North Carolina Newspapers

1 i'V YW Ad"nc "FOR QOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH." 8ln8 Copley 6 Cent. " VOL. XXVIII. PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, JULY 6, f917. NOI . I i r I : ; " RUSSIAN SOLDIERS TROOPS OF NEW RUSSIA LAUNCH ATTACK ON EXTENSIVE SCALE. STORM GERMAN POSITIONS Berlin Admits That Attacks Were Powerful Along Whole Eighteen Mile Front. British Are Meeting With Successes in West. The soldiers of new Russia have assumed the aggressive. For the first time since the revolution last March Russian troops have begun an attack on an extensive scale. Along a region of eigheen and one half miles in the region of Brzezany, Galicia, Russian troops have stormed the German positions. Berlin says the Russians suffered heavy losses and were compelled to retire before the German fire. The attack was made between the upper Stripa and the Narayuvka river, a tributary of the Gnila Lipa, in the section southeast of Lemberg, the Gallician capital, where the artillery firing has been heavy recently. The Russians also made night at tacks on both sides of Brzezany and near Zwyzyn, and Berlin reports that assaults between the Zlota Lipa and the Narayuvka have brought on new battles between the opposing forces. The artillery arm of the Russian forces has again been active, and from the Berlin report it is learned that an intensive duel has been in progress in the region of Brzezany to as far northward as the Middle Stokhod In Volhynia. distance of about 175 miles. Berlin declares that the Russian attacks, which It says were power ful, were brought about through the pressure of the leading entente pow ers, the text of the official statement saying: "The Russian government having been constrained to yield to the pres sure of the leading entente powers, part of the army has been introduced to attack." The region of the Narayuvka and Upper Stripa rivers has been the scene of much bitter fighting since General Brussiloff ended his victorious campaign last year, and Brzezany is one of the keys of Lemburg. Field Marshall Haig continues to tighten his grip on Lens. On the north bank of the River Souchez, British troops have captured German positions on a front of about half a mile southwest and west of Lens. The British army during June captured 8,686 German prisoners, Including 175 officers and sixty-seven men, including two heavy guns, as well as much other war material. FOOD NEUTRALS MAY BE SUPPLY GERMANY FOOD. Which is Replaced With Imports Brought From America. Washington. Evidence that Ger many is obtaining vast quantities of food from the European neutral coun tries has been presented to the United States by Great Britain for the Amer ican government's guidance In de terming an export policy. Much of this, the British statistics purport to show, is replaced by the neutrals with imports from America. From Scandinavia and Holland, the information sets forth, enough fat is going into Germany to supply 7,700, 000 soldiers, virtually the entire army of effectives in the empire. German imports from these countries, it is declared, ..reduced to calories will equal the total ration of 2,500,000 troops, the size of the German army 1p the west. German purchases of foodstuffs abroad are made through the gov ernment department of the interior, which has organized a special divi sion to buy from the neutrals. In the early days of the war, the German government stimulated importation of food by excluding Imports from op eration of maximum price laws, bu. this drew such a vigorous protest from German producers the practice was stopped. AMERICAN HELP IS REALLY VERY GREAT. Zurich, Switzerland. Referring to the arrival of American troops on French soil, the military critic of The Frankfurter Zeltung says Germany must not overlook the fact that Amer ican help. Is really very great, though it will come only by degrees. Under these conditions, he says, if France is obliged to restrict her military ac tivities, it will signify no strengthen1 lne of the German situation. OFFENSIVE FRANCIS S. PEABODY 1 Y Francis S. Peabody of Chicago, one of the country's leading coal operators, received what he termed a command from Secretary Franklin K. Lane to take charge of the coal situation in America. Consequently Mr. Peabody has moved his family to Washington and turned over his business affairs to others In order to act as chairman of the committee on coal production of the council of national defense. AMERICAN TROOPS IN FRANCE ADVANCE GUARDS READY TO TAKE STAND ALONGSIDE ARM IES of Allies. Thousands of Regulars and Marines Have Crossed the Atlantic and Take Places In Trenches After Short Ped- lod of Training. Washington. The advance guard of the mighty army the United States is preparing to send against Germany is on French soil. In defiance of the German sub marines, thousands of seasoned regu lars and marines, trained fighting men, with the tan of long service on the Mexican border, or Haiti or Santo Domingo still on their faces, have been hastened over seas to fight be side the French, the British, the Bel gian, the Russian, the Portuguese and the Italian troops on the western front. News of the safe arrival of the troops sent a new thrill through Washington. No formal announcement came from the war department. None will come, probably, until Major General Persh ing's official report has been received. Then there may be a statement as to the numbers and composition of the advance guard. Press dispatches from France, pre sumably sent forward with the ap proval of General Pershing's staff, show that Major General Sibert, one of the new major generals of the army, has been given command of the first force sent abroad, under General Pershing as commander-in-chief of the expedition. SENATORS WRITE DRASTIC POWERS INTO FOOD BILL Washington. Food control legisla tion assumed new and more drastic form when the Senate agriculture com mittee virtually redrafted many of the principal features of the House measure and reported it with mate rial extensions of government power and a new "bone dry" prohibition pro vision to stop manufacture of intoxi cating beverages during the war. The president would be authorized to per mit wine making and to commander existing distilled spirits. The amended bill was presented to the Senate by Senator Chamberlain. He moved to have it substituted for the draft the Senate has been debat ing and proceed with all expedition to ward final action. The new prohibition plan, all lead ers admitted, greatly complicates the situation and precludes enactment of the legislation by July 1. In extending the scope of the legis lation, and the President's powers, the committee adopted amendments which would provide for government control, in addition to food, feeds and fuel, of iron, 6teel, copper, lead and their pro ducts, lumber and timber, petroleum and its products, farm implements and machinery, fertilizers and binding twine materials. DENY ANY INCREASE IN FREIGHT RATES APPLICATION OF RAILROADS FOR FREIGHT RATE INCREASE DENIED. SUSPENDED UNTIL OCT. 28 Order Says No Conditions of Emer gency Exist as to Western and Southern Roads to Justify Upward Revision of Rates. Washington. The Interstate Com merce Commission suspended until October 28, ,1917, the proposed fifteen per cent increase in freight rates. The commission, in announcing the decision said: "We are led to the conclusion that no condition of emergency exists as to the western and southern carriers, which would justify permitting a gen eral increase in their rates to become effective. "In the eastern districts, increased rates have recently been permitted- to become effective,;, generally on bitu minous coal, coke and iron ore. We think that similar Increases may be permitted in the southern district on coal, coke and iron ore. "In the southern district, the pro posed increased rates on coal are on the basis of fifteen per cent, with a maximum of fifteen cents a ton. These tariffs we shall permit to be come effective. "In the western district, the In creases are based upon fifteen per cent with a minimum of fifteen cents per ton. These tariffs will be sus pended, but the western carriers may, if they so elect, file new tariffs carry ing increases in rates on coal and coke not exceeding in any case fifteen cents per ton. " "All of the tariffs included in this percentage of the western lines will be suspended. AH of the tariffs in cluded in this percentage of the south ern carriers will be suspended except ing those applying on coal, coke and iron ore." The commission, in its decision, de clared its willingness to meet any sit uation which may arise in case the fear of the railroads of heavily de creased incomes are realized. GREECE BREAKS OFF RELATIONS WITH GERMANY. State of War K Considered to Exist. Athens. The Greek government ha3 broken diplomatic relations with Ger many, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. Though war has not yt been de clared, the Greek government con siders that a state of war exists since its advent to power. The recall of the Greek diplomatic representatives accredited to the central powers and their allies is imminent. Greece's new course with regard to the war began to be shaped on June 12 with the abdication of King Con stantino and the accession of Alexan der, his second son, as king. The abdication was in effect a dethrone ment of Constantin'e, whose pro-German attitude had given the entente endless trouble and threatened not only the success of the Saloniki ex pedition, but its safety through danger of backfire from a hostile Greek mili tary force. Eliptherios Venizelos, Greece's lead ing statesman and fast friend of the entente, soon appeared as the man to take the leadership in guiding Greece to her traditional place by the side of England, France and Serbia, the last her close ally whom she had aban doned under Constantine's coerion in Serbia's hour of greatest need. Summoned back to the premiership by King Alexander, Venizelos quickly formed a cabinet. The reactionary elements have been ousted or quieted, and the re-establishment of Greek constituoinal government, virtually abolished by Constantine, began. That the narllaent of May, 1915, which had been dissolved by Constantine, would again be suctioned to meet was later indicated, giving a legislative backing to the new executive power. FOUR BRITISH VESSELS SUNK BY SUBMARINES Boston. The torpedoing and sink ing of four large British cargo-carrying 3teamers waa announced in advices to Insurance offices. The steamers were the Ultonia, of the Cunwd line, 6.593 ton&; Haverford. of the American line. 7,403 tons; Buffalo, Wilson liner, 2.5S3 tons, and the Manistee, another Cun ard vessel. No details of the losses were given and no mention wa3 made of the fate of the crews. LORD N0RTHCLIFFE Mmmmm Lord Northellffe, owner of the Lon- don Times and Daily Mail and many other publications, is now head of the British war commission in the United States; RUSSIA WILL STICX TO END M. BAHKMETIEFF 8PECIAL EN VOY QIVE8 THI8 SOLEMN PLEDGE. Enthusiastic Reception Is Given New Democracy's Representative When He Makes His Appearance in Sen ate Hall. Washington. In another stirring address at the capitol, Boris A. Bakh- metieff, head of Russia's diplomatic mission, gave a solemn pledge that the Russian people and army, convinc ed that a separate peace would mean the triumph of German autocracy, are prepared to fight on beside America until the world has been made safe for democracy. The ambassador spoke before the Senate and was given a reception al most as enthusiastic as that accorded him Saturday in the House. On no previous occasion since the war began has senatorial reserve been cast 30 completely aside. At the conclusion of the address, a resolution was adopt ed by unanimous consent expressing the Senate's gratification over the stand of the newest democracy. 'Russia rejects with Indignation any idea of a separate peace," said the en voy. "Striving for a lasting peace, based on democratic principles, estab lished by democratic will, the Russian people and army are rallying their J forces around the banners of freedom. Russia ' wants the world to be safe for democracy. To make it safe means to have democracy rule the world." Many of the rumors of internal dis sension in Russia, M. BakhmetieT said, grew out of misunderstanding of the great changes taking place in the whole fabric of the government to transform It to democratic standards. He pleaded for patience and confi dence that these changes, although thoy might take time, would be work ed out successfuly in the end. The ambasador and other members of the Russian mission were given a reception by Secretary Lansing, with President Wilson among the guests. BRITISH TROOPS SLOWLY ENCIRCLING LENS. Germans Realize Their Tenure is Short Lived. The Blnw hut sure pnMrrlempnt of Lens, the important coal center h by the Germans in the department Pas de Calais, is In process of con-' summation by the Canadians. Having already during the present week cap tured important vantage points west .r,d southwest of the town, a fresh : mash at the German lines has been rewarded by the occupation of the : village of La Coulotte, situated a mile to the south. Although the British war office aside from the operations around j Lens, reports no activity by Field Marshal Ilaig's men rising in import ance above minor patrol sorties, the Berlin war office asserts that heavy artillery duels are in progress at va rious points, in which enormous quan- tities of ammunition are being used. and service branch only, without dis Reading between the lines of the j tinctlon between units of the regulars, German report, it is apparent that j national guard and national army, has the British are tho aggressors and it : been derided on by the war depart is possible that Ceneral Haig is pav- j ment to simplify official records of the ing the way for a series of new great war forces now being developed, thrusts against the German lines. 'Under the system, the regular regi The infantry activity in the region ments will retain their present names between Soissons and Rheims has from the "'first infantry," "first cav given way entirely to artillery duels , airy," etc., upward. BIG REDUCTIONS IN GOAL PRICES BITUMINOUS PRODUCT MINED EAST OF MISSISSIPPI EFFECT ED BY AGREEMENT. GOES INTO EFFECTAT ONCE Decreases Ranging From One to Five Dollars Per Ton to the Public Question of Prices on Anthracite Comes Up Later. Washington. Sweeping reductions In the price of bituminous coal at all mines east of Mississippi river, rang ing from one to five dollars a ton to the public,-with an additional cut of fifty cents for the government, were agreed upon at conferences between the operators and government offi cials. The new prices become effec tive July 1. Four hundred operators who gather ed here at a call from Secretary Lane, pledged themselves to furnish their product by committees from each field. Earlier in the day, they had agreed to place the price-fixing In the hands of the government, through the defense council's coal production committee, Secretary Lane and Commissioner Fort, of the federal trade commission, thus avoiding the possibility of violat ing the anti-trust laws. Director Smith of the geological survey, estimated that the reduced prices would mean that the operators would get $180,000,000 less annually for their output. In addition to placing prices upon coal at the mines it was announced that Jobbers, brokers, retailers and commission men , would be permitted to charge commissions of not more than twenty-five cents a ton and that no more than one commission should be charged. In other words, the con sumer will get his coal at the mine plus transportation charges and twenty-five cents per ton. The agreement does not affect an thracite, and the coal production com mittee announced that action on that problem had been postponed until after July 1 by agreement with the operators. The anthracite producers have indicated willingness to meet the government In the same spirit manl fested by the bituminous men. CANADIANS CONTINUE DRIVE AGAINST LINE AT LENS Brazil is no longer a neutral In the world-war and the German empire has another enemy arrayed against it. Having previously revoked its poli cy of aloofness so far as it affected the hostilities between the United States and Germany, Brazil now has come definitely into, the open and an nounced that it can no longer be con sidered neutral in the war between the entente and Germany. Although no announcement has been made as to whether the South American republic will actuary enter into hositilities by its revocation of neutrality, it definitely aligns itself morally on the side of the United States and' the entente. The Canadians, men from all parts of the dominion, have taken another hack at the German lines protecting Lens, the coal center in the Depart ment of Pas de Calais and have been rewarded "with another encroachment upon their objective. Striking on a two-mile front south of Lens, the Canadians, protected by effective curtain fires, stormed and rantr.rpr? fidrman flrcf Una nnoHlnno before Avion and also the village of Leauvette. Thev defeated in their sWM Tn An f t,a i. f eld guard and the fifth grenadier g- lntAe? 7Jth fuch task'" he,f cl"!d o! j whose mar-hine gun and rifle f - d 11 i3not8 bjg now as U " b? the fact that the attacking to. to rut through wire entanpi could not stay them. TT""U il 1. j . t . 1 i v iieu me uuiue enaea ana nadians began their work off dating newly-won positions t1 had been extended to within tl of the center of Lens, the fall t under such tenacious assaults J been made recently seeminglyl be long delayed X TEGIMENTS WILL BE GIVEN NUMBERS, ONL$ Washington. Designation of all army regiments hereafter by number EDITORS ENJOY VISIT TO MOREHEAD CITY DISCUSSION AND CONFERENCES ON IMPORTANT PROBLEMS FEATURE CONVENTION. EDITORS ARE ALL PATRIOTIC President Sounds Call of Service to Newspaper Men. Reviews Activi ties of Press. Morehead City. The sessions of th North Carolina Press Association, in annual convention here, were full of Instructive discussions and conferences on important newspaper problems. President Edward E. Britton called the convention to order. R. T. Wade, of the Morehead City Coaster, welcomed the visiting journalists, and Miss Beat rice Cobb, of The Morganton Herald, responded in happy vein. President Edward E. Britton then delivered his address the keynote of which was service. "Thi3 association," said he, "is not Beizing upon all the op portunities for service which present themselves to it We should have a larger membership, and that member ship should be extended so as to in clude not alone editors and publishers of newspapers, but the members of the staffs if newspapers, both on the news and business side of the business should be eligible to membership. More than this. There should be an effort made to have all other news paper associations in the state, re taining their offices and independ ent organizations, become depart ments in the North Carolina Press As sociation. As parts of this association we should have the Afternoon Press Asoclation, the Western Carolina Weekly Press Association, and any other associations of newspaper men in the state. I direct the attention of the" executive committee of this asso ciation to this matter, which I regard as of prime Importance." Editor T. W. Chambliss, of The Asheville Times, pointed out "The Duty of the North Carolina Press In the Present Crisis." He discussed the duty of the press to the government and in the instruction of the people concerniHg government problems an& -j undertakings. The press must now be the medium between the government and the people. , S. L. Meares, of The Bladen Journal, entertained the association with a forceful and witty paper entitled "Some Practical Newspaper Sugges tions." These suggestions were valua ble to all newspaper men and Mr. Meares' humor and spice added to the paper's charm. In the general discus sion which followed W. C. Hammer spoke with emphasis of America's part in the present war and the duties of journalists as individuals. Miss Beatrice Cobb spoke convinc ingly of woman's work in the news field, and declared that the newspaper offered many opportunities for women who were not afraid of work. She emphasized the great opportunity of service such work gives. Woman's place on the newspaper is not confined to fashion and society notes, she said. M. L. Shipman, Commissioner of Labor and Printing, read one of the best historian's papers in years, which was full of interesting comment con cerning North Carolina newspaperdom. The annual poem by Dr. William Laurie Hill elicited much applause. It was charged with patriotic fervor. Editor H. Gait Braxton, of The Kin ston Free Press, delivered the annua oration before the convention. He j !fke n thff ' sponsibility of the Pre83' from its Present Enlared A8' Ipect." "The press was never con- liunuw. 111. ui tiAiuji situru iuu. last year's meeting the work of press had taken on a world-wide . "The press is going to meet lhange and enlarged obligation," ved. In conclusion, he point fiome of the problems now con- t the press. He urged news- to establish their business as regards the sustajf""" yie Journalist'" fcers were e1 .nTantrora aiarm elected by acclamation! tion being by the retif E. C Britton; J ton Ilobesonian, A. ShaTN Z. W. Waithead, Wilmington umber Journal, second vice president; R. T. Wade, Morehead City Coaster, conven tion host, third vice president; M. L. Shipman. historian; W. T. Bost, ora tor, and J. B. Sherrill, Concord Trib une, secretary. Mr. Martin is private secretary to Governor Bickett. Selec tion of the r.ext meeting place was 'eft to the committee.