Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE WjljlUff WEEK CERMANS PLAN TO FORCE RUS SIANS OUT OF VAR ARMY FACES NEW DANGER Ton Hindflnburg'g Southern Advance From Kovno in Conjonction With Mackensen's Northern Drive Threatens Capture of Russians in Ossowetz Salient. The week’s operations on the Rus sian front give every indication that the German plan, for the present at least, involves Russia and Russia alone. r Since it became inevitable that the fall of Warsaw was inevitable specu lation has been rife as to Germany’s next more. In many quarters it was argued that with Russia behind the Vistula and the Bug, thg^German masses wopld be thrown against the western battle line in another drive toward the French coast The arguments in favor of the move rested principally on the de fensive strength of these positions: that once the (Germans held securely the western banks, they could with a greatly reduced force hold the Rus sians in check while the surplus troops could reinforce the western line. Against this was the Tfcngth of line to be held and the possibility that the Russians might manoeuvre behind it and, by massing forces at a selected point, break through the German line at some weak spot. Again, it was rumored that as Tur key was weakening and her muni tions becoming exhausted, Serbia was to receive the brunt of the German attack. This possibility was empha sized by the concentration of Teuton troops and artillery at Orsova, a town close to the frontiers of Hungary, Roumania, and Serbia. An attack was actually made from this town against the Serbian frontier, but as this fai}ed to materialize into a gen eral offense, a process of elimination determined Italy as the next objec tive. This has also failed to mater ialise. and the military forecasters have Anally been forced to the con clusion, which, it is true, future events may prove incorrect, that all of these predictions are wrong, and that (•crmany's plan is, first aad fore* roost, Kuasia. This conclusion is, to say the least the most logical of them all. Ger many can not but realize, what has so often been repeated in these re views, that with all of her enemies in the field maintaining active mobile armies, her chances of success are small; that it is almost hopeless to contend on an equal footing with such w coalition steadfast and intact Her chance to win must be based on her ability to eliminate from the con flict at least one of her opponents so that she may be free to devote her forces to the other. And what more logical candidate for elimination can at the present moment be found than Russia? Driven completely across Galicia from the Dunajec to the Llpa, forced north from the San across the War- saw-Kovel railroad, the Warsaw sail ent broken In by attacks in Its front and on its flanks, the strong line of the Narew„ forced and its defenders compelled to retire to-the weaker line behind the Bug. short of ammunition and her troops wearied with inces sant fighting and equally incessant retreats. Russia presented by far the weakest front of any of the allied powers. What more natural, then, than an attempt by combined attack to render Russia completely hors de combat and force on her a peace in dependent of her allies? Everything at the present juncture points to this as the immediate Ger man object. There are other consid erations, too, in addition to Russia’s present weakness. The Allies are known to have but an inadequate supply of ammunition. Enormous contracts for war material have been placed in this country, but, because of the fact that our plants have to be modified or entirely rebuilt in order to produce shell, substantial deliv eries have not yet been made. Of this Germany is well aware. She has equally full knowledge that late fall the flow of shell from this country to the Allies will be sub- stattt'al in amount and consistently mainlined, and, although her sub- marln<VTfiet will account for some of these shi$gientB, at least ninety-five per cent, of them will reach their des tination. * If, then, the force* opposed to her have not been (educed by tho^elimi- nation pf one of her greatest antag onists before the flow begins, how can she hope to continue during the winter? This war has simmered down to a war of ammunition and re sources, of shell and money. The Allies have greater wealth, and when this supply of shell also becomes greater Germany’s superior organiza tion will be set at naught. These are fact to which the German leaders, with all their alleged egotism, are keenly alive. To Germany, as to us, they emphasize the necessity of Rus sia’s elimination. Whether Germany can accomplish this is for the pro phets, not for the reviewer to say. We are concerned only with what has been done, and what it means now, not what it may mean in future oper ations. The retfeat of the Russians in Po land has continued all during the past week until the Teuton armies are now close to Brest-Litovsk. Ad vancing from Warsaw, north from Ivangorod and Lublin, they have taken one railroad Junction after an other, turned the more Important Into auxiliary supply depots, aad from the#* flald bases have coatlhned their march eastward. Oa Sunday the rapt ere of Btedlce , -the last of the taa- i mar This completely from the aaltent, and the situation, which last week’s reports left very confused, has assumed defi nite form, as far as the location of the battle lines are concerned. The most severe fighting in this re gion 4s in the section between the Narew and 'the Bug! The German offense is still directed against a rail road, the one running northeast from Brest-Litovsk through Blelsk and Bislystok, thence to Grodno and Vil- na. This road from Brest-Litovsk to Grodno is along the first line of Rus sian defense, and is, for this reason, vastly more Important and must' be held is Russia still hopes to make a stand on the line joining these two fortresses. Moreover, it parallels the present Russian front, and by means of important branches feeda directly the Russian battle line. North of Grodno the Russian line of defense follows generally the Nie- men River, and was Intended to pass through Kovno. But the Germans have upset all the Russian plans by storming and finally capturing this fortress, thereby imperilling the en tire Russian right wing. At,Kovno consideragle material was captured and reported, emphasizing the failure to report such capture in connection with the Warsaw success. Not only does it expose the flank of this line, but it also opens the way to Vilna, an open town, against which the Germans are advancing. In fact, their aviators have actully been bombarding iL yilna is also on the main railroad from Warsaw to Petro- grad; and is at the junction of an other road running south* of Rovno. But it is the Petrograd road that will hurt. By taking Vilna the Teutons will absolutely control, through the control of two termini, about two hundred and fifty miles of this artery There is another danger still that is fully as menacing and It is begin ning to appear; the successful retreat from Warsaw was a step out of the frying pan into the fire. Having fail ed in their attempt to trap the Rus sian army in the Warsaw salient, the Germans, with unlooked-for versality, immediately formed an alternative plan looking again to the same object —for it is the Russian army, not the capture of Russian territory, that is the German objective. To this end von Hlndenburg is pushing east and south from Kovno in an attempt completely to outflank the Russian army by bending it back on itself, while Mackensen is driving north trying to accomplish the same thing further south. The result is the creation in the vicinity of Oseoweta of another sali ent similar to the one at Warsaw. An attack against Its aide will, at the rate of the German advance, soon place the army occupying the salient In a difficult position. The Russian commander will have his hands full to extricate his forces with his usual success. On the southern part of the line, that along the Dniester, and the Zlota Llpa, there has been comparative quiet. There was a temporary re sumption of hostilities that lasted a day or two and resulted in some slight Russian advantages, but mat tens soon became quiet again, the two battle lines facing each other across the rivers. The German army here has no reason to take the offen sive. It is apparently intended only as a holding force to prevent a Rus sian advance, and plays no part in the general offensive plan further north. On the Italian front there is noth ing of special importance on which to comment. At the same time there seems to be a generol feeling of dis appointment among the friends of the Quadruple Entente as to Italy’s fail ure to make more rapid progress as well as confusion as to just what the problem is in this theatre and what Italy has done to meet the situation. SUBMARINES VERY ACTIVE ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY I’nderwater Waft Get .Fourteen Steamers in Two Days Mak ing 47,098 Tons. Fourteen steamers, with a total gross tonnage of 4 7,698 were de stroyed by German submarines'in the 48 hours making up last Thursday and Friday. This toll establishes a record for the period. The recrudescence of submarine activity began August 12 and in the week ending August 18 the British admiralty reports thirteen vessels of a total tonnage of 22,970 were sunk, eleven of them by underwater craft and two by mines. This makes a to tal known loss of 70,668 tons of shipping in nine days. Underwater craft torpedoed Fri day the British steamers Restormel, 2,118 tons: Baron Erskine, 5,585 tons: Bittern,' 1,797 tons, and the Ben Brachie,” 3,908 tons; the Norwe gian steamers. Sverresborg, 674 tons, and Bfas, 1,351 tons, and the Span ish hthanmr Perja Castillo, 1,920 tons. The vessels sunk Thursday were the Arabic, 15,801 tons; Grodno, 1,- 955 tons; Serbino, 2,205 tons, and Magda, 1,063 tons, a total of 2J.024. All these were Br’tish except the Magda, which was Norwegian, A submarine halted the Norwegian mail steamer Irma, within Norwegian territorial waters, but disappeared before torpedoing the vessel when warned by a Norwegian tprpedo boat that the attack which apparently (Pfis intended wo,uld constitute a violation of neutrality, i Ship Engine)) to Russia. Fifteen locomotives, 5.000 tons of steel rails and other railroad equip ment, aggregating 7,000 tons, part of a large order to Philadelphia arms from the Russian government, were being loaded on the British steam ship St. Leonards at Philadelphia Monday. . ? The S.IM 1.M9. aad the Bar- RUSSIANS MVEIEIMAN FLEET FROliULF OF RICA ngittsh Submarine Sinks Battle Oruie- er—Three Cruisers and Eleven Torpedo Boata Also Go Datyn. ' „•* f# * • The statement in the Russian duma Sunday night by the president of the chamber, M. Rodzianko, that the Gor man fleet had been defeated at Riga with the lo’ss of the battle cruiser Moltke and three other cruisers and seven torpedo boats, elicited un bounded enthusiasm in Petrograd. The people regard ti-e reported vic tory as the turning of the tide. Frequent clashes have occurred in the Gulf of Riga. Petrograd report ed Saturday: “During the fighting in the Gulf of Riga Wednesday, Thurs day ahd Friday the enemys losses were not less than two torpodo boats. “A British submarine successfully torpedoed a German cruiser in the Baltic Sea.’’ Berlin reported Saturday: "Our Baltic naval forces penetrated the Gulf of Riga after mine sweepers had swept the mine field and net obstruc tions. In the outpost engagements, which developed a Russian torpedo boat of the Emir Puhcharskill class was destroyed and other torpedo boats, among them the Novik and one large vessel, were severely dam aged while retreating. “On the evening of the 19th, in Moon Sound, the Russian gunboats Sivutch and Koreets were sunk by artillery- fire and torpedo boats after brave resistance. Forty members of the crews, including two officers, some severely wounded, were rescued by our torpedo boats.- “Three of our torpedo boats were damaged by mines. One sank, one was run aground and one was escort ed to port. “Our loss of life was small.” Ixmdon reports a Petrograd dis patch to the Central News, dated Sunday: “In the Riga battle the Ger mans lost the Moltke, three other cruisers and seven torpedo boats. “The German fleet has withdrawn from Riga bay. “The Germans tried to m^ke a des cent near Pernpvin (Pernlgal) on the east shore of the Gulf of Riga, some 35 miles soyth of Riga. Four barges crammed with sailors took part in the descent. They were re pulsed by the Russians without the co-operation of artillery, tho Germans being exterminated and the barges captured.” ITALY EXTENDS HER WAR TO INCLUDE OTTOMAN TURK Declaration Made by Italia# Ambas sador at Constantinople on Saturday. Marquis dl Garroni, Italian ambas sador to Turkey. Saturday handed to the porte a note declaring Italy con sidered herself in a state of war with Turkey and demanded his passports, according to an official telegram from Constantinople received at Amster dam and transmitted to the Central News. The reasons given in the note for Itaiys declaration of war were the support given by Turkey to the re volt in Libya and the prevention of the departure of Italian residents from Syria. The Italian government has sent to all its representatives abroad a circular dispatch setting forth the question at issue between Italy and Turkey. The dispatch closes: ' “In view of these obvious Infrac tions of categorical promises made by the Ottoman government and follow ing upon our ultimatum of August 3, proviked by evasions of the Otto man government, particularly with regard to the free departure of Ital ian subjects from Asia Minor, the 'Italian government has sent instruc tions to its ambassador at Constanti nople to declare war upon' Turkey.” BULGARIA SIGNS TREATY^ WITH TURKET, SAYS BERLIN Agreement Said to Have Been Reach ed Between Sublime Porte and Balkan Neighbor. Berlin. Monday: “Official reports from Sofia and Constantinople state that Turkey and Bulgaria have sign ed a‘ new treaty, Turkey granting Bulgaria her desired direct railroad connection with the cea and Bulgaria agreeing to observe a benevolent nfeu- trality.” According to the German view poirjt, the treaty between Bulgaria and Turkey is said to mean a benevo lent neutrality, if not more. ‘This demonstrates the definite failure of the efforts of the Entente powers, to revive the alliance of the Balkan states and induce them to join in the war against Turkey.” Unofficial reports late in July were that a convention had been signed on July 22, by which Turkey ceded to Bulgaria the Turkish portion of the Dedeaghatch railway. The reports stated that the trehty left Bulgaria unpledged. That Bulgaria had not been pledg ed to any course as regards the war has been the assumption under which negotiations have been conducted by the Allies. . Several hnoffcial reports concerning Bulgaria’s diplomatic ac tivities appeared to confirm this view. t Fortifying Constantinople. London, Monday: The Germans in Turkey are devoting ail their atten tion to the fortification of Constanti nople. A second line has baen pre pared on Gallipoli. CyHoee Hits A small eytlMM Friday dead, fifty or leavtag ene i villa RUSS OUIT KOVNO > « .i + BIG GUNS BATTEB FGBTRESSES TO PIECES ARMY STILL IN DANGER Swift Advance of Germane Render -Brest-Litovsk Line Untenable-?- Way to Vilna is Open and Commu nications to the Czar's Armies is Threatened. - — Kovno, ope of the crucial ppints in the Russian defensive In the north, was captured by the Germans Tues day night, and the road to Vilna, Warsaw and Petrograd railroad is now open to Emperor William's troops. The capture of j^be fortress was another triumffiTor the German sixteen-inth guns, which have been brought against no fortifications they could not subdue. With the fortress of Kovno the Germans have taken more than four hundred guns, and, according to their account, an enormous quantity of war material. This, however, is not the most serious part of the matter to the Russians. Besides opening the way to Vilna, which is an open town, from which most of the inhabitants have departed aud from which every thing that might be of use to the in vaders has been removod, the fall of the fortress takes away the last pro tection, except the Russian field army, to the main line railway to Petrograd, and also places the Ger mans in a position to threaten the flanks of the Russian armies retiring to the Brest-Litovsk line and those operating in Southern Courland. Grand Duke Nicholas apparently expected the fall of Kovno, for his armies are hastening their retirement in Poland eastward. They still hold their own from Kovno to south of Ossowets, but south of there they are being pressed from the northeast by Gens, von Schols and von Gallwttz, and from the west by Archduke Leo pold. who has crossed the Bug river and is approaching the Brest-Litovsk and Blalystock railway. It is the same in the south, where Gen. von Maxtensen, after many re buffs. finally has driven the Musco vites Into their outer positions of the fortress of Brest-Litovsk. For the first time since he began to retire from Western Galicia in May Grand Duke Nicholas. In the opinion of military observers, finds part of his army In serious danger of envelopment. The Russian command er continues an orderly retreat as shown by the fact that outside of the guns taken with the fortress of kov no or captured In the forts of novo- georgievsk, two more of which have fallen, the Germans claim no capture of srtBlery. It would appear also that few prisoners have been taken, which doubtless means that a consid erable part of the Acstro-Oermans in their most aivanco have not met with sorolouo fighting. With Kovno in German hands and another German army across the Bug south of Brest-Litovsk, a speedy exit, according to military observers, is the only safe one for the Rueslans if they are to escape before the second 8°t of pincers prepared for them are clossfl. Berlin repeats on Thursday the claim th:.t the fortress of Kovno has fallen, compelling tho Russians in the Kalwarya and Suwr.lki districts to fall back. In fact, the Russian:; appear able to bold their own only in the Baltic provinces, where they are preventing the Germans from advancing. Besides tho cf.ptufp of Kovno, the Germans have taken additional Novo- georgievsk forts, add, according to their account, have penetrated the outer positions of Brest-Iltovsk, the great fortreso, the mainstay of what was expected to be the new defence line. There is no evidence yet of Grand Duke Nicholas intentions, but mili tary writers believe tho swiftness of the. German advance has rendered it impossible for him to make a stand on the Bre^t-Litovsk line. COURT UPI0LK ELECTION AND REFUSES INJUNCTION LIHS OFF CENSORSHIP; SENDS OVER SOME NEWS British Admiralty Makes t Statement Concerning Torpedoing of the Arabic. While American officials have fail ed to understand the action of Abe British censor who shut off all news of the Arabic, the British admiralty macnnheTfollowing announcement Monday: “The Arabic was unarmed passenger ship, outward bound to a neutral port. It was thus Impossible for her to have been carrying contra band to this country. “She was sunk by a German sulv- marine without warning and she neither attempted' to attack the sub marine nor to escape from it.” Survivors of the Dunsley said that she was torpedoed^ just before the Arabic was sunk and that the Ger man submarine hid behind the Duns ley to wait Jor the Arabic. River Rune Amuck.' The Meremac river, lined on either side with thousands of pleasure re sorts. club houses afid summer cot tages, woat severa| miles out of Its banks Sunday, swept away most of these buildings and increased to twenty, it is reported,- the number of live* lost In St. Louis, Mo., coenty. Wilson Consider* Cotton. President Wilson will inks up tkto week the sftaaWon respiting from the plettei. of rotwn am the contraband list ky Greet Britain As n resnU ef kls «s4r ef the sttentlpp his Is Am. GREAT BRITAIN COTTON IS Justices end Judges Unanimously Declare That the Appeal be aad U Is Dismissed. ■ - Vj, i, ' Supreme Court justices nnd the circuit Judges of the state Satur day afternoon unanimously handed down n decision refusing to enjoin the prohibition referendum flection set for September 14 andrefused the petition of John Henry Chappell, a taxpayer^ of Newberry, w&o uked for the Injunction. The decision was dered immediately after the en ban. session had adjourned and after con sultation. , The order of the court follows: “The State of South Carolina, in the Supreme Court, en banc. “John Henry Chappell, petitioner, vs. R. M. McCown, Secretary of State, et al. “Order: Upon hearing argument herein and upon consideration there of, we are of opinion that the Injunc tion be refused, ahd it is so ordered. “The immediate pendency of the election forbids us to reduce to writ ing the reasons for eur judgment; that will be done hereafter, and so soon as the circumstances shall per mit of It. "Eugene B. Gary. “Chief Justice. “D. E. Hydrick, A. J. “R. C. Watts, A. J. "T. B. Fraser, A. J. “Geo. W. Gage. A. J. ’’George E. Prince, Judge Tenth Circuit. "H. F. Rice, Judge Second Cir cuit. “T. S. Sease. Judge Seventh Cir cuit. “J. W. DeVore, Circuit Judge. “F'rank B. Gary. Judge Eighth Cir cuit. “John S. Wilson, Judge Third Cir cuit. "I. W. Bowman, Judge First Clr cult. "Ernest Moore. Judge Sixth Clr cult. "Mendel L. Smith, Judge Fifth Circuit.’ HERMANS MUST PREFARE FOR PEACE WHO HONOR A maten lain Report* Hecret Ooafer- Amsterdam reports via Loadoa: At the secret conference of cabinet min isters, political leaders and influen tial writers called by the German 1m perlal chancellor before ths reaasem bling of the relchstag last Thursday to discuss the political situation, the Telegraaf says Karl Hellfferlsb. m retary of the treasury, explained that the new German war loan would com pletely exhauet the empire’s financial resources and that the increaae in the exechequer bonds would cause bank ruptcy. Therefore Dr. Helfferish urged. It was need to prepare for an honorable peace. Chancellor von Bethmann-Holiweg according to the same report, de clared that the difficulties of the em pire were increasing and advised his hearers to use their influence to soft en down bellicose Inclinations on ex pansion policy in the relchstag and the country and carefully to prepare peace proposals which would be ac ceptable to the four members of the Entente. Dr. Bernhard Dernberg’s report of the failure of his mission in tbs United States and other neutral coon- tries, the Telograaf says, made a strong Impression on the conference. General vpn Moltke, former chief of the general staff, declared that he fully agreed with the chancellor and added that only those not fully in formed on the situation could hope for the possibility of complete Rus sian. v Despite these declarations, the story concludes, the meeting refused to adopt a resolution advocating mod eration in the relchstag, whereupon the chancellor declared that If a ma jorlty in the relchstag should show an Irreconcilable chauvinistic attitude he would be obliged to resign, as he could not accept responsibility for Germany’s disaster. Makes Official erday—Frsaee Cotton has been declared abeolute contraband by Great Britain, accord ing to a statement Issued by the British foreign office Saturday after noon. The statement declares that tha government proposes to initiate measures to relieve depression which might temporarily disturb (he cotton market because of the contraband er. as learned upon Inquiry at the foreign office that the French gor- eenment will issue a similar notica at an early date. The announcement follows: “His Majesty’s government has declared cotton absolute contraband. While the circumstances might hstnJusti fied such action at on earlier his Majesty’s government are . think that local conditions of can interest! likely to be offs more favorable for sneh a they were a year ago, and. his Majesty’s government plate initiation of mean lieve as for as possible any abnormal depression which might temporarily disturb market conditions.’* The declaration is effective from Saturday. A royal proclamation con cerning the action was published la s supplement of the London Onsetto Issued Saturday night. It is very brief. After a preamble citing pre vious proclamations concerning con traband, It says: “Now, therefore, we do hereby de clare, by and with the advice of our privy council, that during the contin uance of the war, or until we do giro further public notice, the following article# will be treated as aBeolate contraband In addition to those net out In oar royal proclamation# afore mentioned . — "Raw cotton, cotton lintere, cot ton watte and cotton yarn. “And we do hereby further declare that this, our royal proclamation, ■hall take effect from the date of its publication In the London Oasette.” rOBREGON TURNS HIS BACK ON FOREIGN PEACEMAKERS Hays With Other Na The hopes of the admlaietraUen and Latin conferees that their peaee plan for Mexico would bear fruit, re ceived a crushing setback Saturday when Gen Obregon. the military leader, transmitted his reply to thetr appeel and announced that he steed solidly behind Gen Carraaxa. It Is now plain that Gamma will absolutely refuse to consent to Pan- American settlement of the Mexioea problem. The Constitutional civil governors and. military commander# will back him up to e man. The tea days allowed for reply by Secretary Lansing in his not* to all Mexican factions expires next Tneeday. There Is now much iseelmiem about the state department over the Mexican situation os the odmieistra- tlon had some hope that Gee. Obre gon would break with Gamma and accept the proffered peace parleys. On the contrary, he declines to ac cept or respond to the not* officially, and says he has forwarded it to Car ranza for hie disposition. He an nounces also that Gamma 4s Mexi co’s sol* representative la all dealings with other nations. LANSING CABLES IEKAD ASKING F0K INFORMATION HAITIENS PREPARE ATTACK United States Troops are to Reinforce Admiral Caperton. Reliable reports received in Wash ington that Haitien rebels have been organizing an army to attack the American forces on the island are re sponsible for plans now, being car-, ried out to reinforce Admiral Caper-1—The administration ia ton’s marines and bluejackets. The marine artillery battalion at Annapolis, comprising three hundred and fifty men and tWelve three-inch field pieces will be embarked on the armored cruiser Tennessee and sent to southern waters this week to await developments at some place where they can be landed In a few hours. j Five Vessels Bunk. The British steamer Bonny and the Spanish steamer Isidore have been sunk. Twenty-one of the crew of the former’ and eight of the cr^v of the latter were saved. The Norwegian steamer Romulus and Mineral have been sunk. The crews were savd. Th trawler George.was sunk. Her crew was saved. Nothing Against Germans Attorney General Gregory reported to President Wilson Friday that In vestigation into charges of activities of German agents in this country had, so far. disclosed nothing to lend to action by the dora-tment of jne- Uos. - ♦ ♦ a — Secretory of State Aaks If Germans Have Off dal Report. Secretary Lansing Monday cabled Ambassador Gerard at Ber'in asking if the German government had re ceived an official report on the aink- ing of the Arabic. The ambassador^ however, was not instructed to me for one. It was officially seated that the American government .is not yet at all sure of the facts and conaldera its information very fragmentary. The point now in doubt is as to whether Germany will claim that*the change of course of the liner jnet be fore she was attacked led the subma rine cqjnmander to believe that she was attempting a hostile act him. an open mind and no statement as the course to be pursued will be sued. ,. ‘ Discussion continued Monday j the possibility pf the United breaking off diplomatic relat Germany in the evehUit is that the sinking of >theA»nblc deliberately unfriendly act.” » TURKS HOLD GR0UNI British Land Troops at Now Bat Failed to Gala. London. Friday: The Yandii British troops at Suvla Bay, poll peninsula, tg regarded hen partial disappohftmenkJ bad concentrated their l Anxac region a Httle to tU . were able to send troops time to prevent any ' vanee by the land ~ here that •vemeat la mi 1W te a