.
Established in 1891.
COUNTY PRISONS
ARE INSPECTED
8TATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND
CORRECTIONS WILL FIX NEW
STANDARDS.
PALMETTO CAPITOL NEWS
General News of South Carolina Collected
and Condensed From The
State Capital That Will Prove of
Interest to All Our Readers.
Columbia.
The secretary and the assistant secretary
of the state board of charities
and corrections since August 4. 1915.
have visited every county penal and
charitable institution In South Carolina
except about 12 chaingangs. Reports
on these inspections have been
made to the board and. except in the
counties visited very recently, detailed
accounts of the findings and recommendations
of the agents of the
board have been sent to the officials
who have these institutions in charge
and to other interested persons.
Having gotten for the hoard of
charities and corrections a firsthand
view of the administration, physical
equipment and method of treating
prisoners, convicts and paupers in
? practically every county institution in
the staie that cares for these classes,
the secretary of the hoard and his assistant
will undertake the important
work of fixing standards for these institutions
and getting them introduced
through the co-operation of county officials
who are in charge of them.
In fixing the standards for county
penal and charitable institutions, the
agents of the board will be governed
by the standards in force In other
states in county jails, almshouses and
chaingangs, and by what they have
seen in the best of these institutions
in South Carolina.
During the coming months the
agents of the board will undertake a
systematic study of the cost of maintaining
penal and charitable instltu3?
tlons in counties in different parts of
r tho state. Whether or not tho county
c-liaingang system of road building is
excessively expensive has been a widely
discussed question in the state of
late. It is expected that the investigations
of the agents of the board will
help materially in deciding this matter.
Another new work which the state
board of charities and corrections will
carry on during the coming months
will be a study of the administration
by the counties of outdoor relief to
paupers or supposed paupers. The
county supply bill carries each year
thousands of dollars for "county
.almshouse and outside poor" or similarly
entitled items. Since the outdoor
system of relieving paupers as
opposed to the institution system has
been found to be especially wasteful
and badly abused in other states, a
study of it in South Carolina may result
in saving considerable sums for
the counties.
Death Rate High, Birth Rate Low.
Not only is the annual death rate
for negroes in South Carolina larger
than for white people but the annual
birth rate is smaller, according to figures
completed by the bureau of vital
statistics. The death rates, based on
.returns for 1915, are: For whites.
12.6; for negroes, 17.4. The birth
rates are: For whites, 29.1; for negroes,
26.7. One hundred and thirtynine
homicides were recorded.
Of the 24,501 deaths occurring last
year In South Carolina, making an annual
death rate per 1.000 population
of 15.2, 9,141 were white people, 15,350
were negroes and 10 were Indians.
There were 44,950 births, distributed
as follows: White males, 11.015;
white females, 10,127; negro males.
12,110; negro females, 11,512; Indian
males, 2; Indian females, 184. The
annual birth rate for the state is 28.
Governor Manning Names Delegates.
Gov. Manning has appointed the
following delegates to attend the fifth
session of (he Southern Sociological
congress. New Orleans. April 12-lf>:
D. E. Oamnk. Spartanburg; R. E.
King. Charleston; Paul 11. McMillan.
Charleston; M. L. Carlisle. Greenville;
George R. Cromer. Newberry; Mrs.
Rufus Eant. Anderson; K. P. Pinlay,
Columbia; J. H. Harms. Newberry;
A. T. Jamison. Greenwood; J. A. Me.
Cullough. Greenville; Josiah Mosre.
Columbia; George W. Quick, Green^
ville; Gustaf Sylvan. Columbia; D. TI.
* Douglas, Clinton: E. M. Poteat. Greenville;
John E. White, Anderson; William
Keyserllng. St. Helena Island;
Mfss E. E. McCllntock, Columbia; H.
N. Snyder. Spartanburg; Mrs. John
Gary Evans, Spartanburg; Prank
Evans, Spartanburg; D. D. Wallace.
Spartanburg.
Health Promoters Return.
The legislatures of Southeastern
States will be memorialized by health
officials to enact a law requiring
.school buildings to be constructed so
as to conserve the health of the pupils.
This step was taken at the annual
convention of the Southeastern
Sanitary Association at its recent convention
which was attended by James
A. Hayre, M. D.. state health officer;
SkoMowe B. Fishburne, M D., city
health officer, and F. Asbury Coward.
M. T)., basteriologist. state board of
health. Dr. Fishburne 1s vice-president
V ,
?
The
Teaching Adults Produce Results.
"I feel like I wuz goin' to new '
OT/ill n' ' t Vl All f I " ? ??? '
r-ym vv. it , iOUUV ??V? IUUIO . U OO IliC V OJ '
one South Carolina farmer expressed
his sensation on accepting an invitation
to become a pupil in one of the
adult night schools in this State, which
are giving new hope and life to thousands
of mature men and women?
many of them parents and grandparents?who
never had the opportunity
in youth to go to school. In a
remarkably short time this same man
won a prize* in his class.
This was one of the Incidents which
came to light on the occasion of the
round-table talk Instituted by W. K.
Tate, former supervisor of elementary
rural schools in this state, at a meeting
of the elementary teachers in Columbia
recently.
In one county there was something
like 44 of these schools, with 2.0C0 j
pupils enrolled?2.000 grown-up men 1
and women going to school three J
nights in each week.
The testimony of the teachers of
these adult night schools is that many
more men than women attend. This
at first was surprising; but when the
cause was investigated, it was learned
that in nearly all of these families i
there are children, most of them j
pupils of the uay school. It was not j
practical for both mother and father
to leave home at night?one had to
stay with the children, and since it
was keenly realized that education in- j
variably meant better pay, the wife
StnVPH fit hnmo ntwl lot fhn huclmtwl
g.? to school. In some cases, they took
if turn-about, the husbatul going half
the term and then staying at home j
with the little ones, so that the wife j
might attend during the remainder of
the term.
More Insurance Companies Quit..
Four fire insurance companies, three j
foreign and one American, ordered
withdrawal from the state on account j
of the provisions of the Uauey-Gilom i
anti-compact law, which went into ef- j
feet a few days ago. The names of all
companies that have definitely with- j
drawn will hardly be available before
April 1. when companies must again ]
be licensed.
The companies withdrawing were:
The Nationale, Phcnlx and Union, all
of Paris, and the Hhode Island of
Providence.
J. Arthur Banks of St. Matthews. !
state senator from Calhoun county, j
who has been closely aligned with '
John L. McLeurln in the development
of the^ state warehouse system and '
has been in touch with him during the ;
insurance turmoil consequent upon
me passage or tno anti-compact bill,
issued a statement "calling upon the
people to rally to the sovereignty of ;
the state."
Senator Ranks also takes the position
that if necessary the state itself
should protect the interests of the ,
rpoperty holders of South Carolina
in this crisis, commending the emergency
suggestion of Senator McLaurin
along this line. A firm and determined
stand by the people in the face of
"the flood of misinformation" being
scattered among the companies in j
New York and elsowhere in the North, ;
is the kevnote of his appeal.
To Increase Total Taxables.
The signing of the $4,731,720 bonds
and certificates of stock issued by the
sinking fund commission for the re- !
tirement of previous state bonds has
been completed. There are 4.008 cou- j
pon bonds of $1,000 each nnd two
stock certificates, one for $723,595.67
I and the other for $124.33.
By the issuing of these bonds $5.- j
022,745.97 of previous bonds will be
retired. The difference represents the
assets of the sinking fund commis- j
sion, which has retired an aggregate i
of al?out $891,000 in bonds.
The new bonds, which will be disposed
of in Charleston, Columbia, !
New York and Richmond, are exempt :
from state, county nnd municipal
taxntion. They are not allowed, how
ever, to be deducted from capita!
stock of corporations holding them; in
this way approximately $1,500,000 will
be guided to the taxable property of
I the state, as the other bonds allowed
[ this exemption.
___
Manning Studying Insurance.
(Jov. Manning is satd to be gather1
ing Information quietly and carefullv j
j from both sides in regard to the fire
j insurance situation and to be endeav- !
1 oring to work out a solution on a business
basis. It is intimated that bo hm
some hope of bringing about a satisfactory
adjustment of tlie whole matter
within the next SO days.
Manning Enjoys First Vacation.
Gov. Manning has returned to Co- J
lumhia after spending several days at
St. Augustine. This was his first va- ,
cation since entering the governor's
office.
Secretary Issues New Charters.
The Middleton Compress ami Ware- '
house Company of Charleston has j
been commissioned by the secretary
of state with a capital of $100,000.
The petitioners are: F. 11. Horlbeck
end J. J. Pringle.
The Finn Jewelry store of Walterboro
has been commissioned with a
capital of $500. The petitioners are
S. Finn and C. H. Koger.
The Washington Real Kstate Corporation
of Charleston has been commissioned.
with a capital of $500. The
petitioners are T Moultrie Mordecai
and Charles I.. Penrlstine.
The Tlank of Saluda has been char
tored with a capital of $25,000. The
officers are: R. W. Crouch, president.
M. A. Coleman, vice president; W. A
Crouch, secretary, and J. P. Llndler
cashier
.?
%
FOR'
FORT MI
BRITISH CAPTURE
GERMAN TRENCHES
FRONT OF 600 YARDS IS TAKEN
BY STCRM OF BRITISH INFANTRY.
THE BIG GUNS ARE ACTIVE
Bombarding Intense Around Verdun
A l.n t _ 4U. Uf n
u nnu in me Tvocvre nejion.?
Shelling In the Argenne.
Liondon.?British and Germans have
been fighting fiercely in the region of
St. Eloi, just south of Ypres, and the
British through the explosion of a
big mine, and by infantry charges
have captured or destroyed a considerable
portion of the German trenches.
The British infantry stormed and
took first and second line trenches
along a front of 600 yards. London
officially announces and Berlin admits
that German trenches in this
region were blown up, to an extent
of 100 yards and that "casualties were
caused among the company occupying
the position."
Again the bombardment has become
intense northwest and northeast
of Verdun, and the big guns also
have been active in the Woevre region,
southeast of the fortress. The
time seemingly is not ripe, however,
for an infantry attack, and the men
of both sides have lain idle in their
trenches, awaiting the moment for
attack and counter-attack.
The Germans, after a period of comparative
quiet, have again begun
shelling Bethincourt Le Mort Homme
and Cumieres, west of the Meuse and
ure keeping up with increasing volume,
their bombardment of the
Fren,ch positions in the region of
Vaux and Douaumont, which have
beon stumbling blocks for several
weeks in their attempts to gain
ground northeast of Verdun.
French shells are falling on the
German positions in the Argonne and
northeast of the St. Mihiei salient.
AIRMEN FACE DIFFICULTIES.
Flying Problems Are Greater Than
Those of European Aviators.
Field Headquarters American Expedition
Column, Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua,
Mexico, by Aeroplane to Columbus,
N. M.?The first aero squadron
in the United States Army in a week's
service with Brigadier General Pershing's
expedition in Mexico, has surmounted
flying problems more difficult
than most of those encountered by
European aviators.
The work thus far has heen without
serious accident. One of the
senior aviators said that only in the
Alps are the European fliers likely to
encounter conditions paralleling those
under which the Americans are nowworking.
"Never," said this aviator, "have
we had any flying as difficult as here.
We are under a handicap of an altitude
of about 5,200 feet when we rise.
Some of the mountains we have tried
to get over were approximately 9,000 |
feet above sea level and none of our
machines is powerful enough to carry
the pilot, observer and sufficient fuel
at such an altitude. We might got !
over one of the high mountains but
we nrohnhlv wnnlil Ko ki^ ?
9
%
I *
r Mi
LL, S. 0., THURSDAY, MAR
PERCY EDWARD QUIN
Congressman Percy Edwards Quin
represents the Seventh district of Misslppi.
He ha6 served In the Sixtythird
and Sixty-fourth sessions of con!
Qress.
GEN.HERRERA JOINS VILLA
CARRANZA COMMANDFR IN CHIHUAHUA
WITH 2,000 MEN SIDES
WITH EANDIT.
Probable That He Will Interupt Wire
Service With Pershing and the
Border.
San Antonio, Tex.?Reports thnt
i Gen. Luis Herrera, commanding 2,000
1 men at Chihuahua, had aligned him,
8elf with Francisco Villa against the
| United States, were received with
grave concern by General Funston and
his BtalT. Officially and unofficially
| the opinion was that with Herrera
joining forces with Villa the international
situation might easily be made
! bo complex that by comparison the
pursuit of Villa would be regarded as
incidental.
The long intervals between reports
j from the field commander of the
American expedition already had key
ed the tension a bit, although General
Funston and his cliief-of-stnff continued
to profess the belief that all was
well with the troops below Casas
Grandes, but the report from Chihauhua
made insignificant any anxiety
they might have felt concerning General
Pershing's operations.
T. R. Beltran, Mexican Consul here,
said that he had not received confirmation
of the report and he was inclined
to laugh at it as a "border rumor."
According to the version here,
Herrera was removed from command
and immediately took steps to alienate
his garrison. That Carranza has
enough loyal troops in northern Mexico
to drive him from the city of Chihuahua,
if he alms to hold the place,
was believed by military men here
CHINA CHANGES AGAIN.
Monarchy Abandoned By Yuan Shi Kal
Who Resumes Presidency.
Peking.?A state department mandate
issued announces the abandonment
of the monarchy and resumption
of the Republic.
The mandate says the revolution
shows that the demand for a monflrphlnl
f Arm f\ f trAVommnnt "O#
uanimous and that therefore Yuan Shi
Kal rejects the emperorship and resumes
the presidency.
MANY BIG FIRES REPORTED.
Augusta. Ga.?Fire which has caused
damage estimated at from $5,000,000 to
$8,000,000 in the heart of Augusta's
business district and the adjoining
residence district, still burned briskly,
but was under control. No lives were
lost. In the twenty-five blocks which
were swept clean were the greater portion
of Broad street and 600 residences.
including tho most costly in
the city.
Nashville. Tenn.?A small ball of
yarn, lighted and thrown by a boy Into
dry grass in a vacant lot. started a conflagration
in Nashville which was not
under control after 35 residence blocks
had been swept by the fire. The loss
Spray. N. C.?Fire which threatened
the entire business section of the town
of Floyd Hill was reported under control.
Several buildings were destroyed.
the damage amounting to $20,000.
is estimated at $1,500,000.
Natchez. Miss- Fire of undetermined
origin partially destroyed the plant
of the Natchez Dressed Beef f'nmnnnv
causing damage estimated at from
$30,000 to $50,000.
Paris, Texas.?Every incoming train
was bringing provisions, clothing and
tents to the approximately 8.000 homeless
persons in Paris, rendered practically
destiutc by fire, which did property
damage estimated at between
$8,000,000 and $10,000,000. Three persons
lost their lives.
Tulsa. Okla.?Revised estimates of
the damage as a result of the prairie
fire which swept, over four sections of
land in the Gushing oil field place the
loss at approximately $200,000.
Rockingham. N. C.?Fire fanned by
a 40-mile gale, destroyed the McDonald
hotol here. The loss was $8,000.
_ ? ^ .. WU.V4 W UHCIL/IC IU tttl I y
enough fuel for the return flight."
Railroad Problem Important.
El Paso, Texas.?With the eonvlc- !
tion that the chase of Francisco Villa
would prove long and tedious, atten- i
tion here turned once more on the
railroad situation. Dispatches from
Washington and San Antonio that ;
military authorities were becoming in- i
creasingly impatient to use the Mex
lean railways, confirmed the belief
held here for the last week that the
railroad problem was the present crux
of the situation.
Machine Guns For Louisiana.
Norfolk, Va.?Having on board several
machine guns, consigned to the
battleship Louisiana which is now ?t
Vera Cruz, the United States naval
collier Jupiter has sailed from Hampton
Roads for Vera Cruz.
Germany Would Apologize.
Washington.? Willi all evidence indicating
that the British Channel
steamer Sussex, carrying American :
citizens, was the victim of a torpedo,
it was authoritatively stated that if
a German submarine made the attack
tlio Imperial Government would dis- ]
avow the act. and satisfy the United
States that the act was in violation
of instructions. Thus it seemed that
the issue might narrow down to the
question of whether the United States !
would be willing to accept such a dec- \
laration.
Republicans Play "Hands Off."
Washington.- Failure of Senate Republicans
to take any action at a con- !
ferenee on the Mexican situation left
the Administration unhampered in
dealing with the problem.k The con- i
ferenee was called to consider action
forcing the despatch of additional
troops to the border for patrol duty. !
In the face of officlnl advices denying
alarming reports, however, and Gen- i
eral Funston's apparent confidence
that he had enough men for any pros- ,
nt emergency, the Republicans ad- :
loum**
i
IMES
MME. OBREGON
LL T
OH 30, 1916.
ViLLA ESCAPES
MEXICAN TROOPS!
BANDIT LEADER HAD NO TROUBLE
IN LICKING CARRANZA'S
TROOPS.
U. S. CAVALRY IN PURSUIT
Americans are Handicapped?250 Miles
From Base and Hunt in Mountains
Is Difficult.
San Antonio. Texas.?Francisco Vll- j
la has escaped from the Mexican i
I troops that had checked him near !
| Namquipa and three columns of Amer- I
iean cavalry are pursuing him.
Already they are almost 2;?0 miles |
south of the border and unless Mexican
forces bring the elusive bandit ;
to a stood, this distance will be great- j
ly increased by the close of the week.
Villa's success in extricating him- !
If # it-. j- *
j nvu imm nit? nanRerous position into 1
] which he had been driven by the
I American punitive force was related |
j in a detailed report by General Per- j
shing that reached General Funston.
General Funston forwarded the re
: port to Washington without making
! public any but the essential features, j
Colonel Dodd is commanding the ad
! vanced columns that are riding hard
| after Villa and hia men and General
1 Pershing has divided his forces so as
to provide supporting columns along
the thinly stretched lines of comtnun- I
ication from his most advanced base
at El Valle. From El Valle another ,
line is being maintained hack to Casas
Grandes from where communication
with the border is maintained General
Pershing himself is somewhere
south of Casas Grandes directing the j
work of holding together his forces and ;
directing so far as possible the opera- !
tions of Colonel Dodd. Cavalry is be- |
ing used along the lines communi- j
I eating with El Valle where a detach- ;
ment of infantry is stationed.
Three aeroplanes are at El Valle ;
and will be used in scouting as soon j
as the high winds that have been j
sweeping that part of Mexico for al- I
most a week subside. These winds, j
according to General Pershing, have I
made effective assistance by the aero- [
' planes impossible. Of the eight ma- j
i chines that went into Mexico two are
! still out of commission.
Details of the operations about
j N'amiquipa that concluded with the |
' escape of Villa were not revealed, but
i there is little reason to believe that '
i he was badly whipped or even weakened
by the fighting directed against
him by the de facto government troops.
IMPATIENT WITH CARRANZA.
Delay in Granting Use of Railroads is
Not Pleasina.
San Antonio, Tex.?Carranza's delay
in permitting the movement into Mexico
over the Mexican Northwestern
Hallway of supplies for the American
troops has created impatience at army
headqurters that was hardly disguised.
The quartermaster department has
sent to El Paso a quantity of stores for
immediate shipment and officers here
did not credit an unofficial report that
j General Obregon had declared that no
! permission for uso of the line would
I he given.
Failure to send supplies over the
railroad would not stop the cam
i paign, it was said, but it was admitI
ted that it would materially retard
General Pershing's activities. Already
the change in the position of
the United States forces, observers
here pointed out. would make the line
of Nationnl Railways of Mexico, which
goes straight from Juarez to ChisuaI
hua, the logical one to use.
Whether General Funston refpiests
the government to get permission to
use the National, however, will depend
upon the answer to the request
j already made, he said.
Another Grand-Daughter For Wilson.
Philadelphia.?A daughter was born
to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Bowes Sayre
here. She is the second granddaughter
of President Wilson and will be
named Klennor Axson Sayre. for Mrs.
Sayre's mother. Mother and child
were reported to be doing well.
Jess Willard is Still Champion.
New York.?Jess Willard is still the
| heavyweight pugilistic chnmpion of
| the world. In 10 rounds of fast fight
ing he defeatel Frank Moran of Pitts
I burg here on points. A crowd of
! about 13.000 persons paid approximateI
ly Jtir.0,000 to see the fight and went
{ away apparently satiric d with the re|
suit. It was the greatest gathering
j Madison Square (larden had ever seen.
| Willard broke his right hand in the
I third round but blows from his fightj
ing left kept Moran at a distance.
Norfolk Has Big Fire.
Norfolk. Va.?Two fires of unknown
origin, caused damage estimated at (
$202,000 in this city. The Progress
building, in the heart of the wholesale
district in Water street was completely
destroyed, the loss being placI
ed at $237,000. The plant of the Colo- ,
n!al Cereal Company in Bramble-ton
Avenue, was also destroyed, the loss
being $2.r>.000. The tire at the cereal
plant had Just beon gotten under control
when the Progress building situa- i
ted In the western end of the business
section was discovered on fire
I
Maria Tapia, the famous beauty of
Mexico, who recently became the
bride of General Obregon, President
Cnrranza's favorite general. President
Carranza acted as best man at the
wedding ceremony.
HAY BILL PASSES HOUSE
AMI V/ -r\Atr\ ? ? ?
wnk i ivv\_? mc.moc.rM> VU I tu
AGAINST NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS
MEASURE.
Britten of Illinois Opposed Bill Because
he Favored Greater Increase;
London Favored No Increase.
Washington.?The Hay army in crease
bill providing for n regular army
peace strength of 140,000 fighting men
instead of the present 100.000 passed
the house by a vote of 402 to 2. It
goes to the senate for immediate consideration
virtually as drafted l?y the
house committee.
The negative votes were cast by
Representative Ilritten. Republican of
Illinois, and London, Socialist of New
York.
Mr. Britten opposed the bill because
he favored a still further Increase in
the army and London because he favored
no increase.
The bill is the first of President
Wilson's great national preparedness
measures to pass either house, although
various related measures have
been approved. It was finally adopted
only after Representative Kahn, ranking
Republican member of the mllitarv
committee mr-iln lirwl
?this time 213 to 191?in his effort to
increase the authorized strength of
the regulars to 220.000.
During the debate Chairman Hay of
the committee that drew the bill referred
to it as "the President's own
bill." It was explained at the White
House, however, that while the president
approved the ground plan of the
measure, he was not committed to its
details. The conference on the senate
and house plans, to come after the
senate acts, is expected by administration
officials to produce a bill which
will have the president's full support.
HEAVY FIGHTING IN EAST.
Masses of Russians Are Pressing
Germans From Riga
District.
London.?Except on the front near
Gomecourt and the Bethune-LaBasseo
road, where the British gained some
advantages In fights against the tier
mans, no infantry engagements have
taken place along the line in France
and Belgium. Heavy fighting, howover,
continues between the Germans
and Russians on the Eastern front
from the region of Riga southward.
The Germans northwest of Verdun
are continuing their violent shelling
of the Malancourt sector and again
have trained their guns on the French
front of Bethincourt. Le Mort Homme
and Cumieres probably preparatory
to fresh infantry attacks in an effort
to break through the line when the
moment seems propitoua.
.i.uuu Homeless In Augusta.
Augusta. Ga.?With six business
blocks levelled by fire and more than
500 houses destroyed, Augusta was
feeding and housing its fl.OOO homeless,
without aid from the outside
world.
Estimates of the firse loss remained
at $5,000,000 tonight, but citizens who
discussed the disaster expressed the
view that the loss of 1.10 business
houses was not felt more than was
the destruction of many historical
buildings.
Lost Lieutenant Found.
Columbus. N. M. Lieut. Edgar S
florrell of the I'nited States aero corps
missing since last Sunday was found
throe miles south of Ascension by a
Twentieth Infantry motor truck train,
according to reports to military lo-ad
nuartera. Gorrcll was uninjured, but
was out of gasoline and had lost *his
way. With the receipt of today's reports
all of the eight army aviators,
who left here last Sunday to fly to
f'asas Grandes, have been accounted
for. Lieutenant Gorrell missed his
way and was forced to alight.
$1.25 Per Year.
STEAMER SUSSEX 1
WAS TORPEDOED
WAS SUBMARINED WITHOUT
WARNING.?THE VESSEL WAS
SAVED.
_
40 LIVES REPORTED L0S1
.
Several Americans Were Aboard the
Sussex, and One or Two of Them
Lost Their Lives.
Paris. Scarcely any doubts exists
at the American embassy here that
two American lives have been lost
i nthe disaster to the steamer Sussex.
The American ambassador, William
; G. Sharp, sent Naval Lieut. L. D.
I C.^lti. I... * ? ...
I 1111in ny auiumoiMie o Houiogne ana
ho will investigate the cause of the
! disaster ami assist anil Americans
i who may need help.
The depositions of some of the
American survivors who have arrived
at Paris are being taken by tho
embassy to be forwarded to the state
department at Washington.
From 30 to 50 persons, according to
the estimates here, out of 1180 passengers
and the crew of 5G. weh lost.
The weight of the testimony is that
the Sussex was torpedoed by a submarine.
without warning.
At least two Americans on board
are known to have been injured and
one of the survivors declares that
Miss Klizabeth Baldwin, an American,
lost her life, while another American
passenger is reported missing.
Fable despatches say that the loss
of life on the Sussex may reach a total
of 40.
No confirmation could be obtained
at the ministry of marine this aftert
in of the number of lives actually
j lest in the disaster, but the estimate
| of 40 was considered unlikely because
it wns the women and children's sa
loon forward where the vessel was
struck.
A single, narrow comnanionwav led
from this saloon. Them wore only five
private cabins on the boat, four on
the deck ami one between docks, hence
the public saloons were crowded.
These cross channel steamers always
are full because there are only three
crossings each way weekly.
The officers of the Sussex warned
the passengers quickly not to be alarmed,
but a number of persons, mostly
women are said to have jumped ovori
board. Some were drowned and others
with life preservers were picked
up after considerable delay, in a few
cases ns much as four hours later.
HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES.
Germans and French Keep up Vigorous
Bombardment.
I/ondon.?It is still in the French
!
and Russian war theaters that the
heaviest bnttlcs are In progress, but
lighting also is continuing In the Austro-Italinn
zone, in Serbia near the
Greek frontier and in Asiatic Turkey.
The French are keeping up their
vigorous bombardment of the woods
| of Malancourt and Avocourt, nortlii
west of Verdun, which are held by the
Germans, and also are hammering
i away with their guns at German lines
of communication in the eastern
fringes of the Argonne forest.
All along the Russian front from
! the region of Friedrichstadt to the
| district around Vina the Russians
j an.l Germans are hard at grips. I'etrogr?d
says that near Widsy, between
I i?vinsk and Vilna, the Russian forced
all the German lines and barricades
and repulsed a vigorous German coun
ter attack.
Herlln, hownver, savs that hero the
Russian attacks failed with heavy
losses before the German entanglements.
Tells of Navy's Needs.
Washington. Rear Admiral Rradley
A. Kiskn declared before the house
naval e.ommlttee that regardless of
how many ships were built. It would
be impossible to carry out the general
hoard's plan for making the American
navy equal to any afloat by 1D25, because
it would take ten years longe.r
to develop and train the personnel!
necessary to man the navy in first
rank.
Agree on Speed-Up Plan.
i Washington. House Democrats adj
opted a resolution outlining a plan for
1 .... <? I_i_I...? .. .
i'?n?K hi* in'* iKiiiuiiiMiraiion If*gl8lative
program with a view to adjournI
iii< nt before the national political conventions
in Juno as urged by President.
Wilson. They pledged themI
selves to co-operation in earlier dally
meetings and to such iglit sessions as
may seem advisable. The plan is to
handle at night sessions the business
of all special days in the week except
the so-called calendar Wednesday.
All Powers Agree on Plan.
Washington.?All of the Hntente
powers, through their embassies here,
have handed to Secretary Lansing formal
responses rejecting the proposal
| made by the state department in its
circular memorandum that they enter
into a modus vivendi and disarm all
of their merchant ships with the understanding
that toe United States
go/ernment would endeavor to secure
front the Central powers a pledge not
to attack any such unarmed ships
without warning and without providing
for the safety of the passengers.