Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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GiMBAITLE RAGING. TKtTONS lit HD TllOtS\NDSOF Vit \ at MRMt i.en Byng'n Men Believed to De Hold? ing c*wn in One of War's Greatest Battle*. With tho British Army In Franc Dec. 3 (by the Associated Press).? The Germans today were miking their second great attempt to break through ths British defenses in the Oonnelieu sector and pinch off the saient which Oensral Byng recently drove Into the enemy territory a little further to tb<' north. The German assault was launched against La Vacquerle short? ly before ? o'clock In the morning and spread rapidly. Within two hours a heavy battle was in progress over a considerable front from La Vacquerle southwards toward Vendhu le. Ths snsmy was empk.ying groat forces of Infantry which were sent forward under teirlfllc artillery bom? bardments from a concentration of gan* which the Germans had perfect ed since the smashing of the Hinden burg line. By noon there were Indications that the German onslaugb: might equal. If net surpass In fierceness, their drive whi m carried them through the Brit ish front south of Gonnelleu last Fri? day The British Infantry and artillery had met the shock brilliantly and ' were holding their own strongly through the first grim hours of fight? ing. The Germans approached La Vacquerle from the east and south? east and at the outset it appeared that lbs attack, was comparatively local, la their Initial charge the enemy came up against a stone wall and were forced to fall bad:. They kept com? ing in waves, however, and finally ob? tained a footing in the town but Im I mediately were ejected. Intense fighting at close quarters followed and as this progressed the Germans developed ai offensive oper? ation further down the line. By 11 o'clock their artillery was maintaining a drum fire against .he v/hole front Involved. As the day wore on the German at? tack spread northward toward sfasiileres and become even fiercer. The battle about La Vacquerle was particularly Intense with the contend? ing forces at close grips. There appeared to be no doubt that the enemy Intended to break through the British front If possible, regard? less ot cost The Germans were fling? ing Infantry into the assault in heavy waves and their losses have already been great as must necessarily result from this method of warfsre. For this counteroffenslve a great number of men are being employed by the Germans. Up to the latest reports however, the reinforced British were meeting the onslaught firmly and a spirit of optimism pervaded the de? fending camps, although non*> denied the sertousneM of the hour. Y >VNG SLAC K KB ABRFKTFD. Burns Hart C harted With Cursing Oonnlry, Flag and Wilson. Would < lie fuse u> Fight. Columbia. Dec. 3.-?Bufus Hart, a ' young married man employed by the M L. Klnard Clothing Store, was ar reste I yesterday morning on the charge of wilfully making false state msnts or reports with intent to in? terfere with the operations of service of tho military or naval forces of the t nlted Htates and did wilfully obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service of the Fnited States. The affidavit for the arrest of Bar: was sworn out hy a special rep? resentative, of the department of Jus tlce. The paper alleges that Hart damned hi? country and the Mag and applied vile epithets to the president ITa 1? charged with saying that it was not tight that a married man should be drafted and leave a lot of slngi* rusn to loaf at home and th.it t he v could make him go in the army but could not make hint fight. He would not f re a shot. It was a rich man's war and a poor man's right. The c\ emptlon bourds were also abused, ac? cording to the affidavit. The def< i .! nnt Is charged with having made tie statement during tin- draft Hart was arrested ahout II o'clock yesterday morning ami ,the Vnfccd Mates commissioner fixed tin- .mount of bail at $3.000 and WfOdSSSdajf, l cember 13. at 4 o'etoob bj IhS after* noon as the time for the preliminary hrarl ig The defendant hftd t>??-n employed by the perry-Mann BktOtriC COfOnan] Ahou three months iiko he took a position With M I. Kn.. id lint OSS filled positions st Augusta and Falge fleld Wsshington. Dec t A pplu tttOfll for sn increased rate on live stoc.t \n\ '*ss than eurlots east of the Mississip? pi river was denied today bf 'he interstate commerce rommbsion. hill osrmlsslon was given to make ,i e? w ?i aim urn weight ruling, which will r^ult In I umall ineie(se. WEEKLY WAR REVIEW. \\ Alt l)FJ?AHTMI \T DISCISSFS WAR FKOXTS. Germans Make Kffort |0 Hring on De? cisive 1 ngagement in West In Opin? ion of Washington. Washington, Dec. 3.?An effort by the Germans to bring on a decisive engagement on the Western front is suggested in the war department's re? view of military operations for the week ending December 1. issued to? night by Secretary Baker. "The outstanding feature of the general military situation today," says the review, "is to be found in the over increasing mobility of action of the forces engaged. "Static warfare is giving way to ac? tivity of movement. "It seems that a decisibn is being ? sought by the enemy, who realizes that he can not endure for a much longer period the strain of trench war? fare imposed by tho allies on the West. "This explains the effort of the cen? tral powers in massing considerable forces in order to invade Italy?a con? centration of troops made possible by the Internal situation in Russia. This offensive was undertaken to crush the Italians and compel them to sue for peace. "Five weeks of desperate fighting has brought them no nearer their real objective In this theater. "The Italian armies suffered sericus reverses in the early stages of the bat tie. They were compelled to give way and for a tim> the military situation along the Italian front was serious. But the enemy had underestimated the resisting power of the Italians and discounted the splendid morale which their forces would display when tin full magnitude of the impending cri? sis was visualized. The hope for revolution In Italy, which had been zealously fomented by German propaganda and which was an Important part of German plan of Invasion failed to materialize. "The Italians by a magnificent ef? fort reorganized their broken forces rapidly reformed their Cadres and backed by the allies wero able, sin? gle handed, to check tho Austro-Gcr man invasion. "It would be futile to underestimate the great losses, both of men and material, suffered by the Italians. These losses should serve to set forth in bolder relief the heroic efforts of thore elements of the Italian army which were able to thwart the plans j of the central empires. "The closing of the Swiss frontier for two weeks may indicate that the enemy is transporting large forces, bQth men and guns, to the West. "The enemy is constantly detaching large contingents from the Eastern theater. All good troops which can possibly be spared are being despatch ? I to other zones of operations. "So that, though the season Is not proj Itlous for engaging in military ?nterprlses on a large scale, yet ow ng to the Imperative necessity for o. continuance of this mobility further offensives are to be anticipated. "On the othor hand the al'ies will five the enemy no respite and any of? fensive undertaken by the Germana ivill be promptly met by a counter stroke of greater severity. "The battle of Cambral continue'! with sanguinary Intensity. "The tneinj after the first onrush o! the British, by bringing up fresh forces, has been able to bolster up his weakened defenses which for a tin ? imperiled the security of the entire Hindenburg line. "However, when the Germans hod recovered from the first blow and were able to stand their ground, no further extensive gains of terrain by the Brit? ish were to DO anticipated. "Hostile reaction has been extreme? ly heavy and costly counterattacks made by the enemy have enabled htm to retake, a certain area, as well as' occupy terrain southwest of the ni,u willent. Th. situation along the Itali ni front is rapidly becoming norrmi Enemy assaults in the northern r. tor are subsiding. Allied cooperation has now thinly been established in a tnSB?re relieving the Italians. "In the Palestine theater of Oper? itlons the rapid advanos of the Brit? ish on Jerusalem after the fall or Faffs has boon temporarily retarded Hie reetetanee pf the Turkish forces t.as considerably increased and the I.^nv of bringing up further rein-, foroemetttS and material has caused lelay in the offensive oprr.itions." Ill FKI SIATATIVF Fl I/,<.! K \U> lll.SKiNS. \vw York < ongressman to Besinne LsjOJ I?rne1icc. Washington. DCO. .'!.- Represent.! - i\. Fi tage raid, at New fork, chair* nan of the house appropriations com? I ,aMer, announced tonight his reslg latlon from congress, to take effect 1 Njeombei II, lie resumed to reaumf 1 iis law practice. i WAR COUNCIL ENDS. tiOti, HOUsF DELIVERS CLOSING ADDRESS, silent Statesman Declares Cloinonecau Spoke Prophetic Words When Ho Told of Work. Paris. Dec. 3.?The interallied war conference was closed today with a brief address by Col. B. M. House, chairman of the American mission. Colonel House, who delivered the closing nddrcss at the request of Pre? mier Clemenceau, said: "M. Clemenceau, the president of the French council ,in welcoming the delegates to this conference declared that we had met to work. His words irors prophetic. There has been co? ordination and a unity of purpose, which promise great results for the future. It is my deep conviction that by this unity and by concentrated ef? fort we shall be able to arrive at the goal which we have set out to reach. "In behalf of my colleagues I want to avail myself of this occasion to thank the officials of the French gov? ernment and through them the French people, for the warm welcome and great consideration they have shown us. In coming to France w? have felt that we were coming to the house of our friends. Ever since our government was founded there has been a bond of interest and sympa? thy between us?a sympathy which this war has fanned into a passionate admiration. "The history of France is a history of courage and sacrifice. Therefore the great deeds which have illumin? ated the last three years have come as no surprise to us of America. We knew that when called upon France would rise to a splendid achievement and would add lustre to her name. "America salutes France and her [ heroic sons and feels honored to fight i by the slds of so gallant a comrade." ' Premier Clemenceau spoke after Colonel House, saying: "Since it is my duty to pronounce the close of this conference, allow me to add some words to those you have just heard. I had come here with Che formal intention of preserving silence. In order to leave you under the im preasion made by tho fine speech which my friend, the eminent Colonel House, who represents so worthily th,j noble American people, has just de? livered. "In listening to him I could no help thinking that if there is a lesson to be drawn from the historic friend? ships, which reunite today in the glor? ious past of the French and Ameri? can nations there is no le:.-^ a icstfort in the total abolition of old enmities." President , Poincare received the members of the interallied conference this evening and entertained them at dinner with the members of the cab? inet. While the work of the conference committees has been completed the members will continue to keep in close touch with each other. At the session of tho conference to? day each of the French ministers pre? sented a report of the work done in the section over which he presided. Resolutions were adopted and will b? made public at an early date. REPORT ADD OVERCHARGES, F. S. Will Stop lJxtortion in Sugar. Salt and Gasoline, Columbia, Dee. 3.? Dealers in su? gar, salt and gasoline, in a statement issued today hy David K. Coker. Stan food administrator, are warned against exacting extortionate prices for their products. Mr. Coker re? quests that all consumers who think that excessive prices are being charg ed to communicate with Columbia of Mce so that action can bo taken. Such reports will he forwarded to Herbert Hoover. Fnited States fool commissioner, at Washington, for fed erul action, Mr, Coker'S warning fol lows: "Many reports are coming in to tho food administration of excessive prices heim; Charged for SUgar, salt and gas? oline in various parts of the State. 'Ho se reports an- being forvsarded to the food administration at Washing? ton, low sii nations will he set in mo? tion by the national authorities, and merc hants who are found guilty of tiikinu advantage of the necessities or the people win probably find them? selves Unabls to obtain supplies from their wholesalers, "The tremendous landen which is Praasnl on the rood administration may prevent action from being taken as promptly as would he desirable. the meantime, however, the cus? tomer himself ,<m do ;| ^t.;lt deaj correct unfair practices by refusing to ??Ol with the merchants who are charging outrageous prices. Merchants who are charging live to ten times their usual profits on certain necessi? ties of Hfc are public enemies and should he dealt with as such The Mate food administration will be glad to have any eltlsen write the office in 'olumbla giving instances where ex ortlonate prices are charged the con turner." BOL8HEYIKI COMMANDER EN sKiX KAYLENKO TELL8 WHAT HAPPENED AT BUR. RENDER. Commander Declares Last Obstacle to the Caoac of Peace Has I alien. Petrograd, via London, Dec. 4.? (British admiralty per wireless press* ? An official announcement was is sued today signed by Ensign Krylen ko. the Bolshevik! oommander-in chlef, confirming the killing by infu riated members of the Bolshevik! of Men. Dukhonin, former commander - in-chief of ihe Ilussian armies, who recently was deposed because of his refusal to request German army of? ficials to enter into an armistice with the Bolshevik!. Gen. Dukhonin v as killed by being thrown from a train aft r the Bol? shevik! forces had captured head? quarters at Mohilev. Gen. Kornilofi also a former Ilussian commander-in chief, Hod from Mhollev before th: arrival of Che Bolsheviki forces. The text of the communication of Krylenko follows: "Today I entered Mohilev at the head of tho revolutionary troops. The headquarters was entirely surrendered without fighting. The last obstacle to the cause of peace has fallen. "I cannot be silent on the sad act of lynch law practiced upon the for mer commander-in-chief, Gen. Dukhc ! nin. Popular hatred surpassed th.? 1 limits of reason, and in spite of all I attempts to save him, he was thrown I out of a railroad train at the Mohilev ! station and killed. The flight of Gen. I Korniloff the day before the fall of ; headquarters was the cause of this ex? cess. "I cannot allow the tanner of the revolution to be stained; it is neces Isafy strongly to condemn such acts.' WAR AGAINST AI STRIA-IH NGARY I'nited States Troops to Re Sent to Italy. Washington, Dec. 6.?With the formal report from the foreign affair* committee a resolution to declare war against Austro-Hungary was today brought into the house at the reques of Chairman Flood. The house gave unanimous consent to consider the resolution tomorrow' and pass it be? fore tomorrow night. The commit? tee report stated that the United States would probably soon send troops to Italy. Italians Captured by Austro-Gcr inans. Berlin, Dec. 6.?Eleven thousand Italians have been captured by Aus tro-Germans in a new offensive in northern Italy, it is officially announc Britlsh Readjust Their Linos. London, Dec 6.?The Britivh have advanced slightly their line sotlthwesi of I AVacquoriO on the Cam bra I from, it is announced officially. On Tues? day night the British withdrew to the southwest of Noyelles-Sur-Lqx Ess caut and Berlon wood, the withdraw? al being accomplished without th* Germans appearing to be aware of it until late yesterday. Heavy Fighting in Italy. Italian Army Headquarters, North? ern Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 6,? Heavy fighting around Aslage lias de? veloped rapidly. The enemy assault , began with intense artillery prepara? tions, followed by liquid lire, waves of infantry attacks, and counter at? tacks are still going on. Small Actions Reported by French. Paris. Dee. 6.?Only small actions are reported by the official statement today. One party of patrols brought back prisoners south of St. Quontin. Th'; German raid against post?; north of Besonvaux was repulred. COLUMBIA SCHOOL SURVEY. Work Will ('out lime Through Four Weeks?Other Assistants Will Come Later, Columbia, Nov. 1. -Frank i*\ Bunker of the National Bureau of Education, and Carlton Gibson, su? perintendent of tin- Savannah public ichools, arrived in Columbia yesterday to begin the survey of tin- Columbia public schools, recently ordered by the city school board. Aboul one month will be consumed in making the exhaustive examination of all the details in connection with the school lystem, Two weeks will be given nOW tnd tWO weeks after the holiday sea K>n, other workers are to report la? ter. Washington. Dec. I.?Immediate 'eduction In bread prices wherever ?osslble has been recommended to takers throughoul the country by the var emergenc) board of tin- bak'm ndustry. Bakers go under govern lient hteti.se I >er. 10th, Using \\ s. t Ormula and producing the standard sed loaf required by the food a Im in ?a rnl ion FIGHT WITH BRITISH. GENERAL MAURICE REPORTS ENGAGEMENT IN MESOPO. TAMIA. Admits Gorman Gain?Director of Military Operations Notes First Loss of Big (-tins in Over Two Years. London. Dee. 5.?Britten troops, acting In conjunction with an effi? cient force of Russians, have carried out a successful operation in Meso? potamia, Maj. Gen. F. 13. Maurice, Chief director of military Operations at the war office announced today. Speaking of the German attacks on! ?.he British salient in the Cambrai j area, General Maurice said: "The enemy has to a certain' extent got us into an awkward position, and some adjustment of our line may be neces? sary. CVe may have to make sligh: withdrawals on the north of the sa? lient." "There is little doubt," continued General Maurice, "that the latest German attacks in the Cambrai sec? tor have been planned and superin? tended by General von Ludendorff himself. Von Ludendorff's plan' was a thoroughly good one, as most of the German plans are. Jt was i n attack on both fianks of our salient, follow? ed by an attack in force on the cen? ter. "His attacks on our north and cen? ter failed completely but on his left the enemy succeeded in breaking through a part of our front. He at? tacked not only our new front, but on a part of the line as it existed be? fore, to the south. He succeeded in effecting a surprise and broke througa to a depth of nearly six thousand yards?clear through our gun posi? tions. But we had ample reserves available and promptly drove them hack two-thirds of the distance cov? ered. "One can not say the Cermans have :iot made substantial gains as a re i suit of - this effort. General Maurice continued: "For the first time in many a day the enemy captured some British guns. The last British guns he cap? tured were four from a territorial i battery behind the French lines in the battle of Ypres in May, 11* 15. during the first gas attack. Since then we had not lost a single gun on the Wes? tern front and have captured 650 of the enemy's, of which 510 were cap lured in 1917. "The number of guns we captured at Cambrai is 13S. The Germans claim 100 of ours and I am not yet able to tell exactly how far this claim is true as complete returns from the batter? ies are not yet in, but the prompti tude of the announcement and the round numbers used leads to suspic? ion. I believe tho Germans have in? cluded in the count numbers of trench mortars, etc., and that there fore this number will be subject to a large discount on investigation. The same probably is true of the 6.000 prisoners which is claimed. "In Mesapotamla we are continuing the policy of striking wherever thv enemy gives us opportunity." General Maurice s;.id that while there had been much talk in the pres<-: of the danger from further German attacks In Italy he considered the ene? my's advance into Italy had been deti nltely checked. This is the first report of lighting lv Russians since negotiations for an armistice between Germany and Rus? sia were begun. The Russian troops | on the northern front have been in active for weeks, but the army on the Caucasus front, has beon carrying for ward the campaign against the Turks The Russian forces in Persia, near the Mesopotamien border have done little since the Russian revolution, howev -r and the lessening of their effort seri OUSly interfered with the RUSBO-Brlt ish Plan of campaign after the cap? ture of Bagdad, when a junction of these forces had almost been effected. AMERICAN ENGINEERS C1TLT> FOR BRAVERY. Exchange Ticks and Shovels for Hides ami Drive Germans Hack In France. Washington. Dec. 3.?A high trib? ute to the gallant conduct of the American army engineers In France w ho w< re ci ught In ths German en clrcllng attack on ths British lines near Cambrai is paid In an official communication from the French gov? ernment received here tonight by ca ble. The communication follows: ??\\'e must remark upon the conduct of certain American soldiers, pioneers and workmen on the military railroad In the sector of the German attacks west of cambrai on November SO. They exchanged their picks and shov ids for rides and cartridges and fought with the Hnglish. Many died thus bravely, arms in hand, before the in raders. All helped to repulse the ene? my. There is not a single person who; iaw them at work, who does not reu-j ler warm praise to the coolness, disr. dine and COUrage of these improvised j ? inhalants." MERCHANTS Ol UNITED STATICS Air:: FORBIDDEN TO DO BUS? INESS Wl ill THEM. !~ttiu-America Tunten First Because of Lars? Nasal r of German Finns. Washington, Dec. 5.?a black list of l.COO linos in twenty Central and South American - ountrics with whom merchant:, of th United States are forbidden specifically to do business except und^r special license was pro? mulgated tonight by the war trade board. It is officially styled "enemy trading list," and constitutes the first section of record which eventually Will include the names of firms in most of the countries of the world, In? cluding the Unit? .1 States itself. Latin-America is dealt with first because of the k.rge number of Ger? man Arms in the southern republics active in aiding t. ?rmany'a cause. Evi? dence put before the war trade board have shown that nany of these firms, including public utilities companies, have financed to a large degree Ger? man propaganda work in the United State--. All thos. named in the list issued tonight have been charged with secretly or open!/ assisting America's I cr.c:rlcs. I The action is taken under authority conferred on the president by tha Trading With the Enemy Act, and is designed solely 'or the guidance of American concei as to enable them to observe the provisions of the law. Any licenses issued for trading with firms named in i he list will be apart from the regular export and import licenses, which muat be obtained for the shipping in or out of United States of most commodities. It is possible that in many instances licenses may be issued as it may be found that trading in certain com? modities with those named in the list will not work to any advantage for Germany or her allies. To minimize y inconvenience to merchants in thi country arising from the declaration, the war board will classify the ns nes of non-enemy firms dealing in the same commodi? ties who may serve as substitutes for I the blacklisted t mcerns. In issuing the enemy trading list officials make it plain that it cannot be made complete, and that those merchants trading with enetiy firms not named in it .i.re in no miJasure re? lieved from prohibitions and penalties contained in the Tradine With the i I Enemy Act. The names in today's list were com? piled by the war trade board's intelli gence division, with the aesistanQe'*o? commercial attaeJMB and consular of? ficers. It will be extended in tha countries listed as rapidly as addi? tional Information is obtained and in a short time to other countries. Ad? ditions and variations will be pub? lished probably twice a month. Issuance of tee licenses- recalled tho vigorous protest made by this govern? ment to Great Britain when the first British black Iis; containing the namo of many American firms first was published. Th> British reply, how? ever, was considered in many quar tere here as- e:~ ahlishing the legality of the action. The negotiations wer.) in abeyance When the question was eliminated by the entry of the United States into the Aar. The British for? eign office stoo 1 upon its contention that the measure was purely a mu? nicipal I li| glstlnn prohibiting resi? dents of Great Britain from trading with persons ft und to be rendering service to the enemy. Mrst of the firms- named in the sec? tion of the list issued tonight bear German names, although others evi? dently are of English, Spanish. French and Poruguese derivations. The announcement of the list said it was issued at tl e urgent request of American sxportera who sought gov? ernment guidance in their efforts to observe the law FOCH needed in paris. Ircal French General Quits War Council to IV Near Pivinier Clem cneean, Baris. Pec. r>.?General Foch is no onger a member of the interallied upreme war co incil. Confirmation of his was given today by Premier xlemenceau in be cours-e of an in ervlow with M: reel Hutin. editor of he Echo de Paria Asked for the eaoon for this the premier replied "Because I wo it General Foeh nea~ ne and as, how* vet, diligent he mav m he can not be at Versailles and ?sris at the same time." Questioned ai to what was being c com panted at the Ve rallies council, fr. Clemenceau said: "What is being ronl|iod at Ver tillee? Why. united military action f the allies." Washington, Dec. ?"?.?To discour? se inflation and promte sound bfcet? eaa conditions, the federal Ueserve oard has appro ed a general increase i discount rates of about one half er cent, for nu t of the Federal Ro? ve banks. *