1 , 1
THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN
THE WEATHER
RAIN
CITIZEN WANT ADS t
BRING RESULTS
VOL. XXXIII, NO. 152.
ASHEVILLE, N. 0, SATTRDAY MORNING, MARCH 24, 1917.
PRICE FIVE GENTS
,, , I. ,
So
mm
AMERICA WILL CARRY WAR
TO GERMANS IF CONGRESS
DECLARES STATE OF WAR
No Half-Way Measures Are Being Planned to Meet the Ger
man Menace on the High Seas and America, in Addition to
Waging Active Warfare Against Kaiser, Will Aid the Allies
in Every Way Possible
Spring Fever
EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
MAY BE SENT ABROAD
Suggestion Is Made That Huge Loan for
Allies Can Be Floated Here, and the
Supply of Munitions for Those Coun
ties Greatly Increased.
GERMAN RETREAT
APPEARS HALTED
FOR M PRESENT
Kaiser's Forces Seem In
clined to Give Battle
Again in the West.
BRITISH, HOWEVER,
CONTINUE TO GAIN
French Troops Have Also
Made Gains Little Done
Other Fronts.
on
Temporarily, at least, the retire
ment of the German forces in France
appears to have halted, as both the
British and French communications
report counter-attacks and stubborn
change in German tactics, the British
report progress southeast of Arras,
and the rench, Paris says, have
moved forward between one and
quarter and two and a half miles in
the St. Quentln region.
French Make Gains.
The French troops also have made
gains on the heights overlooking the
uise valley northeast of Tergnler and
have repulsed German attacks before
Thll. northeast of Rhetms. Paris as
Berts that the Germans are Inundat
ing the Oise region and that tpi city
of Ia Fere, thought to have been one
of the strong points in the German
line. Is under water. ,
South of the Oise the French cori-
(Continued on Page Two.)
WASHINGTON, March 23. The American govern
ment has decided upon sweeping measures to be put into
effect following the expected declaration by congress soon
after it meets April 2, that a state of war exists between
the United States and Germany.
Fully appreciating Germany's policy of acting in war
first and talking afterwards, the government has deter
mined to provide against every possible emergency.
IL--,' , .,
, Questions involved were discussed today at a cabinet
meeting to which heads of departments carried reports
on preparations already made and others contemplated.
Regretfully the government apparently has decided'"- ZSiLSZ
tnat since Germany is maicing war upon me united oiaies
through ruthless killing of Americans and destruction of
their ships, the issue must be met with steps much more
far-reaching than were attempts to protect individual
merchant craft. Once a state of war is declared to exist,
aggressive measures are expected to be taken.
Program Complete.
As outlined after today's cabinet meeting, the prepa
rations of the government are not to be for a short war,
or a war marked bv half-way measures. A complete pro
gram has been prepared so that everything will be carried
out in a systematic manner. .
The exact measure of American participation in the
war is not expected to be revealed until after the president
addresses congress ana unin puDiic sentiment u.
So far as is known no political alliances with the entente
allies is contemplated, altnougn military as weu a ivu
co-operation is possible, and the government will be un
sparing in both money and supplies for the allies.
The president has not yet written his address to con
gress, although he has a general idea of what he will pro-
pose May Send Army Abroad.
Whether an army will be sent abroad is left to the fu
ture But this possibility is being taken into consideration
and the government proposes to be ready for it as soon as
practicable. r
Detailed plans requiring congressional action are ex
pected to be complete when congress meets April 2. Prior
to that time the democratic and republican leaders will
,.mif pr with the resident and members of the cabinet.
Speaker Clark and Representative Kitchin returned to
Washington today from the south.
The measures decided upon are military, naval, in
dustrial and financial. They are, understood to be most
comprehensive.
Army Plans Drawn.
The army plans have been fully drawn. Their first
object will be to fully protect the United States against
any contingency.
The navy program contemplates the building of ves
sels of all classes as rapidly as possible and the manning
' of them as fast as they are completed. Secretary Daniels
will confer with private builders tomorrow.
The industrial plans being co-ordinated by the Coun
cil of National Defense, include the mobilization of skilled
und unskilled labor for the manufacture of munitions in
as large quantities as possible and also for the continuance
of all necessary industries.
Money a Factor.
Just how much money wiUbe asked of coneress has
not been revealed, A movement is well under xway for
furnishing tn entente allies witn an enormous loan, either
in the form of credits or money. It also is understood that
Z MTODAis) BV60LUIWTH .
( A tM- J MARCH ABOUT GQNir
' jSSV--- vj) tT $TS A FELLOW
V&W S ) U 70 THINKING
CHIEF RAILROADS OF EAST PETITION
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION TO
ALLOW INCREASES IN FREIGHT RATES
another tornado
STRIKES
IHMirjkRE KILLED
Between Twenty-five and
Fifty Dead in New Albany
as Result of Storm.
BLOCKS OF HOUSES
ARE DEMOLISHED
Western Railroads Notify Commission That They Will Also Ask for a General Increase In Freight
Rales and, it Is Probable That the Southern Roads Will Also Make a Similar Request-'
E
TBID.S.
SHIPS, JAFT DECLARES
Former President Asserts
That State of .War Ac
tually Exists.
IS WILDLY CHEERED.
C CONTINUED ON PAGS TWO)
ATLANTA. Ga.. March SI ITnrm.r
President Taft, speaking to a lam
crowd who wildly cheered his utter
ances, declared here today that arm-
ea American merchantmen should
await no warning from submarines,
but should "sink them on the spot."
The former president asserted that
the nation was already In effect at war
with Germany war forced upon It by
act of lawless aggression which the
nation cannot further condone with
out loss of prestige and self-respect.
, After announcing that he waa her
to advocate a League to Enforce
Peace, which he admitted seemed
rather Irrelevant In the face of the
Imminence of war, the former presi
dent said:
"We are now about to enter war.
There are worse things than war.
horrible though that be, and one of
them Is the dishonorable yielding by
a nation or me violation or Its rlgnta
and the killing of Its people because
they fear war.
"The men who stand on the decks
of our vessels on the high seas," the
former president said, "are standing
on mi equivalent or American soil.
The nation which kills these seamen
are doing us exactly the same wrong
inai tney wouia ao ir iney invaded
our country and murdered our citi
sens." .
In closing he asserted President
Wilson had the constitutional power
to arm America snips as bis oath re
quired him to protect Americana at
home and abroad. Turning to prepar
edness he advocated universal mill,
tary service as eseentiai to adequate
national defence."
The auditorium armery in which
the meeting waa held seats approxi
mately s.Sft. and hundreds were torn.
ed away before the former president
WASHINGTON, March 3 The
chief railroads of the east today peti
tioned the Interstate commerce com
mission to amend Its rules to permit
a general Increase In all freight rates.
Western railroads notified the com
mission Unit hey. too, would ask for
a general increase in freight raies
and probably will follow the eastern
roads In asjing for a suspenion of
the rules.
Southern ;' roads are ekpected to
take similar; action.
Proposed Int-rcaes.
The proposed Increases probably
will range between ten and fifteen
per cent.
In their application to the commis
sion for a suspension of the rules, the
eastern roads represent that they are
sustaining and are threatened with
enormous decreases In net operating
income, "due to large increases in
wages, in cost of fuel coal, other ma
terial, supplies and equipment and
to increased cost of capital."
"Substantial increases ' in freight
rates are Imperatively demanded by
their (the railroads) financial condi
tion." the, application reads. "The
emergency 'requires that these in
creases should be made in the most
expeditious manner and with the least
possible delay."
The tentative plan of the railroads,
so far as disclosed. Is to request ap
proval of a flat increase in freight
rates on all rom modifies except coal.
coke and ore. Upon these three
Items proposed specified Increases of
certains sums per ton.wouta be
named.
Passenger Karen Kxempt.,
Passenger faros would not 'be af
fected. The railroads' application today
merely seeks.'o expedite proceedings
when the proposed increases shall
have been filed with the commission.
Under the usual procedure the roads
would file tariffs proposing increases,
which probably would be suspended
from four to six months longer during
the period of investigation as to the
reasonableness of the roposed rates.
In what the railroads characterize as
an emergency they seek that the rules
be suspended In order that the pro
posed Increases may become effective
without suspension and If possible
upon less than the required thirty
days notice.
prices had reached tta greatest mo
mentum.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
roads of the country are experiencing
a greater volume of business than a
year ago, which then marked the high
record, net Income from operations,
according to returns to the commls
slon, has fallen appreciably 1 below
what It was a year ago, while expenses
are much higher.
These and other statistics are ex
pected to be submitted to the com
mission In support of the railroad's
application. The commission Is ex-
Inasmuch as the burden of In- ! pected to pajs promptly upon the ap-
creased operating costs has fallen plication for a suspension of the rules.
upon eastern roads, It is assumed that
the percentage of Increase asked for
Appeals for Aid Sent to Sur
rounding Towns and Re
sponse Is Quick.
N'BW ALBANY. Ind.. Mark J-
Between twenty-five and flftv nerson
were killed and probably 100 or more
were Injured Vy a storm which lata
today swept over New Albany, demoU "
inning scores 01 residences and several
industrial plants. .
Twenty-five bodies have, been re
covered and It is expected this num
ber will be materially increased when
all the debris of wrecked buildings has -been
cleared away. The lighting sys
tern for' the residence section of th '
city was put out of commission - by
the storm, and the work of rescue is
proceeding with difficulty.
Hits Ooydon Pike.'
The storm struck the Croydoni
pike, about two miles from New AU .
bany and moved southwest Enter
lng the city at Stats street, near Haly, .
it swept through three blocks. - At the)
Intersection of State and Pearl streets
It left the ground and then struclc
again at Vinoennes street and the, :
Charlestown road, nearly m mils awayj
At that point dwellings In three blocks
were demolished. '
; In its progress alonr the Croydon;
bike,' the storm uprooted, hundreds f
trees and destroyed many small
1 houev.;niAnr:jBt j whess - occupants ,
I were injured. , l .P . ,
The streets' In the path of the storm '
Were a mass of wreckage and It was
soon seen that outside assistance was
needed to meet the situation. J,
' ' Aid Is Asked. '!'' ' ' '
An appeal was made to the dry au-
thorltlea of Louisville, who : sent
large number of policemen to ' ths
scene. In addition every available of
ficer from ths Indiana stats reforms -v
tory at Jeffersonville and "from the)
Jeffersonvllle police force were bur
rled to the stricken district A call
was made on the governor for state '
troops and it was reported tonight
that these were on ths way. Numbers
of citizens , from surrounding towns
by these lines will be greater than in
the case of the western and southern
roads. Unofficial opinions tonight
were that the eastern roads would
ask for a fifteen per cent increase
and that the Increases asked for by
southern and western roads would be
approximately ten oer cent.
An average increase of twelve "er
cent throughout the country, returps
to the Interstate commerce commis
sion show, would bring the railroads
an additional revenue approximating
$326,000,000 annually on the basis of
business done last year. Total re
cepits of the railroads for 116 from
freight traffic approximated 12.750,
000,000. Kxpennes Increased.
Expenses of the railroads the re
turns show, Increased rapidly during
the closing months of the year and
early In the present year. This, It Is
explained, was due largely to the fact
that until the latter part of 1916 the
railroads purchased their fuel coal
and other supplies on contracts made
before the recent upward swing In
after which proposed Increased rates
will be filed, It is said, without loss or
time. The proposal probably will be
made the aub.lect of Investigation at
hearings at which all parties of inter
est, Including shippers, merchants
and civic and commercial organisa
tions, will re given an opportunity
to state their views.
STORM WARNINGS.
WASHINGTON, March 23. South
west storm warnings were displayed
tonight on the Atlantic coast from
Hattras to Ri:stport, the weather bu
reau announced. There will be
strong winds along the north and
middle Atlantic seaboard.
ROCHAMBEAC SAFE.
NEW TORK. March 23. The
French line steamship Rochambeau
arrived at Bordeaux safely yesterday,
according to a cablegram received
here today from one of the passen
gers. The Rochambeau left New
York March 12, with 331 passengers,
of whom 107 were American cltisens.
PHYSICIANS OF STATE
ARE TO BE ORGANIZED
Meeting Is Held at Greens
boro and All Counties
Will Be Organized.
GREENSBORO. N. C, March 21.
Physicians from many sections of
North Carolina met here tonight at
the call of Dr. J. W. Long of Greens
boro, chairman of the state commit
tee of ths medical reserve corps of
the Council of National Defense and
decided that the doctors of North
Carolina be organized in every county
In the state and mads ready for mo
btllxatlon for war duty upon call. The
counties of ths state were apportioned
among members of the profession for
organisation. The physicians agreed
to go to the counties assigned to them
and organise branches of the medical
preparedness organisation. Meeting
with the North Carolina physicians to
night waa Dr. Frank F. Simpson, sec
retary of the committee of Americas)
physicians.
HEARING AfDVApfCEX).
PHILADELPHIA. March 21 The
federal district court today changed
from Aorll 12 to April IS the date for
the beginning ef the I . suit of
the Baltimore Federal - league club
against organised baseball. The suit
brought a year ago to recover
damages under the hermaa anti
MEN WILL 6ET BACK PAY
Railroad Managers and the
Brotherhood Chiefs Agree
on Application.
N"EW TORK, March 21. Railroad
managers and representatives of the
four trainmen's brotherhoods have
agreed upon a tentative basis for the
application of the Adamson law. It
was announced tonight by Ellsha Iee,
chairman of the national conference
committee of railway managers. The
agreement. It was said, "covers the
greater part of the wage schedules. In
order that ths Increased wages
accruing to the employes since Janu
ary 1 may be paid as quickly as pos
sible." "A number of minor points," said
Mr. Lee In a formal statement, "are
still to be decided and a further con
ference will be held some time In
April. If any differences srise as to
the application of the law they will be
referred to a joint board of eight four
to be appointed by the national con
ference committee of the railways and
four by the brotherhoods."
The railroad managers and repre
sentatives of the brotherhoods began
working out the details of the appli
cation of the Adamson law Immedi
ately after it was announced early last
Monday that the threatened nation
wide railroad strike had beea sverted
by the msnagers acceding to the
brotherhoods demands for the elgbt-
SOLDIER GUARDING DIE
EON BATTERIES KILLED
Strangers, Halted When
Close to Batteries, Shoot
Sentry on Guard.
(Continued on Page Two.)
IVORS OF
TANK
BE. IT
N
V
Vessel Sunk by Gunfire from
Submarine . and
Bombs.
AMERICANS IN CREW.
PORTLAND, Me.; March 23. Pri
vate John Poor, of the Third com
pany coast artillery oorps, died to
night from a bullet wound received
when he tried to halt two strangers
detected near the twelve-Inch gun
batteries at Fort Williams today.
Poor, who was twenty-two years old.
enlisted a year ago. He was the son
of Robert O. Poor, of Clarksdale, III.
Although the batteries, which are
on Cape Elisabeth near Portland
Headlight, have been heavily guarded
since another sentry was fired on last
Wednesday night, two prowlers suc
ceeded early today In penetrating the
lines to a point near the big guns.
Poor saw them in the darkness and
promptly sent a warning shot over
their heads with an order to halt.
One of the prowlers returned the
fire, bringing down the sentry with a
revolver bullet through the thigh. Be
fore other guards could arrive, the
strangers escaped. -
Renewed precautions were taken
tonight to guard all fortifications here.
Lieutenant iamee O. Porter, a naval
recruiting officer. at Rockland.
Wednesday night declared that Ger-
A submarines were known to be
not far off tbe coast and that an at
tack on the Maine coast was by no
SOUTHAMPTON (Via London)-
March 21. Thirty-four survivors ef
the American tank steamer Illinois.
which waa sunk Sunday, March It.
twenty miles north of Alderner bv a
German submarine, arrived here to
day. Of the party sixteen are Ameri
cans, the others being Swedes and
Spaniards. Captain H. Ivsrson made
the following statement:
"We sailed on March If. At T:J
a. m., on the 18th, we sighted a sub
marine bearing down upon us from
ths southwest from a distance of ap
proximately three miles. The sub
marine submerged and approached.
About ten minutes later, the distance
then from us b-lng about two miles,
the submarine opened fire. Immedi
ately after backing for two minutes
our vessel was stopped by the engi
neer on watch. The first shot went
over our aerial and the second
brought it down. The firing con
tinued rapidly until the boats were
well clear of the ship's side when the
shooting ceased.
The submarine then came close by
alongside the lifeboats and ordered
number one boat to come alongside
the submarine. Five of eur men were
ordered aboard his boat and he trans
ferred five of his crew to the lifeboat,
which was then pulled to the Illinois.
These men then placed seven minute
bombs alongside the ship and In the
engine room which exploded in due
course.
"Our five men were taken off the
submarine and I asked the command
er If he would tow us toward land. He
replied: "I have no time,'. We then
proceeded under sail and oars for Al
derney and ten miles from it we were
picked up and taken in tow by two
motor boats that had observed us and
came to our assistance.
"The submarine commander took
no measures for the safety of the erew
and continued shelling until they were
in their boats. . The Illinois did not
try to escape or resist. One man was '
Injured by shell lire. The submarine
had no flag ahowing whan flrst ob
served. It waa sU and a half hours
after shelling the Illinois when tbe
began his address. - 4 ,
trust taws. ... .
sWr dsvr. . ,
as sans unlikely. ' .,
erew reached the harbee." . ;