Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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TICK STMTKR W AK HM AN, fcstAb < Consolidated Aug. 2,1 IKE GERMAN OFFENSIVE. I AN KS \Mi \IU MVsilKKJlS <. \s \\ II I 111 KMPI.OYFD I1Y Till IM NM. AUg ? arc Confident of Holding Line s ?German Infantry Told Victors Will ho V.ii*\ One in ilic Coming British Am.in Headqu rters In j !? rtnce. Fsb. 19. ? (By the Assoclat- . ed Pretjs.)?The grtut Herrn n offen-j hiv? on the western front may be SS pec ted to began it any moment now sd as far tu? the British front is concerned the main thrust will ?>? mads on the sector between Arras) end St. Quentm. Tanks ami "a mysterious gas" will; be employed by the enem) in the at tempt to break through the Allied j line. Other attacks will be delivered further south. These facts have be* come known through captured Ger? man prisoners and from Information gleaned in oth ? w ... The plans of the German higher command are complete and after many weeks of intensive training of assaulting troops they are ready to make the supreme und final effort which has been advertised so widely] la the psst weeks. Field Marshal von Hlndenburg and Gen. von LudendorfT appear to have 1 realised that the old methods of at? tack In which a long bombardment is employed uie too well known to produce the results desired. Accord-1 ing;y the German troops are being told that surprise attacks, such as were used In Gallcia last summer, at Riga and aga.n on the laonzo are to be tried against the Allies on the western front. | Much stresu has been hUd on the fact that tanks and new gus are to be used, leaving the infantry little to do hut to wak through the gaps. Ger? man troops have been trained to make long approach marches am: then to storm emnn) positions after a short shell bombardment Those j ojajtncl? which the <;. < artillery h not obliterated will be rushed by ihe troops or Ignored. The German infantry will rely on weight of num? bers, masses of machine guns and mo? bil? batteries to finish the work be? gun by the tanks and gas. Word hue been passed out by the Oerman high command that few of the Allied troops will survive th* effects Of the tanks, the gas and j the bombardme nt and that fresh Oer-| man infantry will overcome speedily: any resixt ? .1 m ? . pt ur I positions. Despite thess assur.imis and the Intensive training to which they have been put. the German troops are frankly skepti ii and arc under? taking then t.. ,,x with no er thusiasm, according to prisoners. They feel they sre going to be thrown Into battle to be used an cannon fodder and ?lo not relnh the prospect. It is said Gen. von Luden lorff re? cently addressed a body of infantry at Loon and asked how many men were willing to fluni to a tln.sh. Only live! non-comialcane d 0:l*u eis mill pri? vates stepped forward. The others de? clared their desire for an early peaci by arrangement*.. German officers on the other hand appear to have the conviction that they will h? able to break through by means of their secret BttQOhO ?i n. son llutler. who is reputed to have laid the plans for the capture Of Itiga, has come to the western fiont to assist in the preparation.! The lessons of the capture of itiga huve been pre u In I religiously to the German troops. It has bei n pointed Out that there u preliminary bom? bardment of four or live hours to cut the enemy wire ami demolish d< - lenses was sutth n ut to Rwe the Ger? mans a arm footing in the RuSOlaO pisvtlons. The enemy troops have not ?een told. however, that tin morale of the Kassians at Itiga WAS Very low and that the German ..tt.o U *ami a complete surprise. The Geilnaus will hnd tlie ,\l'.n I morale at the highest pitch on the western front and Hour attack will far from tin- surprise desiied. Th Allies are read, for a big blow an await with assurance the next um.? o.' the Germain high command. The German attack cannot be de? layed much longer. All Information polnta to the fact that both Geim.i civilians and soldiers are keyed up t?i i-ii- h a pitch of ner vous gipeetanej thnt the strain cannot e wlure fo: long. They are walling for tie it tneH with feverish hope that the hbjh ? ommaml can this time ma^e good ds promise. The German troop* are I N P* cted to llghi veil. The codling' bittles wdl perhaps h the meet saiigulnur) of the war and Mied April, 1850. "Be foot a 881. SU LIBERTY MOTORS COMPLETED. ami:i:ic\n fk.htino machini: will boom go against GKIUslAXS, First American Built Battle Planer Now Kn Botitc to Franco Nearly Five Months Ahead of Original KelM?<luI<*. _ _ W ashlnpton, Feb. 10.?The flrSt I Anie ic.in-built battle planes arc on I route to Franco, nearly live month?: Im 1 of tho original schedule. In making this announcement to ! i-rht Secretary Itaker said the first Shipment althouKh in itself not largo ' mark? the final overcoming of many difficulties in building up this now and intricate industry." "Those planes," Mr. Faker said, "are equipped with the first Liberty motors from machine production. One of them in a recent test sur i ltd all records for speed and Oil nbing for planes of that type. Kn r.ire production, which began a month ag). I? now on a quantity basis an'' the peak of produetion will be reaeh I ed In a few weeks. Only the 18 clyln type Is being made, as develop? ments abroad have made it wise to concentrate on the high powered en? gine instead of the light cylinder." Optimistic as these statements ap? pear, the secretary said they should not be exaggerated and should be con i shlered In the light of these facts: That after three years of warfare the total number of planes able to 1 i<o the air at any one time on eith : side of the Western front has not Seen more than 2,,"i00. That Ifi men are required on the ground for every plane in the air, i i;> ;i:w a total of 115.000 men need? ed for the present maximum of 2,r?00 planes. That for every plane In the air. there must he two replacement plane:' on the ground and one training plane for every pilot who (eventually reUChM the front, with a spare en? gine for sash plane. After reviewing the many ObstaolOS that had to he overcome In getting the aircraft production program tin-' der way Mr. Baker said the great ! roblem now remaining is to secure the thousands of skilled mechanics, engtnemcn, motor repair men, wood and metal workers, etc., needed to U< < p the planes in perfect condition and without which the machines turned out soon would be useless and the flyers helpless. "At best," said the secretary, "the life of a plane Is but two months and tho engine must be overhauled ifter 7." hours, while a pilot on a plane allowed to leave the hangars in Imperfect condition is as helpless as i ?. rd with a broken wing. "NOW that American battle planes' ? re going overseas a great increase r. the volunteering of skilled nie? thirties is both essential and oxpect 1 ed." j I Purlng the past months, Mr. Ba I e rid ,;i rOSpOnutVf channel of com? munication with the allies h is been opened, the latest types of foreign ma ? bines have been adapted to Amerl ? in manufacture, the industry in ?r- ssd at ii. st go fold, the training plans problem solved and the pro Auction of battle j lanes begun. American battle planes were not due in France under the Original schedule until July. MANY SHIP YYOBKFBS ENLIST, KstlnmlSS <?r He?IIS of Campaign In? dicate That Number Needed Will i c Secured, Washington, Fob, II,? Preliminary estimates on the results* of the cam- ( n for ;i quarter of a million ship WO SOrS show that that number will hi much exceeded and that thousand! of union men Joined without reetrl? lorn against Working with unorganiz? ed Workers. advance o\ RUSSIA. Berlin, Ken, |g, German forces yesterday advanced northeast ami <>! i h Insk, it 11 announced ol boiall". the) uiii )>?' the most intones yet seen Bui Ihey win mark the beginning oi the end for if the Germans do not ii- U eleu through the Allied line ami thev cannot- they virtually Will be Bnlehed, Tin* emperor is puttlnii ? rery ounee of strength into this great gamble and if it fails in tin- earl) i igOS it m< SIM the end of Prussian militarism The allied forces have a superior'! m number <. both in men and guns. nnd >>o doubt In felt on tin- front as to tie out. ome nd Fear not?bet all the en da Thon Ah MTER, S. 0., SATfJRDi PRICE OF WHEAT FIXED, ~ ADMINIKTKATION TO EARNEST* IA OPPOSE CHANGUS. readjustment Now WJ11 Seriously In? terfere With Program of Food Ad? ministration. Washington, Feb. 80.?The full in? fluence of the administration will be used if necessary to prevent enact? ment Of bills pending in congress to Increase the price of trheat. This became known tonight from an authoritative source. Opposition to this measures, another of which was introduced today by Representative] Helvering of Kansas is based on the ground that their passage would up? set the entire wheat and bread pro? gram of the food administration, worked out in great detail, and that President Wilson alre ady has full au? thority to readjust the price If it is found advisable. Wheat is selling now on a basis of |S.20 a bushel and the price is main? tained by heavy government pur? chases for the army and navy and for the allies. The food administration has worked out a scale of profit for millers and distributers of flour on this basts and bread is gelling at (a ilxed price. In enacting the food control law congress placed an arbitrary mini? mum price of $2 a bushel on next season's crop. This is the price that the bills offered seek to increase. The difference between the price of Iast| year's yield and this year's crop v.asj lived In la ige measure to draw wheat* from the farms before the new crop' is marketed. Already the agitation for a higher price for next season's crop, food ad? ministration officials say, is checking the flow of wheat to the terminals and to Iho mills and threatens to stop II entirely. If legislation providing higpe prleOS for the next crop is enacted the food administration, it is declared, will be forced t ? raise the price of four, which would mean Immediate Increase In bread prices, Enormous] profits, according to officials Would go to distributers who now hold about 90,000,000,000 buusheli of wheat and some 10,060,000 barrel! <>f Hour. MEN i ok CAMP JACKSON. i'ivc Thousand Will Arrive Within Next Few Days?Many Whites From North Carolina? Columbia, Feb. SO,?The ; office of Lieut. C, B. Bolneau, chief mustering1 officer at Camp Jackson* will be a busy enter the next ten days. Ne? groes from |Soujth| Carolina to the number of 8,800 are to be moblsiled iWithin the next week, beginning Sat-1 unlay. In addition to thes-e, 1,500 White enlisted men from North Caro? lina will begin to entrain for the Blghty?f)rst Division also Saturday The movement of negroes will be: Saturday, 1,1hl; Monday, ISN; Tues? day. 703. Nearly 100 Whites were mustered in?yesterday Those were: Bumter, 18; Marlon, 80; Lancaster, 7; Ab bevillo, 7; Chester, one white and one negro; Tennessee, one; North Caro-1 Una, one. DRIVING into RUSSIA. Germans Making a Holiday Excursion into Enemy's Country. Petrograd, Wednesday, Feb. 20.? DlOpatOhOS here report continued movements by the Germans along all fronts toward Vltebek, Minsk, PskofTl ami Reval, German airmen are re? ported to have raided Regtsta on Monday. Several persons were kill ed, Just two hours after the armis? tice ended tin' Ciermans entered Dvlnsk. Tin- Red Guard offered no resistance, while the artillery and in? fantry were demobilised and whol? ly unprepared to fight. Attempts to] evacuate the city were unsuccessful, and milch booty fell into the hand or t he i lermans. With American forces in France Wednesday, fob. 20, -The conti?.! of the air In the American sector he longs to the i nemy. Any ofllcer at the front will make tins declaration. Their control is obvious. When they KOI a chance airplanes on this side at tat the enemy, bul the iloehe Is so ?lever be gene rully ma n;i a - is to take pictures, make observations and es ape safely The QUOOtlOn most asked On this Mont is, "when are some American planes coming hero?" Rome, Febc 21. Italian shipping lossoi during the past week were two steamers and one sailing vessel ol < . er i; i tern li umlred tons. ne't at be thy Country's. Thy God's a LY, FEBRUARY 23, 19; COTTON BOLL WEEViL THE PKST is STILL V MENACE TO OOTTON GROWING. Dd artmont of Agriculture Warns Fanners Tliat Cotton Field Post , Has Not Been Exterminated by Reootd Breaking Cold Weather? Ursen Planting ol* More Food. Washington, Feb. 20.?"It is ox tremely unwise for cotton farmers to assume that the freezes of the last few weeks have exterminated the cotton boll weevil," the department of ag? riculture announced today In an an? swer to many Inquiries from th?* t{-'outh. The department said it was to be hoped that planters would not be led \ into increasing their cotton acreage rJ the expense of raising foodstuffs and thus not only fail in their patrio? tic duty, hut at the same time suffer Pnanclal loss from boll weevil. The necessity for the South to produce its own food this year was stressed. "l uring the past winter the tem? peratures have been lower than at any time since 1899," the statement con? tinued, "and there can hardly be tiny doubt that this extreme cold has re? duced the numbers of weevils In many sections of the South. It is too much to expect, however, that the1 temperatures have been uniformly! cold enough to absolutely exterminate the Wevll from large areas. The records of the department of agri-1 [culture indicate that there is at least II to 5 per cent, survival of the wee? vil In those sections which have been thoroughly studied as against a normal of ?.?> per cent, survival. This percentage of surviving weevils can restock the cotton fields of the South before the end of the growing sea? son. "The experience of 25 years with the boll weevil in this country has shown that one or two weevils surviv? ing In B field can easily produce [enough offspring to destroy all but the earliest portions of the crop." ^ 'No reliable prediction can he mad!* on the basis of what happen? ed during the winter," the depart? ment's announcement said, and told hew heavy rains in the early summer might prove favorable to breeding <? the pest er tropical storms carry them into sections whore tho cold had greatly depicted their number. "in the opinion of the department of agriculture/' said the statement, "it WOUld be very unfoitunate if the prevailing impression concerning th boll weevil should Increase the acreage In cotton at tho expense of food crops. At the present time what is most urgently needed throughout! the South is an Increased production of food and feed crops. There is ev? ery indication that the normal acre? age in cotton. With proper- cultivation will give a supply of the staple suffi cinet tor .all purposes. It is dearly a matter of patriotism as well as sound judgment for the planters to increase the acreage in food crops. The planter who increases his cotton acreage can not be assured that his ( rop will not suffer greatly from the boll weevil attack, and will be utilis? ing his land in a way which dees not best serve the necessities ol the coun? try. "Director General McAdOO has al? ready issued a warning that transpor? tation difficulties in 19IS may make it difficult, if not Impossible to sup? ply food and feed promptly to com? munities that neglect to provide ther own necessities. To say the leas', the drain on transportation is so heavy that any exceptional require? ments for hauling food and feed to the South will be ah actual embar? rassment to the government in the prosecution of the war. "The department of agriculture I* not asking the South to contlibut materially to the nation's food and feed supply, but is ask in;: the South only to fed Itself so that it may hoi become a burden upon the food pro? ducing sections of the country which must strain their energies i<> the ul most In oiiler to feed tin- animals mini maintain the civil populations behind them." Successful French Knid. Paris, Feb. 21. The French too!< live hundred ami twenty-five prison m in ;i raid yesterday In Lorraine north of Burei and easi ol Ar-!1'1 the .\ ii r office announced to luy. (I'erntgny'i Iron Hand. Copenhagen, Jan. 81 (Correspond , \n l R-year-old German woi,; an ha.-- been sentenced to six week:, imprisonment i" Berlin for balllni mt to a passing detachment of sol hers, "Throw away your rllles am aake an end of it." art Truth's." TOR TRUE L8. STATE FAIR MEETING. KFIRD \Nl> fllsson SECRETARYI AND TREASURER. Organisation Operated at Low Last Year?Improvements Planned for Coining Fall. Columbia, Feb. 21.?D. Prank B0rd of Lexington and D. O. Blllaon of Co? lumbia were elected secretary and treasurer, respectively; rast night of th^ State Pair Association. Both of these oftlcers have Riled these po? sitions a number of years and were reelected without opposition. The week beginning October 2$1 was fixed as the date of the annual State fair this fall. The report of the treasurer showed that the association lost $1,727.77 last year. Because of pressure of war service, railroads were unable to pro? vide extra trains to accommodate crowds and no special rates in fur? ther inducement could be offered. The Impression abroad that the ho tel accommodations in Columbia at that time were over burdened was another deterrent factor, it was* em? phasized. In precaution against possible Are loss at the fairgrounds, a committee Of throe was appointed last night to investigate the proposition of install- 1 fr.g adequate hydrant facilities on the grounds and to report at a later meeting of the association. W. A. Clark brought to the atten? tion of the organization the resolu? tion adopted at the fall meeting last [October, when the sab* of Liberty bonds was urged upon the members ; nd that farmers throughout the State In every possible way be Im? pressed with the necessity of pur? chasing these bonds. The banks were already burdened, Mr. Clark empha l ::ed and as another big issue Of ' onds win ho put on the market with? in the immediate future, it was high ' ly important that farmers with sur plus money be urged to invest in these bonds. It was either a question of financing the war by bonds or by taxes, he said. The meeting last nlghl was the regular spring meeting i d vps held In the county court house. SPEED UP REPAIR WORK. I _ Working Honrs Will i>o Lengthened Apprentices Promoted aiul Open Shop Maintenance in Railroad Shops, - Washington, Fol). 21.?-To hasten repair work on locomotives ind rail? way rolling stock, an agreement in? volving lengthening working hours promotion of apprentices and helpers and the maintenance of open shop conditions, has been reached between Director General McAdoo and A. O. Wharton, president of the railway employees department of the Ameri? can Federation of l^ibor. More than three hundred thousand men will be affected. Local provisions on work? ing hours will he determined by rail? road executives in conferer.ee with administration Officials and union leaders. CONQUEST OF FINLAND PLAN? NED. Finnish Mercenaries and (Herman Sol? diers of Fortune Invade Finland. Haparanda. Sweden, Feb. 21.? Four steamships have arrived at Yasa. Horn Germany, carrying Finnish sol? diers who had served In the German army ami a number of German vol? unteers, also a great quantity of war equipment. It is repented that a strong offensive will be undertaken by these troops against Tammerfors and Vi hot g. BRITISH WIN in AIR. Twelve t ion IUI II Machines l.rougiit |>own Wednesday. London, Fei?. 21. Twelve Gorman irplnnos have been accounted for b ? he l*ritish airmen, and one by th?> r . ntry, nccordlng to the official latenten! last night, which also said successful attacks have been made on Thionville and Pirmasens, Ger* many. Washington, Fob, Ii.? Fast pas* lenger train competition between New York ami Chteago ami Wash? ington and Southern points, and other important passenger terminals will he diinitiated soon, the rallrocd admin? istration announced today. Certain roads Will be selected for fast pas Itger service and other lines will devoted more extensively to fretgh! service. ! SOUTHRON. Established Jon?, 1 *ee VoTxLVL No. 3. LLOYD GEOBBE'S SPEECH. PREMIER Ti l l s Hot/si: OF COM MO\: Ol' \ ISRSAILI.FS rjONFERBNCB. Amvriean. Proposal for Central War Sloartl t< Direct War Was a Marvel of OoajaftI Argument. London, Feb. 19.?Premier Lloyd QcorgO today in the house of commons made his . sgerly awaited statement regarding he recent army changes. Ii? said thi government was anxious to retain the services of (Jen. Sir Wil? liam Robertson as chief of staff so long as it was compatible with the policy decMed upon in common with Great Britain's allies. The pre;* ier paid the policy of the government was based upon the as RUmptlon sat the allies had suffered in the paat through lack of concerted and coordinated efforts, it had been decided to set a central authority to coordinate the strategy of the allies. The general principles laid down at the recent session in Versailles of the supreme war council were agreed to 1 y all, the premier told the house. It was ateo a;;rced that there should be an Interallied author.ty with executive powere. The only difference which arose was is to it3 constitution. The first proposal at Versailles, he con? tinued, wa i that the central author? ity should consist of a council of chiefs of s iff, but this was abandoned inasmuch .s it was regarded as un? workable. The Ahiorican representatives at Versailles var council declared "with iricsistible power and logic" for the plan of expansion of the supreme council's i ?wer, the premier said, i Mr. Lloyd George said it was es? sential that: decisions should be taken instantly at Versailles. Meeting sepa-^ I ately, the delegates of the respecJ4rve allies, he explained, considered /their plan, which in each case was identical. This proposition was passed without a dh-sentir.g vote and accepted by all the military represcntatjy/*'s, the pre? mier siid. ?cing under the impression that all the didiclties had been overcome, continued the premier, the govern? ment offered General Robertson a position or the Versailles council, but he was in .viliing to acquiesce in the system, e jecting to it on military grounds, . General Robertson, added the premier, then refused the post of chief of td iff with powers adapted to the position set up at Versailles. Mr, Lloyd George said the country was faced With terrible realities. He legged the house to have done with all controversy, adding that the gov < ? i ren .it en ? entitled to know tonight whether the house and the country wished it to proceed with the policy deliberately arrived at. If he should read the documents submitted by the Americans, Mr. Lloyd George said, there would be no need to make a speech. "The case is presented with irresis? tible powei and logic," he added. "What happened? We altered the proposal here and there. There was a good dse' of discussion which took some hours. There was not a single dissenting I otce so far as the plan was >?( ncerm d." If tile ho.iso of commons repudiated the policy for which he was respon? sible, in which ho beheved the safety ot the country depended Mr. Lloyd Georgs declared he would quit ohTce. His one regret would be that he had not greater strength and ability to place si the disposal of his country in .t gravest hour. Immediately .Mr. Lloyd George con? cluded, fo ic.er Premier -\s<;ulth arose and expressed the wish that the pr< mier's address had been made a week ago. The premier announced that Gen. Sir Henry Seymour Itawlinson had I ecu appointed to ? represent Great Britain on he supremo war council at Versailles. "1 hesitated lor some time," said the premier in referring to American > epresentatiotts, "whether l should not read in the house of commons !he very cogent documents submitted by the American delegation, which put the case for the present proposal. It is one of the ablest UOCUmetttSJ pver submitted to a military confer? ence. The only reason why 1 do not read it to tin house, is that it is niix d up with the plan of operations." Any cue a ho examines i losch the ?vents of 191 '< and 1!?17. said the pro nler, would lud plenty of argument "or some chn go In ths machinery in >rdei to efl\ ?t a greater eoneenira lon ihsn had hiltherto been schhw ?< At the last conference at Ver ailles it w;. ? decided to extend the towers of ths * body. The premit explained that he was