RUSSIAN RETREAT UNCHECKED
Women Soldiers Unable To Lend
Sufficient Strength to Russian
Eront to Repel German Advance.
Retreating Russians Leave Virtu
ally a Free Road for the Foe. From
Baltic to Black Sea Only at One
Point Has the Old Russian Fight
ing Spirit Been Shown. Subma
rines Get 21 British Ships.
(Wednesday's War Summary.)
Even the actual entry of women
soldiers into battle on the Eastern
front has been insufficient to imbue
the ranks of the recalcitrant Rus
sians with patriotism. They are still
deserting in large numbers in Gali
cia, leaving a virtually free road open
for fresh advances by the Germans
and Austrians.
From the Baltic to the Black Sea
only at one point along the line in
the Southern Carpathians ? have the
Russians risen to the occasion and
shown some of their old fighting
spirit. Here, fighting shoulder to
shoulder with their Rumanian allies,
they have attacked and captured sev
eral villages from the Germans and
broken the heavily fortified Teuton
line on a wide front.
In Galicia, the precipitate retreat
of the Russians continues almost ev
erywhere from the Carpathian foot
hills to the region around Tarnopol,
the government apparently not yet
having had time to put in force its
strong repressive measures which M.
Kerensky, the head of the govern
ment has promised to apply in order
to stay the retreat.
Nadvoma, in the fringe of the foot
hills, Stanislau and Tarnopol and
numerous smaller towns have been
taken by the Teutons, who are now
approaching the important railroad
junction of Buczacz, which lies some
30 miles east of Halicz. The German
Emperor was an observer of the bat
tle on the Sereth front and saw his
men put down the only effort of mo
ment that was made to hold them
back ? an attack by the Russians be
tween Tarnopol and Trembowla.
Since the penetration of the German
lines on a wide front near Krevo, in
which the "Command of Death," com
posed of women, took a notable part,
despite which large numbers of the
Russians ignominiously retreated to
their old positions without even the
vestige of harassment by the enemy,
the Russians have not stirred from
their trenches to face the foe.
The hostilities on the Aisne front,
where for weeks the Germans have
wasted men by thousands in ineffect
ual attempts to break through Gen
eral Petain's front, have ceased and
only artillery duels are now in prog
ress. Early Wednesday morning was
the last attempt of Crown Prince to
gain his objective. This was on the
Califomie plateau, where an .attack
was completely repulsed.
The Germans have been successful
in winning 200 yards of trenches
from the British east of Monchy-Le
Preux, which they had bombarded
violently for several days past. In the
capture of the position the enemy
again resorted to the use of liquid
fire. Along the front in northern Bel
gium the heavy artillery duel con
tinues, but as yet there has bern no
sign of either the British or the Ger
mans starting an infantry attack.
British airmen have bombed and
caused severe damage to the German
submarine base at Zeebrugge and
also to the town of Bruges.
German submarines or mines last
week were responsible for the sinking
of 21 British merchant vessels of
more than 1,600 tons each and three
of less than 1,600 tons. In addition
a submarine has sunk the British
merchant cruiser Otway with the loss
of ten men killed, while a German
report says that a Teutonic U-boat
has accounted for a British underwa
ter craft.
SIXTEEN THOUSAND MEN IN
NEW ARMY TACTICAL UNITS <
Washington, July 24. ? Secretary 1
Baker confirmed today that in pursu- i
ance of suggestions growing out of
the conferences of American army
officers with Generals Joffre and
Bridges, tactical units of the national
army, will be organized on a basis of 1
about 16,000 men each in place of '
24,000. i
Generals Joffre and Bridges ex- <
plained that the smaller and more mo- 1
bile division used in European armies t
had proved highly satisfactory. s
ITEMS FROM FOLK OAKS.
Business Men's Bible Class is Joined
by Philathea Class in Delightful
Barbecue at Holt's Pond. Party at
"Oakview Farm." Other Items of
Interest.
Four Oaks, July 27. ? Miss Kora
Lee Wells, of Elm City, is the guest
of Misses Leola Sanders and Esther
Creech.
Mr. D. C. Lassiter, of Charlotte, N.
C., spent Sunday here with friends.
Mrs. Wade H. Royal, of Emporia,
Va., and Mrs. S. T. Honeycutt, of
Benson, spent a few hours with Miss
Flora Strickland Tuesday.
Miss Leola Sanders spent the
week-end with Miss Pearl Adams at
Linden, Miss Adams returning with
her.
Mrs. Paschal, of Lucama, spent
Saturday and Sunday here with her
daughter, Mrs. W. H. Tucker.
Mr. W. E. Barbour made a business
trip to Raleigh Tuesday.
Mr. G. K. Massengill took Mr. W.
H. Tucker to a specialist in Raleigh
Monday for treatment. We hope Mr.
Tucker will soon be able to return
home.
Mrs. ii. H. Adams, accompanied by
Miss Florence, is visiting Mrs.
B. F. Royal at Morehead City.
Mr. Futrell, of Emporia, Va., is
visiting at the home of Mrs. W. E.
Strickland.
The Business Men's Class of the
Four Oaks Methodist Sunday school
of which Mr. B. B. Adams is the pop
ular and efficient teacher, enjoyed a
delightful barbecue at Holt's Pond,
three miles from here, Friday after
noon. The class turned out in full
force, having over fifty present. The
ladies of the Philathea Class of the
school were the guests of the men on
this enjoyable occasion, and swelled
the total number present to nearly
75. The barbecue at Holt's Pond
bids fair to become an annual oc
casion with the Business Men's Class,
they having enjoyed the two already
given at that place so much.
The Misses Adams entertained in
formally at their beautiful country
home "Oakview" Tuesday evening, in
honor of Misses Lucile Johnson and
Ethel Brewer, of Raleigh. An auction
sale of the young men was very prof
itable. The Automobile Contest was
the feature. Winners, Messrs. Adams
and Cole and Miss Lucile Johnson.
Those enjoying the hospitality of the
Misses Adams were: Misses Gladys
Adams, Martha Barbour, Sarah Keen,
Leola Sanders, Esther Creech, Pearl
Adams, Rosalie Wells, Ethel Brewer,
and Lucile Johnson; Messrs. Victor
and Chester Cole, Lonnie Keen, Wm.
Adams, Irvin Ray, Gilbert Creech,
Frank Wilson, W. E. Barbour, Wm.
Sanders. A beautiful spread on the
well known "Uncle David Adams"
plan was enjoyed by those present,
just prior to the witching hour when
the guests departed wishing for an
early repetition of the evening.
WILSON SIGNS BIG AERO BILL.
United States Out for Record in
$640,000,000 Air Fleets. No De
lay, Coffin Promises.
Washington, July 24. ? By a swift
stroke of the pen President Wilson
at 12:15 to-day signed the $640,000,
000 aviation bill.
Destined to make the United States
the first power of the world in air
craft strength, the measure, which
carries the largest single appropria
tion ever made by Congress, was
passed in record time. It required less
than two weeks to get it through
both the House and Senate after its
introduction in the lower branch.
Actual debate in either branch did
not consume more than a day.
The same speed will characterize
the carrying out of the construction
programme authorized in the bill,
says Howard Coffin, chairman of the
aircraft production board of the
Council of National Defence. Imme
diately after the President signed
the measure, Mr. Coffin -asserted that
the board was prepared to go ahead
at once with the plr.ns authorized.
The Draft List.
We arc publishing the complete <
Draft list numbers in this issue of <
Fhe Herald. The younpr men who rejf
ster may now find their places in the 1
?all if they know their serial number. !
in the list the liability number is i
riven first and the serial number <
second. s
SELM.VS KILL NEWS BUDGET.
I'rof. E. H. Moser Elected Superin
tendent of Selma Graded Schools.
City Fathers Itcginning Some Much
Needed Street Improvement. The
Woodard Drug Company Move Into
New Quarters. The Herald's New
Correspondent from Selma. I<ocal
and Personal Items.
Selma, July 26. ? Mr. and Mrs.
Daniel Hamilton returned Thursday
from Fremont where they were the
guests of Mr. Hamilton's brother for
the last few days.
Mrs. G. H. Morgan is spending this
week with relatives in Smithfield.
Mrs. M. L. Standi and children,
of Smithfield, were the guets of
Mrs. Sallie Upchurch Tuesday, and
attended the Melon Fair.
Dr. and Mrs. A. S. Oliver, of
Greensboro; Mr. A. S. Hooks, of
Dunn, and Mr. Debernier Debnam,
of Kinston, were the guests of Mr.
and Mrs. L. D. Debnam this week.
Mr. DeBernier Debnam left yes
terday for Goldsboro along with oth
ers from Selma to be drafted into the
Federal Service.
Miss Maggie Whitley, who has
been living in Wilmington for the
past few months, is home for a few
days.
Mrs. L. D. Debnam, Miss Alta Deb
nam and children will go to Clayton
today for the week-end, the guests of
Mrs. Debnam's parents, Dr. and Mrs.
J. A. Griffin.
Mrs. I. W. Hocutt and Mrs. Octa
via Jeffreys, and Mr. and Mrs. L. T.
Rose were among the Clayton people
here to attend the Melon and Tomato
Fair Tuesday.
Messrs. J. A. and E. J. Wellons, of
Smithfield, were here Tuesday on
professional business.
Mrs. Theo Liles, of Raleigh, and
Mrs. J. B. Talton, of Clayton, are
visiting relatives in and around the
city this week.
Miss Fannie Howell, of Goldsboro,
is spending the week with relatives
and friends in the city.
The Woodard Drug Company mov
ed into their new quarters in the
Vick and Person building last week,
and held their opening day last Fri
day. Quite a large crowd attended
this opening, and were delighted
with the service of this progressive
firm in their new quarters.
Mr. Daniel Hamilton, who until re
cently has been living in Norfolk,
Va., has returned to Selma to live,
and \tyll within the near future erect
a handsome residence on Raiford
street, near the power house.
We are pleased to note that our
City Fathers are beginning some
street improvements that are badly
needed. It is to be hoped that our
new administration will have the
hearty support of our people in mak
ing many needed improvements like
nature in our town.
Prof. E. H. Moser, for six years
principal of Wakelon High School,
has been elected superintendent of
the Selma Graded Schools to succeed
Prof. Frederick Archer, who recently
resigned to accept the superintenden
cy of the City Schools of Greens
boro, and we welcome him to our
midst.
Mr. W. L. Stancil, Secretary of the
Merchants Association of Selma, has
accepted for the time being the re
porter's place in Selma for The
Smithfield Herald. On account of the
many duties already assigned him, it
is possible that he may not get all
the items that should be reported
each week, and he asks that the peo
ple of Selma telephone him any
news local or personal whicfi he will
be glad to report each week.
PREDICTS BUMPER CORN
CROP FOR TIIK STATE
Washington, July 24. ? "If they
keep growing com in my scction,"
said Representative Robinson today,
"they will have more than they can
handle. They are saying now that
they will not have enough houses to
put the com in. That scction never
had such a crop before. The prospects <
for cotton are bad because of so
much rain. The people are responding i
cheerfully to the appeals for full 1
:rops."
Representative Smr.ll, who has <
^een to the eastern part of'the State, <
?aid the people have good crops, but
hat excessive rains have been hard 1
>n cotton planters. ? News and Ob- i
lerver.
AT THE CAPITAL OF BANNER.
Death of Mrs. N. H. Gibbs, Saturday
Nitfht ? Funeral by Her Pastor,
Rev. G. W. Rollins. Big Bain on
Tuesday Afternoon Causes Many to
Wait at White Dak for Freshet to
Subside Before Crossing. Bridge
Kadly Needed at Thin Point, Many
Personal Items of Interest.
Benson, July 26. ? Mr. Mit Coats,
of Coats, was a visitor to our city
Tuesday on business.
Mr. W. H. Royal went down to
Fremont Tuesday afternoon, return
ing that night.
Messrs. J. M. Morgan and E. F.
Moore were visitors to Smithfield
Tuesday.
Mr. Braxton Johnson, of Smithfield,
was in the city Tuesday and Wednes
day.
Mr. Willie Ryals, of Princeton, was
here for several days this week on
business.
Miss Mary Cook and Miss Julia
Canaday returned the first of the
week from Chapel Hill where they
have been attending the Summer
School.
Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Rackley re
turned the first of the week from
Sampson County, where they have
been for the past week visiting rela
tives.
Mr. Howard Weeks, of Robinson
ville, was here Sunday and Monday
on a short visit to relatives.
Mrs. Joel McCorquodale, of Fal
con, was here the first of the week to
attend the funeral and burial of her
sister, Mrs. N. II. Gibbs.
Mr, J. A. Wellons, of Smithfield,
was here Tuesday afternoon for a
short while on business.
Mr. R. P. Todd went up to Nor
folk Sunday where he will be for a
few days on business matters.
Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Boon went up
to Raleigh Monday for a few hours,
returning that same afternoon.
Mrs. R. C. Creech, of Tennessee, is
here for a several days' visit to the
home of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Hobbs.
Messrs. S. F. Ivey, Paul Lee, J. F.
Lee and J. T. Morgan went up to Ral,
eigh Monday on business.
Mrs. B. I. Tart and little girl, of
Four Oaks, and Miss Ellen Lee, of
Newton Grove, recently spent a few
days with Mr. and Mrs. L. Gilbert.
Mrs. R. B. Brady and children re
turned Tuesday from a few days
visit to relatives in Rocky Mount,
Clayton and other cities.
Mr. Will Holder, of Rocky Mount,
was here for a few days recently with
his sister, Mrs. W. D. Boon.
Sergeant Willie Clifton, of the 2nd
Regiment, at Goldsboro, was here
Saturday and Sunday with relatives.
Miss Chellie Mae Royal returned
the first of the week from Raeford
where she made a short visit to rela
tives.
Miss Lillie Dixon, daughter of Mr.
Joe Dixon, of Elevation township, has
been spending a few days here at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Dixon.
Mrs. W. A. Bingham, of Raleigh,
has been here for a few days with
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Royal.
Mr. Paul Raynor, of Durham, re
cently spent several days here with
relatives and friends.
Mr. Walter Denning, of Newberry,
S. C., has been here for the past ten
days with relatives.
Mr. W. M. Sanders, of Smithfield,
was here the first of the week for a
few hours on business matters.
Prof. T. T. Lanier returned the
first of the week from Chapel Hill
where he has been for some time at
tending the Summer School.
Miss Vallie Hill left Monday for
her home at Jonesboro, where she
will spend several weeks with rela
tives before resuming work here.
Mrs. I. P. Roberts, of Wilson, has
been here for the past several days
visiting relatives and friends.
Miss Nettie Anderson, of Hender
son, N. C., has been here for the past
few days with her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. C. W. Anderson.
Prof. Fitzgerald has tendered his
resignation as Superintendent of the
Benson School which was accepted
by the Board of Trustees. His suc
cessor has not yet been elected.
Quite a large number of Benson
ians took in the Water Melon and
Baby Fair at Selma this week.
Messrs. R. F. Smith, Claud Weeks,
George Hodges ar.d other attended
Court at Smithfield Tuesday.
Mrs. Harris, of Sampson County,
nas been here for several days visit- i
ng her daughter, Mrs. J. E. Wilson.
O. A. Barbour, Jr., son of Mr. and 1
THE PRESIDENT TAKES A HAM)
Accepts Resignation of General Goe
thals and Asks Chairman Penman
to Step Down. Shipping* Hoard to
Be Reorganized.
President Wilson brought the ship
ping board row to an abrupt termina
tion Tuesday by eliminating the two
principals, William Denman, chair-,
man of the board, and Maj. Gen.
George W. Goethals, manager of the
board's emergency fleet corporation,
in charge of construction. The resig
nation of General Goethals, ten
dered some days ago, was accepted,
and Mr. Denman was asked by the
President to follow suit that the gov
ernment's building program might
go forward without embarrassment.
Edward N. Hurley, of Chicago, for
mer chairman of the federal trade
commission, was named by the Presi
dent to succeed Mr. Denman to be
come chairman of the board, and
Bainbrid::c Colby, of New York, was
appointed successor to Capt. John R.
White, ox Kansas City, another boajd
member whose resignation, offered
to the President a month ago, also
was accepted. Rear Admiral Wash
ington L. Capps, chief constructor of
the navy, will succeed General Goe
thals as manager of the fleet corpor
ation, taking immediate charge of the
building program.
Mr. Denman sent his resignation
to the White House immediately af
ter receipt of the President's letter
requesting it. The President's action
manifestly took him by surprise, but
his only comment was:
"It was the best way to settle this
thing. I want to help the President
in every way possible, and I never
have questioned the wisdom of his
decision!.*
Who overcomes by force, has ov
ercome but half his foe. ? Milton.
Mrs. O. A. Barbour, won the second
prize of Eight Dollars at the Selma
Baby Show Tuesday.
Mrs. J. H. Godwin, J. H. Godwin,
Jr., and Robert Godwin are spend
ing the week with relatives near
Clayton.
Mr. Rufus Britt, of Deland, Fla., is
here spending a few days with rel
atives.
Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Johnson and
children spent yesterday at a family
reunion in Harnett County at the
home of Parlia Wood.
Messrs. A. V. Norris, Chas. Nor
ris, J. R. MeLamb and others were in
Raleigh yesterday on business mat
ters.
Mr. Guy Stewart, of Battleboro,
and J. P. Lee, of Coats, were in the
city today on business.
Misses Maud and Claudia Wood
are spending a few days with rela
tives in Douglass, Ga.
Misses Velma and Beatrice Good
rich are visiting their brother, Rev.
A. L. Goodrich, at Wilmington, N. C.
The attention of the board of Road
Supervisors of Banner township
should be gently called to the fact
that a bridge is needed, and badly
needed, across White Oak one mile
East of Benson. The fact that it is
badly needed was demonstrated
Tuesday afternoon when more than
fifty people waited from two hours to
five hours each on the East side of
stream before they could cross over
after the rain that fell Tuesday af
ternoon. The timber out of which to
construct the bridge has been on the
spot for nearly a year, and there is
no reason whatever why the bridge
should not be built. It is someone's
duty to build this bridge and the law
places that duty on the Board of
Road Supervisors.' If they are not
going to perform their duty then
they should let some one hold the
job who will do it. This Tuesday af
ternoon occurrence is not the first
time that people have had to wait
for a long time at ?his place after a
rain. It is a frequent occurrence.
Mrs. N. H. Gibbs, widow of the
late N. II. Gibbs, died here Saturday
night at the home of her daughter,
Mrs. C. W. Hall, after a lingering
illness for the past few months. Mrs.
Gibbs was a highly respected woman,
a member of the Benson Baptist
church, and had lived a life that can
be pointed to as an example for good
liness. She left survivuig several
children and grandchilaern and a
host of other relatives and friends.
Her remains were laid away Sunday
afternoon at the Benson Cemetery,
the funeral services being conducted
by her pastor, Rev. G. W. Rollins.
RUSSIAN TROOPS IN RETREAT.
Retirement Is Pell Mell Before Aus
tro-Germans All Along the Line
Except in Rumania. Disaffection
Has Made Null Almost All the
lirilliant Gains Recently Made Un
der the Personal Leadership of
Kerensky.
Notwithstanding the threat of
Premier Kerensky that a policy of
"blood and iron" is to be applied
without restraint against the sedi
tious Russian troops in East Gali
cia whose disaffection has made null
almost all the brilliant gains they
had achieved under his personal lead
ership early in the month, the Rus
sians continue their retirement, vir
tually pell moll, before the German
and Austro-Hungarian armies. From
the wooded Carpathians to the region
of Tarnopol, the forces of General
Knorniloff almost everywhere were
in disorderly retreat, hardly anywhere
making an attempt to hold back the
oncoming enemy. -?*
Already the losses of the Russians
in men killed, wounded or made pris
oner and in guns and stores captured
are extremely heavy, and these un
doubtedly will become greater unless
the hoper for stiffening of the mor
ale of the Russians is realized soon.
Stanislau, the principal junction for
commercial activities in the crown
land of Galicia and an important
grain and manufacturing center, is
being evacuated by the Russians,
while Podhaytse, Ilalicz and other
towns have been taken by the Teu
tons. Tarnopol, one of the chief towns
in the crownland, is more seriously
menaced than ever, if it has not al
ready been retaken, by the enemy
crossing the river to the south.
Including the hostilities in Galicia,
the entire eastern front from the
Baltic virtually to the Black sea is
the scene of big operations but with
the Russians standing firmly against
the enemy only in the Rumanian
theater.
As in Galicia, the Russians to the
north around the region of Dvinsk
and Vilna continue to show signs of
disaffection. Although they had at
tacked and captured German positions
along the Dvinsk-Vilna railway, the
Russians could not be induced to
press their advantage and retired
unhindered by the Germans to their
old positions. In the repulse of at
tacks with large forces near Krevo,
which was recaptured, and south of
Smorgon, the Germans cut entire regi
ments to pieces with their galling fire
of the infantry and machine guns. ?
Tuesday's War Summary.
ANOTHER LOAN FOR ENGLAND.
Parliament Plans for a Loan of Three
Billion Two Hundred and Fifty
Million for War. Cost to England
Now Is $35,000,000 Daily.
London, July 24. ? Moving in the
house of commons today a vote of
credit for $3,250,000,000, the larg
est war credit yet asked, and bring
ing Great Britain's expenditure to
the collossal total of $26,460,000,000,
Andrew Bonar Law, chancellor of
the exchequer, gave startling figures
of the amazing growth of Great Bri
tain's financial burden in the world
war, and emphasized from the fin
ancial viewpoint alone the great im
portance of the United States enter
ing the war as insuring that tho
allies would not be deprived of vic
tory through lack of money.
The house was astonished to learn
that Great Britain's advances to the
allies and dominions had already
reached the huge total of more than
$5,000,000,000. ^
The daily war expenditure, al
though it shows a substantial im
provement over the figures given on
May 9, when Mr. Bonar Law asked
for the last war credit, still approach
es $35,000,000 daily and cxceeus the
budget estimate by $5,000,000 daily.
But, comparing the last 77 days with
the first 35 days of the fiscal year,
the expenditure showed a reduction
of million daily.
Draft Lists About Ready.
The draft lists are now in the
hands of the local Exemption Boards
and the men who are to be called in
the first army will be notified within
the next two or three days. The noti
fications may go out tomorrow. The
men must appear before the boards
at once for physical examination.