w The
Nation's Business is to Win the War h h
WEATHER FORECAST
Probably snow tonight and Tues
day; not so cold; variable winds.
ONE EDITION
2 CENTS
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VOL. IS. NO. 307.
SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA MONDAY. UECICMHKK
rtUCU TWO CENTS
GERMANY STRIKES
I
I
First Great Effort Since Herald
ing of Great Offensive is Made
But is Held in Check.
BIG PEACE CELEBRATION
SUNDAY IN PETROGRAD
Bessarabia and Turkestan Report
ed to Have Declared Independ
ence Kaledines Re-elected.
(By Associated Press.)
Germany has struck her first strong
blow on the western front since the
heralding of the grout offensive in
that field, but wa3 held in chock by the
British. The attack was morked by
heavy fighting on' the southern end
of the salient before Cambrai. The
Germans in some places gained a foot
hold in the British front trenches,
hue were driven out Dy counter at
tacks. The German thrust was on a
front of more than two miles between
Marcoing and La Vacquarie and
against the positions which the Brit
ish held since their ratuen.er.i under
the blows of GenerJf By rig. In the
center cf the attacked Ir.ne the Ger
mans were held without gains, but
on the ends of the line thev entereJ
the British first lines. British coun
ter attacks however, drove them from
the mosit of these positions and result
ed in the taking of many prisoners
by the forces of General Ilaig. Ber
lin reports claim front line positions
and a "few hundred iprosoners" taken.
The Germans have also been active
at other points along the front but
their local attacks in the Ypres sec
tor and their raids northeast of Ver
dun brought no successes. Their ef
forts followed a heavy German fire
in these three sectors, Cambrai, Ypres
and-Verdun, and may be the forerun
ners of determined atticks.
In the Italian theatre there has been
only artillery activity along the north
ern pront.
German airplanes again raided Pa
dua, much damage being lone to
monuments and buildings by incen
diary bombs. Three people-were kill
ed and three wounded.
Another advance along the Nadlus
rixtu invxiui oi Jerusalem nas Deen
made by the British forces in Pales
tine. Against stubborn Turkish re
sistence the British progressed three
miles and captured Birch-Berroth
and three other towns. Progress was
also made between Nadlus road and
the Medeterranean coast.
In Petrograd Sunday the day wns
given over to peacs celebrations,
marked by parades. The headis of the
German and Austrian peace delegates
were spectators of the parades.
The heads of the German and Aus
trian delegates to Brest-Livotsk con
ference, Dr. Von Kuehlmann and
Count Czernin, are returning to their
respective capitals.
Delayed dispatches from Br?st
Livtosk indicate that while the repre
sentatives of Russia and the Central
powers agree on most .of the peace
terms there is difficulty in the pre
liminary settlement of the question
exsncrning German reirement from
occupied Russian territory in order
to give the inhaoitants opportunity
and time to decide the future for
themselves.
One of the forts at Kronstadt, the
naval base near Pttrograd, has been
blown up by an explosion, according
to a dispatch received in Iondon.
Bessarabia and Turkestan are re
ported to have declared their inde
pendence, while fighting between the
Bolshevik i and their opponents is re
ported to be going on in Harbin and
Irkutsk, Siberia.
General Kalendines has been re
elected Hetman of the Don Cossacks
by an overwhelming majority.
Counter Measures in Course of Pre
paration. Vienns, via London, Dec. 31. Coun
' t measures against the French are
in course of preparation in the Monte
Tomba area, ths war off'ce aTnriiTes.
British Regain ImporUn Ground.
London, Dec. 31. The Bntisn in
successful counter attackj on the
Cambrai front rfcgained more impor
tant territory on Welsh ridge taken
by the German in yesterday's at
tack, the war office reports.
Enemy Positions Captured. 4
Rome, Dec. 31. In the Monte Tom
ba region on the northern front the
French have captured enemy posi
tions between Osteria di Monserena
and Maransine,' the war office an
nounces. They also captured about
1,400 men and 60 machine guns and
seven cannon.
The lovs of power may be at romi
nant in tht heart of a peasant os of a.
prince. Hsadley.
III
I BLOW
ON II
FROM
E
S
When the Peace Terms Are Pre
sented the British Government
Will Make Serious Reply.
LLOYD-GEORGE GOES TO
FRANCE TO CONFER ON IT
The Peace Negotiations Outlined
by the Austro-Germans Re
ferred to by Paper.
(By Associated Press.)
London, Dec. HI. The Manchester
Guardian says it is the intention of
i the British government, when the
: Auitro-German plans for peace are
r resented to it orlicially. to return n
serious nnd reasoned rcniy. Premier
George has ai ranged to vi sit Franc2
and confer with Premier C!emanc?nu
on th? subject.
j The Austro-Gernian pcac.-1 term rc-
ferred to are those presented by rep-
resentatives of the Central poyers at
i teh peace negotiations with"fl(fl8JLu.
i sians at B:est-Litovsk. These nego
i tiatioas were interrupted by the ten
; days adjournment to give the enten
te allies an opportunity to state if
they will join the negotiations with
them. The principal points outlined in
the terms submitted by the Russians
have been accepted by the Central
Powers these bring no indemnity
and no annextation.
$50,000 TO HELP BOYS.
At Death of Sister of Robt. J. John
son, Large Sum Will Go to Educate
Roys at Pulaski Boys School.
(By Associated Pres3.)
Pulaski, Va., Dec. 31. Property
valued at $50,000 is left at the death
of a sister to be managed by the
Southern Methodist church to assist
boys to acquire an education at the
Pulaski Boys school under the terms
of the will of Robert L. Johnson, pro
bated here, it was learned today.
Practical Sermon Delivered at the
Tabernacle Sunday Night From
Fphesians Firth Chapter, 15-16
Verses Associated Charities Next
Sunday Night.
The second Sunday night union ser
vice was held in the Tabernacle last
night and - despite the severe cold
weather a fairly good sized eongrega.
tion was out The meeting proved to
te a splendid and helpful one. The
sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. M.
M. Kinard, pastor of St. John's Lu
theran Oburch. Dr. Kinard preached
a most interesting and practical ser
mon from the subject, "Conduct Con
sistent With Profession," taking his
text from Epheaians 5th chapter and
the loth and 16th verses.
These union services will be hold
each Sunday night and are proving ex
ceedingly convenient as well as help
ful. Not only is it a means of con
serving fuel but a spirit of church
unity and deeper brotherly feeling is
being created and manifested through
these meetings.
N?xt Sunday nifht the evening will
be given over to the Associated Cbar
it:iat which time several speakers
will make brief talks.
The women are clamoring for the
Fcod Administration to order smoke
less days. The msn in rebuttal doubt
less demand talcumleas spells. Ex.
SHOW BIG INCREASE
The Year 1917 Was a Big Year for
American Trade the Balance in Our
Favor Being More Than Three Bil
lion Dollars.
(By Associated Press.)
Washington, Dec. 3L American
exports ere estimated today at the
department of commerce to have pass
ed the six billion dollar mark. Im
ports were less than three billions ahd
the trade bilanos m favor of the Uni
ted States is more than three billion
dollars.
E
UDHK
ASEROUSAN
THE SECOND UNION
tm. 'taK- . - .i .u i i
"Perhaps You Did
The Flyer Was Making Tets Before
British and Italian Pilots and in
Bad Weather Fell, Died After Giv
ing Observation to American Of
ficers. (By Associated Press.;
Paris, Dec. 31. An American avi
ator was" killed yesterday while mak
ing a tost flight at an aviation center
before seme British and French avi
ators. Though the wind was blowing
violently he made the loop successful
ly and as in the act of repeating it
when he fell. Though in a dying con
dition When picked up he insisted th.it
he make report of his observations to
the prop.'"" officials.
FIRE SUNDAY DAMAGED
CAMP GREENE HOSPITAL
Charlotte, Dec. 30. The laboratory
and operating room buildings at the
base hospital, Camp Greene, near here,
were totally destroyed by fire early
today, the loss totaling at least $75,
000, represented principally by de
stroyed ?aboratory apparatus. Maj.
W. L. Sheep, medical corps, in charge
of the hospital, declared a defective
flue in the laboratory caused the fire,
which "for some reason" escaped de
tection by the soldier "detailed as
watchman." The loss was said to be
covered fully by insurance. Much of
the operating lxwrn apparatus was
saved.
Firemen and fire fighting apparatus
from Charlotte went to aid the camp
volunteer firemen, but frozen water
mains had to be thawed before pres
sure could be obtained. During this
interim, the frame structures were
consumed and efforts of the city fire
men were directed to averting the
oossibility of the fre igniting other
buildings, about 60 of which were
closely grouped nearby.
Major Sheep said the loss of the
laboratory, which was "wonderfully
equipped," and the various valuable
cultures being grown there was not
likely to "greaHy decrease the efficien
cy of the hospital in treating the sol
diers who are iatierts here." He be
gan today efforts to replace the de
stroyed cultures by purchase. Lab
oratory equipmeSnt to replace that de
stroyed is expected to be forwarded
immediately.
About 900 soldiers are patients in
the wards of this hospital
Munition makers in tbia country ray
they can operate their plants success
fully with 70 per cent of women as em
ployes.
RESOLUTION.
Your Best, Sir, but 1 Shall Do Better.'
.E
L
AW ENFORCEMENT
Believes That the Enforcement of the
Child Labor Laws Will Add to the
Health
Also.
and to War Productions
(By Associated Press.)
Efforts of the National child labor
c '.r. .nisrion to prevent the relaxation
of te laws on the excuse that war
time nt:E3itk!j justifies has been en
dorsed fcy President Wilson. In a let
ter to the commissioner made public
today the President said the enforce
ment of the laws will contribute to
the preservation of life and have a
tendency to more efficiency and econ
omy in the production of war necessi
ties. French Forces Take Offensive.
Berlin, De:. 31. French forces oil
the northern Italian front yesterday
took the ofTensive. In th afternoon
the French infantry penetrated a por
tion of tine Austor-German position
on Monte Tomba, the German ganeral
staff announced today.
HELP FOR GUATEMALA
America Ready With Warships to
Send Aid to the Earthquake Strick
en City.
(By Associated Press.)
Ws Kington, Dec. 31. Still without
detailed information of tbs earth
quake which destroyed Guatemala
city, costing mary lives and leaving
100,000 inhabitants bomsless, Ameri
can officials today were prepared to
sond aid to the stricken sister rcpub
lc. Further reports are awaited from
American Minister Leavell and Con
sul Fee.
iHod Cms 3 officers "have conferred
with ns'fal officers as to upplie3 to
be sent forward on American war
ships. FIVE GERMAN MACHINES
WERE DESTROYED
(By Associated Press.)
London, Dec 31. Five Ger
man air planes were destroyed or
put out of action yesterday. The
British lost none of their machines.
THIS STATE IS HEARD
Food Commissioner Page is Not Over
Patient and Will Enforce the Law
This Will Mean Putting
Men Out of Business.
Some
(Sjeoial to' The Post.)
R!cigh, Dec. 31. Notwithstand
ing its oft-repeated and proven as
I'.rtb'rs that its attitude toward all
dealers in foodstuffs is first of all
ft it r ily, and that it is desirous of co
openLing with; all handlers of food
stuffs, rumblings of impatience at
petty profiteering are beginning to be
heard around the quarters of the Food
Adnrnistraticn in this city.
That Fc:d Administrator Henry A.
Pagi haj at heart the interest of the
produceis and handlers of foodstuffs
has been demonstrated by hi3 action
in straightening out the wheat situa
tion in the State anj by his attitude
toward all whiclealer and retailers in
their r::pe?tiv.i crrifercncej here; but
Mr. Page is r.ot famous either for his
patience in the fj?e of injury, nor for
hu forbearance when liws are being
violated and people oppressed through
the greed of grasping or unpatriotic
dealerx
Where wanton violations of the law
zni policy of the Food Administration
are found, it is anticipated that the
offcrding dealers will be punished by
the simple procedure of putting them
out of business. Where profiteers are
shrewd enough to stay barely ithin
j btunsrs, they will be cuf. in a class of
suspects and watched.
In order to give the consumer bet
ter protection and to secure from the
consumer more effective co-operation,
the Food Ad-ivinistration contemplates
offering the pjpera throughout the
State occasional price lists showing
the average cast of staple food com
modities to the dealers and the price
at which dealers should be able to
buy. The publication of these prices
s'.'.ould be of inestimable value to the
people of the State.
CONFERENCE ON
RAILROAD MATTERS
Matter Of Raising Pay of Rank and
File of Workmen and Cutting High
I Salaries is Discussed.
(By Associated Press.)
Washington, Dec 31. Plans for
raising the pay of the rank and file
of railway workers and the reduction
of some of the very high salaries
paid to executives and officials was.
discussed at a conference between
Director McAdoo and the Federal
board of conciliation, and mediation
here today.
YEAR SENTENCE
Private PHIlin Vun lingers Tried bv
Court Martial on Charge of Deser-
tion am! Forgery and Gets Long
'IV rin
(l!v Aii-'K'i.ited Friau.)
l.uimil K, o. Vj., OI. "I I I- J
v.ile iMiill'p Vun Engcrs alias I.ieu-
i m nt Wil "i'. n Vincont H .wjrd Biant,
j 21 years of age, of LaGrange, 111.,'
! h is been trijd by court martial ut'
' ( tiiD Wndiiworsh and onUnoed to'
i no Un yeais in a military prison.
Vun Kn;.( .i fuccl a charge of deser
tion ml ici eiy anil ontered pica of
guilty. i
T!k- i't'ftmlunt snys his father was i
Usvn in Nctliirlar.- and is now en -
rairc-l in soivico in France for the' TIm inten: c-a'.J hM nvi bein equal
UnilcJ Ktutcj. Van Enaeis ays he I in the tar:!try 'urjh of New
wjs pi c y.l of a dcjbo ta secure in
formation about irmy cJrrps,
AUTO TKl'CK TRAIN
FINISHES JOURNEY
Baltimore, Do;, 29. Twentyn!ne
three-ton motor trucks which will one
:!'ay carry supplies to American col
umns abrouli, rolled into Court House
Plaaa just before noon today. They
had completed a M0-mile trip from
Detroit.
The three ofnsers And eighty mem
bers of Uncle Sam's fighting forces
had brought the train through tem
peratures as low as 8 degrees below
ero and through snowdrifts which
in one case forced them to shovel a
path. Thry mude about fifty miiles a
duy.
They are the first of thosands of
motor trucks which will be brought
to Baltimore in like manner from
Detroit and from other towns further
west to ralkva tht railroads of the
burden of carrying thsin.
font r.' n n..i. t- ur.-v.
irrgton to report on, the trip, He sall
it was omjuaijntiu success.
''.; til. , , , iim .,..'.
z
E
Chief Ordinance Officer Says Every
Effort of His For iletter Equipment
Was Turned Down by Secretary of
War and Congress.
(By Associated Press.)
Washington, Doc. 31. Major Gen
eral Croiier, army ordinance chief, to
day gave to the smsi committee in
vestigating the conduct of the war
his side of the reason fc.- artillery
shortage nnd of the celebrated con
troversy oyer the Lewis mnchine
gun.
The responsibility for the artillery
shortage, General Ciozicr said, lay
with the whole country, and he show
ed how hi every effort to get larger
appropriations fcr artillery in time
of peace was overruled by the sec
retary of war and congress.
Goroial Croxier submitted re;-ords
of tests of ths Lewis gun, showing
that other guns performed better, and
disclaimed any personal prejudice, as
claimed by Colonel Lewis, tho Inven
tor, and showing that since the gun
was perfected to the use of American
ammunition the war department had
bought a quantity of them. -
MANY MINERS
REPORTED KILLED
(By Associated Press.)
Scranton, Pa., Dec. 31. Many min
ers are reported killed by a gas ex
plosion in the Underwood Mine of the
Pennsylvania Coal Company near
Throop, about six miles from the city.
CompRny officials are silent and In
formation is vague. At noon 17 bod
ies, some of them dead and some alive,
were reported to have been taken from
he mine.
E
California Man Says He Has Been
Named to go to Washington as Di
plomatic Representative of the Gov
ernor. Pan Francisco, Dec. 31. Feilding J.
Siiteon, a Los Arrgelc capitalist here
today, aaid that he had been appointed
diplomatic lepresentative at Washing
ton of Governor Estanda Candtu, of
Liwer California.
"I believe,- he said, "that thU fore
shadows the cession of Lower Califor
nia from Mrxico.
IER SAYS COUNTRY
COLD MOW
PASSING TO SEA
Weather Bureau Promises Moder-
1 - it j m . t . 11..
uuuu in iBiuperaiiUie iwr mo
j Country, Beginning; To-night.
I 1 "
40 DEGRES BELOW ZERO
AT NORTHFIELD, VT,
: t.i.... n.1.1 c.mii tr,.. w
i iutouDo vim" wyon nam nvi
Equalled Since Deo. 3D, 1880,'
Says the Weather Bureau
(Py Associated PrMS.)
Washington, Dec. 31. Some mod
el Jtion to bercin tor.iu'ivt of tha colli
wave wis tha forecast txby by the
weatScr bureau tjr the country from
e 0 h i .) valley eastward. The cold
: wave is now p-jinr ta s.J.
Ysrk, nbr.jr the owt and Inland,
&:.ico Decsmter 80, 1880.
Thsre ilrwy Kji been a modcra
t oi In the temperature of the Ap:
palstivon mcur.'Uir3 tj1 in th Cast
Gil Stages, slt'.vaugh over the grsatcr
pit of this region ii .t still .colder
than the seasonable avjrige.
CiTrton, N. Y., reported the hwort
tsmi:r: tute at 8 o'clock t'-jis morrriajr
of any pint in tho country. It ww
20 ckgree belo v tcro there. During
the previous 24 hours the coldest wi
40 degrees below ier at North flsld,
Vcrmcrt, ac:ord'lrg to wcathr bu
reau reports.
New York in Winter's Grip.
New Yoik, Des. 31. A lengthening
death roll, isfi'-dly dwindling Coal sup
ply and weather bureau pre lie tion of
the reccrd breaking cold spell t keep
tho mercury hoveing about cero mark
through the next 24 hours made win
ters grip on New York aitl vicinity
a grim actuality today, ' The cotton
exchang voted to eolae ti noon. At
1 o'clock th mercury stood at on da-
P"Mw ,an'
North Carolina Farmers' and turn
Women's Convention, 1918. "
Wert Rslclau, Dec. 81. PJin are
under way to msko tho 1918 Farmers'
ar i Fawn Womcn'a Convention t tha
Stilt College- of Agriculture ths larg
est nr. m::S s'cejful aver hsld.
Sever.)! susceiafal farmers and farm
vuman of tha Ute, ho del by Mjr. F.
P. LjtVim, pr,:;!dinii of the efiovsn-H-.o,
..iii7a dt'.ej.nht J -to make t'Js
convent't a one of pri'Mical benefit to
eery perron in the State. It is to bo
plarnid anl ccm!u;t:d by farmsra
and fivn AeTie-', who w!U be asiwtud.
by the stiT of lbs ullage and Depart"
mc;'''. cf Agrlcuvare. v
Anvng :hc n. :ny spocU futures
already planned are exhibits and dis
cusslr'j ;f h;m;-mad fa m labor
saving device, practical demonstra
tions and Interesting exhibits by the
CoPigc, Department of Agriculbare,
?id other State depar'.ineols. These
w'll all be of prsctieal vhs i!a grow
ers from ev.-ry section cf ths State.
In r Hit 'on to these, the progrsm com
cn:ti?c has premised a good spoiker
of national reputation for the o?ca
j'en. v r
At a time when every industry of
the :ci.'Ptry is co:perstin f t. sik-
cccjful coniuct of our purpose In
grtit wr, it ! particularly tmpor
tint that ths food produeera of tha
State meet once a year to learn how
thoy can be.t sreve their country and
them reives.
WOMAN GOES TO CHURCH
.ND IS SUED FOR TRESPASS
Auaatic City, D?.'. ?. V .' " ' Mll
lin:t Watson, p'omir.i'"t Chelsea
vi :n-n. v.as touay made ,'lefjndant in
a ruit for S4.000 m the District court
for having attended 8v-c:e- ta Christ
Meihcdis' Prote.-tint church m rha
n.f 'iiiiiK and eveniu f of Dec 13 ami
biinila; .services Dec. Th cimre
i i I e'JflSH. i t - '
jit was instituted by Leo F. Wash
ington, attorney f .tt ihe church, at th
instance of the Ebiers, who had Mrs.
Watson "read out" of the chdrch soma
time ago, following a snaatinnt hear
ing of charges of slander against on
l of the dc irons. - "' -
The con okint states "that the plain
tiff was "in poosossion of the church'
on the dttes named and that aha'
unlawfully, willfully and intintionally
entered upon said land" after being
forbidden and in spite of the pon
tiff's protest . 'v.; . .
The church is demanding l,0OQ on
each of the four counts m addnon ta
the costs of tha suit. " . , . v .
There may nothing in a nt, still
we would not ear to be around when
Filer Gush, of Lima, Ohio, is coiug tha
talking. x. ' ' . y
If God is leading tha Germans far--ward
in Italy, who is leading trWa
backward in Belgium? Wichita Bea
con. ' - y .