The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, February 09, 1918, Image 1

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1)C ?" ? 1 ? ? ?? I I I . 11 TttK HUMTUU HATCH MAN, E*tab) OoBiolidated Aur. 2,1 AMERICAN TRANSPORT SUNK. tCNAHD LIN Kit TORPEDOED OFF HUSH COAST. Ship Carried Nearly 2.200 American Troop*, of Whom 1.912 Arc Report od Ha v ext?Tr? u sp< >rt Wm Convoy - Oi by BritUh Warship*. Washington, Feb. 6.?The Cunard Unor Tuacania. carrying 2,179 Ameri ean soldiers, has been torpedoed und ?unk off the Irieh coaat, but official re-1, porta late tonight said 1.912 of the of? fice ra and men had been saved and indicated that the list of rescued might prove even larger. The troops, composed chiefly of detachments of| Michigan and Wisconsin National Guardsmen, were traveling on thi Tuacania. a British vessel under con? voy of British warships. A brief dispatch to the war depart? ment from London early this evening! announced the disaster and reported tho landing of only 1.100 survlvoro. This was made public shortly after 19 o'clock, and for more than two hours It was feared that probably 1, 40e men. including members of th) liner's crew, had gone down. When a message came to the state department from the embassy at Lon? don saying at 11 o'clock tonight 1.913 j of the Americana had been account ?d for the Joy of officials almost ?wept away the distress occasioned by Ahe earlier news. The first 1,100 survivors were landed at Lame and Purici*nna, two widely separated Irish porta and this coupled with the evident fact that rescue ships were aft hand quickly gave rise to hope that nearly everybody on board the Tuacania except those inji red by the explosion might have been saved. The president. Secretary Baker and lit fact all official Washington were up la to awaiting for additional news. Only the briefest dispatch gave de? tails of the attack on the liner. Even the time was missing, but it was as Sttsned that it occurred early this Morning aa the first measage was Ul?>d at London at 3 o'clock this after r .. i noon, probably within an hour after the raMsf ships reachod the Irish catst * The president was it the theater When the newa was received and he Was not told until he returned to the White House. Because of the nature of the mill taey organisation carried by the ship, tho wsr department announced it would be impossible to say definitely What troops were aboard until the1 I UK of survivors was received. La tea, however, the adjutant general's office taade the list public. It follows: Headquarters detachment and companies D. E and F of the Twentieth Engineers. One Hundred and Seventh Engi? neer Train. One Hundred and Seventh Military Police. One Hundred and Seventh Supply Train. One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Aero Squadron. Two Hundred and Thirteenth Aero Squadron Replacement detachments Nos. 1 and 2 of the Thirf -second Division. Fifty-one caaual officers. The Thirty-second Division is com? posed of National Guard troops from Michigan and Wisconsin. The division trained at Camp McArthur. Texas. T>ua all the soldiers are former Wisconsin and Michigan guardsmen eicept those in the aero squadron who probably were recruited from all sarts of the countrv Neither the dispatch to the war de? partment nor that to the state de? partment referred to the fate of mem? bers of the Tuacania's crew. Un? doubtedly many ??f them were saved, andl when all reports are In official hope that th- Ions of life will be re markably small The liner which is not a regular transport was umho OOnvoy ind the war ships apparently were <r<r . ulongsldo for ,rescue work when the torpedo struck. The first news was given out here In this teri.e announreiiM nt from tho war <!<? partment Tbe w i- department has been of? ficially advised that the steamshii Tuacania waa torpedoed and sunk and that survivors numbering 1.1?n>, as fai is could be useei talned. were lande., at Bunrranna and Larne. In Ireland There was a total of 2,17s United States troops on this vessel. No name Of persons lost haa been reported to the war department. Additional par tieulars are promised as soon us re oerve*l " Th? state department's dispute^ gave the n urn tier of ?Obliers on board as 1.171. six leas than th?' war de? partment's report It lohl of plans promptly made for caring for the nur *Aed April, 1860. "Be JM ? itj. 81] TWO HUNDBED AND TEN LOST omdAL iiMII of ti st am a disaster account for all savk 210, of whom t?8 ?DU soldiers. Survivors Will Ik* Cared for und Fur? nished Will) Clothing and AU Other Requirements by the British Au? thorities. London, Feb. 7.?The loss of life on the Tuscania so far as known is 210, the admiralty announces. Figure* obtainable shortly before noon show that there were 2,397 persons aboard, of whom 2,187 are known to have been saved. official figures given. Men on Hoard, 2,307, Saved 2,187. London, Feb. 7.?The official com? munication this afternoon confirmed the earlier statement that there was a total of 2,397 aboard the Tuscania, and that the total saved was 2,187. The report says the foregoing are ap? proximate figures, hut as nearly cor? rect as can be given at present. loss only 101. Latest Reliable Report From Tuscania Disaster. (Dy Associated Press.) London. Feb. 7.?The loss of life on the Tuscania is now es? timated at only one hundred and one. This figure is given In a dispatch from the Asso? ciated Press correspondent in Ireland and was later con? firmed by the American embas? sy. Paris, Feb. 7.?H^avy artillery fighting on the Aisne and Verdun fronts, and in Alsace is reported in to? day's official communication. vlvors. The state department issued this statement. "The latest advices received bv the state department from the embass at London regarding the Tuscania is that at 11 p. m.. February 6, 1.912 of Aoen and men on the Tuscania wer. accounted for out of 2,173. The am? bassador has sent an assistant mil? itary attache and another army ofllce to Belfast Ireland. Representatives! of the American Red Cross and the V. M. C. A. also have gone, with full 1 power to spend all the money needed. The ambassador farther reports that the lord mayor of Belfast is giving all the aid possible." The Tuscunia was the first shii carrying American troops to Europt to be sunk by German submarine bu? the American transport Antilles was torpedoed and sunk while returning to the United States and 14 soldiers were lost with 1?6 other persons. American warships convoying transports to France lust June twice fought Off submarine attacks. The position of the Tuscania when she was Mink is taken to indicate that j she was bound to England. Her sinking definitely discloses that Crltish ships aro being used to carry American troops abroad supplement? ing American transport tonnage. Navy officials have insisted that de? spite the most careful plans there was always a chance that a troop ship would stumble upon a lurking subma? rine and the general belief tonigh* was that this was what happened. The Tuscania was a British passen - gOf and freight steamship of 14.34S tons gross register. She was built at Glasgow in 1914 and was owned by Anchor Line. The last roport of the Tuscania wa.> her arrival at an Atlantic port, Jan nary 17. last. Th*? Tuscania. during her days as a passenger liner, was one. of the best equipped vessels in the trans-Atlantic s?<r\ loo She made her maiden voyage |g February. 1915. She was ."??17 feet Ion?; with a 66 foot r eam and was equipped to carry 2,500 passengers in cabin and steerage ac l ?ommodatlons. For some time the Tuscania has been under charter of the Cunard Line and she is the fifth big vessel of the Cunard Company lost since the war began. Although prior to January 1 of the prOOOnl gong, there were more than |#| .imo American troops |g Frame, ording to the statement by Secre I try LaUer. the Tascanlu was the first II isport to he torpedoed on the vov ane from an American port to Fram e ?OVO! i I American transports have nOOg lOI pOdjOOd M IhO return Journey < ft. ? Ii i\ nor ?fem t i Led troops. nd Fear not?Det all the en da Thon AI FMTER, S. 0., SAT?RD. MORE SHIPS NEEDED. AKMY READY TO GO WIIEX SHIPS REPORT. War De|Mirtment Wants Assurance Tliat Soldiers Will be Furnished With Material With Which to Fight When They Arrive in France. Washington, Feb. 5.?President Wilson took up personally the ship? ping problem tonight and at a con? ference with Chairman Hurley of the shipping board, went into the great problem of procuring tonnage for the movement of American troops* and supplies overseas. Every phase of the question was discussed, including the progress of the government building program, plans for obtaining allied ships for transporting soldiers, and negotiat tions with the European neutrals- for tonnage to release American vessels for trans-Atlantic service. The presi? dent was particularly interested in proposal to obtain additional ships by reducing imports. A full realization of the extent to' which America's troops movement to France depends on tonnago has come not only to this government but to the allies as well, and it was indicated to? day that one of the chief topics at th? recent session of the supreme war council at Versailles was that of find? ing ships for that purpose. A big American army is substantially ready to go, but before it is sent the war department wants to be assured it can be supplied. Ships are available to transport the men; the problem is keeping them furnished with ma? terials with which to fight. A million men on the fighting front will require, according to the best estimates available, from 4,000, 000 to 7,000,000 tons of shipping in continuous service across the 3,000 miles of water between America and Europe. The United States can lay Its hands on about 4,000,000 tons jiow and expects to build during the year anywhere from 3,000,000 to 6, 000,000 tons more. While Chairman Hurley was pre? paring for the?-ifeesidont today a complete report on the shipping sit? uation Frederick; R. Harris, a civil engineer of the naval bureau of yards and docks, who for three weeks was general manager of the Emergency Float Corporation, was giving a sen? ate Investigating committee an opti mistios view of shipbuilding progress. It is possible. Mr. Harris- said, for th'j government to complete this year its original program of 6,000,000 tons. The president was told by Mr. Hur? ley that bad weather in January cut construction of commandeered ships fully 60 per cent. The shipping board's plans for building up a great shipyard workers' reserve wcro out? lined. Recruiting for the reserve is progressing. The plan to reduce imports from South America and the Orient to re? lease ships for transporting troops and supplies has been worked out a the shipping board. The class o imports to be affected will be left largely to the war trade board. The shipping board will advise the board as to the number of neutral ships possible to put in the trade and the trade board will determine what they shall carry. There has been no announcement as to the amount of tonnage the al? lies are ready to spare for moving the American forces and their sup? ples. Already the Hritish have turn? ed over some ships for the purpose ?and are preparing to release others. The Versailles war council took up the subject of what shall be the bal? ance maintained as between the ship? ment of troops and their supplies and t the transportation of goods needed by ; the allied armies and the European civilian populations. Reports to Wash? ington indicate that the policy will he to employ as much tonnage in the movement of the American forces and materials for their use as can he Spared from its previous runs with? out endangering the allied food sup? ply. In his testimony before the senate Committee Mr. Harris nnld the esti? mate of a maximum of 3.000.non tons of American ship production this year made last week by J. W. Powell, vice president of Rethlehem Ship IJuild Ing Corporation, was presslmlstio :in<l that he believed the fabricated ship program would be entirely successful. Mr. Harris asked to be relieved of duty with the Meet corporation be cause of u lack of authority in carry ing on bin work. He said today Chairman Hurley allowed subordl nates In the corporation to report over his head. Some of what he called the short - OOmtngS of the board were excused b\ met at be thy Country'*, Thy God's ? AT, FEBRUARY 9, 191 CHARLESTON IN LUCK. | GOVERNMENT TO SPEND MIL? LIONS AT CHARLESTON. Urgent Deficiency Bill Carries Be? tween $22,<\00,O0O and $32,000,000 to Make Charleston Great War Port. I Washington, Feb. 6.?Between $22,-1 000,000 and $32,000,000 will be' spent by the government in the de-1 velopment of Charleston as a war j port, according to plans now being completed. The money is carried in the great urgent deficiency bill soon to be considered in congress. This is the fact behind the dispatch sent to The News and Courier by its Washington correspondent last Satur? day night. Because of being bound in confidence as to the details the correspondent could not then go into details or definitely describe the de? velopments in progress. Congressman Richard S. Whaley, however, was in a position today to make a statement for publication, and in doing so he tells the readers of The News and Courier what the1 government program contemplates and gives the stupendous total of expenditures which show that this is to be the greatest single project ever undertaken at Charleston or at any other point in that part of the coun? try. When asked today if he could not say something for publication Mr. Whaley replied: ?'There have been under way for several months examinations of South? ern ports by the war department for the purpose of using one of them as a port for storage and embarkation. Owing to the deep water of thirty feet from the ocean to the Navy Yard the accessibility to the sea, the large harbor and splendid fortifica? tions, Charleston has been selected. It is proposed to erect permanent buildings of the most modern type for storage of supplies, ammunition, em? barkation, etc. / "In all the goevrnment will take between three and four thousand acres of land at Charleston and will expend between $22,000,000 and $32, 000,000. In the bill to be reported by I the committee on appropriations, 1 have assurance tlus amount will be in? cluded and I am confident it will be passed by the house and senate. The designation o; the port of Charleston is a recognition Of its availability to , be made one of the great ports on the Atlantic. ? "The allies* shipping will also ( doubteless be sent through our port in J great part. The plans have all beer j made and it is only a question of yh?Jt time before the government will actually commence work. "Although I have been working on this matter for many months, it had not assumed such a definite shape that I felt I could make an announce? ment. However, I feel it is now prac {tically assured and that Charleston will be one of the biggest ports of j the country in the storage and han? dling of supplies for transshipment to ! the troops on the other side. "The structures to be erected are ? not tomporary, but of a permanent na ! ture, and therefore, after the war is ! over, the port will still be one of the ! big nases for the government. The tremendous benefit to the city and [State can be readily appreciated and !l am glad to have contributed my share to its accomplishment." ROOSEVELT UNDER KNIFE. Operation in New York Hospital Re? ported Successful. New York, Feb. 6.?An operation performed late today on Col. Theo? dore Roosevelt in a hospital hero, the second within a week for the removal of an abscess, was successful, accord? ing to a bulletin issued tonight by his physician. l>r. Walton Martin. The bulletin said: "The operation proved successful. There were no unpleasant results. Col. Roosevelt is resting comfortably. Respiration normal." Rooaovolt'l Condition Satisfactory. - New York, Feb. 7.?Col. Theodore Roosevelt, who was operated on yes- < terday for the removal of an abscess passed a comfortable night, it was an- I mm need at the hospial today. I the witness on the ground that or- I ganlsation WM evolved "over night" < and that its lack Of business method.1 \ Was partially due to the fact that it < had DO business standing such as pri- ? \ ate corporations have. ; The committee has about conclud- t sd its investigation of the shipping t board but will meet again at the call I of Chairman Fletcher to t ike up1 2 ;ome minor matters. I ad TneBVtb** TUE 1 RC1 8. RICHARDSON PROBE BEGINS. OOV. MANNING, ON STAND, PRE SENTS CHARGES AGAINST FORMER CHIEF GAME WARDEN. Summary of the Case and Fanons Veto Message Which Caused Probo by Senate. Columbia, Feb. 5.?In a statement read before the senate committee in? vestigating his charges against the administration of A. A. Richardson, former chief game warden of /the! State, Gov. Manning alleged that V. ? F. Funderburk, assistant chief game warden, acting on authority from Mr. Richardson, settled for $100 with a newly married couple, who had been hunting in Beaufort county, without going through a trial; that Alfred I ? i Aiken, a negro, paid twenty dollars to a Mr. Mixon, a game warden; that! j F. W. Little, game warden of Lau- j rens, tried to collect a bond of fifteen j dollars from Dr. J. W. Jervey, of Greenville; that Mr. Funderburk at tempted to collect from one hundred dollars to four hundred dollars from two winter visitors in Aiken, who put the matter in the hands of Mr. Hen 1 derson, of the Aiken bar, with whom Mr. Richardson offered to settle for $200; that Mr. H. J. Bomar, of Man ning, wrote that $60 was paid to Mr. Richardson's associates without any law being violated; that two game j wardens induced a young man of Vir? ginia, who did not know the game laws of this State, to shoot birds out of 3eason, and then took him before a magistrate and "scared him into paying $300," and that Mr. Funder burk and others invited two young men to hunt foxes with them, which invitation they accepted, and when they could not show their licenses the case was compromised for $10 each. The senate investigation commenc? ed this afternoon, but only took the evidence Gov. Manning offered to sub? stantiate the charges contained in h s ve to message of last year, when he . returned the bill putting the office cf chief game warden in the general election, without his signature. The committee adjourned until 3.30 o'clock , tomorrow afternoon, when Mr. Rich? ardson will be heard in reply to the evidence introduced by the governor. In substantiation of his charge thai Mr. Richardson and his friends had conducted a lobby in the former chief warden's behalf, Gov. Manning read a telegram from Capt. M. C. Lumpkin, former member of the house from Richland county, to Congressman A. ; F. Lever, requesting Mr. Lever to ! bring the matter of the game warden j bill to the attention of Senator Till i man, that the senior senator migh: urge Gov. Manning to sign the meas? ure. I In connection with this alleged lobby Mr. Richardson asked the gov , ernor if the chief game warden diet not have the same right to lobby an ; did Gov. Manning and the former ex? ecutive secretary, Col. Oscar K. La Roque. The governor denied that he had "lobbied," but contended that the governor should have frequent con BURations with the members- of the general assembly on the pending laws j affecting the State, which right he thought subordinate State officers did not have. Senator Proctor A. Bonham, attor I ney for Mr. Richardson, contested the right of the governor to introduce documentary evidence to substantiate his charges, contending that only wit? nesses should testify. A majority of, /the committee overruled his conten? tion. Senator D. R. Williams, of Lan? caster, dissenting. Various letterc from persons whom Gov. Manning named in his statement were Intro? duced to substantiate the assertions made. An effort by the governor to have Mr. Richardson turn over the books of his office to the committee was overruled, the former chief game warden stating that he was- perfectly Willing to let the committee have them V/hen some disputed point to be clear? ed away by them was brought up. Mr. Richardson, during his cross examination of GOV. Manning, ques? tioned the governor about a confer? ence they held in the executive office, lie wanted to know if the governor had not told him (Richardson) that be could not be reappointed chief fame warden because of politics, and fallowed Mr. Richardson to the door af the executive office, shook hands With him and called him his friend. 3oV. Manning said that he could not remember a part of this, particularly lbout calling Mr. Richardeon his "riend. The governor asserted, how ?vor, that he stated he would be de? servedly criticised if he reappointed j Mr. Richardson. Mr. Richardson tried to bring the C SOUTHRON, KMabt *M? tun?, im. Vol. XLV. NO. 61. BAKER ON iT. STAND. ^ ANTI-ADMIXISTRAT i ON SENA? TORS ASK IMPRC PER QUES? TIONS IN PUBLIC HEAR? ING. Secretary Baker Pr< > >oee? That Ho Prepare and J-ubmh Written State? ment Giving Exact It acta in Detail Praises Navy's Wont in Protecting Transports. Washington. Feb. ?The cross examination of Secre ary Baker on his recent statement before the sen? ate military committee was begun at a public hearing before the commit? tee today. After a number of questions re? garding Secretary' Bek9r's estimates as to the tonnage available this year for transportnig troops t:> France a hitch developed as to whether it would be proper for Secretary Baker to answer such questions in a public session. The secretary proposed that he be permitted to pre xre statements showing the exact facti, the details to be prepared by experta and present them to the committee and return for cross examination later Secretary Baker sai it had not been determined w ether troops should be kept in Scathern campe next summer. If the I ummer is as I extreme as the winter las been, he said, some would have to be moved. He stated that A met" can ship ton? nage losses have beer exceedingly light and that the "service the pavy has rendered in the prelection of the ! army has been unexampled." . Secretary Baker gave !ts his opinion that new legislation will be desirable to give the president general powers to transfer and coordir ite the func? tions of various departments as con? ditions arise. The possibility that the ; actual purchasing power for the war department may be largely placed In the hands of Edward R. Stettinluar> surveyor general, was indlcaetr^by Secretary Baker. \ The question of ship? to transport . troops to France will bf presented to the committee in AS***' session to? morrow. Senator?Pfek i&m proleet ! ed against efforts to d-ag from the secretary information that would be of value to the enemy. I _ RAILROAD INCOME GUARANTEED Government Bill I'rovidfjs for Pay? ment of $945,000,000. Washington, Feb. 7?Chairman Smith, of the senate interestate com? merce committee, in reprtlng favor? ably to the senate today the admin? istration railroad bill, esiimated that i under the bill the government will ! guarantee annually to the railroads ' $945,000,000, which will represent a return of 532 per cent. He said it is \ believed the majority * f the roads will accept "these terms as & Just and fair measure of their constitutional rights." Washington, Feb .7.?Every Amer? ican soldier lost on the Tuscania, having dependents, was protected by government insurance. This auto? matic insurance aggregates about M.300 and is paid at the rate of $20 monthly for twenty years. governor out on an alleged conver? sation with Congressman Byrnes, in which, according to Mr. Richardson, practically the same won.j were ut? tered. Gov. Manning could not bring the substance of this con . ition to mind, but was satisfied tha< he did not say what was imputed to him, posi? tively not as to that part in which he is said to have designated Mr. Rich? ardson as his friend. A series of telegrams ?ras introduc? ed in evidence by Gov. M inning to? talling in cost $32.74. which wer^opre .sented, he said, by the Web ern Ufffcn Telegraph Co. to W. H. Gnbes. pres? ent chief game warden, for pay? ment. These telegrams, according to the governor, were approve 1 by Mr. Richardson. They related to va? rious matters transacted by Mr. Rich? ardson and his friends, but did not relate to the business of the State of South Carolina, said the governor. Yr. Richardson pointed out the va? rious items, showing that ome had Shock marks against them, vhile oth? ers had cross marks, Those with the cheek marks, asserted Mr. Richard <i n. w ere his personal messages to be [Mild for by him and not by he State. He had been handling his office in his manner for years, he stated, and ti.vays paid for his personal t.degrams ii <! those of his triends. if t!.ey were ransmltted to the telegraph com ?any over his telephone. lie said hit a few might have escaped his lotlce.