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ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE RED CROSS? IF NOT, JOIN NOW THE WEATHER F air Tonight and Saturday; Aof Much Change in Temperature O'CLOCK EDITION 12 PAGES VOL. XXII. NO. 318. ASIIEVILLE, N. C, FRIDAY AFTERNOON, DEC. 21, 1917 PRICE FIVE CENTS iJ. r ii if i DISCLOSURES WILL : CAUSE ARGEN ' TO DECLARE Luxburg's Telegrams, Show I ing New Evidence of Ger man Trickery, Published . LINE UP AGAINST NORTH AMERICA Had Secured Argentina President's Consent To Enter Into Agreement Washington, Deo. 21.-Doclaratlons of war against German by Argentina was regarded as almost certain in Latln-America.i diplomatic circles to day as the result of the pew evidences of German trickery disclosed simul taneously In Washington and Buenos Aires last night by publication of an other series of telegrams between the notorious Count Luxburg of "spurlos versenki" fame and the Berlin for eign office. Luxburg, former German charge in Buenos Aires, in a message dated Au gust 1, last, informed his foreign of fice that President Irigoyen, of Ar gentina, had at last made up his mind to negotiate a secret agreement with Chile and Bolivia for protection against North America. Another telegram intimated an attempt would be made to include Peru and the plan was to be perfected according to Lux burg communication of August 1, "be fore the conference idea is taken up again." The "conference idea" is assumed to bo the proposed Latin-American neutrality conference advocated by President Carranza and widely dis cussed in South America. The secret agreement referred to may explain re cent South American reports of Pres ident Irigoyen'8 proposals for a league of South American nations. The messages, 40 in number, were made public by the state department through an agreement with the Ar gentine government and were accom panied by a statement by Foreign Min ister Puerreydon. in which he says the "inaccuracies" of the-'- .Herman charge's report are so surprising that no epithet will fit 'them, -Statement of Minister. Following is the statement of the Argentina minister of foreign affairs, given out with the Luxburg tele- ; grams: "The telegrams which anneni helnw nro nil th.it the Argentine ministry for foreign affairs received from the em-ba-ssy in Washington of which the translations were made by the de partment of state in the United States. There are three telegrams not pub dished as they allude solely to the (Continued on Page 2t BOARD IKES REPORT Loans Totaling $29,824,000 Made to Farmers Other Loans Approved Washington, Dec. 21. Loans ag gregating $29,824,000 have been made to farmers by the 12 federal land banks in the six months since the farm loan system has been in full opera tion, according to the monthly report of the federal farm loan board issued today. In addition, $75,000,000 of loans have been approved and will be negotiated at the old five per cent in terest rate. Applications for loans have amount ed to $219,000,000 which has been cut to $180,000,000 by reductions ordered by appraisers, or by rejections. Fu .ture loans will be made at the new 'rate of five and one-half per cent The great volume of loans. $7,390, 000, have been mado by the Witchita, Kas., bank which covers Kansas, Ok lahoma, Colorado and New Mexico. .Loans in other districts include: Columbia, S. C, $9,818,000; Louis vllle. $1,782,000; New Orleans, $1,031, 000, and Houston, $1,1 15,000. CHAIRMAN HURLEY FIRST Washington, Dec. 21. Inquiry Into the progress of the government's ship building program was begun by the senate commerce committee today j vim Lnairmun uriey, or me snip ping board, as the first witness. The committee called on Mr. Hurley yesterday to be ready with the follow ing Information: An itemized statement of oil con tracts with the names and locations of contracting parties. The number of ships constructed. Number of ships under construction and the amount of work completed on each. i Details concerning; the construction , pt ships for private account TREATY TO WIAKE CHINA SAFE FOR J Petrograd Paper Published Alleged Secret Treaty Be tween Japan and Russia TO DEFEND CHINA FROM DOMINATION Called Treaty For "Armed Demonstration Against American and England" Petrograd, Dec. ; 20. Under the heading "secret treaty between Japan and liussia for joint armed demon stration against America and Great Britain in the far east." The Izvestia publishes what it says Is the text of xne secret treaty drawn up last vear providing for joint action by Russia and Japan to prevent any third coun try rrom acnieving political dominance in China. : The treaty, dated July 3. 1916. runs for five years, automatically extending itself until a year after one party ex presses the desire to annul it. It is signed by Sergius Sazonoff, the Hus sion foreign minister, and V'scount Motono, Japanese foreign minister. The treaty stipulates that "the agreement shall remain a deep secret for all except for the contracting par ties." It opens with the statement that it is designed to supplement and strengthen the secret treaties of 1907, 1910 and 1912. The four articles of the treaty are as follows: "Article I. The contracting parties recognize that the interests of either side demand the defense of China from political domination by any third power whatsoever cherishing hostile intentions toward Russia and Japan and therefore undertake whenever circunistanoes necessitate to-MfaUii- into open relations based on full confidence In order conjointly to take the neces sary steps to prevent the advent in China of such a state of affairs. "Article It. In the event that as a consequence . of any measures .undertaken- by mutual consent by Russia and Japan on the basis of the preced ing article any third power, as fore seen by Article I. should declare war against Russia or Japan, the other contracting party shall,- on the first demand; of its ally, come to its aid. Each contracting party binds itself hot to make peace with the common ene my without obtaining the agreement of its ally. ..'....; "Article III. The conditions on which either party shall give armed assistance and the means by which such assistance shall be expected, shall be fixed by the respective authorities of the contracting parties. "Article IV. It must especially be kept in mind that neither party shall consider itself obligated in accordance with Article II to give its ally armed assistance unless it received guaran tee from its allies to the effect that they will give it assistance to the ex tent necessitated by the seriousness of the possible conflict." Washington Officials Have No Infor mation. Washington, Dec. 21. American officials said today they had no knowl edge of the so-called secret treaty be tween Russia and Japan described In the Petrograd dispatches, but they considered that to describe it as con templating joint armed demonstra tion against America and Great Bri tain in the far east" was not borne out by the text of the published articles, j rnero is a possibility that the treaty referred to is iho special convention concluded between Russia and Japan at about the same time as the so called secret treaty. It was generally assumed here that the treaty contain ed some secret provisions but its pur pose was. described as being to safe guard the lights of Japan and Russia in the far east; to reconcile all out standing issues between them and generally to follow the lines of the Anglo-Japanese alliance. At the time it was supposed that the secret articles provided for the sale by Russia to Japan all of the Manchurla.il railroads south of Har bin; tho transfer to Japan of naviga tion rights in the Sugarl river and the extension nf fishing rights off the coast of Siberia. It is improbablo that the United States alone will make any effort to secure an explanation of the meaning and purpose of these secret articles from tho principals but is rather ex pected that one or the other of them voluntarily will come forward with a statement in that line. Careful reading of the four publish ed articles inclined officials to. the opinion that tho general purpose of the convention was somewhat in line with the existing P.rltiNh-Japanese treaty touching far eastern interests and that it was designed to protect China from exploitation by any third power and was not especially directed against America or Great Britain, The agreement Just concluded be tween Secretary Lansing and Viscount Ishli though not speclllcally support able by military force as is the Russo Japanese secret treaty, really aimed at the same object,, the protection of Chinese Integrity, although that idea was developed on more altruistic and unselfish grounds than in the secret convention. Suspension of Immunity. Paris, Dec, 21. A resolution was Introduced in the chamber of depu ties todav bv Denntv Tlnmnnt nrntM. Ing for the suspension of immunity for I ministers, senators and deputies tor ' tho duration of the wai RUSSIA AND A DEATH TOLL FROM WRECK L. and N. Passenger Train Crashed Into Accommoda tion at Shephardsville, Ky. Investigating the Cause Shephardsville, Ky., Dee. 21. The death toll taken last night when Louis ville and Nashville passenger train No. 7, from Cincinnati, to New Orleans crashed into the rear end of a Louis ville, Bardstown and Springfield ac commodation train a few hundred feet south of the railroad station here, had reached 46 today. The number killed was at first plac ed by W. F. Sheridan, superintendent of the Louisville division of the Louis ville and Nashville, at 38. Revision of this figure caused by additional deaths from among those badly injured in creased the total to 48. The wreck, which is said to be the worst in the history of the L. and N., occurred Just after the local train had pulled out from the station here. It had gone only a short distance, when the other train, traveling at a high rate of speed, crashed into the slower moving train ahead and made kindling wood of the two wooden passenger coaches it carried. The locomotive pulling the fast train was badly damaged by the im pact, but the engineer and fireman escaped with a few bruises. The heavy steel coacnes it pulled were uninjured with the exception of one baggage car and the train was able to proceed later. Blame for the disaster seems to hinge upon whether the fast train had been given a clear block or not. Jesse Weatherford. iterator at the station, said immediately after the collision that after the local train pulled away from the station he had turned his board to show the track clear for the fast train and then left his post in response to orders to help unload baggage; As he left the office he said he saw the train approaching, rushed back to his office, set the red danger signal, picked up a red lantern and rushed to the platform to flag it. , He reached the platform just, as the train passed him. he said. Superintendent Sheridan closely questioned the crews of both trains, as well as tho station force, but de clined to attempt to fix the blame, without further investigation. Several of those killed were so bad ly disfigured that it was impossible to identify them last night. Many of the injured were so badly hurt that it is feared the death list will be increased even further. TO FAITHFUL TO THE ALLIES Paris, Dec. 21. V. Antonesco, the Rumanian minister here, has issued the following statement concerning the situation on the Rumanian front: "The armlFtice was simply a meas ure of military order imposed on us through the Rumanian front being entirely enclosed with the Russian front. It would be a mistake to make a political deduction from it. Ru mania intends to remain faithful to her alliances and to work until the end with the allies." CZECH-SLOVAK ARMY IN FRANCE Paris, Dec. 21. A decree authoriz ing the formation o fa Czech-Slovak army in prance appears In the offi cial Journal today. One such army numbering 80.000 men already has been formed In Russia. It will be at tached to the French army, which is daily being swelled by the arrival of fresh recruits from America. The entire army will be placed under tho political control of nationals of the Czech-Slavok countries. The head ouarters will be Paris. New French Cavalry Enters the War After : ' ( , ', I r& ' , ' . . ' . This photograph is the Hrst Indication of a radical change in the mcth od of Huropean warfare that has pre vailed for three years. Jt shows French cavalry starting out on. patrol al ong the Alsne. Not since the first months of the war when the French horsemen were known oh cuirassiers an d wore heavy and unweildly metal ar mor over the upper part of the body, and the Germans sent forth their Uhl ans, hns eav'aby operated extensively Now, however, it is predicted that the lighting will be more open, and caval ry will come more Into use. Wrecked by Haig's Fierce Fire WW 'mWI.""T' u ;J I .-.: : ' flA" V' j: ft? - " , ST? M If PVlJt' -TiA? ft fit fS A-vAt-ii... t Itches. U.ij-itS5.tS,Suti A Gfrann 5.9 dun Captured Near Pawchciidacle This well protected German 5.9 gun and its crew near Houlthulst Wood were unanie 10 wunstana tne Hurricane of fire from Kield Marshal Haig's cannon. The gun was captured by the Coldstream Guards. One of the men in the group was a British volunteer from the United States. FURLOUGH ORDER Number of Men To Be Given Furloughs Left in Hands of Camp Commander Not To Block Traffic By GEO. H. MAXXIXC. Washington, D. C, Pec. 21. Secre tary Baker, taking heed of the Uni versal protest made against his order of a few days ago directing that no more than five per cent of the soldiers in the National guard and National army camps should be given furloughs and allowed to go home for Chrast mas. today rescinded that order and in its stead issued instructions to all the camp commanders to use their discre tion in furloughing the men during Christmas week. This leaves the' numbpf of, 'men to be furloughed entirely in the hands of the camp commanders except that the new order directs the camp com manders not to furlough so many men that railroad traffic will be blocked. This order, which is the result of the insistent pleading of the men for opportunity to spend Christmas at home before going to Fiance and the protests of their families and friends over Secretary Baker's first order, will permit the commanders at Camp Se vier, Greenville, S. C. where the North Carolina National guard is quartered,' and at Camp Jackson. Columbia, S. C, where North Carolina National army boys are in training, to grant fur loughs to a large number of the North Carolina boys to go to their homes during the holidays. The short distance from the camps in South Carolina to their North Caro lina homes will, it is thought, permit issuance of a. considerable number of furloughs to North Carolina boys, de pendent, more or less, upon the ability of the men to obtain railroad accom modations. Rome, Dec. 21 "The American Red Cross has spent to date 11,000,000 lire aid refugees and invalids in Italian territory," said Major Gravson Mur- hpy. head of tho American Red Cross commission to Kurope, today. 'The American Red Cross flags are now flying over the Italian front and over many interior hospitals," he ad ded. The American Red Cross, co-oper ating with tho Italian organization, has donated a million lire to replace material lost during the retreat of the Italians and also to construct nine new field hospitals and front base hospitals. Mm1' d British and French Com manders Satisfied With His Preparation To Make America's Forces Effective Washington, Dec. 21. Direct assur ances of tho confedence of both Brit ish and French commanders in Gen eral Pershing's ability and their satis faction with the -breadth and sound ness of his preparations to make American arms effective on tho west ern front have readied Washington with the return, from Kurope of Major-General Hugh L. Scott, former chief of staff, who was in conference today with Secretary Baker and other war department officials. The men who ar actually leading the allied armies have been unhesitating in ex pressing their approval of the chief of the American expeditionary force and his methods. General Scott visited virtually every part of the battle front on his trip, familiarizing himself particularly with the scope of the work of a divisional commander. He believes General Pershing has laid the foundations for American army training upon what is best in French and British methods and experience. There-is no doubt in ins mind that American troops will be the equal of any on the front when they come to grips with the German a rn. y. ... Appeal Grunted. Sail Juan. P. i.,, Dec. 21. Federal District Judge ltamilton has granted an appeal in the case of Vincente Bal bas. The defendant's bail was fixed at $15,000. Balbas was the editor of The Revista De Las Antiil.is. and was con vited on charges made in connection with articles appearing in his news paper, lie was sentenced Wednesday to eight years imprisonment and a fine or J4.U0II. ; Bureau to Study IVace. Amsterdam, Dec. 21.- A German government bureau, for "studying questions relating to peace" has been opened in Berlin. Dr. Karl llelifer ich. former vice-chancellor, is at the head of the bureau. Musi Got I. (,', C. Approval. Washington, Dec. 21. Railroads desiring to withdraw from joint agreements must obtain specific ap proval of the Interstate Commerce commission if the withdrawal would mean an increase in rates, the com mission ordered today. Named Secretary of Stale. Indianapolis, lice. 21. William Roach, of Delphi, was appointed sec retary of state today by Governor Goodrich to succeed Captain Ed J.ick son, who resigned to accept a com mission in tho national army. Three Years mm PERSHING GERMANS REJECTED RUSSIAN PROPOSAL, US LONDON REPORT Petrograd Correspondent Wires Such Informa Hon Opposition to Bolsheviki Increasing German Populace Wants Leaders to Make ' Strong Peace Terms" Kaiser Sends KuehU mann as His Representative London, Dec. 21. It is reported unofficially that the Ger mans have rejected the Russian peace terms, the Petrograd cor respondent of the Exchange Telegraph company ivires under date of 1 hursday. Opposition Increasing. Opposition to the Bolsheviki appar ently is increasing as reports of Ger man support of the Maximalist gov ernment become more pronounced and the situation in Russia prows more chaotic while the Bolsheviki en deavo to arrange a separate peace with the central powers. The Ukraine, In its hostility to the Bolsheviki gov ernment, has been joined by the Rus sian staff on the southwestern front and General Stcherbatcheff, the com mander in Rum? p, has been head of the Ukrainian U xen. reported to be marching against the Bolsheviki. An other report reaching London says that the Rumanians have joined the Ukrainians, while other dispatches de clare that former Premier Kerensl.y is marching against Moscow and that Grand Duke Nicholas is raising a roy alist army in the Caucasus. Teuton lA'ading Bolsheviki. German and Austrian officers re: leased ; from .Russian prisons are re ported to have led the Bolsheviki in overpowering their opponents in Tash kent, the capital of Russian Turkestan, while other released enemy prisoners, said to be two army corps, are near Petrograd. Officers of the central powers are said to be active in Petro grad, although this is denied bv the Bolsheviki who claim that the consti tutional democrats are trying to put Russia, under German control. Make Strom; Peace Terms. Meanwhile diplomats of the cen tral powers are hurrying to begin peace negotiations with the Bolsheviki. Oil leaving Berlin the German '..emis saries were urged by the populace to "make a strong peacu." Kui'bliiianii Leaves for Irest-Litosk. London, Dec. 21. Dr. Richard von Kuehlmann, the German foreign sec retary with an important staff, left Berlin yesterday for Brest-Litovsk amid scenes of enthusiasm, tho crowds singing the national anthem and rais ing shouts of "bring us a strong peace." It is said the peace negotiations will be under the presidency of Ibrahim Hakki Pasha, the Turkish ambassador to Berlin and dean of the Berlin dip lomatic corps. The Bulgarian dele gates included Minister of Justice Pop off and M. Kosscff, chief of the for eign office.' . While the peace delegates are as sembling the activity at Petrograd, of a number of German and Austrian of ficers apparently is causing heart burnings. Circulars have been spread alleging that the council of soldiers and workmen's delegates is in negotia tion with the officers. The Pravda, the Bolsheviki organ, prints an unquali fied denial and makes a counter charge against the constitutional dem ocrats, claiming that they are trying to undermine Trotzky and Lcniuc. The Pravda further appeals to the work men to defeat the attempt of the con stitutional democrats to plaie Rus sia under the control of German im perialism. Kaiser Authorizes Peace. Amsterdam, Dec. 21. Count von Ilertling, the imperial German chan cellor, yesterday received representa tives of all the reichstag parties with whom he bad a confidential discussion on the situation caused by the opening of peace negotiations with Russia. The chancellor announced, according to a Berlin official dispatch, that the emperor had authorized him to con clude peace and he had charged For eign Secretary von Kuehlmann to con duct the negotiations. . According to the newspapers, the independent socialists were represent ed at the meeting by Deputy llaase. This is the first time since the foun dation of the party that it has had direct intercourse with tho German government. Present Congress Kilter1 Protest. New York, Dec. 21. A cablegram saying that the peasant congress in Russia adopted a resolution protesting against tho policy of the Bolsheviki In arresting members of the constituent assembly was received here today bv tho Jewish Daily Forward, from Its Ptrograd correspondent. Tho message reads: "A very important sitting of the peasant congress was held today. Tremler Lenlno in person addressed tho congress and i na lengthy speech defended the attitude of ;the Bolshe viki toward the constituent assembly. He Justined the arrest of the members of tho nssembly and said that the labor council ought to be considered the highest authority. "Notwithstanding Lenlne's presence the congress passed a resolution pro testing againHt the policy of the Bol sheviki with a vote of 360 to 321." OpiKislllon to Bolsheviki Growing. London, Dec. 21. The correpond ents in Russia continue to emphasize the growth of the opposition to the ;. 1 Maximalist government In parts of the country and consequent spread of civil war. The rejection of the Bolsheviki: demand on the Ukrainians presumably adds the resources of the entire: Ukraine to the forces combatting the Bolsheviki rule, . The position of General Kaledines, hetman of the Don Cossacks, la re ported to have become very much. ' stronger, and his close association with the Ukraine is generally conceded. A dispatch from Petrograd con firms previous' reports that Rostov-on-Don is in the hands of the Cossacks and that the entire anti-Bolshevikl movement is causing serious anxiety to tho Bolsheviki commissioners. With regard to the reported pres ence of allied military missions in the Ukraine, it is asserted Leon Trotzky, the foreign minister, visited the French embassy and made representa tions that' the presence of French, officers in the Ukraine was im-' possible while the rada was disarm ing the Bolsheviki, openly supporting General Kaledines and disorganizing; the general front by recalling Ukrain ian troops from the Russo-Rumanian front. M. : Noulens, the French ami-Tench mission was in the Ukraine at ' French mission was in the Uwraine at the request of Russia to supervise the formation of the national Ukraine army; that they had been ordered pot to interfere In internal political af fairs and would not participate in tho fighting in the event of a struggle. Tho dispatch did not mention any other members of the entente being in the Ukraine.; Little news regarding the peace ne gotiations has reached London. For eign Minister Trotzky is said to have told M. Noulens that if Germany re jects a peace without annexations and indemnities it will end the negotia tions. It is noteworthy now that in the Petrograd dispatches every govern ment act is attributed to Trotzky. ' Consuls Visit Trotky. Petrograd. Dec. 21. The British, Danish, French and Belgian consuls have visited Leon Trotzky, the Bolshe viki foreign minister, and arranged to exchange with Russia courtesies to of ficial couriers. . ,,'.. THEMSELVES Tfl DEATH Petrograd. Dec. 21 Incessant fight ing has occurred in many parts of Pe trograd in connection with the efforts to check drunkenness and prevent tho raiding of wine cellars. A mob raided oe distillery where 15 soldiers drank themselves to death. Fifteen persons were killed and wounded when an ar mored motor car attacked the distil lery, which was et on fire. The fire department was prevented from extin guishing the blae by rowdies adn many persons were burned before the situation was brought under control. The streets are running with wine in many sections where the soldiers are pumping out of the cellars to prevent disorder. Conscription Del'eutcil Sydney, Australia, Dec. 20. Unless the siddier vote of the various fronts, which has not yet been counted, off sots the vote in Australia, the govern ment's conscription scheme has been defeated in a referendum by a major ity of about 150. 000. This is believed to bo hardly likely, however, on ac count of the heavy vote against con scription in new South Wales which gave a majority of 113.000 aaliis: the proposal. Serbia Mission In Washinsrtotl. W.nsbinirtnn tlnr 1 Qorlilu'a mil itary mission was received here today with much ceremony. Kscorts of cavalry and a part of American offi cials headed by Secretary Lansing met the commissioners. Later the mission was received by President Wilson and pres?nted an autograph letter from King Peter. Tonight the president will entertain tho mission at a state dinner. I'ire Destroyed Cotton. Anderson, S. C, Dec. 21. Fire of unknown origin destroyed early today a warehouse of the Chiquola mills at Honeapath, Anderson county, with an estimated loss of $.s,'i,000. Part of the 1.0.S5 bales of cotton in the structure was saved. Publishes Americ an Kdltlon. J Paris, Dec. 21. The London Dally Mail yesterday began the publication of an American edition from the offi ces of its Paris edition. The new edi tion will be for Americans In Franca and will carry special cables and page of mall news. 3'
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