THE GAZETTE-NEWS
Has Tlip Associated Press Bet-rice,
ft Is In Every Respect Complete.
Member Audit Bureau Circulation.
WEATHER FORECAST
FAIR WEATHER,
VOLUME XXI. NO. 1.
ASHEVTLLE, N. C, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 15, 1916.
PRICE 2 CENTS011 Traln 5
MtieIeto$
TEUTON HTM
IS
MM
Paris Advices Claim That Ger
man Operations in West Are
In Reality Only Local
Actions.
KITCHIN WILL NOT
AID NAVY PROGRAM
House Leader Declares There Is No Truth in Reports That
He Will Support Naval Program or Five-Year Plan; or
That He Is to Be Deposed as Floor Leader.
AUDIT OF STATE
DECLARED GAINS ARE
WITHOUT SIGNIFICANCE
French Could Easily Under
take Actions But Results
Would Not Be Worth
'-:. Price. '
Interest in the active operations In
the European war continued today to
center in the fighting on the western
front, where the Germans rotently
have driven heavily at the rench
lines In several sectors, notably the
Artois and Champagne distriots with
success oX various points,
Jt is announced seml-offleially from
Paris that despite the seemingly
sjreut activity, the German attacks
are in reality only local actions with
out gains of significance. It is de
clared that the French could easily
undertake similar movements but re
frain because the results would not
bo worth the price.
German news dispatches report
great damage to the French fortifica
tions at Belfort in the recent shelling
by the long range German guns.
Following the visit yesterday to
Milan the Austrian airmen are said
to have attacked Monza, 10 miles to
the northeast, one person being killed
and five injured by the bombs drop
ped. The air craft that appeared
over Brescia were driven off by anti
air craft guns.
Heavy fighting in German East
Africa between the German troops
and the Belgian forces who are in
vading the colony Is reported. Both
sides suffered heavy losses and the
results so far seem inconclusive.
The' sittings of the British parlia
ment were resumed today with the
ipadlng of the king's speech by the
lord high chancellor, the king not at
tending because his medical advisers
l.nlleved he should not do so.
Premier Asqulth's review of the
war situation is awaited, with much
interest. The discussion that will fol
low is expected to cover a wide range .
Tetters of Cardinal Mercler, the
Archbishop of Malines and other
members of the Belgian Catholic
episcopate addressed to the cardinals
:iml bishops of the central empires
and appealing In the name of their
common religion for truth and Justice
to the clergy and faithful of Belgium,
are to be answered In a collective
statement by the cardinals and bish
ops of Germany and Austria, accord
ing to Rome advices received In Paris.
The whole western fighting front
is the scene of heavy engagements.
At some points the big guns have
been roaring incessantly for days; the
Infantry have been engaged In Land
to-hand struggles; grenade fighting
and mining operations have played a
prominent part In the battles, while
lrmen have fought each other above
the lines and have been cannonaded
from below by anti-aircraft guns.
The Germans followed up their re
rent success In Champagne by the
capture of an additional half mile of
French trenches around Tahure in
that district anil their artillery bom
bardments in the neighborhood of
Masslgea and Navarin have been an
swered in kind by the French.
To the north of Sotssons. around
Terny and along the River Alsne, the
Germans started an Infantry attnek,
but the French put It down with their
guns and rifles.
To the south of the Somme, the
Germans endeavored to aurround out
post trenches but desisted, under
heavy fire of the French.
In Upper Alsace the Germans turn
ed loosai their puna on trenches the
French had re-tsptured from them,
but the French during the Wight had
evacuated them and the shelling did
no other damage than to shatter the
emplacements.
Seventeen fights In the air la the
record of Sunday reported officially
hr the British along their lines 'n
Flanders. In addition there has been
great activity eouth of lBaaeee ca
nal, where the Germans exploded
seven mines. Heavy bomberdmeiits
and an Infantry attack In that sec
tion also Is reported, the German
succeeding In entering Brltla'i
trench. They were driven out almost
Immediately.
In Albania, Arsen river which runs
westward. across central Albania and
empties Into the bay of Durano, has
been reached by the Austro-Hnnga-rlan
vanguard, according to Vienna.
The Bulgarians have occupied El
Ttaamn, an Important town In central
Albania.
There have been no Important
vents on the eastern front, hut thl
RuiMlani In the Caucasus have occu
pied one of the rVierum forts an1
hsve taken Inrge numbers of prlrton-
. Gazette-News Bureau
The Riggs Building
Washington, Feb. 15.
When asked about reports that he
was to be deposed as majority leader
and that his position in not favoring
several of the administration's meas
ures now before the house, might be
changed, Majority Leader Claude
Kitchin stated that there was not a
word of truth in either statement.
He declared that he would neither
suppoi't the naval program of four
battleships nor the five year building
program.
Mr. Kitchin pointed) to the fact
that he was one of the first members
of the house to announce that he
would oppose the continental army
plan. The people of the entire coun
try refused to support this plan after
they had learned what It meant to the
country. The president then decided
to drop it. He bel'ves there will be
many who will be against the four
battleships and the five year building
program when they become as well
Informed on this phase of the "pre
paredness program" as they now are
on the continental army plan recent
ly thrown into the discard.
New York papers yesterday and
Sunday played the rumor that Kitch
in was to bo deposed as leader fo the
extreme limit. The New York Worll
carried "a vicious cartoon in Its issue
yesterday ridiculing the North Caro
linian as a leader and its editorial
was directed at Mr. Kitchin. The
World editorial in part says;
"It is withlng the power of the
congressional majority to end this im
position peremptorily. It is within the
power of Mr. Kitchin to end it hon.ir
abljt and agreeably by surrendering
his claims to leadership. Which shall
it be?
"The Democratic party killed pri
mogeniture and entail early in its ca
reer. No member of that organization
will profit by reasserting the princi
ple, and the party will bring disas
ter upon the country and upon It
self, if the duty being force upon
It does not remove the obstruction
from Its. path and proceed to execute
the people's will."
Mr. Kitchin yesterday afternoon
gave the Gazette-News correspond
ent an Interview in which he stated
his position now and for the future.
Ho said:
BOOKS GOES 0
"There is not a word of truth in
the statement that there is a move
ment on foot to depose n;e as majori
ty leader. I have been on the floor of
the house all day today and not a sin
Vgle member has intimated such i
thing I am, not the least bit embar
rassed about reports that ; such a
movement has been started. I was one
of the first to oppose the continental
army plan, I am not going to voto for
the naval program as now proposed,
nor would I have voted for the con
tinental army program. I am opposed
to four battleships and the five year
program. I will never vote for either
one."
The statement issued by Speaker
Champ Clark Sunday night denounc
ing the report that Kitchin would be
forced out as leader and carried In
this correspondence yesterday morn
ing, was read into the record of the
house yesterday upon the request of
Speaker Clark himself and was greet
ed with loud applause by members
on both sides of the chamber.
Careful Inquiry yesterday failed to
find a single member who had heard j
Republicans Smile Satisfaction
at Progress of Investigation
of Accounts of State
Treasurer Lacy.
Methodists Considering
Church Union Problems
Leaders of Northern and South'- Churches Hold Confer
ence at Evanston, 111., Seeking Basis for Union of Two
Organizations Represent Churches With Membership
of About 8,000,000.
EXPECTED TO EMPLOY
REPORT IN CAMPAIGN
Party Furnished $1,000 For
Auditing of Books; Another
$1,000 In Sight For Pur
pose, It Is Said.
(By W. T. Host).
: Kaleigh, Feb. 13. -Republicans who
expected their executive committee's
order for a state audit of the books
in order to furnish convention reso
even an intimation that there was i lutions ana pre-primary conversation
si movement on foot to depose Mr. (are unable to tell when their experts
Kitchin as leader of the house
Mr.
Kitchin is elected by the majority
caucus in the same way that Speaker
Clark is elected. Both could bo de
moted from their present high placed
of honor if the house desired, but
It would be a very hard matter to
accomplish this end. And at present
no one desires Mr. Kitchin dethron
ed except a few New York newspa
pers, who dislike his attitude on pre
paredness. The whole controversy seems to
have started over the effort of a few
friends of Mr. Kitchin to have a com
promise arranged over the national
defense program. All of these gentle
men, are friends of Kitchin and men
who believe as Mr. Kitchin does that
the adml nlstration's program Is en
tirely too top-heavy for the needs of
the country.
Claude Kitchin Is popular and his
personal following 'far exceeds that
of any other man who has occupied
the position of majority leader. Some
of his friends believe that he should
be willing to compromise on the pres
ident's program but they have not
thought of the Idea of even suggest
ing a movement to depose him as
leader kt the house.
Investigating Charges
Against L. D. Brand eis
Nominee For Supreme Court Bench Is Accused of Unethical
Conduct by Representatives of United Shoe Machinery
Company With Which He Was Formerly Associated as
Counsel and Director.
Washington, Feb. 15. The Investi
gation of President Wllson'a nomina
tion of Louts D, Brandela for the
Supreme court bench was resumed
today by the senate Judiciary sub
committee. Representatives of the
United Shoe Machinery company with
which Mr. Branels was formerly asso
ciated, appeared as witnesses.
Tho commission sought testimony
In regard to tho charge of unethical
conduct on the part of Mr. Brandeis
in his relations with the United Shoe
Machinery company, to the effect that
after he had served as attorney and
director of the company he with
drew and later acted as counsel for a
group of manpfacturers In a suit
against the company aa an unlawful
trust.
Chicago, Feb. 15. Tre problems
of six branches of the Methodist
Episcopal churches, which are seek
ing a basis for union, are to be dis
cussed at the three days' conference
which opened at Evanston today.
Bishops, superintendents and leading
laymen were in attendance and they
were said to represent churches with
a membership of approximately 8.-
000.000 people.
Most of the discussion was to be
of an Informal nature but it Is the
Intention of the sponsors of the con
ference to collect the proceedings In
book form for reference.
The entire question of church unity
Is to come before the next general
conference of the northern church at
Saratoga Springs, N. Y., next May.
The Evanston discussions w'H em
brace church government, property
Interests, doctrines and the home and
foreign mission work of the various
organizations.
And those who are listed as speak
ers are: :.
Bishop E. E. Hobs, of Nashville,
Tenn.; Collins Deny, of Richmond,
Va.; and James Cannon, general sup
erintendent of the Southern assembly
of Waynesville, N. C.
HUNDREDS HEAR
SEN.T.E. BURTON
Ohioan Made Strong Addresi
at Auditorium Last Night,
Under Auspices of Board
of Trade.
HE WAS INTRODUCED
BY THOMAS SETTLE
Convention May Oppose
Whitman's Leadership
Speaker Declared In Favor of
Preparedness and Paid Glow
ing Tribute to America
Leaves This Afternoon.
Two More Breaks Occur
In Mississippi Levees
Natchez. Miss., Feb. IS. Two
breaks occurred early today In the
Mississippi river levee at Limerick
plantation, about 26 miles above 8t.
Joseph, La., and six miles from New
elton on the Louisiana side, accord-
GOVERNMENT ON IKE
TRAIL OF
Jap Spy Is Believed Guilty of
Theft of Secret Naval
Battle Code.x
Oaxette-Newa Bureau,
The Rlggs. Building.
Washington, Feb. 18
Every agency of the department of
Justice on the west coasi is ai
ih trait of a Japanese apy be
lieved to have been guilty of the theft
of the secret naval battle code of the
ITnlted Htatee navy, which disappear
-A from the destroyer Hull at flan
Diego.
Two naval officers have already
been courtmartlaled for the loss of
the code but the court ha suspended
Action on the case pending the out
Ing to report received here. It was
stated that large volumes of water
are rushing through the breaks and
that It would flood Texas, Concordia,
Franklin and Catahoula, and possibly
Madluon parishes In Louisiana.
come of the aearch for the Japanese.
At the time the book disappeared
a Japanese and a Filipino wore em
ployed as stewards on the destroyer.
After the loss became known the two
disappeared. The naval authorltlea
have called In the aid of the depart
ment of justice.
Possession of the code would give
any nation possession it the Inner
most secrets of the cipher used by the
American navy In time of battle. The
navy department la already preparing
a new code. It Is understood.
This la the second big theft of an
American navy secret during the ad
ministration of Becretary Daniels. On
the day that President Wilson waa In
augurated, the secret pinna for the
fire oontrol aystem wua used on other
war vessels, disappeared from the
navy department drafting room' end
has never been recovered. The loss
waa a serloua one, In view of the
fart that the fire control aysbem of
a battleahlp la Ita most vital fixture.
Knowledge of Ita details would en
able an enemy ahlp to so direct Its
fire as to put the battteehlp out of
business at the outset of an engixge-merit
will get statements ready for the
printer but smile satisfiedly at the
progress of another audit now going
on.
These republicans remembering the
sharp controversy over tho 1915 audit
which brought Alex Webb and George
Montecastle into sharp Issue with
State Treasurer Lacy, took no chances
on a similar dispute and made ready
to have a checking up of their own.
They quickly raised $1,000 lor that
purpose and it is said had another
$1,000 In a short while. Since that
time auditors have again started
through the state's books and are in
the midst of that inquiry. Wherever
they camo from, the republicans
seem to be satisfied with them and
it Is quite probable that the $2,000
or more to have been used may 1)9
employed In different channels. It
may not be needed. ,' ' .
" The" convention is soon to be here,
just a trifle more than two weeks 3it,
and It will doubtless resolve as to
what is best for it in the wny of get
ting the state's health, as reflected in
Its accounts, before the people. Tna
multitudinous audits have cause!
quite a lot of friction. Members of
the departments have been quoted ns
confident that the people will not
stand for these expenditures which
they think are useless.
"Don't use my name," said one of
the prominent democrats to your cor
respondent, discussing the audit now
In progress, "but the people are get
ting mighty tired of this . auditing
business. It Is costing thousands of
dollars and is designed especially ;o
weaken certain candidates. The peo
ple are not going to put up money
long for that sort of business."
A Kcpubllean View. ,
And a prominent republican tojk
Just the opposite view, each promis
ing to give his name when this cor
respondent was chased Into a hole
and asked for a show down.
"The suggestion last week thai
Dave Wright, heroic engineer, was
interested in covering up anything
that might need investigating and
was writing to Pou or SimmonB to
stop it, Is in my Judgment thoroughly
discreditable to the party and I
don't believe a word of It," this re
publican said.
"I know something of the train
Lien's brotherhoods. They believe m
ftp Investigations and engage in
them. If an engineer gets drunk and
the company is willing to retain him.
as a rule they are nut. Ann t aon i
think It fair to Dave Wright to tend
out the statement that he was using
the influence of the labor organiza
tions to oppose an Investigation Into
the agnirs of any department. Ha was
too fine a follow to do any partisan
trick." 1
Whether or not the leaders have
been warned to stop this Investigat
ing, It goes merrily on and when the
audit committee reports aoon It Is
expected to furnish Just aa much ex
citement as it did last year.
Dr. T. M. Jordan, who is medical
Inspector in the Alamance county
schools, reporting to the state board
of health the reunite of his recent in
spections, finds that S6 per cent of
the children are hindered in their
school progress by one or more de
fects. Dr. Jordan visited 85 schools. He
found 4,124- children at school and
of that number 2.050 had defects of
some charnrter. These may or may
not Inter become serious butt they
represent 71 per cent of the enroll
ment. Of the 2,950 defectives 1.493
are ao seriously affected as to hinder
their work In school.
Dr. Jordan gave lectures with lan
tern slides to SI schools. He had C
750 present. In his report he declares
that ho found a woeful lack of sanl
tary conditions In the various schools
except the Graham graded schools.
Alamance county Is giving prlr.es for
health Improvement and Altuninhnw
took the first award, Burlington
grnded school getting second price.
Union Ridge, Faxapahaw, Fairground
and the Oraham graded schools get
honorable mention In this contest.
Filtakeepcarr Termitcnary.
The state superintendent of public
instruction hue designated March 24
a. tho general celebration of the
Shakespeare tercentenary, calling up
(Continued on jace tiro). ,'
New York, Feb. 15. The Important
question In the minds of the delegates
of the republican state convention
who are assembling for the opening
of the convention here tonight is
whether Governor Charles S. Whitman
would lead the delegation from this
state to the republican national con
vention.
That Governor Whitman will be
designated as one of the four delegates
at larfe waa conceded. The governor
has announced his expectation of lead
ing the New York state delegation, but
in advance of the opinion of the con
vention theer Is said to be a difference
of opinion among the leaders as to
whether he should be accorded this
honor.
The convention was called to meet
in Carnegie hall at 8 o'clock tonight.
Klihu Itoot Is to call the convention
to order as temporary chairman and
to deliver a speech outlining the Is
sues of the coming campaign. After
the choosing of the committees it 13
ex pected the convention will adjourn
until tomorrow, when Senator Wads
worth will be elected permanent chairman.
Ten Lost When British
Cruiser Strikes Mine
London, Feb. 15. The British
cruiser Arethuaa struck a mine off the
east coast of England, according to
a statement by the British official
press bureau. It Is feared, the state
ment adds, that the vessel is a total
wreck. About ten lives were lost.
The Arcthiisa was a light cruiser
with a displacement of 3,600 tons and
waa 410 feet long. The vessel was
built in 1913-14. She was armed with
Hyo t-inch guns fore and aft and six
4-lnch guns on broadHide. She was al
so equipped with four 21-Inch torpe
do tubes.
Paris, Feb. 14. Reports of tho
loss of the French cruiser Amlral
Charner, which was reported to have
been sunk by a submarine while pa
trolling the Syrian coast, were con
llrmed today. According to Informa
tion received by the French minis
try of marine a raft bearing one liv
ing sailor and the bodies of fourteen
of his companions was picked up off
the coast of Syria. The rescued man
nald that the cruiser had leen sunk
on February 8 and that there had
been no time to launch the life-boats.
VERY Mi QUAKES
Lasted Over an Hour Ap
proximately 4,500 or 4,600
Miles Away.
Washington, Feb. IS. Very severe
earthquakes were reported this morn
ing on the seismographs of George
town university here. They Insted for
more than an hour. The heaviest
shock relordcd was between 7:01 and
7:03 o'clock, an approximately was
between 4500 nnd 41100 miles from
Washington. The records of the dis
turbance showed that It began at 6:50
n, m. and continued until after 8
o'clock. Tho direction of the move
ment was east and west.
Director Tontorf of the observatory
said thut the records Indicated a very
heavy quake, which If it occurred
on land would be heard from. Fre
quently such earthquakes are of sub-
tcrratira norigln and are confined to
the ocean's bottom.
S. A. L. LIMITED
WRECKED; ONE KILLED
Crashes into Rear of Freight
Train; Negro Fireman
Dead; Two Hurt.
Halelgh, Feb. 13. One man was
killed nnd two others were painfully
Brought here by the Asheville board
of trade, ex-Senator Theodore E. Bur
ton of Ohio last night delivered his
address on "The Present War and its
Probable Effects" to an audience that '
filled the Auditorium, and but for th
cold weather It is believed that people
wouia nave been turned away, several
automobile parties from nearby towns
were cancelled when the drop in tho
thermometer was registered.
The audience that heard Mr. Burton
was representative of all Interests and
parties in the city and county, and
many ladles were in the audience wh1
listened with the closest attention to '
the address by Mr. Burton. Introduc
ed In a most pleasing manner by
Thomas Settle, Air. Burton went di
rectly Into his prepared address, after
briey referring to Asheville and the
remarkable growth the city had ex
perienced since his trip here in 1890.
Masterful Address.
Senator Burton's address was one
of the most masterful and interesting'
that has been heard in ABheville in
mnay years and the attention given
throughout the speech and the pro
longed applause at the conclusion at
tested to the keen interest with which1
It was received by the audience.
Following a rest at Grove Park Inn
yesterday, having arrived In the morn
ing on the Carolina Special, Senator
Burton and his friend R. G. Floyd of
Cleveland, attended a public reception
given at the Asheville club from 4 to 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon, during
which the Ohloans met hundreds of
Anhevillc's leading citizens of both po
litical parties. Mr. Burton and Mr.
Floyd were luncheon guosts yesterdav
of Dr. and Mrs. C. K. Cotton of this
city, Mr. Floyd being Mrs. Cotton's
brother.
After several trips made over the
city toduy In automobiles, Mr. Burton
and Mr. Floyd will leave this after
noon for Greensboro, where Mr. Bur
ton delivers an address tomorrow
night before the chamber of com
merce. The Address.
Senator Burton spoke In part as
follow:
"Conjecture and not confident pre
diction Is appropriate in forecasting
results after the present frightful
struggle. It Is, however, fitting that
we should be occupied not merely
with accounts of victories and defeats
or the latest movement on the diplo
matic checkerboard, but should also
take into account all probable and
possible conditions which may arise
land prepare ourselves aa well aa we
may for future years. A war of titanla
but not .erlously Injured early today ! '"n" U"1?."1" !" ,l?
NICAUAN TREATY DID
NOT COME TO VOTE TODAY
Chairman Stone Said He Did
Not Want to Risk Vote
With Many Absent.
when the Seaboard Air line's Flori
da limited, northbound train crashed
into the rear of a freight train ct
Frankllnton, SO miles north of here.
None of the passengers was injured.
Jim Holloway, the negro fireman,
lost his life; and 11. J. Wells, engi
neer of the limited, and Frank 8toc.
well, road foreman of engines, both
of Raleigh are reported to have ben
scalded and bruised.
The engine and three cars of tho
limited train were derailed and sev
eral cars of the freight trnin we e
demolished.
Railway officials have begun an in
vestigation to determine the cause if
the wreck.
INQUIRY COMPLETED
IN CASE OF THE E-2
Washington. Feb. IS. Captain
Bullard, president of the court of In
quiry which Investigated the explo
sion aboard thckuhinarlna K-2 in the
New York Navy yard In which live
men were killed and nine were In
jured, has reported to Secretary Dan
grasp nenrly one-half the Inhabitants
of the globe; the theater of action In
cludes nearly all of Europe and very
considerable portions of Asia anil
Africa. We surel, have only a faint
comprehension of the Importance of
this unprecedented contest of the
world-wide changes which will rob.
ably follow It. yet its magnitude
staggers our comprehension. A care
ful estimate has given the number
of soldiers enguged under the flag
of the different nations at more than
thirty millions; In comparison, our
own civil war. which waa certainly
long and bloody, sinks If not Into In
significance, at least into a erv
minor position, for at no time were
there three million men under arms.
Tho loss of wealth for the first yeur
of the war to July II. It IS. has been
computed at 146.000.006,000, and the
number of those killed or maimed at
five to twelve millions.
Itaplil Progmw,
"In the beginning of this contest
In the fateful days of. August 1914
tho worlda civilisation waa making
the most rapid progress; the Individ
ual waa becoming more and more; he
enjoyed higher standards of living, a
Washington, Feb. 14. Tho senate
did not consider the Nlcaraguan treaty
today. Chairman Htone of the aenoU
foreign mixtions committee explained
that he did not want to riik a vote
on the ratification of the treaty while
so many senators were absent.
"I do not want to call up the Nlca
raguan treaty again until Wednesday."
Wrnitor Stone stated. "By that time
tha absent senators will have returned
and we will he ready for a vote."
Henator Atone said that he knew
nothing about documentary evidence
reported to be In possession of his
committee that tended to reveal plans
of Germany to establish a base In the
republic or In the Danish West Indie.
Icla that tho court has completed Its! greater degree of comfort and In
worn ana win soon report.
Officials believe the conclusions of
the court will conform substantially
with those of the special hoard of
Inquiry which held that the accident
was caused by battery trouble.
xurv
end posse wed a broader outlook ;
man aa man. Irrespective of birth,
station, or aurroundlnga, mi receiv
ing more considerate recognition. At
an evidence of this, popular govern
ment was obtaining additional recog
nition everywhere. Almost every ha-
Hon In Europe felt the quickening
WILLARD.MORATX HftTTT
Miv PH Pno.Tunwi'tl!'"" ' ln" movement for more gen
m.H.X jjfi rUSTFONEDlei.il participation of the people In -he
affairs of government. Notable eiam-
4 nlcago, Feb. 18. Whether the,ples were Portugal, which became a
Wlllard-Moran fight aet for March
In New York will be postponed will
probably be decided definitely today.
W II lard has been suffering from a
cold which has settled In hi throat
and unless he responds rapidly to
treatment It I eeld that a postpone
ment of at least two weeks will be
kod. . '
republic; Turkey where a reactionary
sovereign waa overthrown, and a!
though disappointing results wre
achieved, the b'tal of the movement
was the den.and for a rrnponsihie
nilnlatrr and Increased popular
rights. Kumlu, the seat of allni
anarchy, had established a leglHlntlva
(Continued on 1a.it
1
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