Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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TflK SVMTLR WATCHMAN. Bstab Consolidated Aur. 2,1 TP?HSPORT?TlOhi PROBLEM. flOVllllNMHM M\\ T\KI. CON ftstOL (IF RAH H \\ s Internate Comimnv Commission In Kprt in I Report to Congress Rco ohuikikN Iniiiu'tli He \otioi. to F.r fcct Nutl* mil indication, 1 cdcra) l*mn and Regulation of Security Issues to iVnolt More Effective Co o|> utlon?strong \rni of Author Ity Xctossur) in Tint of Need. Washington. Dec. 6.?Immediate action to effect nation il vindication of the railroads, either by government operation or by suspension for the vsr^tfrf |anU-ti4jst and anti-pooling laws, a federal loan and regulation of security Issues to permit more effec? tive voluntary cooperation was rec? ommended today by the Int ?rstate commerce commission in a special re? port to congress. ithcr plan was specifically in? dorsed but an implication that the majority believed the railroads might successfully work out their unlflci tlon prompted Commissioner McChord to submit a separate report emphati? cally urging government control and saying "The strong arm of govern? ment authority Is essential if the transportation situation is to be radi? cally Improved." Any voluntary pooling pirn would fail to meet war exigencies, he dc clared, because of the unavoidable in? fluence of selfishness among the rail? roads. There was no agreement as to th ? propooltlon that competition amoiv: railroads must be diminished, if not altogether eliminated, to prevent a serious breakdown of transportation facilities The commission believes that the full efficiency of the railroads can only be obtained by the elimination of competition and coordination of all serrlcea If the alternative of governmcn* operations under the direction of th - president be adopted, said the com? mission suitable guaranty of an ade? quate annual return should he given, wtth provision by which the n an . coutd reimburse the government fo Improvements after the properties are returned to private ownership. The only hint of the commission's attitude toward the railroads pendii application for 15 per cent higher rates was given In an insertion that the rosds sre entitled to demand Just and reasonable rates sufficient to yield fair returns and tin- comment that although rallwa\ earnings in the pest year have broken all records, the purchasing power of the earnings is greatly decreased Steps taken by the railroad S it board two weeks ago to pool cars, operate roads .somewhat as a unit by loaning facilities to one another Ware recognised by commissioner McChcrd in bis supplementary report as valua ble but he maintained they were onlv halfway measures. He said the rail reads now are taking orders from too many government agencies?the in? terstate commerce commission. tho war Industries board s priority dire tor and war and nav departments the shipping board and the fuel and food administrations. As a result ?f the conflict of orders ami priority ?. ? said, "railroad operation Is approach ins a chaotic condition." It President Wilson does not elec to tike over and operate the railroad--. Coitt mission er McChord declared, th" next \ est plan would l?e to enact leg- 1 Is a? Ion to centralize f?deral author? ity over railroads In a single agency. The commission's report, tho tlrsl special report In years, came as a sur? prise to congress but ) met an Imn I dlate response In both the senate and house Senator Newl mds. chalrmar of the special congressional raidro id Investigation commission and of the senate Interstate commerce commit- , lee, arranged a conference Sftttl President Wi'son for next Mondsy to j receive executive recommendations Chairman Adarnson of the house In? terstate commerce committee expre s ed opposition to the suggestion of to pealing the nnti pooPng provision of the Sherman act. a id ad'o ated loan Ins money only to weak roads. Hep *entathe Hlms. who will SO SCI Representative Adarnson on the com? mittee, advocated g >vernment op< i Hon. Representative QtltSttS actlui' Republican leader Mail h< favored a I moot ?ny plan short of government control A bis government loan to railroads has been dl?e gSSSd SntOng 1 - oftlelals for some time, ami President Wiisop iw known to h" hfSg WOM* *ldei i on ? ? 11? h ? u - ?? -i* I-" Am honte to gpetats rsllreeds u given the preMldent m the followln : section of the eiltitnry sppreprlatles act last year: Be Jdh a L?81. SI MENINGITIS AT JACKSON. IHSI'ITAL IX ('AMI* UNDER Ql AHAMINF. I hrt Hit* From Dread Malady?Dunces Discontinued?To Stay Away From Shows. The State. In order to safeguard the soldiers at Ca m p Jackson and the people of Co? lumbia, military authorities have tak? en tftery precaution to prevent the Spread of spinal meningitis which ! ide its appearance at the canton meal several weeks ago. Yesterday ( BtOrnlng the base hospital was plac-1 Od under an absolute quarantine, be? cause of the disease and armed u ds are now patrolling all en? trances to the hospital There had -?ady teen a strict quarantine of the barracks in which the malady lu d made ita appearance. Thirteen case.-, have developed, five of which hav? been fatal. In ort'.er to prevent possible con i .ion in crowded buildings all places Of assembly in tho cantonment, in? cluding the Y. M. C. A. building, the Redpath tent theater and the Knights 4 of Columbus Hall will be closed un? til further notice. The canteens will still do business, but their patrons must rema n on the outside. As far as possible the men will be encouraged to stay away from pic IUire shows, theatres and other places j , of usjembL In Columbia. In compli anoe withj the request of tho military a it horities the Community Club has I discontinued itsr Wednesday and Sat? urday night dances and it is very Probable that other regularly sched? uled dances aill be postponed unCI I the -situation improves. At the camp the squad rooms where the men spend many leisuie hours in their barracks, wdll be kept well ventilate I Bight and day. "Win? dows will be kept open on tho wind? ward side. When necessary, assem 1 lies will be held in the dining room." when practicable. Regimental ofll re of the day will be charged with the execution of the order in regard to ventilutlon. One effect of the measures now be-I ing taken will be the Immediate stlm ulation of outdoor recreation, athlet? ics and amusements. The men will be encouraged to take part in ath lotle games to a greater extent, and slr.ee the Y. M. C. A. buildings are closed, the secretaries will furnish entertainment for the men and will render service to thorn in the open air. as far as is practical. The dlSSSSS seems to be fairly well under control. In case matters should I prow WOrOS the military authorities are prepared to resort to even more drastic mSOOUreS than they have so far done. Only a few workmen and patient4* Ordered admitted by th<> division sur gOOfl trill be allowed to enter the h'?s pital grounds. During the period of qoarantlns the necessary supplies for the hospital will be obtained undo, pass from the commanding officer of the beat hospital. Except for the few eases that will ie taken to the base hospital the held hospital is expected to take care of the sick of the can- ] r r.ao ut. If ihe accommodations there should not prove adequate, oth? er arrangements will be made by the division surgeon, MORE lines WEEDED. Department of Agriculture Calls on Farmers to liiorcuse Number at Once. Washington. Dec. ft,?A fifteen pei cent increase in production of pork will be required for domestic con? sumption and export to the allies, the lepartment of agriculture today an? nounced In urging farmers to do their share in relieving the food short ace An allotment by States has beer a ads to increase production. Tin pstconlagi allotted eevsral Southern Mates. (Minding South Carolina, it lifteen. Th. whO complain that Mr. HoovsV has no! reduced prices should tmbor thai they eant' prove th hi im't holding them down Florida Times-Union. The president In time <?r war is empowered, through the secretary el war. to take possession and assum: octroi of an\ western or systems of transportation. ST any part thereof and to Utilize the same, to the SXClU" slon as far us may be necessary of all other traffic Ihereon, for Ihs transl r or transportation of Iroona war mi erlal and equlyroenl of or such other i<m pc es connected with Ihs emer* "???im v a mnj be needful or deelr? able." ud Fear Dot?Dot all die ends Thou Ai FMTElt, ?. 0., SATURD GREAT FIRE IN HALIFAX. HVNDKF.DS OF DVILDIHGI AND MANY LIVES l/>sr. The Remit of oolllslon of steamships in Pott Of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Amhurst, Nova Scotia, Dec. 6,?A section of Halifax is on live resulting front a collision between tv/o steam? ships, one an American vessel carry incr Ammunition. The explosion fol? lowing affected the dynamos of the It graph companies so that wire and cable communication with the not t:ilIc world were cut off. Hundreds of btftldlngl have been destroyed or damaged and scores of lives arc believed lost, In certain sec? tions of thj city in flames. - Censor Takes Charge of Tjlr;.rapii WhK s to Halifax. St. John. ft. D., Dec. G. ? It Is an? nounced here that the censor has tS ? ken control of all wires o; the. Ilall l fax connection rlnco the explosion there today, ? Iiai*gc Part of Halifax in Flames. St. John, Dec. 6.?A large part ol Halifax is in llames following an ex? plosion in the harbor this morning whsti two vSSSSll collided, one of them Mid to be an American loaded with munitions, including high explosives, Many persans, it is believed, were '.i!leO and many buildings along tht water front were ton; In pieces. Oth? er shipping In the harbor suffered se? verely and the crews of several arc said to be killed. Several transports wore In the harbor, but it is unknowr whether they contained troops or the fate of thOSS aboard. There was I i crce Storm raging at the time, whic'r it is supposed caused the collision. IdSSJ of LlfS Placed at Fifty. Truro. N. S., Dec. C.?The loss o life In the Halifax explosion is place at lifty, according to reports rseoivet here. Hundreds Said to he Killed aild Thau Bands injured. Halifax via Havana, DSC. 8. - -Hun? dreds of psrsoni are reported to eowc been killed and thousand of other: Injured. Half of the city is in ruins the result of the explosion of a mu? nition ship In the harbor today. Th? eatlir.al id property loss runs into mil dons. Head at Halifax Intimated at BOO, Truro. N. S.. Dec. 6. ? Rsportt reaching here this afternoon gave tin number of dead In Halifax as thr.?< hundred, it was stated that it wai feared that SSVsral score persons losl their lives when the railway statior at Halifax collapsed. DOMINICK ABOUT FACES. South Carolina Congressman Prelaw President*? Speech Asking for Dec? laration. Washington, Dec. 5.?-Congrestnas F. H, Dominiek, who opposed the resolution declaring war with CJer many and who voted against ttM draft bid, today issued a statement in which he praised the msssagS of the president and declared that he would Vote for war with Austria. "My position for opposing the war at drst is well known." said Mr. Dominkk. "but that time has passed. We are now in the war and in it to win and we can take no backward step. We must stand by every move that is made toward victory now that we are In this war and I shall vote for the war resolution as to Austria. T was moved to enthusiastic demon ?tratlon when the president asked for H declaration ngalnst Austria. That country has he m Interfering with us enough and it must be stopped. The president read a great message find one that breathes the spirit of pa t riotlsm." ? I rs J. C. Kinard of Ninety-Six an I lames R. Thompson of Anderson were today commissioned first lieuten? ants In the Dsntal Reserve Corps up er rscommsn 'atlon of Congressman i lomlnlok. AID FOR RAILROADS. fnter-State Commission Makes Hcc cmrnendathm fa Congress. Washington, Dec. f>.?Congress was fold in the annual report by the In erstatc Commission today that to ef? fort a Unification of railroad rc lOUrces for th" war. the anti-trust mtl pooling laws should be suspend d in addition the commission de l red should they receive a govern* ncnt loan the Issue of railroads sc? >tirltlei should be vested In some ipeclal body, Borne advance In r ites : Imperative In the war emergency, be t ommlsslon said. tm't it be thj Country'., l'lijr God', i AY, DECEMBER 8. 191 B?iTISH HOLD FAST. IIVNS EXPECTED GREAT RESULTS FROM DRIVE. Dr4t!Bh Thwart What is Believed to iiavo Bom Attempt to Duplicate Success in Italy. With the British Army in France, Dec. 4. (By the Associated Press).? That Field Marshal Ha ig prevented the Hermans from breaking through his lines on the Camhrai front dis? counts the small gains which the enemy hosts- achieved yesterday at a terrible cost of life. It means that , yesterday's critical period has been successfully passed and for the sec j ond time in four days Field Marshal Hals thwarted what is believed to I have been a German attempt to du? plicate the Gcrman-Austrian-IIungar hUl performance in Italy. Germans were collected from the Eastern theatre and various parts ot ,the German lines In the West. At La j Vaeeue? ie the enemy fought his way through the town and one party pen? etrated for some hundred yards into j British territory. This was the ex? treme gain. The British commander voluntarily pulled back his line to the west and (southwest of Masnieres to make it firmer. This morning the British line was near the western part of Mar colng Copse but included Marcoing, a small triangular piece of territory therefore has been sacrificed by the British. A heavy concentration of German I guns east of Gonnelieu suffered great ( ly iSy the excellent British counter bSJttery work. The battle ^probably has not yet run its course hut the defenders will be in much better lhape to handle the situation. The Germans up to noon today had i not renewed their attempts of yester? day to smash the British front soutb tof Marooning but it s?ems Improb nl lo that the enemy will allow mat ten to remain as they now are. The situation, therefore is still one thai can not be dismissed lightly, i; i i- w of the heavy concentration 01 gUOf and troops which von 1 linden m! burg has brought to bear on this lm There has been no change in th< respective positions of the Qpposilntj forces since last night. Exhaustior cmi the necessity of reorganising hit depict- d ranks have undoubtedly forc? ed the enemy to pause for a breathirfi Bpell, The ground won by the Germern i yesterday could in no wise campen? : sate for the shambles caused by von ? Hindenburg's disregard for the live I of his men. But it must he borne in ; lind that he was playing for vastly bigger stakes than have yet been won Tn his latest attacks there were un? doubtedly tremendous efforts to break through with great possibilities- of a drive out into the open such as he i engineered in Italy. The situation today was much eas i ier for the British Yesterday was ad? mittedly a rather anxious one, but abundant reinforcements arrived. The checking of the Germans' inees cut massed attacks was* due only to the gallantry of the British soldiers who jdid not yield before fierce assaults by great ly superior numbers. t In their stupendous efforts against Da VacqueriS the Germans swept for? ward in dense waves with absolutely no concealment and were Slaughtered. j During the afternoon they delivered a ; very heavy attack also west of Mas nieres and succeeded in smashing through the British line but an im? mediate counterattack forced them to fall back. j The open fighting which has de? veloped .along the new battle front has created an entirely new situation. Which holds out many possibilities and now more than ever involves th'^ question of generalship, which may i decide the issue. Dallas, Texas. Dec. 5.?l.ieut. M - Farland. of the Royal Flying Corps stationed at Fort Worth, was serio :s ly injured and a student aviator, who has not becti Identified, was probabl' fatally hurt shortly before noon to day when their airplane fell L*0'> feel near Duncanville, seventeen mile southwest of Dallas. McFarland has a chance lo recover, physicians say. Washington, Dec, 6.?The preside rv todsy took tip the interstate commis? sion's recommendations for govern? ment operation of 'railroads in event that congress does not act to per.ei' their practical unification for W.1C emergency, with the possibility lhat he might also make r< commendations tc congress on Hie subject, it is not though* Improbable that he mi ! ' ?><? dress congress on tho matte.' at a special occasion, ? uul 1>?l*'?." TUB TRUE 7. PRESIDENT WILSON'S MESSASE AMERICA'S AIMS IX PROSECTT ING THE WAR DEFINED. Liberty, Justice and Mercy, With safety for All People*, the Goal for Which (he United Slates is Striving in Waging War. Washington, Dee. 4.?A definite .statement to the world of America's war aims and of the basis upon i which peace will be considered was j made today by President Wilson in an ' address to congTSf s in which he urged j immediate declaration of a state of j I war between the United States and Austria-Hungary?Germany's vassal and tool. j As to Turkey and Bulgaria?also tools of the enemy?he counseled de? al y because they do not yet stand in the direct path of our necessary ac i lion." To win the war, the president de I dared In emphatic and ringing tones, is the immediate and unalterable task ahead. He urged congress, just begin? ning its second war session, to con? centrate itself upon it. j The president sharply dismissed the i pos' Iblllty of premature peace, sought j by German intrigue and debated here I by men who understand neither its j nature nor the way it may be attain? ed. With victory an accomplished fact, he said, peace will be evolved based upon "mercy and justice"?to enemy and friend?with hope of a partnership of tuitions to guarantee future world peace. The war will be deemed won. he declared, "when the German people say to us. through properly accredited representatives, that they are ready to agree to a settlement based upon jus 1 tlce and reparation of the wrongs their rulers have done." 1 TormS of peace, he added, would not include dismemberment, robbery or punishment of the enemy but would be based on justice defined briefly as follows: \ "Freedom of nations and their peo? ple from autocratic domination, repa? ration to Belgium, rsliaqulshmsnt oi German power over the peoples ol Austria. Turkey, the free Dalkar BtatSS, aa well as evacuation of Prus 1 sian territorial conquests in Pelgium and Sort hern France. Kmphnsi^ing th" purpose of the United States not to interfere m the internal affairs of any nation, the pres. Ident asserted that no wrong against ^ the Reman empire was intended and hat thore was no desire to rssrranga ihe Austro-Hungarian empire. He said when he spoke eight months ago of the right of nations to free access of the sees he had Austria, as well as the smaller and weaker nations, in mind. I Appearing before congress in Joint session for the first time since he asked for the declaration of war against Germany last April the presi? dent was more warmly greeted and his speech was received with enthus? iastic applause which grew tumult OUsly when he reached the recom? mendations as to Austria, diplomats, justices of the supreme court and other high officials assembled on the tloor joining in the demonstration. The definition of war aims and peace terms, the most explicit ever voiced by the head of any of the great war? ring powers, was accepted as the more significant because since his re I ply to the pope's peace note the presi? dent has- come to be regarded more ami more as a spokesmen for all the nations fighting Germany. By advance arrangement the ad? dress was made available for publica ? tion today |n nearly every corner of the globe. It probably will not ap? pear In full In 'he Teutonic press but 1 the papers of neutral countries and the work of allies aviators will get It to many a German in unmutilated form. Both branches of congress adjourn? ed after Hie president closed, the house until tomorrow and the senate intll Friday. Immediate steps wer? taken to translate the president's war recommendations Into action. The house foreign relations committee was summoned l > i te t tomorrow at 2 p, m. and the senate foreign affairs com mlttee on Thursday morning. Chair? man Plood of the bouse committee began drafting the Austrian war res? olution which will be similar to that of April ?> against Germany. Repre? sentative Plood plans to introduce the resolution In the house tsgaorrowand report it for action late tomorrow or Thursday. To save time the senate committee plans to consider the house draft while it is before the lower body Thursda y. The widespread demand for addi? tion of Turkey and Bulgaria In the resolution promises to be lbs only ob SOUTHRON, EntabUabed *?>:, >***? Vol. XLV. No. 3a. ANOTHER SUSPICIOUS FIDE. ?TOUR ?KW KORK BUILDINGS BlILNKD. Municipal, Slate and Federal Autliori tio Investiga 14 Cause or Million Dollar Blnzc. New York, Dee. 3.?Four large u,Klings at the Morse Dry Dock and Repair Company on the south Brook yn water front were destroyed by fire tonight with av. estimated loss of $1.000,000. Th. oricin of the fire is unknown. Cnited States soldiers on duty at the plant declared that the tire started suddenly in the carpenter shop where hundreds of men were working and then quickly spread to other buildings. The Morse Company was working oi?. large government orders and is one of the few private plants that has a guard of Unit. : States soldiers. A sentry fired his rifle into the air when he discovered the tire. Firemen, fire boats and members of the naval reserve fought the fire. The j carpenter shop, the Joining shop and the pattern shop, all wooden buildings were burned to the ground, and the immense brick machine shop contain? ing valuable machinery was destroy? ed. An employee's restaurant and an oil storage plant caught fire but were extinguished with little damage. Two large steam ships in dry dock were towed into the harbor. Municipal State and federal authorities are in? vestigating the fire. ' ?_ I_I Steele in the orogram of speedy en? actment. The joint si >f,ion indicated its em? phatic approval of the president's, recommendation for more drastic measures against enemy aliens, in? cluding provision for dealing with wo? men, of his st rictures upon disloyal? ists and pacih; ts. end his declaration ' that in the present session congress Should concen rate its whole attention .nd energies on various, rapid and successful pro. ecution of the war. In addition to the program outlined I y the presid* Ot other legislation, in .1 eluding mens res affecting railway and other transportation interests, I might later become necessary. The president spoke as follows: "GcnComen of the Congress: Eight months have elapsed since I last had 4he honor of addressing you. They , have boenenontha crowded with events of immense a?^d grave signilcance for us. I shall nti undertake to detail or even to Sttmmarias those events. The upractical particulars of the part wo have played In them will be laid be? fore you in ti e reports of the execu? tive departments. I shall discuss only our present o; Cook upon these vast affairs, our present duties, and the im? mediate means of accomplishing the Objects we Shall hold always- in view. 'I shall not go back to debate the causes of the war. The intolerable wrongs done - nd planned against us by the sinister masters of Germany have long sii ce become too grossly obvious and odious to every true American to need to be rehearsed. "But I shall ask you to consider again and with a very grave scrutiny ou" objectives and the measures by which we mean to attain them; for the purpose of dtscusotoa here in this place is action, and our action must mOve straight towards definite ends. 1 Our object is. of course, to win the war; and we siiall not slacken or suf? fer ourselves to bo diverted until it is w< n. Put it is worth while ask dig and answering the question, wh?a shall we consider the war won? "'From one point of view it is not necessary to broach this fundamental matter. I do not doubt that the Amer? ican people ow what the war is a boat and wh. . .sort of an outcome they will regard as a realization of their purpose in it. As a nation wo re united in Spirit and intention. I pav little heed to those who tell mo otherw se. i heir the voices of dis? sent a io doe< not? I hear the Dritt? clsni and the clamour of t'ie OOtsy, thoughtless an troublesome. I also S?e men hen- and there fling them selvos In Impotent disloyalty against tile eaiai. Indomitabls power of tho nation l hear men debate peace who understand neither its nature nor the Way in which we may ;>ttain it with Uplifted eyes. , nd unbroken spirits. "But I know that rone of these 104 tks for the nation. Th^y do not ouch the beert of anything. They may safely be loft to strut their un ?nsv hour end he forgotten. "But ''roni on other point of view I relieve thst it is necessary to say plainly what a i here at the seat of rtlon consider Ihs war to he for and that part we mean to play in the set lemenl of its searching issues. Wo re the spokesmen of the American