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Wednesday and Saturday ?liV? OvTXKN IM HUMUM; COMP AN i 8L.MTKR, S. C. Term* : fd.M per annum?in advance. Advertisement**. One Square first insertion .. ..$1.00 Bvery subsequent insertion.60 Contracts for three months, or will be med? at reduced rates, oom muni cations which sub tw private Interests will be charged far ss advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect Will be charged for The Sumter Watchman was found ?*? hi 1160 and the True Southron in ISM. The Watchman and Southroi how has the combined circulation um: 'usnce of both of the old paper.;, la manifestly the best advertisin/ Iura in Sumter mm Washington. Deo. 29.?Cald. cloudy weather during- the first half of the Weak, moderating after Wednesday With rain Friday and Saturday is the forecast for the South Atlantic States during; the coming week. EARLY CLOSING AG 1 IE ITMENT, Stores to Close at 6 P. M. Even Day Except Saturday. An agreement was circulated today among the merchants to secure unity of action in closing all stores at 6 ?'oloek P. M. every dsy except Sat? urday and at 8.30 P. M. on Saturday, beginning with tomorrow January 1st. The ear'y closing plan is in line! with the suggestion of the National Fuel Administration for the purpose Of preventing unnecessary consump tfcan of fuel, and the merchants are. with scarcely an exception cheerful? ly giving thsir adherence to the agree ment. It la believed that the closing -rfgreement will become effective to? morrow and that not a single mer? chant largo or small, will refuse to aceede to the request of the fuel ad ministration, for they all realize thru It Is absolutely neceeeary to reduce the consumption of coal to smallest possible smount to prevent suffertn. In the city. There la not enough coal to supply the needs of this commun? ity and there will be greater and greater scarcity each week through /out the remainder of the winter. The merchant or other business man who refuses to reduee his fuel con sumption by shortening his workinr < hours as much as possible Is lacking Of public sp.rlt and indifferent to the neosesltlee of his neighbors and the good of the community. By closing early the consumption of coal will be materially decreased and no business will be lost by any one. There In time between 8 A. M and > 1*. M. for sah ths business to be i.ttended to teWJT'dltrWyUy. The early closing tment should also provid.3 that no store shall be opened before 8 a. m. end thst all bull clote promptly at I p. m. The people of Sumter will heartily support the plan and cooper? ate with the merchants In making it effective. Flanders- Hol Inda y. The marriage of Miss Ruth Flan? ders and Mr. J. Henry Holladay was solemnised Wednesday morning at 9.80 o'clock at the home of Dr. and Mrs. W J Flanders In Wrightsville. On.. Rev. 8. C. Olliff of Mucon. (Ja. officiating. Owing to a recent bereavement in the bride's family the wedding was u very quiet sffsir The only attend? ants were Miss Esther F anders, maid of honor; und Mrs. Ft. M. Olr ardesu. matron >f honor The bil dal party entered us Miss Bernice Flanders played Lohengrin's Wedding March. Immediately after the ceremonv Mr. a dnMra. Holladay left for Augus? ta, Oa. Mrs. Holladay is the 'laughter of Dr. W. J. Flanders, who was for many years Ststs Prison Inspector of Geor? gia. Before her marriage Mrs. Hol? laday wax a teacher In the puMi< schools of Atlanta. Ga. Mr Holladay has been connected with the firm of Phillips A Co. for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Holladay will be at home to their friends at i ll N. Salem Ave. MI AM W ItWhlTS KILL! I? >ls tin Down I igbtlng Solders und I tn ngetm. Eagle Pass. I ki least six Mexican bandits were killed in a ba? tie between the bandits and f'nited States troops and TOMM tasjei urday at San Jose. Mexl -o. opf I the Indo raneh. Wfct#h miles south of Eagle Pass, according to m official statement received nere tods at military headquarter* The An.. SJ n-4 had crossed Into Hoxlesj on the trail of Mexican cattle thieves The,, wero no American caaualn-s. After the bandits, ??aid to have numbered 50. were routod the Amerl cans returned to ihe Texu side. The pursuit of a "hot traU" nlM? the border followed a serle? of raids on the Indlo ranch, in which It Is alleged that l.ona or more he a I < ittle had I been dm en ae.-osa the Klo Gr.inde. ROSSO-GERMAN PEACE MS IU SSI ANS KKPOKT I XRERSTAM) IX? AT MACH OpmSRHkOE. Resumption or Commercial Hcln UoiiM With Teuton* Ono of Mutters Provisionally Settled. Brest-Litovsk, Friday. Dec. 28 (via Rerlln and London, Dec. 30.)?Provis? ional agreement on a series of impor? tant points, including liberation of war prisoners and resumption of commercial relations, was reported today by the delegates of Russia and the central powers in discussion 01 issues which in the event of a gen? eral peace would have to be settled among the nations represented in the negotiations here. This provisional discussion was terminated today, the basis o* an agreement adopted being reached under the reservation that i1 was to be examined by the govern? ments represented by the delegates. In respect of treaty relations, an understanding was arrived at regard? ing the restoration of the situation as as it was when wnr began. It was provided that certain laws adopted since the war will be canceled and j that those iffected thereby shall be restored to their previous rights or j in<l< mndied. The lules in regard to payment of] war costs and damage were defined in greater detail. Provisions were made concerning damages sustained by civilians outside the war area. An agreement in principle was reached regarding the reciprocal re? turn to the;r homes of war prison? ers and interned civilians^nd also for the return of captured merchant ves itte Sperey resumption of diplomatic nnd consular relations is embraced In the understsnding. It is set forth that there uhall be immediate stop? page of economic warfare, establish? ment of commercial intercourse and the organised exchange of commodi? ties. A substantial understanding was arrived at on which the basis of eco? nomic relations shall be settled per? manently. Regarding the question of occupied territory the Russians made the fol? lowing proposal: "In full accord with the public declaration of both the contracting parties' that they cherish no bellicose plans and desire to conclude peace without annexations. Russia will withdraw her troops from all parts Df Austria. Hungary, Turkey and Persia occupied by her, while the powers of the quadruple alliance will withdraw theirs from Poland. In accordance with the principles ? of the Russian government, which has declared the right of all peoples living In Russia to self determination, including even separation, the pop? ulations of these districts will be ?iven an opportunity within the ihortest period to decide entirely and freely the question of their union with other parts of the empire, or their formation into independent states. "In this connection the presence of jny troops, apart from national or lo? cal militia, in the territories which ire voting ?hall not be permissible un? til this question is decided. The gov? ernment of these regions will remain In the hands of representatives of the local populations, elected democratic? ally. The date of evacuation and oth ? r circumstances and the commence? ment of demobilization of the army I I to be fixed by a special military con: mlttee." Germany then proposed the follow? ing form for the first articles of a pre? liminary treaty which is to be con? cluded : "First. Russia and Germany arc to declare the state of war at an end. Foth nations are resolved to live to gether in the future in peace and friendship on condition of compile reciprocity. Germany will be ready as soon as peace is concluded with Russia and the demobilization of the | Russian armies has been accom? plished to evacute her present, po sitlons in occupied Russian territ >r\ insofar as no different inferences in ? sult from Article 2. "Second. The Russian government he.ving in accordance with its prln? et pice proclaimed for all peoples with? out exception living within the Ru - slan empire the right of self determ? ination, IM hiding complete sepira tlOJV takes cognizance of the decision expressing the will of people demand ing a full state of Independence and separation from the Russian empire for Roland, Lithuania. COUrland an I portions of Bsthonln and Livonia, Th?- Russian gtivernment recog nlses that In the present circuiu Itances these manifestations must b< reg trded i an expression of the will ot the people end is ready to draw conclusions therefrom. As In those MstrictM te which the foregoing stipu L.tions apply the question <?( evacua? tion is m.t SUCh us provided for In v i t '1- l i p< elal < emmlssion sh i H discuss und lix the time and otlwv details' n conformity and In gecord? nee with the RllSSlan IdOt of tlm ii ' ' i y ratification by n pl*bl* EARTHQUAKES RUIN SOUTH AMERICAN CAPITAL. Many Killed in Series of Disturb? ances RcnlnnlnM Christmas Day and Ending Saturday. Washington, Dec. 30.?Guatemala City, capital of the little Central American republic of Guatemala, has been laid in ruins by a series of earthquakes beginning Christmas day and culminating last night in violent shocks which completed the work of bstruction. A cablegram to the navy department today said 125,000 people were in the streets without shelter and that a number were killed by falling walls. ?Naval vessels in Central American waters have been ordered to render all possible assistance. Following is the brief dispatch which brought the news of the ca? tastrophe. "Bad earthquake yesterday finished the work of others. Everything in ruins and beyond description as a KM suit of last night's shock. One hun died and twenty-five thousand people are in the streets-. Parts of the coun? try are very cold and windy. Tents are needed badly. Quite a number killed yesterday by falling walls." The shocks probably occurred be-! tween 5.57 and 7 o'clock last night. Violent quakes were recorded at that time by the seismographs of the Georgetown University observatory ami the distance was estimated at 1, 900 miles from Washington. Earthquakes- have been prevalent in Guatemala since the day after Christ? mas when shocks were general throughout he republic. With each recurrent shock the damage in Guate? mala City, the capital of the republic, has grown more extensive. I^ast Thursday it was reported that fr?rt) 10 to 40 persons had been killed In the disturbances of the previous night, while dispatches of Friday and Sat? urday Indicated that 80 per cent, of Guatemala City had been demolished and that thousands of persons were, homeless. Martial law had been * de? clared and good order was said^ to be prevailing. Guatemala has been the scene o; many disasters, the results of earth? quakes. Since the settlement of th. country*in 1622 there have been more Lhan 50 volcanic eruptions, and In ox Btsi of 300 earthquakes. The original Guatemala City was destroyed in 1541 and 8,000 of the inhabitants r/ere klled by a deluge of water fron: a nearby volcano which was rent by in earthuake. The second capital was destroye 1 by an earthquake in 1773. The houses of the present capital were built low in conseqeunce of the liability to earthuake. Guatemala City has a population of nearly 100,000. It is situated on a plain at an elevation of 1,850 feet above Bea level. The cap? ital is the center of trade of the en? tire republic. Paris, Dec. 31.?An American avi? ator was killed yesterday while mak? ing a test flight before the French md American pilots and observation fiviators. He made the loop succes - fully against a violent wind but feb when he tried to repeat the perform? ance. Op broad lines^rtnd without any mill* tary piessno, whatever of the al? ready exist ujr proclamation of feepa ratlonj* s^/*^ Thtr'Austrian delegation made a similar statement. The Russian delegation took cog? nizance of these statements and sot forth ltn Standpoint M follows: "Our Standpoint is thai only such manifestation of will can be regarded us a defacto expression of the will of the people as results from a free vote taken in the districts in question, with the complete absence of foreign troops. We therefore propose, and we must Insist thereon, that a Oloa-r ? iid mors precise formulation of this point be made. We consent, how- j ? \er, to the appointment of a special Commission for the examination of technical OOndttlona for the realiza? tion of such referendum! and aisi for the fixing of a definite time for evacuation. "In view of the cpUrss which the negotiations hitherto have been tak? ing, it may be stated with satisfac? tion that regarding settlement of the most important questions the views of the represented powers tally at many points while regarding other views they approach each other to !UCh an extent that hope for arriving at an agreement on the latter points is well founded.*1 a Petrograd dispatch of Thursday said iin- peace negotiation! had been postponed for ten days to give the entente nations opportunity to Indl* oate whether they erould participate a message from Brest?Litovsk on the same ii;iy spoke of the continuation of the discussions and apparent in formal negotiation! are being carried <?u during the foot ROUND ?P GERMANS. GOVERNMENT BETS DATE FOR REGISTRATION, Hall' Million I'nnatniitlizod Teutons Required to Comply With Presi? dent's Proclama tlon. Washington) Dee. oO.?The week of February I was set aside by the department of justice for registra? tion of the half million unnaturalized GeTmans In continental United States by police and postmasters in pursu? ance of President Wilson's- alien ene? my proclamation directing this action as a means of minimizing the danger from enemy sympathizers in the Unit? ed States. Earlier plans for administering the registration in the Eastern cities first and gradually extending it to the en? tire country were abandoned becaus of the fear that some Germans might avoid registration by moving from district to district. Registration will involve the gath? ering of detailed information concern? ing the business, relatives and habits of every German, together wdth his photograph and linger/ prints. After registering he must carry a certiticate card and may not change his place of residence without ap? proval of the police or postmaster. Violation of the regulations will be punishable by Internment for the war. The orders do not apply to Ger? man women nor to any persons under 14 years- of age, because these are not classed as alien enemies] by law. Subjects of Austria-Hungary are not required to register. In announcing the regulations to? day the department of justice took rare to avoid creating the impression that the government looks on each German with suspicion. "Registrants arc no* to be treated as persons of evil disposition," said instructions to registrars, "and the registration officers are urged to deal with them in a courteous and friend? ly manner." Police, federal marshals and agents and postal authorities are expected to cooperate in the round-up dtiring reg? istration week and to Investfgate and check up each fact reported by the registrants. Certificate cards will be ih-suod only after a complete verifica? tion is made. The information obtained will be of distinct value to officials in running down enemy plotl) and propaganda and in discovering what ? Germans bear close watching. The task will be great In cities where the German population is large and newspaper* and citizens will be asked to assist. In cities of 5,000 or more popula? tion recorded by the 1910 census*, a list 6t which is issued by the depart? ment of justice, the chief of poTIc^ and his assistants will administer the registration; In smaller communi? ties and rural districts registration will be conducted by the postmasters, and the postmaster of the largest of? fice in the local judicial district, In most States the gQUtvalCtot of a coun? ty, will be the chief registrant's of? ficer to gather reports of the others and forward them to the United States marshal and the department of jus? tice. In most cities the work will be done by precincts. Every German is required to go to the registrar and make out triplicate ufndvait information blanks- and to furnish four photographs of himself? one for each affidavit and one for his registration card. The photograph, must bear his signature, written across the front, and must not be larger than three inches square. It must be on thin paper, and have a light background. The affidavit provides for record? ing name, address, age, place of birth, occupation and residences since Jan? uary 1, 1??1 4. date ol arrival in th ? United States. whether married, names and ages of children, whether the registrant has or had any male relatives in arms against the United States, whether registered for the draft, military "training. naturaliza? tion conditions and similar informa? tion. Full description of the man and the prints of each finger must be taken by the registrar. The regls trant must swear to the affidavit be lore the registering ollieer. Small pOStOdices not equipped with finget1 print apparatus are advised t< borrow a small quantity Of printer s ink und a roller from the town prlnt et and to make the Impressions upon tie- Ink spread on a pane ol* glass. <>ne of the triplicate records is to be Kept by the registration agent, one sent to the United States marshal and one to the department of justice at Washington. Germans not at their place of resi? dence during the week of February i may be reglsterd In the district in which they happen to be. Registra? tion plans will be made later for the Philippines, Hawaii. Panama Canal Zone. Alaska. Virgin Islands. Guam and Samoa. Several million registra? tion blanks and other forms will he distributed within the nexl few weeks The registration is under the dir. . lion of lohn Lord ('"I'lien. special assistant to Attorney General Greg? ory, and a staff of lawyers appointed iwr war work. NITRATE OF SODA PURCHASE* Houston Informs Representative Byrnes of Department's Arrange? ments to Deliver lYrtiliztr. Washington, Dec. 29.- in a letter! to Repreentative James P, Byrnes- of ?South Carolina, the secretary of agri? culture states, that arrangements were completed several weeks ago through the war industries hoard, under the immediate supervision of Mr. Baruch, to purchase approximately 100,000 tons of nitrate of soda in Chile in ac? cordance with the authorization for such purpose in the food control act. "Because of disturbed shipping conditions," Secretary Houston adds "it has been impossible until recently definitely to secure facilities for trans? porting the nitrate in whole or in part. Within the last few days prep? arations have been completed for the delivery at the seaboard during Jan? uary of 10,000 tons, ahd every avail? able assurance has been given that supplies up to 100,000 tons for the ensuing months will be delivered. Ev? ery possible effort will bo made tc make certain these deliveries, but it should be understood that, on ac? count of existing situations, circum? stances over which there is no con? trol might intervene. "I can not state exactly what the price will be, but it will be approxi? mately $75 on board cars at 1*he sea? board. Farmers will have to pay freight charges to their local stations, the State fertilizer tax fee, which va? ries in different States, but will prob? ably not average more than 25 cents a ton, and any other local charges. "The nitrates secured under the ap? propriation will be sold only to farm? ers for their own use during the com? ing season and generally not in excess of the amounts used by them hereto? fore. The department is now arrang? ing machinery for the distribution o' the material and will give full pub? licity concerning the details of the matter. WILLIAM ELLIOTT APPOINTED. Columbia Lawyer Officially Made South Carolina Food Administrator, Succeeding Cokcr, Resigned. Washington, Dec. 29.?William El? liott of Columbia, S. C, has been named federal food administrator for South Carolina succeeding David R. Cohen resigned, it was announced here today. Mr. Elliott Is a lawyer ami vUmH*.hizIfman iTfslhe^Jikitc-JQtfijSFi cil of Defense. FORMER PREMIER SLAIN. Prominent Russian and Family Vic-: tims of Robbers. Petrograd, Saturday, Dec. 29.?The murder of former Premier Goremy ktn, his wife and his brother-in-law is reported in the Petrograd news? papers today. They are said to have been slain by robbers at the estate of the former premier at Sotchy, Trans? caucasia. Goremykin was a conpicuous fig? ure during the latter years of the old regime in Russia. At the fall of Pre? mier Witte during the politcal up heaval in 1906 M. Goremykin was called, upon by Emperor Nicholas to form a government. After a stormy administration of less- than three months he was removed. In February of 1914 he was again appointed pre? mier, holding office until February of last year .after the revolution he was arrested and confined for a short time in the fotress of 3t. Peter and St. Paul. FRENCH DEFEAT GERMANS. Berlin, Dec. 31.?The French forces on the northern Italian front yesterday took the offensive in the aftefmoon and French infantry pene? trated portions of the Teuton po? sitions on Monte Tomba. the German general BtafI announced today. WOOD GOES TO FRONT. Former Commander of Soutltrnstc? n Department Arrives Safely in France. Camp Funetoa, Kan., Dec. 30.-? Army official* here tonight confirmed a report that a cablegram was re? ceived saying that Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, commander of the Eighty ninth Division, a. Camp Funston, had arrived safely in France. General Wood and his chief of staff, Lieut. Cd. C. E. Kilbourne, have gone abroad ?:o study war problems at lirst hand, as is to be done by commanding officers of each division. General Wood and Colonel fell bourne left h'ire nio-e than a month ago, but newi of their trip was with? held from publication until word of their arrival la France was received. General Wood was transferred he-o from Charleston, S. C, where he was in command of the Southeastern De? partment. TWENTY MILLION JOIN RED CROSS. Nation-wide Enrollment Campaign Proves Gteal Success With all Di? visions Exceeding Quotas. New York, Dec. 29.?The American Red Cross will begin the New Year with a membership of more than 20,000,000, it was announced here to? night at the close of the nation-wide enrollment campaign. Everyone of the 13 naiion.il divisions exceeded the quota aet for it by Red Cross head? quarters in Washington. Actual new members added to the rolls- of the organization were 14,853, 535, and of this number the South? western division contributed more than any other division?3,250,000. The leading livision comprises the States of Mis. ouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and parts of Ken? tucky and Teinessee. VINEGAR FOR WHISKEY. Wade Swygcrt: Sold Two Quarts fog 811?Fined $05. The State. Wade Sw>. ert works at a negro undertaking ::oncern but he under? took to raise money by bottling vine? gar and selling it for -whiskey. It is known that he made two sales and the sum total of his adventure was to serve 60 days on the chaingang or pay $65 in fines. Wade wai- tried Christmas morn ing for Sellin*.; one quart of red vine? gar for $6, iid second condSJ WM toAdriw^iTarcP ^"ToT^rwo"'p;Tit^fl!sks ol the good ooking liquid. Recorder Etchison asked the de? fendant if h< was guilty* or not guilty of obtaining money under false pre? tenses and the man said, "Jedge, splane yerse'f." It was explained, and a plea >f not guilty was enter? ed. COLD WAVi: COVERS COUNTRY. Washington, Dec. 31.?Some mod? eration, beginning tonight, of the cold wave for the east is forecast to? day by the weather bureau for the country eastward of the Ohio v.il ley. Canton, New York, was the coldest poii t in the country this morning, with twenty below zero. Temperatures in the South range from four above at Raleigh, to thirty four at Miami, Florida, and eighteen at New Orleans, Atlanta and Jackson? ville. Orangeburg, Dec. 30.?News has reached this city of the death of Mr. C. P. Lesesn at his home in Rowes ville. It see;as that Mr. Lesesne con? tracted pneumonia only a short time ago a ad grad ually grew worse. The deceased era formerly a resident of this city and removed to Rowesville, where he conducted a large lumber business. Surviving are his wife and children. Every ton of coal that can be saved by early ch ing will help to relieve the fuel famine. Januar I, 1918. We wish all our friends and patrons a very happy and prosper ms New Year. O'DONNELL & COMPANY ?AND? THE O'DONNELL DRY GOODS CO.