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Abbeville Press and Banner 1844. S2.00 the Year. Abbeville, S. C? Tue-l.y. Nov. . 19,1918. Single C.pi.., Fire Cert,. 75l^g . | I, L VERY ENTHUSIASTIC 1 MEETING WAS HELD Court House Auditorium Scene of Patriotic Rally. y i wi? ADDRESSED VAVVTM ? BY PROMINENT SPEAKER About Two Hundred Citizens, Both WkiU and Colored, Gathered ia Court House Saturday Afternoon for U. W. W. Meeting. - Despite the inclemency of the weather Saturday afternoon, about two hundred citizens, both white and colored, gathered in the Abbeville (bounty Court House for a * mass meeting in the interest of the United War Works Campaign now being waged throughout the country. The meeting was presided over by Mayor J. Moore Mars, who explained the purpose of the gathering, and laiter introduced Dr. R. B. Elmore, ?a# fl>A Mn traveling reprwBUMUTc vi >uV ... tional Committee on Subscription. Dr. Arundel], rector of the Green-j wood Episcopalian church, was present, upon whom Dr. Elmore called to ask Divine blessing upon the proceedings. After the invocation Dr. Elmore told the audience of the temptations, confronting the boys now, since hos-j tilities had ceased, and of the great: need of having someone to look af-1 tier their welfare, concluding his re-j marks with a plea for the liberal! signing of the Pledge Cards, which was responded to very generously? more than a hundred dollars being raised among the few who remained | thrnnchntit the meet inc. * 1/ ? \ Music for the occasion was for- ( nished by the Abbeville Mill Band, ] which deserves great credit for the \ class of music tendered, considering j the short time they have been organ- j ized. In speaking of the campaign Dr. , Elmore said, "No armistice has been signed in the United War Works! drive. The need of funds now that -1 the war is practically over, is greater! ' than ever, for the soldiers at the \ 1 front, without the thoughts of bat-!* t!c to engage them, will need the ( uplifting influenzes of the seven great religious and educational or- J ganizations if they are not to be en- 1 meshed in the snares which surrounds an army at rest. j "While armistice terms have been signed and peace is practically here, ( j the army of the United States is not ; ^ I /liehanrlorl onH will nr?t ho fnr mnnfTia I and possibly a year or two to come. I If the Y. M. C. A. and the like agen- j ( cies were valuable in war times,! ^ they are invaluable while the soldiers are yet under arms but not under' the restraints that war entails." There is mu ch interest being ^ shown among the colored people of ( the county, and indications now are that the colored people, as well as: the whites, in this county will re-; spond generally and liberally to: /the cause during the next day or two.': f With $108,405,408 on hand' to- j t wards the revised goal of $250,000,-j. uOOO, officials of the campaign an-', I nounced last Saturday, from National Headquarters, that the drive i scheduled to have closed last night, would be continued until Wednesday!. 1 night. Their decision, it was ex- , plained, was reached after hundreds : of requests from all parts of the. country demanding an extension of, time because two days of the cam-' paign were lost as a result of peace celebrations, were received. Th campaign forces are well or-i ganized and everything is going right] through and "over the top" with the j $25,000 allotted to this county. Col. Pat McCaslan was in town1: Monday an interested attendant at, the horse sale and watching the j price of cotton. BOYS CAN COME HOME J f AS FAST AS ORDERED | To Arrange Detail* for Transporta-j tion?Chairman of Shipping Board Sailing For Europe? Has Mission of Returning Men in Army to the U. S. J Edward N. Hurley, chairman of the United States Shipping Board, anlounced Friday, on the eve of his de>arture for Europe, that the governnent intends to return to this counxy speedily a large part of the Amsrican expeditionary forces. The ^ purpose of Mr. Hurley's trip to Eu*ope is to arrange the details for this ransportation. To offset the loss of transport tonlage through the withdrawal of Britsh ships hitherto engaged in carrying American soldiers overseas, Mr. Hur- ? ey hopes to utilize 25 or 30 German md Austrian liners, with accomoda- 111 ;ions for 4,000 men each. In compen- U tation for the loan of these vessels, w le said, food would be sent to the peo)le of central Europe on their return 1X1 Ol royages. Mr. Hurley said the shipping board ^ would be able to bring troops back at ;he rate of 300,000 a month, "if the ai var department wants them returned a] 82 is fast as that". He would meet GenS( sral Pershing at American field headw luarters, he added, to discuss the deails of their home coming. While he will go abroad with Her>ert Hoover, federal food administra- p or, to co-operate in arrangements for ^ he shipment and distribution of food- ^ ;tuffs to the regions liberated under ^ he armistice terms and In a degree . . . _ as ater to be determined to Germany l ^ ind Austria, Mr. Hurley said his nission was primarily to do with get-' ^ ;ing the "boys back home". IF Convalescent wounded, including j nany who would have returned to ;he battlefront had the war continued ^ vould be the first troops brought out e< >f France, he said. They would be fol- 03 fi owed by units of various branches of ;he service, following plans already ^ jartly worked out fey Secretary Baker ? ind the general staff. ? NEW FIRE ENGINE. {> ?? si ? i i * xne city council nas unaer con- ? jideration the purchase of an auto- ic truck fire engine. The horses and w ;}\e up-keep of the department is a tl jreat expense and it is hoped to re- n iuce expenses by the purchase. fi All the children in town love Mutt 1 ind Jeff, the horses, and will be h sorry to see them sold. AN UPLIFTING SERVICE. si w The song and prayer service of a thanksgiving last Sunday night at the Presbyterian church, was well ^ attended and will long be remember- ^ ed by our people. All the churches . combined and the time was devoted ^ to a song and prayer service. ! I Mr. Wilkins of New York, a friend j ^ ?f Mr. J. F. Barnwell, who was in the city for the night, added much to the occasion by the singing a 3weet solo. I n HOME ON FURLOUGH. I n ' I Dr. Jack Pressly has been home! Cor a few days this week on leave.; 1 He is looking well and has much tojSI say about army life. He says the! strap worn under his chin is to make! 6 him stop talking occasionally. Hej thinks he is going across soon asj1* America will invade Russia, Servia; and other such countries with thou- n j Q sands of doctors, tons of soap and millions of bath tubs. The doctor is stationed at Camp J s' Greeneleaf and says that army life! certainly makes him love Abbeville. a . : g PLAY BALL. t( , ti The young people of the High school have formed a Basket Ball team and the first game was played n Friday on the ground at the Graded w school. Miss Logan is chief coach s and she hopes soon to have the team r in good shape for some games with r out of town teams. JEMOBIUZATION " PLANS DEVELOPING Movement of Troops Across Atlantic Entirely Stopped. [EN IN CANTONMENTS BACK TO CIVIL LIFE wo Hundred Thousand Off for Home Within Two Weeks and Thirty Thousand to Be Released Each Day With Program Full Operation. Washington, Nov. 17.?Movement f the American troops across the tlantic has stopped entirely and delobilization of troops in canton* tents and camps at home is under General March, chief of stan, ade this announcement Saturday, utlining the war department's plans t answer to questions the country as been asking since the day the rmistice was signed and it became pparent that the war was over. He lid orders already issued would nd 200,000 men back to civil life ithin two weeks and that when fche rogram was in full swing about 80,90 would quit the army daily. ^ Fighting divisions of General ershing'a army in France will ' be ^mobilized as fast as possible in leir home communities. The chief f staff would make no predictions ? to when the first divisions would art home. It appears probable, %?fMrAw 4>1?A flnw A# matu Ci 9 ^AtOV HUO UUW? VJL oops can be in. full tide before ebruary. . ?. $ Some officers regard it as possible rnt certain divisions may be recall* i in advance of the general return lovement. General March indicated lat the ^Forty-second (Rainbow) ivision, because it is composed of ien from 26 States and in recognion of the fighting record it has Lade in France, would be marked jr special treatment. The Twentyxth (New England National Guard) nd the Forty-first (Sunset) Divis>ns are in the same class, so /it rould not cause surprise if these iree organizations should be desigated by General Pershing as thei rst to return. With six weeks of 918 left it is possible they may be ome before New Year's day. -C P i uiuujr ui vaniODOicnii. Supplementing General March's ;atement, Secretary Baker s^id it) rould not be necessary to maintain 11 the existing cantonments for delobilization purposes and that a tudy was now being made of those esirable for that purpose. The thers, with all the divisional camps, e indicated, will be abandoned as 3on as the men now occupying them ave been mustered out. The demobilization will be carried ut in the following order: First, development battalions; 71 i number and comprising 98,199 ien; second, conscientious objectors ot under arrest; third, spruce prouction divisions; fourth, central raining schools for officers with sme modifications; fifth, United tates guards, now numbering 135,00 men; sixth, railway units; sevnth, depot brigades; eighth, replacelent units; ninth, combat divisions. "We have in the United States ow something like 1,700,000 men nd a muster out of a force of that ind, of course, will take some time," aid General March. "Each man has 3 be examined physically, his final ccounts made so that the men may et compensation they are entitled 3. Blank forms are being shipped o the various camps for use as hese orders go into effect. "In handling this problem of delobilization one of the features rtiich had to be considered was the ubsequent retaining of men for the egular army, or what will be the egular army, when congress passes (Continued on Page 4.) . , / : v ' a . . . 'AMERICANS NOW IN!' MOUZON TERRITORY' Pershing's Men Occupy Ground Abandoned by Hun Forces. * t i NO CHANCES TAKEN % ON FORWARD MOVE y Engineer Unit* Precede Soldier* in E Search for Mine* end Tainted Wa- j ter?March Toward Rhine Be- ^ tween Thiancourt and Mouzon ^ in Cold and Mud. With the American Army in ' France, Nov. 17, 7:30 P. M.?Gener- c al Pershing's forces moved forward * early today in territory just abandoned by the German troops^ On the old line between Mouzon and Thiaucourt lying from the region of 8 Sedan to the south of Metz, the * troops had been stationed to await nr^ora ft\r tlio 9(tvnTi(>A nnd K.SO ? o'clock this' morning the patrols * marched out, not in line of battle, but in columns along the high roads which are only slightly impaired. Il The first steps of the Americans h into regions so lately controlled by ^ Germany were not spectacular. The t men were keyed up and keen for e the new adventure, but like they were on the day of the signing of n the armistice there were compare- f tively no demonstrative manifesta- p tions of their enthusiasm. v Erery Soldier "PoIiilntL" p Many of the men had been newly ^ SM -? J _ II ll _ +1 unuormea ana bu oi uiem were i "poUshed" as though for inspection. 8 The men appeared eager for the ^ word to go forward. The relatively small units that are * moving forward as advance guards ^ were sent to the line before daylight. gj The night had been cold and the ^ mud that yet marks the roads, not- ^ withstanding there have been two or three days without rain, was slightly ^ frozen. The men shivered as they rested by the roadside. i When the command finally was given for the advance, the elements ? wuu were tu jjubu luxwaiu, iu avrnc ^ cases miles apart on the long line j. between the extreme left and right, j moved off into the mists that appear ^ always to shroud this part of the ? country and disappeared. For the first time since the Ameri- ] cans had been ordered to advance < into enemy held territory there was ( assurance that they would encoun- c ter no hostility. The intelligence de-j i partment, which has never ceased to function, had accurately reported j that the Germans were carrying outj their agreement of evacuation and! there was evident the belief both by! officers and men that no trap was' awaiting them. No chances were taken, however. The engineers were the second units to press forward and they carefully i u~_ xt 1. i i . < I uegau ineir wurit 01 loosing out iori mines and tainted water. Every ob-' stacle was tested before it was mov-: j ed in order to find out if it masked ( explosives. For some time the Ger- c mans have shown a spirit of cooper-: j j ation in informing the Americans t where mines were located and in! themselves destroying them. Entire Army Moving. It was some time after the engi-s neers moved forward before the I heavier columns took the roads. The f entire army finally was moving, and t ! moving along the lines of peace days I But it was in such order that it r - . . - , . . I ; mignt De quickly translorraea into i battle array. Each brigade was cov- J erad by a regiment of 77s, the heavier artillery following close behind. It has been impressed on officers and men alike that this is an operation under an armistice, that war I still exists and that the possibility I remains that at any time it may be I necessary for them to play their part f with the same grimness of the past ^ .year. * MONTHS YET AHEAD FOR MEN OVERSEA! ~rowder Appeals for War Worl Fund?Must Police World?Nation Should Show Gratitude to Soldiers by Supporting the Welfare Organizations. New York, Nov. 16.?In a stat nent issued Friday night in whicl ie declared that the allied soldier: nil have to be the policemen of th? Torld during the period of demobil zation and that our boys : will re nain in service many weary months *rovost Marshal Crowder stressec he necessity for the support of th< Jnited War Work Campaign. "The feeling that there is no neec or further large contributions be ause of the fact that hostilities hav< eased should certainly not exist,' leclared the provost marshal. "Oiu oys", he said, "will remain in ser ice many weary months. The new :overnment has not been formed ir i day. The period of reorganiza ion and rehabilitation has to b( rone through with. During thii ime the allied soldier will have t< ie the policemen of the world. The] rill be doing as valuable service it he interest of world peace as thej lave been as world soldiers. The} iave ' men'8 work before them anc hey have now to assist in gathering he fruits of victory they have gaind 1. "During the period of waiting the len will continue to need every welare organization. Our soldiers have roved themselves willing to put ui nth any hardships and endure an] irivation as long as allowed to fight mt now that the incentive for fight rig" is' removed,"the" excitement anc rlamor of war are cone. m?nv whf lave gone successfully over the stora teriod of war, now may succumb t< he relaxation incident to the cessa ion of hostilities. If the United Wai Vork agencies can make their camp: ind huts, their shows or motion pic ures and their athletic sports so at ractive that the boys will accept th< :lean amusement offered by them hey will have met the supreme tes >f efficiency. They can not do thi iniess xne American people promptly md generously replenish their wa :hest. They are at the front looking ifter our boys; we can not refus< o hold up our end and we must se< ;hat our soldiers have every safe Hiard. Now is our opportunity ti lecure it for them. In a statement made by Secretar; 3aker in regard to the campaign hi leclared the drive to be a direc :hallenge of the measure of Ameri ?an appreciation. GETTING BETTER. Dr. and Mrs. J. R. Nickles havi >oth been very sick at their hom< >n Upper Main street, causing thei: 'riends much anxiety. Both are bet er now. Miss Nelson came ove: Vnm A+lan+o +/* V>q nrl+l ? w? **v?v?nww MMVU1UWJ VV WC VTXbJ hem. TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. Mr. John Penney, who was s< >ainfully hurt last week by slippinf >n a banana peel in front of Bow len-Simpson, was taken to the hos >ital in Chester Monday for specia reatment. MAJOR NANCE SICK. Major F. W. R. Nance is verj ick at his home on Magazine street Despite his eighty-five years, hi! riends hope that he may soon gei ip and be around town again. The Major has long been a promi lent figure in Abbeville county, hav J i?_ !ll. A.11 _!_ __ /* rig served iaiiniuny as snenn souh rears ago. BUYS HOME. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Levi hav< mrchased the home of Mr. R. L Dargan on Wardlaw Street, and the} )lan to move into it about January irst, when Mr. Dargan expects t< vacate for the purpose of going tc Spartanburg. AMERICAN MPS ' PLAYED BIG PART , ,;:vMuch of Credit for Winning Decisive Battle Due Americans. 1 ^ ; * hti , HUN'S DEATH BLOW FIRST OF NOVEMBER Men Under Perthing Show Mettle j When Celled Upon by High Commend to Take Ai'gonne Sector, PmV.1.1. M..I n:?...u T..U Ahead of A1U??. i * Out of the confusion and daze of . ' the crowding military events on the western battle line since late in September, when battle followed battle until from Flanders to Verdun there was ceaseless action, it is now per* missible to outline to a certain extent the part played by the American ar> mies in the final decisive battle of the war, which ended with the arm* I iatice of last Monday. Military reasons heretofore have prevented accentuating the accomplishments of the Americans, except . in a most general manner. The di*? I patches from the field have been ' necessarily fragmentary and possibly were overshadowed bv the accounts of the more dramatic operations over, the historic battle fronts to tha west. ' ; A 21 American Diruiong. Bat it now may be stated that twenty-one American divisions, totaling more than 750,000 American combat troops, participated in the action beginning September 26, known variously as the battle of the A*gonne and the battle of the Mease, but which history may well call Sedan?the battle that brought Germany to her knees and as far as human foresight goes, ended tha world's bloodiest and costliest war.. In order to understand the military situation which made the Argonne op A.: It - M it- it j. ciitnuna ui? vnu ox wie war it is necessary to go back to the redaction of the St. Mikiel salient in the middle of j September. The brilliant American, accomplishment is still fresh in history. It cut off at one stroke a menacing projecton towards Verdon and weakened the enemy's defensive by threatening Metz, one of Germany's two greatest advanced railway centers for distributing troops and sup- t plies along the Montmedy-Sedan line. . Metz also was the pivo on which the enemy swung through Belgium into France and therefore obviously it was the pivot on which his retirement must hinge. The Argorine, the I next step below here, threatened the | great railway arteries, running west- , BI ward from Metz. I j With the conclusion of the St ' Mihiel action, the steady .inflow of I American forces caused a displaceP * I ment of power as between the Allied 1! and German armies. Thus it no longer was necessary to pursue a policy of reducing a salient of nibbling at it. I The American troops had shown what ithey could do. j A broader policy of general attack i along the entire line was then adoptI ed and the high command called upon Gen. Pershing to take the Argonne sector, admittedly one of the most, if not entirely the most difficult of the r whole front. The broken terrain, the _! topography and the like of roads 5! made a problem difficulty to describe. I;1 uermany naa in iour years iorcinea with superb roads , both rail and J motor,, connecting up to the rer.r poJ sitions and basis. J The outstanding feature of the Argonne forest is a long chain of hills running north and south, cov ered witn a dense growtn 01 trees ana undergrowth, making an advance dif2 ficult and offering superb defensive .1 qualities. Virtually no roads exist p! in the forest, except for a few tranf.versal passes running east and west. >'The soil is such that the least rain ) converts it into a slippery, miry (Continued on Page 4.) '