North Carolina Newspapers

COUNTY ppMARY THE WEATHER : PAGES today: ONE SECTION Fair Tuesday; Wednesday, -increasing-cloudiness, probably local rains. -s . . j Hi i k w mm mm vmm-; pay mrfiw VOL. CI-JS'O. 178. ALLIES THREATEN TO jjjeyAre Maintaining Their Con ol From the North Sea to -the Swiss Border . 5ELGIANS OCCUPY SECTOR jelieve British and :Prench Forces in the Important Coast Re- . gion of Flanders j v- 0ERICANS ON THE. ALERT lieir Airmen Take Pictures of the German Positions . - " (Associated Press War Summary) As the allied world has, day a'fter by, read the official reports f romthe allied and Teutonic war offices in the lope that some inkling of the real situation -would present itself, the realization has come home that the Americans, British, Belgian and Portu guese troops are maintaining . their antrol over the front running " from the north sea to Switzerland. Artil lery fire, at some ! points growing ;;in intensity, is reported, but the allies iave held their own and their, raiding parties are everywhere - busy in the enemy's trenches. .The long; expected md confidently awaited '.German drive tos not - materialized and- the- - allies Areaten to start an offensive of their own at various ; points ., against the Teutonic legions., ' - ; ' '' Possible Scene of Offensives. There is barely a sector on. the west ern battle line which is not being marked by spirited action but "Verdun and the Vosges regions are apparent- y storm centers -where big dients may. develop. At verdun the :-opposing ar- Uiltries have been thundering :i for seveial days and on' Monday the cho ns of the guns was kept up, espe caHi on the right bank of. the Meuse. la tlve 'Vosgs- mountains artillery fighting is reported to be very heavy,' ilihoueh no infantry - r actions have been mentioned in the war office'state meuts issued at Paris ; and Berlin Belgians Occupy; Sector. One of the most encouraging fea tures of the war news may be found in the fact that the Belgian army, re organized and ready for battle,' has taken over the important, coast sec tor in Flanders. This part of the wes-l tern front has heretofore been held by the French although British troops have appeared there at various points. The Belgian army, which is -said, to be in excellent morale, has freed the French and British forces of - action elsewhere on the front, 'demonstrates that the past winter has been one of constructive work on - the. part of the Belgian and allied army ' staffs. The latest official report said that attacks b? German shock troops have been re pulsed by the Belgians. . ' v American Guns Effective. Heavy guns are battering the Amer ican sectors along the front land many shells of large calibre have fallen. Here, however, the American . guns bave replied with good effect and the excellent weathr of th past fw days bas given American airmen on oppor tunity to take pictures of the terrain back of the German trenches. Appa ratus installed preparatory to another eas raid on the Americans has been destroyed by American artillery fire, nile American raiding parties fol lowing out their traditional. Indian fighting tactics, have kept - absolute eontrol of the territory between the aostile lines. v ' ; . Teutonic Invasion Continue. In spite of the fact that the all-Busman congress of Soviets has ratified tte treaty of peace forced by the Ger mans at Brest-Litovsk, the advance of we Teutons, especially in Southern Kussia, continues. In - southern . Uk ramia the capture of the important of Nikolayev, where vast, stores 01 grain were reported to have piled "P. has been officially announced? by w Germans who have also followed &p their aggressive tactics in the pro mce of Tchernigov and-Orel, in the southern central regions of Busia. On the Italian front there have been aiding operations from the mountains the sea and attempts by the" Austri a's to cross the river Piave have been "ustrated. .-... Heavy Air "Losses. . the air forces of the armies have een very active during the past few s as might be expected there, have X ---i.neavy losses. British naval air n alone have disposed of ten ene jy machines in the period from doT"Sday t0 Suniay. Italians brought dav 'Ve enemy machines" on Satur ed i Sunday the French account " lor seven while four other German "tnes v.-fro .Q4 j thftt- ine Germans claim to week Vn 22 alii - machines have last AKRirA CALLED UPON TO " . 'I VANCE DEJHOCB.ACnfS CAUSE Bur-Port News, Va., March 18.. John treasurer of the United States, of tv mJE here tonight in the,- interest' EntT, a lberty loan, said that -the rum allies wer practically, bank the ,when the United States entered call and that this country now is mocracVn 10 financ the fight for .de- noonrkepoke ln Richmond this af'ter t0K and speak in: Norfolk tomor- START AN OFFENSIVE IN VARIOUS SECTORS American Army Observers 5 "Conclude That i Germany v Does Not Intend a Drive Washington, March 18. Ameri can . military observers have reach ed the , conclusion , that Germany's constant -' massing of ; men 5 on - the ' western front is. for defense and that; the -. long heralded Teutonic offensive never will materialize un-. less it . develops as a" defensive measure against the growing pres sure of the allied and American .lines. ' : . . Thl."view, held or weeks rby some officers, is expressed officially today" in " the war department's weekly review of operations at the battle fronts. : Presh, German di visions "are reported arriving in the west,, the review, says, and the den sity of , the. enemy, forces has near ly reached the point .- where con gestion of - lines , of communication may interfere with flexibility of maneuver The review- records the first un assisted American assault upon the Germans, the trench raid at dawn of March 11, when " the enemy was driven put and his position .pene trated for a distance of three hun dred yards. The , Americans now : are in ; the trenches along . the al-' lied line at five "different" points and; are reported constantly active.' Bef erring to Secretary Baker's arrival in France, the review; says he has had interviews with ': the principal French . authority and. is about to undertake an inspection of American, schools, training areas,' rest camps and sectors at the front. J Casualty List Issued by War De- '-jj'our names THE NUMBER OF DEAD 27 Besides Those Killed; Six Died From "Wounds, 12" From Disease and One "i ' From "Accident--Captain Kill ed Or Is Prisoner. - - - Washington, ' March 18. Forty-four names appear on today's casualty, list issued by the .war department, includ ing -that of Captain James EL Miller, either killed in action or taken' prison er. " ' - : .''.'":" Lieutenant John G. Kelly died from, an accident; Lieut. .Edmund P. Glover was severely wounded and Lieutenants John" B. Graham and George H. Pen dleton were among the slightly wound ed. Of the eight killed in action hve previously had been reported wonnd ed. ..' ; ' " : - - Eight men were killed in action, six died from " wounds, 12 died 4 from dis ease, one died from accident, five were severely wounded and eleven were slightly wounded,.. The list follows: Killed In Action. ; Sergeant Paul H. Long, Privates Robert L. Clausen, Wm. H. Hammet, Morril B. Morrison, Ira J. Rogers, William T. Smith, -Trimble S". Sparks; Bay C, Waldem. (Privates Clausen, Morrison Rogers, Smith and Walden have eon previously reported wound ed). , , : r '; Killed Or Prisoners. -' ... Captain James B. Miller. Died Pnm .Wounds. ; Corporals Charles H. Burke, Robert D. West, Privates Crawford Z. Abies, Moffard E. Breese, Frank A- Coyle, Herman'D. Gentry. , , - i Died of Disea. Sergearlt Richard H. Ellis menin gitis; Corporal James a. Adams, pneu monia; Cook "Lloyd T. Freeman, pneu monia; Privates Elek J. Berg, pneu monia; . Grant H, Cutler,, pneumonia; Anton--Hillman, diphtheria; , . Elmer Jackson, pneumonia; Daniel fF. Kelly, intestinal obstruction; George Schwab auer,y pneumonia ; J ohn Sisson Slater, pneumonia; Robert Wells Williams diptheria ; Johnnie; Wright, pneumonia. Died of Aocident. S Lieut. ,G, Kelly. - r - - Wounded Severely. ' Lleui Edmund P. Glover, Corporal Oliver NV Ginther, Mechanic William M. Maxwell, Privates Scott W. Hard ing, John E. McCabe. , " c ' , , ; ';- , .' . Wounded Slightly. : ' ' ,;;:. Lieutenants John B. "Granam and George' H."" Pendleton and Corporals Howard A. Leroh, Dott A. Warren, An hony Plcello, Graham N. Negus, Don ald B. Swepstpn and Privates Harry O. Jolly,-John H. McGlown, George Her rancourt, Paul E, EIcheL . . ; PRESIDENT MAY SOON MAKE ' ' 1 . - .- -.. STATEMENT AS TO RUSSIA :-'':'-M"J:''fXr 'T T.' f ;,v'"" v- -' -Washington, Marchf 18. After a call at' the White House ; today Senator Lewis, Of Illinois, Democratic whip, of the Senate, indicated his belief , that President Wilson would make known lo the country soon the attitude of the government toward the Russian situa tion; - He Said it? was safe to faythe President would fulfill his promise that there would be no secret diplomacy. EIGHT AMERICANS KILLED III ACTION ,WIEMiyftTp;i ALL IS READY TO TAKE OVER DUTCH SHIPPING TODAY Government Momentarily Expect ing Holland's Reply to Anglo " American Ultimatum 68 SHIPS IN U S. PORTS Have Tonnage of 479,000, While . Vessels of 130,000 Tons Are i! v in Island Possessions - Washington, March 18. Preparations for taking over Duteh merchant ships in American .' ports ; tomejrrow , Vwere completed tonight- while. '.the. govern ment expected momentarily to receive from London the Dutch reply to the British-American shipping ultimatum Officials here said they had .no inti mation of - what the reply would be, whether it would accept the allies'-demand for a transfer of Dutch tonnage now in American and British "waters or would endeavor, to . open further parleys in' an effort to satisfy both the allies and the Germans. ' . : T WiU Be No More DaUyins;.- While declining to discuss , tne lat ter alternative, officials plainly indi cated that such a. course would not find favor here because the voluntary agreement for the transfer ; has : been held up, two months by vGcrmanys" re fusal to. recognize the principles of in ternational law and they do not think a final decision should be delayed long' er. . . . ' . , ' - ' Today was the, last days given for the DutcbT go vernmerif to -make reply. Al lowing for; cable delays, : the United States will ? wait until ..' tomorrow and then . will proceed to requisition the tonnage in accordance with the .de mand made several days ago." It was stated authoritatively that nothing had occurred to .change either the . terms of the-proposals to Holland or -the - goV-ewtor'tntetrttonrtb- caxiirtthe nra ter -through. .-v ' , ' Navy to Have Control. , The navy department will 'rake con trol of the ships which will be provid ed with armed naval, guards, and man ned: With 'civilian and- naval reserve crews ; to supplement the Dutch crews or replace such of . the . foreign ' sailors as 'desire ' to leave . the . boats.' If- is probable; that the civilian soldiers and reservists will hot-We used-tbgether on the same . boat because: of .differences in discipline and pay which might pro mote, friction, tu : vi , -A previous suggestion for , naval op eration of merchant vessels was aban doned tor this 'r season. , . t Aronnd Million Tons. ' .It was learned today -;t there, are 68 Dutch ships. in ports of the continental United States, their tonnage aggregat ing 470,000. Others with a tonnage o. about -130,000 are in the Inland pos sessions of this country and .upward of 400,000 tons are in British waters. All the vessels are in ' first-class condition and include, some of the best merchant ships ever built,' at least ten of them being among the fastest -cargo carriers afloat. It Is likely that most of them will be put to carrying foodstuffs, the cargoes being allotted Dy the ship control-committee. - . Cargoes which some, of the ships have loaded provide one of the prob lems yet to be decided by American of ficials who declined to say whether the ships would.be allowed to proceed un der the. American flag or would have to unload or take other goods. . HOLLAND IS ANGRY OVER SEIZURE OF . HER . SHIPS The Hague, Saturday, March 16. It Is Impossible for Holland to give an affirmative answer to the entente's pro posal concerning Dutch ships, says the Nieuwe Courant.- ' , ; v "It Is s an act of violence," it adds, to which we are subject by the rulers of the ocean and nothing makes us so bitter as the attempt "being made to base it on the so-called rule of inter 1 J national law the antiquated "Angary law which is In no wise applicable here." - ' " OPINION OF DUTCH PRESS . - riTvinwri rtwn ship mTv:rmm Amserdam, March 16. Discussing the Dutch " shipping question , the Tujd says: :. . '. . ' .. We shall have . to acquiesce but such rough misuse of-power will not be forgotten by, our people." - : . In an aricle denouncing the allies, the Handelsbladt says: - , . "We cannot think what our .govern ment will do. Will it publish a protect refusing to give its approval to piracy and leave the matter as it is, .or will it make the 'best of a bad Job and make an exchange ' for. what will be taken away? If , it is hot exchanged will it request the ministers of these privati cal powers to pack " their trunks and depart? vWe should not lose much thereby.- We do not know what the government-will -do and--would not -wish to advise It. , . At suoh a moment.it must be left to the g-overhment's" discretion to . take what decision is least.harmful to the country and the people." - ..: ' in the same article, however, the Han-; delsblad admits that ltr Is4 unfortunate ly ;true that Holland Is -the; .only,; north ern neutral which has done nothing to combat" German submarine" methods; "Jt attributed the country's .present -position to' the spirit whl en has - dictated such an attitude. !..''.''-'."". , - The : Jelegraaf advocates, acceptance of the offer of the entente . govern ments, adding: '-'X 'U--r'":-;:; j, Holland's existence as.. a -free, and r ...-. (Continued On Page Threeli . aiium iwakiiiu v s,or ' . nil iu mot . FOR WORLD TRADE ;v : ' ' , " : 30-FOOT CHANNEL WHEPWlENflS W, . FOR If fIGIOII Plans Laid;, at Meetmg of : the .' Southern " Comnercial Ctn- ' ' gress at BaUimoreE" - r ( ' ' '-c r-;:'-- ', ANDRE TARDIEUfA SPEAKER Governor V Harding ' of Reserve A Board Tells of St'ej)s Taken' -1 by American Bankers :' Baltimore, Md., : March 18 -Preparation for southern , Dusihess interests to take advantage of the great- trade! expansion regarded as certain1 with .the ending of :'thewat'-'.were':iiideby' the Southern Commercial Congress here: to night by appointment ,vofaL committee headed by Barton M- Myers,' of Nor folk, to study the jsituation : - f The dinner : vas ;the t cutmlnatlon - pz a series of conferences" held by several hundred men prominent;jn state "and national affairs 'and, representatives ; of commercial organisations of -the'outn. It was given In honor ; of s Andre Tar dieu, French high commissioner to the United . States, and ' speakers . dealt not only, with future commercial activities but' with the .necessity of speeding -up ship production to win; the war. '; M. Tardleu was . given an jOyation at the conclusion of his address in Which he urged increased cereal- -shipments "to France and the necessity of the Amer ican people attending-to additional food ' restriction,',.- The vltheme of ithe. conference . preceding; tne ,dlnher was "ships in .the winning of the war and in the trade 'expansion "after "the war." . The ; oommittee headed ;by 'Mr.' :.Myers .was directed, to '-. make, an" exhaustive study Mf V commercial y cbfciitton i ? ex pected -af tor- thedwar ..nd3rport -on preparations Jiecesaary- regarding mer chant marine, trade routes, commercial education ; for, the foreign field, stand ardization of rafv materials and manu factured products' and branch "'banking In foreign .countries. ' . ? ; . Senator Ransdell, ..of' Louisiana,1' ad vocated 'use 'of 'the' nation's - waterways to move frelght,"tressing.:the .value of the Warrior river In Alabama-and the Mississippi or ; Memphis and New Or-, leans. Another. speaker was W. P. G. Harding, governor of the federal : re serve board, who in predicting great expansion of American trade after the war, said therfoundation had been laid in establishment of foreign branches of American banks. ' ' ' "Our exporters , and.; manufacturers," said Mr. Harding.f "should keep con stantly in, mind, the possibilities of a world trade after the war' is over and they should lose no opportunity of srouslne a "sentiment favorable to American goods In those country with which our trade has heretofore been limited.. " : " ' 'J' "" ' i - "National banks' having "capital and surplus of a million dollars -are au thorized by the "federal reserve act to establish foreign brancnes ana inero are today many branches of American s branches, operating- in Latin-America, South America as well ' as European countries. . ' ' r'". ' -' ' ' "l The foundation, therefore, for 'fi nancing our foreign trade properly through the medium of American Insti tutions has already been laid and when the war is" ended and the restrictions on commerce can be removed and v a greatly augmented merchant marine can spread its sails upon the seven seas an carry ; to . all the nations of the world products pf . the farms,- the mines and the factories .of America, branches of American banks .will be found at. the distant ports to. welcome these' messengers of Commerce and o finance both their Incoming and out going cargoes. . ' ' "The : foundatfon of an American fi nancial structure , extending through out the world has been carefully . con ceived 'and securely ;lald wand the, u perstructure will follow- as conditions become more favorable. ! , : ' : -. - . :-." :' -" . : ' " 1 , -j- U.;S. MARINES RAISE PIGS. j: ..'y- Comsrve and Prodoceltke Meat - Supply., ; Helping to - Paris Island, : s. C. March 18, Prob ably no cantonment in the country, is conserving more .food than is -that-of the United States marines here, through the raising off-pigs.;- I- " J ' r, . - i The movement- started soine months ago when several rookies" purchased a litter of pigs from a Georgia farm? er. Since then others ; have followed suit untile the ; Pis has grown into prominence as ( well v as popularity throughout: the jentire camp,. . . -r .' Besides conserving food and furnlh5 Ing the marine wlth splendid -s feasts, the pigs consume'.alj' table f scraps and garbage, thus saving much disagree-: able labor. , At present the . ' island "ranch" boasts Pt ' about 1.00Q -- fine young porlcers-.; ', ? i - - -According tothe latest reports from France, the marines . oyer ;there ' are adopting pigs aha training Uhem to do,kitchen ; police 'vf"v --i . - . .' 1. 1 1 . . ; : J .San : Diego; ; Civ March .18. Coming out" of riotfe - dlv upside. doVn, Flying Cadet Ralph. T. Simpson,; of the North Island aviation school here, was thrown out of his airplane today andv fell' 100 feet to his death in San Diego Bay.The machine came down on top , of Simpson as he.struck the water :.The hody was recoverecLV Simpson C was 27 ryears old aod'ilved Jn:Padeoa.u .ri:..;-: MACH 19, 1918 GRAVE REPORTS COmiNUE COME ER INSPECTS Finjis New-Born City Has Sprung Up on France With 8Popu V Elation, of Americans V. MEN D ARING , AND SKLLLFTJL Declares r Wh "the Airplane Manufae '' inrets In America Learn Jb1 Prepa-. : rations Abroad TVy Will' Make ' On Board Secretary Baker's Special Train " in- France, Sunday," March if. (By the : Associated Press) -Secretary Baker In leaving an aviation center to day. said: r'vT " y '. . "Just before leaving America 1 in vestigated the: progress .of our, aviation program. - 1 found our manufacturers enthusiastic, as to the outcomel: "When they "learn" of the ; preparations - which have been made in trance for the util ization of the material, which they sena they win . have a further Incentive to speed up their 'efforts, "' ,' ; "Upon level, fields' which' were with out a. single building when we laid our spur, " track " from. , a ' neighboring sta tion,4 has tarlsen a city of barracks, .of ficers," "shops" and hangars with a popu lation "or Americans, entirely occupied as a ; training school . for, aviation. ln this,,, as in all-our other preparations In France , we aim at a service commen surate with our. part in assisting; the French and British m gaining com plete,) unbroken mastery of the air which is-orteVof the prime requisites if not the prime requisite for 'victory. - - "The' spirit of .every man .In- r-this camp seems 'in keeping with - the mis sion which brought him -to France. The camps, appointments and organizations are admirable. ' It is gratifying to learn from their French Instructors that our young aviatdrsarb prOvlng themselves daring;' cool and skillful.' ; . BY'JUliV FLOW OF PLANES "-v -ABROAD WILL SHIPS Washington, March 18. wnen tne aircraft hoard holds. its' weekly session tomorrow ' the - special ' investigating committee headed by H. Snowden Mar-' shall, ,6f New York; recently a.ppointed by the' war department, may be present to J receive : further '.information . about the industry directed by the board. . ' It Is Understood Also that the board will discuss ' charges ? that -there" has been profiteering by airplane manufac turers inade .some time ago by Gotzun Borglum. It is known -now that Borg lum's' statements to President! Wilson were not responsible' for. the investigat ing committee but board members want to' inquire, into them. .; : ' :-. :'. .'As 'the result of' a. careful survey of progress of the plants working: on bat tle i planes members of the aircraft board and aignal corps officers are con vinced; that 'the production .program is that the- period of .quantity , production is; about' to r set in with .accumulating fore'e. . , ' - - ' . "Bef ore July," . an official said today, "all this agitation will have been forgotten.-. -The- flow of fighting -planes to France', will "tax available shipping, to carry it , That ls; worrying, us " more than investigations - of delays we have Rencountered." ' . . ,.' r.' , - - ; The best estimate or delay still is ex pressed'ln time and it Is still maintained-to be 60 days lost according, to offi cials tVough failures of contractors, f allured of, design, -failure to grasp the magnitude -of the undertaking and to CCoatinued -Oa- Page- Three. - O1 Al( - i OUT OF SIBERIA Action : by Japan f Still Held in Abeyance With No Indication i0fWhatMaybe Done FRANCIS ON WAY TO JAPAN y - Amferifljtn fr AWfjfj RftTirf go-nt?l ropriatlon could; nbtibe made in the -.r'.' rvVl!!2P'!'Tl nrnnsm -A.-- brief statement of the -''tivesl tb'JReacli'Kbi rean: Capital; Monday . vHiNGTOlirOT ADVISED Six Japanese Killed in Fighting at : Blagovieshtchensk , (By. the. Associated .Press) ". . ; Action ",byO Japan . in Siberia, is still held in abeyanoe' and there is no indi cation of. what 'may-be done there. "Re ports' from 'Siberia : continue , to '; be grave. Liberated German . prisoners of war are said to - be. co-operating with the Bolshevik leaders and on March 6 participated vinva 'battle, with the forces led by General Semenoff, the non-Bolshevik leader. -,'. SIX JAPANESE KILLED AND . " . TWO WOUNDED, IN FIGHTING Washington, - March 16. State - de partment dispatches, today from .Peking put .the .number of .Japanese, killed In fighting at , Blagovieshtchensk at six and the .wounded at two. : Fress dis patches from London put the number killed by the Bolshevik! at 150, al though a later dispatch from Tien-Tain via London gave the number as three. u' --.'-'" - .'-" '.' 1 - '', - -' t AMBASSADOR FRANCIS IS I ' REPORTED ON WAY TO JAPAN - Tbkio, March 18; (By the 'Associated Press) The -'Americany "ambasaador ' to Russia, David JfcC ? Francis, - the Japan ese ambassador,--Viscount - Uchlda, and the diplomatic representatives' of Great Britain and France ; were 4 expected to arrive-at -Seoul-today,' according to ad vices from the ' .Korean capital. They are on the way : to Japan.'1. 1 The American -ambassador . and the diplomatic "representatives . of the en tente ; powers 7 left i Petrbgrad. late . ln February; going to . Vologda. The safe arrival there '.of Mr. jj'rancis was re ported February 28.. About two weeks ago a report was current that Ambas sador. -Francis and the Japanese minis ter were being held at, Vologda but this report was . not ; credited.- at Washlng ton.. ' -, ''-'..-..--' " - f r--- - ', -.' WASBtlNGTON THINKS THERE IS SOME MISUNDERSTANDING Washington, . March . 18. When ' the state department, received' its -latest dispatch from Ambassador . Francis about ten .days ago he ;was establish ed at Vologda' and apparently intended to . remain- there; Indefinitely. , It Is as sumed here that the report that he. was due at Seoul today on his way to Japan was due to some misunderstanding at the Korean capital, . ,. EFFORTS BEING MADE "TO " : "FORM- SIBERIAN ' REPUBLIC Toklo, Margh 18. -(By the Associated jjj-ess) The workmen's. ' and soldiers association has 1?e&n making efforts to form a separate Siberian.' republic, ac cording to a special dispatch- from Irk utsk.' A meeting of "this purpose was ordered dissolved and red guards . ar rested" those who rerused to" obey the order, - Including . the cnalrman. - - . "f " Belsrlns Repnlse.jAttacks. ' Paris, March-18. Attacks .by German Btrm troops In "the - regions of Nleu port, Dixmude "and 'Merckem . gained ; a footing at some points nut an were ex celled by counter attacks, says the Bel- cian -official- statement 'Issued - tonight. WHOLE KTJ1VIBER 39,356 Small Announces That Committee Cannot Grant Request for -' $400,000 Appropriation ; "NOT A WAR EMERGENCY" Mayor McNeill Invites Congres- i sional; Delegation, fo Meet- ing at Fayetteville ; w- 'i JI.; V,;.! By PARKER IU ANDERSON. Washington, March 18. Representa tive : Small stated ; today;: that; the rivers and harbors committee could not grant the request"f or an" appropriation of. SiOO.OOO for the purpose of providing - a cnannei depth 01 30 reet across tne bar for a width of :400feet on' the, Cape ' Fear leading' out to the -ocean. Exist ing projec'ts.5 Mr." Small-1 says, provide -for a - depth df'26feet at mean low water and "800:feet. wide in the river : -' from Wilmington to the sea and a similar depth7 across the bar with" a width, of 400" feet.' -There? Is now' a.' depth of -26 "feet from1 Wilmington "to the 'ocean. 'Existing- war' conditions prevent a larger appropriation "at 'this time;" ' y- ;; ; . Mr."" Small's' Statemnt. ' Mr. Smairs statement follows: 1 ' ' "I , have5 received ii - number of tele- grains- and. 'letters with reference " to- ' the further , Improvement, of the Cape ' Fear river .at. and, below Wilmington, urging the' committee on riiers and 1 harbors to appropriate a sum amount ing to about "f4O0,000 for the. purpose of . providing a: channel depth of 30 feet across the oceanbar for the width .of 400 'feet. " The committee after care, ful consideration decided that this an- - facts" will' explain: the attitude ofTiie committed. 'I : V ;-'-.'' .-'-. - '.- 'The existing t project ' for the ' im provement of: the :Cape Fear.rivertat and .below." Wilmington provides ' for a " channel depth of? 26 feet at mean low water and 300 ".feet 'wide In" the river from Wilmington to " the ' sea, a dis- ! tance of" about 30, miles,. and a similar depth of 2( . feet across the ocean bar with'a'width of 400 feet.3; There "is; at -present sl- depth of .J feet, from Wil mington to the ocean and' across the bar but in. " some sections the 'entire -width has not been obtained." ;' 1 : ' "On January 3rd, of the present year, the secretary, of.'war submitted ' a re port of the chief of engineers recom- -mending a new' project ior f urther-lm- -provement .by increasing " the depth ; across the ocean bar from' 26 feet to' ao " feet - at an estimated cost of : 5398, 6251 : It is this" new project' wJth the , recommended appropriation ; which the committee has. Been urged to 'include in the pending bill.- , :'"' "Under existing, war conditions ; the , committee have not included" any: new projects in the pending, bill except such as wera, so intimately ; associated . with -the prosecution . of the" war as' to con-- stltue a war4 emergency .and so. recom- mended by . the secretary, of war. ; This policy has tne endorsement of both the - president' and the secretary of .war. This particular new project for the. ocean bar at . "the mouth of .he Cape Fear, riyer was. not considered as a war . emergency . and ' therefore, was ; not- included. In '.the ib.ilt:-; s , ; ; "It is appropriate to , state in tnis connection that only- one new project carrying an'PProprialon was included in the bill,, this particular project be ing for . the, construction of a channel connecting the harbors' of Long Beach and Los Angeles on the jfaciflc coast - Of course, the failure to inciuae tnis new project for the .further , improve metn of r the; lower Cape . Fear river was not intended in .the .slightest, to disparage ; the - commercial - importance , of this riverjor of the city of WJlmlng- f ton". The -lpwer.. Cape .Fear has, not been neglected in the .past. More than, six million dollars has been heretofore appropriated '-for , the improvement, of the Cape - Fear and this new project proposing to -increase the; detph across the ocean bar will receive ..favorable ; consideration along with a- number, of other meritorious projects throughout the country when the - iimltaiona s im- . posed by existing, war conditions shall , be removed; .. -. - . : :.' '- . H. H.: Ford Back From France. . - H. H. Ford, of Wilmington, one of ; the first to go to tho.rrbnt In France, reached ' an :.r 8,lantlct port .Saturday , night and arrived' In - Washington to day to undergo a thorough medical ex aifainatlon. Ford, who .for years was connected with 'the. United States-en- gineers ofllce ln tWilmlngton, wentj to France last August and has seen some srenuous active service, with the Americanengineers v division, some where in France.'? Last December he -lied to go to a hospital and was later, sent back home. -. ' '-' '- ' '- ' ' '. ' . :.MeNBiU 8nds Isvitstion. -- Senators and. congressmen from. North Carolina have received a, letter from Mayor McNeill, of Fayetteville, notifying : themi that y a u get-together meeting -will be held In bat -cityon March 27 and Inviting all of the state s representatives to be present.. It is as sumed that- the Fayetteville folks wan . to talk "about i cantonments the de velopment of the Cape Fear and the probabilities of the port being used as a--port of-entry; ' - : -; -: - . Representative GodIn wired the mayor that 'he' thought.' it wouldi be better to have the meeting after con- ,: (Continued On Page -Three) ...