W 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.)
