Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Sims* Secret Mission American Naval Commander Sent to England Before Declaration of War New Yox-k, April 7.?How Rear Admiral William S. Sims, accompan ied by one aide, proceeded incognito into Eigland under navy department orders issued him two weeks before the United States entered the war against Germany, was told the Asso ciated Press hy the admiral here to night on his return from overseas. In reply to questions he gave in simple words a straightforward account of his mission, passing with dispassion ate comment over many an incident of his adventure that well could be incorporated into the mos*, roman tic of war -stories. On March 24 or 25, 1917 the ad miral said, while he was president of the naval war college at Newport, he was ordered to report "without de lay"' to the secretary of the navy Washington. He was not notified of the nature of the business to be dis cussed. Upon his arrival there he was received in secret conference with Secretary Daniels and Admiral Ben son, chief of naval operations. He was told that it "looked as though we shall go to war," and it was briefly explained that he was to go at once "to see the people on the other side"* and reach an understand iog as to how the Ujiited States best could cooperate with allied sea forces in operations against Germany. One aide would he allowed to accompany him. he was told and his identity must not b% known until it might be decided to reveal it after his safe arrival abroad. . Commander J. V. Babcoek of New Hampton. Iowa, aide to Admiral Sims at Newport was chosen to accompany him, and both officers immediately denned civilian clothes. Simultaneously they dropped their names and assumed others "more suitable to the occasion." Admiral Sims said he did not clearly remem ber what name he bore on his In cognito adventure. "Babcoek and I chose 'Richardson and Robertson' as near as I can re call." he said. "I can't think of the full names and I am not at all sure that these are correct. But that's how I-seem to remember them." The admiral and his aide, sailed from New York March 31 ,1917, on steamer New York, he said. No one on the vessel recognized them. News of the declaration of war by the United States on April C reached them by the ship"s wireless news service. It did not disturb them. Entering Liverpool harbor on April S' in a thick mist the steamer ctr-ick a mine and a hole was blown in one fit her forward compartments, but -the admiral -and his aide .?-ere "not especially disturbed" by that either, j At Liverpool. Admiral Sims said,, they went ashore unnoticed "like j anybody else." A special rtain was; waiting in the Liverpool railroad | $rari$, however, with Admiral Hope! ahosrd, representing the British ad-; miralty. They arrived in London on April j H). both Admiral Sims and Com-' mander Babcoek still wearing their; civilian clothes. They went at once' io the admiralty offices, where Ad-i mirai Sims went into conference with! Admiral Jellicoe. On April 13 at a luncheon in Lon-: don the United States ambassador, made the first formal announcement! that Admiral Sims had arrived in the j eountry; After that the admiral and his aide reappeared in their navy; uniforms and abandoned the names of "Richardson and Robertson" for all time. Commenting on "how he happened td be" the officer selected to go abroad. Admiral Sims said: "I was the logical selection for a number of reasons. I had been naval attache at Paris from 1S97 to 1900. I speak the French language. I had been to England about every winter from 1902 to 1909 to talk gunnery with British admiral chiefs like Ad mirals Jellico and Beatty. I knew the British and French naval heads. And for three years I had been in command of the Atlantic torpedo flo tilla on this side." Eight Cent Cotton That Is What a Big Acreage Will Do For South Columbia, April S.?Declaring that Europe is unable to buy both food and clothes now and that she will of course buy food first, former Govern or Richard I. Manning of South Car olina, who is now in France, writes that a full cotton acreage and a nor mal crop of cotton this year will mean far worse conditions in the South than prevailed in this section just after the commencement of the world war in 1JM4. He predicts that cotton would go to eight and ten cents :t pound and possibly lower. The Utter sounds a strong note of warning to the planters of the South. "t spent some time in New York and northern points for the purpose of. making a personal study of the cotton situation at first hand." says the former governor in his letter. '"The information gathered at these points was a revelation to me. The .situation is just this: Europe needs food: Europe needs clothes. She can postpone buying clothes but she cannot postpone buying food. Eu rope lacks money' and credit with which to buy. Speculators will, of course, buy cotton as cheaply as possible. Competition will be lacking, there being no funds for credit for competitors. The big syndicates will have' an open field. If the South plants full cotton acreage and makes even a normal crop, she will reap a whirlwind. It means eight and ten j cents and possibly even lower prices. It certainly means far worse prices and conditions than prevailed in the Sooth just after the commeti"? -fi'iCHi of the world war in 1914." Nuremberg. Monday. April 7.-- The prei-iflmation of the soviet republic at Munich was announced in special editions of the newspapers todri- The p?ople received tha news cairn y. j Reduce Cotton Acreage ; jWannamaker Puts Question io | Highest Authority?Best Southern Lawyers j Say It Is Legal I Columbia, April 8.?United States! ! Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer j j has been asked by J. Skottowe Wan-: bamaker, chainr in of the South j ! Carolina Cotton Association, to give j lau immediate opinion on the c harge I I made by Gov. Henry J. Allen of Kan-! ! sas that the cotton acreage reduction! j movement now in. progress over the j i entire cotton belt is illegal. I In a telegram which TO sent to thej [attorney general. Mr. Wannamaker; : said: ! "Gov. Henry J. Allen of Kansas j ?serves us with notice that our cam-J Ipaign for reduction of cotton acre-; l?ge of 33 1-3 per cent, and the hold-j j ing of spot cotton on hand in the [ [possession of farmers for 35 cents or I a remunerative price throughout the j cotton belt is in violation of statutes ! of the United States, that no group of j men have the right to form a. com bination for the restraint of produc tion; that the federal commission has j published a list of questionable prac- \ i rices which the said commission con-j ! demns and that among them are two i j which seem to forbid what we are; j trying to accomplish, one forbidding j i the entering into an agreement or tin- j j derstanding or pool by competitors! to maintain prices or allot busine?*. j The other forbids the agreement i among comptetitors to limit output, j j He states that we are running con- J j trary to a declared public policy. I i J am urged to request that you render 'an immediate opinion. Is our asso- I j ciation violating the statutes as charg-{ i ed ?" ? i ! In making public his telegram to j the attorney general, Mr. Wanna-' ! maker issued this Statement: r" "The best attorneys in the South' j have been consulted by the cotton as sociation. These attorneys state that heyond a question of doubt the farm-; efs ean use their lands to plant such I crops as they see fit and can hold j j their cotton for remunerative prices. The attorney general of the United I States nor any other body in the ! United Suites will so far forget tho! ? rights of American ? citizenship wont I in the "Revolution by Washington, j j granted in the Declaration of Inde ipendence and the constittuion and j j cemented on the battlefields, as to! ?render any decision that will takei 'away the liberty and freedom of the j j South. j j "There can be but one decision byj i the attorney general, that the South : j is a part of the great republic, thai j i it exists, breathes and moves under ' ? the constitution and Declaration of j [independence and the rights therein] [contained can and will not be denied ' to it." Cows For South Carolina Five Car Loads From Missouri j and Kansas?Will Be Sold In Columbia Columbia. April 8.?One of the. largest shipments of Western cows. that ever came into South Carolina; came through Sumter Saturday con-! signed to Carolina Stock Farms. For-; [ eston There were live, cars of na-j itiye Missouri and Kansas shorthorns| {and Herefords. AH of these had; [ been tuberculin tested by the govern-j j merit before shipment. ; Such cows are larger and have' much more quality than native South! j Carolina cows. They will be sold as j far as possible in this State after \ j being bred to registered Hereford bulls. They are big framed, broad . hacked animals with heavy loins and \ j represent a first step in the policy! ! adopted by the ranch at Foreston to j do its share in encouraging and; iaiding South Carolina cattle raisers! i to produce better and larger cattle' j with-more quality to them. The! (range conditions jn sotuhern Missouri; [and Kansas are quite similar to thej range conditions in this State and! ; cows of this type do well on the na-j I tive pasture here. An Appreciated Contribution j _ ; \ Gift of Forty Dollars From the High School Building i At the conclusion of the exercises! of assembly this morning at the! i Girls* High School, ihe president of, the Fourth Year High School pre-! j sen ted for the Jewish Relief Work i a contribution of forty dollars from the . Girls' High School building.; Many of the little gifK that went to j make up this $40 nv nt self-sacrifice' on the part of the &.rls and in ac cepting the donation, the chairman j I of the Relief Work for Sumter county! stated that he felt sure that there! was no gift that would be more; j gratefully received by the several! : committees in charge. I it has been a source of great j ' gratification to notice the develop-j mom in sou. culture that has come j on account of the gifts incident to j the varied appeals during this period) of war. The splendid spirit shown; I by the girls in this gift was in keep-! ing with the spirit of self-sacrifice j i cultivated by the calls of those who] 'have suffered in this treat world' tragedy. It is believed that all committees ."id individuals will receive courages ? and inspiration from the announce-1 laeiit of this donation. Canadians Coming Home Forces in Siberia Will Embark i Middle of Month Vladivostok. April 1.?Jty Canadian i Press.?There isgreat rejoicing among Canadian troops here over the offi-1 efai announcement that the Cana-j d'an troops will bp withdrawn from ?!***/> e-^'-nrk-rion will cvm raertce the middle of April. ? Men To Be sent To Oxford Rhodes Scholarships Arc Again Open to Students Appointment to Rhodes scholar ships for Oxford which wore poston od during the war will be resumed in October of this year it is announced. Elections for the appointments will be held in all the States and sixteen States which under normal condi tions would have appointed men dur ing 101S will be allowed two appoint ments. South Carolina will be al lowed to appoint one man. The qualifying examination will be abandoned this year and men will be appointed under a special set of reg ulations with four main pcints to be considered. Any college student who has completed his second year in col lege and wishes to apply for a Rhodes appointment ma;/ secure full informa tion by writing to Mr. Frank Ayde lotte. American Secretary ,to the Rhodes Trustees. Massachusetts Insti tute of Technolog:.'. Cambridge, Mass. Suit Against The tSate Alleged Infected Vaccine Points j Caused Two Deaths I Columbia. April 7.?The case of J. O'Neal Sandel against the State for ? $100,000 damages for the deaths of Thelma and Minnie Sandel, of Cal houu county, two young girls, was commenced in the Court of Common 1' eas hero today. The plaintiff al leges that infected smallpox vaccine, packed in insecure containers at the State Ial>oratory. at that time in an unsanitary condition, caused the death of the two girls. In rehuttal the State puts up a defense that every thing humanly and scientifically pos sible was done to keep the vaccine points pure and uncontaminated: that the State laboratory was sani tary, and that if the vaccine became infected after it left the laboratory it Was not the fault of the State. A great dea ?' technical testimony was Introduce*- in the trial, which, it is thought, will end some time tomor row. Dr. G. B. Cromer Resigns As Chairman Board of Charities and Corrections Columbia., April 7.?Dr. George, n. Cromer has tendered to Governor Cooper his resignation as chairman of the State board of Charities and Corrections, Dr. Cromer has been ai the head of this board since its creation at the beginning of the Man ning1 administration four years ago. Dr. Cromer is chairman of the board of trustees of Newberry Col lege, a denominational institution. The duties of the State- Board of Charities and Corrections are to ex amine into the merits of applicants for scholarship for State institutions of learning and Dr. Cromer takes the position that is would l?- unwise for him to continue in the dual capacity. Greatest Wheat Crop Farmers of West Will Reap Har vest of Wheat and Dollars Washington. April .9.?The largest crop of winter wheat ever grown was forecast for this year by the de partment of agriculture today, basing the estimate on conditions existing on April 1st. The enormous yield Of 837,000.000 bushels is announced. Mrs. V. M. Montgomery Death of Wife of Prominent Cotton Mill President Spartanburg. April 7.?Mrs. Victor; M. Montgomery, of this city, pass-j ed away this morning, following anj extended illness, at the age of thir-1 ty-three. She is survied by her hus- ! band, who is one of the most prom-1 inent cotton mill men of the South.) Mrs. T. SDoan Crawford, of this city, is a sister of the deceased. Shej was a daug'hter of the late Joseph II. Eaiie. Funeral services will be con-: ducted at the home of the deceased, tomorrow afternoon, following which! the remains will be taken to Green- j ?."He for interment. A Proud Record _ i American Naval Flyers Credited j With Destroying Twelve U-Boats j nnston. April .S.?French records i credited the United States naval j flyers with damaging and probably de- j stroying twelve German submarines.! according to Capt. Thomas Craven, I commander of tie- l'nited States na-j val aviation force:; in France, who j has arrived here. His department he said, took a more conservative.! view and conceded the sinking of two j and damaging eight enemy crafts, j Cold Damaged Peach Crop j Macon. Ga., April 7.? Peach grow-j ers at Fort Valley, Cyron and Mar-j shall vi lie. in the Georgia peach l?<dt. i have discovered, according to reports J reaching here tod . that the recent.j .}-\.-re cold weather has seriously: damaged the early peach crap. I Peaches are said to he rotting from | thn inside. Temperatures dropped t<>i within one degre of th?* freezing! point during the cold speel. Copenhagen. April s.~ a political! movement of great importance F i re minent in the Hamburg region. a rterlin report says. Doctors Herz and Hartenberg. Spartacan leaders, it] is added, have almost succeeded in; making themselves musters of the! situation and in converting Hamburg j arid th" region between Hamburg _ Wremer, into a soviet republic. i; Savings Stamps The War Savings Organization Looking for Best Agencies Washington. -April 7.?Monetary ha Wits ol' groups of people in various industries and employments are the subjects of study by the National War Savings organization with a view of determining the best places and the best tithes to sell savings stamps. This is prompted by the reversal of last year's policy of giving an agency to practically every store which would : handle the stamps and adoption of a now plan to select carefully a few i stores as agencies on condition that these make active efforts to push the sale of the stamps. Thus the organ 1 ization hopes to make the agency i privilege a real distinction in each ! community. ! To this end, the war savings organ i ization has undertaken to answer such Iquestions as these: j Are people in a certain industry or , locality most likely to buy stamps I from their grocery stores or from a I drug store which is open at night? Are restaurants and candy stores [effective agencies? What sort of store in a small city is most likely to attract buyers after t ie postoffice is closed? If department stores are made agencies to reach women, in what de partment or in what aisle location should the stamp-selling booth he lo cated ? What sort of stores are best thrift stamp agencies for children? What kind of down town stores arc best agents for men. "It is realized, of course." says a war savings statement, ""that banks, building loan associations, and such agencies to which people naturally go with money are excellent sr agents, and school houses are admir able selling points for children. But the savings directors want to make certain that adults in residential and industrial neighborhoods can secure stamps conveniently at the hours best suited to them and in connection with their usual trading activities. "The number and location of agen cies per thousand of population is be ing carefully considered as the treas ury does not wish to split up the ?;amp business to such an extent that rht- business of each agency will be too small to be of any advertising benefit to the agent. The Expected Happened Associated Press Correspondent Predicted Revolution in Austria Vienna, Feb. 28 (Correspondence of The Associated Press)?The men ace <>f Bolshevism has created a erit ical situation in Hungary, whose gen eral outlook is considered infinitely worse than in German-Austria. Un der the present government the con dition of the country is described as t !?;toti?- and ??< serious Bolshevik out break is expected. With its army dis banded the government is unable to offer resist.: neo even if it had the courage and energy to do so. Public moneys, it is asserted, are being "squandered" at "an appalling rate" and leading financiers express fear of bankruptcy of the State. The whole situation of the country is re ported io be "inconceivably worse than at any time during the four years of war." The government is preparing to hold general elections but under the present conditions this appears to be ?? physical impossibility. There are no lists of voters .and the franchise has been extended from ',"?00.000 to 7,000,000 including women who have been granted suffrage. With part of I the country occupied by enemies, | elections in these districts will be im possible, it is declared. The fear of Bolshevism is growing daily and everywhere the people are urging that the allies intervene. They express the fear that the conditions now existing in Russia will be re-j peated in Hungary. Hungarian pris oners of war have returned from Rus-j sia imbued with Bolshevik ideas and j are spreading the propaganda. It is! the general opinion of the people that j the FTarolyi Cabinet made a mistake J in disbanding the army leaving the country at the mercy of the invaders. While the greatest dissatsifaction is expressed in political circles and among the people generally, and min isterial crises are daily occurrences, no political party seems willing to as sume the reins of government. Count j Karolyi appears to be the only lead- j er available. Strike by Renters. Havana. March 1 (Correspondence of The Associated Press)?This city is threat cued with one of the mo?t unique strikes ever called. Unlike the usual strike, the movement will not be for shorter hours or higher wages. Thousands of persons in every walk of life, who are occupants of rented houses and rooms may "strike"! against their being literally "locked out" of their homes by property | owners who are charging exorbitant? and illegal rents. Kent in Havana during the last j two years has increased about f?ft j per cent, and in sonn- cases is report- 1 ?d to have more than doubled, es-l pecialiy in the poorer quarters. According to the law a property! ?wner must file with the city authori-{, lies a sworn statement of the cost ofl< .??etna ruction of any building owned e >r erected by him. from which figures j, an only tin- taxes to tie collected.!1 '?nt ihe rent which may legally he'] ??harged. are fixed. The property!* rwners having greatly increase.1 rents.!' but without correspondingly aug-lj aenting their tax payments, the rent-M ng.public is loudly protesting andM i here is being formed an organiza-jj ion which has for its object the cali-;^ ng of a strike by renters to force theII ?eduction of rates to something liicn!?] normal. 'i 11 the strike is really called those j j aking part will not actually refuse to!?| Kiy rent whatsoever, but will de- 1 ?line t., pay more than t!.-. municipal? *| eccrds call for. ' Killed in Runaway Son of Mr. J. 0. Moseley Killed Wednesday Afternoon at ML Holly ! George Moseley. the fourteen-year old soil of Mr. J. O. Moseley, who formerly lived in this city, removing to Mt. Holly a few months ago, was killed at that place Wednesday after noon. Full particulars of the acci dent have not been learned, but it is stated that he was thrown from a wagon when a mule, he was driving ran awaj- with him. Health Survey Notes Mr. E. R. Kendall Appointed Sanitary Engineer Mr. E. R. Kendall has accepted the positon of sanitary engineer for the \ Health Survey of Sumter County. Mr. Kendall was with the sanitary corps j Camp Jackson, and is a graduate civil 'engineer of the University of Michi gan. While he will be in chargo of the Lee and Darlington counties health j survey sanitary engineering work aiso I yet there is a great deal of work for i him in this county. Judging by the de | mand for septic tank sewage disposal I plants in this county, it will be sever al months before he is able, to finish ! work already booked in this county. ! in his line. Mr. E. L. Filby the sanitary engineer I working with health survey in Sum ter county, has been elected State Sanitary engineer and he will help lout in this county also. Mr: FBby has i done splendid work in tiiis county, and he has been kept ??ry b.t.sy. Dr. D. T. Ra nk in. the field direc ; or of the Sumter County survey is I kept on the jump responding to calis for sanitary improvexmmrs through lout the rural districts. There can be I no possible doubt th??t the rural folks ; are going to get all that they can from the health survey. I As soon as a white rural visiting j nurse arrives and two more sanitary i inspectors, besides another worker for j the colored citizens, there will be ! much doing in sanitary ways j throughout Sumter county. j Troops for Ukraine j Volunteer Allied Force Request ed to Maintain Order j London, Jan. 20 r Correspondence ! of The Associated Press)?Use of l only a small volunteer force of allied ;1roops to maintain order in the Uk \ ralne is requested by the representa | tives of Russian political organiza ? tions in Uondon in a statement issued ; here purporting to set forth their ' views. | The statement expressly declares i that except for the assistance of "a j.small allied detachment that could br j brought from the Black Sea to main jtairt order in the Ukraine, the Rus ? sians ask for no allied troops at all, [only for material. Russia is able and 1 wilting and much prefers to rehabili tate! herself with her own forces." They also ask for war material, rifles and especially aircraft and tanks. These, they say, should be supplied to Russia's own army com prising 2.r?0.000 men under Admiral Kolchak, with headquarters at Omsk, and another 250.000 men under the command of General penikine, who is reported to have just joined forces with those of the Cossack- leader on the Don. General Kraznoff. The Russians appeal also for morar al lied support and recognition. Bol shevism must be placed outside the pale of society and declare that "such a pronouncement on the part of the Allies has never yet been made but would have tremendous influence and importance." A plan of military operations aim ed at the Bolshetiki . Is suggested by the Russian delegation. It proposes that the forces of Admiral Kolchak and General Denikine be joined and adds that if this were done three fourths of the task would be accom I !>lish"<1 and -'the collapse of Bolshe : vism \voul?l be only a matter of ' weeks." The next step proposed ? would be to sever the Bolshevik com ! munications between north and south ' Russia. The Russian delegation I pointed out that General Denikine is i being assisted by the allies from the i Black Sea from which he was only jsix hours distant and they asserted j that as soon as he had enough ma terial he would move north and join j Admiral Kolchak. and move toward ! Tsaritsin, an important strategic cen jter in southeastern Russia, j They declare that the armies of I General Denikine and Admiral Kol ?chak are- "large and well organized ! but are now separated by the Bolshe viki; and we are asking that they I shall be supported. The physical force ! of Bolshevism can be easily and ! quickly dissipated in this fashion." High Prices for Food. j D?sseldorf. Germany, March 5 (Correspondence)?The German au ! thorities have reported that there is 'plenty of food in the vicinity of D?s seldorf but it is difficult for the poor : er classes to purchase it on cards, j because the food is held for the high ! prices obtained for smuggled goods, j Meat when obtained legitimately is ! quoted at the normal equivalent of isi.20 a pound, butter at $1.40, |ggs iat 20 cents each, flour at five cents a pound and sugar at 24 cents a pound. ; The same foods if sold by smug j glers bring from two to five times j those prices. Bacon is sold by smX?? ! glers for the normal equivalent of ! four' dollars to seven dollars a pound. jThc men and women engaged in the ?smuggling trade call upon their cus tomers in the cities at night and buy ! their supplies in the country in the j day. London. Feb. 2C.?High prices for 1 blooded bulls, particularly those for j export, according to reports, ruled at i the sale of shorthorn cattle in JPerth [recently. The top price was ?20",000 i paid for the champion owned by I>ady iCatticart. Other bulls brought from I $15,000 to $7.500, the demand being I greater than the supply. -: Veteran Had To Get Up 8 Times j Has Been Taking Dreco One j Week, And Last Night He Had i To Get Up Only Twice, Accord ing To His Own Statement ' I am a veteran 84 years old and ?for the past forty years have been ?employed by the City of Macon, Ga. i A man my age feels that Is is pretty j well worn out when his kidneys go j back on him, and he has to get up? 'as much as eight times during the j night to relieve himself," says itr. ! Newton Frazier who now resides on j Rural Route No. 3. j My general health was very much jrun down and in addition to my kid I neys bothering me, I also suffered j daily from constipation, and my i stomach was very Veak so" that most everything I ate disagreed with ine. I i often had dizzy spells and my nerves i were very shaky and my sleep was j poor. j I read almost every day in the par I pers, about the new medicine Dreco, i and the good results Georgia people ? were getting, so I got a bottle; and'ft I went, right to the spot for me "tiulck. [ When I had taken it only a week,. I ? only had to get up twice during the i night; my constipation was relieved; ? the dizzy spells have gone; i am j sleeping fine and gaining strength i every day. I have just bought three : bottles of Dreco, and expect to take j them all, and I firmly believe I wOl be sound and well again. Dreco is the best medicine I ever came across'.in ; all my years, and I think every per ?son should know about it." j What Dreco has done for this old j gentleman, it can do for others,, if j they will just make up their minds i to get a bottle today and start t?k jing it. All druggists sell Dreco apd j it is strongly recommended in Sum Iter by SJb'ert's Drug Store.?Advt. NRILL O'DOWKU;. President O. L. TATES. Cashier A VALUABLE ASSET There is probably no greater asset to a young man, than his acquaints ance and friendship with a dependable financial institution and as there is no more opportune time than the present so many of "Our Boys" are return to cuhvate hat acquaintance, when ing from "Over There", after having driven the Hun to his knees, thereby saving the world and winning honors which they will carry with them to the grave. It means much to a young man to haw a checking account on a bank like this. If you have not 'bought about it, come in and talk it over with us. Capital and Surplus $250,090.0" The First National Bank SUMTER, S. C. t The National Ban! oi South Carolina of Sumter CAPITAL .?.$ LN)0,000.00 SURPLUS .2OO.0OO.00 lUiSOLiMJfcS .^,?00,000.60 A bank big enough, strong enough, and liberal enough to take care of the legitimate needs of all its custo mer*. C.C. ROWLAND. President F E. HINKAMT, Cat* for.