Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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T.»n m. a . 2 T_, k „ u «. WU. U>« TIOOPS ACAINST OFFICIALS PLAN TO BUILD WORLD’S FASTSSr SHIPS WANT BATTLE CRUISERS I'nitod States Navy Will Have Two Thirty-flve-Knot Boats—Can Reach Charleston Prmn New York In 14 Hours—-Gets to London in Two Rays and a Fraction. The outstanding and most dis tinctive feature of the naval pro gram to be submitted to congress this winter will be a request for Uie construction of batUe cruisers superior hi speed and power to anything afloat. This fact was developed following the conference held at the White House between President Wilson, Secretary Daniels of the Navy De partment. and Chairman Padgett of the House Committee on Naval Af fairs. It became apparent after the conference that the administration would recommend more than two battleships, one or more battle cruis ers, and a large number of subma rines. The battle cruisers will be the fea ture of the naval program. Pre limihary designs for these vessels have been prepared by the naval con structors, and are before the Gen eral Board, Secretary Daniels, and the president for consideration. There are several alternative designs, but the particular one which will prob- > ®hly be adopted calls for a battle cruiser that will make thirty-live *i>ots speed. This is equivalent to a fraction over forty land miles an hour. The fastest battle cruiser thus far built by nny of the powers is designed for not more than thirty knots. Consequent ly the American battle cruiser would be able to sail rings around any for' eign vessel of similar type now In commission. The final characteristics of the pro tected battle cruiser have'not been determined by the experts of tbe Gen eral Board of the Navy, but JhA un derstanding is that this new type of vessel s main armor will be about eight inches thick, and the vessel will mount eight fourteen-inch guns, of fifty calibre. The cost of the battle cruiser will be about eighteen million dollars, or about three million dollars more than the dreadnought battleships now be ing built for the United States navy The battleships to be recbmmended In this year's naval program will also cost about eighteen million dollars each, the Increase being due to the price of war material. The decision to recommend one or more battle cruisers is the result of a careful study of the lessons taught by the naval side of the war in Knrope. Secretary Daniels and President Wll son have before them a report made by Lewis B. McBride, naval construe tor, who has been attached to the embassy In London, dealing with the operations of battle cruisers of the British and German navies during the war, and demonstrating unmis takably that this new type of vesael is a most valuable adjunct to defense and offense. * The escape of the German armored cruiser Goeben In the Mediterranean from the combined British and French fleets in the earlier stages of the war, solely by reason of superior speed, was the first demonstration during the present conflict of the value of the battle cruiser. In the naval battle in the North Sea. and likewise in the battle off the Falk land Islands, battle cruisers were a .determining factor. '' Officials of the navy department tf^frained from disclosing the detailed P haracteristics of the projected battle cruiser. Secretary Daniels admitted that the vessel was designed for thir ty-five knots. Another high official said the propelling machinery would consist of turbines. Beyond this no information was obtainable from any source as to the essential character istics of the projected warship. When one high official was asked how It was proposed to obtain thio speed of thirty-five nautical miles an hour, he responded: "The first British battle cruisers were the Inflexible, Invincible and Indomitable, authorized in 1907 and completed in 1908. These vessels are Identical. They displace 17,250 tons each, mount eight twelye-lnch guns, have an amidships belt of seven-inch armor, and on trials recorded from 26.1 to 26.6 knots. “The next class of British battle cruisers embraced the Indefatigable and New Zealand, each of 18,750 tons displacement. These two also each mounted eight twelve-inch guns, and carried eight-inch armor belting. On their trials they recorded twenty- six and twenty-seven knots speed. In 1911,the British government author ized three additional battle cruisers of the Lion class, the other two being the Princess Royal and the Queen Mary. In these vessels the displace ment ran up to 26,350 tongj Each carries eight 13.5-inch guns, and full power trials they made twenty-nine knots an hour. The heaviest armqr carried is nine inches amidships. In the Tiger type of battl^ cruiser, authorized in 1913 for the British navy, the displacement ran up to 30,- 000 tons, the main batteries are the same as in the immediately preceding class, eight 13.5-lnch guns, anl the leaviest armor carried was nine jehes amidships. The Tiger was de-' ligned for CO knots an hour on a de signed horse power of 100,000.' The Tiger Is propelled by the Brown-Cur tis type of torbihe. ITie German battle cruisers' were designed as a reply to the Brttisb vessels df this type, and beginning with the con der Tann. authorized in 1109; bare included the Moltke aad Goeben. the Seldlltx and DerflFnger, and the Enats Hertha. The to* der Hbltke made 28.$7 knots, the Goe ben 28.d knots, and while the BetdliU and DerfUqcer were designed for *7 knots,' It Is understood they have each made 29 knots. The moet re cent of the German battle cruisers have ten 11-lnch guns, and their heaviest armor hat run from 8 to 10 Inches. The Japanese hare been building four battle cruisers of the Kongo type, each designed for 27 knots, on 68,000 horse power derived from tur bines, on a displacement of 27,500 tons. The Japanese battle cruisers carry eight 14-inch guns each, and 10-inch armor. Except as to speed, It is thought that the projected Ameri can battle cruisers will more nearly approach the Japanese type in armor and armament, but in order to obtain the projected' speed of 3 5 knots, it Is believed the .displacement of the American battle cruisers will run close to 35,000 tons. The American navy has no battle cruisers, and Is woefully lacking in scout cruisers. Scouts are the eyes of the battle ship fleet, and with out them any powerful fleet is greatly handicapped. The recent naval war game disclosed the ur gent need of scouts. The battle cruisers now’ projected will be able to serve .gs scouts, although that will not be the primary function of these units. The idea of experts of the navy is that there should be not less than a division of battle cruisers, and that it should be "attached to the Atlantic battleship fleet. They would be utilized by the fleet in overtaking battleships of the enemy endeavoring to escape from or trying to elude the fleet, also in scouting to discover the presence of the enemy's fleet and in attacking vessels of the greatest pow er whenever taken by the superior speed of the battle cruisers. The battle cruisers for which pre liminary plans have been proposed for the navy will be dreadnoughts In reality, as they may be classes of bat tleships of superior speed. As ex plained by one of the navy's experts, a battle cruiser is a vessel that has Just a few less big guns, and Just a little lighter armor than battleships, the sacriflces of both of which are compensated for by their great speed. Speed is an element which the Ameri can Navy lacks. Its battleships are as fast as battleships generally around the world, but there is no large vessel In the navy that can now compare with the battle cruisers of England, Germany, and Japan In ■peed. While It has been agreed that the American nary to be brought abreast to other navies of first rank must have swift battle cruisers of the type that has proved Its effectiveaens In the war In Europe, no decision has been reached that Is ready for an nouncement as to the number of ad ditional units of various types to be embraced In the building program of 1916-17, which is to be submitted to congress this winter. After the con ference st the White House Secretary Daniels said that the naval program had not been completed and that he was not ready to make announcement of the increases to be recommended to congrees. Mr. Daniels intimated, however, that a building program for the sub marine flotilla would be urged that would make possible an inner-line of defense along both roasts to be main tained by submersible* operating from bases established at necessary intervals on both the Atlantic and Pacific shore lines. The secretary said that recently, when submarines were at the height of their attlvlty in the European war. the pendulum of public opinion had swung too far in favor of subma rines. and that the tendency now would be to swing it too far the other way. The navy plans, he declared, would not make either error. He add ed that the value of submersible for defense of the wide reaches of coast line on both shores could hardly be overestimated. It Is understood that the president cautioned Secretary Daniels and Chairman Padgett against making premature announcement as to the naval program, explaining that both the army and navy defense programs must be subject to alteration until after the administration had consid ered the program of reform for the development of the army and the financial devices to be resorted to by the government to raise the necessary fund* to pay for the. additional ap propriations for national defense. A battle cruiser—such as proposes! In our new naval program—plough ing her way through the waters at thirty-five knots an hour. If it Were possible to keep up that speed, would make the passage from the Ambrose Channel Lightship to Queenstown, the course over which the steamship Mauretania made her record of 4 days 10 hours and 41 minutes, in approxi mately 3 days jind 8 hours. The dis tance between these points is esti mated at 2,814 knots, or nautical miles. The- fastest day’s run by the Mauretania was at the rate'of 27.04 knots. This comparison was pointed out. to illustrate the value of the navy of a great battle cruiser which could be shifted from point to point, either along the coast or in trans-Atlantic travel, at such a- pace. There Is no record of a shlp t which could hope to accomplish such a record run or cope with such a foe. , ^ At.35 knots an hour a battle cruis er could be transferred from New ’York to New Orleans on coast patrol duty, a distance of approximately 1,700 knots, in 48 hours and 35 min utes, a feat which has never been ac complished or thought possible, cer tainly not for an armored battle cruiser carrying huge 14-inch guns. To make the run in somewhat under five days Is considered'good time by most of the coastwise passenger ships. Charleston, 8. C., Is 401 knots from New York. TTie battle cruiser could be sent there In fourteen hours if the speed were at 35 knot*. An hour and twenty minutes later she would be off Savannah, Ga. The total run from New York to Jacksonville. Fla., n dis tance of 658 knots, weald require jnat under 18 hours and 40 minutes, PROTEST OF VEN1ZEL0S When French Informed Greek Gosernw of Arrival of Troops Premier Protest*. An Athens. Greece, dispatch, de layed in Paris from Sunday until Wednesday, says: The French tpoops landing from five transports at Salon- Ikt, Greece, consist of seventy thou sand men. ’They will proceed along the Guevheli-Uskup railroad to guard the Hue. Paris reports Wednesday: French transports arrived at Salonlkl Fri day night and troops began to land Saturday afternoon, says an Athens dispatch to the Matin. Perfect order was maintained in the city and the inhabitants gave the French a cordial reception. London reporta Wednesday: The landing of additional troops at Salon- ikl is reported from Athena. The correspondent there of the Exchange Telegraph Company says that a num ber of transports carrying French troops entered the port at Saloniki Wednesday morning. He adds that the forwarding of French troops for Serbia is proceeding actiVely. Berlin reports by wireless: “The French ambassador at Athens noti fied the Greek government of the landing of French troops at Salon iki,” says the agency. “Premier Venizelos protested, saying that Greece had adhered to a neutral pol icy during the war. The protest says further: ‘The Greek government, therefore, is obliged to protest against the passage of foreign trooi& through Greece territory. The cir cumstances that the troops are in tended only to assist Serbia, the ally of Greece, does not in any way change the position of the Greek gov eminent from a legal standpoint.' “The Greek government also con tends that the action of the French was not Justified even in view of the Balkan situation as a whole and the danger now threatening Serbia and that the neutrality of Greece must not be ignored.” An Athens dispatch dated Saturday was held up in France until Wedne*- Ttay-brTlwcensOTT. irteili of an of ficial statement Issued Saturday night after a meeting of the Greek cabinet. "The French minister delivered the following note to Premier Venizelos: '* 'By order of my government, I have the honor to announce to your excellency the arrival at Saloniki of the first detachment of French troops and to declare at the same time that France and England, allied to Serbia, send their troops to help the latter, as well as to maintain their communi rations with her; and that the two powers count upon Greece who al ready has given them so many proof* of friendship, not \o oppose measures taken In the Interests of Serbia, of whom she also is the ally.’ Premier Veniteloe replied: ‘By your letter of to-day you have been so good as to Inform me of the ar rival at Saloniki of the first detach ment of the French troops and of the decision of France and England to send their troops to help Serbis, their ally; adding that the two powers count on Greece not to oppose meas ures taken in the interest of Serbia, whereof she also Is the ally. “ ‘In answer to your letter. I have the honor to declare to your excel lency that being neutral in the Euro pean war the royal government could not possibly authorize the pro ceeding In question, for It consti tutes a breach of Greece's neutrality, the more manifest since it comes from two great belligerent powers. It is therefore, the duty of the royal government to protest against the passage of foreign troops across Greek territory. T^ie circumstances that these troops are destined solely to aid Serbia. Greece’s ally. In no •way modifies the legal position of the king’s government; for even a Bal kanic point of view Greece's neu trality could not be affected before the actual foederis was committed -by the danger now threatening Ser bia, which caused the dispatch of in ternational troops to her help.' ” SERBU AND ITALY MSMSSkOL- URIAH AMBASSADORS less than ten hours would see the cruiser off Miami. Fla. The distance by knots between New York and some of the more Im portant points on the route to New Orleans are as follows: Norfolk, Va., 244; Diamond Shoal Ughtship (off Hatteras), 350; Brunswick. Ga.. 599»; Jupiter Light, Fla., 902; American Shoal Light, Fla., 1,096. A speed of 35 knots would take a battle cruiser from Ambrose Channel Light to Hamburg in approximately four days and four hours and to Havre, France, in three days and 18 hours, records which have been look ed upon as something which might be accomplished some day in the dim future, but certainly not in many years. The distances are, respective ly, 3,511 knots and 3,145 knots. The distance to Bremen from New York is 3,563 knots; to Liverpool, 3,033; to Rotterdam,'3,327, and to Southamp ton. 3,095. The United States battleship speed record was made by the Wyoming on July 19, 1913, when she attained 22,- 045 knots. The torpedo boat destroy er McDougal broke all mile speed records for her type In standardiza- ti°iy.rlgja off Rockland, Me., in May. 191'fT_ She went at the rate of 32.07 knotamrKer fastest milS. The aver age of ,her five full speed runs was 31,516 knots. The listed speed of the Reid, an other destroyer, is 31.8^ knots, and the Wadsworth, 30 knots. No other ships In the United States navy aside from a few of the torpedo boats are accredited with a speed of 30 knots or more. The sea-going battleships are listed at 17 to 21 knot% the ar mored. cruisers at 22 knots: three thlfd class cruisers, the Birmingham. Salem, and Chester, at 24. 25, and 26 knots, respectively. Millions of Tons of Coal~tWdered. France haa placed an order for several million tonb of coal from the Weat Virginian coal fields for de livery in six months, it was announc ed Friday. GREECE FAVORS ALLIES Decloree Her Policy One of "Benevo lent Neutrality" German Attack on Serblo Has Begun—Paris De scribes Conference Between King Constantine and Venizelos. Berlin reports via Hayvllle wire less: A declaration of Bulgaria’s Intention to enter the war with eratany and her allies Is contained In what is described as a Bulga rian man! test a, as given out in Berlin Friday by the Overseas News Agency. London report* Friday: A mes sage to The Times states that the Greek government has decided to Issue a declaration of its attitude of "benevolent neutrality" toward the entente powers. Nish, Serbia, report* Friday: The diplomatic rupture between Serbia and Bulgaria is complete. The foreign office has Itanded his passports to the Bulgarian minis ter. London report* Friday: The Bulgarian minister to Italy has been handed his pass|H>rt* by the ^Italian foreign minister, according 'do a Stefan! News Agency dispatch from Rome. Berlin reports by wireless Friday: The Frankfurter Zeitung asserts that the Bulgarian government has Issued a manifesto to the nation, announc ing its decision to enter the war on the side of the central powers. The manifesto as given out by the Over seas News Agency follows: “The central powers have promised us parts of Serbia, creating an Aus- tro-Bulgarian border line, which Is absolutely .necessary for Bulgaria's independence of the Serbians. “We do not l>ollev* in the promises of the quadruple entente. Italy, one of the Alliees, treacherously broke her treaty of 33 years. We believe In Germany, which is fighting the whole world to fulfill her treaty with Austria. “Bulgaria must fight at the vie ter'a side. The Germans and Austro- Hungarians are victorious on all fronts. Russia soon will have col lapsed entirely. Then will come the turn of France. Italy and Serbia Bui garla would commit suicide If she did not fight on the side of tho cen tral powers which offers the only possibility of realizing her desire for union of all Bulgarian peoplea." The news agency says further: "The manifesto to the people con tains valuable material in regard to Bulgarian polltlca and economics and states that Russia Is lighting for Constantinopis and the Dardanelles Great Britain to deatroy Germany's competition. France for Alsace and Lorraine and the other allies to fob foreign countries. The central pow ers are fighting to defend property and assure peaceful progress. “The manifesto says that Serbia, the worst enemy of Bulgaria, has op pressed the purely Bulgarian popula tion of Macedonia In the most bar barous manner." London reports Friday: The new Teutonl ( invasion of Serbia is In Tull ■wing. In command of Field Mar shal von Mackcnsen tho German and Austrian forces are seeking to push their way southward in an attempt to seize the Trunk Railway stretch ing from Belgrade to both Saloniki and Constantinople. The next move lies with Bulgaria. Whether she will attack Serbia from the rear or maintain for a moment a watchful attitude, is matter of sur mise. but tho situation is such that her entrv in the war seems a matter only of hours. Russian warships arc already re ported t6 be bombarding the Bulga Man Black Sea port of Varna. French and British troops ar being rushed northward by train from Saloniki Meanwhile at tho point where the railway approaches closest to Bui garian territory both an allied and a Bulgarian army are mossing. It la reported from Italian sources that as a precaution the Serbian gov ernment is transferring all records and archives from Nish to Istip, about 50 miles from the Greek fron tier. Virtually made over in guns and equipment, rnd stiffened by British and French forces, it is predicted here that the Serbians will oiler stubborn resistance to tho Austsp- German advance. They will be as sisted by the flood conditions in the Morava Valley, down which von Mackensen hopes to force his way. Estimates of the strength of the Austro-German forcea along the Ser bian frontier range from 400.000 Ad" 600,000 men. There may havqjtfeen withdrawals by the Austrians and Germans from some partM of the eastern front but the renewed efforts of von Hindenburg to capture Dvinsk does not indicate any weakening. Among the theories advanced now that Germany has definitely under taken a fresh campaign in the Bal kans is the supposition that activity on the southern end of the eastern front will gradually clacken and that the Teutons will concentrate their energies on Riga and Dvinsk. Paris reports Friday"- The sup porters of Former Premier Venizelos wljo constitute a mojrity of the Greek chamber, it has been learned on high authority, says g Havan dis patch from Athens, will not oppose the new hlinlstry so that added com plications may be avoided at a criti cal period. Oterthrow of the Zgimis cabinet would involve the dissolution of the chamber which is considered ex- UfetBeTy hazardous as the Greek con stitution does not permit fixing a date for elections during mobilisation of the army. - Serbia believes, gays the Matin’s not abandon her ally and thaf the Msh correspondent, that Greece will differences between King Constan tine and M. Venizelos can hi smooth ed over. It is maintained that the Interests of Greece are quite as much at Stake a* Serbia, as both are equal- ly threatened. Attention is called alto to the fact that Austria hitherto ha* claimed righto To the port of Saloniki. What purport to>* be tails of the historic interview between King Con? stantlne and Elutberios Vqnlseioa which resulted In the latter’s resig nation as prime minister of Greece are printed In the Greek Journal Katrol. After agreeing to mobilization as a precaution involving no change of policy the king asked the premier what was the object of the concentra tion of such a strong army on the Macedonian frontier. M. Venizelos answered that the object was twofold—first to defend the country, and second, to go to the aid of Serbia in case she were at tacked by Bulgaria. The king then remarked that he agreed with Venizelos so far as de fending the country was concerned but could not see that Greece was called upon to help Serbia. The premier recalled the obligations im posed upon Greece by her treaty of alliance but Constantine retorted that when Greece' asked Serbia's aid against Turkey In May, 1914, It was refused. To further arguments on the part of Venizelos the King replied that the premier was contradicting himr self for when the allied powers ask ed Greece to assist Serbia at the time of the Austrian attack, Venizelos made a promise of such assistance conditional upon the benevolent co operation of Rumania and the ben evolent neutrality of Bulgaria Tbese conditions not having been pledged, the king pointed out, he re fused to join Serbia at a time when the Austrian forces arrayed against her did not exceed 150,000 and Bul garia was not hostile. "But to-day,’’ added the king, "the Austro-Germans are a half million to whom must be added 330,000 Bul garians and the retreat of the Rus sians prevents the Rumanians from doing anything for Serbis.” -London reports: The long threat ened Austro-German offensive in the Balkans, with the added menace of Bulgaria, has begun In earnest. Al most simultaneously with the rup ture of diplomatic relations between Sofia and the Entente two Russian cruisers are reported to have begun an active bombardment of the Bul garian port of Varna and an A ustro ller rasa army, eattmated at 40fi,000 men. with an enormous weight of heavy artillery, started to attack Ser bia from north and west. According to Berlin, this force haa crossed the Drtna, Danube and Save rivers at many points and firmly established itself an the Serbian side. The Anglo-French troops which were landed at Saloniki .with the tacit consent of the Greek govern ment are being hurried northward U> aasiat Serbia sad. If possible, keep the Bulgarians from eaptnrtng the Salonikl-Nlsh railway, the only source by which the Serbians can ob tain munitions of war. The hoped-for support from dreec* has not been forthcoming. King Con stantine, by the dismissal of Premier Venlseloa, having shown that, while his country sympathises with the cause of the Allies, he Is not pre pared to go against the Central pow ers or to fulfill th* obligations of the Greco-Serbian treaty of alliance, which provides that one ally must go to the assistance of the other In cose of attack. A new Greek cabinet of mixed sympathies has been appointed and the expectation now is that unlesa public opinion forces the hand of the government and Insists on action on the sides of the Allies, Greece will re main neutral. It Is hardly conceiv able to the Entente diplomats that Oreecd wilt go over to the central powers, for, they point out, Bulgaria Is known to covet Greek territory, and the treatment of Greek nationals In Turkey makes it virtually impos sible for her to become the ally of that country. As in Greece, public opinion In Bulgaria is not entirely unanimous in support of King Ferdinand, and reports indicate that the Bulgarian mobilization is being carried out with difficulty. The king and Premier Radoslavoff, however, finally have thrown In their tot with Austria, Germany and Turkey, having, after consultation with the ministers of those countries, rejected the de mands for the dismissal of the Aus tro-German officers, who. it is leged, have been engaged to com mand the Bulgarian army. Bulgaria, in fact, denied the presence of these officers. The Russian, British, French and Italian/rfnnisters either have left or are leaving Sdfia. Italy has given the, Bulgarian minister at Rome his passports. It taxfiosBible that Bulgaria may avoJjFarousing the Greek people by ply keeping her troops on the bor der. This would prevent Serbia from refraining from attacking Serbia, bringing her full strength to boar against the Austro-German attack. Rumania, the other Balkan state, still is neutral. Rumania has not been heard from, but, like Greece, for the moment is bent on continu ing friendly relations with a)l the belligerents. Doubtless to Influence her and the other Balkan states Rus sia Is reported to htiv* commenced an energetic offensive ln‘ Bukowlna and to have attacked Austrion posi tions northeost of Czernowltz. Blow Open a Bank. Two men blew open the vault of the State Bank at Maud, Ohio, fifteen miles south of Shawnee, early Tues day morning and escaped with four thousand dollars. A sheriff’s posse pursued them. Dr. Constantin Tbepdor Dumbo, ambassador of Austria-Hungary to the United States, whose recall woa requested by President Wilson, sailed from New York on Tuesday for Rot terdam on the steamer Nieuw Am sterdam, accompanied by lime. Oma ha. He Iporves the embassy at Wash ington rth the care of Baron Erich Zwledinek, who will act as charge d’affaires until a new ambasfeador is appointed. As the ship started. Dr. Dumbo, many years the senior of his wifo, came to the rail and they stood arm In arm waving adiena, both visibly affected by the going away. As too ship moved out they ran aft,. and Madame threw kisses until out of sight. Neither the ambassador nor Mme. Dumbs mode any pretense of con cealing their regret over the end of their diplomatic usefulness. Testimonials to the personal popu larity of the ambassador and bis wife filled one stateroom almost to the celling. Excepting when Jana Addijms went abroad on her peace mission, the steamship people could pot recall so many flowers having been sent to any one voyager. Huge baskets and boxes of chrysanthe mums, roses and orchids > came from personal friends and from Auatro- Hung&rl&n societies. ' r Dr. Dumbs, before going aboard, met the photographers, smiling, and with ready repartee. “Can you execute me here?” he asked, taking a stand in the middle of the pier. Ha readily consented to go down stairs to a better light, where he walked, talked and laughed to the complete satisfaction of the "movie” men. They called him "Doc” and asked him to look this way or that, to wavs hts hand and to take off his hat and smile. As though it were a real plessors, the ambdsaador entered Into Ike spirit of the thing and returned to Mme. Dumbs smiling. ”1 should Uke to give you a fare well meesage to the American people: I love them, and I boar no ill-will to any of them/' said Dr. Dumbs before leaving the crowd of reporters. “I have made many friends here, and soma day. as a private citloan. 1 hop* to be able to com* hark and see them, 'la just Ice la my recall?’ Wall, that la a delicate question; w# would bet ter not disease that 1 con not apeak on official subjects—yoa know that. But good-bya and God bless yen!” FRENCH TROOPS IN (REECE Fa IQ Have Protests Air Attack. The duchy of Luxemburg bos pro tested the recent attack of the allied airmen on the dty of Luxemburg, says a Berlin dispatch which comas to the United States by reports Wednesday: U i ■earns certain that Bulgaria win ; herself with Germany, Turkey. The matter doubtlee* will be brought to a head by the leading of silled troop* la Saloniki. This procedure la regarded hers os In of fset placing Greses definitely wtth the Entente powers as she lu ered as having virtually anqi In thU counter move garla.' Although the time allotted for. th* Bulgarian reply to ttuaaia’a ultima tum expired yesterday afternoon. King Ferdinand, so far as has haon made known, haa not aeon fit to an swer in any form. It la aaaumad that hostilities in this new field can not be averted. If Bulgaria Joins the Teutonic al lies she will enter the war under i ditions less favorable than a l weeks ago. The Russians with inforcementa and a slowly increas ing amount of artillery aeam to kg' striking harder blows dally, an#tha official German communications no longer register measurablediaUnnm. The situation in the want has reached a stage of renewal of pre parations after the allied offensive, and the Oernjiati* ere etlll —mggHug to regal n Urt ground lost. Intensive artillery action again it predominant on the French front, la- ting that the positions won have been consolidated and that prepara tions for another attack are under way. SOUTHERN 60VERNORS MEET AT CHARLESTON THIS FALL Invitation of Governor Moaning la Accepted by Fourteen Gover nors—Others to Come. Announcement was made at Wash ington last week that the invitation of Governor Richard L Manning, of South Carolina, to the governors of the South to meet In Charleston at the time of the seventh annual con vention of the Southern Commercial Congress to organize the house of southern governors, has been accept ed by the executives of fourteen states. Governor Manning la being assist ed in the organisation of the house, of southern governors by Dr. Clar ence J. Owens, managing director of the. Southern Commercial Coagreaa, who la acting as temporary secretary. The governors who have signified rbelr Intention of participating In the organisation include these et land, Virginia, North Carolina, ('aroHua, Georgia. Fieri sippi. Louisiana, Texas, Okl Arkansas, Mlaaoari, Kentucky. . Tenneeeee. All formei