THE ONLY SEMI-WEEKLY
THAT COVERS THE EIGHTH
COK1RESSIONAL DISTRICT
YMMM VALLEY HE
A PAPER THAT SHOULD BE
READ BY EVERY CITIZEN.'
OP ROWAN COUNTY
T
VOI 3. NO. 55.
$1.50 A YEAR AND WORTH IT
SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA.
TUESDAY, (MAY & .1917.
$150 A YEAR AND WORTH IT
PRICE TWO CENTS .'
MALI
RENCH GUNS
BAUER DOWN
L
DOOR TO
ANOTHER AMERICAN SHIP SUNK BY GERMAN SIT UMARINES.
AN
French Troops After Battering
Down the Back Door to Laon
in Six Miles of Stronghold.
GERMANS MAKING STRONG
ATTACKS ON FRENCH
Situation in Hungary is the Out
standing Feature of Day's News
Behind the Battle Line.
.1
' X i. 4
(By Associated Press.)
French guns have battered down
the back door to Laon and French
troop are now within six males of
the German stronghold.
One formidable barrier lies between
them and the goal the Ailette river
hut from captured heights the
French guns look down over this
stream.
" The Ailette runs east and west
parallel with the French line. It is
. hardly worthy the name of river, but
its bed is a deep gorge which makes
it a grave obstacle. Laon will not be
captured except with great sacrifice,
but the French victory has brought
capture much nearer.
The developments on the battle
front are chiefly valuable for the pos
sibilities they open up and the same
may be said of the battles behind the
line of fighting. In Germany there, is
much talk which would "curtail the
power of the Emperor and make the
ministry responsible to the parliament
The putting forward of these re
forms tends to check the rising tide
of popular discontent, but the extra
ordinary measures to prevent the out
side world learning anything of the
true situation maikes adequate judg
ment impossible.
Startling reports come from Austria-Hungary
regarding conditions in
the Dual monarch, and apparently
Count Tszar and his fellow reaction
aries have the upper hand and are
determined to crush the party of the
democracy with the same ruthlessness
as has heretofore been the rule. There
are rumors that martial law has been
established in Bohemia and Hungary,
tut the suppression of the newspapers
leaves no line for news to reach the
outside world as to conditions in the
Austrian Empire.
The Russian riddle remains unsolv
ed but for the time being at least the
provisional authorities seem to be
safe. Reports of demoralization in
the Russian army revealed the uncom
fortable condition by a proclamation
toy General Gurko, commander on the
west front, ordering the soldiers to
stop fraternzing with the German
troops. General Gurko declares such,
fraternizing has become a common
practice and the lull on the Russian
front has permitted the Germans to
concentrate troops against the Eng
lish and French.
In spite of the peaceable ending of
May Day demonstrations in bweaen
the international troubles in mai
country seem to be rising rainer man
ebbing. Riots and food demonstra
tions are reported irom various poiuis
and from such partial reports as are
received the authorities are confront
ing an ugiy situation.
Balhcourt, dire'ctly on the Hinden-
burg line has besn entered by Bntisn
troops who this morning are ngnung
the Germans in the town for its pos
session, giving ine uermans no nine
to bring up reserves irom ine nara
pressed front where the l'Tench are
driving for Laon by the toackiway to
that stronghold.
General Haig's troops be?an today
to widen the breach they made in tne
Hmdenburg line in Balhcourt region,
Counter attacks of extreme violence,
.1. . 1 M 'A 1 1 1 1 Xl
raDiaiv revealed, rauea 10 nane ine
British servo on the line here and have
not orevented them from striking
again wnen iney were reaay.
Ballicourt has been hemmed in on
all aides except on the north and the
Britsih have worked well to the east
of the village. Driving tck toward
it they fought their way into the
place, pressing bacu the desperate re-
istance of the Germans.
On the French front northeast of
soissons the Germans have been fore-
Ml UI VII1UIU7 I.1WUB 111 il CHVI,
a, T. ... T
m stem tne rrencn aavance. utsi
bight they drove messes of men
j-igainSt the line all along this front
bat were anablejjo shake General Ne
ville's line hold upon valuable and
hard won ground on the plateau over
looking the Aillette river. Every
where the French hold is fast mowing
down the Germans with their fire.
flmmmM 1Mitimia mr Maintain
Berlin London, May 7. All
German positions between Soissons
and Lake. Soissons road and Ailles
and North of Latfaux have been main
tained, says the official statement is
sued today by German army head-
i
SSXKKFft
mint R OC K i rU 1 AM I-
The American s-hip Rockingham,
formerly tne Nebraskan, was sunk
by a German submarine. It was the
second attempt the Germans had
made on the vessel. Under the name
Nebraskan she was torpedoed when
off the Irish coast on her way to
England shortly after the Lusitania
was sunk. She made port and was
refitted and rebuilt.
LABORERS JONG
SOUGH! FOR ALLIES
Debate Over Instruction to the Jury
to be Next Feature in the Celebrat
ed Virginia Case May Go to the
Jury by Thursday.
(By Associated Press-)
Christiansburg, Va., May 7. After
having devoted practically all of Sat
urday afternoon to inspecting the
home at Blacksburg of Chas. E. Vaw
ter, on trial here for the murder of
Stockton Heth, Jr., tne jury today
was prepared to hear closing evidence.
Indications are that the taking of
testimony will end late today or early
tomorrow morning. Then will come
-debate over instructions. Marked
difference of views are expected to
develop over this phase of the trial
and probably nearly all of Tuesday
will be consumed in shaping instruc
tions to be (brought forth and present
ed to the jury. Argument in the case
will not begin until some time Wed
nesday and it is not probable that the
case will reach the jury before Thurs
day.
Tragic and sensational features of
the case have ended so far as evi
dence is concerned. Ay that remains
that my rouse public interest are the
features of attorney's argument and
the verdict.
Court in Picture Theatre,
Because of the late arrival of a
train on which Judge Moffett was re
ported to be returning from his home
in Roanoke where he spent Sunday
the trial of Prof. C. E. Vawter did
not open until 11:30 o'clock this morn
ing. Immediately after court met it was
announced that the strain on the court
house from the unusual crowds
thronging it during the past week the
structure had been weakened and the
sessions were adjourned to a moving
picture theatre.
quarters staff. The Germans, it is
added, also were successful in the
Ailles battle. The Germans have cap
tured 726 men since Saturday. Four
teen British and French airplanes
were brought (down yesterday on the
western front.
German Counter AttacK French With
out Success.
Paris, May 7. The German coun
ter attack along the entire French
front and everywhere has been re
pulsed, according to an official state
ment made today. The fighting is
especially severe in the region of the
Chemin-desDeans and east of Sois
sons. The statement says that since
April 16th French have taken 29.000
prisoners.
Early Morning Attack on the British
City Results in the Death of One
Man and the Injury of Two Persons
fimall Damage is Done.
(By Associated Press.)
London, May 7. A hostile airplane
appeared over the outskirts of Lon
don early today and dropped four
bombs. One man w3 Killed and one
man and one woman were injured.
Hand to Hand Fighting With Britlnh.
London, May 7. The British have
pushed their way well into the town
of Bellecourt and hand to hand fight
ing has developed there. A number
of prisoners have been talk en accord
ing to an official statement.
Ships Sunk.
London, May 7. According to
Central News dispatch from Copen
hagen the Norwegian foreign office
announces the sinking by a German
submarine of the steamship Capat
and Natuna. The crews were rescued
SALISBURIANS TO
FORT OGLETHROPE
Eight hundred members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and 1,300
members of the church at Penn Ar
gyl, Pa., have adopted resolutions for
war Phohibition.
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Shoe and Mrs.
J. F. Harris motored over from Con
cord this morning and returned home
this afternoon.
THE BRITISH LOAN.
Washington, May 7 The
Government has decided to loan '
Great Britain one hundred mil
lion dollars to meet her needs
during the month of May. A
second installment of $25,000,
000 was transferred by tJie
treasury department through
the British embassy today.
Twelve Young Men From This City to
Go Into Officers Training Campt at
Georgia Fort Others Anxious to
Enlist.
An evsn dozen young Salisburians
have applied for and stood the ex
nfiiinution for enlistment in the war
and will go to Fort Oglethrope, Ga
to the officers training camp. These
men are expecting to be ordered thee
within the next few days. They are
J. W. Thomson, Chas. L. Coggins, Lit
tleton Hambley, Donald Clement,
Walter Carter, T. B. Marsh, Jr., Rob
ert Nicolson, H. J. Snyder, M. F.
Hatcher, M. L. Barker, L. H. Clement,
Jr.. and Herbert Worth. These men
have all passed the examination and
will now go into training for positions
as officers. There are others who de
sire to go but it is learned today that
the required number at this time has
been secured and none will be consid
ered now who are not college grad
uates and can stand a rigid examina
tion. There were others from Salis
bury who stood the examination but
were turned down.
' it is said that one hundred men
were rejected at Greensboro Satur
day. The Salisbury men who passed
averaged 75 per cent higher than the
average.
TWO MEMBERS OF 4TH CO.
TO ATTEND FT. OGLETHORPE
Members Will Hand in Applications
Tonight at the Armory Captain
Murph Will be There to Give Any
Information Wanted.
Captain D. E. Murph received in
structions this morning to recommend
two men to go to the training school
at Ft Oglethorpe, Ga., and two men
for alternatives in case either of the
men fail on the physical eximination.
He also is to send to headquarters the
military report of desirable men in
case any other than those recommend
ed are to be wanted, these, if neces
sary, will be chosen at headquarters.
Captain Murph has decided to al
low any member of the company who
wants to go to the camp to hand in
an application and they will be con
sidered by him impartially and sent
to headquarters. Captain Murph will
be in the armory tonight to receivej
any application and discuss tne mat
ter to aAy member who wants any
further information and receive the
applications.
The 87th Session of the Classis is to
be Held in Faith Rfeormed Church
This City, Beginning With the Wed
nesday Evening Session Public is
Invited.
The 87th session of the North Car
olina Classis will begin in Faith Re-1
formed church, this city, Wednesday
May 9th, at 8 o'clock in the evening
The opening sermon will be preach
ed by the retiring president, Rev. L
A. Peeler, and the Holy Communion
will be celebrated. This will be fol
lowed by the organization of the
Classis for the year following.
Business sessions will ba held dur
ing the remainder of the Week. Spec
ial services will be held each night
and to all the public is most cordial
ly invited. A full program will be
given later.
First Contingent of Ten Thousand to
I.csvo for France Next Week Lo
ral Labor Market lo be Called on
fer Men.
The United States covcinment a
a part of its progruni in the conduct
of the war against Germany is plan
ning all assistance possible to the al
lies, and especially to France, in
building, maintaining and operating
railroads, so essential in the move
ment of supplies, troops und all other
things needed in the war. To thi
end the government, through its
agents, is endeavoring to get laborer
for work on railroads in the European
countrnes warring with the United
States against Gjrmany, and these
are boing mobilized throughout tho
country. Every section is being call
ed on to furnish this class of work
men.
Mr. A. H. Boydcn has received the
following telegram from Ch.is. L.
Parmelce, of New York :
"Government is sending 10,000 la
borers to Fiance for construction and
maintenance of railroads, the first lot
starting next week. Men enlist as
privates for the term of the war. Pay
$30 and costs. All possible labor,
black and white needed. Will you
canvass your local labor supply and
report to me by wire what can bo se-i
cured in your locality."
HE WILL DEFEND NEW YORK.
if. r ...--J
INSURANCE COMPANY
RECEIVER.
L
COMMENCEMENT IS ON
Commencement Address to Be Deliv
ered by Congressman R. N. Page-
Ball Game Between Rockwell and
New London Class Day Exer
rises Wednesday.
Albemarle, May 5. R. M. Trexler,
Superintendent of the High School of
New London, has secured the promise
of Hon. R. N. Page to deliver the
commencement address at the closing
exercises of that institution on Tues
day, May 10th at 10:30 a. m. Mr.
Page is well known in this county and
he will be heard by a large number of
admirers and friends as well as the
students and patrons of the Hev Lon
don High School. The finals of this
institution will commence tomorrow,
the 6th, when the commencement ser
mon will be preached by Rev. C. C.
Wheeler, pastor of the First Baptist
church of Lincoln.
On Monday, the 7th at 10:30 a. m.
will take place the declamation con
test and ab all game will be pulled
off in the afternoon between Rockwell
and New London.
At 8:30 p. m. on the same day the
primary and intermediate depart;
ments will give their entertainment.
On Tuesday, the 8th at 3:30 p. m.,
the girl's contest will be given, and
at 8:30 p. m., of the same day the
musical concert will be igiven.
Class Day Exercises will be held at
10:30 oh Wednesday, the 9th, with a
ball game between Mt. Pleasant and
New London at 3:30 in tne afternoon.
At 8:30 p. m., on the 0th, a play
will be given, "A Daughter of the
Desert."
THOMAS IS PARDONED.
Raleigh, May 7 .Thorn as R.
Thorn aa, former cashier of the
Bank of Beaufort, who at the
March teraa of Cartarett Su
perior Court was sentenced to
serve two years for irregulari
ties in the conduct of the af
fairs af the bank, baa been
pardoned by Governor Bickett.
The pardon was granted Sat
urday after hearing petitions
in behalf of Thomas but waa
not made pubHe until today.
t
J. D. O'Neil of PitUburg. Pa., to
Take Over Affairs of Pittsburg
Lire Trust Company.
(By Associated Tress.)
Pittsburg, Pa., May 7. J. D,
O'Nc1:!!, imurance comjnTissioner c.
Pennsylvania, was today appointed re
cciver for the Pittsburg Life Trust
Company on petition of special coun
sel nsmed by the Department of Jus
tice to investigate' the affairs of the
corporation and criminality prosecute
all persons cotaneeeowrth the alleged
misapporpriation of $1,000,000 of the
company's fund.
General Franklin Bell has arrived
at Governors Island, New York, to
take charge of the Eastern Depart
ment, which means that in ths war
with Germany he will be called on to
defend New York, and to help raise
and train troops from that section of
the country.
Iff SU1E HI
FOR FEEDLASTYEAR
Secretary Luoai Gives Soma Fig
urea That Ought to Ba Bead
With Great Interest.
COTTON AND THE FEEDING ;
OF PEOPLE AND CATTLE
The People are Beginning to Eeal
lie That the South Must Grow
Its Feed.
ROWAN SUPERIOR COURT
OPENS WITH JUDGE
JUSTICE PRESIDING
JUDGE JUSTICE LOSES A SON.
Popular Young Attorney and Son of
Present Judge of Rowan Superior
Court Dies at His Home In Ruth-
erfordton.
Members of the local bar and oth
er friends here of Judge M. H. Jus
tice, who is this week presiding over
the May term of Rawan Superior
court, are grieved to learn that his
son, Butler A. Justice, a prominent
young attorney of Rutherfordton, died
at his home in that town Friday.
The deceased was 46 years old and
had been ill only a short time. He
is survived by a i-nife and three chil
dren. A brother, M. D. Justice, is a
Deputy United States Marshal in the
office of Marshal Chas. A. Webb, in
Asheville. The funeral service was
held in Rutherfordton Sunday and the
burial was at that place.
LOST BIG DAMAGE SUIT.
New York Parties Fail, to Secure
Damages, Against North German
Lloyd Steamship Now at Boston.
(By Associated Press.)
Washington, May 7. New York
parties today lost in the litigation in
the Supreme court against the North
German Lloyd Kron Prinsessin Ce-
cilies at Boston in which they claim
ed $2,240,000 damages ror failure of
the vessel to deliver gold bullion
worth $11,000,000, shipped to Eng
land and France just after the out
break of the war.
Grand Jury Chosen and Chares De
uvcred at the Morning Session and
( rlminal Docket Taken Up I mined
lately mis Docket a Liffht One.
The May Term of Rowan Superior
court convened at 11:30 o'clock this
morning Immediately upon the arriv
nl of Judffe M. II. Justice from his
home in Rutherfordton. The (election
of the grand jury was gone into at
once and Judge Justice then deliver
ed his charge to this body, and tt ws
one or His Honors plain and practical
presentations of law and the duties
of these men. At the conclusion of
the address the criminal docket was
taken up and as it is a light one will
probably be completed tomorrow af
ternoon. One case was disposed of
before an adjournment was taken for
dinner, that of Burton Charles charg
ed with retailing. The defendant
plead guilty and a fine of $25 and costs
was imposed.
The civil docket will follow the dis
position of the criminal docket, and
the court will be in session ajrsin
nexi weeK.
Grand Judy.
The following compose the grand
jury:- '
J. I. McKnkuht, foreman; Peter
Carver, M. O. Bridger, D. A. Hodge,
J. B. Goodnight, C. P. Jacobs, C. R
Lippard, W. L. Harris, G. W. Hill,
L. t. brown, Lew's O. Brown, C. M.
Brown, J. L. Agner, W. J. Steele, W.
C. Ketchie, Oarmi Felker, J. B. Yost,
R. B. Glover.
OFFICERS NEW STATE BOARD.
COMPANY CHARTERED.
-f-
East Spencer Mercantile Company
Get Authority From the State to
Do a General Mercantile Business.
(By Associated Press.)
Raleigh, May 7. The East Spen
cer Trading Company, East Spencer,
has been chartered today by the Sec
retary of State. The concern pro
poses to conduct a general mercantile
business and is chartered for $50,000.
IDLE LANDS WANTED.
The Brotherhood Boys Want Lands
for the Purpose of Working Dur
ing the Summer.
The Employed Brotherhood is de
sirous of getting idle land for culti
vation and any one who has an idle
acre they wilH let the young men cul
tivate will do a good thing to confer
with them. Any one interested in this
matter will- see Mr. W. S. Benton.
Already a number of plots have been
secured and the boys will work all
thst is offered them.
, The Archduchess Frederick of Aus
tria invested nearly $200,000 in a
candle-making factory near Budapest
R. F. Dalton Heads the Buildlns
Board of the State Aa President
and J. II. Bridgers is Secretary.
(By Associated Press.) '
Raleigh, May 7. R. F. Dalton, of
Greensboro, was elected president and
J. H. Bridgers, of Henderson, secre
tary of the newly created Stato
Building Commissicn at an organiza
tion meeting of the new body here
today.
Mr. Bridgers was appointed a mem
ber of the board by Governor Bickett
when Hugh McRae, of Wilmington,
declined to accept a place on the com
mission.
It waa announced thst the first bus
iness meeting of the commission
would be held in Raleigh May 16th
and that all State institutions which
contemplate the erection of build
ings be requested to present plans to
the board at that time.
"Smallest" Railroad Tied Up By
Strike.
Chicago, May 5. A strike today
tied up the smallest railroad in the
Middle West- All five employees of
the Chicago, West Pullman and South
ern Railroad walked out, demanding
3 cents an hour increase in wages.
The line is eight city blocks long.
GERMAN SHIPS ARE
NOT TO BE SEIZED.
Washington, May 7. It was
revealed in the House today
that an unpublished provision
in the s greem eat with Den
mark by which the Danish
West Weat Indies were acquir
ed by the United States .waa
that German e other war
bound ships la the Islands are
not to be seised or confiscated.
Raleigh, May 7. North Carolina's
bill for food and feedstuff's last year
exceeded ihp value of its cotton crop
by $20,i ;.,..)0, sccording to an esti
mate by Secretary Lucas of the State
Foni Conservation Commission. Fig.
wring cotton at $100 per bale 900,000
bcles would have been required to
pay the West and other sections for
the meat, ibreadstuffs and feedstuff
the State Imported. The crop pro
duction in the State was under 700,
000 bales. "At present prices of food
and feedstuffs," declared Mr. Lucas,
"tho same amount of food and feed
stuffs would cost us approximately
$200,000,000, or 2,000,000 bales of
cotton. If North Carolina should, by
a mircale, produce this amount of cot
ton and the South in proportion the
staple would sell at Ave or six cents
a pound and we would be worse off
than ever if we mould at the same
time neglect to rabe our own food,
and feed. It is a certainty, how-ever,
that regardless of the price and quan
tity of cotton we raise wc will not be
able to get the vast amounts of food
and feed we have heretofore import
ed because they will be requisitioned
by the government"
Mr. Lucas states that; while a tre
mendous amount of work is yet to be
done, the people of the Stat are fce
glnning to realise that real necessity
and not hysteria is behind the govern
ment for greater acreage and produc
tion 'of food and feedstuffs. The bui- .
nH.jna, find live, farmers . of the
State are working shoulder to should- ,
er ip the campaign and the co-operation
of the business man and banker
b going to prove a. very consider-'
able factor in the campaign.
Mr. W. E. Borden, a banker at
Goldsboro has issued a rather strik
ing letter to his customers and other
farmers In Wayne and adjoining
counties showing that cotton, even at
20 cents a pound, is relatively the
cheapest farm product upon the mar
ket today and is loer in price, con
sidering the prices of other commodi
ties, than it was at a normal price of
12 cents a pound. The following
shows the contrast, which is even
greater now than it was when the let
ter was issued:
In an average year with 12c cotton,
a $60 bale can buy:
89 bushels potatoes at 70c, or
750 pounds lard at 8c, or
22 barrels flour at $4.60, or
375 pounds bacon at 19c, or
100 bushels corn at 60c, or
30 pairs shoes at $2.00, or
720 yards cotton goods, at 8 l-2c.
This Year with 20c cotton, a $100
bale can only buy:
.. bushels potatoes at $2.25, or
500 pounds lard at 20c, or
8 barrels flour at $13, or
333 pounds bacon at 30c, or
74 bushels corn at $1.50, or
20 pairs shoes ot $5.00, or
606 yards cotton goods at 15c.
"Enlarge your food crops and in
tensify their cultivation," urges Mr. 1
Borden. "It will not only pay you,
better in Hollars and cents, but in no
other wny can you serve the 'Stars
and Strijn" ' and the wnole of human
ity so well."
Many merchants in every section of
the State have refused to advance
supplies and fertilisers to farmers .
who persisted in planting too large a .
proportion of cotton or to6acco as
compsred with food and feed crops.
In many instances bankers have fol
lowed the same course, lending ready
assistance to the farmer who is plant- ; .
ing the usual acreage or more of cot- . .
ton and tobacco.' In almost' every
community in the State the batfta art
lending money in small and largo
amounts for the purchase of seed and '
fertiliser for food and feed crops.
EVFRY GAIN SCORED BY THE
FRENCH AT SOISSONS HELD.
Paris, May 6. Every gain scored
by the French in yesterday's brilliant
advance northeast of Soissons waa
maintained against numerous heavy
counter attacks last night the war
office announced ' today.. Consolida
tion of this ground has made them
masters of most of the ridge crowned
by the Chemin des Dames along a
front of more than 18 mileu
The prisoners taken have reached a
total of 5,800 and seven cannon have
beea captured.
I