Demut
VOL. 35
.. I « 1
PLYMOUTH, N. C„ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1923.
NO. 5
NAVY OFFICIALS
TO JUDGE WRECK
i —- "■ ■ •
TERM IT THE GREATEST PEACE
DISASTER NAVEY EVER
SUSTAINED.
NO OFFICIAL EXPIMTIIN
Many Theories Advanced a* to Cauaef
Santa Barbara Coast Subject to
Strange Tides.
yy <*»amnion. — LftCKmg trea m#
Nearest official explanation of the loss
of seven fleet class destroyer# on the
California coast, nary officials contin
ued to withhold judgment on what
they termed the most Severe peace
time hjiow the navy has ever sustain
ed.
: Although regulations prescribe that
‘every effort be made to forward lea
madia tely names ef the dead and in
juries in such cases, no such list had
jbeen received at the department np to
a late hoar. The Initial dispatch from
Admiral Robinson, commanding the
Pacific fleet, lnformd the department
jthat specific orders had been lseaed
!for the preparation and relay of this
'list, the duty being assigned to Cap
tain Edward jH;, Watson, commanding
the wrecked squadron.
The theory advanced In press dis
patches'that radio operators on tho
destroyers were thrown off their reck
oning by shore signals Intended for
the Reno was declared by officers in
the department to be doubtful. Leav
ing out of all consideration, they said,
the material difference ht location and
the destroyer group "position signals,”
Invariably are addressed specifically
to the ship which has requested them.
iThls was held to render It Improbable
that all of the operators on the naval
vessels could have taken the signals
as bearing upon their own course and
to^fiave acted in concert, although
one might have done so.
Unofficial description of the scene
(of the wreck and known peculiarities
of the coastal area in which It occur
red. led to the belief by some officials
that a tidal disturbance of unusual
force threw the destroyers far off their
course probably without the knowl
edge of the officers on board.
I A possible connection between such
ja phenomen and the recent Japanese
earthquake was discussed. Records of
Ithg hydrographic office and reports
of naval officers who have served ex
tensively on the California coast have
agreed that the Santa Barbara section
frequently experiences a strong coast
ward tide attributable to no known
'factor. It was suggested that such a
tide might have been in fares Satur
day night, augmented by a trans-Pa
eifle reflex from the Japanese shelf*
shifting.
-r
i New Alp Speed Record le <38 MMee.
| Washington.—A lew mark (or speed
In the air was claimed by the bureau
of nairal aeronautics which announced
that Lieutenant L. H. Sanderson, of
the marine corps, piloting the plane
which will represent the nary in the
Pulitlzer races at SL Louis, in Octo
ber, attained 238 miles an hour over
» measured course at Mlneola, Long
island. The official record is now
held by "Lieutenant R. L. Maughan, of
th% army air service, who raced
through the air at 236.53 miles an hour
at Dayton, Ohio.
The mark was made during build
er's trails in a straightway flight, with
out the advantages of diving from alti
tude to attain momentum, and the
timeing, the announcement said, was
accurate, according to standard prac
tices. _— ■
Known as the “Navy Wright Fight
er," the plane built under navy speci
fications. It is a biplane developing
700 horsepower, streamlined, and with
one seat. - yv
World Supply of Cotton Reduced.
Washington.—The total world sup
ply of cotton on August!, was 27,568,
600 bales, as compare<£with 29,602,000
bales on August 1, 1922, according to
a- survey made public by the Depart
ment of Commerce.
The world’s consumption of cotton
for the year ending JiT$r 31, last, was
given at 20,950,000 bales as compared
with £0,047,000 or the previous corres
ponding 12 months. World stocks at
the beginning Of the season were 9,
536,000 bales as against 14,T62;000 for
the preceding year, whilg the stocks
at the end of the season were 6,400,000
bales as compared to 9,536,000.
k. ' The world survey was made by the
Department of Commerce in co-opera
tion with the Department of Agricul
ture, and included some unspinable
cotton.
* . ••
■ *• ■
BODIES OP 70,000
COUNTED IN TOKIO.
Washington.—The dead counted
by Japanese authorities up to Sep
tember T numbered 47,000 in Tokio
and 23,000 in Yokohama, the for
eign office In Tokio reported to the
Japanese embassy here.
The mesaage said 150 foreigners
had been killed “so far as has been
ascertained.**
About 310,000 houses, or 71 per
cent of all, were destroyed in To
kio, while 70,000 of the 85,000 hous
es in Yokohama met a similar fate.
Police of Tokio, according to the
message, estimated 1,356,000 per
sons horhelesp there, constituting
67 per cent of the total population.
SECURES REVENUE BUREAU
di«tmbuVb proceeds op sales
PROPORTIONATELY TO MEM
BERS.
Ns Other War Co-Opefativ* Aosocia
Dona Mar Avoid Pay I eg Income
Tax a*.
Washington.—A proportionate dis
tribution of tbs proceeds of the sales
of their products to the members ol
co-operative associations was declar
td hr the internal revenue bureau to
be the only method by which the in
fCOtnO: of .such - associations is mads
tax exempt.
The bureau’s findings were announc
ed in a final decision amending pre
vious tnoome tax regulations.
The new regulation provides that
co-operative associations acting at
sales agents or farmers, fruit grow
srs, livestock growers, dairymen and
others, or engaged in the marketing
of farm products and turning back tc
the producers the procods of the sales
on a pro rata basis, are exempt from
Income tax add shall not be required
to file returns.
"If the proceeds of the business arc
distributed In any other way than er
such a proportionate basis," the regu
Eft ion continued, “the association doei
not meet the requirements of the
statute and is _not exempt. The accu
mulation and maintenance of a reas
onable reserve for depreciation 01
possible losses, or a reserve requlrec
by state law, or a sinking fund or sur
plus to provide for the erection ol
buildings and facilities, will not de
stroy the exemption."
The regulation makes it clear that
In every case the association will be
required to show that the owenershli
of the stock has been restricted to pro
ducers.
The regulation extends the same, tat
exemption' to co-operatives which
operate as purchasing agencies for or
ganlsed producers,'allowing them al!
privileges extended to the assoola
Eons engaged only la selling.
Peetefnce Clam Re-llsct Officer*.
. Washington.—C. P. Franciscus, ol
New fork city, was re-elected presl
deat of the United National Associa
Mon of Postoffloe clerks at the closlni
session of the annual convention ol
the organisation. Minneapolis wai
selected as next year’s convention city
John 1. Grogan, of Wheeling, W
Va.p was eelcted secretary and Jehi
T. McGeorge, of Philadelphia, treas
urer.
The convention during its fionr da}
convention approved resolutions call
lag or salary increases and for better
ment of working oondltions.
Postmaster General New was pledg
ed the support of postolflce clerk*
after a short address, during whicl
he promised co-operation in the bet
terment of working conditions'.
Ford Asked to Modify Shoals.
Washington.—Henry Ford took un
der advisement a request by Secre
tary of War Weeks, concurred in b}
President Coolidge, to modify hie offei
for the purchase and lease of the gov
ernment’s power and nitrate projects
at Muscle Shoals, Ala. Mr. Ford it
expected to give his final decisior
after thorough consideration at De
trolt.
Secretary Weeks ie understod tc
have asked Mr. Ford to eliminate the
Gorgas power plant on the Warrioi
river from his proposal for the opera
tion of the Muscle Shoals property
Secretary Weeks is said to believe
that the government would be com
polled under a contract agreement tc
sell the Gorgas plant to the Alabama
Power company and that the plant
could be eliminated without sacrlflc
tug the end the Detroit manufacture*
hot in view.
In the event the Gorgas property
is eliminated from those Mr. Ford
seeks to purchase, it is planned that
the money paid the government b}
the Alabama Power company would
be allowed as a credit on the pur
chase price fixed by the Ford offer.
8 GREAT SHIPS.
PILE OH ROCKS
TWENTY-FIVE DIE AS U. S. DE
STROYERS HIT ROCKS M
POO.
FIVE HUNDRED ARE RESCUED
The Dead Were. All Trapped In Thelrj
Bunks aa Ships Strike Barbara
Ceast.
Santa Barbara, Calif.*—Serna United
States nary destroy era and the Pacific
mail liner Cuba were wrecked on the
reeks in a dense fog off Aguello Light,
75 miles north of Santa Barbara, and
the passenger steamer on a reef off the
southeast end of San Miguel Island, 35
miles off this pert.
Twenty-live enlisted men of the de
stroyers, lost their litres in the naral
disaster and all the destroyers were
reported as total losses.
The liner Cuba was reported to hare
sank during the night, but all passen
gers and members of her crow either
were landed at Isos Angeles by the
destroyer Reno or are on their way
to San Francisco on board the Stand
ard Oil tanker W. S. Miller, with the
exception of Captain C. J.Hollgnd.the
purser, steward'aad eight seamen, who
remained en board to guard a ship
ment of 12,500,000 in silrer bullion.
Dense fog Was the cause of both
disasters.
The destroyers, comprising almost
the entire destroyer flotilla of thw
United States nary In California
waters, include the Delphy, S. P. Lee,
Chauncey, Fuller, Woodbury, Nicholas
and. Young, were all beached within a
few minutes of ene another, according
te naval officers.
The flotilla of which the wrecked
craft formed a. part was in oommand
of Captain Edward ’Watson, of the
Delphy,' and was oh a practice cruise
The dead were all trapped ftf their
bunks on the Young when that ves
sel struck and were drowned when
the craft capsized within two min
utes after striking.
More than’ 500 men were rescued
from the wrecked destroyers, which
were reported to be pounding to
pieces on the rocks, all total losses.
Of the survivors, 18 o the serious
ly injured were brought to the Santa
Barbara oounty hospital here. One
hundred others were cut and bfoised
in their swim to safety over the'jag
ged rocks.
The destroyers were traveling in
formation at 20 knots an hour hi n
heavy sea and dense fog when the
leading vessel crashed.
Carried ahepd by a strong tide the
others piled on the beach in succes
sion. The boats lay in line along the
shore at intervals of 250 feet.
▲ partial list of the dead, as offi
cially announced, fellows:
U. W. Spikker, Joseph Sllmak,
Henry T. Kirk, Enrique Torres, Buch
: an, Harrison, Reddock, Salter, Martin,
r Kirby, Grady. Ben -Schank, Taylor,
Overshiner, Duncan, Ray H. Morris,
John Young, C. F. Rogers and Conroy.
The seas were running so heavy
that it was only a few minutes after
the crash that all of the destroyers
were taking water.
The rescue of most of the crew of
the Young was effected when Boat
swain’s Mate Peterson took a line
1 overboard and swam with it to the
Chauncey, fighting against the rough
sea and strong tides. Peterson reach
ed the Chauncey exhausted.
With a line secured between the
two ships, all remaining members of
the crew made their way ashore as
the Chauncey was beached on the
mainland.
The 15 more seriously injured sail
ors brought to the county hospital
here arrived on a rescue train. The
train had been sent shortly after the
first message was flashed from the
wireless of the wrecked destroyers.
The special carried a corps of Santa
Barbara physicians who assisted naval
surgeons in giving first aid treatment.
Will Scrap Twenty-One Battleship*.
Washington. — Twenty-one battle
ships and cruisers of the United
States are to be sold for scrap in a
series of sales to begin next month.
The vessels for elimination from the
navy lists by the limitation of arma
ment treaty ratified August 17 last,
and must be scrapped within 18
months from that date, according to
the treaty provisions.
The first sale, said a navy depart
ment announcement, will be held on
October 25. and will include four bat
tleships under construction at the
New York, Mare Island and Norfolk
navy yards. ..
DOG CARRIES a human
hand—victims found
i Atma, Ga.—A dog carrying a hu
n»An h(od in Its mouth hero led to
tjtf discovery of the bodies, of Lu
ther Knowles, 17, and his brother,
Ibtell, 15, on the tracks of the
Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic
qallroad. ' h
The boys had been Instructed
tA watch a broken down automo
bile for their father, but apparent
Wft the car and sat down on the
railroad tracks, being hit by a
Brunswlck-Atlanta fast freight
t^aln. There will be an inquest.
SINK SHIP IN 30 MINUTES
SHIPS ARE BEING SCRAPPED
UNDER TERMS OF LIMITA
TION TREATY.
first Was Virginia Which Want
With “Fishting Bob" Evans on
Cruise Around World.
i _____
Aboard U. S. Army Transport St.
MU)lsl, Off Capo Hattera9, N. C.—A
spectacular show, staged by army air
meg over this famous grave-yard ot
ships, marked the beginning of the
Stepping of American war craft re
quired under the „ naval limitation
treaty. _ -
The ships tx> be destroyed were
onSe the proud Virginia and New Jer
sey, which made up a part of the
American battle fleet which "Fighting
Bob Evans’ led on the memorable
cruise around the world in 1907.
The success attending the efforts
of the army aviators from Langley
field, Vs., who, operating under per
fect weather conditions, were simu
lating a defense ot American shores
from an enemy attack, was greater
even than that with yrhich they met
lh 1921 in the sinking of a German
warship turned over to the United
mate* after the world war.
• ' -- A, • w*
Improvement of instruments and
personnel in the two years was de
monstrated slearly. It required Jusi
thirty minutes for the sinking of th«
Virginia, eight planes, flying at an al
tifude of three thousand feet, account
ing for her with thirteen twelve hun
dred pound bombs.
The New Jersey proved more dif
ficult of destruction, however. After
two attacks, which left her still afloat,
but leaking, the assault on the Vir
ginia bpg&n at 11:54 m. The fourth
bomb released struck the hull at the
after turret and converted her super
structures into a tangled mass of
steel. Both cage masts, three smoke
stacks, and the heavy boat davits
were -demolished and. part of the ar
mor plate was torn away from the
after turret.
Before that, two bombs had been
put overboard cloae alongside arid
the ship began to Hs^. Other bombs
fell close to the. starboard' side and
apparently ripped open the- ship’s hull
as Bhp went down to starboard* rapid
ly turning bottomside up at 12k20 p.
m.
The New Jersey anchored half a
mile away from from Diamond ShSais
light ship still was afloat, but was
lying badly to port as a result of the
dropping of 000 and 2,000 pound
bombs close beside her hull. Few
direct hits were scored on her and her
superstructure was only slightly dam
aged.
Figure* Given on Cotton Crop.
Washington.—This year’s cotton
production was forecast at 16,788,000
bales of 500 pounds each by the de
partment of agriculture.
The forecast was based on the con
dition of the crop August 25, which
was 54.1 per cent of a normal, indi
cating a yield of about 134.8 pounds
per acre. Last month’s production
forecast was 11,516,000 bales, based on
the July 25 condition of 67.3, which
indicated a yield of about 143.9 pounds
per acre. Last year’s crop was 9,761,
817 bales.
The condition August 25 in percent
age of a normal and the forecast ot
production la thousands of bales by
principal states are:
Virginia 93 and 50.
North Carolina 71 and 885.
South Carolina 57 and 70*.
Georgia 42 and 827.
Florida 30 and 17. ;
Alabama 51 and 828. _ ,
Mississippi 48 and 858. Vf .
Louisiana 53 and 361. v .
Texas 55 and 3.722. ?,
Arkansas 57 and 948.
Tennessee 64 and 415. ..
Missouri 67 and 193. ' (
Oklahoma.46 and 791. ■ ‘
California 88 and 43.
j Arizona 90 and 83.
I New Mexico 88 and 59 _
STRICKEN Ml
NEARLY HALF MINIMUM 80UQHT
BY THE RED CROSS IS
RECEIVED.
DISPATCHED WITHOUT DELAY
About $10,000,000 a Month Expected
to Be Needed For Several Month*
It is Estimated.
Washington. — American continue*
to pour out in generous measure funds
for the relief of stricken Japan. Re*
ports received at national headquar
ters of the American Red Cross late
1ft the relief fund had reached aHOtgl
of 12,247,000, or nearly ooe-half of the
minimum sum of 10,000,000 which is
sought.
At the same time John Barton
Payne, chairman of the Red Cross,
Who has returned to Washington to
assume direct control of the! nations
humanitarian $f&rt, announced that
food, medical supplies and clothing to
the amount of 12,422,500 had been pur
chased and would be dispatched to
Japan without further delay.
Actual relief work in Japan will be
in the hands of the Japanese Red
Cross to which the supplies being ship*
ped from this country will be deliver
ed. American doctors and relief werk
ers are en route foy, Japan and they
will cooperate with the Japanese
should their services be required.
After the cabinet • meeting an admin
istration spokesman emphasised that
the Amerfoan government would put
its rsaources at the diepoeal of the
Japaneee realising that they are per
fectly competent to direct their relief
work. This same spokesman said the
best information now available ie that
Japan will need all of the assistance
thr.t can be given. It is estimated
that as temporary relief about $10,
000,000 a month wlU^e required for
several months, this sum to be con
tributed by the nations of the world.
Three Killed By Powder Explosion.
South Amboy, N. J.—Three men and
a boy were killed and 27 persons were
injured, 15 propably fatally, by an exr
plosion of thousands of cases of
smokeless powder, which were betna
transferred front barges to freight
ca^p on the banks of the Baritan
rlerr. ^
The explosion, caused by a cooking
fra oi one of the barges, rocked the
entire cottntrysfde. blew automobiles
upside down on the road nearby and
enveloped every ons within 100 yards
in a sheet of flame. .The two men
killed were Winston Taylor and Wil
liam Trench of Newark. The third
was unidentified. The boy, whom
body has not been recovered, wns
blown into the river.
The powder consisted ol n ship
ment of 1M.OOO cases belonging to
the AtJns powder poihpany.
Capt. fimery Foss of Addison, Mains,
and Capt. Robert Brown of New York,
commanding the barges, said sperks
from a cooking Are on one of the
barges blew across the docks, igniting
several other barges and finally the
freight cars.
The train of burning cars was ha
mediately hauled from the scene,
'blaring, and left standing on a trestle
bridge crossing the main automobile
road. Motorists slowed down to
watch the fire, ignorant of what the
ears contained. The first explosipn
stalled all the engines and those In
the automobiles were left helpless.
Thomas Kennedy of South Amboy,
conductor of the train which drew the
cars of powder on the pier, was start
ing across the bridge when the explo
sion occurred. He was so badly burn
ed. hospital surgeons feared, he would
die. i
Before those near the bridge had a
chance to escape, there followed a
second and a third explosion, as ad
ditional freight cars were swept by the
flames. At each blast the air for 100
yards around was filled with flame.
Completes Second Trial Flight.
Lakehurst, N. J.—Ater cruising an
hour and 20 minutes above the United
States naval air station here, the naval
airship ZR-1 successfully completed
its second trial flight, touching the
ground at 7:40 with every wire and
stay in ship shape condition.
V All six engines wore tried during
the flight.
Thorughout the flight the ZR-1 aver
aged about 50 miles an hour, although
her engines were running pot more
than half speed. It is not known just
how ra-ich speed the great balloon is
capabifl of and she will not be tested
to her I'm it for some time to come.
W. J. JiOZMI * son r
(MiUliM IfN)
Ptym*vtfc, M. 6.
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