TO HUSH TROOPS TO FRONT.
Agreement Made at Recent
Inter- Allied Ctonfecence in
Paris American Troops At
Once Considered Vital. It is
Believed With Heavy Rein
forcementsDrawn From The
Eastern to Western Front The
Germans Are Preparing For
Big Offensive. Snow Aids
Italians.
The Associated Press War
Sumary for Wednesday publish
ed in yesterday's daily papers
state that entire unity hence
forth is to be the watchword of
the United States and her Al
lies in the prosecution of the
war.
American troops are to be
rushed to the fighting fronts in
large numbers as quickly as
possible, and there is to be per
fect co-ordination in naval,
military, financial, food, war in
dustries and diplomatic matters.
The agreement between the
Allies for unified action was
reached at the recent inter-allied
conference in Paris, which was
attended' by an American mis
sion headed by Col. E. M. House
find arrangements already have
been made for the United States
to carry out its part of the com
pact.
In order that American troops
may be dispatched in a constant
stream to Europe, the Allied
nations are so to arrange their
merchant shipping that the
necessary transports will be
' available for the huge task. That
quick work in getting the Amer
ican army to the front is most
vital is indicated by a statement
of Major General Maurice, chief
director of military operations
at the British war office. Gen
eral Maurice says it is probable
that with their heavy reinforce
ments, drawn from the eastern
to the western front the Ger
mans shortly will make a strong
offensive against the British
and French armies and that the
enemy may be expected to make
some gains.
Optimism was expressed,
however, that the enemy would
not be able to inflict the same de
gree of damage upon the Allies
as he has sustained at the bands
of the British during the last
year.
Apparent proof that the Ger
mans are preparing for a big
offensive is the almost continu
ous sentiment of various sectors
along the British and French
fronts. Aside from these bom
bardments there has been little
activity except by small raiding
parties. A heavy snow is falling
and another cold wave has set
in on the French front from ?t.
Quentin to the Vosges moun
tains.
Snow and cold weather also
are giving the Italians a chance
further to strengthen their nor
thern line against the Austro
Germans. Aside from recipro
cal artillery duels little fighting
of moment is in progress. In
an endeavor to offset their loss
of ground resulting from having
been driven back across the ,
lower Piave river the enemy has
tried to effect a landing on the
west bank of the stream a short
distance from the mouth of the
Piave. His boats, however, were
caught under the fire of the
Italian guns, and the project had
to be given up.
Austro-German airmen con
tinue to bomb towns on the
Venitian plains. Treviso and
Bassano have again been at
tacked, and bombs also were
dropped on Mestre. Little dam
age was done by the bombs.
Three of the enemy aircraft
were shot down in aerial battles
or by anti-aircraft guns.
Reports from Russia indicate
that the negotiations for peace
between the Bolsheviki govern
ment and the Teutonic Allies
have reached a virtual impasse
owing to the unreasonable de
mands of the Teutons. Particu
larly distasteful to the Russians
is the attitude of the Central
Powers with regard to holding
Poland, Lithuanio and Courland
and their determination to re
tain garrisons at Riga, Libau
and other Baltic ports.
Twenty-one British merchant
men were sunk by mines or sub
marines last week, as compared
with twelve the previous week.
RUSH COAL TO NEW ENGLAND.
Four Government Departments De
cide Upon Quick Measures for
Relief. Two Hundred Cars of Coal
Diverted From Hampton Roads to
North Carolina Points ? 1,500 Cars
on the Pennsylvania Released.
Quick measures to relieve the New
England coal shortage have taken up
jointly by the fuel administration, the
navy department, the shipping board
and the new director-general of rail
roads.
The shipping board has ordered
nine steamers to Hampton Roads for
coal cargoes fcr New England and
directed them to remain in the service
until the shortage is over.
The navy department put at the dis
posal of the fuel administration a part
of a large store of stenm coal at the
Boston navy yard and arranged to
employ idle naval tags and colliers
in transportation of coal from Hamp
ton Roads to New England ports. It
also instructed navy yard comman
ders to distribute to the poor scraps
of timber at the yards.
The director of railroads ht.s re
leased 1,500 cars of coal standing on
Pennsylvania railroad tracks between
New York and Harrisburg, Pa., and
directed they go immediately to New
England cities.
In addition to the nine ships turned
over to the New England coal carry
ing trade the shipping board will try
to supply other vessels, and will uti
lize all tugs and parges that may be
spared from other work.
Authority has been granted by the
director-general to railroads to dis
regard priority orders when it is nec
essary to relieve car congestion is
expected to expedite the movement of
coal. Priority orders, officials say
have hampered rather than hurried
coal movement. Under these orders
railroad traffic men use their judg
ment as to what to move first, always
bearing in mind that coal and food
must move rapidly.
The fuel administration's plan for
zone distribution of coal submitted by
Dr. Garfield could not easily be work
ed out with the railroads still in
private hands, but under government
operation fuel administration officials
think it can be put into practicc suc
cessfully. Carried to the point to
which officials hope to see it operat
ing, it will help to eliminate cross
hauling of coal and make for a more
equitable distribution than possible
now. Every producing district would
be required to serve a particular ter-.
ritory and no contracts for the sale
of coal would be approved if a pro
ducer sought to sell outside the terri
tory allotted him.
Two hundred cars tf coal have been
already sent to North Carolina.
Tilley-Stephenson.
Varina, N. C., Jan. 2. ? Mr. and Mrs.
T. H. Stephenson announce the mar
riage of their daughter Barbara Inez
to Mr. Alvin Alfred Tilley, of Fuquay
Springs, North Carolina, Jan. second,
nineteen hundred and eighteen.
Six deaths one that o f a nurse,
among members of the American ex
peditionary force were reported Mon
day by General Pershing. The nurse
was May Berry, of Frankton, Ind.
Among the soldiers reported dead was
Private Garland E. McCoy, of Ports
mouth, Va., a member of the aero
squadron. He was a victim of pneu
monia.
NORFOLK HAS BIG FIRE.
Loss of Property Estimated at
Two Million Dollars. Almost
Two Whole Blocks Burned.
Fire Supposed to Be of Incen
diary Origin. Three Men
Killed.
Norfolk had a disastrous fire
Tuesday. The account given out
by the Associated Press to
Wednesday's daily papers, in
part follows:
Norfolk, Va., Jan. 1. ? Nearly
two blocks in the heart of Nor
folk's business district, includ
ing the Monticello Hotel, were
destroyed, three men were killed
and a score more injured in a
iseries of explosions and fires to
day which both police and naval
authorities believe were incen
diary. The fire had been checked
tonight, but still was burning
fiercely in the ruins. The loss is
roughly estimated at more than
$2,000,000.
Three distinct explosions in as
| many buildings, one after the
i fire once virtually had been
brought under control, led to the
I general belief that enemy agents
jwere at work. Mayor Mayo
practically placed the city under
martial law by turning the situ
ation over to naval officers, and
some 2,500 marines and blue
jackets from nearby naval sta
tions assisted the police and
home guards in maintaining
order and preventing vandalism.
Naval patrols rounded up sus
picious persons throughout the
afternoon, while five men were
arrested as suspects. Two of
these Hugo Schmidt and H. K.
Lassing, said to be Germans,
were turned over to the Depart
ment of Justice agents. To
night there were reports that
two Germans had been shot by
sailors during the day, but
neither the police nor naval au
thorities would confirm this.
The fire started before dawn
in the old Granby Theater on
Granby street and gained rapid
headway as the firemen were
handicapped by frozen fire hy
drants, low water pressure and
near zero temperature. It quick
ly spread to the Monticello Hotel
and other nearby buildings in
the block. It was brought under
control late in the day, but broke
out anew early tonight, leaping
across Granby street and leveled
half of the block there before
being checked.
Falling floors and walls took
toll of firemen and naval guards.
One fireman, Charles McCoy,
was killed and seven others hurt
in the collapse of an upper floor
of the Monticello Hotel in the
day. Tonight two firemen and
several sailors were caught in
a falling wall of the Lenox build
ing. Three were brought out
badly hurt, but two others were
left in the debris.
Firemen of Norfolk, Ports
mouth and Suffock, with organ
ized sailor fire brigades, fought
heroically amid ice and blinding
smoke, and bluejackets led the
rescue work when the fighters
were trapped. Several of the
firemen caught in the hotel were
brought out alive through the
daring of a score of the Jack
Tars.
A snowstorm raged through South
Carolina Monday morning, according
to reports to the local weather bureau
at Columhia, accentuating the already
acute conditions caused by the fuel
shortage. The lowest temperature
reported at Columbia Monday mom
was 12 degrees above zero, or four
degrees higher than the reading Sun
day morning, which was the coldest
December day there in 31 years.
AT TIIE CAPITAL OF BANNER.
Newsy Batch of Items from Benson.
Death of Mr. J. Ransom Beasley.
Cold Spell Played Havoc With
Water Pipes in School Building and
in the Homes of the Town. People
Who Come and Go. Maybe Your
Name is in the List.
Benson, January 3. ? Presiding Eld
der J. E. Underwood, of the Raleigh
District, will be here at the Benson
Circuit Saturday, the 5th day of Jan
uary. The Conference will be held
Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Bosie Barbour, of Elevation
Township, has accepted a position
with Mr. Preston Johnson.
Mrs. Wilie Weeks, of Rocky Mount,
visited relatives here for several days
recently, returning to her home yes
terday.
Miss Gertrude Stallings, of Selma,
was here for several days this week,
the guest of Mrs. J. H. Rose.
Mrs. A. S. Thomas, who has been
quite sick in the Sanford Hospital for
some time, is somewhat improved at
this time.
Mr. Felton Stone returned the first
of the week from Emporia, Va., where
he spent the holidays with relatives.
Mr. J. Ransom Beasley died at his
home a few miles below here yester
day after a short illness with pneu
monia. His remains were laid away
in the family burying ground today.
He leaves a wife and several children.
Miss Neta Penny returned to her
home the first of the week after
spending a few days here with friends.
Mr. L. A. Hodges returned the first
of the week to Camp Sevier, S. C.,
after a short visit to his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. A. W. Hodges.
Miss Kate Hamilton returned to her
home at Jonesboro the first of the
week. She formerly held a position
with the Farmers Commercial Brnk
of this city.
Mr. Wade Brady, after spending the
holidays here with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Bras. Brady, returned this
week to Winterville where he is em
ployed.
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Lassiter, of j
Four Oaks, are here for a few days
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George j
Moore.
Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Crowder and
children returned to Buies Creek the
first of the week, after visiting at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Williams.
Mr. William Canaday, of Richmond,
returned home yesterday after spend
ing a few days at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. 0. A. Barbour.
Mr. Jeffrey, who is with the Pea
cock Drug Company, returned yester
day from a few days visit to rela
tives at Elm City.
Mr. Claud Canaday returned Tues
day from a business trip to Richmond,
Va.
Mrs. Brosia returned the first of
the week from Camp Sevier where
she spent a few days with her hus
band, Mr. Brosia Porter.
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Hobbs and chil
dren left last week for Athens, Tenn.,
on a visit to the home of Mr. Richard
Creech. They will be away for two
weeks or more on tht> trip.
Messrs. Henry P. Johnson, Claud
Bryant and Haywood Dixon, of S-\mp.
son County, are in Benson today on |
business matters.
Mr. Charlis Max McLamb left the
first of the week for Camp Sevier, S.
C., after spending a few days here
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. W.
McLamb.
Mr. J. T. Coats, of Harnett County,
returned Sunday from Nash County
where he has been attending a Union
Meeting. He spcrvt Sunday night here |
with friends.
Misses Livia Williams and Myrtle
Wood returned the first of the week
from Roseboro where they visited
relatives for several days the past
week.
Mr. W. D. Boon was a business |
visitor to Lillington Tuesday.
Quite a bit of damage was done in
and around Benson by the recent very
cold weather. At the School Building
the engine freezed up and several of
the pipes thereto bursted doing quite '
considrable damage. Many pipes in i
pnvate homes were frozen up and ]
bursted also.
1
The prize of a $50 Liberty Bond,
offered by J. B. Ivey, of Charlotte,
State merchants' representative un
der the food administration, for the
brst article on food conservation, was
awarded to Miss Ethel Abernathy, of
Charlotte. Several score papers were
offered.
OLD NORTH STATE NEWS.
Live Items of Interest Clipped
And Culled From North
Carolina Newspapers.
The taxidermist at Morganton says
large same seems to be plentiful this
year, and western Carolina sports
men are getting their share. He is
now mounting a large buck head for
J. M. Bernhardt, of Lenoir, and one
for Ernest Ervin, of Morganton.
A saving each month of more than
6,500 pounds of white flour, approxi
mately the same quantity of beef and
pork, and more than 2,600 pounds of
sugar is reported by 56 hotels and
cafes in North Carolina which an
swered a recent questionnaire sent out
by the Food Administration in terms
of pounds. Others repoi't a saving
in these products of from 10 to 50
per cent of the normal consumption.
Saturday night at the residence of
Mr. and Mrs. James Gantt at Newton,
their little nine-months daughter was
burned to death. The mother had
only been out of the room a few min
utes when she returned to find her
child laying on a bed of coals, it hav
ing crawlcd to the fire <ind falling in
face foremost. It only lived a few
minutes after it was found. The lit
tle one was frightfully burned about
the face and head.
A call was made on Governor
Bickett Monday for the $20,000 ap
propriation by the last legislature for
the buildings to be erected in the
establishment of the North Carolina
State Orthopaedic hospital and school,
the location for which has been chosen
near Gastonia, which town, and the
other friends of the movement, hr.ve
raised a like sum of $20,000 to assure
a $40,000 plant, not including the site,
which is of ample acreage.
Dr. Kemp P. Battle, Chapel Hill,
recently celebrated his 86th birthday,
still full of vigor and of love for the
State University. For nearly three
quarters of a century Dr. Battte has
been closely connected with the life
of the University of North Carolina.
In 1845 he entered there as a fresh
man. After the war he was elected
president of the institution and it was
under his wise and beneficent man
agement that the University again es
tablished its prestige in the country.
Internal revenue collections at
Winston-Salem during 1917 amounted
to $24,842,237.88. The receipts in
1015 were slightly more than nine
million dollars and amounted to a
little more than $15,000,000 during
1910. The receipts for January, 1915,
were $575,803.56 compared with $3,
240,098.49, for November, 1917, the
December receipts having been less
by about two and a third millions, be
cause of the holidays. All of the re
ceipts were from the sale of stamps
for tobacco and tobacco products.
Eighty-nine counties of the 100 in
North Carolina are represented in the
student body at the State University.
Orange leads with 47, Wake has 45;
Mecklenburg 38; Guilford 38; Bun
combe 34; Forsyth 33; Gaston 25;
Iredell 23; Wayne 23; Rowan 22;
Johnston 20; Durham 18; Alamance
16; Pitt 16; Burke 15; Edgecombe 15;
Lenoir 15; Halifax 14; Craven 13;
Richmond 13; Randolph 13; Duplin
12; Rockingham 12; Surry 12; Wilson
12; Beaufort 10; Cumberland 10, Nash
10; Union 10; Vancc 10. The other
counties have from 1 to 9 each.
Plans for the new Presbyterian
church at Chapel Hill have now been
approved, and are being sent out to
contractors. It is expected that con
struction work will begin on the
church early in March. The Colonial
style of architecture will be folowed.
The church is to be constructed ac
cording to plans made by Mr. Hobart
B. Upjohn, of New York, architect.
Mr. Upjohn is a church architect of
national prominence, having designed
churches and cathedrals in New York
city and elsewhere. This church is
the gift of Dr. James Sprunt, of Wil
mington, in m; mory of his wife.
The state hospital weather bureau
report at Morganton Monday morning
showed that the temperature went
lown to 11 below zero Sunday night,
by far the lowest ever recorded there.
A. three-inch snow fell Sunday on top
>f the previous snow of two weeks
igo which had melted but very lit
tle. One of the oldest residents says
that only once in the last 50 years
has the temperature gone down to
10 below, so that Sunday night was
probably the coldest ever known in
Morganton. People have been cross
ing the smaller streams with teams
and loaded wagons on the ice for
several days.
NEWS AROUND BENTON VILLE.
Soldier Hoys Home for Holidays.
Hooks Close Saturday for Hond
Election. Two Couples Wed During
the Holiday Season. Many Visitors
Come and Go.
Bentonville Jan. 2.? Christmas was
the quietest ever witnessed in this
section.
Rev. T. W. Siler preached a very
able sermon at Ebenezer church on
Sunday night^after which the people
gave hime a pounding.
Mr. E. J. Williams, of Clayton,
spent the holidays in this section with
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Wil
liams.
M iss Maude Westbrook, who is at
tending school at Greenville, N. C.,
spent the holidays at Ijome with her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. T. West
brook.
Messrs. W. B. Beasley, H. V. Rose
and J. M. Massey, all of Camp Jack
son, S. C., and Mr. Kirk Cole, of the
United States Navy, spent part of the
holidays at home. The boys are look
ing fine, and say they are faring good.
Th registration books for the road
bond election which will be held oh
Tuesday, January 15, will close on
Saturday, January 5. All who wish
to take part in this election and have
not yet registered should get busy and
get theis names on the books.
Mrs. H. Cole and daughters, Misses
Elsie and Margaret, returned to their
home in Wilmington last Monday
after spending a few days in this
section.
Prof. N. M. Eason, of Smithfield,
spent the holidays in this section with
the St. John's Choir in preparing for
the Vocal. On account of bad weather
the Vocal was a failure.
On Christmas Day at 2:30 P. M.,
Mr. Edgar Barfield drove over in
Wayne and was united in marriage to
Miss Roxie Porter. Rev. T. W. Siler,
Newton Grove, performed the cere
mony.
Last Wednesday night Mr. Pete
Graham and Miss Lettie Thornton
drove over to Squire C. Williams' and
were united in the holy bonds of
matrimony.
On Christmas morning about 10:30
A. M., while our people were enjoying
the Christmas goodies our hearts
were saddened by the sad news of
the accidental death of one of our
best citizens, Mr. Alonzo Hood. Mr.
Hood was laid to rest on Wednesday
in the family burying ground under
the auspices of the Mill Creek Camp
4<?1) Woodmen of the World.
Mrs. D. Stephenson and children, of
McCullers and Mr. and Mrs. Howard
Casey, of Mt. Olive, spent the holidays
in this section with their parents, Mr.
and Mrs. J. M. Beasley.
Mr. Mat Blackman, of Charlotte,
N. C., spent the holidays in this sec
tion with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
R. W. Blackman. Mat is one of Ben
tonville's sons who has made good in
Charlotte.
PRICE OF COTTON SEED MEAL.
Ten Tons Minimum Quantity to Bo
Sold at Wholesale Figures.
Raleigh, Jan. 3. ? The fninimum
wholesale quantity of cottonseed meal
which must be sold by the crusher at
$49.50 per ton was today reduced from
30 tons to 10 tons by a ruling issued
by State Food Administrator Henry
A. Page. The ruling sent by Mr.
Page to all of the crushers in the
State ic. as follows:
"Any quantity of cottonseed meal
consisting of less than ten tons may
be considered as a retail sale, for
which not exceeding $2.50 per ton
above the agreed retail price may bo
charged, and any quantity uf 10 tons
or more shall be considered a whole
sale proposition and tho buyer of
same shal^jiot be charged exceeding
the agreed price plus any drayage or
cartage that may be necessary to
make delivery."
Exports of merchandise of New
York during the calendar year ending
December 31, amounted to $2,937,
512,242, according to a statement on
foreign commerce issued at the cus
tom house. The figures for 1916 were
$2,790,932,975. Imports of merchan
dise for 1916 were $1,360,514,517 while
the year previous the total was $1,
257,184,587. Exports of gold and
silver during the year totaled $152,
383,992 and in 1916, $143,394,07?
while imports amounted to $28,168,
247, and the year previous $80,482,