Newspapers / The Monroe Journal (Monroe, … / April 19, 1918, edition 1 / Page 1
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"THE UNION COUNTY PAPER EVERYBODY NEEDS IT l as "THE UNION COUNTY ,PER-ETRYBODY READS TT e Monroe Journal PUBUSHED TWICE EACH WEEK TUESDAY AND FRIDAY VOL. 24. No. 22. MONROE, N. O, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1918. $1.50 PER YEAR CASH. v MNE.MEN l.V LAST QUOTA DISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY They Had the Spirit But Not the VUj ical Stamina Others Sent to Re place Them 14 Other . Go Second Draft. Twenty-seven white men will en train fur Camp Jackson here the 25th and 26th of April. Thirteen of this number go to take the place of men who were sent and failed to stand the physical tests. The remaining fourteen make up the second con' tifent in the second draft. The local exemption board has been notified that nine men In the last contingents of the Orst draft fai ed to pass the physical examinations and has been ordered to send others to take their places. One man has already been sent to take the place of another so only eight will be re quired to nil the last increments or the first draft. According to order from the War Department these last increments in the first draft must be filled from men in Class 1 regardless of occupation. The following have been notified to report April 24th at 2 oclock and from this number will be selected the eight who are to entrain for Camp Jackson the 2oth: John S. Rowell, Rl, Indian Trail James H. Martin, R3, Marshville Conder W. Price, R2, Monroe; Boyce H. Griffin. Wingate; Ira S. Noles, R26. Matthews; Jesse J. Carnes, Rl Mineral Springs; John S. Funder- burk, Rl, Monroe; John W. Griffin Rl. Monroe: B. DeWitt Braswell R3, Waxhaw; Pern Orr, Matthews Ernest A. Godfrey, R18, Matthews John L. Williams, w Ingate. In the first increment of the second draft five men failed to pass the tests and the local board has been notified to send men to take their places. The following named have been ordered to report at 2 o'clock on April Z4tn and from this number five will be selected to entrain for camp the next day: W. Clyde Gamble. Gastonla; Roy Rogers. R4, Waxhaw; David Helms, Rl. Unlonville; Jesse 13. TraywicK R2, Unlonville; Ellis Justice, Monroe; Lloyd 0. Garrison, JIatthews; Benj, C. Parker, Marshville; Melvln C. Pur ser. Unlonville. Besides these men going to take places of those who flailed to pass the tests the board Has been notinea to send fourteen men in the second draft. This will be the second in crement in the second draft. The following have been notified to appear at 2 o'clock April 2o and from the ones reporting 14 will be entrained for CauiD Jackson on the Z6tn: Carl Lemmond, Williamsburg, Va; Oscar Wolfe. Rl, Mineral Springs; George Aldrldge, Wingate; Jas. M. Birmingham. Indian Trail; Joel s, Braswell. Unlonville; Olin McWhirt- e.', R2, Waxhaw; Monroe C. Hartis, R4, Waxhaw; Horace FunderluMc, Monroe; Frank Deese, Wingate; John H. McLellan, Monroe, T. V. Smith. R5, Marshville; Dock Standi, Mon roe; Henry C. Helms. Unlonville; Jas. S.Hargett, Indan Trail; Amos S. Harrell, (Marshville; Robt. E. Griffith, Monroe; Henry C. Newsome, Cam den, N. J.; Thos. 1)4 Hamilton, Marsh ville. The board has received orders that in makng up increments In the sec ond draft men engaged In agricultural pursuits are to be delayed until the last of the quota. This is according to rules made by the War Department. FRANK LIMERICK MAY BE THE NEXT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY nounce himself for the Sheriff's office about the first of May. That Isn't long off, and political observers are anxiously watching for the day when the ball is set In motion. Mr. Earn hardt's announcement, if made in the next two weeks, will probably be fol lowed by a number of sharp surprises to the voters. It is common knowledge now that Mr. C. C. Sikes will be a candidate for Sheriff. His announcement, however, is not expected any time soon. Neith er Is the present incumbent. Sheriff J. V. Griffith, going to make official announcement of his candidacy for a while yet. It is stated. DOES JUDGE LEMMOND WANT TO BE SENATOR? A bomb was exploded Into the camp when in the last isue of The Journal an article, signed by "Demo crats," appeared endorsing Judge W O. Lemmond for the State Senate. To HEART-RENDERING SCENES AROUND FLANDERS BATTLE Correspondent Writ en About the Civ- Ulan People, Who Suffer the Most The Poor Paralytic, ami the Wo- nun Hotel Ket per, With the British Army in France, April 17. (By the Associated Press.) It is difficult for one in the British war zone to adjust himself to the new conditions here. It all seems like I horrid dream this spreading Ger man blight across the cultivated plains of Flanders. with their an cient, picturesque1 villages. It is but little more than a week since one was free to motor quietly along highways loading through Mer- rille. Bailluel and a score of other nearby places which never lost their charms. Then peaceful farm lands lay AniA that u a a Krtu t a a K ( a nrnrtad as the news some weeks ago that ' ? v ' , c "" Sikes would run for sheriff. Hon. J. "PS- Th bi" " were not f" N. Price has donned the Senatorial1" .oui oeam ana ae- ,.fh. . .n...,K i u uvuuu oceiueu iciuoie wun wans thought, by occupying the field miles r' f .? iaZ.C ahead of any probably opponents There is a well-organized campaign in progress to induce Mr. Lemmond to make the race despite the fact that a canvass of four counties, Davidson, Union, Anson and Stanly, would hare to be made. So far, It Is understood, Judge Lemmond has said nay, but his supporters haven t given up hope of getting him out in the race against Mr. Price. Nothing definite has come from Hon. R. B. Redwine relative to the attempt of his friends to draft him for 'the legislature. The leaders are after him good and strong, and one Little lads stod at attention by the roadside and saluted as the motors passed and old men and women beam ed welcome from the doors of their cottages. Within a few days the plague of war has descended. Now one meets his civilian friends the little folk and the aged from many hamlets making their way sadly back along the broad highway leaving behind all they hold dear. They look back on the rolling fields that separate them from their little world. By day a bank of grim gray smoke from burning hamlets BRITISH IN THE YPRES SECTION GIVE (.ROUND of them stated to the writer that he ?j? from lurlad belching gunmarks the tone along which are struggling the splendid British soldiers in their efforts to block further inroads of the Hun. By night the skyline is some times a lurid blaze as consuming names leap up from a hundred homes and great cannon vomit volcanic fire, wine, as it is thnneht he loathes the " " l"la& . 18 Pa OI word drafted shout as much a. most heretofore untouched Flanders going patriotic citizens. Selected is much ?! th devastated regions of more preferable. Perhaps the gentle- believed Mr. Redwine would run. Here's the way one man expressed himself; "Bob Redwine been draft ing the boys for the army, and now, durn him, we'll lust draft him for the legislature!" The humor in this statement may not appeal to Mr. Red man from whom we are quoting, af ter he reads this, may change "draft ' to "select," which-would come nearer, for they are throwing party service at Mr. Redwine. Here's The Honor Roll.. The following have bought Liberty Bonds up to date: wriston Lee, Mrs. came Lee, Mrs. the Somme. Its awfulness has numb ed the brains of the peasant folk. The correspondent found a little family group crouching beneath huge British howitzers held In reserve. There were no tears and no words. but the expression on their faces was like that of one just condemned to die. Why they stopped beside the great guns was unexplained. Possibly it was because it gave them a sense of know only In a general way whither A. Armfleld. Mrs. Lessie Houston they go; they are following the lead Heath, Mrs. Alice Heath, Miss Lura of military guides like sheep fleeing Heath. G. W. Smith. St. Timothy Ma- from a storm. A few cherished be- sonic Lodite. N. D. Saleeby. J. W. longings are all they carry with them. ates. Mrs. J. W. Yates. L. F. Hart. Hundreds of Flemish homes have . E. Houston, Jr., Ed Roe Houston, been shorn of their protectors who Stamps Houston. Miriam Houston, J. nave oeen cauea to tne rencn col W. Chaney, Miss Maud Nixon, Gaston Mears, E..S. Tedder, C. H. Hough, W. J. Rudge Co., B. Gordon, W. I, Hayes, Mrs. J. B. Copple, Monroe ors, and for these this has been a time of double terror. Some of the peas ants, Indeed, clung to their cottages amidst the crashing of shells until Hardware Co.. T. P. Dillon. Carson British soldiers led them away. There Yates, Ogburn Yates, Clinton Benton, were many pitiful cases of bed-ridden O. McNeelv. W. C. Helms. Julian invaiias, wnose rnenas naa to re- McLartv. T. C. Lee. Mrs. Sarah A. move with help from the soldiers. McLartv. E. C. Ingram. Frank H. " was oniy yesterday mat a urn Fairley, Jr., Mrs. Janie Phlfer Fair- Ian official photographer discovered a lev. Frank H. Fairley. Miss Jessica oeipiess paralytic lying n a house ai Vann, Wlalter J. Pratt, Mark B. Yan- ready partly wrecked by shells. The die, J. M. Fairley, W. J. Hudson, T. I Invalid had no relatives, and his M. Christenbury, Ashcraft Bros., L. rnenas, wno- naa looKea arter mm, Helms. Miss Martha Ashcraft. Mies were aeaa or cut on rrom nini. so, Jean L. Ashcrait, J. W. Lathan, J. M. the photographer and the soldier car- Hf'toits More Encouraging From the I.ys Rattle, But the News From Ypres Section Is Had Battle Get tiiifr Fiercer' Thiit-sihir's Summary Out of the chaos of the tremendous came along the Lya river, south and southwest of Ypres. the thunder of which may be heard 40 or 5') miles away, there have come during the pa;i any reports v.h:ch are more en couraging to the allied powers. The British not only Lave heU all the ground which they were defending on uui nave sirucg oacK 80 powerfully that Meteren and part of i .. . . . . wjisruacie were reiaKen and held for a time. Only after heavy atta.-Vn did the British retire again from the villages. I he most disturbing news has been a report from Berlin that Poelcappelle ana Langemarck, north of Ypres. have been taken by the Germans and the admission from London that the British have retired from certain of their lines In the Ypres salient. The retirement here was expected, for the aavance of the Germans at Neuve Egllse and Bailleul left the position in front of Ypres open to a flank at tack. It Is officially stated that the retirement was orderly and it is nrob- able that it will have more of a sen timental than a strategic effect. Just how far the British lines have been withdrawn is not known. It may be. however, that the German claim of taking Poelcappelle and Langemarck was the result of British retirement. The battle, now in Its ninth, day. has deepened In Intensity at many points along the curved front from Messlnes ridge to Meteren. There have been reports that the Germans have occupied the village of St. Eloi, which lies more than ten miles south of Ypres, but they have not been confirmed. It also was said that they have taken positions on the south slope of Mount Kemmel, which is about two and a half miles north of Wulverghem. This, also, has not been confirmed. On all the rest of the front from Mesines ridge southwestward the Ger mans have flung themselves against the granite wall of the British de fense. Official and semi-official dis patches have told of the frightful losses inflicted on the attacking mas ses of troops by the British rifle and machine gun fire. On the southern, side of the salient protection. Many of the refugeerMfiere have been engagements of some Belk, Heath-Morrow Co., R. A. Mor row. Mrs. J. W. Fowler, Mrs. B. C. Ashcraft, E. J. Riggins, Icemorlee Cotton Mill, Mrs. Ida M. Laney, J. W, Laney, James B. Williams, D. F. New- ried the man to safety though their road lay through what might have been a horrible death at any moment. This Is one Instance among many. Sometimes there Is no way of sav Political Gossip Hm It That Brookl Won't Offer Announcement of Earnhardt For Sheriff Expected Soon. The latest political gossip Is that Mr. Frank Limerick may be the next ' prosecuting attorney. Mr. Julian Brooks, member of the Marshville y-,bar, has been, slated JorHhls post 'ever since Mr. R. L. Stevens announc ed that he would not be a candidate for re-election, but It Is now being whispered around that the Marshville gentleman does not care for the of fice this time, although It was about to be handed to him on a (liver plat ter. Increased legal business, which has been thrown upon his shoulders since he joined the law firm of Maness, Armfleld ft Vann, Is assigned as his reason for staying out of poll- tics this year. Here's where Mr. Limerick comes in: there won't be a fight on his bands. With Brooks out of the way, as the political wiseaces have it. what's to hinder him from picking up the $60 per month plum, which would come in mighty handy to any or the Darristers during these hard times. Mr. Lime rick has been in this county only a short while, but he has made hosts of friends during that time. He has given unselfishly much of bis time to wards organizing War Savings so- citles all over the county, and he has made several good speeches which, It is said, captivated a num ber of the rural Democrats. Monroe's Junior bar member, however, Isn't going to make a fight for the office. If Mr. Brooks doesn't care for It, and the party leaders want him to an nounce his eandldacy, he may do so. Several of the legal and professional men have already urged Mr. Lime rick to accept the office it Mr. Brooks doesn't run. Such being the case, he may do so. EARNHARDT'S ANNOUNCEMENT COMING. Mr. W. L. Earnhardt, The Journal man. Faddool Nasaiff. Clifford Fow- ing valuables of bulk in towns which ler. W. Frank Benton. Mrs. H. E. Cop- come first under the fire of the Ger- nle. Miss Janle Sanders. N. W. Than), man troops. Relics and treasures of Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart Bundy, Miss years have been abandoned. Many Jennie Summerlin, Walter C. Crowell, things have been destroyed by their Jr., Guy Newby Crowell, Abram Hill owners in oraer mat me uermans Crowell. E. O. Cook. John Beasley, m-gai not gei inem D. P. McLarty, Rev. J. E. Abernethy, G. A. Marsh, W. 8. Blakeney, Roy Ca dleu, the Camp Fire Girls, P. J. C. Eflrd, guardian, Miss -Cora Lee Mont gomery, F. M. Sutton, H. A. Sbute, Mrs. Ashe Bennett Sikes, J. F. Stew art, Mrs. J. R. Shute, L. W. Tucker, The correspondent spent a nlgbt recently at small hotel in a hamlet, whose doom seemed to be sealed. The gray-haired matron of the Inn was getting ready to leave. Her husband is an officer in the French army, and she was left alone with her three chil- Mrs. E. J. Wilson, Miss Mary Haynes dren. It was a touching sight to see Crow, J. E. Stack ft Co., P. P. W. Ply- ner going sadly from room to room ler, George Naasiff, J. R. Shute, J. W. of the place which had been ber home Fowler, Mrs. W. E. Cason, Mrs. E. J. wnce me aay sne was marriea. Moody, Mrs. Lura Evans, Mrs. J. F. "Have you a knife?" she asked sud ijinav mi Marion t op wis. Mar- denly. as she reached up and remov garet Lee, J. L, Everett, Everett Cot- d from the wall a priceless piece of ton Mills. Mrs. W. S. Lee. Mrs. Chas. uneniai emoroiaery, Iceman-, Mrs. Warren C. Stack, Mrs. R. B. Gaddy, Robbie Banks Iceman, Miss Mollie Iceman, Miss Lillian Ice man, Miss Margaret Iceman, Miss Eva Shute, J. T. Shute, Jr., G. D. Da vidson, Francis Lee Stack, Charles Iceman, Jr., Warren C. Stack, John E. Lee, Jr., Margaret Lee, W. S. Lee, 3rd, Miss Maud Shute, Miss Llna Bell Shute, Mrs. J. T. Shute, Gordon Ins and Inv. Co., W. C. Stewart, Sherwood L. ttullls, M. K. Lee, Mrs. M. K. Lee, The knife was produced. She stood the frame before the correspondent and said: "Cut it, please. I will not leave this for the Boche." As the matron passed Into another room, she was murmuring softly to herself: "Oh, my home! My home" 37 Perish When Vessels Collide. An Atlantic Port, Apr. 17.Thirty seven lives were lost when the Ameri can steamship Kar Knight, both laden M. K.'Lee, Jr., Miss Elizabeth Lee, with naphtha and Inflamable oils, col Miss Mary Lee, Miss Jean Lee, Mrs. Illded off the British coast on March magnitude, especially east of Robecq, five miles northward of Bethune, wher the Germans were caught by the British artillery fire and scattered. The line in front of Arras has again been the scene of fighting, but here the British took the offensive and drove the Germans out of British trenches which had been carried by the enemy. In the Picardy sector there has been lively artillery engagements between the Somme and Oise rivers, but only patrol encounters are reported offi cially. Further south only raiding opera tions have been going on. The Turks announce that they have taken the city of Batura, on the eastern shore of the Black sea. They report strenuous fighting before the Russian defenders of the city were driven out. Baron Stephen Burlan von Bajacs has succeeded Count Czernin as for eign minister of Austria-Hungary, coming back to the office he relin quished December 23, 1916. BAKER BELIEVES LINE WILL HOLD UNDER GENERAL FOCH W. A. Lane, R. F. Beasley, Miss Anna Blair, J. W. Nance, Carl Davis, Mrs. N. C. English, C. D. Roberts, Mrs. C. D. Roberta, S. R. Doster, Miss Mary Blair, Mrs. E. M. Griffin, W. L. Hem by. H. F. McDonald, R. H. Cunning ham. 24, according to members of the crew of the 0. B. Jennings who arrived here today. All who perished with one exception were on the British ves sel. They were burned to death by blazing gas and oil Those who survived the flames on the Kar Knight were rescued In the 'Fl-Fl of the Toy Shop." which nick of time by destroyers, for soon was to have been presented Thursday I after, while the biasing hull was be evenlng for the benefit of ithe Weaver! Ing towed toward shallow water It Phllathea Class of the Methodist struck a mine and was blown .up. church, has been postponed until The destroyers went to the rescue Monday eveningat 8:30 o'clock, at through a field of blazing oil and took the opera house. "Fi-FI." rehearsed off also the crew of the Jennings. A and staged .xclusively by the John B. Rogers Producing Co. of Ohio, has been declared by many philanthropic organizations to be a most delightful and unique entertainment. In many cities extra performances were neces- man Is Informed, will probably an-.sary to satisfy the demand for seats. number of the crew of the American ship, however, were badly burned and had to be removed to hospitals after being landed. Who Is Fi-Flf Find out at the op era house Monday night, April 22nd. War Secretary Ke turns Full of Pride and Confidence May Have Direct Information to Give President Wil son. Washington, April 16.- Steeled to the work ahead of him by personal knowledge of conditions at the battle fronts In Europe, Secretary Baker re turned to his desk at the war depart ment tonight from his trip abroad prepared to concentrate every energy on expediting the movement of Amer ican fighting men to France. The war secretary, It is understood, Is not Inclined to underestimate the peril that German success in the pres ent onslaughts against the allied line might involve. There is no doubt, however, that he believes adequate measures to checkmate the German effort will come out of the pooling of all allied and American resources un der command of General Foch, the Impressive French commander-in chief. On his arrival today at an Atlantic port, Mr. Baker authorized this state ment: "I return with a sense of pride and confidence at the achievements of the United States and allied troops abroad that would justify many trips across the water." Whatever direct. Information the war secretary may have as to the plans of General Foch will be for the ear of President Wilson alone. There have been many reports that Mr. Baker went to Europe for the purpose of urging unification of all allied armies under a single com mander. He had no comment to make on this point The prompt action of General Per shing in placing his men at General Foch's disposal is known to have met with Mr. Baker's hearty approval. During the trip Mr. Baker visited England, France and Italy and saw the battle fronts all along the line. He has be-n In the American front line trenches under fire; once a Ger man shell exploded close to his au tomobile, and on another occasion he stood m the window of a battertj building behind the allied line to watch high power mUsiles come howl ing to tear great craters in a field less than a hundred yards awav When he reached France, the war secretary placed himself in the posi tion or an American soldier just ar rived at the goal of his ambition, "ovt-r there." He wanted to know exactly what preparation had been made for the care of the mtn from the time they arrived. He knew what the government was preparing to do oa ir.is siue. iut 01 the great matters across the water he had only cold oinciai reports or the Inadequate de scription of officers. Beginning at the debarkation Dorts. Mr. Baker and his party under the guidance of General Pershing's of- ncers rciioweu the life of an Ameri can soldier in France step by step, until they arrived in an advanced list ening post in front of the American lines. The whole vast project of Ameri can operations was mapped out before tne secretary. It represents one of the greatest undertakings any nation has ever engaged in, and even to the man under whose hands have nassed all the plans, it was amazing because of its briskness and the thorough. workmanlike way in which General Perishing and his officers are doing their great Job. Mr. Baker returned more than ev er confident of the capacity and Judg-j ment of General Pershine for the great burden of responsibility he is bearing. The American commander la said to be developing and broaden Ing even as the army he is building is expanding, No doubt was left in the visitors' minds of the stimulus given French spirit by the arrival of American fighting forces in France. Mr. Baker was given repeated proof of the amaz ing degree of comradeship that has sprung up between the American and French soldiers and the Americans and civil population among whom they move daily. When he left for Europe, Mr. Ba ker put the war department routine from mind. It will take him some days to catch step fully with what has gone forward in his absence. He is expected, however, to face his prob lems with a new perspective, and of ficials here anticipate that the result will be shown in the nature of his de cisions, for to a man filled with the spirit of the army in France there Is no room for petty obstacles on the Job ahead. -- NO CUSSES OF GERMANY ARE WANTING PEACE NOW CLAUDE KITCHIN MAY BE NEXT SPEAKER OF HOUSE Clark May Run For the Senate to Succeed the I-ate Senator Stone, And There's Where the North Caro lina Man Would Step Up. According to Parker R. Anderson, Washington correspondent of the Greensboro News, there is more than an even chance that Majority Leader Claude Kitchin will be elected speak er of the house of representatives within the next 10 days. The death of Senator Stone of Missouri has created an embarrassing situation for the Democratic party in that state be cause the unsettled political condi tions are such that it Is claimed Speaker Champ Clark is the only man In the state who can bring harmony to the party and be elected to the senate at the fall elections. Hence the speaker's friends are urging him to accept the temporary appointment to the senate and make the race for election this fall. Close personal friends of the speak er in Washington told the Greensboro Daily News corresponaent tonignt that the speaker would very probably accept the appointment and make the .race provided he would not have to fight a member of his own party for the nomination. Mr. Clark as speak er of the house draws a salary of $12,000 a year, while the senatorial toga is only worth $7,500. But the latter position holds good for seven years while the house members must fight for re-election every two years There is a strong probability, too, that the house will not be Democratic after March 4, and in that eventual! ty Mr. Clark would be just a plain member of congress drawing the same salary as a.UnKed States senator or any other member of the house. a ALLIED LINE IS HOLDING HARD AGAINST GERMANS French Reinforcement Helped Throw Back the Hum, Who Struck Hard at Several Point. Reinforced by French troops, the allied line is holding hard against further Incursions by the Germans from the region of La Baseee to the north of Ypres. Everywhere the Cermans have struck the ' line In an endeavor to press back the defenders they have been repulsed with heavy losses and bav been successful nowhere in gain ing further ground. Attacks of an extraordinary violent nature are being thrown by the Ger mans on the 10-mlle front between Givenchy and Robecq, where an en deavor is being made to cross the La Basse canal and bend southward the salient which bow outflanks the im portant railroad town of Bethune. A division of troops to each mile is be ing used by the Germans on this sec tor, but the British at last accounts were holding well and inflktlne heaw losses on the enemy. Ruvsian W illidrawal So Strengthened Hun's Morale That Now They Fig ure On Collecting Indemnity nU That Was Before the Drive. (By SAVOYARD in the Releigh News andlObserver. No longer do we hear of any sug gestion of peace fiom anybody in, Germany. A different. Then Germany, all classe?, longed for a conference of diplomats representing all the bell: discuss terms of peace, and the status quo ante appeared to be acceptable to most of Germany's nublir men. Since then Rufsia has collapsed and is at the feet of the conqueror; Ruman ia Is conquered; Italy has been beat en in a great German offensive, and now all Germany. Socialist as well us Junker, insists on annexations and indemnities. And yet Germanv hungers ami thirsts for peace because neace la more necessary to her than it Is to England, or France, or America, or Italy. It was this inexorable necessi ty that made the present offensive at the Western front imperative. Gath ering together the most powerful mil itary force the world ever saw nha hurled those millions against the Brit ish and for a week the Germans ad vanced, but nowhere did they "break" the English and the loss in life to the assailants must have been enormous. The drive is not yet over, but it is checked and Germany's enemies claim that it is a futile as was the drive against Verdun and the cost in blood frightfully greater. All we laymen know of it is that Peris was the objective, and every body knows that Paris cannot be tak en till all the fight is whipped out of the British and the French. Before they take Paris the Germans must "break through" the enemy's lines, double up and overwhelm the oppos ing armies and capture the survivors and their equipment. That was the promise to the German people, and that was the fond hope of all Germa ny rrom the General Staff down to the humblest cottager in the empire. Not the leaBt of Germany's perils is her currency system. Practically she Is on the greenback basl3. Her printing presses have usurped the of- utes m uer minis. ji ner currency there is more than five marks of pa per to one mark of coin. Nor is that all. Though cruelly cut off from ' trade by the British blockade she does get goods from abroad and has to pay gold for them. Thus while her paper currency constantly augments the coin behind it constantly decreases. And unless Germany can levy and collect enormous indemnities upon her enemies she will be hopelessly bankrupt when peace comes, as it must come sometime. It was Germany's implicit trust in the sword that caused her to rush on to bankruptcy. England is "paying as she goes." Her increase of taxa tion is enormous. Of course she is not paying 100 per cent of the cost of the war, but she is paying more than half, and we are doing nearly as well. At this time the Entente Allies are on the gold basis, and when peace comes they will be ready for business at the old stand. Germany will not be ready for business unless she wins a knockout and levies and collects In demnities to the tune of tens of bill ions of dollars. Even German Socialists are count ing their chickens ere the eggs to produce them are laid. They are cal culating that German arms are bound to conquer a German peace. They ex pect that England will be as feeble as Belgium now is, and that America will be as helpless as Russia now isv and it is proposed by some of the So cialists that Germany will be graci ous and magnanimous enough to al low England and America to pay a big part of the Indemnity In raw ma terials wool, cotton, jute, rubber; copper, and what not. Germany's ex pectation when i the drive began was exaltation. The hope was higher than it was in 1914 when Belgium was overrun and von Kluck was at the gates of Paris. Had not Russia been put out of the fight? Rumania and Serbia were as helpless as Belgium. Italy was hurled back and thoroughly beaten in one of the greatest German offensives of the war. Thus Germa ny would concentrate all her forces at the western front, strike when she pleased and where she pleased. The thing was elaborately and minutely rehearsed. Boasts were made by sol diers and people. Hindenburg was quoted as saying that Bismarck's birthday, April 1, would see him and his legions in Paris. There was no military strategy in that movement. It was a matter of brute strength. The most men, the heaviest guns and the deadliest gases were to do the work. And so the drive was made, and more men were killed and crippled in France that two weeks than fell In battle in all Napoleon's wars. If It succeeds and the British and French are destroyed, Paris and Calais tar- en, then Germany will be victor la the war. But if it shall fall, as they failed at the Marne and at Verdun! What thenT Germany will be in a bad fit. The morale of the German people will be frightfully impaired possibly ut terly demoralised. Then will coma the opportunity o the Entente. Mean while, America is getting ready as no other people ever did before, and when America shall be fully equipped, she will make short work of the job, big as it is. "FI-FI' of the Toy Shon onera house Monday night, April 22nd,
The Monroe Journal (Monroe, N.C.)
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April 19, 1918, edition 1
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