- : . - the rwirs cou J
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I V HET ONLTT , SEMI-WEEK LX
A PAPER THAT' SHOULD: BE
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i THACO VEKS THE EIGHTH f -
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VOL,f.rO.28.
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SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA f : rf RUAY, FE 1917.
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WA
SHIWeM IS STI
President Wilson and Secretary . Lansing in Conference and
atl Washington is Stirred 0?er the Possibility of War
No Announcement Will be Made of the Administra
tions Pkns Until Certaia Affairs are Attended to, E$
pecialfcr Naval MattersT-Market Broke Wide Open
Grave Crisis is at Hand No Doubt
BBEAK SEEMS INEVITABLE.
1 WASHINGTON, FEB. 1. After the conference at the
1 Whiie House today between President Wilson and Secretary
of State Lansing the opinion became generally prevalent in
official quarters that a break in diplomatic relations with
; Gerinany seemed inevitable, al though it was thought proba
2?lthat an ultimatum or warning tothe Berlin government
: rVght proceed this act. " 1
k- The piew was taken widely in official quarters that the
.United States could not let th e situation stand unchallenged.
5
TASHINGTON, FEB. 1.
dent Wilson and Secretary of State,. Lansing it besame known to
day thai the German situation is viewed with extreme gravity and
American government has alread y begun to formulate the steps
to be taken. It is regarded as likely that some steps have already
been takenbut of what nature is not known.
It is kuowk also, that no information of such steps will be made
- known until ti navy department has taken drastic steps, for the
SAfeguard pf AmricSn'ports and other interests i the nation have
5-V.been $afeguarded. ""r t"
held a conferences last night,, but this was demeL 3ei0Jeri1ny pub
licity will be given to the government's movements it is known
that crtain precautionary steps must be Itaken.
Senator Hitchock, a member, of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, was at the "White Hdu&e this morning early, but he
stated that he did not discuss theGerman submarine problem.
LANSING GOES TO THE WHITE IHOUSE.
WASHINGTON, FEB. 1. Just before noon Secretary Lan
sing, after working all morning alone in his office, went to the
White House for a conference with President Wilson.
Secretary Lansing would not discuss the situation at all and
1 refused to answer questions as to whether any action had been
taken.
- FLATLY REFUSED TO MAKE STATEMENT.
WASHINGTON, FEB 1. After conferring with President
Wilson for an hour Secretary Lansing flatly refused to make any
statement or indicate what action had been decided upon.
NEAR POSSIBILITIES OF WAR.
WASHINGTON, FEB. 1 Face to face with a situation frank
lyadmitted on all sides as containing near possibilities of war Pres
ident Wilson will determine what answer the United States shall
make to the German campaign of submarine ruthlessness.
Passport for Count von Bernstorff, orders of recall for Ambassa
dor Gerard at Berlin, solemn warnings to Berlin that a breach of
Jm pledges means severance of diplomatic relations, or tense wait
ing for anvert act which would sweep aside diplomacy and bring
the American government to the point of action are among the
contingencies which fill the situation tay.
President Wilson this morning conferred with Col. E. M.
Houfie, his friend and advisor, who was hurriedly summoned from
New York. Early this morning he had not called iany cabinet
meeting nor any conference with the Foreign Relations Commit
tee of Congress, which has been assured of being taken into the
President's confidence before diplomatic relations are broken off.
AMERICAN LINE SHIP TO SAIL.
NEW YORK, FEB. 1. The American Line steamship St.
Louis wli sail Saturday as scheduled and no effort will be made
to paint the ship in conformity with the regulations prescribed by
the German government as a guarantee of safety to vessels flying
the American flag, according to announcement today by the Inter
national Mercantile Marine.
SENATE MUST AID PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON, FEB. 1. Prefacing a prepared address on
world peace today Senator McCumber, Republican of North Da
kota, referring to the German submarine blockade declared th'
while it was inopportune for the Senate to invade the field of di
plomacy it was more than ever desirable for it ifco said the President
in securing world peace.
Course of Action Decided On.
Washington, Feb. 1. President
Wilson and SecretaiaLausing dis
cussed the fiutbimarinesituation for an
hour today after Mr. iLansing had
worked, all morning on a docuiment he
. took to the White. House. After the
conference Secretary (Lansing refus
ed pfcigdrisally to say what had been
decideil on.
i-Warnimg to Geirmany that sever
Xnce of diplomatic relations would
-t follow the putting into effect of such
campaign of ruthlessness as she an
nounced or an actual severance on
WIN
After a conference between Presi-
- ' - , - ,
Germany's announcement as it stands!
are among the jposs-ibilities
There is no official ground, how
ever, for stating that either course
has been selected, although one is
generally xpected.
It is admitted that a course of ac
tion has been decided on (but it is said'
certain steps must Ibe taken before
this is-anhounced.
Ship Movements Affected.
Nerw York, Feb. 1. (Although rep
resentatives here or leading allied
ship lines said today the .movement of
their vesels would proceed as sohedul
KRED OVER THE J
INTERNATIONAL AFFAlS
DRASTIC LAW ON A Wit if:
PISTOL CARRYING DEIMEY SB :
State Senate Goes After the Hip
Porket Weapon Toter and Pre
scribes Heavy Fines.
FIVE EDUCATIONAL BILLS
RECEIVING ATTENTION
HoUse Passes a Statewide Boiler
Inspection Law and Inspector
Will Get $1,800 Year.
(Special to the Post.)
tRaleigh, Feb. 1. The Senate this
morning passed a drastic law aimed
at carrying of pistols in North. Car
olina and providing for a mininrtim
fine for the first offense of $51 or 31
days imprisonment.
Five educational tills iiesigned to
make .uniform appointment of s,chool
boards: Through a central commit
tte; the election of county boards in
all counties ty the people; the elec
tion of county boards and county su
perintendents in all counties; -nominat
tion of all county boards in Demo
cratic primaries, and one measure
solely for Person county -went on the
nnfavorab&jaeiidar, -, These : Mils
-were heard ill joi&tmnritiTes-,
tee this morning iminated" j3L
In view of the reiport today it is ex
pected that there will be no material
change in the - educational policy.
The House today passed a State
wide boiler ins(pection law with a
fee of $5 attached to it, the salaary
of $1,800 for an inspector 'being paid
by boiler owners.
ed, regardless of the German note de
fining her new naval warfaire, it is
understood on good authority that the
movement of all vessels will be con
trolled to even a greater degree than
heretofore ky orders of the British
admiralty. Soms will be taken, how
ever, hy representatives of neutral
lines whose -vessels have been touch
ing at Kirkwall and Falmouth for ex
amination. The Danish passenger steamer
Hellig Olav, booked 'to leave today
for Copenhagen, was ordered to re
main her 2 until further notice.
V rAmr f affirm wac fflVpn Hv t.VlP
Hollanif-American line, which has five p
ships in American ports. Represen
tatives of these lines expect definite
orders soon regarding future move
ments of their ships.
iSome representatives of several
ship companies, it was learned, are
doing nothing, pending receipt of or
ders. Profound Sensation in England.
London, Feb. 1. Germany's decla
ration of unrestricted war at sea has
created a profound sensation in Eng
land, where it was unexpected. All
interest centers on the policy neutrals
will adopt. The decision of the Unit
ed States is awaited with most in
tense interest as it is recognized that-
it will have a strong influence on oth
er neutrals and be the., most potent
factor in the solution off one of the
most serious crises of the war.
Officials decline to discuss the ques
tion formally. It is pointed out that
inasmuch as the note is addressed to
neutrals it is essentially for them to
deal with.
At a later time ,he application of
measures with which the note deals
may involve questions affecting the
entente nations as well as neutrals,
but for the present there is a desire
to avoid expression which may oper
ate regarding the decision neutrals
will make..
There is reason to believe those in
inner circles were aware of what was
coming and considered measures to
be taken. The recent naval confer
ence held here is understood to have
gone over the subject. Information
available tilen was that Germany
would use the rejection by the allies
of her peace proposals in justification
cf intensified naval warfare.
Wild Sensation in France.
Paris, Feb. 1. Notification that
Germany and Austria would torpedo
neutral . merchant ships without no
tice, beginning at 6 o'cloek this even
ing, reached Paris too &tt for publi
cation in the morning papers, hut
caused a wild sensation.
German Freighter i at Charleston
Sunk in What Appears to be a De
liberate Scheme to Prevent Her Be
ing Further Used Captain Refus
ed Aid.
(By Associated Press.)
Charleston, -Feb. 1st The German
freighter Liebensela, tied up since
the outbreak of the war began to
sink slowly this morning with the in
dication that she had been scuttled.
After going down until bow keel was
almost visible the settling down pro
cess seemed to be arrested. Whether
she sinks or not she is so badly dam
aged1 that she will not be, fit for ser
vice until after long nd expensive
repairs are made.
When observed to be sinking a tug
pulled up along Wide of the Liebensela
and offered aid, but this was refused
by an officer who did not give any
reason for the Refusal.
Washington, ' Jan. 31. Germany
has. drclared unrestricted submarine
like i
tor never ifaS
raeen, was announced today in notes
delivered to Aimerican Ambassador
Gerard in Berlin, and to the State De
partment here .by Count Bernstorff.
Thus begins the long-fe)ared cam
paign of ruthlessness, conceived by
von Hihdenburu, it was said here, on
a magnitude never even contemplat
ed 'by ven Tirpitz. '
Again the United States faces se
verance of diplomatic relations with
Germany, with all its eventual pos
sibilities. President Wilson's re-
peatcd warnings of "a word afire"
and Secretary Lansing's "verge of
war" statements are being recalled in
the Capital tonight with feelings of
apprehension and misgivings.
Germany's action is th? sujer-
crisis of all those that have stirred
the American Government in two and
a half years of world war.
Talk of peace in Europe and means
of preserving the peace of the world
have gone glimmering.
President Wilson, increudulous at
first when the unofficial text of Ger
many's warning was brought to him,
at once called for the official docu
ment which had just been presented
to Secretary Lansing by the German
Ambassador. Mr. Lansing albsolute
yl refused to make a comment. Pres
ident Wilson began at once a careful
study of the document.
What Will President Do?
President Wilson :has theHask of
deciding what shall be the course of
the Jnited States. Three immediate
steps appear among ths possibilities.
The United States might solemnly
warn Germany against a violation of
her pledges; it might he decided that
the German warning is sufficient no
tice of an intention to disregard those
pledges and a sufficient warrant for
breaking off diplomatic relations; it
might be decided to await the results
of the blockade afcd determine the
course of the United States as th.
actual operations to develop.
On almost every side Germany's
drastic action is interpreted as an
open confession of the effectivenessj
of the British food blootoade. It is re
erairded as a determination to stroke
back in kind. German officials in the
United States estimate he food sup
ply on the British Isles will last a
month. Admittedly the plan is to
carry starvation to the doors of Eng
land with Swift, staggering strokes,
as a fulfillment pf Germany s an
nounced detemiination to use every
weapon and agency at her command
to end the war quickly. She counts
on the operation of an unheard-of
number of submarines to deliver
Mows to bring England to her knees
with 60 days. One German official
here today predicted the war would
be over in a month. -
Conveyed to the world as the ans
wer to he refusal of the Entente
Allies to talk peace, Germany's - lat
est Awtrniag says: "
"From. FebTiiary 1, 1911, within
barwii gones around Groat Britain,
France, Italy, and in. theorem Md
iterraan)jall sea tifcfjle fohwitSx
HY'be opposed.'' -
LEAK INVESTIGATION
WILL COME TO END.
New York, Feb. 1. Mem
bers of the "leak" investi
gation committee before
reconvening today said
that on account of the
gravity of the internation
al situation they would
probably close the hearing
today and immediately re
turn to Washington.
6
Man Giving Name of J. E. Bren
nan Sent to Roads Four Months
for False Pretense.
SOLICITED ORDERS FOR
"MUSIC AND MAGAZINES
Arrested at Lexington on Similar
Charge and is Said to Be Want
ed in Other Towns.
J. K. Brennan, at least that beijgg
the naime he gives and whose csa-tfs
indicate such, was given -a hearing in
the county court this morning on a
charge of obtaining money under
false pretense. He plead (guilty and
was sentenced to four months on the
county roads.
iBrennaifV case was-" an interesting
one on account of the part he played
and Tuae operated in, securing money
kdressQ, wearita rsres-s e$4 eUeSS
ana is iomewnat of a sport. He oper
ated - in Salisbury last week, taMAlg
orders for sheet music and maga
zines, representing himself to be do
ing biisiness for the Theodore Presssr
Company, a well known music house
of Philadelphia, and handej out
cards indicating such. He also had
order blanks (purporting to .be from
this house. He was offering gteat
ind'Ucemswts, giving a certain maga
zine a year and a half with premiums
for $1.50. He called at homes and
generally secured these orders from
uomen. One woman, Mrs. A. G. Bla
lock, after giving him an order arj:'
paying the money, taking his receipt, (
wrote to the house and received a t
telegram in which it was stated that
no such man represented the firm. '
inen warrants were issued lor nis ar- '
rest and he was located in Lexing
ton, Policeman Mingus going to that
town yesterday after him.- The offi-
cer found on arrival that he ,was un-
der indictment on a similar charge
there and he was given a hearing and
given opportunity to reimburse the
people from whom he had secured
money and to pay a fine. Being un
able to do this he was turned over
to the Salisbury officer with the un
derstanding that as soon as Rowan
was done with him he would ;be re
turned to Lexington where his case
would be disposed of. He was then
brought to Salisbury.
In Lexington he also faced a charge
of larceny of a quantity1 of music
from a hotel guest and this property,
the officer states, was found in his
grip.
It is saii Brennan cut quite a fig
ure in Lexington and was the center
of attraction at a dance in that town
one night during his brief stay there.
It is claimed he fleeced quite a num
ber of Salisbury women, several of
whom were in court this morning to
testify against him. It is also said
he is wanted in Concord, Albemarle,
Charlotte, Greenslboro, Mt. Airy and
probaMy other places on similar
charges. These towns will prof:aJbly
be after him as soon as Rowan and
Davidson aT ray to part -with b:
services. Brennan was here Sun
day and was sporting about th'
streets and. appeared, to be quite a
ladies man. He made no effort to put
up a defense in court and when asfted
why he secured money through the
means he had he said he would rath
er not make that public. It develop
ed at the trial that he had had a
supply of cards and stationery print
ed in Lexington and was evidently
prepared to continue his illegal busi
ness.. He claimed Brooklyn, N. Y., as
his homes.
It will take more than hanging up
a red light to mak life safe around
downtown comers where jhuiWanrtfr
surges in
Dispatch.
A YOU NG SWIN DLER
street; traffic. HttsburgUnati Tribune
It is now admitted that a well
train i end harnessed 'Wmey devil"
can b made useful to his owae if
right handld.WCi0s Aaspries Tiipos.
BANKEB SAYS LAW.SON SHOULD
"BE PUT BEHIND THE BARS."
Mw.vjo:.:..v.w..cx.yJ5R
ifcj fifey
Pliny Fisk, a member of the , big
banking firm of Karvey Fisk & Sons,
told the "leak" committee, "I believe
he (Thomas W. Lawson) should, be
taken at bis word, and put behind
the bars on a basis of jrjury."
Lawson had told ; the committee
ArQhibald White,, another ' banker of
New STork, had said Fisk boasted he
I'could control Secretary ol the TrtSfs-s
ury AlcAcioo"and .loprove it' hadC of-1
fljto;-(I,,Jbiji7ton...xn thr.
phie. fronx. jNew; York ,and have
aecreta.ry go ther&. -
ENTENTEREADY
TQMEET
British Admiralty Announces That it
is Ready to Meet the New Sub
marine Blockade Which the Ger
man Government Has Declared in
Exifitance.-
Nciwork, Jan. 31. 'Great Britain
and her" AHies are prepared' to meet
Germany's moves in her submarine
campaign, it was authoritatively as-
serted in smpEping circles "here to-
night. ' . -
The ports of , Liverfool and Bor-
deauJc will (be kept open at all haz-
ards, British steamship representa
tives assorted, even if it becomes
necessary to convoy every merchant-
ship which crosses the Atlantic. -The
first step to be taken fay the British
Admiralty, which virtually controls
the merchant fleets of the Allies, will
be to arm every ship with guns fore
and aft for defensive purposes, it
was jpredScted.
To meet the emergency, the British
Government has been asembiing for
months, it was said, a large, fleet of
small, fast cruisers to be used as
"submarine chassrs." This type of
war craft has proven very effective
against undersea boat, well inforaneil
shipping men declared.
Agents of British lines declared the
Admiralty now has a fleet of 4,000
vessels' available to keep the sea lanes
clear of raiders and submarines and
to act as convoys.
The Admiralty has so arranged
sailings and bookings, it was explain
ed that they can be changed without
celay to meet whatever circumstances
majy arise. The assertion was made
that there will be no interruption in
the sailings from American ports of
ships flymg the nags of the Entente
Allies.
It was considered .probable, how
ever, that vessels flying neutral col
ors will -be ke$t in port until instruc
tions are received from their Govern
ments. This is certain to be true in
the case of Tutch steamships.
A maifked advancp in marine insur
ance rates tomorrow was considered
tonight to be inevitaple, One way
rates today for American vessels
were seven' per cent, while there was
a ten per cnt war risk rate on ships
clearing for Mediterranean ports.
, "Take whatever comes, whether of
joy or sorrow," says the Toledo
Blaife. What else can you take any-
way, these high cost days t-aCincin
The new half dollars are announced
to ready for distribution, but they
will not be any easier -tt proeure
than A old oiiassvWBing1 IK&seie
ain. C
GERMANY
Strongest Break Ever Recorded
in Stocks and Cotton BrokeTor
More Than Three Hundred
Points Wheat Declined .and
War Shares Made a -;; Rapid
Glide Downward.. ''.'J -
(By Associated Press.)
New York, "Feb. vlr-Cotton
broke wide open on the call to
day in the future market undec
an extreme wave of selling and
March dropped 373 points, this
drop - amojting to more than
$25.00 a bale and the market was
demoralized.
May contracts broke on 12.50
within ten minutes 516 points un
der the last nights elose, making
the" biggest break in the history
of the market. Reports from the
exchange increased the whirl of
excitement and after liquidation
had somewhat subsided-May ral
lied to 14 cents on covering.
Before the end of the first half
hour May. rallied to '17 cents or
closeT to last night's close, the
sensational break .-.Drought fresh
buying, but the shock -of-the first
break -was stili-in evidence as
time- wore awayv . C'.i '
Opening prices were demoraliz,-
" July.: r. . .ib:9Q to um ---riw
October. . ... .14.50 to 15.70
December.. ,. 15.65 to 16.05
Stocks Broke With Intense Vio
lence. New. York,. Feb.. 1. Stocks
broke with extreme violence to
day on early dealings, Owing to
the German policy announced last
night. Declines in stocks rang
ed from 5 to more-than 20 points,
U. S. Steel making 13 points re
cessions to 99, with 26 for Beth
lehem steel on single sales.
Shipping shares , were weak,
Maine preferred losing 18 points
with 13 for Atlantic Gulf. All the
so called war specialties crumbled
7 to 10 points and coppers yield
ed and rails lost 3 to 5 points.
Supporting orders brought about
rallies after the firstnselling move
ment. '
Wheat Decline Too.
Chicago, Feb. 1. The wheat
market opened at a decline of
some 11 1-2 to, 12 5-8 cents. May
sold at $1.60 according to the
first figures and July at $1.38.
Excitement in Cotton . Market.
New York, Feb. 1. The Ger
man blockade announcement
oanie as an absolute surprise to
the cotton trade and was follow
ed by a sensational break. May .
worked off to 12-.50 or 516 points
under last night's close-, then ral
lied to 17 and then brake a cent a
pound before the end of the first
half hour-. -The other options
fluked 124 o 403 points, subse
quently rallied and fluctuated
widely including May contracts.
There was much confusion and
citement.- . i
Extreme Break in Wheat.
Chicago, Teb. 1. An extreme
break of 15 1-4 cents in value
took place during the. first min
utes of wheat trading today: Ral
lied of cents from the lowest
level were made in five minutes
afid although wild fluctuations in
terfered 3MBnts more of a recov
ery was showk. A fresh decline,
however, then ensued. The open
ing ranged all the way from 3-8
to 15 1-4 ddwn-a compared witfcf
yestetday's
.; Ka fftarteii
1.56 to
i" S V. 1 l ? kin
aga J5uy ax x.ax
3ft
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