Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / Feb. 23, 1918, edition 1 / Page 1
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il Fa!r Saturday ana Sunday; warmer ' " , "y OMPIERVICE VOL. PI-NO- 154, , WILMINGTON, N. CL SATURDAY MOEmG. FEBRTIAKV loifl wrrm w tttt m qs ! - . : 7 i -a-a-v-a-'-u .- - 1 PJJiJ-K UUlUVM l pETROGRAD OF SIEGE; TO BE WAGED BY THE RUSSIANS . 4- racing: J Germans. Thev Win Make Nominal Resistance jOAD AHEAD LOOKS DARK With Army and Navy "Disorganiz ed There is Little Hope of Halting the Enemy BRITISH CAPTURE JERICHO Artillery Duel Continues on the Front in France (Associated Fress War Summary.) Facing- absolute subjection at the ... i I nAamani ilia hands of tne aavauwug ucimttuo, Russian premier and commander-ln- chief have taken wnai sieps iucj wum w initiate at least a nominel defense asainst the invaders of their country. Orders directing that guerilla warfare be carried on and placing Petrograd in la state of siege have been Issued by Lenine and Krylenko, and it is expect ed that the Germans will . meet with , - V,Afnfn Inner tome resistance ucwi Esthonian Regiment Deserts. That the Teutons can be temporarily becked, however, is aouDteo, even in ret-osrad. The Russian army's aeDacie Apparently is so complete that there is i shadow of autnority over us uuils. Berlin reports that the first Esthonian t i i -3 Regiment had aesertea in a. uouy auu tiered its services to the German tommander operating in tne northern most Baltic province. Xavy Coninletely Disorganized. The Russian navy, too, is completely -. i i -i r a. a j i j . . isorgamzea, ana wniie n is uesixeu io . . , . . M 1 J Mtnaraw me warsnips irom ivevai ana (elsinefors to Kronstadt, it is believed iiat this operation is impossible, owing j the disuse into wmcn the Baltic fleet las fallen. Only the submarines are in i seaworthy condition, it is reported. Has Trotzky Quit? I There is as yet r.o definite advices as the rumored fall of the LenineJ rotzky government. The proclama on directing that resistance be offered the German advance did not, how ler, bear ihe name of Trotzky, who litherto has been a virtual dictar, fhich may be significant. City of Rieshitsa Canturrd. I The Germans have pushed still fur- er tasiwara in tne past nours. v e far north the village of Hapsal, on :e south coast of the Gulf of Finland, p been captured. Further south the p of Pdeshitse, 100 miles eSst of ?a, has heen entered by the Teutons, tio report they were welcomed by the Ple. Still farther south the vlllapre Leuzin, east of Minsk, has been Men. Austrian Mmr a art ward. Ht is noticeable that the German af- m reports are silent as to any prog- p m the region of Lutsk, but Aus- a . troops under Gen. Von Linsingen. 0 are "aidine lTkrainft in iAr strnir. ; for freedom," according to the Be rePort. have mover- eastward and Pi joined forces with Ukrainian l-ces which are convererinsr on the rtre?s of Dubno. I, - - . CUVVCBB, American troops, probably units of t- "i tne national guard divisions h to France late in laiV, are In --"'g aiong the famous Chemin des mes rrad and have carried out a :ssful raiding expedition and inci-;;w-iy have brought in the first un- Fu-ueii prison pr ro v tt t is forces. . ... artillery Uiiel Continues. "e Heavy artillcrv : - j . j aiuca j o ujenng from Innfh v , oiuca vfj. Clio rront alone- tha hapajne and up in Alsace. ' No in- lmv nf (c ' I tno Anomir o i.tni..., m; ii to keep the allies on the lookout ra-T . of heavy German shells Deen the Prelude to a hos- r a v ucimaiia uiaim to k tir- "uivn auiea airplanes two captive balloons in the past -6 davs ft BrLtan" Care Jericho. 1C British fiT. j - ,i5 , tarpfl v i jraiesiine nave troorJ City of Jer'cho, Austral ;e frnm e,nterln the city Thursday. imS Us historioal and sentimt- F?S Ger. i. nee, th e capture of the city -enerai Allenby ' control of ber Iove ,t 8 roaas over wnicti aile S.en and supplies. Within - "i.aiegic roads over which 1 Ltle Present "RritiaVi nnoitlnn h'ch , m Daniascus to Mec- 5 fed L i 1,een the artery which the Tiirvjci. .. Rst tT, , lorces operating ll. ae Aral Tribesmen. Tf this I1 grea t CU,t lt wo,lli give the tribes- L Tr4 n ineir struggle, hn??" attacked. J'yof , "l li:'aiiy recognizee the ul Peace urifi, . . .. 'yhas v,ft V " LUC JKraine. -rjftis ?h t jn the Austrian rjermanv socialist leaders 5sbruc,vnShr,ek Bombed. cPnf w".hlch has been reported a for th Vle Teutonic munitions boed L pii1!" campaign, has "i amed airmen. - .lfe.SlCEIl8 ARE !tro?raa pACK BY GERMANS np t.. uea toda v Kavo- ? !tane'dS1 parliamentary messen- t-l fn - rt motor car frnm TMft- Hm '"v'nsk hut .. i: " . .v" 1 UVlncjTr V W1U Afcio ono-r.ni 1 K but near the station He a "e5e ?t by a German KDSSiav, ' 1 W1tli IRachfT.fi o-nno but the car was allowed to l SaTtary represen ted on page TwoJl DECLARED IN STATE GUERILLA WARFARE IS - . - XimttM n Joio 1 I V - - - C-. . Pour Enemy Aliens Discovered in National Army Division Camp Lewis AlsoN Threatened to Shoot Officers If Found Guilty They Would be Subject to Execution. Camp Lewis, Tacoma, "Wash.,. Feb. 22. Four national soldiers were held in the guardhouse today - awaiting a presidential warrant from: Washing ton which will mean their internment as enemy aliens who. plotted not only to shoot their officers, the first time they got into action in Europe, but also to deliver all the American sol diers in their organization to the Ger man army. The names'-of -the -men hvn heon withheld by the judge advocate pend ing aavaoes from Washington. A general clean-up of enemy aliens at Camp Lewis is in full swing, offi cers said today. Thirty-four were discharged today and altogether about 2&0 have been weeded out from the ranks of of the 91st division. The work is not yet completed. SUBJECT TO EXECUTION IP - TRIED AND FOUND GUILTY Washington. Feb. 22. Officers of tha judge-advocate general's office said to- ES New Englander in Chemin Des Dames Sector Takes His . Prisoner Singlehanded PATROLMEN KILL ONE HUN Account of Encounter in the Chemin Des Dames Reveals That New -American Units Have Begrui Active Operations. With the "American Army in France, Feb. 22, (By the Associated Press) In a patrol fight Americans from units under instruction in the famous Chemin des Dames sector, killed one German and captured another. One American was slightly wounded. This is the first time It has been per mitted to reveal that new American units have entered the line. The troops have been there for some time. Details of the patrol fight are as yet unavailable, beyond the unofficial re port that the prisoner was taken sin glehanded by a young American from one of the New England states who during the engagement dropped into a shell hole on top of a German hiding there and later brought him in. Throughout the irregular period of service in the line these troops have displayed great eagerness to establish a record "equal to or oetter than that of the troops holding the sector north west of Toul. The orders for them to leave their billets came suddenly a few weeks ago. The troops entrained and rode to the railhead nearest the position into which they were going.' They knew whither they were bound and welcomed the opr portunlty to start the work of fighting the Germans. The units as they de trained were received by the French general commanding the sector who kissed the American flag reverently and addressed the men, saying that he held them in the same regard as his own soldiers, and that they were brothers In arms, fighting for the same great cause: He warned them to be cautious in dealing with the enemy over the dis tant hills. The French soldiers, he said, were skilful In hunting these "wild beasts' and were glad of the op porllinity to pass along all they knew to -their American comrades. He rec ognized that they were courageous and anxious to test themselves against the enemy but advised they should go slow at first. - x ' The troop3 made a long march to the line, singing to help their feet move faster and lighten the load they were carryingi They passed through mile after mile of shell-scarred, desolate ground and through a number of great piles of stones and debris which once were villages but now without a single house left standing. The scenes of de struction on such a large scale im pressed the Americana deeply and many of them expressed the hope that they would soon be able to help punish the perpetrators. " The troops marched into the line on one of the darkest nights took np their positions without a hitch o the muBic of the roaring guns, both friena ly and hostile, their flashes frequently stabbing the blackness of the night, here and there, as far as the eye could see. -' ' . As on previous occasions when Amer ican troops reached the trojat they were warmly welcomed by their French comrades. a AmArioan sreneral .with these troops had hot been In, the field two J t .r,An tViA Anemv dropped a nunWJ UUUIO WT . " . , Tl ber of glx-lnch shlls close by him. it was the general' first W8'1"0? der fire, but he continued hJs. work . , (Continued on Page Twoj - . AMERICAN SOLDIER GERMAN - - - - W HVL ' ' day-that any national army . soldiers charged -with plotting treason .would be tried by military court-martial and if found guilty would be liable to the death penalty. No report on the ar rest at Camp Lewis had reached the judge-advocate general. ". In the ordinary course the division commander would make no report on such cases until the matter had been carefully investigated and in case definite charges were filed the actual trial of those concerned ha4 been com pleted. Action to be taken depends entire ly upon whether the men under ar rest were apprehended while still in the military service or after they had been discharged previously on grounds of holding enemy sympathy. If still in the service they would be dealt with under military law. If, however, the plotters were discharged from the army and then arrested the military authorities would simply report the case to the department of ustice and (Continued on Page Two) Fifth Avenue Throngs Feel More - Like Weeping as Bronzed Selectmen March by MANY RACES REPRESENTED Five Months Ago the Same Crowd Rambled Down Fifth Avenue as Civilians Engaged In Almost Every Trade. New York, Feb. 22. If the spirit of George Washington could have been abroad in New York this afternoon, the soul of America's first great chieftain must have thrilled with pride. There was a parade of soldiers on Fifth avenue nearly 10,000 of them. There is nothing novel in a military pageant on Fifth avenue. New York ers have cheered all kinds and condi tions of soldirs; have cheered enthusi astically. They didn't cheer today. They felt more like weeping. What they saw was more than a parade. It seemed like a solemn dedication. Five hundred thousand men and women, children, too, stood for two hours or more in a sweeping snow storm and a stinging wind to see their sons and brothers and sweethearts marching by men of the national ar my, not regulars or voluteers, but drafted men. - - The men in line .were New York's own and they were typical of the great polyglot city. Swarthy Armenians strode side by side with fair-haired Scandinavians. Irish boys rubbed el bows with Jews. Italians trudged be side Poles. Here and there was a Chi naman and here and there a face that was typically Yankee. Sons of sons and Daughters of the Revolution marched wj.th boys whose fathers were immigrants a generation ago. But eve ryone of them was a citizen of the United States and they were soldiers all." Five months ago the same boys had rambled through the same street a non descript throng of individuals clerks, and mechanics, "bookkeepers and brok ers, -grocers' boys and 'longshoremen representing almost every trade and profession and almost every race under the eua. They came back today,, men of the 77th division, national army, Camp Up ton, welded together into compact mil itary units. Brigades, regiments, bat talions, batteries and companies strode through the wide street in heavy marching' order with the swinging stride of veterans. Their bronzed cheeks glowed with health and their clear eyes shone with pride as they steppd briskly through the haze of fall ing snow to the stirring music of their bands. , Not a sword, nor an inch of gold lace was to be seen. Brig. Gen. Edmund Wittenmeyer with a single gold star on the sleeve of his service overcoat, marched at the head of the line like the humblest doughboy of the lot. They were grim, determined, business-like. Young captains and lieutenants - who were carving out peaceful careers a few months ago, barked commands which were obeyed with machine-like preci eion. ,. -. ' : "Eyes frontwas the order and un der the spell otdracip line only a flicker of a smile responded as some proud but tearful" mother . sighted her sturdy son and shouted his name. But it was then that the sympathetic throngs which lined the curbs gave way to cheers and they were only to give courage to the mother left behind. ' The rest of the time they seemed to be -thinking of the day when these same sons of democra cy would be "going over the top' against - autocracy's hosts. A battalion. : r .CCoattnued en Pago' ElghtV " s 10,000 NATIONAL ARMY MEN PARADE Prussian Hope of Stampeding It With "Insidious Propagan- -da" is Shattered TRIBUTE PAID BY DANIELS . - - v Declares Labor No Longer Needs An Appeal But Rather is i - ' - Due to -be Thanked New York, Feb. 22. The bitterest disappointment of the war for the Prussians has been the shattering of the "fatuous belief that the labor of the United States could be stampeded by "insidious propaganda," Secretary Daniels declared In an address here to night .- . Speaking with Samuel . Gompers at a patriotic massmeeting arranged by the American- alliance for labor and democracy, Mr. Daniels predicted that labor will not swerve from the patri otic ideals which have actuated it thus far and that when the war is over it will have won" its own fight as well. Appeal Not: Necessary. "I make no appeal to labor as a class," he said, "but tonight I speak to menof labor organizations because they are a mighty force in our na-. tional life and are" taking the lead in patriotic celebration of this holiday in the national metropolis. Indeed the day for appeal to any red-blooded American has pawed. , It.. is a time rather for a thanks to those who are engaged heart and soul and to point out . not why ( they should serve but how and ' where they", can make their efforts tell most for victory. ; !We have been warned : by Great Britain . not to follow its mistake , of sending its" munitions, workers . and shipbuilders in the field, -but to coun sel them that the jraUonJaeeds rthem most to "TanToTOUnlttons" and ' " to hasten the production of ships. Labor In Midst of Fight. I pay tribute alike tonight to the men who in the biting cold have driv en rivets in hurrying needed ships, along with the men who, knee-deep in mud in France, withstand on slaughts of the Huns and the men on navy ships giving their lives " to" abate the submarine" menace. They are all, alike serving their country and en titled to its gratitude. "The need of the hour Is "ships. Not only ships for the navy, but ships for the merchant marine. Our soldiers must go across, the sea, supplies must go with them' and. to . those nations fighting side by side with us against the imperial German government must be sent the food that. is absolutely vi tal to the maintenance of their mili tary strength. Every, man who fires one shot at the enemy when he might use a machine gun, every man who fails to be on the firing line wTien the need is sorest, and every man. who drives one rivet' when he might drive two, is a Benedict 'Arnold in -his heart and In his souir or slacking, delaying and sullen Indifference is a treachery that may cost the life of our brothers and our sons. ' Reactions Guarded' Against. "Let no man" forget that he must live with himself that he ' must , also live with the children" who will ques tion him in' future" years and how will he" answer himself, how , will., he answer his sons, . if he can only . con fess neglect and cowardice in an hour of trial? Never Jbef ore" in the history of human struggle have the reaction of war been guarded , against so care fully as in this day when America fights ..for her life. There is , not a single body with any executive pow er that does .hot have upon it a rep resentative of labor, sitting, side by side with the representative of the employers and having equal voice in all those decisions that are concerned in the human element in industry. ; " Prussian Hope Shattered. . "It is an open secret I. can talk about it freely now that the real hope of Prusslanism. that Americans would never be effective in this war lay in its fatuous belief that labor could be so irritated by . insidious . propaganda, so (misled by hired agitators, as' to in sure national strikes, almost upon the declaration of war. Far -bitterer than the failure of the submarine to sweep the seas has been the failure of the German spy to tie this great re public hand and foot by stampeding labor, organised and unorganized,' into something very nearly approaching a social revolution. " " Will Have Won Its Own Fight. : "Labor will continue its -same--wise policy, and when this war is over It will have won Its own fight as well. No hidebound capitalist of that 'type which Is so rapidly disappearing in this enlightened time, who . made the name '.capitalist' something of ,a. re proach, will dare then to rise and se riously 'announce his belief that labor should be suppressed with an iron hand. He will have no standing in the court of last resort public opin ion. For capital -and labor arftbegin ning 'to "understand "each " other" "and finding each , other not. one tithe as bad as they have been padnted. ""We are getting together and when we get together and the last mutual misuntderstandings and - suspicions are cleared away not all the power of the German army, not all the thunders of the German guns, , can shake the tri umphant progress . of real democracy throughout the whole world." : - Resolutions were adopted by the 2, 000 union men present pledging co operation in war work, and recogniz ing the war as "labor's war." . " ' - "We onoe more declarer our steadfast lyalty to America's- enlightened cause," said the resolutions.; rU.-z h.- ' Dterminattpn j of ' th , American la- 1 .(Continued .on i'fcseTwoi ' MANY SHOR T LINES TO BE BENEFITTED BY-RAILROAD BILL ADOPTED BY SENATE Qermans Too Busy With Rumania to Take Up the Russian Peace Proposal Amsterdam, Feb. 22. A Russian courier with th "peace proposals of the Russian government has arrived .in Berlin, according to advices re ceeived here. The Norddeutsche All gemeine Zeitung, the German semi official organ, says the re-opening ' of negotiations with the Russians cannot be expected for some time. ' Dr. Von Kuehlmann, the German foreign secretary, says the newspa per, will employ the interval in conducting negotiations with Ru mania, for which purpose he left for Bucharest Thursday. The Ruman ian delegate, already has arrived there. According to the Lokal Anzeiger of Berlin, Dr. von Kuehlmann, Ger man foreign minister, has gone to Vienna where hewill be joined; by Count Czernin, the Austro-Huhgar-lan minister. They will travel to gether to Bucharest where they will open discussions of peace terms with Gen. Fofeza Averesco, the Ru manian premier, and. commander of the Rumanian forces in the Do brudja. , " If -the conference at Bucharest is ended in time, Dr. von Kuehlmann will proceed direct to Brest-Litovsk to continue negotiations with Rus sia. J HAD TO WADE MUD IN RUBBER BOOTS Representative Watson Pictures Bad- Conditions Encounter ed at Camp Greene WEBB SPEAKS IN DEFENSE .Says the Camp Is One of the Best in the CountryBurroughs Says Con- " ditlons Should be Remedied or Site Abandoned. Washington, Feb. 22. Conditions at Camp Greene, near Charlotte, N. C, were discussed in the House today, Representatives Wason and Burroughs of New Hampshire calling attention . to the lack of sewage facilities and mud dy conditions, and Representative Webb of North Carolina defending the camp as one of the best in the country. Mr. Wason, disclaiming any attempt at captious critkjsm'fut for the pur pose of urging sewage improvements, said the men at Camp Greene come from every state. He read a protest he 'and Representative Burroughs, of New Hampshire, made to the war de partment last summer, urging that the New England division of troops ought not to be sent there or to any southern camp, but should be sent to a New Eng land camp where, he said, the climate is more like that in France. They pro tested that it would cost more to trans port the New England division to the south and place a burden on congested railroads and that assignment-nearer home wpuld avoid probable complaint from New England families. Mr Wason praised the hospitality of the people at Charlotte, praised the lo cation, water and food supplies yat the camp,' but said that when eh was there on Tebruary 16 he had to wade through the camp mud in rubber boots, that there were no floors in the tents, and insisted that the recommendation of Surgeon General Gorgas for sewage facilities at the camp should be carried out.' Representative Webb told the House the war department already is drafting plans for a sewage system at Camp Greene: and the work has been started already in Its hospital section. He said the camp was established, not as a permanent institution like some other camp, but said that when he Was there rary -affair and so concrete roads and sewage had not been fully provided. A $90,000 macadam road Is now being built between Charlotte and the camp, he -said. The complaint about mud could be lev3d at any southern camp, he declared, as the winter had been the wOrst in 37. years. When the road and sewage facilities are in operation the camp will be the show camp of that section of the coun try, he, added. . '.The people and the soldiers had es tablished the most cordial friendship and social intimacy, the homes, church es and social affairs had been thrown open to the officers and men and that there is no. camp in the country where there is a finer health record or where the morals of the men are better safe guarded, the North Carolina represen-tativ-declared. ' Representative-OBurroughs, who fol lowed Representative Webb, termed sanitary conditions at the camp "shameful and a disgrace to the coun try" and said the situation should be remedied at once, or the camp abolish ed. Mr. Burroughs, who recently visit ed -the camp, said no bathing facilities were - provided, that mud was knee deep -and floors had been put in the tents only recently. - : . On one occasion when the men needed clothing supplies Mr. Burroughs said, a shipment from the quartermaster's de partment which they believed was clothing contained only currycombs and mess pans. ' - Becomes Lalxw Commissioner. Richmond, Va., Feb. -22. Charles G. Riser;' chief of -police of, Norfolk, was appointed this afternoon by Governor Davia. ,no succeed James B. -Doherty' as ttttev;ammissloneri of i labor,: He. .will assume, his : duties at once. .-..". ; - Provides for Government Control of Roads Until Eighteen Months After the War HALF BILLION SET ASIDE Big Sum Will be Used for Federal Operation Compensation on Three-Year Basis HOUSE TO SPEED ACTION Numerous Attempts to Amend the Measure Defeated Washington, Feb. 22 The adminis tration bill providing for government control of railroads until 18 months after the war. Including many "short lines," and appropriating a revolving fund of $500,000,000 for federal opera tion, was passed today by the senate without a roll call and now awaits ac tion in the house where it is under de bate. Both senate and house worked through today's . holiday to expedite the legislation. General debate was concluded today in" the - house and ar rangements made ' to considers amend ments tomorrow under a five-minute debate rule with a view to final action early next week. Differences between the senate and hous drafts . then will be adjusted in .conference. Short Lines Included. Neither on final passage nor on nu merous roll-calls today In the senate was there any record of sentiment on the bill as a whole. The agreement of the senate interstate ; commerce committee'- under which the compro mise draft was brought in virtually precluded- important revisions.. .The only amendment radically changing thecmjKrml?e draft providedforin cluslon of fsfoort-- IrnVf- railroads in federal control' and - benefits. - Provisions of the committee com promise fixing the compensation of railroads to the 'threeyar basis, pro viding the 1500,000,000 revolving fund appropriation,- authorizing the presi dent to initiate rates subject to inter state commerce ' corrrmission veto - and limiting government - control to 18 months after the" war were retained by the senate. Many Amendments Failed. Amendments if reduce the period of control after peace is declared failed. One by Senator Lodge, of Massachu stts, to make the time limit six months was defeated, 47 to 28. and another by Senator King, of Utah, to make the period twelve months likewise was rejected 45 to 29. There was no at tempt to revive the fight for indefinite government control which was defeat ed yesterday by the decisive vote of 61 to 10. ' Provision for the "short line" rail roads was made in an amendment by Senator Cummins, of Iowa, adopted 58 to 14. Independent "feeders" of the trunk lines estimated to be worth more than a billion dollars are affect ed. Fears expressed by many sena tors today that the "short lines" would become bankrupt if not brought with in government control was the basis of the senate's action. Guarantee to Carriers. Director General ,McAdoo has op posed the legislation for the "short lines" on the ground that no railroads except those selected as necessary to government unification and successful operation should be brought within federal direction and aid. Determined efforts to reduce the government com pensation to railroad owners failed. As passed the measure provides that approximately $945,000,000 will be guaranteed the carriers based upon their standard net return for the three year period ending June, 30,. 1917. Sen ator Cummins offered amendments providing respectively that such net return should not - be above five, six and seven per cent of their capitaliza tion. They were defeated, 46 to 19, 45 to 24 and 47 to 27, respectively. President's Power Unlimited. Amendments designed to limit scope of the president's orders in operating the carriers, also were voted down. A proposal by Senator.Sterling, of South Dakota, to keep . in effect the present laws and functions governing the in terstate commerce commission and state railway commissions was' reject ed by a viva voce vote, while one by Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska, to limit the president's orders to acts specifically authorized by law was beaten, 46 to 20. Also the senate rejected, 58 to 11, a motion by Senator Kirby, of Arkan sas, to . strike out the provision au thorizing the president to buy aWd sell railroad securities. . The substitute bill of Senator Town send, of Michigan, a member of the interstate commerce committee, was rejected, 51 to 14. He said it was pat terned virtually after the compromise draft, but with many alleged defects eliminated. .In his effort to reduce . the presi dent's jurisdiction . over rates, Senator Cummins proposed tthat he be author ized to control ; only ; rates of troops and government- materials and merely to suggest rates to the interstate com merce commission,' but not eff ectSve until the commission approved them. This statement was rejected 46 to 19. Measure Criticised. Representative Lenroot, of Wiscon sin, republican vigorously criticized the bill in the house today, declaring it contained many 'inaccuracies and absurdities. - " Representative Reyburn, of - Texas, opposed government-ownership of the railroads and advocated time limit of government control. ( Among the sen ators vting for theV amendment - to Continued On feage Two) , v 1 " t RAILROADS WILL DO THEIR PART IN MOVING FOOD1 McAdoo Says So Far as Transpor tation is Concerned No Shortage Threatens WRITES HOOVER A LETTER RaUroaoTAdininistration Gives Out Figures Showing Extent of ihe Movement Washington, Feb. 22. Director Gen eral McAdoo today gave assurance that "so far as transportation Is concern ed there Is no danger of suffering from a serious food shortage in the eastern part of the country." This was prompted by the warning given last nignt by Food Administra tor Hoover that unless grain and meat movement is greatly increased within the next 60 days the country is threat ened with an acute shortage of food and the program of food shipments to the allies will fail. In a letter to Mr. "Hoover the director-general declared that If the food administration will give definite loca- J tion on the stores of stocks or sup plies intended for the allies, the rail roads will move them promptly to seaboard. Simultaneously the railroad administration Brave nut fieri ran ortw. ing that the movement of grain to pri mary markets - ie west within the last ten days was far greater than in previous years. Although declaring their desire to avoid controversy, with the food ad ministration, officials of the railroad directorate tonight did not conceal their belief that Mr. Hoover's state ment was not borne out by facts shown in their reports. . Members of Mr. Mc Adoo's staff assumed the attitude that Mr. Hoover had dealt In generalities, not supported by. figures or other evi dence, showlngsuch a pessimistic out look on 'future .-' conditions. McAdoo Writes Hoover. v x Writing to Mr. Hoover, Mr. McAdoo said: "You are, . as I understand it the sole purchaser in this country of food supplies for the allied ' governments. You must therefore know the location of the food, supplies . which you from time to time purchase and the ports In this count- - to 'which you desire such supplies s". ped. "If you will notify me from time to time of the location of the specific sup- ' plies and the port or ports in the Unit ed States to which you wish to have such supplies transported, I will guar- antee the necessary - transportation, subject alone to interruptions from blizzards ahd floods. "I wish to reassure. -the country by saying that so far as transportation - is concerned, there is no danger of suf fering from a serious food shortage in the eastern part of the country." The food administration upon receipt of the letter issued- this statement: "While Mr. Hoover is out of town food administration officials consider Mr. MoAdoo's statement very reassur- . ing since it. indicates that further cars will be furnished in western terminals and that the shortage from these west ern terminals to eastern territory now will be overcome. As t$ie railway di rectorate are evidently alive to tho situation they will no doubt take all -necessary steps" - . 6,000,000 Bushels Daily. A railroad administration statement without referring to Mr. Hoover's dec laration that the domestic and allied food situation can be solved only by loading 8,000,000 bushels of grain a day for the next sixty days, explained that already 6,000,000 'busnels of grain are being loaded dally. and even better loading is in prospect. Unofficially it was declared that practically all the grain being offered by farmers and local elevators was being hauled by the railroads under general priority" orders for foodstuffs, particularly for grain in the west It was suggested that farmers might not be bringing "their grain to mar ket as fast as they should. Railroad officials also called attention to the fact that potato growers last fall held muoh of their crop for higher prices and that condition Is partly respon sible for the extraordinary offerings at this time of potatoes -which the rail roads are having some difficulty in moving. . Roads Usingr Every Effort. Referring to the-general food mov- . ing situation the railroad administra tion statement said: ' "There has now been about two weeks of moderately good - weather, during which time an extraordinary effort has been put forth by the rail roads. "The average number of oars of grain being loaded is 5,000 which . is approximately 6,000,000 bushels daily. This "has been done notwithstanding that weather condftkms are "still se vere in . a large part of the country and it will certainly Increase in pro portion as the weather moderates."; In the eight days between February 11 and Feb. 19, 38,756 'cars were load ed with grain of which 26,549 were ' in the western district or west of the Mississippi, 9,319 in the eastern dis trict and 2,882 in the South, the re ports show. Fortytwo 'special food trains con taining 1,868 cars were sent eastward for trans-shipment to the allies, be tween February 12 and 19. This through movement of food trjns is still continuing and six trains of meats are going daily to eastern ports for export Between Feb. 10 and Feb, 21, twelve days, 9,363 cars,-? or about 260 trains of - livestock, dressed beef and perish able products have been shipped east ward from Chicago. - - ;' :- -. The movement of special food -trains CContinued en-: Page Two) . it X V, v. 1 1:1 i. : '4 'J 1-H 1 ' "I M -V-.
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 23, 1918, edition 1
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