V- ,
J , , , ,
"4 s
VOL XXXIV
ROXBORO, NORTH CAROLIIN Wednesday Evening February 7; ;i917
Number 6
- -
Noell Bros,, Proprietors : ''6 ; '-'r :' ' ' ':v:'tIS - i 3:;: .-' V-Md- 'a'',. '.&, '
GERMANY ANNOUNCES STAR
VATION BLOCKADE TO ENGLAND
RESTRICTED AREAS
OUTLINED IN DETAIL
Precautions to be Taken to Protect
Ships of Non-Combatants Which
Sailed tor ones Prior to February
Those in Forbidden Waters
Must Sail by February 5. ( 1
Berlin, Jan. 31. (Via ayville)
In an official note to the United States
Government handed to American Am
bassador Gerard the German govern
ment declared for unrestricted naval
warfare after February 1.
Precautions will be taken to pro
tect neutral ships which sailed for
those zones prior to February 1, but
neutrals are urgently advised to warn
their vessels on the way to ports in
the barred zones and direct them
away from those areas. Neutral ships
in ports within the barred zones will
be given until February 5 to sail and
must take the shortest route out of
the restricted areas.
Similar notes were handed by the
foreign office to the diplomatic re
presentatives of all neutral nations.
Barred Zones Defined.
A memorandum accompanying the
note to Ambassador Gerard, defines
the barred zones. It says:
"From February 1, 1917 within bar
red zones, Great Britain, France,
Italy and in the eastern Mediterran
ean, as outlined in the following, all
sea traffic forthwith will be opposed.
Such barred zones are:
"In the North Sea, the district
around England and France, which is
limited by a line -twenty,. nautical
miles; the district along the -Dutch
coast as far as the Terschellirig
Lightship, the degree of longitude of
the Terschelling Lightship to Udir; a
line from there across the point, 62
degrees north latitude at five longi
tude, westward along 62 degrees to a
point three nautical milels south 'ottefaS'fc: deaths notr ImiiTt
the south point of Farover (Faroe Is
land?); from there across the point
62 degrees north degrees west to 61
degrees north, 15 deggrees west; then
57 degrees north, 20 degrees west to
47 degrees north, 20 drgrees west;
farther, to 43 degrees north, 15 de
grees west; then on degree latitude
43 degrees north, to the point 20 nau
tical miles from Cape Finisterre and
20 nuatical distance along the Span
ish north coast as far as the French
frontier.
"Concerning the south, in the Medi
terranean: For neutral shipping there
remains open the sea district west of
a line from Pt de Les Papuett to 38
degrees, 20 mintes norths and six de
grees east, as well as north and west
of a zone 60 sea miles broad along the
north African eoastnbeginning on (1)
degrees west, longitude.
"In order to connect this sea dis
trict with Greece, the zone leads 20
sea miles in width north or east, fol
lowing this line; 38 degrees north and
six degrees east, 38 degrees north
and 11 degrees, 30 minutes east to
-34 degrees north and 11 degrees, 30
minutes east to 34 degrees north and
22 degrees, 30 minutes east. From
there is leads to a zone twenty sea
miles broad west of 22 degrees, 30
minutes east longitude into Greek ter
ritorial waters.
Traffic Rules for Americans.
"Traffic of regular American pas
senger steamers can go on unmolest
ed if :
"A Falmouth is taken as the port
of destination and if,
"B On the going and returning
journey the Scilly Islands, as welj as
the point fifty degrees north, 20 de
grees west, be steered on. Along this
-route no German mines will be laid;
"C If steamers on this journey
bear the following sDecial sieenals
which only they will be permitted to
display in American ports; a coating
of paint on the ship's hull and the
superstructure ' in vertical stripes
metres broad, alternating white -and
red; on every mast a large flag of
checkered white and red, on the stern
tie American national flag; during
darkness the national flag and the
coat of paint to be as easily, recigniz
zable as possible from a distance; and
the ships must be completely and
brightly illuminated.
"D If only one steamer runs each
week m each direction arriving at
Falhouth on, Sundays, leaving Fol
mouth on Wednesdays. s
"E If guarantees and assurances
are given by the American govern-
ient that these steamers carry no
contraband , (according to the German
list' of' contraband. 'ikvfk
Two copies of maps on which the
wrreq. zones are outlined Wre adde3
if
SUPERIOR COURT
IN SESSION
Judge J. H. Kerr of Warrenton Pre
sidingState vs. Mitchell - to be
Tried This Afternoon.
The February term of Person Coun
ty Superior Court convened Monday
morning with Judge J. H. Kerr, of
Warrenton, presiding. This is Judge
Kerr's first charge to a North Caroli
Person county, and he has already
made a very favorable impression.
The Judge's charge to the grand jury
was short and was an able exposition
of the criminal law. This was Judge
Keer's firgjt charge to a North Caroli
na grand jury. He transacts busi
ness with dispatch and no time is loss.
Judge Kerr is a native of Caswell
county and is also a brother of Edito
Kerr of Caswell County Democrat.
- Much favorable comment was heard
from the bar as well as the general
public of the wonderful improvement
of the interior of the court room. It
has been thoroughly remodeled and
new carpets adorn the floor and a
fresh, clean coat of paint adorn the
walls.
There is a rather large docket of
criminal cases to be tried at this
term of court, and will not be com
pleted in all probability until Thurs
day night.
The most important case on the
criminal docket is State vs. jyiitchell,
who is charged with the murder of
Percy Dickens, colored. The defend
ant is represented by attorneys F. O.
Carver and L. M. Carlton. This case
will probably come up for trial late
this afternoon.
It will be remembered that during
FaiHweek of last year Percy Dick
ens and Mitchell had a difficulty dur
ing which time Mitchell is said to
have struck Dickens across the head
with a weapon of some description,
fracturing the skull, from which
wound the State will probably con
tend that Dickens evidentually died.
some thirty days afterwards, and it is
known that in the meantime he was
up and around town apparently in
good shape.
The civil docket will probably be
taken up Friday morning. Probably
the most interesting case on this
docket will be Dunn vs. Wilson, dam
age suit. This case was tried at the
last term of court and the jury failed
to reach a verdict. Another of pub
lic interest will be Solomon vs. Ad
cock, an action for seduction.
A complete report of the cases tried
will be published in next week's is
sue. GOOD ROAD,S MEETING.
Meeting Tomorrow Night, and EveTy
Township Asked to Send Delegates.
On last Friday night, notwith
standing the very severe weather,
there was an enthuiastic meeting of
the friends of good roads in the Cro
well Auto Company's garage, Plans
were discussed and certain commit
tees appointed to report at' a meet
ing t be Jield at the same place on
tomorrow (Thursday night), at 7:30
o'clock. '
If you are interested in the subject
of roadjs you are cordially invited to
attend this meeting, in fact you are
invited to come regardless of what
your views are on the bond question,
for we believe if you would attend
and are opposed to the measure after
hearing the matter discussed that you
would no longer oppose the bill, but
would go to the polls arid vote for
good roads.
ket every' township in the county
see that a representative is present,
for it is hoped to map 6ut:a campaign
which will result in the adoption of
the issue by, an overwhelming majori
ty. Zero Weather.
For the past several days the ther
mometer has hung around zero every
morning, in fact it was reported by
some that it went as low as four De
low. We can not vouch for it getting
so low as that, but we do know that
at 7:30 Monday morning it stooa ai
zero. On Sunday night at :du h Be
gan to snow and for f about forty-five
minutes the people here were treated
frt o rpl snow storm. ' Never nave we
om it snow so fast and furious, the
wind blowing a regular, game. Here
and at some places in he country
houses were unroof eo and numerous
trees blown down. 4 , i f
iINESJ
DIPMMAip RELA- 11" SHGIIFSTS mm
TIONS
MANY
Count J. H. Von Bernstorff Given H1& Passports
President Announces Act to Congress And
v . . ...
The World Gerari is Ordered Home
To Check Conspiracies.
Washington, February 3. Presi
dent Wilson has broken off diploma
tic relations with Germany and warn
ed the kaiser that ruthless sacrifice
of American lives and rights means
war. ,
Similar action is waiting for Aus
tria when she notifies this govern
ment that she joins in the campaign
of unrestricted submarine warefare.
The president made formal an
nouncement of his action to the coun
try and to the world today at a joint
session of Congress.
Passports have been handed to
Count von Bernstorff; Ambassador
Gerard with all his staff and all
American consuls have been ordered
out of Germany. All "German con
suls in the United States are expect
ed to withdraw, which will compete
the severance relations; American
diplomatic interests in Berlin have
been turned over to Spain; German
diplomatic interests in the United
States have been taken over by Swit
zerland. Foreign diplomatic interests
which the United States had in charge
in Germany have been turned over to
various neutrals.
Twp years of diplomatic negotia
tions1, marked with frequent, crises,
and attended with the loss of more
than 200 American lives on the high
seas, have culminated- with, an ; act
whichr"5rfall! ttie his&ryHtfi
always has led to war. Every agen -
cy of the American government has
been set in motion to protect the
country against acts of German sym-
pathizers. These, moves are of neces-.
sity being kept secret.
With the notice of severance of re
lations the United States sent to Ber
lin a demand for the immediate re
lease of 64 Americans taken from
ships captured by German raiders in
the south Atlantic.
At the request of the President,
Congress immediately after hearing
his address began work on new laws
framed by the department of justice
to check conspiracies and plots
against the United States which can
not now be reached under existing
statutes. v
The question of conveying Amerir
can merchant ships through the sub
marine blockade lias been taken up
and is being considered as one of the
next moves by this government.
Neutral governments have been
notified of the action of the United
States, and have openly been invited
to follow its action if the new sub
marine campaign violates their rights.
The breaking of relations came
with a crash, despite the fact that it
had been discounted, and practically ,
determined upon last night. The , his declaration that only an overt act
President, returning from his night j could convince him that Germany in
coherence With the senators, deter- j tended to violate American lives and
mined that a break in relations was, rights, and there was prolonger ap-
the only act "consistent with the dig
nity and honor of the United States."
He worked most of the night prepar
ing his address to Congress.
At 10:30 a. m., it became known
that Ambassador Gerard had been or-
dered home and that passports has
been sent to Count von Bernstorff.
Although there., was no official confir
mation of the President's decision un
til he formally announced it himself
before Congress, the -knowledge
spread rapidly.
Xount von Bernstorff . Jieard it un
officially while talking with an Asso
ciated Press correspondent. While
apparently deeply moved he was rioji
surprised. .His first act was 'to ask
Dr. Paul fitter, the Swiss minister,
to come to the . German embassy and
prepare to taket over its -affairs. Then
he informed his wif e, an American-
born woman, of the development and
likewise told the embassy staff. His
passports were not actually delivered
until 2 o'clock in the afternoon: While
the President was addressing Con
gress, one of Secretary Lansing's con
fidential assistants called at the : em
bassy and delivered the passports and
a note in; reply to the-' German de-
:tttiWt. Wilson Wnv VinVqplf Un
seclua&nl&m
'iotinittlixe -rrlih Zztrztzry
WITH GER- m p,; s pppMHHinfi'jfiniii: 11
H GER-
SJE VERED
Lansing, until he left the White
jHouse for the capitol shortly before
i2 o'clock.
In preparation for the history-making
event, the senate and house had
assembled in the hall of the latter
body. Justices of the Supreme court
and members of the cabinet were
present and the diplomatic gallery
was packed with neutrals.
As usual a committee of congress
men met the President and escorted
him to the speaker's dais. The whole
body rose and cheered as the Presi
dent, grimfaced and solemn, took his
place and began reading the docu
ment which is being heard 'round the
world.
Not a sound came from floor or gal
lery butthe clear, calm tones of Pres
ident Wilson reading slowly and dis
tinctly. The assemblagge of sena
tors, representatives and notables
about him, listened with closest at
tention to words which may record
one of the sombre moments of Ameri
can history if not in deed of the
world. '
j Briefly he reviewed how last April
the United States warned Germany,
after the destruction of the Sussex,
$hat unless the imperial government
declared and effected an abandon-
:ment of that sort of submarine war-
( fare the United States would have
diptoatie, xi
, lations alt6ghtherf , Then he quoted
from the German -reply which gave
assurances that no passenger ship
would be sunk without warning and
provision for safety of passengers
and crew. He recounted the provi
sion the German government attached
which in effect reserved to itself the
right to recant its promise if the
United States did- not secure relaxa
tion of the British restraints on com
merce, and then quoted from the re
ply of the United States which re
fused to consider a conditional pledge
and gave Germany final warning that
it could not entertain or discuss any
such suggestion.
The President did not refer to the
long list of submarine operations
which have been conducted in viola
tion of the Sussex pledges, but pro
ceeded at once to the new war zone
order which became effective Febru
ary 1.
When he told how the German pro
clamation left nothing for the honor
and dignity of the United States but
a break in relations and that he had
ordered passports sent to von Bern
storg and a recall to Mr. Gerard, the
assemblage broke into a cheer in
which Republicans and Democrats
alike joined. More applause greeted
plaUse and cheering when he conclud
ed by announcing that should Ameri
can ships and' lives .be sacrificed "in
heedless contravention of the just and
reasonable understanding of interna
tional law and the obvious ditates of
I humanity," he would again appear be
fore Congress to ask: authority to
"use any means that may be neces
sary for the protection of our seamen
and of our people?' ;
He concluded there were- cheers of
approval- from . both sides of the
chamber and there the President re
turned to the White House to discuss
measures of precaution with Secre
tary Daniels, of "the navy, and Secre
tary Baker of the war department.
There were expressions of support
and approval of the President's eourse
as the joint session dissolved and both
houses went back- to their work O
Soon after Count yon Bernstorff's
passports - arrived, United States , se
cretservice meiHire a guard about
the ambassador arid his suite to make
certain that: the. hospitality of the
United States i& not violated while he
remains1 on American 1 soil. The sta
tus f Count .TarnowskV the Austrian
ambassador was undecided although
heVcalled at the state department to
l arransre-' for-presenting, his creden-
to President -Wflidn,"'. h:V
r For 1r.cr.th3,'1 ever sinca relations
More in France Than Saw Fighting
in Spanish War.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE, Feb. 1. Via London, Feb.
2. From a Staff Correspondent of
the Associated Press). Nearly 50,
000 Americans are estimated to be
fighting f pr.the allies and nearly four
fifths of these are in the khaki-clad
BrjUsmy. .commanded by Field
Marshal Haigl
"It is computed that the actual fight
ing force of. Americans now in France
under the Union Jack is probably
larger than the United States army
which was actually engaged in hos
tilities in the Spanish-American war.
Hundreds of Americans have given
their lives for the allies and hun
dreds of others bear permanent scars
of the shock of battle, but each new
battalion and each group of reinforce
ments arriving from oversdasHbrings
numbers of their fellow countrymen
to take their places.
All have fought with a pluck and
determination which have won them
universal respeet and admiration. Not
so much has been written about the
Americans serving in the British
ranks as their brothers in the French
army. tJritisn army traditions sel
dom countenance the same enthu
siastic expositions of individual deeds
of heroism and daring as are in
cluded often in the French and Ger
man official reports. But the Ameri
can Tommies have helped to write
some bright pages in the history of
the war in all branches of ;the ser
vice the flying corps, the medical
corps, the artillery and infantry.
The Canadian regimentsjnaturally
attracted the greatest numberk of
Americans. But Americans are also
scattered through the distinctly Eng
lish battalions. Many, former mem
bers of the, -United States army and
bulk of the Americans being absorbed
in the various Canadian battalions
have been through some of the hard
est fighting on this fronj;. Through
all the vast and wonderful war ma
chine built up by Great Britain from
the North Sea to the front line
trenches young Americans, can be met
"doing their bit" and fighting with
willing heart and steady bravery. The
correspondent of the Associated Press
met one young fellow in the uniform
of the Canadian artillery. "What part
of Canada are .you from?" he asked.
"Los Angeles," came the grinning
reply.
Person Circuit Changes Effective.
Preaching is a joyful and a most
splendid exercise. I delight to tell
the Gospel story, it is refreshing to
my own soul and, I trust, helpful to
others for the telling, but it is a ques-
tion in my mind whether, or not the
Lord specially sanctions it being told
by any preacher practically all day
ong on Sundays, wearing out his phy
sical man thereby, and ' unfitting him
for effective service with he people
during the weeks following. There
fore, and by consent of my several
congregations, the following changes
become , effective i nthe hours of wor
ship on the Person Circuit at once:
1st. Sunday: Concord at 11 a. m.;
Oak Grove at 3 p. m.
2nd. Sunday: Lea's Chapel at 11 a.
m.; Warren's Grove at 3 p. m.
3rd. Sunday: Concord at 11 a. m.;
Lea's Chapel at 3 p. m.
4th. Sunday: Oak Grove a 11 a.
m.; wooasaaie ai dp. m.
Let the church and the public, take
note of these important, changes.
J. A. DAILY, Pastor,
Meeting of Board of Education.
Ther will be a meeting of the Board
of Education, on "next Tuesday Feb
ruary 13. Would be glad to - see a
large number ,of . school committee
men of the County present at the
meetingrfJtA BEAM. -
with Germany became acute, ..there
have been ominous signs of threaten
ed j activities of German' sympathizers
aM OJSiqyaUAinencns ij. uixvuiawic
relations were; broken off. , Various
imues" of .'jkhe 'gdverTimerit' have tta)-
rnughly ;iriformed themselves on the
subject rand officials say they will ie
able to cope with;the situation, v
peaBeiri tosinfc torpedo
1aVicW J is
recognized rasan : instance of some ;of
the ;thmgs . which may , be expected
but oh the whole, all ihe agencies of
1iA v AviTnmt - believe theV 'haVe
maepreparawris tome0trstich7ek&
gencies or trej prepareo: toiaeet xneia
crack national guard regiments ans?
UIIL.IIII III IILUHIUIIU
I bivi i t m n ; i
HOUSATONIC WARNED . i
BEFORE ITS SINKING
Steps to Protect American Cities and j
Property Against Eventuality of
War, or Attack by Foreign Sympa
thizers go Forward Silently by
President's Direction.
Washington, Feb. 4. sBeside
breaking off diplomatic relations with
Germany, President Wilson has made'
a bold stroke to range the moral force
of all other neutral countries along
with that of the United States in the
interest of peace.
The President has suggested to all
the other neutrals that they break off
diplomatic relations with Germany as
the United States has done, and has
instructed all American diplomats in
those countries to report immediately:
how the suggestion is received. The
opinion in diplomatic quarters here
is that European neutrals, at the very
doorstep of Germany, threatened by
her military power, will hesitate to
take such a step. The effect of the
suggestion in other countries is be
ing eagerly awaited.
This was the only known develop
ment of first importance which came
out of a day of tense waiting which
followed the actual announcement of
the break with Germany.
Housatonic Had Warning.
News that . the American steamer
Housatonic had not been sunk with
out proper warning and that no lives
had been lost, dispelled a cloud which
threatened the storm to follow the
first , overt act against the United
States unider the new war zone qr-
ruthlessly sacrifice American lives or ,
rights, the administration is awaiting
developments, but leaving undone
nothing to prepare the country for
the eventuality of war.
Congress Overrides President's Veto.
Washington, Feb. 5. Congress has
overridden a veto by President Wil
son for the first time and enacted in
to law the immigration bill with its
long-fought literacy test provision.
The senate voted late today 62 to 19
to pass the measure, the eleventh
hour information that Japan again
had protested against the language
of the Asiatic exclusion section.
The house Overturned the veto last
week fcy a vote of 287 to 106, so the
senate's action ens the contest of 20
years' standing in which three presi-
dents have repudiated
similar bills
passed by Congress.
Commissioners in Session.
The Board of County Commission
ers meet in regular monthly meeting
last Monday morning. All commis
sioners present with the exception of
Mr. R. D. Bailey.
The commissioners were presented
with petitions from all over the coun
ty signed by nearly six hundred votes
asking that an election be called for
the purpose of voting upon the ques
tion of bonds for road improvements.
The commissioners decided to call an
election to be held on Tuesday the
20th day of March, 1917.
A bill for $40.00- was presented the
board of Deputy, M. T. Clayton, for.
capturing and destroying two stills."
This bill was help up at present until
the commissioners were satisfied
what the law was oh this question. '
Not many people were present at
this meeting, and only the usual rou
tine of business ' was : transacted with
the exception of the above mentioned
$1,012,500.00 Business DOae in
'1
'f ;;gJaniiary.-- ?, f , : v v,
The above represents the amount of
life instifance business done by the
Southern Bife an Trust- Company of r 4
Greenstoto, in tiie month of January -5- i
This company is represented by
able firm of Cunningham &-Longr and.
they .are to be "congratulated upori re
jpresentingf noecf the st-Iniwance
comcanies'in -North CarbhnaItis a; :
home concern ana 3 tneyareiooKinff
after the peoplej ot NorCaroHrii.
T.
Khy:rttuedther thV wee1c;;:
from: Conway, S. C where ey spent
a few days onbusinessmacey repcrtif; ;
tt the cold waive tct in
.1
'r
)-'
i-
''..'Uv'-'A-' "
-.:."-A" ....
....
I'.Ji, ,
1
.1