Newspaper Page Text
THE WEATHER
Fair tonight and Fri
day.
VOLUME XIX, No. 344.
1,800 THE GERMAN
LOSS AS WARSHIPS
SUNK BY BRITONS
English Government Does Not
Mention Units of the Squad
ron in South America Naval
Battle—Thought No Jap
Ships Engaged
FATE OF THE DRESDEN
AND NURNBURG UNKNOWN
At Last Accounts the Smaller
German Warships Accompany
ing the Scharnhorst, Gneisnau
and Leipzig, Being Pursued.
London, 12:57 p. m.—The British
naval victory in the South Atlantic
was discussed in England today al
,tnost to the exclusion of all other
♦ phases of wr.r news. Last reports
stated the British squadron after sink
ing the German cruisers Scharnhorst,
Gneisenau and Leipzig, with the loss
of nearly ■',ooo men, was pursuing the
fleeing Dresden and Nurnberg. British
public waiting anxiously for further
news of this chase.
Great Disparity.
Naval observers, commenting on the
battle, not that in all naval engage
ments in the present war there is
great disparity between the losses of
the victors and vanquished. In the
case of the British cruisers Monmouth
and Goodhope, sent to the bottom by
a German squadron, the Germans
practically were unscathed and that is
true of the Eritish in their victorious
engagements. This is attributed to a
great extent to the fact that naval
engagements have been between ships
of unequal arament. Nevertheless, it
is argud that even with ships of sim
ilar arament the disproporti— of the
losses between the victor and the van
quished would be greater by far than
anything possible in land warfare
Japs Not There.
Tokio.—The British government has
communicated to Japan an official ac
p6unt of the sinking December Bth off
the Falkland Island in the South At
lantic, of the German cruisers Scharn
horst, Gneisenau and Leipzig, with a
loss of about 1,800 men.
The reports do not mention the
names of the British warships in this
engagement.
Didn’t Take Part.
Japanese navy authorities say no
advices have been received from the
Japanese warships in southern wa
ters: consequently it is to be presum
ed they did not take part.
The British squadron in the South
Atlantic, according to information
given out here, was reinforced recent
ly by several vessels armed with guns
of heavy calibre.
BEGIN RE HEARING OF INCREASE
IN FARE AUGUSTA-AIKEN LINE
Petition of the Railway and Electric Company Presented to
South Carolina Railroad Commission in Columbia---Fig
ures Submitted Regarding Alleged Earnings of the Road.
Demand Made For Corporation to Produce Its Books.
(By Thos. J. Hamilton, Special Staff Representative.)
Columbia, S. C.—For two hours this
morning the South Carolina Railroad
Commission heard testimony in the
Augusta-Aiken Railway and Electric
Corporation matter and at 12:30 ad
journed until 3 p. m.
Mr. L. J. Williams, of Augusta and
North Augusta, occupied much of the
morning session, giving figures pur
porting to show that the Aiken line
is making a handsome return on the
investment of about SIO,OOO original
capital stock. Mr. Williams submitted
figures to show that since the property
had been purchased from the Harri
man estate there had been several
millions of dollars added to the lia
bilities of the Augusta-Aiken Railway
and Electric Corporation and the
great question which seems to be in
the minds of those opposing the in
crease of from one to two cents per
mile is where has that money gone.
Mr. J. H. Pardee, vice-president of the
Augusta-Aiken, took the position that
the common stock, preferred stock and
bonded indebtedness have nothing
whatever to do with the question of
rates on the Aiken line.
A Fair Income.
Mr. Pardee says that a fair income
on the Investment is the only thing
to be considered and that the Augus
ta-Aiken line represents a total in
vestment of approximately $763,00(1
that It earned last year $46,000 and
after deducting $21,000 for deprecia
tion there remains $26,000 income,
which is approximately three per cent
on $763,000. Mr. Pardee did not get
into the company’s position very fuily
before the hour for adjournment came.
The question of having Auditor F. B.
Culley, of the railway company and
General Manager Spofford to come to
Columbia and testify was brought up
and Mr. Pardee stated in reply to the
question as to why he apparently did
not want these gentlemen to erme,
said he had no objection whatever,
but that it was manifestly impracti
cable to bring all of the books of the
company to Columbia. The morning
session ended with a promise from Mr.
Pardee to have Messrs Culley and
Spofford\ come to Columbia at onee,
while thO gentlemen opposing the In
crease were . llowed to wire for Messrs
Jas. R. league and Jas. U. Jackson,
THE AUGUSTA HERALD
Britons Are
Chasing the
Survivors
Montevideo, Uruguay.—Wireless re
ports received here indicate that the
German cruisers Dresden and Nurn
berg, the survivors in the engagement
with an English fleet December Tth,
in which the Scharnhorst, the Gneise
nau and the Leipzig were sunk, close
ly pursued by British warships are
fleeing in the direction of Port S. nta
Cruz on the Argentine coast, north of
the Atlantic entrance to the straits of
Magellan and west of the Falkland
Islands.
It is also reported that the German
auxiliary cruiser Prince Eitel is cruis
ing in the South Atlantic and that she
has on board 1,500 German soldiers.
Voted Anti-War
Credit, Germany
Amsterdam, (via London, 7:51 a. m.)
—Dr. Karl Liebknecht, the Socialist
member of the reichstag who was the
only one to vote against the war
credit at the recent session of the
reichstag, explains his action in an ar
ticle just published in Berlin. He
says:
"This war was not desired by any
of the people affected nor was it kin
dled to promote the welfare of the
Germans or my other people. It was
created by the common action of the
German and Austrian war parties in
the obscurity of semi-absolutism and
secret diplomacy in order to antici
pate their adversaries.
"At the same time the war is a Na
poleonic attempt to unnerve and
crush the growing labor movement.”
PROBABLY CAN’T ATTEND.
Washington.—President Wilson was
invited by the Georgia Congressional
delegation today to attend the unveil
ing of a monument next spring at
Widway, Ga., where the father of the
Midway, Ga where the father of the
Justice Holmes, of the supreme court,
and one of the ancestors of Mr. Wil
son served as pastors in the Presby
terian Church.
The preside it said his proposed trip
to Panama probably would prevent his
acceptance.
for the purpose of trying to get these
gentlemen to throw some light on the
situation.
Pardee's Position.
Mr. Pardee took the position that
neither Mr. Spofford nor Mr. Culley
could testify to anything material ex
cept what Mr. Cuelly has already
sworn to in the last annual report of
the Augusta-Aiken Railway and Elec
tric Corporation to the Railroad Com
mission of South Carolina. This state
ment showed that the common stock
outstanding on all the properties is
$2,250,000, the preferred stock $1,500,-
000 and $400,000 of bonds with $203,000
of additional bonds in the treasury.
This shows the bonded indebtedness
to be $19,000,000 more than Mr. L. J.
Williams alleged. However, Mr. Par
dee stated as before mentioned that
capitalization had nothing whatever
to do with rate-making and the rail
way company’s position is that the re
turns it is getting on the Aiken line
is inadequate on the Investment In
volved.
The Harriman Estate.
The company's position is also to
the effect that the entire property
was purchased in bulk from the Har
riman estate and it was impossible to
tell the exact amount of capital in
vested in the Interurban, although Mr.
Pardee stated that he believed it was
in the neighborhood of $763,000. The
attorneys opposing the increase say
that they want to know where the
millions secured from the sale of the
common and preferred stock and
bonds went, whether in improving or
in the pockets of financiers. (How
ever, any reflection on Mr. Pardee
personally was plainty disclaimed),
these atorneys say that they want Mr.
Culley to swear from knowledge ob
tained from the books whether this
money was spent in improving the
property or not.
They also want him to swear to the
exact amount paid to the Harriman
estate. They want to ascertain from
the books the cost of the construction
of the Aiken line. They also wish Mr.
Culley to answer this question, If the
Augusta-Aiken doesn't know how
much Is invested In the Aiken line
(Continued on Next Page),
THE ONE PAPER IN MOST HOMES THE ONLY PAPER IN MANY HOMES
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER 10, 1914.
Change in War Situation in Last 30 Days—Ger
mans Gain 40 Miles East, Lose 30, West
CHANGES IN BATTLE LINES.
The cross marks show changes In relative battle lines In Flanders and Russia in the fourth month of the
war. In Flanders the Germans have sacrificed, it is estimated, 110,000 lives in the effort to take the French
coast here nearest England at Gala Is. They have lost about 30 miles in 30 days. In Russia, the supreme ob
ject of Russia has been to strike at Germany through Silesia by way of Cracow. The German object here has
been to take Warsaw first for political effect, and second to compel Russia to retire from before Cracow, to
protect the Polish capital and to hold control of the Crocaw-Lodz railroad. Before Lodz, Germany has gain
ed forty miles. The war in the last thirty days has cost at least 800,000 In “casualties" and more than a bil
lion dollars in money.
Average Annual Nef Profil 132*4 Pet.
on Original Capitalization of the A.-A.
Road, Mr. Williams Told Commission
Sensation Created When He Announced Original Capital
Stock Augusta & Aiken Railroad Only SIO,OOO---Says It
Cost Only $490,000 to Build---Since 1910 Have Increased
Liabilities of all A.-A. Properties Millions, Says Mr. Wil
liams.
(By Thos J. Hamilton Special Staff Representative.)
Columbia, S. C.—Submitting figures to show that the Augusta-Aiken
line has paid an average of 132% per cent annually on its original capi
talization of SIO,OOO, after paying interest on $500,000 of bonds, Mr. I, J.
Williams created a sensation before the South Carolina Railroad Commis
sion this morning.
Mr. Williams submitted figures also to show that the original cost of
building the Augusta-Aiken line was $490,000, that the common stock was
only SIO,OOO and the bonded Indebted ness $500,000. The average annual
profit for eight years, according to Mr. Williams, was $38,500, less $25,000
interest on $500,000 of bonds at five per cent, making the average net
earnings $13,600, or 132% per cent on SIO,OOO.
Mr. Williams also showed that the capitalization of all the Augusta-
Aiken properties in 1910 was $1,919,000, after paying outstanding bonds, and
that since then common and preferred stock and bonds have been sold
amounting to $6,914,000.
The following are the figures submitted by Mr. Williams:
ORGANIZED AS AUGUSTA AND AIKEN RAILROAD
Construction of interurban line completed about October, 1902, includ
ing the two sub-power stations, sidings and equipments, about, $490,000.00.
Capitalization December, 1910, all A. & A. properties:
1910—December, paid Harriman estate in cash ..$1,750,000.00
December, paid outstanding bonds 169,000.00 —$1,919,000.00
Since 1910—Sold bonds 3,164,000.00
Sold preferred stock 1,500,000 00
Sold common stock 2,250,000.00 —$6,914,000.00
Since 1911—Paid dividends quarterly amounting to $90,000.00 annually, up
to and Including first two quarters of 1914.
Surplus earnings sufficient to take care of improvements.
AUGUSTA-AIKEN RY. INTERURBAN LINE.
1905, Capitalization.
Common stock, issued $ 10,000.00
Bonds issued, 5 per cent 500,000.00
Profits, 1905 30,000.00
Profits, 1906 34,000.00
Profits 1907 31,000.00
Profits,' 1908 - 42,000.00
Profits, 1909 42,000.00
Profits, 1910 41,000.60
Profits 1911 44,000.00
Profits,' 1912 46,000.00
, Total profits for the eight years 310,000.00
Average annual profit for the elnds $38,500.00
I,ess 5 per cent on $500,000.00 bonds 25,000.00
Average net earnings per annum 13,500.00
Annual net earnings. 132* per cent.
RAPID RISE IN
FOOD PRICES
Washington.—Rapid rise in the
wholesale prices of foodstuff In the
United States since the European war
began Is noted in a report today by
the Department of Commerce.
Wholesale prices of leading articles
of factory consumption and many of
the staple articles of food showed a
downward trend during 1913 and 1914
until the outbreak of the war.
Between Jan Ist and October 31st,
this year, granulated sugar increased
more than one and one-half cents a
pound; wheat, 20 cents a bushel; fam
ily beef, $5 a barrel; tea. two and one
half cents a pound; corn, 6 cents a
bushel; oats, H cents a bushel; and
native beef steers, sl.6i
During the same period coffee prices
decreased almost three cents a pound,
and mess pork $3.25 a barrel.
EXCHANGE HOT WORDS.
Washington.—Hot words were ex
changed today when a senate commit
tee resumed investigation of charges
by B. L. Dulaney, an independent coal
operator, that "a coal trust” through
domination of the Houthern Railway
discriminates against South Atlantic
ports.
REVOLTED DN
BATTLEFIELD
Geneva, (via Parle, 4:60 a. m.) —The
correspondent of The Journal de Ge
neve at Prague states that confirma
tion has been received there that
Czech regiments number twenty -
eight from Prague. Number 108 from
Brousau, Number 11 from Paszlka and
the eighth lanwe.hr of Prague which
were serving against Hervla, revolted
on the battlefield. The news, ac
cording to the correspondent, has
created a deep Impression in Vienna.
Various Stories,
Kaiser’s Illness
London, 12:67 p. m.—The reported
Illness of Emperor William continues
to be variously described. Home dis
patches say It Is serious and perhaps
pneumonia, while others declare he Is
a victim of mental depression or that
he Is suffering from fever, chills and
Influenza. About all that Is definitely
known beyond the official bulletin,
which admitted that his majesty Is
suffering from bronchial catarrh. I*
that the emperor has returned quietly
und unexpectedly to Berlin.
BIGGEST GROP OF
COTTON IN THE
HISTORY 0, S.
Country Will Produce This
Year Colossal Number of
Bales, Over 16,000,000, Ac
cording to Today’s Govern
ment Report.
Washington, D. C.—The United
Statea this year has produced the
greatest crop of cotton In its his
tory. More than sixteen million
bales, or 15,966,000 bales in lint
cotton, and ltnter cotton unofficial
ly estimated at from 600,000 to
650,000 bales, constitute the crop.
Final Estimates.
Washington, D. C.—The total pro
duction of cotton in the United States
for the season 1914-15 will amount to
15,996,000 bales of 500 pounds gross
weight, the department of agriculture
announced today In Its final estimate
of the crop.
Value Far Less.
I-ast year 14,342,367 bales Including
llnters, were produced and In the pre
vious year, 1911, the production was
16,250,276 bales Including llnters.
The production of lint is estimated
at 7,637,113,000 pounds, or 69,000,000
pounds more than In 1911.
While the production exceeds any
crop ever grown its value will he far
less and smaller than any other j ear
•luring the past five.
Based on the average price of 6.8
cents a pound, on December Ist, the
lint Is worth $519,323,684, while last
year It was valued at $887,160,000.
By States.
Washington, D. C. The estimated
production by states follows:
Bales
Virginia 24,000
North Carolina 950,000
South Carolina 1,500,000
Georgia 2,650,000
Florida 75,000
Alabama 1,900,000
Mississippi 1,275 000
Louisiana 460,000
Texas 4.560,000
Arkansas 1,040,000
Tennesse, 365,000
Missouri 75,000
Oklahoma 1,250,000
California 37,000
All other staes 15,000
PROLONGED PEACE WITH
GOD’S AID, SAYS KAISER
Berlin, (vis London,) —There is , . fl
ushed here today a speech made on
December 3rd by Emperor William at
one of the army camps, composed of
Germans and Austrians which he vis
ited on his recent trip to the eastern
front.
"You are fighting for a Just cause,
for liberty, for the right to exist as a
nation and for a future of prolonged
peace,” said the emperor. "Even
though the war should last for a long
time, we shall not allow the enemy to
have a moment’s quiet.
“We shall continue to fight with
success as heretofore, for Heaven is
on our side. With God we shall
achieve a prolonged p->ace, for our
nerves are stronger than those of our
enemies.”
ONLY BLIGHT DAMAGE.
Washington,—Damages to the big
electric collier Jupiter reported Injur
ed in the gale off the New England
coast, were very slight, the Navy De
partment announced today.
$6.00 PER YEAR—FIV E CENTS PER COPY.
BOWSHAPED RUSS ARMY
FORCES AROUND CRACOW
TURNED BACK BY GERMAN
STAR WITNESS
TELLS OF 11. S.
NAVY PROGRAM
Sec’y Daniels Closely Question
ed By House Committee To
day. “Wise Policy For Steady
Enlargement’ ‘ is Recommend
ed
Washington, D. C. Secretary
Daniels told the house naval com
mittee today that while the Am
erican Navy should be “steadily”
strengthened In an orderly way,”
each year, the sentiment of the
American people was against turn
ing the United States into a mili
tary nation in competition with the.
heavily armed powers of Europe.
The secretary’s declarations to
day, close upon the remarkable
testimony of Rear Admiral Flotch
e.r, who yesterday told the commit
tee there was only one navy In thn
world—England’s to which the
United States was not equal, came
as a. climax to two days’ discus
sion of the nation's preparedness
for defense.
Secretary of Navy.
Washington.—Secretary Daniels, as
star witness before the house linval
committee today was questioned close
ly about American naval policies and
the appropriation hill.
T have recommended this year that
we continue the regular and normal
construction recommended last, year,"
he said. "It seems to me wise policy
for steady enlargement. This includes
two dreadnoughts, six destroyers, eight
submarines or more, one gunboat and
one oiler. The president approve!
this."
“Extravagant” Suggestions.
Secretary Daniels characterized as
“extravagant" suggestions that there
I ought to he 100 submarines and 50 bat
tleships In the navy. The president,
tie said, believes “in the stead* de
velopment of the navy” and that “we
ought to go on today ns In the last
congress.” Secretary Daniels said the
president meant in his address to con
gress that there was no specific emer
gency other than there was at the last
session.
Personnel Is Full.
“We have added thiH year," the sec
retary said, "4,600 more men to the
navy, and foe the first time In manv
years the naval strength of personnel
is full. Of every six men offered for
service we have declined live.
“At. the next session of congress I
shall ask for more men for the three
ships now building, the Mississippi,
Idaho and California.
"It Is unnecessary to have enough
men at this time to man all the ships
In the navy. We have on every ship
enough men to take care of them.
"We’ll Keep That Up."
"We ought to have not more than
200 of our ships In commission at one
time. We have 229 ships In all. We
have now 90 per cent of our lighting
force In full commission and we’ll keep
that up."
Secretary Daniels said he was ask
ing congress to authorize a reserve of
ex-sailors of the navy which he said
would In ten days’ time "produce 25,-
000 picked men for service.”
Universal Disarmament.
Secretary Daniels thought universal
disarmament practicable, hut only by
international agreement.
“in my last report,” he said, “I ex
pressed hope that the day would come
when this feverish haste and compe
tition In costly engines of destruc
tion would stop, and that If this riv
alry goes ori the burden will become
too heavy for any nation to hear."
"Wouldn’t be In better position to
propose disarmament If we were to
stop heavy building programs?” ask
ed Mr. Butler.
"No,” replied the secretary. "It
would he unwise for us to act today
in any particular as we would not
have acted If there had been no war
in Europe. It would be a great mis
take If we were now to say that be
cause we hope for universal disarma
ment that we should stop now. Wo
would be In a much better position of
we continued construction than If wo
were to quit now.”
“A Powerful Navy.”
Hecretary Daniels was asked what
the settled military policy of the
United States really was. He replied
there “ought to be a powerful navy
and ought to he strengthened all the
time."
“Whether," he added, “there ought
(Continued on next page.)
WITH THE ARMIES
EAST AND WEST
France and Belgium.
London, 1:50 p, m,— ’ here ha* been
little or no change in the general sit
uation along the battle line of France
and Belgium but all French and Brit
ish official statement reflect the allies
contention that slowly and surely they
are gaining a superior position.
Cracow and Warsaw.
In the east, the German occupation
of Lodz has been temporarily eclipsed
by reports of activity north of the
Vistula from the southern part of East
Prussia, whence the Germans are ad
vancing toward Warsaw and in the
country east of UrHcow where com
bined Austro-Germnn forces are en
deavoring to outflank the Russian
left. The latter movement, according
to the Russians, has so far been re
pulsed.
HOME
EDITION
Battle in South Poland Devel
oping Favorably to Kaiser’s
Forces, is Berlin Report.
Petrograd, However, De
clares Repulse With Heavy
Losses For Enemy
SAY GERMANS DECIMATED
BY MURDEROUS FIRE IN
NIGHT: USE SEARCHLIGHTS
No Let-Up in the Desperate
Struggle. Fighting Still Con
tinuing Tenaciously.
Amsterdam, (via London, 8:20 a. m.)
—According to advices received and
published by the Berliner Tageblatt,
the battle in South Poland is develop
ing favorably for the Germans and
Austrians. The. Russian forces which
were originally lined bow-shaped
around Cracow according to the Tage
blatt, have now been repulsed at the
wings.
In the Darkness.
Petrograd, (Delayed in Transmis
sion). —An official communication Is
sued by the general staff tonight
gives the progress of the fighting In
the various fields. It says:
“In the region of Mlawa on Deo.em
liern Bth, the conflict assumed a less
tenacious character.
“On tlie left bank of the Vistula, on
(lie evening of December 7th, the
Germans, under cover of darkness
suddenly began an offensive move
ment simultaneously along the entire
front from How (west of Warsaw), to
Glowno (southwest of Warsaw). The
| movement was remarkable for its
j stubborn nature. The attack was re
i pealed again and again, the Germans
advancing in compact columns.
Searchlights Used.
"Aided by searchlights, however,
our fire decimated the enemy who
was everywhere repulsed. With the
rising of the moon the attacks of the
enemy ceased
“The next day the desperate fight
ing on the Lowicz-Tlow front was re
sumed but without success for the
enemy.
"In the plotrkiw region the situa
tion is unchanged. The fighting south
of < racow has continued tenaciously,
presenting alternately offensive and
defensive movements. The Germans,
twice a I tempted to break through our
fronts but were repulsed with serious
losses.
‘TIME WORKING
ON ALLIES SIDE'
French British Offensive in
Flanders Stirs Invaders to
Renewed Activity. “Strategic
Progress Made.”
London, 10 a. m.—German armies in
the west have been stirred to renewed
activity by the nlllea’ offensive move
ment as Is shown not only by their
sharp attacks in Flanders, but by
their attempted advance In the de
partment of Oise which the French
war o'flee says were repulsed. Lpres
und Fumes are reported again under
heavy German bombardment.
Strategic Progress.
London, 2:40 p. m.—“Of major tact
ical operations by the British forces
there recently has been an entire ab
sence; nor for some weeks has any
strategical advantage been won in a
geographical sence since there has
been no advance, and no gain in the
ground.”
j Col. D. D. Swinton, British eye-wit
ness In France and Belgium thtls sums
!up the situation, tie adds, however,
j that while there has been no ad
vance by the allies there has been a
constant strategic progress, In that
"time is working on their side.”
The remainder of the account re
lates to the lighter Incidents at the
front, emphasizing particularly the
good feeling which exists between the
British and French soldiers and the
French populace.
there are
12
Shopping Days
Before Xmas
Road Herald ad* and call
for advertised goods if you
wan* the pick of atylas and
bargain*.
When shopping in Augusta
tomorrow Sayt “I Saw 11 Is
The Herald.” It will pay.
Try It.