Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

The Lancaster News VOL. 12, NO. 80, SKM I-WEEKLY. LANCASTER, S. C.. FRIDAY. AUG. 31, 1917. $2.00 A vi.AR TWO REGIMENTS OF |l " RUSSIAN COWARDS RUN STRONG ENEMY ATTACKS I NEAR OCNA. ? No Important Battles Being 1 Fought on Front in France and Belgium. While the Russians west of Fokshani again have deserted their I posts, thereby permitting the Teutonic allies to make additional s gains, in the region of Ocna ?nd t Kezdi-Vasarhely, they are giving(< battle to the invaders and on both ' sectors have repulsed strong at-,i tacks. Between Ireshti and Fok-11 shani a majority of the men com-k prising two Russian regiments de-u serted their trenches and tied, but j 1 the Russian commanders have taken It steps to restore the former status of ; t the line by filling the gap with loyal men. ;, Following the reports of fresh dis- '; affection among the Russians on the , East Bukowina front, which came prior to the commencement of the ; retrograde movement in Southern ;. Moldavia, Premier Kerensky, in a j speech at the closing session of the Moscow conference, let it be known \ again that order was to be brought i out of the chaos by the putting to donfU ... U ? *1........ ucai.ii ui niv vunanio iiu iui*-v* down their arms in the face of the , enemy. The possibility that the "'rule of blood and iron" already has begun with the deserters before Fokshanl is indicated in the latest Russian oillcial communication which says that one of the cowardly regiments was "dispersed." Throw in Tried Troops. As is usual when the Germans see a faltering among their foes, they have thrown into the battle line in \ Moldavia some of their tried attack- i ing troops who doubtless will press to the full the advantage they have gained through the cowardice of the Russians. On the Buinzzazi plateau o? the; Austro-Italian theatre General Cardorna is giving the Austrians no rest keeping up his intensive attack along the entire front. New gains of considerable importance in the! general scheme of the Italian com- j mander in chief's offensive have been made and at several points where the Austrians have striven to hold back the Italians or recapture lost positions they have been repulsed. More than 500 new prisoners have been taken by the Italians. On the front in France and Bel gium no Important engagements have taken place although on the various sectors held by the British and Trench artillery duels are heine fought and some operations by in-' fantry are taking place. + BI? BRITISH SHIP SI NK. Six of Steamer Verdi's Crew Reported Missing. An Atlantic Port, Aug. :10.?Word j has been received here indicating ' that the British 7.000-ton steamship Verdi has been sunk. With the loss of six of her crew. The Verdi left here for an English port on August . 12, with cargo, but no passengers. Her crew numbered 112. A cable message to the owners of the Verdi refers to all the members of her crew having been saved with the execption of six. but gives no details. The message indicates, thei owners said, that the vessel was sunk aboutt five days ago. DONATION TO RED CROSS Cblcago, Aug. 28.?Charles A. Comisky, president of the Chicago American League Rateball Club, today sent to the American Red Cross his fifth donation to that fund $3,004.06, representing a percentage of the gross receipts in recent scries of games at Comlskey Rail Park. + PROTEST A(?A INST DR AFT. ( ? ??? Washington, Aug. 28.?A protest against the draft signed by nearly 1,000 residents of Webster and adjoining counties of Mississippi was presented to the senate today 'by Senator Vardlman and referred to the military committee. m ..I ? ? . ? INCH ADVANCING 1 IN VERDUN SECTOR 'ETIN'S FORCES MAINTAIN ] GAINS ON AISNE LINE reutons Bringing Up Large y Number of Fresh Troops to Avert Annihilation. Grand Headquarters of the 'rench Army in France, Sunday, Vug. 2(5 (Delayed). (Ry the Aslociated Press.)?The gallantry of he French troops beforo Verdun 1 arried them forward again today when they attacked between Mor- | nont farm and L.a Chaume wood and idvanced another hundred yards, | apturing nearly a thousand preson-!{ ?rs. The territory to the south of 1 Beaumont heights and woods almost o the village of Reaumont fell into , heir hands. 1 The first attack in the center was checked for a time but the reslstmce of the numerous nests of ma- 1 [ hlne guns was overcome by the < wonderful dash of the French who! added the Canadians. The German srtillery, which seems to be weaken-! Ing. has bombarded heavily of late before retiring under pressure but the firing has been wild, and less harm has been done. Somewhat slowly, but neverthe-j less surely, the Italians are breaking; down the resistance of the Austrians in the region around Monte Santo, ' north of Gorizia, and making their; way eastward towards the border of j upper Carniola. In their endeavor to hold back | the Italians, the Austrians have brought to this sector large numbers of fresh men, and at last reports the fighting was most intense. Virtually nothing is being vouchsafed in the Italain official communications which even approximately record the advances General Cadorna's men have made since tliey began their offensive from the region of Tolniino to the sea, the Italian war office probably desiring to conceal from the enemy the exact objectives it has in view. The latest communication, for instance, leaves entirely alone the situation 011 the Carso front, where previous reports had announced progress for the Italians toward Triest. Cllllnlw L'.ll On the front in France the Germans have been throwing counter attacks against the French line in | the region of Verdun, hut not only! have the efforts of General Retain ! maintained their gains in their en-1 tiret.v hut have taken more than 1,-j 100 additional prisoners. likewise' on the Aisne front the German crown prince is keeping up his offensive against the French, hut here also the attempts met with complete) failure. Along the front held by the Brit-) ish the operations have scarcely risen above the character of trench raids, although on various sectorsi vigorous artillery duels are in progress. The Berlin war office reports the capturf of Russian positions near Jacohstadt, between Riga and Dvinsk on the northern Russian front, but makes no mention of a resumption of the operations begun last week east of Riga. In Rouman- , ia the Russo-Ibnumanlan forces still are holding their own against the'; invaders. On the Fokshani sector , Field Marshal von Mackensen's forces seemingly have been unable to advance farther, owing to the stiffening in the line of the defend-' ers. * L ItAKRIl MAKINft IXVESTU1ATIOX * I' "Negro-in-.Army" Qilcstion Now Siil>ject of Thorough I'rohe. Washington, Aug. 27. Secretary i of War Baker today told Senator I Sheppard of Texas, that the recent I Houston affair had given him (tlie | secretary? an opportunity to bring 1 up for thorough investigation and i consideration the whole question of 1 the negro In the army In all ltd < phases, and that the department i hoped to reach a conclusion which j I would be to the heat Interests of all t concerned after making this new i and complete survey of the sub- , Ject. Senator Sheppard was de- < cldedly encouraged at the close of t the Interview. I POPE'S PEACE PROP* REJECTED BY REPLY SAYS PLANS PRC PRUSSIANS TIME 1 World Must Be Made Safe f nent Peace Based Upon Fj the World, Includ Central Washington, Aug. 28.?Preside Pope's peace proposals. In a note dispatched last nighl the President says that while ev< sned by the terrible war must b< jf His Holiness, it would be foil points out if it does not in fact 1< To deal with such a power as upon Pope Benedict's plan, declai a recuperation of the strength ar tion policy of that power, now sweeping a continent with the bl< dren, and the helpless poor, as we n * ... r-ermaneni, peace must be bas peoples and upon justice and fair mankind, he adds, and "we cann rulers of Germany as a guarante unless explicitly supported by sue and purpose of the German peop pies of the world would be justifu The text of the note follows: "To his Holiness? "Benedict XV Pope: "In acknowledgement of the communication of your Holiness to the belligerent peoples, dated August 1, 1 ! 17. the President of the United States requests me to transmit the following reply: President's ltcply. "Kvery heart that has not been blinded and hardened by this terrible war must he touched by this moving appeal of his Holiness, the Pope, must feel the dignity and force of the, humane and generous motives, which prompted it, and must fervently wish that we might take the path of peace he so persuasively points out. But it would be folly to take it, if it does not in fact lead to the goal he proposes. Our response must be based upon the stern facts and upon not hum else. It is not a mere cessation of arms he desires; it is a stable and enduring peace. ' This agony must not be gone through with again and it must be a matter of very sober judgment what will insure us against it. Pope's Proposals. "His Holiness :n substance proposes that we return to the status quo ante helium, and that then there be a general condonation, disarmament and a concert of nations based upon an acceptance of the principle of arbitration; that by a similar concert freedom of the seas be established; and that the territorial claims of France and Italy, the perplexing problems of the Balkan Ptates. and the restitution of Poland he left to such conciliatory adjustments as may he possible of the peo- , pies whose political fortunes and affiliations will be involved. Objects of War. "It is manifest that no part of this j program can he successfully carried nut unless the restitution of the | status quo ante furnishes a firm and satisfactory hasis for it min* "Mo"' I r?f this war is to deliver the free peo- j pies of the world from the menace j and the actual power of a vast military establishment controlled by an 1 irresponsible government which, having secretly planned to domin-| ate the world, proceeded to carry the plan out without regard either to the sacred obligations of treaty or the lonK established practices and! long cherished principles of interna- ( tional action and honor; which | rhose its own time for the war; de- i livered it.* blow fiercely and sudden-i ly; stopped at no barrier either of law 01 of mercv; swept a whole con-! tinent within the tide of blood not j the blood of soldiers only, but th" blood of innocent women and chillren also, and of the helpless poor; and now stands balked but not defeated. the enemy of four-fifths of the world. This powe is not the CJerman people. It is no business of ours how that great people came un-1 iler Its control or submitted with temporary zest to the domination of lt? purposes; but it is our business )SALS ARE [ PRESIDENT WILSON >POSED WOULD ALLOW P rO RECUPERATE. or Democracy With Perma lith of All the Peoples of ing Those of the Powers j n r nt Wilson has rejected the I 3 t and made public here tonight, e ery heart not blinded and hard- 1 i touched by the moving appeal y to take the path of peace he c jad to the goal he proposes. r the present rulers of Germany j < res the President, would involve ( id renewal of the world domina- I' I \ balked, but not defeated after I ood of innocent women and chil-! t '11 J1S nf anlrliorc ' ed upon the faith of all of the ' ness, and the common rights of I1 ot take the word of the present!, ^e of anything that is to endure, i h conclusive evidence of the will f le themselves, as the other poo- : ?d in accepting." to see to it that the history of the rest of the world is no longer left to its handling. Time to Recuperate. "To cieal witii such a power by way of peace upon 4lie plan proposed by his Holiness the Pope would, so ( far as we can see. involve a recuperation of its strength and a renewal , of its policy; would make it necessary to create a permanent hostile j combination of nations against the German people, who are its instru- , ments; and would result in abandoning the new born Russia to the intrigue, the manifold subtile interference and the certain counter revolution which would be attempted by all the malign influences to which , the German government has of late , accustomed the world. Can peace be based upon a restitution of its power or upon any word of honor It could pledge in a treaty of settle- j ment and accommodation? Intolerable Wrongs. "Responsible statement must now everyhere see. if they never saw before, that no peace can rest securely ( 1 upon political or economic restitutions meant to benefit some nations and cripple or embarrass others, upon vindictive action or any action of any sort, or any kind of revenue or deliberate injury. The American people have suffered intolerable wrongs at the hands of the Imperial Clerman government, but they desire no reprisal upon the German people, who have themselves suffer ed all things in this war. which they did not choose. They believe that peace should rest upon the rights of peoples, not the rights of governments?the rights of peoples great or small, weak or powerful, their equal right to freedom and security ] aiul self government and to a par- , tlcipation upon fair terms in the , economic opportunities of the world | ?the German people, of course, in- . eluded, if they will accept equality j and not seek domination. , Test of Pence Plans. 1 "The test, therefore, of every plan of peare is this: Is it based upon ] the faith of all the peoples involved j or merely upon the world of an am- < bitious and intriguelng government. \ on the one hand, and of a group of s free peoples on the other? This is t a test which goes to the root of the t matter; and it is the test which < must be applied. t "The purposes of the I'nited ) States in this war are known to the ? v.ho'e world?to every people to i whom the truth has been permitted t to come. They do not need to be t stated again. We seel: no material i advantage of any kind. We believe i that the intolerable wrongs done In j this war by the furious and brutal ( power of the Imperial German gov- | ernment ought to be repaired, but | < not at the expense of the sovereign- |< ty of any people?rather a vindica-j tion of the sovereignty both of those j that are weak and of those that are strong. Punitive damages, the dismemberment of empires, the estab- { NLISTED MEN MAY BECOME OFFICERS <0 MORE CANDIDATES FOB COMMISSIONS. Vill He Given Every Opportunity to Fit Themselves for Commissions. Washington, Aug. 28.--Enli8tet H'ii of the national army, Xationa luard and regular army will h< iven every opportunity to lit thenv elves for commissions, it was learn cl today. This is in line with th< ixed policy of the government t< ako no more officers or officer can lidates from civil life after the sec ind series of officers training cauips low in progress, has been complet >d. Thereafter all additional offl :ers needed will be found in th anks of the various branches of th? var army. To carry out this plan it has vir ually been decided to establish ai tfficers' school at each of the divis onal training camps. Men from thi anks who have shown special qual ideations will be sent to thes schools. With ?t:iIYj i\f WroBi.it British officers of experience on th Iring lilies on duty at each camp a ldvisers an unusual opportunity fo ecture courses will be presented. Thin! Series of Lamps. The divisional officers camps wil make the third series of such camp trranged by the war department t provide men to command the enoi nous forces being raised for the Line commissions will be grante :o men from civil life atter they ar started, except tiiat a few men wli were denied admission to the othe camps through loss of their order n the mail or some other mischanc may be given an opportunity in th third series. Will Pass Out of Kxistence. Secretary Baker pointed out t< day. in reply to a question as t whether the revised divisional arm organization adopted for the wa would he continued after the restoi ition of peace, that with the excej tion of the officers of the regular an ii few men of the old regular enlist ed forces, whose enlistments may n? tiave expired at that time the enti? war army will pass out of existenc< The question of establishing continuing military policy of unive ?al service has been debated to som extent. The impression prevai among many members of congres however, that it would be unwise t take up this question now. If th war is long it may become necessai to provide for the registration < new classes, which reach the mil tarv age of the selective service bi sach year. 41 roNsntii'Tiox ix < \x.\i>\. Toronto, Aug. 28.?The militai conscription bill for the Dominic of Canada became a law when it \\s signed by the Governor General her today. The bill was brought froi Ottawa by special messenger. lishment of selfish and exelusiv economic league, we deem inexp< lient and in the end worse than ft tile, no proper basis for a peace r my kind, least of all for an endui lug peace. That must be based up t>n justice and fairness and the con: tiion rights of mankind. "We cannot tal<e the word of th present rulers of Germany as suarantee of anything that is to en lure, unless explicitly supported b uieh conclusive evidence of the wil \nd purpose of the German peoi?l hemselvea, as the other peoples o he world would be justified in ac opting. Without such guarantees treaties of settlement, agreement 'or disarmament covenant* IP arbitration in the place of forcf erritorial adjustments, reoonstitu ion of small nations, if made wit] he Herman government, no man, n lotion eould row depend on. W mist await some new evidence of th >urposes of th> great peoples of th "entral Powers. Hod grant it ma ie given soon and in a way to rc ?tore the confidence of all people verywhere in the faith of nation ind the possibility of a covenante leace, "Robert Lansing. "Secretary of State of the Unite 3tate* of America." , ? ?? JJilXV GETTING AT CAUSE OF RIOT IN HOUSTON J MUNICIPAL BOARD HEARS TESTIMONY. I ____ Request That Officers Testify Before Board Referred to i 1? " ? iiiaptrtiur ucntrui. I Houston, Aug. 28.?The MunicipI al Board of Inquiry which is taking i testimony regarding tin disturbance of last Thursday night when one -; hundred negroes of the Twenty? fourth infantry shot up the west end o district of the city, heard witnesses - relate of conditions in the camp of - the negro soldiers. , The testimony largely was that - negro women visited the camp in - numbers after nightfall, that empty e liquor bottles were plentiful in the ? grass and weeds about the camp, and that negro soldiers violated the 'Jim - j Crow" law on the street cars at II will. \V. D. Dunman, a policeman, testie tied that a man who said he was - Major K. Snow, said to him the ? i night of the disturbance: [1 "Don't go in the camp, you will ?' he going to your death. I would not s go in there myself." r 'Die citv of Houston toilav began what Acting Mayor Moody termed the development of the "real story" II of the horror of last Thursday night * when too negro soldiers of the o Twenty-fourth infantry shot down fifteen whites. The board of inquiry appointed by d Mayor Moody held its first session e late today. Appeals have been sent o out through the newspapers for evr ery person with information to re's port voluntarily to the board of ine qu'ry, e The hoard, wishes, it has announced. to acquaint Houston citizens with all the phases of the dls> turbance and to "establish a record ? for the future." y i Gen. Hell said today he would not. r permit any officer or man under his r* command to testify at the city in> vestigation. "Of course" he said, "if the perl-mission of the war department can >t he obtained I shall have no objec'? tion." * t* p- ! Referred to Inspector General, a Washington, Aug. 28.?Secretary Baker today received a telegrahic rel? quest from the city officials of llous's ton. Tex., that army officers who H. had knowledge of the incidents in ? the outbreak of members of the ie Twenty-fourth infantry negroes y there recently, he permitted to appear before the civil investigation 1- of the occurrence in progress in the 11 Texas city. The matter was referred to Brig. CJen. Chamberlain, inspector general of the army, who is en route to Houston to co-operate "V v ith officials of the Southern departin ment in the military Inquiry. IS The secretary indicated that the war department contemplated no 11 action of any kind until the findings ?)r the military board of inquiry haa "" l en received, e ^ + ** ! + + *** + + + + + * + * * + ' + SOMK WlltK I L.XSIIKS + + * )t Uritish ship losses last week, 23 v with 18 over 1,600 tons compared with 15 the previous week, and 5 _ (less titan 1,600 tons. - (> i Wheat price fixing commission affor oil J * ' ivi w.v> scosiun iit11 io agree on schedule and adjourn until today. ?o? Italians contine to advance, meagre details foreshadow important victory over Austrlans. ??? Austrian minister of public works led a res coal crisis in Austria is 11 grave, o o Cloture rule asked to be invoked ? for war revenue bill, e .?o? V Reports made Moscow conference - show Russian railroad situation des s perate with entire disorganization ? of transportation. Steel prices to be fixed by war Industries board on a cost plus profit d basis. Official announcement ex, pected soon.