The Wateree messenger. (Camden, S.C.) 1884-1942, January 19, 1915, Image 4
TALK OF THE WAS
WRITHR 8KKS KAIRKIt'8 URNKK
AU1 WHO HAVE WAR FAME.
HOW ARMIES ARE BOSSED
Men Idolize Vop Emmich ? Von
wjr \
v' Zwelil, Who Captured Mnubeutfo,
Credit* British With Good Defen
hIvo Tactics ? Zoellner, Sj>eciali8t on
'America, I^oarus JYom t)ur Army.
A corespondent of The New York
Times writes from the German Qreat
Headquarters in France His letter,
which follows, 's dated December 9:
I have just eaten my way along
the German front in France, for a
second visit to the German Great
Headquarters. This week's lunch
and dinner "bag" Included Oen. von
lleerlngen, "the Victor of Saarburg";
Gen. von Emmlch, "the Conqueror of
Llego"; Gen. von Zwehl, "the Hero
of Maubeuge"; Gen. von Wild, the
new Quartermaster General, who be
fore his appointment fought a twenty
round draw with the English at
YpreB, though he thinks he won on
points, and hosts of coming cham
pions.
It is literally necessary for an
American correspondent on this sido
of the fence to eat his way to the
firing line and bark again, for the
German afield is as hospitable as the
tented Arab, and thanks to their won
derful Held telephone service, they
"have you." The A. O. K. ( Armee
Ober Kommando) telephone to the
Corps Kommando that you are on the
way, the Corps Commando relays the
news to the Division Staff, the Divi
sion Staff rings up the Regimental
Commander, who phones the Bat
talion or Hattory Chief. To reach
the firing line you have to run the
gauntlet of anywhere from three to
six meals, and if you happen to be
one of those "amazing Americans"
and insist on being shown to an or
chestra seat in the Hist trench, you
will, be suro to find somo sort of a
table Rproad for you in the very
shadow of death, for their habit of
hospitality is fireproof.
Hut while robbing war correspond
ing of all its old-time romance, the
German, gastronomic way has the
great advantage of giving you the
maximum of information in the mini
mum of time and of letting you meet
the masters of modern warfare, the
men who have done big things, under
ideal conditions, for over after-dinner
coffee and elgars you can and will ?
if you are an American ? ask the
. most imprudent questions with the
certainty of getting a good-natured
and courteous answer.
Von Emmich makes the most In
stant appeal to an American. Short
and atockily built and looking every
inch a fighter, he gives you the im
pression of possessing tremendous,
almost Itooseveltian vitality, with a
saving sense of humor.
Von Emmich is the general with a
udpning smile. Ho could have been
a successful machine politician if he
had emigrated to America Instead of
remaining in Germany and becoming
the most popular general in the Ger
man army, among the men, for he
has the rare gift of inspiring his fol
lowers with a sense of personal loy
alty.
HIb troops idolize liim. They break
out into hearty hurrahs at the slight
est provocation when they see him.
It Is lese majeste, but none the less
true ,to say that they think as much
of their general as of their kaiser.
Thoy toll you proudly that lie rode at
their head when the city of I,ioge waR
taken by storm, and after seeing him, |
you could nevor picture von Erumich;
bringing up the roai* in a motor car,
after the manner that more prudent
generals use. He has iron gray hair
and a bristly close-cropped mustache
to match, and a very florid complex
ion, and looks absolutely unliko the
sleok individual whose photograph
was published with his obituary no
tice in the London press while the
forts of Liego wore still "holding
out" on paper.
Asked point blank, Gen. von Em
mich stoutly and with groat good hu
mor denied that ho had ever com
mitted suicide or oven contemplated
the stop.
"But you know. Excellency, that
you wero reported to have lost some
thing llko 1 20,000 mon before Liege,"
it was suggested.
"That's throe times as many as I
had," he answered with the "win
ning smile."
Cien. von Emmich will talk qulto
freely about anything hut himself
and military matters, but a few odds
and ends wero snapped up. It was
interesting to learn that ho was in
Liege only a day and a half, then
pushed on ahead in the direction of
Namur with tho bulk of his corps,
leaving only His heavy artillery be
hind to finish up the romalnlng forts.
Ho did not even know that Zeppe
lins had taken part in tho bombard
inen of these forts until ho hoard
about It afterward. L^ter ho turned
up at Mons and had a hand In boat
ing thn British or expediting their
strategic retreat, according to the
point of view. Ills subsequent move
ments and present whereabouts aro
intoroatlng, but would never j:ass the
(lorninn censor.
"Did you feel proud at being so
locted to load tho way into Belgium,
Excellency, " I Inquired.
"Yos, of course I did," he replied.
"Would you like to lend your corps
Into England?" For Just an Instant
what looked vory much llko tho light
?. of battle wan In his eye.
"1 will go anywhere I am ordered
to go ? anywhere," he replied with
smiling emphasis.
Hon. von EmmWfh'g headquarters
produced an Interesting story. At 8
p. m. a general alaf-mwas Kent out to
tho reserve troops to propare for Im
mediate retrent, as the French wore
coming. Every hit of baggage was
paoked up and loaded on wagons, the
Infantry In full marching kit lined
up ? everything ready In record
breaking time without rush or con
fusion to withdraw on tho word of
command. Hut no command to march
came ? Instead a "well done" from
the general as he rode down tho long
nolumn. It was Just a little "flro
alarm drill" to keep the rosorvo
troops up to tho high-water mark of
ofnolenoy.
den. von Zwehl, nicknamed Zwohl
Maubougo, Is probably almost un
known in America, though the dark
4 * " " " ' of tho
throat
^>klU
thing but a fighter ? a quiet, gentle
looking soul with kind and a bit tired
eyes, soft ollverly hair, and a whim
sical sense of humor, a gentleman of
the old school. "But you should Just
see him In the field during a fight ?
he's a regular whirlwind," one of his
BtafT said.
He confirmed the fact that Mau
beuge had fallen on schedule time in
ten days and that he had taken over
40,000 French prisoners, that he had
given the French commandant till 7
p. m. (German time) to surrender,
and that the appointment was kept
with great promptness, also that the
French were a b"t chagrined when
they learned they had been "taken
In" by a Bingle corps. I also learned
that ho and his corps had arrived in
time to stop tho first English corps
which had crossed the Aisne and was
marching on X.
Gen. von Zwehl praised the Eng
lish troops against whom he had suc
cessfully fought, and who are now in
tho north, saying: "The Kngllsh sol
dier Is a splendid fighter, especially
on the defensive." Asked if -he re
mark of one of his staff that "the
Kngllsh can't attack" was a fact, von
Zwehl said: "I cafi only speak as far
as my own experience goes, and that
is that the English never were able
to carry through a bayonet charge
with success against my troops. They
came on bravely enough, but when
our troops would open fire on them at
60 yards and follow it up with a
counter attack, the English would in
variably go over into the defensive,
at which they are at their best. They
are particularly experienced in 'bush
warfare,' and display the utmost skill
in making the most of every bit of
cover."
The commanding general confirm
ed the following grewnome story
which one of his staff officers had told
me:
"Tho English apparently do not
bother to bury their dead but let
them lie. We are still burying Eng
lish who fell on September 14 and
later. Wo found and buried two only
yesterday. That the abandonment of
their dead is deliberate is indicated
by the fact that we have found the
bodies of dead English soldiers in
corners and nooks of the approaches
to tho English trenches where the
wounded had evidently crawled to
die, and where their comrades must
constantly have passed them and seen
them."
More generals were met during a
visit to the "office building" of the
Great General Staff in the Great
Headquarters. Here, too. 1 was al
lowed to examine the historic room
where around a large mahogony table
the chiefs of the staff hold their daily
conferences, at which the kaiser him
self is often present. A huge map of
France and a slice of Belgium cover
ed the table and hung down to tho
floor on either side. 1 noted with in
terest that It was a French General
Staff map. On one wall hung an
other map showing the exact location
of all the armies in the west.
In the unavoidable absence of the
combination chief of staff and war
minister von Falkenhayn, the new
Quartermaster General von Wild did
the honors in the long Louis XIV.
Room where the Great General Staff
eats together ? an interesting sight,
for it represents the round-up of tho
brains of the German army. Gen. von
Wild, until his promotion, command
ed a division against the English at
Ypres and spoke in generous terms
of his opponents.
"The English are excellent fight
era," he said. "I have walked over
many of the battlefleldB in the north
? grewsome sights, beyond words to
describe. From what I saw, I am
convinced that the English losses
have been much heavier than ours."
Gen. von Wild said that a puzzling
and unexplalnablo feature of these
battlefields was that so many of the
dead were found lying on their backs
with rigid arms stretched straight up
toward heaven ? a ghastly spectacle.
Here, too, was a German general
who knew more about the American
army than most Americans, the Bava
rian general, Zoellner, the great gen
eral staff's spehialist on Americana,
and it was interesting to note that, in
spito of its own pressing problems,
the general staff is still taking a keen
interest In thoso of America and de
riving valuable lessons.
"I havo been particularly interest
ed in the Mexican troubles." Gen.
Zoellner said. "To my mind, the
lesson for America is the need of a
larger standing army. I was particu
larly impressed by the speed of your
mobilization and your dispatch in
landing your expeditionary force at
Vera Cruz. I was also especially in
terested in your tfplendd Texas cav
alry division. Wo have nothing like
It In the German army, because such
a body of men could not be develop
ed In a closely settled country. You
may not know that only a short time
before being sent to Mexico the Texas
cavalry had received brand-new drill
and exercise Instructions, but in spite
of this they acquitted themselves
splendidly, showing the remarkable
adaptability of your soldiers.
"In sending your coast artillery as
infantry regiments to Moxico you an
ticipated us in a rather similar use
of our marine divisions on the coast.
Tho most valuable lesson wo have
loarnod from you is typhus vaccina
tion. This wo owo to the American
army. I bellevo It goes back to tho
fact that your Gen. Wood was a medi
cal man before becoming cbk>f of
staff."
(Jon. Zlellner Intimated that tho
while Gorman army either bad boon
or was being vaccinated against ty
phoid on tho American plan. "And
there Is also a very American flavor
about our voluntoor automobile corps
tholr dash and speed they havo
learned from you Americans," ho con
cluded.
My previously formed suspicion
thnt the Germans were making war
on tho American plan, managing tholr
armies llk? so many subsidiary com
panion of a big trust, was fully con
firmed by my second visit to tho of
fice of tho great general staff. In
stead of a picturesque bunch of gon
orals spending anxious days and
slooploss nights ovor their maps with
faithful attendants trying to coax
them to leave off dispatch writing
long enough to eat a sandwich, I
found a live lot of army officials,
keeping regular office hours and tak
ing ample time out for meals The
staff was quartered In a handsome old
municipal building; the ground floor, I
devoted to living purposes, quite like
an exclusive club; the business* of
fices upstairs
Gen von Haonlsch took mo aloft
nnd explained to mo hoy business was
done. A good telephone operator. It
developed, was almost as Important
r competent general ? the tele
phone "central" tho most vital spot
of an army. Hore were throo large
fewl?6ht><>ar4? v/lth soldiers playing
lelephone girl, while other soldiers.
MILITIA DISBANDED
B LEA BE MUSTERS OUT THE EN
TIRE .NATIONAL GUARD.
END OF OFFICIAL MUSS
Governor's Action la Climax of His
Ia>dk Continued Disputes With the
United States War Department ?
Government Officials Are Appar
ently Unconcerned Over His Action.
Gov. Hlease Monday disbanded the
South Carolina organized militia.
Thirty-one companies, comprising ap
proximately 2,000 officers and men,
are affected. Disagreement between
the governor and militia and war de
partment officials on the organization
and equipment of the troops was
given as the reason for the action.
| Militia officers Monday night began
' a movement to prevent complete dis
organization. Telegrams wero sent
to South Carolina members of con
gress at Washington requesting that
they use their influence to have the
war department delay asking tho re
turn of $200,000 worth of supplies
loaned the troops.
Gov. BJease will retire January 19
and Gov. Manning, his successor, will
be asked to re-instate the soldiers.
While Mr. Manning has not yet Indi
cated what action lie will take, it was
considered certain by militia officers
that ho would rescind the action of
Gov. Blease.
Gov. Riense explained in his order
disbanding the troops that the exist
ence of differences between the sec
retary of war and the secretary of the
navy and Adjutant General Moore of'
South Carolina on one side and him
self on the other, prompted him to
take this step. These differences, he
said, resulted in serious breaches of
discipline in the militia corps.
"The present governor of the state
of South Carolna is of the opinion
that it will be unfair and unjust on
his part to turn over to his successor
in office the militia of South Carolina
in Its present condition," the order
read.
The controversy between Gov.
Hlease and Adjutant General Moonc
was said to have been the result of
the governor's refusal to sign cer
tain orders and official papers pre
sented to him by the adjutant gen- |
eral.
The secretary of war and the sec
retary of navy became parties to this
controversy, according to official
statements for about $100,000 worth
df federal property these federal de
partments claimed had been lost and
destroyed by the militia organiza
tions was held up. An accounting of
this property was begun about a year
ago and recently was completed and
the finished reports were said to be
ready for the signature of Gov.
Hlease.
The situation became further com
plicated last summer when the gov-?
ernor refused to permit the mtlltla
troops to participate In the annual en
campment ordered by the chief of the
division or militia affairs. This ac
tion, according to statements from
tho adjutant general's office, resulted
in appropriations by congress aggre
gating about $55,000 for maintenance
and equipment of the South Carolina
militia being held up by the war de
partment.
Included in the three regiments of
Infantry and auxiliary corps afTected
by the order are 600 men whom the
governor had refused to muster out
of service upon orders received about
eight months ago from the chief of
the division of United States militia
affairs.
The militia was commanded by
Adjutant General Moore of Ilarnwell,
whose official position is not affected
by the order. Gov. Hlease, however,
was commander-ln-chicf. eff-ofllclo,
(Jen. Wilie Jones of Columbia, was
brigadier general of the South Caro
lina corps. Headquarters of the First
Infantry Regiment was at Yorkville;
of tho Second regiment at Columbia,
and of the Third at Charleston. Coast
artillery corps was located at Charles
ton. Sullivan Island, Beaufort and
Georgetown, and each had an approxi
mate strength of 60 men and officers.
War department officials at Wash
ington were not much concerned by
news that Gov. Hlease had disband
ed the South Carolina militia. They
believed the Incoming governor speed
ily would order Its reorganization to
avoid as far as possible any loss of
money allotted by the national gov
ernment for tho militia's support.
T'nder the lav to obtain any gov
ernment funds for tho militia's sup
port, South Carolina must present for
inspection at least 900 armed and
uniformed and drilled state soldiers
This is on tho basis of at least 100
militiamen for each representative of
the state in congress, including the)
senators. Because of South Carolina's
alleged deficiency in the matter of
equipment, failure to measure up to
tho regular army standards and fail
ure to account satisfactorily for gov
ernment supplies, the war department
nearly a year ago withdrew federal
financial support from the state's
troops. After some spicy correspond
ence between tho secretary of war
and the governor a regular army in
spection office ?v I si ted South Carolina,
and made arrangements under which
the war department, again began sup
plying a limited amount of funds.
If the governor's order disbanding
the militia becomes effective imme
diately, it was said at tho department
that the government appropriation
will bo cut off automatically. *
messages on printed "business"
forms. In tho noxt room sat tho staff
officers on duty, waiting for tho tele
phone bell to Jinglo with latest ro
ports from tho front. Thoro was no
waiting because numbers were "en
gaged" or operators gossiping: you
could get Merlin or Vienna without
once having to swear at "long dis
tance " (Sen. von Haenlsch had his
chief of field telephone and telegraph
? rot out what looked llko a lingo
family tree, but turned out to bo it
most minute chart of the entire tele
phone system of the nth army. It.
showed the position of every corps
and division headquarters' regiment.,
battalion and company, and all the
telephone lines connecting them, even
to the single trenches and batteries.
Mfo Termers Overpower (Junrd.
Four prisoners serving life sen
tences overpowered their guards at
Richmond, Va., Monday night and
eg^ggd. _They used a rope from the
NINE AIRMEN FIGHT
SEVEN GERMANS AND TWO BEL
GIANS 11AVE HIGH BATTLE.
Dunkirk Thrilled m Defending Am
planes Go up to Engage Bomb
Dropping Invaders.
A London dispatch eayB Dunkirk
was visited by German aeroplanes In
i force early Sunday afternoon. It Is
reported that In all thirty bombs were
dropped, and It is known that several
houses near the station and docks
caught fire. No one was killed in
Dunkirk itself, but the correspondent
reports that in the suburb of Malo
les-Bains five civilians were killed
, and a few Injured. There were also a
j few civilians injured in the city.
Ths Is the sixth visit which the Ger
man aviators have paid to Dunkirk
within the past fortnight. According
j to an eye-witness seven aeroplanes
appeared over the city at about 2
| o'clock. A fairly strong wind was
blowing, and under the circumstances
j their preseneo was not expected. The
aeroplanes were llying at a height of
about 5,500 feet r.nd almost In single
file. The sky was somewhat obscur
ed and rain was falling.
As the military authorities were
prepared, the raiders were met by a
hail of lead from mitrailleuses and
anti-air craft guns. Tho Germans
took a leisurely survey of fortifica
tions and then dropped the bombs in
quick succession No damage was
done to the military works, but evi- 1
dently incendiary bombs were issued,
as seveial houses speedily caught fiie.
Having had previous experience of
these raids the residents hid them
selves in their cellars on hearing the
first explosions. After dropp'ng their
missiles the airmen were preparing
to leave when two Belgian aeroplanes
| were seen coming to the attack. A
I thrilling encounter in the air was
the nwitnessed.
Although outnumbered, seven to
two, the Belgians fought gallantly
and completely outmanoeuvred their
opponents. They rose to a height of
T.OOu feet and having gained this ad
vantage fired at the Germans with
mitrailleuses it was exceedingly dif
ficult and dangerous work and de
manded the greatest skill, for t lie
slightest slip, resulting from the falr
iy high wind blowing at the time,
would have sent airmen and machines
to the ground.
The battl<? lasted only forty-five
minutes. Then five of the German
machines drew off. it Is believed, he
cause they were short of ammunition.
The two remaining aviators strove
desperately to gain the advantage, but
as they rose higher, so the Belgians
rose and held their advantage until
the final phases of the air combat
were fought at a height of alHiut
?,OOG feet.
Suddenly, the spectators say, one of
| tho aeroplanes swerved and dropped.
The airman had been hit in a vital
; spot and had lost control of his nm
bine. This crashing to the ground in
a ploughed field on the outskirts of
the city on the road to Furnes, was
completely wrecked. The airman was
killed on the spot and waB found
nmonK tho innntt of twinted metal.
The seventh and last aeroplane
quickly disappeared in the direction
of Calais and appeared over that city
as dusk was gathering. There three
bombs were dropped. Two fell near
tho docks and the third into the sea,
no casualties or material damage be
ing caused.
As at Dunkirk the airman was im
mediately fired on by the anti-air
craft guns, which are ready mounted
for tho purpose. After hovering
about the city for a few minutes the
airman swung round again in the
direction of Dunkirk and was lost In
the darkness.
Tl'RNS IT DOWN.
National House Refuses to Submit
Woman Suffrage Amendment.
The House of Representatives
Tuesday night by n vote of 204 to 17 1
refused to submit to the states an
amendment to the federal constitu
tion to enfranchise women. A two
thirds majority would have been nec
essary for adoption of the resolution
submitting the amendment.
lindreds of women who sat in the
crowded galleries throughout the
eight hours of debate, greeted the
announcement of the result with va
ried expressions of approval and dis
approval. Dejection mingled with
enthusiasm as the purple and yellow
sashes of the. suffragists and the red
rose-bedecked anti-suffragists filed
out Into the Mouse corridors, wearied
with the long strain of oratory.
RKPORT HUi WRKCKAfiH.
(?ermans Claim Damage at Dunkirk
as Result of Sunday Attack.
Ii<>n<lon reports. "A wireless dis
patch from Merlin says the military
establishments in and near Dunkirk
were completely destroyed by the
Herman airship flotilla which attack
ed that city on Sunday. The Dun
kirk lighting plant also was destroy
ed. The dispatch says l his informa
tion is contained in a message from
Rotterdam.
"Dunkirk, on the coast of France,
Is the British continental military
hase. Troops anil supplies from Eng
land aro landed at this port, whero
extensive military supply stations
have been established."
Was Not Thinking of Presidency.
President. Wilson has announced
that he was not thinking of 1 {? I f?
when he said :it Indianapolis that the
people would have to pass judgment
upon whether he knew their desires
or not.
Doesn't I ?i I* Note.
The Dagblnd. Sweden's leading con
servative pap'*r. s.i vs Oreat Britain's
reply to tho l ulled States shows she
intends to adhere to her harassing
policy.
Dirigible lla.se Near (Jliont.
(leneva, Switzerland, reports that a
Zeppelin base has been established
near Ohent, where four dirigible and
several aeroplanes are gathered
Stamp Tax In Panama.
To replace revenue lost been use of
the Kuropenn war the government of
J'anama has been forced to levy a
stamp tax.
(Jorman Slilp In Distress.
Tho former Urltlsh collier Farn,
which In now In German handn, put
NAVY TO IMPROVE
OFFICERS TO LEARN NEW
TRICKS OF EUROPEAN WAR.
WANT ONLY THE BEST
Naval OMcots Are to be Sent to Field
of Activity So Ah to Enjoy Best
Facilities for Learning Latent Style
of Naval Warfare and Marine Pre
paration.
The United States navy department
is preparing to take advantage of the
European war to get accurate infor
mation in order to have the most up
to-date navy in the world.
This does not mean that Uncle
Sam desires the largest navy, but
what he has in the way of warships,
auxiliaries and equipment is to be of
the best that experience in tho pres
ent war indicates must be had. That
is the reason, it is said, that congress
will not be aBked to build more than
two battleships, six destroyers and
eight to twelve submarines now.
Secretary Daniels announces that
the House bill would carry the fol
lowing provision with his approval:
"There shall be a Chief of Naval
Operations who shall be an officer on
tho active list of the navy not below
tho grade of Hear Admiral, appointed
for a term of four years by the presi
dent, by and with the advice and con
sent of tho Senate, who, under the
secretary of the navy, shall be re
sponsible for the readiness of the
navy for war and be charged with its
general direction.
"All orders issued by the Chief of
Naval Operations in performing the
duties assigned to him shall be (per
formed under the authority of the
secretary of the navy and his orders
shall be) considered as emanating
from the secretary and shall have
full force and effect as such."
j The words in parentheses were in
serted to prevent any effort on the
part of the Chief of Naval Opera
tions to supersede the president or
the secretary of the navy.
The House committee struck the
following sentence from the forego
ing provision: "In case of the ab
sence of the secretary of the navv
and the assistant secretary, he ithe
Chief of Naval Operations) shall per
form the duties of the secretary."
1 A more important part of the new
bill says: "To assist the Chief of
Naval Operations in preparing gen
eral and detailed plans of war, there
shall be assigned for this exclusive
duty not less than fifteen olllcers of
and above the rank of lieutenant
commander of the navy or major of
the marine corps."
Secretary Daniels explained that
aft r this bill goes into effect the
president will still be the "Command
er in Chief of the Army and Navy,"
and the secretary of tho navy will
still be at the head of the navy. Tin.*
secretary of the navy will not be!
made a flgurehea' This is the out
come Secretary Daniels desired.
Immediately after the new bill is
enacted into law the present admin
istration will start at least half of
the officers selected to assist the Chief
of Naval Operations to Europe to ob
serve the effects of the naval engage
ments and other operations in the
war. Expert navy men will be kept
abroad until the war is over, and
longer, for the United States wants
all tho information there is to be
had, so as to know exactly what to
urgo upon congress.
It is believed by the officers of the
navy department that the United
States does not know the half of
what is going on in the waters occu
pied by the navies of the fighting na
tions.
Preparations are being made for
an elaborate study of the use of cer
tain weapons of war as soon as hos
tilities cease. The program of the
navy for next year may be entirely
different from what It is now as to
tho sort of ships to be constructed.
At the urgent request of Secretary
of War Garrison. Senator Chamber
lain of the Senate military affairs
committee has introduced a hill pro
viding for an increase In the coast
artillery arm of the army by nearly
1 0,0 00 men
"The coast defences could not be
regarded an efficient unless the com
missioned and enlisted strengths
were at least sufficient to furnish one
relief for the guns, mortars and
mines and the equipment necessary
therrto.' Secretary of War Oarrison
stated In a letter to Chairman Cham
berlain.
"It is Imped that one-half of the
officers and men required for the guns
and mortajw of the. home defenses
may bo supplied from the roast ar
tillery of the organized militia of the
seaboard states that is. the policy
that is being followed looks to the
states to supply T 4 <? oflicers and I K
HP. I enlisted men.
' While the slates up to the present
time have made provision for only
III oflicers and 7.122 enlisted men.
Renato hill G,5Mi7 assumes that the
full state (|uota will eventually he
supplied, and the numbers of oflicers
and enlisted men enumerated In the
hill, with what is now authorized,
will provido one complete manning
body of regular <? ast artillery for all
the oversea fortifications, for the
mines at home and for one-half of
the guns and mortars at home.
"The total cost of the coast de
fenses to date is about $ I <10,000, 000,
000. In view of the high efllc.lency
of the material of the defenses It Is
desirable that a personnel should be
provided that will realize the full de
fensive value of this great national
ex pendit ure."
Another bill which the committee
will take up Is one Increasing the
army to full strength, adding ap
proximately 25.000 men. Still an
other provides for a sharp Increase
in the number of oflicers, adding 1,
000 to the preosnt number. The idea
of this bill Is to provide sufficient of
ficers for the proper training of re
cruits in war. and also with a view , to
having plenty of officers In time of
war to take actual command, the ex
perience of the F.uropean armies hav
ing been that the oflicers are killed
off so fast that it Is embarrassing to
provide a sufficient number for the
commands
The navy department Is preparing
to build the first submarine over
constructed In the government navy
yards.
"At Portsmouth," Aimld Secretary
Daniels, "Naval ?v<l\ftlT>ndnr Adams
wlll^hRvo the
LEGISLATURE ORGANIZES
GENEItAL ASSEMBLY STARTED
NEW SESSION TUESDAY.
Host Elected Speaker of House and
J. \V llsou Gibbon In the New Clerk
? Nothing New Comew Up.
In a decidedly business-like manner
the general assembly of South Caro
lina organized Tuesday fur its 7 1st
session. The refusal of the Senate to
accept an invitation to visit Winthrop
college January 20 is taken by ob
servers as an indication that the up
per house is resolved to waste as Ut
ile time as possible. A significant
incident in the House of Representa
tives was the applauding of a refer
ence in the speaker's address to the
necessity for passing a compulsory
school attendance law.
The Senato was called to order at
noon by Charles A. Smith of Tim
monsville, retiring lieutenant-gover
nor. The Senate, acting under the
caucus of Monday night, elected Le
Graud Walker of Georgetown its
president pro tempore and M M.
Maun of St. Matthews its clerk. In
addition to the annual message, the
Senate received from the governor a
special message recommending the
continuance of the State warehouse
system started under an act of the
October special session. The senate
debated the question of going to Win
throp and finally decided not to do
so. after an hour of discussion. The
Senate met Wednesday at noon
The most interesting feature of the
organization sessions of the House
was the hotly contested election for
clerk J. Wilson (.Jibebs of Columbia,
who had a lead on the first ballot, was
finally elected after the roll had been
called nine times. As had been an
ticipated, James A. Hoyt of Columbia
was made speaker without opposition.
In a brief speech he outlined his
views on important measures which
will be introduced shortly. Members
applauded him when he said that the
general assembly c uld not afford to
ignore the passage of a compulsory
school attendance law, under the in
junction laid down by the voters in
the last primaries.
The House passed unanimously a
resolution introduced by Mr. Mrigham
of Aiken, felicitating President Wil
| son on his administration The reso
i luton commended the president in
the highest terms, praised the Sim
mons-Underwood tariff bill and eon-1
I gratulated the nation s chief execu
tive on his policy as regards Mexico
Important amendments propos ?d to
the rules of the last House caused the
House to defer their adoption until;
Wednesday. One of the amendments
offered makes it Impossible to carry I
on a filibuster such as blocked for a
number of days the passage of the
bond issue bill in the House during
the special session.
Another amendment does away
with the limitation on the number of
members on committees, leaving this
to the discretion of the speaker. In
dications are that a fight will be made
on this amendment, to the end that
not more than 1 :J members can be
appointed on the more important
committees and not more than nine
on the others.
In the House the annual messago
of the governor was received imme
diately after the chief executive was
notified of the organization of the
body. The reading of the message
was interrupted by a motion to ad
journ until 11:45 o'clock Wednesday
morning. The message will not be
printed in the journal, under* a spe
cial order from the House, until it
has been read in full.
department at any of its yards.
"In this vessel and in submarine
E-2 wil be installed a set of Edison
batteries, the first vessels in our navy
or any other navy to be equipped
with this triumplh of Mr. lOdison's
genius."
CLASSIFIED COLUMN
Marry ? Large list of wealthy mem
bers wishing early marriage. Con
fidential description free Reliable
club. Mrs. Wrubel, Hox 2 6, Oak
land. Cal.
Ludy Wants position as housekeeper;
home with children preferred. Hest
refernces. Address "Housekeeper,"
care Letter Carrier No. 14. Charles
ton. S. C.
etaoln shrdlu cmfwyp vbgkqj x/.flflfffTi
Salesman Wanted to sell vinegars and
ciders. Exclusive or side line. 25
p?r cent, commissions. Weekly set
tlements. IteJlands Mfg Co., Rich
mond. Vn.
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage
I'lant-s ? Shipped fresh from the noil.
Parcel post, 20c hundred; 7F?c f>00;
$1.20 1,00?, prepaid; by express,
r.00, fiOc; 1,000, $1; r.,000, $4.7r?.
"Hermitage Farm," Clark Wilcox,
Miirrells Inlet, S. C.
Superfluous llalr Is easily and quickly
removed from face and arms by
TONDO HARMLESS HAIR REMOV
ER. Highly endorsed, safe, effective.
Generous I: ox fifty ccnts postpaid
in plain wrapper. So-thefn Special
ty Co., Savannah, (Ja.
Olve your wife, mother or sister a
nico Xmas present. Set of William
Roger's Carnation pattern Tea
Spoons, 87c. Rogers Pros. 1847
Vintage pattern, $1.74. Wrlto for
prices on other silverware. W. Y
McNeill, Waterloo, S. C.
Notice ? The PRINCE -? NOINEER
IN(i-M AC1IINR WORKS at Sumter
will contain APPRENTICE DE
PA HTM ENTS for automobile re
pairing and machine work. It w!ll
bo the means of teaching our youn,,
men mechanical trade and "KEEP
TIIEM AT HOME." Request ap
plication blanks, and list of second
hand cars, parts, and motorcycle,
being cleared out
Automohlllsta ? NEW YEAR starts
our NEW PLANT. ft. 000 square
feet, concrete floor Will accommo
date 100 cars Washstands, pits,
and machine tools for ANY repair.
Painting, top and upholstery de
partments Winter is time to paint,
overhaul and fix tops; wrlto fot
prices, naming car If you llvo near,
shop In, or pass through Sumter,
wft have THE place to enrn for all
your motor needs IN THE PROPER
WAY Write for list of second
hand cars, parts and motorcycles
being cleared out; als application
for apprentice department If you I
want tq learn AUTOMOBILE RB-J
;no change in war
KKSl'LT DEl'K.MW l/PON VVKATH
KK OH PARTLY OF OTHKHS.
SOME FIGHTING SEVEHF
Relief in Allied Countries That
Ital)' mid Roumania Are About to
Kilter ? Russian Movement Stop
pod by Had Weather ? Fi^thlng in
1- ranee renters Around SuIsnoiis.
Only a change in the weather or
entrance into the war of Rouumnia or
Italy, or both, is 1 i K ** I y to briug about
any marked chant;)' m the military
situation iu Kurope f< r some time to
come.
The belief is growing in countries
allied against Ucrmaiij, Austria and
Turkey, that Rouu.ania with her well
trained artuy of not less than ?imu.ium.i
men, soon will thiow h< rselt into the
coniliot. This, in efTect. would link
Koumunia with the extreme Russian
left now forcing its way into Hun
gary through Rukowina.
Taking into consideration the Ser
vians and Montenegrins, this would
form a line menacing Austria-Hun
gary along the entire southeastern
frontier from Russia to the Adriatic
.lust as rumors persisted for days
prior to Turkev s enerance into the
war so rumors now center about Ron
mania and Italy There is a strong
feeling among the general public in
France and Kngland that definite ac
tion will not be long delayed.
Only sporadic lighting is taking
place on the battle fronts, acocrding
to latest reports, and almost all of
this is done by artillery. I'robablv
the heaviest infantry engagement was
on the lower N'ida river, in southern
Poland, where the Austrians claim
they repulsed with severe losses Rus
sian attempts to cross the stream at
several places.
Most of the fighting in the west has
centered about Soissons, where the
Hermans have delivered a violent
bombardment and inaugurated a
strong attack, which, so f;ir as latest
advices indicate, has not terminated
I.ondoii reports: "French attacks
north of Soissons, on the Aisne and
near 1'erthe, east of Rheinis. are de
veloping into a serious offensive. Tin
gains the French have made at these
points, it' followed up. would have
two-fold importance. They threaten
the railways which the (iermans are
using to supply their troops in the
lighting line and are a serious menace
to Herman forces which hold positions
to the north of Rheims.
"The French have found it impos
sible to take by frontal attacks posi
tions from which the Hermans are
bombarding Rheims, but advances on
either side would envelope them and
force a retirement, thus giving the
Cathedral City relief from the Her
man shells.
"In the Argonne and on the heights
of the Meuse the Hermans claim to
have made further progress. It is re
ported that tho Germans have sent
heavy reinforcement s to this district
to prevent the French from breaking
their linos, which are close to their
| own border and not far from Metz.
I "French Herman troops dispatched
| to Alsace, combined with the wintry
weather have stopped the French ad
vance in that region. Along the rest
of tho front artillery'is doing most of
I the work. Only isolated attacks are
being attempted, had weather and
mud making movements of large
bodies of troops out of the question.
"Neither Fast Prussia nor Poland
furnishes any change in the general
situation and strangely, the Russians
have added little with reference to
expected invasion of Hungary by way
of Pukowina. although more than a
week ago they ch imed to he at the
threshold. It is conceded, however,
that virtually the whole of Rukowina
is in Russian hands and dispatches
reaching London from Rncharest say
that thousands of fugitives from that
territory are crossing the Roumanian
frontier, some of them proceeding to
Vienna.
"in restricted areas along tin* River
Rawka. near Dollniow, however, the.e
has been Herce fighting. Severe fight
ing continues on the Nida River,
where the Austrian?; oppose Russian
attempts to penetrnte to Cnuow.
"The Hermans nro keeping Die Ma
zurinn Lakes open with Ire breakers
to hlork the Russian advance in Kast
Prussia. Russian troops tiold posi
tions around the lakes and have been
waiting for thorn to freeze over before
resuming ttieir offensive.
"The Turks deny they have been
defeated by the Russians in the Can
casus. To offset this denial. Petro
grad had a report that Noury Hey,
chief of the general ntaff of the Third
Ottoman army corps, who was sent
by the sultan to investigate the re
port* of tho defeat, has been captured
by Cossacks.
"The Turks have been offering
stubborn resistant' to the Russians
(i t Kara Crgan, where a battle has
been in progre -t for five days:. The
position at this place is more favor
able for the Turks, who have not the
deep snow of the mountains In < on
tend with and are in (loser touch
with their base. It is a death strug
gin for them, for so long as the Kus
slan lloet commands the lilack Sea
the Turks can not get reinforcements
from K u rope, I lie overland route tie
ing a long and cifictiH one They
have an army corps at Bagdad. but.
this Is needed to oppose the advance
of the British Indian army from the
east
'The Austrh'im charge that the
Russians are using Austro Hungarian
uniforms to cntch Austrian patrols.
It Is declared the rights of 'oelli??er
enta will not tie accorded Russians
who are captured so masquerading.
"A synopsis < f n alleged treaty be
tween (Jermany and Turkey, as re
celved In Paris from Hedearach. H 11 1
garia. purport'- to provide that (!er
many shall supplv Turkey with muiii
(Ions of war, mon< ,v and C.erman offi
cers and military specialists. In the
event of victory Germany will pay
Turkey one-fifth of her war indemni
ty, and in case of defeat will intro
duce a clause In the peace treaty
guaranteeing the Integrity of Otto
man territory."
Itorlin reports: "In the Arronno
forest a French vantage point was
taken on the Roman high road In
this engagement two officers and I to
men fell info our hands
"In the battles on the eastern side
of the Argonne we have taken since
January X, Including those already
mentioned, one major, three captains,
13 Meutonftnta and l.r.OO men. Th^d
FjtaMOh total loss. Including kUlMWHH