Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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AIRCRAFT WORK HOT RIGHT. RfU'ORT M \l>l BY AKRONAL'Tl CAL SOCIETY. statement Brought to .ynntc by Wads worth Criticises Officers In Charge. t Washington, May 2.?A report on the aircraft situation compiled by the investigating committee of the Aero? nautical Society of America, tiled in the senate today by Senator Wads worth, reviewn optimistic statements on the progress of the building pro? gram attributed to Secretary Baker and brands them as false and mis? leading. The report does not attempt to l;x responsibility for delays and failures of the aircrnft program, but in a general way supports the publishod charge made by Cutzon Borglum, the sculptor, who under authority of President Wilson made an investi? gation and report on the air craft sl;u stton. 0ome portions of the reports are startling In their flat charges of Inef? ficiency. It charges that not more than S per cent, of the facilities for building aircraft have been utilized by the aircraft production board and thai recruiting and training of men for flyers has slowed down because those 10 charge of the program have given up hopes of a great fleet of airplanes in m?. ' 'Practically all statements by offi? cers of the government regarding '.he execution of the aircrnft program must be absolutely neglected aa un? trustworthy." said the report. "Inven? tive genius was left unutilised so Ik* k\919 program is imperilled unless steps are radically taken to combat this evil " The report also concluded that th? censorship was without military val? ue, that recruiting had been such us to create uncertainty and cause loss of men. that production of fighting pfanee "Is lagging through lack of co? operation of departments." and that delays will Increase with the rate of production. The Liberty motor, basically of good design, said the report was discredit? ed by a campaign of high officials and Its production has been uselessly and Unnecessarily delayed, the high alti? tude type still being in its Infancy. Ose than 6 per cent of the country's production facilities are utilized, it wu* said. i_ Charges nfid intimations of Irregu? larities In connection with the aircraft program which have been published i/nd discussed In capltol cloak rooms f?pr some time were brought to the. floor of the senate today with do mwnds for a new Investigation with view to criminal prosecution. Luring the debate several members ot the military committee declared in fOvor of reopening the inquiry recent? ly concluded by the committee, but Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, act log chairman, said the committee was without power to deal with crim? inal prosecutions and that the depart snest of justice should handle that phase Of the matter. I^nter cornmlt teemen conferred with Cutzon Bor? glum. the ?culptor, who made a re? port to the president on the aircraft program and It wus wild that wheth? er the committee would act depend? ed ttpou Information to be submit ted by Mr. Horglum Senator Hitchcor?.. dwelling upon alleged misleading of the p n Mi e re? garding aircraft pro dm t, on, told the senate that the aircraft hoard had been "playing a gigantic confidence game on the whole country." He de? clared the Liberty motor, in fact, 1? nothing but the Packard motor im? proved and that the government Is contemplating paying the l\t<Uud company between 9600,000 and $1, eeo.000 for Its interests. Senator King of Ctah said ho would Introduce a resolution for an Inves? tigation If th* military f onunltte?. did not set other* urging further and thor? ough Investigation were Son ?tot Brandegee. of Connecticut, who re? cently asked the romn Itter to mv.s tlgste ? alleged "pocketing" of the I '-rglum report to President Wilson Senator Knox of Pennsylvania and Senator Beckham of Kentucky. Thorn as of Colorado. New of Idlana and Klrby of Arkansas, military commit tee member* Cpon hearing of the sonnte discus? sion Attorney Oeneral Gregory SJotofl thw department of justb*- WOuVl bt glad to Investigate the entire aircraft production situation under rOqUSOl h\ th* prodblont or emigres*. Ho wild the department wou'd SFQleOWlt SO! eon faints or specific cases of violation or law either by extravagant use of gov ernm??nt money, or In connsoUoo with attempts to obstruct the bulldm. program. While the debate In the senate was In progress. Senator WMgWOrth of New York, filed the report compiled by an Investigating commltte of the Aeronautical Society of Ameriea. The way to keep from being urged t . buy IJh?*r1v bond* Is to buy them. Knoxvtlle Journal and Tribun? IMPORTANT POSITION REGAINED FKKXCII TAKE THE INITIATIVE ON AMIENS FRONT. Most Important Position on Entire Sonuno Sector ruptured by Dashing Action Today. Parta, May 3.?While the German stroke la still delayed the French have taken the initiative on the southern front and delivered a telling blow southeast of Amiens. The ground gained between Hailles and Castel for more than a mile is probably more valuable than any similar area on the entire Somme line. Hailles is the point where the Germans effected their greatest westward penetration. Hill 82 is less than three miles from the important Amiens-Paris railway. ORDERS FOR FREIGHT OARS. Pluccd by Railroad Administration With FiReen Car Building Con? cerns. Washington, May 2.?Orders for 70,000 additional freight cars to sup? plement the 30,000 contracted for sev? eral days ago, were placed today by the railroad administration with fif? teen car building concerns. The ag? gregate cost is from $170,000,000 to $210,000,000 and the average profit to builders is about five per cent. This is the largest single order for freight cars ever let. Together with orders already placed the contracts awarded today make up a railroad rolling stock building progTam which will shortly be underway of $352,000, 000 including $60,000,0C0 for 1,025 lo? comotives ordered two days ago. The cars ordered today will have steel underframes, but the sides will be largely of wood to save steel for other war purposes. All are of stan? dard design recently arranged by the railroad administration. The lot includes 16,000 forty ton double sheathed box cars, 15.000 fifty ton composite gondola coal cars, 5. 000 seventy ton law side gondola cars and 19,000 fifty-live ton hopper coal cars. The ordert; were distributed to various companies throughout the country. The average cost of the cars will be a little less than ?3.000. "The orders were placed on tho ba sip of the minimum bids as to costs for labor and overhead charges," said a statement oy Director of Pur? chases Williams, who negotiated the contracts. STARTLING TURN IN KING CASE. Otto Schuman, Enemy Alien, Charged With Murder or Mrs. Maud King. Concord, N. C, May 1.?Otto Schu? mann, an interned enemy alien is charged in a warrant issued here to? day with the murder of Mrs. Maude A. King, a wealthy Chicago "widow, for whose killing near here, last August, Gaston H. Means was tried by a Jury and acquitted. The warrant was issued on an affi? davit by M. N. Caldwell, city prose? cuting attorney, who alleges that Schumann shot the woman while try? ing to kill Means to prevent him from supplying information to the Ameri? can government as to tho methods dermany had employed to get copper and rubber from the United States be? fore this country entered tho war. Means bad been an agent for the Ger? tu.in government in such transactions, tad when he severed his connections with Germany ho told her agents that ho proposed to lay what information ho had before his own government. According to the affidavit, Schu? mann "at the direction of the Gor? man Interests." followed Means from New York to North Cnrolina and died hint in and near Concord. Ofl the night of the killing Mrs. Cald wHI said. Schumann followed Mrs. King and Means to tho spring on a motorcycle. Re was seen to leave there by two witnesses after tho lat? ter had heard a shot. It was impossible to learn where Sc humann is interned. HEADS STATE LABORATORY. I>r. P\ It. Johnson Sueocds Dr. F. A. Coward. Columbia. May 2.? Dr. Frank It. Johnson, a member of the faculty of Mm Statt Medleal Collect? at Charles? 'on. h;is the directorship of the State Laboratory here to succeed Dr. F. A. 1 on 'id who has entered the Riadloal ?ervtee Of the army, according to an annonn< tment of the State board ol health. Dr. Johnson expects to as arme his duties about tho middle of this month. MORE IHN BRUTALITY. '?ei ninny lief use's to Allow Starting Refagoen to Retnrn Roane, Moscow. Thursday, May 2.?The iinhiguouM wording of the Brest I.itovnk peace treaty is causing con? siderable friction, and constant ?v bange of protests, (iorinnnv has rc i used f<> admit Into territory con? trolled by her three hundred thou ?and ntarvlni refugeea, COTTON PRICE FIXING. CLOTH MAKERS MOVING BY IX DIRECTION TO DEPRESS PRICE. National Association of Cotton Manu? facturers Adopt Resolutions That Sound Nice But arc Inimical to-Cot? ton l*roduccrs. New York, May 3.?The National Association of Cotton Manufacturers "will cheerfully accept control and price fixing of their products, if the administration deems such action nec? essary to win the war," according to I resolutions adopted by the association at its annual convention hero today. The association also pledged itself not to export cotton or any of its products that can in any way reach the nations with which we are at war, and suggested a plan of government rationing of cotton to meet the mili? tary and civil needs of the United State3 and its allies and the civilian needs of neutrals. ? Cotton manufacturers of the North and South subscribed to the senti? ments of one of the speakers that "wo ask no prolit and that during the war we are all willing that our plants throughout the country shall be; op? erated to serve the nation's needs." Asserted that "Industrial America is called upon as never before to sup? port the lighting line, the association i resolution regarding government con? trol and prico fixing continued: "Should such action bo taken, the Interests of thu country will be best conserved by applying, as nearly as possible, the same regulations to all industries and to all branches of the industries, the producer, manufac? turer, jobber, wholesaler and retail er. "The prosperity of industrial j America is essential to the financing of the war and any plan for price fixing or other control should rest up? on the basis of such a return on cap? ital invested as will continue to yield the neccsary taxes and provide funds for the purchase of the bonds requir? ed." , The resolution regarding cotton ex? ports began by stating that "America and her allies control over three fourths of tho raw cotton of the world, and cotton and its products are one of the most important, if not tht most important, materials in the pros? ecution of the war." Referring to a recent press dispatch from Home which stated that cotton was still leaking into Germany, and pledging the association to bar all ex? ports to neutrals which might increase that leakage, the resolution urged upon the government tho following plan of rationing cotton and its prod? ucts: "1. The military needs of our own country. "2. The military needs of our al? lies. "3. The needs of neutrals for goods for the military equipment of our al? lies. "4. The civilian needs of our own country. "JJ. Tiie civilian needs of our allies. "6. The civilian needs of neutrals ?and under the last head being ab? solutely sure that In no way can this cotton reach our enemies." Th ^ American Aseocialon of Cot? ton Manufacturers, whose member? ship comprises representatives of Southern mills, and the National As? sociation of Cotton Manufacturers, ? with a membership from the north, closed their joint convention tonight by electing officers The American association elected the following officers: President, Ar? thur ./. Draper, Charlotte, N. C; Vice President, J. 1). Hammett, Anderson, S. C; Secreary-Treasurcr, W. D. Adams, Charlotte, N. C. The National association chose these officers: President, W. Frank Shove, Pal] Hlver, Mass.; vice presi? dent, Russell p Lowe, Fitchhurg. Mass , and James Thomson, New Bed? ford, Mass. Stuart W, Cramer of Charlotte was chosen chairman of the national coun? cil which is the central committee of both organizations. Fdwin Farnuni Greens was deeded vice chairman and Mr. Adams secretary. PRESIDENT PARTiONS SOLDIERS. Men Cadet Death Sentence in France Receive Mercy. Washington. May 4.?President Wilson disapproved todav sentences < el our American soldiers In Fram e MfhO had boon ordered to be shot. < The senteneei of Private! Olon Ledoy en and Stanley <I. Fishback were I commuted to three years and Prl irotes Porree! i?. Sebastian and Jesse CoOh were granted full pardon. Atlanta. May 4. -President Wilson's SOUrse in the war was strotfgly in florsed and the support of two and a-. rjoetrer million Methodists pledged toit him in a resolution enthusiastically! adopted by today's session of the gen-H ?ral conference. The resolution wii* 'I Immediately telegraphed to the While i I louse. ' s TREATY WITH NORWAY. rWO COUNTRIES SIGN COM? MEl l CIA I. AORI: EM R NT. - Nothing Must Co to Germany Either Directly or Indirectly Under the Agreement. | Washington, May 3.?Signing of a general commercial agreement be? tween the United States and Norway, the first agreement of the kind to be entered into by America with one of the North European neutrals, was announced tonight by the war trade board. Under the agreement Norway is as? sured of supplies to cover her esti? mated need so far as they can be fur? nished without detriment to the war needs of the United States and its as? sociates, and Norway on her part agrees to permit unhampered export to America and its allies of all Nor? wegian products not needed for home consum ption. It is provided that none of the impplieH imported from the United States or Ita associates or forwarded with the aid of American bunker coal shall go directly or indirectly to the central powers or be used to replace commodities exported to those coun? tries. This applies to anything pro? duced by any auxiliaries to produc? tion obtained under the agreement. The agrement was signed by Vance C. McCormick, chairman of the war trade board, and Dr. Frijoff Nansen, the famous explorer, on special mis? sion to this country. Tho agreement contains long schedules enumerating the quantities of foodstuffs, fodder, fertilizer, tex? tiles, metals and materials, rubber and miscellaneous commodities which Norway is entitled to receive. Nor? way is to furnish many things, includ? ing nitrates, iron ore, metals used in hardening special process steels, tim? ber and mine props, wood pulp and other exports, particularly for allies America's own requirements in tin way of imports from Norway being relatively small. "It is of course provided that none of the supplies Imported from the United States or its associates or furnished by the aid of American bunker coal shall go directly or in? directly to any of the central power or to be used to replace commodities exported to those countries," says a statement by the war trade board. "A further but easily comprehensible provision stipulates that nothing manufactured, grown or produced ny means of machinery, implements, fuel, lubricants or other auxiliaries te production imported under the agree? ment is to be exported to the central powers. Guarantees, too, are to be exacted by Norway in the case of any reexport to neutrals against a benefit to Germany. "Bunker coal and supplies for ships I carrying the supplies to Norway will be furnished and such vessels will not be seized or hampered by the United States and associated govern? ments. The agreement which in its terms it; considered most liberal to Norway represents an arrangement satisfac? tory to both parties. "The war trade board believes that this liberality toward Norway and the sacrifices which this country is mak? ing to place at the disposal of that country the supplies of which Nor? way stands in need will be under? stood and indorsed by the American people in view of the attitude which Norwegians have adopted and main? tained in adhering to their right and obligation as a neutral seafaring na? tion; .... of Norway's unwaver? ing adhereneo to its neutrality in the face of heavy German pressure. "It will be remembered that ac? cording to figures published a short time ago, Norway has paid a heavy price in 1,500,000 tons of shipping destroyed and 1,000 lives sacrificed as toll to the German submarines to maintain this political and maritime neutrality. Norway in addition, alone of the northern neutrals, is absolute? ly dependent upon outside imports of food and supplies." The principals items on the list of supplies lor Norway Include 300.000 tons of bread grains, '200,000 tons of fodder stuffs. 14,600 tons of coffe-.\ 50,000 tons of sugar. 100,000 tons of pork and beef, 30,000 tons of oil seeds. T*i.LT,ii tons of mineral oils. 250,000 tons of iron and steel. 40,000 tons of phosphate rock and smaller quantities of many other products. Dr. Nansen. having successfully ?on pleted Iiis mission, called at the White House today and said good? bye to President Wilson. NEW YORK Bt YS QUOTA. .real City Went Over the Top on Lib? erty Loan Today. New York, May 1.?With subsorip ions still pouring in. New York 'went over the top" in the Third i ?rty loan campaign at noon today. Phe minimum quota Of nine hundred millions had then been exceeded, vith millions slill lo be tabulated* GALL TO COLORS. MUCH SPEED ADDED TO ARMY EXTENSION. Half of Number Originally Planned for Year's Program Included in Two Months' Drafts?Congress Ask? ed for Fifteen Billion Dollars to Pay Expenses for Year. Washington, May 3.?Simultan? eously with the announcement today that 233,000 men from 45 States had been called to join the colors in May, Secretary Baker indicated the scope of the government's plans for in? creasing its fighting strength, by stat? ing that congress had been asked to appropriate approximately $15,000, 000,000 for the army for next fiscal year. That amount is exclusive of funds provided in the fortification bill which not only covers coast de? fenses, but as a rule provides the bulk of heavy field ordnance. Loot year the army estimates ag? gregated $6,600,000,000 to pay for a force of 1,500,000 men which has al? ready been exceeded. The call for a quarter of a million during May, goes to all States except California, Orgeon and Nevada, which with the District of Columbia already have supplied so largo a part of their quota that it was decided not to in? clude them this time. The move? ment in most States will begin May 25. By this order the war department abandons its plan of assembling men in even monthly increments of ap? proximately 100,000. Urifler the orig? inal program it was intended to call out not to exceed 860,000 men during 1918. The call for 150,000 in April and 233.000 this month will bring out in two months half of the num? ber originally contemplated for the year. "Let us avoid specific figures," Sec? retary Baker said again today. "They imply limits. There is no lim? it. We will call out enough men to make victory certain. We call them as rapidly as they can be trained and sent forward." In preparation for this tremendous increase in the army the house mil? itary committee was told today that every existing cantonment in the country will be enlarged and every National Guard camp utilized to its full capacity. It is regarded as prob? able that some new cantonments must be built, but in the interest of speed and economy of effort and material emphasis will be placed upon expand? ing existing facilities. Ground has al? ready been obtained in the vicinity of several cantonments for the expan? sion, and details of the new construc? tion are being worked out by the gen? eral staff, which also is studying the necessity of and proper location ?or additional cantonments. In connection with the exclusion of three States and the District of Co? lumbia from the May call, officials ex? plained that an effort is being made to balance accounts among the various States preparatory to the application of the new quota basis when congress has approved that measure. The May draft allotments were made on the population basis heretofore used but subsequent determination of quotr.s will be much altered when the num? ber of men furnished by any State Is computed from the number of avail ables it has in Class 1. The m?n called out this month will he mobilised generally at the canton? ments to which the men from tlv? same States have previously been sent. In many cases they will find (he divisions originally created at those camps gone. Some of the camps will have been converted into re? placement divisions. Under the increased army plan, a great number of new divisions may be created. With authority now ask? ed for unlimited power to creat fight? ing units, some of the men of the May draft may be assigned to these new organizations. It is regarded as likely, however, that the April and May drafts will be used largely to till up divisions at homo while the seasoned personnel from those divisions is sent overseas to fill the gaps. Since the number of divisions on the other side is rapidly and steadily increasing, the flow of replacement troops must increase proportionately. The apportionment among the States includes: Alabama. 6.S20 to Camp Sevier, S. C; Arkansas, :pi0 to Tamp Beau re? gard, La.; 4.121. ('amp I*ike, Ark.; Florida. 202 to Camp Gordon. Ga. Georgia, 878 to Camp Gordon, Ga.; Illinois, 5,000 to Camp Wheeler, Ga.; '..<?"0 to Camp Grant. Ill; 4,168 to 'amp Gordon, Ga.; 4,:u?i to Camp Shelby, Miss. Louisiana. 3,!?0S, Camp Beauregard, Michigan, r.,0i?0 Camp Wheeler, la.; 5,14t) Camp Custer, Mich. Mississippi 8,000, Gamp Pike, Ark.: ,6 19 Gamp Shelby, Miss. New York. 6,800, Gamp Dig, N. J.; 1.8R0, Gamp Hancock, Go.; 7.600 lamp Upton, N. v . 6,700 Camp FIVE MILLION HEN. THAT GREAT FORCE MUST BH BENT TO PRANCE THIS YEAR. flCimtOT McCumber Asserts Need of Great Army und Bitterly Criticises shipping and Aircraft Boards. Washington. May 3.?Five million men must be sent to the battle front by the United States within a year. Senator McCumber declared today in an address. Senator McCumber re? viewing America's first year in the war declared that six months had been wasted by the shipping board and six hundred forty millions for air? craft had "been worse than squan? dered." MEN AHE CHEAP. Germans Throw Thousands Into Death Hopper Remorselessly. London, May 3.?A representative of General Radcliffe, director of mil? itary operations at the war office, to? day summed the military situation on the Western front as follows: "In the north, while the Germans failed in their main objective, they made their right flank secure by the capture of Kemmel, but we must re? gard the operation from the viewpoint of economy of men and they used up live divisions from the general re? serve besides seven or eight divisions previously employed. "The results of the past week on the whole were satisfactory because the enemy used up a larger number of fresh divisions than the allies with? out strategic result. In all, he used on the north front 35 fresh divisions, besides the nine divisions already there. "The effect of the operations in the north will be to reduce materially the number of fresh divisions the Germans have available. "As to the future, the Germane 1 have large numbers of divisions re? covering which can be used shortly. 1 It is difficult to make an exact com? parison of the staying powers of ?ie 1 two armies, but the facs shown are in our favor. "The main aim is to separate the 1 Anglo-French armies in the south and if the enemy continues the campaign 1 in the north without important re* suits he is using up his forces to no purpose." SUGAR RATES INCREASED. Washington, May 4.?Increases of about ten per cent, on carload com? modity rates on sugar from New Or? leans to points In Georgia were ap? proved today by the interstate com? mission. Atlanta, May 4.?An apparent at? tempt at wholesale delivery of Ger? man prisoners at Fort McPherson was frustrated late yesterday when the guards discovered a fifty foot tun? nel leading from one of the bar? racks toward the double wire fence. The discovery of the passage followed an investigation of lighting among the prisoners. Wadsworth, S. C; 1,380, Camp Se vier, S. C. North Carolina S.114 to Camp Jack? son, S. C. Ohio, 9,800, Camp Gordon, Ga.; 3. 000, Camp Sherman, Ohio; 7,2^. Camp Taylor, Ky. Oklahoma 3,4 00, Camp Bowie. Texas; 2,4 49, Fort Uiley, Kan. Pennsylvania, 7,700, Camp Meade. Md.; 4,000, Camp Lee, Va.; 3,000, Camp Humphreys, Va.; 2,923, Camp Greenleaf, Tenn. South Carolina 1,900. Camp Jack son; 288 Camp Wadsworth. Tennessee 4,130, Camp Pike, Ark. Texas. 2,200, Camp Cody, N. IL I 1,124 Camp Bowie, Texas; 6,000, Camp Travis, Texas. A new draft of the annual army appropriation bill providing for the needs of 3.000,000 men under the $15.000,000,000 program will be laid before the house military committee next Monday. Secretary Baker, Major General March, chief of staff, and other officers nppeared today at the committee's executive session discus? sing the estimates. While some of the house adminis? tration leaders voiced support of the war departments program the senti? ment expressed was not altogether unanimous regarding the request for unlimited power to determine the size of the army. Senator Sherman, in an address to the senate, said he could not support such a plan and that con greM should tlx the number of men. Representative Kahn of California the ranking Republican member, has declared himself thoroughly in fa? vor of the war department's pro? gram. Ordnance plans will be explained to the committee Monday and aviation experts will testify Tuesday. The committee asked General March to? day to have witnesses ready to ex? plain what has been done with the $610.000.000 appropriated for the itrmy aviation work,