Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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NAVY BETTER ANSWERS CtlTTCS WITH PACTS W nnOVEMENT MOIE EFFICIENT greater ralue In one Important re spect than the well-planned routine, becauee it gave a demonstration of the readiness of the nary In every de partment, afloat and ashore, to meet an urgent call. Ita flexibility was sbouta In adjusting Itself to entirely new and unexpected situations, as well as Its remarkable adapablllty in handling every problem presented to it. "It -must be conceded by all tWst the best school and preparation for of Jfavy Reviews Progress war Is war itself, and it was almost •- , „ I under this condition that our fleet Hi* Department and Compares _ cte< i j n proceeding almost In a day a Two Years to What Taft K° Mexican waters The stay at Vera | Cruz, however, did not prevent prac- Repnblicans Did—More Rffl- tice, for the ships individually or In divisions, during a great part of the time held tactical manoeuvres, tor- ■m - „ , . _ . , .. pedo-provlng practice and subcalibre Becretary Daniels Sunday njKht | n preparation for target prac- oade public a letter he has written tlCe riant and Less Extravagant. Advance Vonc Material. "For many years, officers have written and talked about the forma tion of advance base material and to President Garfield of Williams Col- [Sge, detailing the work In the navy g the last two years. Mr. Dan- | tola wroto in reply to Mr. GarfleWs request for material to meet state- fnents that the United States is un-! the practice of exercising landing prepared for military emergencies, parties of seamen and marines in the - lito letter follows: | use of this important adjunct to ‘IMy Dear President GuMTd: I; naval warfare. Congress approprint- am in receipt of your -recent favor jod money for this important plan of •iking for an authoritative state-[ cam pal gn, but never until January of IQent concerning the present status of 1 last year was the navy thus exercis- the navy equipment of the United'ed. There had been plenty of talk, ittates.- and take pleasure In com- but not until January of last year ig with your request as far as was it undertaken. Then, under in- ►atlbie. structions from the department, Ad- “There are now In active service. • mlral Badger carried out a compre- (ully commissioned. 225 vessels of all hensive exercise in which the pro- oharacters, which is 36 more than fessional advantages gained by offi- were fully commissioned when I be- cers and men were inestimable. Three mine secretary. There are also 1011 months after this extensive practice WMMls of various types in reserve •ad In ordinary and uncommissioned, capable of rendering service in war We k*** under construction and au thorized 77 vessels (9 dreadnoughts, 23 destroyers. 38 submarines and 7 auxiliaries), which were under con- bra. had been given for the first time in our navy, the same fleet, and the same men were called upon to land at Vera Cruz, and in the taking of that city the navy carried out tider fire what had been learned at Culo- structlon on March 1, 1913. ’’All the vessels enumerated, those ta active service and those In reserve, arc supplied with munitions of war. No navy makes public the quantity of ammunition and torpedoes, mines and other Implements of naval warfare which It koeps ready. It may be said, however, that within the last two pears the quantity of AH- has been ataadily and greatly Increased. For eaample, we have increhsed the num ber of mines, on hand and In process of manufacture, by 24 4 per cent. With reference to torpedoes the in crease in two years hat been 90 per ‘ These details are given because every man knows that the efficiency of the navy depends upon constant practice, but nobody in the navy thinks anything like perfection has been reached, and constant study and work are pursued with the aim of continued improvement. If the fleet was efficient in any degree halnre.Ad mirals Badger and Fletcher carrtod out the drills thus detailed. It is much more efficient to-day, and it will be made more ready every year. All that capable and trained officers and men can do to accomplish this steady Improvement is being dono. at. By the enlargement of the'Only the uninformed or the partisan ,naval powder factory we shall soon deny the steady improvement of the “vbe able almost to double its former (past two years, thanks chiefly to capacity, and like enlargement of the Rear Admiral Badger and Admiral torpedo works and the equipment of Fletcher a plant to construct mines will still farther Increase, at decreased cost, the quantity of such stock, and in the possession of these plants In times of emergency will enable the department to be in a better state of preparedness as regards the supply of ammunition than ever before. Pareuaaet of Navy. "The personnel of the navy Is at present composed of 4,335 line, staff ani warrant officers and 53,17 en listed men. Increased in the number of officers Is dependent almost en tirely upon the output of the naval academy, admission to which Is re stricted by statute. The number of SB listed men also Is restricted, and the navy U to-day recruited to the maximum strength allowed. There "But, you say. how about equip ment and preparation for military emergencies? What has been done since Wilson s inauguration to make jtho navy stronger In ships, in ammu nltlon, in mines, In torpedoes? These questions aro of the utmost impor tance. Let me answer thorn briefly. Building of HhJpn. "First, as to ships: During the last two years of the Taft administration, congress authorised the construction of two dreadnoughts to cost about 313,000,000 each. During the first two years of the Wilson admtnlstra tlon, upon my recommendation, con gress authorized the construction of five dreadnoughts, to cost about |14, 000,000. Stated in dollars, the Wil son administration In its first two completed or in course of manufac- out well trained turn. Therefore. wRh T What has the Wilson administration done as to value were necessarily omitted. The emergency eipcrlon6e»JtoWMd£ef-a. ^ _ _ year of stress and strata was of far month*, the supply of torpedoes will personnel? It is n pleasure to toll be almost double. Upon my recom- you that for the first time In years mendation, congress has enlarged the the enlistment in up to the limit pre- torpedo plant nt Newport. R. I„ more scribed by law and part of the year than trebling its capacity, and the we have'had a waiting list. Since I cost of manufacturing torpedoes has became secretary of the navy we have been reduced from $4,202.11 to $3,- increased the enlistment 5,824 men, 24‘5.72 each. The reduction hob al* i enabling us to commission fully 20 ready effected a saving of |82«,70*. submarines. 4 battleships, 4 destroy- "As to mines and mining: During ers, 6 gunboats, 6 cruisers and 3 the last two years unprecedented pro- j monitors, increasing the total num- gress has been made in the expansion ber of commissioned vessels by 41 of our mining equipment. This was over the number commissioned on begun and was well under way.be-; March 1* 1*13. I regard this as a fore the last congress met. The navy Is not, as many suppose, charged with the mining of our harbors. That is a function of the ahmy. The ex great achievement, particularly since the navy had not formerly been able to secure enough men, to fill the quota. It has been secured, too. tent of the mining operations of thO | without letting down the standard navy Is confined to the immediate f or admission, which has been main ... ' , _ _ - . BSJU aUIUlUIBU OlIUU iu 1 IB li I B V l vv t are now with the color * • ) .*24 more y e4r8> authorized seventy million dol * n increase of 12 per cent. . i ar# to be spent on the chief flghtinf than there were on March 1, 1914 “liy professional training a* a Journalist has always Inclined roe to tha conviction that any officer, with- ta the nary, should feel free to ex press bis opinion in regard to matters In the service; and there is not an of spent on the chief fighting force of the navy, a* against twenty- six million authorized during the last two years of Taft’s; stated In num bers, it authorized five dreadnoughts Instead of two; and stated in effec tiveness, the five dreadnoughts au thorized under Wilson will mount fleer who commands a ship to-day t thirty-six more 1 4-Inch guns than the who could or would say that his ship, !t wo authorized under Mr. Taft without or within, was not as good as It Was two years ago. or that the of- who command it and the crews "Second, as to submarines: These wonderful agencies o( war h^ve as- „i .. tonished the world in the present m * a lt K * re “ ot “ th ? r °*^ y * d 8 * European, conflict. The Sixty-third eiplined, sober, lojal and efr,c ' en l as 1 con g re#8> elected with Mr. Wilso y ears ag0 or as tlle y ( adopted my recommendation to give •wit flag boen. us a || the mone y r could for sub- ‘The Atlantic \eet has just return- marines. It ordered the construction ed from Guantanamo, where it has 0 f three sea-going submarines, the for many years held its annual win-1 largest ever authorized by any coun- ter practices. This year more bat- try i mid twenty-three submarines of tlMhlps and destroyers have partici- J tbe same size and type which have pated in the manoeuvers, and for a such fearful execution in the present lOBger period, than ever before. I war. These submarines will cost 'Under the direction of Admiral Fletcher, upon plans evolved at the Naval War college and approved by th« department, the fleet has been $16,260,000. Now what was done during tlfe last two years under Taft? Twelve submarines, to cost $7,968,- 936, were authorized. Some of our busied in tactics to try out it effi-' submarines are not as perfect as they clency and readiness. All reports tell' should be, nor are the submarines of of the enthusiasm of officers and men j any other nation. Under this admin- ta this practice and the splendid rec-| istration, however, the board of in- ord made by the ships. The fleet is spections has adopted stricter tests how in Tangier Sound and on the | before accepting submarines from southern drill grounds, where it will j contractors. Nobody has, as yet, per- be busy in target practice until May, fected a satisfactory engine or satis- when it moves to New York for a! factory battery for submarines. Up- week’s well-earned leave. Then will on my invitation, Mr. Edison, last come the review at New York, fol- year, at the New York navy yard, lowed by manoeuvres In Narragan-j went down Into a submarine and sett Bgjt reglon, and finally the r£| closely studied its eyery feature. He Hampton Roads prior to sallrj thinks he has a battery that will meet trough the Panama Canal to the need. Our tests at the Brooklyn Pacific en route to the Exposi- navy yard cause us to believe Mr. at San Francisco. Strenuous Practices. Edison has the right principle. With out waiting for the completion of his "These spring practices followed ^ att ® r >- he has b ® en ^’en an order »»- . f . , . . .. -I for two, one to be putr into an old th® heels v * i ; if. and tactics In October No-j ^ b " iarir ! e ’ accepted before March 4 iber and December last. This was ; ^ r,108e battery does not give >ed strenuous practice, but it ls satisfaction and one for a new sub- way the navy is kept fit and 1 ! rta 4 r ‘" e - wbich ^ ba '; e 1 ? rdered bui 1 ready, and the new admiral in com- mand of the fleet and the department (Banned such extensive evolutions be- cause the only way that the navy can > * v .u v be always prepared is by practice and ^ P av> yari to bl i d submarines, and practice, and then more practice. Th1»[V competition between private, and •tail* government construction it is hoped that every obotacle will be overcome. As to Torpedoes. Private firms building submaeines have not given entirb satisfaction. We have equipped the Portsmouth simple statement of the operations of - R°vernmen t j^nstruction the best, answers I can give to your question as to the ffffvy’s prepared ness. The necessity of keeping ships “Third, as to torpedoes: A state- in Mexico last year nedied Admiral ment has been put in circulation that Badger the opportunity for as long ( the navy Is not making adequate pro as hs had wisely planned, | vjslon to supply Itself with torpedoos. the sudden call for the expedi-; The only answer I can make Is to to Vera Crus demanded and ex-1 state the fact that we either have on anasual service to which the' hand or have placed orders for all sded with an alacrity and (.the torpedoes the general board pre- ■' ‘ amply justify the, arrihea - to-toto- sdmlnirtreeisn ‘ there exists Inc backward iu this respect! It tastltutioa! would not be proper to make public vy. Borne the number of torpedoes we have on of the ; hand, but this much may be said: •f ffoiac for vicinity of the fleets and such min ing as may be necessary on the high seas. For the execution of this work and a further study and development of mines and mining the navy now hay three ships: The San Francisco and Baltimore, mine layers and mine depot ships, and the Dubuque, mine training ship. The general board as early as 19o8 recognized the need of mine depot vessels and recommended the conversion of two old cruisers for this purpose. The same year, con gress authorized the conversion of the San Francisco and Baltimore. Work was started on the San Fran cisco June 12, 1908, but was not completed until December 2, 1911. Work on the Baltimore was not start ed until April 5, 1913, and was com pleted April 1, 915. As to mine sweepers, a dlvistan of torpedo boats have recently been equipped with mine-sweeping gear and the destroy er tender carries mine sweeping gear for a division of destroyers operat ing with the fleet. Additional gear is being supplied. At Pensacola dur ing the winter, the San Francisco and submarine flotilla have been operat ing Jointly In mining exercises. Tha department has begun the manufac ture of mines and in a short time will have thirty-one mines for every nine it had two years ago, increasing out stock 244 per cent. By manu facturing mines at a government sta tion 1^ lieu of purchasing them, a saving of $178,750 has been effected. Bureau of Ordnance. "As to guns: The bureau of ord- nanee has developed -a-14-Inch bun that will shoot farther, shoot stralghter and hit harder than any gun now in use or known to be de signed by a foreign country. Based upon former current prices In con tracts for guns and gun forgings we have saved $280,425.33 ‘As to powder: Uupon my recom mendation, congress increased the capacity of the navy powder factory at Indian Head. When the extension now under way is completed, the ca pacity will be nearly doubled. The cost of manufacture has Incidentally been reduced 2.7 cents per pound, saving already in the cost of powder since manufactured. $150,000 "As to radio: Radio has at last been successfully installed on subma rlnes, and more than 75 other ships, which either had no radio or whose equipment was obsolete, have been supplied with modern equipment. Three entirely new shore stations have been added to the chain: Bal boa (Canal Zone). Great Lakes, Ills., and Tututla. Samoa "As to aircraft: The European war has emphasized the value of aircraft. The navy has lagged behind in this instrument of war. Last year I ap pointed a board of aviation. It rec ommended the utilization of the aban doned navy yard ab Pensacola as a training and repair station for avia tion. and an aviation bureau in the department. This has been done. Upon my earnest recommendation, congress appropriated a million dol lars to begin, upon an elaborate plan, the real development of aviation in the navy. It also approved my re quest to pay aviators an Increase of 50 per cent, and we are organizing a class of capable aviators. To make immediately effective this -feature, three new hydro-aeroplanes have just been purchased, which is but the be ginning of the work of aviation, now well advanced along the lines of a well considered plan. I regard this as one of the most far reaching steps taken by the Wilson administration. Savings Affected. "As to saving effected: All this un precedented increase in the navy has been secured, too, without large in crease in appropriqypns. How? By avoiding unnecessary expenditure ashore, by reducing the cost of work ashore while maintaining its quality and reducing appropriations for en largement of shore stations, by se curing real competition, and by econ omy. Curing the four years of Taft, $21,928,572 was appropriated by con gress for the public works alone of shore stations. Two naval bills have been passed by the present adminis tration, and they carry together, for the public works of shore stations, a total of $3,920,880. We have great ly reduced expenditures ashore and greatly increased them afloat and the above figures attest the change for the better. When I became secre tary, ship^ could be built in only two navy yards; We have equipped or are equipping, five additional navy yards for the construction of navy craft, and this Is being done while at talned, and even raised. For every recruit accepted five were rejected because they did not come up to our high standard. To what is the in crease of our enlistments attributed? The answer is easy: To the establish ment of schools, opportunity to see the world and for promotion afforded enlisted men hitherto denied them. In these two years 13 enlisted men have been appointed as assistant pay masters; 5 as midshipmen at Annap olis and 12 as ensigns. It is true that prior to the Wilson administra tion it was possible for an enlisted man to be promoted to be ensign, but in the four years of the Taft admin istration eleven have qualified. How does this happen? The new policy of education and assistance was put into operation ih 1913. Now everjrambi tious and aspiring young enlisted man is given special instruction when he desires it. Upon my recommenda tion congress passed an act which gives all the positions of pay clerk to those enlisted men who can qualify. This opens 200 more places to en listed men. It is true to-day as never before that a boy may enlist in the navy and by the display of ability be promoted to the grade of admiral. Not only has the enlistment been in creased by 5.82A new recruits, but congress gave us the best reserve bill any nation ever put upon the statute books. While re-enlistments have in creased 12 per cent, desertions have decreased 17 per cent. Another in centive to enlistment is teh new pol icy which leaves an open door to young men to retire from the nary other than throngh the door of Hie’ prison", and likewise ‘the modern methods of treatment who have vio lated rules. # Competent officer*. “With special emphasis I bog you to ask any well-informed man in or out of the service os to the ability and capacity of the various officers whom I have called a* advisor* and to the heads of the bureaua. You will find that the man selected In each bureau is recognized, both in our own and foreign navies, as an able expert in hia line. "One word more: For years there haa been an unsuccesaful Insistence that congress should re-establish the grades of admiral and vice-admiral. I earnestly urged the last congress to create these positions. It author ized three of each. Now American naval officers, while abroad, will no longer be outranked by officers of na tions with Insignificant navies. ‘I have answered your questions at some length. There are two rea sons for the length of my letter: “I. Because theee two years have been epoch-ipaking in the navy, dis tinguished 'by more wise and pro gressive naval legislation and more practical achievement than any pre vious like period (thanks chiefly to a patriotic congress), and "II. Because certain persons, ig norant of their ignorance, and for selfish partisan reasons, have busied themselves with misrepresenting the true condition of the navy, thereby causing some good people to fear that the navy is not now, as in the past, the strong effective right arm of the republic. All who would learn the trtrtb- may be assured - that the navy of 1915 is larger, better equipped and in better condition than In any pre vious year, and that the fleet is be coming more efficient with every passing month. ‘We shall take leavo to be strong upon the sea in the fu ture as in the past.' declared Presi dent Wilson in his message to con gress; and in the interest of the self- respecting peace which ^s the only peace worth preparing for, it is de voutly to be hoped that this strength may not be questioned by others or endangered from withih. The record above outlined shows that what he promised for the navy has been ful filled. Sincerely yours, - “Josephus Daniels, “Secretary of the Navy,” BRYAN DECLINES. Refuses to Address Anti-Saloon League—Daniels Is to Talk, Secretary Bryan declined Saturday an invitation of tho National Anti- Saloon League to speak at its annual convention at Atlantic City this year. Secretary Daniels accspted a similar invitation. The prohibition movement in the assuming con- the same time there is a big decrease in appropriations ashore. By secur ing competition, I saved $1,077,210 in one contract for projectiles. ‘ Up to date, by first rejecting all bids and demanding more reasonable figures, I have saved $1,110,000, in the pur chase of armor plate, securing lower prices than my predecessor secured. In two other bureaus alone last year, $1,800,000 was saved—more than enough to enable congress to reap propriate one million of the savings for aviation and the balance for sub marines. There has been the same character of savings in other ways—* two many items to enumerate. So much for the material and prep aration. Of course, we need con stantly to increase the ships and arm ament. but the Increase in the past Xno. yiAJS, larger Qua in any .previ ous two years in the history of the country, is an earnest of what will come ta the regular and orderly and necessary increase of naval equip ment. . _ Ts about to he om>^~nssod by tho prominence he is getting. Party leaders do not desire to have a pro hibition plank in tho next national platform. Mr. Bryan is not fighting for that, but his attitude la used by professional' prohibitioniats to gain such Sn end. Secretary Daniels has made it plain that he supports prohibition state by state, but not by national legislative enactment. He will state his posi tion at Atlantic City. , ATTACH TURK FORTS F»in BRITISH BATTLESHIPS ENTER DARDANELLES STRAITS NO ACTIVITY ON OAND Democratic party is __ siderablo proportions, anj^Ir.JBryan a m 0( | troops aro being landed Russian Warships Bombard the Tork- , ish Coast—Torpedo Squadron De moralizes Turkish Army—Fighting In Ypres Locality Shows Signs of Developing Intensity. The assault of tho Dardanelles has been renewed, although it is not ap parent whether the allied fo.ces are ready to begin the expected general attack. Four British warships enter ed the straits Thursday and bombard ed the Turkish forts, which were subjected also to indirect fire across the peninsula from the Gulf of Saros. the result of this fighting has apt been disclosed. Bombardment of the Turkish forts at Smyrna, Asia-Minor, also is be lieved to have been resumed. There is nothing to indicatq? however, that any move has been made toward an attack by thS forces landed from the Gulf of Saros, such as is expected; to accompany the next effort on a larger scale to win the Dardanelles. A long conference between the Italian foreign minister and the Aus trian ambassador at Rome is accept ed as a sign that negotiations still are under way between Austria and Italy. It was reported that Italy hat sent an ultimatum to Austria. An official report from British headquarters in the field says that the Germans were persistent in their efforts to win back Hill No. 60 near Ypres. It is said the British held the entire crest of the hill and that the German assaults for the time being had ceased. A Petrograd dispatch says Russian aviators inflicted conslderage damage on German positions at several points. Bombs were dropped on Flock- and Mlawa, Russian Poland, several German boats on the Vistula river were struck and Gernfan trenches damaged. Petrograd reports Friday: The Russian Black Sea torpedo boat squadron bombarded the Turkish coast between Archava and Artaschln April 19. A 15-mile‘strip of coast. In which Is located the headquarters dt the Turkish army operating in that region, was swept witii shell and the barrack and provision stores were ignited and destroyed. A large number of Turkish coast wise vessels laden with ammunition and supplies was sunk. Turkish land forces were Initiating a sortie under artillery cover at the time. They were thrown Into panic by the unexpected sea bombardment Their supporting guns immediately were silenced. On April 20 Turkish efforts to start an offensive ta this region ceased. Only minor engagements are re ported from the Prussian front. The greatest activity appears among the aircraft service. A Russian aeitoptane of a type capable of carrying sixteen men has raided the Polish towns of Mlawa and Plock. German aero planes dally circle about the Osso- wetx fortress, though they are kept at a distance by Russian guns. One Russian aviator dropped a bomb on a German transport near Kopetza. northeast of Ossowetz. An observation point at Lopautuxatza. in tbe same vicinity, also was destroyed by a bomb I.oi>don reports Friday: The Brit ish forces, despite repeated German rushes, hold their grip on Hill 60, near Ypres, and the fighting in that locality shows signs of developing along the wide front -with increasing tensity, even rivaling the German at- temps to break through the British lines last fall. The city of Ypres, whose historic structures were shattered by German projectiles last October, again Is the target of heavy shells. Seventeen- inch missiles now ars being used and unless the civilian population has fled or has taken to its cellars, the losses among the people must be heavy. There has been a lull in the Ger man counter attacks, according to the British official report this morn ing, but it is assumed that both sides are being strongly reinforced, and the tone of the British communication in dicates the issue has not yet been fin ally decided. No official explanation is forth coming of the stoppage of traffic be tween England and Holland. One theory is that this is a stroke at spies and another that the area is being cleared for a naval action. The lat ter explanation seems incomplete, however, for if steps were being tak en to clear ships from a marine shell zone, vessels running to Scandinavian ports also would be held up. Although Great Britain is silent, Germany apparently is expecting ex tensive land operations near the Dar danelles. It is common knowledge Killed by Ratted Balls. John A. de Roacho of Freehold N. J., aged 16, and Robert Howlson, aged 10, of Richmond,. Va., were kill ed at t^eir homes on Sundgy while watching ball games. Both were hit on the temple. . . According to th* opinion of Attor ney General Peeples, the code of lew* for tbe State ere of n very doebtfn) in European Turkey. Impending Noi;th sea operations are thought to be foreshadowed by the incursion of British submarines in Heligoland bay and the embargo on shipping between England and Holland. During the past week the activity of German submarines has decreased to a marked degree and coincidental ly, British submarines apparently are operating along the German coast and arouffd Heligoland. The German admiralty’s report announcing the op erations says that one. of the British underwater craft yas sunk April 17. The fact; that-Great Britain has sent more than 750,000 men across the channel to France, aa already an nounced, may cause temporary cessa tion of the transport of troops to tha continent, with a consequent release of seme of the..warships guarding the lane. Whatever the Intention of the gov ernment the British people axe con vinced that Important naval eveata are likely HUGE LUMBER COMBINE PROSECUTIONS THREATENED* ALL OVER COUNTRY. Extensive Illegal Organization is Charged With Conspiracy to Keep Up Prices of Material. Wholesale prosecutions of retail lumber dealers in all sections of the United States may be the result of a federal investigation just , completed of abnormal increases in the price of lumber used chiefly for building pur^. poses. * The inquiry was conducted b/ the bureau of corporations, which the new federal” trade comjmission re cently absorbed. The yebort, now be ing prepared, will be submitted with in a month. The "investigation was ordered by a senato resolution and is the final chapter in the quiz that ex tended through several administra- tionS/Huo every phase of the lumber. om an authoritative source it Was learned that the report will make these startling disclosures^ Retail lumber dealers have a na tion-wide combination in violation of the Sherman anti-trust law and in re straint of trade. • The combination fixes prices, re stricts trade territory and completely stifles competition. The. retail dealers, by means of boycotts against mail order houses, department stores and the mills, make it almost impossible for the consumer to buy lumber "without pay ing the combination’s percentage. Lumber mills aro prohibited by the combine from selling their products direct to the public, unless they pay the retailer of tho district ten per cent, of the purchase price. Mills that refuse to rocognize the” combination of retailers and their price schedules are subject to attacks and ruinous boycotts. The report will chow, it is asserted,' that the price of lumber to the ulti mate user has steadily climbed be cause of the retailers’ combine and that the mills have been powerless to regulate the market on the basis of supply and demand. In great detail the. investigation will ^reveal' the methods, employed by the middlemen to control the lumber output sectionally rs well as general ly. Competition is checked, according to the Information gathered, by as signing trade territ ry to the dealers. No retailer encroaches upon the ter ritory of another and any mill that seeks, through selling agents or sales men, to enter the field of a retailer Immediately la blacklisted. “Frightful” was the term used by the government official In summing up the result of the Investigation. The situation undoubtedly will be re viewed by the federal trade commis sion under the “unfair competition " clause of the new act and as well will be subjected to scrutiny by the de partment of Justice under tbe anti trust statutes. Five other reports also will be sub mitted by the bureau of corporations on the result of inquiries authorised before the bureau was merged with the trade commission. They will deal with the farm ma chinery trade, exclusive of the Inter national Harvester company, now be ing prosecuted by the department of justice: the tobacco Industry; the Healdton Oil company of Oklahoma, and others. REVISES NAVAL RILES Germany Designs HeprUal* Against Allied Nation*. Amendments to tne prize rules gov erning German naval operation*, signed by Emperor William and Ad miral von Ttrpttx, and published in the Reichs Anzeiger, arc designed as a “reprisal for the decision made by English and her allies contravening the declaration of London on Febru ary 26, 1909." Under the new order field glasses, nautical instrumento, pig lead, aero planes, coal and coke are made abso lute contraband. Several other com modities are added-to the list of con ditional contraband, Including wool, rubber, ir on and several other ores. The regulation preacribes that these articles shall be assumed conditional contraband destined for the enemy if consigned "to order or to a person whose name does not appear in the ship’s papers or a person in the ene my’s territory." r In such a case it is provided that a ship shall be liable to capture, even if bound for a neutral port. The order directs that contraband ihny be confiscated If destined for a neutral country from which the na tions at war with Germany obtain articles of the kind In question. TEUTON SUBJECTS CALLED HOME All Austrians and Germans From Switzerland. All German and Austrian subjec in Switzerland, even those who nev did military service, were recall Thursday by their respective gover ments. . \ News reached Lugano, Ita Thursday morning that the Itali government- Had stopped the trar Atlantic service with the Unit States. Passengers who had purcht ed tickets hav£ had their money i turned tp them. m he Italian gover ment, the repprt says, requires all tl steamships. y the French continue to pursh forw along the Fecht river in the direct of Colmar. In Belgium the Brii and Germans are fighting savat for the strategic position near Yj knowtf as Hill. 60, which the Bril captured some days ago. , i Ia the tout arfnlaa ta tha Cai thlans are engaged at various pol and while the Russians claim to h repulsed Austrian attacks, the i trlan war office reports succeet Austrian counter-attacks around