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I If wvillt ffitti THE WEATHER Cloudy and Continued Cold to night; Fair and Warmer Tues. O'CLOCK EDITION 8 PAGES VOL. XXII. NO. 314. ASIIEVILLE, N. C, MONDAY AFTERNOON, DEC. 17, 1917 PRICE FIVE CENTS ,i 2 GERMANY SENDING OUT REPORTS OF Boldly Advertising Great Offensive on West Front, Says Baker's Review ALLIES STILL ON THE INITIATIVE IN WEST Capture of Jerusalem Will Have Wide Effect Over All of Turkish Empire Washington, Dec. 17. Reports her alding: an imposing German offensive on tho western front are attributed to "bold enemy advertising" by Secre tary Baker in hia weekly review of tho military situation published today. "The German higher command is apparently very eager to have us be lieve he is about to win a great vic tory." the review says. "But no ele ment on the military situation should lead us to conclude that initiative In the west has passed from tho allies to the enemy." "During tha period of the review (week ending yesterday) the goneral military situation in the west has re mained unchanged," the review says. "Rumors of great preparations on the part of tha Germans with a view to achieving some major strategic suc cess In the west, continue to reach us. "Reports of massed hostile concen trations in those sectors where tho enemy propose to break through the French front and roll back the allied line on a broad scale, aro numerous, "Tho German higher command seeks peace through victory. The en emy is apparently very eager to have us believe that he is about to win such a victory. "For the past two years tho Ger mans have been on the defensive in tho west. The bold advertising of an Imposing offensive on the part of the enemy, which while in the realm of possibility and therefore should not be neglected or overlooked, must in no wise bo interpreted to mean that the Increased strength of the hostile forces will result in any permanent strategic advantage of the Germans. "Surveying the outlines of the gen eral war strategy on all fronts, we find that both belligerents have been on the offensive during the past six months. "The central powers have taken the initiative in the eastern and Italian theaters: the allies along tho major front in the west, in Palestine, Meso potamia and Enst Africa. "The enemy has confined his efforts to advancing his lines along the Rus sian front resulting in the capture of Riga and then by a well-conducted offensivo in Italy, with the assistance of an intensive political drive, gained a marked strategic success in this sec tor. "The allies in the principal theater of operations, the west, have been able to record an almost uninterrupted series of tactical advantages and in spite of the concentration of a pre . ponderant majority of the most ef ficient German divisions, have gained considerable toi rain and taken a large quota of prisoners. "In the outlying areas of Mesopo tamia ar.d Palestine the British have driven tlio enemy before them, and their offensive culminated during tho week in the. capture of Jerusalem. "Though tho capture of the Holy City cannot bo' held a principal mili tary objective of the campaign so vigorously pursued by General Allan-' by in this theater, the conquest of Jerusalem will have u wide influence through the 'Juvkish empire, and Vill 1:0 far toward reaffirming the pres tige of tho allied powers through the Orient. "Germany realizes the danger at tendant upon the waning of her in fluence in the east and will therefore be more anxious than ever to con clude a byedy peace before tho 'war mun' ; ecoines less favorable, ... "Tho raiding of German towns in tho Interior, More especially the in dustrial centers of the Rhineland, by allied aircraft, as reprisals for tho re peated bombardment of open towns in France and Great Britain by the Germans has been successfully Initi ated. "Reports of observers recently out of Gorman', who were present during previous air raids, state that these raids have had a very depressing ef fect on tho civilian population and have helghtenec the growing discon tent among tho German people, who now for the . first time are being I brought raco to faco with real war conditions. ... "The armistice concluded by the Russians with the enemy now In cludes tho entire eastern front from the Bnltie to the Black sea. Negotia tions an- not proceeding smoothly. The German demands as reported to us specify, amort' other points, the im mediate opening up of channels of commercial intercourse bctwoan Rus sla and Germany." Oldest Station Agent Dead, Mobile, Ala., Dec. 17. Jncob Jones, Bged 83, said to be the oldest station agent in the United States, died Sun day nt Surcarnochee, Miss., where he had been since the place was estab lished by the Mobile and Ohio road before tho Civil war. Mr. Jones leaves prominent relatives in Birmingham and Meridian, Rlsn In Temperature JVircea.-t. Washington, Uec, 17. A marked rise in temperature was forecast to day by the weather bureau for the Ohio valley, the lower lake region and Atlantic coast districts by Tuesday, COMING TO MEiS ACQUITTED KING MURDER "Not Guilty," Jury Reported Sunday Morning Will Be Indicted for Forgery in New York Concord, Jf. 0., Dec. 17. "Not guilty" was the verdict of the Jury in the case of Gaston B. Means, charged with the murder of Mrs. Maude A. Kingr, widow of a Chioftgo millionaire, who wag shot to death at Blackwelder Spring, near Concord, en the evening of August 29 last ; The Jury made known its verdict at 10:22 o'clock Sunday morning, after having deliberated since 7 o'clock Sat urday night. The finding was made known to Judge E. B. Cllne In the Cabarrus county court room in the presence of the defendant, his wife, hie father and mother, other relatives, representatives of counsel and several others Who had learned that the jury was about to make Its report and hur ried to the court house. There was no demonstration, vrob nbly prevented by a warning Judge Cline had given before hearing the jury's report, accompanying it with instructions to Sheriff Caldwell to ar. rest anyone who made any denivnstra tlon. However, a little later, when the prisoner had been formally dis charged, and the court adjourned, Means was surrounded by relatives, attorneys and friends, who hastened to shake his hand and congratulate him upon his acquittal. After his release, accompanied by his wife. Means loft the court room and went to the homo of his father. A little later he reappeared on the streets of tho town where scores of friends extended congratulations. As he and Mrs. Meant! were leaving the court room they met one of his sis ters who had just arrived and the two women rushed into one another's arms, weeping for Joy. At 9:30 o'clock Sunday morning, the jury sent Sheriff Caldwell to Judge Cllne's hotel to request that he appear in the court room. The Judge was at breakfast and it was 10 o'clock before he reached the court room. To the crowd that had assembled, he made known the fact that the jury was about to appear but that he had not been apprised whether it was ready to announce a decision. In the event such was the cne, there must not be any demonstration, regardless of what the Jury's "finding might be. Then he directed the sheriff to arrest any one violating his instructions. He alBO cautioned against any attempt to talk with any of the jurors before they were discharged. When the jurors had filed into Mie court room Judge Cline told them that during his charge 'of the day before, he had inadvertently referred to the time of the shooting as "in the even ing" and asked if they Interpreted that to mean an expression of his opinion as to the fact of the time of the tragedy. In unison, the jurors replied they had not. The clerk of the court then asked the formal question as to whether a verdict had been arrived at. J. Frank Goodman, who had been chosen foreman, an swered in the affirmative. Directing the defendant to stand and raise his right hand, the clerk thu:i asked the jury if they "found the defendant guilty or not charged." "Not guilty," guilty of the crime replied . Foreman Goodman. Judge Frank OHboine. of counsel for the defense, then asked Solicitor Hayden Clement if he had any further charge against the defendant, to which the solicitor replied "I have not." Judge Osborne then formally asked the court to realease the de fendant from custody, and Judge Cllne said: "The defendant is released." Gaston B. Means then entered uoon the first full day of freedom since be went to jail in September, waiving preliminary hearing before a magis trate. Will Be Indicted in Now York. New York.-- Pec. 17. Gaston B. Means, acquitted of tho murder of Mrs. Maudo A. King, faces Indictment in this county for forgery and em bezzlement, District Attorney Swann has announced. "There is concrete evidence In our hands tending to show that Means forged many documents, on which he obtained large sums of money from Mrs. King's estate," said Mr. Swann, 'and there is evidence pointing to him as the embezzler of the major portion of Mrs. King's wealth. "Until I hear from Assistant Dis trict Attorney Dooling, who aided in the prosecution of Means in Concord and who worked on the case ngalnst him, 1 shall bo unable to say just when we shall take the evidence be fore the grand Jury. "The people of New York can rest nssured that all tho facts in the Means-King case will be brought to light in this county. Forgery and embezzlement are extraditable of Jurisdiction of the Btato Is Indicted for these crimes In this county he will be brought here for trial." ROME CELEBRATED THE Romo, Dee. 16. (Delayed.) To eolehrato the delivery of Jerusalem from Turkish rule, a procession of 16, 000 students and 20,000 members of sclentiflo associations, marched today to the convent Sant Onoforio Tasso, where In the tomb of tho poet, Tor quato Tasso. who In tho sixteenth cen tury wrote "Jerusalem Delivered." Hundreds of bells throughout Romo were rung during the ceremonial at the convent where Cardinal Lega said mass and blessed the immense crowd. MAKES REPORT OF ARMY ORDNAFJCE Orders Placed for Million Rifles and Every Effort Made To Secure a Large Output of Machine Guns Washington, Deo. 17, Army ord nance conditions of the present fiscal year are treated only briefly by Major General Crozler, chief of ordnance, in the annual report of his bureau, made public today. Since tho report was written, General Crozler has fur nished the sennte military committee a much more Complete record of -what has been done to arm the forces In France or under training in the United States. The reports show up to Juno 30, or ders have been placed for 1,000.000 American Enfield ritles, details for the rechambering of the British standard gun for American ammunition having been completed June 1.. On tho machine gun situation. Gen eral Crozler says that several types of weapons have been found efficient by the machine gun board but that pro curement of an adequato supply was question of securing deliveries. "In other words," he adds. 'Ithc number of machine guns on hand when war was declared was so small that it was necessnry to keep going at the greatest possible capacity: those machine gun factories which were al ready in operation and to utilize their output when the guns so manufac tured had been reported by the board as efficient, even though they may not have been reported as most efficient. Even' energy has been bent to se cure satisfactory output, and consid erable progress in this direction Is made. Funds appropriated to date are adequate for the purpose. "It is shown in the report that all American field guns are to be similar In calibre to tho French "75's" which have been so much discussed since the war be gan. The French semi-automatic breech mechanism also has been adopted In modified form, so that American and French batteries in France can be served from the same ammunition factories. Anti-aircraft guns of the "75's" type also have been added. Both these and the machine guns are being manufactured in quan tity, the report says. A considerable number of the anti-aircraft figured for mounting on motor trucks, .also had been ordered. The report shows that 8.8 inch and six Inch howitzers, the guns used for barrage work in trench fighting, were designed and ready for manufacture- on June 30. General Crozier expressed appreciation of the co-operation of the French and British ordnance experts in turning out these guns. General Crozler says a process of supplying our troops with these guns "necessarily- will be slow and disap pointing, although every advantage has been taken of the assistance se cured from abroad." Digging This picture shows a scene near munitions ship Mont Blanc, where were later burned to death. Scene on Gottingen : . . "''' s ' ' m4 &m&Wmf vl J) wn v:- ' ;.;'-:.:'': :-;:'-'"a3r& : "v l " :" :' ::-vv -V : 'Sr ': "', V.f- - j , t ft,:." J :. . . ., .,--: iV..- : '?-...' :".:.:l 'tldt. c z& i This photograph shows the destruction wrought by the explosion nt Halifax. The picture was taktn while fire engines played on the part uf the city. SENATE IHOUIRY RESUMED TODAY General Crozier on nd in Investigation Alleged Delay Jjppiying Army ans Washington. Dec. 17. Inquiry into alleged delay in supplying the army with in i n nn Ka 1 1 . I funds ratified by the ordnance bureau for that purpose was taken up again today In open session by the senate military committee after a two days executive session. , Generul Crozler continued his detailed statement of tho ordnance situation as far as It re vealed , nothing the war department considers a military secret. At the Saturday's hearing General Crosier told the committee that while congress had been generous with funds the ap propriations recommended by the gen eral staff invariably were reduced by civilian executives, and the reduction of ordnance was chargeable to legis lative committee. General Crozier declared there was "entirely too much red tape" In get ting money, wnuo an emeruency ap- npinriti t lew KAiiiicic? propriation of 2.32,587 was made by j the war department AprH 5. the day' ror a lump on before "war was declared "But you had millions of dollars loft of appropriations made a vear before," interrupted Chairman Cham berlain. "I have not befm entirely satisfied with any explanation made of this matter. For Instance you had money appropriated for machine guns and you haven't the guns yet. We ap propriated for small arriH t-na vou spent the money for pistols instead of rifles." "We were far shorter of pistols than rifles," General Crozier answered, "and wo are not going to be flowed up in this In the slightest degree on account of rifles." "I don't think the country will be satisfied with that explanation,' i'ena tor Chamberlain insisted. "We ned rifles for target practice and training purposes and in the field." How prospective appropriations hy congress were anticipated was recit ed by General Crozier. For instance, ho said, orders rere placed for 9, oonrtroo . roonr Hi ammunition "early last spring before any funds were availahle. He detailed how many new factories that had never before made gun forgings were given large con tracts to increase ordnance produc tion. "AVe have placed orders of more than $1,500,000,000 slnco the war be gan," General Crozier explained, cit ing the magnitude of operations. "That is more than fifty per cent over the entire government's exnenses for any year since the Spanish-American war." for Bodies in Ruins at the waterfront of Halifax not far from the point of the explosion of the rescuers were digging for bodies of those who went down in ruins or Street, Halifax, Half Mile -JKJt-JJ-..-- .-.,-;;Vy.;r.v,rf.r rf,fli PEACE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE GERMANS AND RUSSIANS BEGUN KEEP UP 'WAITING POUCY' Not Likely To Recognize the Bolsheviki Government German Money to Russia Washington, Dbc, 17. Recognition of the Bolsheviki government by the United States still Is remote, it was indicated today at the state depart-! ment. Reports In Europe suggesting' n developing sentiment n favor of dealing with the new regime as a de-1 facto government have found no re- j sponso here and it was made plain, that the United States would continue its policy of awaiting developments. Reports from Ambassador Francis are now coming through with more regularity but consuls In many parts' ,,1 ""',7 i", T""' "v"" to oom" i niuP'ate w'" Petrograd. It was sug- that one of the direct ef- tho financing of the Koisheviiu by Germany with paper money. Wen the war began Russian money was being printed In Germany and the eriin. ymira itlC Mill ill liUl Nil, .. Diplomatic dispatches to the state SLrrrS; suffering peopio in that region. at Pins im iimiSiLElClEul!. W, W. Pit's of 278 Haywood street sustained two broken ribs and a number of bruises yesterday afternoon when his automobile overturned on Haywood- street. Dr. M." H. Fletcher and Lawrence Jones took the Injured man from beneath the machine and carried him home, where he was given medical attention. - A broken steering gear caused the accident, whchi also damaged the automobile considerably. Congressman Enlists. Washington. Dec. 17.-Representa-tive Johnson of South Dakota, enlisted todnv as a nriva.te in the retrnlar nrmv and was aseiirned to Outin MenHe j He has not resigned his seat in theiThe confiscation -of all prtpmty lands house ! and money of the Russian church has Halifax From Explosion -T,ii,l-i,l-ii,i.iri.ifttMi-ff,'i-'t ,'i-ffii'1,V-r1i'id of the munitions ptesmer Mont Blanc remains of the fire that burned a large Armistice Between Bolsheviki and Central Poav ers on Eastern Front in Effect TodayNo Military Transfers Except Those Already Begun Counter Revolt Still Menace ALLIES MAY RECOGNIZE PRESENT GOVERNMENT Germans Not To Concentrate Troops Between Black Sea and the Baltic Intercourse Between Troops From Sunrise To Sunset Attacks on War and Commercial Vessels To Stop Labor Strikes In Petrograd When the armistice agreement between live Russian govern- tnstn , , I : .- ' a .1 . t ' - .""" '"' lowers goes imo ejjecz on me eastern JTOUl .ay thc ssarir of the several countries Ml begin negoti twns toward looking toward peace betiveen Russia and her for' mpr Rnpm,Vc njtvmthiL if t--'.nArMrA T.J- U It:J nier enemies. Meanwhile it is powers may be preparing to deal ii ? i .j n , . VOlSneVIM government. The armistice between Russia and the central powers is to continue for 28 days, and for an indefinite veriod afterward un- j less a seven days notice is given. Both sides agreed not to carry on military transfers on die eastern theater except those began when tlie treaty was signed. M;i,V Ilo ),q:ilite Bolsheviki. ) riev.f-.aoeis IVnof-nflt that .'ill giv& recognition nf tr.- Bolsht-vikl "in o'dor to prei-.'nt Rui itv from paM-Int- under the poiiUcil ecu- . nomic hell of Germany.'- ';.. Grcit- Rritrln 1 self! to have de- ' elder' to release Tehitel.erin, a Russian ' political prisoner and tho Kn'shevlki'! aro now perniit'irg British subjects to j leave Russia. To the American dele-I gates at th-vPri"' conference Is f aid to bel'inrr the c'rwiit for the tempering ui uie -,u;ieu aLiiiuue. iowar'1 uie iioi- Labor strikes appear to be the great obstacle before the Bolsheviki at pres ent, especially In the Petrograd dis trict. The rai'way and funl situations are serious. The counter revolt Is still more or lews of a menace to lioislie- ' yiki authorities aid the constituent! ! assembly is another knotty problem'-. been decrojl by the Bolsheviki who also have abolished all privileges of th clergy.: - Terms of tlio Armistice. Petrograd. Dec. 16. -The terms of tho Husso-German armistice, accord- ! log to a statement Issued here obligate j no transference of troops until Janu ary 14 (January 1, Russian); no in crease of troops on the fronts or on the islands In the Moon sound or a re-erouplng of forces. The Germans are not to concentrate i troops between the Black sea and the ; Baltic east of the 15th degree of lon , tritudo east of Greenwich. Intercourse between the troops may be allowed I from sunrise to sunset. Groups are i limited to 25 persons at a time who ! may exchange newspapers and un : sealed mails and who may carry on trade and exchange articles of prime necessity. A special agreement will be made by the naval general staff regarding the extension of the armistice to the White sea and tho Russian coast In the Arctic zone. . It Is agreed also that attacks on war and commercial ! vessels must stop in these regions in ! order to pvold attacks In other seas. The armistice on the naval front em braces all of the Black sea and Bal tic sea east of the meridian IZ de grees east of Greenwich. The de marcation lino fixed for the Bluclc sea Is from the light house of Sllnka to the estuary of the Danube to Cape Garos. In the Baltic the line runs from Reoguel to the western coast of Worms island to the Island of Bag sher to Khegarno. Russian war ves sels must not cross south of this line and the other parties must not go north. The Russian government guar antees that entente war vessels will obey the rules of this provision and that the Russian warships will not be allowed to sail among the Alan isl ands. Text of thc Armistice. The text of the armistice agree ment follows: "Between tho representatives of the higher command of Russia on the one hand, and of Bulgaria, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey on thc oth er hand, for the purpose of achieving a lusting and honorable peace between both parties, the following armistice is concluded "The armistice shall begin on De cember 14 (December 1) at 2 o'clock in the afternoon and continue until January 1 (January 14). .The con tracting parties have the right to break the armis'lce by riving seven days' notice. Unless notice is given the armistice uutomatlcoily continues. "The armistice embrace-, the land and aerial forces on thc front from the Baltic to the flick soa, and also the Rosso-Turkish front in Asia Mi nor. Purine the armistice the par ties conceded obiirMo thenvelves not to increase the number of troops on the above fronas or on the Islands in Moon sc.iml, or to niaka a re-grouping of forces. "Neither side Is to mnkft operative any transfers of units fro',1 the Baltic Black Sea front dntil .isnuary 1. ex cepting those begun before the agree ment is signed. They obligate their- indicated m London that allied more sympathetically with the J reives not. to concentrate troops on parts of the r.'ni.i: sea ci- Baltic sea " cast ef 1 " decays of longritT)2e eeet ol :i! en ? ! h :' "The ,U'r. 6' !emirH-i''oh r.n tho Epro'p'-ar. e:-.t !; the "ret line 'of 'defense.-.- On RtiSFO-Turtof-h front the ftc or.'-V'r:-.'j;.tIon'..wIll be nr- ranrea at r.ir.twcl.' .(Sonsent 'of 'tfc : 'Chief isoroir.aoder." :'."-: , . ; 1 "Intercourse will be a'Itvd from sunrise to sunset, no .more than- 35 persons, tf.l.inr: port at time. The. p.ir- jjr ipants may rxrhango papers, n.ejra- ' carry on trade in the exxchanga of ar- : tides of prime - necessity, "The question of release of trons freed from service who are beyond the V , " - ":"'" hi e Eoivea aar the peace negotiation This ap. plies also to Polish troops. . "Naval fronts.- The arml,"ttee em braces all the Black sea and Baltio sea, cast of the Meridian 15 degrees east of G-eenwieh, applying to all naval and aerial forces. In regard to " extension of the armistice to the White sea and the North Arctlo Rus sian coast a special agreement will be r made. Attacks upon war and com mercial vessels must cease in tne' above regions and attacks in other eea; must be avoided." "After fixing the lines of deraaxca. tion in the Black and Baltic seas and limiting the movement of warships, the agreement stipulates that com mercial navigation of these seas will' be permitted under rules to be for1 mulated by a commission." Immediately after the signing; of the armistice, negotiations arc to be gin. It Is provided that measures shall be token for the exchange ef civil prisoners, invalids, women and children under 14 years, and for the amelioration of condition of war pris oners. The treaty concludes with thes words: "With the purpose of facilitating the conduct of peace negotiations and the speeding healing of wounds caused by the war, the contracting parties take measures for re-establishment of cultural and economic relations among the signatories. Wtthlng such limits as the armistice permits, postal, commercial relations, the mailing of books and papers and will be permit ted the details to be worked out by a mixed commibsion, representing all tha Interested parties, at Petrograd." BAPTIST BARACAS TO The executive committee of tha Baraca class of the First Baptist church at a recent meeting at C. O." Groene's home, appropriated $50 for charity and decided to spend $10 each month for the relief of the needy in Ashevillo. A committee was appoint ed to carry out these pians. Tho treasurer's report showed a good balt-nce on hand and In splta of the f.oct thit many of the young men have volunteered or have been draft ed, tho attendance record of the class is still around 100 each Sunday, It is stated. , JU5T fo DAYS LEFT TO MOP READ T)OM
The Asheville Times (Asheville, N.C.)
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Dec. 17, 1917, edition 1
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