Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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?UMTKK WATCHMAN, Established April, 1S?0. "IV fast and Fear oo??IX ?II tb? ?d? Thou Alma't at b? thy Country's. Vtij God's aad Track's.' THE TRW. fcOUTUJtON, Established Jans, I taa. Consolidated Auk. 2,1881. SUMTER, 8. 0., SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1917. VoLXLlV. No. 31. GERMANS BEGIN DRIVE. VIOLENT ATTACK MADE ON I-BENCH IN CHAMPAGNE REGION. The Fighting Today Was of Moat Bit lev DcarHptlon, bat French Lines Hekl Intnrt Except at One Point? British Renew Artillery Activity. The (l-Tmuna thin morning renewed i desperate attempt! to push back the French from the ground won by den. Petsin'a forces in the Champagne re? gion. As a whole the French line re? mained intact under the severo suc? cessive blows dealt early today. The Gorman attack was ext amely violent and gas shells were used. The French line wss dented at only one point, the Germans gaining a footing in th-> ad? vanced trenches northeast of Mont flaut. The German attacks at Teton. Casque and northwest of Auberlve and Montlond gained nothing. Increased artillery activity is re? ported from the British front. The Spanish situation it* becoming more grave. The economic conditions aro exceedingly bad. Constitutional guarantees will probably be suspend? ed within two or three days. NO CONCESSIONS BY GERMANY. Lending <**rmnii socialist Kays No Territory Will Be Given C|?. Copenhagen. May 31.?The lavish promises of some of the outside Inter? mediaries In tho peace movement that German Socialists and the German government In order to arrange peace ere ready to negotiate a settlement of the Alsace-Lorain e question under the guise of "frontier regulation" have no basis of fact, according to a state? ment to the Associated Prem by Dr. Edward Davis; a prominent German Socialist delegate to the Stockholm conference. He Is emphatic in de t ciarlng that no German government Would be found willing for the alien? ation of any territory regarded as a fixed part of the empire. The pro? gram of the German Socialists car? ries) rto endorsement of the German government. BRITISH CA8CALTY MST. Loss for May Total* Hundred Twelve Thousand. London. May 31.? British casualties as published for May. show the loss of I, 100 officers and 106,000 men. The British offensive on the Arras front. Involving some of the severest fighting of the war, naturally resulted in a large increase in casualties over the inactive winter season. The cas? ualties of the last few months were not made public, but In February only II, 400 officers and men were lost. Tho assertion that British losses were fifty per cent smaller than during the Homme offense Is not borne out *?y the figures. RAISES TAX ON BEVERAGES. Coffein, Tea, Coro? ami Sugsr Raised and Munitions lowered. Washington. May :m.?The senate committee have agreed on a tax of two cents per pound on coffee, five cents on tea, half a cent on sugar, three cent* on cocoa, and have elimi? nated twelve per cent of the war mu? nitions tax. TERRITORIAL EXTENSION NOT DESIRE?. Germany Would Hae It Appear That die Is Fighting a Defensive War. Amsterdam. May 31.?Tho semi? official Norde Deutsch Algemeineu Zeitung, of Berlin, declares that Ger? many desires no extension of terri? tory for aggrandisement or of poll tlcjtl or econmlc accretion of powc It sty* that ''.erimuiv wishes solely to defend her own territory against for? eign pluriN of conquest. HCSSIANS CONSIDER FINAN< E. Ministry Lnyn Plan to Raise Monc> Petrograd. May 31.?The provision? al government ban approved the teni porsry plan of the finance minister t<? raise two billion rubles and to to I.* ntepe for securing for the treasury ? "supply of paper money, which nl reedy hns hecome indispensable." the official news agency announces. MDSOl'RI TOWN DESTROYED. Twelve Persons l/o-onrj Their Lho by The Tornado ?It Louis. May 31? The death lls* of the tornado In southeastern Mis? souri end southern llllnn"? inte yeste ,t .? f-rtrh"'t twelv. The town or 4Wr)*rnl Point, Missnutl. ans wipe I ?... FEWER niMTISII SHIPS SUFFER BV U-BOAT WAR. One of Under 1,000 Tons and Two Fishing Boats Harvest of Subma? rines for Week. Ixmdon, May 30.?Enghteen British merchant vessels of more than 1,600 tons were sunk during the past week, it was officially announced tonight. One vessel of less than 1,600 tons an<* two fishing vessels were sunk. The text of the announcement reads: Weekly summary: Arrivals 2,719, sailing 2.768. "British merchant vtsselst sunk by to nes or submarines over 1,600 ton < 18; under 1,000 tons. one. "British merchant vessels unsuc? cessfully attacked, Including one pre? viously reported, 17. "British fishing vessels sunk, two "The British report invariably In? cludes all mercantile tonnago known to have been sunk by mine or sub? marine whether em poly ed by the gov? ernment or otherwise." The loss of British shipping from th?.? submarine warfare as reported thin week total 21 as compared with u total of 30 lost in the previous week While the losses of vessels exceeding 1,600 tons each remain the same as in the last previous report, the num? ber of vessels of less than 1,600 tons is reduced from nine to only one. The ?number of fishing vessels sunk !s re? duced from three to two. FUGITIVE CRIMINAL CAPTURED. WaMh Will In ms Who Seriously Shot Mr. T. ?I. Klrtln About Eight Tears Ago Arrested in Charlotte. i - After having successfully eluded the officers of tho law for nearly eight years Wash Williams was arrested last week In Charlotte. N. iC. He was captured last week by the Charlotte officials and Sheriff Bradford notified, but as Wif lams refused to return lo South Carolina to stund trial It was necessary to obtain requisition papers for bis return, and he was not brought beeil to Sumter until Tuesday nti?ht. Willisms before the difficulty with Mr. Kirvin had the reputation of be liig ft bad negro, and after the shoot? ing defied arrest and 11 red on the of fleers who attempted to capture him Ho successfully evaded capture at that time and left the State. A s-hort time ago it was learned that he was in Charlotte, and the North Carolina of? ficials were requested to take him into custody and hold blm until he pould bo brought to Sumter for trial. ? CONNIE MAXWELL CELEBRATION Baptist Orphanage Closes 25th Year. ? Greenwood, May 30.?The 25th an? niversary of the admission of the first child Into Connie Maxwell orphanage has just been celebrated. The of? ficers and friends of the Institution tako great interest in the fact that a quarter of n century of service has lecn successfully completed. During Its history more than sOO children have been eared for and at present there are 300 boys and girls In resi? dence at the various cottages that comprise the plant. The first superintendent of the in? stitution was the Rev. J. L. Voss, who for eight years gave himself In un? tiring service to laying the founda? tions for a great establishment. It was I happy thought to bring his son, Prof, J. i* Vase of Furman universi? ty, as the orator of the day. It so happened that Prof. Vass was stiidetll in the orphanage school dur? Mf the days of his father's superin Isndottcy and be was therefore able to give many r< collections and re? miniscences of the early days. All I he children had holiday and a BPS* cial dinner was provided for them. SENATOR FOR OREGON. C< I* McNarv Named to Kuox'ocd I.nne. Salem. (?re., May 30.?(\ I.. Mo. Nary, former Justice of the Oregon supreme ooert, yesterday was appoint ed United Mates senator by Oov. .'.ums Wlthycombe to succeed the late Senator Harry Lint', who was burled at Portland yesterday. Mr McNarv is a Republican, I 3 years old. Senator Uins was n Dem? * 11 rat? No lioduinu Will be Allowed. Washington. May 31.----Steps have been taken by the department of .biBtic* to prevent mm who are sub? ject to military registration from leasing the country before June 5th. FULLY MOTORIZED FIELD BAT? TERY HAS JEST BEEN DE- I VEIXJPED BY U. S. ARMY. Be lieved to be First Complete Unit of Horseless Artillery Created?Early Substitution of Tractors for | iiiuIh in Handling Nearly all Fufms of Ordnance PEedlctcd. ton by Washington. May 28.-?The Department authorides the folio The United States army has daflbi oped what Is believed to be the-W"ut completely motorized Held battery of medium caliber guns in the wo|ld. The problem of eliminating the hdrsc entirely from the work Of dragging such guns to the front is one on w both European and American e neers were working for years be the outbreak of the great war. cesaful experiment* by the gov mcnt authorities now seem to pr ise an early substitution of the chine for the horse in handling n ly all forms of ordnance. The experimentation was carried first with various types of tractfprs under the direction of the Field Apil lery Board at Fort Sill, Ok la., and the Ordnance Department of the uitny at Rock Island Arsenal, followed later at Fort Bilss, Tex., with a completely equipped battery. The work has been in charge of MaJ. Lucinn B. Moody. The tractor standards committee of the Society of Automotive Engineers was enlisted at the outbreak of war and has been actively cooperating in the study of the problem. "The success of the experiments at Fort Sill justify us in believing that the motorization of most medium cali? ber guns which have previously been horse drawn will come in the near fu? ture," M ij. Moody says. "The large howitzer types are sure to be motor? ized. The motorization of tho light types, such as the French 75a, will have to wait for the development of tractors capable of developing a com? bination of speed for emergencies ear pulling power in mud equal to that of horses. This probably will not come Immediately, but we shall continue our experimentation with the light types." European armies have already re? duced greatly the number of horses In artillery use, but it has not proved pos slide so far to eliminate them in haul? ing certain of the smaller and medium types of Ordnance beeau.se of the lack of a proper tractor combination of speed and power. The big creeping type tractors capable of handling the heaviest guns which have so far been used In Europe have been unable to meet the demand for making the oc? casional bursts of speed necessary fo getting the light Held guns into po? sition and using the minimum of space which conditions on the firing iine fre? quently make vital. The new creeping or self-track-lay ing type of small or medium size de? veloped by the American army Is built without the steering arrange? ment In front, and while possessing relatively as much power as tho typ now used in ein rope is at the same time capable of turning within its oWn length by simply reversing or stop? ping one of the creeper drivers while the other side continues to move ahead. The development In this type In tractors powerful enough to ban the heav iest guns will make them en? tirely available for making the sharp turas and COrnem ami Utting into the inconvenient spaces for which horses have so far had to be used at the very front. The experiments have proceed* I eil far enough to justify plans for the successive motorization of all Ameri? can artillery units except the smallest calihurs required to move at very high speed over bad ground. The new developments in ordnance traction make tip another phase of the valu thle exporle'nce the American army gained on the Mexican border, as they are a direct outgrowth of experiments in na iling Held guns with American tractors made at that time. The reasons making it highly de? sirable to substitute the tractor for the horse in all ordnanee traction are both ?clentllc and humane. From a scientific ami military standpoint the tractor Is much more efficient than the horse. 11 lasts longer, is capable of performing more work in a day, ami costs less for repairs end fuel than the expense of upkeep of Iho horse, a tractor can, if necessary, he used 11 hour:; in a day. while the horse bus to stop for rest, sleep and feeding, and can seldom be worked more than 10 or 19 hours per day ?t the best. Repairs on tractors eve* at the front ore usually comparatively brief tasks, unless the machine is completely destroyed by shell tire, while horsoi are continually liable not only to wounds but to dlseaso and in* PLANS FOR PEACE. TEUTONIC DELEGATES OUTLINE THEIR WISHER No Indemnities, No Annexations and Limitation of Mechanical Means of Warfare. Stockholm, May 30 (via London). - The peace programme of the Aus trian and German delegates to the Socialist conference to be held here, as formulated in a group of confer? ence, provides for no annexations, no indemnities and restriction of me? chanical means which may he em? ployed in maritime and air warfare. The chief points of the programme are enumerated as follows: First?N<o annexation. Second?No Indemnities. Third-*--Tho south Slavic lands and Austro-Hungurian crown lands to re? main in the dual monarchy but So? cialists should support the efforts of their inhabitants to gain autonomy. Foirth?Finland and Russian Po i land to be independent States. The people of Qallela to have autonomy ttttder the sovereignty of Austria. Un? der this head the assertion is made ? that 'an enduring solution of the Po? lish noblem can be expected to be i reached in the future by free agree? ment* between the two central powers and the independent state of Russian Polarid. Fifth?Restoration of freedom of commerce on land and sea, modifica? tion of the protectionist system, the establishment of "international ad? ministration" for all maritime routes and interoceanlc canals; Internation? ally built and administered railways. Sixth?Return to the maritime principle established hy the Paris peace treaty of 18fit!, especially re? garding the prohibition of the capture or arming of merchantmen; abolish ment of priSS courts; reduction of the contraband list, taking therefrom es? pecially all raw materials for clothing or food; modification of the rights of blockade and "restriction of mechaa ical means which may be employed In maritime and air .warfare." The delegates go on record as op? posing the annexation of Belgium and declar? themselves as being "friendly to BervhVs Independence, which state. by joining with Montenegro, can as? sure itself of an outlet to the sea." They declare that the Balkan states should arrange their own internal af? fairs without outside interference. The future of Alsace and Lorraine is not mentioned. The Czech, Polish and Bosnian dele gates attended the group conference but did not Join in the programme They will formulate their own pro? gramme later. SENATE FINANCE RILL. Will Im- Presented for Consideration Next Week. Washington, May 31.?The prog? ress so far made on the war tax bill in the senate finaneo committee makes it seem possible that the redraft will be ready by Saturday and that it will be presented to the senate the middle of next week. It Is Indicated that the bill will carry one billion and a half. three hundred million less than as it passed the house. CONSIDER FOOD LEGISLATION. Roth Senate and House at Woik on Measure. Washington, May 81.?Food legisla? tion occupied both houses of congress today. The senate began debate on the house bill providing for a survey and stimulation of the food situation. The house agriculture committee be? gan perfecting the bill for food ad? ministration ard price ti\inj;. Both are administration measures. PUSHING THEIR OFFENSIVE. Italians Going Forward on New Por? tion of Front. Rome, May Si.-?It is officially an? nounced that the Italians have ad? vanced In Albania, taking four vil? lages In south central part. jury from exposure and lack of proper eare under Held conditions. The care of machines, as compured with that which horses must have. Is negligible, while the i'uii-;* food suppl) for horses is always a dillleull problem. The humane reasons are equally ob? vious. The life of the artillery horse it the fronl is not only brief bul of? ten one lull of agony. It is seldom possible to give the animals anything like proper shelter and care, and their usual lol is quick death by dis? ease if they are not killed off by shall lire. NEW ORGANISATION CALLS FOR .INFORMATION. Dosnanrts That Untied Slates Declare i Its Objects in War?-Cnll for Early Pence. New York, May 30.? Resolutions favoring "an early, general and dem? ocratic peace" and urging the United Statfs government "immediately to announce its war aims in definite and j concrete terms," and to make efforts to induce the allied countries to make similar declarations were passed to? night at what its promoters termed the first American conference for I democracy and terms of peace, held at Madison BojUare Garden. The retso , lutlons were offered by Morris Hill quit, chairman of the resolutionsoom I mittee, one of the American Socialists whom the state department refused passport to attend the Socialist con? ference in Stockholm. "Wc favor international reor? ganization for the maintenance of peace," said the resolutions in part. "As steps leading thereto, we suggest the adjudication of disputes among nation*, simultaneous disarmament, freedom of the seas and international waterways, protection of small nations and other similar measures. "We demand this country shall make peace the moment its announc? ed aims shall have been achieved and it shall not carry on war for the ter? ritorial and imperialistic ambitions of other countries." The resolutions also stated that the conference favored the securing of peace "through negotiations in har? mony with the principles outlined by the president of the United States and by revolutionary Russia and accepted substantially by the progressive and democratic forces of France, England, Italy, Germany, Austria and other countries, namely no forcible annex? ation of territory, no punitive indem? nities, free development of all na? tions." By statting its term sand insisting that the allies state theirs, based on "terms of justice, equity and princi? ples of democracy and lastirg peace," Hillquit declared this government would force Germany to accept such terms "because the masses there want them." Victor I... Ferrer, former Socialist member of congress, de< hired, "We want to know why wo are In this war." "If we get no answer," he shouted, "and we have food riots in New York. Chicago and Milwaukee, then the peo? ple of this country will rise as their comrades in Russia did and establish a true social democracy and repub? lic' Representative London, speaking of the Stockholm conference, said it was true that the meeting was arranged In Germany, but added he did not "blame them for trying to secure peace." 'I 'would like to see a conference of honest men come together," said he, "whether It be in Stockholm, Petrograd or any other place, partic? ularly now when it is so essential to help along the struggle or democ? racy. Of course, it would be Improper for me to say a word of criticism of the refusal of our state department to let three Americans go to Stockholm, hut I would talk peace with the devil himself if 1 might bring peace about." FEAR THE INCINERATOR. Florence Negroes Do Not Relish Prospect of Having Their Bodies Burned. Florence, May SO.?Indifference has come over the nrdor of the negroes who have been so enthusiastic over going to the North to take the good jobs that were offered there. In? quiry into the matter shows that they learned that the negroes who die up there, as so many of them have, if they do not leave money enough to bury themh or to have their bodies shipped home are put into the city Incinerators with the dead cats and mules and burned up. The bodies of those who have Insurance enough are sent back south. The Incinerator storj has put a crimp into the exodus busi? ness in this section. FIGHTING DRAFT REGISTRATION. Constitutional Aim udm? nts, Ii h Claimed, will be Violated. Kansas City. May 1 Arguments on the petitions rnjoning the govern or and mayor and other BtAte, count) ami city officials from enforcing the ilrnft registration have t egun i i the federal court, it is claimed tli.it ih 1 flrnfl violates constitutional amend meats. MEN DRAFTED Will. NOT RE CALLED WITHIN TWO MONTHS. The Work of Webling Out aud Se? lect ion Among Those Registered Will Require Time und Much Work. Atlanta, (Ja., May 31.?Work of se? lecting the men who will compose the national army from those who regis? ter on June 5 will probably begin, im? mediately after registration day, ac? cording to information in the hands of Hooper Alexander, United States dis triet attorney. The actual notification of selection will not be made until af? ter sixty days, but within that' time the work of weeding out and passing on appeals of exemption will probably be completed. Information received from Washlng I ton is to the effect that the draft I army will not be called into service ' until September. Those notified be j forehand of their selectioh for the , draft will be able to continue in the i discharge of their civilian duties as formerly until the war department de? cides to call them into the federal service. U is expected that some time, probably a month, will elapse between notification of draft and the actual ' draft by the war department. Local boards in each county and one in each city district of 30,000 people, composed of not less than three men ' not in any way connected with the I military forces, will go through the j registration cards, and will select the j men best fitted to go to the front. ' These boards are to be appointed by j the president, and another board In I each federal district of not less than three men not connected with the military forces will be formed to pass upon appeals from the decision of the local board. "As to what the procedure after registration day is to be," the district 1 attorney said, "I cannot say, since I have not received any information or instructions in regard to it. What 1^ am concerned with is the registration on June 5. ' "However, congress has given Pres? ident Wilson power to appoint local boards of not less than three men, who are not connected with the es? tablished military, to pass upon the fitness of those who register. These boards will possess power, subject to ! review, to dec ide whether a man is in {position to be drafted. Their work will doubtlessly require about 60 days. , They will hear and pass upon all ap? peals for exemptions and must decide from the information put at their com k mand through the medium of registra? tion cards vhether or not a man poe senses the qualifications or disabilities necessary to selection or exemption. "Just hovv much time this work will consume is, of course, a matter of con? jecture. If there are a great number ot appeals for exemption, it will take a great deal of time. If the men se? lected by the boards consider the se? lection final, the work will be ex? pedited. "However, I am reasonably sure that the actual drafting Into military camps will not begin for two months at least. This, of course, is my pri? vate opinion based upon the informs *" ts; t'.cn that has come to hand." RULES OF EXEMPTION. Provost Marshal General and lawyers Work. Washington. May 28.?Regulations to govern exemptions under the selec? tive draft are being worked out by Provost Marshal General Crowder with a number of prominent lawyers. Although the plans are not yet com? plete it is probable that the Jury wheel system will be followed and not until the names have been drawn will exemptions be considered. As each individual drawn reports his claims for exemption will be passed upon. The law provides for local exemp? tion hoards in ea^h county and for each 30,000 in city population. Boards of review also v ill be established on the basis of one or more to each fed? eral judicial district. All the boards will be composed of civilians. Gen. rrowdor said that only oon fusiou would result from the reported intention of men above the tlxed age lO icglster on .lune !"?. "This is i>, stak< it patriotism, be said, "and registrars will be instruct < a to accept ? trds only from men be : x. <? *. the act s of 21 and 30, In? clusiv e." Aged Admiral Dead. Washington. May 31.--Rear Admi? ral I'pshur died last night, aged M years.