THE ASHEVHXE, TIME S ASSOCIATED TRESS SEKVICK. . MFMBER OP Al'DIT BU REAU OP CIRCUIiATIOX THE WEATHER PARTLY OVERCAST. SUCCESSOR TO THE ASHEVILLE GAZETTE-NEWS. 70LUME XXI. NO. 13. , ASHEVILLE, N. C, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 29, 1916. PRICE 2 CENTS-0 TnXaa 5 BOMBARDMENT NORTH OF VERDUN FORTRESS GROWING IN INTENSITY H PHASE III BATTLE BEGINS? Paris Report Indicates Tha. Germans Are Starting An other Supreme Effort to Take Verdun. ' MAY REPEAT TERRIFIC FORCE OF FIRST DRIVE French Claim to Have Suc ceeded in Operation Involv ing Possession of Vil lage Near Fort. What may be a renewal of the (ieranin drive on Verdun wit llilie terrific force which marked the initial attack is contained in the announcement from Paris today that the bom bardment to the north of the foi tress has assumed greater intensity. The heaviest infantry fight ing of last night seems to have ' been in the Woevre district, to the south of the fortress, wlwre the Germans attacked and cap tured the village of Maneheul len. The French decltre that in a counter attack they attained the boundary of the village and now hold the village un der the fire of their guns. v The comparative lull which revailed for some hours be fore the renewal of the intense artillery fire, on which report is made today, indicated that a new phase of the great bat tle might be developing. As a whole the German attacks, while it was continuous, had apparently less driving power than at first, while pressure was being shifted from point to point. Evacuating Trcbiboml. l.ondon. Feb. 28. A Central Nes dispatch from Pctrograd says that tho Turks arc hastily evacuating Trcb i.ond and neighboring towns on the Black sea coast of the Caucasus. British Casualties. l-ondon. Feb. 29 The British cas ualties In all the war arena un publish ed during the monih of February to talled JJ offlcers and 17.M7 mea ThrnuKhnut the entire sector of Verdun, except on the western bank of the Meuse river, where the Her man bombardment has slackened lomewhat the artillery duels are still of vast nrooortlona. To the south-1 A nurt, the French at Gresnes. In the Woevre rogion, have put uown iwu Herman attacks against that town, but the Germane have Inaugurated in Important movement In the Cham pagne district, where by surprise tttuck they succeeded In entering a French advanced position of a sup porting trench over a front of nearly a mllo, capturing more than a thou tund men. . Notwithstanding the fresh reserves tho French have thrown into the fray nt Fort Douaumont, the German war olBce declares that their efforts have been fruitless and that the Germans have advanced their lines toward Bra and Vacherauvllle. It also Is claimed thut the Germans have entirely ex pelled the French from the Meuse peninsula, southward from Bamogneu and west of Vacherauvllle. On the Russian front around Frled rlchstadt and llloukst there has been heavy artillery, machine gun ami rifle firing. In Callda the Russians re pulsed an attempt by the Auetro Hungarians to capture trenches on the middle Strips river. The Austrlans, according to Vienna, hav put down with sanguinary losses an Italian attack against positions on both side of Monte Ban Mlchelo and east of Asso, and also destroyed an Italian trench nn the Gorlala brldeg head. The Russians still are operating auccemfully against the Truka who fled from Erse rum and the Ottoman forces In the Feralan battle tone. Carranza Is Threatened With Diaz Revolution Mexican Leader Has Left U. S. Apparently to Lead Revolt In Oaxaca Was Associated With Huerta in Overthrow of Madero and Has Been Suspected of Revolutionary De-signs. Washington. Feb. 29. Felix Diaz, who has been watched for several months by- department of Justice agents because of suspected activities in violation of American neutrality, apparently has left the United States for Mexico with the intention of launching a new revolution against ithe Carranza de facto "government, i Information reaching officials hero indicates that he hopes to organize and lead the troops of his native state Oaxaca, npd such other forces in southern Mexico as he can gather about him. General Diaz left New Orleans Fri day for Havana, where several Mexi cans whoso names have been asso ciated with his in reports of a revo lutionary movement, were understood to he awaiting him. Teodoro Dehesa, a former governor general of Vera Crnz, and General Aurelioano Blan- quct, war minister under Huerta, were reported to be among them. Although Diaz eluded the federal agents detailed to watch him, depart ment of justice officials Bald that since no evidence warranting his ar- More Calls Anticipated From Flooded Districts - New Orleans. F-eh. 29. Large forces of workers early today were reported lo be making efforts to prevent o. threatened break in the Mississippi river levee at Mark. Jji., 20 miles be low Baton Rouije. According to early information received here, hopes are entertained that the levee can be made to hold against the pressure of the waters. The situation at Mark Is sim ilar to the ono nt Southwood, where state, government nnd railway engin eers hae worked live days and nights and have finally overcome the efforts cf the flood to break through the em bankment. Owing to heavy rains In the Inun Warned of German Raider Operating In Atlantic New York, Feb. 29. Wireless warn ings thut a German commerco raider, possibly accompanied by convoys. Is attacking shipping In the Atlantic was received by the Standard Oil lank Farther south. In Mesopotamia, a bombardment by the British of a Turkish camp on the left bank of the Tigris river resulted In heavy casual ties to the Turks. Further details of the fighting be tween the British and tribesmen of ficered by Turks in western Egypt show that the leader of the tribesmen, Nurl Bey, a brother of the Turkish war minister, was killed, and his prin cipal subordinate r ounded and that the tribesmen left large numbers of dead on the field as their main force fled. FOR PBISONERT TRANSFER Mrs. Warren and Christy Art Still in Jail at Winston. Salem. Wlnston-Halem Feb. II. Though In dally expectation of receiving lomi Instruction, sheriff Flynt of Forsyte county hss not yet had any orders foj '.he transfer of Mrs. Ida Ball Warroc and Samuel Christy, under death sen tence for murder, lo the state peni tentiary at Raleigh, where It Is cue toruary to confine suoh prisoners Ira mediately after their conviction residing formal orders for the trans for, the prisoners are comfortabl housed In the Forsyth county Jail. No reason la known Jiy the orderf for the transfer have never been r celved. Ho fnr as Is known here the) have never been Issued. Miss Florence Gray has returned the citjr after a visit to Franklin. rest had been fuiiml, and as he left the country, 'according to reports, as a private citizen of Mexico and not as leader of any organized revolutionary movement, nothing probably could have been done to detain Mm. General Diaz, a nephew of the for mer Mexican president of that name, has been absent from Mexico since Huerta, whom lie helped to establish in power, sent liim ubroad on a dip lomatic mission. Most of this time he has spent In the United States, al though he was suspected of being connected with the revolutionary plot for which Huerta and several others; were indicted, no direct evidonce I against him ever developed. Oaxaca, where Diaz Is expected to launch his movement, is the only state that has held aloof during the light of the past two years, Led by state officials, the people declared their independence and Carranza and other leaders were told that the state would be glad to resume its place in the union whenever anyone demon strated that he had restored a stable central government. dated) sections of northern Louisiana, relief workers anticipate additional calls for assistance from the flood vic tims'. Few of the marooned people are thought to be provided with ade quate shelter and nl Natchc It is de clared the food supply Is running low. Increasing difficulty in providing for the accessible refugees is seen in the reports of food shortage. Storm Comes East. Washington, Feb. 29. The storm which was over the gulf states yes terday morning moved rapidly east ward and today is passing over the south Atlantic coast, the weather bu reau announced today. steamer Communipaw, which arrived here today from Algiers. The first message concerning the raider was received l'cbruury 17 and was partly In code. TO UTILITIES Forsyth Claims That Mecklen burg Gets More Than Proper Share of Taxes. Special to The Times. Raleigh, Feb. 29. The Corpora' tlon commission has set March 22 for the hearing in the' Southern Public Utilities company Involving an equit able distribution of the franchise taxes of that company among the counties of the state. The controversy grows out of the fact that In the Increnn of the assess, ment In Mecklenburg, Forsyth coun ty claims that the county gets more than Mecklenburg's share of the company's taxca. Many attorneys and citizens will be here, to give testi mony and argument. Deputy Colltctor H. O. Oulley. J. P. Well and Possemen Guntrr and Watklns have poured out within the last forty-eight hours more than n, 000 gallons of leer from which corn liquor was to have been made. Friday they took two big stills In Chatham, the combination being worth 12 gallon a day If unmoles d. Fourteen miles from Trenton these officers re-enforoed by Posse men Gardener and Terrell caught a big still which had 24 ferrtieHtor ready for work. Sheriff T-ane and Deputy Colelctor E. O Richardson took another squad Into Chatham Friday and caught four gallons of the unsold stuff and 4. BOO gallons of the unmade fluid. In all thev must have destroyed a potential 200 gal lons, all of which might have been toiengsged before It was made. They aauaht iiO men. 0 RAILROAD GIVEN CHARTER Stock Subscribed For Shelby Northern Railway Company Work to Be Started at Once. MODEL SCHOOL PLAN MEETS WITH APPROVAL Gov. Craig Doesn't Understand Why Mrs. Warren and Christy Are Not In Death Cell. Special to The Times. Raleigh, Feb. 29.; Application has been made for a charter for the Shel by Northern Railway company, that much-talked-of and long-desired line that Is to run up through Cleveland county from Shelby, by way of Fall ston, Beam's Mill and Belwood, to Caesar. The road will be 21 miles long and the subscribers to the stock of. the lino have already exceeded the statutory requirement of $1000 per mile and. 5 per cent of subscriptions paid up. The total authorized capital stock is $300,000. odes M. Mull, a Shelby lawyer, W. N. Dodd of Green ville, S. C; Gerald A. Ryder, W. E. Soelon and J. A. Vandergrift & Co., of New York City; W. . Cullcn of Newark, N. J., are the incorporators. The first five and last-named are di rectors of the road. The Vandergrift company is the largest subscriber to the stock, the company taking $20,000 worth of stock. Work is to be started on the road as early as possible. The Supreme court ot North Caro lina hears appeals from the Fifth ju dicial district, comprising Carter.et, Craven, Greene, Jones, Pamlico and counties, today. Cases docketed arc as follows: Corey vs. Hooker, from Pitt county; Huff vs. Railroad, Lodge Vs. Jackson, Price vs. Harrington. Craven county"; Wooten vs. Cunning ham, Greene; West vs. Richmond, Pitt; Railroad vs. Dill, Craven: Taylor vs. Railroad, Pitt; Lumber Co. vs. Railroad, Craven; Bell vs. Smith, Car teret; Carson vs. Insurance Co., Pitt; Fountain vs. Commissioners, Pitt; Vlck vs. Adams and Vlck vs. Wooten. Pitt county; Warren vs. Heerrington, Craven; Toomey vs. Lumber Co., Cra ven. No state cases are scheduled. The report of the registrar of vital statistics for January, Just made pub lic, shows that there were 32 deaths In Raleigh In Junnary and E3 births. The city now claim sa population, of 23,190, according to recent police census. . Governor Cralr? said yesterday that he did not understand why it was that Ida Ball Warren nnd Samuel Preston Christy are not in the State prison. It is customary to send condemned pris oners to Raleigh as soon as they are convicted, but the Forsyth authorities seem to be reluctant about losing their notorious prisoners. It is learned that the Forsyth officers think that the prison authorities should make de mand for th prisoners but that has not been th eciistnin. The two should have been In the death cells at the State prison weeks ago, in fact, they were due to tak? up their abode there Immediately after the Supreme court handed down its decision, confirming the verdict of tho Superior court of Forsyth county. Adjutant Goneral Lawrence W Young has issued an order placing Major D. D. Parks, of Mt. Airy, on tho retired list, at Major Parks' own re quest. He is leaving the state. The Monger-Hatch company of San- ford has tiled an amendment to Its chnrter changing Its name from the Monger-Hatch company, to tho. Hatch Wholesale House. Inc., th chnnge be ing made because of tho withdrawal from the company of J. if. Monger. The capital stock Is also Increased from $5,000 to $9,000. Insurance Commissioner Young and Commissioner Shlproan of the depart- ment of labor and printing, have re turned from th eSafety First confer. ence at Washington, where they rep resented North Carolina. It was a great conference, well attended, and both commissioners came homo with many new ideas for their departments The depnrtmont of labor and print ing Is In rcclpt of a letter from Alberto Coulmlnet, commissioner representing Uruguay, expressing his' thanks for Iho service by the department In plac ing him In touch with North Carolina manufacturers. Ho says that ho has received many catalogues from Tar Heel manufacturers and that he hopes to visit the state nt an early date. He la authorlcd by his nation to get in touch with manufacturers of furni ture, structural iron, clothing, end many other things.' The stato department of Insurance is much grutllled to note that Us model school plan seems to he meeting with the approval of th earchltecta of the state. Of the four or live different plans presented by architects to the school board of Mt. Airy for that town's new school building a few days ago, evofy one embodied the depart ment's outside tower Idea. I Asheville and two or three other towns are In trrrsted In the plan for new school building and will be given the benefit of the department's wisdom. Com missioner Voting said today that he had met with opposition from only two architect In the state. RELIEF II IMP EP' n Weather Conditions Increase Difficulties of Those Engag ed in Rescue Work in Flood District. SEEPAGE IS CAUSING TROUBLE AT VIDALIALA. Intense Suffering Reported in Some of Districts Where Vic tims Lack Fires and Warm Clothing. New Orleans, Feb. 29. Though conditions In general are regarded as improved in the flood sections of northern Louisiana, relief workers in the remoter areas are experiencing increasing difficulties owing to weath er conditions and appeals for govern ment aid are coming from several tt the towns. Seepage water Is now reported to have caused considerable trouble at Vidalia, La., across the river from Natchez, Miss. The water is being pumped out at the rate of 2,000 gal lons a minute. It, is estimated, but it still continues to rise. Rain and sleet which started to fa'.l Sunday, continued yesterday and suf fering was reported to be Intense In some of the localities among the ref ¬ ugees camped on levees and in the 'ofts of cabins, without fires and varm clothing. Details were expected on the recommendations to be made to the war department by Captain Hunt of the quartermaster's department of .he army, and Captain Hedrick, who .Is In charge of the relief work. ' Two - government officials started an a trip Saturday to Investigate 'he conditions In Lower Concordia par 'sh. Special levees for the protection igalnst the back waters have been built and are holding against the pressure of the rising water, It Is itated In the latest reports. Many negro families of the Deer Park section are reported to be ar riving at Natchez where they are eeking food and shelter. There were no levees on which they could camp !n the district from which they fled, o they were unable to remain there vllh safety. Briar's plantation, formerly owned by Jefferson Davis, president of the confederacy, today was reported to be flooded with water which had ris- sn to the tops ot the cabins in the aegro quarters. 5 As Compared With January, 1915, There Was Increase of $68,000,000. Washington, Feb. 29. Exports for January fell somewhat below the mark set the previous month, thn to tal being $3.10,535,303 as compared with $3n2.K00,0OO for December. As compared with January a year ago, however, there was an Increase of nearly $68,000,000. Imports are still Increasing, the total for January be ing $184,192,299, an Increase of more than $12,000,000 over December. Nearly 74 per cent of the Imports were free cf duty. Indicating In creased Imports of raw materials and decreased Imports of manufactured European goods. For the seven months ended with January the exports from this count try totaled $2,111,312,322, or C4 per cent higher than for the like period of the preceding fiscal year, and 40 per rent higher than the former best record mnde In 1912-13. Imports i'or tho seven months ending with Jan uary last totaled $ t,096.7.17 J, be ing annul dvu,vuu mure limn die fir mer high record total of $1,096,484,- 7(7, recorded In the seven months of 1911-13. and $166,500,000 more than for the corresponding period -f 1914-15. The seven months Just end- ed showed an export balance of $1,- 084,133.149. being about two and one half times that for each of the cor responding seven month periods of the last five fiscal years. Our International gold movement! were comparatively small, imports; IhAMnf ,4 ii l n jAmtapv I. at Bftimint. Ing to $15,008,232 and export $19. - 213,617. me aggregate goia imports.i for seven months to January It.! 1916, were $923,038,386, about nine (lines the amount Imported In the ni-vcn month preceding January 31 1(16; and gold exorts aggregate $J4.or,6.08 In the first seven months EXPORTS IB nf the current fiscal year, sgalnirt clally to th atate department. Nn four times that amount In a Ilk pt-1 other details of th Incident ar glv rlod of th preceding year, . en. .E.0.P I iillt Republican Delegates In Ral eigh For State Convention Which Will Be Held There Tomorrow. WILL BE HARMONIOUS SO LEADERS DECLARE Thomas S. Harkins Urged For Lieutenant Governor and L. L. Jenkins Is Supported For Secretary of State. Raleigh, Feb. 29. The North Car- olina republican state convention j meets here tomorrow with State i Chairman Frank H. Linney of Boone ' president. Prominent delegates to the! . .' ' convention said today that the meet-j Berlln- Feb' (By Way of Lon ing would be harmonious and thatjdon, Feb. 29.) The Associated Press the convention would be ready to j ls informed by leading German states ar.iourn in the afternoon. men that 'ne new rules of submarine Chairman Linney announced today warfare, which were announced in that he would not be a candidate for j the German memorandum regarding governor if he were re-elected state the future treatment of armed mer- chaliman. It is regarded as likely cliantmen, positively would be put ln that he will be re-elected and thus to effect at midnight tomorrow be eliminated as a gubernatorial can didate. Grier Parsons of Ashe county today was declared to be a most likely can didate for governor. Thomas J. Har kins of Ashevllle, it is said will get many votes as candidate for lieuten ant governor; and L. L. Jenkins ot Asheville has many supporters who desire him to run for the position. of secretary of state. Justice Hughes of the United States Supreme court bench was said to be favored as the convention's choice for president, and It was said that the Roosevelt supporters would abide by the vote of the majority. Special to The Times. Raleigh, Feb: 29. The "Duke of Richmond," Hon. Richmond Pearson of Asheville, ls here for the republi can convention. He is the progressive national committeeman for North Carolla and ho is wearing his fighting clothes. Ho says that there must be I a square deal for the progressives in he choosing or delegates to tne na- travel with immunity on ships hav-:; tional republican convention. He does'ing rdoers to act offensively. It was not ask for representation according indicated that If 'the claims were sus to the Rooeevelt-Taft vote In 1912 but jtained, the fact would have an 1m only for an oven split and he Inti- jportant bearing upon the future ani mates that unless he gets It there tude of this government, will be blood cn the face of the moon. a copy of the so-called British '.n Hon. H. F. Seawell, of Carthage, a i structions, which were handed to Boosevelt man by reason of the fact Ambassador Gerard in Berlin, and ", thut Mr. Taft failed to recognize his 'which are considered by Secretary qualifications for the federal Judge-j lousing to be the all-important ele shlp, ls also here and ready for busl- j ment in the situation as It stands at. nesu. He Is a staunch friend and sup porter of E. Ca.j Duncan, despite his Roosevelt leanings. He ls the II rat candidate for gubernatorial hon ors to reach the city. The executive committee of the State Fair association met here today with Leonard Tufts, the new presi dent, presiding. About 30 members attended and many matters of Import ance were discussed. The association will probably issue bonds for $o0, 000 for making necessary lmprovemants at the fair grounds. It was decided that the fair grounds would not be moved from the present location. MAY OPEN MADISON According to an announcement muile here this morning by Judge W.Jpr torpedoes were the skippers au-' F. Harding who is presiding at the.thorlicd to use their suns. : trial of the Arden cases here In Bu - perior court, ne expects to db in Mar - shall tomorrow morning to convene the term or superior court lor tne triai oi criminal cases, wnicn was kcheduled to convene last Monday. The Slad'son court will be adjourn - ed by the sheriff from duy to lay;nd Austrian submarines will not at- until judge naming arrives, in rase lack without warning armed mer the Jury In the Arden cases cannot ( chant vessels upon which there may reach an agreement tonight and heine Americans, was strengthened by has to remain here through tomor- ti declaration In tho German note row, or longer, received yesterday, acquiesced In by " Austria through Baron Zwledlnek. . charge of the embassy here, that the TREATY WITH HAITI I orders Issued to the naval command- RATIFIED BY SENATE Z 7&Xi T ' account of their armament unless Washington, Feb. 29. The senate ,Urh armament Is proved." lute yesterday unanimously ratified , the treaty with Halt! under which the I'nlted States awumes a protectorate over the turbulent Island republic, Inking over control of Its territorial I Integrity and undertaking to develop 'ts resources. The treaty already has been approved by the ilaltlen con gress and its terms virtually are in operation under the eve of a strong American marine expenmon (AMERICAN MURDERED tjv vfTnva av tttt t a XUKUJUS OJT VILLA Washington, Feb, tt. The murder of Orover C. Van by Villa forces nt bl home last night, 23 mite north nf Durango, has been reported uffl- NEW SUBMARINE NT EFFECT TONIGHT -a i ..'..'. Associated Press Informed by Leading German Statesmen Policy Will Positively Be Carried Out. U. S. OFICIALS' VIEWS SEEM NOT PESSIMISTIC State Department Said to Con sider Remote Possibility of Difficulties Arising From Teuton Stand. . (Tuesday, February 29). Washington, Feb. 29. The noto presented by Count von Bernstorft to Secretary Lansing yesterday, while reiterating assurances regarding tho future conduct of submarine warfare given in the Lusitania case and de claring those assurances were modi fied by the memorandum settlmf forth its intention to treat armed merchantmen as entente allies as aux iliary cruisers after midnight today, attempted to Justify the issuance ot the memorandum by presenting evi dence and assertions designed to prove that the British government has instructed merchantmen to ue their armament for. purpqsea pf, at tack In violation of assurances given -to the United States. Later it was said at the state de partment that while the United States stood unalterably for the right of a merchant ship to carry guns for de fense, it waB not now and never had been contending that Americans could present, have not yet arrived. Pend ing their receipt and a subsequent decision regarding the attitude of the United States, the state department is prepared to consider any overt act committed by the commanders of German and Austrian submarines in the light of the facts. It was author itatively stated that the department- probably would not act upon the j case of a nAmerican who sustained- j Injuries aboard a vessel which It" ' could be definitely established was to j be offensively used. Authoritative information obtained here Indicated that the British gov ernment probably would combat al legations of Germany that British ships armed ostensibly for defense are in rea'lty armed for offensive purposes. It was said that British masters had pot been instructed to hunt for submarines, that on the contrary they had been told to do everything possible to avoid the craft, and that onl yln the event of a ho 1 11 o submarine armroachlni without . warnlnr. near enough t n hnmi.a j All things considered, the state de- . pertinent Is understood to feel th;.t the possibility is more or less remote of difficulties arising In the near fu- lure as a resu t of th new r..m.i ,nnd Austrian doIIcv. Th hr.nf nf f. . nclals that commander, of r.rmn GALLOWAY FINDS ANOTHER 'STILL Deputy Collector of Internal Reve nue J, A. Qnltowav yesterday tnadu Nnother reduction In th enumber of illicit distilleries In Transylvania rouniy. In a raid "ear Hosmnn th officer found and chopped up with his hatchet a 'still of 8 gallon rapacltv and poord out about 400 gallcn of beer which was ready for lltltlnn. Nnhndr waa at horn whan Unci Sam's reprmetnatlv visited th moos shin factory. i