Newspaper Page Text
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VOLUME XVIII
ITUm VETERANS
GO TO BIRMINGHAM
BT SWT TRAIN
Four Local Camps Combine to
Enjoy Trip Renewing Old Ac
quaintances on Way to the
Reunion
Confederate veterans of the various
Atlanta camps left for Birmingham at
11 o'clock Monday morning in a special
train over the Seaboard Air Line rail
road. to attend the annual reunion of
the United Confederate Veterans, which
meets in that city on Tuesday, Wednes
day and Thursday.
On the train were members of Joe
Brown camp, W. H. T. Walker camp,
Tige Andersen camp, Atlanta camp No.
lit, and Wheeler's cavalry, as well as
a number of veterans from the Con
federate Soldiers’ Home.
The latter were given free transpor
tation by the Seaboard, and f free trans
portation was also given various other
veterans who were unable to buy their
tickets.
Fred Geissler. assistant general pas
senger agent of the Seaboard, went with
the veterans to see that they were well
provided for on the trip, and will re
main in Birmingham throughout the re
union. and accompany the Atlanta vet
erans on their return.
SPONSOR AND MAIDS GO.
Brigadier General M. C. Martin, of At
lanta. commander of the North Georgia
brigade of the United Confederate Vet
erans. was prevented, by injuries sus
tained tn a recent auto accident.’ from
attending the reunion. His brigade will
he commanded by Colonel John S. Pra
ther. of Wheelers cavalry The
sponsor for the brigade. Miss Mar
ion Perdue, left on the Birmingham
special with her maids of honor. Miss
Evelyn Roane, of Atlanta, and Miss
Bessie Moore, of Rome. The matron of
honor for the brigade will be Mrs. Rich
*rd P. Dexter, of Montgomery, who will
ioin the sponsor and maids in Birming
ham.
General A. J. West, of Atlanta, for
merly commander of the Georgia divi
sion of the United Confederate Veter
ans. who also left Monday, will de
liver an address Monday night at the
opening exercises of the reunion, in
the course of which he will describe the
proposed Confederate memorial which
is to be carved on the side of Stone
Mountain, near Atlanta. General Weft
will also move to accept the invita
tion of Washington. D. C.. as the'next
meeting place of the United Confeder
ate Veterans’ reunion.
Several special trains with veterans
TFUrIuU- North Carolina and
through Atlanta’
Monday on their way to the reunion.
It is planned for several hundred
veterans to come from Birmingham to
Atlanta next Saturday, after the re
union is over, to attend the dedication
of the Stone Mountain memorial at the
mountain next Saturday afternoon.
Birmingham Thronged
For Veterans' Reunion
(By JUsociated Preft. >•
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.. May 15.—This
city was thronged with Confederate
veterans and visitors here to partici
pate in the twenty-sixth annual Con
federate reunion which begins tomor
row. The vanguard of the old soldiers
end visitors began Jo arrive yesterday
and incoming regular and special trains
today brought thousands of others.
General Bennet H. Young, of Louis
ville. K>.. commander-in-chief of the
t'nited Confederate Veterans, and his
chief of staff. General W. E. Mickle, of
New Orleans, are here, together with
t-.ost of the departmental commanders,
M-onsors, maids and matrons of honor.
Birmingham was prepared today to
care for the largest number of visitors
in its history. Every effort has been
made to provide for the comfort of the
cld soldiers. Tn addition to the thou
sands of tents spread out over f the
big Xalr grounds, hundreds of private
homes have been thrown open to them.
Numerous social functions will be
given in honor of the veterans and
visitors. The concluding feature of
the three days' encampment will be a
tig ball.
Already a spirited contest is on among
various cities to capture next year's
icunion. Memphis. Atlanta and Wash
ington. D. C., are in the race. A move
ment already is on to name Montgom
ery, "the cradle of the Confederacy,"
as the city in which the last of the
reunions shall be held, whether next
year or later. Cittxens of that city
are behind the movement which is an
outgrowth of the suggestion that the
j i esent reunion may be the last to be
held.
REUNION OPENS TUESDAY.
The sessions of the reunion will be
held in the Bijou theater commencing
at 10 a. m. Tuesday. Richard W. Mas
sey. chairman of the local entertain
ment committee, will call the gathering
to order and Rev. J. W. Bachman, chap
lain general of the veterans, delivering
the invocation. General John G. Smith,
commander of the Fourth Alabama brig
ade. representing the Birmingham vet
erans. will deliver the opening address
president George B. Ward, city com
, missioner. will respond for the city: K.
W. Bush, president for the Bi-—inghnm
chamber of commerce; J. Asa Rountree
In behalf of the Sons of Confederate
Veterans; Mrs. Chappell Cory, tn be
half of the United Daughters of the
Confederacy: Hon. Charles Henderson,
governor, in behalf of the state of Ala
bama. and General George P. Harrison,
commander of the army of the Tennes
see. in behalf of the Confederate veter
ans. *
Robert A. Brown, chairm in of the
r«*Peral local committee, will be intro
duced and he In return will turn the
convention over to General Bennett H.
• Youns. commander-in-chief of the
United Confederate Veterans, who will
deliver the response to the addresses of
welcome. Committees will then he an
pntateA. Patriotic music will be ren
dered during the opening session.
In the afternoon the feature will be
an address by Hon. John T. Goolrick on
"onfederate Soldier." and a play by R.
C. Rogers.
A reunion and handshaking will he
held in the principal park of the city,
during which the southern airs will be
,-layed by the bands, and a score of
’i.nsolidated bands will play together.
In the evening the annual oration
will be delivered by Irvin S. Cobb, au
thor and newspaper man. and the of
ficial sponsor and maids will be pre
*ente<L
House Roars as
Howard Throws
Gaff IntoG. O.P.
by Ralph smith.
WASHINGTON. May 15.—Republican
leaders in congress and Republican pol
iticians generally awaited with eager in
terest the result of the special congres
sional election to be held in West Vir
ginia. It was their confident ex
pectation that the result would
prove so gratifying to their partisan
view that the •’triumph” could be turned
to good political account as reflecting
the sentiment of the country and pre
saging a Democratic defeat in Novem
ber.
And the Republicans did win the elec
tion in West Virginia, but if one relied
upon Republican congressional leaders
and party managers for the information
one would very likely remain in a state
of blissful ignorance.
Far from measuring up to their ex
pectation that the result would be a
Republican victory so large and em
phatic that it might be pointed to as a
"political barometer" reflecting what is
likely to happen next fall, the West
Virginia election developed evidences of
unexpected and unmistakable Democrat
ic etrength. • ■
BIG REPUBLICAN LOSS.
In a district that is normally Repub
lican by from to 4,000, the Re
publicans. in this special election, won
by a scant majority, notwithstanding
that they had as their candidate George
M. Bowers, the strongest man in that
end of the state, and a man whose per
sonality and popularity carries with it
a large following without regard to po
litical alignments. Mr. Bowers was
former commissioner of fisheries. He
nad the support pf the old line Republi
cans in the state, and Colonel Roosevelt,
too, interested htiaself in his candidacy
to the extent of writing letters and
sending telegrams to Progressives in
West Virginia endorsing Bowers.
So that the scant 400 majority by
which he won is not being pointed to
with pride by the Republicans; rather,
the result is being viewed with alarm.
As a matter of fact, in view of all cir
cumstances and conditions, the West
Virginia result is significant, and un
questionably reflects that the Democrat
ic party is stronger now than It was
when President Wilson was swept into
office.
And the Democrats of congress ana
in the campaign headquarters accept the
West "Virginia result for its face value.
They feel encouraged, and are giving
expression to their feelings in the de
bates in the two houses of congress.
HOWARD CHIDES REPUBLICANS.
William Sohley Howard, the Atlanta
congressman, whose originality of ex
pression always challenges the atten
tion of his colleagues, arose In his place
and observed that he would like to make
a "few remarks for the sake of those
gentlement on the other side of the
house <Republicans) who seem to be
suffering from political cramp colic.
"They talk about what they are go
ing to do in November." he said. "Why.
they are going to be the sickest set of
Republicans in November you ever saw
in your life.
"The gentleman from Michigan refer
red to the ’one term’ plank. That is
the main thing that seems to Interest
all of you. You are as scared of Pres
ident Wilson as you are of a cinnamon
bear. You stay awake at night to keep
from having a Wilson nightmare."
Mr. Howard all this time was point
ing his finger at Republican Leader
Mann, and the house-was in convulsions
of laughter. He continued:
"Here you are 30 days from the great
convention of your party, running
around like a cat shot with a paper of
No. 8 tacks, trying to find some one to
take a nomination that they know will
not be worth anything after tney get
it
"One day it is Root; the next day It
is Roosevelt, or Weeks, or Burton, or
Fairbanks, or Cummins, or La Follette,
or Hughes. Then your Republican pa
pers let out a wail for a man to beat
Wilson.
"No one seems to have an Interest tn
the coming except the south
ern negro delegates. Do you know why
they are interested? They want to be at
the auction. It is really amusing to
see the bravery and front that you are
putting on—whistling while you go
through the graveyard. You may keep
on whistling, but everybody knows you
are scared.’’
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I R. F. D.
BRITISH AND TEUTONS
FIGHT HAND TOM
IN IWJffl FRANCE
Germans Report Repulse o*f
Attacks of English Near Hul
luch in Efforts to Recapture
Trenches
(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, May 15.—Sharpe:
fighting is now in progress in other sec
tions of the western front than in the
Verdun region.
Notable activity has been reported re
cently along the British lines in north
ern France and Elanders and today Par
is records brisk action by the artillery
on both sides in the Champagne, the
scene of the main French drive In last
September’s offensive.
At Verdun, the play of the heavy
guns is being kept up to some extent,
there having been bombardments in the
sectors of the Avocourt wood and Hill
304, northwest of the fortress.
The German official report says that
the British offensive in northern France
resulted in hand-to-hand fighting.
Shelling of Avacourt Wood
And Hill 304 Continues
(B; Associated lr»n)
PARIS, May 15.—The bombardment in
the region of the Avocourt wood and
Hill 304 in the Verdun section still con
tinues, according to an official state
ment issued today by the French war
office. In a small engagement west of
Mount Tetu In Champagne the French
captured fifteen prisoners. Calm is re
ported on the rest of the front.
The statement follows:
"South of the Somme near Verman
dovlllers we delivered a coup de main
which permitted us to clear the enemy
from a first line trench.
“In Champagne there was great ar
tillery activity on both sides in the sec
tors of Meuse de Champagne and the
Butte du Mesnll. An invasion of a Ger
man work west of Mount Tetu permit
ted us to capture fifteen prisoners.
"In the Verdun region there were
bombardments in the sector of the
woods of Avocourt and Hill 304.
"Calm Is reported on the rest of the
front.”
Germans Claim Repulse
Os Drives by British
(By Associated Press.)
BERLIN. May 15.—(8y Wireless to
Sayville)—The British have been attack
ing the German lines near Hulluch in
Northern France In an effort to recap
ture the trenches recently taken by the
Germans there, but all their attempts
have been repulsed, according to today's
statement by the war office.
In the Verdun region the French fail
ed in attacks near Dead Man hill, and
near the Caillette wood.
The statement follows:
"Western theater: The artillery and
patrols on both sides have been active
in many sections.
"The enemy attempted to recapture
the positions taken by the Germans near
Hulluch. All his attempts either broke
down under the German artillery fire or
were repulsed in hand to hand fighting.
"French atacks in the Meuse district
on the west slope of Dead Man Hill and
near the Caillette wood were easily re
pulsed."
Further Success for
Belgians in East Africa
(By Associated Press.)
PARIS, May 15.—Further successes
for the Belgian expedition which has in
vaded German East Africa were an
nounced in the official statement an
nounced today by the Belgian war de
partment at Havre.
The statement says that Colonel Moli
tor, in command of the southern col
umn occupied Kigali, capital of the Ger
man province of Ruanda on May 8. The
Belgian troops have also captured the
island of Kiviuivl in Lake Kivu which
the Germans took by surprise at the be
ginning of the war.
Austrains Claim Heavy ' .
Losses for the Italians
(By Associated Press )
BERLIN, May 15.—(8y Wireless to
Sayville.)—The following is the official
Austrian report of May 13: •
“Italian front: Our troops repulsed
several attacks on the northern slope
of Montesane Mlchaele. The Italians
suffered heavy losses.
“Russian and Balkan fronts: The sit
uation is unchanged.”
ATLANTA, GA, TUESDAY, MAY 16. 1916.
SCENES OF ACTIVITY THIS WEEK
7~ B
'W
J OHM, DO 2
You recollect
THAT LAST /
hAAPE at I • /Mt
SEVEN , J
\ pi ails ? /
•'' USr z" — i
g _ J
I reu^i» w
— —— ——
SIR ROGER CASEMENT ON
mill FOB HIGH TREASON
/
I
Preliminary Hearing Given Al
leged Head of Rebellion
in Ireland
(By Associated Press. 1
LONDON, May 15.—Sir. Roger Case
ment, who only a few years ago achieved
international fame for the services he
rendered his government in the exposure
of the Putumayo rubber atrocities, to
day faced the bar in an ordinary police
court for a preliminary examination to
determine whether he should be held
for trial on the charge of high treason
against the same government in connec
tion with the rebellion in Ireland.
Not in has so popular
Interest been manifested in a case c f the
courts. This is due not only to the
prominence of Casement and to specu
lation as to his ultimate fate, but also
because it has been expected, evidence
would be produced which would lay
bare a widespread plot resulting in the
revolt.
SIR ROGER SMILES.
When Casement was led into the
court Sir John Dickinson, who presided;
the lawyers and the witnesses all were
in their places. There was a hush of
expectancy as he entered the dock and
every face was turned in his direction.
Far from appearing deeply disturbed
at his position, Sir Roger smiled and
(Continued on Page 7, Col. 1.)
HARDWICK TH SUPPORT
SHIP PURCHASE MEASURE
Bill Amended So Bankhead and
Others Also Will Now
Cast Vote for It
(BY RALPH SMITH.)
WASHINGTON. D. C., May 15 —Sena
tor Thomas W. Hardwick today announc
ed that he purposes to support and vote
for the administration ship purchase
bill, which soon will be called for con
sideration and passage in the senate.
It is understood that Senator Bankhead,
of Alabama, and possibly others of the
seven Democratic senators who opposed
the bill at the last session of congress
will probably join Georgia’s junior sena
tor in supporting the pending legisla
tion.
Senator Hardwick's determination
came today as an agreeable announce
ment to the administration forces,
though his decision occasioned
no surprise among persons familiar
with the basis or Mr. Hardwick’s op
position to the legislation at the last
session. In other words, the bill as now
presented meets practically all of the
objections entertained by Mr. Hardwick
to the legislation in the "first instance,
and enables him to give it his support
without sacrificing in the l,east any
political or economical principle respect
ing the measure. •
Indeed, tne bill in its present form,
not only meets the original objections
of Mr. Hardwick, but is so shaped as to
embrace the very suggestions he offered
in the senate at the last session in
debate with Senator James, of Ken
tucky.
“I have decided to support the ship
ping bill," said Senator Hardwick,
"because, in the first place, it contains
the compromise suggested by the seven
Democratic senators who opposed it at
the last session, viz: Only temporary
governmental participations in the op
eration of the ships, and this solely
because of abnormal conditions caused
'by the European war. I am -unalterably
iorposed to permanent government op
eration.
; "In the second place, the bill in its
present form is based oh a correct gov
ernmental principle, viz: Governmental
control and regulation of shipping rates
in the same way and under the same
constitutional authority as the govern
ment now applies to the regulation of
interstate commerce control and regula
tion, instead of operation. The govern-
Iment has the same power over foreign
commerce as over interstate commerce
and in exactly the same clause of the
federal constitution.
j "During the last session of congress,
1 urged in debate with Senator James
that the government should apply this
principle of governmental control to the
shipping problem before undertaking
'ownership and operation, and the bill as
now drafted, happily, is based perma
nently on this proposition.”
Submarine and
Steamer Collide
(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, May 15. —A collision
I off the Delaware breakwater between
submarine K-2 and the steamer Arragon,
in which neither was apparently se
verely injured, was reported to the navy
department today. The K-2 which was
en route from Hampton roads, proceed
ed, and has arrived at New York.
CAUSE FOR GIRL'S SUICIDE
MAE NEVEH BE KNOWN
Officials Will Not Open Per
sonal Letters Left by Miss
Van Valkenburgh
Only two persons may ever know what
prompted Miss Eleanor Van Valken
burgh, thirty years old, of a prominent
Huntsville. Ala., ramily to end her life
at midnight Sunday in her room at the
Ansley hotel by firing a 32-caliber steel
bullet from an automatic pistol through
her brain.
One is her mother, Mrs. E. B. Van
Valkenburgh, of Huntsville: the other
is D. M. Treminger, an Atlanta travel
ing salesman, for an automobile con
cern. An inquest will be held Monday
afternoon at 3 o’clock at the Poole un
dertaking parlors.
Letters in sealed envelopes addressed
to these two persons, and found on a
table in her room were marked "per
sonal.” •
For this reason, Coroner Paul Donehoo
and Police Captain Poole have seen fit
not to open them. Their contents are
secrets and the letters will be deliver
ed only to those to whom they were ad
dressed.
Tn connection with the letters, were
found two telegrams, gripped In the dead
woman’s left hand and pressed against
her heart when the house detective of
the hotel and the house physician enter
ed the woman's room.
Both of these telegrams were sent
from Cincinnati and both were sent to
Miss Van Valkenburgh. Both were
signed “Dan,” a name corresponding to
the first initial of the man to whom the
letter was addressed.
One telegram stated:
“Will be in Louisville Monday: Nash
ville, Tuesday; am seeing mother to
day.”
The other stated:
“No letter; are you all right?”
There was no doubt in the minds of
authorities of the hotel and the house
physician that the suicide of Miss Van
Valkenburgh had been carefully pre
arranged.
The house detective, attracted to the
room by groans, obtained a pass key
and opened the door.
With a pillow neatly arranged for her
head, the form of Miss Van Valken
burgh, almost completely dressed, lay
as it would if she had prepared for a
night’s sleep. In the right hand, par
tially gripped, was the revolver. Miss
Van Valkenburgh had never removed
her shoes, which were of the latest
style, a champagne color, with hose to
match. Her hair,« light and fluffy, ap
peared to have been washed only a short
time before.
On a chair near by was a most stylish
black silk dress of the most elaborate
tailoring, which the young woman had
taken off. She was clothed In a silk
underskirt.
The woman was unconscious when the
house officer entered the room. By the
time the house physician arrived, her
groans grew more feeble and death re
slted in a few minutes.
The bullet ranged through the tem
ple from the right side and same out at
the left ear. The bullet was embedded
In the pillow.
Miss Van Valkenburgh was a most
beautiful woman, one who would catise
any one to give a second glance of ad
miration. Her hair was of a beautiful
brown and she was tall. Her dignified
manner of carrying herself enhanced her
attractiveness.
Miss V.vi Valkenburgh registered at
the hotel last Thursday. She was sel
dom seen about the lobbies or the mez
zanine. She was'noticed Sunday night
returning to the hotel with a party of
friends. Less than two hours later she
had ended her life.
NUMBER 64.
SCOn RETURNS TO ’
MAKEREPDRTABOUT
BORDER CONFERENCE
Chief of Staff Will Explain to 1
Secretary Lansing Early To- v
morrow Why Obregon Did
Not Sign Protocol
(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, May 15.—Major Gen- |
eral Hugh L. Scott, chief of staff of the J
army, returned today from his border .
conferences with General Obregon, hope
ful for the situation despite the fact
that the conferences resulted in no for
mal agreement for co-operative action.
The chief of staff conferred with Secre
tary Baker but made no formal report. |
Secretary Baker said General Scott . :
stated he thought a favorable situation
had been created by the conference. |
General Scott will sc Secretary Lans- , J
ing tomorrow and meanwhile no steps
will be talten to reopen diplomatic ne
gotiations for a formal agreement with j
General Carranza. Secretary Baker in
dicated, however, that General Scott s 1
thought there would be no great delay i
in arriving at an understanding and for--
mulating a protocol.
Pending the ratification of an agree- 1
ment, Carranza troops are being moved • j
northward into the bandit-ridden por- .H
tlons of Mexico. The American expedi
tionary force under General Pershing is
being withdrawn into strong groups on
the line of communication where it wijl
await the outcome of General Obregon’s
efforts to clean up the territory to thb *
south. General Funston has mapped out
a co-ordinated scheme for border patrol
with the 35,000 men he will soon have J
available for that purpose exclusive of jj
the 14,000 or so in General Pershing’s
column.
NO WORD FROM A. B. C/S. J
It was said officially at the state .
department that no suggestions either 1
formal or informal had been made by
the South and Central American diplo- 1
mats in the conference which preceded
the recognition of the Carranza govern- 1
ment by the United States that their
governments would view with approval
intervention in Mexico by the United
States.
The conference voted unanimously for
the recognition of General Carranza, It
was added, although the action was not '
bihdlng upon any of the governments •
represented.
American oil operators at Tampico
have asked the state department for |
further protection. Official advices said
military activities of troops under Gen
eral Nafarette had caused Increased
alarm among the foreign colony.
A request for an American oil flrm
ai Tuxpam for a warship is under in-.
vestigation by the state department.
* While General Carranza awaits a re
port from General Obregon, further ne
gotiations between the two governments 4r
are postponed. General Obregon now
is en route to Mexico City to report
personally to General Carranza.
Eliseo Arredondo, General Carranza’s K j
ambassador here, said today he did not
expect new instructions from his gov
ernment until General Carranza had met j
General Obregon. It was thought prob
able Mr. Arredondo would receive in
structions this week. <
Value of Army Mule Proved
By Campaign in Mexican Hills
(By Associated Press.)
FIELD HEADQUARTERS. May 8.
(By Army Motor Truck to Columbus,
N- M., May 15.) —The value of the army
mule, which wavered momentarily when
automobile trucks in the Villa chase
demonstrated their adaptability for
mountain transportation, has been vin
dicated by the results of this cam
paign.
In transporting supplies overlan to
the main bases, through a country with
out railroads, the automobile trucks
have proven much superior to the old
fashioned mule wagon teams, the re
liance when Geronimo was pursued
through this same country. Meanwhile
the mules as pack animals have gone
beyond the new truck lines into coun
try >here no wheeled vehicle yet in
vented can move, crossing chasm and
climbing through mountain forests
where It has been necessary to trample
paths through the brush.
These mules proved more hardy than.
horses in the bandit chases. They were
better able to live off the country with
out loss of strength. They ate almost
everything except rocks and one kind
of rope. The one rope which they would
not eat was the Mexican lariat, made
out of horse hair.
While the animals did not actually
take much leather or other foreign sub
stance into their stomachs, they were
continually chewing at harness when
it was within reach, .to get the slightly
salty taste It possesses. The mules also
nibbled at'trees* dead weeds, sticks and
dirt. On the mountain marches, they
thrived fairly well, while carrying
heavy loads of food and ammunition be
hind the cavalry columns.
Funston to Strengthen Texas
Border Patrol Considerably
(By Associated Press.)
. SAN ANTONIO, Tex., May 15.—In
formation indicating a plan for the re- j
sumption of raids across the interna
tional line near Brownsville, Tex., has
reached army headquarters here, and
will. It is expected, cause a considerable
strengthening of the force now patrol
ing that district. General Funston and
his staff will study in detail today
the proposed reorganization of the en
tire border patrol and it was indicated
that the Thirtieth infantry, comihg
from New York state, would be sent to
Rio Grande City for service between
there and Brownsville, the district so
irequently raided a year ago.
Official reports from the officer com
manding gave no additional news of the
activities of armed Mexicans opposite
Progreso, Tex., but their presence
there was in line with reports made by
agents of the department of justice and
of the state department. These of
ficials have been investigating for sev
eral days reports that agitators were
trying to incite to fresh activity those
who participated in the raids of last
year and that they had secured tenta
tive promises of co-operation, or at least
passive support, of certain minor Car
ranza officials located in that quarter
of Mexico.
No apparent anxiety regarding the po
sition of the little punitive force that
entered Mexico near Boqulllas was in- I
dicated at headquarters. Colonel Sibley
is commanding only four troops of ca\-
alry and a machine gun company, but
army men here believe that he would
have no difficulty in withdrawing if
menaced by a greatly superior force.