Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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4 1 i VOLUME*XXXI. BREAK WITH GERMANY I WILL RESULT IN WAR American Steamship is Slink l Following Germany's Recent Notice to Neutrals GERMAN AMBASSADOR HANDED HIS PASSPORTS White House Gates Locked and Every Precaution is Taken i Quickly. Washington, Feb. JJ.?President Wilson has broken off diplomatic relations with Germany and warned the Kaiser that ruthless sacrifice ol' American lives and rights means war. Similar action is awaiting for Austria when she notifies this government that she joins in the campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare. The president made formal an- ' 1 _ i.?i:? i... iv.? nouncemeiii ui ms ucuuii tu wuc luuutry and to the world at a joint session of Congress. Passports have been handed to Count von Bernstorff, Ambassador Gerard, with his staff and all Amreican consuls have beer, ordered out of Germany. All German consuls in the United States are expected tc withdraw that the severance of relations may be complete. American -diplomatic interests in Berlin have been turned over to Spain; German diplomatic interests in the United States have been taken over by Switzerland. Foreign diplomatic interests which the United Statos had in charge in Germany have been turn ed over to various neutrals. Two years of diplomatic negotiation marked with frequent crisis and attended with the loss of more than 1 200 American lives on the high seas have culminated with an act which in all the history of the world always has led to war. Every agency of the American Government has been set in motion to protect the country against acts of German sympathizers. These moves are of necessity being ? I kept secret. With the notice of severance of relations the United States sent to Berlin a demand for the immediate release of sixty-four Americans taken from ships captured by German raiders in the South Atlantic. At the request of the President, Congress immediately after hearing his address began work on new laws framed by the Department of Justice t to check conspiracies and plots against the United States which cannot now be reached under existing statutes. * I The question of convoying American merchant ships through the sub- , marine blockade has beei token up and is being considered as one of the next moves. Created Big Sensation. 1 The news of the torpedoing of the < American steamer Housatonic creat- ] ed a tremendous sensation, but it dues not necessarily constitute such | a:i invasion of American rights such < as the President said he would meet , by asking Congress for additional authority to act. < Only the establishment of the ex ; act facts can determine whether the ; sinking of the ship was a new attack < on American rights or whether the ? case comes within the range of other , American ships carrying contraband, 1 destroyed in accordance with interna- 1 tional law and presenting a case to , be settled under its precepts. ( Admittedly if the Housatonic was < sunk without warning or with loss of /> -torican life, it will amount to little less than an act of war. j o SHOT AT JUDGE. Wiliamson, W. Va.?Circuit Judge James Darmron, who has been active i in prosecuting liquar law violators ? and who participate! in the election j fraud cases, was shot and seriously : wounded while walking with his wife i las night. His assailant is unknown. ' (The "HC PEOPLE NEAR COAST I SEE STRANGE FLYER Passes Over Windy Hill Beach I On Sunday of Last Week. On Sunday morning of last week, Joe Bright, who is a tenant on the l seashore plantation of W. It. Lewis, j at Windy Hill, heard a gasoline mo- 1 tor in the near vicinity and thought 1 that it was Mr. Lewis' Ford ap- ; proaching the place. He soon dis- 1 covered that the purring lie heard came from the air, and in a few seconds he was surprised to see an 1 airship pass over carrying three- 1 men. Mr. Bright had seen a flying machine here at the fair and knew the nature of the craft but it was a very interesting sight to him though he had seen an airship before. liiiier reports are to the effect that the craft was of the hydro-aeroplane type and came from the beach near Wilmington, N. CM where practice tests with the machines are being made and that the machines will Carry passengers. It was also staled that the ship went down at Southport for the purpose of taking on a supply of fuel. PRESiiNnELLSCONGRESS OF BREAK Washington.?The severance of diplomatic relations with Germany was formally announced to the country and the world by President Wilson at a joint session of Confess today at 2 o'clock. The United States now stands on the verge of war with all the historic precedents of centuries pressing it forward. Fervently invoking the guidance of Almighty God in the step He has taken, President Wilson detailed to the Congress why the United States should not continue relations with a warring power which repeatedly invades America's sacred rights am' takes the lives of its citizens. OTHERS MAY BREAK WITH THE TEUTONS Germany faces the possibility of having the greater part of the neutral world sever diplomatic relations with her over her submarine policy. President Wilson has made the sug gestion to all neutrals that they follow the example of the United Statrs> saying he believes it will make for the peace of the world. Official Germany as yet has said nothing with regard to the severing b> the United States of diplomatic relations. In fact the senii-officiai Overseas News Agency asserts that the only news of the crisis received in Berlin was contained in press dispatches and that no official confirmation on the subject has reached the German capital. An Amsterdam dispatch says no information on the sub ject has reached Holland from Germany and that the censor has presented German newspapers from dossing the frontier. Meanwhile all preparations are being made everywhere in the United States for any eventuality that may firiso as a result of the break with I CI or many. One of the phases of the situation which seemed likely to be if grave consequences, the sinking of the American steamer Housatonic, lias lost its gravity by the announce- 1 ment that the submarine gave the mew warning and aided them somewhat in reaching land. GERMAN GUNBOAT FIRED BY GREW Honolulu, Feb. 4.?The crew of the interned German gunboat Geier today set the vessel afire, according to the authorities here. The gunboat was of 1,604 tons and was interned shortly after the war began. She wa;-> built at Wilhelmshaven in 1894. WiMX >RRY COUNTY AND HER VE< I'LE, ^iSWAY, S. 0., THURSDAY, ] HO DEMONSTRATION AGAINST GERMANS Lansing Wires Governor Manning to See That There are No Outbreaks. Columbia, Feb. 4.?Special: That the State Department at Washnigton is taking every precaution to avoid violence in any form against the German element in this country is shown by a telegram received Saturday night by Richard I Manning, Governor of South Carolina, which had also been addressed to other chief executives throughout the Unit? ,1 MM. ? 1. _ 1 1 in oiawfs. i lit* toiegrams receiveu by Governor Manning, which follows requests him to use his offices for Ihe avoidance of demonstrations: "In view of the severance of diplomatic relations between the United States and the German empire I venture to request your good offices to the end that special precaution be taken to prevent demonstrations against any German consulates or German officials within the limits of your State. In iiiis connection 1 should say that, while diplomatic relations with Germanv have been so vercd, the two countries are not in a state of war. It is with a view to I avoid complications in this critical situation that I am calling this matter to your attention." The telegram was signed by Robert Lansing, Secretary of State. Governor's Reply. Goveronr Manning replied that he would do everything in his power to avoid demonstrations in South Carolina. In a statement given out he said: "As far as South Carolina is concerned, I do not feel that there is any probability of any demonstrations, and I hope that there will be no rash or unwise talk, which might embarrass the administration in Washington. There is a time when we should keep our heads and conduct ourselves with absolute propriety and avoid everything that might intensify feel ing between Germany and ourselves." Governor Manning telephoned Sher1 iff J. Elmore Martin in Charleston to protect the German consulate and to see that there were no unfriendly demonstrations against Germany or the Germans there. PLANS TO SPEED UP BUILDING OF SHIPS Washington.?To insure quick con struction of naval vessels and manufacture of ammunition and equipment for which private plants are under contract, Secretary Daniels asked Congress today for authority to commandeer such plants if necessary and operate them in the public service. A. draft of the proposal sent to the House by the Secretary was presented to Chairman Padgett, of the naval committee, as an amendment to the annual naval bill on which debate was just closing. SHIP GOES DOWN AT CHARLESTON Charleston?Acting on instruction.: from the treasury department at Washington, Fred C. Peters, collector of the port, this afternoon visited tho German freighter Liebenfels of the Hansa line, which has been lying in Charleston harbor since the outbreak of the Fwuropean war and which sank, this morning in 34 feet of water, j her bow being left well above the water line and the ship having liste I at an angle of 30 degrees. Mr. Peters was accompanied by Lieut. B. i B. Taylor of the Charleston navy yard. They were unable to ascertain why the Liebenfels sank. J. Lubken, first officer of the Liebenfels, whom they found on board, was on the ship when she went down, butt said he was asleep at the time They got no information from him except the statement that he expected to remain on board. , FIKST, LAST. NOW AND Fp REV] FEBRUARY. 8, 1917. LORIS WILL ENJOY ! DELIGHTFUL LECTURE Burglar Visits the City and Goes off With Booty?Will Have Chautauqua. Rev. James Walter Daniel, regardoil as one of the foremost orators ol the State, will deliver his great lec Lure, "The Southern Mule," in Lor is M. E. Church, South, on Friday even ing, Feb. 9th at 7:50 o'clock. Whercever Mr. Daniel has delivered this lecture he bus captivated his cntin audience by his eloquence and humoi and it gees without saying that ; rare treat is in store for those wh hear this distinguished speaker on Friday evening. An unwelcomed visitor arrived in Loris during the wee small hours o Thursday morning and broke into the stores of A. J. Mishoe, Garrell Bios., and the Loris Hardware and Furniture Co. Entering the Mishoe store from : window in the rear he walked awa\ with about $15.00 in nickels. hn?Jilfniir rno ri'lncc ^ ... ^ VIIV OO IV/ t I IV" 1 I \J I 1 \ door of Garrell Bros., he made \va> with a small amount of cash., scvera pair of shoes, overalls and o'.hei goods. The front door to the Loris Hardware and Furniture Co., looked very inviting to the intruder so he pro ceeded to smash the glass to same and visited the cash register and pocketed about $1.50 in five cent pieces. Bloodhounds were secured from Chadbourn early Thursday morning as soon as the work of the burglar was discovreed but as it had been raining all night and was continuing at that time it was too wet for the dcgs to "hit the trail." J. A. Bryant has moved from his home in the "City of Loris" to the old homestead on the edge of town, while G. L. Warr and family are now occupying the house vacated by J. A. Bryant and family. Mrs. Geo, S. Butler and children have returned home after a pleasant week spent with her parents in the Ciimp Swamp section. "Goo." you will have to be a "good boy" now. Rev. W. B. Duncan, Jr., and family spent the week end with B. S. Butler in the Camp Swamp section. J. A. Best, agent for the Radcliffe Chautauqua Attractions spent several days the past week in Loris. While here he completed arrangements with ten of the leading business and pro fcssional men whereby Loris is to have a "Three-Day Chautauqua." The following are the officers of the executive committee who have charg'j 4-u~ /-M i- ?? ui cue vjiiuuiau(]ua: itcv. watson 15 Duncan, Jr., Chairman; Dan W. Hani wick, Secretary; and C. H. Hardwick, Treasurer. The contract calls for twelve of the leading- attractions staged by the Radcliffe Bureau. This is quite a treat for the people of I,oris and surrounding country and they all of en" accord should support the movement. "Watch Loris Grow." The Epworth League held a very pleasant and enthusiastic meeting at the Methodist church en Wednesday evening. Prof. J. I. Robinson delivered a very helpful and practical talk on "The Purpose of The League." There were thirty-three in attendance and five took part in the service. One of the finest sections of this great Palmetto State of our's is that portion of same to be found in and around Loris, "The (late City of South Carolina." This good town is (Continued on page Eight.) GERMANY'S BLAME ir lAiin nrnri nno ir WAR UtmUrd Washington. ? Former President Taft prefaced a prepared speech on, the league to enforce peace here tonight with a reference to the new German crisis declaring that if the United States were drawn into war Germany would force it by "her defiance of plain principles of justice and humanity which should obtain between civilized nations." raid. SR.*' THE HOUSATONIG SUNK BY U-BOAT Reported in London That American Steamer Was Torpedoed Without Warning. London, Feb. 3.?The American steamer Housatonic has been sunk by i German submarine near the Sicilly Islands. The rumor is current that the Housatonic was sunk without warn iug\ The Housatonic was submarined a*, noon. All the officers and crew were saved by a British armed steamer. News of the sinking- of the House tonic created a sensation in Wash ington, but State Department offi cials pointed out that it would depen entirely upon the circumstance* whether the incident would affec* the present situation. o CREW WARNED m t ( ai nr? n c nam."" BT MJ15MAK1EKL Washington, Feb. 4.?The possibil Ity that the sinking- of the America! steamer Housatonic will become a so rious factor in the crisis with Ger many apparently was eliminated to day by evidence that the attacking submarine acted within Internationa 'aw. American Consul Stephens a' Plymouth, reported that warning wu. given and provision made for safet; of the crew. ANSWERS ENQUIRERS ON DIPPING OF CATTLE ? - Conway, S. C., Feb. 5th, 1917. Editor Herald:? 1 have had a number of inquiries as to the Dipping of Cattle. Thir work is not controlled by the Legis lature, but is being done by the United States Department of Agri culture by Agents who represent the United States Government. ?H. L. BUCK. G0MET0S.S.DAY GOMES OFF SUNDAY Come-to-Sunday School Day it next Sunday, February 11th. This is to bo a great Rally Day observed b\ Sunday Schools of every denomina lion in the State. It is hoped that every individual will attend Sunday School next Sunday. "If you are not there, you'll bo lonesome," is the slo gan for the day. Everybody is invited. Be sure to attend and take a friend with you. , Superintendents arc urged to use '.he snooial nroprnm fnvnicVirwl Fw Mm ! ! - ? "J State Association. They are free. Each Sunday School in the State '? asked to make a contribution n?x* Sunday for the work of the South Carolina Sunday School Association. The Association is doing great good in the State and deserves our liberal support. It is sadly in need of funds at this time, and it is hoped that tin contribution from the Schools on Come-to-Sunday School Day will he large and generous. The State Sunday School Association wants to tabulate the number a'tcnding Sunday School next Sunday. Each Superintendent is urged to mail | a report Monday to the South Care| linn Sunday School Association,, | Spartanburg, S. C. Give the follow | ing information: The number present I Sunday, your average attendance. I number of new members joining Sunday, and enclose check or money or-, dor for the amount of the contribution. Sign the report and give your | postoffice and name and denomination of your Sunday School. Come-to-Sunday-School Day next Sunday. "If you are not there, you'll be lonesome." PAUL QUATTLEBAUM, County Pres. i N0 42. NEW WAREHOUSEMAN IS ORANGEBURG MAN W. G. Smith Named on Sixteenth Ballot to Succeed McLaurin DEADLOCK BROKEN AFTER MANY DAYS New Head of State Cotton Storage System is Cotton Expert. Wattie Gaillard Smith of Orangehurir was plot'tod Stato commissioner on the l(ith ballot last week. The general assembly deadlock began to break on the 14th ballot, and after the 15th John J. McMahan of Richland, one of the three leading candidates, withdrew, leaving only J. A. Drake and W. G. Smith in the race. Mr. Smith won by a vote of 82 to 73. New Warehouseman's C areer. Wattie Gaillard Smith was born in 18G1 at Williamston. His grandfather, a Scot, landed at Charleston. His father, Henry J. Smith, a native of Charleston, who practiced law at Williamston and Greenville, lost his life in the War Between the Sections, as captain of the Gist Rifles, C. S. A. Wattie G. Smith's widowed mother became a teacher and her little son went to live with his father's brother, Dr. Whiteford Smith, who saw to his schooling at the Marietta street grammar school in Atlanta and later sent him to Wofford college, Spartanburg. Mr. Smith after graduation entered the office of the Clifton Manufacturing company in Spartanburg coun ty. He studied all the books he could lay his hands on which dealt with the handling of cotton from field to fabric. After 12 years at Clifton he organized the Bamberg cotton mills, becoming president and treasurer. Ten years later he organized the Orangeburg Manufacturing company and of that cotton milling enterprise he was president and treasurer for some years. At present he is engaged in the buying of cotton He has been actively interested in ether commercial ventures at Orange burg and has shown civic spirit, notably as president of the Business Men's league and the Business Men's club. He has served as first lieutenant of the Morgan Rifles, Spartanburg, and as captain of the Edito Rifles, Orangeburg. He was commissary general on the staff of D. C. Hey ward during the hitter's administration as governor. He is a Mason and a Shriner, a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias and a past exalted ruler of the Elks. Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Smith married in 1855 Miss Mary A. Begg, daughter of rJames and Mary A. Begg of Spartanburg coun ty. They had four children, all of whom are livinj*. Mr. Smith was married, second, in 1898, to Miss Lucia C. Weathersbee, daughter of T. F. S. end Annie Weathersbee of Barnwell. KING WINTER WAS GOING IT STRONG The weather > t i Y > IKIU^CM !<.?;? Friday night from wild to freezing" cold. Winter froze in closed rooms of residences last Fridav night, for the first time this Winter. Those who neglected to drain water system and the water jackets of engines and motors, in almost every case had damages to report the next morning, and were compelled to send hurry calls for the plumber. The intense cold of Friday night and Saturday was accompanied by a cold wind out of the North which struck to the bone and manufactured icicles by the thousands wherever water happened to flow. It was the coldest weather of the Winter of 1916-1917.