North Carolina Newspapers

9 1X0 Year In Advance 'FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH." Single Coplec, 5 Cants. VOL. XXVII. PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1&16. NO. 5. GERMANS EXECUTE BRITISH CAPTAIN APPORTION FUND FOR FLOOD RELIE MEXICAN BANDITS GROSS THE BORDER EXPLOSIONS CAUSE $25,000,000 MAGE .4 -SMALL DETACHMENT OF CAR RANZA MEN AID IN TRAPPING BAND. ATTACKED BY U. S.-TROOPS Two Americans Killed and One Wounded In Battle Neap Fort Han cock, 55 Miles From El Paso. Only Two Escape. El Paso. Texas. American soldiers reinforced by a small detachment of Carranza troops engaged Mexican ban dits who had crossed the Rio Grande into the United States about five miles below Fort Hancock, Texas, 55 miles east of here. Two Americans were killed and one wounded. Only two of the outlaws escaped across., the river into Mexico where they are being pursued by Mexican troops and Car ranza customs guards. Upon receiving reports from Rob rt Wood, a United States customs in apector, that the bandits who had committed numerous depredations on the Mexican side of the frontier re cently, had crossed the border, six men of troop F, Eighth United States Cavalry and a hospital corps orderly under Sergeant Lewis Thompson with Wood and Customs Inspector Beane rode to an adobe hut where the, ban dits were in hiding. The bandits open ed fire from the building killing Wood and Private John Towney and wound ing Sergeant John Towney in the shoulder. Bean, fearing that the Mex leans would escape the email Ameri can detachment called upon the Car- Tanza commander-on the other side of the river. He responded with a score of soldiers, crossing into the United States to cut off the outlaw's retreat, the incident marking the first time Carranza soldiers have co-opera ted in pursuit of bandits on American soil. DUTCH SHIP WRECKED WITH AMERICANS ABOARD. 41 Passengers and Crew of 60 Take Boat When Ship Strikes Mine. London. The Dutch mail steam ship Koningin Wilhelmdna has struck a mine near the North Hinder Light ship, says a dispatch from The Hague to Reuter's Telegraph Company. Frank W. Mahln, the American Consul at Amsterdam, and his wife, Mrs. Abbie Mabin, were the only American passengers on board the Dutch mail steamer Koningin Wil helmina. Both were saved. Reuter's correspondent at Flushing, Holland, reports that the Koningin Wilhelmina had on board 41 passen gers and a crew of 60. All of them are believed to be now on board boats from the lightship, which have not yet arrived. Among the saved are some wounded soldiers. THERE'S MILK A PLENTY FOR BABIES IN GERMANY Washington. Ambassador Gerard sent to the state department' a report from Dr. Alonzo E. Taylor, an attache of the American embassy at Berlin, saying no German babies were suffer ing for lack of milk; that there was an ample supply of milk and milk powder for infants, only adults feeling the shortage. DROUTH BROKEN WHEN $200,000 STORM C0ME3. Peoria, 111. Damage estimated at 1200,000 was done here when a ter rific thunderstormT breaking the 38 day drought swept over the business and factory sections of the city. Roofs were torn from several buildings and many others were struck by lightning. COFFEE CARGO SEIZED IN BRITISH PRIZE COURT. London. Holding coffee to be a foodstuff, Sir Samuel Thomas Evans, president of the prize court, con demned in that court 3.000 bags oi coffee shipped from America to Goth enburg. BRITAIN AGAIN BARS RED CR08S SUPPLIES Washington Great Britain in a note just made public reiterates her refusal to permit Red Cross supplies to enter territory controlled by the Teutonic Allies unless assigned to Red Cross units. The communication was accepted as virtually cMng the negotiations in which the United States has endeavor ed to get the supplies through de spite the recent withdrawal of the Red Ctoss units. AMMUNITION AWAITING SHIP MENT EXPLODES AT VBLACK TOM ISLAND. LOSS OF LIFE NOT LARGE Fire on Barge Believed to Have Ignlt ed Great Stores of War Supplies For the Entante Allies. Shock Felt in Five States. New York. Property losses esti mated at $25,000,000 were caused by e aeries of terrific explosions of ammu nition awaiting shipment to the En tente Allies and stored on Black Tom Island, a small strip of land jutting into New York Bay off Jersey City The loss of life still was problemati cal. It will not be determined defi nitely until there has been opportunity to check up the workmen employed on the island and on boats moored near by. The detonations, which were felt in five States, began with a continuous rapid-fire of small shells, then the blowine m of great quantities oi ay namite. trinitoltunine and other high explosives, followed by the bursting of thousands of shrapnel shells wnicn llterallv showered the surrounding country and waters for many miles around. Fire that started soon after the first great crash which spread death and isolation in its wake, destroyea unr teen of the huge warehouses of the National Storage Company on Black Tom Island, in which were storea merchandise valued between $12,000, 000 and $15,000,000. The flames shootine into the clouds were reflect ed against New York's "sky line" and towering office buildings, wnicn oniy a few moments before were shaken in Miftir foundations as by an eartn quake. -Miles of streets in Manhat tan were strewn with broken glass and shattered signs. VnvW reDorts of heavy loss of life were impossibitle of verification, and the authorities asserted the number of death probably would be mail, Tt was said that owing to tne tent of the wreckage, it might be several days before the exact figures id he obtained. Three are known to be dead and at least two more are missing. Scores of persons were injured, some of them probably mortally. BRITAIN WARNED IN U. S. PROTEST OVER BLACKLIST neiares It is Manifestly Out of Ques tion That This Government Should Acquiesce In Such Methods. Washington. Jreat Britain is warn ed in the American note of protest against 'the blacklist made public by h state denartment of the "many se rious consequences to neutral right and neutral relations which sucn an act must necessarily involve. Already in the hands of the British foreign office, the note declares "in the gravest terms" that it is "manif festly out of the question that the gov of the United States acquiesce in such methods" and that the United States regards the blacklist as mvi tablly and essentially inconsistent with tha Hrhts of all the citizens of the na tions not involved in any war." It r- minrfa ,t.h Britah srovernment 'that cit izens of the United States are entirely within their risJhts in attempting , to trade with the people or the govern ment's of any of the nations now at war, subject only to well gefined inter naUnnal rcractlces and understandings which the government of the United States deems the government of Great Britain to have too lightly and fre quently disregarded. HIGH COST OF PAPER RAISING SELLING PRICE St, Louis. The St. Louis Globe- Democrat announces an increase, in the price of its daily edition in St. Louis effective August 1. The high cost of print paper is given as the cause of the increase. 200 REPORTED DEAD FROM, FORE8T FIRES IN ONTARIO. Ensrlehart Ont Forest fires' rag ing in northern Ontario are believed to have resulted In the loss of from 150 to 200 lives. Other scores of persons have been injured and It is feared many of them may die. Sev eral small towns have been wiped out by flames that have been raging for 48 hours. Reports thus far re- reived show that 57 perished at Mush- ka, a French Canadian settlement, and 34 at Matheson. U. S. AGREES TO REFER MEXICAN PROBLEMS TO JOINT COMMISSIONERS Washington. Following is the full text of Acting Secretary of State Polk's note, delivered to Eliseo Arredondo, Mexican Embassador designate, after it had been approved by President Wilson and his Cabinet: ,"Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your com munication of July 12 last, in which you transcribe a note addressed to me by the Secretary of Foreign Relations of your Government and to request that you will be good enough to transmit to him the follow ing reply:, "Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellency's note transmitted under date of July 12 by Eliseo Arre dondo, your Government's confidential agent in Washington, informing me that Your Excellency has received instructions from the Citizen First Chief of the Constitutionalist Army charged with the executive power of the Union to propose that each of our Governments name three commissioners who shall hold conferences at some place to be mutually agreed upon and decide forthwith the question relating to the evacuation of the American forces now in Mexico and to so draw up and conclude a protocol of agreement regarding the reciprocal crossing of the frontier by the forces of both countries, also to determine the origin of liie incursions to date, in order to fix the responsibility there for and definitely to settle the difficulties now pending or those which may arise between the two countries on account of the same or a sim ilar reason; all of .which shall be subject to the approval of both Gov ernments. "In reply, I have the honor to str te that I have laid Your Excel lency's note before the President and have received his instructions to inform Your Excellency that the Governrmt of the United States is disposed, to accept the proposal of the Mexican Government in the same spirit of nfrank cordiality in which it is made. This Government believes and suggests, however that the powers of the proposed com mission should be enlaged so that if happily a solution satisfactory to both Governments of the question set forth in Your Excellency's com munication may be reached, the commission may also consider such other matters Ae Iriendly arrangement of which would tend to im prove the relations of the two countries, it being understood that such recommendations as the commission may make shall not be binding upon the respective Governments until formally accepted by them. "Should this proposal be accepted by Your Excellency's Govern ment I have the honor to state that this Government will proceed im mediately to appoint its commissioners and fix after consultation with ' Your Excellency's Government, the time and place and other details of the proposed conference. "Accept, Mr. Secretary, 4he assurance of my highest consideration. "FRANK L. POLK, "Acting Secretary of State." WILSON NOMINATES FOUR PRESIDENT WILSON NOMINATES BOARD TO ORGANIZE LAND BANKS. C. E. Lobell of Kansas, G. W. Norris of Pennsylvania, W. S. A. Smith of Iowa, and Herbert Quick of West Virginia, Are Board Members. Washington. Division of the coun try into 12 Federal land bank districts and location of Federal land banks in each of them under the new rural credits law, will be undertaken soon by the Federal farm loan board, four of whose members were' nominated by President Wilson. Secretary McAdoo, who is an exofficlo member, com- Dletes the board, said, however, that he believed it would be impossible to conclude organization of the system in less than six months, and that it might not be in actual operation be fore next spring. The four men nominated as meni- bers of the board, are Charles F.. Lobdell of Kansas. George W. Norris of Pennsylvania, W. S. A. Smith of Iowa and Herbert Quick of West Vir ginia. The President is expected to desienate either Mr. Morris or Mr. Quick the Democratic members of the board, to act as farm commissioner and executive head of the farm loan system. Until the Senate acts on the nom inations no date for a meeting can be set, but it was believed probable that the members would get togetner within two weeks. Hearings on the designations oi districts and . the location of banks will probably begin some time in Sep tember. The first of these Is expect ed to be held here and most of the state capitals probably will be visited before they are concluded. SENATE SETS A NEW HIGH MARK FOR DEFENSE. Passes Army Bill Appropriating Near ly $315,000,000. Measure Goes to Conference. Washington. Nearly $700,00,000 for national defense for the fiscal year of 1917 is the aggregate of proposed ap propriations reported in the senate with passage of the" army bill carry ing in round numbers $314,000,000. This grand total for preparedness still Is subject to revision, however, because the army bill will follow the naval bill into conference where re ductions are probable despite the firm attitude of President Wilson in sup porting the liberal response of the senate to the call for adequate de fense. As it passed the senate the Army bill exceedded the appropriations made by the house by more than 5131,000,000. MORE PAY FOR SOLDIERS SENATE PASSES BILL INCREASING OFFICERS' PAY 10 PER CENT, PRIVATES 20 PER CENT. Also Vote to Improve Camp Conditions and Make Arrangements for Soldier Vote In the Coming Presidential - Election. Washington. Increased pay for of ficers and men of the regular army and National Guard in active service for the Mexican emergency, improved camp - conditions to safeguard their health and authorization for them to vote in the field at the coming presi dential election were provided in the amendments to the army appropria tion bill agreed to by the senate. By a vote of 44 to 13 the senate also suspended the rules to adopt an amendment changing the age mini mum for enlistment in the regular army from 18 to 21 years without the con sent of parent or guardian. Under the provision boys under 21 now serv ing in the army would not be retained in the service unless they filed within 30 days the written consent of their parents or guardians. The amend ment was adopted without a roll call. Senator Reed of Missouri offered the amendment which would make the exiatng provision for increased pay to the army when in service on foregn soil apply also to service on the Mexican border. Under it officers will receive a 10 per cent and enlisted men 20 per cent increase in pay. In adopting it the senate also increased the bouse appropriation for pay from 81,050,000 to $14,178,204. The amendment giving the soldiers in Mexican service authority to vote in the field at the National election passed without opposition. COLONEL BUTLER'S NAME IS ENTIRELY CLEARED. San Antonio, Texas. The official report made by Col. J. A. Gaston on the killing of Col. M. C. Butler at Alpine, Texas, by Harry Spannel,, completely clears the v name of the dead officer. ADMINISTRATION IS FOR INCREASED NAVY. Washington. -Secretary of the Navy Daniels informed Chairman Padgett, of the House Naval Affairs Commit tee, that the Administration is stand ing behind the naval bill with its in creases and desires the House to pas:s it. The conference with Secretary Daniels is to be followed by a con ference with President Wilson. "Little Navy" mnti have indicated a desire to oppose the increases in the shin bui'.ding program. CAPTAIN FRYATT ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTING TO RAM A SUBMARINE. TRIED, CONVICTED AND SHOT London Government Asks American Ambassador at Berlin to Procure Details of Case. Many Difficult Problems Involved. Berlin. Capt. Charles Fryatt, of the Great Eastern Railway Steamship Brussels, convicted by a German court martial at Bruges, Brussels, of at tempting on March 28, 1915, to ram a German submarine near the Ma&s lightship, when he did not belong to an armed force, has been executed by shooting. The Brussels was captur ed by German destioyers last month and brought into Zeebrugge. Captain Fraytt and the first officer and the first engineer of the Brus sels received from the British Admi ralty gold watches for "brave con duct" and .were mentioned in the House of Commons. , The submarine U-33 according to the official account of the trial had signalled to the British steamer to show her flag and to stop but Cap tain Fraytt did not heed and, it is alleged, turned at high sped toward the submarine which escaped only by diving immediately several yards be low the surface. Captain Fryatt, the official state ment says, admitted that he had fol lowed the instructions of the British Admiralty. Sentence was confirmed and the captain was executed and shot for a "franc tierur crime against armed German sea forces." Washington Germany's execution of Capt. Charles Fryatt, master of the British steamship Brussels, for an alleged attempt to ram a submarine, is regarded in allied quarters here as a brutla violation of international law likely to result in prompt retalllatory measures by Great Britain. They contend that If a hostile submarine approached the Brussels it was in ef fect an attack and Captain Fryatt in making a counter-attack by attempt ing to ram subjected himself only to treatment as a prisoner of war in event of capture. AUSTRIANS LOSE TOWN OF BRODY UNEXPECTED. London, Brody, a -great railway junction, in Galicia, 58 miles north east of Lemberg. which it was expect ed the Austrian troops would retain at all costs, has been captured by the Czar's forces, in a new and unexpect ed stroke administered by the Rus sians. The taking of this important town, It is believed, may lead to the capture of Lemberg, itself. News of the fall of Brody is coincident with reports that the Somme battle is con tinuing successfully for British forces under Gen. Sir Douglas Haig. The Russians, according to a report from Petrograd, also have broken the whole Austro-German front west of Lutsk. In this success they are reported to have captured two gener als, 9,000 prisoners and 46 guns. v WASHINGTON SENDS NEW NOTE TO CARRANZA. Washington. General Carrana was informed in a note handed to his Am bassador here, that' the Washington Government is prepared to submit to a joint international commission the task of seeking a solution of border problems. The proposal of the d facto Government for a commission is accepted, however, with the sug gestion that the powers of the com missions be enlarged beyond the lim its proposed in the Mexican note of July 21. - Agreement to thus suggestion is ex pected and it was stated officially that the American members would bo appointed and the commission be assembled at some point in the Unit el Sates at an early date. EX-GOVERNOR AND GENERAL UNDER VILLA EXECUTED. Laredo, Texas. Santiago Ramirez, ; former Governor of the Mexican State of Coahuila, and later a Villa general, was publicly executed on the plaza at Saltillo, Mexico, according to news reaching Leuvo Laredo. Ramirez, it was stated, had left Mexico with the dwindling of Villa's ?ower. and had returned recently to offer his service's to General Carranza when war between the United States ind Mexico seemed imminent. SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO VISI DEVASTATED SECTIONS AND REPORT NEEDS. MANY SECTIONS IN NEE John Sprunt Hill, Durham; A. h 8cales, Greensboro, and Dr. B. W. Kllgore, Special Committee. Raleigh. Governor Craig'a genercf Mate committee for the relief of wes ern Carolina sufferers, made deflnit. aDDrwnriations for immediate relist work In the various counties that ra nort need for outside help end art pointed John Sprunt Hill, Durham; A M. Scales, Greensboro, and Dr. B. W Kilgore, Raleigh, a special oommitte to visit the flood-swept sections, mak personal investigations and report a to later aid that they deem deserved. The committee appointed a specia committee of which J. W. Bailey, Ral eigh, is chairman, expresalnc gratifi cation at the liberal response the pee Die have already made to the call to contributions and insisting that muclj more is badly needed and can be ex pended among deserving sufferers. . The general committee meeting was held in the executive offices of Gov ernor Craig. The committee provided for a central committee of five, witij the Governor as chairman, to act toil the general committee in the relief work in Interims oi general committed meetings, which are to be held at Vtx4 call of the Governor and the chairman Governor Craig arrived from Ashe ville. where he has been marooneq since the storm and Immediately tookf charge of the relief work. The Governor Is to appoint this een ral committee. The" Governor was; 'further authorized to designate anyf other person in addition to John Sprunt Hill, A. M. Scales and Doctorf Kilgore to inspect and report on needs in any localities or sections. The ex penses of these investigators are to be provided for by order of the general committee. E. B. Crow was made treasurer of the general committee and Cantford Martin, of Winston-Salem, was made secretary. The view was expressed that fully $50,000 or $60,000 will be needed if permanent relief and aid for rehabilitation, especially of farm ten ants and others of the poorer sufferers, Is to be undertaken. A resolution by James K. Pou that was adopted by a vote of four to five provides that $3,000 be placed at the disposal of the Winston-Salem and lo cal committees for immediate relief work in Wilkes, Ashe, Yadkin, Alle ghany and Surry counties and $500 to Mr. Chatham for relief In the Elkin section. Opposition to this arose be cause other sections were not includ ed, but the committee provided im mediately, through further motions by Pou and others, to provide $500 each for any other of 10 or more counties that are believed to have suffered disaster from the floods. It was order ed that $l,000t be placed at the dispos al of Judge M. H. Justice for relief In the Rutherfordton and Bat Cave sec tion. Burke county was allowed $500 to be sent to R. T. Claywell to be ex pended through proper channel. A like sum was ordered out for Caldwell county, if needed, J. W. Pleas to be advised of the appropriation. Cald well, Catawba and other counties that are understood to be asking no aid were provided for in the event It turns out that there is need for .outside aid. Also $500 was sent each to Alexander and Wautauga for immediate relief. Durham Sells Bonds. Durham. The city off Durham has sold $320,000 worth of water and re funding bonds for a grand total of $340,279, a record breaking price. Out of 16 bids, that of the Bernhard Scholls i Company, of New York City, was accepted. The average per bond was $107.7625 for the water issue of $250,000, and $101.2725 for the refund ing bond issue of $70,000. A previous sale of $250,000 water bonds brought $104 and one-eighth. Iredell Crops Damaged. Statesville. Considerable corn waa sold here at 90 cents a bushel. With reference to this year's crop, farmers in Iredell county assert they, will not make more than one-quarter of a nor mal crop as a result of the storms and floods. Bert. Bristol stated that his crop would ordinarily amount to about 5,000 bushels of corn, but this fall he doubted if he would be able to harvest more than 500 bushels. This is a typical case of the amount of damage done In Iredell county to crops. j.