University of South Carolina Libraries
i i . . i s , VS ' ' ' ' v v- . Abbeville Press and Banner! ' ' . > 1 * V.jfg , ( ' :; ? Established 1844. $1.50 the Year. Abbeville, S. C., Friday, March 22, 1918. Single Copies, Five Cents. 75th Year I '":i U. S. AND 1 SEEEDUT( i. i |; ' Holland Refuses Use Of Ships, President Will Take All Over I I ! . 600,000 TONS IN AMERICAN ruK 1 a Most of the Ships Will Be Used to! Carry Food?Owners to Receive Compensation for Use. Washington, March 20.?Upon j Holland's refusal in the face oft German threats to put into effect her voluntary agreement for restor-1 ing her "merchant marine to normal i activity the United States Govern-! ment tonight requisitioned all Dutch, ships in American waters. At thej same time Ureat Britain was w?Amg over Dutch vessels in British ports. A total of seventy-seven ships, of i probably 60,000 tons, were added to the American merchant marine by the requisitioning. Another 400,000 tons are put into the Allied service by Great Britain'saction. Most of them will be used in the food-carrying trade. Holland Rejects. President Wilson's priclamation taking over the ships was issued only after word finally caYne from London that Holland's delayed reply was rejection of the BritishAmerican demand. The government has waited more than fortyeight hours beyond the time whiten Holland had been requested to make a decision as to whether she would carry out 'the original pact or submit to requisitioning. Every effort was made to avoid dractic action, as ^ transfer by agreement was sought rather than by seizure^ although the ! latter is an exercise of sovereign! rights justified in international law. As late as 6 o'clock tonight it was disclosed that President Wilson j during the day had been informed' of the delay in the Dutch reply, with; the request that he indicate whether; or not the requisitioning should I proceed. He decided to await thej formal reply, which proved unac-j ceptable, although under conditions i it might have served as a basis for further negotiations. No Time Lost. The President's proclamation was| issued immediately, authorizing the navy to take over the vessels, which will be equipped and operated by the Navy Department and the Shipping Board, the Dutch cj*ews being supplemented by American civilian,1 caiirvrc and naval reservists. Com-j Ipensation will be made to the owners, as required by law. In a statement outlining the negotiations President Wilson pointed out that the permanent agreement i with the Dutch government had been blocked by Germany despite the little kingdom's acute need of foodstuffs, for which the agreement provided. A temporary- agreement J mror tVlO ' itnen was negouaieu tu uuc 'emergency^ and that, too, was held' - up by Prussian diplomacy. Final Proposal. For two months the proposed! agreements lay in diplomatic pigeon holes without action, and meanwhile! I the President says, "German threats have grown more violent." The final proposal to Holland was trans-j mitted on March 7th and set last; Monday as the time by which a reply was wished. Failing to receive | a favorable reply, the United States; proceeded to requisition the ships, [ as dictated by military necessity. I Although the ships have been taken over without any formal agreement, the United States proposes to carry out scrupulously the terms , of the original pact < ENGLAND :H VESSELS Mars and Pressly In Second Race RESULT OF THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION WHICH WAS HELD '' TUESDAY. The following is the result of the j Municipal Electioh held Tuesday, j March iytn. FOR MAYOR J. Moore Mars 144 votes. J. E. Pressly 98 votes. J. A. Long 78 votes. C. C. Gambrell 77 votes. FOR ALDERMAN. Ward 1.?M. B. Syfan, re-elected without opposition. Ward 2.?H. B. Wilson defeated G. W. Godfrey by 15 votes for long term. C. L. Evans won for the short term. Ward 3.?.Otto Bristow received 75 votes and J. N. Blum 70 for long term. W. M. Langley was elected for short term. Ward 4.?Albert Henry was reelected without opposition. The second election will be next Tuesday. SHILOH A PRIZE WINNER. V ' I The prizes awarded by the school improvement association have been announced and Shiloh comes in for two prizes. That school wins a j prize of ten dollars, offered for the | school securing from outside sour-i ces and depositin^ rhe largest sumj of money with the County Treasurfor School Improvment. Shiloh wins, also, a prize of five dollars for sending to the County 'Organizers reports of twelve regular monthly meetings. Shiloh is to be congratulated on her success and on her en-| terprising spirit. MORE THAN 90 PER CENT. OF UNITED STATES TROOPS j , NOW CARRY INSURANCE! More than $1.1,000,000,000 of war' risk insurance has so far been writ-' ten, covering over* 1,500,000 per-] sons in the military and naval ser-j vices. The averages amount of in-1 surance applied for is nearly $9,000 1 The maximum nermitted is $10,000 I and the minimum $1,000. Final figures show the United States Army, both here and abroad,! y is well over 90 per cent insured. Inj many camps 99 per cent of thej personnel is protected by Govern-j ment insurance. The insurance now, on the books of the bureau is more j than three times as great as the or-j dinary insurant held by the largest commercial company in the world. All new persons joining the service may apply for insurance within 120 days after joining the colors. Automatic insurance ceased for all men, regardless of enlistment date, | I ' on February 12. THE BEAUTIES OF ABBEVILLE, j After the long? hard winter the j beautiful flowers of our city are being enjoyed to the fullest. The wistaria is in full bloom and is now more lovely than in many years. The tulips at the Smith's, the Thomson's and the Sherard's are much admired, the lilac and apple tree in Dr. Thomson's yard are things of beauty. The yellow jessamine in Mrs. B. S. Barnwell's yard, delights the eyes of every passerby while the old fashioned dog-wood tree at the home of Mrs. T. C. Seal . is a joy to all who take notice of its graceful lines and its profusion , of white blooms. Miss Mary Perrin went over to * Atlanta Monday to spend the day 1 on a pleasure trip. ' SPECIAL TRAINING FOR DRAFTED MEN Call Comes Soon for Special Instruction./. GENERAL SURVEY COLLEGES Summons Probably Will Be for Sixty Thousand Obtained Principally From Class One. / Washington, March 20.?Provost Marshal General Crowder will begin within a few days calling for special instruction men in the draft needed by the army in technical positions. A general survey of the educational institutions of the country is in progress, it was announced today, to determine what colleges and industrial schools will be available for their training during the summer months. Probably 60,000 men? obtained principally from Class 1, will be ordered out for special training. Local draft boards will publish widely the opportunity that is offered to registrants with a view to obtaining as many voluntary inductions into the service as possible. While the requisition for skilled men made by the war department for the remainder of 1918 totals 365,000 men, officials of the provost marshal general's staff believe this will be materially reduced when the ' r.-ii? J various items are coreiuii; tunsiuered. It is expected that many cases of duplications have occurred through the fact that each department arrived at its needs by independent computation. " v SPRING OPENINGS. The four millinery stores, Mrs. Jas. S. Cochran, J. M. Anderson Co., Haddon-Wilson and Philson and ffenry, held their annual spring openings Wednesday and Thursday. Quite a lot of work was done to make the stores attractive. Their windows were samples of what the interior was. J. M. Anderson Co., had a large United States Flag as a background for several picture hats. Yards and yards of flag cloth was used in the draping which showed the spirit of the day. . Mr^. J?s. S. Cochran used quantities of flowers, both real and artificial. Some samples of her ready-to-wear dresses were shown in her windows besides a few hats. In Philson and Henry's windows were shown hats and a ready-made costume and stylish shoes. Goods of all kinds were displayed inside. Haddon-Wilson had several special hats in their window besides the lady in full afternoon party dress. Inside different pieces of dress goods, domestic goods and various other materials were spread out for inspection. Notwithstanding the 'threatening weather quite a large number of ladies visited each of the stores and I a large number of hats were sold, j It is the opinion of the four stores ^ that the early buyers will be best | pleased as later shipments may be j a Ipnger time * arriving on account | of freight congestion. SYMPATHY FOR * MR. LONGSHORE * I The triends of Mr. iii. n. i^ong-, shore in Abbeville sympathize with; him sincerely in the death of his sister, Mrs. Alice Longshore Gary,: which occurred in Jacksonville, Fla., j last week. The body was brought, to Johnston for burial and Mr. i Longshore attended the funeral. . vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv t COTTON MARKET V S 33-1 *2 uo^OQ > ^ Seed $1,06 1-2 V WVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV PRICE FIXING TALK HEARD IN SENAT I Fuel and Food Admii istrations Criticised. HARDWI^K JOINS ASSAUL Georgia Senator Joins Republics Members in Assault on Govern ment Plan to Win War. i Washington, March 30.?Gover ment price fixing was vigorously c sailed in the senate again todaythe fourth day of debate on. the m tion of Senator Gore of Oklahor to increase the government gua I anteed wheat price to $2.50 p , bushel. Both food and fuel administr j tions were objects of attacks. Ric culing various orders of the farm in a speech of more than two houi Senator Sherman of Illinois (B publican) declared that the whe price regulation is "incomparab folly," but since the governme has ''embarked" on price fixing ] would support the Gore amendme to prevent disaster of reduced pr duction. Senators Wadsworth of Ne York, Lodge of Massachusetts (R publicans) and Hardwick of Geo - 'T\ J.\ J fk. o i gia iL/eiiiuurabj juincu in tuc a saulf^ "Paternalism of government" w deplored by Senator Hardwick criticising price ,fixing. He iugges ed that extensions of official pow< threaten republican institutions^ " to destroy an autocracy across tl ueas it is necessary to establish 01 here." DEATH OF MR. WM. L. SEAWRIGH Mr. William L. Seawright ii< in Columbia, March 19th, after' long illness. He was about sixi years of age and leave a widow, wl was Miss Alice Killingaworth of th county, and six children survive. Mr. Seawright's body was broug] | to his old home in Donalds for bi ! rial on Thursday. He has mar friends and relatives in Abbevil \ county who regret his death. ! SERGEANT LESLIE McMILLAIN No doubt that his many frien< will be delighted to. know that Se geant Leslie McMillan, 4th Co.? O ! ficers Training Camp, Camp Jacl son, has been appointed one of tv Assistant Instructors for his con pany. He is to be obeyed and n spected accordingly. Candidate M< Millan is maknig a good recot at Camp Jackson. * MRS. HORTON. Mrs. E. C. Horton spent yestc day in the city with ftfends. SI is on a visit to her home people i * Williamston from Washington. THE BOOK CLUB. The regular meeting of the Boo Club was postponed from Wednei day morning until this morning i half past ten o'clock at the home c Mrs. C. H. McMurray. and nnvc rniuc citrniun V/ VIV UV/ A ij WIUJU Company A, 118th infantry, bel ter known in Greenville as the Bu1 ler Guards, and commanded by Cap tain William D. Workman, stand second in the regiment as a resul of recent tests, according to a tabl of standing just made public b Col. H. H. Pattison, acting com mander. Company of Cherav commanded by Capt. William I Gillespie, heads the list.?Greenvill News. Many of Abbeville's enlisted boy are in the Butler Guards and folk around Abbeville are proud of thei record. SEC. BAKEI 'FIRST LINE 1 Many New Ships Come For Work of Allies T APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION in TONS ADDED BY SEIZURE OF DUTCH VESSELS. The United States and her asson ig_ ciates irf hte war have come into approximately 1,000,000' tons of much 0 needed shipping with which to aid no in prosecuting the war against the flo \ Teutonic allies. Having been uner successful in perfecting arrangements with the Netherlands governa ment for taking over of Dutch vessels lying in American and allied er ports, the United States and Great Britain have ordered all such vessdls rs, ? seized in accordance with internae tional law and put into service for je the benefit of the allies. nt Holland, in the face of German he , threats and intimidations, long had nt hesitated voluntarily to relinquish 0_ the desired mercantile marine and nothing remained but the United |W States and Great Britain to at with e_ in their sovereign rights ,'and seize r. the ships. 5- * THE LIBERTY LOAN as HONOR FLAG in . t_ lt_ A new and distinctive feature will ithe introduc<!d in the ThH Liberty Loan campaign, and every city or town in the country which subscribes more than its quota of Liberty bonds will be awarded by the Treasury Department an Honor IT Flag. The flag will be 36 inches wide and 54 inches long. The body of the a flag will be white with a broad red border, and three broad blue verti10 cal stripes denoting the Third Loan. is The flags, which will be of the same quality as the flags of the Navy, are ht already being manufactured- and n- wilj/be awarded as fast as the right ?y to fly them is won. Though awardle ed by the Treasury Department^ they will be distributed by the Liberty Loan committees of the differI ent districts. Ther^ will also be a National . / v is Honor Flag for each. State, to be r_ flown at the State Capitol, with the f. name of each town winning a flag |c- inscribed upon it. There will be alro so preserved in the United States n- Treasury a National Honor Flag, OQpll Stflfp TA c- corded on it. d Stars, to be placed on the flag of each'city or town doubling its quota will be also awarded, and an additional star for each time the quota is doubled. r" An Honor Roll, containing the ie names of all subscribers, but not the n amount of the individual subscriptions, will be kept in each community. A window card, bearing a representation of the Honor Flag? will j j. be given each subscriber to the loan| , to be displayed at the home or: , place of business. 5 ? TO CELEBRATE APRIL 6th. i Mrs. Bertha Munsell, Chairman for South Carolina, National Wo-: t- man's Liberty Loan Committee, is t- arranging for a state-wide celebra?t tion of April 6th, by patriotic dem!s onstrations in every county. The It scheme is endorsed by the govern-j e ment, and Mrs. Munsell begs that, y Abbeville county observes that dayj i- with parades, speeches, etc. She' U hopes to advise Washington that ^ not a county failed to respond, e Mrs. M. T. Coleman, Miss Mary B. Martin and Mrs. W. A. Harris s have been appointed to arrange the s rally in Abbeville county ^ and plans r are being made for elaborate dem onstrations. {IN TRENCHES 'I ?r M j Plods Through Mud I While German Shells Fall (J *1 HAS. CLOSE SHAVE 1 IN AUTOMOBILE ??? _ . [ Secretary Baker Wanted to lnvestii gate Where the Big Shell Hit But I Chauffeur Speeded Up. - i-vj With the American Army in France, March 19.?Secretary Baker had his baptism of fire this morning in the front line trenches and, while he was returning, a Morman shell burst within less than fifty yards of his motor car. He was not injured. The Secretary went into the trenches in a sector where American ; & troops face the enemy,, near by. For half an hour he plodded over the duck boards. The Germans maintained an active fire with heavy pieces and machine guns. Nevertheless Mr. Baker made his way to ' $ an advanced sap, entered a listening post and talked for several minutes with the soldier on duty there. , Close Shave. But the narrowest shave was on ? < the return to headquarters. The ^ German shell, of 105 millimetres,- ; roared down and burst cleanly leas 3 than fifty yards from the automobile ' containing the Secretary of War . and-the escorting oflicers. The sheil . ; hit a roadside dug oat, digging^, Jg j. ^ big crater. Mr. Bakes wished to stop and ascertain whether there ; /? were men in the dug out, but the chauffeur, realizing the danger, opened the throttle and made hir-5 v/Sj best speed until the danger zone was '<* ; passed. _ u Exciting Day. S || This was the Secretary's hardest and most exciting day in France. On Monday evening, accompanied only by a general commanding a division and one other officer he > motored to a point accessible to A !('wj the sector selected for his inspection > /, He dined and slept in the chateau * of French friends of officers. Retiring early, the Secretary arose at A A'AIAAL- in i^or?lr A-f on I 1 KJ tlVLlV iU VJ. MM W?V*Vi*wvj chill March day. Taking breakfast quickly he drove through the misty dawn to his destination. As the lines were approached the ? steady reverberation of guns signailed great activity of the artillery, This tfas confirmed when on arrival it was found that the road selected \ 'pj for approach to the trenches was l under brisk shell fire. Indeed the firing was so active as to cause the general considerable apprehension for the safety of his distinguished guest. He endeavored to dissuade < Mr. Baker from going on with the expedition, explaining the danger, but the Secretary overrode his protest. FINAL GINNERS REPORT FOR LAST SEASON % Washington, March 20.?Cotton production from last season's crop was 11?285,999 bales exclusive of linters, the Census Bureau announc/ /j ed today in the final report of ginnings. Linters produced to March 1st amounted to 829,019 bales. Gmnings by states included Georgia 1,881,000 and South Carolina 1,235,000. Sea Island in Georgia was 47,888, in Florida 37,300 and 7 7 j 7 in South Carolina, 7,313. ALL-DAY EXERCISES AT UPPER LONG CANE There will be morning and afternon exercises at Upper Long Cane Church next Sunday, March 24, with dinner on the ground. Tko public cordially i&ited.