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VOL. XXVIII.
PLYMOUTH, N. 0., FRIDAY, 28, 1917
NO. 26.
RE
LLOYD GEORGE SETS
FORTH WAR AIMS
STATE TO CI
Officer of Torpedoed
Cruiser Who Survived
J Rises From Clerkship
to Important Position
PEACE HAVE BEG LI
LOST
ee
TIE PRICE OF WOOD
NEGOTIATIONS FOR
ITALIANS
fill
OL
TERRITORY
BETWEEN THE TEUTONIC ALLIES
AND THE RUSSIANS AT BREST-LITOVSK.
ENEMY PLAYS TRUMP CARD
Von Kuehlmann Unanimously Elected
Chairman and Austro-German Dele
gates Are Far Stronger Than Dele
gates From Russia.
Peace negotiations between the Teu
tonic allies and the Russians have be
gun at Brest-Litovsk. And apparent
ly the enemy has played a trump
card at the outset, for on the proposal
of Prince Leopold of Bavaria, the
German commander-in-chief on the
Russian front, Dr. von Kuehlmann, the
German foreign secretary and an
astute politician, has been chosen un
animously as offlcal chairman.
A noteworthy fact in the composi
tion of the delegations from the va
rious countries allied with the Austro
Germans is that they include men who
have stood high in the councils of
their respective countries, while the
men who are to handle' Russia's in
terests for the most part are unknown
in world politics.
Still another outstanding fact in the
meager details of the formation of
the conference that thus far have
come through is that Rumania is not
credited with having sent delegates to
Brest-Litovsk. The possibility is,
therefore, that Rumania has decided
to hold aloof from discussing a sep
arate peace, notwithstanding the fact
that geographically she will be com
pletely isolated from her allies should
n the negotiations result in Russia quit
ting the war.
AMENDMENTS TO FARM
LOAN LAW ARE ADVOCATED.
Board Wants Private Farm Mortgage1
Banks Admitted.
Washington. The federal farm loar
beard announced that it advocates
amendment to the farm loan act un
der which many private farm mort
gage bankers may enter the govern
ment system as joint stock land
banks. At the same time, the board
also gave warning that it expects in
terests seeking to break down the
system to file a suit soon to-test the
constitutionality of the act.
Amendments to the existing law
which will be specifically recommend
ed to Congress in the board's forth
coming annual report, are:
To remove the present restriction
permitting a joint stock land bank to
do business only in the state where it
is situated and one contiguous state;
To permit a bank to issue bonds to
the amount of twenty times its capital
stock, which must be $250,000 or more,
instead of fifteen times, as under ex
isting law, and
To raise from six to six and a half
per cent the maximum interest rate
which joint stock land banks may
charge on loans to farmers. -
All these amendments have been
sought by the Farm Mortgage Bank
ers' association, whose leaders predict
that a large proportion of the mem
bers would seek government charters
and operate under supervision of the
farm loan board if the modifications
were made. Their plea to be allowed
to use the name "National Land Bank"
instead of "Joint Stock Land Bank"
has been received favorably by the.
board, owing to fear of confusing the
private institutions with the govern
ment's twelve federal land banks.
Joint stock land banks would still
be compelled to limit interest rates on
loans to within one per cent more than
the selling price of their bonds, even
though the maximum were raised to
six and a half per cent. I
Majority For Conscription. -Ottawa,
Ont. A majority of 174,
000 votes for conscription is shown by
the complete returns on the referen
dum in Australia, says a Reuter dis
patch from Melborne. The vote was
988,000 against and 764,000 for. Votes
cast by the Australian troops on the
question are being counted in London.
"EVERY HOUSEHOLDER TO HAVE
ITS COAL SHOVEL TAGGED.
Washington. Every household in
the land from the white house to the
. most humble cottage Is to have its
coal shovel tagged with war-time
economy hints on Wednesday, Janu
". ary 26. ' The fuel administration an
, nounced , that the services of the
v twenty-three million odd school cbtl
h flretf were being enlisted, and that all
state and. municipal authorities and
teachers wmild be askprt to u-ite in
making the day a school holiday
H ft S'J $As ' i ' ' If
Lieut. John K. Richards. U. S. N.,
was one of the officers of the American
destroyer Jacob Jones who survived
when that vessel was torpedoed and
sunk by a German submarine.
TWO YEARS AGO HAD ONLY 300
SECRETARY DANIELS SAYS NAVY
NOW HAS MORE THAN
1,000 SHIPS.
Contracts Have Been Let for Hun
dreds of Others Including Dread
naughts, Cruisers and Destroyers
and Auxiliaries Explain Operation.
Washington. A recital by Secretary
Daniels of how the navy prepared for
war by adding several hundred ships
to the fleet and letting contracts for
hundreds of others, including dread
naughts, battle cruisers, destroyers and
auxiliaries, and explanation,, of the op
eration of the navy supply department
by Rear Admiral McGowan, paymaster
general, marked the opening of the in
quiry by a house sub-committee into
the navy's war activities.
Representative Britten, of Illinois,
asked Secretary Daniels whether the
department had recely.ed any com
plaints from Vice Admiral Sims, com
manding American naval forces in the
war zone. The secretary said the
question was improper and that "mess
gossip" should not be banded about,
but he added that Admiral Sims had
been given everything possible that
the navy could give.
Later when Admiral McGowan was
called to the stand he submitted an
order issued by him some months ago
directing that Admiral Sims requests
for supplies be acted upon on the
same day they were received.
"We have 424 ships in course of con
struction." Secretary Daniels told the
committee. "That does not Include
submarine-chasers, of which we are
building 350 and does not include the
small craft. The chasers will be in
service by early spring." Included in
the 424 ships, he said, were battle
cruisers, battleships, scout cruisers,
destroyers, fuel ships, gunboats, hos
pital ships, ammunition hips, sea
going tug, mine-sweepers and sub
marines. The navy at the beginning of its
participation in the war, the witness
continued, had at its disposal the
money needed for most of the expan
sion immediately required and in
pressing cases where funds were lack
ing over-obligations were incurred.
Within the last few days the navy has
had to ask for $86,000,000 in addition
to the regular estimates amounting to
$1,039,000,000 for the next fiscal year,
now before the house naval commit
tee. AUSTRO-GERMA NFORCE
ATTACK ITALIAN LINE
Reinforcements In Large Numbers are
Brought Up.
The Austro-Germans have renewed
In great strength their effort to pierce
the Italian line and debouch upon the
plains of Venetia In the region of Bas
sano. In fierce fighting around Monte
Azolone, in which the enemy again
suffered severe losses and several
times were repulsd. reinforcements In
large numbers were brought up nad
the Italians were compelled to give
ground. The fighting lasted through
out Tuesday and according to the
German war offlee, more than 2,000
Italians were made prisoner. .
Likewise along the southern reaches
of the Piave river, the Invaders and
the Italians are engaged in heavy
fighting. A crossing of the Old Piave
on pontoon bridges was successfully
carried out by one enemy detachment,
bu: later the Italians shoved back the
Tnttnni tn thfl water' nrtee.
CEASE DEFENSIVE AND RESUME
OFFEN8IVE WITH 8IGNAL
SUCCES8ES.
TERRIFIC ARTILLERY FIRE
Situation in Russia Continues Ob
scure. Germans Said to Have .Re
jected Peace Terms of the Bolshe
vikl. The Italians on the northern line
in Italy between the Brenta and
Piave rivers have ceased, for the
warfare against the attacks of the
time being at least, their defensive
Austro-Germans and assumed the
offensive with signal successes on
several sectors.
Attacking the positions which the
enemy earlier in the week captured
near Monte Asolone, General Dial's
troops have regained a considerable
portion of the terrain and held it, not
withstanding the terrific artillery fire
that was turned upon them.
The German war office, in endeav
oring to belittle the success of the
offensive, which it asserts was re
pulsed, shows that the effort of the
Italians was a determined one, the
troops to the west of Monte Asolone
delivering seven attacks against the
enemy front. Admission is made In
the German communication that the
Italians also have taken the initiative
in the fighting on Monte Pertlca and
Monte Sllarolo, but it is declared that
their attacks on these sectors, as on
Monte Asolone were without success.
The situation in Russia continues
obscure, although such reports as are
coming through Indicate that the
bolshevikl government Is losing
ground in the face of the opposition
that is being imposed by the Ukrain
ians and the followers of General
Kaledines. The bolshevik! commis
sioners are declared to have declined
to accept the negative reply of the
Ukrainian Rada to the bolshevikl de
mand that Ukraine cease aiding the
Kaledines forces and give the rada
an opportunity to reconsider its ac
tion. As. indicating that the rada has
finally declined to give heed to the
dictates of the bol?hevlki is a report
that a definite alliance has been
formed between Kaledines followers
and the Ukrainians.
A dispatch from Petrograd says an
unofficial report in circulation in the
Russian capital is to the effect that
the Germans have rejected the peace
terms put forward by the bolBheviki
delegates. Recent dispatches have in
dicated that the peace pourparlors in
progress at Brest-Litovsk were mere
ly preliminary to the peace confer
ence which is to assemble there next
Tuesday and which is to be attended
by the German and Austro-Hunga-rian
foreign ministers.
ARMY CLOTHING, SHOE8
AND FOOD UNDER INQUIRY
Quartermaster General Sharpe Be
fore the Investigating Committee
Washington. Clothing, shoes and
food supplies for the American army
were investigated by the senate mllil
tary committee, turning its general in
quiry into war preparations to the
quartermaster general's department. It
was developed that millions were
spent just before the United States
entered the war to provide for the
great army since raised.
Major General Sharpe, quartermas
ter general, was before the commit
tee all day and for an hour of the
time answered all confidential ques
tions behind closed' doors. lie was,
closely examined, especially regard
ing the admitted shortage of over
coats, which he said was due princi
pally to late deliveries of large orders.
Except for overcoats and a few
other winter garments, of which, he
stated, complete stocks ould be in
camp by December 31, the general
declared there is no clothing short
age. G. B. MEANS NOT TO BE
INDICTED IN NEW YORK
New York After a conference here
with a representative of the state's
attorney of Cook county, Illinois,. Dis
trict Attorney Swann announced that
he would not ask the New York coun
ty grand jury to indict Gaston B.
Means in connection with the "sec
ond" will of Mrs. Maude Robinson
King, of whose murder Means was ac
quitted by a jury at Concord, N. C,
Sunday, December 16.
James L. Wllmeth of Tennessee and
Arkansas, who has been appointed di
rector of the bureau of engraving and
printing, Uncle Sam's big money fac
tory. Is one of the few men who have
advanced to an important government
position through the ranks of govern
ment clerks. He entered the govern
ment service 20 years ago, assorting
money orders for $60 a month.
NO DETAILS ARE GIVEN OUT
NINETEEN LIVES ARE LOST
WHEN UNDERSEA BOAT GOES
DOWN.
Rammed and 8unk In Home Waters
by Another Submersible, F-3, In Fog.
Those Lost Were Mostly From
Far Western States.
Washington. Nineteen lives were
lost when the American submarine
F-l was rammed and sunk by sub
marine F-3 in home waters during a
fog.
The F-3 was undamaged and pick
ed up five survivors of her victim.
Secretary Daniels announced the dis
aster in a brief statement which gave
no further details.
Lieut. A. E. Montgomery, com
manding officer of the F-l was among
the five saved. His mother, Mrs. Ju
lia Montgomery Pratt, lives at Fort
H. G. Wright, N. Y.
Other survivors include:
J. M. Schmlssauter, machinist; fa
ther, Charles C. Schmissauter, Hill
City, Tenn.
Henry L. Brown, gunner's mate;
father, II. P. Brown, Macon, Ga.
The list of those lost announced by
the navy department shows men to
be from far western states, with the
exception of two who are from Ohio
and Pennsylvania.
CONGRESS SHUTS DOWN
FOR HOLIDAY RECESS
Senate Takes Final Action for Sub
mission of Prohibition Amendment.
Washington. Congress closed down
ifor a holiday vacation, leaving be
hind a series of Investigations to pro
ceed during the recess. Both houses
adjourned until Thursday, January 3,
when war legislation is to take the
forefront of the calendar.
In the last day's business, the sen
ate took final action toward submis
sion to the states of a national prohi
bition amendment to the constitution,
ordered two investigations into rail
road legislation and the merchant
shipbuilding and arranged for dis
Dosal of the coal and oil land leasing
bill on January 7. The house passed
the resolution to remove doubt as to
application of the new excess profits
axes to congressmen, .and arranged
for renewal of the battle for woman
suffrage on January 10.
Efforts to rush through legislation
authorizing the treasury to buy $100
000,000 of farm loan bonds before ad
journment failed. The senate passed
the bill, but it was held up in the
house to be considered when Congress
reassembles.
During the rece?s, a half-dozen
investigations into war activity will
be in progress. Heading the list is
the ralroad inquiry.
Other investigations in addition to
those of railroad problems and the
shipbuilding situation, deal with
army and navy war operations, the
sugar and fuel shortages and .the al
leged disloyal St. Paul speech of &&
ator LaFollette.
TEUTONS MUST RESTORE ALL
TERRITORY TAKEN AND PAY
FOR GREAT HAVOC.
GERMAN PEACE PROPOSALS '
Reorted That Teutonic Allies Would
Offer for Peace and Had Requested
Russia to 8ound former Allies for
Peace.
In the midst of the peace pourpar-
lars that are in progress between the
representative of the Teutonic allies
and the bolshevikl government in
Russia, the war aims of Great Brit
ain and doubtless of all her allies
have been concretely set forth in the
house of commons - by David Lloyd
George, the British prime minister.
The complete restoration of terri
tory now In the hands of the enemy
and compensation for the havoc they
have wrought is the price that will
be damended for the laying down of
arms and the bringing about of
peace.
Great Britain did not seek territo
rial aggrandizement for herself or for
any of her allies when she entered
the war, Mr. Lloyd George said but
entered into the hositilltles merely for
the sake of her honor. As to Ger
many's colonies, all of which are now
In the hands of the entente, Mr. Lloyd
George said, their disposition must be
determined at the peace congress,
Jerusalem, however, the premier de
clared, would never be restored to the
Turks. ,
The statement of the prime minis
ter came almost simultaneously with
a report that the Teutonic allies In
tended to make peace proposals to
the entent and that Russia had been
requested to take similar steps and
was endeavoring to sound her fromer
allies in arms as to their requirements
for a cessation of hostilities.
PASSENGER TRAINS CRASH;
38 KILLED; MANY INJURED
Sheperdsville, Ky. Thirty-eight
known dead and 40 to 50 persons in
jured, some of them seriously, was
the toll taken when Louisville & Nash
ville passenger train No. 7, from Cin
cinnati to New Orleans, crashed into
the rear of a Bardstown, Louisville
& Springfield accommodation train 500
yards south of the station here.
The accommodation train had just
left the station after making a stop,
when the faster train whlcli makes no
stop here came in sight moving at a
high rate of speed. Efforts to bring
it to a halt were futile and the heavy
locomotive with the heavy weight of
a steel train behind it crashed into
the rear of the accommodation with
a terrific Impact. The two wooden
passenger cars and baggage cars mak
ing up the smaller train were splin
tered. Virtually every person aboard the
accommodation train, both crew and
passengers were either killed or bad
ly Injured. None of the passengers
aboard the fast train were killed,
thoug ha number were Injured. The
locomotive was demolished and the
heavy steel coaches making up the
train were thrown from the track.
Non of the passengers aboard the
fast train were killed and none of
them received more than minor Inju
ries. Another locomotive and train
crew was sent from Louisville and
after detaching one baggage car the
New Orleans train went on as soon
as the right of way was declared.
Jesse Weatherford, telegraph opera
tor at the station here, said that after
the accommodation train left the sta
tion he had thrown his block to show
the track clear and left the office to
help handle baggage. When he got
outside, he said, he saw the fast train
approaching, ran back to the office,
pulled his block to show red. seized
a lantern and rushed to the platform
to flag it. He reached iTie side of the
track just as the hevay locomotive
thundered by.
PROPERTY OF AMERICANS
IN GERMANY TAKEN OVER
Berlin. The property of Americans
in Germany has been placed under the
trusteeship of the G-erman govern
ment. There is no intention, how
ever, to confiscate property or tc
infringe on the personal rights of the
property holders.
French Sink Two U-Boata.
Athens. French destroyers hav
sunk two enemy submarines in ttu
Gulf of Taranto.
AUTHORITY 18 GIVEN TO STATB
FUEL ADMINISTRATOR MCAL
LISTER TO ACT.
FIRST STATE TO TAKE ACTION
Believed That It Will Have a Whole,
sale Effect on Prioes and Deliv
eries of Wood.
Greensboro. Authority riven Stats
Fuel Administrator A. W. McAllistet
by th enatlonal fuel administration,
authorizing Mr. McAlister and local
committees to fix the price of wood,
will have a wholesome effect on prices
and deliveries in the state, it is be
lieved. This is the first state in the
union in which the fuel administrator
Is authorized to fix prices. These will
be fixed to suit the locality, with tho
committeemen taking into considera
tion local conditions.
' A' basis for computation is furnish
ed by Mr. McAlister, who advises a
33 1-3 er cent to 60 per cent Increase
in the price per cord over the prices
prevailing in 1916, these figures to
apply to wood in four and eight-foot .
lengths on drays and wagans of farm
ers, or on cars f.o.b. the place of ship
ment. He suggests the allowance to
the dealer of 1 a cord for sawing
and splitting the wood, or 1.25 per
cord, if the committeemen deem the
larger figure equitable ;and fl pe
cord for delivery, 76 cents for delivery
of half cord and 50 cents for quarter
cords and less.
Of interest only secondary is the
standardization of the measure fot
vrood to be observed by the vendor.
The Instructions of the fui adminis
tration marks the passing of the an
cient if not altogether honorable
"load." The wood dealers must sell
in cords or stipulated divisional parts
thereof. No longer will an ultimate
consumer pay $1.50 for a "load," but
what he pays will be fixed by the ad
ministration and it will be for an un
derstood portion of a cord, a full cord,
or the multiple of it. In this man
ner ,the wood business of North Caro
lina, temporarily at least, is brought
within the law of weights and meas
ures. Educational Commission Announced.
Raleigh. The state education com
mission that the last legislature pro
vided the governor should apoint fop
general investigation and recommen
dation as to the educational system
and laws of the state was appointed
by Governor Blckett and is to meet
and organize for work as early as pos
sible. It consists of the following: R. II.
Wright, professor of the East Caro
lina Teachers' Training school; B. C.
Brooks, of the chair of education in
Trinity College; Dr. Charles E. Brew
er, professor in Meredith College; C.
C. Wright, superintendent of the
Wilkes county public schools; D. J.
Bell, superintendent of the Rich
mond county schools and Rockingham
city schools.
The special act of the legislature
under which the commission Is ap
pointed provides that the commission
shall make a survey of the eudca
tional conditions in the state, codify
the public laws, investigate the meth
ods and cost of supplying textbooks
to the public schools, the advisability
of establishing a state printing plant,
the matter of a system of pensions for
public school teachers. The commis
sion is directed by the act to report
its findings with recommendations to
the 1918 session of the legislature.
Rector Volunteers as Chalatn.
Rocky Mount. The Rev. B. E.
Brown, rector of the Calvary Episco
pal church at Tarboro, has offered
his services to Uncle Sam as chap
lain, with the request that he be sent
to France for service in that country
with the American soldiers and ex
pects to be called within the next
few weeks. He came to Tarboro
about ten years ago
Passengers In Burning Train.
Elkln. Saturday a passenger coach,
on the Elkin & Alleghany road caught
Are from a stove pipe just after leav
ing the station at State road. The fire
was between the ceiling and roof of
the car and none of the 25 passengers
!n the coach knew it until the train
irrived here and stopped at the street
rossing, and the flames burst out over
he entire length of the car. The lo
al firemen were soon on the gro'jnd
md had a strfrf water turned on
'ie flames. " "fivoodwork and all
he wlndo 'ar wre destroyed.
ft