Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1S50. Ricljman au? J5ontl)ron. -?-? f "Bo Jum and Fe*r m>i?lioc sH Uie ends Thoa Aims't at be thy Countrr'h. Tb.y God's *>u Tratk's." lkit: TRI hc i hrov "Bo Jum iu?d *>ear not?Jbec sM me ends Ttooa Alma't at be thy Oouuitj'b, Thy God's asm IntS'i" IME TRI * DUX HRON, Ai*u?Oki*Ucd 4\ku* i ??e Consolidated Aur. 2,1881. SUMTER, S. C, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1917. 1 Vol.XLIlI. No. 44. GERMANY^DENOUNCES ALLIES. BLAMES THEM FOR PROVOKING THE GREAT WAR. Peace PropoNals Made by Germany Were Sincere and Opened Way for Negotiation*? Refusal of Allies to Entertain Proposal Renders Them Responsible for Continuation of Bloodshed and Suffering. Berlin, Jan. 11 (via Sayville).? Germany today handed neutral gov? ernments a note concerning the reply of the entente to the German peace proposals, the Overseas News Agency announces. It la firit stated, says the news agency announcement, that the Ger? man government has received the re? ply of the entente to the note of De? cember 12 containing a proposition to snter at once Into peace negotiations. The note then continues: "Our adversaries declined this prop? osition, giving as the reason that it is a proposition without sincerity and without importance. The form in which they cloths their communica? tion excludes! sa answer to them but the imperial government considers It important to point out to the govern? ments of neutral powers its opinion regarding the situation. The cen? tral powers have no reason to enter Into any discussion regard? ing the origin of the world war. History will Judge upon whom the immense guilt of the war shall fall, history's verdict will as little pas over the encircling policy of England, the revengeful policy of France and the endeavor of Russia to gain Con? stantinople as over the Instigation of the Servian assassination of Sarajevo and the complete mobilisation of Rus? sia, which meant war against Ger? many. "Germany and her allies, who had to take up arms for defense of their liberty and their existence, consider thin, their aim of the war, as obtained. "On the other hand, the hostile powers always went further away f*aejt> the realisation of their plans Which, according to the declarations i*eWtal(BMi>W??'?ttM others, directed toward the' conquest of Alsace-Lorraine and sev? eral Prussian provinces, the humilia? tion and diminution of the Austro Hungarian monarchy, the partition of Turkey and the mutilation of Bul grrla. "In tho face of such war alms, the demand for restitution, reparation end guarantees in the mouth of our adversaries produces a surprising ef? fect. "Our adv rlcs call the proposal of the four allied (Teutonic) powers a war munocuvre. Germany and her allies must protcs. in the most ener? getic fashion against such a charac? terisation of their motives which were frankly explsinea. They were per? suaded that a poace which was Just and acceptable to all the belligerents was posslblo, that it could be brought about by *ej Immediate spoken ex? change of vlovs and that, therefore, the responsibility for further blood? shed could rot be taken. "Their readiness was affirmed with? out reservation to muko known their peace conditions when negotiations were entered Into, which refutes every doubt as to their sincerity. "Our adversaries, who had it In their hands to examine the proposition as to Its contents, neither attempted an examination nor made counterpro? posals. Instead, they declared that peace was Impossible so long as the re-establishment of violated rights and liberties, the recognition of the prin? ciple of nationalities und tho free ex? istence of small states were not guar? anteed. "Tho sincerity which our adver? saries deny to the proposal of the four alia d powers (Teutonic) will not bo conceded by the world to these de? mands if the world holds before it> eyes the fate of the Irish people, the destruction of the liberty and lade* l"udence of the Boer republic, tie subjugation of nortern Africa b> Kngland, Krance and Italy, the sup gfengom af Itnggfcui eHenatlens and also the violation of Greece, which is without pri( edent in history. "Against the pretended \iolalions of the laws of nations by the four al? lies (Teutonic* these powers are not entitled to complain, which from the beginning of the war trampled as Justice and tore to pieces the treat,< I upon which it is built. England al? ready durinfc the first weeks of th" war repudiated the Ijendon declare? Ulon. the contents of Which had hern recognized by its own delegates a ; .1 valid law of nations, and in the fa ? ther course of the war violated in tie most severe fashion also the Tans declaration: so that by her arbitrary measures for warfare a condition of ? wltjssneHs luui been created, RAPIST PLEAD GUILTY. JOHN WILLIAMS AOMITS CRIMI? NAL ASSACI/T IN OKAXGE BURG. Carried to Columbia After Brtef Trial to Serve Forty Years in Peniten? tiary. Orangeburg, Jan. 11.?John Wil? liams, a young white man of the Neeses section of Orangcburg county, today, by arrangement of counsel, pleaded guilty to a charge of crimi? nal assault, with recommendation to mercy of the court. Such a consent verdict was written and signed by the foreman of a jury empaneled for that purpose. Tho defendant was sen? tenced to serve a term of 40 years in the State penitentiary. The crime was committed about two weeks ago upon a prominent! young married woman In tho Neeses section. Feeling grew intense and as soon as Williams was arrested, upoa his own suggestion, he was taken to the 8tate penitentiary for safekeep? ing. Unaware ho was brought to Orangeburg today and no largo crowd was in attendance upon court when he was placed in the dock. Immediately after sentence, he was hastened to Columbia to entar upon his term. Williams Is a member of * prominent family of the Neeses sec? tion. Honor Roll of Stateburg School. Frist grade, Hope Willlamr. Second grade, Elizabeth Richard? son. Third grade, John Frank Williams. Fifth grade, William Brown. "The war of starvation against Germany and tho preroure exercised In England's interest against neutrals are not less scandalously conflicting with the rules of the laws of nations as with the commands of humanity. "Likewise, contrary to the laws of nations, and Incompatible .with ' the usages of civllzatlon, are' at, use of colored troops In Europe and the ex ?the war into Africa, which M which undermines the if the white raco on that continent. The barbarous treatment of prisoners, especially in Africa and Russia, and the deportation of the civil population from Eastern Prus? sia, Alsace-Lorraine, Oalicia and Bu okwina, are further proof If our ad? versaries point to Uie special situa? tion of Belgium. The imperial gov? ernment has alwiys observed the duties which were enjoined upon her by her neutrality. Already before tho war, Belgium, under England's influ? ence, sought support In military fash? ion from England and France and thus herself violated the spirit (of tho treaty) which she had to guarantee her independence and neutrality. "Twice the imperial government declared to the Belgium government that it did not come as an enemy to Belgium and asked it to spare the country the terrors of war. "Germany offered to guarantee tho integrity and independence of the kingdom to tho full extent and com? pensate for all damages which might be caused by the passage of the Ger? man troops. It is known that the royal British government in 1S87 was resolved not to oppose the use of the right of way through Belgium ander those conditions. "The Belgian government declined tho repeated offers of the imperial government. Upon her and those pow? ers which instigated her to this atti? tude falls the responsibility for the fate w hich befell Belgium. "The accusations ubout the Ger? man warfare In Belgium and the measures taken there in the interest of military safety have been repeat? edly refutrd by the imperial govern? ment as untrue. Germany Again of? fers enerffctic protest againsi. these calumnies. "Germany and her allies have nv do an honest attempt to terminate the war ami <?pcn the road for an under? standing among ths belligerents. The Importal governmsn1 asssrts ths fact that it msrely depended upon the de? cisions of our adversaries Whether Um rond toward penes should i?e on* lorod upon or not. The hostile gov? ernments declined to accept this road. Upon them fails the full responsibility for th<> continuation of tho bloodshed. "?Mir allied powers, however, shall continue the struggle In nule con? fidence and with Arm trust In their light, until peace Is lalned which guarantees t<> their nations honor, existence ami liberty of development, and Which to all the nations of the European continent gives tb<> bless? ing to cooperate In mutual ro?|ieel and ander equal rights together for the solution of the groat problems of civilisation." CAPITAL CITY NEWS. i MANY VISITORS TO COLUMBIA FOR FOUNDERS DAY EXER? CISES AT UNIVERSITY. I - Scvcrnl Prominent Speakers?ftr. Rcavis Declines Call?Gov. and Bfl?rs Manning: to Receive;?Plenty of plicuuts for State Bank Examinees Job?Approves Resignation of Blythe. Columbia, Jan .11.?Hundreds ,. visitors were in Columbia today the exercises incident to Foundofs' Day at tho University of South olina. Addresses were delivered by Pv Gadsden of Charleston, the Rev. Jdgm E. White, presirdent of Anderson I lege, and President Charles W. ney of the University of Cincinnat A. Wright responded for the dent body. The Rev. James O. Reavjs, Dr professor of English Bible, pt theology and homiletics at Colui Theological seminary, announced terday that he had declined the recntly extended by the congref of Purity Presbyterian church Chester. Dr. Reavis said that tha-i was very attractive and that highly honored, but that he musjtl plete his work recently begun seminary. Invitations to the annual re to the members of the general bly to be held next Tuesday were issued today by Gov. and Manning. Inaugural exercises held Tuesday at noon in the hoi Gov. Manning is receiving applications for appointment aj| bank examiner to succeed I. M. ] din of Pickens, who has resigi accept a place with the Palmett tional Bank. Scores of tele and letters have been receive* dorsing the various candidates., W. W. Moore, adjutant gene Washington on business in conmj with the National Guard. He1 also attend a meeting of the tlve committee of the natioi elation for the promott ?ietlce. * ^ ? Gov. Manning has approved the resignation of Col. E. M. Blytho of tho First regiment. The resignation now goes to the war department for action. 'DISHONOR LIST'' COMPLETED. State's Attorney Hoyne Ready to Sab? mit Names of Those in Gruft Trust to (?rund Jury. Chicago, Jan. 12.?The names of a hundred policemen and politicians to? day were on the "list of dishonor." State's Attorney Hoyne is ready to submit to the grand jury the Alleged figures in tho gigantic graft and vice trust. Healey has been made a cap? tain and granted a furlough. THAW WILL RECOVER. _i .. Under Guard in Hospital He Passed Comfortable Night. Philadelphia, Jan. 12.?Physicians attending Harry Thaw stated this morning that he passed a fairly com^ fortable night and had a fair chance for recovery. Two detectives remain near his bedside. Thaw continues in a sort of daze and displays Interest In nothing, but seems to desire to live. Detectives say they found the key to the room at the McAlpin hotel, New i'ork, in which the Gump boy alleges he was beaten, among Thaw's effects. Thaw refused today to make a stat? ment about the charges, or his at? tempted suicide, out said: "I am glad to be alive." He then begged that he be left alone. Thaw will be turned over to the New York au? thorities when he has recovered suffi? ciently. He shows no sign of poison today. ('OL. HOUSE AGAIN. President's Unofficial Advisor at White House Today, Washington, Jan. 12,?Col. House, ths unofficial adviser of President Wilson, reached the White House early today and immediately went into conference with the president. They Went over in detail the entente re? ply to the peace note. It is believed both think the way open to the Unit? ed States to further urge peace upon the belligerents, it 's rumorod the president will send Col, House on an? other mission abroad. The president will continue his ef? forts for peace, but in future they wi'i i?e carefully guarded from all publicity. He believes that both sides Want peace. Chicago, Jan, 12.-?Eggs jumped t? 80 rents a do/en today, A o egg Cttltt Ing li threatened, PEACE NOTES CONSIDERED. PRESIDENT MAKING CAREFUL STUDY OF BELLIGERENTS' REPLIES. Next Step in Move for Peace Not De? termined, but Hope of Bringing Waring Nations Together in Con? ference to Discuss Terms on Which War May be Brought to a Close. Washington, Jan. 12.?The atti? tude of President Wilson toward the replies of the warring nations to his suggestion that an opportunity be given for comparing peace terms re- I mained undetermined tonight. Pre? liminary discussion of the question was begun at today's cabinet meet? ing, and at conferences between ihc president and Secretary Lansing and between the president and Col. E. j M. House who spent the day at the White House. Informally officials express the opinion that the problem facing the president is how to reconcile the conflicting attitudes of the central powers and the entente allies on the question of comparing terms. The central powers having offered to dis? cuss peace at a conference of repre? sentatives of the belligerents and the entente powers, though virtually de? clining to agree to a conference, having given their broad terms pub? licly, it was suggested that the pres? ident might seek a new method of having terms compared. In his original note he said he was indifferent as to the means employed to btaln this desired end. and H was thought he now would avoid putting himself in the position of ad? vocating a particular method. In one administration quarter it was sug? gested that one or more European neutrals might urge Germany and her allies to make public their peace terms, and others thought it possi? ble that a voluntary statement might ?be forthcoming from Berlin after th^ text of the entente reply had been handed to the foreign office for its ^nCormatlon by Ambassador Gerard. not been transmitted to American diplomats in the Teutonic countries, although it is generally assumed that this will be the first step actually taken by the United States. Secretary Lansing broke his silence on the subject today only to say defi? nitely that no action had yet been taken. It is generally agreed everywhere that the nature of the terms of the enttsiitt, with the intimations from German sources that such terms can not be accepted, make an early peace unlikely. The preliminary view of the ad? ministration, however, still is that the door to discussion was not entirely cldsed. In the German view here it rests entirely with the president whether negotiations would be con? tinued at this time. It is regarded as certain that the Germanic allies will consider any propositon Mr. Wilson may moke, and that they probably would be willing even to discuss in a conference with their enemies the conditions stated In their reply. At the same time it is reiterated that Germany and her allies never upon any consideration would accept such terms and should they agree to enter a conference to discuss them It would be with the idea that the i entente might recede from its posi? tion. In this connection the Germans express the belief that the entent sot forth In its note the objects it desired to achieve rather than the only terms upon which it would make peace, and that as the communication was writ? ten for publication broadcast, it prob? ably could be expected that objects or terms less moderate than those given could have been stated. Extreme ret? icence was observed today at the White House and state department. It was said so many delicate points are involved that very careful study will be given to the problem before any decision Is reached. The view was genially expressed that the Hrst milestone in the nego? tiations inaugurated by Mr. Wilson had been reached and that there would have to be a general assess? ment of the entire situation before an? other move could be made. No esti? mate was placed on the probable time which may elapse before- th<> d< - clslon of the president Is made known although the long conference between the president and Secretary Lansing today, coming so soon after the re? ceipt of the entente note, was taken to mean that there will be no unneces? sary delay. Peace and the questions allied witii it were discussed only generally ;?i the cabinet meeting, bui afterwards 11 president and Secretary Lnnslng went to Mr, Wilson*? private study togcth CONSPIRACY AGAINST HI RAJ JOHNSON CHARGED. San lYancisco Authorities Deelare Those Connected With the Anar? chist Journal to Blame. San Francisco, Cal., Jan. 12.? Alexander Berkman, editor of The Blast, an Anarchist publication, and seven others prominent in labor cir? cles here, today were charged with having directed a conspiracy to as? sassinate Senator Hiram W. Johnson, "blow up the State"and to overthrow the government. Those who were al? leged to be associated with Berkman include Miss M. E. Fitzgerald, his sec? retary; Robert Minor, treasurer for the International Workers' Defense league; Thomas J. Mooney, labor or? ganizer, and four others who are on trial for murder in connection with the bomb explosion t'iat killed partic? ipants in the preparedness parade here last July, The charges were made by Assist? ant District Attorney Edward A. Cunha during the Mooney trial. He declared that proof of his chargers was contained in letters and papers seized in a recent raid on the oilices I of The Blast. Cunha said that at the proper time j Berkman, Miss Fitzgerald and Minor would be arrested and charged with I murder in connection with the bomb ! explosion as the leaders of the alleged j conspiracy. j At the Mooney trial District Attor? ney Charles M. Fickert chargco Mooney wrote an article in an In? dustrial Workers of the World publi? cation in Cleveland, Ohio, in October, 1914, in which he declared that un? less Gov. Johnson pardoned two men convicted as the result of the killing of a district attorney of Sutter coun? ty, California, in 1911, "he would only have himself to blame if he got hurt." Fickert said he had more evidence which would be produced at the proper time connecting subsequent actions of those accused of the con? spiracy. Mooney's trial will be re nurned Monday morning. ."^"-T~- ^a^^ I er, and remained there for more than an hour. i When he left the White House Mr. Lansing refused to answer questions. Col. House, who came here last night to attend a dinner given in Mr. Wilson's honor by the secretary of State, remained until late this after non and conferred with several ot> licials. He refused to discuss his visit. Already officials are trying to work I out the possible points of agreement I between the opposing alliances bas<?d J upon the entente note and the fler I man chancellor's speeches. Both, it j is pointed out, agre to the evacua j tion of France and Belgium. The only questions left open on the West front, therefore^ are the allied de? mands for indemnities and the inti? mations that Alsace-Lorraine must be returned to France, with some kind of security for maritime frontiers. On the East front the provinces of Lithuania and Poland are in dispute. Lithuania, formerly Russian butcom quered by Germany, has been prom? ised autonomy. Both Germany and Russia have promised Polish indepen? dence, though Germany contemplates making a separate kingdom of Rus J sian Poland only, while Russia's plans contemplate Russian Poland added to German and Austrian Poland. it is in the reconstruction of the Balkans that the alliances apparently ire most bitterly at odds. Italy, be? sides demanding all the territory that Austria would have given her with? out a war, wants also the city of Trieste. Austria's main seaport, and a large part Of the Dalmatian coast. The desire of Germany and Austria to punish Bervia oilers a most com? plicated difficulty as the allies hive demanded that country ? restoration with indemnity. Bulgaria demands parts of Servia. Macedonia and Roumanla as her re? compense I'm' tho war. and has Stated through her premier that her work, consisting in conquering those sec? tions, now is finished. The whole question of the return of various nationalities to their own countries presents a complex and con? fusing problem. Turkey then remains. The allies have demanded her withdrawal from Europe, without saying who shall till the vocacy at Constantinople. For? mer Premier Trepoff has announced that the allies have promised that l ily with the straits to Russia. Tho Turkish capital and the proposed di? vision "i* the Ottoman empire in Asia Minor furnish still another tremen? dous problem. The question <u' colonies and of tlu> l\<r Diisi is hei unfouclu d in t he allied Blutcincut, tier man j informal IMA READY FOR PEACE. DW PREPARED TO MAKH PEACE TERMS. Communication to Neutrals by Austro? 11 ungarjau Government on Entente Reply. London, .Ian. 12.?Count Czernln von Chudenitz, the Austro-Hungarian foreign minister, had addressed to the diplomats to the United States and other neutrals and of the holy see a note defining the Austro-Hungarian , government's views of the situation created by the entente's reply to the j peace proposals of the central pow? ers, according to a Vienna dispatch under Thursday\s date transmitted by Ueuter's Amsterdam correspondent. The note, although not identical with the German note on the subject, follows the same lines as does the German document, the dispatch states, I emphasizing particularly the situation existing between Austria and Servia. In this section the note is thus quot? ed: "In the course of preceding the Aus? tro-Hungarian ultimatum to Servia the monarchy, displayed sufficient proof of its forbearance towards the ever increasing hostility, aggressive intention and intrigues of Servia un? til the momc it when linally the noto* rious murders at Sarajeo made fur? ther indulgence impossible." In a later passage of the note, as quoted in the dispatch, appears the following: "The question as to on which side the military situation is the stronger may confidently be left to the judg? ment of the world. The four allied powers now look on their purely de? fensive war aims as attained, while their enemis travel farther and far? ther from the realization of their plans. For the enemy to character? ize our peace proposals as meaning? less, so long as our peace conditions are unknown, is merely to make an arbitrary assertion. We had made full preparations for the acceptance, of our offer to make known our peace conditions on entering into the ?a*P to end the war by a verbal exchange of views with the enemy govern? ments. Before God and mankind we repudiate responsibility for continu? ance of the war." SHELL PLANT BLOWN UP. Large Munitions Factory Near New York Wrecked by Terrible Explo? sion. New York, Jan. 11.?The plant of the Canadian Car & Foundry com? pany, one-half mile east of Xingsland, N. J., in which were stored hundreds of thousands of three-inch sells des? tined for t^e Russian government, was destroyed late today by fire and a series of explosions which continued for three hours. So far as could bo learned tonight no one was killed or injured, although 17 workmen were reported missing. No estimate of the loss was obtainable, but it was said it might reach $4,000,000. Approximately 1,499 men were em? ployed In the plant, which comprised between 40 and 50 buildings and cov? ered about 80 acres of ground. No munitions were manufactured at Kingsland but the plant was used for the filling of shells, the chief con? stituent used being trinitrotoluol, one of the most powerful explosives known. While it was estimated that nearly 500,000 shells exploded primary fuses or caps had not been attached to them and consequently their detonation did not cause the havoc that follows their explosion when used on European bat? tle fronts. The roar of the shells, which sounded like a cannonade from heavy guns, w as heard for miles, how. ever, and the concussions shook build? ings w ithin a wide radius of the plant. Two lug magazines in which were stored trinitrotoluol, nitric acid, pit ric- acid and powder were not reached by the dames and it was be? lieved they were not in danger. ALLIED SHIPPING WARNED. CiL I IS M Haider Said to Be in North Atlantic. New York. dan. 13.?A warning to allied shipping against a German raid? er in the North Atlantic was again sent out today. All ship captains were ordered to take precautions. ly has Indicated that she will expect her colonies back. it is ih?> belief of officials here that only by a certified d< Hnltion of these questions and by a mutual give and take will it ever be possible to make a |?oaee thai will !>e permanent. A beginning towards that, they fee?, already lias been made, though the cud i an indefinite distance off.