' THE GAZETTE-NEWS
Ha The Associated Frees Service.
It la In Every. Respect Complete.
Member Audit Bureau Circulation.
Mm
WEATHER FORECAST
FAIR TONIGHT.
VOLUME XXI. NO. 2.
ASHEVTLLE, N. 0., WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 16, 1916.
PRICE 2 CENTS00 TtaXaa s
GO HFEREhCE TO
DISPOSE OF THE
LUSIIIIA CASE
Count Von Bernstorff Presents
Latest German Revision of
Agreement to Secre
tary of State.
ONE MINOR CHANGE
IN U. S. SUGGESTION
Germany Understood to Have
Accepted Proposals of U. S.
in Regard to Change in
Wording of Note.
Washington, Feb. 16. Count
von Bernstorff, the German
ambassador today presented to
Secretary of .State Lansing the
latest draft of the Lusitania
agreement, embodying the
changes in wording suggested
by the American government
and also one change suggested
by the Berlin government.
The indications are that the
agreement in its present form
will probably be acceptable to
the United States.
Germany ' Is understood to have
agreed to the suggestion of the United
States that she substitute the words
"recognizes liability" for the words
"assumes liability" in the tentative
" draft of the communication designed
to seetl the Lusitania case. The re
vised draft was received here late
lust night from Berlin.
Several other changes desired by
the United States and described as
being of minor Importance also are
mid to have been made. In one In
stance, however, Germany Is under
stood to have proposed a change In
tho language suggested by the Ameri
can government.
From hlgn diplomatic authority
came the statement that It was ex
pected the Lusitania case would be
finally settled to the satisfaction of
the United States and Germany at
the conference today between Secre
tary Lansing and Count von Bern
Btorff. American officials already have said
the two governments were "substan
tially In accord." The ambassador Is
understood to be prepared to make
the tentative communication a for
mal note setting forth the Instructing
which have been given him by the
Berlin foreign office.
It was also stated that the one
modification made In Berlin was not
material and that German officials
here did not consider that the state
department would object to the
change.
Teutonic officials seemed moRt con
fident that In agreeing to the Ameri
can request to substitute the word
"recognles" for the word "assumes"
preceding the mention of liability of
Guzman to make reparation for In
Jury to neutrals, the Berlin foreign
office has removed all cause of pos
sible dlftlculwty.
HOMER HIS DATE TO ASK
CLEMENCY FDR GEORGE
Governor Talks Not Unkindly
of Militant Records of the
Cathey Brothers.
Raleigh, Feb. 1. -Homer Cathey,
of Ashevllle, made a date with Gov
ernor Craig renter day seeking execu
tlve clemency for his brother George
v.athey, now under sentence of II
months for retailing In Buncombe.
The Cathey case was a notable one,
Nobody la liked better than this dash
Jng democrat from the wont, and
Homer Cathey has lots of friends.
Governor , Craig talking about their
militant record said: "You . have
Wobably heard that they sometime!
hhL They always fight with their
fists and they always whip the fel
low with their flsu even when he
usee weapon."
George Cathey made a noble effort
to spar Homer the humiliation nf
coming down to seek a pardon.
George haa not served any time and
a few week ego the governor's office
requMtloned Pennsylvania'! governor
for C-eorg Cathey.
Governor Craig haa not taken any
ep as to the final disposition of
Oeorg Calheya case. It la taksn as
a matter of course that the sentence
must soeo re Into affect
TURKS LOSE NINE
FORTS AT ERZERUM
Russians Gain Important Successes in Caucasus Campaign
Germans Have Won Considerable Ground in West,
' After Having Shifted Attack From French Lines to
British Front in the Ypres District. 7
While Frnace and Flanders are the
fields of military activity that Just
now are commanding chief attention,
the operations of the Russians in the
Caucasus theater are developing hot
able points of nlteresi. New devel
opments have come, Petrograd an
nounces, with the capture of nine of
the forts of the Turkish stronghold
of Erzeum. .
Latet last month, the Turks were
driven back to the Erzeum defenses
and It has been reported that 80,000
people were locked up in the city
with not more than two weeks' sup
ply of provisions. Reinforcements,
however, were said to be on the way
to relieve the Turkish forces.
Military critics linked the opera
tions of the Russians In the Caucasus
campaign and that in Persia with the
British undertakings In Mesopotamia,
pointing to a possible convergence
of the allied forces.- The British
armies In Mesopotamia apparently
are making little progress.
Not much attention was pair to
the
Caucasus theater for manv
months, the forces there being small.
With the appointment of Grand Duke
Nicholas as commander-in-chief of
the Russian Caucasus armies, how
ever, It was hinted that Important de
velopments might be looked for.
Switching their offensive from the
Artois and Champagne regions In
France to the Belgian sector around
Ypres held by the British, the Ger
mans have smashed their way by an
artillery bombardment and Infantry
attacks Into a British front line trench
over a distance of between 600 and
800 yards. Berlin gives the distance
as 800 yards.
In the Artois region between Lens
and Bethune, the crater of a mine
Declares Bill
All Children From Mills
President of South Carolina Textile Manufacturers' Associa
tion Tells Senate Committtee Mills Cannot Arrange
Hours to Permit Working of Children Eight Hours a
day.
Washington, Feb. 16. Captain El
lison Smythe, president of the South
Carolina Textile Manufacturers' asso
ciation, , told the senate committee on
interstate commerce which Is consid
ering the house child labor bill that
passage of the measure would drive
all the children under the age of 16
years from the mills. There was no
way, he said, to rearrange the hours
by which such children could work
eight hours a day and great suffer
ing would result to the parents who
were deprived of the wages of their
children.
For this reason, Captain Smythe
declared, and because of unwilling
ness to have federal regulation of
state affairs, the cotton manufactur
ers opposed the Keating bill.
Captain Smythe Is president of
BILL INTRODUCED
n i
Underwood Would Submit
Liquor Question to Vote of
People in District.
Gajtette-New Bureau
-The Rlgg Building
Washington, Feb 1.
Senator Underwood of Alabama
offered In the senate yesterday after
noon a substitute for the Hheppard
prohibition bill for the District nf
Columbia. It provides for a referen-
. - l. I L.I. 1 ...tlM tftl'
cum oi mo pr..i.M. .
a W a has a - AtF Ira 1 1 m r t"lrT
I :.V-
mucn vi in mil iui.i,'ivb ...v
Inal provisions of the Kheppard
manBiira In Addition to thle It con
tains number of sections providing
for submission of the question of pro -
hlhltlnn to the voters of the district
and for the machinery needed, should
ih. nrnnnsod vote be taken.
One of the fen tu res of the substi
tute Is that an election on the ques
tion In three years, when It might
again he brought up on petition.
Tse Underwood substitute would
require an election In the district on
the prohibition quantlni on applica
tion d(7I Per cent of the male rest
dentsWer tl years of age.
. Such a petition would presented
to tha commissioners, who within 10
days, would be reotit to order aa
SUBSTITUTE
blown up by the Germans was occu
pied by them, while the French guns
have been busy shelling German or
ganizations In the neighborhood of
the road to Lille. The French also
have bombarded German positions
north of Vio Sur Aisne and to the
northeast of Solssons and in the Ar
gonne exploded a mine and occupied
the crater.
In the Champagne. Berlin asserts.
French infantry attempts to regain
lost positions north of Tahure were re
pulsed, as likewise was a similar at
tack In the Vosges near Ober-Sept.
There has been a considerable re
newal of activity on the Russian front
around Dvlnsk, to the south of the
Pripet river and along the upper and
middle Strlpa river but no important
changes have occurred.
The Italians are still using their
guns and Infantry In attempts to re
take from the Austro-Hungarians the
positions recently captured on Monte
Rombon,.but all attempts have been
repulsed with heavy losses, according
to Vienna, Both sides of the Sisera
occupied by the Austrlans and posi
tions In the Seebach valley and on the
Austrian front between the Fella val
ley and Viesh mountain, also have
been heavily bombarded by the Ital
ians. The Russians are still on the offen
sive against the Turks In the Caucasus
region, but Constantinople reports
their attacks have been halted by
counter attacks. In Mesopotamia the
situation around Kut El Amara and
Felahie, where the British are operat
ing against the Turks, is unchanged.
At the re-opening of the British
parliament, both Premier Asquith and
Secretary for War Kitchener made
speeches In which they reviewed the
situation and expressed confidence in
ultimate victory for the entente allies.
Will Drive
several cotton mills, one at Pelzer, S.
C. He said that the children greatly
prefer working In the mills to going
10 scnooi ana in the absence of a
compulsory school law the company
was Inducing the children to attend
school by the payment of ten cents
premium per month
to each child
who had a perfect attendance.
Captain Smythe said that in his
mills there were 81 boys and 58 girls
between the ages of -14 and 16 years
and 69 boys and 49 girls from 13 to
14 years of age. They work 11 hours
a day four days In the week, 10 hours
one day and 6 hours on Saturday
60 hours a week.
He stated that the average wage
per day of the persons employed In
his mills was $1.81; and he estimated
that the children were paid on the
average of $1 per day.
election to be held within 40 days. All
male voters over 21 years of age
would be eligible to vote, The com
missioners would appoint three man
agers, two clerks, and one returning
officer for each precinct or voting
place.
They would be equally divided be
tween those who favor and those who
oppose prohibiting the manufacture
and sale of liquor.
Publlo canvass of the voters by the
commissioners would be required
within five days after the election.
If prohibition carried, the commls
sloners would be required to put it
into fnrco in 30 days.
One of the sections of the bill Is
Intended to guard against fraud or
corruption on the port of any mali
nger, clerk, section ofllclal, or veter.
It flxee the punishment for such
iraua at a line or not over il.ono or
Imprisonment for more than one year
or both.
It la the understanding that sena
tors who ore prepared to oppose the
Sheppard bill and who are fur the
" !'"'
referendum will unite In support of
i:drrwood proposition.
t t J $t H 1 H ! H t I H ft H H H
jtt
,1 London, Feb. 1. The constd- H
tratlon of the question of treat-
I ment of neutral shipping rslsed
R by the American note to Great
. Britain haa reached an advanced
t stars with the prospect of lm
t portmt modification designed to
t benefit the status of the neutral
X shipper and which It Is believed
t will be satisfactory to those who
t have made the chief complaints,
H It waa learned today by the Aaso-
m dated r
!IHHMl""aH
CAN T APPROVE
TEUTON NOTES
It Is Said State Department
Must Concede Allies Are
Within Rights in Arm
ing Merchantmen.
NOTES ALONG LINE
OF U. S. SUGGESTION
Various High Officials Convinc
ed That Position of Ger
man and Austrian Gov- '
eminent Is Justiled.
Washington, Feb, 16. The United
States, it was said by high authority
at the state department today, con
cedes that the entente allies are with
in their rights under prevailing in
ternational law in arming merchant
ships for defensive purposes, no mat
ter wht conditions exist on the seas.
Consequently it is admitted that
should the allies decline to adopt the
American suggestion to disarm mer
chantmen, founded primarily upon a
desire to save the lives of Innocent
non-combatants, this government can
not announce Its approval of the In
tentions of Teutonic powers to torpe
do without warning after February
29 all armed vessels, although vari
ous high officials are convinced thnt
the position of Germany and Austria
is justified.
State department officials now are
engaged In trying to determine Just
what will happen when the comman
ders of German and Austrian sub
marines begin to put their new in
structions into effect. It is said, too.
that the United States in the near fu
ture, may-u make some Inquiries
to how the central powers Intend to
determine whether merchantmen en
countered by their submarines
armed.
In response to inquiries regarding
this aspect it was said by high Tea
tonic authority that tho German and
Austrian governments would under
fo consideration disregard the assur
ances which have been given to the
United States in regard to the con
duct of submarine warfare. Attention
was called particularly to the fact
that the German government had as
sured the United States that liners
would not be attacked without being
warned. These assurances, It was said
had not been and would not be re
pudiated, and for that reason liners
in service between the United States
and western Europe would not be at
tacked without warning, even If they
have defensivo armament aboard.
Teutonio officials were Inclined to
believe that such an Issue would not
i arise as Great Britain has agreed that
Its ships entering American waters
will not be armed. In both diplomatic
and official circles doubt even was
expressed that the new policy would
in the slightest way affect conditions
in the Atlantic although it was ad
mitted that should the Italiun gov
ernment persist In arming its mer
chantmen difficulty might arise in
the Mediterranean,
State department officials recog
nize that the action of the German
and Austrian governments is a de
velopment of the recent American
suggestion. The department, how
ever, does not feel obligated to take
any action In regard lo thu bread
questions involved at least untllr It
has received replies to Its own mem
orandum to the entente allies regard
ing the disarmament of merchant
men. The state department repeatedly
has allowed It to become known that
It had no intention of changing the
law in the subject of arming mer
chant ships on Its own account and
that such a move could be made only
with the consent of all the powers
affected. Btt the United States In
consideration of the changed condi
tions of naval warfare, can amend Its
Instructions to the port authorities.
It might. It was suggested, revise Its
Instructions so as to permit merchant
ships to clear with guns of a cnlllire
useful solely for defensive purposes
snd yet not largo enough to be effoc
tlve against submarines at a distance
from which warning safely could be
given.
Under the existing regulations
merchant ships may enrry guns
mounted on the stern of a cnllbro up
to six' Inches. It was suggested thnt
the rules might be so amended as to
reduce the calibre to, for Instance,
two Inches.
Then entire matter, aa the state
department now viewa It, turns about
the question of what constitutes de.
fenlve armament It Is admitted
that the line between where defen
sive, power ceases and offensive pow
er begins Is difficult to draw and au
thorities on international law In the
department say the question' Is one
which surely would haye to be .eon
aidered by International conference
at the conclusion of the war.
The many friends of Mrs. Joseph
D. Pool will be glad to know thnt
she returned yesterday from the
H, Meriwether hospital to her homo, 17
JOlaabeUi street.
TWO STEAMSHIPS
AND PIER BURNED
Incendiarism Suspected in Fire Which Destroyed Steamers
Bolton Castle and Pacific and 900-Foot Pier, Because of
Munition Cargoes Other Damage Most Disastrous
Fire on the Brooklyn Front in Years Loss Estimated
at More Than $1,000,000. v
New York, Feb. 16. The steam
ships Bolton Castle and Pacific and
a 900-foot pier belonging to the New
York Dock company at the foot of
the Pioneer street, Brooklyn, were
destroyed early today by the most
disastrous fire on the Brooklyn front
in many years. Another steamer, the
Pallazla, . was damage and about 25
scows and lighters were partly - or
wholly burned.
The loss lst.estlmated at consider
ably more than $1,000,000. The orig
in of the fire is unknown, but suspi
cion of Incendiarism was aroused be
cause of the fact that some of the
steamers were being loaded with
munitions of war, some of which was
intended for shipment to the Russian
government, and to be delivered at
Vladivostok. .
The watchman aboard the Bolton
Castle discovered that buildings on
th pier were ablaze soon after 1
o'clock this morning. The flames
spread so rapidly that the officers
and crews of the steamers and light
ers lying at the pier, after vain ef
forts to prevent the spread of the
Mexicans Allege Plot
To Blow Up Battleship
Carranza Officials Inform United States That Consul Canada
Is Involved in Plans to Blow Up the Kentucky, Thereby
Forcing Intervention State Department Asks Proof.
""Washington; Feb. 16. Carranza
officials have Informed the state de
partment that they have heard re
ports of a plot to blow up the battle
ship Kentucky In Vera Cruz harbor
In which Consul Canada Is said to be
involved, the object of the plot being
to enforce American intervention in
Mexico.
The officials were requested- to pre
sent any proof they may have of the
alleged plot. The state department
Committee Alters Land
Banks Bill In Congress
Washington, Feb. 16. The admin
istration bill to establish a system of
land banks, drafted by a Joint con
gressional committee, has been favor
ably reported to the senate but with
radical alterations by the banking
and currency committee. Tiro joint
proposal for a board of five commis
sioners to control the Bystem was dis
carded by the committee In favor of
control by a treasury department bu
reau, under the general supervision
of the federal farm loan board, the
latter to consist of the secretary of
RESCUE PARTY SEEKING
Sill T
Velma Brooks in Recent 60-
Mile Gale Is Overdue
Crew of Two Men.
Bcauford, N. C, Feb. 16. Fears
for the safety of the Texas company's
oil tank vessel Velma Brooks, abound
from Norfolk for Beaufort, became
known today, when a roscuo crew In
tho auxiliary fishing schooner Sadie
Culver went In search of the vessel.
Tho Velma Itrooks whs In the rccont
60-nille galo snd la overduo.
Tho Velma Iirooks Is a 3 3 -ton gaa
oleno steamer, carrying a crew of
two men and halls from Ileaufnrt.
She was built In 1900 at -Madison,
Maryland.
FLORIDA IS VISITED '
BY 1 KILLING FROST
Tampa, Feb. IS. Killing frost In
northern and central Florida last
night Is reported. At Jacksonville and
Unlnsvill the thermometer wrva 21 de
grees above 'sero, ltf the southern
section of the state, where the orange
trees are In bloom the mercury was
$S dearees above sero and no damage
la reported.
fire to their vessels, either were com
pelled to leap overboard or to seek
safety aboard other tugs and light
ers which came to the rescue.
When the first company of fire
men reached the scene, the pier was
blazing so fiercely that they could
not gain access to it. The Palazlawas
towed out Into the stream 200 yards
or more off the dock, but it was im
possible to remove the other two
vessels.
The fire boats saved the Palazla
but could make no progress against
the flames on the other two steam
ers. The Bolton Castle was loading
with gasoline for Russia and this fed
the fire. The boilers of both the Bol
ton Castle and the Pacific blew up
while the flames were at their height
completing the work of destruction.
Several barges loaded with gaso
line lying near the steamer were de
stroyed. The Bolton Castle, a British vessel
of 3,689 tons register, arrived here
February 6, from Singapore. The Pa
cific of 2,612 tons arrived from Hull
yesterday. '
regards the reports as a continuation
of the fire against Consul Canada
which has been made for months by
Carranza officials who charge that
Mr. Canada is antagonistic to the
Carranza government.
Recently the consul was at home
on leave of absence but the state de
partment, after investigating the va
rious statements about his conduct
sent him back to his post at Vera
Cruz.
the treasury and four presidential ap
pointees. .
The new provisions would author
ize the Investment of postal savings
funds In farm loan bonds and would
permit the treasury department to
keep up to $6,000,000 on deposit with
land banks. The committee struck
out the clause giving the land banks
nuthority to establish savings depart
ment. The general outlines of ihe
jwm.v y.upumvi w wu.uu wwuiisniton, was made second lleuaenant of
twelve sectional federal land banks' the Second company of the Coast Ar
were retained. tllierv TV'iiminnn
THE E
GRAVE BUUONFIDENT
Premier's Speech to Parlia
ment Indicates New Credit
Must Be Provided.
Iomlon, Feb. 16. There was little
that was spectacular or sensational
about the opening of the new semlon
of tho British parllument. The par
liament stnrtrd "on Its business with
a sober sir befitting the serious busi
ness which It Is to nrcoiuplisli In tho
next few weeks.
The prime minister. Mr. Asquith. In
the house 'of commons and the secre
tary for whr, Earl Kitchener, In tho
house of lords, reviewed the present
status of the Nation's affairs, Mr. As
nnlth appealed tor national economy;
Earl Kitchener closed with an expres
sion of the hope that the new ayatem
of army enlistments would yield the
required number of men to carry the
war to a decisive conclusion.
The speech of the prime minister,
grave In tone, but confident In char
acter, created a deep Impression on
the house. His closing allusion to the
economlo strain of the war waa an
cepted aa nn Intimation that at an
early date further taxation of a far
reaching character will be Impoecd, a
well na a enmprehenalva m heme for
the restrictions of Imtorts,
the purpose of forming a ParenU
BIG NHERITANCE
W PI STATE
As Result of Supreme Court
Decision State Gets Check
For $12,038 Mostly From
Tucker Estate.
DECISION GREATLY
INCREASES REVENUE
Heretofore Many Counties
Had Contributed Nothing in '
, Inheritance Taxes !
Other State Laws.
, (By W. T. Boat) ;
Raleigh, Feb. 16, State Treasurer
Lacy has received from Millard Mlal.
clerk of the Wake county court, u
check for $12,038.88 as the Inheritance
tax contributed by. Wake county.
This big gain In the county is tho
result of a suit of the ' corporation
commission last year to determine the
status of real estate in the Inheritance
tax act which had been In 'dispute.
Attorney General Bickett's construe- '
tion of the act left the taxahleness
of such property in dispute, the act
appearing to have had such verbiage
as to becloud its meaning and It waa
open to either view. Solicitor Norris
on relation of the state brought tho
suit to determine the standing of tho
rich Tucker estate in Raleigh and in
the lower court the heirs won. On
appeal the Supreme court reversed th-
lower and established clearly the duty
of the state to tax realty.
It was then estimated that this
would bring to the treasurer at least
$10,000. Prior to that hearing the
whole state had. hardly collected .so
much. The exact figures were not
available but plenty of the counties
have been contributing nothing In In
heritance taxes. The court's opinion
has caused a considerable stream of
revenue to flow Into the state but very
few counties have paid their taxes
complete and no guess as to tho
amount could indicate anything near
the inheritance expectancy.
The Tucker estate pays about $7,000
of the $12,000 turned over by the
clerk. The Rancy heirs also pay a
considerable amount, three estates
substantially making up the recolpti
which were turned over Monday.
Holds Judge Cooke's Court.
Judge Thomas J. Shaw has been
designated to hold Nash county court
for Judge Charles M. Cooke, whose
continued illness has made impossible
his performance of the court duties.
Judire Shaw goes to Nash county
February 28 to begin his assignment.
In the office of the secretary of
rtate the Chapel Hill Hardware com
pany was given a charter to do a $15,
000 business with $6,900 paid In by C.
U Wills, H. C. Wills and C. H. Wills.
Adjutant General Young has Issued
commissioners to Daniel B. Byrd, com
pany F. as first lieutenant, and to
Randolph I. Florence, second lieuten
ant. Edward II. Holmes of Wllmlnr-
No IVIUIcnl Row.
Harmony seekers among the reun
ited republicans-progressives are un
able to find the Inspiration of the antl
Duncnn Jubllnnts who declare that the
opposition to the national committee
man won In the recent pre-conventlon
primaries.
'There Is no contest among Pun
can or antl-Duncnn men." F. E. Hes
ter, secretary of the recent republican
progressive meeting, and nntl-Duncan
man In former contests, said. "We
have been getting along smoothly and
expect to continue to do It. I don't
expect any division and have not been
conscious of any contest between th
old factions. I had none In mind
when I went Into the primary and do
not believe the majority of people who
participated did. I realize that manv
democrats are pleased to think that
we are fighting but I do not think so."
Some of Mr. Duncan's long time en
emies have been working the antl
VHincan demonstration to a finish anil
It Is known that they started nut to
rapture n county delegation opposed
to the national committeeman. They
thought they had done so but It Is dis
puted by their former fellows In fight
ing. Ilcktrr May IW tt'lialrnian.
Kugene Heter Is being urged by
both factions to head the party exec
utive committee aa chairman. They
have had two before, w. J. Andrew
and A. P, ITpchurch were Ihe factional
heads after Lester Butler left Raleigh.
Mr. llutler dividing th cholrmanabliN
the convention platform and the con
vention hour with Mr. Andiewa. Now,
In the Interest of harmony they aro
seeking to enthrone Hester.
"I have ben approached hy man
to lead th party this year." Mr. Hea
ter said, "but I have not been a oan
dldate. Only upon condition that we
are to get together and stand together
would I consider It. A fight amonif
ourselvea would be vaeles and I di
not wish to participate In another. I
would accept the chairmanship If
Continued on peg two.
(