North Carolina Newspapers

VOL. CHI NO. 102. WILMINGTON, N. O, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 13, 1918 WHOLE NtTMBJER 89,024 UNITED ST A TES FLEET B Y 1 925 SHOULD BE THE EQUAL OF THA T Railroad Executives Are Strong In Opposition To BIG PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPMENT IS wB --,;'! MAINTAINED BY ANY NATION Mr. GOT APPRO McAdoo's Suggestion J '4 in 'hut BRITISH VOTERS WILL GO TO THE POLLS TOMORROW 1 Parliamentary Elections Occur In One Day For First Time VAL 3rTili league of Nations Proposal Has Not Altered the General Board's Policy, -.11.. PATROL THE SEAS America's Great Merchant Ma rine Increases Need For a Great Navy. kAR HAS TAUGHT LESSON Admirals Badger and Barker Be- fore House Committee, Washington, Dec. 12. Neither the end of hositlities nor proposals for a league of nations has altered the policy of the general board of the navy In regard to making? the American navy second to none in the world. Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger, chairman jf the executive committee of the board, today told the house naval af fairs committee that the navy should be equal to that of any other nation j 1925 and urged that sufficient ap propriations to make this possible be Bade by congress. "The general board believes that Bfflier the present world conditions and tie conditions likely to obtain in the lutnre," Admiral Badger said, "the United States navy should steadily con tinue to increase. Utimately it should be equal to the most powerful main tained by any other nation of the world. Year by year development should be made as consistent with the facilities of the country, but the limit above defined should be attained not I later than 1925. 'Navies must be the principal sup port of a league of nations, and the United States from its wealth of in- Iflaence and power, will be called upon to contribute a large share .of the in- Itenrational police force to render such i . p league effective." The duty of the navy in the futures I... J : 1 : J :n 1 l i a. ' I 11- auinuai saiu, wui De uui oniy 19 I guard the country against invasion. jiut to protect as well the great mer chant marine now building. "Seapower will always remain a fac- I tor of vast importance In international relations," Admiral Badger declared. The great naval lesson. of the war has been that the nation possessing the most powerful navy was able in a few reeks to drive the German merchant from the sea and .to keep open ier own trade routes and yet, when the ar commenced Germany possessed the second best navy in the world. It proved to be not good enough. The mockade which she was not able to break was the greatest contributing wise of her ultimate collapse." Umpletion of the three-year build- program authorized in 1916 and thich was halted to build anti-sub-"arine craft, was recommended by Ad W Badger. Work has not yet been foned on six battleships, six battle tmisers, two scout cruisers, nine fleet womarines, two destroyers tenders, and w neet submarine tender, he said, kck of ships of this type, he declared, ouM have been fatal to the United States if had been fighting the ar Bone. Admiral Baderer said that before the Wnistice was sisrned reauirine Ger- Pany to surrender the greater nart of p navy the general board "had recom mended a six-year building program included 12 suDerdeadnauehts and P tattle cruisers, but added that im- Ptdiate necessities would be met by the FN- -ear Duildiner nrnornm rannm. I "ended by the secretary of the navy. Program will add six battle Risers to the six already authorized. P said, and at the same rate of Whorization would make a total of " oy 1925. Great Britain now has 13 11 these Vessels hum nr hiiUrHne- he Pld. and it is estimated she will have 20 by 1925. Admiral RaHr aai4 tliar tvna f r r Er Americar battleships compare Iwh bly in Pwer with those of any lWer nation, nnintfno- nut that the 1 Heships soon to be laid down are "Snerl fry n ; 1 f1 AAA lBas, of 2a j i i ,,. opccu, a iiio.ui ua.ii.cr; I" !2 SiYtPfn.iV, J 1 ll Ignored. They will be the most power- in ine worm, ne saia. p IAS uURer Biaiea mat provision Iiw ""ujers is maae in tae xvzv I'Ofee-Veai- r- mi L. o A n tith aui. inore are now er built or building he said, and in g there win therefore be a total of compared with England's 516 at Jl e submarine program calls for sumbarines. 146 S type, 24 antl- lnnes and "aid "a t- mine layers, ue hra,lfv, ctre now DUiit, ouiiaing Ines an, -l o 1 - . i . . ' , ftner i v "eet sumoarines. ine 534 o ! board estimates that a total of lpe boats are required and k.,;.r.Ulsh navy has now built or Riding 228 submaines of which Ural . if . 3. R add it- Uer empnasizeu tne neea tfiaitional minesweepers and patrol Firing .t sPke of the development fleet "e war of the airplane carrier. tk'fu?ngaa;ements wil1 be Preceded in Rated by Perat'Ons in the air, he ends' Thnd the &eneral board recom- eilitioV tue neet De provided with Disnn f carry on such operations. Gerrn n of the shlps surrendered tenp0 ,1y rests with the peace con- Ptogp . Qmiral Badger stated in' i- Bfetinp- uuest'ons at the close of the light Tu whether or not he (Cont mued on Page Eight) Paris Is Dressing The Official Parties of Americans and Where Mr. Wilson Will Land Spaces Sell at Fancy Paris, Dec 12. Paris is awaiting the arrival of President Wilson and an other national holiday for celebration of the allied viotory. The official delegations to receive the American president left for Brest tonight. A luxurious special train was reserved for President Poincare. The French ministery was represented by Stephen Pifichon, the foreign minister, and George Leygues, the minister of marine. The official party of Americans to receive the president took an earlier special train. It included Col. E. M. House, Ambassador Sharp, General Pershing, Admiral Benson, General Bliss and Gordon Auchlncloss, son-in-law of Colonel House. Paris this evening was hanging out its flags and preparing its illumina tions for the president's reception de CONFERENCE HEARS ORPHANAGE REPORT Raleigh Institution of North Carolina Methodists Has Best Year in Its History. PENNIES FOR CENTENARY Dr. Tho If.' Ivey Show That One Cent a Day Per Member Will Reach ';-jOjMfiw0m ,KvjirellxatloVuM. , By RBV. T. A. SEKES. ' Goldsboro, Dec. 12. Rev. A. S. Barnes, superintendent of the Metho dist orphanage, read his report of the year's work of that institution at to day's session of the North Carolina conference. This report indicate that this has been the best year in the his tory of the orphanage. Two hundred and forty-five children have been taken care of and more than $67,000 has been received. Several thous and dollars have been added to the endowment fund. The conference met in special ses sion at 3 o'clock and religious services were conducted by Rev. A. L. Ormond. Bishop Darlington introduced Dr. F. S. Parker, of Nashville, Tenn., who spoke on the theme: "The Spiritual Re sources of the Church." He emphasiz ed the importance of the prayer life, and likened spiritual force to a mighty stream of water from a hose, unbreak ing and yet pliant. He showed the necessity of the spiritual force in the successful carrying out of our work. The prayer life is the Christ life. His miracles are not so necessary as His prayers. Only through human agency can we reach the world. Only through prayer can this agency become ef-. fective. The speaker closed with a strong appeal for a church-wide cam paign of intercessary prayer. In discussion of the church's Cente nary movement to raise 35 million dol lars for world evangelization and re construction, "Dr. T. N. Ivey showed that it would only take one cent a day per member for the period of five years for the goal to be reached. The converted heathen, said he, put five tenths of their income into the King dom of God. We Christian people in this land should think of nothing less than one-tenth. Bishop Darlington appointed the conference Centenary commission as follows: Presiding- Elders J. E. Underwood and J. C. Wooten; Pastors Walle'y Hut ton and C. J. Harrell; Laymen J. G. Brown, R. N. Page, D. P. Dixon, G. T. Ormond, and representing the wo man's work, Miss Elizabeth Lamb and Mrs. Harvey Boney. CONFESSES PART IN ROBBERIES IN MORE THAN DOZEN CITIES Shereveport, La., Dec. 12. A man whom the police say is Fred W. Neal, alias Frank Harms, was taken into custody here tonight and according to the police has signed five confessions admitting participation in robberies in more than a dozen cities through out the country. 4 . One of the prisoner's statements has to do with a $10,000 robbery at Cleve land O., last February. The man has confessed, the .police say, to five other important robberies, including two banks, in which the loot was as large if not larger than that obtained at Cleveland. Steamer Had To Return. Newport News, Dec. 12L The Amer ican steamer Balsto. which left this port yesterday for Cuba with a cargo of coal, developed trouble with her steering gear while off Hatteras and was forced to return, reaching here today. She is undergoing repairs but will not be ready to sail until next week, it is, said. pjp For President's Arrival Frenchmen Leave For Brest, This Morning Window Prices in Paris. spite the weather, which was decided ly wet. COL. HOUSE AND PART LEAVE PARIS FOR BREST Paris, Dec. 12. Col. B. M. House, president Wilson's personal adviser; Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, Gordon A.uchin closs, son-in-law of Colonel House, and Joseph C. Grew, former counselor of the American embassy in Vienna, all members of the American commission for negotiating peace, as the American peace mission henceforth will be known, left today by special train for Brest to meet President Wilson when he arrives there. The special train was fitted out with Pullman sleepers and a dining car. The commission will arrive at Brest tomorrow morning aJbout 10 o'clock. The U. S. S. George Washington, on which President Wilson is making the voyage from the United States, is ex (Continued on Page Bight). BRITISH HOLD THE COLOGNE BRIDGES German Sentries Unexpectedly Quit Their Side During the Night. SCOTCHMEN AMUSE HUNS Highlanders Many Hard late Smile. Cologne, Sunday, Deo. 8. (By the Associated Press.) British troops to day were in possession of al lthe great bridges across the Rhine at Cologne as a result of the sudden and unexpect ed withdrawal of German sentries from the eastern end of the crossings during the night. British soldiers yesterday were pa trolling two-thirds of each bridge,1 while the Germans were keeping their beats over the remaining third. About 10 o'clock last night it was noticed that the Germans had disappeared and Investigation showed they had depart ed, presumably to rejoin the retiring Teutonic army. In going the Germans cut the electric wires in the towers on their end of the bridge, leaving the eastern side In darkness. There was no other reason for this, according to army officers, than to cause annoyance to the British, if possible. The arrival of Scotch infantry In the city late today caused the greatest ex citement among the sightseers as the kilties swung through the streets be hind their wailing bagpipes. Thousands of folk hastily collected to see the strange soldiers in skirts, of whom Cologne had' heard with unbe lieving ears. So eagerly did the people press for ward that at times traffic was practi cally halted. Certainly fo-r a moment the crowds came as near" forgetting their hatred of the allies as they had at any time in four years, for the Highlanders made a great hit and drew a smile to many hard faces. PRESIDENTIAL LINER PASSES THE AZORES Ship Runs Close in to Give Mr. Wilson Opportunity to Catch Glimpse of United States Naval Base. On board the U. S. S. George Wash ington, Tuesday, Dec. 10. (By Wire less to the Associated Press.) The George Washington rounded the Azores this morning, running close in to give the president an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the' American naval base. At dawn a flotilla of American, de stroyers from the Brest squadron came over the horizon and soon after break fast the islands were sighted low-lying in the early mist. The Portuguese warships were saluted and returned a salute of 21 gttns. The dreadnought Pennsylvania broke out signals to the flotilla to follow and the president's flag was flown from the Washington's main peak.' The augmented escort then spread out in a broad column and the islands were rounded, the fleet heading toward Brest, which probably will be reached Friday afternoon. WANT JUDGE PRJCHABD TO GO TO PEACE CONFERENCE (Special Star Telegram). Asheville, N. C, Dec. 12. Judge J. C. Pritchard of this eity, justice of the United States circuit court of appeals, has been invited by Nicholas Murray "Butler, president of the World Court LeagUe to hold himseli in readiness to go to Paris as representative of the leatrue at the peace conference. Judge Pritchard has not decided whether or 1 not he will be available if called n. la Their Kilties Greatly Faces to Break In History CAMPAIGN ONE Will Count Ballots Two Weeks Hence, When Soldier Vote Is Received. London, Dec. 12. British voters will go to the polls Saturday in the parlia mentary elections under circumstances whjolly novel in the. history of the country. All the balloting will be done In one day, instead of there being elec tions in different districts spread over weeks, with long drawn out excitement and suspense. Another novel proceed ing will take place when the contests close. This will, 4 due to the fact that the votes will not be counted for a fortnight in order that the ballots of soldiers abroad may be received and opened with the others. Aside from the politicians and the newspapers, no election in memory has been attended with so little pub lic interest. As an example, a meet ing whjich. was to have been addressed by Dr. Christopher .Addison, minister of reconstruction, attracted only a handful of boys and the curtain of the hall in which the speech was to have been delivered did not rise. Never be fore has a member of the ministry fail ed to draw an audience in the last week of a campaign, politicians aver. David Lloyd-George, the prime min ister; Herbert H. Asquith and other political leaders, e Idressed crowded meetings, but this was hot considered unusual as they usually draw large audiences no matter what their topic There are 600 contested seats with a total of 1,518 candidates running for them. In 613 of . these districts each candi da; e Lloyd-George'B thick or thin pledged to support through They are Jtno wn as the n candi- dates. US liberals a others of various parties. Ofth 1.00& running outside the co alition, 271 are Asquith liberals, 39 conservatives and 37 6 laborites. The remainder are running on 16 different platforms, including 78 Sinn Feiners, 59 nationalists and various socialist groups, the federation of soldiers and agricultural women and men's factions. MOREHEAD YARD PKStMAJfBJrT, Directors Arrange to Keep- Bight On Building Ship. (Special Star Telegram). Washington, Dec. 12. The shipbuild ing plant at Morehead City, operated by private capital, Is to be permanent ly endowed. A meeting of the stock holders here today adopted such a policy and forecast for the enterprise a successful future. G. D. Cansfleld of Morehead City;' Charles L. Abernethy of New Bern, and David Stoneman of Boston, are the principal direotors of the company. The Morehead City plant has a gov ernment contract for building four ships, one having already been launch ed, a second steamer will be launched .before the Christmas holidays. Mr. Abernethy stated today tat the com pany is employing constantly between 400 and 500 workmen and that the government rating of the finished pro duct has been of A-l grade. PLANNED TO PLAY JOKE ON YON PAPEN "Third Party" Was to Swindle Him Out of Some Money. Edward Lyle Fox Thus "Explains' Propaganda Of An tl-Japanese CharacterOverman Makes Public His Letter. Washington, Dec. 12. Chairman Ov erman of the senate committee invest igating brewers and German propa ganda today made public a letter from Edward Lyle Pox asserting that au thor of a scheme outlined to German agents in this country to stir up anti Japanese feeling on the Pacific coast had no intention of the plan being car ried out. The purpose, Fox said, "was rather to enable, a third person to swindle Capt. Von Papen (former German military attache here) out of a sum of ' money "and then laugh at him." Fox' is -one- of the newspapericorres pondents alleged to have been sent to Germany- by Teutonic agents in Amer ica to send back pro-German news to thjs country. Dast week, A. Bruce Bielaski, of the department of justice, produced before the investigating, com mittee a communication written by Pox and suggesting that anti-Japanese feeling be stirred up. Hiram Moe Green, editor of the Illustrated , Sunday Magazine, was named in the communi cation and in his letter to Chairman Overman, Fox said a great Injustice hgd been don's .Greene or involving him. in the matte government if Afeted. OffliOHliti0 Ofr..thess-Tep. seairmkttve. nd 4S r With Policemen and Firemen Out on Strike Montreal Is Helpless , . Montreal, Dee 13. With every policeman and virtually every fire man In the city on strike for higher wages. Montreal is helpless tonight In the hands ot rioters. Fire stations have been wrecked cltlirim robbed and stores looted. Saloons and dis orderly resorts are wide open. Law abiding citizens aire helpless to pre vent the depredations of gangs of hoodlums. CONGRESS TAKES DP RAILROAD PROBLEM Next Week Senate Committee Will Discuss Various Phases Of the Subject. BRIEF SENATE DEBATE In lite Meantime, Industrial, Commer cial. Labor Leaders and Others Meet and Discuss Formulation of Policy Townr Roads. Washington, Dee. 12. Recommenda tion of Director General McAdoo that government control of railroads be continued to January 1, 1924, gave im petus today to congressional consid eration of legislation looking to a so lution of the railway problem and also was the subject of brief . debate in the sena-ie The senate interstate commerce com mittee was called to meet next Thurs day to discuss Mr. McAdoo's letter and other phases of the general railroad subject, while the house eemmtee will meet tomorrow wtth ' the expeeta- .tlk$nMi ireetor5W- mendation wlH toetaJte up. Aside from the opposition voiced by Senator Kellogg of Minnesota, republi can, on the floor of the. senate today, many members, both republicans and democrats, were said to have express ed disapproval of Mr. McAdoo's pro posal tout none of them spoke for pub lication. Senator Kellogg charged that Mr. McAdoo really proposes a five year test loeklitiF to permanent government ownership of the carriers. Senator Smith, South Carolina, chair man of the senate commerce commit tee, declared that Mr. McAdoo's pro posal was merely a personal opinion, probably of unusual 'weight, but not conclusive upon congress to which President Wilson has submitted the question. Senator Kellogg then asked how President Wilsoh's approval for the five-year extension had been secured when the president in his address to congress had disclaimed having any judgment on handling the railroad question. While the senate was debating the subject a number of industrial, com mercial, financial and labor leaders and students of transportation problems discussed the formulation of a policy toward the roads at a conference call ed by the United States chamber of commerce. The .conference will con tinue tomorrow in an effort to arrive at a basis of common principles ac ceptable by all Interests to toe pro mulgated for public discussion. Walker D. Hines, assistant director general of railroads, explained to the conference details of Mr. McAdoo's ideas in determining to ask congress to extend government control to Ave years. He said that all interests urg ing immediate relinquishment of fed eral management specify there should be remedial legislation to eliminate old wasteful competition. Among the thirty attending the con ference were: Paul M. Warburg, for mer member of the federal reserve board; Harry A. Wheeler, president of the chamber of commerce, and R. G. Rhett, former preeideht; Frank Mor rison, secretary American Federation of Labor; Winthrop M. Daniels, chair man Interstate commerce commission; Charles E. Elmquist, president Nation al Association of Railway and Utility Commissioners; Charles P. Neill, rep resenting the railroad administration's labor department; S. E. Heberling, president of the Switchmen's Union, and W. N. Doak, vice-president of the Trainmen's Brotherhood. Director General McAdoo explained today to callers his belief that it would be well to take the railroad question out of politics at this time, even though it might become an issue in the 1920 campaign when a congress is to be elected. He emphasized that it would be impracticable to continue govern- month after neace is declared because of the threatened disturbance of rail road employes morale, the interference by state authorities and the inability to prosecute a program of extensive improvements. . HUNDREDS OF MEN LEAVING NEWPORT NEWS CAMPS DAILY Newport, News, Dec. 12. Hundreds of men daily are leaving local camps. Many of these, are mustered out of service here and go directly to their homes while others are sent to va rious camps for disoharge. Yesterday 850 men left Camp Eustis for Camp Upton. Tomorrow a special train car rying. 6&0 men from Fort Monroe will leave . for Chicago and another train carrying 250 men from the same place will leave f6r St. Douls. ; ' To Extend Period of Control Would Demoralize Organi zation of Roads. CONFUSE THE PROBLEM Present Law Gives Sufficient Time in Which to Effect 'An Adjustment. IN ACCORD WITH WILSON President's Recommendation Is Quoted in Statement. Philadelphia, Dee. 12. -Railroad ex ecutives representing 126 roads and 91 per cent of the mileage of the country, tonight gave out a formal . statement in which they declared that Director General McAdoo's suggestion that gov vernmet control of the railroads until January. 1924. weuld simply lead to delay and confusion, demoralization of the organisation of the reads both on their corporate and operating side, and defer indefinitely a satisfactory settle ment" of the railroad problem. The executives, the statement said, have reached the conclusion that "tnere is sufficient time under the term of the present act to fully consider the rail road situation in all its aspects and ar rive at a plan that would be just to the country." The statement was given out by Thomas DeWitt Cuyler, of the associa tion of railway executives. The state ment follows: "The standing committee of the as sociation of arilroad executives have considered the letter of the director general to the chairman of the inter- i State committee of the senate and house and hve ; reached the decision that there is sufficient time under the terms 0 the present act to fully consider the railroad situatiorvin all its aspects and fdTerirTOtlm-. would toe Justine w officers elected. r-ci. K. itJT ' Richmond. Galvest Shippers and the public at large-and en the other hand to the security holders and shareholders and employes of the railroads. They are in full accord with the president In his statement as fol lows: , ' :'' " The one conclusion tha$ I am ready to state with confidence is that it would be a disservice alike to the country and to the owners of the railroads to return to the old conditions unmodified. These are conditions of restrain with out development. There is nothing af firmative or helpful about them. What the country chiefly needs is that all these means of transportation should be developed its railways, its water ways, its highways and its countryside roads. Some new element of policy' is therefore necessary necessary for the service of the public necessary for the release of credit to those who are administering the railways; neces sary for protection oftheir security holders. The old policy may be chang ed much or little but surely it can not always be left as it was. I hope that the congress will have a complete and impartial study of the whole pro blem instituted at once and prosecuted as rapidly as possible.' "They feel tha to at present extend the time would' simply lead to delay and oonfusion, demoralization of the organization of the roads both on their corporate and operating side and defer Indefinitely a satisfactory settlement of this great problem. "They regret to differ with the di rector general, recongnlzing the able way he has managed the roads during the period of government control, but they feel confident that it would be un necessary and unwise to extend the period of control beyond the time now provided for under the act." NEGROES DRIVEN OUT OF WYOMING TOWN Ordered To Leave Following Lynching Of One Negro .Charged With Kill ing Railroad Man. Oa-den. Utah. Deo. 12. Negro refu- gees from Green River, Wyoming, ar- . riving here declared that all negro men, women and children had been or dered to leave that town following the lynching Tuesday of Edward Woodson, a negro charged with killing a rail road switchman and wounding an other. Nearly all left their possessions in Green River, having been given only until last night to leave. FARMERS' UNION ADJOURNS. Wilson, Dec. 12 The Farmers' Union annual convention adjourned here to day after a two-day session, the chief event of which was the re-election of President H. Q. Alexander after a bit ter fight. Executive committee named were R. G. Maxwell, of Duplin county; Or lando Crews, of Rowan county; Gray King, of Nash county; W. B. Gibson, of Iredell county, and I. L. Cherry, of Edgecombe county. Miss Gertrude Weil, of Goldsboro, ad dressed the convention on the subject of woman suffrage. LONDON INVITES WILSON TO ACCEPT ADDRESS IN GOLD BOX London, Deo. 12. The corporation of the city of London today passed a reso lution Inviting President Wilson to accept an address of welcome in a geld box and asking him to a luncheon at th UuUA jjuol 9 Southern Oommerdal Congress Practically Closes General ELECT OFFICERS TODAY Washington Will Be Named A the Convention City For ;- Next Year. -it- Baltimore, Deo. 11 j The southern commercial congress practically closed Its general sessions tonight when, at a joint assembly on agricultural finance and shipbuilding; a wise program was approved. The platform included 1J cardinal points, principal among which wore the approbation of the Bank head measure for $1500,000,000 in five annual ; federal appropriations for highway and post road facilities and a gigantie Increase of merchant marine with equal distribution, terminal better ment and general economical trade conditions with the south as a meri torious beneficiary. The other 10 points comprised the systematic approval ef general condU tions as applying to railroad rates, inner water courses along the coast line and factors insuring cheap trafflo and port developments, the stimulation of industrial enterprises, expansion ef foreign trade relations, various facil ities affecting the rrv.lf, ports and ex portation therefrfv, to the eaft through the Panr.ir.a canal and to the west by means of a shorter route pro vided b the proposed Florida canal, extensions of the scope of rural cred its, the establishment ef branch re serve banks In foreign countries; the utilization of the vast resources of the south and other thi"c- The resolutions, the ( ..me work of Which was drafted by a special execu tive committee In Atlanta last October, met general approval and will be of ficially adopted tomorrow at a meet ing of the directorate of the congress at which time Washington Will be named as the next convention city and Richmond. Galveston, Chicago and St. Louis were bidders for the next convention. It was not generally known, that Washington would be chosen. The explanation 01 rfhls se lection lies in the fact the ti during the Baltimore convention as wfth previous assemblies there has been a .marked lick of oo-ordinatlon which can only be remedied by an assembly at tne capital where in conformity to the "after the war" program there will result numerous benefits growing out of closer touch with federal officers and committees. None of the advan tages of the capital could possibly be enjoyed in any of the other cities in the field. SIMMONS WINS OUT FOR NITRATES FOR FARMERS War Dnwrtnent Accedes to His De mand That the Stores Here Be Sold to Farmers. By . R WINTERS. Washington,, Dec. 12. The cargo ot nitrate of soda stored at Wilmington will be distributed to North Carolina farmers, the War department realising the oost of the product without any profit thereon. Secretary of War New ton D. Baker today notified Senatoi Simmons of the action taken, the wai department having abandoned its orig inal intentions of selling the soda t the highest' bidder. Cargoes of soda having taken port upon the signing of the armistice, stored at other South Atlantic seaport towns, will likewise be distributed to the farmers under similar stipulation. Senator Simmons and other southern senators Joined in an appeal to Secre tary Baker that the soda be sold di rectly to the farmer rather than mar keted to the highest bidder. So, regardless of the ultimate policy of Secretary of Agriculture Davjd F. Houston, in furnishing farmers soda at cost, the North Carolina farmers can be assured of obtaining some ni trates under the plan In operation laajt season. It was not known at the ef- Senator Simmons the amount of the product stored at Wilmington, or whether it would suffice the needs of Eastern Carolina. VIRGINIA-CAROLINA PEANUT ' GROWERS TO HOLD 1918 CROP Suffolk, Va.. Deo. 12. The Vlrglnlar Carolina peanut growers' association, in session today at Suffolk, after pass ing resolutions to hold the 1918 crop, still in the hands of the farmers, elect ed the following officers: President, W. jf. Story, of Courtland, Va. ; secre tary, T. B Slade. Hamilton, N. C. Following an address by B. C. Moo maw, bureau ef markets, Washington, D. C, it was voted to petition the food administration and department ef ag riculture to render assistance An sta bilizing the peanut market and to con tinue the embargo oh Japanese nut a FRENCH SOLDIERS TO GET INDEMNITY WHEN DEMOBILIZED Paris, Dec. 12. The cabinet todaj authorised the lnstreduction in parlia ment of a bill granting an lndemnltj ef 260 francos to every man demobilis ed with additional payments according to length of service, oitatiens and numi ber of dependents. The payment o( the extra indemnity 'Will Involve thi expenditure of 1,698,000,000 franceJ Allowances to the families of mobllla ed soldiers it wad decided, should con tlnue for six months after the soldi is discharged from aotive servloe. 7 i