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hampeerd In discussing the action taken ut Versatile!* by a resulut'on passed at that conference by the mili? tary representatives and the govern? ment* that It was not desirable to give sny information regarding the genorsl plan arrived at. Mr. I.foyd (leorge thought, however, he could make clear where the con? troversy had arisen and asked for the ! KiKiiie.it of the house of the action of the government. "The geneial principle laid down at Versailles wan agreed to whole? heartedly by everybody," he said. There was no conflict as regarded the policy, but only as to the method of giving effect to It. There was agreement ss to the policv ; there WSJ agreement that there must be central authority to exercise supreme direc? tion of that policy; there \ is agree ment thst authority must oe interal l authority, anil there WSJ com? plete agreement that that authority should have executive power. The only question thst arose w is as p boil thst central authmitv shOOld be constituted. That was the only dif? ference." It was the whole issue, and, In mv Judgment, an agreement wa*. ranched ut the conference even in re gnrd to that." The premier proceeded to give the stsges of the discussions at the con? ference. Several proposals, he said, were put forwsrd and examined very cm <fully. Fverybody went to the conference with a full desire to find Cht best method and not to advocate n \ particular proposal. All the other propo.siH. OOS SftSf the other, were relccted until they to the last. The first was favor? ed in the first instance by the French and British general staffs. He did not ig that th- American and Italian ? is took quite the same view. The Am? I M ms were in favor of a proposal by whcih the central body ill ! ti. .1 count ii d the chiefs of ???.Tu The case put forward for it v ? ti ll it was essential that e ich ot representatives should be In most h innate touch with his own war of? fice; he must know about man pOWSl roo'ale and medial equipments, ship? ping and foreign office matters. It also was felt that there wus sc i ns constitutional objections to an ^iJ ?( if 11 1 body coming to a decision ; ting the Britten army. The coun .1 Pi?ll\ examined and di .cussed thtS npOOgl Hud. he added, "it must l>v cm he red that all the various rep i? H^ntatiVeH, civil nnc! military, wer - io with lu* except, on of the Lilian nmander In chief. On examination the proposal completely' broke down and wss rejected as unworkable. I m<* of the reasons for the con tir.uous sessions at Versailles was not merely because they had to make islnn? b it heruuse they should b* constantly comprising notes and dis ' Hing the situation from day to day "A council of the chief of stuff,' i ml the picmler. involved the crea ? of another body, contllctlng with the Versailles council. The moment We began sn examination it beeam? ? Oaf that the functions which the executive body were to exercise could riot properly be performed by the chiefs of staff in various capacities If the chiefs of utuff stayed in Furls, their governmerr would be deprive* for long periods of the advice of their principal military advisers. For tha reason the supreme war Council re? jected the proposal with complete unanimity. * I think I am right in saying that the proposal was withdrawn. Then I '" suggest* d by M. I'lemenceau that i was desn iMe for us- to separate ami it huh d< legation to think out n ? ' .n of iti own. It is very remark.ihlt it, meeting separately and consld ? rinn th.- matter quite Independently we should h.ive returned the followin. morning with exactly the same pro 1 '?osal. And that proposal Is the pro? posal which now hold* the field. "I hesitated for some time whether 1 should not read to the house o < omnions the very eognent docu? ment submitted by the American nation which put the c?so for SO present proposul. It Is one of the blest documents ever submitted to t military conference. The only rea? son why I do not read it to the house I 1*1 that it is mixed up with the plan | Of operations. "If I should reasl th? documem ?emitted by the Americans there would no need to make v irpeeeh Th?* eas?? is presented with Irresistible power ami logic. "AVhat hippened? Wo altered th' proposal here and there There wa ? good deal of discussion which took OOM hours, but there wa* not a sin Sie dissent.n ; voice no far n* the plan was concerned. Field Marshal II alg died atten tlon lo two points which we reu Used were weak points and we undertook o put them right They w? ie consti Mitlonal points, not pomts which vent to the loot of the propomT Itself " After sffsln emphasizing the uuan Imltv of the Versailles ?oun. il. 0* premier gave an account of wh.i* ; ippened on bis i StOfffl Hi rSgjOrlSX to the cabinet. He thought Oenersl Rgbertsba w.is present, and nothing wss then saiii to indicate that Qeheru ilgbertson thought lh? plan unWOrk aHU or dangerous. ? During the week after he returned I from Versailles tho army council eons,dried tho grlVflggflttftt SHo" tn?d< eertuid 6iitUdsaM from ;? eotietltutlon [al point of eleu* no cbnaldoroO .those u-ry carefully with the Kurl o iferby, a* iett i t for war who ba?i Ithroughout gut the eass ol Gear,. Robertson before the cabinet. .Mr Lloyd QOOrgi continued th.i Cencral Robertson had refused im? position at Versailles and that Whet hi refused that poM he U/SS Offered the position of chief of ?h? general staff "with powers adapted to the position which had been set up at Versailles." Former Premier ASQUlth said there wa na certain amount of disquiet In the public mind through the onion? ed withdrawal of Admiral Jellicoe and General Robertson and that tho country would hardly feel compen-i sated by the fact that Secretary of l War Lard Derby remained at White? hall, and that the conduct of prope panda had been entrusted to Lor 1 Heaver Brook. lie added that he would do noth? ing to embarrass the government, hut he said he felt that in the best inter-' oats of the country and the cause that criticisms In parliament should not be ^ilonced. Tn the house of lords Karl Curzori.! lord president of tho council and m in her of the war cabinet, said that under the n?w scheme Field Marshal' Haig would have the same power! over the movements of his troops as ? before. The only difference was thai., the Versailles council would have cer ? tain troops at tneir disposal, which; they could add to llaig's forces or j send elsewhere, according to the exigencies of the moment. The F.arl of Derby, secretary of Stale for war, addressing the house of lordM. said he strongly supported the plan adopted at Versailles, lie de? plored the attucUs in tho press and had offered to resign, he added, but Premler Lloyd George had asked him to remain In ollice. Meatlier Flash From the Dark Cor? ner. Dark Corner, Feb. lib?Things are calm and serene hereabouts. Only some folks are worried about the boys having to leave in a few day I for the camp of Instruction. It is me a serious time. Home moasle of both the old kind and tho German |i around. Mr. Robert Ardls has two children that are Just getting over .he old kind and Mr. Boh Ardls hal had several cases in his house of the German. Mrs. B. T. Kolb, teacher or the Held School had a spelling bee on; St. Valentines night (last Thursday), which was enjoyed very much. Mis Maggie, daughter of Mr. Joe F. John? ston, (that running girl of Field Da:. renOWU) proved to bo the best Spelle ?n the match. Robert Ardls, Jr., cam ^ut a good second. After the spelling i contest was over Mr. Robert Ardi Jr., was asked by the teacher to giv out the Valentines of which the: were a great many, some getting five, others only one, while others not rone at all. The boys received more than he girls, which shows that they ? the girls) have sweet words, if the have to write them behind a curtain, hut they used to be sly little mixen fifty or more years ago and 1 sup pggS they are the same sweet little things- yet with ull of their winsoin ways. Sumter, It. F. I). No. | hus been extended here into the Dark Cor ner. coming through for the first IISAS last Saturday, the 1Mb. We arc sure proud to receive the route. I wanted to attend the meeting of the ''ounty Council of Defense in Humter today, but did not feel able Bs 1 hare been suffering with lagrlppc St over four weeks The oats plunted over last week atv coming up beautifully. And wheat is showing up finely since the weath -?I has heroine somewhat spring-like. 1 kvt buds expanding on the trees, i see tho butterflies Hitting arOUUd and Ines an humming through the air, Wim h says the iprlng, the beautiful Spring, is mar at hand. Hard Tim OS War Savings Stamps. Mr. Herbert a. Moses bus been i pointed chairman for War gavlngi lamps for iumtei count]. He an nouneos that be will begin immediate iv to o- gnnlsi the . aunt) I or the ? tl? of tin 111 stamps and war savings Bt naps Tim e stamps are on sah at all postoihecs. but it is the doaln of the treasury department (bit hi mess houses nlso keep them for sali so that the puhtte may more easlt) b. able to obtain the,,,. These stamp pgj interest to the purchaser .it ton per sent, ( am pounded, Any business bousi dei Irlnu. lo 1 < ippolntec! an authorized age ? ? h m ipply to the Sumter pOStOglcC or to Mi Moses. i ion. n. Qoode yii Kb. tt of i hi r lost in is director of war saving! foi outh CfefOUa i F THE EFFECT OF WAR MAINTENANCE OF I I I K ll.MA AM) CHEDIT OF PL'BMC IT1UTV COMPANIES EMHHNTI \l . I \<rrpi from The Annunl Report of Tue lion. John Bkrttuti Wilhams. IVsmptrolZcr of the Cnrrency. National and state banker, and i.iany thousands of small ami large Inveetore, have suffered seriously from the decline of the earning" ca? pacity of public utility corporations ami the consequent shrinkage in the \alue of their securities, representing , investments of many hundred mil ? lions of dollars. These losses natur? ally diminish the power and dispo? sition of the public to respond lo the tails of the government for money for war. This danger should arouse. 1 venture to suggest, the anxiety and stimulate the efforts of the congress and of OVOry patriotic citizen. A more urgent and pressing peril is forced upon our attention by the obvious tact that we are dependent so largely on the efficiency and strength of these corporations and on our railroads lor speed ami success in preparing for and prosecuting the war. The corporations referred to sup? ply light, l^eat, power and electric railway transportation for passengers and freight. They touch intimately the daily life of the people. ?n nor? mal times they have been favorite tar? gets for sneers and savage criticism from large parts of the public and the press. In some instarfcos, doubt? less, they have deserved and invited hostility. In others, the attacks- Up? en them probably have been unjust and unreasonable. Frequently they . have been the victims or beneficiaries of local politics, suffering injury in the end in either case. Yet, general? ly, they were able to serve the needs Of *their communities with (reason? able ettlciency and to earn fair re? turns on the money invested in them. Now they are threatened with ruin. If they sire allowed to sink into inefficiency, much of the most import? ant war work of the government will' be crippled or paralyzed. The work of war has thrown upon i many of these corporations strains which they are unable to endure without prompt help, The costs of their labor and of all material for operation, betterment, and upkeep have increased heavily anil suddenly. They are required to increase radical-: hjr and quickly their service and Ca# 'iiilas. Industries manufacturing [war munitions and materials de? mand of the public utilities corpora? tions constantly greater supplies oi power ami light, .\t the Indusrlal centers, enr lines are being rushed and overburdened i>y new armies or workers, The gas companies are ailed upon for gas for cooking and lieatins in quantities beyond all nor I mal Calculations and for beyond their present capacities. They are urged continually to furnish more coke and coal by-products, toluol, and other elements absolutely essential in modern warfare. Where canton? ments have been established, the de? mands on the resources of water. i , lighting and transportation compa? nies are especially s.-vere; ability to i comply With such demands is neces? sary for the safety and comfort of th< lighting men in training. A committee representing the four hading associations, which include all the principal electric light and pow? er companies, street railway compa , nice, and the most important gas ' companies of the country, recently ! submitted to this office a report in j which attention was asked to the in? crease within the last two years in the cost of materials they must use for the maintenance of their proper? ties. They gave a list of percentages j of additional cost, showing among others the following items: Increase from IglS to i?i7. Per Cent. Copper wire. 180 Pipe, east-ii on. 100 Axles . 27 2! Adds. ltiij 1 lirass. 800 Car forgings. 21?; ! Castings, malleable. 188 Copper, bar and sheet. 117 Lead, pig and sheet. 127 Nails. 110; Steel, tool. 400 Tie-plates. 276 j The continued and increasing ef fleiency of these corporations is im - i portent for the successful conduct of the war. This efficiency is not pos slhle with present conditions. Cor? porations proved by their own figures to be approaching bankruptcy can not obtain money for improvements or maintenance. On the other hand,! banks and olttsene suffering severe losses from investments in the se? curities of these entirely legitimate and once promising enterprises will be discouraged from lending money to the government or deprived of the means to lend. The first and most direct relief to the public utilities corporations can , Le given by the State public litilitie < ommissions and municipal and local authorities, with the 'broad-minded co-operation of the people generally, understanding the necessities uf war nnd realizing that the more prompt i y its burdens are aeoepted the soon or tliey will be lifted. It is es-cnt a ihm forbearance and consideration' be exercised by the state Commis? sions ami municipal authorities! and thai the corporations also be per? mitted to make Hindi additions to hen- charges tor service as will keep .'n them tin- breath of solvency, pro it their owners against unjust los-s. iand give them a basis of credit on Which they may obtain the funds with j which to meet the strain put on them by the government's reeds. The i breaking down of these corporations , would be a national calamity. Because of the gravity of the sit? uation in this regard, 1 | m move.: ' to Oflk for it the careful attention Of the congress and the public. 1 am impressed with the importance of early consideration by the congress of some measure to provide directly or indirectly for advance of funds on some conservative basis to such of these corporations as need help most I urgently, so that they can ?ivc ade? quate service to the government. The remedy would be unusual; but the times are unusual. The amount of railroad and oHier public service bonds owned by the national banks June :10, 1917, was re? ported at |76S(000,000. This is equal to approximately TO per cent, of the capital stock of the banks. With appropriate aid from the gov? ernment through the congress; with liberal recognition by local authori? ties of the present acute conditions; and with some practical provision to enable the corporations to ncet their own needs and those of th ? country, the danger now pressing and becom? ing more serious with each day will be removed, the general business in? terests of the country will be fostered, the ability and readiness of the pub? lic to respond to calls for money will j be maintained, and urgent require-' mentS for the defense of the country's j life and assurance of our freedom i and peace will be met. GERMANS <;ET CiRKAT ROOTY. Herlin, Feb. 21.?The Russian, town of Rovono has been Cleared of; Russians, the war office reports. Trains with about one thousand cars, many of them laden with lood, have been captured, as well as airplanes and cn incalculable amount of war material. I WAR FINANCE COHPOIlATinx. Senate Keports Administration Ilill Favorably. WMhlngton, Feb. 21.?By unani? mous action the administration bill to create a WAV finance corporation, with a capital of four and a half billion dollars to extend government aid to war industries, was ordered favorab? ly reported today to the senate. Miss Millwee Davis, the Sunday School Superintendent, will hold a conference In the Sunday school room of rhe Presbyterian church at 4.3o Saturday afternoon. All Sunday school workers of the city are urged to be present. Geo. H. Hurst, Undertaker and Emhlner Prompt Attentin to Day and Night Calls A) J. D. CRAIG Old Stand. N. Main Phones: BWS? We Grind Dcnses, examine the eyes tcientiflcally and fit eye? glasses perfectly. Let us work for you. We have all prescriptions on file. Broken lenses replac? ed promptly. Graduate Opto? metrist and Optician in charge. W. A. Thompson, JEW El E & OPTOMETRIST. Tlllllllltjltl" NEW CR NS IN FOOTWEAR C P hud & co \ ( life .j A i ?. V T Ladies' Footwear made by E. P. Reed & Co., are as well known in Sumter, as THE O'DONNELL STORES We merely wish to let you know that the Spring Stock is now here. All the latest styles in popular materials. Patent Colts, Tans, Kids and Guns. B.. C D. and E. Widths We are equipped to fit you properly and comfortably, with our guarantee back of every pair. Also a big line of Krippendorf Dittman Oxfords at $3.50. None better at the price. E.r.Reto x co ftjjn I A Dry Goods Company