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fOL. XXXIX M0UM1 AIRY, MORTR CAROLINA. THURSDAY. MAY 17 1917. MO. 44
———————————————————1^——^——BTMg==a | , «Mggg«g= A..I.PIIMIW
WITH POWER OVER SEAS
GERMANY WOULD HAVE
CRUSHED HER ENEMIES
AND SURDUED AMER
ICA.
Wa Must Ml Permit Autocracy
by tko Short Cat of U-boat,
to Curtail Our Undisputed
Control of tho So*.
(By Richmond Prarean Hohwm.)
(iml Hand. Kansas, April 'M.—
Hea power U a* fundamental (or
democracies (or transporting military
strength mm (or transporting cum
modltie* of rommrrra.
The British empire could not have
aent a soldier to Krance, England
would hava iieen starved out or invad
a<l ami disposed o( within *ix month*
after the war begun.
Franca, then Russia, then Italy
would have been Kubdufcd without
great difficulty.
Amerira could never have entered
on the European aide, but itself would
have been involved, the Atlantic sea
board occupied and a levy made upon
hai( the wealth o( the nation,
Teutonic autocracy in control o( the
iiea in *ix month* would have been
undiaputed masters o( the world, be
fore democracy could have organized
its latent itrength.
In short, the 40 super-dreadnoughts
(riving Germany the control of the sea
would have been ea ily the equivalent
of 10,000,000 soldiers. A single
dreadnought would have been the
equivalent of, Say, a quarter of a mil
lion men. Yet 1,000 men are able to
man the uperdreadnought.
So very fundamental and vital is
this *«a power to democracy, that we
most oot permit autocracy by the
disputed control of th« tea. It ia not
sufficient simply to build vessels as
fast a» the U-boats can dextroy them
or to trap U-boat* an fa.it ax they are
built. Democracy must dominate the
aea under water ax well ax above the
surface. Hydroplane* and surface
c+aft of xpecial type can hunt the Ger
man U-boat from under the ea ax we
have done with the German battle
fleets above the xva. It ia to be
hoped that America will be a deciding
factor in thix war on the U-boat, and
will realize thix question touches the
heart of xea power with all that sea
power means to democracy.
« niw bviuu](iy cinpnumze me
importance of the time factor in the
outcome of the if rent war, especially
hi nee America has joined the entente
allies. Control of the* sea is steadily,
inexorably operating to the advantage
of industrialism. If adequate time is
gained, sea power must give the de
cision to democracy.
If U-boat warfare does not Khatter
the allies' control of the sea, the com
merce of the world will relieve the
privations of the Teutonic allies
gradually will become intolerable, and
then the whole resources and latent
military power of America can be
brought to bear.
America's financial strength in a
test of endurance would be found
about equal to that of the rest of the
world combined and fully five times
that of Germany. In a test of en
durance, America, enjoying control of
the sea, could place 10,000,000 men on
the battle lines of Europe and could
maintain that many indefinitely, |
making up losses as fast oh they oc
cur, maintaining an overflowing sup
ply of arms and munitions.
Germany knows this periectly well.
German experts have critically ex
amined the performances of American
troops in a long war, as shown in
1861-4, the war between the states.
U-boats have not been able to pre
vent or materially impede the dispatch
of Canadian troops. It can be assur
ed they could not prevent the dis
patch of American troops. The power
of America in money and materials
will be felt this year. Our power in
men will not begin to be felt until
neat year.
I.rrauily and Ik* tnitW DUtn.
Von Hindanburg and tha German
general lUff realise full wall tiut If
tha rantral pnwara ara to if at tha de
ciaion at all thay moat get It out nf
thia Mtaaon'a operation*. If thay ara
to hava a negotiated peace, it muat
come thin yaar nr next yaar at tha
lateat.
If I underatand tha temper of tha
allied people*, tha Tauton armiaa
would hava to taka Paria bafora tha
deeiaion could poaaibly go to tha ren
tral power*. If I know tha metal of
American* and F.nglwhmen, a final
<1 (teuton wouid not Ik a. cepted avan
than an long ax the *ea remained open.
In other word*, *ince America'* en
try into the war, Germany will have
to wrext from the allien their control
of tha *ea before tha can get the
ilacwinn, even wi.h a full continental
xweep of victorioua armiaa.
I have no doubt that Germany'* of
ficial policy toward America, at lea*t
for thi* year, will he one of pre. intent
conciliation, that German intriguer in
Mexico and within our border* will!
not take the form of any overt act*.j
that German propaganda will, a* far j
a* poaaible, be hidden. The *ole |
motive will lie to keep American
public Hentimcnt apathetic, in fancied
Mearity.
The policy of our government to din- |
sipate thin <lelu*i«n would 'o« to pro
ceed without delay upon the definite
policy of preparing the nation for a
great war of endurance, a policy of
organizing the full war itrength of
the nation. The policy of our govern
ment to avert a dangerous apathy and
falae senile of security should be to
start our forcas fighting in France
seal*.
An attack upon Constantinople,'
initiated by naval operations in the
Darda. -lies, would be sound grand
strategy. It is in harmony with the
dirtate* of humanity a.-: well as a mat-1
ter of sound policy.
What America Mu»t l>o.
Friendliness for the German people
as well as humanity and sound policy |
call for a clear proof by our govern
ment, backed by our people, that no
matter how lont; the war, no matter
what the cost, no matter what the sac
rifice, America will not now permit
the decision to go to the Teutons. We ;
should at once pass the bill for select
ive conscription and proceed to orga
nize the whole industrial, agricultural
militory and naval power of the
nation.
We must net as if a revolution of j
the German people or other revolt |
against continued war is about as
likely to happen as the voluntary ab- j
dication of the kaiser.
On the whole, it looks to me as
though Teuton grand strategy is mov-1
ing on schedule, namely, that a secret
peace or understanding has been '
sought with Russia and with Italy. If'
successful then wifhin BO days we may 1
expect the combined Teuton power,!
including Austrians, Bulgarians and
|
Turks, to be hurled against the Brit
ish and French on the western front. j
I'rnrnt llattle Inclusive.
Under ordinary conditions the pres- j
ent advance of the French and English*
would be considered masterful, but it
may be too late to help Russia and i
Italy, and It seems now too deliberate
to break any part of the German line.!
The allies cannot win until all the
allied armies advance simultaneously
and continue to advance night and day
till at the proper time, by concentra
tion, they break clear through and
rout the (ierman armies.
If secret German overtures to Rus
sia for a separate peter- or an under
standing prove futile, then we may
soon expect a greut Teuton drive up
on t'etrograd. In such cast we
should be pirparnl, in cam1 of Teuton
ruoeu, to see the fall of Ru»«ian
capital, possibly within ' <1 days, fal
lowed by a Mp*rate pea r or si.ch
chaoa and anarchy la Kuaaia that the
bulk of tha Teuton armiaa can ba
tranafei rad to tha waatorn front to
maka thair supreme a/fort lhara to
•llmtnato Franca.
Thin la no doubt tha aaaanca at Tan
ton (rami strategy. Tha determining
alamant ia tha tima alamant.
Tha alllad grand strategy haa Lhraa
cardinal far tor*. Pint, to braak
through- -clear through tha German
defenae* on tha wait while tha Teuton
arm lea are engaged in Ruaala. Her..ml
to rauae Ruaala to stand steadfast and
exert har utmost raaiatanra. Third,;
for America to place har full power in
tha balance at tha earlieat possible
moment.
Ijitc dispatches Indicate that tha
per<onnel of an American commission
to Russia ia being considered. "It
w«mi to me that in view of the vital
importanre of American-Russian co
operation, we should place at the
head of auch commiaaion the American
with the very highest prestige avail
able, namely, an ex-President, Roose
velt first rhoice, Taft second choice.
tuM»M>«rii u» rae front.
If Rooievelt insist* on going to the
front-in Franca, I would suggest that
Major-General Leonard Wood be Kent
in mmmand of two division* of regu
lars without delay, and that Roose
velt, with the rank bf brigadier, by
act of Congress, go an his chief of
"taff, serving in that ri»j>.-.ir:y until
qualified to command a divimon.
Later, a* major-general, he might
command an army corps, and finally
with higher rank, created for the pur
pone, be our firat field marshal, to
command all American force* in Eu
rope.
U 1 bad my way, however, I would
flrtrt, my General BeO, or Cwinl
Pershing, with • picked division of
regular* to '.he westara front for the
moral effect. I would send General
Wood and Roosevelt with two divis
ion* of regular* to Russia, and would
throw American force* upon the east
ern front a* well a* the western a*
fa*t as we can organize and train
them and can develop Russian trans
portation.
Humanity is entitled to America's,
offering, the very i>e»t industrial
talent she can command, a* well as
money and munitions, and there must
lie no respect for politic* or personali
ties. I- think with so many difficult
constructive problems of organization
in Russia, military and semi-military,
that Roosevelt and I^eonard Wood
should go there, and go quickly. They
could lay the foundation for a future
Russo-American offensive that would
really reach Vienna and Berlin unless
the Teutons came to term* before thii
overwhelming combination of man
power, money-power, power of in
dustry and material could be mobiliz
ed.
nrnu an .irmj .luruaa noon.
Roosevelt and Wood have had no
many kind* of experience in public
service and have been no uniformly
successful in grappling with problems
of organization, construction, and ad
ministration that it appears in the
spirit of true eonscrdiption that the
democracies of the world have a right
to draft them for servtcc where the
problems and obstacles are the great
est in the death grapple with autocra
cy, namely, in now denauciatic Russia.
Press reports state that Field Mar- I
shal Joffre, on behalf of France, has
requested the sending of an American
military expedition to France without
delay, if even only of small sixe, for |
the moral effect upon the allied
armies as a symbol of America arm
ing her great strength and putting
herself into the fray. i
Such an expedition should not only j
go quickly, but should go pre|>ared to
fight at the earliest possible date, not
only for tho moral effect on Kurope, j
but for the awakening effect on ,
America. It is naturally tu-.rd for our
people to realize that America is real
ly In tha great war and must develop
its full war «trength tor ha own aa 1m
ty In tha *horte*t po**mta tima. Thta
■mall forea to go to Franca »houid, of
tour*a, ba tha pick at tha regular*
hark from tha training of tha Mexi
can expedition
War ami Strang Drink.
Tha waak ha* witnaaaad a di*eu«*ion
in America, following tha general Una
if iimilar diwuaniona abroad, of tha
(ueatien of intoxicating liquor* and
preparedne** for war. There ia not
■n important belligerent gvernment
abroad that ha* not (truck a deadly
blow at all dixtillad liquor* a* a war
mea*ure. The reason ia *o plain that
it doe* not admit of di*cua*inn. Con
gre»* would execute the will of pro
liably 95 per cant of 'he American
people if at once in the war revenue
hill it ab*olut*ly denied interstate
-ommerce to whi*ky and gin for
beverage purpoae*.
There ia another measure that
■hould lie incorporated in the war
revenue bill, about which there can be
no que*ttion, except from tho*e in
volved financially namely, a heavy in
ereaae in the retail liquor tax or
licenxe, a* it is called.
rruriwaiiy an rne oootieggers ami
riutlaw retailers who are defying the
prohibitory law* of states, counties
*nd cities, selling to hoy* in pool
room and other place*, exhibit their
United States licence secured for a
»ong, makinir Uncle Sam a silent
partner in breaking state law*. I
would «uiiff»t that the retail tax be
increased from |25 a year to 12,500
I year. This would take probably
90,000 outlaws from under Uncle
Sam's protection. It would probably
The Press should encourage an edu
:ational discussion, free from bitter
ness ot the whole question, including
the effect upon the public health and
producing efficiency of the nation, up
>n the public morals, upon mortality,
upon heredity, upon the general wel
fare, the progress and survival of the
nation and the race, thus aiding in
Lhe .solution of the difficult problem of
flow to keep the nation sober as a
fundamental war measure vital in
preparedness for this war and all
subsequent wars. |
Money Taken by Robber*
in Pittsburgh Recovered.
Pittsburgh, Pa., May 14.—Police
today hail recovered practically all of
the $10,000,000 taken from the First
Motional bahk of Castle Shannon, a
tuburb, today by four bandits who en
tered the bank, shot to death the
rashier and assistant cashier of the
:>ank, bound and gagged a patron of
the bank, and in attempting to escape
vouniled two persons.
One of the bandits, John Chateh,
■vas killed and another, Sam Berts,
ivas probably fatally wounded by
■hots from a posse of townspeople.
K third bandit, Nick Yacle, was cap
ured and badly l>eaten by a mob that
ittempted to take him from the posse.
Efforts to capture the fourth bandit i
vere unsuccessful. All of the robbers
ive in Pittsburgh and are young men.
Eatable Trading Stamps.
New York, May 14.—Some of the
nerchants of Ridgewood, L. I., have
lupplemented trading scamps by giv
ng their customers onions and pota
.oes. One small potato or onion is
fiven with each 10-cent purchase. A
>igger potato goes with a bigger pur
chase. The housewife who makes a
(4 purchase gets enough potatoes for
i dinner. The merchants report that
:he scheme is popular.
Incidentally, it is reported that it ,
tas become so popular that the pro- j
f>rietors of moving picture theaters
ire thinking <>f giviiyc a small potato
knd a young onion with pach 10 cent
ticket. ' ,
RUSSIA LOOMS UP AS A
PORTENTOUS OBSTACLE
Far From Satisfactory Stat* of
Affair. Exist* » tho Now
Russia still looms in th« eyas of ths
world as ■ portentous obstacle to sn
early successful issue of the war for
tha entente nations and tha l-'nited
State* ov«r Herman, snd har allien.
With a far from satisfactory stata
of affairs existing hatwaan tha council
of workman's and soldiars' deputies
and high Russian f»»frnm«nt official*
whirh in tha last fsw days has result
ed in the resignations »f the com
mander of tha forces in Petrograd
and the minister of war and marine,
comes a renewal of the rumor that
Turkey is following in tha footsteps
of Germany and Austria-Hungary and
endeavoring to affect a separate peace
with Russia.
Compensation Mid to hav«- hern of
fered by Turkey embraced a thin*
that has been the life rlream of Rus
sia—the romplete opening of Dardan
elles to Ru.-..»ui ships, t>oth merchant
men and men of war. Turkey also
would be agreeable if Russia would
consent to lay down arms. to consider
a satisfactory settlement of the Ar
menian quextion, long a thorn in the i
aide of mankind, and likewise deal'
with her various subjects on the prin
ciple of nationality.
While there have been rumors that
the council of workmen'* and soldiers'|
deputies ha* railed for art armistice, 1
official denial of thia ia made by the
council. On the contrary, it ia atatedj
by the council that an appeal to the
soldiers ia being drawn up declaring'
against a separate peace.
thine almost inactive in their trenches
On both the Caucasian and Meaopo
tamian fronts the Turks have inflicted '
reverses on the Russians, according to 1
Petrograd.
.South of Erzingan th£ Kurds have
repulsed Russian forces after a stub- ^
born fight, while in Mesopotamia the
Russians have been forced to retreat
across the Diaia river in the face of j
superior forces.
A significant statement as to the,
desirability of Great Britain accept
ing a separate peace with Austria- J
Hungary has been made by the chan-.
cellor of the exchequer in the house of |
commons. There never had been a
question of making a separn e peace,
said the chancellor, but as Germany
was always trying to detach some of
the allies, it might be "that no blow
would seem so fatal to Germany as if
one of her own allies were detached
from the fight."
On the front in Trance the British j
after days of fierce fighting, have j
taken in its entirety from the Ger-j
mans the village of Roeux, to the east
of Arras and north of Gavielle have
pushed their line forward. French
and German artilleries are still roar
ing in the great duels which always
are the forerunners of attacks.
The sixth Zeppelin w meet with de
struction by the British and French
since the war began has been ac
counted for by British naval forces in
the North Sea. The airship, the L-22
was completely destryed and it is be
lieved that most of its crew perished.
High Point Veteran* Have
Been Completely Outfitted.
High Point, May 12.—When the'
meeting of the local ramp, United'
Confederate Veteran*. win held this
afternoon it wan learned that a com
plete outfit, from head to foot, would
he ready for each member of the camp
that goes to Washington to attend the
annual reunion in June. Uniform!
have been ordered ai a re«ult of a
canvass for fund* by the spcncer,
Mis* I. Ivan Pay lor,, and a recent gift
of 176 from the local chapter, enabled
the memlier* of the ramp to purchase
new hats.
BRITISH PRISONERS ARE
GIVEN BAD TREATMENT.
Tkroo Who E«uftd Toll Piti
ful Story of EipariMH ia
Hands of Carman*.
With the British Armies in Franca,
May U- Throe Brttiah »oldier» who
have just surreedad in escaping from
a Urnu n prison rami a few mi lea
hark of the fighting lines, tall a pitl
ahla story of their treatment by the
enemy. They declared there waa a
great deal of sickness in the ramp
<iue to fatigue and starvation.
"If we showed the slightest dispo
sition to go •irk," said one of the man
to the corresporide nt of the Assoriated
Preen today, "we were either thrash
ed with whip* or strtjck with the butt
end of a rifle."
Although thi* soldier h»<! h«en in
enemy hand* only three' monthH ha
had dropped in weight from 182
pound* to 108. He was a living ikele
ton. Hi* feet had heen froz-n ami
were gangrenous for lark of treat
ment. The men had neither over
coats nor blanket* during the coldest
of the winter. When captured dur
ing a raid they wore leather jacket*.
These the German* took away from
them immediately. They also stripp
ed the rubber lining from their *hrap~
net helmet* ami took away their regi
mental badges for the tra.- > that was
in them.
One of the men during the periloua
trip across No Man's l and at the end
of the escape wai barfly wounded. For
food the prisoners received daily a
quarter loaf of breaH, one plat* of
thin soup and about every second day
a cup of weak coffee substitute. On
a 1*w utiMhwn they hart a hit of meat
about the size of a lump <>f sugar.
Recently the men were compelled to
work so near the front that they
came within reach of the British fire.
This was an exceptional instance,
however, they said.
The French prisoners, on the other
hand, are constantly employed just
back of the firing line ami «uffer
many casualties. In the cam^, how
ever the French prisoners were better
treated than the English. It was
strange to hear this story in \ iew of
the sleek appearance of the German
prisoners in English ha' >ds, all well
fed. well nourished, paid for their bits
of labor and permitted to buy com
forts at the canteens unUer the same
conditions as the tommies.
Veterans Appreciative.
B« it resolved by Surry County
Camp of Confederate Veteran* that
the County Board of Commissioners
at tbeir meeting on Monday May 7,
1917, in passing a resolution authoriz
ing the Register of Deeds to issue a
check in the sum of five dollars to
vach and every Confederate Veteran
of Surry County, (said list to be fur
nished the Register of Deeds by the
Surry County Camp of Veterans on
or before June 1st, 1917), ha-e won
the appreciation and the genuine
thanks of the Veterans of the County.
This public vote of appreciation of
the patriotic struggles and hardships
endured by ourselves and our com
rades in the Sixties is a cucumstance
that shall not be forgotten, and we
»re assured that your generous reso
lution will bring it about thut a num
ber of our comrades will be enabled
to attend the great Confederate Re
union to be held in the Nation's Capi
tal on June 4th and 6th.
Be it further resolved that a copy
of these resolutions be forwsided to
the Board of County Uommisssionera
of Surry County and that a ropy be
spread upon the permanent mil Jtes of
the Camp.
Unanimously adopter at a regular
meeting of Surry Camp held at Mb
Airy, N. C„ on May 10. 1917.
8 C. Franklin, Commander,
Z. T. Smith, AdJt.