-FOR GOD, FOR. COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH.1
ftXO a Year, In Advance.
VOL. XXV.
PLYMOUTH, N. C.r FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1914,
NO. 7.
FRENCH RELATIONS
V1TH AUSTRIA END
ORDERS HER AMBASSADOR TO
RETURN AND AUSTRIAN
LEAVES PARIS.
f RENCH POSSESS ALSACE
Censorship Prevents Publication of
Casulties of the Trl-Color Status
of Affairs Pleasing to Belgium
Paris. yia London. It was official
ly announced that France had broken
off diplomatic relations with Austria-Hungary-
The French Ambassador at
Vienna has left the Austrian Capital
ajid the Austro-Hungarlan Ambassa
dor at Pari3 has asked for his pass
ports. In announcing the breaking off of
relations with Austria the French
Foreign Office made . the following
statement: . ,
"Contrary to assurance given by
Austria to the French Minister of
Foreign Affairs that no Austrian
troops were taking part in the Franco
German War, the French Government
has ascertained beyond any possible
doubt that certain Austrian troops are
present in Germany, outside the Aus
trian frontier. These troops which
have set free certain German troops
destined to be employed in-fighting the
French, ought indubitably de facto and
de jure, to be considered as acting
against France. In these, circum
stances the French Ambassador was
oidered to leave Vienna.
"The Austrian Ambassador at Paris,
on being informed of .France's decis
ion asked for his passports."
NO STARTLING BATTLES YET.
War of Seven Nations Are Devoid of
Big Battle.
London. No great battle has yet
been fought on land or sea in the war
of seven Nations, unless the German
assaults upon the fortresses at Liege
eventually assume the proportions of
a battle in history. Both combatants
claim victory, there, with the Belgians
still holding the forts and the Ger
mans occupying the city.
The situation is unique. There Is
no confirmation of The Daily Mall's
report that the French have engaged
the Germans and cut off their re
treat, inflicting a loss of 8,000 men.
The Belgians claim that they have
taken 8,000 prisoners on Belgian soil,
but military men regard all the esti
mates of the belligerents as great ex
aggerations. Apart from Liege the fighting of
the first week, when resolved to the
proper perspective eventually doubt
less will be considered Insignificant.
One of the most important develop
ments in th eyes of experts Is the
general testimony that the German In
fantry formation is obsolete and in
effective against the weapons of to
day and means an enormous slaughter
K reiaanea.
France and Austria finally are of
ficially at war, the Ammbassadors hav
ing left the respective Capitals. The
French Government broke off diplo
matic relations with Austria on- the
grounds that Austrian troops were re
inforcing the Germans.
Austria appears to have abandoned
the advance on Servia for a time and
apparently is co-operating with ' Ger
many, in the supposed strategy of at
tempting to crush France before Rus
sia can mobilize.
Financial conditions la England tare
returning to normal. Although xthere
is a great disorder in many trades the
prices of foodstuffs have risen only
lightly. .
France Is Happy.
Paris. The invasion of Jower Alsace
oy a French army under Gen. Joseph
, Joffre, the French commander-in-chief,
has awakened great enthusiasm
throughout France.
French military authorities, while
recognizing the occupation, of Alt
kirch and Muelhausen by French
troops is not of strategical importance,
assert that the successful advance of
the French army far across the Gee
man frontier will have considerable
moral effect.
Caring For Tourists.
London. The London resident com
mittee paid out $10,000 to tourists on
cable orders from their home banks.
In needy cases hotel bills were paid.
The various commitees formed to help
Americans, having found they were
being victimized, established a com
mon investigation headquarters to
eliminate irnposters. A society of col
lege women has been formed by Mrs.
Walter H. Page, Mrs. David Starr Jor
dan and others to guard the interests
of stranded American school teacher.
SERVIAN INFANTRY MARCHING TO THE FRONTIER
' .
if-
AIERIGAN VESSELS
JILL BE ADMITTED
RELIEF FELT OVER FACT THAT
SHIPS MAYENTER FOREIGN
I PORTS.
WAR NEWS IS ONLY PAfJIAL
German Side Not Received on Ac
count of Cables Being Cut Look
Toward Mediation.
Washington. Observation of strict
neutrality by the United States in the
European war, especially as to the
movements of foreign ships in Ameri
can waters, gave the .Washington gov
ernment concern.
The department of commerce issued
special instructions which may have
an important effect on the movement
of reservists from the. United States.
What amounts to military expedition
from American soil will be prohibited
in accordance with President Wilson's
neutrality proclamation. State, treas
ury and commerce department offi
cials were absorbed in deciding the
numerous technicalities which have
arisen in conection with foreign-owned
ships Buch as the Olympic and
Vaterland, so that it may be estab
lished definitely whether they are be
ing "converted for war purposes."
Relief measures for Americans in
Europe are working smoothly. The
state department cabled $100,000 to
Paris and $25,000 to Rome for imme
diate use of the American embassies
pending the arrival of the Tennessee's
gold consignment.
Assurances that , the , Tennessee
and North Carolina as well as vessels
to bring Americans out of Europe
would be admitted to ports of the
countries at war, brought relief to the
officials. The two warships are
bound, it is understood, for Falmouth,
England. One of the vessels then
will jgo to Northern Continental ports
and the other to Mediterranean
shores.
Diplomatic dispatches contained lit
tle information about fighting in Eu
rope beyond what had been publish
ed. The French and Russian gov
ernments acknowledged receipt of
"the tender of good offices" looking
toward mediation, but gave no hint as
to their attitude. It Is not known
whether President Wilson's message
to Emperor William reached him.
25,000 GERMANS KILLED.
Official Statement. First Story From
- Berlin.
London. The seige of Liege is the
outstanding feature of the European
war. Latest advices, received by way
of London in official dispatches, say
Liege still holds out against the at
tacks of the German Army of the
"Meuse.
On the authority of the Belgian
War Ministry the German casulties
in the battle around Liege number
25,000, according to their own ad
mission. An official statement issued
from Berlin described the attempt
on the Liege fortress as unsuccessful
and the assault of the Germans as
"a unique act of heroism" and added
that it will not have the slighest
influence on the larger operations
of the German Army.
German diplomats have been using
their utmost efforts to win Italy to
the German side, by negotiations and
a direct appeal to King Victor Em
manuel, rbut without success. The
Italian Ambassador at London, thank
ing a great assembly, including sever
al peers and members of Parliament,
which gathered in front of the Em
bassy, said Italy had declared her
neutrality and would adhere to It.
ENGLAND CALLS
HALF-MILLION IN
REALIZING FIGHT IS TO DEATH
BRITAIN ISSUES CALL TO
SERVICE.
KITCHENER WAR MINISTER
$500,000,000 Appropriated By Parlia-
. ment. British Fleet Has Engaged
Germans. Sank British Cruiser.
London. The passage of a war bud
get for $500,000,000 in the HoUse of
Commons without a dissenting voice
and the granting of an Army increase
of 500,000 men in accordance with
plans of Lord Kitchener, the new War
Minister, shows that Great Britain is
in deadly earnest.
Call to arms issued by the War
Office says an addition of 100,000 men
to the regular Army is needed imme
diately and that Lord Kitchener Is
confident this appeal will at once be
responded to "by all who have the
safety of our Empire at heart."
The term of service for the new
men is to be three years, or until the
war is ended. The age of enlistment
will be between 19 and 30.
The naval estimates provided for
67,000. additional officers and men,
which will make the navy's strength
218,000 men.
There are no illusions in England
that the war is certain to be a swift
and decisive one. The people are
steeled for a long and exhuastlve
struggle.
The Admiralty notified the public
that the first news from the Navy
might not be good news. Swift upon
the heels of this Intimation came the
tidings that the cruiser Amphion had
been sunk by a mine . with the loss
of on officer and 130 men Great Brit
ain's first sacrifice to the war.
It Is considered that British ships
in the North Sea are running greater
risks during the first days of the war
than the Germans. The Royal family
shares with the home3 of its many
subjects the suspense of waiting for
news of the, fate of the different units
of the fleet. Prince Albert, the second
son of the King, aboard the battleship
Collinwood, Is one of the many boy
midshipmen afloat sharing the perils
of their elders.
There was a dramatic incident in
the House of Commons when the fued
between Lord Charles Beresford and
Winsf on S. Churchill, First Lord of
the Admiralty, was buried. Admiral
Beresford shook hands with the First
Lord and said:
"Well done."
The torpedo-boat destroyer Lance,
which sent the Hamburg-American
Line steamer Koenigin Luise to the
bottom with four shots, only come out
of the shipyards only a few days before
hardly dry.
French Capture' German Steamer.
Paris. A Freneli mine ship cap
tured and towed into Cherbourg a
5,000-ton German steamer.
China Is Neutral.
P-eking, China. China proclaimed
her neutrality in conection with ' the
European conflict. The work of for
tifying the German possession of
Tsing Tau continued and the authori
ties there added to their accumula
tion of provisions. Foreign enterprise
in China being paralyzed, many Chin
ese have been affected already and are
withdrawing their money from the
banks controlled by financiers repre
senting Russia, France, England,
1 Germany and Japan which hitherto
J had commanded every conndence.
if ;' '. .
' v ; :t 1ft 'l'i" &
1ZP'
OFFER MEDIATION
RRING NATIONS
UNITED STATES WILL USE ALL
MEANS POSSIBLE TO HASTEN
WORLD PEACE.
IS ONLY NEUTRAL .POWER
Secretary Bryan Informs Ambassa
dors of Attitude of the Govern
ment of This Country.
Washington. President Wilson for
mally offered the services of the Uni
ted States government to the warring
nations of Europe should ' they- desire
to discuss terms of peace. He tender
ed what technically is phrased as
"good offices" which, If accepted In
principle, would bo followed by a
conference of representatives of the
powers of Europe, in which the Uni
ted States would play the role of me
diator. Under the Hague convention to
which all European nations except
Servia are signatories, a neutral na
tion is urged in time of international
conflict to tender her good office to
contending powers. Acting under the
terms of the Hague convention the
president cabled Emperor William of
Germany, Emperor Nicholas of Rus
sia, Emperor Francis Joseph of Aus
tria, King George of Great Britain and
President Poincare of France as fol
lows :
"As official head of one of the pow
ers signatory to the Hague conven
tion, I feel it to be my privilege and
my duty under Article 3 of that con
tention to say to you in a spirit of
xnoit earnest friendship that I should
welcome an opportunity to act in the
interest of European peace either now
or at any other time that might be
thought more suitable, as occasion to
serve you and all concerned in a way
that would afford mo lasting cause for
gratitude and happiness.
(Signed) "Woodrow Wilson."
The proffer of good offices was for
warded by Secretary Bryan to the
American embassies in the nations in
volved and through them transmitted
to the government.
It was said at the White House no
intimations had been received that
such an offer would be favorably re
ceived. President Wilson took the
position that the European war was
so stupendous and that its effect on
the entire world was liable to be so
lasting that the United States as one
of the few large neutral powers, could
not do otherwise than at least offer
to be the means for bringing about
peace. - . ' . -
. t
Secretary Bryan summoned all
European diplomats In the city and
gave them a copy of the telegram
in the hope that they would transmit
it to their governments and urge ac
ceptance of the tender. The Austrian
ambassador, representatives of the
British, Russian, German and French
embassies and Belgian legation call
ed at the department.
1 Villa Lined Up.
El Paso, Texas. Americans who ar
rived from Chihuahua City asserted
General Villa has reached a satisfac
tory agreement with the peace envoys
from Pre3ident Carabajal. This news
tended to confirm the report that Villa
would treat with President Carbajal,
regardless of General Carranza's atti
tude. A decree Issued recently by
Villa's military governor stated that
unless all industries now closed in the
state or reopened within one month,
double taxes will be charged against
1 the companies.
ibr -iLT 'Witt -rf. iVfth' jl
WA
FRENCH ARMY HAS
VADED ALSACE
AVEJGE DISGRACE OF HALF CEN
TURY AGO. FRENCH ARE
WELCOME.
MARTIAL LAW ESTABLISHED
Frenth Losses Not Excessive" But
German Loss Said to Be "Very
Serious."
Paris. The invasion of lower Alsace
by a French army under General Jo
seph Jeff re, the French commander-in-chief,
has awakened great enthusiasm
throughout France.
French military authorities, while
reconizing the occupation of Altkirch
and Muelhausen, by French troops is
not of high strategical importance,
believe the successful advance of the
French army far across the German
frontier will have considerable moral
effect. It fa reported unofficially that
Kolber, farther to the north, has
fallen into the hands of the French.
None of these three places was strong
ly fortified and all He outside the line
of real German defense, being guard
ed as outposts of the strong fortified
cities. Their German garrisons nu
merically were fairly strong but it was
understood that In case of attack they
merely would endeavor to hinder the
French advance before falling back.
Neu Briesack, where they are said
to have retired is east of Kolmar and
is strongly fortified, while Strassburg,
some distance to the north, the cen
ter of a great aggregation of German
troops, is strongly fortified and sup
posed to be prepared for a long siege.
Official reports, of fighting between
the French and German troops state
that the French losses were "not ex
cessive," while those of the Germane
are declared by the French to have
been "very serious." The Alsatian in
habitants are said to have been so
overjoyed at the appearance of the
French Army that they tore up the
frontier posts.
Reports of the arrival of an Aus
trian Army corps on the Swiss fron
tier near Basel were the object of
close attention by French military au
thorities. It was said that several
more Austrian Army corps were be
ing organized in the Tyrol whence
they later would be sent toward the
French frontier. In view of this the
French Government asked, the Austro-
Hungarlan Ambassador to Franco,
who remains at his post, to explain the
intentions of Austria-Hungary- in re
gard to France.
Before retiring from Mulshausen
German troops are said to have set
fire to numerous buildings, especially
warehouses where food and forage
were stored. The forest of Hard, near
Kolmar, is said to have been razed.
Martial law has been established
in Alsace, where' it 13 said the Ger
mans announced that any person sus
pected of sympathizing with the
French would be executed.
WIRE SERVICE TO BERLIN
Washington Inquiries About Amerl
cans Taken As Spies.
Washington. Secretary Bryan an
coanced that the American govern
ment 'was in communication with all
its European embassies and legations
and that every effort was being made
to care for Americans on the conti
nent. Communications with Ambas
sador Gerard at Berlin was establish
ed through Copenhagen. Mr. Bryan
Immediately telegraphed inquiring
about Archer M. Huntington, presl
dent of the American Geographical
Society, and other Americans report
ed arrested as spies.
.Official dispatches revealed that
many Americana had been arrested
or temporarily detained In Germany
and that the first outbreak of hos
tilities and during mobilization per
sons who talked English were 'under
espionage.
The state department announced
that an additional $50,000 had been
cabled to Minister Stovall of Switz
erland and that it was estimated 8,000
Americans were in that country.
" Confiscate Money.
Berlin. Three motor cars carrying
large sums of money were captured
by German people and troops a3 they
were trying to cross the Russian fron
tier.
The empress and princess of the
Imperial family personally are par
ticipating in supplying food for Ger
man reservists passing through Ber
lin. They were enthusiasticai'y
cheered by the troops.
Among those who have entered thv
German barracks at Doeberitz ar a
superior Rusiaa official.
31 PER CENT FIRES
ARE PREVENTABLE
DEFECTIVE FLUES, SHINGLE
ROOFS AND TRASH PILES ARE
THE CAUSES.
REPORT OF STATISTICIAN
Campaign Inaugurated by Commis
sioner Young to Educate People
on Fire Prevention.
Raleigh. Thirteen per cent of the
fires in North Carolina during the
past year resulted from preventable
causes purely and fighteen per cent
grew out of conditions which were
largely of a preventable nature. This
is the general conclusion from the
figures presented by the report of the
statistician of the North Carolina
Firemen's Association just published.
This makes a possible total of 31 per
cent of fires which might have been
prevented "if proper "precaution had
been taken. ,
The figures were presented in way
of emphasis on the campaign which
has been inaugurated by Insurance
Commissioner J. R. Young for the
education c' the state as to the proper
methods of fire prevention. To this
Mr. Sherwood Brockwell former chief
of the fire department of Raleigh and
one of the best known and most suc
cessful fire fighters in the state . as
well as an authority on the subject of
fire prevention has been retained as
chief of the Bureau of Fire Preven
tion. The duty of Mr. Brockwell will
be to reduce the fire hazards in the
state, as well as to train the existing
companies along the lines of greatest
efficiency.
The statisticians report shows that
738 fires were reported for the year.
Eighty-four of this number occurred
from defective flue3 and twelve from
defective wiring, making a total of
ninety-six or thirteen per cent from
strictly preventabl-3 causes. One hun
dred and thirty-five fires were caused
from sparks from chimneys or from
locomotlv33. If shingle roofs . and
trash piles could have been eliminated
few of these fires would have oc
curred. The total value of property risk
reported was $8,712,942. Th3 total
damage by fire was $588,b48, leaving
the value of property saved from de
struction $8,124,294.
There are 936 voiunteer (firemen In
the state, and 136 paid firemen. Three
cities reported fully paid hremen. The
fire equipment includes thirteen auto
trucks.
NEW HOMES FOR BANKS.
Four Structures Being Erected for
Financial Institution of Bull City.
Durham. The -" contract for the
erection of the Merchants Bank build
ing was let to contractor Norman Un
derwood and work will start at once.
A part of the foundation for this
building has been laid for sometime
past, but the work was held up until
some minor changes could be made
in the plans of the building in order
that another eight feet of Bpace would
be used behind the site that was first
bought. ,
This makes the fourth of the Dur
ham banks who have homes now in
the progress of construction. The
concrete foundations for the big Geer
building which will house the Fidel
ity bank are being laid. The excava
tion is being made for the new home
of the First National bank, which
will be an eight-story building, the
bank, and the upper stories to office
rooms. The Citizens National Bank
is having the marble placed on the
ground for the construction of their
new home on the corner of Main and
Mangum streets.
All of these buildings will be of the
latest designs in architecture for
banking concerns. They will be fire
proof structures.
Raleigh Sells Bonds.
Raleigh. The Raleigh city commis
sion sold to the Security Trust Com
pany of Spartanburg, S. C, $75,000
bonds for additional water plant ex
tension the bid having beea 419 above
par.
Tar Heels in Washington.
Washington. A. M. Dunry, F. S.
Johnson Havens, George Hackney of
Washington; J. B. Blades, James A.
Bryan, A. W. Ward, of Newbern; M.
O. Blount, of Bethel; C. S. Carr ,of
Greenville; T. C. Turnage, of Farm
vine; Hugh Murray, of Wilson; Frank
Page, of Aberdeen, and. W. B. Drake,
of Raleigh, were here to confer with
Secretary McAdoo about getting funda
to move the crop. Senator Simmons
and Representatives Small and Page
presented them.