Newspapers / The Asheville Times (Asheville, … / Dec. 8, 1917, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE WEATHER Fair and Colder Tonight; Cold Wave Sunday 2 O'CLOCK EDITION 8 PAGES VOL. XXII. NO. 303. ASHEVILLE, N. C, SATURDAY AFTERNOON, DEC 8, 1917 PRICE FIVE CENTS DEITHOTEnillK F LIFE T H LOSS TOTORM ADDS NEW TERRORS TO PEOPLEOF HALIFAX Relief Trains Snowbound and Thousands of Homeless Huddled Together As Bes t They Could, Passing Night of Suffering Estimated That There Are 20,000 Des titute People Food Shortage Serious Halifax, N. 8., Dec. 8. A blinding "north - country" snowstorm, accom panying a gale that at times attained a velocity of more than 40 miles an hour, had held this city of desolation in it's grasp for the past 24 hours, add ing new terror to the awe-stricken sur vivors of Thursday's disaster and greatly impeding the progress of re lief trains hurrying here with their urgently-needed supplies. The Massachusetts relief train was stalled in great snow drifts near Am herst late last night, and the time of the train's arrival here is problemati cal. Other rescue trains also are re ported snowbound. Night of Suffering. With every building in Halifax and Dartmouth more or less damaged by the explosion and fire, men, women and children huddled together as best they could and passed a night of suf fering. The chilling wind whistled through smashed windows; there was scarcely blankets enough to cover the wounded bodies and many were un able to obtain food. Fires were almost out of the ques tion and the only lights obtainable were from oil lamps or candles. Out of the chaotic conditions, rich and poor have rallied gallantly to their duty of caring for the injured and homeless and accounting for the dead. The citizens' finance committee esti mates that there are 20,000 destitute people in the devastated area, the ma jority from the poorer classes. Near ly 4,800 dwellings were destroyed, the committee declares, and the actual losses and the estimated cost of tem porary maintenance will approximate $80,000,000. Pood Problem Serious. Perhaps the most serious of the many problems is the food situation. There Is enough food for Immediate needs but unless communication is opened soon the city faces the pos- liilii" Many of Them Who Were Brought To Turo Relief Stations Could Not Tell Their Own Names St. John, N. B., Dec. 8. A simple statement that came over the tele phone from Truro late yesterday after noon reveals more of the horror of the tragedy at Halifax. It was that many women, injured or destitute, or both, who had been brought from Halifax to Truro had been so craved by the shock that upon arriving at the relief stations they were unable to even tell their own names. All direct tolegripji wires between Pt. John and HaTTfax are down. A heavy sleet storm added to the delay in restoring them. Three local wires between St. John and Truro were working spasmodically. The only communication out of Halifax was by cable south and the Canadian Pacific wire which Is occupied entirely with government and railway business. Ai message from Truro brings the story of Eleanor Tapley, of St. John, a stu dent at Mount Vincents Academy, nt Halifax. Miss Tapley says the armory was destroyed and some soldiers killed. The academy was converted Into a hospital to which as many as could be found place for were brought and cared for. The convent was badlv damaged and some of the sisters were seriously injured by broken glass. "We first received word of the dis aster," said Miss Tapley, "from an en gine which came hurrying up from the city, rocking from side to side under its terrific speed. The engineer the only man aboard, cried out, "give me anything you have. Blankets, food, bandages or anything. The whole city is wrecked and for the mercy of God be quick." "We girls immediately rushed to get anything that we could lay our hands on. Sweaters, coats and other cloth ing were torn Into stripes for band ages. Everything was piled Into the locomotive which tore awpy again at top speed for the scene of the dis aster. "No one at the convent was killed but some of the sisters were terribly cut by flying glass which In our sec tion of the city did most of the dam age. Every window of the academy was broken and some of the pillars In the chapel. fell." Belgian Steamship Sunk. Havre, Dec. 8. The Belgian eteam ahlp, Amblorl, 1,444 tons gross, tins been sunk In the English channel. Her loss waa caused by a collision with the Norwegian steamship, Prlmo. The crew of the Amblorl was brought In by patrol boats. The Prlmo'a bow was Vamosed. HOC sibility of famine. The energies of local relief committees have been centered on the conservation of food and merchants have surrendered all their available supplies for the com mon need. Milk is almost unobtain able and fears are expressed for the lives of-babies in arms. In the great er task of caring for the living no concerted effort is being made at pres. ent to compile a list of the dead, but hundreds of soldiers, sailors, Ameri can "jackies" and volunteers are grop ing under the mass of wreckage searching for bodies. The morgues are choked with mangled bodies. Police officials still estimate the dead at 2. 000 and the injured at 8,000 or more. Hospitals Filled With Wounded. At all hospitals, regular and Im provised, every available spot is oc cupied by the wounded. Doctors end nurses have worked unceasingly since the first hours of the explosion with little or no sleep. The Academy Music, the theaters and halls of fra ternal organizations have been thrown open to care for the homeless. Pri vate citizens have opened their homes and given their extra clothing to the unfortunates. The newspaper offices are the clear ing houses for information and they have been besieged all during the storm by throngs of persons anxious for news of relatives. The city clerk's office Is the official headquarters for lists of the dead and missing. . United Suites Offers Aid. The spontaneous action of the Uni ted States in offering aid has awak ened a new bond of sympathy between the two peoples. Relief also has been promised from every town In Nova Scotia and from all part eof Canada. Scotia and from all parts of Canada, ter, arrived here yesterday and has placed all the resources of the do minion government at the disposal of the city. NOTLTD ALLIES Negotiations For Armistice With Central Powers Are Delayed To Give the Allies Time To Define Attitude London, Dec. 8. A Russian govern ment dispatch dated Thursday and re ceived here by wireless announces that Leon Trotzky, the Bolsheviki for eign minister has sent to all the allied embassies and legations in Petrograd a note intimating that the armistice negotiations with the central powers has been suspended for a week at the Initiative of the Russian delegation for the purpose of providing opportunity of informing the peoples of the gov ernments of the allied countries the existence of such negotiations and their tendency. The note adds that the armistice will be signed only on condition that troops will not be transferred from ono front to another and that German troops are cleared from the islands around Moon sound. It generally in dicates points of the negotiations In accordance with the wireless state ment received from Petrograd Thurs day and concludes: "The period of delay thus given, even in the existing disturbed condi tion of international communications Is amply suiticient to afford the allied .governments opportunity to define meir attitude toward the peace nego tiations for an armistice and peace. "In rase of refusal they must de claro clearly and dellnitely before all mankind the aims for which the peo ples of Europe may be called to shed their blood during the fourth year of the war." London. Dec. 8. All American cltl. zens resident in Jerusalem have been removed to the south and east, ac cording to a Renter dispatch from British army headquarters In Pales tine. Most of the American citizens In Jerusalem are American Jews, of whom there are about 600 In Pales tine. Last fall the American govern ment brought out from Palestine one hundred Jews, principally the wives and children of men naturalized In the United States. They reported that about 800 other had been left be. hind and that there waa much misery in Palestine when they departed. SENDS THE JOCOB JONES TORPEDOED IN WAR ZONE LAST THURSDAY Thirty-Seven Survivors Taken Off LifeboatsNames of Ten Are Made Public Ship on Patrol Duty Commanded By Worth Bagley, Mrs. Daniels' Brother The Jacob Jones Saved Survivors of the Torpedoed Orama on October 19 Washington, Dec. 8. The American destroyer, Jacob Jones, was torpedoed and sunk in the war zone on Thu rsday with the loss of a large part of her crew. Thirty-seven survivors were taken off on life rafts. The names of ten survivors have been received up to this time. Names of Ten Survivors. They are: Lieutenant (junior grade) John K. Richards, Ensign Nelson N. Gates, Assistant Surgeon L. L. Adamkiewicz, Chas. E. Pierce, fireman ; Timothy Edward Twomey, seaman ; John C. Johnson, seaman ; Henry A. Stutzke, chief ma chinist's mate; Edward F. Grady, fireman, second class; John J. Mulvaney, sea man, and Myron Flood, seaman. Commanded By Worth Bagley. The sinking occurred December 6, at 8 p. m., while the ship was on patrol duty. She was commanded by Lieu tenant-Commander David Worth Bagley, brother of Mrs. Joseph Daniels, wife of the secretary of the navy. . Commander Bagley's brother was the first American officer killed in the Spanish-American war. Saved Sum-Ivors of The Orama. The Jacob Jones was the ship which saved 305 persons from the Orama, a P. & (J. liner, converted into an aux iliary cruiser, on October 19. The Orama had been torpedoed by a sub marine while she was acting as a part of a convoy of merchant vessels under escort of American destroyers. The Jacob Jones was one of the convoy. "Th-Jacob1 , Jones and another de PETROGRAD FEEL UNEASY London Dee. 8. A note from the British government refusing to release Tchltcherln and Petroff, Russian citi zens under arrest in England, the Petrograd correspondent of The Times says he understands, was delivered at the Smolny Institute, the Bolshevlki headquarters on Thursday. The correspondent adds (hat the un easiness of British citizens In Russia is increasing daily and that the con sulate In Petrograd la crowded with persons asking protection and advice. Official protection, however, he says, counts for nothing as an attempt to exercise it probably will Increase the danger. Leon Trotzky, the Bolshevikl for eign minister, late last month de manded that the British government release Tchitcherin and Petroff, as well as others under arrest in Eng land. Later It was announced in Petrograd that Tchitcherin had been appointed Russian ambassador to London. ftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftft Former Cur Escaped? Washington, D. C, Dec. 8. The American consul at Tif lis to day reported a rumor that the former czar of Russia had Es caped. His message contained no deails and made it. clear that there was no confirmation of the rumor. No other news was re ceived here today from Russia. ft ft ft ft It ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft American Commission Wearing Life Preservers in Submarine Zone f 1 WMWW Left to right: General Tasker II. stroyer were detailed to remain by the Orama after the submarine had been attacked and put out of action. When the Orama began to settle it had grown dark and her crew abandoned her. The Jacob Jones picked up in the dark 305 of the persons on board. The other vessel standing by rescued the remainder. Peace Complement of 285 Men. . The Jacob Jones' peacetime com T: Considering Whether or Not Government Should Op erate the Railroads Washington, Dec. 8. President Wil son was devoting all his attention to day to the railroad problem with the intention of making a quick decision on whether the government shall oper ate the railroads for the war emer gency or whether it shall extend aid in the way the railways ask. It was said that one of the chief difficulties in the way of choosing gov ernment o;.'ration was that of finding a railway administrator. One of the principal questions the president is considering it was said, is whether it would be better to choose a railroad man or some highly developed admin istrator from some other line of busi ness. , Some railway executives are eager to avoid government operation, by having congress permit the practical unification of all the roads by suspend ing operation of the anti-trust and anti-pooling laws and further having the government by loan or guaranty of securities provide the roads with about a billion dollars for road and terminal equipment. Lux burg Arrives. London, Oec. 7. A dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph from Copenha gen says Count von Luxhurg, formerly German minister to Argentina, has arrived In Bergen on board the steam er Bcrgensfjord and proceeded to Ger many. - JjWWWW!i "iWWWWlW Bllsa, Colonel E. M. House, Admiral William S. Beusou, Mr. Vance McCormltk. plement was five petty officers and 87 men. She was one of the newest and largest of American destroyers, with a displacement of 1,150 tons and a length of 310 feet over all. She was completed in 1916 at the plant of the New York Shipbuilding company, Camden N. J. She burned oil, was driven by turbine engines and had a speed of 29.57 knots an hour. COTTON GINNING BEFORE DEC. 1 , 9704,61 7 BALES -Washington,' Dec. 8. Cotton of this year's. growth ginned prior to Decem ber 1, amounted to 9,704,617 running bales, including 173.339 round bales and 77,638 bales of sea-island. To December 1. last year, 10,352,031 bales, including 177.662 round bales and 102,406 bales of sea-island, were ginned. Ginnings to December 1, this J'tar, by states, follow: Alabama, 442,681. Arizona, 8.704. Arkansas. 789,489. California, 25.222. Florida, 43,424. Georgia, 1,642,980 Tennessee, 169,544. Virginia. 13.478. Louisiana, 557,950. Mississippi, 725,962. .Missouri, 38.392. North Carolina, 482,478. Oklahoma. 818,136. South Carolina, 1,055,482. Texas, 2,887,473. All other states, 3,172. Ginnings of sea-island by states were: Florida, 33,579. Georgia. 39,883. South Carolina, 4,176. ftftftttftftftftftftftftftttftftftftft Revolution In Lisbon. Madrid, Dec. 8. A revolution has broken out in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, according to a dispatch received here by way of Oporto and Tuy. Outbreaks also are said to have occurred at Oporto. ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft m FAmtMW mm Whwmmmm AMERICA'S WAR i DECLARATION WILL BE HELP TO ITALY In Four Days Teutons Have Driven Italians Back Three Miles But America's Action Will Hearten Heroic De fenders Little Fighting Around Cambrai Hebron Taken By British Bolsheviki Troops at Vladivostok America's declaration of war on Austria-Hungary comes at a moment when the Italian northern front be tween Asiago and the Brenta is being hard pressed by an Austro-German army under Field Marshal Conrad von Hoetzendorf. The adoption of the declaration by congress with only one dissenting vote and its signing by President Wilson late yesterday probably will be a great moral help to the people of Italy, and especially to the heroic troops in the Trentino. In four days the invading Austro-Oermans have forced the Ital ians back an average of three miles on a ten mile front. But the advance was gained at a great cost in casual ties as the Italians fought desperately every foot of the way and at some points preferred to die rather than to surrender or retire. In addition to losing Monte Sisemol four miles east of Asiago the Italians, according to Berlin, have given up 4,000 additional prisoners. Italian Line Not Broken. Although superority in numbers and artillery has forced the Italians to re tire, the defense line has not been broken and there is yet ten miles of mountain country to fight through before the foothills around Bassano are reached. The operation has straightened out the Italian line which now runs from Monte Caberlaba. just south of Asiago, across the Ronchi and Frenzelle valleys to Foza and east to the Brenta. . The Italians are holding the invad ers near the Brenta and the latest Austro-German gains have been made only around Asiago. Lull In Fighting Around Cambrai. There is a lull in the fighting s round Cambrai and the Germans have made no attacks in force against the new British positions. North of La Vac quorie troops captured German trenches, improving the line in this neighborhood.- Berlin reports success ful lighting around Graincourt. It is estimated from British headquarters in France that at least 250,000 German troops took part in the latest opera tions in the Cambrai sector. STORM WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED ALONG COAST Snow and Cold Wave Causes Much Discomfort and Delays Traffic Washington, Dec. 8- Snow through out the entire northeastern section of the contry, accompanied by a cold wave through the middle west and ex tending southward to the gulf of Mex ico, was causing much discomfort to day and delayed movement of traffic, already badly congested. Continuation of the snow was pre dicted for tonight and tomorrow by the weather bureau. Cold wave warn ings were issued for Tennessee and the east gulf and south Atlantic states. The center of the storm was over eastern Kentucky this morning, having developed greatly in the last 12 hours. Widespread snow in the north and thunderstorms in the south accompany tho disturbance. About 15 Inches of snow fell in the Ohio valley in 12 hours. The cold wave from the west has overspread t' e smith, reaching the gulf coast with freezing temperatures, although it has made little progress east of the Mississippi. Storm warnings are being displayed on tho Atlantic coast from Jackson ville, Fla. to Eastport, Maine. REAL RUSSIA WORKING FOR RECONSTRUCTION London. Dec. 8. In reiterating his former statement that regenerative processes are going on in Russia the Petrograd correspondent of The Morn ing Post says: "The real Russia is silently and steadily working for reconstruction and inevitable return to commonsense, which we may hope is near at hand." He adds that the Bolsheviki now are being- challenged by an organiza tion calling Itself tho Union of Anarchist-Syndicalists. Warehouse Destroyed By Rlre. Chicago, Dec. 8. A warehouse re cently leased by the government for the medical division of the army, waa destroyed by fire of mysterious origin today. Chemicals among the stores caused a number of small explosions. Hebron Captured By British. Hebron, southwest of Jerusalem, has been captured by the British' forces. It is reported that all Ameri can citizens in Jerusalem, prohably all Jews, have been removed from the city. It is not indicated whether the i Turks are evacuating all the civilian t population or only part of It. Rumanians Want Peaee. Guns are silent and soldiers are idle along the entire length of the eastern front from the Baltic to the Black sea, the Rumanians, under the force of circumstances having joined the Rus sians in their armistice negotiations i with tli" central powers. Troops nt Vladivostok. It is reported that 1500 Bolshevikl troops have arrived at Vladivostok. Whether these came from Petrograd or are units from Siberian town is not disclosed. Vladivostok holds much war material and other supplies ship ped from the United States, Japan and other allied countries. The temporary Independent government in Siberia has chosen former Premier Kerensky as , minister of justice. General Korniloft is reported to have joined General Kal edines, the Cossack leader, around whom most of the leaders of the old provisional government have gath-t ' ered, Austrian Statement. Vienna, Dec. 7 .(Delayed.) (Brit ish Admiralty, per Wireless Press.)- Austro-Hungary general headquarters today issued the following statement: "The troops of Field Marshal Con" rad von Hoetzendorf have won furth er successes in their attacks. After hand-to-hand engagements lasting several hours, Austrian rifle regi ments broke the enemy's resistance on ;.Ionte Sisemol. With the fall of this bulwark which had been stubbornly more than 1,000, etaoinshrdluetnoin more than 1,000 prisoners and large : i uauii jl vin manual v. itci; description. The total number of. prisoners captured since Tuesday east of Asiago has increased to 15,000; the booty and guns also have increased. "Eastern theater: Hostilities hav: been suspended." Eisenhardt Refused To Enter Lifeboat Until His f!nmmanr1pr Was Safp Washington, Dec. 8. W. F, Esien-. hardt, of the armed naval guard of the American steamer Rochester, sunk by a submarine has been commended by Secretary Daniels for gallantry dis played during the abandonment of the sinking vessel. The seaman refused, to enter a life boat, thinking his com mander still was aboard the .steamer. He searched the boat until satisfied that his commander had gotten away in another boat, the last man to Have the Rochester. His boat was five days In making the Irish coast. Eisenhardt is 21 years old, and a son of John E. Eisenhardt, No. 2314 Gravier street, New Orleans. NEW TROOP TRANSFERS Petrograd, Dec. 7. (Delayed. The terms of the temorary armistice agreed upon between the Germans and Russians as received here by tele graph from M. Karakhan, a member of the Russian delegation who re mains in Rrest-Litovsk, agree gener ally with previous official statements. The telegram adds, however, that tho Germans will make only such trans fers of troops as were ordered before December 5. The suggestion of the Russian delegation that the next con ference meet at 1'skoff wai rejected by the Germans. 60IN6! GOING! 'J
The Asheville Times (Asheville, N.C.)
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Dec. 8, 1917, edition 1
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