Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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FIERCE FIGHT)! T» • ■ • . vlEAl HOARD ACTION AL0N6 £1ABNE IS (mRIEB FIGHTING IS TERRIFIC EngJAxh Coresponde^U Tell ot Battle Which Has Been in Operation Si Sunday—Germans Faced Foes and , Bloody Battle is Started—Result Undecided. Along a 110-mile front the Ger man armies are at bay and the allies occupy a ledge across the River Aisne which was won after one of the most spectacular river crossings ever made by an attacking force under fire. For the past four or five days there have been sparodic attacks from both _ . sides along, this line; but according T° r indicate whether he spoke on be- to admissions from the rival head quarters they have not produced any definite results. Both sides have suf fered enormously and the present pause undoubtedly is being used to bring up reinforcements and sup plies. “As opposed to the battle of the Marne, which was a battle of rivers and plains, woodlands and high pla teaus, the .battle of the Aisne." says a London*Times correspondent, “was a river crossing on a scale never be fore seen in the history of the world; .a triumph of organization and engi neering as much as- of courage and fighting powers. The-time was Sat urday evening and the moment had arrived when, if the fleeing host was to. be saved, some sort of stand must be made. “The enemy gathered hurriedly to gether for a great effort on the heights which overlooked the river He had his guns placed and his men ready when the British and French troops reached._he south bank of the river. Clearly it was esential to the allies that a crossing be made if the great pursuit was to be continued and the hard won victory pressed home. But the river, was swollen, running swiftly after the recent heavy rains, bridges must be built under a withering fire, they must be maintained undamaged and must be cr oa Win “The attack began Sunday morn ing with all the dash that character ized the great struggle of the week before. Our guns were brought up placed in position and a terrible ar tillery duel opened; for as long as the German artillery remained unsi lenced there was little hope of cross ing the river. "During this fire our engineers worked laboriously, bringing up great pontoons while the fire slowly decreased their numbers. After some hmirs of this supreme effort the enemy's guns on the north bank are silenced and the troops begin cross ing while the allies’ artillery still sweep the heights, protecting their passage. 1 . .. “By sunset when the cold rain and wind starts the heights are won. the enemy thrown back and our troops cross at three crossing places. “While this battle is proceeding a most exciting battle of aeroplanes, German and English, occurred high in the air. It was a great struggle, the machines darting hither and thither till finally the German, wounded, falls to the ground.^ Something of the horrors of mod ern warfare is indicated by the hesi tancy with w'hich the authorities dis cuss the terrible losses marking the progress of the armies from the Marne to the Aisne. The stories aie told with great restraint, but with encrugh grewsome details to make even military men shudder. A dispatch from Paris says the rearguard action, supposed at first to be intended as a check to pursuit and to facilitate the retreat of the mass of the armies of Gens, von Kluck and von Buelow, has developed into what will probably be calleoMn his tory-the battle of Aisne. Whether or not it was necessity that impelled the Germafis to turn and engage in a general action, the fierce conflict re sulting rivals in importance the bat tle of the Marne. ~ '. The war office says the French have not flinched at any point. That, sounds as if they were on the defen sive, which might be so in view of the strength of the positions thfe Ger mans occupy. Regarding.the battle of the Aisne underrate of September 15 a corre spondent of the London Chronicle says: " • - - “The unending,' terrific struggle has lasted, four days and only now may one say that victory is turning in favor of the allies. “The tpwn of Soissons can not yet be entered, for it is still raked by artillery and rifle Are, while rear coL umns of smoke tnark several points w here houses are burning in the cen ter of the fighting lines, where the allies pontoon: corps have been trying WHAT DO ALLIES WANT? GERMANY AWAITS DEFINITE PROPOSALS OF ENEMY. Chancellor Says That to Accept Med iation Now Would be Misinterpret ed as a Sign of Weakness. Germany has suggested, informal ly, that the United States should un dertake to elicit from Great Britain. France and Russia a statement of ibrms under which the aliies would make peace. The suggestion was made by Im perial Chancellor von Bethmann Holl- weg to Ambassador Gerard, at Ber lin, as a result of an inquiry sent by the American government to learn whether Emperor William desired to discuss peace as ‘ Count von Bern- storff, the German ambassador, and, Oscar Strus recently had reported., Emperor William himself made no reply, nor did the rmperial chancel half of Ins monarch. Ambassador Gerard cabled President Wilson the chancellor's remarks from recollec tion,'which substantially were as fol lows: “Germany appreciated the Ameri can government's interests and offer of services in trying to make peace. Germany had war forced on her. Even if she defeats France, she must vanquish Great Britain and Russia also, as all three have agreed not to make peace except by common con sent. England has announced that she intends to fight to the limit of her endurance. In view of that de termination, the United States ought to get peace proposals from the allies. Germany could accept only a lasting peace, one that would make her peo ple secure against future attacks. To accept mediation now would be interpreted by the allies as a sign of weakness and also would be misun derstood by the German people, who, having made great sacrifices, had the right to demand guarantees of se curity.” Ambassador Gerard added to this only the brief comment that lie him self thought the way might possibly be opened to mediation. President Wilson, however, did not regard the message as bringing anything tangi ble. He referred to the chancellor’s conversation as non-committal. The president took no action as a result of the message, waiting to hear from Ambassador Gerard whether any thing of a more formal character could be obtained. , Germany's posHion is that she will give her opinion on peace terms when she has received a definite statement from the allies of their proposals. The, statement that Germany had war forced on her, as well as the declaration that she wanted a last ing peace, is almost identical with remarks Sir Edward Grey made to Ambassador Page in London last week. The general belief was that the president, after waiting a few days for more information from Berlin, probably would instruct the Ameri can ambassadors at London, Paris and Petrograd to communicate what the imperial German chancellor had said to Ambassador Gerard. It was believed the ambassadors would be asked to reiterate the wishes of the American government to be of ser vice in bringing about peace. Diplomatists were disposed to be lieve that through such informal con versations something definite might be obtained as a working basis. If a concord of opinion for discussian of peace terms were reached, Persident Wilson then 'would endeavor to ob tain an acceptance by all belliger ents of the original tender of good offices. This Would not mean a ces sation of hostilities, unless the medi ating power specifically made it a condition of mediation and all bel ligerents agreed to it. An armistice would serve nidrely as a lruce # while peace, was discussed. 4A. ^ tim h-iri^ Hipv range and compelled them to with draw. Last night, however, the al lies brought up heavier guns and these change the prospect. “I can clearly trace the abandon ment during the last three hours Of a number of German positions by the smoke of their guns moving further Over the hills.” Claims of Berlin that the attacks of the ajlies along the Aisne have been repulsed and that German coun ter attacks have succeeded and offi cial assertions here that the German counter, attacks have been repulsed and that the invaders are slowly giv ing way, leave jio conclusion bdt that the narrators are referring to differ ent points in the vast field of action. As the crow r flies, the- front of the opposing armies, which with the heavy reinforcements, have reached the probable total if 3,000,000 men, stretches for 110 miles. Making al lowances for the deviation norths to Laon, the line must be qultq 150 miles longfl so there is ample room for. successes on ont part of the field and reverses elsewhere. DESCRIBES nPURSUIT ACCOUNT Of OKIATIONS FROM IIYER MARNE TO AISNE MONEY FOR THIS STATE RANKS ASK FOR SMALL AMOUNT OF AVAILABIjE CURRENCY. BETWEEN TWI BATTLES in constntctine. “Men from the front 'tell, me that the cormUat, has' been a veritable slaughter and that the unceasing fire ef the past four days puts any pre vious ;bgttle anywhere completely in the shade. ‘ . “ ~ The Norwood National bank of Several crossings were effected Greenville has secured $82,00'0 of the Sunday, hut the German guna got-the emergency curr»nry. Fletcher in Command; Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher has assumed complete command of the North Atlantic fleet. British Staff Officer Narrates Happen ings After the Battle of the Marne and Leading Up to the Present Struggle Now Going on at the River Aisne. An account of the operations of the British army in France and of the French armies in immediate touch with it during the period from September 10 to 13, written by an (Vfficer attached to Feld Marshal Sir .lohii French's staff, was issued Thursday night by the London offi cial press bhteau. The account fol lows In part: ' “Since Thursday, v September, 10, the British army made steady pro gress in its endeavor to drive back the .enemy in co-operation w ifh the French. The country across. whicnTt. had to force its way and will have to continue to do so, is undulating and covered with patches of thick wood “Within the area which faced the British before the ad vanet Commenc ed, right up to Laon, the chief fea ture of tactical importance is the fact that there are six rivers running across the direction of the advance, at all of which it was possible that the Germans might make resistance These are, in order from the south, the Marije, Ourcq, “Vesle, Aisne, Ail ette^and Oise. “The enemy held the line of the Marne which was crossed by our forces September 9, as a purely rear guard operation. Our passage of the Ourcq, which here runs almost due east and west, was not contested. The Vesle was only lightly held, while resistance along the Aisne, both against the French and British, has been and still is of a determined character. On Friday, September 11. but -lit tle opposition was met with along any part of our front and the direc tion of the advance,.for the purpose of co-operating with our allies, and was turned slightly to the northeast. The day was spent in rushing for ward and gathering in various hos tile detachments. By nightfall our forces had reached a line north of the Ourcq. extending from Oulchy le Chateau to Longpont. "On this day there also was a gen eral advance of the French along their whole line, which ended in a substantial success. In one portion of the field Duke Albrecht of Wuert- temberg's army was driven back across the Saul, and elsewhere the whole of the corps artillery of a Ger man corps was captured. Several German colors were taken. “it was only on this day that the full extent of the victory gained by the allies on September 8 was appre ciated by them, and the moral effect 6f this success has been enormous. An order dated September 6 and 7 issued by the commander Of the Ger man Seventh corps was picked up. it stated that the great object of the war was about to. be attained since the French were going to accept bat tle and that on the result of this bat tie would depend the issue of the war and the honor of the German armies. “It seems probable that the Ger mans not only expected to find that the British army was beyond the power of assuming the offensive for some time, but counted on the French having been driven back on to the line of the Seine. “On Saturday, the 1 2th, the enemy were found to be occupying a very formidable position opposite us on the north of the line at Soissons. They held both sides of the river and an entrenched line on the hills to the north of eight road bridges and two railway bridges crossing the Aisne, within our section of the front. Seven of the former and both of the latter had. been demolished. “Working from the west to the east our third army corps gained some high ground south ef the Aisne overlooking the Aisne-valley east of Soissons. Here a long range artil lery duel between our guns and those of the -French on our left and the enemy’s artillery on the hills con tinued during the greater part of the day and did not cease until nearly midnight. . The enemy had many reavy Howitzers . in well concealed positions. i .“The movement of this ermy corps was effected in co-operation with the ‘French Sixth army on our left, which gained the southern half of the town during the night. “The Second army corps did not cross the Aisne. The first army corps got over the river Vesle. south of the Aisne after the crossing had t cavalry dlvl- practically without lighting. ■ “AJ Erajene the first cavalry divi sion met With considerable opposi tion from infantry and machine guns holding the tpwn and guarding, the bridge. With the aid of some of our infantry It gained possession of the town about midday, driving the ene- l<evcr ami Ragsdale Secure Informa tion and Man Amendment to the V V Emergency Measure. Representative Lever, as a result of a conference with treasury depart ment officials concerning the com plaints of South Carolina bankers that they could not get hoW of any emergency currency, received Thurs day a letter from W. P. Malburn, assistSnli secretary of the Federal re serve botrrd, declaring that out of the thirty-six banks forming the State Currency Association twenty-three had applied for emergency currency under the amended Aldrich-Vreeland act, and that they have asked for only $1,304,750 of the total of $6,- 072,000 available for the national banks of South Carolina.. Of the applications made $1,301,- 000 has been approved and $642,400 of this lias been actually shipped, the remainder being in process of print ing and likely to be shipped within a week. Representative Ragsdale, a mera- ^r of the banking and currency com- miito^ will offer an amendment, pre pared by. himself and Mr. Lever, to the emerghney amendment, which has already passed the Senate, pro viding that the S^e^etary of the Treasury shall requireh^nks receiv ing emergency currency trv report each week the amount issuecT'stpon warehouse receipts for cotton, grain and other agricultural products and naval stores, the amount loaned up on such receipts, the amount request ed for loan upon such receipts, the rate of interest for such loans and, in case of rejection, the reasons therefor, which statements shall be published in newspapers of general circulation in the locality of the banks. Messrs. Ragsdale and Lever hold that if these statements are publish ed the force of public sentiment in the communities affected will com pel the banks, if not disposed volun tarily to do so, to carry out the in tent of the government that the emer gency currency shall be used for the purposes for which it is being pro vided. x It is now apparent that the bank ing and currency committee will not endorse that feature of the Hoke Smith amendment to the Emergency act admitting State banks to its priv ileges directly and removing the in per cent, tax on State bank currency. Instead the committee will probably report in favor of the first part of the Smith amendment, raising the amount of commercial assets on which emergency currency currency may be based to 75 per cent, instead of 30 per cent, as at present. The Federal reserve system will probably be in operation by October 15, and it will afford much more re lief, in the opinion of experts, than the Aldrich-Vreeland act, even in the latter's amended form. Under the Federal Reserve act commercial as sets may be accented even up to 100 per cent, as a basis for currency. my north. "On our right the French reached the line of the river Vesle. On this day begun an action along the Aisne which is not yet finished and which may be merely of a rear guard na ture on a large scale, or may be the commericement of a battle of a more 'serious nature. “It rained heavily Saturday after noon and all through the night, which severely handicapped trans port. “On Sunday, the 13th, extremely strong resistance was encountered along the whole of our front, some 15 miles in length. The action still consisted for tie most part of long range gun fire, that of the Germans being to a great extent from their heavy Howitzers which were firing from cleverly concealed positions. . “Some of the actual crossings of the Aisne were guarded by detach ments of infantry with machine guns. "By nightfall portions of all three corps were across the river, the cav- aley returning to the south side. “On our left the French pressed on, but were prevented by artillery fire from building a pontoon bridge at Soissons. A large number of in fantry, however, crossed in single file on the top girder of the railway bridge. “During the last three or four days many isolated parties of the Germans have been discovered hiding in the w'oods a long way behind our line. As a. rule they seemed glad to surrender and. the condition of some of them may be gathered from the following incident: An officer proceeding along the road In charge of a number of led horses received information tfeat some, of the enemy were in the neigh borhood. He gave order to charge, whereupon three German officers and 106 men surrendered. m ANSWERS PROTESTS V 4. . , • w . - I- ■ . \ ' •». HUM KPUES T» KISUH, TIE (USER AND PIHIUIE GODB WILL TOWAHS AU WIFE AND BAIT SLAM HUSBAND IS ACCUSED OF CAUS ING THEIR DKATH. At First Supposed to Hue* Burnt But BxuuUbuUbu Doubts. President Exhibits Hare Tact Statesmanship in Framing Mes sages Suitable to Each Occasion car — . ... £. ' ' ■ ' • ■ - and at the Same Time Showing the Nentraiity of Our People. President Wilson Wednesday re plied to the message recently receiv ed from Emperor William, protest ing against tho alleged use by the allies armies of duc-dum bullets. He said he had read the communica- tfon with the gravest concern, but that it would be unwise and prema ture for the United States to express any final Judgment in the controv ersy. . . • The text of the president's mes sage follows: ^ "I received your Jmperial Majes ty's important communication of the 7th and have read it with gravest in- tei'est and concern. I am honored that you should have turned to me for an impartial judgment as the rep resentative of a people truly disinter ested as respects the present war and truly desious of knowing and accept ing the truth. “You will, I am sure, not expect iY»W to say more. l*re*ently, I pray God Very soon, this war will be over. Tlie day rtf accounting will then come when 1 take it for granted the na tions of Kurope will assemble to de termine a settlement^Where wrongs have been committed thejr eoase quence* and the relative responsi bility involved will be assessed "The nations of the world have, fortunately, by agreement, made a plan for such a reckoning and settle ment. What such a plan can not contpass, the opinion of mankind, the final arbiter of all such matters, will supply. “it would lie unwise, it would lie premature, tor a single government, however fortunately separated from the present struggle; it would even lie inconsistent with the neutal posi tion of any nation which like this lias no part in the contest, to form or express a final Judgment. “I speak thus frankly because I know that you will expect and wish me to do so as* one friend should to another, and because 1 feel sure that such a reservation of judgment until the end of the war, when all its events and circumstances can be seen in their entirety and In their true relations, will commend Itself to you as a true expression of sincere neu trality.” (Signed) “Woodrow Wilson.” The Belgian commission, sent to protest against alleged German atroc ities, was received in the East room of the White House Wednesday by President Wilson. Accompanying them was the Belgian minister, E. Havenith. Secretary Bryan escorted the party to the White House. Presi dent Wilson, receiving the commis' sioners, said: "Permit me to say with what sin cere pleasure I receive you as repre sentatives of the United States feel so strong a friendship and admira tion, a King for whom they enter tain so sincere a respect, and express my hope that we may have many opportunities of earning and deserv ing their regard. "You are not mistaken in believing that the people of this country love justice, seek the true paths of prog ress, and have a passionate regard for the rights of humanity. “It is -a matter of profound, .pride, to me .tha* I am permitted for a time W, M. Shelley, a well known citi zen living eight miles south of Mul lins. reported a tragedy in his neighborhood, In which he saM that a young woman and her infant arw thought to hove been murdered by the husband and father. Thomas Ammons, aged 21, and his wife, aged 20 years, a daughter of Steve Turn er. were the parties to the tragedy, said Mr. Shelley. It <waa about two o’clock Monday moriiing when the neighborhood was aroused by the cry of fire, and when the neighbors ar rived. according to Mr. Shelley, they found Ammons the sole survivor of the family. Ammons claimed, it is Mid, that he was sleeping in a bed near the window, while his wife and infant occupied a separate bed; that when be awoke the house was ablaze and falling in, and that he barely had time to Jump through the window for his'life. Mr. Shelley stated that Ammons made several contradictory statements concerning the affair, and soon aroused suspicion. After the fire had spent its force and a hurried Investigation of the debris made the remains of the moth er and child were taken from the fire and examined by those present, in cluding the coroner. It was found that the woman's skull had been crushed, an arm possibly broken and pther mutilations of the body were in evidence. The affair is wrapped in mystery. After a thorough and painstaking Investigation the coroner's jury felt warranted In holding Ammons, and he was accordingly remanded to jail he was acrordti to awfcittrial. British Field Marshal Flow of Troops. Speaking in the House of Lords Thursday Field Marshal Earl Kitch ener reviewed the strength ot the British expeditionary force In France and described what he believed most be done to assure a successful Issue of the conflict. A steady flow of re inforcements was required, he said. There were alrMdy in Fraace, the secretary for war said, more tbaa six divisions of British troops and two divisions of cavalry which werw being maintained at their full full strength. Farther regalar divi sions and additional cavalry were be ing organized from units drawn from overseas garrisons which were belag occupied by territorials and volan- teers. A division of territorials al ready had left for Egypt, a brigade had gone to Malta and a garrison force to Gibraltar. STEAMER SINKS. Boat Goes Down Near Cttarieeton— Crew Was Rescued. ' Soon after Capt. Drum and the crew of eight men had abandoned her five miles southeast by south one- half miles south fro nr the Charles ton lightship Thursday morning, the schooner Frederick W. Day, New York for Wilmington with cement, sank in eight fathoms of water. Wednesday wireless signals of dis tress for her were sent out bqr the steamship City of Montgomery and the revenue cutter Yamacraw was re ported to be hastening to her assist ance. She sprang a leak durihU-tbe gale and took water rapidly. The captain and crew came off-in a life- to represent such a people, and to be I boat after having anchored the sink- their spokesman, and 1 am honored ing schooner. The vessel'was valued that yoor King should have turned to me in time of distresses to one who would wish, on behalf of the people he represents, to consider the claims to the impartial sympathy of mankind of a nation which deems itself wronged. . : ■ "I thank you for the document you have put in my^hands. It shall have my most attentive perusal, and my most thoughtful consideration. The paragraphs printed above in bold black type are at this point in corporated into the welcome extend ed to the commissioners. The presi dent thereupon continues: I need not assure you that this conclusion, in which I Instinctively feel that you will yourselves..eoneur, at about $30,000. to navigation. She is a menace DENY REPORTS. Germans Minimize French and Eng- f ' , Ush Tales of Success. The German embassy at Washing ton received the following wireless from Berlin: “All the French-EngUsh reports of victories of battles in France are un true. The German retreat of tho western wing was a practical man oeuvre not affecting the strategical position. The Frfench attempt to break through the centre of the Oer- is spoken frankly because-fn warmj man position was victoriously repuls- friendship, and as the best means of *<*• perfect' understanding between us,| “There Is confirmation of German ah jHiderstanding based upon mutual respect, admiration and cordiality. You are most welcome, and we are greatly honored that you should have chosen us as the friends before whom you could lay any matter of vital consequenc? to yourselves. In pied by the French after considerable fighting on September 13.” Panama Forte Tented. * The big guns.gnardiag the Panama canal have been tested and are pro nounced satisfactory. be understood and met in the samei spirit la which it a*hs conceived a&d intended." - A cablegram replying to the pro test of President Poincare, of Frame, srbo charged that the Germans were successes at several points of the long extended battlefield. The Temps reports that the losses of the British army in the recent fighting anoint to 15,000 dead and wounded." W - - » ■ waa known to follow closely the text* ^G^^ident’s message to. Em- perer TTWrlST ^ Italy Prepares for War. Italian reservists In'Fraace hove been ordered to report to September 35. This lb taken to Italy ’Using dum-dum bulleta, also was pre-f the entrance ef the Itallaao I pared. It was not made public, but war.