North Carolina Newspapers

, , , - - i t ' . - - WEATHER North and South Caro lina: Partly cloudy Sun day. Monday, fair. VOL XXIV, NO. 137. WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA; SUNDAY MORNING, MAY-26, 1918. FIVE CENTS ' ' r. I PAPERS i;ti MOPES n mm .;. . . . . . r , . . . - . r . . . , . . : , : . . - ; . - - GERMAN ji r in UNEASY OVER Not Certain von Hindenburg Will Continue His Drive INFLUENCE IS WANING Would Sacrifice Man Power to Utmost to Save His Own Reputation N DISTRUST WAS CREATED Criticism Is Growing Against Military Policy That Kills More Germans Than Allied Soldiers New York, May 25. Von Hinden- burg's continued repose along the west front has caused German news papers during the past week to dis play a spirit of uneasiness at the prospects of victory in Picardy and Flanders. Premier Lloyd-George- declared during the week that a new Teutonic offensive was impending. It is by no means certain, however, that von Hindenburg will carry out his plans to try on cp more to reach the chan nel ports. Unquestionably he would again sacrifice German man power to the utmost in a desperate effort to save his own reputation, if the choice were lefLsolely to him. But evidence is increasing that von Hindenburg's influence at the German war council is not a s paramount as it was before fee present drive bes&n. The failure of 3he German armies to attain their major objectives dur ing the Picardy and Flanders fighting has had time to create an atmosphere of distrust in von Hindenburg's infal libility. Criticism - is -developing - in Germany against a military policy that kills more Germans than French and British. The kaiser feels the changed demeanor of public opinion toward the nar lords, for he "offered the German people this week an excuse for the in activity along the west front. He de clared it would bebetterjor Germany to wait for victory" to come without further slaughter, xather than to try ' to Hir 4har p r eiaM Nobody' in Berlin believes Germany can . win the war autdmatlcally br sit ting downand doing nothing. Amer ica's fast ' growing strength' in France makes such , policy impossible if the Germans hope" to win. Yet, the kaiser suggests this, may be the revised plan ot campaign of the ; German . general staff. The situation at German head quarters must be strictly confused to compel the kaiser to announce so rad ical a change in the Hindenburg strat egy of blood-letting. It can be due only to the fact that the German peo ple are showing a dangerous reluc tance to hand their lives over to von Hindenburg for further reckless ex periments. How influential opponents of von Hindenburg will prove to be cannot be foretold. Already, however, they have held. up all attacks and have set the kaiser to promising that the Ger man people will not again be sacri ficed as they were ' during the first weeks of spring. If the present mac tion becomes the permanent policy of the Germans in the west, Von Hinden burg will have to put himself in the class with his predecessor as chief of staff. General von Falkenhayn, wno got to the gates of Verdun and was then halted. For this- .reason von .Hin denburg will bring all the pressure he can to secure permission for one more super-sacrifice in an effort to reach the channel ports. ; ' IS M BV BRITISH U-BOAT Clash Took Place Near St. Vin cent and There Were No Survivors London, May li. The sinking of a German submarine of the cruiser type by a British escort on May 12 was an nounced tonight, by the admiralty. The encounter took place in the lat itude of St. Vincent. There was a heavy sea and there were no survi vors. Shortly afterward another German submarine was sighted but escaped b-v swift diving. This is the first submarine of the so-called cruiser type to t)e destroyed. Unofficial reports have ' been re ceived recently that the Germans have constructed a number of "cruiser sub marines." These were said . to be heavily armored and to carry guns of a much larger calibre than - hitherto n submarines. . There are two St.. Vincents. One 18 in the British West Indies; the otber is one .ofthe- Cape ,Verde islands. It is probably that the'lat ter as meant. FAIRBANKS IMPROVING Indianapolis, May 25. Charles rW. Fairbanks was reported' as improved lnight. The former vice-president is Bering from Bright's disease. . GERMAN SUBMARINE Baker Makes Ret That Public May Not B Wed a, TO GIVE OUT F. RES . r ood 1 ransport and Ot. Cir cumstances May, Alter Army Anticipations TOO MUCH ADVERTISING Secretary From Time to Time Will State Number of Men Being Sent to the Battle fields of France . Washington, May 25. Suppression of numbers as to present ana future troop transportation overseas, except when officially authorized, was asked of the press today by Secretary of War Baker, He expressed himself as anxious to avoid creation of false impressions or expectations in the public mind, but promised he would occasionally give figures as to the army's size. For in stance, he suggested it was unwise for the press to speculate that at such a time so many troops would be across, inasmuch as food transport or other circumstances might alter anticipa tions and the department did not care to be in the positon of letting press impressions prevail as a standard for the future when uncontrollable condi tions might prevent fulfilment. It was evident Baker's main purpose was to avoid, -the situation which arose from "over-advertismg .the . aircraft gramr-ioamely that the j esr tioi& were . ri iotnet nd , A H ment aSriDi xjSLl.., utr;wg tyFi&Sglfvt mepo-weTerthattQettr recently .stated predictions are wrong or over-optimistic. , . Baker's' statement follows: "A good deal of public comment, through the press and otherwise, is being made on the subject of the num ber of American troops in France from time to time, and the numer in trans portation. ' "I want to ask the newspapers of the country to refrain from comment and speculation on this suject ex cept to the extent that official state ments in regard to such numbers axe made by the secretary of war. I make this request because this program of troop shipments necessarily depends upon a variety of considerations quite apparent from the number of troops in the country and the available number of troop ships in the country, and I am very anxious that the people of the country be not intentionally mis led as to the facts at any given time or by speculative possibilities of the situation. I will endeavor from time to time, and whenever it can be done, to state through the press, approxi mate numbers. My particular request however, is that such statements be not made the basis of inference as to future intentions or possibilities." Baker made it plain he did not seek to prevent publication of figures from The Congressional Record. L. H. Burnett Is Chosen Grand Senior Councillor To Ashevillein 1919 Charlotte, N. C, May 25. Pledging their order to unlimited support of the president and the war and directing that a large part of the finances of the organization , be invested in .liberty .Aa on! war sa vines stamps, the Grand Council of the Carolinas,. United rAmmercial Travelers, adjourned their annual session here after elect inir Tj H. Burnett; of Wilmington, senior councillor. Other officers of the grand council elected are:' Thomas H. Pope, of Greenville, S. C past grand senior councillor; M. H..Whisnant, Florence, s r. rand unioT councillor; J. H, TViirtiev. Columbia, S. C, grand page. n srooimt of the war the order vntprf to eliminate all social features for the present, "to hold one grand carnival of rejoicing and make up for all that has been omitted . after the voiani. is ' whiDned." said officers of th order here. Asheville, , N. C, will be the next place or meeting of the grand coun cil. . Hostile Firing Reported London; May 25. Hostile artillery firing in the vicinity of viliers-jareton neuxiwasreported by. Field Marshal Haig tonight WILMINGTON MAN TO HEAD GRAND COUNCIL Gregory Says to Use Caution in Espionage Violations NO UNJUST SUSPICION Action Follows Roosevelt's Charges Against Burleson ' Read in Senate NEWSPAPERS IN DANGER Burleson Replies the Colonel's Statement Merely a Re Hash of Partisan Matter Washington, May 25. The govern ment acted tonight to prevent the mis use of war laws against disloyalty, by the prosecution of well meaning crit ics. 'JJnited States attorneys through out the nation were instructed by the attorney general to use greatest cau tion in executing new amendments to the espionage act that "loyal persons may be protected from unjust sus picion and prosecution." At the same time "prompt and ag gressive enforcement" of the law in suppressing disloyalty was directed. The action closely followed charges read in the senate today from former President Roosevelt levelled at Post master General Burleson's measures against American newspapers .the Roosevelt letter, presented to the senate by Senator Poindexter, charged the actions of the postofnce department had made it a matter of some danger for a newspaper to speak the truth, "if that truth be unpleasant to the governmental authorities at Washington." . ; In reply to Roosevelt tonight, Post master General Brrleson designated the colonel's st-. :ment" today . as merely! r partisan matter whir yajajrpea? tr time to time v; l3iar facts? Th postofnce department is charge with -the execution of. the laws, - t the administration of which Mrv, Roosevelt's criticism, was aimed. He has failed to make good his accusa tions but lacks the manly courage to acknowledge it." The Hearst newspapers, Roosevelt said, have endeavored to belittle the vital importance to our country of this war and to excite the hatred of our allies who are faithfully fighting be side us; and such conduct can be of help to Germany, to the enemy we are fighting. Just so long as Mr. Hearst's publications are permitted In the mails Mr. Burleson is without excuse for ex eluding any other publications from them. The administration by its ac quiescence permits the continuance of Mr. Hearst's campaign which neces sarily tends to give aid and comfort to Germany and to impair the morale of our own people." f Roosevelt puts Burleson's acts squarely up to President Wilson, say ing: "President Wilson is responsible for everything Postmaster General Burleson and Secretary Baker and George Creel do or leave undone. Messrs. Burleson, Baker, Creel and associates possess no importance whatever except that accruing to them because it is through them that the president speaks and acts or refuses or fails to act." In connection with Gregory's in structions to district attorneys it is known that many pastors are under suspicion for spreading the German gospel under , the guise of religion. Scores of sermons and even prayers, delivered by certain groups of preach ers are on file in the department of justice as evidence in the round up that will come now that the law is effective. It is also known that many gather ings of various cliques and clans have been attended and the speakers ut terances taken iown for filing at the department. Nearly 1 00 Motor Trucks and Groups of Horsemen Enter the Town With the American Army in France, May 24. Great activity was observed in Mont DIdier. today. " Nearly a hun dred camions (motor, trucks) and sev eral groups of horsemen- were ob served entering the town, his was re garded as another indication of the possibility of an attack In this region. The American artillery shelled the town, but the result was no t an nounced. ' The weather ; has turned suddenly cool, v It is cloudy and the high winds have ' driven- the sausage balloons out of the sky for the first - time this month. - The . weather also has - ham pered the airplanes. GREAT ACTIVITY IS SEEN IN MONT V Bitter Factional , Fight Started by Publishing the Evidence SOME SAY CONSPIRACY Dillon Says Policy Will Inflict Incalculable Injury to Allies- COMMENT FROM PAPERS Object of Leader to Aid Ger Jmany and Stab England in Back Is Opinion Voiced by, The Express Dublin, May 25. Ireland appeared tonight to have been split wide open by the British gbverament's publica tion of portions of the evidence of a new revolutionary plot, implicating Sinn Fein leaders, Irish-Americans and German agents. ' A bitter factional fight has been started, some of the Irish leaders de claring the. government's action is a "conspiracy," while others maintain that those under arrest, if convicted, should be summarily shot The majority of Hhe newspapers openly accuse the government of seek ing to blacken Ierland's name. ', "If the government has the evi dence it claims, it has done England,1 Ireland, America and the allies a good turn," declared a prominent nationalist leader. v I "But the government shouldn't ex pect Ireland inflamed.' as it is to ac cept vague statements regarding the recent plot. Furthermore, if it has the evidence, it should courtmartial' those under arrest and if they are found guilty, shoot them. However, I know that some of those arrested were not concerned in any plot." John Dillon, chairman of the United Irish league, stated his position which Is regarded as highly important in a letter to the Limerick replying to the league's resolution of support "The government has embarked on a policy which, if persevered, in, must turn Ireland into a perfect rpandemo- nium and Inflict IncaleMfl.nxi wrrwtub amedTBSerufflon "WTote, r: rtin the face of ' such, conditions, a body of Irishmen who can keep their heads are equally determined to re sist such stupid coercion. "The- government's breaches of faith .will have resulted in incalcut lable'service to us in' the end." Various newspapers commented as follows: The Freeman's. Journal: "No impar tial mind will accept the government's statement ' as justification for its ex treme action. Its elaborately con structed manifesto, for the purpose of prejudicing Ireland in the eyes of the allies, not only is a crime against in dividuals, but' a grave injury to the cause of Irish peace. We are gravely apprehensive of. the fesults." The Express advises all nationalist leaders and the Catholic hierarchy to disassociate themselves from the Sinn Feiners immediately. -.It says America will await Dillon's declaration, as na tionalist Ireland is "sound-ihearted," while disbelieving that all Sinn Fein ers desire f to aid Germany, the Ex press says' there are a number of young men "who again have been made dupes by German agents." "Let them rejoice that they were saved from the horrors of a rebellion, and that the mask has been" stripped from the face of their leaders, whose object was to aid Germany and stab Great Britain in the back." - The Examiner (Cork) : "Even if the disclosures are true in eveftr deaU; does that - justify wholesale deporta tion?" The Constitution (Cork) : "Ireland has been saved from a worse scene of bloodshed ,than in Easter week, 1916." ' The Irish Times (Unionist): "The revelations must satisfy impartial men that Germany has had continuous as sociation with the disaffected factions since 1916. Dillon must disassociate himself from the' Sinn Fein,, which stands convicted of conaoiri with the enemy against Great Britain and America. Unless he does he will lose the k support of the moderate national ists and thereby deal a body blow to home rule." The Irish Independent (Nationalist organ with inn Fein sympathies) : "It is an ex parte statement The ac cused have not been heard in , their own defense. It is thus a question of creditability in which British and, Irish opinions may come to widely divergent conclusions. Ireland is not- and never has been, pro-German. "No appreciable number of national ists, no matter how extreme, want to rid themselves of one domination to fall possibly under a worse. The glar ing weakness of the government's case is that it rests so largely on the pub lic speeches of Sinn Feiners. It is a curious sort of conspiracy that is pro claimed from house to house." l. Kerenky In America? Washington, May . 25. Rumors that the former Russian leader, .Kerensky, had reached this country this week were prevalent here tonight. The state department admitted having had unofficial information earlier In the week that ha had landed, but upon in vestigation learned its informant a government man in JJew Yorfc--had not spoken upon reliable information. Now Believed Missing Men Went Down With Ship LOUD IN PRAISE OF MEN All Survivors Went Over Side in 15 Minutes and On to British Destroyers SLEEPING IN UNIFORMS Capt. Johnson Says Soldiers Assembled Alongside Life boats in Perfect Order and Fine Discipline London, May 25. That 53 American troops perished when the British steamer Moldavia was torpedoed and sunk in the English channel early Thursday was practically established tonight. No further trace has been j found of these men and it is believed they went down with the ship. The Moldavia carried 480 officers ahd men of the 58th United States infantry. All of those missing were members of Company B. None of the crew or officers perished. The officers are loud in praise of the men, who now are at a rest camp in an English port. Despite the fact that most of the men were sleeping when the ship was struck at 4 a. m. all survivors were over the side of the ship within 15 minutes and were taken aboard the British destroyers comprising the escort. The Moldavia sank 45 minutes later. "All the troops were sleeping in their uniforms when the Moldavia was Struck on the port side, just forward of the engines," said Captain Johnson, of the 58th infantry. "There was a loud explosion and the ship's whistle sounded the alarm. All the men assembled on deck along side the lifeboats in perfect r order. just as though it were their daily boat drill. I never saw better discipline , "The-Moldavia continued -under her own siea roranme xor tner purpose t : .ayolding: econdtorpedo. ,vDe stroyers " circled, abdut dVorolne debth 0tmtz&t&tiW the subma rine. "It is supposed that the force of the explosion cut off the means of escape for those who perished. The surviv ors lost all their- personal belongings. It was a situation calling for the ut most courage and steadiness. The men responded nobly and sang as they 'took to the boats. They gave three cheers as the Moldavia sank."- OF TO LEAD DRIVE f Roosevelt Pleads For Them to Take Lead Against Pro Germanism Springfield, Ohio, May 25. Colonel Roosevelt, in a speech here tonight pleaded for Americans of German blood to lead the drive against pro Germanism in the United States. "At this time the American of Ger man blood should take the lead against every man in this country who indirectly or directly favofs Germany or is lukewarm in our war against Germany," he declared. I R$oevelt' said he was part German Iflmjelf, and added that he also had in his veins French, Irish, Dutch, Welsh, Scotch and English blood. He demanded that Americans speak one language English. "In our pri mary schools nothing but the English language should he taught or studied," he said. "The law should require that after a reasonable period every news paper in this country should 3 be pub lished in English." The Lutheran church, he said, must adopt English as its language or it will dwindle. His address was made at Wittenberg college, founded, by Americans of German blood. r Roosevelt denounced hyphenates. Sinn Feiners who ' would discredit America's allies should be interned, he said, calling them "allies of Germany." "The same thing is true of Russian Bolsheviki, who seek to plunge this country into the chaotic ruin into which Russia has been plunged," he asserted. "All these men are allies of Germany and enemies of the United States. Their most potent allies are the native American demagogues whether politicians or newspaper edi tors, who pander to, the foreign;"vote that is hostile to America and these native American pacifists who " have been the mean allies of Germanmiri tarism, and the I. W. W. people, and the ; Germanized societies. All -these are enemies to the United States and should be located as such." - . RAMMED A SUBMTRfNE An Atlantic Port, May 25. Informa tion that an , American transport &unk a German submarine by ramming . it reached this port today. The troop ship bore down on the submarine near the Irish coast, it was declared, just ;- after the U-boat had emerged. A num ber of the members of the crew , were .picked up from-the water by-a life boat and taken to port by the trans porL - ... AMBUS GERMAN BLOOD Ray of Hope of Postponing Revenue Bill Is Lost REFUSE TO COMPROMISE Ways and Means Committee Had Gleefully Announced the Matter Settled TELEPHONES PRESIDENT Simmons Surprised at Action Taken by G. O. P. Leaders, As All Had Agreed to Postpone Matter Washington, May 25. Congress last lingering ray of hope of delaying the war tax until next session went glimmering tonight . when republican members of the senate finance com- mittee refused to agree to a compro mise submitted by President Wilson. The president agreed to let the bill go over until the short session, pro vided: Congress authorizes him to tell the country the bill was postponed be cause congress insisted: That he protect. the public for new taxes by outlining the administration's idea of the form the measure will take; and That a definite date understood to be vJanuary 1 be agreed to as the limit in which the measure should be come a law. House democrats and republicans on the wavs' and means committee accept ed the president's proposal unanimous ly early today, and gleefully an nounced that the matter was settled. rThe senate committee was meeting, meanwhile, and with every prospect of winning over every member to ac quiesce r with the president's plan. Senator Smoot, a republican, leaving the committee's morning session, said: "There will be no revenue bill," so confident was he that both repub licans and democrats- would agree. But a short time later, republican members of" the committee, meeting by themselvesr switched anMseht word tor the president through -Sim mons that they refused tdrter any agreement on any point." Their atti tude was ' summarized by , Minority Deader Gailinger, who issued the fol lowing statement: i " "Republican senators recognize that additional revenue "will be necessary in ,the near future, and for that rear son they" are preparing to consider revenue legislation whenever the ma jority thinks it wise-- ta do so, and they are ready to co-operate to secure the passage of a revenue, bill without unnecessary delay." When the republicans announced their stand to Simmons, he said: "It is all off." He at once- reported to President Wilson by telephone that the agree ment had failed, and expressed the hope the president would still find it possible to postpone the bill. The president suggested that Sim mons write him a letter embodying the telephone conversation. This Sim mons did at once, and. President Wil son i is expected. to reply, early next week with . a letter setting forth in detail the reasons a revenue bill is im peratively necessary now. Simmons, reviewing the situation to night, said: . "Up to the time of the declaration of Secretary McAdoo in favor of a revenue bill at this session, there was a general understanding in the sen ate on the part of both-democrats and republicans that there wsroldl he no revenue legislation at thUrS, ftfrfclon. The suggestion of the secretary; there fore, met with very strenuous opposi tion. This opposition seemed to be as strong on the republican as the democratic side. As chairman of the finance committee I was appealed to by the democrats and republicans to do what I could toward bringing: about a postponement. The situation seem ed to be practically the same in the house. "Mr. Kitchin, as chairman of the ways and means committee, and I, sympathizing with the feeling on part of our colleagues and believing that the public interest would b served and a better bill result at ihe next session, otained an interview with Mr. McAdoo and later with tfce presi dent in the hope of arranging a post ponement. "At the conference I held vith the president yesterday evening the presi dent expressed r the opinion that if there should be a postponement In re sponse to the wishes of congress that the people should be advised in a gen eral way of the principle upoj which tne mil would be- framed and that there should be assurance of its speedy passage during a special ses sion and asked that Mr. Kitchin and I should ascertain and advise him of the attitude of the two houses. "This morning I presented to the finance committee a memorandum prepared by the president, of the sev eral things on which he wished 'assur ance. There was substantially no op position on the part of the republican members in attendance except In one particular, and it was indicated that ;ft, . If. modified, " would be acceptable. .The ' committee adjourned for a short time, and upon re-assembling it was announced on behalf of the republi cans that after a conference they had Two Inspiring Facts Stand Ouf in Chairman Dent's Report , MAY EXTEND FIGURES ; There Are 1,316 Airplanes ia France and Over 3,700 Ma- chines in This Country i MISTAKES AND DELAYS After Little Over Year After War Had Been Declared Nation Has Built Most ' Wonderful Machine A Washington, May 25. America has built an army of more than 2,000,000 men, counting the April and May calls. And, contrary to the general impres sion, a goodly number of airplanes are in this country and France. These two inspiring facts stood out in the report of Chairman Dent on the army appropriation bill submitted of ficially to the house today in advance of next week's action on the measure. The report showed that from a nu cleus of a regular army of 127,588 of ficers and men and of a national guard of 182,420 officers and men April 1 1917, the United States has formed a mighty fighting force totalling 2,030", 027, with appropriations framed to provide readily for 3,000,000 this year. However, the president's power will be such as to permit him to extend to' any figure he sees fit, provided the com mittee's favorable recommendation Is followed on that point. The report showed that there are 1,316 flying machines in France, in cluding over 300 com oat planes, while there are. more than 3,700 machines In this country. The report listed the aviation personnel as 12,107 officer and 136,761 men, including 4,054 flyers, while there are 27 aviation camps inv the country. The appropriations are so vast, as, tpi accommodate 3,000,000 men this year, according fo comittee members' esti mates. - Chairman Dent pointedat that while ' mistakes and delays had oc curred, "we think, the country is. fcba t congratulates tnat artera.iuu&.morac than a year from the date of the-declaration, of war, our "country has con-; structed a wonderful military estab lishment." : .-. The extent of this establishment la told in concrete terms in the commit tee's table of present strength: i Total regular army officers, 10,295. Total enlisted men in regular army; 504,677." . Total officers of reserve corps, 79, 038. Total enlisted men of reserve corps, 78,560. Total officers national guard, 16,906.- Total enlisted men national guard,' 411,952. . ; Total officers national army. 33,894.. Total enlisted men national army, 510,963. . . This makes a total of 140.133 officer a ; and 1,506,152 men which, with the April and. May draft calls, brings the strength of the army to the 2,030,027; mark. . ; HAS EVER Claimed Mexico's Charge iri; Havana Has Not Been Been Recalled -): Havana, May 25. Official denial i that a rupture has occurred in dlplo-.' matic relations between Cuba and. Mexico was issued by the state de-; partment here late today. - The Cuban charge d'affaires In Mex- ico informed the state departments that the Mexico minister of state ex plained the Mexico charge d'affaires Inj Cuba had not been, recalled, that he; might personally discuss certain. forj tain foreign matters with the Mexican government. ' , - Tire Mexican charge d'affaires biMi turned his files over to the. consulate 4 and taken formal leave of the Cohan 4 authorities. .j. . sub Sunk by U. 8. Destroyer 1 1 London , May. 25. The , Germani 1 submarine which torpedoed the .Brit ish steamer Innlscarra in the Irish. 1 channel, with the loss of 37 lives, was sunk by an American destroyer short ly afterward, Ht was learned here to-1. day. The destroyer landed some prifl- i oners from the submarine; . decided they would enter inta no un-; derstanding or agreement whatso- . ever, further than to authorize - me ' tov say to the president that if the t legislation went over they would do ' what they could to expedite its pas- J eage during the next session." V; Tentative plans for the bill out- , lined by Kitchin indicate that it will V raise $8,000,000,000, nearly double the present taxes. - The Increases will be V based upon the theory that war profits, V big Incomes and luxuries should ber .:" the burden. ! A repetition of last season's fight over taxes on steel and cotton is nrao- 1 tically certain. CUBA DENIES RIJP RE OCCURRED - - - ..): mm 41 'HVity. 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