. ?
Kinston Correspondence, News and
Observer.
Advance in Railroad Rates.
After several times refusing to per
mit the 15 per cent advance in freight
rates which the railroads in the east
ern territory have been demanding
for some years, the Interstate Com
merce Commission recently handed
down a decision granting the advance.
It applies to large commodities ? coal,
brick, grain, foodstuffs etc. It will
yield the railroads about $58,000,000 a
year.
This eastern rate case was tried out
very fully several different times. In
each instance the railroads failed to
prove the need for the proposed ad
vance. The decision which has just
come from the commission was not
preceded by a new hearing. Appar
ently there has been little change in
the conditions whivh prevailed at the
time the case was tried so complete
ly
So far as the railroads are concern
ed it is not a matter of so much im
portance now, because under the ar
rangement by which they were taken
over by the government they are per
mitted to earn dividends equivalent
to the average of their earning dur
ing the three years past. It fixes the
matter, however, so that the shippers
will pay this $58,000,000 a year ad
ditional; and when the government
turns back the roads they will be nice
ly fixed by this increase in revenue.
It is intimated that a similar advance
will be granted in western territory.
It does not seem right for the gov
ernment to permit things to be done
while it is in control of the railroads
which could not justly be done under
normal conditions. Our law provides
that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission may grant an increase in
freight rates when the railroads show
that such increase is justified. The
comission is composed of unusuallv
rble men, who have given a great
deal of time and study to railroad
rates. Their judgment should not oe
thrown to one side, or silenced by the
people who have charge of the rail
roads during this war emergency, and
vhese main job is Lo get freight mov
ed quickly and without particular re
gard to cost. Under these unusual
conditions, the right thing for the
government to do would be to direct
railroad operation and see that the
roads are permitted to earn the div
idends guarpnteed them under the ar
rangement for government control,
but not to permit wholesale advances
in rates which will be perpetual bur
den upon the people. ? Wallaces'
Farmer.
Third Liberty Loan.
The campaign opened April 6 will
close May 4. Subscriptions will be
payable in the following installments:
Five per cent on application, 20 per
cent on May 28, 85 jer cent on July
18, and 40 per cent on August 15. No
installment payment is required to be
made in he month of June on account
of the tax payments which are due
in that month.
COLLI FK CYCLOPS, OVERDUE.
Collier Last Reported at West Indies
Island on March 4th.
Vessel Was Carrying 57 Passengers,
15 Officers and 221 Men
in Her Crew.
Washington, April 14. ? The big
American naval collier Cyclops, carry
ing 57 pasengers, 15 officers and 221
men in her crew, has been overdue at
an Atlantic port since March 13th.
The navy department announced to
day that she was last reported at a
West Indies island March 4 and that
extreme anxiety is entertained as to
her safety. The vessel was bringing
a cargo of manganese from Brazil.
Maurice Gottschalk, United States
consul general at Rio de Janeiro, was
the only civilian among the passen
gers on the collier, the others being
two naval lieutenants and 54 naval
enlisted men returning to the United
States. The Cyclops was commanded
by Lieut Commander G. W. Worley,
United States naval reserve force.
The Cyclops left the West Indies
with one of her two engines damaged,
but the department said this fact
would not have prevented her from
communicating by radio and all ef
forts to reach her by that means have
been unsuccessful. A thorough search
of the course which she would have
followed in coming to port has been
made and continues, it is announced.
There have been no reports of Ger
man submarines or raiders in the lo
cality in which the collier was, the
department's statement said. The
weather had not been stormy and
could hardly have given the collier
trouble.
CORN MEAL GROWING IN FAVOR
Enough Corn Meal to Enable Nation
to Get Along Without Using
Wheat.
According to an estimate made pub
lic by the United States Food Admin
istration following a canvass of the
whole country the actual milling out
put of corn meal increased from 3,000
000 barrels in October to nearly, 6,
000,000 barrels for the month of
March.
The estimated maximum capacity
for milling corn in the United States
mills running 24 hours per day, 30
days per month, exceeds 9,000,000
barrels per month, an increase of 200
per cent over last year.
In view of this great output, Amer
icans are now in a position to ob
serve total abstinence from wheat
flour and depend wholly on corn meal
and other corn products as their
source of breadstuff's. Our normal
consumption of wheat flour is 8,000,
000 barrels per month.
It is estimated that during the past
18 months the output of corn flour
has increased 500 per cent. The esti
mated production of corn flour for
October and for March is placed at
250,000 and 540,000 barrels, respec
tively.
There is now enough corn meal be
ing turned out to care for all de
mands in the United States. The re
markable increase in output, which is
certain to become greater each suc
ceeding month, is due in considerable
part t6 the conversion of much wheat
millini? machinery into corn-milling
machinery. ? Official Bulletin.
A Public Entertainment.
Micro, April 15. ? The Micro Graded
School will give a very interesting
play, "The Heir of Mount Vernon,"
on Saturday night, April the 20th, be
ginning at 8:30 o'clock. There will be
a small admission fee of ten cents for
children and twenty cents for adults,
the proceeds from which will go for
the benefit of the library. The public
is cordially invited to attend.
All Honor to the Advance Guard.
All honors to the advance guard of
America, the little force that now
holds the Stars and Stripes aloft in
the hell of battle! These men are the
fortunate of their nation. They are
heroes and the comrades of heroes. In
after times their names will rank with
those of the heroes of Valley Forge.
It is a glorious day for the youths
who carry the flag to France. To them
is given the honor of making liberty
perpetual by striking down the last
dangerous enemy. May they strike
hard and may the power of th?? New
World be concentrated in their stroke!
? Washington Post.
FURIOUS FIGHTING
RAGES IN FLANDERS
Heavy Engagements Monday
With No Hreak in Line.
Momemtum of the German At
tack Between Lens and
Ypres is Hroken.
American Soldiers Show How
Valiantly They ('an Fight
Against the Foe in
the Toul Sector.
The following: brief summary of
yesterday's war news is taken from
today's News anil Observer:
Seven days after the Germans
launched their gigantic assault
agains the British line between Lens
and Ypres, the momentum of their
attack has been "broken and the waves
of the Teutonic forces are recoiling' j
before the rock of the British defense.
While the Germans have made pains
01 ground and have driven a wedge
into the allied lines to a considerable
depth, they seem to have failed in
their attempt to break through or
take important railroad junctions.
During the last day there have been
bitterly fought engagements at four
places, all on the northern side of
the salient to the south of Ypres. Sev
en assaults against the British trench
es at Merville near the apex of the
triangular dent in the British line
have been hurled back by the British.
Neuveeglise on the extreme south
western spur of Messines Ridge, has
been taken by the Germans after a
struggle which will go into history
as one of the greatest of the past
week.
The British, however, have not re
tired far and it is probable that they
will at once organize a counter-at
tack to force the Germans out of the
town, which, if held, might be a "kick
ing-off" point for an attack which
might outflank and make untenable
Messines Ridge, the key to the Brit
ish positions about Ypres. Baillul and
Wulverghem, between Neveeglisse
and Merville, also have been the
scenes of hard fighting, but except
for Neuveeglisse, the northern side
of the salient has stood firm. On the
southern side of the salient, according
to Berlin, fierce struggles have been
fought.
It may be that the savage fighting
reported at Hangard-En-Saneterre,
South of of Albert and on the center
of the line facing Amiens, may mark
the beginning of a new attempt to
sweep westward toward Amiens. So
far the fighting has brought the Ger
mans only losses in men and ground.
Further south, near Montdidier,
there has been intense artillery firing,
but the Germans have not attempted
infantry operations in this important
sector.
Americans Standing Firm.
American forces near Toul are
standing firm here before heavy at
tacks by the Germans and have held
their lines intact in spite of all the
weight of men and metal the enemy
has loosed against them. The Ger
mans have lost heavily.
The constant German attacks in
this sector may have some bearing
on the development of the German of
fensive campaign, and much interest
in the situation throughout the reg
ion held by General Pershing's men
is evidenced by the allied leaders.
School Notes From Kenly.
Kenly, April 13. ? The Honorable R.
D. W. Connor, of Raleigh, will be the
principal speaker at the big patriotic
and Liberty Loan rallyy to be held in
the Kenly High Scho'ol auditorium
next Monday night at eight o'clock.
Friday evening, from nine to eleven
the annual literary society reception
of the Kenly State High School was
given in the iarge reception hall of
the school dormitory. The hall was
beautifully decorated with ferns, and
the large number of young people
thoroughly enjoyed the program of
delightful games. The reception was
financed by the boys of the Rollins
society, and the girls of the Thalian
society and the members of the school
faculty were the invited guests. Re
freshments consisting of fruits and
ice cream and cake were served.
Prof. M. B. Andrews delivered the
commencement address at the Corinth
school near Wendell last Friday at
noon. His subject was: "How To Get
What You Want." A large number of
people were present.
DRAFT CALL FOR SELECTMEN.
Mobilization of the Men In Ordered
For May 1 and 10 ? Over 300,
000 Called Since Late in
March.
Washington, Apri 14. ? Another
draft call, for 49,843 registrants, has
been sent to governors of states by
Provost Marshal General Crowder.
Mobilization of the men is ordered
for May 1 and 10, the war department
announced todnight, and they will be
sent to 11 forts and recruiting bar
racks, probably for training with reg
ular army units there.
This call increases to more than
200,000 the number of selectmen or
dered to camp since late in March.
This is far in excess of the monthly
average that would have been mobiliz
ed under the original plan to call 800,
000 men this year over a nine-months
period.
Although every state and the Dis
trict of Columbia are called upon to
furnish men under General Crowder's
latest order, nearly hjilf of the 49,
843 men will come from seven states.
Illinois will supply by far the largest
number, its quota being 8,047, Penn
sylvania is next with 3,776, New
York third, with 3,542; Michigan
fourth, /with 2,593; Missouri fifth,
with 2,103; Wisconsin sixth, with 2,
135, and Ohio seventh, with 2,000.
Nevada has the lowest quota, 49.
The quotas of other states follow:
North Carolina, 481; South Carolina,
289; Virginia, 756; Tennessee, 442.
JOE BROA DWELL ADVISES
HIS FOLKS NOT TO WORRY.
Kenly, April 13. ? Mr. C. F. Broad
well, *of near Kenly, whose son, Joe
Broadwell ran away from home sever
al days ago, has decided to let the
boy alone. Mr. Broadwell has receiv
ed the following rather interesting
letter from the boy:
"Not Columbia, South Carolina.
April 1, 1918.
"Dear Mother, Father, Brothers, and
Sisters:
"Well, I wonder how you all are
getting along now. I am getting along
all right. I saw Jim Pittman Sunday.
He said you all were upset about me
and that you had me advertised in
The Smithfield Herald. You might
take that out of The Herald because
we get very few of them down here.
Pa, I don't think you can hardly
catch me because I go under all kinds
of names and styles of dress and so
on. I am having a good time where I
am now ? an extra good time. But I
am liable not to be here long; so you
needn't write down here even if you
find out where I am. Let me alone; I
am enjoying myself. I will go home af
ter a little, but 1 don't think you can
drive me home until you find out
where I am! It is nothing but foolish
ness to worry a bit over me. Well I
reckon it is about time to turn in. Just
be patient.
"JOE J.
"Post Script: This will probably be
mailed at Columbia or some other
town, but not at my post office."
True Education.
(Alfred E. Stearns, in the Atlantic.)
When will our modern educators
come to realize that true education
cannot limit itself to the mental life
alone? Our forefathers who founded
our early institutions of learning
were influenced by no uncertain mo
tives. The present materialistic con
ception of life did not hold them in
its deadly grasp as it holds so many
of our educators and philanthropists
today. They recognized that the hu
man being, God's highest creation, is
not composed of mind alone. To them
character was the paramount issue.
To them character, combining in just
proportion mental and moral strength,
was the surest foundation of true citi
zenship and of those successes upon
which national life can alone with
safety be built. "Above all, it is ex
pected that the Master's attention to
the disposition of the Minds and
Morals of the youth under his charge
will exceed every other care."
So wrote the founder of Phillips Acad
emy one hundred and thirty-five years
ago, echoing in his words the ideals
of the intelligent and patriotic philan
thropist of his time. And later he adds
these significant words: "Knowledge
without goodness is dangerous."
There speaks the seer with the tlear
vision before him of the true mean
ing and significance of education,
"Knowledge without goodness is dan
gerous."
GERMAN TROOPS BREAK
AGAINST AMERICAN LINES.
German Attacks Around Toul Friday
Repulsed W it h Heavy Casualties
tier mans Two Days Without Food
Food ? Instances of Heroism.
With the American Army in France
Saturday, April 13. ? (By the Asso
ciated Press. ? After another night of
terrific artillery fire and a bombard
ment with pas shells, the Germans
continued today their efforts to drive
through to the third line of the Amer
ican positions near Apremont forest
northwest of Toul. They made two at
tacks, both of which failed. The ene
my's casualties in the four days' fight
ing are estimated at between 300 and
400. Of this number more than 100
were killed. Although the enemy wast
ed fully a half of his specially train
ed shock troops batallion of 800 mea
he was unable to penetrate the Am
erican lines which remained unchang
ed. Of the 36 prisoners taken by
American troops in the fighting on
Friday northwest of Toul, during
which two German attacks in force
were repulsed with heavy casualties
to the enemy, 12, have since died of
their wounds. The American troops
also captured two German machine
guns, besides a quantity of small
arms, grenades and other war mater
ial.
No Food For Two Days.
The prisoners taken belonged to
the 25th and 26th Landwehr units,
the 16th Pioneers and the Uhlans.
The prisoners said they had had no
food for two days, as the American
artillery had prevented their rations
from being brought up to their posi
tion. The captive Germans quickly de
voured the food given them by our
men.
The enemy front lines had been de
stroyed by shell fire, and during Fri
day's attack the Americans tempor
arily abandoned their own front line,
allowed the Germans to enter it and
then forced tbem to engage in hand
to hand fighting in the open, in which
the American troops greatly excelled.
This attack which was the longest
and largest operation conducted
ngainst the American troops since the
entry of the United States into the
war has developed many deeds of in
dividual bravery and heroism. A
young lieutenant, whose home is just
outside of Boston, with three enlisted
men, attacked 19 Germans who had
penetrated into one of the American
trenches.
The lieutenant called on the Ger
mans to surrender. One of them rais
ed his pistol, as if to shoot, but the
lieutenant shot him through the head,
upon which the others lifted their
hands high in the air, and yelled
"Kamerad." The lieutenant marched
the prisoners into the rear of our
line and then returned to the front
and resumed the command of his
platoon.
Young Courier the Hero.
Five other Americans penetrated
into a German dugout, where 12 of
the enemy were slightly wounded.
They resisted surrender, but our men
threw grenades into the dugout, killing
four of the Germans. The others
quickly gave themselves up.
A small party of bandsmen volun
teered for stretcher bearing duty in
the first line and worked until they
were nearly exhausted. The chief
surgeon ordered them to return for a
rest, but they hid until the surgeon
disappeared and then resumed their
first aid duties.
A 19-year old courier who carried a
message more than two miles under
heacy shell fire, fell exhausted after
delivering his message into the hands
of the commander of th? unit. After
a short rest he begged to be allowed
to continue his front line courier
service.
Another lieutenant, commanding a
machine gun unit, just missed being
struck by a shell which buried the
gun, but he ordered his men to dig
out the piece and soon had it firing
again into the German positions.
Scores of officers and men who had
been assigned to rear line duty plead
ed for an opportunity to go to the
front line. The artillerymen also did
courageous work and furnished won
derful support for the American in
fantry.
Mr. Bryan Next Week.
Hon. William Jennings Bryan,
America's great orator will speak in
Smithfield on Thursday of next week,
April 25th.