Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / April 8, 1916, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE WEATHER. ADVERTISING is the winged word of business. It takes the message everywhere, and keeps the cash register humming. .. v . Rain Saturday. Sunday fair, fresh shifting winds. .'-. ...- II.. . J I ' ft . M .jrr aw. - . ' .11. I 1 ' - " ' . SX "V --rri ajrt A-U W- J1 l m p ''I - JL ii ii J '.j ... - , . . . GARRANZft HAS HOT AMERICAN HfWftRRIlllZlllS HOT fMAY REACH -. m m - M s -. m -a . -. GIvfcN PtHMISSION ARE MOVING SOUTH ASKED WITHDRAWAL rn nnr nan iiiiiinA 1 IllUbt httlLWATon Foreign Minister Aguilar 'Denies Such Privilege Was Granted the United. States. DE FACTO CABINET, MEETS Discusses Modifications Suggested by United States to Recent ly Proposed Agreement Queretaro, Mexico, April 7. The Mexican government has.not given the American government permission to use Mexican railways for any purpose whatever, said General Qandido Aguil ar, Mexican minister of foreign - rela tions, after a meeting of the Carran za cabinet today. At the cabinet meeting General Car ranza and his advisers discussed modi fications suggested by the United States in the recent proposals for an agreement for crossing the frontier be tween the United States and -Mexico by the armed forces of the respective governments. The latest proposals of the Washington State Department wero receied yesterday- from Eliseo Arre dondo, Mexican minister designate to the United States. . . General Aguilar denied vigorously stories in the American press to the effect than theCarranza government had given permission to the United States army forces to use Mexican rail ways for transportation " of foodstuffs and supplies. J "Please rectify these . false state ments." said General Aguilar to the Associated Press. "The Mexican gov ernment has not given' the; American government permission, to use Mexican railways for any purpose whatever." ONLY "COMMERCIAI USE OF THE RAILWAY WAS GRANTED WashlagtoriApril-.--Oen ara.1 Cafa. ranza agreed about two weeks ago to "commercial" use of the Mexican, N'orthwestern railway to ship .supplies destined to United States troops in Mexico. Such shipments already are being sent over the road by private parties. " Special Agent Rodgers at Queretaro now has been instructed toTurge the de facto government to issue immediate ly necessary orders to definitely specify to what extent local autnoritles on the border may permit the : railroad to be employed for such purposes. - It is assumed here that the state ment of Aguilar was made, to re-assure the Mexican people that the Carranza government had not allowed the Am erican expedition to take control of the roads. TO FIGHT LYNCH MW. Ajegressive Educational Campaign Will be Started at .Once. Birmingham, Ala., April 7. An ag gressive educational campaign against lynch law in the South is to-be under taken immediately by the new Asso ciation of Southern Church Colleges. The organization, composed of rep resentatives of 18 Southern institu tions of learning, was formed here last night with the election .of officers headed by Dr. . C. M. Bishop, -.of the Texas Presbyterian College. 'It will have the moral support of 40 Southern educational institutions. The avowed object of the associa tion, according to its originators, would be to conduct a campaign against the "spirit which prompts . lynclungs." ' A publicity bureau is to be established, speakers are to be sent out and. the alumni .of . the various . institutions are to be asked to do personal work.. Statistics were presented at the meeting which, it is said, showed that during the past 30 years there had been 4,000 lynchings.. About 90 per tent occurred in the South. BRITISH REPLY REGARDING CHINA INCIDENT RECEIVED Rejoinder by State Department Expect ed to be Made Soon. Washington, April" 7. Great Brit ain's reply to Secretary Lansing's rer quest for an explanation of -the seiz ure of Germans and Austrians from the steamer China is now before the State Department and a rejoinder will so forward soon. It is entirely prob able that the right of a belligerent to seize an enemy civilian will be sharply criticised unless' it can be dem onstrated that the civilian actually has been engaged in warlike , -J operations, inrl not merely political - activity; v Counsellor Polk, of the State;Depart ment, flatly denied tonight mat he ev er had told Sir Cecil Spring-Rice that the United States would demand s the release of the men unless It could De Proved that they were on ' their way home for service as combatants. He said he had seen such a report publish ed, but that it was utterly without foundation. . . ' , : CANTON REPORTED QUIET. o Disturbance Since Province Declar ed Its Independence. Peking, China, April 7. Paul'R. Jos-r Ee'yn, American vice-consul at Canton, telegraphed the American minister. Dr. I'aul Reinsch, today mat no disturb ances have occurred in-Canton : follow - declaration of the independence of .wang Tung province. Both , the civil and military governors of the province Proclaimed its independence. - ; - Kwang Tung is an" importance lrov-";i-e in the southern part of the em-? ';'e on the. China. Ias. Its earjital vis r.ttr,tf.P- its population.is estimated at "CLWjen 2,000,000 and .SOOOO.OOO,: General Pershing Confirms State ments That They are Trail ing Villa Through Satevo AEROPLANES UNSUCCESSFUL Art Not Dependable as Source for In- xormation Weather Interferes With Wireless Colonel Brown's Column Located. San Antonio, Texas, April 7. Gener al Pershing, in a delayed dispatch re ceived by General Funston today, con firmed previous reports that American troops were moving southward from Cusihuirachic on Vllla-s trail through Satevo and that all information avail able at his headquarters indicated that tne fugitive bandit was traveling in the direction of "Parral. General Pershine PXnlnlriAr? failure to report more frecmentiv vv state ments that the aeroplanes on which he uau aepenaea lor communication had been unable to and : that weather conditions had in- lerterea wiin transmission of messag es by field wireless. He added that he had not been in communication with his headquarters at Colonia Dublan for nine days. " General Pershiner Kairl tVio - fmii wounded at Guerrero were in no dan ger ana two had almost recovered. ." Reports, annarentlv riiniita tt,0 troops of the de facto government had ueen siauonea at strategic points aouxn or y ma s last reported position. General Pershing reported that One Of his flviner Remits Viar Innate Colonel Brown's" column at Cusihuira chic Anril 5. Tt voa heltovsrl hi IVit . - v luat by this time Colonel Brown, after tlnj receipt or supplies that arrived at Cusi huirachic ADril 5 had the chase. His column was the first to arrive as far south as Cusihuirachic but exhaustion of supplies had forced him to halt there. General Funston said todnv that h had received letters from three undertakers- asking for Villa's body. One of them offered toivlde p.miallv whittv. TT" nroney. e hTlgTrr-;mak6 out fnhe ACCURATE. AMERICAN FIRE IS FEARED BY THE BANDITS Columbus, N. M., April 7. Proof of the marksmanship of American sol diers has done more, than any other development of the campaign in Mex ico to strike fear into the hearts of Villa's followers, according to reports rrom across the border. The straight shooting done at Columbus, that of the little detachment that pursued the bandits-across the line, after the raid; and that at Guerrero and Aguas-Call-entes was totally unexpected by the Mexicans. . ."Villa's followers had been taught that the Americans -were weaklings, cowards; who" were afraid to match their strength with Mexican forces," a naturalized MexiCan said today. "They believed in- their -ignorance implicitly in themsePVes and their ability to con quer any force they , should encounter. I am convinced that before the Colum bus raid, their feeling was that of con tempt .of a larger man ror a smaller, weaker antagonist." The first shock was given the Villa bandits when 79 of their men were killed by half as many troopers of the 13th, cavalry, who made the sortie across the international line after the raid.' But even then they did not real ize their own weakness, soldiers and civilians returning from the front re porting that in the towns through which the band passed in its flight, its members boasted of their superiority over" the "gringo" forces. It was at Guerrero that the contrast between the marksmanship of the two forces was demonstrated. There the troopers -of the Seventh cavalry,- shooting cooly and-steadily, sent almost every bullet to its mark, while Gen." Hernandez's soldiers fired wildly as they ran, near ly all shooting high above the heads of the Americans, as a result only four American : cavalrymen were " slightly wounded, , while 15 times that nuteber of Villa, followers were killed and as many more wounded. ETTE.RS WRITTEN ON BITS OF "HARD TACK" CARTONS Columbus, N. M., April 7. Cardboard sides of f'hard tack" cartons are being used by the advanced ' detachments of American troops in Mexico for letter writing purposes. Three bags of mall, all written on bits of box, arrived at the army base here today. Some sol diers contented themselves with fash ioning postcards, while others extem porized envelopes by folding a second bit of . the cardboard over the communication.-. This was taken by offi cers here to substantiate reports that the troops are close on the-trail ol Villa making all possible speed, not even waiting for supplies. VIIiliA DEFINITELY LOCATED ;. - LAST NIGHT AT LA BOfttllLLA El Paso, Texas; April , 7. Francisco Villa was definitely located, at La Bo iuilla tonight in a code message re ceived here from Torreon, Mexico. La Boquilla is 55 miles southeast of Sa tevo "arid about an equal distance nortn of,. Parral. The message said that the' bandit had been at -Santa, Rosalia a couple of days ago; and, from there had turned west to La: Boquilla. Santa Rosalia is on" the Mexican CjentraI railroad, so miles southeast of'Chihuanua City." It was formerly one of the most, impor tant mining . towns in central Chihua v,o . "Minions of American dollars are said to have been invested in the Santa Rosalia mines and smelter but .the place has been . practically deserted since Mexico's present troubles began. From Santa '.Rosalia, a short spur on the . Central r railroad runs to La : Bo quilla," about 20' miles distant. " At the latter- place is -famous Galentine Hot Springs a.health, resort, which rivalled , . (Continued on Page Two - - WlIiMESTGTOlSr, Lansing Flatly Denies Eeports of Bequest to Recall the Troops from Mexico HE ISSUES A STATEMENT De Facto Troops Actually Co-Operating In Chase for Villa No Word Re ceived Direct From Fer shing Since Tuesday. Washington, April 7. Recurring re ports that the Carranza government had asked, formally or otherwise, for withdrawal of the American forces from Mexico brought forth a statement from Secretary Lansing tonight, flatly denying that such a request had been made formally or by intimation or sug gestion. Mr. Lansing explained that when the American expedition had been ordered across the border to pursue Villa, Gen eral Carranza had inquired of the State Department regarding the proposed strength of the force and campaign plans contemplated. Since then the de facto government has been kept advis ed constantly regarding the progress of the chase. Belief in some quarters that Carran za had asked or soon would ask how much further into. Mexico the United States intended to send its soldiers has been iased on the belief that Villa's trail was "getting cold." The last re port to the State Department several days ago had Villa located. Since then department agents have reported ina bility lo secure any further definite clues. De Facto Troop Co-Operating. An encouraging feature of the cam paign today was found in reports XJt both State and War Departments indi cating ' - actual co-operation between American and de facto government troops." News from the border is to the effect that the Americans had pen etrated as far south as Cieneguilla, near Satevo. . ' " ; A dispatch from American Consul Letcher. ; at Chihuahua, ...tfciPftVjj.Genj era! 'Bell, reported ah engagement" at Cieneguilla April " 4 between, Carranza troops under General - Gavazos arid 50 Villa bandits, in which the outlaws lost 10 killed and two captured. Mr. Let cher also confirmed reports of the fight April " 1, between - 10th cavalry troops under Colonel Brown with a Villa band at Agua Calientes, in which between 30 and 40 outlaws "were reported killed. The consul's report quoted Colonel Brown as 'saying that for -two weeks his command had subsisted largely on beef and corn, but ' that the mining company had brought in a special train of supplies, Including forage to replen ish American stores. Officials believed it possible the special train of supplies referred to was the one which left Juarez yesterday.. No Word Direct from Pershing. Difficulties of communications were indicated by the fact that Consul Let cher's dispatches were sent on the Mexican wires and addressed tc General Bell at El Paso instead of to the State Department. Since Tuesday night the War Department has been without woM direct from General Pershing and no information came today regarding military developments. Secretary Baker said he had no infor mation regarding the progress south ward -of I the 'American forces and had received no word that supplies handled through private shippers had begun to move on Mexican railroads from Juarez. The State Department received offi cial reports tonight that the value of Carranza currency had risen material ly during the last "few days, over 50 (Continued on Page Two? ONE OF BIGGEST DAYS Three Thousand, Children and as Many Others at Whiteville Attorney General Bickett Delivers In spiring Address on "Cribs and Cradles' Big Dinner Served. Various Contests. (Special Star Telegram.) ' Whiteville, N. C, April ' 7. Favored with a clear sky during the forenoon, the morning exercises of the second an nual county commencement for this county .were witnessed by perhaps the largest crowd ever assembled in the county, variously estimated at 6,000 to 8,000 people, 3,000 of whom were, school children representing in part practi cally every school in the county. Two : 1 (MnU. fiAm . nHa am3 -TAT"!"! mington, arrivea at v.ov, uriiignis uve coaches each 'literally packed and jammed with pupils and patrons of the county, schools. Immediately, after the arrival of the special trains Jhe parade formed at the station and marched to the court house led by, A. F- Powell, Jr with Attorney General T. W, Bickett, the speaker of the day Solicitor Homer Lyon and Walter Powell, followed by 3,000 school children with their teachers arid a string of ( automobiles that reached al most the entire distance from the station- toi tSe court, house; or more .: than pne mile: long- i Marching at the.: head of the -automobile - parades was. .the (Continued. On Page Sight). j. t i A.1A 1 1 I IN COLUMBUS' HISTORY IN". C, SATURDAY MORTIG, AfRII. 8, 1916 L STAGE NEXT WEEK i Leaders Hope the Army Increase Bill Will Soon be Before Conference Committee SMITH PROPOSAL ADOPTED Provides for .Vocational Training for Enlisted MenLengthy Debate on Various Proposals for Ni trogen Plant. Washington, April 7. Administra tion leaders in Congress are hopeful the army increase bill, the first of the great National defense measures will enter its fihst stage next week before the joint conference commitee. Indica tions tonight were that the only re maining section likely to eause pro longed debate in the Senate' was that of fixing the peace strength of the regular army. The Senate voted on only one amend ment to the bill today, adopting with out roll call the proposal of Sena tor Smith, of Georgia, that enlisted men in the regular army hereafter be given opportunity for .75 hours of voca tional education a month during active set-vice in peace times. Civilian in structors to aid army officers in. this work are authorized by the amend ment which specifies, that the training shall be in. agriculture or the mechanic arts. Senator Chamberlain accepted the amendment when Senator Smltn reduced the time allotted from 94 to 75 hours a month. Debate on Nitrogen Plant. Debate on various proposals for the erection of a government plant for the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen occu pied the remainder of the day. The pending amendment was that of Sena tor Smith, of South Carolina, to appro priate $15,000,000 for1 a plant, site and process to be determined by the War Department. The surplus capacity over the government's needs in peace time, under the proposal would go into the manufacture of fertilizers to be sold by the government through the secre tary of agriculture; . Senator Hardwfok, of-GocsXa'Va-. tacked this phase of the amendment as socialistic. He declared himself un alterably opposed to embajfking thei government on any such venture and questioned its constitutionality. Sen ator Smith said he had framed the amendment with the purpose of reduc ing the cost of fertilizer to the farmer because, by a happy circumstance, the government's military needs and those of the farmer could be met at the same time. He insisted that the disposal by the government of its surplus capacity by lease or otherwise was justifiable under the constitution". The European war was not an un mixed evil, said the South Carolina senator, as it had convinced the people that the United States was totally un prepared on sea or land to force what may come before It. He declared that the basis of all modern warfare was nitric acid and yet no step had been taken to insure an adequate supply. Germany's suicessful resistance, he as serted, was due to the fact that she had foreseen the need of using atmos-' (Continued on Page Two.) Plot to Kill AH Rulers of Europe SCHEME OF BAND OP ANARCHISTS, WITH HEADQUARTERS AT CHICAGO, DISCOVERED BY STATE'S ATTORNEY Chicago, April 7. Existence of an in ternational anarchistic plot to assasin ate all rulers of Europe has been dis covered here, according to formal statement issued today by MacLacy Hcyne, state's attorney for Cook coun ty. The information given to the states attorney is expected to be turned over to Federal authorities. The prosecutor said his informant intimated that secret meetings had been held in New York at or about the time of the Chicago. According to the - states attorney, the plot was known to anarchists in various cities in America as well as in Europe. One man from each city was believed to have been delegated to the work of assassination. - Mr. -Hoyne said a written statement had been made to him .by an anarchists baring the details of the alleged plot. Officials said the headquarters of the band of conspirators was in the. down town district here and that there would be branches In other cities. Accord ing to Mr. Hoyne's informant the Mun delin banquet poisoning-- was planned by the group which sought the death Of the European, rulers. . THE DAY IN CONGRESS ...... 3ENAXE.y;' Met at noon. ' ; Resumed debate on Army 'Reorgani zation bill. . ' Recessed at 5:30 p. m. to 11 a. m. Saturday. . HOUSE Met at 11 a. m. 1 ' ' Debate on Rivers and Harnors . Ap propriation bill continued. Military committee. arranged to hear Secretary Baker -Saturday, on the. Army Appropriation bill. ,t ' Insular committee recommended pas sage of Philippine Independence bill as it passed the Senate.- Adjourned at 6:08 p. m. to 11 a. m. Saturday. ' " . ' : '. I, "DRINK-BIS-HAS - , , . It's HeaJthluP Fl CABINET DISCUSSES ATTACKS ON SHIPS Administration Has Virtually Con cluded Sussex Was Torpe doed by German U-Boat COURSE NOT DECIDED UPON Taking of Any Decisive Steps Is (De ferred While Waiting Word From Berlin President on Trip on Mayflower. . Washington, April 7. President "Wil son and his cabinet discussed at length today recent attacks on merchant ves sels carrying Americans and agreed to defer any decisive step while awaiting the German government's reply to the inquiry of Ambassador Gerard as to whether German submarines sank the Sussex, Englishman, Manchester En gineer and Eale Point. A preliminary report from Mr. Ger ard, said in unofficial dispatches to have been forwarded from Berlin, had not arrived here late tonight. President Wilson left Washington to night on the naval yacht Mayflower, taking with him complete data on the Sussex and other cases prepared at the State Department. He expects to be away until Sunday night or Monday morning unless definite word from Berlin, is received in the meantime. Any information will be sent ta: him immediately by wireless. Although some ranking officials f the government already have conclud ed that Germany is deliberately at tacking vessels regardless of the rights of neutrals, it is ? declared au thoritatively that the United States" cannot question the German govern ment's good faith until full opportun ity has been allowed for a response to Ambassador Gerard's inquiries and for a demonstration of whether submarine commanders, are supported in attack ing " vessels contrary to international law. The administration virtually has concluded that a German submarine torpedoed the Sussex, and officials now consider the principal point at issue to be whether Germany will adequate ly punish the officer responsible. What iv.auld iip 4ionsideied -adequate? punish ment apparently has not been deter mined. Statements in Berlin press dispatch es regarding the attitude of German officials are taken by the administration- to forecast an admission of the Sussex attack. A statement of Dr Zimmerman, under secretary for, for eign affairs, that in such an event Germany would be ready to meet the United States ."more than half way," was read with interest, but. judgment was reserved. It was stated definite ly, that no argumentative notes would be sent to Berlin.- Affidavits on the attacks of the Sus sex forwarded on ther steamer St. Paul are not expected to reach -Washington until Monday and in well Informed cir cles decisive action is not expected be fore Tuesday's cabinet meeting. At today's meeting a point was made of the number of neutral vessels which apparently have been sunk without warning within the last two weeks. SCHOONER IS ABANDONED The Charles A. Campbell Waterlogged and Partly Submerged. Newport, News, Va., April 7. Water logged and partly submerged the Amer ican schooner Charles A. ' Campebll, Fernandina for New York, has been abandoned at anchor 75 miles southeast of Cape Henry and Captain 'Pearce, His wife and two childen and crew of 15 men landed at Old Point. A coast guard cutter was sent, in search of the Campbell and an effort will be made to bring her to port. The Campbell's home port is Perthamboy. She car ried a cargo of railroad ties. SAYS COTTON IS HELD DOWN BY CONSPIRACY Heflin Asks for Investigation of New York Exchange Introduces Resolution In tne House Af ter Consulting: Attorney General Gregory Its Provisions . Outlined. Washington, April 7. Representative Heflin, of Alabama, today Introduced a resolution in the House asking for a "complete and thorough investigation of the i-.'ew York Cotton Exchange," where he said he was convinced that a "conspiracy exists and has existed for. some time to. hold down the price of .Cotton." The. resolution was pre pared after Mr. Heflin had consulted Attorney General ufregory. Representative. Heflin introduced a similar resolution several months ago. That introduced today was presented as a substitute and was agreed, on by the committee of the cotton growing states,, recently formed here by South ern representatives to secure Investi gation of what was termed "bear raids on the New" York Exchange." -K -- The committee was organized Febru ary 26 and petitioned the attorney gen?- eral to begin an Inquiry Into the al legel efforts to depress ootton prices. The Department of . Justice has been conducting such an investigation but has -yet announced what action if any will, be taken. - ; - ' . ; The Heflin resolution : would ... provide for the committee of Foreign and? Do mestic Commerce or a committee to sit durihga congress or a' recess "at uch places as found necessary. ---It -would -(Continued on Page Eight ,f. FRENCH -OCCUPY MORE LOST GROUND Continue Vigorous Counter Attack' Against the Germans North west of Verdun. GERMAN ATTACK PUT DOWN Russians Occupy Portions of German Trendies in Lake Nacoss Region. ' Austrians Recapture Ridge From Italians. The regian northwest of Verdun around Haucourt and between Bethin court and Hill 265 is still the scene of sanguinary encounters between French and Germans. Continuing their vigorous counter at tacks on the trenches taken by the Germans between Bethincourt and Hill 265, the French, with the use of hand grenades, have recaptured additional portions of lost ground and in addi tion made progress in communicating trenches. Around Haucourt, . the Germans launched a violent attack against the French, previously having prepared the way by a heavy bombardment last ing several hours. The French, how ever, through the use of their curtain of fire and rapid fire guns, put down the attack and forced the Germans to retreat, leaving numerous dead on the ground as they made their way back to their trenches. On the remainder of the front in France and Belgium, artillery engage ments have been in progress. On the eastern front there has been a continuation of the lively artillery engagements in the. lake region south of Dvinsk, ' especially about Lake Na cosz, where the Russians succeeded in occupying portions of German trench es. The artillery on both sides also has been busy around Riga and Fried richstadt and in East Galicia. The Austrians have recaptured from the Italians a ridge - north of Monte Cristobal : and In the - operation took a number of prisoners and captured two machine guns. Attacks by Italians in large force north of the Sugana valley were repulsed,'-according to Vienna, FlpOd conditions - along the Tigris river again" are "hamper fhg-the British force, which is ' endeavoring to make up the river to the relief of the British besieged in 'Kut El Amara. In the Caucasus region near the Black sea coast the Russians have cap tured Turkish positions along the Ka radere river and inland along the up per Tchoruk river continue their prog ress against the; Ottomans, notwith standing cold , and heavy snow. JAPANESE INCENSED AT THE ACTION OF BRITISH WARSHIPS Tokio, March 11 (Correspondence of Associated Press). The frequent re currence of detention and examina tion of Japanese merchant steamers by British converted cruisers in Indian and Chinese. waters, especially the re ported firing, on the Nippon Yusen Kaisha liner's Csikuzen Maru and Miyaazaki Maru, has excited public opinion in Japan. The press and prom inent naval officers denounce the re ported action of the British warship as unlawful,: and go even to the limit of calling it an insult to the Na tional flag of Japan as well as a menace to Japanese shipping, involv ing losses to oversea trade. FRENCH RE-TAKE TPORTION OF TRENCHES FROM GERMANS. Paris, April 7. The French in a gre nade attack have retaken portions of trenches captured from them by the Germans between Bethincourt and hill No. 265 northwest of Verdun, and made progress in communicating trenches in the same region, according to tonight's French official communi cation. A German attack over a front of about a mile 'and a quarter around Haucourt was repulsed. SWEDISH STEAMER CAPTURED BY GERMAN TORPEDO BOAT London, April 7. Capture by a Ger man torpedo boat of the Swedish steam ship Vega, from Stockholm for Copen hagen, is reported in an Exchange tele gram from Copenhagen. The message says the Swedish government has pro tested against the capture and de manded the release of the steamship. GERMANS RE-GAIN PORTION OF TRENCHES AT ST. ELOI . London,1 April 7. The British official communication tonight says: , "Yesterday at . St. Elol the enemy succeeded in regaining a portion of the ground we captured March 27. The fighting continues. - "Last night after a very heavy bom bardment a small enemy raiding party entered, one of our trenches north of the river An ere but was quickly driven out. ... "Today there has been artillery ac tivity about Souchez, Aix-Noulette, St. Elol and Ypres." BELGIAN WOMAN, CHARGED - TREASON, PUT TO DEATH Amsterdam, Holland, via London. April 7w The assertion, is made by the Echo. Beige that Miss Gabrielle Petit, of Molenbeek, Belgium, has been, put to death by Germans after trial by court martial on a charge of treason. It is ' alleged she conducted an infor mation bureau in the interest of Ger many's enemies. The newspaper' also states that Louise - De Bettignies, of Lillie, was sentenced to " death but the sentence was commuted ' to imprisonment for life.;?-" ,y.--.,-v - i Another woman, Marie Van Houtte, the newspaper' says,-has-been sentence ed to ' mprlsonment for 19 years. ' t WHOLE KTJMBER 39,547 GERMAN LOSSES 1(1 BATTLE OF VERDUH French Estimates Place Casualties of Enemy at One-Third of Total Men Engaged. TWO CORPS DEMORALIZED Statement Says Reinforcements are Used Up Practically as Fast as They Come Paris, April 7. The German losses before Verdun up to the present have reached a total of 200,000. men, one of the greatest battle losses in the whole range of warfare, according to semi official estimates made public here ' to day "the result of careful inquiry made in the highest quarters in which the figures have been rigorously checked and verified." "Documentary and verbal testimony gathered and authenticated permit the giving of . precise details concerning the losses suffered by the Germans and by us on the Verdun front," says the semi-official communication given jto the Associated Press. "During the pe riod from February 21, when the bat tle began, to April 1 it is known that two army corps, namely the third and the 18th, have been withdrawn from the front, having lost in the first at tacks' at least one-third of their force. They have re-appeared since and have again suffered like losses. "The German reinforcements are practically used up as fast as they are put in line. The total effectives of the 18thcorps have in their way lost 17,000 men and the third corps has lost 22,000 men. As to 121st Division. "Concerning the 121st division which took possession of north Vaux,-about March 12, we have precise information. More than one-half of the seventh regi ment of its reserves was put out of, auction by our machine guns in- the in effectual attack against the slopes ot the fort.. The. sixtieth regiment met similar losses, of which the total reach ed 60 .per cent, of the regiment's ef fectives. "Nineteenth German infantry had al ready suffered similar losses in attack ing the village of Vaux on March 9 Its thirteenth company was surprised and annihilated. In entering the vil lage houses, its first battalion was re duced sixty per cent. "Three regiments of the 11th Bava rian division which led the attack on the Malancourt' and the Avocourt woods on March 20 and 22 were each reduced by one-half. Their losses va ried between 50 and 60 per cent. Th same is true of the losses of the fourth regi.inent of the second division 6t Landwehr engaged under similar con ditions. ... Solely Current Actual Losses. "The foregoing are only i losses dur ing- actual attack and do not include the losses of regiments in the trenches or in reserve under the fire of our cannon. They are solely the current actual losses. We know that certain German units have had very high cur rent losses, that is to say, losses from artillery fire, when no action of the infantry was in progress." "We cite, for instance, the 37th regi ment ! of infantry which was surprised by our fire while on the march to the trenches. It lost about 500 men,, and from this fact was so reduced that it would not, on March 10, take part In the attack on the village of Vaux, aa was ordered, in place in the 19th regi ment, which had been decimated by our machine guns. 1 "Summarizing, during the 40 days from February 21 to April 1, the Ger mans had on the Verdun front f rota Avocourt to Eparges exactly 239 bat talions of infantry, representing a min imum of 1,075 companies each, which, gives an aggregate ot 1,144 companies; fully reinforced, the companies "vary ing from 260 to 280 men. The assault ing army, therefore, represented a least 295,000 infantry alone. Eighty Battalions Put Out. "Since February 21 the reinforce ments have been frequent and heavy. At least 8.0 battalions have been sent to the rear to be reconstituted. Others have received their reinforcements on the leld. It is therefore nearly 450, 000 infantry which have appeared upon the firing line, and this estimate is even under the cnark. "Declarations gathered -from prison ers and our own observations, lead us to estimate at least one-third of the total engaged as the minimum losses of the German infantry up to April 11 is therefore 150,000 men who have fallen solely upon the first battle line. "But the German losses don't :stop there. In a modern battle, long range guns reach.. far behind the first line, . striking lines of communications and the quarters of troops. Ab the range of the artillery lengthens, the zone of destruction behind the battle, line in creases proportionately. The German artillery, literally piled up in the woods,-suffered losses comparable with those of the infantry. Finally our heavy artillery reached supply camps and innumerable convoys in the rear. "We arrive thus, keeping within a most moderate estimate at upward off 200,000 men as the figures of our en emy's losses before Verdun." . s It RAINS OVER SOUTH, r- , Extensive Disturbance Over Ohio anA Mississippi Valleys. , Washington, " April 7. The weather bureau reported an extensive disturb ance dver vthe Ohio and Mississippi valleys with Its center over Georgia,; During- the last few hours It has caus--ed general rains in the South Atlantio and Gulf states, - Oklahoma: A.rkansas andV Tennessee. " NOWTOTALWOO ? .'twr' f': ' '' 5 5'' :. 'Hy 'if . --.if. ... :.-';;''' . 1 1: . .- ... : - r.Vr "- ; ' .-" Vh; -Hi ,. (M'.ffc.ci-i.;.:!' j--: jr. 'j t-n-i; . - li. ' v 'Aw1 4
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 8, 1916, edition 1
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