Newspapers / The Chatham Record (Pittsboro, … / May 10, 1916, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE CHATHAM RECORD H. A. London EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR Terms of Subscription $1.50 PER TEAR Strictly in Advance Chatham ttmA THE CHATHAM RECORD Rates of Advertising One Square, one insertion - - $1.00 One Square, two insertions - $150 One Square, one month - - $2.50 Far Larger Advertisements Liberal Contracts will be made. VOL. XXXVIII. PITTSBORO, CHATHAM COUNTY, N. MAY 10, 1916. NO. 40. GERMANY SENDS ANSWER 10 REGARDING BERLIN REFUSES TO ABANDON THE U-BOAT Says England and Her Allies Have Made No Restraints in Consideration of Neutrals, Criticises United States For Not Trying to Prevent "Acci dents" American Citizens Have Met With. GERMANY STILL HOPES FOR AN AGREEMENT Begs to Reserve Further Communi cation on the Matter Until Certain Points Are Ascertained. Claims to Have Made Several Concessions to United States Wnich Would Have Saved American Lives Had They Been Accepted. Germany's answer to the American ultimatum has been received at Wash ington breaking the tension of the long wait since the United States note was delivered to the Imperial Govern ment on April 20th. It is very likely that upon the Teu.onic reply hangs the future happiness and friendliness of the two nations. Berlin, May 5. Via wireless to Say ville Following is the text of the note of the German Government in re ply to the American note respecting submarine warfare. delivered on Thursday by Gottlieb von Jagow, the foreign secretary to, Ambassador Ge rard : "The undersigned on behalf of the Imperial German Government has the honor to present to His Excellency, JAMES W. GARARD United States Ambassador to Germany the Ambassador of the United States, Mr. James W. Gerard, the following reply to the note of April 20, regard ing the conduct of German submarine warfare. "The German Government handed over to the proper naval authorities for early investigation the evidence concerning the Sussex as communicat ed by the Government of the United States. Judging by the results that the investigation has hitherto yielded the German Government is alive to the possibility that the ship mentioned in the note of April 10 as having been torpedoed by a German submarine is actually identical with the Sussex. "The German Government begs to reserve further communication on th matter until certain points are ascer tained, which are of decisive import ance for establishing the facts of the case. Should it tu-n out that the com mander was wrong in assuming the vessel to be a man-Df-war the German Government will not tail to draw the consequences resulting therefrom. "In conection with the pase of the Sussex the Government ot the United States made a series of statements the gist of which is the as.' tion that the incident is to be considered but one instance of a deliberate method of indiscriminate destruction of ves sels of all sorts, nationalities and des tinations by German submarine com manders. "The German go ernment must em phatically repudiate the assertion. The Herman Government, however, thinks i: of little avail to enter into details in W U-BOAT WARFAR EMPEROR WILLIAM the present stage of affairs, more par ticularly as the Government of the United States omitted to substantiate the assertion by reference to concrete facts. "The German Government will only state it has imposed far-reaching re straints upon the use of the submarine weapon, solely in consideration of neutrals' interests, in spite of the fact that these restrictions are necessarily of advantage to Germany's enemies. No such consideration has ever been shown neutrals by Great Britain and her Allies." Submarine Orders. "The German submarine forces have had, in fact, orders to conduct the submarine warfare in accordance with the general principles of visit and I search and the destruction of mer chant vessels, recognized by interna tional law, the sole exception being the conduct of warfare against enemy trade carried on enemy freight ships encountered in the war zone surround ing Great Britain. With regard to these no assurance has ever been giv en to the Government of the United States. No such assurances are con tained in the declaration of February 8, 1916." Claim Errors Occurred. "The German Government cannot admit any doubt that these orders were given or are executed in good faith. Errors actually occurred. They can in no kind of warfare be avoided altogether. Allowances must be made in the conduct of naval warfare against an enemy resorting to all kinds of ruses, whether permissible or Illicit." "Unavoidable" Dangers to Neutrals. "But apart from the possibility of errors, naval warfare just like war fare on land, implies unavoidable dan gers for neutral persons and goods entering the fighting zone. Even in cases where the nr.val action is con fined to ordinary forms of cruiser war fare neutral persons and goods re peatedly come to grief. "The German Government has re peatedly pointed out the dangers from mines that have led to the loss of numerous ships. Some German Pepper in This. "The German Government has made several proposals to the Government of the United States in order to re duce to a minimum for American trav elers and goods the inherent dangers of naval warfare. Unfortunately the Government of the United States de cided not to accept the proposals. Had it accepted the Government of the United States would have been instru mental in preventing the greater part of the accidents that American cit izens have met with in the meantime. "The German Government still stands by its offer to come to an agreement along these lines." Makes Further Concession. "As the German Government re peatedly declared, it cannot dispense with the use of the submarine weapon in the conduct of warfare against enemy trade. The German Govern ment, however, has now decided to make a further concession, adapting methods of submarine war to the in erests of neutrals. "In reaching this decision the Ger man Government is actuated by con siderations which are above the leve! of disputed question." Sacred Principles of Humanity. "The German Government attaches no less importance to the sacred principles of humaniy than the Gov ernment of the United States. It again fully takes into account that both governments for many years co operated in developing international law in conformity with these princi pies, the ultimate object of which has , that the appeal made by the Govern always been to confine warfare on sea ment of the United States to senti and land to armed forces of belliger- ments of humanity and principles of ents and safeguard as far as possible j international law cannot under the nonJcombatants against the horrors circumstances meet the same hearty of war. But although these consid- response from the German people erations are of great weight, they j which such an appeal other wise al alone would not under present cir- ways is certain to find here. If the cumstances have determined the atti- German Government, nevertheless, is tude of the German Government. resolved to go to the utmost limit oi AMERICAN E; EYES Puts Blame on England. "For in answer to the appeal by the Government of the United States on behalf of the sacred principles of humanity and international law the German Government must repea once more with all emphasis, that it was not the German, but the British Gov ernment which ignored all accepted rules of international law and ex tended this terrible war to the lives arid property of non-combatants, hav ing no regard whatever for the inter ests and rights of neutrals and non combatants that through this method of warfare have been severely injured. Had to Resort to Submarines. "In self-defense against the illegal conduct of British warfare, while fighting a bitter struggle for National existence, Germany had to resort to the hard but effective weapon of sub marine warfare. Touches Upon England's Attempt to Starve Germany. "As matters stand the German Gov ernment cannot but reiterate regret that the sentiment of humanity which the Government of the United States extends with such fervor to the un happy victims of submarine warfare are not extended with the same warmth of feeling to many millions of women and children who, accord ing to the avowed intention of the British Government, shall be starved and who, by sufferings, shall force the victorious armies of the Central Pow ers into ignominious capitulation. Refers Often to Great Britain. "The German Government, in agree ment with the German people, fails to understand this discrimination, all the more as it has repeatedly and ex plicitly declared itself ready to use the submarine weapon in strict con formity with the rules of international law as recognized before the outbreak of the war, if Great Britain likewise was ready to adapt the conduct of warfare to these rules. "Several attempts made by the Gov ernment of the United States to pre vail upon the British Government to act accordingly failed because of flat refusal on the part of the British Government. Moreover Great Britain again and again has violated interna tional law, surpassing all bounds in outraging neutral rights. The latest measure, adopted by Breat Britain declaring German bunker coal contra band and establishing conditions un der which English bunker coal alone is supplied to neutrals is nothing but an unheard-of attempt by way of exaction to force neutral tonnage into the service of British trade war." Again Criticises United States. "The German people know that the Government of the United States has the power to confine the war to armed forces of the belligerent countries, in the interest of humanity and mainte nance of international law. The Gov ernment of the United States would have been certain of attaining this end had it been determined to insist against Great Britain on the incon trovertible rights to freed om of the seas. But as matters stand the Ger man people are under the impression that the Government of the United States, while demanding that Ger many, struggling for existence, shall restrain the use of an effective weapon and while making compliance with these demands a condition for main tenance of relations with Germany confines itself to protests against il legal methods adopted by Germany's enemies. Moreover, the German peo ple know to what considerable extent its enemies are supplied with all kinds of war material from the Uni ted States." COUNT VON BERNSTORFF German Ambassador to United States Doom to Civilized WorM Should War Be Prolonged. "It will, therefore, be understood ULTIMATUM WOODROW WILSON concessions, it has been guided not alone by the friendship conecting the two great nations for over one hundred years but also by the thought of the great doom which threatens the entire civilized world should this cruel and sanguinary war be extended and prolonged." Twice Tried to Bring About Peace. "The German Government conscious of Germany's strength twice within the last few months announced before the world its readiness to make peace on a basis safeguarding Germany's vital interests, thus Indicating that It is not Germany's fault if peace is stil1 withheld from the Nations of Europe. The German Government feels all the more justified in declaring that re sponsibility could not be borne before the forum of mankind and in history if after 21 months of the war's dura tion the submarine question under dis cussion between the German Govern ment and the Government of the United States were to take a turn sa riously threatening maintenance of peace between the two nations. Will Not Attack Neutral Ships. "As far as lies with the German Government, it wishes to prevent things from taking such a course. The German Government, moreover, is prepared to do its utmost to confine operations of the war for the rest of its duration to the fighting forces ol the belligerents, thereby also insuring freedom of the seas, a principle upon which the German Government be lieves, now as before, that it Is in agreement with the Government of the United States. Shall Not be Sunk Without Warning. "The German Government, guided by this idea, notifies the Government of the United States that German na val forces have received the following order: 'In accordance with the gen eral principles of visit and search and the destruction of the merchant ves sels recognized by international law such vessels, both within and without the area declared a naval war zone, shall not be sunk without warning and without saving human lives un less the ship attempt to escape or offer resistance.' Introduces Restrictions. 'But for neutrals cannot expect that Germany, forced to fight for ex istence, shall, for the sake of neutral interests, restrict the use of an effec tive weapon if the enemy is permitted to continue to apply at will methods of warfare violating rules of interna tional law. Such a demand would be incompatible with the character of neutrality and the German Govern ment is convinced that the Govern ment of the United States does not think of making such a demand, know ing that the Government of the Uni ted States repeatedly declares that it is determined to restore the principle of freedom of the seas, from whatever quarter it has been violated." "Accordingly the German Govern ment is confident that in consequence of the new orders issued to the naval forces the Government of the United States will also now consider all im pediments removed which may have been in the way of mutual co-operation toward restoration of the freedom of the seas during the wai, as suggested in the note of July 23, 115, and it does not doubt that the Government of the United States will now demand and in sist that the British government shall I forthwith observe the rules of interna- tional.law universally recognized before tha war as are laid 1own in the notes I presented by the Government of the j United States to the British Govern I ment December 28, 1914, and Novem- ber 5, 1915. "Should steps taken oy the Govern ment of the United States not attain the object it desires to have the laws of humantiy followed by al belliger ent nations, the German Government would then be facing a new situation in which it must reserve to itself com plete liberty of decision. "The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to renew to the American ambassador assurance of highest consideration." MEXICAN BANDITS MAKE ANOTHER RAID SEVENTY FORD RIO GRANDE AND SHOOT DOWN THREE TROOP ERS AND BOY. LOOT THREE SMALL TOWNS Carry Off Two American Citizens and Cut Their Thoata. Fire Shacks Ranchmen to Rescue. Alpine, Texas. Villa bandits, some 70 in number, forded the Rio Grande and sweeping Id miles inland on Am erican soil, raided the little settlement of Glenn Springs and attacked a de tachment of American cavalry consist ing of nine men of Troop A, the Four teenth Cavalry. Three troopers and a little 10-year-old boy were killed, two cavalrymen were wounded and another is miss ing. He is believed to be a prisoner of the bandits who are now fleeing southward into Coahuila, Mexico. Two American citizens, J. Deemer, and a man named Compton, accord ing to reports received here, were carried across the Rio Grande and re ports have it that their throats were cut. A posse of 50 citizens of Mara thon are in pursuit of the Villistas. The bandits' foray, carrying them through the southern limits of Brw stern county in the Big Bend dlstrat of Texas, and .taking in three little settlements near the border Glenn Springs, Boquillas and Deemers took place on Friday night and Saturday morning, but news of it did not reach here for several days. Within an hour preparations had begun for adequate action. Major General Funston ordered four troops of cavalry to the raided section to reinforce small detachments already on their way to the scene from Presi dio, Alpine and other points. It is said that if the exgiencies of the case demand such action they will cross the border in order to run down and dis perse the bandits. The forces consist of two troops of the Eighth Cavalry from Fort Bliss, El Paso, under Major Langhorne ,and two troops of the Fourteenth Cavalry from Fort Clark under Colonel Sibley, commander of the Fourteenth. General Scott and Funston met General Obregon and Juan Amador, Mexican Sub-Secretary of Foreign Af fairs, in the immigration station at the American end of the international bridge for what had been expected to be their final conference. It develop ed later, however, that practically the only matter discussed wa sthe bandit raid at Gleeu Springs. GERMAN RAIDERS FIRE ON AND CHASE BIG LINER Forty American Citizens Aboard. News Alarms Shipping Circles. New York. The steamship Venizia, arriving here from Bordeaux, France, with 40 American citizens abroad, was only matter discussed was the bandit by two commerce raiders, while off the Azores, according to a story related when the vessel docked. Reports had been in circulation for more than a week that at least one sea raider was again operating in the western Atlantic, and todays news has alarmed shipping circles. Captain Boniface and members of the crew were reticent but the Amer icans on board, who were employed in caring for horses transported on the Venizia's last voyage eastward, vouched for the story. According to these men, the Veni zia encountered the commerce raiders April 28, three days out from Bor deaux. The hostile craft, they said, loomed up without any flags showing and bore down upon the Venizia. Cap tain Boniface at once became suspi cious and prepared for a sudden dash. The raiders signalled to the Venizia to slow down, but Captain Boniface's answer was an order for full speed ahead. As the Venizia started away, ac cording to the story, a shot passed over her, this was followed by an other which dropped close to the Ven izia, but the .efforts of the raiders to overhaul her proved unsuccessful. BRITISH SUBMARINE SUNK BY GERMAN GUNFIRE. Berlin, via wireless. The British submarine E-31 was sunk by the gun fire of a German warship to the west of Horns Reefs, off the west coast of Denmark, on the morning of May 5, it was announced by the German ad miral. The admiralty report also an nounces the destruction- of a hostile aeroplane by German airmen with the help of a torpedo boat off the Flan ders coast and the capture of another aeroplane by torpedo boats. COUNTESS SENTENCE IS COMMITTED TO LIFE. Dupblin, via London Countess Geor giana Markievicz, one of the promin ent figures in the Irish revolt, was sentenced to death after her trial by court martial, but the sentence has been commited to penal servitude for life, it was officially announced. The death sentence upon Henry O'Hanra han was also commuted to a life term Death sentences imposed upon George Plunkett and John Plunkett were com muted to 1(1 ears. UNITED STATES TO ACCEPT ASSURANCE WILL AWAIT FULFILLMENT OF PROMISES CONTAINED IN NOTE. AVERT DIPLOMATIC BREAK Imperial Government's Reply Has at Least Postponed Any Diplomatic Rupture With Teutons. Washington. It was stated authori tatively that if the official text of Ger many's note beards out the unoffcial copy transmitted in news despatches, the United States will accept the as surance it contains and await a fulfill ment of its promises. Germany's note has postponed if it actually has not averted a diplo matic break with the United States. It was stated authoritatively after the cabinet meeting that if the official text bore out the unofficial version transmitted in the Berlin news dis patches. Germany's assurances un doubtedly would be accepted and be fore taking another step the United States would await the fulfillment of her latest promises. In such cases the United States might not reply to the note and would await evidence of the actual abandon ment of Germany's present practices of submarine warfare which is declar ed. President Wilson is described by those close about him as being in a position where he cannot question the good faith of Germany's assurances which must stand or fall by the future conduct of her submarine command ers. The German Embassy view is that the note gives all President Wilson asked for; that it signalizes a return to "cruiser warfare" the use of sub marines as regular naval cruisers in tercepting commerce with visit and search, and that inasmuch as it makes no mention of the armed ship ques tion, that perplexing feature of the controversy is not involved. Congress took the note quietly and although members expressed a va riety of views the general sentiment seemed to be in favor of leaving the situation in the hands of President Wilson. OBREGON-SCOTT AGREEMENT AWAIT'S CARRANZA'S APPROVAL Mystery Surrounds News That Mexico City is Cut Off by Rail From Vera Cruz. Washington Publication of the text of the Scott-Obregon agreement for co-operative action against bandits in Mexico still awaited formal notifica tion that it has been approved by Gen eral Carranza. President Wilson will make it public as scon as word of its acceptance by the d facto government reaches him either from Mexico or from General Scott at El Paso. The war department had only rou tine reports from the border but Sec retary Baker said unofficial advices indicated a better feeling among the Mexicans since the military conference was arranged. Advices to the state department re ported that rail communication be tween Vera Cruz anl Mexico City had been interrupted sin.;e May 1. No ex planation was given. GERMANS MAKE SOME GAINS NEAR VERDUN London. North of Hill 204 the Ger mans gained a footing in French ad vanced trenches and also occupied French positions west of Avoncourt and several trenches southeast of Hau court. Repeated French attacks against German positions west of Lemort Homme broke down under the German fire. Inclement weather is hampering the infantry operations, according to the latest official communication from Paris, and bombardments alone are taking place. Hill 304 northwest of Verdun is receiving a bombardment of increased intensity. The Germans on the west front shot doyn 26 Entente Allied aircraft dur ing April, but themselves lost 22 ma chines according to Berlin. COMMENTS OF SOUTHERN PRESS ON GERMANY'S NOTE. Roanoke (Va.) World-News: The note settles nothing. It possibly opens up a way for further negotia tions. President Wilson, in all prob ability, will accept the small addition al concession made by Germany as sufficient grounds for a continuance of diplomatic exchanges. Charlotte Observer: Germany has made frank admission, adequate sub mission and just contention. Richmond (Va.) News-Leader: Germany's reply to the American de mands is a disingenuous effort to have internation petty larceny put on the same place as international murder and visited with the same punishment Savannah (Ga.) Press: The note :s a document stamped with the "Made in Germany" brand of diplo macy. It is a play lor further time and it carries small assurance not .liven before and iromptly disre garded. GENERAL SCOTT HAS ACCEPTABLE PLAN CO-OPERATIVE ACTION IN NORTH ERN MEXICO TO ELIMINATE VILLA AND BANDITS. A GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL As Carranza Army Shows Ability to Cope With Bandits American Forces Will Withdraw. Washington. The plan of co-operative action in northern Mexico for the elimination of Villa and his bandits, which has been mapped out at the El Paso conference, is acceptable to the Washington Government. Notice to this effect was forwraded to General Scott by Secretary Baker, but pend ing its formal acceptance by General Carranza administration officials here declined to make public the text of the agreement or discuss its details. There was no doubt in official circles, however, that the plan would be rati fied within a few hours and the dis turbing situation in northern Mexico be disposed of. The limitations of the expedition under the agreement have not been disclosed. It is understood, however. that it will hold the present lines for the present and not proceed to the south in any event. Pending the demonstration by the Carranza forces of their intention and power to clear the whole border re gion of brigands, it is understood that no move toward withdrawing any of the troops now on the border will be made and the double guard will be maintained along the border until definite information is available to show that the bandit menace is at an end. SOUTH AMERICA WANTS U. S. TO GET MERCHANT MARINE Secretary McAdoo Returns From Long Trip Friendly Feeling Exists. Washington. Secretary McAdoo, back from the Buenos Aires meeting of the International High Commission, declared in a statement that leading South American statesmen agreed with him that quick development of a merchant marine under an American flag and completion of a Pan-American railway, are the most important fac tors to be considered in plans for closer unity among American nations. Mr. McAdoo, as head of he section. reviewed the work of the Buenos Aires meeting and announced that in all the countries he visited on the way back from Argentina he found a most friendly feeling toward the United States. BRAZILIAN PRESS AROUSED URGES INTERVENTION. Rio Janeiro. The Brazilian Govern ment has notified the German Lega tion that it has ordered an urgent in quiry into the sinking of the Brazil ian steamship Rio Branco in order to be able to act with certainty for the defense of its neutral rights. Official telegrams received here an nounce the Rio Branco was torpedoed. The newspapers are greatly aroused and unanimously defend energetic in tervention by the Brazilian govern ment. VOLUNTEER ARMY AND NITRATE PLANT CAUSE BREAK Washington Conferees on the army reorganization bill disagreed on impor tant features of the measure and ad journed until matters in disagreement can be taken up in the house. The rocks on which the committee broke were the Federal volunteer army and the $15,000,000 government nitrate plant amendment adopted by the sen ate. Up to the time of the break the conferees had been making good prog ress on regular army reorganization and reserve features. They had ten tatively agreed on a standing army in peace time of 180,000 men, 40,000 more than the house bill carried, and of 220,000 men in time of war or threat ened war. AIRMAN AT NEWPORT NEWS BREAKS WORLD'S RECORD Newport News, Va. Records for du ration and distance with six passen gers were established before pilot E. T. McCauley, flying the Curtiss hydro aeroplane, the largest in the world, was forced to abandon flight to Bal timore and back, on account of rain. McCauley's flight was the first of its kind ever attempted in America, the world's record for duration and dis tance with six passengers was held by a French aviator. DANISH WEST INDIES MAY BECOME PART OF U. S. Washington. Several visits of Con stants Brun, the Danish minister, to the state department for conferences with Secretary Lansing, have given color to a report in circulation for some time that the American govern ment has renewed the negotiations conducted spasmodically at a long in terval for the past 25 years looking to the cession of the Danish West Indian Islands, St. Thomas, St. Croyx and St. John, to the United States.
The Chatham Record (Pittsboro, N.C.)
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May 10, 1916, edition 1
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