VOLUME 40 SMITHFIELD, N. C, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1921 NUMBER 85 TROOPS ON RHINE TO RETURN TO U. S. American Troops Will Be gin Moving Out of Ger many in Two Weeks Washington, Oct. 22.—The formal terms of ratification of the peace treaties with Germany and Austria have been sent forward to Berlin and Vienna, it was announced today. As soon as these formal exchanges have been completed with the former ene my powers it is expected that im mediate steps will be taken to set up diplomatic machinery and resume full normal relations with those govern ments. American troops will begin moving out of Germany immediately upon the exchange of the ratifications of the German treaty, it was added. The movement, it was said, will be norm al but slow, and will begin in approxi mately two weeks. The withdrawal of the troops it was said, has been delayed because their presence in Germany had proven to be far from obnoxious and even desir able to the government and the peo ple of Germany. There are now ap proximately 15000 American forces on the Rhine. A proclamation of peace will be is sued upon completion of exchange of ratification, it was stated. It had been felt in some quarters that the formal proclamation would be unnecessary because of the peace resolution adopt ed by Congress but the President’s thought, on the question, it was added was that by issuing a proclamation all legal technicalities would be com plied with. The announcement that the troops on the Rhine would be moving home ward in about two weeks was in line with the expressed belief that the ratification exchanges would be com pleted by that time. Meanwhile, army transports, some of which are already in contiguous water, will be placed in readiness to bear the American boys across the Atlantic. Government officials plainly are proud of the record made by the American troops, one declaring that their “influence has been manifestly good.” Praise also was given the com manders of the troops who were de scribed as having handled admirably many situations of a potential contro versial nature. Parliamentary action is yet to be completed by Hungary on the peace treaty which was also ratified by the U. S. senate this week. When this is done, formal ratifications will also be exchanged with that government. Development of Day in Strike Situation. Following were Sunday’s develop ments in the railroad strike situation: San Antonio: Labor leaders claim strike of 600 trainmen on Internation al and Great Northern which started Saturday is 100 per cent perfected but road says passenger service is un impaired and resumption of freight service halted Saturday, has been started. Unions announce no attempt will be made to interfere with efforts to resume fujl service. Cleveland: Big Four Brotherhood chiefs say that if strike materializes, the blame for it should be placed on the United States railroad labor board and on the railroads. Chicago: Railroad heads say action of majority of the 11 “standard” uni ions in refusing to join a strike now has broken the backbone of the pro posed walkout. Strike ballot being taken among 14,000 organized signal men. Result expected to be known Wednesday. United States district attorney, Clyne, summoned to Washington by Attorney General Daugherty, pre sumably to discuss the strike sit uation.— * Sidney C. Pierce Dead. Mr. Sidney £. Pierce of Smithfield died at his home at the old mill vil lage early on Tuesday morning of this week. Mr. Pierce suffered a stroke of paralysis in May, 1917, from which he never recovered. On the morning of his death he arose feeling as well as usual, but soon after serious illness set in that brought the end by eight o’clock. Mr. Pierce is survived by a widow and three small children. OXFORD DEFEATS SMITHFIELD BY CLOSE SCORE OF 7 TO 0. Game Featured by Oxford and Runs and Interference; Fake End Run of Skinner; Ellington’s Tackles. Oxford defeated Smithfield in the first game on the local gridiron on Friday by a 7 to 0 score. The game was closely contested but Oxford succeeded in putting over a touch down by end rubs and fakes in the fourth quarter. E Mitchell kicked goal. In the first quarter Smithfield missed an excellent chance to make a touchdown when Brown collided with the right hand goal post after catch ing a forward pass from Holland. He was painfully hurt but refused to be removed and played a good game the remaining part of the game. The ball changed often thruout the game. The two teams were so evenly matched that it was feared that neither team would score. The Oxford team av eraged i54 pounds while the Smith field eleven averaged 150 pounds. Through fast laying in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter they brought the ball to our five yard line. Then they faked for a center rush but by a quick end run they took the ball over. Smithfield fought bitterly for the remaining 8 minutes but could not get anywhere. Smithfield pulled the most brilliant play of the game in the fourth quarter, when Holland signaled for a fake pass and Skinner made an end run for 30 yards. If he had had any interference it would have been a touchdown. Ellington made some pretty tackles thruout the game. The following is the lineup: Smithfield Oxford Brown__ Taylor left-end Pittman --... Tignor left tackle Hamer_ Allen left guard Wharton____ Floyd center Beasley __ Fuller right guard Biggs_ Smith right tackle Honeycutt___Mitchell, T. right end Holland __... Mitchell, W. quarterback Ellington__Royster left halfback Skinner s_... Mitchell, E. right halfback Godwin _Taylor, W. fullback Substitutes for Smithfield: Boyett for Honeycutt; Honeycutt for Boyett. Referee Holding. Umpire Wellons. Touchdowns Mitchell, W. Recreation Club Meets. Thursday afternoon, Mrs. W. L. Ellis was hostess to the Recreation Club at her home on North Third street. The house was decorated with an autumn motif, autumn leaves and cut flowers being used effectively. The form of recreation for the after noon was rook. After several enthus iastic games, delicious refreshments consisting of banana jello with whip ped cream and cake were served. Those present on this occasion besides club members were: Mrs. C. . A. Creech, Mrs. Roger Smith, Mrs. R. 0. Cotter, Mrs. N. B. Grantham, Mrs. II. D. Ellington. Mrs. Arthur Narron, Mrs. Howard Gray, Miss Alice Gran tham, Miss Ora Cansler, Miss Eula Parrish and Miss Laura Holt. o3 JAP DELEGATES ARE NOW IN WASHINGTON First of the Governments to Be In the Conference To Arrive Washington, Oct. 24.—Preliminary to beginning actual preparations for participation in the forth coming armament conference, the members of the Japanese delegation, who ar rived in Washington yesterday, plan ned to devote today to the exchange of courtesy calls with American of ficials and members of the diplomat ic corps. The Japanese contingent, comprising the military and naval ad visory delegates, headed respectively by Major General Tanaka and Vice Admiral Kato, is the first from the governments invited to participate in the conference to reach the capital. The principal group of Japanese del egates is now enroute to the United States. Greeted at the station by offcials of the government the delegates who arrived yesterday were greeted with a vociferous welcome by crowds along the streets as they proceeded to their hotel under cavalry escort.—Asso ciated Press. FAVORABLE PICKING WEATHER Harvesting of Cotton Crop Continues To Make Rapid Progress in Belt Washington, Oct. 19—Ideal weather for picking and ginning .cotton pre vailed during the past week and very rapid progress was made in all sec tions where this work has not been completed, according to the National Weather and Crop Bulletin issued to day. Killing frosts occurred in the northern sections of the cotton belt, but without material damage, the bul letin stated, and added: “Picking has been completed in South Carolina, except in the north western portion, and the crop has been mostly gathered in Tennessee. This work is far advanced in Arkansas, is well along in Oklahoma and about completed in Texas, except in the northwest portion. Picking has been practically accomplished in Georgia, and has been finished in most sections of central and southern Alabama, while rapid progress was made in North Carolina and Mississippi and the crop has been mostly picked in Louisiana.” The seeding of small grains made rapid progress during the week in the southern portion of the winter wheat belt from the Mississippi Valley east ward, but the soil has become too dry for wheat in the Atlantic Coast States from Virginia southward and in Ok lahoma. Rain is needed also for fruit and fall truck in all parts of the South. Washes Hands With Gasoline And $5,000 Fire is The Results. Kinston, Oct. 20.—Because a color ed employe of the West Construction Co mpany washed his hands in gaso line with a lighted lantern over his arm, work on the Elm Grove road one of the principal projects of the big Lenoir county road program will be hindered for a time. The highway commission today gave the reason for a $5,000 fire at a road construction station two and one-half miles south of here yesterday. The blaze that was started when gas fumes were ignited from the lantern quickly en veloped two small locomotives used in hauling materials and a secton o* a 200-foot tunnel of the station. The locomotives, gasoline propell ed engines, and 15 or 20 feet of the tunnel, which was partly of frame con struction, were entirely destroyed. The value of the locomotives new, was greater than the loss the company is estimated to have sustained. City fire men hurried to the road station but were unable to save the blazing prop erty. No employe was injured. The negro with the lantern made a hasty exit from the fire zone and escaped being burned. Yes, Anything. Sir: A friend of mine, who has been taking yeast, ate a quantity of raisins today. Do you think if I can induce him to stay in a cool, dry place anything may be expected to develop ? Chicago Tribune.