Hear William Jennings Bryan at Smithfield, Thursday, April 25th, at 3:00 O clock
AMERICANS FOUGHT
THEM VIGOROUSLY
GERMANS ATTACK OCR
FORCES IN FRANCE.
The Enemy Was Finally Forced
Back After Our Men Gave
Some Ground. Gas Shells
Were Thrown Against Ameri
can Forces.
The daily papers for yesterday
carried an account of an attack made
by the Germans on the Americans on
the sector northwest of Toul in
France. The following is the story
as told in Monday's papers:
With the American Army in France,
Saturday, April20. ? (By the Associa
ted Press.) German forces which at
tacked the American positions west of
the Renners foresS, northwest of Toul
today came across No Man's Land in
three waves. * They had been especi
ally trained for this operation. The
Americans, though <^?eatly outnum
bered, fought for ejvery inch of the
way, giving ground slowly and pour
ing a deadly machine gun, rifle and
automatic fire into the advancing en
emv.
?
The German barrage began before
sunrise, after a heavy bombardment
on the American front and rear posi
tions during the night. In an attempt
to put the American batteries out of
action, the Germans used an unusu
ally large number of gas shells, but
the American artillery replied vigor
ously, hurling hundreds of shells
across the Teuton lines.
Fought Every Inch of Way.
A counter-barrage let down by the
Americans caught the*adva*cing Ger
mans and killed a number of them
before they had opportunity to reach
the American trenches.
Tre Germans entered the shell-torn
village of Seicheprey in the fore?oon,
but only remained a short time, being
driven out again by a brilliant counter
attack by the American infantry. The
commander of one unit holding an out
post reported at one stage of the at
tack that his men were slowly giving
ground but they were "fighting every
inch of the way."
General Pershing's Report.
Washington, Apr. 22. ? General
Pershing's first report of the German
assault upon the American and French
forces in the Toul sector Saturday is
understood to indicate that the Ame
ricans sustained more than 200 casu
alties and to estimate the German
losses at between three and four
hundred.
It was learned tonight that the re
port had been received, but War De
partment officials refused to make it
public or to comment upon persistent
reports about the department con
cerning its contents. Secretary
Baker is understood to be awaiting
more details before making an an
nouncement, though he probably will
lay the information received before
the House Millitary Committee when
he appears tomorrow to tell of his
trip abroad.
Family Reunion.
On Saturday, April 13th, there was
held a family reunion at the old home
place of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Peedin.
All of their children and grand-child
ren were present with their baskets
filled with many pood things which
was very much enjoyed by all who
were present. Mr. and Mrs. Peedin
have seven children living, two girls
and five boys. All are married and
doing well. They have 28 grand
children and two great-grand children.
Only two were absent.
Elder Wyatt, of Selma, was present
and preached a very able sermon in
behalf of Mrs. Peedin who is very
feeble. After service dinner was
spread in the dining room and all
the families gathered around and en
joyed the feast together. After din
ner was over the children took their
dept rture for their homes, wishing
their aged parents many more happy
years. ? One Present.
To Speak at Wilson's Mills.
Mr. J. M. Broughton, of Raleigh,
will speak at Wilson's Mills Christian
church Friday night, April 26th, on
the War Situation. Public invited
to hear him.
>
CALIFORNIA ROCKED BY
A SEVERE EARTHQUAKE.
Twenty Buildings Demolished at
San Bernardina; Man Killed
At Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, Cal., April 21. ? A
severe earthquake of approximately
20 seconds duration shook the entire
southern portion of California at 3:33
this afternoon. Dozens of plate glass
windows in Los Angeles stores were
broken and several women were in
jured in panics - at theatres in Los
Angeles. The damage was quite ex
tensive.
One fatality was reported, a maa
being trampled to death in the rush
of a crowd on the Municipal pier at
Santa Monica, near here. Hundreds
of persons who were fishing off the
pier made a mad rush for solid ground
when the trembler began to rock the
heavy concrete construction. Several
persons were injured in the rush.
Chimneyc were shaken down in vari
ous localities and at San Bernardino,
about 75 miles east of here, a trick
building was reported to have collap
sed.
According to authenticated reports,
Hemet and San Jacinto, in Riverside
county, were entirely destroyed by the
earthquake. There were no telephone
or telegraph wires in operation, but
persons who escaped to nearby pointfe
reported serious destruction of prop
erty and probable loss of life.
COUNTY-WIDE TAX.
(By L. T. Royall.)
If the county-wide tax should be
carried, each special tax district can
reduce its tax to the amount of the
county levy. The County Board of
Education has asked that only ten
cents be levied, hence if a district is
paying a twenty-five cent special tax
it is in the hands of the committee to
lower this ten cents, or less if more
money is needed; and let the county
wide tax take its place. It will then
only be paying twenty-five cents as
before, but will get more money since
it will receive the benefit o? the
railroads and corporations. The rail
roads are valued at nearly three and
one half million dollars themselves;
then comes the corporations and
wealth of the towns.
Some say the towns get the benefit
of the school fund. There is not a
town but what pays more into the
general fund than it gets back. Take
for instance Smithfield, it pays twice
as much into the general fund as it
receives. The funds are distributed
among rural schools. Rural districts
receive more than they pay. The
countyAvide tax will be distributed in
the same manner as the general fund.
Our schools that have no local tax will
have a hard time getting teachers
unless more funds are raised in some
way. Why not vote a County-wide
Tax and get the benefit of all the
wealth you have helped to create, and
put everybody on the same footing?
A Birthday Party.
Wilson's Mills, April 22. ? Last
Friday night from 6:30 until 9:00
o'clock, Miss Dorothy Tomlinson de
lightfully entertained a number of her
friends in honor of her 14th birthday.
The guests were met at the door
by her mother, Mrs. J. W. Tomlinson,
to take hats and cloaks. They im
mediately went into the yard where
several games were played.
Afterward they were invited in the
dining room where hot chocolate,
sandwiches and cake were served.
Next was the guessing contest in
which Miss Eula Todd proved to be
the lucky one. Rook and old maid
were then the chief amusement.
Special music by Miss Jennie Beale
Tomlinson was enjoyed by all present.
They all departed at 9 o'clock , de
claring Miss Dorothy to be a charming
entertainer.
Those present were little Misses
Dorothy and Maud Tomlinson, Lucy
Gunn Uzzle, Carrie Belle Youngblood,
Velissa Massey, and Eula Todd, Edwin
Gordon, Wilson Uzzle, Charles Wil
son, Leonard Massey, Battle Todd, and
Robert Uzzle.
Mr. E. H. Moser, Superintendent of ,
the Selma Graded School, was at his
best in delivering the commencement
address at the Oak Grove School
Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock. His
subject was "Community Team
Work." A very interesting program
was rendered by the school, and a
picnic dinner was served at 6 o'clock.
REV. R. M. VON MILLER, OF FOUR OAKS,
MAKES STRONG PLEA FOR FAIR PLAY
Ever since the war was declared on
Germany by the United States, I have
sutYered the most undeserving persec
ution imaginable. The most outrag
eous falsehoods, that a human mind
could invent, have been circulated
against me all over the county. In
fact they are too numerous to mention,
everything said, had not even the re
motest resemblance of truth. Sev
eral times my life has been threaten
ed. Persistent rumors came to me
that people had planed to waylay me I
at night. In short ? on every hand
I had to suffer the most outrageous
indignities ? unbelievable among fair
minded people. During all this time j
I simply suffered them, "realizing that
this ill-treatment originated with
some irresponsible people, although
I sincerely believe, that I would be
justified to bring the matter to the at
tention of the U. S. Department of
Justice, as there seemed to be no pro
tection at home. It seems unbelieva
ble, but it is nevertheless true, that
these false rumors and distorted re
ports have affected some people, who
have always been held high in my
esteem. It is therefore necessary to i
come out with a statement.
>> here Do I Stand ?
There is not a person today that
could stand out and point out any
thing in my every word and conduct,
which is disloyal to the United States.
There is practically no difference be
tween me and any pood citizen in this
country today, except that I was born
in Germany. And this is an accident,
beyond any man's control.
I am 27 years in the United States,
during this time I have identified my
self with every American Institution.
As a citizen I have been above re
proach, and have almost exclusively
spent my time in preaching the Go^
pel. In 1900 I married one of your
own native born Souther* Ladies
from Sampson County. I have never
in all these 27 years been identified
with any German organization or fra
ternity because I do not believe in any
organization which does not foster
Americanism. In my theological pre
paration I selected an American, a
Southern Theological Seminary. (The
Southern Baptist Theological Semi
nary of Louisville, Ky.) During my at
tendance there, one of North Caro
lina's foremost governors, I am re
ferring to Governor Aycock, gave me
his financial support. As far back as
1904 Vice President Fairbanks, of the
U. S., commended me to the European
Governments while traveling abroad
as "a gentleman of the very highest
standing and character." Senator
Simmons and other Representatives of
the U. S. on various occasions gave
me gladly letters of commendation
testifiying to my loyalty as an Amer
ican citizen and spoke of their person
al esteem. These documents are still
in my possession. Since the out
break of the war , I offered my
services to the U. S., and in every
movement launched by our U. S. Gov
ernment, especially war loan, thrift
stamps, etc., I have given my
heartiest support. On numerous
occasions at public gatherings,
from the pulpit, from the platform of
various School houses in this and ad
joining counties at school closings and
special holidays, I have spoken in no
uncertain sounds, pleading with the
people to stand by the U. S. Govern
ment in the prosecution of the war
against kaiserism, autocracy and to
help with every dollar they can sparo
to win the war and help to make tho
world safe for democracy. Personally
I am a most ardent admirer of the
President of the United States, and
have been a strong supporter of our
administration. At the time when tho
president appeared before Congress
asking that a state of war should be
declared, I wrote him that I agreed
with every word he said and offered
my services to the United States when
ever needed. America is the country of
my choice, its flag is dearer to me than
words can tell, because it protected
me not only for 27 years, but espec
ially when I was in the war zone in
1914. Under that flag I will live and
under its shadow I desire to die. Un
der its sway I have labored the larger
part of my life and raised my children
to honor that flag, to fight for it if
necessary. I love the American peo
ple, among them are my choicest
friends, America's institutions and
principle* are sacred to me. I challenge
any man in the world and in Johnston
County, who can prove uny disloyal,
ty on my part ? if so let him be a man
and step out in the open and prove
his claim, and let justice prevail. But
I think it unfair to ill-treat a man be
cause he was born in Germany. At
such a time as this I would be the first
man that would bring any traitor to
the attention of the authorities, be he
of German blood or any other. I have
moved in your midst for nigh three
years, and I ask you, have you ever
heard me utter a word or have you
s Pen me ever acting any other than
as a loyal American; I have stood*
with word and example for truth,
morality, righteousness, and true
Christianity. I have served these un
stintingly, my time has been yours,
for which of these do you stone me?
1 appeal to you as fellow-citizens of
the greatest commonwealth of the
world, because I have always found
that true American people will give
a man a square deal. I ask this of
your hands, will you give it?
I am yours for service, call on me
any time and I am with you
in standing loyally in the rank
and file with every true Amer
ican to help to fight this war to a
victorious conclusion. If we prose
cute at all let us prosecute the war
over there. America and her Allies
will win, America will have a glorious
share in making the world free and
safe for democracy.
R. M. VON MILLER, Pastor.
Four Oaks, N. C.
THE NEWS IN CLAYTON.
Clayton, N. C., April 19. ? Miss
Helen Rogers left today for Green
ville, S. C., to visit her brother who
is in camp there.
Miss Barbara Gulley spent last
week end with Miss Alma Hall in
Bethesda section.
Mr. A. V. Gulley, of Smithfield, has
been here several days this week on
business.
Mrs. Chas. H. Killet and daughter
are spending some time in Raleigh.
Miss Bertie Taylor is at Trenton
this week attending to that branch of
her line of millinery.
Mr. T. D. Blackwood, a citizen of
Neuse, was here one day this week on
business.
Miss Pauline Batten, of Wilders
township, has accepted a position at
Clayton Department Store.
Corporal E. W. McCullers, of Camp
Sevier, is here for five days with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. McCullers.
Those from out of town attending
the play "The Girl Who Dared." at
thcr Auditorium here Tuesday night
were Miss Nancy Page, of Raleigh;
Mr. R. H. Garrison, Raleigh; Mr. B.
C. Allen and Bell Jones, of A. and E.
College, and Mr. A. V. Gulley, of
Smithfield. *
Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Edgerton made
a business trip to Smithfield Wed
nesday.
Miss Bessie Burkheimer left Wed
nesday for her home at Wilmington
after spending a couple of weeks with
Miss Melba McCullers.
"The Girl Who Dared" was a
grand success from every standpoint.
This play was gotten up by Miss
Bessie Burkheimer, of Wilmington,
assisted by Miss Melba McCullers. It
was played Tuesday night in the
Auditorium. All the characters were
splendid and a packed house well
pleased. Proceeds went to Red Cross.
Mr. Sam Musgrove is spending this
week at Greenville on business.
Clayton now has waving over the
bank the Honor Flag of the Third
Liberty Loan which is awarded by
the U. S. Treasury Department to
every town in the country which sells
its quota of Liberty Bonds in the
present campaign. Clayton's quota
was $33,000 and was over subscribed
before the official opening of the
campaign. The flag is three by five
feet, is white with red border and has
three wide bars through the middle.
Death in Elevation..
On Friday, April 19th, Mrs Alma
Lanpdon, wife of Mr. S. T. Lanjjdon,
of Elevation township, died at her
home of pneumonia. The burial took
place Saturday at a graveyard on the
farm of her father, Mr. S. A. Las
siter. She was thirty-two years old
and leaves her husband and four little
boys.
THREE BROTHERS DROWN
IN CREEK AT WINSTON.
Charles. Burton and Sherman Clinard
Lose Lives When Small Rowboat
Capsizes.
Winston-Salem, April 21. ? Three
brothers, Charles Clinard, aged 38;
Burton Clinard, aged 20, and Sherman
Clinard, aged 10, were drowned in
Salem creek at 12:30 this afternoon
and at a late hour tonight their bodies
had not been recovered though the
creek was dragged by a number of
men all afternoon.
The brothers in a small boat went in
the creek which was nine feet deep and
running swiftly. The boat began
leaking and when the occupants at
tempted to row it to shore it turned
over. Chas. Clinard could swim but
in his efforts to save the other two
they all went down clinging to one an
other. A small boy sitting on the
creek bank was the only person that
witnessed the drowning.
The oldest brother leaves a wife
and several children.
The (ireat Change.
Slowly but surely the public mind
has been undergoing a change on the
war question. Six months ago thous
ands of people, perhaps they were num
be red by millions, were bitterly oppos
ed to our going to war with Germany.
They were indignant that we were
involved in a foreign struggle, and
felt that France and England should
be allowed to fight it out for them
selves. This large element was just as
honest as those who clamored for war.
They were followers of William Jen
nings Bryan. They could not see that
this fight was our fight. They did not
realize the force of Mr. Wilson's
slogan "making the world safe for
democracy." They had not yet reached
the point where they could willingly
give their boys to the bloody strug
gle. But as the days and months have
passed, and the meaning of German
oppression has been borne in on the
public mind, a great change has come
over the spirit of their dreams. They
are seeing now as they have never
seen before, that Germany intended to
fasten its yoke upon the neck of every
human being. They are beginning to
comprehend the deviltry and depth of
German arrogance. They are at last
convinced that Germany does not
think anybody is fit to live unless they
bow to the House of Hohenzollern;
and as this conception gets hold of the
hearts and minds of free Americans
they are getting mad. The dull indif
ference of the past is giving way to a
warm and holy indignation. The av
erage citizen of the Unted States is
gritting his teeth and saying: "These
godless Huns shall not rule this
world." And the air is charged with
spirit of resistance and a determina
tion to fight that spell defeat for the
Teuton barbarians. This sentiment
will continue to deepen and widen
every day. The issue, so hard to
understand, is notv plain, and clear.
Making the world safe for democracy
means the saving of our civilization
from the blight of German blasphemy.
It means the saving of our religion,
the protection of our wives and child
ren, the perpetuation of our peaceful
and happy home life. Now fathers
and mothers are bidding good bye to
their boys with a sacred sorrow, it is
true, but brightened with a smile.
Our hearts are heavy, but they are no
longer bitter. If our brave boys must
"Suffer they suffer for a cause as holy
as any that ever unsheathed a sword.
? Charity and Children.
Walt Holcomb To He in Selma.
Selma, April 22. ? The churches of
Selma are uniting in an Evangelistic
Campaign to begin May 10. These
services are to be union in nature and
led by Rev. Walt Holcomb, of Nash
ville, Tenn. Holcomb is one of the
South's great evangelists. A son-in
law of Sam Jones and a co-worker
with him at the time of the death of
Jones. He is a popular Lyceum and
Chautauqua speaker and a preacher
of great force.
The churches of Selma, under the
leadership of their pastors, are making
extensive plans for" the meetings,
which will probably be held in the
old "Rough and Ready."
Mr. E. H. Moser, of Selma. will
speak at Shiloh Wednesday night at
8:30 o'clock, explaining county-wide
tax. Every voter is urged to be
present. '
MY WAR PROGRAMME
(By M. B. Andrews.)
What would be an adequate war pro
gram for our nation? The unexam
pled success and popularity of the
selective draft law for forming an
army makes me feel warranted in sug
gesting the application of the principle
of this law to many other phases of
national activity. I favor the draft
ing of wealth. Some of our citizens
have heard of War Stamps and Liberty
Bonds until they are tired of hearing
rtf them. Every individual in the land
today knows that money is necessary
with which to win this war. It would
save time, energy, and resources to
draft American money power into
service. I do not believe that this is
a time in which it is right to say, "To
him that hath shall be given, and to
him that hath not shall it be taken
away." Rather, the reverse of that
great statement should be put fnto
execution at the present time. From
those who have should be taken, and
from those who have not should noth
ing but loyalty, co-operation, and un
selfish service bo demanded.
I favor the drafting of food neces
sities, clothing necessities, and all
other necessities for the success of
the war. Several of the strongest
journals published in this Country
have already become convinced that
voluntary food conservation is, though
wonderfully effective in itself, decided
ly inadequate to meet the needs of the
world. It would be well to convert
the whole Hoover department of the
Government into a kind of menu and
food supply directory reaching au
thoritatively every home and every
individual in America. It is evident
to the thoughtful man that food is
wasted in ten thousand unneccesary
ways; it is equally evident to the
thoughtful man that individual initia
tive will not eradicate the waste.
Our soldier boys in camp are pulsat
ing with life and energy; I venture the
guess that the average soldier really
disposes of less food a day than does
the average citizen. Government su
pervision and regulation of the daily
menus in American homes would
materially increase the efficiency of
the mass of our citizens and would
at the same time make it possible for
a larger quantity of food to be di
verted into the proper channels for the
feeding of our soldiers and the soldiers
of our allies.
I favor the drafting of labor. The
term labor to us includes every indi
vidual who is capable of earning his
bread by the sweat of his brow.
Government supervision and regula
tion of all individual activity for the
duration of the war would mean an
increase in war preparation, execution,
and general efficiency from one
hundred to ten hundred per cent. I
am willing to have all that I posess
drafted into service. Guaranteed
food, clothing, shelter, and congenial
companionship, I am willing to work
just as many hours a day and just as
many days a week as my Government
thinks wise until this war is won. I
am willing to say that not one penny
more will I add to my present posses
sions until this war has passed into
history. My brothers cut loose from
home, profit, and the future and
volunteered all that they had includ
ing their own lives to save humanized
civilization. I am willing to follow
their example. I am willing to sur
render all.
Kenly, North Carolina.
Handsome Gift for Church.
I)r. James Sprunt, of Wilmington,
has increased his gift to the Presby
terian church at Chapel. Last year he
cave thirty thousand dollars for the
building of a new church at the State
University as a memorial to his wife,
The architect's plans called for more
money and now Mr. Sprunt has added
twenty-thousand more to his gift,
making fifty-thousand in all. The
building is to be colonial in design
with tall spire. When completed the
Presbyterian church at Chapel Hill
will be the equal of almost any church
in the State.
The building of a handsome and com
modious church at the State Univer
sity where mere than a thousand
young men from all sections gather
for the scholastic year is a very fine
move. If some rich and consecrated
Methodi3t, Baptist and Episcopalian
would do likewise for their denomina
tions they would be serving a great