Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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* t \ CAUTION »N AND CABINET TO 00 SLOW IN OIILFLMBT LOSS SEEK ALL INFORMATION If Fact* Prove Destruction of Oil Ship Wm I hie to Germsn Dost United StAtee Government Will De mand Indemnity, for Family of Drowned Men and Owners of Ship* President Wilson discussed briefly with his cabinet Tuesday the torpedo ing of the American steamer Gulf- light off the Scilly islands, but in the absence of a detailed report on the incident no policy was formulated. Messages from American Consul Stephens at Plymouth and Consul General Skinner at London added lit tle to earlier information. Both were Instructed to get complete statements from the ship’s crew and to gather such technical evidence as could be obtained ‘by an examination of the vessel. Officials want to establish, beyond doubt whether the vessel was struck by a torpedo or a mine. Thus far it is known definitely only that a submarine was sighted by an officer of the Gulfllght shortly before the attack and that the submarine submerged immediately. No proof has been reported to establish that, this submarine attacked the ship or what its nationality was. Nor is there positive information available to show whether the Gulflight flew Jhe American flag at the time or that colors were shown by the two mtlsh patrol boats said to have ac- •'companied her. To enab l e the German government \,/to present any information it may have, Secretary Bryan explained that an inquiry had been directed to Am bassador Gerard. This, he said, should not be construed as implying that the United States assumed that a German submarine had attacked the Gulflight. Officials of the stale ’ department intimated that the situation would be clarified if it could be shpwn that the oft tanker was damaged by a mine rather than deliberately torpedoed by a German submarine AMERICAN SHIP SUNK WILSON AND BttYAN WATT UPON INFORMATION. Captain and Two of Crew Are Lost— Think U Might Have Beat Acci dentally Destroyed. J London reporta: The American oil tank steamer Gulflight, which sailed from Port Arthur, Texas, April 10 for Rouen, France, was torpedoed at noon Saturday oft the Scilly Islands, according to & Central News dispatch. — The captaii\ of the Gulflight, ac cording to the same adivees, died of heart failure as a result of shock. Two seamen jumped overboard and were drowned. The other members of the crew were taken off by a patrol boat. The vessel was towed into Crow Sound and beached. Washington reports: President Wilson will reserve judgment on the torpedoing of the Gulflight until full official details are received. Secretary Bryan said a thorough inquiry would be made, but that be fore official reports were received, the Washington government would make no comment. Should another day pass without information from American officials abroad they probably will be instruct ed to get in touch with the remote localities where the Gulflight and her crew were taken. The United States government awaits the results of an investigation into the case of the American steam er Gulflight, reported to have been jtorpedoed with the loss of her cap tain and some members of her crew. Pending the development of the offi cial facts, however, no action will be taken. The Reported attack on the Gul flight contiues to arouse official Washington. As viewed the occur rence is regarded as a serious matter and as one calling for some kind of representations to be made to the German government by the United States. Officials, however, decline to discuss the character of these repre sentations. In official circles it was thought that the inquiry probably would dis close the fact that the attack on the American vessel was an Incident and not deliberate. In that event. It wa» considered likely that no action would be taken by the American gov ernment beyond a demand for dam- imism DOOR BRYAN ISSUES STATEMENT ON JAP-CBINK CRISIS ATTACK ON ALL SIDES LONDON REPORTS SMASHING OF FENSIVE BY GERMANY- STILL HOPES FOR PEACE Notwithstanding the reticence of those charged wi*h the protection of! age American rights in European waters.! The United States some time ago it is believed here that admintstra- in a note to Germany in reply to the tion leaders are satisfied that this German proclamation of a war zone government is confronted by a situa tion which is filled with potentialities for trouble. The impression appears to prevail in high government circles that the outcome of the Gulflight case will de pend altogether apon Germany's at titude. Should the investigation bear out the dispatches claiming that a Ger around the British Isles and Ireland said that It would hold Germany "to a strict accountability'’ for loss of American lives or vessels The Inquiry, which will be made through American diplomatic chan nels. will be directed with a view to ascertaining the manner of the tor pedoing of the Gulflight and to fixing the responsibility f«r the attack. It man submarine made the attack, the is believed that several days will be 1 nited States probably will demand required to complete the investiga- an indemnity sufficient to cover the! tion. losses incurred by the ship and com pensation to the families of the vic tims. It Is thought probable that an expression of formal regret also will be requested. While the question of the right of submarines to attack belligerent mer chantmen without giving warning or time for non-combatants to b6 trans ferred to places of safety is covered In the declaration of London, any Count Bernstorff. the German am bassador, said he had received no in formation other than the news dis patches and in the absence of any word from Berlin he declined to com ment. The two Americans, in addition to Captain Gunter, who lost their lives when the Gylfllght was torpedoed were Charles C. Short of Chicago, the wireless operator, and Eugene diplomatic action of the United States Chapaneta, of Port Arthur. Texas, a very lik«ly will be based on the treaty of 1828, between Prussia and the Whited States. Early in the war the United States served notice on Germany and other seaman, according to a cablegram re ceived in New York Monday by the Gulf Refining company, owners of the vessel The message, a brief one. was sign- belligerents that in view of the piece-[ed by First Officer Ralph Smith. It meal adoption of the declaration of said Captain Gunter, whose home is London by the billigerents, the Wash- 1 in Bavonne, N. J., died of heart dis- ington government would not be ease and th-t Short and Chapaneta bound by the declaration by previous existing treaties and rules of interna tional law. The belief was held by high offi cials that the German government, if responsible, would not seek to justify the act. but would promptly agree to make amends. It was pointed out that until there is proof of any de liberate intention on the part of the German submarine commanders to attack American vessels the experi ence of the Gulflight must be regard ed as an accident, though one for which ample reparation would be de manded. On the other hand, if Germany takes the attitude which she has as sumed in the case of the death of Leon Threasher, the American who was drowned when the Falaba was torpedoed by a submarine, it is be lieved that the patience of the ad ministration will be sorely tried. The attack upon the Gulflight will take at least a week, so that the ad ministration will make no represen tations to Germany within ten days. were lost. These were the two men. it is believed, reported Sunday to have jumped from the vessel after she was struck and who were lost be cause of the fog that prevailed. ROW AT NEGRO CHURCH liquor Said to Have Caused Young Battle Sunday. As the result of a general row at Cherry Grove church on Sunday, where large congregations of negroes frequently assemble, five persons were conveyed to the county Jail in Hampton, while one has died, another is mortally wounded and one or two others are shot up. It appears that whiskey was pretty freely indulged in, then a row began in the church yard c.nd the shooting followed. Result: Buddy Cope, a young man. Is dead, John Davis is probably mortally wounded and Hen ry Davis, his father, is wounded seri ously in the shoulder and head. Jer ry Bowers, Jake Bowers and Quilly Bowers were arrested as particeps criminis. Julius Caesar Smith was YI’lLiahinirt.nn Relieves Resource of arrested, charged with selling the ( Rashlngton Believes Kesources of ^ tuff that geemg t0 haye caused the i row: Henry—Davis. wounded, is LOOKS FOR SETTLEMENT, Diplomacy Unexhausted in East. , While government officials read with the deepest interest Tokio press dispatched foreshadowing an ultima tum to China to obtain an acceptance of the Japanese demands, there still is a well defined belief at Washing ton that the resources of diplomacy by no means have been exhausted. President Wilson expressed the be lief that the situation would soon clarify Itself, but said he had heard .of no ultimatum. He declared un founded reports that China had ap pealed to the United States for moral assistance. The views of Sir Edward Grey, the British foreign minister, expressed in the House of Commons Tuesday! at tracted Attention in Washington. The statement that the United States and Great Britain had not entered into 'formal negotiations on the Japanese- Chlneae situejion prevtously'bad bart mad* by the British embassy. Hornpl—s Over Daver. ' A Gann an aaroplana. coming from of (Mart, seoatad aaar -f by charged will, the killing, which, it is said, he admits, but claims self-de fence. • ■ , . Farmers Print Monthly Paper. The San Diego County (Cal.) Farm Bureau, having a membership ‘of about 600, publishes a six-page monthly paper. The subscription price IS Included In the annual dues to the! farm bureau. It contains timely notes of Interest to the mem bers. announcements In regard to demonstrations and meetings to be held, local news items in regard to crops and agricultural progress, and reports of cow-testing and other agri cultural associations. This monthly paper also contains the farmers’ ex change list, showing the purebred stock, seed, and other farm products wanted and for sale by the farmers of the county. Similar news lettera talking with Secretary Bryan, are published by a few other farm bureaus. * WObosi Holds oa to Letters. Presidsht Wilson has refused to psbilsh the letters betweap Gov Am mons and himself concerning the Seiaeitary of State Breaks Silence and Makes Known Official Position of This Government—Says Sole In terest is That Negotiations May be Concluded Satisfactory to All. The silence constantly maintained by the United States with reference to the Chinese-Japanese negotiations since they begup, nearly six months ago, was broken Thursday night by the issuance of a statement by Secre tary Bryan explaining the American government's position. The statement was prepared earlier in the day after consultation with President Wilson. While press re ports had told of Japan’s decision to send an aultimgtum to China, no offi cial information had been received to confirm this. The American government in its pronouncement, in effect, reiterates its adherence to the open door policy and the maintenance of the territorial Integrity of China, and points out that there has been “no abatement of Its interest in the welfare and pro gress of China.’’ The sole interest of the United States is declared to be that the nego tiations between Japan and China "may be concluded in a manner sat isfactory to both nations’.’ and thus “contribute to the peace of the world.” The statement was interpreted in some quarters as meaning that while no tender of good offices would be made by the Washington government, the services of the United States were at the disposal of both countries should they desire the assistance of any third power to bring about a diplomatic settlement of the questions at issue. Viscount Chlnda, the Japanese am bassador. and Kai Fu Shah, the Chi nese minister, sought separate inter views with Mr. Bryan, but decline to discuss the object of their visits. It is believed they were shown copies of the statement of the American position. The text of the statement follows: “In order that there may be no mis understanding of the position of the United States in reference to the ne gotiations pending between the Unit ed States. Japan and China, the fol lowing announcement is made: “At the beginning of negotiations the Japanese government confidenti ally informed this government of the matters which were under, discussion and accompanied the information by the assurance that Japan had no In tention of Interfering with either the politiea! independence or territorial Integrity of China, and that nothing that she proposed would discriminate against other powers having treaties with China, or interfere with the open door’ policy to which all the leading nations are committed. “This government not only has no thought of surrendering any of its treaty right* with China, but it has never been asked by either Japan or China to make auy surrender of these rights. There is no abatement of its interest in the welfare and progress of China and its sole interest in the present negotiations is that they may be concluded in a manner satisfactory to both nations, and that the terms of the agreement will not only contri bute to the prosperity of both of these great Oriental empires, but maintain that cordial relationship so essential to the future of both and to the peace of the world.” No remarks accompanied the state ment nor was there any further ex planation of the purpose of its is suance at this time. It was noted in many quarters, however, that the United States by pointing out that it had no intent'on of surrendering treaty rights with China might be en deavoring to dissipate the notion that has existed in some parts of the far East that the United States would re main entirely passive with respect to any treaties between the United Stages and China which might be vio lated by acceptance of some of the Japanese demands. Officials have declined to reveal what was said in recent notes sent to Japan or China by the United States. It has been understood for some time, however that the United States thought *the way would be cleared by mutual concessions and compromises to modification of ,the Japanese de- mandsao that they should not contra vene the Root-Takahlra demands so that they would not violate the agree ment for the open door in the far East or treaties between the United States and China. The belief has prevailed that the negotiations would end satisfactorily and that the talk of drastic measures circulated for Its in fluence on the Chinese plenipoten tiaries. There still was nothing to in dicate that the United States govern ment had lost hope of a friendly set tlement. - The Japanese ambassador, as he was leaving the department, referred to “exaggerate reports.” From, this and other information available In Japanese quarters the impression was gained that so far as the Japanese embassy was concerned It did not anticipate any armed qlash in the far East. , There was wide speculation as to the conference between Secretary Bryan and the diplomatic representa tives of the two nations at odds. Both the Japanese ambassador and Chi nese minister were understood to have cabled their goternments after Turks Claim Success Over Allies. Constantinople says “an enemy's battalion has been aa nth Bated; at Arlbnrau a ptrongly built entrench ment was captured; at Spddel Bahr quaatitles of amm ualtioa mad tcu ma chine pane were takes.. Forces of Teutonic Allies Exert Pres sure Hitherto Unparalleled in Mod em or Past War.s London reports': The Germans and Austrians are putting forth an effort the extent of which never has been approached In the historj of war. Through virtually the entire length of the eastern front the Teu tonic allies are engaged with the Rus sians, while in the west, in addition to* their attacks around Ypres, the Germans are on the offensive at many places. At other places they are be ing attacked by the French, British and Belgians. Far up in the Russian Baltic prov inces, heretofore untouched by the war, the Germans are attempting to advance toward Libau and Riga; on the Ea$t Prussian frontier they are engaged in at series of battles, and with a big gun are bombarding at long range, as they did Dunkirk, the Ru^glan fortress of Grodno; hi Cen trap Poland TIfey have had to defend themselves against a Russian attack; in Western Galicia they are attempt ing with all their strength to smash the Russian flank and compel the Russians to abandon the Carpathian passes, which they gained at such cost during the winter. In this Western Galician battle the Germans claim to have made a still greater advance and to have crossed the Wisloka river, well to the east of the Dunajec river, which until a few days ago formed part of the Russian front, and to have put their hands firmly on Dukla pass. In conjunction with thtj attack from the west the Austrians are at tempting to drive the Russians from Lupkow pass, farther to the east, and with success, according to the Ger man accounts. In all the Germans claim to have taken 40.000-Russian prisoners since the offensive was un dertaken last Saturday night. The Austrians put the number at more than 50,000 and express the belief that the whole Russian third army will be destroyed. These reports show that the Aus- tro-German blow is meeting #i!h the greatest success on the northern slopes of the western Carpathians, for towards the upper Vistula the Rus sians appear to be In their old peti tions. Despite the claims of the Austrians and Germans the Russian representa tives in the European capitals reiter ate that the victory has been greatly exaggerated and the public is waiting to hear what Grand Duke Nicholas, commander-in-chief of the Russian forces, has to say about it. The Germans also claim s series of successes in the west. They report that they are continuing their pro gress southeast of Ypres. which Is hardly borne out by Field Marshal French, who says that the British have recaptured more of the trenches which they had lost on Hill No. 60, and that fighting Is still progressing in the neighborhood, while elsewhere the Germans have shown no disposi tion to attack. Other German claims relate to suc cesses In the Woevre, where the Ger mans say, in an attack along the north side of St. Mihlel wedge, they took upward* of 2.000 prisoners, and that they repulsed French attacks on the southern section of the wedge, near FUrey. This, as usual during the last few daya, entirely disagrees with the French account of the ac tions. OLD lARDJtSHINfi REPUBLICANS SEEK ISSUES AGAINST DEMOCRATS KILLS OWN BABY Wtiip Handle KUps as Father Fhaa- tlses Son and Kills Child. The handle of a small whip, which William Johnson Jr., a farmer resid ing on the farm of Mr. B. M. Ander son. near Reidville, in Spartanburg county, wielded in administering a chastisement to his ten-year-old son. slipped from his hand and, going like an arrow, penetrated the skull of his infant child, held in the arms of its mother, who stood near the door of the room, killing the baby almost in stantly. « The mother screamed. “Will, you have killed our baby,” and drawing the stick from the child’s brain saw that the wound had proved fatal. When Johnson saw what had happen ed he fainted and remained uncon scious until revived by neighbors. The whip used by Mr. Johnson had a short leather thong on the end of it, and as he drew it back to strike the boy, the leather capie off so that when he made the lick the boy was missed and the handle slipped readily from his hand, going, small end f&re- most, into the little baby's brain. SUBMARINE GOT NINE London Reports High Toll by Enemy HAVING VERY F000 LOCK .1 - Submarine off Hull. London reports: Nine trawlers s the bag credited to a German sub marine on Monday of this week in a message received from Hull. The vic tims were the lolanthe Hero. North ward Ho. Hector, Progress, Coquette and Bob White, of Hull, and the Rugby and Uxbridge of Grimsby. So far as is known no lives were lost in these encounters. Crews of the fishing vessels say the submarine was of the newest type and had an iron cross painted on her conning tower. She ran amuck among the fishing fleet and sank sevsn trawlers In quick succession. The crews were given time to escape, but in some cases the small boats drifted for hours before they were picked up. Each man coming ashore is exhl biting a huge lump of black bread, given him by the crew-of the subm'a- rlne. The sailors are preserving these pieces of bread as souvenirs. Killed by Train. Sap to MaybMjt ir.. wis-killed at 8L Stephen by a A. C> L. train Tues day. » Wilson Bays "America First”—Lei the Democrats Ran the Govern ment and if Politics Miut be Talk ed the Republicans Mast Talk It— Administration Strong. If Isaak Walton were alive to-day. says P. H. McGowan in The State, he unquestionably would find in f the chairmanship the Republican na tional committee a field for his pisca torial pursuits. But there is reason to doubt if even he, with all the prowess credited to him by a legion of followers, could land with a tram mel net the catch the G. O. P. is angling for. That this Is the fishing season In the Republican camp no peruser of the columns of stuff being turned out by the anti-admlnistratiou • press agents may doubt. The big prize sought, ,uf course, is the presidency, but more particularly the power that goes with the office to restore a horde of .politicians to the pie coun ter. Disciples of Walton agree that to catch a fish one must have the tools. The tools in politics are the issues. And it is In casting about for a basis of attack upon President Wilson that the Republican leaders—make your choice—are dragging their lines through unproductive pools. So far they have succeeded only in drawing scavengers, which even the Old Guard discards! Immediately following the out break of the European war Irhat was then left of the G. O. P. sought to re vive the moss-covered “full dinner pail ’5’ It was worked over in the 1914 congressional campaign, with the result that the Democrats retain ed control of both branches of con gress. Ip the closing days of the recent session and since strenuous efforts ftjive been made by the opposition to make the people believe that the par ty in power was responsible for the business slumps Incident, as every student of economics knows, not to the constructive legislation enacted by the Democrats, but solely to the condition of belligerency In the old world. In one breath the Republicans charged that the Underwood tariff law had closed the mills, strangled business and turned, thousands of workers into the streets. In the next they admitted that the passage of the new currency law and the establish ment of the federal reserve system saved the country In the greatest crisis of Its history. To-day, when the balance of trade with Europe haa turned In favor of the United States, when all lines of Industry are feeling the benefits of returning prosperity, when normal conditions ore returning, when the outlook in agricultural and manufac turing centres Is brighter than in years, only Republicans of the rabidly partisan stripe are aggrieved. They tried to rock the boat when the ship of state was navigating perilous watera, and now that the governmental craft haa come into a safe harbor, not with their help, but defepite their attempts to scuttle the vessel, they are weakly proclaiming that the improvement is only tem porary and are praying for a drought or anything that will Incubate an other hard winter. For the time being, however, they have decided to cease shouting that only under Republican rule may pros perous times be expected. Just now they are striving to rebuild their own organization, and gather In one cor ral the warring factions in their own family. , They are hoping that Col. Roose velt will come back home, but trem ble at the effect of the disclosures now being made in the judicial con fessional at Syracuse, where the col onel and “Boss'’ Barnes are busy telling the truth about each other and revealing the “invisible govern ment” of a once great party. The progressive element that formed the Bull Moose organization is watching the developments from the sidtt. lines. The purely profes sional crowd in that party has shown signs, it is true, of rejoining the men they denounced in 1912, but the great silent horde of Independents have both the conservative and lib eral chieftains guessing. While the carpenters are trying to reconstruct the Republican house, the agitators are striking out in all direc tions in a desperate effort to find an issue that will stick. Here are a few of the baits they have thrown out for the consideration of^the party maa^ agers; The repression of animosities growing out of the dissatisfaction of belligerents with the conduct of the United States during the European warr The solution of the Mexican prob lem. , The negotiation of a commercial treaty with Russia that will give the American Jew the right guaranteed by his citizenship in traveling through the czar's domain. Protection of Americans In Turkey Preservation of friendly relations with Japan and preservation of American rights in China. . Retention and extension of foreign markets for 1 American goods created by the war. Limitation of armament by the na tions of the world. - While these questions are impor tant. they Just now are receiving the most careful consideration of Presi dent Wilson sad his advisers. The/ are problems for statesman, not the tort that Appeal to the uathlnkiag, sad are iMrely enumerated sa aa ta- dleatloa of the length to Republicans are going la their far a cam' President, Wtlaon, in Ms speetK at the Assoelited Press dinner, stirred the country with a phrase that people doubtless will accept as the only answer to the htgb-aoaadiag suggestion that this government re press the animosities growing ont of the European war. He said: “The teat is coming for the United States, ns well ns nations engaged In the war. Our whole duty Is summed up In this motto, ‘America First.’ ’ Democratic leaders are willing that the Republicans make an Isaac oa this motto, which promises to be given a place in history. Against “America First,’’ they argue, any at tempt to inject the “hyphen” Into national affairs will be disastrous to the party attempting it. As for the other proposed Repub lican issue, the record of the Wilson administration punctures them as ef fectually as lb does the suggestion that any class of naturalized citisen be given preference over another class. There Is no denying that the Mexi can question is an annoying one and fraught constantly with p issiblllties of danger. But the preceding Repub lican administration failed to solve It and in fact accomplished fsr less than the present government. That Americans have been killed in Mexico Is admitted. That many of the victims were adventurers also is conceded. The United States ulti mately will make Mexico pay indem nity to those Americans whose prop erty was seized or destroyed. The Wilson administration already haa done so, notably in the case of MS- Manus, whose widow has received $20,000. It is matter of official rec ord In the state department that a greater number of Americans were killed in Mexico during the Taft ad- 1 ministration than under the Wilson regime. There is no record that the Republicans obtained a cent of in demnity. President Wllspn has taken the po sition that Mexioo should be permit ted to settle its own affairs, just as we settled ours during the War of Secession. He will not recognise any government in Mexico until assured of its permanency and Is satisfied that it will bs conducted in the in terest of all the people of tbe wnr ridden republic rather than In the In terest of a favored money clam. He will not conduct a war of aggrandise ment or aggression against Mexico, hut will aid the deliverer of that country, whoev r he may be, to re construct on a stable foundation. Mexico, he believes, will ultimately find itself without outside Interfer ence. American or European.* The Jewish question to Russia Is nearer solution to-day than ever be fore. The Jew already has been granted autonomy by tbe cxnr and at the cloae of the war the revival ef commercial treaty relatione win be merely a matter of paper diplemney. There is a possibility of a satisfactory adjustment even before the cloee ef hostilities Secretary Bryan's memorable an swer to Ambassador Chlnda. "Noth ing Is final between friends,” during the dispute over the California land situation, dlscloood tha policy of tha administration toward Japan, and It has not changed. Only the Jingoes lit both countries fear an open rapture between the Japanese and Americana. The conservatives In the two laade ere working toward n common end— peaceful adjustment of n purely dlp- lometie problem. There la little If any Jlkellhood of tbe United States becoming involved in n serious disagreeme^ with Japan over that country’s treaty negotia tions with Chine. That American rights will be protected In Chinn is a foregone conclusion, but again the pen end not the sword will be the instrument of procedure. If the Republicans Intend to nsnall the Wilson administration on Inter national isaues they will be gladly met. Those problems ere engaging most of the president’s time. There is'only one thing he will not discoss now, those close to him assert, and that is partisan politics. It may be stated in fact with authority that he will not discuss purely political questions until next winter, if then—that Is In pubUc speeches. Peace and prosperity and true Americanism will be the themes of whatever addresses he may make this summer. “We ere willing that the RepublL cans shan talk politics until the cows come home; our job right now is to run the government of the United States.” This statement, made by one of the president’s very closest advisers, sums up the attitude 1 of mind now prevail ing in official Washington. THREE WOMEN* ATTACKED Greenville Has Third Assault Case of Last Few Weeks. Considerable excitement was arous ed at Greenville Tuesday morning when a negro attempted to assault a young white woman at the overhead bridge of the C. and W. C. railway. Her screams frightened the man away. Sheriff Rector has been scour ing the county throughout the day. Bloodhounds found no clue as to his whereabouts. Ollie Owens was locked up in the jail on the charge of attempted as sault upon an eight-year-old negro girl. , The two cases Tuesday make the third which has occurred in Green ville county recently, two of the vic tims being white women. ConsidePr able feeling, has been aroused, and there is talk of lynching If eithw at the negroes who attempted to assault tha white women Is captured. Damage British Ship. Constantinople says the British battleship Agememnos was seriously damagdH by four shells Tuesday and could no longer ii The ' • C ’•311