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PP? tramOl WATCHMAN, lVahrlahed April, 1860. "Be and Fear not?Dec all the ends Thou Almut at he thy Country'*, Thy God'e aad Truth'*.' OeaeolfcUted Aua. e. I88i. SUMTER, S. C, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28. 1917. TUB TKtJK 80?THKON, FmMMlK Inj, MM. Vol. XIjIV. No. 12. MIES II OSE FUME tUDBCAL MEASURES FOR dOEOUK? GERMAN DEPRE? DATIONS. WIB be Taken a# Declares Stete oi Two Conn Is Cxpeeted Imme Oouioalag Osajsjenji Lined up for Wer. March It.?The Amer lean levemment ha* decided upon measure* to be put Into ef following the expected declara tloa ay congress April 3 that a state Off war exists between the United Hates and Germany. Tally appreciating Germany's policy SJt acting first and talking afterwards. Hie government has determined t< pear Mid against every possible em et Bread question* Involved were dls eueeed today at a long cabinet meet i bag to wrloa beads of departments ?anted reports oa preparations ai reedy made and ethers contemplated.) P Stelle are being taken np betweeen it Wilson and individual cabl Mejjpretfaily the government appar? ently aae decided that since Germany g} paakbag war upon the United States rata less killing of American* destruction of their ships, the ts eue meet be met with steps mucb mare far reaching than mere attempts UP protect Individual merchant craft. If anything fa ahead to prevent this It Is not foreeeaea. Ofjeg a state of war Is declared to aggressive measures are ex? te be1 taken. As outlined after today's cabinet the preparations of the gov are not to be for a ehorl or a war marked by hslfway Nothing Is to b* taken fur A complete programme has M** paapared ae that everything done 4tt ?Waarrled eat In a systematic measure of Americar la the war is not ex panted It be revealed until after the preetdent addresses congress and un? til public sentiment crystal tses. 0e far a* Is known no political al? liance with tho entente alllse le cor tesaptatsd although military ae well ae naval cooperation Is possible and the government will bs unsparing In bath money and supplies fur the al The president bos not yst written kee address although he has given K preliminary consideration and has a general idea of what he will pro He le expected to be specific and to moke clear that the American govnrn moat and people have no qusrrel with the German people, but can not tol? erate the acts of the German govern? ment. Whether an army will be sent abroad Is one of the questions to b* left to the future. R would take many month* to train an army for euch service and many things may happen In that period. But this po. ?ability le being taken Into considera? tion sad the government proposes to be ready for it as soon as practicable Detailed plans requiring congres actlon are expected to be com? plete when congress meets April i Prior to that time the Democratic and Republican leaders of the senat? and house will be bore and will hold conferences with the president nnd members of hie cabinet. Speak Clark and Representative Kitchln re? turned to Washington today from th< peseta. The council of national defence nnd Its advisory committee have been call? ed to meet tomorrow morning. Tb< council with the advisory committee of men prom lent In almost every line of endeavor Is expected to play an Im portent part In the conduct of n leal warfare. Through 't and through MltlduAia and organi nous many proffers of help and cooperation hnvi I corns from all parts of the country The mensure* decided upon are ml) Hary, naval. Industrial and flnancbn They are understood to be most com? prehensive. All are receiving the per? sonal attention of the presldont. The army plans have not been fully drawn, but a portion of them may become evident at any time. Some are contingent upon action by con grass Their first object will be full fa protect the United State? again*' any contingency. The navy programme, aside from the actual movements of exlstln thtp*. contemplates the building of vessel* of all classes Just as rapidlv eg taw ro sol arose of the nation will perealt aad the mennlng of them ns Jhet it they are constructed. Beers AGREE ON ABAMSOH ACT. RAILWAYS AND BROTHERHOOD TOUCH COMMON GROUND. Arrangements Made for Settling of JPaj Questions to Secure Prompt Ac? tion. New York, March 23.?Railroad managers and representtaives of the fovr trainmen's brotherhoods have agreed upon a tentative basis for the application of the Adamson law, it wan announced tonight by Elisha Lee, cht.lrman of the national conference committee of railway managers. The agreement, it was said, covers the j greater part of the wage schedules in order that the increased wages ac? cruing to the employes since January 1 may be paid as quickly as possible. "A number of minor points," said Mr. Lee, "are still to be decided and a further conference will be held some time in April. If any difference arines as to the application of the law they will be referred to a Joint board of eight?four to be appointed by the national conference commit? tee of the railways and four by the brotherhoods." New Albany, Ind., March 24.? Forty-three deaths, approximately one. hundred injured, of whom ten are expected to die, and a million dol? lars damage, according to unofficial records, resulted from yesterday's storm here. National Guardsmen ave on duty In the city. tary Daniel will confer with private builder tomorrow. Ti e industrial plans now boing co? ordinated by the council of nations! defense include the mobilization ol skilled and unskilled labo* lor tho manufacture of munitons in a.- large quantities as possible and also for the continuance of all necessary Indus? trie*. Secretary Wilson in cooperation with the council of national defon. e has these plans well under way. Just how much money will be asked of congress has not been revealed. A movement Is well undor way for fur nlshicg the entente allies wlthv an enormous loan, either in the form of credit? or money. It also is understood that the sup? ply of munitions for tho allies will be augmented, rather than diminished. After the cabinet meeting the presi? dent saw Gov. McCall of Mai.sachuseV.'j for an hour and was told of prelimi? nary preparations taken by New Eng? land State? and offered complete co? operation. The Massachusetts legis? lature has appropriated $1,000,000 which Gov. McCall said would be spent largely to prepare the State's National Guard for quirk service. He will see Secretary linker tomorrow. Conferences on the legislative pro-, gramme will begin at the capital early next week. Secretary McAdoo, Rep? resentative Kitchln and Representa? tive Hull are expected to talk over tho fiscal situation before Wedncadu/, the tentative date set for a meeting of the Democratic members of rh< ways and means committee, the reve? nue raising body of the house. Various measures for providing ad? ditional revenue are being consider? ed including the possibility of resort to additional taxes on whiskey, tobac? co and other articles. A mass of data relating to lncsme taxes has been prepared by experts showing the effect of various possible extensions of the law. Suggestions placed before the pres? ident today Included the possibility ?of floating a loan of $5,000,000,000 for the entente nations. The proposal made by Gov. Harding of the federal rUttee board in a recent speech at New York that the government lend the allies $1,000,000,000 was thought to be Inadequate by somo of the president's advisers. The banks of the country, it was pointed out, are in a position of strength today never before approx? imated In their history. The latest report of tho comptroller of the cur? rency shows the resources of the fed? eral reserve system to be greater than thefee of all the chief belligerents combined. Nearly all the huge accretions of money that have poured Into the country during the two and one-half years of war could be made available for use In war, whether expended by this government or by other govcr r ments engaged In lighting a common enemy. Thus while an American army of sufficient size to conduct aggroselv? warfare has not yet been raised an 1 would have to be trained and equip ped, American dollars, it WUS pointed out, need no training ami are abun? dant. 1 NOT HEEDS IN. Secretary Daniels Issues Personal Ap peal to Patriotic Young Americans. (By Telegraph to Sumter Dally Item.) Washington, March 25? Editor Sumter Daily Item: The president last night signed an executive order directing that the authorized enlisted strength of the navy be increased to eighty seven thousand. He has been authorized by congress, in case of emergency, to direct such increase in enlistment. New ships and ships in reserve are being fully commissioned as rapidly as pos* slide and the need is imperative for a larger enlistment to man them. There has been a net increase of over six thousand, five hundred in the enlistment since congress recently authorized an in? crease, but many more are needed, and needed now. Will you not emphasize thtg need by giving special prominence Monday on the first page of your paper, the president's order, and also by making an editorial appeal for new recruits for the navy. The navy o/fers exceptional advantages to young men of stuff and ambition to sei /e in the firit line for national defense. In this emergency you have the opportunity and the privilege of per? forming this public service.jand I am confidently appealing to you for your cordial and helpful cooperation. v ; JOSEPHUS DANIELS. 1 FOURTEEN REGIMENTS SUM? MONED TO DUTY. Necessity for Police I'rotcction More National Than Local so President Acts. Washington, March 25.?Calling Into the federal service of 14 regi? ments of the National Guard for police protection purposes was announced today by the war department. The Second Virginia regiment was in? cluded in the call, and A and B com? panies of the First Georgia regime?' will not be mustered out. J The department issues this state? ment I "Many States have deemed it ad-! viaablo to call out the National Guard for police purposes or protection. As the necessity for such steps arises from Issues which are more national than local, it has been deemed advis? able by the president to call intoj federal service for (the above men? tioned purposes the following organi? zations of the National Guards: Massa? chusetts Second and N. ith regiments; Pennsylvania, First and Third regi? ments; Maryland, Fourth regiment; District of Columbia First separate battalion; Virginia B., First regi? ment; Connecticut First regment; New York Second and Seventy-first regiments; New Jersey First and Fifth regiments; Delaware First battalion. First regiment. "The following organizations which aro now in the federal service will not be mustered out: 13th Pennsyl? vania; A. & B. compancs of the Frst Georgia." BEGIN GUARD DUTY. Six Virginia Companies Ordered Out. Richmond, Va., March 25.?Six companies of the Virginia Nationr ' Guard were ordered on duty this af? ternoon by Gov. Henry C. Stuart to guard important State and munition utilities and large munitions and shipbuilding plants. The First bat? talion. Pllft infantry and Company A. engineers, of Richmond, and Company C, Fourth infantry, Newport News, were on duty tonight. Adjt. Gen. W. W, Sale issued instructions also for the Second Virginia infantry to pre? pare to reenter the federal service, following orders from the war de I partment. MOVED TO ATLANTA. Interned Gorman Sailors Tiansfcrn d From Phlladclpldu to Fort Mc Plierson ami <>glethori>e. Philadelphia, Pa.. March 20.?Sev? en hUHdfed Interned Geilnaus, com* posing the crews of the raiders Kronprinz Wilhelm and Prinz Eitel Frederich Wilhelm started today, un? der heavy guard, for Ports McPher son and Oglethorpe, near Atlanta. Qa. SI NK BY SUBMARINE. German Admiralty Reports Great De struct I on Dtiiimr Last Ten Dnys. Berlin, March 2C?The admiralty today announced that in the last few days twenty-flvo more steamers, fourten sailing vessels and thirty-sev? en trawlers, aggregating eighty thou? sand gros^toiis, have been sunk. KAISER MAY ABDICATE. OB IS OBSESSED BY THOUGHT THAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WAR. lib Feels That He is Menaced by The Crown Prince, by the Pan-German Junkers and the People of Ger many Who arc Starring. Paris, March 24.?The abdicatioi of the German emperor is forecast by a former German magistrate, wh< wrote the celebrated book, "J-Ac? cuse." In an Interview published in Oeuvre he says: "The Kaiser is obsessed by th the ught that he is responsible for th war, a thought which poisons hi? whole existence. He feels menace by three enemies at home. "First the Crown Prince, who really responsible for the war; sec? ond the Junker Pan-German party third, by the people, not the Social? ists, but the people who are starving." REFUSES TO REAFFIRM TEAT IES. Violations of Treaties and Disregard of International Law Given by Unit cd States as Reason for Her Ac tion. Washington, March 26.?Germany^ "clear violations" of treaties o 1799, 1828 and her "disregard of the cxnons of international courtesy" an aligned by the United States as rea sons for her refusal to reaffirm oi extend the treaties, as Germany has requested. The refusal was mad publics today and discloses the fact trat the United States is seriously considering whether Germany's con? duct has not in effect abrogated the treaties. j The United States refusal also motions Germany's sinking of the American sailing ship William H. Pry a, the sinking of ships of other notions carrying .Americans or Amer I lean property without warning, or al? lowing time to safeguard lives. It also refers to Germany's detention of American citizens since the breaking of diplomatic relations and says that while these are not violation of treat? ies, It Is a disregard of reciprocal liberty and intercourse between the two countries, which Indicates Ger? many's purpose in ctise of war to dis? regard the liberty of action provided in the treaties. LEAVES FOR N. G. MEETING. South Carolina Delegation to National Convention Off. Columbia, March 2T?.?Adjt. Gen W. W. Moore, Col. Holmes B, Springs, of Georgetown; Major H. E. Raines, of Charleston; Major A. Moultrie Brallsford, of Mulins; Mayor W. F. Robertson, Copt. W. D, Workman and Capt. G. I ley ward Mahon, Jr., of Greenville, left tonight for New Yor'c to attend the meeting of the National Gtinrd Association as tho representa? tives from this State. Philadelphia. Pa., March 2fi.?Har? old Ellis Yarnall, aged 51, secretary and treasurer of the Midland Valley railroad and prominent socially, died today from a bullet wound received last night while defending his wife from a negro burglar. ^? UTE WAR BULLETINS. ALLIES PRESSING HARD ON GERMAN LINES IN FRANCE. Germans Appear to Have Despaired of Holding Line at LoFere and Have Flooded The City?Bloody Battles With Rear Guard?Germans Mass? ing Troops on Russian Front. New York, March 24.?The French official statement indicates increased peril to the German line running through Cambrai, St. Quentin, Lafero and Laon. The French are contin? uing strong pressure on the line from St. Quentin to the Aisne river and have reached the Oise river directly north of LaFere at several points. Ap? parently they control the high groun-3 and command the city with their guns. That Germans are despairing holding the ci{y is indicated by the announcement they have opened the sluice gates and flooded the city. The French and British are advancing their forces and both the German rear guards, battling vainly on both sides of the rivers Somme and Oise, and the entente have suffered heavy losses. The Germans announce the repulse yesterday of French attacks against German outposts west of Lafere and along the Aillette lowlands; also near Neuville and Margival. The Russian statement says the Germans are con? centrating great quantities of mu? nitions, supplies and men at the northern end of the Russian front. Germany announces the storming of Russian positions in Roumania or a ridge between Solymtar and Czobanos valleys, and the capture o; five hundred men. The Russians ad? mit their withdrawal for a third of a mile hefore German attacks In Rou? mania betweeen the rivers Silcha aiv' Chuanlch. Russia also announce?; the capture from the Turks of the Persian town of Kerind, forty miles from the Mesopotamian border. The dispatch says the pursuit of the Turks continues. R. R. MUST GIVE UP VESSELS. First Decision Under Panama Canal Act Made by United States Supreme Court. Washington, March 26.?In the first case brought under the Panama Canal act, requiring railroads to dispose of their steamship interests, the su? preme court has decided that the Lehigh Valley Railroad must relin? quish Its Great Lakes Steamship transportation line operating between Buffalo, Chicago and Milwaukee. MAY WITHDRAW FROM RACE. Mann Says He Will not Oppose Clark, If House Is Organized on Non-Par? tisan Lines. Washington, March 26.?Republi? can Leader Mann upon return from Haiti said he was willing to withdraw from the race for the speakership in the interest of unity, if the house could be organized on bi-partisan and non-partisan lines. RUSSIANS WANT REPUBLIC. Central Commit toe Has Voted for Re? publican Government for Rus. London, March 24.?The central committee and parliamentary repre? sentatives of the constitutional, or Democratic party, at Petrograd, have voted in favor of the Republican form of government, according to a Petro? grad dispatch. ST. LOUIS RAN BLOCKADE. First Armed American Liner Passed Safely Through Submarine Zone. Washington, March 26.?The Amer? ican liner St. Louis, the ilrst armed American ship to cross the Atlantic, han arrived safely at her destination, Secretary Daniels announced today. St. LoUis Sailed March 17. New York, March 26.?The St. Louie left her American port on March 17th, carrying thirty-one pas? sengers, of whom 11 were Amer? icans and a crew of three hundred and t inety-four, of whom one hun? dred and thirty-one were Americans. Columbia, March 23.?The question of securing a lower rate on soy beans will be considered at a hearing to be held before the railroad commission April 1. The petition for the hearing was filed by the South Carolina Cotton Seed Crusuure' association. The asso? ciation is encouraging the production of soy beans and every effort Will be made to have the present rate reduc? ed. I sla. FARM LOAN BANK PLANS. MAXIMUM INDIVIDUAL LOAN MAY BE INCREASED. Von Engelken Says Columbia Bank Expects to Lend Ten Million Dol? lars Within Twelve Months. Columbia, March 26.?F. J. H. von Engelken, president of the Columbia Federal Land bank, having returned from Washington, where he attended a conference of the presidents of the 12 federal land banks, with Secre? tary McAdoo and the members of the federal farm loan board, expressed gratification over the fact that this conference had fixed a flat rate of 5 per cent., applying to all parts of the United States. Me declared that this interest would prove a great boon to the farmers of the Southeastern States and predicted that within a year the Columbia Federal Land bank will have made loans aggregat? ing $10,000,000. Mr. von Engelken also announced that the conference of bank presi? dents passed a resolution requesting congress to increase Uie limit of the loans permitted to an individual bor? rower from $10,000 to $25,000. He expressed the hope that the special .session of congrc?ss soon to convene would make this change for the large borrowers of the Columbia bank dis? trict. In order that more funds may be available for investment in farm loan bonds and in turn made available to lend to farmers of this dis? trict, Mr. von Engelken urged that the legislatures of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida immediately pass laws making farm loan bonds approved investments for trust funds, insurance companies and savings banks. Mr. von Engelken announced that the bonds issued by the 12 federal land banks would be placed on the market at 4 1-2 per cent., but would probably be sold at a premium. Bte expressed gratification over the fact that the federal farm loan boarcfr has anticipated that at least $100,00d,00# of these bonds will be issued during the coming year and is making ar? rangements which will assure a ready market for (them. All of this money will be made available to the farmers of the United States at 5 per cent. To borrow from these federal land banks, farmers are required to or? ganize themselves into groups con? taining at least ten farmer-borrowers ard each group asking for at least 520,000 of Joans. The Columbia Fed ??ral Land bank is now prepared to furnish a blank form of articles of association to make the organization of these groups simple and easy. Oth? er necessjary blanks will also be fur? nished on application. Farmers ars permitted to borrow up to 50 per cent, of the appraised value of the land, pins 20 per cent, of the value of the permanent insured improvements. Loans are to be made at 5 per cent, and must be retired on the amortization plan, which means repayment of fixed annual pay? ments throughout the period of the loan. The loan may run from flve to 10 years at the option of the borrow? er. The object of these long time loans is to enable the farmer to meet these small annual payments out of the increased earnings of the land, made possible by the investment of the borrowed money. This new banking system is purely cooperative. It is for the sole , use of farmers and prospective farmers. Farmers will eventually own all of the stock of the federal land banks, and they will elect the officers of these banks. The. Is no opportunity for individual profit in the entire sys? tem. The preliminary organization of na? tional farm loan associations has progressed to a degree far beyond the expectations of the federal farm loan board at Washington and everything points to the unqualified success of this new enterprise. MORE TROOPS MOBILIZED. President Wilson Issues Orders to Na? tional Guardsmen. Washington, March 26.?Twenty additional complete infantry regi? ments and five additional separate battalions of National Guard troops were today ordered into service for the protection of property in the event of possible internal disorders. These troops have been called out in 18 western and middle western States, and were not included in the orders issued Sunday. The war department will not disclose the specific indus? tries or other points to be guarded and the newspapers will be asked not to publish any Information.