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1X3 a Ymmr Ut Advano "FOR QOD, FOR COUNTRY AND TOR TRUTH." ' lns Oepfaa, Canfefc
VOL. XXVIII. PLYMOUTH, H. 0., FRIDAY APRIL 26, 1918 . , NO. 38.
f
PROMISED FIGHT
HIPPED IN BUD
SENATOR FREDERICK HALE
r nc
l ur ur iiiii
AGIST Mi
FELT By THE ALLIES
COMMANDANT RIXXO
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DDTIMIQM
iuiii
PRESIDENT WILSON IS UNALTER.
ABLY OPPOSED TO COURT
MARTIAL BILL.
ON A LEVEL WITH GERMANY
Letter to Overman Leads to Abandon
ment of Fight for Chamberlain
Measure.
Washington. What promised to be
a sensational fight in Congress over
the proposal to turn disloyalty and
espionage cases over to military
courts-martial was nipped in the bud
by President Wilson. Champions of
the plan abandoned it for the present
at least, when Senator Overman, of
North Carolina, chairinan of the judi
ciary committee, made public a letter
from the President declaring unalter
able opposition to the Chamberlain
court-martial bill as both unnecessary
and unconstitutional.
Senator Chamberlain, of Oregon,
author of the measure, announced la
ter that in view of the President's at
titude he would not press the bill and
that further hearings on it by the mili
tary committee would be postponed
indefinitely.
Witnesses before the senate military
committee, including representatives
of the various branches of the govern
ment, have urged transfer of trials of
spies and disloyalists from the civil to
the military courts as the only effec
tive means of dealing with the menace
and reventing a wave of Jmob. vio
lence. President 'Wilson's letter was writ
ten In response to one from Senator
Overman asking his opinion of the
Chamberlain bill.
The President's letter follows:
"My Dear Senator:
"Thank you for your letter of yes
terday, I am heartily obliged to you
for consulting me about the court
martial bill, as perhaps I may call it
for short. I am wholly and unalter
ably opposed to such legislation and
very much value the opportunity you
give me to say so. I think it is not
only unconstitutional, but that in
character, it would put us nearly
upon the level of the very people we
are fighting and affecting to despise.
It would be altogether inconsistent
with the spirit and practice of Amer
ica and in view of the recent legisla
tion, the espionage bill, the sabotage
bill, and the woman spy bill, I think,
it is unnecessary and uncalled for.
"I take the liberty, my dear sena
tor, of expressing myself in this em
phatic way because my feelings Is
very deep about the matter, as I gath
er your own Is.
"It is admirable the way you have
been handling these important bills,
and I thank you with all my heart
for standing by the bill which bears
your name without any compromise of
any kind.
"It gives me the greatest satisfac'
tion to tell how much I have appre.
ciated what you have been doing.
"Cordially and sincerely yours,
"WOODROW WILSON."
"TELL THEM BACK HOME
WE ARE JUST BEGINNING'
"Tell them back home that we are
just beginning," said an American lad,
who was in the thick of the fight and
severely wounded with shrapnel. "It
was fine to see our men go at the
Huns. All of us who thought, baseball
was the great American game have
changed our minds. There is only one
game to keep the American flag fly
ingthat is, kill the Huns. I got sev
eral before they got me."
The other men in the hospital were
of the same spirit, while in a nearbv
ward was a wounded German
oner, who. It develops, was spared aft
er he had held up his hands, at the
same time carrying concealed bombs.
This fellow gneeringly and In a sulky
manner waved off the American guard
with one hand. A nurse said he had
given more trouble than all the Amer
icans combined.
CARRIERS AUTHORIZED
TO FILL NEW SCHEDULES
Washington. In compliance, with a
reouest of the railroad administration,
the interstate commerce commission
authorized carriers to file rate sched
ules Increasing joint rail and water
and all-water tariffs to a level not
higher than existing all-rail rates.
Carriers are authorized, in a sup
plemental order, to establish the new
rates without observing the long and
short haul provisions of the commls
'cn:s regulations.
I o j
1 I
M J
New photograph of Senator Fred
irick Hale of Maine, who succeeded
the late Senator Johnston. He Is a
Republican and a very active member
of the committee on naval affairs.
NAMES 26TH "LIBERTY DAY"
CALL UPON EVERY COMMUNITY
TO HOLD LIBERTY LOAN AND
PATRIOTIC RALLY.
Calls Upon Citizens to "Liberally
Pledge Anew" Suport to Nation's
Cause Loan Half Over.
Washington. Friday, April 26, will
be Liberty day throughout the United
States under a proclamation issued by
President Wilson calling on citizens
of every community to hold Liberty
loan rallies and "liberally pledge anew
their financial support to sustaiu the
nation's cause."
President Wilson's Liberty day
proclamation follows:
"By the President of the United
States of America.
"A Proclamation:
"An enemy who has grossly abused
the power of an organized govern-,
men and who seeks to dominate' the
world by the might of the sword chal
lenges the rights of America and the
liberty and life of all the free na
tions of the earth. Our brave sons
are facing the fire of battle in defense
of the honor and rights of America
and the liberty of nations. To sus
tain them and to assist our gallant
associates in the war, a generous and
patriotic people have been called
upon to subscribe to the third Liberty
loan.
"Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wil
son President of the United States of
America, do appoint Friday, the
twenty-sixth day of April, one thou
sand nine hundred and eighteen, as
Liberty day. On the afternoon of
that day I request the people of the
United States to assemble in their
respective communities and liberally
pledge anew their financial support
to sustain the nation's cause. Patri
otic demonstrations should be held
in every city, town and hamlft
throughout the land under the gen
eral direction of the secretary of the
treasury and the immediate direction
of the Liberty loan committees or
ganized by the federal reserve banks.
Let the nation's response to the third
Liberty loan' express in unmistakable
terms the determination of America
to fight for peace, the permanent
peace of justice.
"For the purpose of participating
In Liberty day celebrations, all em
ployes of the federal government
throughout the country whose ser
vices can be spared may be excused
at 12 o'clock noon, Friday, the twenty-sixth
of April.
"In witness whereof, I have here
unto set my hand and caused the
seal of the United States to be affixed.
"Done in the District of Columbia,
this eighteenth day of April, in the
year of our Lord one thousand nine
hundred and eighteen, and of the in
dependence of the United States of
America the one hundred and forty
second. "WOODROW WILSON.
"By the President.
"ROBERT LANSING.
"Secretary of State."
IRISH TO RESIST "BY
MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS"
London. The leaders of the nation
alists in Ireland, including the Red
mondites, who are now led by John
Dillon, the Sinn Feiners, O'Brienites,
laborites, and clericals are united in
their determination to resist con
scription "by the most effective means
at our disposal," which is the wording
of a resolution passed at a meeting of
tirhops at Maynobth.
GERMAN HIGH COMMAND ESSAYS
STROKE AGAINST AMERICANS
IN TOUL SECTOR.
HOLDING LINE. EVERYWHERE
Berlin Official Statements Claim Cap
ture of 183 Americans and 20 Ma
chine Guns But Report is Uncon
firmed. The German high command, having
been unsuccessful in piercing the Brit
ish front in Flanders and separating
the British and French armies, has
essayed a stroke against the Ameri
cans and the French northwest of
Toul and here also Teuton strategy
seemingly has failed utterly to bring
its plans to fruition.
Although the Germans attacked in
waves with greatly superior number
of men, the Americans and French
men have held all their positions and
inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.
What gains were made in the initial
onslaughts have been entirely retriev
ed and the American and French lines
restored.
The latest Berlin official communi
cation asserts that In the drive 183
American prisoners and 25 machine
guns were captured by the Germans,
who cut their way for about a mile
and a quarter into the American lines
at Seicheprey. There has been no
confirmation of this statement, or of
the added claim that the Americans
sustained heavy casualties.
It seem3 evident,; however, that the
fight was a bitter one and .that it was
the ambition of he specially trained
Germans to crush the Americans. Ev
erything the enemy had in stock was
brought into play in the fighting.
Shells of all calibers, including gas
missiles, were used prodigiously, but
the Americans, notwithstanding this
cannonading and the greatly superior
infantry forces arrayed against them
fought tenaciously and gave ground
by inches, and then only when 'they
had exacted a tremendous payment
for it in German killed or wounded.
Although the enemy was able to
reach the shell-torn village of Seiche
prey, the Americans rallied and in
bloody hand to hand fighting reversed
the situation and regained the town.
Likewise, all the terrain which the
French in this region were forced to
give up temporarily now has been
retaken. The German official commu
nication, in what seemingly is a half
hearted admission that the attack was
repulsed and that the Germans lost
what they had, gained, says the Ger
mans "after the destruction of enemy
works, reurned to their lines of de
parture." Americans Drive Enemy Back.
After the heavy German attack the
American main positions remained in
tact, and after a brief bombardment
the American troops attacked and
drove the enemy out of the old out
posts which ahey had gained, thus
breaking down an offensive which it
is believed was intended as the begin
ning of a German plan to separate
the Americans and French.
'QUAKE IN SOUTHERN
PORT OF CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles. Cal. All of southern
California, and . part of western Ari
zona and Utah were shaken by. an
earthquake which wrecked'-'Tirtiially;
all buildings and'residences iri Hemet
and San Jacinto, two inland towns,
45 miles southeast of Riversid Cal ,
caused minor property damage in
practically every town and city.
One man, Frank E. Darnell, of this
city, was trampled to death In a panic
at Santa Monica. A woman was In
jured by falling from a second-story
window at San Jacinto and a number
of persons were Injured there and
elsewhere, none seriously. Three men
entombed in a magnesite mine tunnel
near Hemet probably were savaed by
fellow workers who drove an air
shaft to them and were expected to
dig them out before morning.
STILL SLAYING INNOCENT
WITH LONG RANGE GUN
Paris. The long-range bombard
ment of Paris shows that shells have
fallen on 17 days since March 23. and
that, with the figures for two days
missing, 118 persons were killed and
230 injured.
Paris was shelled by nin German
batteries from January 5 to January
27. 1871, during which period 105 Par
isians were killed and 369 injured.
IP
Commandant Rixxo is in charge of
Italy's aerial forces.
l : -
BATTLE IS MORE INTENSE
RECAPTURE METEREN AND PART
OF WYSCHAETE IN POWER
FUL COUNTER ATTACKS.
J
X
V
Lively Artillery Engagements Deveiop
Between the Somme and Oise
Rivers.
Out of the choas of the tremendous
battle along the Lys river, south and
southwest of Ypres, the thunder of
which may be heard 40 or 50 miles
away, there have come during the past
day reports which are more encour
aging to the allied powers. The
British not only have held all the
ground which they yere defending but
have struck back so powerfully that
Meteren and part of Wytschaete were
retaken and held for a time. Only after
heavy attacks did the British retire
again from the villages.
The most disturbing news has been
a report from Berlin that Poecapelle
and Langmarck, north of Ypres,
have been taken by the Germans and
the admission from London that the
British have retired from certain of
their lines in the Ypres salient. The
retirement here was expected, for the
advance of the Germans at Neuve
Egllse and Bailleul left the positions
in front of Ypres open toa flank at
tack. It is officially stated that the
retirement was orderly and it is prob
able that it will have more of a senti
mental than a strategic effect. Just
how far the British lines have been
withdrawn is not known. It may be.
however, that the German claim of
taking Poelcapelle and Langemarck
was the result of the British retirement-
The battle now In Its ninth day,
has deepened in intensity at many
points along the curved front from
Messlnes ridge to Meteren. There
have been reports that the Germans
have occupied the vilalge of St. Eloi,
THE O. B. JENNINGS AND
WAR KNIGHT COLLIDE
An Atlantic Port. Thirty-seven
lives were lost when the American
steamship O. B. Jennings and the
British steamer War Knight, both la
den with naphtha and inflammable
oils, collided off th British coast on
March 24, according to members of
the crew of the O B. Jennings, who
arrived her.e All who perished with
one exception were on the British
vessel. They were burned to death
by blazing gas and oil.
U. S. ARMY OFFICER IS
TARRED AND FEATHERED
Sante Fe. N. M. Four hundred con
victs in the state penitentiary tarred
and feathered and led around with a
rope about his neck. Major John M.
Birkner of Camp Cody. N. M.. held in
the penitentiary as a federal prisoner.
He- ia charged with violation of the
espionage act.
Major Birkner. who was born in
Nuremberg. Germany, has been in the
American military forces for more
than 30 years.
NOMINATION OF FOCH
APPROVED BY WILSON
"The American military representa
tive in the supreme war council ha.s
officially informed the government
that he has received the following
cablegrams under date of April 15:
"'In the r.sme of the republic of
j the United Stages of America. th
; President approves the nomination
Goreral Foch :is eommnder-i:i-rh:cf
i c . the allie I arnj!o !n France'."
OFFICIALS SEE PROSPECTS OF A
VICTORIOUS COUNTER OFFEN
SIVE SOON.
NEWS DISTINCTLY CHEERING
Italian Troops Pouring Into France to
Share in the Crucial Struggle.
British Hold Firm.
Washington. Events on the west
ern batle front are shaping themselves
officers here believe, not only for de
feat of the German drive, but for a
counter-offensive by General Foch's
armies that may open the road to an
allied military victory.
A wave of optimism swept over not
only American officials, but also the
military men of the allied missions in
Washington. Some of them think It
will be some days yet before Genearl
Foch can comlete his troop disposi
tions for a great thrust at the enemy,
but others look for word that he has
struck at any time.
The news from the battle front was
distinctly cheering. The British lines
in the hard stricken Flanders front
were holding firmly. French rein
forcements had arrived there, making
practically certain that the German
drive toward the channel' ports from
that direction has been defeated.
Italian Troops to France.
At the same time, official announce
ment came from Rome that Italian
troops were already pouring into
France to share in the crucial strug
gle there. This added to the opti
mism, for it means that the fighting
men of France. Italy, Great Britain,
America. Belgium, Portugal and the
Russian units are being massed under
the one leader for a mighty blow when
the time comes.
There were many indications of in
creased pressure toward getting
American troops overseas in time to
share fully in the battles this summer
upon which may rest the final issue.
Secretary Baker conferred for sev
eral hours with President Wilson, the
regular cabinet meeting being can
celled to clear the way for the con
ference, which had to do with both
immediate and future steps for accel
erating American participation in the
struggle.
It was the first opportunity Mr.
Baker has had to present fully to the
commander-in-chief his report on his
trip along the fighting lines and give
the president at first hand an account
of the mighty work General Pershing
and his officers have done in France
and are doing.
COTON PRICE-FIXING
TALK RAISES A STORM
Some Southern Cotton Hoftiers Hint
at Dampening of Loyalty of the
Washington. The talk of fixing the
price of rotton and cotton products has
arosued cotton holders throughout the
south to such a pitch that some of
them hint that the loyalty of some
cotton nople might be dampened It
any such action is taken. Some dealers
claim that the manufacturers would
fix the price on raw cotton at a lower
oricp than the market price so that
the prices of manufactured goods can
be lowered without cutitng their
profits.
The North Carolina delegation is
boc;inning to receive protests from the
cotton men of varrious callings. J. Al
lan Taylor, of Wilmington, has a9ked
Senator Simmons to taue no the mat
ter with the proper authorities. He
said "theagitation for limiting the
price of raw material as a necessary
means for reducing prices of cotton
goods is absolutely unwarranted."
Senator Simmons took the matter
no with Vance MeCmmick. chairman
of the war trade board.
There Is no immediate danger of
any fixing of the prices on raw cotton.
The government may fix the price on
the finished products.
SOCIALISM POISONOUS
"GERMAN PROPAGANDA"
Cleveland. Ohio. Socialism in
America was branded as poisonous
German propaganda by Samuel Gomp
ers. pres'dent of the American Feder-
I ation of Labor, in a speech in behalf
', of the Liberty loan campaign at the
Pity club. "There is z;o such thin?
s an American socialist party." Mr
""nn.rs to'd an audience of 1,500 r-t
, ;i C'tv club. "The American socia
' organization is merely a branch
' one in Germany !t is part c
RESIGNS HIS POSITION AS AS
SISTANT TO HOOVEK TO
TAKE UP NEW WORK.
WILL MAKE TOUR OF SOUTH
Is to Stimulate Work on Ships in
Southern Yards Approved
By Hurley.
Special from Washington. General
Julian S. Carr, of North Carolina, re
signed as an assistant to Food Com
missioner Hoover for food conserva
tion in the South and will take up im
mediately the duties of chairman of a
committee appointed by the Southern
Commercial Congress to stimulate
work in Southern ship yards. Gen
eral Carr and Dr. Clarence J. Owens,
secretary of the congress, will leave
soon to hold public meetings in every
Southern port where ships are being
built, to arouse citizens, yard owners
and workers to the urgency of the
need for ships.
Later, the committee will undertake
the recruiting of labor and the expe
diting of timber cutting if shortage,;
threatens to delay the work in any
yard.
General Carr and Dr. Owens called
at the shipping board preliminary to
undertaking the work, which has the
enthusiastic approval of Chainnaa
Hurley. Their trip through the South
is the result of a previous conference
between Mr. Hurley and a committee
appointed at the Baltimore meeting of
the congress. Chairman Hurley wrote
the congress the foMowing letter des
ignating it as an agency to speed up
ship construction:
"Realizing that we must have ships
and without ships troops and food caa
not be transported, a great country
wide drive is being inaugurated to
bring home to the people outside of
the shipyards the necessity of getting
behind the workers in the yard ol
giving him every possible support.
"There is no question but that la
the main our shipbuilders and their
employes are striving to do their ut
most. I am only fearful that the com
munities In which the ship yards are
located do not appreciate the work
these men are performing in connec
tion with our military program.
''Therefore no opportunity shouH
be lost by the citizens of shipbuild
ing centers to make the shipworker
feel that they are with him. Great
occasions, must be made of launchings.
School children must be told of the
part of the war which is being enact
ed before their very eyes and how
the ships will save the nation. Jast
as a community is proud that it has
furnished its quota of soldiers, so
must it show its pride in the building
of ships and cheer the workmen along
in the effort to build them faster anf
better than anywhere else.
"We need assistance now as aever
before. Recognizing the possibilities
of creating greater community inter
ests, it gives me the greatest pleasure
to designate the Sorern Commercial
Congress as an agency for accomplish
ing this result, as applied especially
to the wood and teel yards in the
Southern States, this offers an occa
sion for immediate service which t
am sure that the people of the South
will not overlook."
Another Flour Mill Closed.
Raleigh Albemarle Milling Com
pany, a flour mil located in Albemarle,
Stanly county .has been closed by the
Food Administration because of vio
lations of the Food Administration'
rules and regulations governing mills.
The Albemarle mill was using ; more
than 2G4 pounds of wheat in the man
ufacture of 196 pounds of flour and
was also disregarding the Food Ad
ministration's schedule of mill . feed
prices. The Food Administration Is
right behind the flour milling industry
and every mill which is found to be
violating the Food Administration's
rules and regulations hereafter mar
look for nothing except drastic ac
tion. A number of other mills are
under investigatior
Negroes Buy Bonds.
Monroe. "Every negro in the Sea
board shops at Richmond, Raleigh,
and Monroe have purchased Liberty
bonde," was a sentence uttered here,
by B. L. Hammer, general develop
ment agent of the Seaboard, speaking
In the courthouse to a good sized au
dience. He came to Monroe for-.he
nurpose of selling Liberty bop
Seaboard employes andwas rv
ipon to -jnake an addres
".300 worth of bouds to-
en In Monroe.
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