Newspapers / The Asheville Times (Asheville, … / Dec. 6, 1917, edition 1 / Page 1
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iffir Mmt$ THE WEATHER Cloudy Tonight; Fair and Colder Friday O'CLOCK EDITION 10 PAGES VOL. XXII. NO. 303 ASIIEVILLE, N. C, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, DEC. 6, 1917 PRICE FIVE CENTS Iff m m . r N - .- THOUSMD OTHERS IN AMERICAN MUNITIONS SHIP TRAbl SPORT S Nothing Known as to Fate of Transports Ex plosion So Terrific That It Destroyed Insula tion in Telegraph Offices 30 Miles Distant Cars Two Miles Away Blown From Tracks CENSOR TAKES CONTROL OF WIRES AT HALIFAX Meagre Reports From Halifax Estimate Property Dam age In the Millions American Ships Rammed From Broadside By Another Vesssel, Both Carrying High Explosives Messages for Help Sent Out TTnlifnr N. S . Dec. 6. Ma sons were killed and a thousand city of Halifax is in raws as the result of me explosion oj a mu nitions ship in the harbor today. It is estimated tlwt the, prop erty loss will run into the millions. The north end of the city is inflames. r TERRIFIC EXPLOSION. Amherst, IS. S., Dec. 6 The explosion occurred after the collision of an American ammunition ship and another ship at Rockingham, according to telephone messages reacMng here this morning. The explosion teas so terrific that it destroyed the in suhtion in the telegraph and telephone offices for 30 miles around Halifax, while it was heard at Truro, 61 miles distant. It is reported that the American munition steamer was moving out from her pier and rammed from broadside by an other vessel. Instantly there was a tremendous explosion ivhich destroyed the two ships and killed their cretvs. FORCE OF CONCUSSION. The concussion resulting caused the roof of the railway depot at North Street to collapse while all the warehouses on the waterfront for a mile and a half were damaged. The prem ises affected in many places caught fire. The force of the concussion ivas so great that freight cars were blown off railway tracks along a stretch of nearly two miles. CENSOR TAKES CONTROL. St. John, N. B Dec. 6. It is announced here that the censor lias taken control of all uircs at Halifax in connection with the explosion there today. TRANSPORTS IN HARBOR. St. John N. B Dec. 6. Later it ivas stated positively here that there were several transports in the harbor when the ex plosion occurred. Nothing as to the fate of these ivas obtainable. Neither is it known whether the transports were filled with troops or occupied only by their crews Messages Asking Help, Messages asking for fire engines nd fighting apparatus, doctors and nurses, hospital supplies, etc., were received from Halifax with everything requir ed that could be procured. At Truro, Windsor, nnd hern the city councils met this morning and decided to take Immediate steps to render aid to the sffllcted people at Halifax. It is understood that large quantities of food were destroyed and that the citizens of Halifax may soon be In danger of starving. Jt was de cided that car loads of food must be despatched at once. Damage to Telegraph Companies, The damage done to the Western Union and Canadian Pacific Telegrnph companies and Nova Scotia Telephone company is so complete it is likely to be days before wire communication with the points outside Halifax can be restored. Rockingham Is located well within Halifax harbor, at tho mouth? of lied ford basin. It is at the northwest por tion of the harbor and. since the war has been used ns an examining station for ocean steamers. It was at this portion of the harbor that ex-Ambns-sudnr Bernstorff and party were held and examined on their way from the United States to Germany. American Ships Blown Up. tS. John, N. B., pec. 6. A large part of Halifax, N. 8., Is In flames following an explosion In the harbor tbU morning. Two vessels, one of Havana,) Hundreds of per others injured and half of the litem loaded with munitions of war, including hlirh explosives, collided. Many buildings along the water front were torn to pieces and many persons were killed. Other shipping in the harbor suf fered severely and the crews of sev eral are said to have been killed. Wire communication between this city and Halifax wus interrupted soon after lite explosion nnd before more than fragmentary reports had been received. The munitions ship blown up was said to have been an American. At the moment of the explosion a fierce stnrm was sweeping the harbor and it is supposed that the collision of the vessels was due to this. It was reported that a transport was In the harho: at the time but nothing definite concerning this could be learned. One of the buildings that suffered severely was occupied by the West ern Union and was the terminus of the cable lines to the United States. One report gays that two telegraph operators were killed and another that several employes lost their lives. It Is possible that the censorship at Halifax may prevent details becom ing known immediately when wire communication is restored. Mean while frantic efforts are being made by the telegraph companies here to restore their lines to some point in the vicinity of Halifax. , Communication Interrupted. Boston, Dec. 6. Fragmentary r- AMERICAN ENGINEERS FOUGHT AND DIED WITH THEIRBRITISH COMRADES Four Officers and 280 Men Were at Gauzeacourt When German Shelling Suddenly Commenced Number of Losses Before They Could Secure Arms Then Fought Valiantly All Day List of Casualties Small With the American Army in France, Dec. 5. (Delayed.) (By the Asso ciated Press.) How American rail way engineers gallantly fought and died with their British comrades in arms on the British front before Cambrai last week was told today in a semi-official statement. "Two and one-half companies of railway engineers," the statement says, "with a strength of eight offi cers and .165 men were encamped at Fins, on November .10, having com pleted their work in the neighborhood. At 6:30 four officers and 280 men went to Gouzeacourt, arriving at 7 o'clock and starring to work with Ca nadian engineers. The entire contin gent was under a Canadian major and an American captain. The area v-.as three miles in the rear of the line and none of the troops were armed. "At 7:15 German barrage fire moved on Gouzeacourt after heavy shelling to the cast. At 7:30, a gen- era! retirement was ordered and it! was effected with some difficulty due j to the artillery, machine gun and air- plane fire. A number of losses were sustained at this time and also among the men who, cut off by the German ! Prohibition and Will Come Washington. Dec. 6. Outlining a legislative program in the house Dem ocratic Leader Claude Kitchln said legislation should be confined as far as possible to appropriations and war measures, but the woman's suffrage and prohibition constitutional amend ments, he expected, would be taken up and voted on before tho Christmas holidays. He said conservation meas ures would be considered. Speaker Clark urged abandonment ports were received by the Western Union Telegraph company from points west of Halifax after their lines to Halifax had been suddenly interrupt ed. One report was that a munition plant had been destroyed and another that a ship in the harbor had been blown up. The Postal Telegraph company's lines were also down. The local office stated that Montreal reported no wires working cast of that city. One of the reports was that the j explosion had occurred in tue omce of the Western Union at Halifax and two employes were killed. The West ern Union at 10:15 a. m., reported that the local office was working with St. John, N. R, but that the latter city had no further information from Hal ifax. The censorship at Halifax Is severe but It is believed that brief details will be made known as soon as wire communication is restored. Efforts to conini jnlcate by wireless with Halifax were made. There was some difficulty, however, because of the war regulations under which the radio stations are now operated. None of the radio stations had received any thing up to 10:30 a. m. Soldiers With Kornlloff. London, Dec. 6. General Kornlloff, the former commander-in-chief who escaped from the Bolshevik! at Moli hev, according to Petrograd dispatches to the Dally Mail, wag accompanied by 400 Caucasian troops. He was at Orsha, north of Molihev, on Mon day. Lost 17 Ships. W British merchantmen lost dur I? lng tho past week were 1G of f. more than 1600 tons, and one of H less than that weight. Tn the H previous week 21 vessels lncltid H lng 14 of more than 1600 tons were sunk. r r K . M Hr.ltKltltKltKlltltltKKKM advance, had taken refuge in dugouts. Pome of these men who had been cut off succeeded in joining British com batant units and fought with them during the day. Meantime there was active shelling against Fins and the men there were ordered to scatter in the field. "As the men returned to camp they were assembled under arms andt in structions were asked from British" headquarters. At 3 o'clock they were instructed to dig and hold the trench es and the men moved up and started work shortly afterward. At 6 o'clock the trenches were finished sufficiently for the entire command and division headquarters directed a withdrawal to camp and that the men be held in readiness to man the trenches. Two small details were sent out to re pair a distant break in the new track and to assist in transferring ammuni tion to another point. "The list of casualties is relatively small and will be issued tomorrow. It is stated by British officers that the conduct of the regiment was most satisfactory. They praised the cool ness under fire and tho ability of the men to work without Interruption is regarded as most commendable." Suffrage Up This Month of the Christmas holiday recess, but Mr. Kitchin opposed it. Speaker Clark declared that "if we keep on going the gait we are going now we will not get through this ses sion before next December." "By 'we' ", Mr. Kitchin retorted, "you mean the senate." The house, he added, was already moving along and in nil probability it would be through the session long ahead of th senate. TEN KILLED AND 40 HURT IN EXPLOSION Pittsburgh. Dec. 6. At least 10 per sons were killed and about 4 0 Injured in an explosion nt the Heidelhurg plant of the Aetna Explosives com pany, 10 miles from here, late yes terday. The T.N.T. plant, where high explosives were manufactured, was completely destroyed nnd build ings in the immediate vicinity were damaged. Former Commandant Dead. Norfolk, Dec. 5. General Scott Shipp. former commandant of the Virginia Military institute, died last night nt Lexington, it became known here today. w r, k k r, K - K British Casualties. London, Dec. 6. British cas- P. unities reported in the week end K ing Tuesday total 28.822 as fol- lows: 15 Killed or died of wounds: Of K ficers, 169: men, 6.1 r.3. t Wounded or missing: Offi tt ccrs, 494; men, 22,006. r. VI M ' A "4 it A X A A 'A A A A A A OWLY MORE DAYS LEFT TO MRU MEANS, ON STAND TELLSOFH SWORK T Allowed To Testify of What He Did as Detective Burns' Employe REPORTED GERMAN PLOT TO TUMULTY Knew That Germany Tried To Start War Between American and Mexico Concord, Dec. 6. Gaston B. Means took the stand in his own defense to day. - Means began under questioning by Attorney E. T, Cansler, at a point sev eral years ago. The first phase of his testimony told of his relation with the Cannon Manufacturing company by wWe4i he was employed for twelve years, for years in the C nnon mill's New York office ami' the In charge of the Chicago office from 1909 to 1911, when he severed his. connection, be cause he had married and did not want to be on the road as much as was required. His salary was $ 1,200 a. year and commissions, tatalling an Income at the time he quit the Cannon mill of about .-$10,000, including income from his writings for journals, such as The Journal of Commerce and Commercial Bulletin, as to sales, .prices," grades and markets of textiles. When he left tho Cannon employ Means said he went to New York and called on W. J. Burns, the detective. The defense than endeavored to get before the jury by. Means' testimony the matter which was ruled out yes terday when Burns was on the stand showing that Means had turned over to the New York detective informa tion ho obtained as an employe of German interests which he thought would he of value to the I'nited States. Meal's said he made a contract with Burns by which he was made mana ger of the commercial department. -He said he did no work for Burns that he would classify as detective work. His statement that Burns had a con tract with the Hamburg-American line was ruled out. After severing his connection with the Burns agency, the witness said he discovered a plot on the part of Ger man sympathizers and interests in the United States and reported it to Burns. He said it previously had been agreed that whatever evidence he discovered which would be of value to the American government he would turn over. When he discovered the plot, he said, he made a full re port of it to Burns to be delivered to President Wilson's representative. The movement was to have the out side appearance of a peace society. Hm ns had told him, he said, that he wanted his written report for submis sion to the president and later Burns told him that it hail been turned over to Secretary Tumulty. This report was dated .March S, 1915. Answering a question. Means said he was acquainted with aptain Boy-lid and hail done some wor kin which the latter was itnerested. Some time after the "plot" report was submitted to Secretary Tumult, Means said he saw l!oy-10d and the latter told him a de tailed report of the Huerta plot had been made to the American govern ment and only fixe living men could have reported it. Boy- Ed then said tho witness must have mnde the report. "I told him I did, that I had agreed to furnish to the United States govern ment nny information detrimental to it which I discovered. He told nie to go down and see my German clients and I aid and was discharged. Means said that he had been em ployed by some German commercial interests after leaving tho Burns agency In 1915. ' This report was read. It told ol a conference at Barcelona, Spain, be tween former President Huerta and German Interests. Huerta agreed to follow the direc tion of the German Interests. It was agreed that a peace movement should ho started In Mexico and a peace con ference should be held In a southern city. An expedition was to be sent Into the I'nited States headed by Huerta and when attacked by American forces the Mexlcuns would say tho United (Continued on Page 2. GERMAN AGE f J li BLACK HAND" ARE Former Ashevillian, Now of Waukegan, Ills., Son of W. O. Muller, Receives Demands for Money Many friends here of Carl Muller, of -Waukegan. 111., son of W. C. Mul ler, of No. 16 Charlotte street, this city, will be interested in knowing that despite threating letters received recently, demanding money, on refusal of which his year-old baby would be kidnapped, he has not turned over any money and his baby has not been taken. The Chicago Examiner of December 2, has the following story, together with a large photographic reproduc tion of Mrs, Muller and the baby. Threats of a repetition of the Baby Kcet kidnapping case at Springfield, Mo., were made in a letter received yesterday by Carl Mu'ler, wealthy moving picture theater and restau rant owner of Waukegan. "The authors, who signed them selves 'The Silent Six,' demanded $1,- uu. Tliey declared that unless; they are paid the money at a designated place tonight Muller's year-old daugh ter. Louise, would be abducted and slain. "Threats also were made against ins wire, who is known us a beauty, and the extortionists asserted they woum explode a bomb in the. Klite theater, Waukegan, owned and oper ated by Muller. Clieuiiial Bombs Fired. "In the last six weeks Muller has been the victim of three chemical bomb attacks,, and he believes the letter to have come from the same source. He declares he knows neither the men's identities or the reasons for their attacks. "The threatening letter, written in ink on plain white note oaner.. In ar. almost illegible script, read: " Carl Muller: We have had our eyes on you for a long time. Now. listen: to avoid future trouble, we don't care to hear anything from the police; if we do, a bomb will be blown off In your theater; " 'Sunday night, we. "The Silent Six," demand of you $1,030 a small sum compared to your wealth. On Sunday night at S O'clock come, your self, .unattended, to Water street ravine, corner or Water and West, under the first pair of stairs on 'the south side of the ravine. With you bring $1,000, nicely wrapped. "'Sunday night; if not, beware. Watch your wile and ba'oy close. We mean business beware. "THE SILENT SIN.' 'At the top of the letter was writ en: " 'Show this to police and kiss your wife bye-bye and buy the kid a Coffin.' "At the bottom of the page was the following inscription: " 'Box-ru-es-sue-sext-Ies.' "A postscript oa the b k of the pays read: " liemember the Kect kid at Springfield, Mo. Well, you're baby will meet the same fate, if the police Intel fere.' Both Muller and his wife were ter rified. They notified Thomas Tyrell, chief of the Waukegan police, and federal authorities in Chicago. Tho latter took over the note for exam ination by handwriting experts. "An effort will be made to connect Its authors with recent dynamite plots In Chicago and Milwaukee. "Meantime a double guard has been established about the theater and the f lut above, where Muller and his fam ily reside. "About fix weeks ago, said Muller, a chemical bomb was exploded in my grill. "Never having received any threat ening letter or blackmail demand, 1 was mystified as to its origin. A week later another bomb was exploded in the grill, and two weeks later another. "I bellevo these were the work of the letter writers to pave tho way for their demand by terrorizing me. "Muller, who is thirty-four, has liv ed in Waukegan with his wife five years. He always has employed union labor, hp declared and refused to at tribute his predicament to labor trou bles. He also Is part owner of a grill In Evanston." COLLECTOR A. D. WATTS By fJKO. II. MAX.MXti, Washington. 1). C, Dec. 6. A. D. Watts, internal revenue collector of the western district of North Caro lina, is spending a few days in Wash ington on business with Internal Revenue Commissioner Roper and to see Senator Simmons and his many other friends here. He will confer with Commissioner Roper in regard to methods for collecting the new war taxes and several minor matters. AFTER CARL MULLER WAR E l ILL LIKELY PASS The Senate Will Take Action Late This Week or Early Next SENTIMENT AGAINST OTHER TWO POWERS Reason for Not Including Turkey and Bulgaria May Be Made Public Washington, Dec. 6.---A war resolu tion embodying President Wilson's re commendation for a declaration against Austria-Hungary and carrying unanimous approval of the foreign re lations committee awaited report in the house today with the probability of debate and adoption tomorrow. Senate action late this week-or early next also seemed likely for an identi cal resolution before the senate for eign relations today for consideration. Chairman Stone announced that he expected the Committee to dlde Its course in time tor a report to the senate when it re-convenes tomorrow.- Approval of the resolution which Clares the existence of a state of war between the United States and the im perial and royal . Austro-Hungarinn government Is regarded as virtually certain despite the sentiment in favor . of the addition of Turkey and Bul garia. Reasons for the president's dlsln-i clination to include these two allies of Germany in his recommendations have been given confidentially to Chairman Stone and Flood and probably will be made public in debate. Senator Stone and Representative flood both conferred with Secretary Lansing yesterday and it was under stood the secretary believes that no circumstances yet warrant action against Turkey and Bulgaria. Hope had been expressed by some officials that German ' domination of these' countries may be broken. Only one member of the. house conw mittee, Representative Miller, of Min nesota, woh has recently returned from the war front, voted for the proposal to include Turkey and Bul garia On the final vote, however, he joined with th eothers in approving the Austrian document. The strong est' demand, for the addition of Tur key and Bulgaria is expected In the senate. LACK OF FACILITIES IN FRANCE CAUSES DELAY By GKO, ir. MANNING. Washington." Dec. 6. The delay In the delivery of mail to the American soldiers in France from their rela tives and friends at home, which has been complained of, seems to be due to the shipment of many times more than the amount of letters the war and. pnstnffice departments anticipat ed and the lack of sufficient postal force on the other side to distribute it. Congressman John Q. Tilson, of Connecticut, member of the military affairs committee held conferences Monday with Adjutant General Mc Cain and Postmaster General Burleson to acquaint them with the complaints being made, and to seek tho cause and have the remedy applied. Neither General McCain nor Mr. Burleson were able to explain the delay but promised to promptly Investigate and take steps to secure quick delivery of mail to the boys In the trenches. When 1'ostniaster Batten of New York city, through whirh office all the mall for the United States army In France passes, came to Washington yesterday Mr. Tilson nsked him for an exnlaialion of the Celay. Postmaster Patten said the chief enure of delay is the lack of facilities, chiefly postal sorting clerks in France to handle the enormous mall from this country. But few ships are available for carrying mull to France, he sald, and when shipments are made the bulk is so large the few postal officials in France are swamped. The last ship that went over carrying mall took 210(1 full sacks of mail, Postmaster Patten said, and the facilities in France for handling It had been so unequal to the task that considerable oeiay in uenvery is sure to result. Until the fncilltles for mail dlstribu tlon In France are greatly Increased' there Is sure to be delay, Mr. Patten said. T " Til u; .
The Asheville Times (Asheville, N.C.)
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Dec. 6, 1917, edition 1
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