Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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TKR SUafTKR WATCHMAN, Eatabl Consolidated Aur. 2, ll HUNS OUI MANOEUVRED. I THEY AHE FORCED TO CHANGE PL\N (>l ATTACK. Turtle* of French Comisd Tbcin to Fight In The Open in a Difficult 1H> sitkm. With the French Army In Franco. I June 11 (By the Associated Press' (Noon) -The strongest effort made by the Oermans In the course of las? night and this morning in their new offensive was In the direction of the railroad connecting Estrees-St. Denis snd Montdtdter. The Oermans mot with such resistance that they re-1 nounced for the moment, their at? tempts In this region. Neuro troops, supported by entente allted tanks, which did great execution, delivered a brilliant counterattack In this vi? cinity and recaptured the forest run? ning southwest of Maniucgllse. Late last night the allied infantry reentered the village of Mery which had formed a protective joint for the Oerman advance through the valley. Peeing their progress liindered on this side the German? tu med toward the other flank and nearly reached ftlbecourt. to the north of which place the hottest encounters occur? red In the woods of I>reslincourt. The enemy will be forced to de? bouch on the plain near Me Olse riv? er where he will And hinself with? out *he shelter of woods and will be subjected to a*, concentrated fire of allied artillery. The Germans have found It neces? sary to bring forward more divisions to fill the gaps In their ranks caused by the terrific alliod gun lire. The enemy's possession of the height of Ecouvlllon. below Thles ooart. ensbled him to filter troops through the small valleys, making the position of the alliei occupying the small hillocks perilous and forc? ing them to retire. The vhole coun? tryside hereibouts is dotted with the small hills which are called moun? tains forming a kind of bastions which when turned from one side or the other become absolute traps for the occupants. Most of the valleys be? tween run towards the banks of the river Olse. WAREHOUSE INSURANCE. Ulli Considered by Stutc SirJilng Fund Commission. Columbia. June 10.-The State Sinking Fund Commission, at a meet? ing today considered the bill passed at the last session of the general assembly, providing for State Insur? ance on State warehouses and their contents. This measure has not yet received executive approval. The chief objection to the bill Is that It I-iovldes a maximum risk of $1"". 000 on individual warehouses, while In some of the warehouses as much as $700,000 worth of cotton is stored. W. A. McSwaln. State insurance com? missioner, and W. J. S'mlth. State warehouse commissioner, explained the provisions of the bill to the com? mission. No decisive action was tak? en on the measures. o| I STRIPPING I -BOAT. Shipyards Turning Out Vessels Pastci Than They are Sunk. Wsshtngton. June la.?Since Oer man submarines began raids off th? Atlantic coast on May 2.*?th the out? put of ship \*irds building vessels for the Shipping Board has exceeded th< sinkings of American vessels by more than one hundred thousand dead weight tons. The production was twentx one vessels, totaling one hun? dred and thirty thousand, mix hundred forty-two tons BlClttettaf the ?ela salvaged the submarines destroy od a total of twenty-six thousand tons. WH.sovs OPEN DIPLOMACY, Statement Made to Senate to He move Misunderstanding. Washington. June It. President Wilson today gave an interpretation of bis statement to congress last Jan? uary In favor of ' open dlpiom.o v." to Quiet the senate conti oversy over Ml* pK'poeal of BgMfttor Horah for puMi efjaaderai ion oi ?i eatb s, Pi eshh nt Wilson made It known that bis advo ? i'\ of open diplomacy Wai not in reference to senate executive scsslc,n dltcusslon of treaties, in which he ree otnmcnds no change, but he meant the publication of treaties after rati? fication. Mr. George Rowland leaves the. afternoon for Virginia Military Instl tute. (?exliiKton. Vit . to tttend a trim -mp for ci\ Ulan? noted April, 18*0. **B* fuas mi 881. NAVAL DRIVE NEXT. UlitXfllf FROM (iKHMAN'Y SAYS FLEET IS COMING OFT TO FIGHT. British and American Fleets Arc Hcudy ami Waiting Tor a Chance I to Qol at Yon Tlrpitz's ships. Washington. June 11.?Further evl-1 dence that Germany, In Its effort to j end the war this summer, Is plan? ning to support Its land offensive by sending Its high seas forces against' the combined British and American! grand licet, is given In an official dis- . patch today from Switzerland. "A tidegrani of an oftkhil nature," SOTS the dispatch, "is being spread broadcast in Germany which says that the Oerman admiralty is considering a big naval offensive. Orders are supposed to have been given to keep the whole fleet in readiness und a cer? tain number of naval officers of high rank have been hurriedly recalled from Switzerland and othe- neutral countries, where they have been spending their leave." i The Keiler Zeitung speaks of extra? ordinary activity in the ports and the Hamburger Post publishes an inter? view with von Tlrpitz, who was asked if Germany was in a position to meas? ure herself with' the English fleet. The admiral naturally replied in the affirmative, saying that after their land forces have pushed the French and English back on the other side of Paris, It would be the turn of the j kaiser's boats to drive the English j off the high seas. Both in Washington and In the al lied capitals a German sea offensive, on a grand scale long has been re? garded as a possibility and the ap? pearance of the Teutonic fleet in the North Sea at any time would not be unexpected. Bear Admiral Gleaves said in a public address not long ago that word had come to the British fleet that the Germans at last were ready for the supreme test. If the battle does come American naval forces will play their part. American dreadnaughts under Rear Admlral Hugh Hodman joined the British fleet some time ugo and Ad? miral Gleaves in his recent address said that when Admiral Peatty, com? manding the Prltish grand sea forces, heard that the (Jermans were coming, he assigned the American ships a prominent place In the line. American nasal officers are no less anxious for a finish fight with th? enemy than are the British. And in all allied quarters there is supreme confidence of the outcome. Once the two fleets come together officials art certain the German will be decisively . defeated. ALIEN ENEMY CONVICTED. Charleston, June 11.?Charles D. Boette. i sixteen-year-old boy of Ger? man extraction, who was tried on the charge of sabotage and found guilty, with a recommendation to mercy yesterday in the federal court, was sentenced to four years in the nat? ional training school at Washington. Ho was convicted of placing nails in a pneumatic drill at a plant engaged on goverment contracts. Council of Defense Meeting. An Important meeting of the County Council of Defense will be held at Sumter on Tuesday, June 18ti at 11 a. m. in the Chamber of Com? merce. Every member is urged to be present as matters of great importance will come up for discussion, among them the proper celebration of Inde? pendence Bay. The Woman's Section of the County Council of Defense has 04 en invited to meet with us on this day. The National Council of Defense BASTI that "Eeeh County Council of Defense is responsible for the oboor? 'Hon of the Fourth of July In each of its communities." This year Sum? ter county wants to make this a da1 of days in the annals of our county Thi rofori make your arrangements to be on hand so that we may do our duty and fulfill our obligations to our rountry. Faithfully yours. a. c. pheips. Chairman. The wheat ciop of Sumter county will come in at the right time to re? lieve |hS threatened shortage of flour! in this section provided the farmers: who have made " surplus win put it On the market promptly at fair price. Ii they Inohd on famine prices those who made no wheat and town people who cannot get western flour will have to make out on com bread which js a Ion?; 070 y* better than no i bread id Fear not?Dot nil the ends Thou All SUMTER, S. C, SATU. LEVER QUITS THE lit WITHDRAWS FROM SENATORIAL CONTEST AND SEEKS RE? ELECTION TO HOUSE. This Action Based Fi>oii Suggestion Of President Wilson That vHis Ser? vices Would he More Valuable in IBC House of Representatives. Washington, June IS,?A. F. Lever Las withdrawn from the senatorial race and has again announced for the house. When asked if he had any statement to make, Mr. Lever said: "The correspondence between the president and me speaks very plainly and points very clearly to my duty, which I fulfill in seeking a rcnomina tion to the house. "I express to those who have so loyally supported my candidacy for the senate my everlasting apprecia? tion. "I regret the embarrassment which this action causes to those who have announced themselves for congress from the district, and to me." The letter from the president to Mr. Lever, follows: The White House, "Washington, June 7, 191?. "Dear Mr. Lever: "I know that some time ago you submitted your name for nomination in the Democratic primary- election in South Carolina as senator from that State and that the last day for the tiling of papers is the 17th of this j month. There now seems to be a very reasonable assurance that no one will succeed in securing the nomination in South Carolina whose entire record does not make it plain that he will support the nation and the govern? ment with unqualified loyalty In the vigorous prosecution of this war to a successful conclusion. I am writing to ask if this is not also your own view, and if it is. whether you would not j be willing to reconsider your decision and to remain In the house where you would continue to serve as chairman of the very important committee on agriculture. It is clear to me that un? less there are very compelling rea? sons to the contrary you should do this. "The past five years have been ex? ceptionally fruitful of legislation of vast importance not only to agricul? tural and rural life and to the 50,000, 000 of people living in the rural dis tiicts but also to the whole nation and the world as well. There is still, as you know, important and critical measures pressing for solution. The regular appropriation bill, not only providing for the highly important activities of the department of agri? culture but also containing an unfor? tunate proposal to change the price of wheat fixed in a proclamation Is? sued some time ago, is still pending. It Is important that this measure be disposed of wisely at the earliest pos? sible moment. "The emergency food production bill with two unnecessary and objec? tionable riders, which has passed the house, has not yet been taken up by the senate, and will doubtless again require careful consideration by the house before it becomes a law. It is Important that this measure be pass? ed before June 10; otherwise, the de? partment may have to discontinue ac? tivities essential to the winning of the war or be greatly embarrassed in its efforts to stimulate production and lender assistance to the farmers in (he solution of emergency problems. "The water power bill, which is un? der consideration by the special com? mittee of which you are a member, is another urgent and Important meas? ure which should be acted upon as promptly as possible. It is obvious that many other matters of vast con? sequence to the nation In the field of agriculture Will continue to press for solution not only during the con-' tinuanee of the war but also after the return of peace. "In your long experience In the! house as a member of the committee on agriculture and. for a number of years, as ehalrman. and the import-; ant part that you have been .able to play in securing wise action on vital measures already enacted into law. J Clearly point to the desirability of your continuing in the house for the time being if possible. 1 hope, there- j fore, you will not feel that I am tak LAMBERT HEADS ASSOC IATION'. New York Doctor lief cuts surgeon <?< ncral Braisled. Chicago, June 12.- Dr. Alexander Lambert, Of New York. was today elected president of the American Medical Association over Admiral AV. f Rralsted, Surgeon General of tho| Navy. I mat at be thy Country'* Thy Gad's a ED AY, JUNE 16, 1918. awn on mn FRENCH SUCCESS IS CHEERING NEWS TO ALLIES. Germans Driven Hack on Mat/ Htver and Checked on The Olse and Arondc Lines. The Germans who succeeded in crossing the Matz river have been hurled back to the north bank of the river by the French, who checked the enemy advance toward Compiegne. News from the scene of the tremen-1 dous battle shows that west of the Olse the Germans have come to a halt f,or the present at least. The enemy has not renewed the attacks on the Courcelles-Antheuil line and ( further west the Germans similarly have not continued their advance to? wards the Aronde river. The French successes in driving the enemy back across the Matz was cheering news for the allies. j ing an unwarranted liberty in sug? gesting that, if possible, you recon 1 sider your decision and that you do not press your candidacy for senator further. "Assuring you of my appreciation of your cooperation in matters of leg? islation, I am, "Very sincerely yours, "Woodrow Wilson. "Hon. A. F. Lever; House of Repre ( scntativeB." Mr. Lever's reply: j "Washington, D. C., June 8, 1918. i "President Woodrow Wilson, The White House. , "My Dear Mr. President: 'I am in receipt of your letter of j the 7th inst. in which you convey the I impression that you desire me to con ( tinue as a member of the house of ? representatives. "I entered the senatorial race in j South Carolina only because of my belief that thereby I could best serve my State and country. "You will pardon me for saying that this communication is a great (and complete surprise to me, as I ' have been under the belief that I was performing the higest duty of a citi? zen in entering the race for the sen? ate and also performing a sacrificial duty to the administration. At no time did I believe that I was serving i my own ambition solely. The one thought actuating me in retiring from the house of representatives was that I believed that I was performing the highest duty to the people of my State, to the nation, to the adminis? tration and yourself. I had every cause and reason to believe this. You have conveyed to me now the belief j that there is still a higher and great? er duty to perform to the nation and ; to yourself. I "You have implledly commanded j me to remain in the house of repre? sentatives, and not to take the stump in South Carolina during the coming i months. We are at war; you are the I commander in chief of the army and {navy; we have a selective service art. and it is the duty of every man to be ! placed where he can best serve his na ? tion. If it is your belief, as I construe ' your letter o me. that my service* lean best be used in the house of rep I resentatives, and you will say so to me i In unmistakable terms so that 'ho j who runs may read,' no matter what I my own judgment may be, or the de ' sires of my friends. I wish to say ! you that I am willing, and likewise J my friends, most cheerfully to ac I cede to your command. ' Respectfully yours, "A. F. Lever." Mr. Wilson's second letter: The White House. "Washington. June 10. 1918. ; "My Dear Mr. Lever: "I am In receipt of your letter Of ? June I, In reply, permit me to say I that I wrote to you only after the most thoughtful consideration of what I deemed to be my duty in the case. I did not wonder that you thought yourself entitled by your long and dir* tlngulshed service in the house to con? sideration as a candidate for the sen? ate, but. as you yourself suggest In the hist paragraph of your letter, we are at war and the selective service act is applicable in principle to all of us. it was this consideration that made me bold as the present head of the nation to ask you to remain in th?> I bouse of representatives. It seems to me absolutely necessary that you should remain In Washington through the present consideration of the legls latlon to which I alluded in my letter to you Of the 7th instant (legislation which we had hoped to be finished by this time). "You see, I hope, the clear bates Of my judgment in this important matter, which so nearly touches your M TrsUVs." THE TRUE FRENCH STRIKE BLOW, ji RUNS HURLED BACK ON NORTH BANK OF MATZ RIVER. Drive Against Alllotl Lines Not Yet Completely Cheeked But Every Foot of the Ground Is Heine; Hotly Contested?Americans in the fight? ing. Paris, June 13.?The French last night struck a heavy blow against the German 'orces which were ad? vancing on the eastern wing near the front of attacks. The war office to? day announced that the French had hurled back the enemy to the north bank of the Matz river. Violent combats continue between , the Aisne and Villers Cotterete forest, j The Germans made progress as far as the ravine east of Laversine and north of Cutry. The Germans last night made a violent attack on American sector be- j tween Bouresches and Belleau woDd. The Americans broke up these attacks und indicted serious loss on the enemy! j and held all the gains they had made. After violent fighting the enemy ob j tained a foothold at Coeuvres and St. i Pierre Aigle. GAINS IN FLANDERS. British and French Improve Positions on Northern Front. London. June 13.?The British last night advanced their lines a short cls j tance on Flanders front In the dis? trict southeast of Merris. The Freren i on this front also improved their po I sitions at Ridge Wood. Prisoners were taken in both operations. ' own political career that I would not in ordinary circumstances have been at liberty to express a judgment about it at all. I am convinced that the interests of the nation make it in the highest degree desirable that you ! should remain as long as possible in j direction of agricultural legislation in ! the house. I hope and believe that you will regard this conviction as a sufficient justification for the liberty I have taken. "Cordially and sincerely yours. "Woodrow Wilson. "Hon. A. F. Lever, House of Repre? sentatives." Washington, June 13, 1918. . "President Woodrow Wilson. ' "The White House. "My Dear Mr. President: j "I am in receipt of your communi j cation of June 10, in which you have ? in unmistakable terms expressed the J desire that I should remain in the i house of representatives. "I am taking the liberty of making I public our correspondence in order j that the people of the district may know the reasons which have moved i ' me to this action. "Respectfully yours, "A. F. Lever." I ENTRANCE OF LEVER BRINGS ADJUSTMENT. St. Matthews Man Withdraws? Mc i I/cod and Tim merman Stand by An? nouncements. Readjustments in the seventh con? gressional district contest materialized rapidly yesterday afternoon with the announcement by Mr. Lever that h had withdrawn from the United States senatorial race in deference to Presi? dent Wilson's request that he stay in the house at the head of the commit? tee on agriculture. Ed. C. Mann of St. Matthews, who was a candidate for Mr. Lever's place, immediately withdrew, emphasizing that he did not feel justified in oppos ing Mr. Lever under the existing cir cumsta nces. Thomas G. McLeod of Riahopville said the oilice belonged to the people of the Seventh District and not to Mr. Lever. The Bishopville man will remain in the race. Wade Hampton Cobb of Columbil was unprepared to make any state? ment last night, and could give no intimation as to his plans. George Bell Timmerman of Lexing? ton will also remain In the race. H< entered the contest upon Mr. Lever's announced candidacy for the United States senate, he said, and did not se? how he could withdraw. Unsuccessful efforts were made to communicate with Thomas V. Brant ley of Orangeburg. In his statement Mr. Mann said. "Mr. Lever has made a very active and able representative for the Seventh District 16 years. He hn^ labored industriously for his consti tuents and has stood unqurstionabl\ by the national administrat on in its program for war legislation. Since President Wilson has asked that he southron, mmmMmi tmm, tmm, VoLXLVI. No. 36. AUSTRIAN WARSHIP T0RPE00ED TWO LITTLE TORPEDO BOATS AC? COMPLISH HEMAHKAHLE . FEAT. Vienna Officially Announces the Losa of the Battleship Szent 1st van. Venice, Tuesday, June 11.?One Austrian dreadnaught was destroyed and a second one damaged in the torpedo attacks made by Italian tor? pedo boats upon an Austrian naval division near the Dalmatian islandu on Monday, it was officially stated to? night in a communication by the chief of staff of the Italian navy. The attack, mt.de by Commanders Kizzo and Luigi De Milazzo, with two small Italian torpedo boats, was de? livered at dawn on Monday. All Italy was thrilled by the news of this feat which is considered prob? ably the most remarkable performed by any navy during the war, inasmuch as it was effected by such small means. The Italian admiralty statement which first reported this attack, issued in Rome yesterday, stated that the naval division attacked consisted of two large battleships of Viribis Unitls class. 20,000-ton vessels, escorted by ten destroyers, and that the leading battleship was hit by two torpedoes (and the other by one. Ihe Italian '.craft returned to their base undam ! aged, it was added, and one of the de? stroyers which pursued them was ' seriously damaged. Announced by Vienna. Pans. June 12.?The loss of the Austrian battleship Szent 1st van? torpedoed in the Adriatic is officially announced in Vienna, according to a Havas dispatch from Basel, Switzer? land. Commander Rizzo sent two torpe? does in the leading dreadnaught, while the second dreadnaught was struck once by a torpedo from the other Italian craft. Commander Riz? zo said to the Associated Press cor i ; respondent: j "I am proud to do thh work be I cause of the Allies, of freedom and of ! humanity. My best wishes to Ameri COTTON CROP CONDITION. Recent Weather Conditions Almost mi ai?tH)ll W eevil Reappears. (Memphis Commercial-Appeal.) Almost without exception corre? spondents report that the cotton crop has made satisfactory progress dur ' ing the past two weeks. No import \ ant deterioration due to labor short - 1 age, insect enemies or weather condi > tions has been reported,. The crop is from 10 days early to two or three weeks late, but lale plantings were reported to be growing very rapidly. Squares and blooms are plentiful. Chopping has been com? pleted in some sections and has be? come general. Dry weather has per? mitted good cultivation and growth has been promoted by plenty of sun? shine. Roll weevil has appeared in nearly every section in which he was known before, but in no great numbers. One or two complaints of a new insect or worm were received ,and ants were said to be doing damage to young plants in North Alabama. Floods In portions of Arkansas overflowed some bottom lands, but the total area was not large. The one thing which farmers are fearing most is a wet June. Bene? ficial rains fell durmg the early part of the past week but continuation, especially in the eastern belt, has given rise to some pessimism. How? ever, clean workings have prepared the crop to withstand a wet spell of some duration. All along it has beet) insisted that the labor supply would be insufficient in the event of enforced idleness for a long enough time to require extra? ordinary effort to get the crop out cf the grass. Until the last three or four days weather conditions have aeen almost ideal. The sreneral con lition of the crop is as good or slight y better than it was two weeks ago. stay In the house. I certainly sha l not oppose Mr. I^ever's reelection to congress." "The office belongs to the people of the Seventh District and not Mr. Lever, and I shall make the race if I'm living," Mr. Ifcbeod said. "1 can take a licking in good grace, but don't know how to back down and am too Old to learn. When Mr. T^ever enter? ed the senatorial race he vacted the office and 1 expect to stay in the race for congress."