Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

r-W ( SUBMARINES SINK IIMM KNITS LOSS It HI fitllANSIIFS NO CHANGES IN THE WAS Russians Continue Their Offensive in Best Prussia While Austrians As- snil Their Trenches in Galicia and Bukoufina—Fleet Battering Dar- Danelles. London reports on Friday an ad miralty statement confirmed the sink ing o£ a Gertaan submarine by de stroyers r.nd said another rammed by the British collier Thordis, probably also had been destroyed. The text of the statement follows: The steamship Thordis has been ex amined in dry dock and injuries to her keel and to her propeller con firm the evidence of Captain Bell and the crew that on the 28th of Feb ruary the vessel rammed and in all probability sank a German subma rine which had fired a torpedo at her. Thursday afternoon the German submarine U-8 was sunk in the ^han sel off Dover by destroyers; the of- fleers and men were tafyyi prisoners." London reports: Even should no decisive battle develop from the pres ent Russian offensive, the allies claim the Austro-German spring campaign plans in the east have been measur ably interfered with. A few weeks ago Field Marshal vpn Hindenberg was sweeping victorious ly through northern Poland, while in the south the Austrians were press ing forward in both Galicia and Buk- •wina. Now Russian troops are at tacking from the Niemen to the Vis tula and although the Germans are •Unking tenaciously to their positions before Cssowetz and at other points north of the Vistula, their thrust to ward Warsaw bas been brought to a standstill and they are being forced slowly back to thpir own frontier. News dispatches say that in the south the Austrians continue to fling themselves with great bravery against the Russian lines. These on slaughts are costing the attackers enormous losses, but the Russian general staff declare they have brought no gains. The German con tingent in the Carpathians has been reduced to three army corps, accord ing to report, leaving the Austrian forces to bear the brunt of the fight- tag. Meantime, the allied fleets are bat taring their way slowly up the Dar danelles without, so far as is known, a single serious loss among the ships. The sultan of Turkey, says an Athens dispatch, has fled from Constantino ple, but that has not been confirmed, and reports from Turkish sources, no tably an interview with Enver Pasha, depreclatd the seriousness of the Dar danelles bombardment and Insist that tbs real defenses of the straits have aot been affected. It can be said that from the Brit ish viewpoint, the situation, wherever fighting is going on, is taken as fav orable. The South African rebellion has been crushed; the Turkish inva sion of Egypt seemingly has been abandoned; reports from the east are encouraging; no adverse news re garding the operations against the Dardanelles yet has been received, and the blockade on foodstuffs into Germany is about to be enforced. In the west the Germans, Judg ing from dispatches are fighting hard to recover the ground lost during the last fortnight. Near Arras they have forged ahead somewhat, but the allies report progress, both in the Cham pagne and the Argonne. TO DO NOTHING NOW V. 8. MAKES NO MOVE IN DIPLO MATIC TANGLE. JOHNSON SELECTED. Washington Patiently Awaiting An swer to Its Five Unanswered Notes of Protest. The publication of the official text of the German reply to the American proposals for a cessation of subma rine warfare and for free shipment of foodstuffs to civilian populations of belligerents vtaa the only step taken by the United States govern ment Thursday in counection with the maritime situation as its affects neutrals. The State department declined to give out the text of the American proposals because they still are under consideration by Great Britain and her allies. Until some reply is re ceived from the allies it is unlikely that any further move will be made by the United States, though prepa ration of a protest on Great Britain’s declaration of an embargo on com merce between Germany and neutrals has begun. Reports from London that Great Britain was solicitous about Ameri can opinion on her declaration of a commercial embargo were read with much interest Thursday. Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the British ambassador, called on Secretary Garrison, and it was reported he had sought unoffi cially to learn Mr. Garrison’s views. The secretary of war would not dis cuss his conference with the British ambassador beyond saying it watt un official. With the adjournment of congress it generally is believed President Wil son and the cabinet will give almost exclusive attention to the foreign sit uation. Replies to various diplomatic notes from the belligerents are expected to be taken up within a few days. The United States has pending five sepa rate negotiations, all related to the subject of maritime warfare and the rights of neutrals. First. Great Britain’s preliminary observations and the complete reply to the American protest of December 28, concerning the treatment 'of American commerce, has not been an ■wered. Second. Great Britain's reply to the American warning against the measure of responsibility that would seem to be imposed should American vessels be attacked on account of fic titious use of neutral flags has not been answered. The statement of the American position in this note prob ably will not be reiterated, but the United States Is expected to stand on the warning already given. Third. Germany’s reply to the note from the United States stating that Germany would be he(d to a strict accountability for any attacks on American vessels or lives In the new marine war cone has been left unanswered. This, too, probably will be continued in further correspond ence only insofar gs it relates to the general situation, the warning being regarded as adequately conserving American rights. Fourth. The proposals from the United States to Germany and Great Britain for the removal of mines, the abandonment of submarine warfare on merchant ships and an arrange ment by which the civilian population of belligerents may import food if the distribution is supervised by American organizations or agencies, has been answered by Germany alone. An answer from Great Britain la still awaited. Fifth. ' The American government has under consideration the most re cent note from Great Britain and France to all neutral governments announcing that the allies would hold themselves at liberty to stop all com merce between Germany and neutral countries. A reply to this communi cation Is under consideration. CQNGRmS MR AFTER BfDIf IR SESSION FOI NEARLY TVO TEARS MANY PATHETIC SCENES Speaker Clark Overwhelmed by Ex- pcessions of Regard—Mann and Underwood Receive Laudatory En comiums—Much Business Rushed Through on Last Day. President Determines to Appoint Leg islator a Federal Judge. Representative Joseph T. Johnson of Spartanburg has been selected by President Wilson, according to a Washington dispatch, for the new federal Judgeship in South Carolina created by congress shortly before Adjournment. He was endorsed by members of the South Carolina con gressional delegation. Former Gov. John Gary Evans also has been sug gested. Endorsements of all kinds for tho new federal Judgeships in Georgia and South Carolina were laid out to public view at the department of Jus tice Friday as requested by the acts creating the positions, passed during the closing hours of congress. It was the first time such a thing had been done in the history of the American Judiciary. More than 2,000 persons endorsed W. W. Lambdin, appointed district Judge in Georgia, and many individ ual endorsements were posted for candidates for the Judgeship in South Carolina. ♦ » ♦ — 182 MINERS BURIED. Terrific Explosion Causes Entomb ment of Many Foreigners. After nearly twelve hours’ work rescuers early Tuesday night had brought out alive only six of the 182 miners entombed by an explosion in the Layland mines of the New River and Pocahontas Consolidated Coal company, near Quinnimont, W. Va. The force of the explosion was ter rific. The stone arch over the main ^ftfrance of the workings was d<* ^^Beyed; windows within a 300-yard . ^Kdlus were broken and the shock Waa felt for miles Around. A. B. Cooper, who waa delivering groceries to a tiouse within seventy' five yards of the mine entrance, was blown a gainst a telegraph pole and killed. Gnard linee have been estab lished about the workings and only wncnsre are permitted within them. Company nWeials ref one to gTrt out AMERICAN NOTE PRAISED. Meets With Warm Approval Among Italian Government. The ientical ijote of the American government to Germany and Great Britain meets with general praise both in the political world and in the newspapers of Italy. The GLor- nale dTtalia expresses the hope that it may be the first step toward fur ther negotiations which will lead to pourparlers for an ultimate under standing. Pope Benedict was greatly interest ed in the document and reqfrested Cardinal Gasparri to send him the text and also the German reply. He also had Cardinal Gasparri Inquire at the British legation to the Holy See as to what the British attitude would be. Sir Henry Howard, the British minister, replied that he had nothing to say on the subject, f t t t TOOK ALL CASH IN SIGHT. After two years of almost continu ous session, the 63rd congress, wh^ch revised the tariff and the currency system of the nation, supplemented the trust laws, created an income tax and demonstrated the first popular election of United States senators, ended at noon Thursday. When gavels fell In the House and Senate, signalizing {he adjournment, they signalled the close of half of President Wilson’s administration, the first under domination of the Democratic party since 1895. Stren uous scenes enlivened the fading hours devoted chiefly to completing the appropriations for subsistence of the government. Two important measures, the post office and Indian supply bills, failed in the final legislative rush, after desperate efforts had been made to have them. In the emergency occa sioned by their failure joint resolu tions were passed and signed by the president continuing in force appro priations of the present year. While tired senators and repre sentatives were devoting their ener gies to final essentials. President Wilson spent more than an hour in his room at the capitol, surrounded by his cabinet, signing the last fruits of legislation. 4 The president found time in the mfdst of this task to greet senators and representatives, and he made the occasion entirely one of congratulation, making no reference to projects which had failed. Scores of members of both houses Joined in an exodus from Washing ton, taking with them assurances that no extra session of congress would be called, at least before fall. De spite the fact that many Important bills failed of consideration because of the long filibuster against the ship purchase bill, it was generally under stood congress would be given a rest and the country a respite from legis lation It was regarded as extremely probable, however, that the 64th con gress would be summoned in Octo ber In order to be able to adjourn for the political conventions and Na tional Convention of 1916. Other Imporymt measures, which died with the end of congress along with the ship purchase bill, were the PhllHpplne enlarged self-government bill, rural credits legislation, the bill to prohibit interstate commerce In goods manufactured by child labor, and the conservation bills. A reso lutlon, which contemplated an Inves tigation Into aenatortal campaigns In Pennsylvania, Illinois and other states, which had been recommended by a Senate committee, also failed. Little general legislation was car ried in the appropriation bills. The post office bill, which failed to pass, contained more new legislation than any other measure. Before adjournment congress pro vided for several important investiga tions to be carried on during recess A committee will continue the in quiry into alleged lobbying in connec tion with the ship purchase bill; commission will study rural credits legislation, and Democrats of the Sen ate appointed a special committee to recommend revision of Senate rules with a view to establishing cloture of debate to prevent filibusters. A mass of miscellaneous legisla tion hurried through in the last days included claim bills, public buildings, fish cultural stations, bridge bills and minor amendments to various federal statutes. The appropriations committee be gan tabulating the amounts of the various bills which U'ok money out of the treasurer during the seasslon It will be several days before an accu rate tabulation is made, but the total appropriations are estimated at about $1,120,000,000. The annual appropriation bills which failed caused considerable trouble. After the Indian bill had made its devious ways threugh the Senate It reached the House Just ten minutes before final adjournment, filibuster was Immediately instituted by the Republicans, which forced the withdrawal of the conference report on the bill. Mama for* tkolr aatlriag efforts throughout the long session. In ths closing hoars Preaid sat Wil son signed the seamen’s MU, ths nen- trality resolution empowering him to prevent ships leaving American ports with suppUss for belligerent war ships. promoted Col. Ooethals to be a major general for his services as buildsr of ths Panama canal and gave promotions to other officers associat ed with the work. In the Senate several members, long prominent national figures, among them Senators Root and Bur ton, stepped back Into private life aa the curtain fell. In the House Dem ocratic Leader Underwood said good bye, to sit In the next Senate, and three score or more other members retired. At the request of Republican Leader Mann Speaker Clark turned the chair over to Progressive Leader Murdock. Tber< Republican leader then eulogized the "able and loved speaker," and the House passed with a chwjr a resolution thauking Speak er Clark on behalf of the entire mem bership for his services during the congress. The, speaker-, then resumed his place and began a speech of thanks. The multiplicity of honors and kind nesses that this House has heaped on me goes straight to my.heart,” he said, but got no further, for his voice broke and his eyes filled with tears. In-the Senate some of the senators who are retiring from public life made farewell addresses. A fare well letter from Senator Thornton, who has been too 111 for several days to be present In the Senate, was pre sented by Senator Kern. President Wilson meantime work ed steadily in his room consulting members of his cabinet and senators briefly about each bill and signed many measures in quick succession. Among the frost Important were the neutrality resolution passed early Thursday morning, a resolution giv ing medals to the A. B. C. mediators for their work at the Niagara confer ence and the regular appropriation measures. After his return to the White House President Wilson dictated the following statement: A great congress has closed Us sessions. Its work will prove the purpose and quality of its statesman ship more and more the longer it Is tested. ‘Business has new a time of calm and thoughtful adjustment before If, disturbed only by the European war. The circumstances created by the war pot the nation to a special test, a test of its true character and of ita self- control. "The constant thought of every pa triotic man should now be for the country, its peace, its order, Us Just and tempered Judgment in the face of perplexing difficulties. Ita dignity and ita strength alike will appear not Robbers Capture Automobile and Make Escape. Robbers Tuesday morning held up Cashier Wallace, of the Bank of Stuart, Fla., and took all cash in sight, which was about $40,000. Es caping from the bank, the robbers overhauled a passing automobile and jeommanded the driver, Frank Coven try, to take them, south, which he did at a sixty-mile clip.. At Port Sewell they ordered a halt, but In leaving the machine One of the robber’s revolver was accidentally ex ploded, the bullet entering his Jaw. This did not, however, prevent the escape of the robbers. Coventry was ordered to i^turn to Stuart, where he reported to the authorities where he had left the robbers. Posses are now sconring the country for there. Killed Boy In Drunk cm Rag* Frank Shilling, while In a drunken freaay. at Lenin to. Ark., U is claimed by often™, Saterday shed sad killed Grover Starkey, 19, When Us I da nghlnsf asking a 4 from Representative Moon of Tennes see, chairman of the post office com mittee. He declared his committee had not been consulted regarding the abandonment of the bill and that the Joint resolution had teen put through the House in his absence. “Representatives of railroad 1 inter ests and railroad attorneys," he said "have been active at both ends of the capitol in their efforts to prevent the passage of this bill." Representative Fitzgerald declared the decision to abandon the measure ha-d been reached only after it be came apparent that it could not pass and that Representative Moon was fully cognizant of the)circumstances "May I be permitted to say." said the vice-president in closing the sea slon, "that when I came here two years ago it was the first time l ever set my foot inside of a legislative hall. I know that I have made mis takes. errors, sometimes of the head but, thsnk pod. I can look von in the face and say to you that there never has been an error of ths heart.*’ .. la the Houae Speaker Clark deltv ered a formal farewell to here and reaoleMoma wus thaektar the speaker. Majority TEXT GIVEN Mil iiTEinm miuau nni unTvmftiun POSH COAL I QUESTIONS ANSVEIEI Conforms la Main Details to Early Summary Already Published— Government Appears to be Ready to Aid In Ameliorating Conditions Dangerous to Neutrals. The official text of Germany’s re ply to the American note suggesting that Germany and Great Britain agree on a plan to lessen danger to neutral shipping in the war zone was made pubAc at Washington Thurs day. It follows: "The Imperial German government has taken note with greatest Interest of the suggestion of the American government for certain principles for the conduct of maritime war ou the part of Germany and England be agreed upon lor the protection of neutral shipping. They see therein new evidence of the friendly feelings of the American government toward the German government, which are fully reciprocated by Germany, "It la In accordance with Ger many’s wishes also to have maritime war conducted according to rules which without dlscrlminately restrict ing one or the other of the belliger ent powers in the use of their means of warfare are equally considerate of the interests of neutrals and the dic tates of humanity. Consequently it waa intimated in the German note of the 16th inatant that observation of the declanttoa of London in the pert of Germany's adversaries would cre ate a new sttuatlin from which ths German government would gladly draw the proper conclusions. "Proceeding from this view the German government has carefully ex amined the suggestion of the Ameri can government and believe that they can actually see in it a aultable basis for the practical solution of the quee- tions which have arisen. "With regard to the various points of the Amerllan note they beg to make the following remarks: "First. With regard to the sow ing of trines ths German government would U. willing to agree aa suggest ed not to use floating mines and to have anchored mines constructed as indicated. Moreover, they agree to only in the revival of Its business, da- *o’ ern ®*nt on spite abnormal conditions but also In * mines to be planted On the Its powerdo think to purpose and to act with patience, with disinterested fairness and without excitement, in n apirit of friendliness and enlighten ments which will firmly establish its Influence throughout the world." For many moments before adjourn ment there was a lull in the Senate. Senator Simmons paid a tribute to Senator Perkins of California, whose term ended at noon. Senator Per kins sat for a moment in contempla tion of the tribute. Then he slowly half rose from his seat, feebly waved hts hand toward the North Carolina senator and his colleaguss In a ges ture of‘farewell and took his seat again, too overcome with emotion to apeak. Senator Galllnger offered a resolu tion o! thanks to Vice-President Mar shall for his services as presiding of ficer of the Senate. The search of the calendars dis closed occasional signs of life among the many bills and resolutions repos ing there, and from time to time messengers burdened with those that had passed one house tramped through the corridors of the capitol to report the fact to the other. Vlr tually all of these were private claims bills or measures of a purely local na ture. As the roll of the more important bills was called requests of "let it go over" from the floor sent them one by one into the legislative graveyard. They must be reintroduced if they are to be renewed In the 64th con gress. Crowned galleries are the rule in the last hours of any congress, and every seat among the spectators' bench was filled until a late hour Wednesday night. The crowds Ijegan to return early Thursday, hoping for some unusual development to award their patience The House at 4:20 took a fifteen- minute recess and the members then organized the usual chorus and sang songs. Including "Good-bye, My Lov er, Good-bye," “Way Down Yonder in the Cornfield,’’ “Annie Laurie, etc. Representative Heflin of Ala bama amused the members by telling negro stories. When the recess was taken the House had been In con- The joint resolution which contin ued the current post office a^proprla- . tion bills brought forth a protest 8es ? lo “ for e, 8 hteen hour8 and fifty minutes. MANY STILL SHUT UP IN MINE. Bodies Recovered 'Slfow Men Met Death by Suffocation. Rescue parties Wednesday con tinued their efforts to penetrate the workings of tho Layland mine of the New River and Pocahontas Consoll dated Goal company at Hinton, W Va., where 182 men were efitombed by an explosion Tuesday, but Wed nesday night only four additional bodies had been brought to the sur face. This increased the total known dead to 14. Rescuers said that the farther they advanced In the mine the greater waa the destruction by the explosion The work of brattlcing the main en planted. other hand. It does not appear to them to be feasible f r the belliger ents wholly to forego tile nse of an chored mines for offensive purposes. Second. Tho German government would undertake not to use their sub marines to attack mercantile veeesls of any flag except when necessary to enforce the right of visit and search. Should the enemy nationality of tho 1 or ths presence of contraband be ascertained submarines would pro ceed in accordance with the general rules of International law. Third. Aa provided In the Ameri can note thin restriction of the nse of the submarines is contingent on the fact that enemy mercantile shlpa ab stain from the nse of the neutral flag and other neutral distinctive marks. It would appear to be a matter q} course that such mercantile vessels also abstain from arming themselves and from all resistance by force, alnce such procedure contrary to interna tional law would render Impossible any action of the submarines In ac cordance with international law ‘Fourth. The regulation of legiti mate importations of food Into Ger many suggested by the American gov ernment appears to be lu general ac ceptable. Such regulation would, of coujae, be couflucd to importations by sea, but this would, on the other han<L include indirect importations by u/ay of neutral ports. “The German government would, therefore, be willing to make declara tions of the natuire provided in the American note so that the use of the imported food and foodstuffs solely by the non-combatant population would be guaranteed. The Imperial government must, however, In addi tion, emphasize having the importa tion of other raw material used by the economic system of non-combat ants, including forage, permitted. To that end the enemy governments would have to permit the free entry into Germany of the raw material mentioned in the free list of the dec laratlon of London and to treat mate rials Included In the list of condition al contraband according to the same principles as food and foodstuffs The German government ventures to hope that the agreement for which the American government have paved the way may be reached after due consideration of the remarks made above and this way peaceable neutral shipping and trade will not have to suffer any more than is absolutely necessary from the unavoidable ef fects of maritime war. These effects could be still further reduced, If, as was pointed out in the German note of the 1 nth'inSTant, some way could be fqnnd to exclude the shipping of munitions of war from neutral coun tries to belligerents on ships of any nationality. "The German government must, of course, reserve a definite statement of their position until such Mm* as they may receive further information from the American 4 government enab ling them to see what obligations, the British government are on their part willing to assume." said it would be several days before the mine was clear of afterdamp. Honk by Mines. 4 ’ ■ Washington received Friday a sup plementary report en the ftsktai the Carib sad the Evelyn. The sb mere off Charges that Iks Southern Railway " had discriminated against certain Ap palachian coal fields in ths interests of a "coal trust" were referred ta the interstate commerce commission tot investigation in a report publish ed at Washington Thursday by the Sonata subcommittee that investigat ed them, the report held that only a question of rates was involved. The sub-committee’s tnvssttgation resulted from a resolution toy Senator Tillman. Extended hearings were held, at which B. L. Dulaney, on In dependent operator of Bristol. Tens., r charged that the Southern had cut off the natural outlet for coal from his section by maintaining prohlbittvo rates to Atlantic ports sooth of Nor folk. In its report the subcommittee said Dulaney had produced much evi dence against the reasonableness of these rates, but added that the South ern had had no opportunity to pro- sent Ita aide of the case because ex haustion of the funds appropriated for the Investigation ended ths hear ings. The subcommittee recommended that since the entire question now was before the Intentate commerce commission, no appropriation be made for further hearings. The report concluded as follows: "It Is unquestionably true that the rates In the territory covered by the Southern railway are higher than the rates on coal from the Helds reached by the Pennsylvania. Baltimore ft Ohio, Norfolk A Western. Chesapeake A Ohio and all connecting linee tm West Virgin In. "It is not surprising that cosn- plalnta should exist of the high rates In the Southern territory by rassen of the fact that coal abounds from Alabama to the West Virginia mines and the fields, generally speaking, run parallel to and about equally dla- tan t from the Atlantic seaboard. It seems beyond dispute that the terri tory lying between the coal fields and the Atlantic ocean onght to enjoy reasonable rates upon coal and that It ought not to be necessary for the pons south of Cape Hatteras to be compelled to pay the combined rati and water rates now existing In order to receive this necessary commodity. "The Southern railway system was established la lt»4 and extends Into the coal fields from Alabama to southern Virginia. It has not de veloped as a coal carrying read an have other railroads that reach the eoel fields. "The reasons tor Its failure to do so eaa not be determined upon n par tial Investigation. Indoad tha rea sons may ba so Important If tha pol icy hereafter shall be. aa stated by the general counsel of the company, to give to the movement of eonl of the South Atlantic ports and Into tho territory served by the Southern Rail- ' way company every reasonable facili ty which the resources of the com pany will permit. Since this Investigation began tha Southern railway haa commenced the construction of coal docks at Char leston, 8. C. It In claimed by Mr. Dulaney that the InsUltatlon of these facilities haa been due to this Inves tigation. The Southern, on the other hand, contends that It had made ar rangements to supply this outlet for coal before the resolution providing for the Investigation was considered. Regardless of what the trnth may he with reference to this matter, the fact la that the terminals are being built and the rates on coal hereafter will In all probability be as low M obtained pt Norfolk." APPROVES MEASURE. Manning Carefully Considers the Ap propriation Measures. After going over the appropriation bill carefully, Item by Item, Gov. Manning made this statement: "I find that the interests of tho va rious departments of the State gov ernment have been carefully scruti nized and guarded, and for the first time In years the amount carried by the appropriation bill does not exceed the amount that will be raised by the levy, and that the deficit brought over from last year has been In part provided for. Besides this, the ap propriation for schools have been raised, so that I am satisfied with the measure and will sign it" ♦ . - - , BIG SNOW STORM. Fourteen Inches of Snow Falls to Nebraska. The heaviest snowstorm of tha winter raged over Nebraska, South Dakota Thursday nighu and Friday. Fourteen inches of snow had fallen at Omaha np to early Friday. The temperature has not been severe, and, although there had been some wind, the railroads have kept their lines open. The storm showed few signs of abating Friday.. Reports from west ern Nebraska points said'the snow In that section was Urom 6 to IS Inchon in depth- The storm extended eastward dur ing the day and the weather bureaa said it probably would reach the At lantic coasts — The German government Wednes day Informed Dr. Henry Van Dyke, Amercnn minister to the Netherlands, through the Genaea minister. F. Mueller, that to grant safe Starts Fire. Fira In Mayesville, Sumter county, Sunday night destroyed the town guard house, a Mg frame building, and spread from then to Uvery stables nearby. The tre ws by e negro prisoner to tl houae.