f
The Weather.
1
Fair Saturday andSWnday, except
thundershowers In the mountain dis
tricts. - . .t.s .
1
VOL. CI-NO. 320.
WILMINGTON, N
BRITISH AND FRENCH CONTINUE
SCHOOL SEAMAN
e o f Fismette and
SMOKER BRINGS N.G.
mi
TO MAKE PROGRESS ALL ALONG
V
ROADS CONVENTION
TO PLEASANT CLOSE
THE 20 MILES OF BATTLE FRONT
CAROLINA COAST
. -.; '
''), ';,)
1 . 1
3'' l-Al- --CI ONESECTION
- :. .1- . ... .;!
: ' I V " . . AUGUST &i918 WHOLE NUMBER 39,498 '
- 1 - 1 1 - 1 i.m 1 .1 1 mm t wm .J-Vl
Villas
blany More Villages Taken and
Bag of Prisoners Largely
Increased.
1
ATTACK ON NEW FRONT
Worth of Picardy Salient the Al
lies Forge Ahead At
Two Points.
10NTD1DIER THREATENED
kdvance on Picardy Salient 13
Miles in Depth.
(By the Associated Press.)
Over a curving front of more than
0 miles the British and French troops
b-e continuing to sweep back the Ger
mans eastward across the pfains of
Picardy from the region north of the
Bomme east of Morlancourt to the
astearn bank of the Avre northwest
bf Montdidier.
As on the first day of the offensive
jnaterial progress wkas made Friday
over the entire Dame rronc many
Additional villages were captured; the
lag of prisoners was largely increas
ed; numerous guns and great quanti-
ies of war stores were taken and
heavy casualties were inflicted on the
nemy by tanks, armored motor cars,
he cavalrymen and the infantry. The
osses sustained by the Anglo-French
orces are declared to be relatively
mall.
To the allied forces there have fallen
7,000 German prisoners and between
00 and 300 guns, many of them of
keavy calibre, and innumerable ma-
hine guns, trench morars and kin-
Ired small pieces.
To the north of the Picardy theatre
he Germans also have given ground
in two important sectors, on the fa
mous Lys salient, northwest of La
Eassce and in the region southwest of
pres on the equally famous battle
round north of Kemmel. On the
ys sector territory over a front of
hore than seven miles was evacuated
y the enemy while to the north of
Kemmel the British advanced their
ine over e front exceeding 1,000 yards.
These maneuvers on the part of the
ermans seemingly indicate that they
ther considered their ground inse
cure in the face of the heavy forces
enj Haig is known to have in both
egions to ward off any attempt to
each the channel ports or that Crown
rince Rupprecht's army; has been ma-
erially decreased in strength to rush
enforcements to the battle zone
here the German armies in the south
tre being- sorely harassed.
Already having penetrated the Pic-
rdy client to a depth of nearly thir-
een miles in the center toward the
icinity nf the important railway Junc-
on of Chaulnes and at other points
ong- the arc pushed forward between
fve and seven miles, the northern and
outhern flanks of the battle front
here the Germans had been resisting
lesperately, gave way before the pres-
ure respectively ofthe British and
rench.
On the north the British captured
lorlancourt and pressed on eastward
khile on the south, northwe of Mont-
idier, Pierrepont, Centoire and Arvil- '
ers were taken by the French who
rove in their wedge to a distance of
pre than 8 1-2 miles.
The tanks, armored cars and cav-
lry are still working throughout the
ntire region, while airplanes are soar-
far behind the lines, bombing
fort and troop movements and also
aymg particular attention to the
ridges over the Somme by which the
nemy is endeavoring to escape from
lis advancing foes. All behind the
fne th eGermans are destroying am
munition depots as they quit their po-
uuons.
"ith the new turn of events Mont
dier is in an uncomfortable postion
rith the allies hammering away, cross
ire at the Germans holding and with
ne onlv railroad leadin&r into the town
'so under their guns. A forced evac
lation of the town seems not ' im
robahle. In fact with further pre
ire eastward by the allies between
ne Somme and the Avre and with the
possibility of pressure northward
gainst the Germans from the line
tunning northwestward from Soissons
1 is not outside the realm of possibil
y that the entire Montdidier salient
Fill have to be abandoned.
Thfre has been little flerhtinsr of
peat moment on the Vesle river ex-
ept in recinrnral artlllsrv duels. The-
r-niericans, however, have made an-
i -..lit-, vii liiv, . jt-. y-t
"red the village of Fismette. north
ref:t of Fismes.
f A PLACED ON ADVERTISING
FOR UN SKILLED LABORERS
"'ash inert on. Aner. 9. Aflvertiirinp.
pthpr throue-h npwrnancru or hv other
l w mj Ilk L it IV A A X w AC V J
war work with a maximum fore
fnnre than inn men to TM-ntilhiai lw
t'en of labor. Unskilled labor is be-
. ,ter States employment bureau and
"h is iibiu lu mienere wiin
f service.
n-war industries mav continue trt
Nv
hot
'ertif-e for unskilled labor but may
. ;n the advertisement oifer supe
f 'nucements or in an? wav nnar,
cements or In anv war under
ka,
go fin-m;. mUk .
. --"iucio wini suvernmem or
Pay
'"""ca. war inauBineB atSO
i . i i . .
labor aavertise for skilled
17,000 Germans and More
Than 2d0
Many Trench Mortars and Machine Guns, Immense Quantities Of
Stores and Material of AH Descriptions, Including Entire
Railway Train, Taken by the Allies.
London, Aug. 9. Fighting continues
between the Anglo-French forces and
the Germans northeast of Amiens,
according to the British official com
munication received from Field Mar
shal Haig this evening. The general
line of Pierrepont, Arvillers, Rosieres,
Rainecourt and Morcourt has been at
tained by the allied troops this even
ing. An official communication issued
this evening says that 17,000 prison
ers and between 200 and 300 guns have
GEN. OTAM HEADS
JAPANESE FORGES
WiD Also Be Commander-in-Chief
of International Ex-'
pedition to Siberia.
A DISTINGUISHED SOLDIER
AmlmSaador Francis and Allied Diplo
mats Now at Archangel Anti
Bolshevtlc Forces Meet
With a Defeat.
Washington, Aug. 9. Gen. Kikuzo
Otani, one of Japan's rost distin
guished soldiers, has been chosen to
command the Japanese section ""and
will be the ranking officer of the
American and allied expedition in Si
beria. As senior officer, Gen. Otani in ef
fect will be commander-in-chief of the
combined forces with the consent of
the various governments participating.
Maj. Gen. William S. Graves, in com
mand o fthe American cnntingent will
sit in the council of allied commanders
performing the duties of a staff.
Gen. Otani was a staff officer during
the Chino-Japanese war and command
ed an infantry brigade in the Russo
Japanese war. When Japan entered
the world war he was assigned to the
forces which captured the German
colony at Tsing-Tau and until recently
he commanded the Japanese garrison
placed there.
AMBASSADOR FRANCIS DUE
AT ARCHANGEL THURSDAY
Washington, Aug. 9. Ambassador
Francis and members of the allied
diplomatic corps have left Kandalaska
and were due to arrive at Archangel
yesterday, according to a dispatch
dated August 7 received today at the
state department.
ANTI-BOLSHEVIK FORCES
DRIVEN FROM JAROSLAV
London, Aug. 9. Anti-Bolshevik
forces which recently occupied Jaro
slair. in the Volera region, have been
driven out and have taken refuge
across the Volga. Some went to Ry
binsk, where they tried to incite an
nnriginir in the town but prompt
measures were taken against them, ac
cording to a wireless dispatch sent out
by the commissioner of war at Moscow.
The messasre says that on the Cze-
cho-Slavic front the soviet troops won
a great victory by occupying the town
of Syrza and Vulgma in the Simbirsk
Samara region.
THE WAY AMERICANS
FOUGHT WAS AWFUL
"Never Have I Seen Such a Thing No
body Could Have Withstood Them,"
Hun Officer Wrote.
Washington, Aug. 9. In a commu
nique received tonight Gen. Pershing
reports the situation along the Vesle
as unchanged.
The communique quotes from a let
ter, found on the battlefield written by
a German lieutenant, who later was
killed, to his father, the writer's ex
perience in the Chateau-Thierry sec
tor. "The Americans were attacking on
the entire line. Never have I seen such
a thing. Nobody could have with
stood them," the lieutenant wrote. The
letter also described the Allies' fire as
terrible. '
In closirig, the letter said: "Summing
it all up I think we have under-estimated
Foch and his reserves and es
pecially the Americans. I have a pre
sentment I shall lose my skin also. I
wish it were tomorrow."
ROME REPORTS ACTrVITY
ON THE ITALIAN FRONT
Rome, Aug. 9. The official communi
cation issued by the war office today
says:;
"Yesterday morning enemy detach
ments twice attacked the Col del Rosso
salient but were repulsed.
"We haVe bombed the military estab
lishments; at Pola, Near Trent two hos
tile machines were brofeght down.
Guns Captured
' been captured on the Somme-Ancre
front.
The text of the communication fol
lows: "During the morning the allied arm
ies renewed their attack on the whole
battle front south of the Somme and
have made progress at all points, in
spite of increasing hojrtile resistance.
"French troops, extending the . front
of their attack southward, captured
the village of Pierrepont and the wood
north of it. North and northeast of
this locality French troops made rapid
(Continued on Page Seven).
WILL QUIT MAKING
PASSENGER AUTOS
Manufacturers Advised to Con
vert Plants to 100 Per
Cent War Work.
MUST DO SO BY JANUARY 1
In No Otner Way Can They Be Assured
of the Continuance of the Industry.
Embargo Is Placed On
Materials.
Washington, Aug. 9. Manufacturers
of passenger automobiles 'were advised
by the war industries , hoard, -today to
convert their plants' to I'Bo per cent,
war work as rapidly as possible and to
place them on that basis not later than I
January 1, 1919, in a letter addressed to
the national automobile chamber of
commerce. In no other way, the letter
stated, could they be assured of the
continuance of the industry or the
preservation of their organizations.
The letter was in response to a pro
posal made yesterday by Hugh Chal
mers on the part of the manufacturers
voluntarily to curtail the passenger car
industry fifty per cent. The war in
dustries board declared that the pres
ent situation regarding teteel and other
materials needed for war work gave
little assurance of material required for
the manufacture of passenger automo
biles, even after providing for war re
quirements. Pending receipt by the board of
sworn inventories of materials on hand
required last July 16, no materials will
be permitted passenger car manufac
turers, the letter states.
MANY ARMY RAINCOATS
ARE FOUND DEFECTIVE
Inspectors Investigating the Brooklyn
Warehouse Report On Progress
They Have Made.
New York, Aug. 9. More than 29,000
army raincoats, similar in poor ma
terial and workmanship to large num
bers supposedly waterproof garments
delivered to American soldiers overseas,
have been found defective by inspectors
who tonight reported progress of an
investigation of the Brooklyn ware
houses. Federal officials announced
that the 5,000 coats which were with
held when Gen. Pershing forwarded
complaints of leaky storm garments is
sued to thousands of his troops, already
have been re-inspected. Of these more
than 51 per cent, were rejected, it was
stated. Approximately 19,000 coats of
consignments in possession of the war
department here remain to be exam
ined. Of the 17 manufacturers whose recent
deliveries of raincoats have been re
inspected to date only six were credited
with a greater percentage of accepted
than rejected garments, the federal of
ficials stated.
ORDERS MORE CARS ON
CROWDED PASSENGER TRAINS
Washington, Aus. 9. After taking a
trip over tTie Chesapeake & Ohio rail
road between. Cincinnati and Hot
Springs, Va, and noticing that passen
ger coaches in several trains were
filled with travelers without seats,
Director General McAdoo today order
ed additional jpars attached to the
trains or second sections operated.
Investigations now are being conduct
ed by the railroad administration
looking to relieving crowded condi
tions on many other passenger trains
in the east and middle west.
TRAVELING MAN OVERCOME
BY HEAT IN CHA&LOTTE
Charlotte, Aug. 9. One prostration
from heat occurred here today, S. E.
Corbett, a traveling salesman, whose
home address was gfven as Greens
boro, fell unconscious on the street
this morning. He was removed. to his
hotel. Late today it was -said he
would ' recover. . A-windstorm late to
day caused a sudden drop in temper
"ature pt ten or more degrees.
American Vessel Sunk Monday
By Submarine 110 Miles
East of Hatteras.
THE CREW IS LANDED
Vessel Looted by. the Germans
Before Being Sent Down
By a Bomb.
Newport News, Aug. 9. The Ameri
can schooner Stanley To. Seaman, bound
from Newport News to a foreign port,
was sunk last Monday 118 miles east
of Cape Hatteras by a German subma
rine. Captain W. C. McAloney and
crew of ejght men arrived today at
this port, having been picked up by a
British vessel.
The Seaman, Captain McAloney said,
was fired on without warning while
becalmed about noon Monday. The crew
took to their small boats, but were
permitted to return for provisions and
then put off in a gasoline launch. The
Germans looted the ship before sinking
it with a bomb. Captain McAloney
and his crew were picked, up after
three days in the launch.
The submarine was described by
Captain McAloney as the, U-J32, 350
feet long and mounting four guns, two
six-inch fore and aft of the conning
tower with a small gun on either side.
The Seaman was owned by Crowell
& Thurlow, of Boston.
BRITISH ARMY CHAPLAINS.
There Are More Than Three Thousand
Holding Commissions.
London, Aug. 9. The British army
has 3,294 commissioned ' chaplains, in
cluding 1,844 Church of England cler
gymen, 662 Roman Catholic.?74 of va
rious Protestant denominations, and
14 Jewish rabbis. These--&igures do
not include colonial v chap Jains, nor
chaplains engaged locally and uncom
missioned, 'jkj
The war office administers the army
chaplains' department dhrectly, , and
chaplains are appointed bt' the secre
tary ef war on the nomiB.thjnu of the
various denominationsFjanes, the
prlnipal-hapl1ftt" tl
war was Rev. Diw Si'mme,' of the
Presbyterian Church of Ireland, rank
ing as a brigadier-general. At the
present time. Bishop Gwynne of the
Church of England, is in command,
with the rank of major-general. Dr.
Simms has been graded to the same
rank and remains in charge of all
chaplains in . France belonging to
churches other than the Church of
England.
About 100 chaplains have been killed
in action or died in service, and many
have been wounded or invalided home
from diseases contracted while on ac
tive service. A considerable number
have been made prisoners of war,
though most of these have been re
leased subsequently under the provis
ions of the Geneva convention.
Honors received by the commission
ed clergy in the British army include
two Victoria crosses,- 60 distinguished
service badges, 256 military crosses,
and 11 foreign orders.
SUMMER IN PEKING.
"Temple Parties'' Constitute Popular
Form of Diversion.
Peking, Aug. 9. "Temple parties"
constitute a popular form of diversion
for the summer months in Peking. The
hills to the westward are dotted with
so-called temples rambling compounds
of one-story buildings built centuries
ago by emperors in memory of depart
ed ancestors. The buildings invariably
surround a paved court or often a se
ries of such courts, shaded as a rule
by century-old trees. In the . temple
proper is still to be found a gigantic
"buddha" or idol before whom joss
sticks are lighted at intervals by
priests and acolytes, of whom there
are generally a half dozen all told, oc
cupying a portion of the compound.
It is quite easy and inexpensive to
secure the use of one of these tem
plesone or more of the unoccupied
subsidiary buildings for a week-end,
a week or the whole summer. They
are entirely without furniture except
insofar as a raised .platform whereon
the Chinese used to sleep might be
called furniture. Once installed the
occupant enjoys absolute peace and
quiet by day. As a rule he sleeps in
the company of one of the lesser "bud
dhas" who; is hidden behind a curtain.
The only intrusion upon his privacy oc
curs' when the priest or acolyte bring
food and places it before the idol and
returns later to remove what the rats
have left of it.
A number of the old-timers in Peking
have their temple leased year after year
and pass the summer there. For the
novice, owing the general lack of ev
erything that makes for comfort, once
is enough. It is a thing, however, that
everybody must do once.
Utilising Disqualified Soldiers.
Washington, Aug. 9. The United
States Guards, organized to a strength
of 40 battalions, is being filled out by
the transfer of , men of draft age who
after induction into service and train
ing Jiave been found disqualified for
overseas service by -minor physical de
fects. It was learned today that there
is no plan for increasing' the strength
of the guard which is used to supple
ment state forces in guarding bridges
and - other important parts of trans
portation systems. Officials regard
the present organization as sufficient,
Storm's Toll Swelled.
. Lake Charles, La,, -Aug. 9. Six more
deaths in Cameron Parish reported to
night brought the total death list as a
result- of -the- tropical -hurricane- which
struck southwest Louisiana last Thur's-
day, 'up to 33,
100 Prisoners are Taken
By the American Forces
Capture Takes Place Following Terrific Artillery Bombardment,
the Germans Showing Only Weak Resistance Three
Vicious Thrusts By Enemy On the Line West
Of Rheims Prove Ineffectual.
Paris, Aug. 9.. (Havas Agency.)
American troops have captured the vil
lage of. Fismette, on the north bank of
th Vesle river, a short distance north
west of Fismes.. With the village they
took one hundred prisoners.
LITTLE INFANTRY ACTIVITY
ON SOISSONS-RHEIMS SECTOR
With the American Army on the
Vesle Front, Aug. 9, 7:30 p. m. (By
The Associated Press.) Three vicious
but ineffectual thrusts were made last
night and today by the Germans
against the line west of Rheims. The
net result was a smart repulse by the
French, against whom the most de
termined attack was made and the in
clusion of the northern suburb of Fis
mes in the American line in addition to
about a hundred prisoners.
Throughout the night and day the op
BAKER IS HEARD ON
DRAFT LEGISLATION
Discloses Proposal to Change
Method of Classifying
Registrants.
IGNORE MEN'S CLAIMS
They Would Merely Answer Questions
And Government Would Do the
Classifying- Probably Defer
Married Men.
Washington, August 9. New draft
regulations under which the government-would
do the eleoting rather
than leaving if to the registrant are
under consideration by the war de
partment. This was disclosed today by
partment. This was disclosed tpday by
before the. senate military committee
to urge prompt enactment of -the new
selective service act extending the age
limits to include all men between the
ages of 18 and 45.
. The war secretary made it plain that
he -is not satisfied w:t"a the present
system under which the registrant
must claim deferred classification, as
many men with dependents hestitate
for patriotic reasons to. make such a
clai. In this connection Mr. Baker
said he was inclined to the opinion
that the marriage relation will in it
self constitute deferred classification.
I What Mr. Baker has in mind is to
lay do wn a set of questions ' which the
registrant would answer and then have
rules which would take care of the
classification. He is understood to re
gard this as the fair and equitable
system.
The discussion of the draft ages
before the senate committee, Mr. Baker
said, followed much the lines taken
by General March, chief t staff, and
Provost Marshal General Crowder.
The committee, he added, did not in
dicate any disposition to question the
necessity for the change which is' ur
ged so that the war department can
quickly" get the men necessary to win
the war.
"There was some discussion, "Mr. 'Ba
ker said, "as to whether it was the
intention of the 4ePai"tment to extend
thet work or fight order to include
classes of persons in various profes
sional occupations. I told them there
was no present change of the work or
fight order in contemplation. I said
that when I decided the baseball case
I thought perhaps other forms of
amusement and entertainment might
require an extension of the order to
be on a parity with the baseball situa
tion. But that was not in their mind.
"They had heard from outside sourc
es that the department was considering
bringing professional classes, like w
yers, newspaper men and others who
were not actually engaged in pro
ducing war supplies under the order."
The committee, Mr. Baker continued,
was especially Interested in the effect
of the extension of the draft ages on
colleges and also in the question as
to whether young men from 18 up
would be drawn indiscriminately in
class 1 or placed in a deferred class by
age and " drawn later giving them
some' added months to come to matur
ity. "I told the committee," said the war
secretary, "that no fixed policy had
been determined upon hy the depart
ment, out that the purpose was to al
low the president to defer in class 1
the call of the youngest men. I have
always considered, as you perhaps
remernber, that 19 was the proper min
imum nd I have come to the 18 mini
mum only because it seems necessary
to get the men."
Because of the committee's visit to
the war council, Chairman Chamberlain
announced no meeting for the commit
tee will be held tomorrow, but one will
be held next Monday when an effort
will be made to reach a favorable re
port" on the bill.
' Letters urging the prompt enact
ment of the bill were received today
by Senator Chamberlain and also by
Chairman Dent, of the house military
committee, .from Governor ; Manning,
of .South Carolina. .
.'"Permit me. to urge calling. together
your committee .and urge prompt. pas
sage? of draft amendment,' Governor
(Continued on. fageo).
erations in the Soissons-Rheims sector
were characterized mostly by artillery
fire in which the Germans shifted their
long-range guns from time to time to
reach villages and roads which they
themselves traversed a -week ago.
Cloudiness continued to interfere with
aerial operations although both sides
were busier than during the past few
days. Two German planes were brought
down by the Americans.
The occupation of the northern su
burb, separated from Fismes by the
Vesle, took place after a terrific ar
tillery bombardment which was begun
yesterday. The village was virtually
reduced when the order to advance was
given today. It was there the hundred
prisoners were. taken.
The Americans rushed over the river,
leaping, running and 'crawling across
on the debris of a heavy bridge which
was blown up by. the, Germans, its piers
(Continued on Page Two).
ENEMY CAUGHT IN
NARROW TRIANGLE
Most of British Captures Were
Between the Roye and
Peronne Roads.
TANKS MOVED RAPIDLY
The Infantry Followed, and Thousands
of Germans Found Themselves
Entrapped' by the British
. and' Surrendered.
London, Aug. ,9. (By The Associated
Pre8.)--MoBtJar th prisoners and
.guds captu'riMfe- by " tha "British ''were
taken in tfce narrow ; triangle between
the Roye and Peronne roads. British
tanks advanced with great rapidity up
these roads. ' They' were followed
promptly by infantry and thousands of
Germans within the triangle fouii'd
themselves well behind the British line
when the attack reached them, so they
laid down their arms.
The most of the captured guns were
also gathered up in this triangre which
contained some of the best German gun
positions in the whole front facing
Amiens.
Chaulnes junction, which -is most im
portant from the point of view of
transport, is how the objective upon
which the eyes of the allies are fixed.
It is already under constant artillery
fire and its fall would be embarrassing
to the Germans over a wide area.
There was very heavy fighting today
around Phipilly on; the north bank of
the Svnme where the Germans were
trying to hold up the British advance'
by striking a determined blow at the
advancing troops. The British did not
succeed in holding all the ground they
had gained in this district, but mean
while the advance continues further
southward and the situation around
Chaulnes is becoming more dubious for
the Germans. "
GERMANS RETIRING IN GREAT
HASTE BEFORE ANGLO-FRENCH
With the British Army in France,
Aug. 9, 4. p. m. (By The Associated
Press.) The British, and French divi
sions have gained more ground in the
great battle raging in the Amiens
Somme district. The latest reports ap
pear to show the Germans are retir
ing in great haste.
The scenes on the battle ground over
which the allies already have passed
give evidence of this, haste in abandon
ing guns, stores and even regimental
and artillery maps and papers.
Aerial observers report large streams
of transports and men hurrying east
ward in full retreat. .
Beaucourt fell to the allied forces
this morning and Lequesnel also was
taken, after all -night fighting.
The cavalry is working far back to
ward the Somme and is still rounding
up villages while tanks and armored
cars are running over the country
clearing away for the troops or killing
horses drawing enemy supplies.
The drivers of motor trucks and lor
ries are chasing parties of Germans
here an dthere, scattering them or run
ning them to earth.
The details of some of the work of
these armored cars show that they have
performed valiant services. One of
them ran into a German-held town yes
terday while the German corps station
ed there was having lunch. It turned
its gun through the quarters windows,
killed some of the staff and then chased
others who escaped from the house. At
Rosieres another car set an army train
on fire. A group of cars met, far in
side the enemy lines, a German supply
column and halted it. Four mounted
German officers came up to see what
the trouble was and were shot from
the cars which then proceeded to make
quick work of the column..
At Framerville, the. cars engaged a
train loaded with the enemy and finally
set it afire.. Tanks ' entered this, town
soon afterward,- helped- the armored
cars clean it irp and .then . hoisted flags
on the roof of the building which had
been German )rps headquarters. One
car met a high German officer riding in
an- automobile along, the. road The of
ficer was killed and. his .machine cap
tured. ' . r-
Last Day of Annual Meeting;
Featured by Tour and Fish
Feast on the Sound:
W. A. M'GIRT IS PRESIDENT
Association Declares in Favor
Of Working German Prison
ers on Highways.
A complimentary smoker at th
Oceanic hotel last night and an inter'
esting address by Dr. Charles E. Low,
health officer for New Hanover county, .
concluded three of the most eventful
days in the history of the North Car
olina Good Roads association. It was
the final sesion of the annual conven
tion which was convened in Harbor
Island auditorium Wednesday morn
ing, and followed a day's happenings
that will linger long in the memory
of the several hundred good road en
thusiasts who participated.
The convention was a suocess from
every standpoint, notwithstanding the
president of the association and three
of the principal speakers were prevent- '
ed from attending the session by
pressing business matters. .The total
-registration was about 500 while there
were many more than that who fail
ed to register. One hundred and twenty
new members were added.
W. A. McGirt, of Wilmington, pres
ident of the Wilmington Highway as
sociation, chairman of the New Han
over board of commissioners, and vice
president of the North Carolina 3oqd
Roads association, was recommended
by the nomination committee to suc
ceed H. B. Varner as president of the
association, and, together with the
other officers, was elected unanimously.
Mr. McGirt has been a;- most active
member of the association, and to him
is due a good portion of the credit
for the success of the convention in the
face of the existing circumstances.
Tour County Roads.
Yesterday's program was featured
by an automobile tour of the New if an- .
over system of cefunty roads, whiph '
was conceded by one speaker during,
thw convention as being the beat
structed and maintained, system in the
taa,JThe tour ended at Wrightsville r
station where several hundred people:
enjoyed a' fish fry, it being one of the
entertainment features of the program. '
Severa- addresses of interest were
made during -the afternoon session at
the auH'ortu3fttiv ' " '
The delegates Snet yesterday at the
court house at 10 rSlfrjo' clock and wer
taken for a tour of theJew Hanover v
roads. Leaving the courthouse; the
course followed was 7 to, KBd-Crosi ;
street, Red Cross to Ftont, Front
Market street and from Market around
the East Wilmington loop to. Winter
Park. From there they made the biC
loop and oyer the concrete road t
the Carolina Shipbuilding plant, and
from there to Wrightsville.
Arriving at Wrightsville station the
party found in the grove nearby ''a .
battery of gas ranger manned by sev
eral colored cooks and almost a regi
ments of Rotarians. The ' aarmunl
tion was fried fish, corn- bread, cold
drinks, and steaming hot coffee, and
while plenty had been cooked
ready to serve before the arrival of the
delegates,- the latter- soon made way
with every cooked fish and were
crowding around the ranges and tak
ing an additionalsupply as fast as the
fish were taken from the pan. Ice
odd "pop," corn bread and fish never
went faster than before this vast crowd
of good road advocates, whose appe
tites had been sharpened by the motor
trip through the county. But the
source came from a never-ending sup
uly and when everyone had had a
plenty there was still enough left to
serve many more.
Mr. Buckners Talk.
Retiring to the upper end of the flvs
long tables the literary feature of the
program was opened with a short ad
dress by N. Buckner, secretary of the
Asheville board of trade, in which he
expressed his appreciations, as well as
those of the entire body of delegates,
for the hospitalities accorded the con
vention during the past three days.
Before concvludlng. his remarks he, a
vailed himself of the opportunity of
boosting good roads and "The Land
of the Sky." .
W. A. McGirt who was presiding, in
troduced Col. T. L. Kirkpatrick, former
mayor of Charlotte, who made a rous
ing good roads speech after he had
pulled some of his humorous 'stuff
and thanked the Wilmington people
for their cordial reception and enter
tainment of the convention.
Go After Federal Aid.
J.C. Carpenter, representative of the
United States public roads department,
followed Col. Kirkpatrick and he urged
the association to to get behind the
work and see that the federal aid
that is appropriated for the road
work in this state be used, adding that
of the $1,700,00" that had been made
available through this channel, only
$31,000 bad been used. 'Start right
now and don't let anything stop you
until you have caused to be enacted
by your state, legislature a law creat
ing a dtate highway commission with
full power to take the matter in hand
and accomplish results in road con
struction," he stated. He added that
a maximum or results may not be
expected until construction work is
taken from the Jurisdiction of the
county and township officials and
placed with some central body with
"power to act."
After a short talk by H. IX Williams,
the '!father of the good roads move
ment in Duplin," the meeting adjourned
to reconvene at the auditorium as
soon as the . crowd could be conveyed
across-the 'Sound. V
Interesting; Mornlns; Session, . f ... .
. While the attendance during the af-'
IContinued oa Psjea XwoX. Mf
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