Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PRESIDENT DEFINES DRAFT. MEANS CONSTITUTED AUTHOR? ITY SHOULD SAY WHERE ONE IS BEST FITTED TO SERVE. Staff Measure Reported Favorably to Senate; Amended Bill Reported in House. Washington, April 19.?As one step toward meeting opposition in con? gress to the administration's army plana President Wilson today sent a letter to Represnttaive Helvering, of Kansas, explaining what is meant by selective draft and expressing earn? est hope that the bill drafted by the war department would be passed. The letter said: "I welcome the inquiry of your let? ter of April 19, because I have real? ised the truth of what you say from my own bservations, namely, that what is meant to br understood by the selective draft is not generally un? derstood throughout the country. "The process of the draft is, I think, very clearly set forth in the bill draft? ed by the war department and which I so earnestly hope that Congress will adopt, but it is worth while to state the idea which underlies the bill a lit? tle more fully. "I took occasion the other day in an address to the people of the coun? try to point out the many forms of patriotic service that were open to them and to emphasize the fact that the military part of the service was by no means the only part and per? haps, all things considered, not the moat vital part "Ovr object is a mobilization of all the productive and active forces of the nation and their development to the highest point of cooperation and efficiency, and the idea of the selective draft is that those should be chosen for service in the army who can be most readily spared from the prosecu? tion of the other activities which the country must engage in and to which it must devote a great deal of its host energy and capacity. "The volunteer system does not do this. When men choose themselves they sometimes choose without due regard to their other responsibilities. Men may come from the farms or from the mines or from the factories or centers of business who vought not to come, but ought to stand back o. the armies in the field and see that they get everything that they need and that the people of the country are sustained in the meantime. "The principle of the selective draft in short has at its heart this idea, that there is a universal obligation tc serve and that a public authority should choose those upon whom the obligation of military service shall rest and also in a sense choose thost who shall do the rest of the nation's work. The bill If adopted will d< more. I believe, than any other single instrumentality to create the impres? sion of universal service in the army and out of it and if properly admin? istered will be a great source of stim? ulation. 'Those who feel that we arc turn? ing away altogether from the volun? tary principle seem to forget that some 600,000 men will be needed to fill the ranks of the regular army and the National Guard and that a very great Held of individual enthu? siasm lies there wide open." The president and leaders in con? gress are confident of the ultimate enactment of the army bill without material changes. The fight probabl; will begin in the senate. Chairman Chamberlain, of the military commit? tee, submitted his favorable report today. After calling attention to the fact that the selective draft has been rec? ognized by "a world in arms" as the "only adequate and effectual" method of raising ah army, the report says the bill provides thorough means of recruiting the regular army and the National Guard for absorbing more than 600,000 volunteers. "Thus happily," it says, "the bill while establishing and placing the na? tional dependence upon the almost universally approved system of draft, at the same time accommodates itself to such volunteer spirit." It says the opportunity for a volun? teer army Is greater than ever before offered in one piece of legislation. "The volunteer method has never proved adequate and effectual for na? tional needs and will prove far less so now," the report says. "History ?hows that much to our detriment \v< have begun our wars with this inade? quate and Ineffectual method and 'have brought them to a successful conclusion only by resort to a system based on proper principles. The vol? unteer method failed this nation In the Revolution and It war only the material aid of France thai gave us ?ur independence. It failed us in the war of 1812. It failed the Confader ates in the civil war and that govern? ment tc its advantage was quicker to perceive that fact than our own. It likewise failed the federal govern? ment and volunteering, having practi ON TO PETROGRAD. GERMANS AHE PREPARING TO MARCH ON RUSSIAN CAPITAL. Bringing up Mighty Army and a Plan Seems to be to Isolate Petro? grad From the Active Army. Petrograd, April 19?(via London). German preparations to attack tho northern front, supported by a Ger? man fleet, reports of which appear to be well founded, bear out the war of? fice warning recently issued that the enemy means to march on to Petro? grad. The preparations consist of the massing of troops On the Dvinsk Riga front and the concentration of trans? ports, warships and shallow draft ships in Baltic seaports. A portion of the German fleet is reported to have moved from Kiel to Libau. It is regarded here as extremely probable that the plan is to cut off Petrograd from th* active army. The German efforts t ?pread d'scontent in the Russian army have developed an ingenious device of loading shells with copies of Chancellor von Bethmann Hollweg's Reichstag ipeeeh of March 29, and firing them into the Russian lines. Mr. and Mrs. Nelll O'Donnell have gone to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where they will stay for several weeks. cally ceased by the end of 18C2, was succeeded the following year by tho first draft acts. It failed us in the Spanish-American war, for the force then called for was never obtained. "To render military service to the nation is a higher duty than to con? tribute to its flnancia support. Fun? damentally considered, therefore, mil? itary service is the highest duty of the citizen and is in no sense to be regarded as a voluntary offering." The report points out that England was compelled in this war to turn to the draft system in a struggle "which involves her life, as indeed it may ours." It point; out her sacri? fice of her little regular army and says she was "shoved to the brink of calamity" and chose the other sys? tem "in the face of an enemy who does not thus impede himself to a system based on dominant national principle." Only then, the report says, was an effectual force raised in Great Britain. Chairman Dent of the House com? mittee formally presented during the day the report of his committee of? fering the bill in amanded form, au? thorizing the President to call for volunteers in increments of 500,000, and providing for the selective draft only after the volunteer plan had failed. Representative Kahn of California, ranking Republican member of the House committee, who will be one Ol the administration's chief spokesmen during the fight in the House, had a long conference with Secretary Baker. Representative Kahn received addi? tional information at the War De? partment, to conduct the fight he has undertaken. To all intents and pur? poses he will be administration spokesman before the House on the question of army preparation. It is expected Mr. Kahn will pre sent in hi3 minority report a letter from Secretary Raker sent to Chair? man Dent two days a.?o in a final ef? fort to get the committee to approve the administration plans, which out? lines clearly the purpose of the mili? tary experts to provide places for nearly 750,000 additional volunteers in the expanded regular army and National Guard, and their reasons for distrusting any scheme for taking into the service complete volunteer units, as opposed by the majority of the House committee. Representative Kuhn will have available, also, a detailed study of England's struggle with the volunteer system made by American military experts, who personally watched the process. It is understood these re? ports graphically picture the (allure of the system under its greatest test in history and point out the costly delay and experiment cost, and the at? tendant military djsasners at the front charged to it. Discussing his plans, Representative Kahn said the position taken by tin .committee minority will he that tho laymon of Congress have no right to set aside the \ )W of trained experts' in favor of a plan which those ex? perts believe is dangerous to the na? tion. Representative Kahn points! nut that only four members of the House had personal military experience and all four favor tho administration bill. "The fight is not lost," Mr. Kuhn said. "I do not believe that tho House itself will care to assume the respon? sibility of overriding the unanimous judgment of trained military men at home and abroad and set up an army organization of its own for the fail ire of which Congress would have to bear the full blame. If the plans of our experts are tried and go wrong; the blame will be theirs." RELIGIOUS SERVICES HELD IX ST. PAUL'S COMMEMORATING AMERICA/S ENTRANCE INTO WAR, \ King and Queen and Many Distin? guished Officials of English Govern? ment as V.ell as Representatives of United States and Allies Attend? Old Glory Flies From Tallest Tow? er of Parliament Building. London, April 20.?British and Americans today celebrated America's partnership in the world war by re? ligious servicea in historic St. Paul'? cathedral, which were attended by King George, Queen Mary, numerous British officials, United States repre? sentatives, as well as those of the oth? er allies. The stars and strips float? ed from the highest tower of parlia? ment building, the first time a foreign flag ever flew there. There were great popular demonstrations. AGAINST CONSCRIPTION PLAN. Expected That Five of Seven South Carolina Representatives Will Op? pose Bill. Washington, April 1*.?Five of the seven members of the South Caro? lina delega:ion in the house, it is un? derstood, will not support the mili? tary bill with the conscription feature unless ame ided. These are Byrnes, Whaley, Dominick, Xicholls and Ste? venson. The two who will likely vote for it are Lever and Ragsdale. In making" his position clear today .Mr. Byrnes was very emphatic. "I do not think it would be wise at all," he said, "in a district like mine, and many others in the South, to pass a general inscription bill of the kind now under consideration. It is not necessary for me to go into particu? lars, but I feel certain people in my district will understand why unless there is some restriction or some amendment which would permit of n proportionate number of whites and negroes that it would not do to pass the bill. "Exactly how this is to be deter? mined I do not know unless possibly one of the amendments providing for the organization by the war depart? ment of 'home guards' to he composed of men who ore too old or otherwise disqualified for service in the field, but who would l>e eligible for duty at home, is passed. Without something of the kind, I am against it." SOCIALISTS DEMAND PEACE. Hungarian Socialists Adopt Resolu? tions Outlining Comprehensive Peace I*rogram. Berne, April 20.?Hungarian So? cialists have adopted resolutions at a secret convention demanding that the central powers make public peace conditions they will demand, exclud? ing all forcible annexations of ter? ritories, provided an international tribunal for settling disputes, grad? ual disarmament, the means for free economic national cultural develop? ment of all peoples, according to the Tagwacht, the official organ of the Swiss social democracy. GERMAN PROPAGANDA DENIED. President Hay of Mexican House of Representatives Says He Knows of No German Influence. Mexico City, April <;0.?In answer to reports that Germany is endeavor? ing to influence members of the Mex? ican congress to oppose President Car ranza's proclamation of neutrality, President Hay, of the lower house, to? day issued a statement denying any knowledge of such influence. W ATCHED THEM ALL DROWN. Skipper Says U-Boat Refused to Res? cue Men. London, April 19.?Tho torpedoinu of an unnamed Scandinavian steam? ship, with the loss of all on board ex? cept Tapt. Karstein Olsen, is reported in a Reuter dispatch from Chris tiania. The captain says the submarine rose to the surface after the torpedo had been fired and watched twenty nine persons drown without offering Assistance. The Norwegian press com? ments bitterly on the incident. Tlx- Shipping Oasette says the pres? ent situation of Norway is worse than if she were at war. It adds that tin United States should have the most cordial cooperation of all the Seandi navian countries in the effort to shut off Germany from exports, even fron neutral countries. "All neutrale ought voluntarily to break off commercial relations with Germany/' it says. Married Men Not Rxcmpt. Washington. April 20.?The militia bureau today announced that Nat? ional Guardsmen will not be discharg? ed solely because they are married. Where a soldier has independent means, which will to vent his fawuiv, from becoming a charge on the gfhM ernment he will not he mustered oufS ' CAN'T STOP FRENCH. TIIE DIUVE ON HINDENBURG LINE CONTINUES STEADILY. Progress Made at All Important Points and German Counter Attacks Break Down Under Artillery Fire ?British Also Make Gains. New York, April 20.?While tho French advance last night was not B< spectacular as on the preceding days, their progress, nevertheless, was con tinued in important sectors, notabl northeast of Soissons, where the French are gradually enveloping tho important railway center of Laon. The Germans reacted strongly, but were unable to make any impression on the new French lines. The advance towards L.aon was also continued on tho Vauclcro plateau. The French, in grenade attacks carried several trenches on the piains north of Rheims, where Ger? mans are clinging desperately tc strongly entrenched positions. The French also made headway east of Lohra in this sector. The Germans, after he*vy bombard? ments, laumhed expected violent counter attacks in Champagne, which the French artillery and machine guns had been brought up to meet, The Germans were badly cut up and failed to gain ground. The British report progress neai Villers Guislain, midway between St Quontin and Cambrai. The British completed the route o the Turks after the British force< passage of Shatcl Ad hem river ii Mesopotamia. They also announced an advance in southern Palestine. GERMAN LOAN A SUCCESS. German Newspapers Proud of Recon Breaking Figures of Sixth Wn Loan. Amsterdam, April 20.?The Germai newspapers are indulging in an org of self-glorification over the recon figure of the sixth German war loan They express the expectation tha the entente will certainly see that th attempt to exhaust the German finan cial strength is an utter failure. RAILROADS ARE READY. Organization as National System f<> Cooperating Witii Government Com pieced. New York, April 19.?Complete or ganization of the country's railroad as a national system for cooperating with the government during the war together with the administrative per sonnel appointed to have charge o it.?* operation, was anounced here to day by the special committee on na tional defense of the American Rail way Association. Fairfax Harrison president of the Southern Railway and chairman of the executive com mittec on national operation, recentp announced, is to serve as chairman o the general committee. ATTEMPT TO ROB OFFICE. Effort Made to Secure Naval Secret! From Tinman*! Office. Washington, April 19.?In an ef fort apparently to secure secrets o the United States government bear ing on the war situation, an attempt was made some time last night tc break into the offices of Senator Till man, chairman of the senate com? mittee on naval aaffirs. That the burglary was the work of a German spy on the hunt for naval informa? tion of value to his government If not doubted by responsible official.' and senators who learned the fact today. The spy escaped. Tho heavy mahogany doors of the [ committee room were badly splinter? ed and damaged. The marks of the jimmy used in prying the doors are plainly discernible. Bo far as known the attempt to obtain naval secrets was unsuccessful. Nothing1 of value in a naval or military sense was ob? tained. The office was left in orderly condition. MEN IN BALFOUR'S PARTY. Personnel Announced by the state Department. Washington, April 19.?The State department announced today that the British official party eoming to dis? cuss the conduct of the war is con? stituted as follows: Arthur James Pal four, foreign minister? Sir Eric Drummond, Ian Malcolm, member of Parliament; C. F. Dormer and G. Butler, personal staff. Rear Admiral Sir Dudley R. B. De Chair, Fleet Paymaster Vincent Law fort, Major Gen. G. Bridges, Capt. H. Tl. Bpender-Clay, and Lord Cunllffe, of the Bank of England. GERMAN DESTROYERS BUNK. Put Out of Business While Raiding English Const. London. April 21.?The admiral^ ins announced that two German de? stroyers, possibly three, were sunk during a German raid near Dover. FAVORS FOOD COUNCIL. SECRETARY HOUSTON RECOM? MENDS APPOINTMENT FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE. Would Take g Complete Survey of All Dealeis and Manufacturers of Foodstuffs and License ami Super? vise Them?Would Fix IVices. Washington, April 20.?Secretary Houston recommended to the senate that a council of National Defense he empowered to fix the maximum for mining and food prices. That it make a complete survey of the agencies that own, control, manufac? ture and distribute foodstuffs. That it license and supervise all establish? ments in which foods and all articles required for agricultural purposes be manufactured, kept for sale, or dis? tribution. In cases of extreme ne? cessity the government should pur? chase, store and sell food. GERMANS TAKE NEW POSITIONS. Retreat from Bank of Aisne and As? sume Newly Fortified Trendies. Berlin, Arril 20.?It is Officially announced o: the abandonment yester? day of the Aisne between Conde and Soupir. The Germans have occupied Blegfrid positions which have been under construetion since March 16. It is added that ?he enemy "follow* hesitatingly. It says the French fail? ed in an attempt to break through a* Champagne. The battle of Arras in? creases daily. Up to the present the French have used more than thirty division! on both battlefields. MEN ADDED FOR ARMY. Net Gain of 2,375 Recruits for Rcgu lars. Washington, April 10.?A total no gain of 2,375 recruits for the army i: reported for yesterday. Illinois agaii led in the number of men aeeepte? with 247; Pennsylvania second wit) 240; New York third with 222; Mis souri fourth with 143 and Texas flftl with 105. The figures are for the regula army and the total of the quotas ap portioned to the States to be filled i 183,848. GRAVE CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA Conflict Between Government am Deputies. Petrograd. Wednesday, April 1! (via London, (Delayed).?With con flict existing between the governmen and the council of workmen's anc soldiers' deputies on<. can not speali of a sole strong power in Russia, be cause a power which is menaced U not a power, but a semblance oi power, says the Russkia Volia, a state? ment which is considered a conserv? ative estimate of existing interna conditions. Optimistic assurance.^ that the danger from the breach be? tween the two governments is only trivial are transitory and extravagant Statements to tho effect that the country is facing complete disaster are equally misleading. It is not an f I exaggeration to say that the economic disturbance caused by the revolution t has raised a problem the solution of ) which is not yet in sight. As at present constituted the gov? ernment is without means to enforce any of its mandates except by ap 11 peals to the patriotism of the people. TURKEY BREAKS RELATIONS. Sick Man of Europe Now Our Active Enemy. Dasei, Switzerland, April 21.?A Constantly de dispatch says Turkey has notified the United States embas? sy that Turkey has broken relations with the United States, following the example of Austria-Hungary. PORTUGESE CABINET RESIGNS. Premier Almeida Quits When Cham? ber of Deputies Refuse Request. Lisbon. April 21.?Premier Almei? da of Portugal presented the resigna? tion of the entire cabinet after the chamber of deputies voted adversely on the question of the government es? tablishing a national economic coun? cil. MORE GERMAN STRIKES. Workmen Quit, in Monition Works Krupps Included. Amsterdam, April 20.?Strikes have broken out in various munitions fhc tories in Germany, including Krupp?, the Telegraf says it has learned from German sources. AMBASSAj it Eld* us ill. Berlin Dispatch Rayi Ho Has Spottod iVver at Constantinople, The Hague, April 20.?United i States Ambassador Elkus is seriously j< ill at Constantinople with spotted typhoid, according to a Berlin dis? patch. PLAUT MORE FOODSTUFFS. COKER DECLARES IIIGfH PRICE FOR FOOD MEANS LOW PRICE COTTON. Makes Appeal to Farmers?Says Pa? triotism and Self-interest Demand Curtailment of Cotton Acreage. Columbia, April 19.?That hi?h prices of food means low prices for cotton and that it is essential to tho success of the cotton growers that sufficient foodstuffs for the nation's use be grown was pointed out by Da? vid R. Coker, of Hartsville, chair? man of the South Carolina Civic Pre? paredness Commission, in an appeal to the southern farmers, issued today. Mr. Coker who is a director of the federal reserve bank of Richmond, Is a noted authority on plant breeding. The appeal follows: "Basic economic laws are immu? table. "When food is selling at famine prices wage earners have little or nothing to spend for clothing. Then dry goods sales fall off. Dry goods prices decline and raw cotton must follow. On April 9 May wheat (Chi? cago) closed at $2.07 and May corn at $1.27. May cotton (New York) closed that day at 20.50. "Today (April 19) May wheat clos? ed at $2.41 and May corn at $1.46 1-2. May cotton closed today at 19.80. Brcadstuffs, therefore, have advanced 15 per cent and cotton declined 3 per cent, in ten days If breadstuffs hold at present figures or advance it seems inevitable that cotton must con? tinue to decline, unless new economic factors appear to sustain prices. If Southern farmers should curtail cot? ton acreage and increase the acreage in foodstuffs sufficiently to cut off the $600,000,000 to $700,000,000 food bill the South annually buys from the West and North, that would be a great economic factor in support of cotton prices. "Will the Southern farmer blindly continue a policy which works for higher bread and lower cotton? Pa? triotism and self-interest both de? mand that he raise ample foodstuffs for Southern consumption and that he curtail cotton acreage sufficiently to accomplish this. "The farmer who does not do this is blind to his country's call for help. (Signed) "David R. Coker. "Chairman South Carolina. Commis? sion for Civic Preparedness for War." PEOPLE OFFERED WAR BONDS. Governor Suggests to Secretary Mc? Adoo Marketing of Securities in Popular Units. Columbia, April 20.?Gov. Manning has telegraphed William G. McAdoo, secretary of the treasury, in regard to the $7,000,000,000 bond issue to be l ated by the government, as follows: "Bonds in small denominations would popularize the issue and appeal to savings bank depositors and small investors who do not deposit, in banks. Popular investment/ in these bonds will stimulate patriotic sentiment. State bank examiner's department, this State, could aid in thus placing them.,, NORWEGIAN SHIP SUNK. German Submarine Sinks Ship and Kills Bight or Crew. London, April 21.?A Copenhagen dispatch says Norway has officially announced that the steamer Bergenut was sunk by a German submarine and eight of the crew killed. It reported the Norwegian stornier Norden was captured by Germans and taken into Cuxhaven. RELIEF STEAMER SI NK. Belgian Steamer submarined in Safety Zone. Amsterdam, April 21.?It is official? ly reported that the Belgian relief steamer Kongeli has been sunk in the so-called safe zone by a mine or submarine. One member of the crew Is missing. SPAIN STILL NEUTRAL. Cabinet AjMOfU>C?S a Policy of Strict Impartiality Toward all Belligerents. Madrid. April 21.?The new cabinet after its tirst meeting announced that Spain would msntaln a policy of strict neutrality toward all belligerents, and that constitutional guarantees will be restored. Another Relief Ship Sunk. London, April 21.--<>lTlci:?ls of the commission for relief in Belgium has been advised that the steamship Ring horn from Rotterdam with safe con? duct has been sunk. Macon, April 20.?The dioceason council today elected Rev. Robert S. Copeland, o' New Orleans, Episcopal bishop of the Atlanta diocese, to suc? ceed the late Bishop Nelson, subject to Ihe approval of the Bishop's College.