The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, October 19, 1918, Image 7
?-8?IT MENAGE LOOMS BIO.
SIR ERIC MAKES APPEAL IN
BEHALF OF ENGLAND.
Says Allies Must Not Relax Efforts
.in Anticipation of Early Peace.
- Naw York, Oct. 14.?An appeal
S^from the British Government to
y - America to expedite the contruction
of destroyers and anti-submarine
. craft and appliances was made here
//.tonight by Sir Eric Geddes, first lord
? of' the British admiralty after he had
asserted that the U-boat menace to
- day is "greater that it ever was."
Speaking at a dinner given by the
Pilgrim Society, Sir Eric said that
within the past few days he and
Vice Admiral Ludovic Duff, of the
British navy, had discussed the naval
?Situation in all its bearings with Sec
?Te'cary Daniels and Admiral Benson
v and that "complete unity of views"
had been reached.
? "It is with Mr. Daniels' full con
. chrrence that I now make this state
ment, that there is no greater service
that can be rendered by the civilians
of the United States today charged
?'with the privilege and duty, than to
Epexpediate the output of destroyers
- ? and submarine craft and appliances
? of every description, Sir Eric said.
"Your Secretary of the Navy is
Impressing upon contractors and work
? zhen the naval order 'full speed
ahead* in this work of paramount im
portance and it is a pleasure for me
to join with him in telling America
' how great is the importance that
speedy construction be accelerated.
. 4,No country within my knowledge
responds like America to an appeal,
and perhaps it is seldom that a min
ister from another, though an Allied
country, is permitted to make an ap
peal, and it would be possible only
with- the fullest consent- and authority
of the responsible minister of the
country of which he was a guest.
Discussing Germany's submarine
menace. Sir Eric declared that while
"most men say today that it is a
thing of the past," it is the British
admiralty's opinion that the menace
is one that "comes and goes" and
that in fact it is today not dead.
"Indeed it is greater today than it'
ever was," he warned. "That is to
say, the effort is greater than it ever
was. I think now we are approach
ing a point where submarine warfare
is again the weakest front of the
alliance."
In opening his speech, Sir Eric said
that while he must resist the temp- !
tatlon to allude to the present politi-j
cal situation, there were two things j
which he was convinced had not'
changed.
"One is our absolute loyality to
those nations who are associated with
us," he said, "and the other is ouri
determination to continue the war
and^not be deverted from our purpose
until we have secured the only peace j
which could justify all this terrible
* ^spffffering and destruction which has
been and is being brought about by
the iniquity of our common enemy.
* "Of one thing I am clear. We must
no! relax the muscles of our fight
ing arm nor our war effort in any
t anticipation of any early peace. To,
So so would be the surest way to;
render any discussions which may
take place prolonged and less satis
factory."
ADVANCE ON BETHEL.
French Driving Forward Against Ger
man Line of Communication.
Paris, Oct 15.?The French today
made an advance toward the import
ant town of Rethel and captured the
town of Nateuir-sur-Aisne, two and a
" half miles'west of Rethel, it is official
ly announced.
In the Argomie the French reached
the Aisne west of Grand Pre, and cap
tured villages of Olizy and Termes.
Nearly eight hundred prisoners were
taken.
MORE FRIGHTFULNESS PLANNED
American Shipbuilders Called on to
Speed up Work on Destroyers.
Washington, Oct. 15.?American
shipbuilders were called upon by Sjsc-j
retary Daniels today to speed up
output of destroyers to meey^?e
menace of a new and greater subma
rine ?effort that Germany is kn/^n t0
be planning. ^Br*
The Health Su^^T
Hon. J. E. Swearin^fc gtatQ <^u
perintendent of Edu?[io'n writes to
Mr. E. I. Reaj??^ regarding the
movement to raj?wo thousand and
five nundred dJBfs for the proposed
twelve montjMfealth campaign of
education &MBzs the rural schools of
Sumter SjBHfty, and the complete
coumyJttmih survey, that the move
m^a/MKg^ts with his hearty approval
2?sS$^r*s *n *ul* sympathy with the
^^pr In one part of his letter Mr.
^?raringen says: "I consider health
Wra the basis of education, and I con
gratulate you on your having succeed
ed in securing the five thousand dol
lars additional offered, and I trust
yoa will succeed in raising the $2,
-500 required from your county."
Dr. F. M- Dwight, of. Wedgefield.
one of Sumter county's most substan
tial and patriotic as well as pro
gressive citizens and ? physician of
repute has voluntarily written the fol
lowing letter and contributed his
money without solicitation from any
one:
Wedgefield. Oct. 10, 191S.
Dear Mr. Reardon: Enclosed please
find check for five dollars to be ap
plied to the County Sanitary Survey
? Fund. Sorry I cannot make it very
\many times greater. I deem educa
tion necessary, and there are no more
important, lines to educate our peo
ple #n than preventive medicine,
health and sanitation, which mean
contentment, happiness, and prosper
ity.
With personal regards, very truly
yours,
(Signed) F. M. Dwrght, M. D. j
i Something Like It.
<Cleveland Leader.)
American soldiers are demanding}
more dill pickles. Now we know they j
mean business??these cries for jam
and chocolates didn't sound natural.'
NEW BATTLE STARTED.
PEACE TALK SILENCED BY ROAR
OF GUNS?HUNS BADLY
MAULED.
Having Cleared the Laon Salient,
Gen. Foch Orders Drive in Lys Riv
er Region Toward Ghent?Ameri
icans in Hot Battle.
Peace talk pervades the air, but it
is falling on deaf ears as far as the
armies are concerned. Instead of a
relaxation in the intensity of the
fighting, new hostilities, which seem
ingly are on a major scale, are being
carried out by the British, -French
j and Belgians in Belgian Flanders.
I Having cleared out the^ old Laon
I salient and made advances north
ward in Champagne which are men
acing the retirement of the Ger
mans eastward toward the Valencien
nes-Mezieres-Metz line, Gen. Foch has
ordered a drive in .the Lys river re
gion of Flanders toward Ghent, which
threatens to break entirely the grip of
the Germans in Belgium all the way
from the frontier to the coast and
I likewise to eliminate the big bulge
in the line with Lille as its apex.
While the latest official communi
cation from Field Marshal Haig an
nounces that only local actions have
taken place in the new theater and
that prisoners have been taken in the
fighting, dispatches from headquar
ters assert that Roulers has been cap
tured and that Courtrai, the junction
point on the railway leading to Ghent
has been outflanked. The French
troops alone are said to have taker.
3,000 prisoners, while the Belgians
have captured several complete bat
teries and guns and numerous pris
oners. Just how wide the new from
of attack is has not become apparent.
It is stated that the new advance has
brought the allied troops within the
range of the enemy coast, but guns
from them have offered no opposition.
Meantime to the south the Germans
are offering stiff opposition to the
British southwest of Valenciennes in
an endeavor to prevent them from
closing on the Lisle sack and the cap
ture of this important town and also
Valenciennes, which are in precar
ious positions if a pincer movement
gets under way.
At last reports the Germans were
still falling back from the region of
Laon, that town and the entire St.
Gobain massif being in the hands of
the French. In Champagne the
French h?ve been enabled to make
further crossings of the Aisne and to
materially better their front eastward;
notwithstanding the stoic defense of
the enemy, who realizes it is of the
greatest importance to check the
French and Americans driving north
ward, as a breach. in the southern
line and a swift advance would imper
il the entire German force inside the
sack from the Oise river west voi
Flavigny to Sissone, east of Laon.
Probably the greatest resistance of
all is faced by the Americans on both
sides of the Meuse river. Vicioui
counter attacks are being delivered
against the men from the Unite
States, the fierceness of the assaul:
indicating that fresh forces have
been brought into the fray to halt
their do or die efforts to proceed up
the river valleys and thereby compe'
the Germans in case of a retreat to
wend their way obliquely northeast
ward, instead of eastward, toward the
German border. Concentrations oi
I artillery are being used against the
American positions at various places.
[ Gas shells are not being spared by
I the enemy in his efforts to hold the
! Americans in check.
All the counter attacks of the Ger
mans thus far have been succesfully
withstood by Gen. Liggett's men, and
the American artillery is answering
the German guns shot for shot.
Navy Needs Engineeiring Officers.
Engineering officers for tho trans
ports and suppig ships is/now one ol
the pressij&s ?s.eejjj*-?* 'fhe navy, and
the fj?iffply is far short of the de
roa^5 for capable men. To meet the
ne^fed the Navy Department has estab
lished the D. S. Navy Steam Engineer
ing School, at Hoboken, N. J. The
^roluntary induction of men into this
^service by the Local Beards can now
be made.
The school is open to men who
meet the physical requirements oi
the navy, who are of thorough ability
and officer-like material and have
completed the mechanical, electrical
or civil engineering course at any
recognized University;- or possesses an
equivalent education and experienced
The course consists of approximately
five months, viz:
One month at Pelham Bay Train
ing Station, Pelham Bay, N. Y.
One month technical instruction at
the U. S. Navy Steam Engineering
School, Hoboken, N. J.
Two months training on Sound
steamers, ferry boats and a trip across
the ocean.
One month final technical instruc
tion at the U. S. Navy Steam Engi
neering School, Hoboken, N. J.
The graduates of this school will
be assigned to duty as engineering
officers on the transports and supply
ships. They will be commissioned as
ensigns in the United States Naval
Reserve Force. The salary of an en
sign at sea is $155 per month, or S1S5
if he has dependents.
This is a wonderful opportunity for
men who are steam engineers to con
tinue in their profession and even
tually perform services for Uncle
Sam.
Men interested and who can qualify
will call or write to the Naval Mob
ilization officer, 101 West Main St..
Norfolk, Va., or the nearest recruit
ing station.
MANX PERISH IN EXPLOSION.
Fearful Blast in T. N. T. Factory in
Canada.
Toronto, Oct. 14.?Nearly 100 lives
are reported to have been lost to
night in an explosion at an explosive
plant at Trenton, near here.
The first explosion, said to have
originated in the chemical plant, was
followed by several other explosions, j
which set fire to some of the build- j
ings of the plant. Large stores of j
T. N. T., were endangered by the
AMERICAN TRANSPORT SUNK.
BIG LINER GOES DOWN AT KO
BOKEN PIER.
Details of Sinking Withheld But it is
Stated That Troops Aboard Were
Removed in Safety?Ship Was
Former German Liner.
Koboken, Oct. 15.?The American \
transport America sank at her pier j
here early this morning. The troops
aboard are reported to have been!
taken off in safety. The details are j
withheld. The cause of the sinking J
is unknown, but it was said the ship j
was undergoing repairs and that
may, in someway have had to do with {
the entrance of water into the hold, j
The vessel was formerly the Ham
burg-American liner Amerika, 22,600
tons and was 669 feet long.
I Reports at noon indicate no loss of
life. The earliest reports said be
tween thirty and forty of the crew
perished when trapped in the boiler
room. The ship was scheduled to sail
today for Europe. Troops were aboard
asleep at the time of the sinking.
AMERICA'S WAR BILL.
Some Items of the Cost of Maintain
ing Our Army.
Washington, Oct. 15.?Why does it
cost the United States so much more
to make war than it costs any of its
co-belligerents?
What is being done with the tent
of billions being raised from Liberty
Bonds and taxation? One often hear:
these questions.
The answer is not difficult.
It is, simply, that it costs an Amer
ican more to do anything that it cost
anyone else in the world. That ii
the best reason why Americans should
buy Liberty Bonds.
The American army is composed o
workingmen. The American working
man demands a higher standard o:
everything than any other working
man in the world. When he become
a soldier he carries that standar(
with him, and, comparatively, gets it
Napoleon said, and everybody eve*
since has repeated, that an arm>
travels on its stomach. So natural^
the substance of the American soldiei
comes first in the long bill which ix
rapidly running to $50,000,000 a day
The regular ration list of th
American army calls for forty-nine
different items of food. It include,
many things which are luxuries t(
the soldiers of the foreign armies. A
that, it only costs 32 cents a day if
feed a soldier. The figure is low be
cause the government has the advan
tage of dealing in billions and ton:
where the individual deals in dollar,
and pounds. Even so, the army ha:
felt the increased cost of living be
cause it cost only 12L81 cents a da:
to feed a soldier during the Spanisl
war.
Take into account the almost stag
gering sums the government has spen
for food alone since the war began
$37,000,000 worth of flour; $14,000.
000 worth of sugar; $43,00'0",000 wort:
of bacon; $12,000,000 worth of beans
$9,000,000 worth of canned torna
toes; $3,000,000 worth of rice, r
sounds almost like a food bill for i.
nation.
Without any disparagement what
ever of the rationing system of the co
belligerents it may be said that" while
the food of the British spldier com
pares favorablv with that of hi:
American cousin, the French ratio?
is less acceptable to the American
and that of the Italians would get i
very cold reception.
The equipment of the- -Amer*t3Sr
soldier is no less up to standard than
his food. Since the beginning of th<
war the government has spent SI26.
C 00,00a for shoes. Only recently
con.tx^^Was let which is intended tt
keep every soldier with two pairs?
one for marching and one for genera
wear. The price in quantity of mil
lions was well over $5 a pair. Oh:
soldiers of the regular army can re
member when the government issued
"brogans" far removed in quality
from the army shoes of today.
The American soldier's clothing sc
far has cost around $500,000^00
For his blankets the government has
spent $150,000,000. Every thing els?
is in proportion for in every- particu
lar of his equipment the govern
ment has supplied the soldier .with
the same relative high standard h?
was accustomed to at home in civil
life. The extra cost of maintaining an
army on foreign s\il has entered intc
the huge bill because it has been
found that it costs $423.27 to equip
and maintain a soldier a year abroad
as against $327.78 at home. Of this
sum $251.85 goes for food. The rat
ioning expenses at home is $1S9.90.
The high standard has been car
ried to the soldiers pay. For all prac
tical purposes of estimate the Amer
ican soldier is the highest paid fight
ing man in the world. He actually
gets more than the average German
officer. To the $33 a month a private
receives from the government is add
ed a sum for his dependents, depend
ing upon their condition and number.
Canada and the other British colonies
more nearly approximate the pay of
the American soldier than any others
of the co-belligerents.
Taking into consideration all these
items it is not strange that America's
war bill is greatest.
COTTON STOCK STATISTICS.
Census Bureau Announces Amount
Consumed and on Hand.
Washington, Oct. 15.?Cotton con:
sumed in September amounted tc
490,779 bales and 96,512 bales of lin
ters, the census bureau announced
Cotton on hand at consuming- estab
lishments September 30th totaled 1,
186,649 bales. Cotton spindles active
September 30th. 1,524,275.
BRITISH COUNCIL MEETS.
Special Session Held to Consider Wil
son's Reply to Germany.
London, Oct. 15.?The text of Pres-,
ident "Wilson's reply to Germany wa?
received through press channels
placed in the hands of members^0j
the British government early^r this
morning. The council met W^hortly
after eleven to consider the Jfespons*
EiQHT THOUSAND PRISONERS.
ALLIES MAKE BIG BAG IN BEL
GIUM.
Yesterday's Drive on Northern Front
Was a Striking Success?Belgians
Advance Five Miles.
London, Oct. 15.?More than eight
thousand prisoners were captured in
the offensive in Belgium yesterday,
according to the official report last
night. An advance of five miles was
made by the Belgian army, while the
French and British made practically
the same gains. 1
Six complete batteries with teams
were captured before they could be
withdrawn by the Germans.
SECOND ARMY IN BATTLE.
Germans Attack Gen. Bullard's New
Army.
With American Forces Northwest
of Verdun, Oct. 15, 12.12?Units of
the second American army which be
gan operations on October 12, under
Gen. Bullard today repulsed a Ger
man raid on their positions.
WITHDRAW FROM ZEEBRUGGE.
German Boats Loaded With Troops
Leave Belgian Port.
London, Oct. 15.?Several of the
largest German torpedo boats recently
reft Zeebrugge, '? loaded heavily with
troops, and proceeded to Germany, a
Dutch frontier message says.
TANKS BREAK: THROUGH.
Americans Smash German Wire En
tanglements West of Romagne.
With Americans Northwest Ver
dun, Oct. 15 (Noon)?Tanks were
in action today and broke their way
through enemy wire entanglements
west of Romagne. Early reports said
the progress of the Americans was
satisfactory.
An Interesting Letter.
The following letter has been re
ceived by Mrs. J. H. Chandler, and
as it contains a very pleasing refer
ence to Lieut. W. Norman Chandler
of this city, it is published for the
benefit of his numerous friends in
Sumter. Norman Chandler is the
youngest son of the late Jas. H.
Chandler of our city:
jDear Madam:
1 I think you will be pleased to have
i news from your son, Norman, whe
j left us three days ago.
I am a French married lady, moth
er of three little children, and as a
wife and a mother I feel very much
for the ladies and mothers who are
in America, whilst the men of their
country are fighting so bravely to de
fend our soil and the liberty of
France.
Your son has been in this little
village for three weeks, and as I told
you above, has left for another place.
Whilst he was here he was very keen,
on learning French, and asked both
my husband and I to give him les
sons.
I am so sorry he could not con
tinue, he was getting on so splendid
ly.
I am very happy to be able to say
he was looking so well,-so bright. The
is such a splendid officer, looking so
well after the men. 1 "'e got to feel
quite friendly with him.
Both my husband and I i a French,
but before the war we were living
in Belgium, in Brussels. My hus
band had a factory cvoi there, and wo
were ruined by the Germans. I came
here with my children about eight
months ago, but my husband, being a
civil prisoner, was kept by the Ger
mans. He escaped two months ago,
and is now living here, until better
days come.
When your son left us we told him
that when he gets a leave of absence,
that is seven days every other four
months, we were hoping he would
consider us as sincere friends and
make our home his home, and come
and spend them with us. He would
not feel so lonely being in a family he
knows, and where English is spoken
fluently.
I should be very pleased if you
would favor me with a reply and if
you have any message for himself,
which I could deliver.
Awaiting your good -news, I am
dear Madam, very sincerely,
Marguerite Romauet.
Maison Aubiu, La Chapelle vieille
Foret par Floguy, Youne.
Iceland a Free Sovereignty.
Stockholm, Sept. 25.?Iceland would
become an independent sovereign
State on December 1, next, under an
agreement between that country and
Denmark made public here. Hereto
fore Iceland has been a dependency
of the Danish crown but the island
had its own constitution and legisla
ture. The head of the Iceland ad
ministration has been a minister ap
pointed by the King of Denmark. .
The new agreement which is in
tended to become effective December
1, provides that Denmark shall ac
knowledge Iceland as a sovereign
state but it stipulates also that the
two countries shall continue to be
"bound together by common ties of
kingship," indicating that King
Christian X, of Denmark, will con
tinue to be King also of Iceland.
The Icelandic parliament had de
manded a separate flag but this is
not included in the agreement. Den
mark agrees to notify the powers
that Iceland is neutral in the war.
Denmark is to establish a fund of
about $500,000 to develop intellec
tual relations between the two coun
tries and to encourage exploration
I und scientific /Work in Iceland. The
j fund is to be/ divided between the
I Copenhagen /and Reykjavik Universi
s fo be administered by the
*the after consultation with
nments of the two coun
with both universities,
provided that the provisions
new agreement may be revised,
at the request of either country, af
ter the year 1940. Whether the
agreement has been ratified by the
Danish and Icelandic parliaments is
not announced here.
?COM? M ?EPt!.
NEWSPAPERS APPLAUD STAND !
TAKEN BY MR. WILSON.
\ny Agreement Entered Into With
Germany Must Have Sufficient
Bond.
The editorial comment below from!
;arious papers on President Wilson's'
:oply to Germany is compiled by the
Associated Press:
Hun Can't Misunderstand.
Savannah (Ga.) Morning News?J
3ermany cannot misunderstand. The I
very spirit of American democracy
?!ows in the president's every word.
If the Germans want peace, the way
is pointed out to them; it leads only
over the shattered thronex of the
Hohenzollerns. If they wish to con
tinue to be the tools of that degraded
family, then American guns will con
tinue to mow them down.
Germany's Fatal Blunder.
Columbia (S. C.) State?The Ger
man government has made a fatal
blunder. We demanded that a free
people should deal with the free peo
ples of the world in forming a pact
of peace. And we are answered by
an autocracy. The autocracy must
go. Then we shall meet the liberated
and regenerated people of Germany.
Demand for Surrender.
Jacksonville (Fla.) Times-Union?
The reply is in effect a demand for
unconditional surrender and this is
all the people of the nations at war
with Germany can ask and it is also
the least, they can do. . . .President
Wilson has done what the people of
the United States and of the coun
tries with which we are " in alliance
wished him to do.
Adroit Reply.
Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle?If there
were those who thought they saw in
J recent diplomatic incidents an oppor
, tunity to put President Wilson in a
! hole politically, they have reckoned
badly; for the president has, with
great dignity, as well as adroitness,
contrived to uncover the German po
sition to the fullest extent?only tc
be able to make clearer to the Ger
man people and the world at. large,
that their only hope of peace is to
at once and forever, put an end tc
militarism and enter whole-heartedl>
and without reservation, if such a
thing be possible, into the present da:
spirit of civilized nations.
Autocracy Must Go.
Tampa, Fla., Oct. 14.?Morninc
Tribune: While the majority o!
Americans would have liked for the
president to have merely told Ger
many that only unconditional sur
render would be acceptible, he goe
far toward that point when he in
forms the German government thai
"autocracy must go" and that the
military advisers of "this and the en
tente governments will dictate the
terms of an armistice should one b-r
agreed upon. It means, in the end
for Germany?unconditional surrend
er.
Good Bond Required.
Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution: Prob
ably never before in the history o1
warfare has the proposal by a bellig
erent of an armistice based upon th<
enemy's peace terms not beer; acceptec
and imediately followed by a truc(
pending future developments, but ir
his answer President Wilson make;
it clear that this will be one con
spicuous exception. . . . Any agree
ment entered into with Germany thi;
time must have good and sufficien
j bond to bind the international rasca
to its terms.
Kaiser's Fate Scaled.
Memphis (Tenn.) Commercial Ap
peal: The German empire has sinnec
its day away. It was born and i
must die in the life time of Willian
the second. President Wilson ha;
pronounced its death sentence. It i'
now up to France, England and th<
one hundred and ten million people o
the United States to execute the sen
tence. It is a war to the death or ai
unconditional surrender. But we can
not win this war by abusing the Ger
mans and by boasting. Our first dut]
today is to back the president b]
oversubscribing to the liberty loan.
Leaves No Doubt.
? The Mobile Register: The answei
of the President passes the issue tc
Germany and will leave no doubt o:
the determined purposes of the Al
lied governments in the minds of ar
enemy people whose only conceptior
of wrong is that which a mllitarj
arm cannot do. Having admitted de
feat they will now realize they mus*
j suffer the penalties thereof.
Seals Autocracy's Doom.
Birmingham (Ala.) Age Herald: Ir
this latest reply to Germany, Presi
dent Wilson seals autocracy's doom
There is no comfort for the militarist;
in his words and he offers not the
slightest hope that an armistice wil'
be granted to allow the dissolving
forces of crime and rapine to reor
ganize. Armistice and evacuation an
matters for Marshal Foch.
Most Complete in History.
Nashville (Tenn.) Tennessean: The
president's latest noje to Germany i
the frankest and at the same time
the most complete diplomatic docu
ment of history. It is so simple and
uncompromising in its terms that
I Germany is left without a leg to stand
I on before civilization if she fails tc
surrender promptly and uncondition
! ally.
"Forward, March.''
Houston (Texas) Post: The pres
ident's reply is a command of "for
! ward" to the allied nations ana their
superb armies in the field, and it is
command to the American people to
rally with renewed fervor to the sup
port of the war.
Voice of America.
Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal:
Again the president has spoken with
! the voice of America and for the
j civilized nations of the earth. . . .
The answer of the president is an ulti
matum to a defeated -power. Its
terms are so clear that only two
?'S REPLY MTlSf?:
SENATE HEARS READING OF
NOTE TO GERMANY WITH
ENTHUSIASM.
Even Ecnry Cabot Dodge Admits
Tha^ He Endorses The Position
Taken by President Wilson.
Washington, Oct. 14.?Senators
were so well pleased with President
Wilson's reply to Germany's peace
proffer that they broke all prece
dents and applauded vigorously after
the text of it had been read by Sena
tor Hitchcock, chairman of the for
eign relations committee. Later sen*
ate leaders, both Democrats and Re
publicans, in formal statements prais
ed the reply as the forerunner of an
unconditional surrender by the cen
tral powers.
Reading of the note, which was
transmitted to the senate through the
press gallery, came as. the climax to
a day of debate during which sena
tors demanded that there be no peace
negotiations until Germany had sur
rendered unconditionally. Before the
debate ended, word reached the sen
ate that the president's reply would
be made public at 6 o'clock and it
was decided to postpone adjourn
ment and await it
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,
the Republican leader, who has vig
orously criticised the president's
course in directing a note of inquiry
to Germany after receipt of the peace
offer, was among the first senators
to issue a public statement com
mending the president's reply.
"I am very glad and genuinely,
pleased," said Senator Lodge, "that*
the president takes the ground which
he does. Of course everything he
says about the conduct of the Ger
man government, the German army
and the German navy is absolutely
true. Such conduct is quite sufficient
in itself to put an end to any talk
about an armistice.
"The president's last -clause in
which he in substance declines to <
carry on any discussions with the
German government is eminently sat- *
isfactory and will, I am sure, bring a
great sense of relief to the American
people, who, I am certain, desire an
unconditional surrender won by the
armies in the field."
Senator Hitchcock, chairman of the
foreign relations committee, said:
"My view is that the president has
removed all doubts that have been
|, expressed as to the wisdom of his
course and provided against all the
dangers that critics have seen in-the
policies he has been pursuing. He
says in effect that if an armistice is
effected, it must be one in which the
generals in the field will approve and
which will preserve the existing su
premacy of the military forces.
"He lays great stress on the fact
that the conditions to be met will
mean the downfall of military autoc
racy of Germany which means radi
cal amendment to the constitution of
Germany, which will place the war
making and the peace making in the
hands of the people.
"To my mind the greatest achieve
ment of the war would be the demo-,
cratization of Germany; and it is the
best assurance of the future peace of
the world."
"The note comes up-fcb all jpublie^,
expectation in every way," said Sen
ator Martin of Virginia, the Demo
cratic leader.
"Other senators who issued state
ments approving the reply included
Senators Wadsworth of New York
and New of Indiana, Republicans,
~nd Senators Pittman, Nevada;
Thomas, Colorado; Sheppard, Texas,
ind Overman, North Carolina, Demo
crats.
BRITISH NEAR COURTR4X
Thousands of Prisoners Taken; Heavy
Casualties Inflicted.
With the British Army in France,
Oct. 14.?(By the Associated Press.)
?The British in their attack in Flan
ders today approached Courtrai.
Counter attacks by picked Bavarians
against the French broke down un
der a hot fire. Thousands of prison
ers have been taken and enormous
casualties again have been inflicted
on the enemy. The latest reports in
dicate that the British broke through
at one place and are advancing to
ward the Lys.
The Belgians have signalled from
the east and southeast of Roulers
that they have capured Hagebrooke
Gitsberg and Beverin and that 3,
000 prisoners thus far have been
counted. i
The British have , taken Dinaap,
Boschmolen, Gullegh'em, Wulvelghem
and Wervicq and are a thousand
yards northwest of Menin.
They have captured by early after
noon 1,600 prisoners and had counted
eleven field guns.
BOOSTED LOAN SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Reply to Germany Stimulates Liberty
Loan Buying.
W'ashington, Oct 15.?Liberty Loan
subscriptions were stimulated by the
president's reply to Germany, accord
ing to reports to the treasury today
from throughout the country.
FRENCH CAPTURE ROULERS.
Take 2,500 Piisoners, According t<5
Official Report.
Paris, Oct 14.?French troops have
captured the town of Roulers in Bel
gian Flanders and also 2,500 prison
ers, according to the official an
nouncement tonight.
courses lie open to the Germans?sub.
mission, which, means present sur
render, or resistance, which me*
ultimate destruction.
Forceful Reply.
Chicago (Ills.) Tribune: The
ident's response to the German]
posals rise inevitably from the^
of those noteworthy communi|
and addresses which have
our controversy with the
German government It
with force and unequiv
connection and purpos<
American people in this w^j
receive their unhesitating,
and enthusiastic approval.