News Without
Bias
Views Without
- Prejudice
5
Published in Elizabeth j
:City'.
VOL. 2
ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, TUESDAY EVENING. FEBRUARY 27. 1917
NO. 50
hn
jviL
fo);
Jll
lknl
res
OVERT ACT HAS
BEEfl COMMITTED
President Brought Abruptly to Face
Most Critical Hour in
Administration
By ROBERT J. BENDER
(United Press Staff Correspondent)
Washington, Feb. -J7 Germany
lias clearly committed the actual
overt act a:;ainst the Tinted States
the commission of which can mean
little less than the precipiia ion of
open hostilities between the Inited
States a ml Girmany.
The sinking of the Laconic, ac
cording to the highest o cial in
terpretation, is a "clear cut case'
no investigation being necessary as
the case stands on its own merits.
This ig now known to he the atti
tude of the administration follow
ing a conference between I'resident
Wilson and Secretary Lansing this
morning. While the official inter
pretation does not include the word
"OTert act" its spirit cleany im
plies or at least gives strong Im
pression that the sinking of the
Laconla, with the loss of American
lives, constitutes such an net in
the mind of the administration
This view prevailed among most
officials upon leceipt this morning
of confirmation of the report that
the Laconia had been torpedoed
without warning and that two
American women had ost their
lives. The sinking of the Laconia,
therefore, hrlngg the President ab
ruptly face to face with the most
-critical situation in this country's
relations with Germany Bince the
Lusitania was sunk. "When the
rert act comes', the President
fj,t said, "I will recognise it and
CO will the country." The sinking
Of the Laconia has brought this
prophecy to sudden fulfillment.
No Declaration Of War
Though the Governenint consid
rs the sinking of the Laconia the
moat serious Incident that has yet
occurred, it is not believed that
the President has been yet brought
to the point of asking for the de
claration of war. It is said that
the President wants no only mon
ey and the explicit power to pro
tect American lives and American
property as sea. Officials declare
that the situation Is now in the
hands of Congress and that quick
and positive action from that body
should be forthcoming. At the
eame time the feeling is general
that it ! President Wilson who
must bear the brunt of decision in
this crisis and that upon his action
hingeg the fateful issue of the
hour.
More Ruthless ThanEver
Some call the sinking of the La
conia more ruthless even than that
of the Lusitania since Germany is
regarded as having promised not
to sink unarmed liners carrying
American passengers. It is be
llved that as the details of the hor
rors of the sinking of the Laconia
became known many who have
heretofore le''n inclined to pacifi
cism will be convinced that the na
tion's patience Is exhausted. Doth
victlm8 are from the mlddln west
vherc sentiment for keeping peace
has been most strong.
Full details of the sinking of the
l.aconla are in the handa of the
cabinet this afternoon.
CURES BALKS
ON SO Pi
Both House and Senate
Committee Fail to'Give
Authority Asked For
CARL D. GROAT
(I'uited Press Staff Correspondent)
Washington, Fe'. 27 The House
Foreign Committer split today on
the President's request for author
ity and failed to report the F.ood
Rill giving him, power to act. The
amendments offered were referred
to the President. Another meet
ing was appointed for four o'clock.
A similar obstruction developed
in the Senate also.
The two points at which the mi
nority in the House committee
bulked were the matter of arming
merchant ships and thn authoriza
tion of other instrumentalitit s than
guns, gunners and money. Food
ships, they agreed, could be armed.
Some members are objecting to
the President's position on subma
rine warfare ho'dlng that the time
may come when the United States
could use this weapon most effectively.
Tonight's Show
At Ukrama
The special matinee this after
noon at five cents to everybody
made a strong appeal and tonglhts
show has two strong drawing
cards Uillie llure. in Gl ria's Uo
manc;" and I'au'lne Frederick in
"The Slave Market."
"Tiie "lave Market" which was
written by Frederick Arnold Kum
nipr and directed by Hugh Ford. Is
a thrilling romance of the Spanish
Main, of piracies, love, hate, and
all that goes with them. It is
crommed full of action, from the
time that Pauline Frederick steps
upon the scene until. In a tremen
dous scene, Thomas Melghan, as n
soldier of forlune. rescues her
from the band of piitaes who had
placed her on sale in the slave
market, in revenge for the death
of their Teader.
NEW SPRING GOODS
ARRIVING EACH DAY
H. G. Kramer returned Tuesday
morning from a buslnesg trip to
Hertford.
.i, .. .
iri .John Barnard , ot Shawboro
was in the city Tuesday shopping.5
Mr. O. F. Gilbert1, proprietor of
Mitchell's Department Store, has
bus returned from New York City
where last' week he selected a
lar:e line of Interesting items of
hi:' big Spring stock.
Mr. Gil'oerl snvs that each day
1 rirv-- In shipments of new froods
for Ms big :toie Those are
beiiir unpacked and displayed 0';
rapidly as possible and a visit at
Mitchell's will prove a Joy to
those iho want to know what's
v.hat for Sprln? Wear. adv
Mrs. M. Walker has return
ed from northern - markets where
she has been purchasing goods for
the Walker Milliner? Company!
I
FOB FEBRUARY
FIRST MONTH OF SECOND
TERM SHOWS GOOD WORK ON
PART OF LARGE NUMBER
The honor roll for the first
month of tire second term, ending
February " I6K1, is a3 follows:
HIGH SCHOOL
Pearl Hughes, Thelma Sykes, Del
ia Williams, Maria Lowry, Janie
Mercer. F. izabeth Nash. Helen Wil
liams, Maude Lei;;h, Clarence Ash
by. Graham Evan.-, Francis Seyfert,
Oscar Gregory.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
FOURTH GRADES
MISS HOLT. TKACIIKU; Kuth
Brubt. Sarah Carter. Lona Gondu
son. Margaret Gordon. Rebecca
Miller. Oscar Ga-kins. Thomas
Johnston. Oscar Williams.
Miss Cobb, tiadier; Ada Re'an
ga, Sarah liray, Emily Commander,
Mary Dozler. Elizabeth LeRoy
Elizabeth Harris, Mary Horner,
Mi-ry Harney Prlchard, Annie Mae
Winslow, James Rallance, Oliver
Evans, Joseph Ferebee. William
Dod'e. James Hill, William Scott,
Miss Weatherly, Teacher; Marga
ret Hollowell. Mary L"e Jackson,
Margaret Nash, Nannie Mae Stokes
Rachel Williams, Wilmer Ballard,
Willie Dossier, Tommie Gray, Har
rold GIbbs, Willis Kaamer. John
McMu'lan, Burgess Perry, Edward
Old, Marion Seyfert.
FIFTH GRADES
Miss Falson, teacher; Helen Daw
nso, MIttle Fearing. Lcora Griffin,
Li'lie Mae Harris. Ida Joi:e, Elsie
Piuh. Elizabeth Mann. Rosa Lee
Wood, Mary Owens. Vernon Davis,
Rradford Sandeis, Marvin Wlllianvs
Paul Miller.
Mrs. Pearron, teacher; Margaret
Commander, Lillian Harris, Helen
Little, Ellen Mejlck, Mary True
blood, Catherine White, Albert
lirlght, Harvey Dawson. Julian
Hill, Zack Owens, Stuart Wood.
Mrs. Atwater. teacher; Margaret
Itondurant. Wilborne Harrell, Jo
seph Porter. Joseph Spence, Earl
Sutton, Charlton Woodley, Julian
Ward. Guy White, Ernest Cor
bit .
SIXTH GRADES
Miss Lass'ter. teacher; Annabelle
Abbott. Ml'licent Hayman, Maggie
Murden. Eva Waist cn, Kalnel
1 .41 nib.
Mrs. Roberta, teacher; Pattle
Marclift, Catherine Cook, Eliza
Spencer. WiUiam Ha'lard. Charles
Ashby, George Godfre. Larrv Skin
ner.
Mrs. Pool, Teacher: Emily Com
mander, Susie Rhoades, Leona
Lewis. Cecil Cart'r. Erskine Duff,
Weymouth Davis, Dennis Gasklns,
Claiborne Qulnn.
SEVENTH GRADES
Miss Elliott, teacher; Alma Hya
man. Margaret Mann, Margaret
Chesson. Laura Pritchard, Elizabeth
Etheridge. Eunice Goodwin, Godle
Stokes. Gertrude Stokely. Lottie
Drinkwater, Dorothy Zoe'ler,
A la tide Ward. George Owrns, Sid
ney Evans, Billy Houtz. Grafton
Love.
Miss Harney, teacher; Sophia
Davis, Elizabeth Hathaway, Esther
Mi'ler, Gladys Sexton, Annie White
Frank Dawson, Charlie Seyfert.
PRIMARY SCHOOL
FIRST GRADES
Miss Griffin, teacher: Joseph
linker. Elsie Miller, Zene Bunch,
Walter Mitchell.
Miss Stevens. teacher; Vlrgilia
Rnaks. C,rnc Bel' Dudlev. Carrie
Gird. F!ora Griggs, Katherine
Mann. llvchn Puckett, Rebecca
Stewart. Olive Pearl Skiles, Hallle
Silvnrthonie, Elva Mae Swain,
Rennie And' rson, Roy Tioyce, JaR.
Ferebee, John Kramer. Major Mor
risette, Leslie Pool, William Buck
et, Selby Stokes, Charlie Spear,
MI'ton 8'f. Julian Raper, Robert
wniams, Hallett Williams. ; .
- Miss 1 Zoeller, teacher; Naomi
Bagley, Josephine ' Britton, Lydla
Cahoon, Margaret Fearing, Bula
18 Killed
In Wreck
(By tTnliwd Press!
Altoona, Pa., Feb. 27 Eighteen
passengers were killed at Mount
Union today when the Pennsylvania
Mercantile Express was struck by
a fast freight. The Pulaian tele
scoped. Nir'o iodieg were re
covered. Immediate identification
was difficult .
HICKSON PREDICTS THE
FASHIONS
Hickson, the best known reator
of tailored suits mi Fifth Avcuu"
makes the following fashion pr dic
tions In llaiper's l'.a.ar fer M.uili.
now read :
"Hroad'y s eakimr. t'e tr.iiht
silhouette will continue: ski-1 will
be noticeably narrower. Jackets will
be shorter, and an appear mce of
simplicity will le striven for Per
fect tailoring, plain cloth and bone
or self-colored buttons are the
striking features of nine out of ten
strecet costumes' and even in top
and motor coats plain fabric, espe
cially coverts, are more modish
than the stripeH and obei ks of i
short time ago.'' adv
Ralph, Dorothy Richardson. Edna
Sanderlin, Theresa Swain, Julian
Aydlett, Wlnfleld Baker, Francis
Jacock, Charles Munden, Fearing
Owens, Willie Twlddy, Bertram
White, Nathan White.
Mrs. Fearing, teacher; Ruth Doz
ler; Martaret Gregory, Inez Hill;
Louise Han is. Come ia Jenkins,
Monterey l.oniax. Frances McClen
ny. Julia Tutt e, Vivian Turner,
Rufus Biadley. Ern st Carter, John
Chadwlck, Rollins Daniels. Claudia
Gregory, Aubrey Gallop. Elijah Har
rell. Monford Jones. William Met
trey, Keith Sanders.
Mrs Brooks, teacher; Helen Ball,
Sudle Baker. Violet Baker, Nellie
Boseman, Mary Dudley. Lena Hop
kins, Luclle Trueblood, Norean Wil
liams, Waller Albertson, Henry
Bartlett. Ray Davis. Edward Gas
klns, Rennie Gemlason. Leo Rich
ards. Charles Twlddy. Thomas
Winslow. Earl White, Amos White.
Adam Lawlen, William Hooker and
Sam Forbes.
( SECOND GRADES
Miss Willis, leather; Monterey
Cartwright, Katherine Duff, Mary
Gladden Gre;ory. Helen Leigh,
Hazel Long, Virginia LeRoy, Anne
Mellck, Maxlne Shepherd. Ruth
Willams. Blllle Fearing, Bobble
Fearing, Roscoe Foreman. Wood
ward Hughes. Ernest I'rovo, Wil
son Sanders, KiisbcI Tasker.
Miss Bell, (.'aeher; Helen Kra
mer. Carmine Lane. Mary Owens.
Hazel Perrf, Lillian Twll'ord, Mar
garet We'ls. Allen Bell, Reuben
Berry Oscar Meggs. Clarence Prltch
ard, Clarence Sanders, David
Straughan. Archie Turner.
Mrs. Etheridge, teacher; Helen
Bright. Margaret Connerv. Ida L'as
siter. Edna Morrlsette, Julia Salter,
Iva Mae SpruiU, Martha White.
Marvin Cartwright Howard John
son. LeRoy Tlllett, Edward Wal
ker. THIRD GRADES
Miss Marshall, teacher; Olivia
Benton, Katie Carter, Vivian Cope
land, Ruth Gasklns. Walber Betts,
Marshal Karkley. Frank Horner,
Miss Ferebee. teacher; Katherine
Pavls, Sarah He'en Lewis, Anne
Midgett. Eunice Riibardson, Mary
Tarklngtui. Elizabeth Williams,
Mary White Winslow. , Laureate
Aydlett. WIT nr Madrln. Reglna'd
Low rev. Charlie Fric '. Edward Dun
stin. Wilbourne Smith. Claude
West. ' ,
Mrs. SMnner. teacher; Minnie
Lee Brockett, Camilla Hopkins,
Camilla Jennette, " Mary Louise
James, Bonnie Parks, Ada PaTmer,
Blllle Batinders, Annie Seeley, E1 iz
abeth Thompson, Marjorle Skinner,
Louise .White, Li'Iian Wllklns, Car
roll Abbotfi, Vernon Chappell, Wal
ter Cahoon. Kennedy; Houts, Wil
liam Perry, Joseph. Pool. 9, ,
oaEBiGon corai
Women Victims of Exposure in
Open Boat Buried
At Sea
By United Press
New York. Feb. 27 A check of the various lists of
survivors shows six Americans of the crew of the
Laconia missing probably dead.
GERMANS BLOW UP
THEIR DEFENCES
filUT BRITISH ESTABLISH NEW
LINE BEYOND OLD ENEMY
LINE AND ARC PRESSING "jto
WARD BAPAUME- UlV-
WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
(United Press Staff Correspondent)
With the British Armies Afield,
Feb. 2" There seenm to be every
reason to believe that the present
German retirement a by no means
ended and will not be until the
Teutons reach the line approxi
mating the front' between Arras
and Cambray.
Meantime the British continue to
press forward constantly In touch
with the Germans. The British
pressure is toward Bapaume and
their advance l rapidly pressed.
The Germans are offering a stiff
reslstence wlbh lare guns evident
ly mounted on railway trucks
ready for quick withdrawal.
Just before retreating the Germans
blew up their atrongest de
fensive works, but this did not
worry the British for the mw Bri
tish line iK estabMshed far back
of what was the old enemy line.
The British have I et n Informed
that the Germans have been work
ing for the past few weeks on a
defensive line from Arras to Cam
hral. Many explosions wire heard
at Bapaume and ib Is believed that
thp Germans are blowing up the
eartb for a strong subterranean
fortification to be constructed there
London. Feb. 27 Two American '
women weie among the thirteen,
killed in the unwarned torpedoing
of the Laconia, Mrs. Mary Rofs
and Miss Elizabeth Hoy,
American Consul Frost mad '
thl8 nport today, adding that th'
four other American passenger!
were saved. ' '.'
The women died of exposure la
an open boat and were buried at
ea. They were aminrthe eight
who nrrlMihrorMdoIu. and ,
later they uccumbdr"""TpVtx -others
are In hospitals . '''
Two' hundred and sixty-seven land'
ed at Queenstown, fourteen arrived ''
at Bantry. '
The total death list is thirteen.
ProgramFor
New Theatre
nNY n
FOR IS
HAVE ELECTED DIRECTORS
AND OFFICERS AND EQUIPPED
OFFICE8 AT .14 POINDEXTIR
8TREET
To-night's program at the New
Theatre features "The Girl with
the Green Eyes" with Katherine
Kaelred and Julian IVEstrange as
stars.
Wednesday's matlnep perfor
mance will show the very Interests
Ing drama "Saving the Family
Name", presenting a new treat
ment of the stage and theatrical
life. The play shows
en e for good or evil
women in pu' lie life
of w-:ilth and position
and presents the actress in an en
new light.
The newly organized Grlce-Whit
hurst Insurance Company has elect
ed the following officers:
F. M. Grlce, Sr. Pres., C. E.
Thompson. Treasurer; Jas. 0.
Gregory. Vice President; J. V.
ll'LI,nL..-..l 4
v mi miurni', oeciwiury. .
The directors are: C. W. Grlce,
secretary -treasurer of Norfolk and
Carolina Te'ephone and Telegraph,
Company; Jas. G. Gregory, See
retary-treasurer E City Cotton Mill
S. H. Johnson. Manager J. B.
Flora Company; F. M. Grlce, Sr.
I'resident Sharber & White Hard
ware Company; T. I'. Nash, pro
prletor Nash's Feed Store; C. E
Thompson, of Ward & Thompson
attorneys; and J. V. Whltehurst.
While the company Is a new one
the members of the company art
experienced Insurance men, and
their business will embrace insur
ance of all kinds.
The new offices are at 14 South
Polndexter street, next to the X
press office, and these have been
fittted up most attractively lof
the business.
the Influ
ef young
upon men
In society
Leaves To Take
New Charge
Retr. C. A. Ashby left Monday
night for Raleigh where he takes
up hli dutiea at rector of the
Church of the Good Shepherd ;
TEACHERS MEETING SATURDAY
The Pasquoiank County Teach
ers' Association will meet Sat
urady morning, March 10th, at
Hi :!0 In the Hk'h School Building.
Miss I.lna DeLon Is President of
the Association and Miss Nina Wld
gi'tm ii seer tary. Superintendent
W. M. Hlnton nicety with the Aa
soclatlon and directs Its study dur
lng the year. 1
I'OR RALE Good Milk cow. Eight'
years old. Fresh April 1st. Lemuel
Jennings, R F D 2, Box 31.
FOR SALE. A splendid family
milk -cow. Very gentle., Apply to
Dr. J. II. White.. A ltp34