Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, February 02, 1917, Image 1

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Atlanta semi-weekly journal., February 02, 1917, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextW Utowiw £ emi-WaW lowrwal VOLUME Xl\ AMERICAN SHIP DEFIES GERMAN WARNING BREAK WITH CENTRAL POWERS IS BELIEVED DECIDED UPON BY UNITED STATES OFFICIALS STEAMER ST. LOUIS WILL SAIL DESPITE KAISEJTSATTITUDE No Effort to Be Made to Paint Liner in Conformity With Regulations Prescribed by German Government PORT OF NEW YORK IS OPENED TO ALL SHIPPING Britain Unleashes Fleet of 4,- 000 “Submarine Chasers;" Teuton Ships in American Ports Under Heavy Guard Fy Am ousted Pres*. NEW YORK. Feb. I.—The American line steamship St. Louis will sail Sat urday as scheduled and no effort will be made to paint the ship in conformity with the regulations prescribed by the German government as a guarantee for •sie safety of the vessels Hying the American dag according to announce ment today by the Internationa! Mer cantile Marine. Although < representatives here of leading allied shipping lines said the movements of their vessels would pro-j • ceed as scheduled, regardless of the German note denning a new naval war fare. it was understood on good au thority that the movement 01 ail ships will be controlled to even a greater uc gree man heretofore i»y oroers ui tae British adm.rally. I K',j*rT ACTION TAKEN. Prompt action was taken, however, by representatives 01 neutral Hues wnose vessels nave been toucn.nfe at Kirkwad and t* atmouth tor examination. The Danish passenger steamer Heilig Olav, booaeu to lca>e today tor Copenhagen, was ordereu to remain here until tui tnex notice. bimila. action was taken by the Hol- • lanu-American line, which nag fi'e sa.ps m American pons. Representatives of these iin s expect de.mite orders soon icgaid:n% the tu lare movements of their ships. I rum representatives ot several ship ping companies it was learned that they were doing nothing pend.ng leceipt of expected official orders." After being sealed ail night by a cor don of dcstroyeis and coast guard pa trol boats, the port ol New York was to day opened by the customs authorities to all m-om.ng and outgoing shipping. The stand taken by the collector of the port was >hat ships vouid sail at their own risk, they were permitted to cleat as usyal EFFECT OF BLOCKADE FELT. The eflevi of Germany’s declaration cf a sea blockade, of the entente nations to be enforced with every available weapon • and without further notice.” was felt to day in every port on the Atlantic coast. Owners and agents of vessels flying neutral flag!* were in doubt —» to their ■ uture -ourse and it is believed that most of tjiem will keep their ships in i»ori awaiting instructions irom their governments. In the offices of British and French i.nes it was said that there would be nc Inteiruption in* the sailing from American ports of ships carrying the dags of the allies. To meet just such an emergency the British* government has assembled it was said, a large fleet of small fast’ cruisers to be used as "submann? chasers’." These vessels, said to number 4.00«. will keep the sea lanes tlaar of raiders and submarines and act as convoys. P. A. S. Franklin, president cf the international Mercantile Marine and nead of rhe American line, declared: "I do not think there is any danger for American ships on their present voyages." The Scandinavian-American line and the Holland-'American line expe« - te«t to receive -able instructions today from their governments. Neither, •' was said, has carried munitions cf war or contra band since the early days of the war. REDUCTION <>F TONNAGE. Shipping mon po : nted oui that the most obvious effect of the <Jerman declaration would be the "reduction in tne tonnage which the freight ships ot the European neutral lines could car rv because of the increased space which would have to be sacrificed to carry coal and provisions for one continuous voy age from American ports to neutral ports Hitherto neutral ships hive re lied largely upon British ports to re r>ew their supplies. Ko shipping of any kind was permit ted to leave New York last night. The harbor gates were closed by Dudley Field Malone, collector of (he port. Two. destroyers were stationed off quaran tine where the harbor narrows like the neck of a bottle and the federal officials devoted most of their attention to the German merchant fleet interned here. Revenue Bill Debated WASHINGTON. Feb. I.—The house •nday continue*: consideration of the ad ministration revenue bill with debate rearing an end. Passage before ad journment for the day virtually was assured. "WE STAKE ALL AND WE SHALL WIN." GERMAN CHANCELLOR Moment Has Arrived, He Says, When Unrestricted Naval t War Gives Greatest Promise of Success CHALLENGE IS ACCEPTED TO BATTLE TO THE FINISH U-Boats Sufficient to ’ Make Supplies Question Unbear able for Entente, Says Von Bethmann-Hdllweg !Bv Auxiaul Pr>«». 1 BERLIN. Jan. 31.—(Via London. Feb. I.*—Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg and other ministers attended an impor tant meeting of the ways and means committee of the reichstag today at which tne -entire war situation was gone over and new steps planned by the cen tral powers were considered. The chancellor opened the sitting with a speech of which the keynote words were. "We have been challenged to fight to the eftd. We accept the challenge, we stake everything and we shall be vic torious."* The secretary of state for the admir alty speke of the situation from the technical, military and naval viewpoint. Detailed statistical data in regard to the e-'oi cmic position of the world was supplied by the secretary of the in terior and Foreign Secretary Zimmer n'aAn replied to several special ques tions. HOLD SECRET SESSION. The committee then went into secret session at which speeches were made by representatives of the centris. nation al. liberal and progressive parties. In his address today before Jhe reich stag committee. Chancellor von Beth mann-Hollweg explained why in March and May of last "year he had opposed unrestricted submarine warfare, and why again in September, "according to the unanimous judgment of the political and military authorities, the question was considered ripe for decision.’’ The chancellor :epeated his previous utterance that as soon as he, in agree ment with the supreme army command, reached the conviction that ruthless submarine war would bring Germany nearer a victory the U-boat war would he started. TIME HAS ARRIVED. "This moment has now arrived,” he continued. “I<ast autumn the time was not yet ripe, but today the moment has come when, with the greatest prospect of success. we cam undertake the enter prise. We must therefore not wait any longer. "Where has there been any change in the situation’.”’ the chancellor asked. “In the first place, the most important -fact of alj is that the number of our submarines has been very considerably increased as comnared with last spring, and thereby a firm basis for success has been established. The second co-deci sive reason is the bad cereal harvest of the world. This fact already confronts England. France and Italy with serious difficulties which by means of unie str’.cted l'-boat war will be brought to a point of unbearableness. The coal question, too. is a vital question in war. Already it ; s critical as you know, in Italy and France. Our submarines will jpake it still more critical.’’ The chancellor’s announcement has been the subject of discussion at great headquarters during the last week by the emperor, the chancellor. the foreign secretary, the military authorities and the Austro-Hungarian premier. Count Csemln. Although a decision is supposed to have been reached last week. Foreign Sec-etary Zimmermann again traveled to great headquarters on Monday. On his return Tuesday he received the Amer ican ambassador, .lames W. Gerard, and held a lengthy discussion with him. INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR FARM WITHOUT COST You can Increase the value of your farm, no matter what the size, many dollars if you will set out the special assortment of twelve fine grafted ap ple trees which we are offering to our subscribers absolutely free. In just a few yean this apple orchard will supply your family with an abund ance of the finest apples and also give you a money crop for the market. Hundreds of farmers throughout the south have already ordered this collec tion of apple trees and if you haven’t already availed yourself of this oppor tunity we urge you to do so at once in time for planting this year. February and March are the month to set out ap ple trees in this section for the best results. , These apple trees are from one of the most reliable nurseries in the United States and you couldn’t get finer trees if you paid a dollar a piece for them. See our special offer on page 8 of this issue.—(Advk) IS IT THE LAST DESPERATE STAND? ' ' t.S Tij- •- Z:’ .7 fp • 0 ' ’ ?■?'” ■MF . a®**/ y» -L~ ■.Z iISKL-s Li . NEW LEASE CONTRACT FOR W. & A. HAS ABOUT BEEN AGREED UPON HEIRINGSII NEW VORK ON LEU LND THliflSDlf Committee Will Resume Probe in Washington Friday Afternoon • —« < By Associated Press.) NEW YORK. Feb. I.—On account of the international crisis the New York hearings in the “leak’ inquiry will close with today’s session. The investigation will be resumed in Washington tomor row afternoon at 2 o’clock. When the committee met F. A. Connol ly again insisted that he could not recall the name of any one who gave him any information about the peace note. His firm. Connolly said, “was making a living.” but not profiting greatly. "Isn’t it a fact,” demanded Represen tative Campbell. Republican, “that you recently laid out a great sum of money for an old country estate?" "I laid out 53.000 and my wife gave me half of the money,” Connolly said. James It. Reilly, managing editor ot the Wall Street Journal, and the ticker service, testified he put out the report of the coming of the peace note, largely on a "tip” broujftit him by Harold T. John son. a reporter, that the president would issue a peace manifesto Christmas. President Wilson Takes Time to Discuss Peace WASHINGTON, Feb. I.—President Wilson interrupted his consideration of the submarine situation this afternoon long enough to discuss peace with Dr. Paul Ritter, the Swiss minister, a com mittee from the Women’s Peace league, and Louis P. Lochner. of Chicago, an adviser of Henry Ford. Spanell Not Guilty, Is Verdict of Texas Jury SAN ANTONIO. Tex., Feb. I.—A ver dict of not guilty was returned after less than two hours’ deliberation today by the jury trying Harry J. Spanell, of Alpine. Tex., in connection with the kill-, ing of his wife, Crystal Holland Sptin nell, last July. FIT.ANTA, GA., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1917 Atlanta Plaza Project Not Likely to Be Included—47- Year Lease at $45,500 a Month The general terms of the contract for the releasing of the Western and At lantic railroad (the state roadt to the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railroad have about been agreed upon between the members ot the Western and Atlantic railroad commission and the railroad officials representing the N„ C. & St. L. It is expected that a full agreement will be reached before the conferences begun Wednesday, re sumed Thursday and which are sched uled to continue Friday, are ended. While no member of the commission nor any one of the railroad officials at interest can be persuaded to discuss the status of the negotiations it is known that the following points have about been decided: POINTS AGREED UPON. That the state road shall be leased for a term of forty-seven years and nine months. That the monthly renta.l shall be $45,500. which is $10,499 more per month than is received under the pres ent contract. That no provision shall be included in the lease contract for future negotia tions on Atlanta’s proposed plaza plan. It is understood that the railroad of ficials are positively opposed to any con sideration of the plaza plan or having anything written into the contract for the new lease which will leave the question open. It is also understood that a majority of the members of the Western and Atlantic railroad com mission have agreed not to insist on the inclusion of- such a clause in the con tract. One or two members of the com mission. however, are said to be stout ly insisting that such a clause shall be included, and it is expected they will continue their fight until the contract is executed. However, there now ap pears little hope that they will be suc cessful. No provision will be made in the new contract for the payment of taxes to the counties in north Georgia through which the state road runs. The lessee will agree to make a num ber of permanent improvements, in the property during the term of the lease, such a : putting down better rails, cut ting out heavy grades and bad curves, building permanent trestles, and will, it (Coatiaaed on Page 2, Coloma 2.J CANDLER COUNTY FARMERS. U BOLL WEEVIL TALKS Are Told How to Make Cotton Crops in Spite of the Pest (.Special Dispatch to The Journal.) METTER. Ga., Feb. I.—A large and enthusiastic body of farmers and busi ness men from every section of Candler county met here yesterday at the coun ty court house to hear discussions on iow to produce cotton under boll weevil conditions. Among those was H E. Saveley, an expert sent out by the United Ulates governmAit and working in Geor ia under the auspices of the State Col lege of Agriculture located at Athens. Mr. Saveley is a native of Mississippi and has had fiwst-nand experience and j observation in producing cotton under boll weevil conditions for the past iwelve years He admonished the farm ers in the section io still continue to diversify this year and raise plenty of food products, and to let their cotton rop be a surplus crop. J. G Liddei. agriculturist for the Cen- | tral of Georgia railway, was present i and made a very interesting talk on live stock production, saying that the one-crop idea of farmers was a mistaken ! one. that- live stock bettered the soil and furnished a diversification, thus giv ing the farmer employment and a steady income all the year ’round. The next speaker was W. F. Whatley. | of Statesboro, agriculturist for Bulloch | and neighboring counties. He made quite an interesting talk on the fertilizer situation. The last speaker on the program was Prof. J. K. Giles, of the State College of Agriculture. He used moving pic- i tures to show how the State College of Agriculture diversified its farming, i showing some interesting views of the j methods of teaching in that institution, i He also showed some other interest-1 ing views. The meeting was a success from every ; standpoint. 801 l Weevil Exoerts Speak at Fort Valley FORT VALLEY. Ga. Feb I.—,Sever al hundred people gathered to hear the | addresses at the boll weevil meeting in i Fort Valley Tuesday afternoon which , took place at the Dixie theater. The ( meeting was in charge of R. H. Howard. | county farm demonstration agent. The speakers were C. R. Burley, of Lout.-- ■ iana: Paul Tabor, state college of agri- : 1 culture. M. H. Pearson, of the Central railroad. ULTIMATUM TO BERLIN MAY PRECEDE NOTICE' OF BROKEN RELATIONS (By Associated Press.) WASHINGTON. Feb. 1. —After .a conference between President Wilson and Secretary Lansing, the opinion became generally prevalent in official quarters that a break in diplomatic relations with Germany seemed inevit able, although it was thought probable an ultimtum or warning to the Ber lin government might precede this action. The view was taken widely in official quarters that the United -StaTas, could not let the situation stand unchallenged. Secretary Lansing, after working alone in his office ail morning, went to the White House for the conference with President just before noon. Secretary Lansing would not discuss the situation at all and refused to answer a question as to whether nuMons of park’s choice SORPRISE BOTH SENATORS Meither the President Nor At torney General Has Indi cated Any Choice BT RALF'S SMYTH. WASHINGTON, Feb. L—When they had recovered from their surprise. Sen ators Smith and Hardwick today cate gorically denied the stories aaid rumors current jn Georgia to the effect that they had been called upon by President Wilson "to know if they will accept” Congressman Frank Park .for federal judge in the Southern district of Geor gia. Said Senator Smith; “The president has newer intimated to me that he had selected any particular person for the vacant judgeship in the Southern district of Georgia, and t he has not asked me with reference to ac cepting any choice made by him.” Said Senator Hardwick: • "The attorney general’s office informs me this morning that there is no foun dation in fact for the statements cir culated in Georgia about the Southern district judgeship. There is, in my judgement, no basis for the report. Certainly the president has rever men tioned the judgeship to me since Sena tor Smith and I called upon him some weeks ago. The story is idle romancing of a newspaper imagination. “The attorney general has informed me that before he makes any recom mendation to the president he will again confer with my colleague and myself, and I certainly have heard nothing from him to indicate that he is ready to makq his recommendation.” Since neither of the senators credit the report concerning Congressman Park’s selection by the president for the judgeship, both of them refused today to indicate what would be their atti tude in the event of his nomination. There is a strong belief, however, that they would ask the senate to reject the nomination, more especially since the congressman, in his applicancy for the appointment has not sought the endorse ment of either of them. In view of the statements of the sen ators, there is considerable speculation in Washington as to the origin of the newspaper stories and rumors current in Georgia concerning the judgeship. Possibly they spring from the evident confidence of Congressman Park in his appointment and the knowledge that both the president and the attorney general entertain for him the highest personal regard and appreciation of his qualities of character and legal ability. The fact, moreover, that a majority of the congres sional delegation in the house have strongly endorsed their second district colleague and feel a personal interest in his nomination undoubtedly has contrib uted to strengthen the impression he is slated for the appointment. There is still another fact that colors and may account for the reports of Judge Park’s . appointment, and that is his loyx»ty to the president in | the matter of legislation to restrict im-| migration. It will be recalled that Mr. Wilson vetoed the immigration bill when it passed congress two years ago. Con gressman Park was the only Georgian to vote to sustain the veto, and this not withstanding his advocacy of the legis-1 lation on its passage through the house. West Virginia Liquor Law Rigidly Amended (By Associated Piess.) CHARLESTON. W. V., Feb. I.—An amendment to the Yost law prohibiting the bringing by any one person of more than one quart of liquor into the state a month was passed by the house o* delegates here yesterday by a vote of to 5. The measure hxs already pass ed the senate and now goes to the gov ernor. The bill provides for a sentence of from two to six months in jail and a fine of from $10»» to SSOO for the first viola tion and one to five years In the peniten tiary for the second offense. NUMBER 35. any action had been, taken. A warning to Germany that a sev erance of diplomatic relations will follow the putting into effect •!' such a campaign of ruthlesness as she has announced, or an actual severance on Germany’s announcement as it stands, seems probable. There is no official ground, however, for stat ing that either of these courses has been selected, although one is gen erally expected. It is admitted that a course of ac tion has been decided upon, but -H tS said certain steps must be taken be fore it is announced. PLEDGES BROKEN. Germany’s sudden declaration of her Wlthout war ning to destroy all shipping over a wide area, comes as’ the climax to a long series of aggravated cases in which the United hZs gathered evidence that her pledges to respect international law at sea have been broken. e A score of American lives have been lost since the slate was wiped by Ger many's promises in the Sussex Xe Zc infT ins,anC€ there conflict ?^ UenCe LL and in came pmT ed a - ss from the German mbassy here that nothing would be permitted to disturb relations with the United States. After each of the new sinkings qame informal assurances that Germany was ready to make amends if her submarine commanders had violated orders An evidence of the efforts of the Ger man embassy here to keep relations tranquil is found in a comparison of the note handed yesterday to Secretary Lan sing by Count von Bernstorff with the one handed to Ambassador Gerard. The note published in Berlin announces in bold terms the determination of Ger many to wield every weapon at her command without quarter, while the note presented to the American state depart ment says the same thing in softened language. The German embassy has for months been building up an atmosphere of,hope fulness and at one time it was said that von Tirpitz, who originated the campaign of ruthlessness, actually had been forced from his high position by influences brought to bear by the Ger man ambassador Here in an effort to preserve good relations with the United States. Now it is frankly disclosed that von Tirpitz was deposed because he did not carry his campaign of ruthlessness far enough, that he was unprepared with an insufficient number of undersea ships to make this force effective, and was punished for his short-sightedness. Now, the officials who speak for Ger many in this country, unhesitatingly announce the plan to starve out England with a fleet of submarines which they estimate between 300 and 500, and they think they can. cut off the food supply of the British Isles completely within sixty days. RUMOR OF DISSENSION. American officials are not convinced that Germany’s announcement of a campaign of ruthlessness reveals the en tire situation. There have been intima tions of dissension between the entente allies, all of which, however, have been officially denied, and there are other circumstances which have come "into ' possession of the American government but are not being disclosed, which give ground for the possibility tharthe new submarine blockade may be only the' forerunner of something else equally startling. Neither is there any assur ances that the new warfare will be con fined to changes on the seas. The air of confidence which was open ly expressed at the German embassy was generally interpreted as an indication that the Berlin government was very sure of the success of its plans. • The ruthless submarine in augurated today by Germany brfiags the United States face to face with what President Wilson has declared to be the only alternative torecognition of Ameri can rights on the high seas—a break m diplomatic relations, with its accompany ing possibilities. Washington awoke- this morning with a shiver to a realization of this situa tion brought about by the warniAg note handed yesterday to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin and delivered to the state de partment by Count von Bernstorff. The president has given no intimation of the trend of his thoughts since he (Continued on Page 3, Column 5.)