GERMAN SUBMARINE WARFARE
Peace and Means of Peace Go Glim
mering With Announcement of Cen
tral Powers' Proposed Naval Policy,
and President Wilson Is Brought
Face to Face With Gravest Situa
tion He Has Been Called Upon to
Meet Since World-War Began. De
claration Is for Renewal and Exten
sion of Submarine Blockade of
British Isles Proclaimed Early in
1915, During Which Lusitania and
Scores of Other Ships Were Sunk
Without Warning.
Washington, Jan. 31. ? Germany
has declared unrestricted submarine
warfare.
A starvation blockade of England,
the like of which the world never has
scon, was announced today in notes
delivered to American Ambassador
Gerard in Berlin, and to the State De
partment here by Count Bernstorff.
Thus begins the long-feared cam
paign of ruthlessness, conceived by
von Hinderburg, it was said here, on
a magnitude never even contemplated
by von Tirpitz.
Again the United States faces sev
erance of diplomatic relations with
Germany, with all its eventual possi
bilities. President Wilson's repeated
warnings of "a world afire" and Sec
retary Lansing's "verge of war"
statements are being recalled in the
Capital tonight with feelings of ap
prehension and misgivings.
Germany's action is the super-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, incredulous 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 absolutely
refused to make a comment. Presi
dent Wilson began at once a careful
study of the document.
What Will President I)o?
President Wilson has the task of
deciding what shall be the course of
the United States. Three immediate
steps appear among the possibilities.
The United States might solemnly
warn Germany against a violation of
her pledges; it might be 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 result
of the blockade and determine the
course of the United States as the
actual operations to develop.
On almost every side Germany's
drastic action is interpreted as an
open confession of the effectiveness
of the British food blockade. It is re
garded as a determination to strike
back in kind. German officials in the
United States estimate the food sup
ply on the British Isles will last a
month. Admittedly the plan is to car
ry starvation to the doors of England
with swift, staggering strokes, as a
iuliillment of Germany s announced
determination 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 blows to bring
Eigland to her knees within 60 days.
One German official here today pre
dicted the war would be over in a
month.
Conveyed to the world as the an
swer to the refusal of the Entente
Allies to talk peace, Germany's latest
warning says:
"From February 1, 1917, within
barred zones around Great Britain,
I' ranee, Italy and in the eastern Med
iterranean ? all sea traffic forthwith
will be opposed." ? Associated Press
Dispatch.
MISS ANNIE IHRIE POU
GIVES A THEATER PARTY
Washington, Jan. 30. ? Miss Annie
Ihrie Pou gave a theater party this
nfternoon in honor of Miss Mary
< leaves Daniels. Those present were.
Miss Mary Cleaves Daniels, Mrs. Gus
tavus Reigner, Mrs. Macarthy Hang
er, Mrs. Stewart Gaul, formerly Miss
Catherine Small, Miss Mabelle Small,
Mrs. Carl Houston and Miss Marga
ret Attlee Pou.
Prussian income taxes for 191 <>
were $124,500,000 as compared with
188,500,000 in 1915.
1
BIGGEST BREAK IN MARKET
May Cotton Sells Off To 12.50; $25
Per Bale Under Closing Price
of Preceding Day.
New York, Feb. 1. ? The announce
ment of the German blockade caused
the biggest break in the history of the
cotton trade at the opening of the cot
ton market here today. May sold off
to 12.50, a new low record for the
season, and more than $25 per bale
under the closing price of last night
before the call was completed. Almost
as sudden a rally followed to 17.25
for that delivery, but sentiment was
evidently demoralized and later fluc
tuations were violent. May closed at
15.14, a little better than midway be
tween the extremes of the morning,
and the general list closed feverish
at a net decline of 211 to 254 points.
The report of Germany's new naval
policy came as an absolute surprise,
after the market yesterday had ad
vanced on a more optimistic view of
peace prospects. At the start it
seemed as though everyone wanted to
sell at once. The opening was only 36
points lower on Febyiary, an inactive
month, but 261 to 263 points below
the last night's closing figures on
other deliveries. At the lowest prices
reached on the call, present crop de
liveries, which contained the largest
speculative interest, sold 274 to 516
points net lower, with March touch
ing 13.75 and July 13.90. New crop
months sold 235 to 266 points lower,
with October touching the 14-cent
level. The quick rally which followed
March and July up to the 17-cent lev
el, a recovery of about 300 to 475
points, but this bulge met heavy sell
ing orders from outside sources.
Liverpool and trade interests were
good buyers and the volume of busi
ness gradually tapered off, but va
rious rumors of diplomatic or ship
ping developments put the market in
a perfect turmoil of excitement. Fre
quently there were fluctuations of
from 15 to 25 points between sales,
but prices held between the early ex
tremes and the close was at a recov
ery of about 119 to 264 points on old
crop and 24 to 55 points on new crop
months as compared with the low lev
el of the morning. ? News and Ob
server. '
JOSEPH SANDERS THE WINNER.
The 1916 Corn Club Record for John
ston jCounty.
Joseph Sanders, Smithfibld, Route
No. 1, has been declared the winner
in the 1916 corn contest in a decision
rendered by the Agricultural Exten
sion Service. This young man produc
ed 77 bushels at a cost of nearly 27
cents per bushel, and his total score
was higher than any other member
in the county, though five boys pro
duced a higher yield of corn.
Joseph has been a member of the
corn club for some time, and has al
ways put forth an effort to make a
good yield of corn. In making this
award the following points were tak
en into consideration:
Greatest yield per acre.... 30 points
Best exhibit, 20 points
Best written account, showing
history of crop 20 points
Best showing of profit on invest
ment based on commercial
price of corn, 30 points
Total s. . 100 points
The highest yield in the county was
produced by Festus Roper, Selma,
Route No. 2. He produced 96 bushels
at a cost of 29 cents per bushel. If
he had complied with all the require
ments of the club, he would have had
first place.
The average yield for the County
was 63 bushels at a cost of 35 cents
per bushel. This includes $5.00 for the
lent of the land, work, and fertilizers
used.
The indications are that the boys
are going to do even better than they
did last year, and with a little en
couragement from their parents, and
teachers we will have a large en
rollment for 1917.
The greatest draw back to the corn
club work is that after the boys have
gone and made the corn, in some
cases his father does not let him have
the profits from the acre. However we
hope that this will not occur again as
we want to encourage the boys to stay
on the farm.
LACY JOHN,
County Agent.
Increase the value of your farm by
clearing off the stumps.
ALLIES READY FOR GERMANY.
Britain and Allies Would Convoy
Every Merchant Ship. Will Keep
l'orts Open. To Meet Such a Situa
tion, Great Britain Has Been As
sembling Fleet of "Sub. Chasers."
New York, Jan. 31. ? Great Britain
i'nd her Allies are prepared to meet
Germany's moves in her submarine
campaign, it was authoritatively as
serted ir. shipping circles here to
night.
The ports of Liverpool and Bor
deaux will be 1-ept open at all haz
zirds, British steamship representa
tives asserted, even if it becomes nec
essary to convoy every merchantship
which crosses the Atlantic. The first
?.t,ep to be taken by the British Ad
miralty. which virtually controls the
i leichant fleets of the Allies, will be
to arm every ship with guns fore and
aft for defensive purposes, it was
predicted.
To meet the emergency, the British
Government has been assembling for
months, it was said, a large fleet of
small, fast cruisers to be used as
"submarine chasers." This type of
war 'craft has proven very effective
against undersea boats, well informed
shipping man 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 sail
ings and bookings, it was explained,
that they can be changed without
delay to meet whatever circumstances
may arise. The assertion was made
that there will be no interruption in
the sailings from American ports of
ships flying the flags of the Entente
Allies.
It was considered probable, how
ever, that vessels flying neutral col
ors will be kept in port until instruc
tions are received from their Govern
ments. This is certain to be true in
the case of Dutch steamships.
A marked advance in marine insur
ance rates tomorrow was considered
tonight to be inevitable. One way
rates today of American vessels were
seven per cent, whild there was a ten
per cent war risk rate on ships clear
ing for Mediterranean ports.
NEW HOPE NOTES.
Hon. Rufus Sanders, who is attend
ing the Legislature at Raleigh, spent
the week-end at home.
Misses Culbreth and Richardson
spent the week-end in Selma.
Miss Hortense Johnson, of Benson
High School, spent the week-end at
home.
Mr. Z. H. Richardson, of Kenly,
spent a few days last week with
friends in this section.
Rev. J. G. Crocker filled his regu
lar appointment at Antioch Holiness
church Sunday.
Mr. R. E. Lee, of Falcon, spent
Monday night in this section.
Mr. C. M. Lee, of West Virginia, is
spending a few days with relatives in
this section.
Between January 26th and 29th,
some one went to New Hope school
house and cut away part of the rope
from the flag post. We would very
much appreciate knowing who did
this. X. Y. Z.
$3,000,000 FUR SALE STARTS.
Government Will Be Seller at St.
Louis Auction.
St. Louis, January 29. ? What local
dealers say will be the largest fur sale
ever undertaken began here to-day.
Pelts valued at $3,000,000 will be sold
at auction during the week, and more
than 300 merchants have sent word
they expected to attend.
Skins to be sold include 1,250,000
muskrat, 200,000 skunk, 250,000 opos
sum, 160,000 raccoon, 48,000 mink,
28,000 fox of ten varieties, 52,000 cat
of five varieties, 12,000 lynx, and 3,
300 otter. Two thousand seal skins
will be offered for sale by the United
States Government.
Buyers representing firms in Rus
sia, England, France, Germany, Can
ada, and the United States are at
tending the sale.
Before the pious Russian soldier
goes into battle he prays that the en
emy may have a quick, painless death
of it. ? The Atlanta Constitution.
Yank out those stumps this Spring
and make extra profits on crops from
the virgin soil.
OUR STATE CAPITAL LETTER.
Senate Amends the Divorce Laws of
State. A Stricter Miscegenation
Law I'ropotM^d in the Senate. The
County School Board Question the
Livest of All. Other Legislative
Matters.
(By Llewxam.)
Raleigh, February 2. ? The divorce
law of North Carolina (one of the
strictest of all the States in the Un
ion) has been amended by the Sen
ate so as to put the wife on the same
basis with the husband. This feat was
accomplished Wednesday by the sim
ple process of eliminating two words
("fornication and") from the existing
law, provided for in a -bill by Senator
Scales of Guilford. It is understood
that the House will also pass the
measure and hereafter the wife can
(if she desires to do so) secure di7
vorce by proving adultery, simply, on
the part of her husband. The law al
ready provides for divorce if the
husband can prove adultery on the
part of the wife.
Stricter Miscegenation Law.
Another law which is expected to
be enacted in a few days is provided
for in a bill just presented by Sen
ator Pollock, of Lenoir County. It
amends the law against the inter
marriage of the white and black races,
making it stronger, and makes it con
form in terms with the school law
providing separate schools.
Senator Pollock tells me that while
the school law very properly debars
anv chi'd with a trace of neero blood
in its veins (however remote) from
the schools for white children, the
law as to inter-marriage is faulty in
that respect beyond the third gener
ation of those contracting marriage.
In other words, under the existing
law it is possible for a man with a
trace of negro blood originating in
his grandfather or great-grandfather
(or maternal progenitor) to legally
wed a white woman. But, under the
school law, the children of such a
marriage can be debarred from white
schools. A case in point caused great
trouble in Wake County.
Rates for Advertising Legal Notices.
The "country newspapers" which
have been imposed upon for so
many years, will soon secure- some
thing like adequate pay for printing
"legal notices" ? the class of adver
tising best able to pay and which has
paid less than the others, according to
the terms of a bill presented by Sen
ator McCoin, of Vance, the rate shall
be in future six (6) cents per pica
line (13 ems measure) for first in
sertion and four (4) cents a line for
each subsequent insertion. These are
the rates approved by the State Press
Association, I understand, and I hear
of no opposition to the measure.
Settling County School Board Fight.
No issue before this legislature has
caused half the argument or provoked
as much "feeling" between debaters
or consumed near as much time as the
attempts (originating in Henry Page's
House bill and cuckooed by a half
dozen others, including the local bill
of Person of Franklin and Burgwyn's
Bertie County local bills in the Sen
ate) to overthrow the present method
of electing the members of the county
School Boards of the respective coun
ties, viz: by appointment through
legislative act.
Of all the 100 counties, only six
counties have school boards elected
in any other way, at present. But
there is a mere handfull of counties
(only two proposed in the Senate)
which have asked to be allowed to
elect these Boards by direct vote of
the people. It is beyond the limitations
to detail the good reasons back of the
existing system. Boards, most of us
know and appreciate what they are.
It is refreshing to be able to say
today that after all the turmoil, it is
now apparent that the Oates State
wide bill (nominating them by prima
ry, to be appointed by the Governor)
will probably be adopted next Wed
nesday when the Senate meets the
issue.
Legislative Notes.
The House made a decisive dispo
sition Wednesday afternoon of the
Clark bill to allow appeals from the
State Corporation Commission's de
cisions. The vote stood 96 to 7 against
it.
Senator Long, of Halifax, has in
troduced a bill to amend Chapter 73
of the acts of 1913 relative to judg
ments of non -suits in certain cases.
The House bill to amtnd the usury
law met with a crushing defeat when
it reached a vote in the Senate Wed
nesday afternoon. The vote was 32 to
13. Senator Justice, of Henderson,
voiced the sentiment of others also
when he stated that he voted against
the bill because the restrictions al
ready thrown around lending money
were too severe, and because of which
the poorer classes have to pay exhor
bitant prices for securing loans in
round-about ways.
Senator Long, of Halifax, declared
that further hindrance to the liquida
tion of land mortgages might arrest
further development of North Caro
lina by outside capitalists and invest
ors.
The legislative session is about half
way to the 60-day limit and practi
cally all of the proposed most "im
portant" measures are yet to be acted
on ? including that new iron-clad
steel-rivited- wxoughtiron-boiUid-half
gallon-a-year "prohibition" bill of
Br'er Davis.
THE NEWS IN SELMA.
Selma, Feb. 1. ? Mrs. W. H. Whit
ley has returned from a visit to Cary.
Mr. C. S. Powell, of the Sanders
Chapel section, spent Wednesday in
our town, the guest of Mr. and Mrs.
W. T. Woodard. We are always glad
to have him in our town. Our people
think a great deal of our old Sheriff,
and by the way, isn't he the oldest
living sheriff of Johnston, and the
only one?
I he idea of makihg a hospital out
of the old graded school building is
growing fast. Keep it up.
We hear that work is to commence
on the new Union Station as soon as
the weather is settled and the days
get a little longer.
Hon Charles F. Kirby killed about
5,000 pounds of pork on the last cold
spell. Among those killed, was a hog
weighing 452 pounds.
Mrs. N. E. Edgerton went to Wil
mington last week to attend the an
nual meeting of the Woman's Mis
sionary Society of the North Caroli
na Conference. She was re-elected
Treasurer.
The annual meeting of the Associa
ted Charities of Selma met in the Bap
tist church Tuesday evening. Mr. Geo.
F. Breitz was elected President; Miss
Mary Hyman, ^Secretary, and Miss
Margaret Etheredge, Treasurer. It
was decided to let all aid to the needy
come through the Association. No
more help to be given to those beg
ging from house to house.
We are glad to have Mr. and Mrs.
Alphonse Jones with us again. They
found that the climate was too severe,
so they moved back. We welcome
them to our town.
The weekly prayer meetings at the
Methodist church are very interest
ing. Each meeting is better than the
last. Let there be a full house next
week. The meeting will begin at 7:30
P. M., sharp, so go early, so as not
to miss any.
The lot known as the old Vick row
has been sub-divided and will be sold
at auction to colored people, on Sat
urday, February 17th, at 3 o'clock
P. M.
The monthly meeting of the Needle
craft met with Mrs. Etheredge,
Thursday.
The Civic Improvement Club will
meet next Wednesday afternoon at
3 o'clock in its club room, in the
Academy.
Dr. R. J. Noble attended the Shrine
Minstrels at Raleigh last Monday. He
says it was a nice, clean show, com
posed of Raleigh talent; and asks why
not get them to come down and give
a show in our new Opera House as
soon as the roads dry off? Should be
a good show, as it is said that our
new Opera House is a fine one.
We are glad to hear of the con
tinual improvement of Master George
Driver at Rex Hospital.
HOG PRICES AT TOP NOTCH.
Sales Are Made At Kansas City At
$11.77 Vt Hundredweight.
Kansas City, Jan. 29. ? Hog prices
today reached what live stock men de
scribed as a new record when $11.77%
cents per 100 pounds was paid for
56 head.
Our minds are like certain vehicles
? when they have little to carry they
make much noise about it, but when
heavily loaded they run quietly. ? Eli
hu Eurritt.
The longest river in Japan is the
Tone, its main course being about 200
miles long.
AT THE CAPITAL OF BANNER.
Methodist Ladies Succeed With Par
cels Post Sale and Oyster Supper.
Boy Gets Thigh Broken While at
Play on Street. Other Items of
Local and Personal Interest.
Benson, N. C., Feb. 1. ? Messrs. R.
F. Smith and R. T. Surles were in
Smithfield Tuesday on business mat
ters.
Mr. D. C. White, of Raleigh, is in
Benson today in the interest of H. S.
Storr Company.
Mr. Sam Lassiter, of Elevation, was
in the>city Monday for a few hours.
He is one of the most up-to-date
farmers of Johnston County.
Mr. J. L. Hall went down to Fay
etteville Wednesday to see his broth
er, Mr. E. L. Hall.
Mr. John J. Rose, of Meadow town
ship, was in town Wednesday with
his son, Mr. J. H. Rose.
Mr. W. T. Purvis, of Durham, rep
resenting the Virginia Carolina
Chemical Company, was in the city
Monday and Tuesday.
Mrs. J. H. Hall and little son, J.
F. Hall, Jr., are spending a few days
with Mrs. Hall's parents, Mr. and
Mrs. S. F. Ivey.
Miss Lottie Thomas, who has been
at the home of Mr. J. H. Godwin fvr
the past month, left Tuesday for
Richmond, her home.
Miss Ruth Johnson, of Cardenas,
has been here on a visit to the home
of I)r. and Mrs. H. H. Utley for the
past week.
Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Perkins, of
Smithfield, are spending a few days
with Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Rose.
Miss Mabel Barbour, of Elevation
township, spent a few days here this
week at the home of Mr. O. A. Bar
bour.
Mr. Ed. S. Abell, of Smithfield, was
a visitor to our city Tuesday for a
short while.
Mr. John W. Wood, of Meadow
township, was here yesterday on busi
ness.
Messrs. A. L. Barefoot, J. R. Mc
Lamb, and R. T. Surles we.e in Lil
lington Wednesday attending the Su
perior Court which is in session there.
Mr. and Mrs. Almon Turlington
went to Raleigh Monday on business,
returning home Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Graves, Jr., of
Smithfield, spent Sunday in town with
relatives and friends.
Mr. A. W. Hodges returned yester
day from Loris, S. C., where he has
been for the past few days.
Mr. Cornelius Hodges was a visi
tor to Wilson Sunday and Monday of
this week.
Mr. J. E. Hobbs, who is conducting
his farm in Elevation township was
in Benson Sunday and Monday with
his family.
Mr. J. M. Langdon, a prominent
farmer of Pleasant Grove, was in the
city Monday for a few hours.
Mrs. C. T. Johnson was taken to
Rex .Hospital at Raleigh Monday
where she will undergo an operation.
Her friends hope she will soon be
able to return home.
Rev. J. M. Duncan, former pastor
of the Baptist church here, was in
town Monday for a few hours.
The two-year-old baby of Mr. and
Mrs. Preston Allen who live a few
miles east of here, died Monday night
and was buried at the family burial
ground Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. R. L. Flowers left Friday for
a visit to relatives in Alabama. He
will be away for about two weeks.
Mr. M. T. Britt went to Raeford
Monday, spending the day there on
business matters.
Mr. J. G. McLamb was taken to
Highsmith Hospital the first of the
week for an operation. He is getting
on very well at last hearing.
Yesterday afternoon while several
small boys were playing on Main
street here, Vernon Britt was thrown
te the ground and his thigh broken.
The accident was very painful and the
boy will be confined to his room for
quite a while. He is a son of Mr. and
Mrs. Elbert Britt.
The Parcels Post sale and oyster
supper given by the Methodist Ladies
at the new Williams building here
Tuesday night was quite a success
and several dollars were raised.
What Is Success?
Some one has said that "success is
often a by-product coming unawares
to the man who works for the joy of
working."
Land clearing is not the hard work
it used to be.