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j! VOL 13 ? . CAMDEN. KERSHAW COUNTY S. C. TUESDAY. JANUARY 19. 1915 . GOVERNOR RESIGNS - J GOT. BLEME GIVES NO REASONS FOR HIS SUDDEN ACT c. a. SMITH IS GOVERNOR News of Sudden Ending of Stormy Administration Comes Like Thun derclap ? Causes Whirlwind in l^eK islature ? New Governor is Sworn in to l>e C'Hef onicer of the State. With dramatic suddenness, Cole Yj. Hlease resigned Thursday at 12:15 o'clock as governor of South Caro lina. bringing his term in this office to a close five days before It would havo expired by law. Charles A. Smith, lieutenant governor, took the oath of oftlce from Eugene 13. Gary, chief justice of the supreme court, and became governor of South Caro lina at 12:45 o'clock. He will be chief executive of the State until noon next Tuesday, January 19, when Richard 1. Manning will be inaugu rated. Notice to the general assembly that Gov. Hlease had withdrawn from of-, flee was contained in the following communication, read in both the House and Senate: "To the General Assembly of South Carolina: "I hereby resign as governor of South Carolina. (Signed) "Cole L. lllease." The resignation was written in red ink on a sheet of the governor's pri vate stationery. A duplicate of the communication to the general assem bly was filed in the office of the secre tary of state. "It startled me. 1 was very much surprised. 1 do hate to leave the Senate, because my work there has been so pleasant," said Charles A. Smith, governor of South Carolina, as ho sat in the executive office at the State house Thursday, shortly after ho had been sworn in. Gov. Smith received many tele grams congratulating him upon his elovation to the high office. Many called over the te'ophone from points in the state. During the afternoon there was a constant stream of call ers. "I have alroacly received three peti ? titfrf* TBf fflmnfti? Tfttey aVe *ri gh t 1 m po :ant cases, but I havo taken no action," said Gov. Smith. Gov. Smith said that he would re tire from politics at the expiration of his term of ofllce as governor. One of the first acts of Gov. Charles A. Smtlh was to name C. Is. Hlease, for mer governor, as a notary public of Illchland county. The first intimation that he was going to be made governor of South Carolina came to Charles A. Smith Thursday at 12:15 o'clock as ho was ascending the steps of the speaker's rostrum In the House to preside over the Joint session at which Mendel L. Smith was elected judge of the Fifth circuit. Gov. Smith, who was still lieutenant governor then, was stop ped on his way up to the steps by W. P. Blackburn, secretary to Gov. Hlease. Mr. Rlackburn told him to come down to the governor's office as soon as the joint session was over and imparted the further Information that Gov. Hlease had resigned. Through sources other than Gov. Smith and Mr. Rlackburn the news of the governor's resignation got abroad among the people In the lob bios and was spread among members of the House and Senate sitting in Joint session to elect a Judge. On his way back to the Senate chamber at tho head of the proces sion of senators after tho Joint as sembly adjourned at 1?:35 o'clock, Gov. Smith was congratulated on his sudden elevation to tho office of chlof executive. Ilo smiled and remarked, "I'll have a long time to corve, won't I?" Gov. llleaso stated to the repre sentative of Tlio Columbia Rocord that ho would state no reason for tills action. Ho was then In the su preme court room, where prepara tions were being made to administer the oath of office to Charles A. Smith, the lieutenant governor. While a crowd of state officials, members uf both branches of the legislature and several score citizens crowded the supreme court room to overflowing and pucked the wido halls of the capitol before the court room, Charles A Smith, pallled with excite-1 ment that caused the entire assem blage of possibly two hundred to quiver noticeably, boeame the gov ernor of South Carolina. The new governor's homo K nt Tlmmonsvllle. lie was a candidate, defeated, last summer for the governor's office. Though from no official sourco could the statement bo confirmed, It was generally stated In the legislative halls that (lov. Blease resigned be cause he did not "like the personnel of the legislature." This body Is known to bo almost unanimously and blttorly opposed to him. Wbert Oov. llleaso was told Thurs day morning of a meeting of mem bers of the legislature when the pro posal of Instituting impeachment pro ceedings against him wan considered, ho wan visibly effonted, and restrain ed his speech with apparent difficulty. To the newspaper men. the resign ing governor after quitting that of fice appeared a defiant man. He was cool and self-possossod, the most com posed man In all that growing crowd that thronged the South Carolina capitol. Immediately after news of the gov ernor's resigning became known In the Joint session of the legislature that body broko up with precipitate liaRte. The newspaper men did not observe the decorum of the body and ran rapidly from the hall of the House of Representatives, followed by the members. , When order was . restored the irou qf th> HfrlMlfln 1 1 n u o <1 . AGAINST IMPEACHMENT CAUCUS DECIDED NOT IX) 8TAKT THE PROCEEDINGS. Member* of General Assembly Had Considered Advisability of Action Against Governor Who Resigned. As the result of a conference held at Columbia TueBday night, Impeach ment proceedings will not be started against Gov.^Colo L. Dlease by the House of Representatives. The con ference which reached this decision was attended by about 25 leaders from both branches of the general assembly, when they, In secret ses sion. considered this proposed action. It being pointed out during the conference that the chief executive would be legally entitled to place on the witness stand before the members of the Senate and justices of the su preme court, acting as Judges, every person In this and other states to testify in his favor. It was decided im peachment would be impractical. The conference reached the conclu son, it was stated by one of that number, that such proceedings could be drawn out for such a period that the state would be f reed to spend thousands of dollars, and finally prob ably would be forced to drop the im peachment effort because of the groat expense to the state the governor could occasion. The meeting came to the realiza tion. after discussion extending over two hours, that, though there exist ed small doubt "in our minds" that the governor would be impeached when decision by the Senate was reached, the chances in Gov Hlease's favor were such that he could, with in the law. " filibuster" the state "in to bankruptcy." That legislator discussing the con ference stated that "it was a deter mined crowd that gathered hero to make plans for beginning these pro ceedings. The resolutions were pre pared. and to a discussion of them was given to first consideration of the conference. It was decided, how ever, to our disappointment, that the power possesed by the governor was sufficient to probably bring substan tial failure to the movement " Another disquieting factor the con ferees stated in session that they would bo forced to contend with those "weak-kneed" members, 10 of whom could, by objecting, cause a delay of at least 24 hours in the vote on the articles that would begin the impeachment proceedings ?and temporarily, at 16afet, disqualify the governor. In that event, which was expected. It was explained that the governor could "do his worst," and even "the supremo court could not atop him." It was pointed out to the confer ence thjit Gov. Rlease has only a few more days to serve as chief execu tive, and that instituting impeach ment proceedings against him would "fail to accomplish any substantial good, for we could not in any way placo him in jail unless developments gave evidence sufficient to support a I warrant for crime, and that could not bo served until his term of office bad expired and the proceedings complet ed." FOOD CAlUiOKK HKL1>. Ships llavo lloen Detained Since Mid dle of November. The Norwegian steamers Alfred Nobel and HJornstjerne Hjornson, loaded chiefly with Chicago packing house products, have been iield in British poYts since the middle of No vembor. The cargoes are consigned "to or der" at Copenhagen. The Nobel sail ed from New York October 20 and arrived in Liverpool November 17. The RJornson left New York October 27 and was taken into Leith Novem ber 17. Owners of the vessels say the ships sailed from the United Stated before the British announcement thnt all supplies that a belligerent army might utilize must be definitely con signed to -omo firm. The Swedish steamer Frtdland, which left New York October 2X for Copenhagen and arrived at Kirkwall November 10 and was taken then to Shiolds November .'{0, also is still be ing held. The Kridland also Is load ed with packers' products. <iivon Vj> Ills Office. Count Herchtold, tho Austrian prlmo minister, who diBp..tched that government's ultimatum to Servin. has resigned. Baron Rnjnr.z, n Hun garian, succeeds him to his oftlce. Illnclenberg to C?o to tho West? London reports an A mRterdam dis patch that in response to popular clamor tho German government will transfer von Hlndenberg to the west in the early spring. sation continued. At 1:10 Mr. Ulac.k burn again appeared and was an nounced as a messenger of "ills Ex cellency tho Governor." He present ed the following message: "To tho General Assembly of tho State of South Carolina: "I hnvo tho honor to Inform you that, upon tho roslgnatlon of the Hon. Cole L. Hleaso, as governor of the state of South Cftfollna, 1 went before the supreme court and upon motion of Assistant Attorney Fred H. Domi nion took the oath of office as gov ernor. Very respectfully, "Charles A Nmll h. "Governor " This message was also received in tho Senate. In the House it was roundly applauded John J McMa han of Ttichlnnd county moved that n committer he appointed to confer with the governor and learn his wish In regard to a more formal inaugura tion before a Joint annembly of the two houses. This motion was earrW d unanimously. The following mem hers wore appointed: .John J. McMa han. .foaeoh W. McCollough. and II. MANY SHIPS 10 GO SECRETARY DANIELS ANNOUNCES PLAN FOR EXPOSITION TO ASSEMBLE AT CANAL Armada Will Not Gather at Hampton Heads, llut Will Go Dlrtnt to San Francisco l-Vom Kastern Fn trance of Canal ? First Vessel to Pass Through on February iKJ. The proposed international naval rendezvous at Hampton Roads has been abandoned, according to plans announced Wednesday night by Sec retary Daniels for the cruise of the Atlantic ileet and visiting foreign war craft to San Francisco, in celebration of the Panama canal opening. Instead. the program provides that the ships shall proceed directly to Cristobal, at the eastern entrance to the canal, to be passed through at stated intervals. Consent of congress must be obtained for the change, as the law authorizing the cruise set forth that the I'nlted States should invito the maritime nations of the world to send vessels to Haiflpton Roads for thfe event Secretary Daniels said, however, he had no doubt the necessary legisla tion would bo enacted at once. He pointed out that the war had made impossible a rendezvous of the inter national character contemplated by congress, and that the isthmus would be a more convenient gathering place for the American fleet and the few isiting vessels that would participate Only Spain. Portugal, Argentina and Cuba so far have indicated their in tention of sending ships. The program has been worked out in the confident belief that passage through the canal will be possible, al though Gov. Goethals has given no tice that he can not guarantee it on account of recent slides. February 2<"> is fixed as the date for passage of the vanguard of the Atlantic fleet. Other vessels will ^o through day by day until March 10, when President Wilson is due to arrive on the battle ship New York and transfer to the old Oregon for the trip through the canal. All tho plans have been framed particularly with A viey. ing as little as possible with tti& Whi ter manoeuvres and drills of the At lantic fleet. Two weeks will be saved by changing the place of rendezvous Mayor Mayo and a delegation of 1 Norfolk citizens, accompanied by Sen j ator Swanson, talked over the change of plans with Secretary Daniels. The delegation protested, but after the In terview said they were content with the department's decision. Secretary Daniels promised them that a grand review would bo held in Hampton Roads after the Atlantic fleet's return from Pacific waters, and that tin: foreign vessels that par ticipate in the opening of tho San Francisco exposition would be invited to come to Hampton Roads for that event. I'ntler tho revised plan there will he a gathering of only five ships in Hampton Roads before the cruise. These will he American battleship:? sent to receive President Wilson when he arrives there from Washing ton to take ship for Cristobal. Secretary Daniels announced the following program for preliminary operations and tho cruise to San Francisco: The following named foreign ves sels are expected to take part in the celebration incident to the opening of tho canal: "Argentina will send the battleship Moreno. Hying the Hag of Vice Ad miral Onofre Metbeder; Cuba will send the cruiser Cuba; Portugal will send tlie cruiser Almirante lleis, and the dispatch boat Cinco de Outubro; Spain will send the battleship Kspana. Vice Admiral Don Ramon Kstrada Catoiva has been appointed by t lie Spanish government as its naval rep resentative. "The battleships of the Atlantic fleet and destroyer flotilla will pro ceed to (iuatancmo and (Juacanayabo May, Cuba, January 17, for extended fleet exercises and target practices, seventeen battleships participating in tho manoeu vers. The Georgia, Texas, South Carolina and Minnesota will remain at their home yards undergo ing an overhauling until February 1*>. Theso vessels will proceed to South ern waters the latter part of Feb ruary. "The Texas will remain at Hamp ton Roads to escort the president to Panama in the New York, the New York proceeding to Hampton Roads from Cuban waters about February 1 ">, prepared lo receive the president on March "It is intended that the Washing ton relieve the Delaware in Mexican waters as soon as prnct Icnble, and that the Delaware and I ! bode Island will join the fleet in Cuban waters The Rhode Island has been ordered from New Orleans to Norfolk for docking, and on the completion of docking, about January 22. will pro to (iuantanaino to Join tho fleet. "The battleships and the destroyers of tho active flotlla (about twenty throo) will remain In Cuban waters carrying on drills and exercises until February 2f>. and then will proceed to Panamnf, allt wonty-one battleships going through the canal to San Fran cisco. "The schedule of movements from C.uaitanamo February 2f> is iti gen eral as follows, subject to such changes as may be necessary: "February 22 Vestal, Yankton Solace find tugs at Colon; proceed to ( S n 1 1 1 it Lake, coal, and proceed to Pan ama "February 2X Fleet flagship, first and second divisions, arrive at Colon; proceed to (Satin Lake, coal, thence to fXjiama', arriving March 2-3. "Mrtrch 3 ? Third and fourth dlvl alona airlvo Colon and follow first and WIN AND LOSE IN EAST Kl'SSIANS W1X IX PlU'SSIA ; (iKR MAX'S IN POLAND. Turkey Creates Considerable Interest by Capturing Tabriz ? Egyptian In vasion Threatened. battles, larga.and small, all having an important Bearing on the situa tion. are raging at widely separated points in Europe and Asia. l'etrograd reports: "The past fey days have seen a recurrence of furi ous fighting in Russian Poland, re sulting in gains and los&i's for both sides. "The Russian force* in tike north, which are pushlrtu toward Ko-ot Prus sia, in the region near Mlawa, have captured a number of villages. "In the centre the Germans have made four violent attacks wltldn the last IS hours. They force<l hack the Kusslans and occupied considerable ground. "Important bodies of Russian troops have pushed northward from Warsaw in the movement toward the western end of the East Prussian frontier. They have reoccupied sev eral villages between Mlawa and Przsasnysz hitherto held by the Ger mans. "In the centre of the junction of the Rzura and Rawka rivers where fighting has continued for more than a month the (Iermans have begun a new virogous movement. Their activ ity centers along a line east of Soc haezew and Skierniewice. There they have made four distinct efforts to ad vance during the last two days After a furious artillery action the (Ier mans occupied th>- district northeast of llolimow, including Iiinskupi and Sucha. "On various portions of our Aus trian front the enemy tried to can nonade our position with heavy guns, but the efficient firo of our batteries soon silenced the Austrian artillery." London reports "The Turks, who have occupied the Persian town of Tabriz, which is a Russian sphere of Influence, are battling with the Rus sians in the Caucasus and are report ed to be making preparations to in vade Egypt. "The Turks, according to a Cairo dispatch, have decided at last to at tempt an invasion of Egypt. "In London little credence is given this report. It is not believed pos sible that troops can cross the desert east of the Sue/, canal, and even if tltey^o&yiuir^d.^u . waterless .waste iney^vouid be snexhuusted that the British forces IrtaEgypt, it is confi dently believed, wcould easil> repel them." V Constantinople reports via Amster dam: "Assisted by Persian troops our army is steadily advancing in Azerbaijan province, Persia, in order to deliver the country from the Rus sian yoke. "We have had further notable suc cess, occupying advanced positions of the Russians in the vicinity of Tabriz. "A number of tribesmen of the British army of occupation in Egypt have surrendered to our vanguard." London reports that Tabriz is a city of 200,000 population apparently was taken without fighting. In view of the fact that the small Russian garrison maintained in Tabriz in times of peace had been withdrawn, it is believed that the sufferers by the occupation, if any. are the Armen ians whom the Kurds, constituting tho Turkish advance guard, are al ways ready to attack. Lntest dispatches from Petrograd say that the Turkish invasion of Per sia continues and that the Turks are penetrating farther into the country. The Russians still claim to hold the upper hand in the fighting in the Cau casus, in the vicinity of Kara-l'rgan, but the lack of details suggests that the battle which has now Immmi In progress for seven days, has not yet resulted decisively for either side. ing Panama March ">-G. "March 4-S? -Foreign men-of-war arrive Colon and pass through canal, coaling at Katun Lake from colliers. "March ~>- ? President leaves Hamp ton Ttoads on New York; Texas as escort. "March 8? Critic arrives Colon, coal at Gatun I,ak and arrives Pan ama March I 0. "March 10? -New York and Texas arrive Colon, proceed to Gatun Lake, coal, oil and go to Panama. ( Presi dent transfers to the Oregon and goes through the canal.) "Madch 10 ? -functions in Canal Zone, and at Panama. "March 12? The Oregon. Olympia, Yankton and Celtic proceed to San Franc'sco. "March IS ? The president on the New York, accompanied by the Texas and one division of destroyers, steams through the fleet and proceeds to San Diego. The (lent flotilla and auxili aries steam to San Francisco. For eign vessels proceed independently. "March 2 1 ? The president,. New York. Texas, and one division of de stroyers and the Pacific fleet will ar rive at San Francisco. The president will steam through the fleet. "There can. of course, he no parade of the fleet as a whole through the canal. This would result, in conges tion in Colon and in the canal, with sorious delay. "The Oregon and Olympia will take part, to he in Colon prior to March .1. filled with coal and ready to pro ceed . "Besides the twenty one battle ships of the Atlantic fleet, all vessels of the Atlantic torpedo flotilla, in cluding the Dlrrnln; ham, Dixie and Arethusa, will accompany the fleot to San Francisco. The reserve torpedo flotilla, Atlantic fleet, will not pro ceed to San Francisco The auxili aries accompanying t he battleship fleet will ho the Vestal. Celtic, Yank ton. Solace, Sonoma, Ontario, Pat apsco, Pntuxent and the colliers Cy clops. Orion, Neptune, Jupiter and Vulcan." ? ? ? . Kmporor Thanks Retiring liffldrr. Fmperor Frana-Joseph has written a letter of thanks to Count Uerchtold DEAD REACH 25,000 MANY ITALIANS BURIED UNDER! EARTHQUAKE'S DEBRIS DESTROYS CENTRAL ITALY Towns Arc l^vnxtaled ? I'ooplc J ('aught I nder I' tilling K<M>fs Ar<* Hurled Alive? Out of Twelve Thou- j nhikI at .Vvemno Only One Hun-j (lrcxl Are Now Remaining Alive. Central Italy has been devastated by an earthquake which shocked the country Wednesday. According to the Koine Tribune, it is estimated that victims from earthquake number be- I tvveen 2 3.000 and L'.'.ooo A dispatch from Home says "In the Marsi. the region around Lake' Fuclno, at Avezzano. there arc L'ti.-i 000 victims of the earthquake 1 >?? p- [ uty Sipari. who represents Avezzano! in the chamber of deputies, has ;?sk- 1 ed for 2 .*,000 soldiers and material | for huts. Fifteen other towns in the Marsi have been destroyed and oth-j ers damaged. Of the 12.000 inhabi-! tants of Avezzano only 100 survive." I It is oUicially announced that the! centre of tho earthquake was be tween Campobasso and Sarno. and; that it was felt strongly at Perugia and slightly as far north as Ferrera. | The shock was the strongest ever felt here. It lasted several seconds. People everywhere rushed from their houses in terror Many buildings' were damaged At the Meteorological Institute it J is said that buildings continued to rock or tremble for about thirty sec onds after the shock had ceased and that the duration of*.phenomenon al together was about onh minute. It was stated th' t it was iiot believed that the disturbance extended to Sic ily. As the day wore on :? n d details be gan to arrive in the capital, it was apparent that the disturbance in the neighborhood of Home and in the province of Abruzzi had been greater than was at iirst believed and that it also hail been felt severely in and around Naples. At Monterotondo three persons were killed and two wounded: at Zagarolo the dome of a church fell; at Galiano part of the cathedral was .wrecked; H.t Veroll^two persona wore killed and two injured; at Tlvoll one person was killed; at Pereto five houses collapsed; at Poggio Natlvo one person was killed and several were injured. Up to n late hour it had been found impossible to communicate with the ancient fortified city of Avuilla in the Abruzzi. owing to the interruption of the telegraph service. It was reported that several villages were destroyed in that vicinity. At Torre Cajetani, about thirty seven miles east of Rome, the village was almost entirely destroyed. At Arnara the municipal building col lapsed. 1 The town of Avezzano was virtual ly destroyed, the dead there being estimated at R.000. One thousand persons escaped from the ruins, but ' most of them were injured. j At the capitol two magnificent can dlesticks were broken. At the Pal azzo del I)rago, where Thomas Nel son Page, tho American ambassador, lives, several existing cracks in the building opened wider and plaster fell in several of the rooms. The glass was broken In the embassy office. In Avezzano and vicinity, it is esti mated that fifteen thousand perish ed and that the dead in Sora will total 1.000. ' So far as known about twenty towns have been completely levelled, while an almost eriual number suffer ed serious damage. In all these places persons were killed or injured, i Volunteers worked heroically all day endeavoring to extricate or res I cue the dead from the ruins. King Victor Kmmanuel himself directed the work at Avezzano, where the pit eous appeals of persons caught be neath wreckage could bo plainly heard. It is estimated that in Avezzano 4,000 persons are buried alive, some of theni school children in an institu tion which collapsed. j Only four soldiers of the garrison of four hundred in Avezzano escaped when the barracks fell. Sora, with its population of twenty stroyed. All munition and govern ment authorities perished. Four hun dred and Pfty bodies already have been taken .rom the ruins there and a large number of Injured are under treatment. Trains arriving from lite east are bringing hundreds of injured into Home, where they are being taken to hospitals and private house* for t rent ment. Surgeons and nurses are he ing dispatched from all directions in to the stricken districts to minister to the need*' of the injured, while troops are being sent to the ruined or damaged towns to guard against van dais. At Avezzano those who escaped the destruction caused by the earthquake went heroically to work to rescue thoso penned under the fallen walls. Nearly all the civic officials of Avezzano and parish priests, monks and nuns perished. The college, with i more than a hundred girl students, collapsed. The governor of prison ers, Jailers and doctors and patients In the hospitals were carried down In the wreckage The only notable person who vur vised was the head of the police. Sic nor Ottnvl. who, though wounded has labored since the first overthrow to succor the injured. Desperate appeals for help arc heard on all sides from under the wrecked buildings, but the efforts of Ottnvl and the few hundred survivors havo availed hut little, for they lack ed Implements with will h to effect n general rescue Hut about fifty per nonn, all of thorn wounded, were taken out with treat difilfulty. They SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED TILIiM AN KAVS MILITIA SIlOl'I.l) (JET RIGHT. Senior Senator Talks of Governor IMease's Action in Disbanding Com panies of the State. In discussing the military muddle which Jov, IMease has created. Sena tor Tfllman said Wednesday: "I think it an opportune time for Gov. Manning to co-op* rate with the Unit ed States authorities and have the militia take an entirely new start and be thoroughly reorganized. "The Stato is now charged with a good many thousands of dollars* worth of munitions and arms that aro lost and can never be recovered, of e\ery imaginable sort of quartermas ter's supplies too numerous to men tion. as well as obsolute ordnance and ordnance stores. I believe the war department will be entirely friendly toward the proposed reor ganization and in starting a new slate. "In a communication from the sec retary of war to Gov. Hlcase. dated Inly tl, 10 1 I, Secretary Garrison said 'It is hoped that the state will take early and effective steps to settle the above mentioned prop rtv questions, to generally reorganize the militia in a manner that will assure an effective and stable force, to providr in the future for prompt compliant e with the federal laws for the uovernment of the organized militia and to pro vide for the safekeeping and acrount ability of government supplies loaned to the militia of tin state." "The state, however, must do its share, and the legislature and Gov Manning should see to this. Gov (Mease's action, instead of betnu harmful, as he. no doubt, intended it to be. will result in great good to th<> state's military establishment "In the sr. me letter above quoted from. Secretary Garrison sai l "When the organized militia of South Caro lina is placed on a satisfactory basis the war department will consider the withdrawal of *'ie restrictions of which you are informed in this com munication, and which are effective on and after tills date.' Mr. Garri son's letter is on tile in the executive oflice in Columbia, no doubt, and Gov. Manning can read it and find out the exact status from the war de partment's view. I "In starting a new slate, which will be necessary after the war de partment has received and receipted ' tor such arris and stores as are turn ed in. Gov. Manning can feel the sat isfaction of bavin.-: accomplished something for the state, without in curring the odium of unpopularity j which would come had be inaugurat ed it . "In my judgment, the legislature, if it is wise, will provide for the thor ough reorganization of the militia and put it on a more eilicient basis than it now is. The war scare which the European situation has produced, and clamor for 'preparedn< ss' to meet a possible invasion, has shown tho necessity to me of tiie different states having a thorough overhauling of their military establishments." NAVAL I'lMM.ItAM. House Measure Calls for Two Battlc ships iiixl IT Submarines. Provision for construction of two great dreadnoughts, six torpedo boat destroyers. It; const defense subma rines, a sea-going submarine, a hos pital ship, a transport and a fuel ship at an aggregate cost of $r>:5,lt>x, S2X is mado in the naval appropria tion bill agreed on Wednesday by the ilnusn naval committee. All told the bill carries $ 1 4 r>,r>oo,nO. of which L',!>s:i,9ss is for new construction. The program proposed the building of: Two battleships at not more than $7,S00.?un each, exclusive of armor and armament. Six torpedo bo?;f destroyers at not more than fL'f>,000 each, exclusive of armament One sea-going submarine at not more than $l.i<?0,000, exclusive of armament. Sixteen submarines at not more than $:>."? 0,0 00 each. One hospital ship at not more than $2,2r.0,000. One transport at not more than $2.1 2 {>,700. STIMj WAIT1 \(?. Bryan Asknowledges British IVeliin Inary Reply an<l Waits, In a note delivered Thursday by Ambassador I'age, at London, Secre tary Bryan acknowledged receipt of '?rent Britain's preliminary reply to the American protest against British interference with ncutal commerce. Mo expressed appreciation of the friendly spirit in which the protest had been received, and noted with satisfaction that principles of inter natonai law set forth in it had been accepted. Kurt her comment. Mr. Bryan said, would be immature at this time in view of the ln'ention of the British government to reply In detail. Masked Men Bolt Bank. Three masked men robbed the Bank of Terloon. Ok In., of $:'/?, 000 and in an exchange of shots with a posse Tuesday killeil a deputy wounds being dressed, owing to ii lack of rtvdical supplier Later doctors arrived and opcrat ed on some of the injured by the light of bla/itiK torches. They then were removed to the station, where they were made as comfortable as pos sible in trucks. Assistant came at last from Arsoli and A r| ii 1 1 1 a nnd large rescuing par tl en arrived from Home and I'escara A tour of the towns and villages around Lake Fuclno disclosed vast FRENCH FALL BACK GERMAN ADVAME AT POINT NEAREST CAPITAL CITY VON KLUCK LEADS AGAIN lx>ndon Compares Stubborn ( omhat to F.arlier l>n>s of the Wat Paris Kays Kcsult Will l>o I a x'ii I in Kllwt ? CaUMil b\ Difficult Conditions of Couiinuuical ion. Paris reports Wednesday "To the ortheast of Soissons t> i? r contwrattack has progressed slightly between Culh and Crouy. However, wo were unablv to debouch from t'rouy. ' Our troop". subject to a violent attack to tUe cast of this place. have j ielded s|i??|,t1y near the \Ulage of Moncc1, ii.it w tilt h 1 1 1 e y are still oc cupying. 'i iiey are holding also St. Marguerite and M ssy-Sur- Aisne. "On the A. tie. to the northeast of Soissons. the liuhtins around 'Spur I J * continued with great severity during :i!l tin1 day of January I 'J. The Hermans brought very considerable forces into tins engagement. Wo maintained our position on the crest of the lull t<> the west of'Spur 132.' To the ea*t <>?ir troops \\ei-e obliged to ni\e up t"e uround. The lighting !n re cout i n ues '? I volition reports Like sltibborn l> contested battles in the early days of the wvr on w hu h hinged the C!er 111:111 occupation of wt'si Flanders, tho struggle for the knoll of ground north east of Soissons, known as 'Spur 132.' 1 c 111 a i n ed undecided. The (lermans. howver. by their counter attacks, ap pear to be 111 better position eastward i ot 1 In1 Spur rv In view of the relatively small amount of ground gained, the losses have been heavy on both sides, but the Cerniam*. show no signs of giving up their attempts to take the bill. It is suit! (ion. von k I nek himself is now in command of tho (icrinan forcw, which would seem to lift the hattlo out of the ordinary run of conlllctK along the western front." Iterlin reports Wednesday: "In tho western theatre of war tierce artillery duels took place in the neighborhood, of Nieuport. They resulted In the ev acuation of tho oneiny'y Umojiw jit Palinsburg?i, a Suburb of _ N. i e.up o.r^ "Fronch attacks at I^aUcrbellc / ? the hill of Touvorn were repul Yesterday's unsuccessful attacly the bills near Crony were followed 1 by a (ierinan counterattack, wll ended in the complete defeat of ' French and clearing of the bill northeast of Busiiy anil north 0| Crony. One troops took itossotdon oi| two I'rench positions and und captur ed 1,7tM) prisoners, four ciuinon and several ntarhine guns." Paris reports Thursday. "Last ni^ht ur troops were succesf ull In a sudden attack, with the object of overwhelm ing the trenches recently constructed by the. (Jermans to tho northeast of Foukin'scort. north of Hoye t Depart ment of t he Sonune. 1 "The attacks of the enemy iu tho region to the north of Soissons havo been stopped. "As lias been s::id in the communi cation of this morning. the flooding; of t li ?? river Aisne, which defttroygtt several of our bridges, hud rendorel very precarious the communication I of our troops operating on the flrfl slopes of the right hank. Wo wail , thus prevented from sending thorn i*fl in forcements. Thin lias been tho cfl sential cause of the withdrawal those troops, which were fighting uH der dillicult conditions. "We were obliged to abandon sev eral cannon as the result of the breaking down of a bridge. We have, rendered all of them 11 1 lit for use. "The Hermans have made prison ers, particuk.ry of wounded, men, who in the withdrawal movement, we worn not able to take with us." On our side, we have made a number of im portant prisoners, not wounded, be longing; to seven different regiments. "To sum ii | > the success is a partial one for our adversaries, which will have no Influence on operations as a whole. In fact, by reason of the obsta cles presented by the Aisnc arid the dispositions which we have taken, thn enemy will be unable to utilize to the south of the river the success which is of purely local character." Merlin reports Thursday: "In the western theatre of the war. in the dunes near N'ieuport and southwest of Ypres. artillery combats are going on The enemy directed an extreme ly strong fire on Westende, which tliey soon will have entirely destroy ed Tliejr torpedo boats disappeared quickly as soon as they received our fire. "In continuation of their activities northeast of Koissons. our troops again made an attack on the heights of Vregny and cleared this elevated plain of the enemy In a pouring rain and deeply sodden clay trench after troiK h was taken by storm un lit after dark and the enemy was driven back to the border of tho elo [vatecl plain. I'oiirteen lYonfh oflimn and I ? 1 :*<> men were taken prisoners and four cannon, four machine gunv and a seiircMlght captured ? a brll liat feat for our troops under tho verv eyes of their uppermost war lord "N'orflion-'.t of tho ramp of Ktintoritt t he Krcni h nMiirkorl again anil again in C 1 1 ?* morning and afternoon will) strong forrea, to the oast of IVrlheH. They penetrated at eertain plaros our tremhea hut \vre r?-i> u JkcmI l?y on??r j?etic romili'r attaekw nnd driven hark with heavy Iohkps into their own positions. leaving I OO prisoners In our linndft. "The total rPHiilU of the fight* of .Innunry 12 ami l!{ northeast of SoIk son? were M.lfiO prlnonerN, eight, henvy kuhh, ??n? revolver k?i)j_j1j| murll