f13 a Yar, la Advanc.
FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH."
VOL. XXV.
PLYMOUTH, N.'O., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1914.
no. 24.
USSIANS CLAIM
GREAT VICTORY
Slavonic Hosts Announce That They Kav3
Won Decisive Battle Over -Germans
PORTUGAL MAYJNTER WAR
Inactivity Marked In Western War
Theater Kaiser Returns From
Polish Front
London, England. Reliable news of
the progress of the battle in Poland,
which . continues to monopolize inter
est, still Is lacking. An unofficial dis
patch from Petrograd says the battle
of Lodz has ended in success for the
Russians, but this statement contra
dicts the Berlin ' of ficial report, which
says the German offensive in Poland
la taking its normal course.
The fact is that fighting in this
region has developed into such a jum
ble that it is almost impossible to fol
low it. The most important factor
from the allies' point is that the Ger
man advance on Warsaw seemingly
has not succeeded in its object, nor
5 has it diverted the Russians from
their forward movement through, the
Carpathians and on to the plains of
Hungary or against the fortress of
Cracow, around which they are draw-
lng a closer ring of men and artH
lery.
Taking into consideration the case
of Przemsyl, which has held out so
long against the Russian attacks, mill
tary men do not look for the early
fall of Cracow, and are inclined to be
lieve armies of Emperor Nicholas will
endeavor to keep the large Austrian
force inside the fortress and enter Si
lesia from the southeast.
Much depends, however, on the bat
tle being fought with such intensity
farther north between the rivers Vis
tula and Warta and in which all agree
the losses on both sides have been
beavy. There is an inclination to be
lieve that had there been probability
of an early success for the Germans
tn the field Emperor William, who
has returned to Berlin, would have re
mained to witness the victory.
The battle In the west appears to be
at a standstill. It is evident that at
tacks which have been made have not
met with much success.
CRITICISE BURLESON
Civil Service Reformers Criticise Post
master General and Praise Pres
ident Wilson
Chicago. Resolutions unanimously
adopted by the National Civil Service
Reform League in its thirty-fourth an
nual meeting criticized Postmaster
General Burleson and expressed the
appreciation of the league for the co
operation of President Wilson.
The Burleson criticism was for in
viting the advice of congressmen rela
tive to the comparative qualifications
of eligibles for fourth-class postmas
terships." The resolution declared
that this was "in direct violation of a
section of the civil service law and
made the positions patronage of the
congressmen belonging to the party in
power."
Among the efforts mentioned as hav.
Ing defeated "the attempt by rider on
the postoffice appropriation bill to
remove all assistant postmasters from
the classified service, the endeavor to
vacate for patronage purposes the as
sistant postmasterships; a subsequent
effort to remove all postoffice em
ployees from the operation of the
merit system; the proposed through
amendments to the Indian appropria
tion bill to exempt more than 100
physicians from selection under civil
service rules."
The resolution set forth the league's
appreciation of the "co-operation of
President Wilson in securing the de
feat of these measures."
Portugal Enters War
Madrid, Spain. It is reported from
Lisbon that the Portuguese cabinet
has resigned, preparatory to Portugal
entering the war. A Portuguese ex
peditionary force is leaving for an un
named port In Africa. It Is under
stood that this force is being sent to
Egypt, where England is massing a
large force of Australians, Canadians
and native troops to meet the Turks
who are menacing the Suez canal.
Awful Suffering Of Belgians
London. Herbert Clark Hoover,
chairman of the American commission
for relief in Belgium, returned to Lon
don after a week's trip of inspection
in Belgium. He reported that distri
bution of food is well under way, but
declared famine still threatens the
population and that on account of the
attitude of the belligerents the Belgi
ans 'must still appeal to the people
of the United States for relief. "It is
difficult to state the position of the
civil population of Belgium without
appearing hysterical," said Hoover.
AMBASSADOR SHARP
William Gravess Sharp, who assumed
the duties of his portfolio as Amer
ican ambassador to France on the
retirement of Mr. Herrlck. The new
ambassador's home is Elyria, Ohio
y He is one of Ohio's eminentlaw
yers and leading manufacturers. For
the last six years he has been In
congress, where he was the ranking
member of the' foreign affairs com
mittee. He was first considered for
Russia, but was later selected by
President Wilson for France. He
was received by President Poincare,
who sent the carriage of state and
an escort of the mounted French
republican guard for the new am
bassador.
POINCARE RECEIVES SHARP
FRENCH PRESIDENT GREETED
NEW AMERICAN ENVOY WITH
ALL HONORS
New American Ambassador To France
, Rode In State Carriage to Pre
sent Credentials
Paris. William Graves Sharp, the
new American ambassador, presented
his credentials to President Poincare,
The ceremony was attended by the
usual formalities. A detachment oAJ
mounted republican guards escorted
the state carriage in which the am
bassador rode from his hotel to the
residence of the president and back
again.
In conveying to the government and
the people of France, in the most cor
dial terms, the best wishes of the
president of the United States, Am
bassador Sharp alluded . to the war,
"During my sojourn among the
French people," he said, "I have come
to have an added regard for their ex
emplification of brave and patriotic
citizenship. In expressing the earnest
hope that out of the trials of the pres
ent hour may soon come the blessings
of everlasting and beneficent peace, I
but voice the prayers of my country
men." VAN DYE'S PEACE PLANS
Dr. Van Dyke Told Secretary Bryan
He Brought No Letter From Wll
helmina To Wilson
.Washington. Dr. Henry Van Dyke,
American minister to The Netherlands,
back from his post on a month's leave,
has described to Secretary Bryan the
earnest desire of Queen Wilhelmlna
and the people of Holland for the ear
ly ending of the European war.
Dr. Van Dyke denied the oft-pub
lished report that he was the bearer of
a personal letter from the queen relat
ing to peace, but said he had reported
to Mr. Bryan merely on "the state of
mind" of the pepole of Holland
After talking with Secretary Bryan
for an hour, Dr. Van Dyke indicated
clearly that the present did not seem
propitious moment to put forward
definite proposals for terms of peace.
"The desire of the United States for
peace, ne said aiterwaras, "is a weiL
known fact The decision as to the
proper moment for us to act is in the
hands of my chiefs. The president and
the secretary of state can be trusted
to determine when that moment ar
rives."
British Flood Suez
Cairo. The British military au
thorities have flooded the desert east
of Port Said for many miles, thus pre
venting a Turkish attack in that quar
ter. Port Said lies at the southern
end of the Suez canal, where the ca
nal joins the Mediterranean sea. It is
located upon the edge of the Arab des
ert, which covers all the northern part
of Sinai peninsula. British military
&roplanes are making constant flights
over the Sinai peninsula. They re
port seeing no sign ot the Turks. It
is believed that the Turkish advance
BELGRADE FALLS
AFTER ONG SIEGE
Austrians Capture Servian Capital After
Siege Which Has Lasted Since The
War Began
BIGGEST RESULT OF WA
Germany Increases Her War Credit.
No Decisive Victories Reported
Either In Poland Or West
London. Belgrade, until the out
break of the war Servia's capital, is
now occupied by Austrian troops. The
Servians previously had evacuated the
city.
Thus, on the sixty-sixth anniversary
of the reign of Emperor Francis Jo
seph, who is again reported seriously
ill, and four months after the out
break of the war, his generals report
one of the most important successes
they have obtained. -
Belgrade frequently was bombarded
early in the war and but for the neces
sity that compelled Austria to send
troops against Russia must have fallen
an easy prey to Servia's big neighbor.
First Forces" Insufficient
Apparently Austria miscalculated
the nature of the Servian . 6pposition
and only after Bosnia was invaded did
she send a sufficient force against the
ervians to drive them back. Now
mej are Demg rorcea DacKward ana
are eagerly looking for the advance of
the Russians into Hungary to afford
them relief.
Russia has been sending Cossack
raiding parties through the Carpath
ians to divert Austria's attention, but
the dual monarchy seemingly is deter
mined to finish with Servia first.
Battle In Poland Raging
This, however, is only a small affair
compared with what is going on in
north Poland. There the German army,
which, aided by reinforcements, es
caped from the ring the Russians had
forced around ' it, has formed a new
front, and at some points has resumed
the offensive. The Germans assert that
In these maneuvers they made 80,000
prisoners.
The Russians, in a statement issued
through Rome, say thir captures very
greatly exceed this number. All agree
that losses have been heavy and that
the battle still is undecided as it prob
ably will be for some days.
For a moment, the allies are some
what disappointed that the realization
of a great Russian victory is denied
them. They take some consolation in
that the German attempt to piece the
Russian lines has failed, and that, suf
fering from heavy losses, the Germans
are compelled to weaken their armies
elsewhere.
The Russian report says the fight
ing has lost some of its violence and
Indicates progress for Russion troops
south of Lodz. It is unofficially re
ported that the Russians are "nearly
in Cracow."
Servians Losing Hold
Washington. Austro-Hungarian suc
cesses along .the entire line in Servia,
which have resulted in the Serbs being
driven from the banks of the Calubara
river, and a successful sortie from the
fortress of Przemsyl were reported in
Vienna official dispatches to the Aus
tro-Hungarian embassy. The dispatch
said: "In Servia the enemy, resisting
with all its forces on the east of the
river Calubara and Ljida, after a most
obstinate fight on the whole line, was
beaten. The enemy retired with con
siderable losses. Since the beginning
of the last offensive we have captur
ed 19,000. The front in West Galicia
and Russian Poland was generally qui
et. On the front before Przemsyl the
enemy trying to approach from the
north of the fortress were repulsed by
a counter-attack on the garrison. The
commander of the Fift harmy sent the
commander of the Fifth army sent the
nouncing the occupation of Belgrade
by the Austro-Hungarian troops. An
attack of the Russians hear Wolbrom
was repulsed. Otherwise relative
calm." v
French Success Claimed
Paris. The following official com
munication was issued by the war of
fice: "In Belgium, a violent bombard
ment of Lampernisse, west of Dix-
mude, has taken place., In the Argonne
region the enemy has blown up by a
mine the salient northwest of the for
est of LaGrurie. On the whole, 'we
are developing progress on that part
of the front
General De Wet Captured
London. Gen. Christian De Wet, the
leader of the rebellion of the Union
of South Africa, has been captured,
according to a Pretoria official dis
patch to the Reuters. General De-Wet
rose to fame as commander-in-chief of
the Orange Free State forces in the
South African war. Starting as a bur
gher in the Heilbron commando, he
later was appointed commandant at
Ladysmlth and was sent to relieve
General Conje as second in command.
When General Conje surrendered, D
Wet was made commander-in-chief,
CAPT.W. W. HILL
I ''
iVi' " ' 1 1
if W ;
) ft; J;
Captain Hill, who commanded the
marines at Vera Cruz at the begin
ning of the American occupation, Is
reported to have criticized the action
of the government in' withdrawing the
troops from that city and was called
on by Secretary Daniels to make a
written explanation. Captain Hill said
his remarks were made In private
conversation.
OPPOSED TO GARDNER PROBE
CONGRESSMEN FITZGERALD AND
SHERLEY OPPOSE GARDNER'S
PLAN FOR NAVY PROBE.
Gardner's Assertions That New York's
Defenses Are Antiquated De
clared Incorrect
Washington. Opposition to Repre
sentative Gardner's resolution for an
investigation by a commission into
the preparedness of the United States
for war was expressed to President
Wilson by Representatives Fitzgerald
and Sherley, ranking members of the
house appropriations committee. Both
told the president they were preparing
to speak on the subject in the house,
"I am against any spectacular in
vestigation into this subject," said Mr,
Fitzgerald. "All the facts are avail
able now, and through hearings before
a regular committee and debate on the
floor the question will be thoroughly
reviewed."
Mr. Sherley told the president that
statements attributed to Mr. Gardner
that the defenses of New York were
antiquated were incorrect. He de
clared the fortifications of the United
States were In excellent shape and
added that army officers had informed
him that the defenses at New York
could destroy any attacking fleet. The
president will go into the question
further with Mr. Gardner and Sena
tor Tillman, chairman of the senate
naval committee.
St Louis. Augustus P. Gardner,
congressman from Massachusetts, in
an address before the Contemporary
club, replied to Secretary Daniels'
statement regarding recent assertions
of Mr. Gardner as to the inadequacy
of American naval and military prep
arations. "I state without fear of successful
contradiction," he said, "that the big
guns on the latest dreadnaughts of
Great Britain and Germany are of
such long range that the battleships
can stand a mile and a half outside
the range of the guns on the fortifica
tions of New York and demolish those
forts.
Secretary Daniels," said Mr. Gard
ner, "has given out a special report
from Admiral Strauss to prove mis
leading my declaration 'that of long
range torpedoes there are only 58 in
the navy.' "
Mr. Gardner has an appointment to
discuss the matter of a congressional
inquiry with President Wilson. By re
quest of the president Mr. Gardner
will see him alone.
Vote Big War Credit
Berlin. With one dissenting vote,
that of Herr Liebknecht, Socialist, the
reichstag voted a new war credit of
$1,250,000,000.
Wilson Peace Apestle
Washington. Eduardo Suarez-Muji-
ca, presenting his credentials to Pres
ident Wilson as the first ambassador
from Chile to the United States, spoke
of President Wilson and Secretary Bry
an as "the two most Intense expres
sions of the pacifist sentiment of this
republic." With their continued co
operation, he said, he was sure of his
ability successfully to achieve the ob
ject of the mission with-which he had
been invested "to continue to promote
the cordial entente of the two coun
tries, politically and commercially.
DEBATE MfLITARY
POWER OF llftlll
APPARENTLY INVESTIGATION OF
PREPAREDNESS FOR WAR TO
TO BE MADE BY CONGRESS.
OPPOSE THE COMMISSION
Wilson Is Willing That Regular Con
gressional Committees Shall Go
Thoroughly Into the Matter.
Washington. Preparedness of the
United States for war seems destined
for investigation in Congress. . Several
bills and resolutions bearing on the
subject were introduced and an in
quiry by congressional committees is
regarded at the capitol as certain;
although President Wilson told Rep
resentative Gardner during the day
that he opposed the Hatter's plan for
an investigation by a national secur
ity commission. The president ex
pressed the opinion that this would
be an unwise way of handling
question which might create very un
favorable international impressions.
Senator Lodge introduced a resolu
tion similar to the Gardner measure
pending In the house. It would pro
vide for a "national security commis
sion" to be composed of three mem
bers of the senate, three members of
the house and three citizens to be
appointed by the president.
President Wilson let it be known
after his conference with Representa
tive Gardner that he was entirely in
favor of the fullest inquiry into mili
tary conditions by regular commit
tees of the house and senate and add
ed that there were no facts in pos
session of the executive departments
which were not at the disposal of those
committees. In line with this atti
tude Senator James Hamilton Lewis,
Democratic whip, who introduced a
resolution which would direct an ex
haustive inquiry by the senate mili
tary and naval committees into the
expenditure of millions of dollars ap
propriated in the past for national de
fense. The inquiry would be directed
to ascertain just what had been pro
vided by the expenditure of late years
and also to ascertain actual military
conditions. The resolution was refer
red to the committee on military af
fairs. Another military measure, submit
ted by Senator Chamberlain of Ore
gon, proposed the creation of a coun
cil of national defense to consist of
the secretary of state as president,
the secretaries of war and navy, the
chairman of appropriation, military.
naval and foreign relations commit
tees of the senate and house, the chief
of staff of the army and an officer of
the navy and heads of the army and
navy war colleges.
ZAPATA JOINS WITH VILLA.
Work Together Until Work is Accom
plished Then Each Will Retire.
Mexico City, via El Paso, Texas.
Generals Villa and Zapata, after a
conference at Xochimilco, announced
publicly that they would work to
gether and that each would retire to
private life when their work was ac
complished. After the conference General Villa
said that his forces would begin im
mediately a vigorous campaign
against Carranza. The forces o.
Villa and Zapata will enter Mexico
City soon. An active campaign will
begin within a week by both the Villa
and Zapata forces, according to the
statements of a high official of the
present government. The plan calls
for the sending of four strong columns
to attack the followers of Carranza.
Villa took over the railway of an
English corporation running between
the Capital and Vera Cruz.
The civil and military convention
will meet next week In the Capital
to approve these plans, and appoint
new provisional officials. It is re
ported that a new provisional presi
dent will be elected on this occasion.
Jews in German Army.
Berlin, via wireless to London. It
was announced officially that 26 Jews
had received commissions in the Ger
man army.
French Attacks More Vigorous.
Paris. The French War Office gave
out an official communication as fol
low?: "In the region of Armentieres and
of Arras, as well as in the Oise terri
tory, in the Alsne region and In the
Argonne there is nothing to report
except to refer in general terms to
the superiority of our offensive.
"In Champagne our heavy artillery
on several different occasions has
shown marked superiority over that
of the enemy.
NATION'S EXPENSE
EXCEEDS BILLION
ESTIMATES OFFERED TO CON
GRESS FOR YEAR 1915 TOTAL
$1,090,775,134.
ALL EXPENSES ARE REDUCED
Seek an Appropriation of Over Three
Million For Maintainance of
Waterways and Harbors.
Washington. Estimates presented
to congress put the cost of conducting
the government during the fiscal year
1915, which begins on July 1, next, at
$1,090,775,134.
This sum is $3,392,962 less than the
congressional appropriations for the
current fiscal year ending next Jun
30th and $17,906,643 less than the
estimates for the current year.
Without salary increases of any
kind, no estimates whatever for new
public buildings and all items reduc
ed by order of President Wilson to
what departmental heads consider the
minimum, the estimates represents
the administration's effort to keep the
governmental expenditures within its
income which has been decreased by
the European war. By grand divisions
the estimates submitted are as fol
lows: Legislative establishment, $7,641,
049. Executive establishment, $31,845.
889. Judicial establishment, $1,240,580.
Department of agriculture, $20,706,
013. Postal service, $297,355,164.
Foreign intercourse, $4,607,132.
Military establishments, $105,866,-
849.
Naval establishment, $142,619,003.
Indian affairs, $9,533,463.
Pensions, $166,100,000.
Panama canal, $18,931,865.
Public works, $97,917,541.
Miscellaneous, $82,843,325.
Permanent annual appropriations,
$121,567,207.
wun me epeciauon mat. me pos
T Till - - i 1 1 1L . 1
tal service will continue to be slf-.
sustaining the postal item of $297,355,
164 will be deducted as it is returned
to the treasury from postal earnings
leaving the actual total of expendi
tures at $793,419,970.
As there is such a comparatively
small change In the estimates there
is also comparatively little change
in the items of fixed charges and new
estimates foT expenditures have been
reduced to the minimum. While the
rule is one of reductions, the army
and navy establishment alone show
Increases of any note. The army esti-
a , t s a .Ae- n . . nr n
maie 13 mcreasea 10 $i.u3,ooo,oau as
against a current appropriation or
$101,977,802; the naval estimate is
$142,619,033 against a current appro
priation of $141,393,217.
Eestimates for the legislative es
tablishment include salaries and ex
penses of congress.
WARSHIP KANSAS STORM BEATEN
Storm Creates Havoc on Atlantic Sea
board Thrilling Rescues.
Washington. The United States
battleship Kansas was identified as
the mysterious vessel which coast
guard officials at Ocean City, Md, re
ported stranded there and which la
ter disappeared without leaving a
slue to its identity.
Captain Bryan of the Kansas wire
lessed the navy department that his
vessel took refuge from the storm off
Ocean City and suggested that as no
other vessel was In that vicinity the
Kansas must have bene the warship
reported in distress.
The captain said his ship had not
been damaged. The vessel was not in
distress, he said. Captain Bryan re
ported from Delaware breakwaters,
where the Kansas arrived. A wireless
was sent to the revenue cutter Itasca
which had gone to aid the strange ship
ordering her back to Norfolk.
Leo Frank Refused Trial.
WWashington. The supreme court
refused to issue a writ to review Leo
Frank's conviction of the murder
of Mary Fbagan, an Atlanta factory
girl.
The Storm at Norfolk
Norfolk, Va. Cap Charles light
ship has been towed to the navy yard
ere by the buoy tender Orchid. The
lightship went adrift in the recent
torni. Both the Cape Charles and
the Nantucket lightships are off their
stations and the government wireless
warning navigation of the fact
The old United States freighter Con
stellation, which was in danger of.
grounding off Virginia Beach is now
Bafe at the navy yard here. The wind
off the coast was 42 miles an hour and
the tides very hieh