North Carolina Newspapers

-.""V' ': r-- -. -. . .'- II 111 b P Jlf I IB ' . ' ; ' I B . N North Carolina Cloudy tonigHt I ' " .A ,'1 -''' ' . v : v ' . ' : VY. - :: . ' :. . ULL LEED WR SERVICE ' VOL. XXII. NO. 405. : y v WILMINGTON, NORTF CAROLINA, MONDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 26, 1917. . Hrtttsh ' .i DEMANDSWIG G TINS' THS Times Too Critical For Presi dent and Congress to Be at Cross Purposes NO DECLARATION OF WAR IS SOUGHT President Details What Has Takeu Place and Impresses Seriousness of Times on Congress Wants Power to Back Up American Rights On the High Seas d'.y Associated Press ) Washington, Feb. 26. President Wilson appeared before Congress at 1 o'clock this afternoon, and asked for authority to place the United States in ,n st.itp nf "armd -npiit.ra.litv" tn rp- Mst the German submarine menace. Continued invasion of the plain rights of neutrals on the high seas, further sacrifices of American lives and ships, the intolerable blockade of American commerce almost as effec tual as if the country were at war have taken the place of a dreaded "overt act" which was expected to shock the Avorld and have forced the President into the next step toward war. President Wilson asking to be em powered to take .whatever steps are necessary, which includes the arming of ships, the convoying of merchant man by war vessels and what other stops are necessary, made it plain asain that he wanted peace, but not ?t the price of American lives and rights, driving the American flag from the seas. Congress is expected not only to au thorize the President, to use the armed forces of the country, but also to pro Vide money. Once before in the infancy of the republic a state of armed neutrality inl.f 'laimed. t0 ?neck."Pre4at?Jyand it was sent to the public printer upuu American ngnis in me yar between tTance and England, but it did not result actually in war for the 'H'.-u states. News of the sinking of the liner, Laconia, with Americans aboard, was received here as the President was n his way to address Congress. Al though without details, its grave pos Sl)nlit.ies added emphasis to the Pres nt's words. Whether armed neutrality will an war depends on whether Wmany realizes that the United states is ready to protect its neutral 'ems uy whatever means are neces sarv. hh a fun realization of the solemn of the occasion, the President took action today with calm confidence Congress and the country will behind him. The Krim-facfid hnrJv nf fiotintnra and "prescntatives who less than a month tii, luarcl tne President pronounce !; words which announced a sever of diplomatic relations with Ger- 'ny -an act whichjn all the history to , ( ass nations always has led Wa ''heard today in tense silence car Sra,vo attetion the words which fmn ,he Americai1 republic a step los - its stand asainst the ruth livp. sa(Tifice of neutral rights and mu;st 1(1 a step nearer war if it ( rPl( 'Uh'nt Wilson arrived at the pi.ei just before 1 o'clock and tho . y at that hour stepped up to It0. (:" rk' desk in the hall of the gm' -' v nere both branches of Con sinn ' ni'etinS in special joint ses rmi WPre assembled before him. He ';I)0'" as follows: upnti .. '-'iieu ot tne Congress: of ! , . ve again asked the privilege yl 'ICiUreSKino- -.r 1 . wWi '-'""fe11 cnocai times aunng p m close touch with the House nor .,ftnrPSS so that neitner counsel npt. cfci, vx woo puiyucco 7"-n us. Un t Vi rpi. , . fipim, . luira or ieoruary, lioi- UNIED ST A TES WiLSOM DECIDES IS TIME TO Surrimoned Tumulty to White House Elarly and Announce mentThen Made ARMED NEUTRALITY BEFORE OVERT ACT President Can Wait No Longer On Account of Paralysis of American Com merce (By The Associated Prss.) Washington, Feb. 26. President limn ni Mini 1UVV PRESS FOR AlTION Wilson will address a joint session from Manchester, and the Manxman, of Congress at 1 p. m. ' British, from Genoa, arrived here to- President Wilson will ask for au- day after passing through the German thority to establish a state of "armed I submarine zone. The Belgian steam neutrality." He has made full and ship Escaut sailed for an unnamed detailed plans for protecting Ameri-, can ships desiring to enter the Ger man war zone. . The President will point out that while he'" desires peace there is some thing greater than peace the protec-j tion of the sovereign rights or Amer ica and that the untrammeled right of American ships to sail the seas un molested by any foreign nation must be upheld. The President will ask Congress to empower him to use the forces of the United States to protect American rights on the high seas. . The President completed his ad dress to Congress early this- morning at 9.: 20 o'clock. At the same time i the President discussed his speech with Chairman Stone, of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. -No announcement was made, but it was learned that the President was going to do just what he outlined "in his address announcing the breaking of diplomatic relations, with Ger many, to ask for authority to use the forces of the United States to pro tpr.t American riehts but not in any sense to ask for a declaration of war nor is it an act of war. It is to pre- "An armed neutrality is, in fact, an alliance of several powers usually of a defensive character, though this is by no means essential." During the present war Holland -and! Switzerland have maintained what amounts to an armed 'neutrality, al though it has been confined to land, pare the United States for what may be warlike acts by any other nation. The President decided that before Congress adjourned for the season it was necessary that he be given ad-1 Dale Glover is nominated Dy con ditional authority to protect Ameri- gressman Godwin to be midshipman at can rights. There have been reports the Annapolis Naval Academy for the that Rnph p. move would be onnosed 'class whiqh enters this spring. Mr. in Congress, -but he decided to take 1 the step, regardless of that In his address the President will point out that Germany's, acts since the break in diplomatic relations indi cate her determinations to go for ward with her campaign of ruthless ness, despite the protests of neutrals whose rights are involved. The Pres ident is represented as confident that Congress will rise to the occasion -and promptly give him 'the desired au thority.. ' -ni.'; v-;. ; The President is still as anxious as ever, it was said, to avoid war with Germany, but is determined to pro tect American rights. Mr. Wilson's decision to 0 oerore nnrtlv caused by the v, loMTionVfl ntnTflipn is keen-1 a ,-rv .hina tier! nn in Amer- lilt; Alitcillu Diiw v r I ican ports. , Such a conditionv the; President points out, is unbearable. Democratic leaders of the. Senate. and House were noUfied, and arrange-1 , - n.-ii.... . Daoa KiTi . i hb nsff nRHinuu a lean; ui ousvuvv .; ' TS OF ' AWAITING TO ARM. 4 (By Associated Press) New York, Feb. 26 If Presi- v dent Wilson is authorized by Con- gress to arm ships to protect Am- 4 erican merchantmen on the high seas, the American Line steam- ! 4 ships tied up here will resume 4 4 sailings as soon as guns can be provided, it was stated by the "4 line's officials here today. ' K It was also stated that the ves- sel would sail unarmed if convoy- f ed by American warships. "Any method which will safe- guard ttie lives of the passengers f and crews will be satisfactory to v us," an official of the American 4 Line said. THREE MORE SHIPS IN FROM WAR ZONE (By Associated Press.) New York, Feb. 26. Two freight steamships, the Falkland. Norwegian, port in Europe IN AIRFliT Hot German Defensive Fire Brought Down Big Enemy Airship Berlin Reports (By Associated Press.) Berlin, Feb. 26. (via London. Fourteen, men were killed by the de struction of the French airship re ported in yesterday's official conn munication having been brought down by the German defensive fire. Addi tional details were given out here officially today as follows: "The French aitship brought down on Friday night was set ablaze by our anti-aircraft fire. It fell in flames near Weelferdingen, west of Saarge- muna itl Liorrame . vvuen it lanu- ed the ammunition which it carried ! mund (i(n Lorraine). When it land exploded. The crew, consisting of 14 men, ,were killed. The damage to the airship does not precent ascer taining the details of its construc tion." YOUNG GLOVER NAMED TO BE A MIDSHIPMAN (By George. H. Manning) Washington, D. C, Feb. 26. Horace Godwin tyas not named the alternates yet: X. -x- -X- -X- -X- -X- -X- X -X- -X- -X-X- -x--X- WOULD EMPOWER WILSON -X- ' -r 1 X- (By Associated Press.) -X- Washington, Feb;. 26. After X- a conference Chairman Flood, -X-X- of the Foreign Aftaiiei commit- -X- X- tee, announced he would intro- -X-; X- duce late today a bill granting & power to the President to arm -X-X- ships and all other authority -X- necessary to protect those ships. x- -X- -x- 4f . .. Back -From Brazil. .New. .Ybrk. Feb. 26. Commander -,- - ' ' . j i Philip Williams, U. S. N., arrived here today qn the steamship Saga, from Brazil,,' where he had been .. instruct? ing the Brazilian jiavy In gunneryl FflllRTFFN IIP HIKE AN HOUSE BUCKLING TO Last Week Finds Legislature Busy On a Big Calendar . t ? BUT NO CHANCE OF ENmiOTIME Southport Advocates of Kef- erendum for Removal of Court House Win Be- fore Committee. (Special to The Dispatch.) Raleigh. N. C. Feb. 26. Oneninc Uhe last week of the session the gen - . eral assembly today began to make up for some of the time that has been lost in splitting hairs and- in talking for Henley consumption. , ; r- The Senate, convfiingarTDoTclockt passed more bills than in any four hours of last week, and at 1:45 re - ROT DOWN IRK cessed to meet with the House in'T BBB WHr aeparLmenc. ine tj joint session at 2 o'clock to elect "eeing Turks are being engaged university trustees, mofd of a job Y pursuing British cavalry. than usual on account of ' an addition- Mr- Bonar Law announced that -j al twenty provided for by a bill passed as a result of the operations on i at this session. ' I tne Tigris river front all of the 4 The House did not meet until I noon.' 'iurkisn positions trom aannaiyat but had -torn off quite a chunk of to Kut-el-Amara have been secur- vork, vhen the time came for the! ed and tnat tne town of Kut-el- joint session. '. .Amara automatically passed tn- 4 Before, .the liouso convened this i to the hands of the British. morning a' 'hearing had, been held in regard to the Brunswick county ,4rS4'. 444 r- . f ' . , . ' . ! reierenqum, as to me county seat ana j court house. Before the committee the advocates of a referendum of the,' question of whether the court house shall remain at Southport, and be re modeled, or moved to . Supply or Bo livia won out. ; ; ; Both houses face the prospect of a week which wilj tax their working vpowers;, the Contit;utional amemd ments failing bitterly in respect to warding off local legation at the end of the term. No hope... is entertained of concluding the session within the constiutional limits of sixty days, and not a few expect td be kept here dur ing the greater part of ne'xt week. LATHE WANTS PEACE r Al it Movement to Bring. About Me diation Gets Under Way United States Left Out (By Associated Press.) Buenos Aires, Feb. 26. According to La Nacion. the Argentine govern ment is endeavoring to bring about joint action by the Latin-American re- publics in offering mediation for end-! ing the war. The United States will not be asked to take part because of its rupture with Germany. i Negotiations with the diplomatic ronroaontaHVca hprfl nf nthpi- Tjitin-i American republics will be initiated by Argentina, -the newspapers say. tennessee saloons Again in session (By Associated Press.) Nashville. Tenn., Feb. 26. The RICA Tennessee legislature reconvened this,' afternoon after a three weeks recessri GERMAN There remain forty-one days of the,' season. In the houses several hun- dred bills are yet to be acted on. Two of the most important matters ; before the Legislature are to be final- ly disposed of the anti-rass bill and the bill allowing, women to vote in. city and presidential elections. Other, important A legislation mcluites work- . men's campenissfcitiGih bill. Torren's Land , Title ibB0ttew scheme 'of tax-' ation, and feill-fiaaanging' the manner between the common - schools -. and higher stateihstitutions. r ; OANT I IMP1' Pilf rail OF NEW YO RK IS SENT Id) j i ' j V V V V " V I I BRITISH CAPTURE KUT-EL- "V AMARA ; . .i i (By Associated Press) London, Feb. 26. Kut-el-Am- IT r, IT - u, 1 I J t 1 A. J J! J.1 . i uiivo u j tuc iJi moil iui ico, -r cording to a statement in the "2 House of Commons today by An- ' ! ilrew Bonar Law. 4 The Turks on jthe Tigris river 1 " fftWoflo Baghaiia, 24 miles toeth-west oTfJudiary Committed In Session XT' X 1 A A. I '.v statement issued today by the i J ? .T. t A a PTtl SHOT AT OFFICE , 4 THE SHERIFF Man Awaiting Trial for Mur der in Tennessee Killed ' Today. (By . Associated Press.) ' Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 26. John Ward, awaiting trial tor the alleged killing of Louis Hooker, of Fisherville, last September, was shot and killed at the court house this morning by Thomas Hooker, brother of Louis Hooker. The shooting occurred at the ; entrance to the sheriff's office and onjy a short distance from the criminal court room where the trial was to have started. Hooker walked to the attorney general's office where he. sur rendered. He declined to make a statement. ruiii ITARY TRAINING DISCUSSED j (By Associated Press.) Kansas City, Mo., Feb.-26. Military . training in scnoois tnritt among cnu dren in schools and the effort of State normal schools to increase their courses ot stuay rrom two to four years, where subjects before the su- 1 perintendency division of the National laaucation Association wmcn uegan its annual convention here today. Officials said the registration fore casts a large attendance for the Na tional Association Convention at Port land, Ore., June 7 to 14. '. .' DESTROYERS BARD. BOM- , (By Associated Press) ' , London, Feb. 26. German de stroyers bombarded Broadstairsj and Margate early today. one woman and one child were killed and two persons were injured; Two houses were damaged. This announcement was made in' the 4 House 'of Commons today by Sir Edward Carson, first lord of the j .- . 1 1 4J . SENATORS HAVE DW BEFORE THEM When News of Wilson Visit Told SUCH ACT WAS THEN BEING CONSIDERED Fall Resolution, to Fore But President's Desire Bay Be Incorporated Sepa rately (By Associated Press ) Washington, Feb. 26. When the word reached the capitol that the Pres ident would address Congress, the Senate Judiciary committee was in session considering one of -the armed neutrality bills proposed by the De partment of Justice. It would make it lawful for the President to employ land and naval forces to enforce "any or all obligations imposed by the United States, by the law of nations, by treaties or conventions' to which the United States is a party, or by the statutes of the United States." i Senators admit confusion as to just what power the measure would ex tend. It is probable that the author ity the President asks will be embod ied in a separate joint resolution. The resolution introduced Saturday by Senator Fall and now by the for eign relations committee would au thorize the President to "instruct" the commanders of the anned vessels be longing to the United States to ex tend protection to the vessels and property of the citizens of the United States and to seze, take, and bring in to port or to destroy if unable to seize any such armed vessels of either of the central powers and particularly of the Imperial German government, which shall have committed or which shall be found threatening to commit depredations on the vessels belonging to the citizens of the United States or contrary to International law, commit ting or threatening to commit depre dations upon other vessels upon which are beuig conveyed citizens. -of the United States or their property and also to re-take any ship or vessel of any citizen or citizens of the United) States which may have been captured by any such armed vessel of the Cen tral Powers, or either of them." It also would provide for defense of vessels against search and seizure and, in the; event of a declaration of war against the United States or of immin ent danger of war before the session of the( next Congress, would authorize President Wilson to raise an addition al army of 500000 men. TO DETERMINE SANITY OF HARRY K. THAW (By Associated Press ) Philadelphia, Feb. 26. Lunacy pro- jceedings were begun in common pleas court here today to determine the san ity of Harry K. Thaw. The petition was filed on behalf of Thaw's mother. Ellis Ames Ballard, Jan attorney, was appointed commis- sioner and he will sit with a sheriff's ! jury of six men to pass on Thawrs san CT FOR ARMING ; ity. : FINAL edition! PRICE FIVE GENTS. Ttarks !. ! Americans Among Passengers) and Members of the Ship's Crew. BIG CUNARD LINER, LACONIA, THE VICTIM Whether Much Loss of Life, Is Not Yet Known, Though' Scores.- - Known . to Have. Sunk Without Warning. (By Associated Press.) Queenstown, Feb. 26. The Cunard Line steamship, Laconia, of 18,099 tons which sailed from New York February 18 for Liverpool, has been sunk. The survivors of the Laconia are said to number 270. They will be landed tonight. Left New York, Feb. 18. New York, Feb. 26. The Cunard liner, Laconia, sailed from New York on February 18, with 100 passengers, among whom were ten or more Am ericans. First cabin passengers totalled 33 and second cabin 42. The crew num bered 216. There were no steerage passengers. Twenty Americans, all na.tlve born were members of the crew of the La conia. The Cunard line received confirma tion from the British admirality of the destruction of the Laconia. Americans aboard: Arthur T. Kirby, Bainbridge, N. J.; Mrs. F. E. Harris, New York; F. O. Gibbons, of the Chicago Tribune; Mrs. Mary E. Hoy, of Chicago, and Rev. James Wareing, of Ne.w. York. . On board were 33 first , and 42 sec ond qlas's cabin passengers, among them six Americans. ; Twenty Am ericans were in the .crew of 216. Eight of her passengers had been trans-shipped from the Holland-American liner Ryndam. There werfco steerage pas sengers. Officials received confirmation of the vessel's destruction from the British admirality with the information that one life had been lost. It was not stated whether it was a passenger or one of the crew. The Laconia carried a large cargo including war supplies, and 5.000 sacks of United States" mall, of whlcl 1,300 were to have gWne on the Am erican liner, St. Louis. American Consul Awaits Particulars. London, Feb. 26. Wesley Frost, American consul at Queenstown, tele graphed the American embassy here today. . "Cunarder Laconia torpedoed 10: 50 Sunday night. The hundred and seventy eight survivors landed. . De tails lacking but know some missing, one dead. .' GOVERNOR HATFIELD PARDONS EMBEZZLER (By The Associated rsg.) " Fairmont, W. Va., Feb. 26. Less G. Race, of Cleveland, convicted here oa a charge of embezzlement growing v out of the failure of the Citizens' Dol 'PffWll lar Savings Bank, of Falrmqnt, and; sentenced to serve seven years In the ; State penitentiary has been pardoned by-Governor H. D." Hartfield, accord-, v ing, to advices received ': -today 1 from -Charleston. Race was cbnvicted, one , year agOj but he never, began his sen,- ' tence as an appeal .was taken to the ' State Court of Appeals where; the H' case is still pending. a.- 5- j , 1 Continued on Page