Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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.> , _ # riod COMMENT ON ITS FALL City Threatened (ternian Communica tions While In Hands of Helgtans— Much Speculation as to Its Prob able Use by Germans, as Dirigible Rase. Antwerp and the forts surround ing the city are in complete posses sion of the Germans, but the greater part of the Belgian army has escaped. It took the Germans' just eleven days to capture the strongest fortress in the world. The city was set afire in places by the German shells. The Germans are in complete occu pation. The actual surrender took place at 2:30 Friday afternoon. The bombardment reached its height be tween 7 and 8 o’clock Friday morn ing, At 9 o'cloekr^be-^white flag of capitulation was raised where the war Jlag had been flaunted from the tower of the cathedral, and the bjg siege guns ceased their destructive" fire al- immediately. ing Albert, at the head of the vanff^ished field army of Belgians, whicnTie led out of Antwerp to save it from hejng bottled up when it was seen that the fall of the temporary capital was ift^vitable, is being pur sued by a largtrdetaehed force of the German division N)f the besieging army under Gen. vofK Vender, which is attempting to cut hinKoff along the ^border and force him -either to face l>attle in the field against overwhelm ing odds or seek refuge in ltdiand, kthere to be interned during the p "of the war. Before it withdrew, the " Belgiaii army not only destroyed several forts and disabled the batteries in those left intact, but ‘itfi German steamers were blown up at their docks and the stores of pet. '1 were burned wher ever found. At least 150.000 persons, nearly half the population of Antwerp, are believed to be fugitives and homeless as a result of the capture of the strongest fortress in the world which could not withstand the German how itzers, 200 in number, which rained shells upon it at the rate of 4,000 an hour. The strategic importance of Ant werp to the Germans arose largely from the fact of its menace to their lines of communication. With the Belgian army withdrawn to a position half way between Antwerp and Os- tend the pressure on these lines will be removed at least temporarily. But at the same time there would appear to be little obstacles to the Belgians afTeeting a Junction with the Allies working to the northward in West Flanders Commenting on the Belgian situa tion before it was known officially that Antwerp bad fallen, English newspapers asked with optimism what the conquerers were going to do with Antwerp when they had It, particularly in the view of the fact that they contend no fort can stand against artillery such as is used in modern warfare The opinion was generally expressed that should the Allies later attack Antwerp, there would be repetition of what already has taken place—that is to say, the German garrison could not hold out. Dispatches attempting to analyze the German plan of campaign with Antwerp in their hands, declare that the German purpose is to sweep over northern France with the object of taking possession of the channel ports and thus bring the warfare nearer England It is said that Ger- Eian newspapers are predicting the ke of this northern Belgian position a base for operations against Eng- T?md. , There is no doubt Antwerp suffered terribly from the bombardment and the losses among the civilian popu- latiour-have been heavy. The city was crowded, not only with its nor- - mal population of more than 3 00,000, but with thousands of refugees. All stories coincide in relating the suf fering and mental torture of those unfortunates struggling to leave the danger zone. The moral effect of the fall of Ant werp is not minimized in England. The city was called by Napoleon “a_ pistol pointing at the heart of Eng land.” It is estimated that there are no fewer than 400,000 Germans in Belgian to-day. The correspondent of the London Express, writing from Paris, says: “The immediate objective of the Ger man army is now nq_longer Paris, but. the channel ports. TfS/sum up*tbe German plan-^-the first blow' on Paris having failed—the second blow must be aimed at England.” The occupation of Antwerp was an nounced in Brussels by notices post ed on the walls. The news caused astonishment, as the population had been led to believe Antwerp Was im- ’ pregnable. The Bordeaux correspondent of the Times has sent the following dis patch: “In official circles it is re garded that the fall of Antwerp m,ay prolong the war. The Germans are certain to rebuild the forts, which will become a base for Zeppelin at tacks against the British coast. News of lively fighting between Ghent and .Termonde, Belgium, where the Allies # >uled 40,ft0(i Germans, indicates > far northward reach of the Allies’ es.” • United States Government Wants Constitutionalist Guarantee Property and Officials Will be Safe. The United States government will make no further move in the Mexican, situation and wiTl lreserve announce ment of its future policy toward the Mexican central government until Gen. Carranza, the first'Constitution alist chief, has given formal guaran tee of full protection to aliens and Mexicans, irrespective of their politi cal affiliations, and promises not to reimpose customs duties collected by Americans during the occupation of Vera Cruz. This was the declaration of state department officials following the an nouncement that, despite two at tempts, Carranza so far has refused to explain satisfactorily his position as to what steps he contemplates tak ing upon the Withdrawal of the Amer ican forces from Vera Cruz. It was pointed out that Gen. Fun- «ton had secured the services of Mexi can officials in the administration of civil government at Vera Cruz upon the condition that they would be pro tected when he withdrew. Under the Mexican law these officials are liable for serving invaders to imprisonment for from five to twenty years Im munity for these citizens is sought by this government. It also has been learned that Car ranza was asked through the Bra zilian minister at the City of Mexico, representing the United States, no less than two weeks ago for assur ances that, w hen his forces took over Vera Cruz, they would respect the conditions ,laid dow;n by Gen Fun- ston. He was requested also to promise that upon receipt of the $1,- 000,000 customs collections he would not further molest Vera Cruz im porters. ' It lias developed that the Brazilian minister has informed the state de partment of the reply of the Mexican government and. according to officials in Washington, it dealt in generali ties and was altogether unsatisfac tory. A second request for the de sired informattdii has been submit ted to the City of Mexico authorities, but had not been complied with. Meanwhile it is generally understood that the troops will remkin in Vera Cruz, - SHKI.Igi LAND IN American Residence is Wrecked Mexican Rebels' Guns. Four shells from Governor Mayto- rena’s guns fell on American terri tory Saturday night during a renew ed attack by Villa adherents on the Carranza garrison, at Naco. Sonora General Hill, commanding the garri son. lost about eight killed. Mayto- rena’s loss was estimated at not less than fifty killed and many wonnded. One of the four shells wrecked a large residence. Another damaged property near the United States cus toms house. The others fell in a stock field and in a mercantile estab lishment. Maytorena s Yaqui Indians attack ed General Hill s troops shortly be fore midnight. Hand-to-hand fight ing in the trenches resulted. The en gagement continued an hour. The Indians finally retired. It was re ported Hill’s soldiers pursued a band of Yaquis east of Naco. Several Yaquis crossed the boun dary line in order to attack the Naco garrison in the rear. They were dis armed promptly. Previously, Ameri can soldiers were fired upon and re turned the fire. In addition to the shells many bullets fell on the Ameri can side. Three of Hill's men who crossed the line were disarmed and returned to the Mexican side. IEMIE NIK IF MTTlEflEU BUNK NO NEW CRINGE. RUSSIA CHANGES PUNS • . j Petrograd Admits That Austrian Re inforcements Have Compelled a Change of Program—Austrians Claim Victories—Battle in France Brings Cavalrymen Together. With the conclusion of that phase of the war of the nations which came with the fall of Antwerp, the censor ship again has drawn a veil over the continent. ''h ' The Freflch statement says that the Allies have held their positions every where and that German cavalry, which was attempting to envelop the Allies’ left wing and had seized points of passage on the Lyb, east of Aire, was defeated Saturday and retired northeast into the Armentieres dis trict. r • Thy Germans have resumed their night attacks between Crayonne and Rheims, which French accounts say have been repulsed. From Rheims to the Meuse nothing of importance has occurred of late, but in the Apre- mont district of the Woevre, the Ger mans made violent attacks during the night of October 9, and the fol lowing day. Violent engagements were fought at three separate points of the front in the battle of Seven Rivers Satur- TEUROPKAX WAR BRINGS RECOG NITION OF THEIR USE. IANTS LAI PISSEI day, according to the official bulletin issued at Bordeaux at midnight, and third, despite the furious attempts of the j n the European war has shown that Competitive Meet to be Held at San IHego for the Purpose of Adopting an Army Machine. Tests are to be carried out this week at the aviation school of the United States army at San Diego, Cal., for the purpose of developing the aeroplane best adapted to mili tary purposes. All the leading manu facturers of aeroplanes in this coun try hj),vf» Jjypn invited to place their type.of aetoplane in competition at the San Diego grounds and there have been about a dozen entries. Since the European war began there have been inquiries as to the extent of aerial work in the United States army. Under the general direc tion of Brigadier Genera! George P. Periven, .chief signal officer, and the immediate command of Caut. A. S. Cowen, there are now in training at San Diego twenty-one officers and about 110 enlisted men and civilians. An important adjunct is the staff Of expert civilian employees, includ ing aeronautical engineers, highly trained machinists and engine build ers, some of wTiom receive salaries as high as $4,000 per annum. The corps is equipped with ten aeroplanes and flying boats and will soon be in possession of four more new under construction. If, in the coming test at San Diego, five or more machines qualify under the conditions which the war depart ment will set, the government will purchase the three which make the greatest number of points, agreeing to pay $12,000 for the first, $10,000 for the second, and $8,000 for the Thy experience of the aviators THU AN INKS Ell A SENSIBLE VAIENBDSE SISTER. NT. LOUIS RANKERS HAVE PLAN t6 HELP PRODUCERS. McAdoo and Fedral Reserve Board LEGISLATURE MUST ACT Senator Says People Should Vote a Constitutional Amendment to In crease Public Debt—legislation Could be Submitted for Approval of Voters. 1 The following letter from Senator Tillman will prove to be interesting at this time. COTTON SEED OIL IS EXEMPT. State Ilepartnient Decides That it is Not Liable to Seizure. Continuing its policy of forging out a complete code for regulation of shipments of American products not only to neutral but to belligerent countries, the state department Sat urday announced”a decision relating to exports of cotton seed oil. The de cision marks a distinct advance in the exemption of semi-contraband goods from seizure when carried in Ameri- ran hfitVMmf This declaration, in effect, is that American trade in cotton seed oil in neutral bottoms is not subject to seizure or detention, not only when destined fox neutral countries, but when shipped to Germany, if not in tended for military uses. The British government has asseuted to so much of the prop6sition as relates to ship ments to Holland of neutral goods, such as foodstuffs, which the Nether lands government has embargoed for exportation... — ♦ i- BELL CRUSHES MAX, Germans to relieve the constantly in creasing pressure, the Allies’ line held fast. The two riva.l bodies of cavalry, both in great strength, have been in almost constant contact toXhe south west of Lille, while in the Arras re gion on three sides, the north, the south and the east, fierce fighting continues. To the east the Germans have made a series of vigorous at tacks on the French positions along the heights of the Meuse with no definite results reported. The great overshadowing fact of the day’s de velopments is the attempt of the Ger mans to carry the fighting seaward. Saber and lance came into play many times. The French. British numbers, came into contact near ^and German hussars, lancers, dra- h> ’ goons and cuirassiers in enormous 1 Lille. There were no charge by long lines of horsemen to record, but tbe British and French often crossed swords with the blue-gray clad Ger mans. There is not an inch of ground which does* not show traces of the awful character of the battle. The town of Albert is in a mass of ruins. Roye has disappeared under constant bombardment. It was the center of the German effort to break through the Allied lines. Tbe German artil lery has taken advantage of many quarries in the vicinity where they placed guns which were beyond the reach of the French artillery. Reconnoitering parties frequently came into contact. These engage ments the soldiers would take shelter behind the many bodies on the field. But nothing occurred which could be called a general battle. The vicinity of Arras, however, was the scene of vigorous encounters between infan trymen who engaged In close fighting with the bayonet after the military duel ceased. The following official statement has been received by wireless from Ber lin: “The Austrian general staff an nounces the complete break-up of the Russian invasion of Hungary. Tbe recent attacks on Przemysl were re pulsed with terrible loss to the enemy. The defence of the fort is being con ducted wijth the greatest skill. | ~" “The Russians have been cleared from the Carpathians to the western ridge of Wynkow. ^ The Austrian troops haVe retaken MarmanJb Sziget, Hungary.” A dispatch from London says on the East Pruacian frontier the Rus sians still are engaged with the Ger man rearguard west of Suwalki and to the southeast of Wierhallen. Of the battles in Galicia and Po land the Russian staff has decided to say nothing for 'the present, but the Austrians declare a recent attack on Przemysl was repulsed and that the Russians have evacuated trenches on the western front, which the Aus trians occupied. . The Austrians also claim victories over the Russians at Lancut and Dy- now In Galicia. It Is known that they have received reinforcements. This, Petrograd admits, has compell ed a change in the plans of the Rus sian army. one of the most desired qualifications is the ability of the aviator to rise quickly so as to gain the advantage in position over an antagonist or to escape rifle fire. Therefore the de partment's specifications require that to be accepted a machine must be able to climb 4,000. feet in ten min utes with a useful lead of 450 pounds. It must be of the biplane type with an inclosed passenger compartment; two-seated, with dual control and with a maximum speed not less than 70 and a minimum speed of not more than 40 miles per hour, when carry ing fuel and oil for a four-hour flight at 70 miles per hour. The engine must be in front of the occupants and the machine must be able to glide at an angle not to exceed 1 on 6. Fsnally the machines must qualify by making a no-stop flight of four hours. It is probable that the signal corps will place large orders for the manu facture of such machines as may suc cessfully pass through the test. While details of the performing of aero planes in the European armies have not yet reached the war department through its military attaches, it is be lieved these have been so important as to demand a complete reorganisa tion of military tactics. It is now practically Impossible for a commander to mask the movement of his troops or the disposition of hla artillery, as that henceforth battles probably must be decided, not by strategic movements on the field so much as by the original strength of the opposing forces. Consoquently, In the opinion of the general staff, victory must come to the side that enters upon war most thoroughly prepared in equipment and with the best organized forces. BOMBS HIT PARIS. Tauhe Aeroplanes Drop Twenty Ex plosives Sunday. A score of bombs, launched on dif ferent quarters of Paris by two Ger man aviators Sunday afternoon, kill ed three civilians and injured four teen others. The property damage was sthall. —- One bomb landed at the rear’of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. A house was set on fire. One of these missiles struck within 100 yards of an office occupied ,by American newspaper men. Altogether twenty bombs were dropped. The Germans flew very low. Afteh they apparently had exhausted their supply of tplssilee French aero planes ascended and pursued them to ward the east. READY TO REPORT. Committee to Recommend One-Third Cotton Reduction. PARDONS DESPERADO. — Mwey Sene 1 to Prtewncrg. The Frenfch and German govern- ments are arranging Tor prisoners of either country to_ receive money sent from relatives. The" Swiss postal ad ministration is to be used In the ex change .' Falls on Cheraw Inabitant Who Rings it for Fire .Alarm. At 12 o’clock Friday night, as Mr. Roose Hough was ringing the large •fire alarm bell of Cheraw he met in stant death. From the Ranard Hotel he saw fire in David & Brothers’ store across the street, and went ijo give the alarm. While ddtn^ this the bell, which was hanging at the top of the water tank, 150 /eet high, and weighed 700 pounds, fell on him and py&ngled him terribly. Governor Blease Befriends A'ersatile Negro Penitentiary Inmate. Governor Blease Saturday paroled Sonny Friday,' negro, from Charles ton, who was serving a life term In the penitentiary for assault, having been convicted ip 1904. Fridayeeems to have spent the greater part of his life behiqd prison, doors.. According to the records he was sentenced to J.yro and one-half years for robbery ih Charleston in 1887, drew four years for highway robbery t Out only two years. He was again ip the toils of the law and in 1904 was sent to the State prison for life for assault. The special committee of eleven, named by the House to consider cot ton legislation, after an exhaustive hearing^ will recommend that the general assembly pass a measure to reduce the cotton crop of South Caro lina by one-third. The average cot ton production for this state Is 1,509,- 000 bales, ^he measures of the com mittee, If passed, would reduce the State’s cotton crop to approximately 1,000,000 bales. While an official report has not been filed by the coiqmittee, a can vass makes it safe to state definitely •^jlhat a bill embodying the above’ will be introduced when the Houses con vene. Bombs Destroy Zeppelin. The British admiralty announces that an aeroplane dropped a bomb on the Duseldorf dirigible station and destroyed a Zeppelin. Flames were seen to rise 500 feet. . Buys 5<H> Bales. The Franklin Refining Sugar com-’ pany of Philadelphia has announced Ita intention to buy 500 bales at tea Bandits Kidnap Farmers.- Two robbers kidnapped Charles Ainsworth, a wealthy Polk county, la., fanner Friday and took him away in an automobite that be English Sailor* Aided Belgians. Three ' British naval brigades as sisted the Belgians in the defense of Antwerp. Two thousand of the sail- cents. an automobile. ’ It is thought .ore were forced to retreat into Hol- trtll be held for ransom. ‘ land, where they will be interned. Boow Bothers Troops. The troops of Montenegro are suf fering severely from the cold on the mountain tope. Snow already covers the peaks. Trenton. S. C., Oct. 9, 1914. Mr. J. T. Collins. Chester. 8. C — My Dear Sir: Yours of October 6 re ceived. 1 realize your condition per fectly and sympathize with the farm ers who owe you, too. I do not know what to suggest or how to help our fellow citizens who are in this pre dicament. Sad to say there are very many of them in distress. I am hop ing that the legislature will enact a law promptly providing for a sensible warehouse scheme and that the State will get behind its own citizens with its credit, by voting a constitutional amendment to increase the public debt for this purpose. Possessing the power of taxation as it does there is absolutely no rea son why it should not do this. Until South Carolina and other Southern states show their willingness to baok their own people it Is Idle to expect the national government to do it .1 believe the State Supreme Court would declare a proper warehouse law constitutional, provided the peo ple at the next election vote to In crease the public debt for that pur pose. The legislature can act immediate ly and as the election comes off In November everything could be satis factorily adjusted In this way. South Carolina can thus save its own citi zens whether other Southern states do or not. I doubt very seriously, however, whether any law looking to the decrease of acreage or forbidding the planting of any cotton at all will stand the test of constitutionality.' It Is worth trying, however. I myself expect to sow all the oats I can get in tbe ground and will fer tilise them well with cotton seed meal and acid phosphate, two home products. The land may wait for potash until the Germans are licked Luckily most of the land in this State has enough potash la it already to make one or two crops, for it Is a mineral which doee not leach out. All the soils above the falls in our rivers have a natural supply. 1 believe the reduction of acreage will settle Itself without legislation, simply because nobody Is able or will ing to advance money or supplies U> grow cotton at 7c per pound. It Is like lifting one’s self over n fence by his boot straps. This European war has certainly hit the South a hard blow. We have before seen cotton very low, but everything else was low then, too. Now everything we have to eat, espe cially meat and flour, Is very high, and the cost of growing cotton Is probably double what It was in 1890. I see no reason why the national government does not hasten getting the national reserve banka in condi tion to begin operation. Wa have hear^ for a long while that the ma chinery would begin to move to Octo ber 1. The national government could recognize .warehouse receipts as good collateral, and I believe it will do so, provided the statee first take sensible action in regard to this matter. I do not think Uncle Sam will, or ought, to be expected to come to our help until we have exhausted all of our own resources and have done those things which are necessary. There never was a time when the old adage, “God helps those who help themselves,” was more applicable and had more truth. If the people of the State demand a sensible and practi cable law, the legislature will enact It, and the governor will sign it, too. Our home banks, if they would only cease being greedy hogs and do their duty towards the people, could get us all out of the wilderness. It is preposterous and criminal for those banks to draw money from the United States government at 3 per cent, in terest “to assist the farmers In mar keting their cotton crop” and then give It to merchants and manufac turers, and then If some few farmers are fortunate enough to be able to put up the proper collateral charge them 6 per cent, and 8 per cent. Secretary McAdoo has the machin ery already started in motion to print all the paper money necessary and will issue it to the banks on proper collateral. Congress has already dla-- charged Its duty far better than our State legislatures. In fact the presi dent and the secretary of the treas ury dare not do more than they have already proposed to dor- - -- There are certain things the na tional government can do and ought tq do, but as usual there are dema gogues among pur public men who are making wild proposal Such men are public enemies and ought to be “sat on.-'* Let tbe State legislature do its duty and the national government may be depended on to perform its. We can stem the tide if we all work together, but many wild and imprac- tlsitble schemes ought to he abandon ed- promptly and not talked about longer. Action is what is needed, and not se -mawy weeds. — Likely to Endorse Scheme for ' / _ • , - - Handling the Cotton Crop. The federal reserve board took stepo Tuesday to give its approval to the plan proposed by bankers of the Middle West to relieve the cotton market through a $150,040,‘000 loan fund Festus J. Wade o£ St. Louis and other bankers who helped form the plan were asked to go to Wash ington for a conference as soon as convenient and it is possible that the plan will receive the approval of the board before the close of the present week. The board appointed Gov. Hamlin. Paul M. Warburg and W. P. G. Hard ing members of a committee to talk with the bankers. Althodfch hoard members have no knowledge of the details of the plan it was believed that in principle it was agreeable and that unless there are unlooked for obstacles it will be indorsed. It was understood that the plan will meet the approval of Secretary McAdoo. Mr. McAdoo received a tel egram from Festus J. Wade of St. Louis announcing that he would sekA as soon as possible a statement set- tibg forth the plan in detail. The plan referred to was proposed by a conference of St. Louis bankers and was ratified by a subsequent con ference of bankers from cotton grow ing states. The plan Is approved in a general sense by nine Southern hankers who had been asked by Secretary McAdoo to-attend the conference with St. Louis bankers, providing for the rais ing of the fund by subscription from national and State banks, trust com panies and mercantile and manufac turing companies throughout the country. “Ft must be distinctly understood,” declared Festus J. Wade, chairman of the St. Louis Clearing House as-„ sociatlon and originator of the plao. ’ “that this Is not a movement for the purchase of cotton. It is simply a movement to make available a fund of $150,000,000, to loan on cotton at not to exceed 6c a pound, middling basis. Two weeks ago Mr. Wads called a conference of the heads pf nine St. Louis mercantile houses and banks and Submitted to them his plan for raisin ga fund of'9160,000.000 to loan in the cotton states and cotton manufacturing ceotraa. The plan then was submitted to Secretary Mc Adoo and to the federal raeenre board. I FEARFUL SLAUGHTER. Doctor Set Gap Walls of Dr. Neville M. Hopkins of Wash ington has been with the French Rad Cross o nthe battlefield. In describ ing his experience be says: “I was first under fire while I had the head of a wounded French soldier in my lap dressing a gaping wound in his Jaw. Shrapnel burst overhead, but none of the missiles hit either of us. For an hour after that I was usder fire and the noise and the sights of the battlefield almost resulted la my complete physical collapse. I saw hundreds of men torn to pieces in a few seconds. Horses were wiped from sight by the terrific artil lery fire of the Germans, and wagons containing ammunition and provi sions were blown Into fragments. I could see the ranks filled one moment and in the next a gaping hole had been torn out and fifty men had dis appeared.” FIND DEAD NEGliO. THIRTY RED CROSS AUTOS. Americans INirchase Additional Am bulances for Battlefield. Thirty automobile ambulances are to be added to the 24 which the American ambomnee corps now has in service in Paris. The cost of these is to be underwritten by five Ameri cans who do not wish to have their names made known. Arrangements will be made for - the ambulances to go to the battlefield and pick up the wounded under fire or after nightfall where the danger is not too great. «!' Buzzards Attract Attention of Pass- ersby to Decomposed Body. The badly decomposed body of a colored man, about 20 years of age, was found late Wednesday afternoon in a corn field of E. C. Bruce, near the southern limits of Bamberg. Cot ton pickers were attracted to the spot by carrion crows at the body. The face and head had been partly de stroyed by the buzzards, but the body was identified as that of Walter Ken nedy who is said to have been to a party of gamblers who were raided by the police Saturday night. Several shots were fired and it la believed by some that the negro was shot and ran away to the spot where the body was found and there fell' and died, but no gunshot wounds could be found about the body, and nothing has developed thus far to substantiate this belief. ^ Vary truly yours, (Signed) " .B. R. Tillmah. Roumanian King Passes Away. King 'Charles, the first King of Romania, died Saturday. Whan wal- lachia and Moldavia threw off the Turkish yoke in 1866. he was elected •roTutt Trwtfwui.——'— 1 j Belgrade Still Holds Out. After being shelled for eleven weeks Belgrade, the Servian casltal. still hold* out. * jprttish Airships Loot.:' ' The British aviators who destroyed. the German dirigible Friday return ed to Antwerp bnt landed In the Una bf-fire. both of the demolished.