North Carolina Newspapers

$1X3 a Year, la Advance. -FOB GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH." VOL. XXV. PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1915. NO. 39. PRZEMYSL IS TAKEN ALLIES CELEBRATE BESIEGED FOR MONTHS EAST ERN FORT CAPITULATES TO INVADING ARMY. OPENS UP WAY TO GRACOW Much Enthusiasm In Petrograd, Lon don and Paris Over Victory Re garded as Most Important. London. The long investment of the mid-Galician fortress of Przemysi has ended. Depleted by disease, sub sisting on horse flesh and surrounded by a superior force of Russians, the garrison has surrendered to :ho be sieging army after a defense lasting many months, which up to the present is recorded as Austria's most note worthy contribution to the war. Petrograd, London and Paris are celebrating the event Petrograd and Paris in the sopntaneous manner char acteristic of those cities London with eilent and grim satisfaction, which is the British way." The newspapers assert that the fall of the fortress marks the most important capture of the war. not ecepting Antwerp, in that it not only releases considerable Hussian forces which can be thrown into the fluctuat ing struggble in the Carpathians, but opens the door to Cracow and the plains of Hungary. It is argued, too, that the moral effect of the surrender will be tre mendous, the Allies declaring it will stimulate feeling in their favor both in Roumania and Bulgaria Just as the operations in the Dardanelles are causing an agitation in Greece and Italy. The Italian situation is receiving attention, although rumors, Tather than, facts, seem to be tie basis of most' of the news dispatched. The Italian Embassy at London had no confirmation of the report that freight traffic between Italy and Germany by way of Switzerland had been stopped, nor was there confirmation of the re ported massing of Austrian and Ger man troops along the Austrian litteral, or the assembling of artillery at Triest. Przemysl fell with honor, the Brit ish press concedes, for it withstood the onslaughts longer than any place during the . war, the investment hav ing begun about September 16, some thing more than six months ago. The duration of the siege compared with the length of time it took the Ger mans to capture such strongholds as Liege .Namur and Antwerp, was due to two causes, one being the desire of the Russians to keep the loss of life among the besieging army at a minimum, the other to the lack of great guns, which the Germans had in Belgium. The investment was not .a close one, the garrison having had up until recently a radius of about 12 miles in which to move about, and some dispatches told of shooting expeditions Indulged in by the officers of the garrison. Nothing . of great importance has been recorded in the west. In the east, aside from the fall of Przemycl the situation around the German port of Memel is the most interesting. From this town the Germans main tain they have driven- the Russians, while a controversy is being waged by the press of the two countries as to the merits of the Russian contention that, civilians fired on them in this latest incursion in East Prussia an act which demanded reprisals.' AMERICAN SAILORS DROWNED. Commander Bricker of Scorpicn and Three Seamen Dead, Constantinople, via Berlin and Lon don. Lieutenant Commander William F. Bricker, of the United States con verted yacht Scorpion and three sail ors, Charles Ford, Irven Dowell and Albert F. Leyerens, were drowned on the night of March 20 while attempt ing to reach their vessel with a row boat. The Scorpion was anchored in the Bosporus off Constantinople. The rowboat was swamped in a heavy sea. Lieut. Herbert S. Babbitt and one eaoilor, also in the boat, were saved. Confers With Bryan. Washington. Viscount Chinda, the Japanese ambassador, called at the state department and conferred with Secretary Bryan for nearly an hour. Later the ambassador was asked whether he had talked about the Jap-anese-Chines'e situation. "I absolute ly caDnot discuss the situation at all." he replied. Mr. Bryan was equally as uncommunicative. Before the confer ence it was stated at the Japanese embassy that late advices indicated an early settlement of the negotiations between Japan and China. BATTLESHIP The new battleship Pennsylvania the world's largest fighting craft was launched at Newport News a few days ago, amid the shouts of more than 10,000 spectators including Secretary of Navy Daniels, and Com mander Thierichens, of the German raider Prinz Eitel Friedrich. Miss Elizabeth Koib of Germantown, Pa., was sponsor. The Pennsylvania' is the largest vessel in the United States Navy, being 699 feet long, 97 feet beam and 31,000 tonnage. She will be' ready for commission February 28, 1916. FRENCH SUBMARINE LOST GREAT FRENCH BOAT IS DE STROYED IN THE NARROW TURKISH. STRAIT. Admiral Tells of Sinking of Undersea Craft in Attempt to Torpedo the Big Cruiser. London The loss of a French sub marine boat in an attempt to run through the Dardanelles is described by Rear Admiral Guepartte of the French Dardanelles fleet, in an inter view with the Daily Telegraph's Ten dos correspondent. The attempt ap parently was made some time ago al though no announcement has been made of . it heretofore. The object of the submarine was the sinking of the Turkish battle cruiser Sultan Selim (formerly the German cruiser Goeben), the corre spondent says Admiral Guepratte told him. The submarine was submerged and successfully navigated the straits up to the corner where the Asiatic coast Juts' out at Nagara. Through sdme miscalculation the hull struck the rocky shore which compelled the boat to rise to the surface. Immedi diately the submarine apeared the forts sank her. Only a few of her crew escaped and these were made prisoners. " Regarding the present situation in the Dardanelles Rear Admiral Geu pratte said ,the waters of the straits are clear sa far as Mephez Bernu. to which points all vessels of -the fleet can safely navigate. The main mine fields, however, are between Chanak Kalessi and Kilid Bahr, where also are the main coast defenses." BRITISH ORDER PERPLEXES. American Government Awaiting Fur ther Construction By England. Washington. While the United States does not know as yet whether the Allies intend to maintain a legal blockade or propose to apply general rules of contraband and non-contraband in enforcing their embargo on commercial intercourse between Ger many and. neutral countries, Ameri can naval officers and officials versed in international law expressed the opinion that the indefinite limit pre scribed "European waters, including the Mediterranean," might be con strued as a legal area of operations for a blockading fleet. Naval officers frankly admit that the old form of blockade by warships close to an enemy coast passed with the investment of Santiago in the Spanish-American war. Accordingly, in asking Great Britain and France for an explanation of their recent declaration, of an embargo, the United States conceded that the activity of submarines might make physically impossible a close blockade of an enemy coast, and suggested that if the declaration of the Allies were to be construed as a legal blockade some "radius of activity" be announced. One Quart Law Unconstitutional. Montgomery, Ala. The law recent ly enacted by the Alabama legisla ture prohibiting the delivery into the state of more than one quart of liquor to one person was declared unconsti tutional by Judge Gaston Gunter. The court ruled that the statute is a regu lation of interstate commerce; that congress cannot delegate such author ity to the states; and that the Federal Webb-Kenyon act prohibits the ship ment of liquor in a state only, when possession of any quantity of liquor in that state is unlawful. Steamer Hyndford Torpedoed. Glasgow, Scotland, via London- The British steamer Hyndford "was torpedoed in the English Channel by a German submarine. It is reported one member of her crew was killed. This steamer was torpedoed in tho favorite hunting ground of the Ger man submarines off Beachy Head while she was proceeding for London under her own steam. PENNSYLVANIA NOTES NOTSATISFACTORY UNITED STATES WILL SEEK FUR THER INFORMATION AND ALSO LODGE PROTEST. Allies Cannot Interrupt Shipments Be tween, United States and Neutral Countries. Washington. The United States considers that Great Britain and France in the British Order-in-Council and accompanying notes have not answered questions propounded to them as to what warrant there is un der international law for the establish ment of an embargo on all commercial intercourse, directly and indirectly be tween Germany and neutral countries. It was stated officially at the State Department that this government still does not know whether the action of the Allies is intended as a legal block ade or whether rules of contraband and non-contraband are to be their le gal basis for future detentions. On a determination of this question proh- r ably will depend not only the nature of any steps to be taken by the Unit ed States now, but also the basis for damage claims arising out of inter ruption to American commerce. In preparing the protest to be sent to Great Britain and France the posi tion of the United States substantially is as follows: , 1. If the action of the Allies is a blockade, all commerce directly with Germany can be halted by making the blockade effective, a certain "radius of activity" being allowed for the blockading warships off the German coast because of the newly developed activities of submarines. But there can be no legal blockade of the coast of neutral countries of Europe con tigious to those at war, under any circumstances and commerce between the United- States and neutrals espe cially In non-contraband, should be free from interruption, irrespective of ultimate destination. 2 If the action Is" not a blockade then there exists no legal right to de tain cotton or other non-contraband cargoes even when consigned directly to German ports. Nor can foodstuffs or conditional contraband be justly in terrupted unless proven though con signed to Germany, to be destined for the use of its belligerent forces and not its civilian population. Under the same circumstances too, there is no legal basis for detaining cargoes con signed from the United States to the neutral countries of Europe if con taining cotton or non-contraband goods. EXPECT BIG CLASH SOON. Germans and Belgians Face Each Other on River Yser. London. The next important bat tle in the West, it is believed, will take place along the River Yser, held on one side by the recently reorgan ized Belgian army, and on the other by Germans. As the floods have subsided the Belgians, supported by the Allies' war ships, have pushed their line slightly forward, and this is almost certain to lead to couunter-attacks by the Ger mans and then a general engagement as when similar movements were ini tiated elsewhere along the front. An artillery duel already has commenced. The contest for the spur of Notre Dame de Lorette is still in progress, and, according to Berlin, further at tempts of the French to advance in Champagne, where they captured an important ridge north of Le Mesnil, have been repulse 1. Fighting in the Argonne forest and the -Vosges has slackened somewhat owing doubtless to the cold weather There may be a slight delay while the Germans are awaiting reinforce ments for they have been using nio-t tf their reserves to counter-attack te British troops at St. Elois and Neuve Chappelle and the French north of Arras, but that a big clash will soon come nobody doubts LAUNCHED WILL CONFINE BLOCKADE GREAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE ASSURE UNITED STATES OF BOUNDARY. Allies Propose to Blockade Germany With as Little Loss to Neutrals as Possible. Washington. Diplomatic communi cations were made public by, the State Department constituting the entire correspondence of the last few weeks between the United States and Ger many and between th United States and Great Britain and France, relative to the cessation of submarine attacks on merchant ships, the shipment of conditional contraband ' and foodstuffs to civilians, the use of neutral flags by belligerent merchantment, the remov al of mines, and the proclamation of a virtual blockade of the Allies against Germany. 1 The communications revealed that the United States, realizing the diffl- fcaltiessof the Allies maintaining an effective blockade of Germany by a close guard of the coast on account of the newly-developed activity of sub marines, asked that "a radius of ac tivity" be defined. Great Britain and France replied with the announcement that the operations of blockade would not be conducted "outside of European waters, including the Mediterranean." While Germany agreed it is disclos ed to abandon her submarine attacks on "mercantile of any flag" except when they resist visit or search pro vided foodstuffs were permitted to reach her civilian population, Great Britain and her Allies rejected the proposal originally made by the United States in an effort to bring the bel ligerents into an arrangement which would safeguard the interests of neu trals. Furthermore the documents show that the United States asked Great Britain and France whether the em bargo on all commerce between Ger many and neutral countries was to be carried out under the rules of a blockade or by Interference with ships and cargoes "as if no blockade exist ed," the two together presenting in tne view of the American Government a proposed course of action previous ly unknown to international law. The answers from Great Britain and France reveal for the first time that the Allies officially regard their policy as a "blockade" but desire to refrain from exercising the rights of belliger ents under a- blockade to confiscate ships and cargoes as a penantly for breach of blockade, substituting pro cedure in prize courts and compensa tion through sale of the detained mer chandise. GERMAN CONSUL ARRESTED. Charged With Trying to Secure Busi ness Secrets at Seattle. Seattle, Wash. Dr. William Mul- ler. Imperial German consul at .Seat tle and his secretary B. M. Schultz were served with notice of arrest at the consulate. They are charged with conspiracy in attempting to corruptly influence John Murdock, an employe of the Seattle Construction and Dry- dock Co., by inducing him to sell busi ness secrets of his employers. Consul Muller and his secretary are accused by the State of Washington of offering Murdock a cash considera tion to supply them with information bearing out Ambassador Bernstorff's charge that the Seattle corporation was shipping knock-down submarines to the British government. Four Spanish Vessels Lost. Algeciras, Spain, via Paris' Four sailing vessels with Spanish dock la borers on board have been lost in a great storm. It i3 estimated that 300 persons oh board the vessels were drowned. One hundred vessels of various nationalities have taken refuge form the storm In the Bay of Alge-ciras. RAILROADS LOOT POSTAL REVENUES BURLESON SAYS THAT CERTAIN RAILROADS DEFEATED AP PROPRIATION BILLS. PAYING ITS OWN EXPENSES Parcel Post , Makes Postoffice De partment Profitable Says the Post master General. Washington. Postmaster General Burleson issued a statement reiterat ing his charge that certain railroads brought about the defeat of the post office appropriation bill in the last Congress because of its provision for changing railway mall pay from a weight to a space basis. He announc ed his intention to renew his recom mendation for this change when the new Congress reconvenes. , The railway mail committee rep resenting "certain railroads" th statement declares, "engineered the fight against the appropriation bill and financed a propaganda designed to mislead and wrongfully influence the public mind into an attitude of antagonism to the department." Under the present system, accord ing to Mr. Burleson, some railroad get much more than their, share of the money paid for transporting the mails, and substitution of the space basis not only would save money for the Government, but would make pos sfble more equitable treatment of the roads. Of the department's effort to have this legislation included in the appropriation bill, the statement says: "It was and is a determined well considered effort to end a Bystem un der which the postal authorities are compelled to stand helplessly by while the railways loot the postal revenues. Although the railways contend they are underpaid 'for carrying the mails, the facts are that they afe overpaid and that they are receiving from the government amounts which, for a haul of any considerable length, exceed by about two to one the amounts they re ceive from express companies for sim ilar service." GEN. SCOTT IS PEACEMAKER. Tse-Ne-Gat, "Old Polk" and Chief Posey Are Taken Unarmed. Washington. A laconic telegram came to the War Department from Brig. Gea. Hugh L. Scott, Chief of Staff, at Bluffe, Utah, announcing that the General was bringing in the four Indians who recently led a band of their tribesmen on the war path who the Federal authorities attempted to arrest Tse-Ne-Gat for mufder. The messgae addressed to Secretary Gar rison said: "Successful. Have four Plutes da sired by Marshal Nebeker and am, at their desire, personally conducting them to Lake City to turn over to Marshal Nebeker. Am leaving every thing peaceable behind us in South ern Utah. Should reach Salt Lake City in 3 or 4 days." Secretary Garrison, gratified and relieved of more anxiety than he had cared to confess at once dispatched the following to the General: "I heartily congratulate you. I ap preciate your work in the highest de gree." Newspaper dispatches told of Gen-, eral Scott's arrival at Bluff with the four Indians, Tse-Ne-Gat and his fath er, "Old Polk." Chief Posey and the latter's son. The party rode in just 10 days after General Scott, unarmed and accompanied only by an orderly and two Navahoe scouts, had started off on a snow-covered mountain trail for the distant hiding place of the Plutes. Force German Steamer to Return. San Juan. P. R. The German mer chant steamer Olden wald attempted to leave port without obtaining clear ance papers but was stopped as she was passing out the harbor entrance by two shots across her bow from a five inch gun, and direct shots from a maxim. She then returned and was taken in charge by the collector of customs. Permission to sail was re fused the Odenwald by the collector pending instructions from Washing ton. Fire Destroys Horses. High Point Fire at the Gould Lodge, six miles from High Toint, de stroyed 13 horses, one of which was valued at $1,300, 1,300 bushels of corn together with the three large barn buildings, including great quantities of hay and feedstuff. The average value of the animals is estimated at $200 each. The lodge itself was saved. The High Toint motor fire'tmck was called, but arrived too late to accom plish anything because of low water suply. The origin of the fire is unknown. WEATHER FORECAST. Movements Due and Their Local Effects for the Cotton States March 28 to April 4, 1915. National Weather Journal Sunday, March 28 to Wednes day, March 31. The week will open generally fair and moder ately cool in the South and lit tle change of any kind is ex pected during the first half of the week, while cool weather is crossing the country. Light frost temperatures are expected in Northern Alabama and Geor gia and in the Carolinas Wed nesday and Thursday, but it will be warmer in Middle and West ern Cotton Belt. Thursday, April 1 to Sunday, April 4. " Unsettled weather will apear in Western Cotton Belt Thursday and it will con tinue more or less unsettled breaking into general rains by Saturday. The general rains will be spreading over the South as the new week opens, with no material change of temperatures. CONVENTION TO PAY ITS WAY Barafcas and Philatheas Meeting in Raieigh April 22-25 Will Try Dollar-a-Day Plan. Raleigh. A feature of the State Baraca-Philathea Convention to be held here April 22-25, will be the try ing out of the pay-plan. Raleigh is believed to be particular ly suited to the trying out of the plan. Probably more conventions meet here than In any other city in the state. Of course many of these are of a sec ular nature and the delegates pay their way as a matter of course. But with conventions of a religious nature the practice has been here as else where to' give free entertainment. And it has happened on many occas ions that some have had more than a fair, share of the entertaining to do. The Baracas and Philatheas are go ing to change all this as far as they are concerned. "Many who have been unwilling to take delegates hereto fore," said a leading , member of the Committee of Arrangemnets, "will no doubt now willingly do so as they wilJ be amply paid for their services." Demand Larger Bond Issue. Asheville. Holding a mass-meeting the residents of West Asheville de cided to ask the county commissioners to reject the petition asking for a bond i3sue of $20,000 for school purposes and to begin the circulation of peti tions asking for an issue in the sum of $35,000 for the same purpose. It Is planned to erect a central school building at a cost of $20,000 and to spend the remainder of the money derived from the sale of the bonds in the construction of buildings on the west banks of the French Broad River and in the extreme eastern section of the town. Family of Negroes Killed. Henderson. Unidentified persons recently tried to exterminate the fam ily of Joe Perry, a negro living ten miles from this place, and succeeded in killing Perry's wife and child, wounding Perry and his brother John probably fatally. Reports state that the dwelling of the negroes was saturated with kero sene and set on fire, a fusillade of bullets being poured into the house when its occupants tried to escape. The woman and child fell dead, the men mortally wounded, it 13 thought MARKET REPORTS. Cotton, Cotton Seed and Meal Prices In the Markets of North Carolina For the Past Week. As reported to the Division of Mar kets,' North Carolina Agricultural Ex periment Station and Department of Agriculture, Raleigh. 2 5 S ?, a o " o o c St) -g . 53 5 ni Tif 2 2 North Eastern North Carolina Farmville ....7-7 40 30 00 Kflford 7 -8 40-45 31.00 Murtreesboj-o 74-7 40-45 33.00 New Kern 37-39 Washington. . 74-8 39 30.00 Williamston. .7,i-7i, 30-33 30.00 Wiiiterville ..7:lt-8 33-40 30.00 Winsdor 7Vi-7 South Eastern North Carolina Fremont 7 VL-S 36-40 30.00 Jacksonville ...7-8 38 32.00 Ki ii stfm 7y2-7 36 30.00 Maxton 7 -8 29.00 1700 1S00 1800 1600, 2000 2660 2000 2000 2000 isoi North Central North Carolina Hattleboro ..6 -1 40-43 30.00 7-S 31.00 ..7-S4 30-36 32.00 Greensboro Kenly Louisburg . Pittsboro .. Raleigh . . . . KiKKsbee . . Smithfleld . Spring Hope Tarboro ... 30-36 40 3G-45 39 40 42 10 30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 .7 -8 7-8H 8 .7-8 7-S 8 Wilson South Central North Carolina.