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flR btmter WATCHMAN, Eatabl Consolidated Aur. a, 1 HARD FIGHTING AMERICANS. Wh< another battle in bril? liant manner. < aptore \llla?fc of \ aux Near Chateau Thierry, Capturing - 7."? Germana and Much Equipment. With American Force? on Marne Front. July 2.?In a brilliant opera tlon and after hard righting the Amer? icana on thta front last night captur? ed the village of Vaux. together with a targe altce of the Paris highway west of Chateau Thierry and two patches of wooded land. The Americans took two hunred and sevonty-flve pris? oners. Including five officers, a quan? tity of machlns guns and other equip? ment FRENCH SUPPORTED AMERICANS Battle Secured High (.round West of chateau Thierry. Paris, July 1.?The village of Vaux, weat of Chateau Thierry and the heights weat of Vaux were captured last night by the Americans, operat? ing In conjunction with French forces, the war office announces, felore than three hundred prisoners. Including five officers, were taken. american CASUALTY LIST. Lasts are Smaller and Number of killed Only Eight. Washington. July 2.?The army casualty list contains eighty-one names. Killed in action. 8; died of wounds, 10; died of disease, 1; wound e<l severely. 48; wounded, 4; missing In action. 10. Private Reuben Harel eon, of McCare. Qa.. died of wounds. Corporal Freeman Black well, of Au? burn. Qa.. Private Hcrdln, of Dalton. Oa.. wounded severely. Marines Lose Three. Washington. July 2.?The marine corps casualty list reported only threi names, all missing in action. Including Private Boykln W. Craft, of Elberton On. marines in ACTION again. TWestfy-afx Reported Missing In Sec? ond Casualty List. Washington. July 2.?Twenty-six are missing In action reported today in the sscond marine corps casualty Uat Two died of wounds and on* wounded severely are also reported T. S T. FACTOR V WRECKED. Syracuse Police Relieve Casualties Will Exceed RH). Syracuse. July 2?Many persons Were reported to have been killed or Injured tn two terrific explosions to ntabt at the huge plant of the 8emet Solvay Company, located at Split Rock, a suburb The force of the explosions rocked this elty. Plate glass windows in the business section were broken, and residences swayed perceptibly, caus? ing their occupants to rush Into* the streets. AU telephone wires were down and the exact situation In the big muni tlon pur.t was unknown at 10.3?? o'clock tonight, about one hour after the explosion occurred. Every ambulance in the city wan rushed to the scene, and squads of police were hurried to the plant to preserve order. The output of the Semet-Solvay Company is largely 'T N .T ." a pow? erful explosive used in t h ? m.mufac turs of munitions. FORTY - FI V K CASC A I/TIES. RovtsfsJ Mm of Vkflm? of Syracuse Ex plosion. Syracuse, July 3.?The revised lint of casualties growing out of fire explo? sion of T N T. it Seinett-8lova> plnnt lust night shows rorty-tlve dead gfty Injured. DEATH I.IMT liROWS. Known VWtlma of Explosion Nov Number MM)-two Byrscuse. Julv :< The bodies I fr>rtv-seven victims of the explosu. of T. N T. which wrecked th plant of the Senutt Holv.iv <?-?. Bjt here laid night had SSOg fOOOrrod the morgue today. Tin? last repot seid that fifteen mm? bOdtW had 1.1 taken from the debris, bringing th? tOt'I I .' I I Up |g SjSJtj taPO Tie i lured number s least eighty, never of whom are expected to die At lags fen budding* were de?tro . d und th propertv dnmngc will Sasoas! | mi lloa dollars. tm*a April, ism. "Bn IM ? 881. MILLIOH j FRANCE." ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY PRES? IDENT WIIaSON, GIVING FIG? URES FROM BAKER. Achievement of Year Will Cause Uni? versal Satisfaction und Add Zest to National Celebration of Fourth of July Suys Commander in Chief in Announcement. v Washington. July 2.?American troops seat overseas numbered 1,019, 115 on July 1. This was made known tonight by President Wilson who gave to the public ft letter from Secretary Baker disclosing a record of achievement which, the president said, "must cause universal satisfaction and which will give \additional zest to our nat? ional celebration of the Fourth of July." The first unit, non-combatant, left American shores on May 8, 1917. Gen? eral Pershlng followed 12 days latei and at tho end of the month 1,718 men had started for the battlefields of France, dune saw this number in? creased by 12,261 and thereafter khakl-clad "crusaders" from the Wes? tern republic flowed overseas in a steady stream until upwards of 300, 000 had been started when the great German thrust began last March. President Wilson's determination tj meet Germany's supreme bfforts with the utmost of America's available man power to assist the desperately resisting French and British armies is sharply reflected in the movement of troops during the last three months The March sailing of 83,811 were in? creased in April to 117,212, May saw another 244,345 men embark and last month 276,373 were sent away, mak? ing a total for the three months ol 637.929. This, Secretary Baker said, later put the troop movement six months ahead of the original pro? gram. Substantially 30 divisions now are in France ready to meet whatev? er move the German staff has in prep? aration. Some of these divisions al? ready have been formed into the first fle'.d army under Major General Liggett others are holding trench Sectoia at important points along the battle line, and still others have been broken up and br'gaded with the French and British troops. And, so when the German thrust comes, the Americans will be called upon to play no small part in meeting it. Serretary Baker wrote the president that the supplies and equipment In France for the million men who hah gone is shown by late reports to be adequate and added "the output ol our war industries in this country Is showing marked improvement in practically all lines of necessary equip? ment and supplies." The president's statement with the letter from Secretary Baker and hin reply follows: "I have today received the follow? ing letter from the secretary of war. which seems to me to contain Infor? mation which will be so satisfactory to the country that Its publication will be welcomed and will give addi? tional zest to our natlnal celebration of the Fourth of July: " 'War Department " 'Washington. July 1, 1918. M My Dear Mr. President: " 'More than one million American soldiers huve sailed fron? the ports in this country to participate in the war In France. In reporting this fact to you, I feel that you will be Interested In a few data showing the progress of our overseas military effort. " 'The first ship carrying military personnel sailed May 8. 1917, having on board base hospital No. 4 und members of the reserve nurses corps " 'General Pershing and his staff Siilled May 20, 1917. The embarka tlons In the months from May. 1917. to and Including June, 1918 are as follows: 1917. May. 1.718 June mp. ?. ?? ? 12,261 July -. Hi,988 August. 18.323 Heptembcr. 32,623 October. 38,269 November. 23,016 December. 48,sto ioih. January . 4 6.7 76 February. 48.027 March. 83.811 April. 117.212 May. 24 1.34!? June. 276.372 M irlnes. 1 t.64 I Aggregating 1,919,111, " 'The total number of troops re mened front abroad, lost at sea, ami i iMtes is W.K.r. and of these by i e.a H>n of |he sup. ? his' efflelent profec od Fear not?Let all the ende Thon Ali SUMTER, S. C, SATT 6EBMANS ATTACK BRITISH. night fighting in the vicin? ity of albert. Enemy Gained Foothold in One Trench but Were Repulsed With Loss Else? where. London, July 2.?The Germane last night, after a strong bombardment, attacked to the northwest of Albert, and north of the Somme, in an at? tempt to regain the positions taken by I the British Sunday night. The ene? my gained a footing in one of the British trenches, but were repulsed elsewhere, the war ofllec announces. Attempted enemy raids near Lens, on the Flanders front, were repulsed and the British took some prisoners. QUIET day ON FRONT. -r? Gen. Perching Itcporta Hint Ameri? cans Were Not Engaged. Washington, July 2.?Another quiet day along the American fronts i3 reported by Gen .Pershing in the com? munique for yesterday, sent before the successful operations last night west of Chateau Thierry. GERMANS RECAPTURE GROUND. British Driven Out of Positions Taken Sunday. London, July 3.?The Germans last night, after heavy shelling, attacked and recaptured the greater part of the ground taken by the British in local operations near Bouzincourt, north of ?Albert on Sunday morning, the war office announces. FRENCH CAPTURE HUNS. Successful Attack Made al Night. Paris, July 3.?French troops last night attacked German positions along the front three kilometers north of Moulin-Sous-Toutvent, \penetrated to a depth of more than eight hundred meters and took more than two hun? dred and twenty prisoners. The Ger? mans attempted to advance north of Moncel, in Alsace without result. tlon which the navy has given out' ..msport system, only 21) 1 have been I lost at sea. " 'The supplies and equipment In Franco for all troops sent in, by our latest reports, is adequate and the output of our war industries in this country Is showing marked improve ment in practically all lines of neces? sary equipment and supply. " 'Resectfully yours, *' 'Newton 1). Baker.' To which I replied: "The White House. "Washington. July 2, 1918. "My Dear Mr. Secretary: "Your letter of July 1 contains very significant piece of news and an equally significant ropprt of the for? warding of troops during the pas' year to the other side of the water. It is a record which I think must cause universal satisfaction because the heart of the country is unquestion? ably in this war and the people o. the United States rejoice to see their force put faster and faster Into the great struggle which is destined to re? deem the world. "Cordially and sincerely yours, "Woodrow Wilson." "Hon. Newton D. Baker, "Secretary of War." , The accelerated troop movement to ' France has been designed to meet ' the emergency created by the German j effort to achieve victory before Amer? ican man power could exert Its full force. How long the present rate of transportation will be maintained de I ponds upon developments in France nnd the length of time the surplus ship tonnage furnished by CJreat Brit? ain can be employed for the work. In this connection Secretary Baker said tonight regarding troop move? ments, that he did not desire to have 'past performances made the basis o: speculation for the future." As reserves for the million and more men in France, more than an? other million are in training In the United states it hoe been officially [announoed thai 8,000,000 American 'sohllers will be tinder arms by the end Of this month, while Information re? cently furnished to congress dlsclos od the quartermaster general's depart* menl is planning lo clothe 4.000,000 men January l General Crowder recently told the senate military committee thai Clasa one registrants would he exhausted by the rtrsl or the year nnd he added the significant stntement "everybody expected heal anils to be made dur? Ing the ilrst si* months of next yeni " In discussing the heavy movement Of troops in the last RtOnthS, Mr.1 os't at be thy Country's, Thy God's ? JRDAY, JULY 6, 1918. AMERICANS SWEPT LINE. COULD HAVE GONE FAR BEYOND OBJECTIVES AT VAUX. Captured German Guns and Turned Them Upon tlie Fleeing Grey Coats. With the American Forces on the Marne. July 2.?The attack by the Americans on the Vaux positions was so terrific that Uiey swept right through the enemy lines and had their object been to continue the ad? vance they could have done so with the greatest ease, as virtually every? thing before them had been cleared. So great was the enthusiasm of the men the officers in some cases had, to look sharp to keep them from going beyond the set objectives. It is not improbable that the Ger? mans are planning another counter? attack for the coming dark hours, but preparations have been made to meet them. A vast quantity of material, consid ering the size of the operation, is being taken to the rear, but probably will not be tabulated for several days. In the fighting west of Vaux the Americans stormed several enemy nests and killed or captured the oc? cupants then turned the guns the other way, using them effectively against the enemy rear areas. The Americans penetrated the en? emy's lines to a depth of about a kilo? metre and a half on a total front of j about four kilometres. All day today I the troops in the front line have been subjected to a heavy shell fire. They j had some shelter in one patch of woods I which they occupied, but those who I did not enter the wood have only the protection which they had provided for themselves with their entrenching tools or by taking cover in shell j holes. From one crater slightly in I advance of the line, but on it, from a technical point of view, American sol? diers this afternoon let their comrades know where they were when one of their party leaned over the tip of the I crater and waved his helmet. I The prisoners taken in the German counter-attack say they marched fo: three hours ar fast as they could when word reached the commander of an enemy battalion in the rear o' Vaux. which town is on the right of the American attack. Observers re J ported this morning that the German* j were apparently hurrying to bring ur \ reinforcements behind the line. All the prisoners questioned today expressed their relief at heing cap I tured. One speaking excellent Eng? lish said to the correspondent. "Thank the Lord. I'm out of there jThe American artillery smothered us , more than once and the infantrymen ' fight like wild devils without a sin j gle fear, but when the fight is ftnish ed they are gentlemen. One could I have killed me, but did not, and 1 I gave him my Iron Cross for my thanks." BANK STATEMENT CALLED. National Banks Must Report Condi? tion June 20th. Washington, July 3.?The comp? troller of the currency issued a call for the condition of national banks at the close of business on June 29th. DUTCH CABINET RESIGNS. _____ No Benson Given For Action in Press Report. Rotterdam. July 3.?The Dutch cab Inet will place the resignation of its members in the hands of Queen Wil helmina tomorrow, says the Nieuw Rotterdameehe Courant. Baker said it was worthy of mention "that the month ; in which Gorman submarines were operating off our coast was the month In which we made the record number of shlp ments." In this connection |it was recalled that not a single American transport carrying troops to lOurope had been i.unk by Germany's sea wolves, the only two destroyed having been at? tacked when returning home without the protection of American destroy? ers and other naval craft. Two Brit? ish vessels carrying American sol? diers have been torpedoed and a third was sunk last month when returning to this country without convoy. Secretary Baker's letter reveals for the first time the number of marines sent to France. They form about half of a division but th? \ have been giv? ing splendid account of themselves since they helped to stem the German thrust for Paris, and reports today from frame showed thaf they again bad battered through the German trenche* and then resisted furious countoi assaults mA TrnuVa" THE TRUE ILL NOBLE PATRIOTS 1 THE M'LACRIN? HLEASE ? AULL V1LLIFICATION MATCIL TWO More Chapters of Dirty Politics Related by; Men Who Played Lead? ing Parts? Bleasc und Aull Try to Explain Away McLaurin's Charges and to Create Dnpresslon That He Lied in Toto. Columbia, July 1.?Statements were issued by both Jno. K .Aull and Cole [a Bleasc in answer to the McLaurin address to the people of South Caro? lina. The statement by Mr. Bleasc follows: To the Editor bf The State: I hardly feel it necessary for me to make any comment on the letter of John L. McLaurin, which you publish-j ed this morning. I am satisfied that Mr. McLaurin's past conduct in South Carolina politics, especially as a mem? ber of the senate of the United States is such that no honest-thinking man would give credence to any statement which he might make in reference to my attempting to bolt the Democratic party, in view of my service to the party in the past, and in view of the further fact that every friend that I have within the State of South Carto lina knows that I discouraged any effort at a bolt in 1916, and no man can show a line that I have ever writ? ten, or honestly repeat a word that I have ever spoken, encouraging any bolt on that occasion. This was so plain that even you yourself wrote an editorial, in which you stated in your issue of October 13, 1916: "Weeks ago The State expressed un? qualifiedly the opinion that ex-Gover? nor Blease would not lead a bolt from the Democratic party in the State in the approaching general election. The State adheres to that opinion. "The great mass of Bleaseites are honest men who would scorn the sug? gestion of repudiating their oaths to support the nominees of the party, j State and national . . . There will be I no bolt in 1916 with the sanction of the Bleasite organization.A few disgruntled persons may vote against Mr. 'Manning and against President Wilson but there is no like? lihood that Mr. Blease will lead a party mutiny." And the Greenville Piedmont, the editor of which is a very close friend i of Mr. McLaurin, said editorially in his issue of November 8, 1)16: I "Just as The Piedmon*.. predicted. ! the regular Democratic ticket in South Carolina was elected yesterday with practically no opposition, though some I hot-headed friends of ex-Governor j Bleeee did not listen to him and dis? tributed tickets on which his name ap j peered as a candidate for gDvernor in I stead of that of the regular nominee, j Richard I. Manning. There was lota of talk of a bolt, but it ended in talk. The Piedmont felt sure that it wouIJ so end, because no bolt In this State has ever come from the class of peo? ple who furnish the bulk of the strength of the Bleaselte faction, and because the suggestion of a bolt re? ceived no encouragement from either Blease or any of his lieutenants." As to the transactions between Mr. i Aull and Mr. McLaurin on their Wash? ington trip, Mr. Aull reported this I matter to me immediately upon his I return, for the reason, as he stated, that he felt that it was due me that [ should know, and he told me then that he was going to resign from the warehouse commission and have noth | ing further to do with it, which he j did. I saw Mr. Aull very seldom while j h?> has never yet said one word to me I In reference to the personal Or public j transactions of Mr. McLaurlr. as ware? house commissioner, except when he 1 told me about the Washlngon tri?? and said he was going to get out im? mediately. And there isn't a man in South Carolina who knows John Aull but knows that he is too honorable a gentleman to betray any trust reposed in him. He served the old Kighth. cir? cuit as court stenographer for eight years, and has been made court sten? ographer of this circuit, a position of honor and trust, and I know that he would be willing to leave his reputa? tion for square dealing in the hands of the members of the bai among whom he has worked, and with the supreme court and circuit Judges who have presided over the many courts which he has reported. The statement that 1 encouraged Beard In putting out a ticket is as black ? lie as has ever been put In print. <>n the contrary, \ warned Heard against any such step ind told him not to do it. ami when be came to me complaining thai he had spent money to have tickets printed and wanted m to help reimburse him. 1 absolutely refused lo h.t\e anything to southron, ?M?U 9mm?, imm. VoL XL vT. No. 41. A HUBE COTTON CHOP. GOVERNMENT PREDICTS FIF? TEEN AND QUARTER MIL? LION BALES. If Government Forecast Is Realized Crop will be Third Largest Ever Grown?Acreage is Close to Record. Washington, July 2.?A huge cot? ton crop is in prospect this year, the department of agriculture today fore? casting the production at 15,325,000 bales. A crop of that size would be the third largest ever grown. The condition on June 25th was 80.8 per? cent of normal, and 6 per cent higher than the 10-year average. The acreage this year comes close to the record. The figures by States show Florida, with an acreage of 67, 000, condition 79; South Carolina 2, 995,000, condition 83; 'Georgia 5,443, 000, condition 80. do with it; and there isn't a man in the State of any honor who will say that I ever mentioned the matter of an independent ticket to him, except to discourage it. As to my "desertion" of Beard, I think it only necessary for me to say that I warned Beard frequently about articles that he was writing, and told him that if he was not careful he was going to get into serious trouble. It is unnecessary for me to say what his reply was, for he is now serving a sentence for the charge which was preferred against him. As to the matter of having my name and Mr. McLaurin's name placed (on the electoral ticket, I have never heard of that before, and as a matter of fact, Duncan Adams was not the Re? publican State chairman, as every? body with any sense knows, but Joe Tolbert of Ninety-Six held then and holds now that position. As to Mr. McLaurins' personal opin? ion of me, that Is quite laughable, af? ter his very devoted service and ex? penditure of time and money trying to put me in the governor's office for a j third term. If I was such a very bad ] man as he says he knew I was, why should he attempt to frist me Once again upon the people of the State? Of course eevrybody knows and has been knowing for many months past that I was not supporting and would not support John L. McLaurin for governor. That is what makes him mad and,what makes him, in his des? peration, attempt to drag me into his class of political deserters. Referring to what he says about his warehouse commissioner-ship, surely the man must be out of his mind or have taken something which caused him to have hallucinations. Some of my friends talked to me in reference to running for warehouse commis? sioner after the position was estab? lished, and I said that under no con? ditions or circumstances could I ac? cept it. And Claud N. Sapp. then a member of the legislature from Lan? caster county, almost spontaneously, you might say, just as the last mo? ment arose in his seat and nominat? ed Mr. McLaurin for this position. I really do not think McLaurin was looking for the position. It came to him without any solicitation on his part, so far as I am informed, and I think he was about as much surprised when Mr. Sapp nominated him as any? body else was, and I addressed a com I munication to the legislature, In which I said: "I congratulate you upon the pas? sage of the acreage bill and the ware house bill, and upon your electing as manager of the warehouse system, the logical man for the place?he who un? derstands it best and who. if it can be made a success, surely ts the one to have the credit." Therefore, the public can readily see that there was absolutely no deal with McLaurin to make Aull his secretary; but on the contrary, after his election, he came into my office with Mr. Aull and said he didn't se* how he could run the business unless I would let him have Aull to help him. I remem? bered the conversation distinctly. And I said to Mr. Aull. "John. I don't like to pive you up; my business is in such shape now. winding up the affairs of the office; b>it I don't want to deprive you of a good position, because I will have nothing to offer you after I leave the governor's office, anil while I do so with much reluctance. I am willing for you to accept the position." And l turned immediately to w. F. niack burn, who was in the room, and said, "Frank. I will appoint you private secretary, and I guess we can get tlong." Mr. Rlackbum replied that we could, because "Jottn would be handy If we needed him or any special mat? ters." 1 regret to hive taken this much