Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / Feb. 6, 1918, edition 1 / Page 1
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-1 THE WEATHER fair and continued cold Wednesday; ' Thursday partly cloudy with rieing lernncrature - . .mm PAGES TODAY ONE SECTION VOL. CI-KO. 137. HE ATLESS" PROGRAM BE ABANDONED NOW t--., Tvrnet rtf the East Then roUffnouu is oe Hand But One Day's Supply of Coal . ; UE SITUATION ALARMING Iforthern States Are in the Grip of the Coldest Weather -in a Generation kAFFIC CONDITIONS WORSE osing Order Will Not be Lifted Until Weather Moderates - Washington, Feb. 5. With the FiNt facing the most acute coal ; f iL . ' i J 4.1. ' I i aortage or me wmier auu m me; trip of the coldest weather in a Wratioii, the government de- ided today that the "heatless" ouhy Drosram cannot at this me be abandoned, as had been loped. Decision Reached At Conference. : The conclusion to continue the clos g was reached at a conference be tween Fuel Administrator Garfield and Director General McAdoo, attended by dozen state fuel administrators. here was no official announcement. ut a joint statement probably : will e given out tomorrow.- There, has been every indication last night tnat the Monday holi- ays were over, but reports brought Washington by the state fuel ad- inistxators that throughout' most- of 8 east there is on hand but one day's pply of coal, coupled with the we er situation, were accepted as eon- ncmg proof that the-present ' is no me to lift the closing order. . Even Sr. McAdoo, who up to this tlm ' is nderstood to have opposed the cros- ? plan, -was said tonight to have jreed that until the weather permits in improvement in railroad; transpor- ttion the order should be continued force. ... ; Plant Forced to ClMfc The blizzard has cut coal production :d movement to Buch an extent that Snals pointed out tonight thatu even ii the Monday closings been . aban- "nea. industry would be forced to down to a considerable extent pause of a lack of fuel supplies. In '. reports to the fuel administra m tonig-ht sh,owed that - -in many ites, plants already are closing in ?e numbers. It was emphasized that the fuel ad ministrator is determined that what- coal is unloaded and distributed go to householders first. StaT"?: j i u. . p,n JJt m r. c- - i: - a . . . . . - uaumnea aumoriry to aiveri from other consumers to keen N people warm In their homes. Situation Admittedly Alarming. For the first time since coal began Man short fuel administration of fl- a s admit that the situation is alarm -fport after report came during the y telling of cities all the way from Mississippi to the AtlMtlc with 't a few hours' sunnlv of fuel on ma and prospects poor for obtain- F? anything like the quantities need- Tii railroads tndav -arnrk rterlnrnrt h e in the worst shane thev have pn durine the winter. Low temper- ares made it impossible in some In anees for trainmen to worlc and "neral teisrht Me about 50 per cent of normaL Four-ay Closing Talked. nere are some indications that it fr father does not come to im- the Situation nffiMnTs -nrill fiVa P for consMroti . Closing order nrMprlhlns- t-arn r-day shutdowns, one covering the noi of Lincoln's birthday and the ner . Washington's birthday. Lin "ns hirthdnv t ii r..- bringing- a three-day holiday r bunday. Monday and Tuesday. If --'ia, usually observed as a half- &ls wuld give a four-day clos- 'ashinprnn'si Mo,. i, "'""Ji A O'J. V" '. OffpTo ....I,.. . . A nod: &""""sr four-day closing Mn,-.. . . - RanrA.; ." ir- av sa ;u"nm,n'atratIon reports to- it in V , lint movement hair been . 1U passenger iramc sur- -icq ermall-i- -t.. - ... ... ;u,re,5ht "hich struggling roads ""! TO Tllftva . 1 1 .a d drift iT1 ' LfUUUgJl IU1U W1I1UQ n-tcii,,. "ii'jw. oui aeiiveries ev er u-iMi . . ands ' ltlf oeiow normal ae- the r, - material Improvement ai!road ;i,5 . Q.a.ys were ffloomy. ?erh-(- on omcais seirea mna... -"leasts or slightly higher ""lUres i, I 'm. m To . . i ft CdOlWUlU' A-i UU1 r-a bit! Tney Pointed out that it k. Ke W'lVS for tha ,11 j 'Ver frrv a alii uciud bv j f toa,!n,ti, dmorallzing influence rth tn,V record temperatures, na, ccmpaniment of higft "'w vc V "iew accumulations or a Lcks which -anly-a few rw na been nhnvoiari ii HahK- l"vdreds of factories; which fang f'; 111 ha-ve to suspend opera- to lv days th!s week ow- el vpiii v ' rae nrsi to oe ax- ? fuel VnC. "ose 8tanaing low jn Jndustnes. Coal a.Ur b-iiit.. MONDAY WILL NOT i , I Bolshevik Headquarters uccupiea ana Jiryienko Arrested by the Poles Amsterdam, Feb. 5. A wireless dispatch received at Berlin from Kiev says that the Poles have oc cupied Mohilev; the Russian main headquarters, and have arrested Ensign Krylenko, the commander-in-chief of the Kussian Bolshevik forces, and his entire staff. The message adds that the Bolshevik uprUIn gat Kiev has been sup pressed by the Ukranlans. Petrograd, Saturday, Feb. 2. Tartar forces have occupied Yan, In the government of Taurlda, and are advancing on Sebastopol, Rus sia's chief fortress and naval ba&e on the Black Sea, according to a dispatch received "by the Petrograd Evening Post mm Sebastopol. ; The dispateh adds that the Tar tars are dealing mercilessly with red guards, sailors and soldiers. NORWAY RESOLVED TO STAY NEUTRAL Declines to Accept American War Trade Board's Proposal Regarding Supplies NATION PLEADS FOB BEE AD Note Emphasizes the Benefits United Stmt Md tke AUle Have Receiv ed By Norwegian Commercial Shipping. Christlania, Feb. 5-Norway's reply to the proposals from the American i war trade board regarding . aupplleaj from the United States to Norway, published today, emphasizes the firm resolve, of the Norwegian " people and government to remain neutral. . "Norway in her commercial policy cannot break with one belligerent," the reply says, "without imperilling her general neutrality" "The Norwegian government enter tains no doubts that the United States and her .allies will understand Nor way's difficult situation. Norway just ly claims that the country should not go without bread, thus being con fronted with the alternative of com plete distress, or an agreement ' that might endanger her neutral position and posibly expose the -country to war which in a short time might destroy what the Norwegian ' people have tak en centuries to build." The reply also emphasizes the im portant benefits rendered to the UnlT ed States and her allies by Norway and especially by Norwegian commer cial shipping which have been attend ed by great sacrifices in human life and ships. The reply points out that Norway has endeavored to accommodate the United States so far as she can reconcile-this with her vital interests saying; "Norway offers to the United- States and the allies the greater part of her exports - tn return for supplies neces sary for her national health and pro ductivity." TO CONTROL PROPERTY OF INTERNED GERMANS Presidential Proclamation Extends ' Scope of the Trading With the Enemy Act. Washington, Feb. 5. President Wil son by proclamation today included un der, tne term "enemy" in the, trading with the enemy act all-enemy aliens who have been permanently interned -by the war department. The effect of the proclamation is to enable the alien property custodian to take over and manage the.property of enemy aliens of means who have been permanently interned, thus eliminating any possibility of their carrying on from the internment camps trading ac tivities which might be inimical to the interests of the United States. - In an explanatory statement issued by A. JVJitchell Palmer, alien property custodian, it is pointed out that the proclamation, is limited to a small class of .enemy aliens and does not include in its scope an enemy alien under arrest In a local jail, who has not been trans ferred hy the war department, nor an enemy alien on parole. . Mr. Palmer also points out that it Is not the policy oV the government to interfere with the property of the or dinary enemy alien whether he is Ger man or Austrian., . 'This i proclamation," he . says, "is strictly limited in Its operation to those who have been found to be dangerous and who have been transferred to the war department for permanent deten tion." To Hun Second Series. Grand Junction, Tenn., Feb, 5 An nouncement was made by the judges in the national championship trials here today that none of the dogs', work had been of such ' a character as to name a winner and would necessitate ;a- sec ond series, which will be run tomorrow, the winner of the 1918 championehip probably will Be named at'thd conclu sion -of: the Tseries. WILMINGTON, N. CH UNION MEN SAY MANAGEMENT OF 3 IS ROTTE! Contend Railroad Traffic Conges tion is Caused by Ineffi cient Operation DEMAND WAGE INCREASES Charge Effort is Being Made to Discredit Adamson Law and Federal Control Washington, Feb. 5. Inefficient op eration of the railroads resulting in traffic congestion with its grave at tendant evils ,was charged by union labor leaders at a hearing today before the railroad wage commission to a de sire on the part of, the management of the systems to discredit the 8-hour law and to make a failure of govern ment control. This situation, the commission was told by W: G. Lee, head of the train men; A. B. Garretson, head of the conductors, and other witnesses ex plained why the transportation sys tem of the country, including such roads of splendid record as the Penn sylvania, suddenly collapsed. "Rotten Railroading" The brotherhood leaders used such vigorous expressions as "rotten rail roading" to convey their opinion of the way the business has been carried on since the government took charge and they offered to produce scores of instances of delayed crews, changes In personnel and misuse of rolling stock to prove their statements. The ordinarily quiet course of such a hearing was ruffled from the very outset. Lee and Garretson, appearing to present the claims of their brother hoods for wage increases, found sev eral railroad representatives . present and entered an immediate protest de claring' they did not propose to" deal with two sets of employers.. The com mission explained that . the railroad men were there' by special invitation to supplement, not to antagonize the information Trtresentedty - -th'elni-ployes. 1 Claim Overtime Tripled. This . question hardly had been smoothed over before discussion of the roads precipitated charges by iee that the managements, were doing their ut most to discredit both. lie said over time has been doubled and tripled to make the effect of the Adamson law more expensive and to .represent that the workers were obtaining large wage increases. - Furthermore, he de clared that every effort was being used to handicap transportation 'to create dissatisfaction with the govern ment's part in the business. "I would go back to about four banks in New York if I wanted to find out the real cause for this," he said. Asked how he thought the alleged results had been accomplished, he said he thought "the word had been pass ed down the line" that overtime was to be Increased greatly. He " did not think there had been a conspiracy "from the presidents down to the dis patchers" to delay trains under gov ernment supervision, but insisted suf ficient persons "were interested to that end to obtain what they desired. He referred to train dispatchers as "train .delayers." Lane Doesn't Think It "Natural.' Secretary Lane, chairman of the commission, asked numerous questions concerning the union leaders' allega tions and wanted to know if he meant (Continued On Page Three) HURLEY'S TRIP HERE POSTPONED FEW DAYS Shipping- Board Chairman Can't Get Away from Capital But. He Will Come Within Week or 10 Days Assures Overman of His Readiness to Use" Port Cow an Coming to City. By PARKER B. AADEHSON. Washington, Feb. 5. Edwin N. Hurley, chairman of the federal ship ping board, told Senator Overman to day, that- urgent business in connec tion with the board would prevent his leaving.. Washington this week lor Wilmington and other southern , ports to inspect sites for -the location of government shipyards, but thai .he would certainly make the trip within the next week or ten days. It is thought that Mr. Hurley will make his first stop at Wilmington and then go on to other southern cities. It is considered that- Wilmington will be selected , as one of the places for building ships fh the south. Mr. HTTP ley - has -given ; Senator Overman ev ery encouragement and has told him on' "several occa,ms that he believed that ships should be built in. the south and that Wilmington will be one of the cities selected If ' a suitable site can be furnished by. the city. James H, Cowan, commercial ..agent for Wilmington, says that, the best sites In "the country . will be offered Mr. Hurley when he comes to- vu mington. . ; Mr.C6wan left for- Wilmington and other North, Carolina pointa tonight to talk ship building with' -interested people in T the .state, , . WEDNESDAY MORNING, AMERICAN T.-.'.'-'l'-'.'.'-J--JPP i , ' , 5 - ::::::fl.:5-S. t&i: ?( :,V A ' ' 'I - i -J qjft: ''AHEmCAN CUHS eOOM)MQ ALt AUOKa THE FROHT The reader can plainly, see bv the above illustration that the American soldiers are doing their bit at the front in France. According to recent cable despatches, the United States soldiers are more than holding their own against the Bpches. : . . - ES UP SHIP PROBLEM Discusses Every Phase of the Ques tion in Conference With Chairman Hurley OABOO - SPACE THE- NEED There Are Transports Sufficient For Hauling Troops, ' ' But the Great Problem Is Keeping Them Supplied Abroad. Washington, Feb. 5. President Wil son took up personally the shipping problem tonight and at a conference with Chairman Hurley of the shipping board went iqto-the great, problem of procuring tonnage; for .the movement of American troops and supplies over seas. " " ' ' '. "... Every phase of the question was discussed, - including the progress of the government building program, plans for obtaining allied ships for transporting soldiers and negotiations with European neutrals for tonnage to release American .vessels for trans-Atlantic service.- The president: was, par ticularly interested In the proDosal to obtain additional ships by reducing im ports probably; -one-half. . - Y Problem Is Transporting . Supplies. A full realization: of the full extent to which America's troop movement to France depends on .tonnage has come not only to this' government, but to the allies as well and it was indicated today that one of the chief topics, at the recent session of the supreme war council at Versailles was ' that of find ing ships for that . purpose. A big American army is substantially ready to go ,but before it is sent the war department wants to be assured it can be supplied. Ships are, available to transport the men; the problem . is keeping -.them furnished with material with which, to . fight. A milHon men on the 'fighting front wili ;require, according, to the best estimates available, from 4 to 1 million tons of shipping in continuous service across the 3,000 miles of wa ter between America and Europe.' The United States can lay its hands on about 4,000.000 tons "now and expects to build during the year anywhere from three to- six million tons more. Harris Ii Optimistic. . , While Chairman Hurley was-preparing fdr the president today a com plete report on the shipping situation, civil engineering Frederick R. Harris of the, naval bureau .of, yards and docks, : who ' for 'three weeks was gen eral manager of the emergency fleet corporation-was -giving a senate inves tigating committee - an - optimistic view of shipbuilding, progress. ' It Is- pos sible, Mr. Harris said, ,for the govern ment, to complete .this year its original program -Of 6,000,600 tons of construc tion. . - v . " -. ' The "president was told by, Mr. Hur ley that bad weather 7n January cut construction of . commandeered . ships fully 60 per cent. The hipping board's plans -for building up a great .sbipyarfl workers';: reserve, and - for. obtaining more jwork out of ? shipyard .labor at present engaged were - outlined. Re cruiting, for the reserye-.is progressing well , and speakers are ;startlng out to visit'' the yards, to appeal to the men to do their, best: as a. patriotic duty. i ' Import Plan Worked Out. The . plan tor cut., imports-from South America and . the Orient- to release ships: for transportingitroops and sup plies has been , worked out at the ship ping Ward. - The class : of . imports to' be reduced will" be. left largely to the war trade b-oard ;whichr Is In control of both imports' and: exports.' " The, ship ping board wtU,-advUetbo trade board as - to . the - number .of . neutral. vessels , (Contlnuedion .Page Xwo) ; . A FEBRUARY .6, 1918 TROOPS FOLLOWING A By Lively Shelling and Much Aerial Activity Occur on Sector Held by Americans With the American Army In France, Feb. 5 (By The Associated Press). The -'-'mist - lifted from the ;Aneriean sector Tuesday afternoon, with the result that there was iair- Ty "lively "sffetilng at seveVal points as well as considerable aerial ac tivity. - Several alrflghts occurred above the trenches and anti-aircraft guns on both sides were ex tremely busy. GIVE PRESIDENT FINAL AUTHORITY House Interstate Commerce Com mittee Agrees to Let Him Fix Railroad Rates RAILROAD BILL AMENDED Complaints Would Be Made to Inter state Commerce Commission and It In Return Would Submit Findings to President. Washington, Feb. 5. The house in terstate commerce committee voted today' to place final authority in fixing railroad rates during the period of government control in the hands of the president. An. amendment to the administra tion railroad bill offered by Chairman Sims end adopted by a vote of 10 to 8, provides that the president may ini tiate " rates and that upon complaint the interestate . commerce commission "shall hold hearings and submit its findings to the president for such ac tion as he may deem required in the public Interest.' . As amended by the senate commit tee and introduced in the snate the bill provides that the president may initiate rates subject to review nd alteration by "the interstate commerce commission upon complaint either of shippers or the carriers. A similar amendment was lost in the houke committee today on a tie vote, 9 to 9. While the senate committee was con sidering this section, members who had conferred with the presidnt said he did not desire ... final authority in rate-fixing. r- - ' The ' 'only.: other important change made in Vie measure today by the house committee ' was to eliminate the section referring , to disability com pensation for railroad employes.. The committee expects to complete the bill tomorrow and Chairman Sims will in troduce it in' the house as soon there after as possible. Senate consideration of the measure probably' will begin' next week. Chair man Smith, of the senate committee, plans to file his report Thursday and call up the measure in the senate after the soldiers' and . sailors' civil relief bill- is disposed of. Senate leaders be lieve the bill can be passed within two or 'thre : weeks, although sharp debate is. expected. , 1. Another Loan to France. Washington, : Feb. 5. -Allied credits were -Increased today to.; ?4,684,400,00O by a loan of $155,000,000 to France. The .funds' will be spent largely . in this country: lor military purposes. Impending Nipped BARRAGE i German Attack the Americans Huns Were Preparing to Go Over the Top When the American Opened Heavy Fire SHELLS HIT THEIR MARK From North Sea to Swiss Frontier Activity is. Daily Growing : in Intensity BIG BATTLES MAY BE NEAR Peace Negotiations Apparently Halted for the Moment (Associated Press War Summary.) From the North Sea to the Swiss frontier the military activity daily seems to be growing in intensity, and it may be fair to assume that in the not distant future some of the big bat tles that have, been forecast will break. The American, British and French armies -have been taking hacks at the German line, either by fairly strong patrol attacks or "by bombard ments, while in turn the Teutons have been giving - considerable attentipn on various sectors to their enemies. Americans Prevent Attack. From the American viewpoint an other successful . maneuver by the Americans on their, sector of the front is- of the greatest interest. As on last Saturday, the Americans again have nipped in the bud an impending sur prise attack on their trenches and taught the, Germans a. salutary lesson with their artillery. - In the German trenches the Teutons were awaiting the word to go over the top for an at tack when the Americans opened a heavy fire on the positions. Casualties Believed Heavy. Heavy casualties are believed to have been inflicted on the Teutons and considerable damage was done by the 75s on the German trenches, due to the accuracy of aim of the American gunners. The Germans have not yet been able to reoccupy-the trenches and dugouts battered by the American fire Satur day evening and have been forced to build another line of trenches at that particular point. , French - Positions Attacked. . .'Xext in importance-to the operations on the American front have been at tacks by the Germans against the French in the Aisne region and north of Verdun near Baumont. The French war office asserts that the . attacks north of the Aisne were repulsed, but the German war office says that south of Beaucourt, Baden storming troops pushed far Into the French front, in flicting heavy casualties and returned to their own line with prisoners. ..British Raids ' Successful. The British have carried ' out suc cessful raids against the Teutons southwest of Armentieres and . In the vicinity of the Ypres-St. Aden railway, where many of the enemy were killed and others captured. . . Intensive air fighting has been going on between the French and the Ger mans in France and between the Ital ian and British airmen and the Ger mans in the Italian" theatre.' Sunday thirteen enemy planes -were downed by the "French far inside the-German lines while an equal, number were shot down by British and Italian airmen. " - : Discontent Still Exist. In Germany,, according; to" the latest advices, the strike situation has about died out, although - discontent is - said (Continued On Page Two) WHOLE NUMBER 39,315 DEBATE ON U. S. WAR EFFICIENCY 10 BE PROLONGED Controversy in the Senate Proba bly Will Continue Into Next Week at Lea3t BAKER RE-APPEARS TODAY Wadsworth Speaks in Behalf of Bill for War Cabinet jand Munitions Director Washington, Feb. 5. Developments today promised indefinite extension Of the controversy in the senate over American war efficiency and. the mm- ; tary committee's bill for a war cabi- :. net and munitions director. Senator Wadsworth, a republican oommittofe member, delivered a p.. pared speech in behalf or the propos ed legislation, criticising what he de scribed as utter lack of system and comprehensive planning in the gov ernment's war activities. There were no replies today by administration spokesmen but several expect to speaK tomorrow, and in spite o fefforts to curtail the agitation, so many sena tors have indicated their intention to prepared addresses on one side or the other that thB discussion probably will continue Into next week at least. To Support Administration. Senator Smeds, democrat, , and Sen ator Klrby, a democratic "committee member, plan to speak tomorrow, tne former to attack the constitutionally of the committee's measures and the latter to defend the .army's operations in a review, of the committee's evi dence. Senators McKellar, democrat, and Weeks, reynD-ican, both commit tee members, are framing addresses in support ot ,tne legislation. Further aieciosures of the govern ment's military program are expected tomorro wwhen Secretary Baker reap pears before the military committee for cross-examination. The secretary's , statement to the committee last week . that half a million men would be in France early this year and' another million" .in readiness to, - gp-'havifig'-been atacked yesterday by" Senator Hitchcock as "absolutely preposter- "" ons''. and "wildly exaggerated" be-'- J cause of lack of shipping, Mr. Baker may give the committee the Informa tion on which he based hi sassertions. He will be . quesCToned about various phases of his statement, and .will be asked to go into details concerning his reorganization of the war depart ment, the manufacture of ordnance, the aviation program and other sub jects. In anticipation of a crowd of spec tators at the hearing, the committer has arranged to secure the large room in the senate office building where Mr. Baker appeared last week. , Declares .System Responsible. Senator Wadsworth, in his address today, declard that the system and not Individuals Is responsible for present conditions which, he said, "cruelly handicap" the government and pre clude business-like team-work, on the part of bureaus and various official or ganizations constituptlng aconglom ration of ambitious and scattered agencies." He insisted that a . war cabinet or similar body under soma other name is essential, because it is physically Impossible for the president to co-ordinate the government's func tions. The senator denied that the legisla tion was designed to or would .result in interference with the president's authority. T OH THE BRITISH FRONT Advisability of Placing Them in Flanders Discussed Gen. Bliss Has Taken the Matter , lis With British Officials Scarcity of Shipping- Facilities Is the Reason. Washington, Feb. 6. view of the difficulty in finding ships to put Amer ican fighting power in France, Gen eral Bliss, representing the United States at the "military sessions of the supreme war council, is considering with British officials the advisability of starting a flow of American battal ions through the British tratning sys tem to -front line trenches in Flan ders. .This project, it was learned today, has been talked over in various forms, one of the concrete proposals being that. 150 battalions be assigned for such training. , Congestion at the American de barkation ports in France lies back of the suggestion. By diverting certain units to British ports, passing them through the British system and final ly transferring them to Gen. Per-. shing's army it has been urged that a considerable, body of men could be trained and put on the firing line who otherwise could not . be sent forward for months. It is known that . proffers of British and French, ships .- to . carry American, troops have accom'panled . urgent rep (Continued On Page Three) MAY RAIN MRS mm 11 ' ill; 'St,
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Feb. 6, 1918, edition 1
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