t' V;
THE WEATHER
iniJJi-
TOO BUSY. TO ADVERTISE. '
Generally fair Friday and Saturday.
The man who to too busy to advertise
is basy just being: busy.
VOL. XCVI NO. 18.
WELMINGTON, N. FKIDAT MOBNIKG, APRIL, 9, 1915
"WHOLE NUMBER 39,164
1 1 '
A TTtv
iir- t
RUMORS REACH LONDON TMAT
GERMANY HAS DECLARED WAR
ON DUTCH BUT NOT CONFIRMED
Another rrom Kome days Aus
tria is Ready to Make Sepa
rate Peace With Russia.
NEITHER IS CREDITED
Desperate Resistance Offered
Russians' in Carpathians
Belies the Report.
Swollen Streams Hinder Army
Operations.
London, April 8. There were
persistent rumors in London to
night that Germany either had de
clared war on Holland or that her
troops had occupied the strip of
Dutch territory extending from
the Belgian frontier on the coast
to the river Scheldt. The reports
Sack confirmation, and were not
credited by officials.
How Report Arose.
It is possible that the report arose
from the news from Dutch sources
that the Germans were strengthening
their positions around the Dutch fron
tier and that much uneasinesstprevail
ed at The Hague and other Dutch cities
as a result of the seizure or sinking of
Dutch steamers by German subma
rines. ' ..
The Dutch are-strongly t opposed to
intervention in the war. but their army
is ready to repel invasion.
Another diplomatic report which has
created immense interest is that from
Rome saying Austria seeks a separate
peace with Russia." This, likewise,
lacks confirmation and is not credited,
and it is not considered likely that
Germany would be sending reinforce
ments to the Carpathians if there were
snv doubt of Austria's loyalty.
italy takes the matter more serious
ly than the other nations, for should
it prove to be true it would end her
hopes of gaining territorial :- cessions
from Austria. However, the stubborn
way in which Austria is resisting the
Russian advances In the Carpathians
seems to contradict the suggestion that
she is ready to seek peace at Russia's
terms.
Battles Still Rage.
The fighting in the mountain passes
continued as fiercely as ever and al
though Austria claims success on both
sides of the Laborcza valley, the Rus
sians, on the whole are much further
advanced than they were a week ago
and have now forced the Dukla, Lup
kow and Rostock passes, and are pour
in s troops into the region of Ozsok
pass where the fiercest battle is in
progress. ? .
So far as the rest of the eastern
front is concerned, the only battle of
any importance is that in Bukowina,
where' the Austrians are thrusting at
the Russian positions In the . hope of.
compelling the Russians to send rein
forcements from the Carpathians. In
"Vv'est Galicia, and Poland overflowing
livers prevent movements on a 'large
scale. .
These same conditions are hindering
French operations between the Meuse
and Moselle rivers. An important bat
tle is in progress in this region, how
'vcr, and the French claim to be mak
in? advances a claim which is con
tested by the Germans. Whichever re
port is correct, there is little - doubt
fhat a sanguinary battle is I being
fought and that in thie attacks and
counter attacks heavy- losses -have
heen sustained.
The people of Europe are expectant
ly awaiting a renewal of the attack on
ihe Dardanelles this time with land
fnd sea forces. But the only news
troni that part of the world today is
that Turkey has decided to call up all
l!ien capable of bearing arms, an indi
cation that she expects the Allies to
brinsf exceedingly strong . forces
atjainst her.
H'UEXCh'mAKE GAINS.
IeMiite Bad Weather Success Reported
in West Balloon is Released.
''""is, April 8, via London, April 9.
The r.tnCjai -vvar office statement to-'-'eht
said: ,
"iJespite continued bad weather
frpsh suc-.v-ses were won yesterday
"nd today between the Meuse and the
YTosetif.. At Eparges a night attack
' "ahied us to mae a 8tep in advance
'Hi we have maintained our progress
"-tv. ithstanding three violent counter
; -tcMc-ks. v"e areay have counted on
field more than 1,000 German bod-
"farther to the south, near Lamor
' in a spirited infantry action, we
out a German company and took
' s sonti s the ten survivors. ,
"in the Ailly wood we carried addi
"ion.il trenches and repulsed two coun
''r attacks. In the forest of Montmare,
'rrh 0f Flirey, we gained a footing
tlu: enemy's defense works and held
-ur ground in spite of the effo'fts the
""y made to regain them.
.Xo the northeast of this wood the
'a..e of a captive baloon was severed
irif",,p of our shells and 'the balloon
,,r'i.ea across out line towards the
o (it hen st. . ' ...--
To .urr. up: The offensive recon--Tsonccs
and attacks which ,we have
anie.ri out since April 4 between the
J-use and the Moselle have given the
"'..'r,?vn,S results:
fim- on the northeast ' and east
Continued on Page Eight.) v..
GERMANY
PAYS FOR
ilkm AHn RAPRn
, "lUULL nnu UMIIUU
g William P. Frye Matter
f poes to Prize Court
. ; U
1 kcPLY TO WASHINGTON
Assumes Liability for Sinking; . of
Schooner by German . Cruiser
Prise Court to Decide on
Damagrea Due.
Washington, April 8. Germany's in
tention to compensate the . owners of
the American ship William P. Frye,
sunk on the high seas with her cargo
ot wheat by the commerce raider Prinz
Eitel Priedrich, was communicated
formally to the United States govern
ment today.
Ambassador Gerard cabled a note
handed him by the Berlin foreign office
in reply to the recent American com
munication submitting an indemnity
claim for $228,059.54, on behalf of the
Frye's owners. The foreign office up
holds the legality under international
law of the raider's action in sinking
the Frye and bases the liability of the
German government to pay indemnity
solely on the old Prussian-American
treaties of 799 and 1828, which pro
vide that contraband belonging to the
subjects or citizens of either party can
not be confiscated by the other,- and
may be detained or used only in con
sideration of payment of the full value.
In view of this situation, the note
says, the American owners must be
compensated for their loss. It is point
ed out, however, that the case, must
go into a prize, court that-o.uestionspf
ownership, cargo and destination may
be established formally.
Why Cargo Coontraband.
The German position is that the
Frye's cargo of wheat was contraband
because It was consigned "for orders"
to Queenstown, which is declared to be
a fortified port of Great Britain. No
notice is taken of the, fact that, since
the wheat was . sold en route, to British
citizens "the United States filed a claim
for the vessel only.
Officials here were somewhat sur
prised at the nature of the German
note, because of the bearing 'i may
have on negotiations between Washing
ton and London over the Allies' block
ade of Germany and Austria.
The United States has insisted that
upon the belligerent seizing a cargo
consigned to "order" rested the burden
of proof that the goods were destined
for armed forces of an enemy.
The German note was dated April
4th, one day after Ambassador Gerard
presented the request for indemnity.
Germany requires, however, that the
case shall be taken before a . prize
court for the establishment of facts
concerning ownership of ship and car
go. To this the state Department win
assent.
The reply was. handed by the foreign
office at Berlin to Ambassador Gerard
who cabled it today to the State De
partment. It follows:
"The undersigned has the honor to
make reply to the note of His Excel
lency, Mr. -James W. Gerard, ambassa
dor of, the United States of America,
dated the third instant, foreign office
number twenty-eight, ninety-two, rela
tive to claims for damages - for the
sinking of the American merchant ves
sel William P. Frye by the German
auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich.
. "According to the reports which
have reached the German government
the comnander of the Prinz Eitel Frie
drich stepped the William P. Frye on
the higji seas January 27, 1915, and
searched, her. He found on board a
cargo of wheat consigned to Queens
town, Falmouth or Plymouth to order.
After he had first tried to remove the
cargo from the William P. Frye, he
took the ship's papers and her crew
on board and sank her.
According to Principles.
"It results from these facts that the
German commander acted quite in ac
cordance with the principles of inter
national law as laid down in the Dec
laration of London and the German
prize ordinance. The ports of Queens
town, Plymouth and Falmoutbr. whither
the ship visited was bound, are strong
ly fortified English, coast places which
moreover serve as basis for the Brit
ish naval forces. The cargo of wheat
being food or foodstuffs was condition
al contraband within the. meaning of
Article 24, Np.'l, of the Declaration of
London and Article 23, jNo. 1, ot the
German prize ordinance and was there
fore to be considered as destined for
the armed forces of the enemy pursu
ant to articles 33 and 34 of the Decla
ration of London, and Articles 32 and
53 of the . German prize ordinance and
to be treated as contraband pending
proof to the. contrary. '
"This proof -was certainly not capa
ble of being adduced at the time of the
visiting of the vessel since the cargo
papers read to order. This, however,
furnished the conditions under which,
pursuant t6 Article 49. of the Declara
tion of London, and Article 113 of the
German prize ordinance, sinking of the
ship was permissible, since it was not
possible for the auxiliary cruiser ,to
take the prize, into a German : port
without involving danger "to its own
security or the success of - its opera
tions. ' - 7 ' - :": .
All Dntlea Fulfilled. '
"The dutiestlevolving upon; the crui
ser before destruction of the ship pur
suant to Article 50 of the. Declaration
of London and Article 116 ofthe Ger-
; V (Continued on Page Two) j. - -
PRINZ EITEL GOES
TO NORFOLK TODAY
Delayed on Final Trip by
Funeral of Seaman
KILLED ABOARD SHIP
Converted German Cruiser Will Have
Guns Dismantled at Norfolk Navy
Yard This Afternoon Sea
man Accidentally Killed.
Newport News, Va., April 8. The
German auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eitel
Friedrich temporarily in custody of
the United States government authori
ties here since last midnight, following
the announcement of Commander Max
Thierichens that he desired to intern
his vessel for the remainder of the Eu
ropean war, will be moved to the Nor
folk navy yard at Portsmouth, Va.', be
tween 2 and 3 o'clock tomorrow. A
pilot from the naVy yard will come to
Newport News to take charge of the
sea raider on her last voyage until the
war Is over.
Immediately following the arrival of
the Eitel at the navy yard the physical
internment will take place under the
jurisdiction of Admiral Beatty. The
breach locks of the warship's guns will
be taken off and the connecting rods
of her engines dismantled. Captain
Thierichens and the commissioned of
ficers will be released under parole
and the members of the crew Allowed
shore liberty under such.-rules .-as the
Navy Department may designate,
The Eitel would -have" "been ' transV
f erred to the navy yard today but for
a request from Commander Thierichens
that he be allowed to remain here for
the funeral of Seaman Prei at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning. Prei acci
dentally fell down a flight of steps
yesterday afternoon and died a few
minutes later from" a fractured skull.
Funeral of Seaman.
The German commander this after
noon told Collector of Customs Hamil
ton that he desired to come ashore and
pay a last tribute to the dead seaman
who was the only member of his crew
to die since he left Tsing Tau last Au
gust. Pre! will be buried in'the local
cemetery with full German military
honors, the captain, commissioned offi
cers, band and a detachment of 130 of
the men of the cruiser having been
given permission to attend.
This morning at 11 o'clock Comman
der Thierichens called all his men to
gether and made an official statement
of the internment. The scene was
deeply impressive. The men heard the
statement in silence and as Captain
Thierichens later described it, "you
could have heard a pin drop."
"There were no tears," said the com
mander. "The men had no tears; tears
are for women. Their love of the
Fatherland is supreme and they are in
deep mourning. All of them would
have gladly gone to sea and risked
their lives for their country, but it
was of no use in the face of certain
destruction awaiting us."
Lieut. McCracken, of the naval tug
Patuxent will remain in temporary
charge of the Eitel until she is remov
ed to the navy yard tomorrow. The
Patuxent, which has been on neutral
ity duty for the past several days, istill
lies alongside the Eitel and will prob
ably convoy her to Portsmouth.
The three civilians, Hans Roth, Kirt
Beyer and Mathias Zieringer, who
were aboard the Eitel when she was
interned will be released at once. Col
lector Hamilton tonight received in
structions from Washington to the ef
fect that if the men . had not been ac
tually enlisted to order their release.
The collector tonight sent a letter em
bodying theae instructions to Lieut.
McCracken who has the men in charge
on the Patuxent.
Thierichens Makes Statement.
-Commander Thierichens, captain of
the Eitel Friedrich insisted today that
he -had 'intended to depart up to the
last few hours before his allotted time
in -an American port expired. "Myself
and my men were of one mind that we
should make the' dash for sea," the
commander said, ','and we hoped to
have reinfoxcements to help us. I can
not talk about the help we expected
because that is business.
"Last Saturday night when we were
at liberty to go, we planned to go and
wanted to go,, but it was impossible.
That was the night of the storm. The
storm did not stop us. I liked the
storm, but my boilers Were not ready.
"From the moment the American
government stipulated the time we
might have to make repairs, we have
worked night and day. We wanted
to leave, but at the last moment, we
found it impossible."
"The German commander was asked
what he would do when his ship finally
was Interned. That, he said, would de
pend upon conditions to-be made by
the United States. He hoped, hqwever,
to be enabled to be at .liberty in this
country from time to time.
Glood, pervaded the German sea raid
er, throughout the day,' caused not only
by the internment Jut also by the ac
cidental death yesterday of one of the
crew, v '.
Commander Thierichens said that
this accident in the midst of. his other
worries had caused him great regret. . ;
- Late today Collector of Customs
.Hamilton boarded the Eitel friedrich
and conferred with the captain on the.
plans-; of the nary r for- interning the;
ship in the Norfolk navy yard. - ; '
The "Pa.yUpWt'ek' iuius6afd the-WU ha i listen -Parjsub or: cauvmra -4-o'clock
this morning and lasts one Week. During this week all public spirited citizens are asked to join in the
movement and arrange to liquidate small indebtednesses that may as well b e taken care of now as later. (By join
ing in the movement heartily and enthusiastically, it is pointed out that trade can be greatly stimulated ' and in
dustry can move along as in the times of piping prosperity which are not a great way in the past.
TO MANUFACTURE
DYE STUFFS HERE
Chemical Companies Are to
Make Artificial Dyes.
PLANTS ARE BUILDING
American Chemical Companies to Ex
pend Six Million Dollars in Erect
ing Manufacturing Plants
Ready Early.
Washington, April S. American
chemical companies are bending every
effort toward supplying, textile mills
and other industries using artificial dyes
with home products to replace German
dyestuffs. shut off by the European
war.
Reports to the Department of Com
merce made public today show that at
least six plants are In course of con
struction for the manufacture of the
coal tar derivatives upon which the
colors used in cloth manufacture, var
nishes and other products are based.
Approximately $6,000,000 is to be ex
pended and within a few months it is
estimated that much of the material
for the simpler dyes heretofore pur
chased in Germany at a cost , of ?12,
000,000 annually will be turned out in
the United States.
The more complicated chemicals,
however, will require a greater length
of time to develop.
A report of the dyestuff situation
called for by a resolution of Congress
was given out today by the depart
ment. It estimates that American coke
ovens are wasting annually $100,000,000
in by-products that could be saved, and
employed in other industries. The
American coke industry, the report
states, could produce 20 times as much
coal tar as the world needs for dyes.
RALEIGH IS GOING RIGHT
AFTER SEABOARD'S SHOPS
Organized Movement LaunchedThose
at Portsmouth Burned.
(Special Star Telegram.)
Raleigh, N. C April 8. Raleigh city
officials and the heads of the commer
cial organizations under the-'leadership
of President Alexander Webb, of
the Chamber of Commerce, have
launched a movement to land the gen
eral slips of the Seaboard Air Line,
if they are not to be rebuilt in Ports
mouth, following the burning of the
shops there yesterday: ' '
President Harahan is being urged
to give the claims of Raleigh full con
sideration, in the event; the company
decides to move the principal shops
from Portsmouth. Raleigh claims this
is - the; logical place - for the shops -of
the system. .. , '. -V.-.- ;
U u 1IV1I p ,
ERIGAN NOTE TO
IS
Copy Received at Peking with
Reply of the Japanese.
FIVE QUESTIONS ASKED
Demands Made by Japan on China the
Basis for Representations from
the United States to the
Oriental Power.
Peking, April 8. China received to
day an outline of the note of the Unit
ed States to Japan concerning demands
made upon China by Japan and of the
reply of the Japanese government. It
was said the reply was made March
22 by Takaaki Kato, Japanese minister
of foreign affairs.
The Chinese report said the Ameri
can note specifically asked five ques
tions. Those question and Japan's re
plies thereto are set forth as follows:
The United States inquired concern
ing Japan's demand that. in the prov
ince of Fukien, Japan shallv have the
right to work mines, build railroads
and construct harbor works, and in
the case of employment of foreign cap
ital, Japan shall be first consulted.
The Japanese government replied that
those concessions were "desired for the
primary purpose of preventing other
nationals from acquiring special rights
there,Japan understanding that Amer
ica wished to build dock yards in the
harbor of Santuao. That position is
of great strategic importance, Japan
pointed out, on account of the possi
bility of its use for directing" opera
tions against Formosa in case .of war.
Concerning War Munitions.
The second question concerned the
Japanese .demand for supervision over
the manufacture or purchase of war
munitions by China. The Japanese
government expressed the opinion ahat
this question could be solved most sat
isfactorily by the employment of mixed
forces of Japanese and Chinese a sys
tem which, Japan says, already exists.
The third question ' dealt with the
Japanese demand that the - Chinese po
lice' in- certain' places be administered
jointly by Japanese and Chinese offi
cials,, or that China shall employ nu
merous Japanese to organize the Chi
nese police. The Japanese government
replied that the demand applied only
to Southern Manchuria; ,
The fourth question concerned the
demand for employment by China of
Japanese political advisers. Japan re
plied that political advisers will not
be Imposed, upon " China; but merely
recommended. ., ' . " S
' The. fifth question related to Jhe de
mand Japan was said to. have made that
"no island,' port or' harbor' along the
coast "shall be ceded or leased to any
third ' power."' '- The - Japanese" govern
ment replied thathis' proposed restric-.
Si:& (Continued on Page' TwoJ . 5
AM
JAPAN
PRESIDENT WILSON
Chief Executive Addresses
Churchmen at Washington
CONFERENCE SESSIOINf
No Man Capable of Judging European
War at Present "Time Church
Leaders Likened Unto Heads
of Xatlon by Wilson.
Washington, April 8. In a speech be
fore the Maryland annual conference
of the Methodist Protestant church in
session here tonight, President Wilson
said it was his belief that no man was
wise' enomgh to pronounce judgment
on the European war at this time.
"But," he added, "we can all hold
our spirits in readiness to accept the
truth when it is revealed to us in the
outcome .of this titanic struggle."
The President reminded the- dele
gates that in transacting the business
of their church' they like the men in
charge, of the nation's government
were, in reality handling the "phases of
the day." . .
"You are handling the affairs of the
church as they stand under the treat
ment of the men of your generation,'"
he said. "Back of them lie the eterijal
principles which you are trying to ex
emplify in the life 'of the work; back
of us here in the government lie the
eternal principles of justice and right
eousness which in my conviction, at any
rate, we do not derive from Ourselves,
but from the same source which a great
church derives its inspiration and au
thority. Days of Perplexity.
"It seemed to me that it was worth
saying something like this. These are
days of very great , perplexity when a
great cloud of trouble hangs and
broods over the greater part of the
world. It seems as if great blind ma
terial forces had been released which
had for long been held in leash and
restraint. And yet underneath' that
you can see the strong impulses of
great . ideals. It would be impossible,
ladies and gentlemen, for men to go
through what men are going through
on the battlefields of Europe and strug
gle through the present ---dark night of
their terrible struggle if, it were not
that they saw, or thought that they
saw the broadening, of light where the
morning sun comes up and believed
that they were standing each on his
side of the contest for some eternal
principle of right.
"Then all about - them, all about us,
there sits the silent, waiting tribunal
of the opinion of the world;-and I
fancy I see,5 I, hope that I see, I pray
that it may be : that I do truly see,
great spiritual forces lying waiting for
the outcome of this thing to assert
, Continued ou Page. Two)
BANK EXAMINERS
REPORT BUSINESS
CONDITIONS GOOD
Marked Improvement in Al
most Every Line, Treasury
Announcement Says.
SOUTH IN FIRST RANK
Sale of Cotton Active at Ad
vanced Prices Business
Increasing.
Maine the Only State Where "
Depression is Felt.
Washington, April 8. Business con
ditions throughout the country are
showing marked improvement in al
most all lines,, according to reports
from National bank examiners made '
public tonight by the Treasury Depart
ment. Eighty of the 90 examiners in
the Uritted States reported a permanent
improvement, and Maine is said to be
the only state where real depression
exists.
"Pronounced hopefulness is preva
lent in nearly every district,"!' says the
announcement. "Agricultural condi
tions are generally excellent; and com
mercial lines with comparatively few
exceptions . are enlarging their activi
ties, mainly through an increased de
mand, but in some cases preparation
for activity is expected to develop with
the coming of good weather. ; Manufac
turing is on the increase and those in
dustries having orders for supplies
cially active.
"Further orders have been placed
for cars and rails by the railroads and
some large contracts have Taeen made
"f liv.-.jitVijK iara4 - i Vdrx - frn . Xajrord -hni'MfTi o-ta
in diff erent portions of the country."
The statement attributes depression
to unusual conditions abroad, but saya
busineshere has been. stabilized
through the allication .of economy.
Better in the South.
"The South," it continues, "is show
ing marked improvement. The sale of
cotton is active at advancing prices .
with the result that all business In
that section is feeling a' steady and
pronounced improvement. The pros-
i pects for large crops generally are exr
iciiciu a.uu lucre win ue giea-ier ui-
versiflcation. .
"The Western States and vthsPaciflc
States are showing a general improve
ment. - " .
"The New England and Middle Atlan
tic States and portions of the Central
West, although generally reporting an
improvement, seem to feel the past de
pression, to the greatest extent. Farm
ers, however generally have had satis
factory results, but manufacturing,
TXT i T V tVift r-r ziorvf " Af 4-i-w fill
j i- .:n i. a. ji I
1111 1.11c cavii.iuii j i k 11 ca. v v s 111 1 i v 1
eign orders, is feeling the improve
ment to the least extent. There is im
provement, however, in most lines.
Savings bank deposits are increasing
and generally .banks have an abun
dance of money. -
Report from Big Cities.
"The following reports show the
trend of business conditions outside of
farming communities:
"New York There has been no time
in the last three years that merchants
and manufacturers were such small
borrowers, indicating that their pres
ent capital is sufficient for their need .
and that borrowed money cannot be
invested profitably by them. Prices of
edibles have declined a trifle. Business
fairly good in grains. Industries for
supplies of war materials, cotton, hat
manufacturing, iron, metals, copper,
shoes, textiles-, etc., are. improving on
account of the European war. Other
industries will improve if the war is
continued long. Regular steel business
is picking up. Embroideries and laces
are looking up." Lumber business is
improving a trifle. ' Wholesale gro-..
ceries are inactive. Electric and rail
way supplies are spotty, but not much
below normal. Fertilizers are quiet.
Volume of stock and merchandise is in
keeping. with the volume of business.
Not much stock carried on shelf. "
"Boston Strong feeling of optimism
and business' generally regarded as lut
proved. ' - -
"Philadelphia Present and imme
diate outlook business conditions are
encouraging and showing gradual im-.
provement.
"Pittsburg Present conditions" show
increased activity.
"Richmond-1 General business condi
tions are sligntly improved.
"Atlanta Present and immediate
outlook regarded as Improved.
"Louisville Present and immediate
outlook is good.
"New Orleans General situation re
garded as gradually improving. r""
"Dallas Business making time, jfea
sic conditions are good. -
"Chicago Present conditions ' , dull."
Immediate outlook hopeful In tone.
Business showing slight improvement.
"St. Louis Business conditions stand'
"Kansas City Present and immedi
ate outlook good for material Improve- ,
ment. , 1
"San Francisco Business people are :
in better spirits. Present and imme- ,
diate outlook better and steadily Im
proving. : : .
repression in naue.
"Of the seven New Enerland districts
ness . conditions, wnue tnree aistricta .
show improvement. Maine is the onlr
portion reporting real depression. The
lines wnica sqow ui greatest activity.
are those with orders for war supplies, .;-
which include shoes, woolens,: coarse
1V.VUIIOUVU ou raseawVui'; -
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