Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, March 13, 1917, Image 1

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Atlanta semi-weekly journal., March 13, 1917, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextThe Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal VOLUME XIV. NAVY MAY BE MOBILIZED TO FULL STRENGTH British and Russian Forces Plan Union on Tigris River BRITISH TO CONTINUE DRIVE AGAINST TURKS FAR BEYOND BAGDAD General* Maude Not Expected to *Stop With Capture of Ancient City—Two-Thirds of Turk Artillery Lost By A*»oe:Bt*d PreM.l NEW YORK. March 12. —While great political importance is attached to the capture of Bagdad by the British, the military results of the notable event are of even greater immediate interest, ' pointing to the possibility of a com paratively speedy linking up of Brittan and Russian movements against the Turks in this far away field of war. The conditions which General Maude found upoi» entering the city of the calipha- and the status of his supply I arrangements must, in great measure.! affect any plana for a further advance. Given the assurance of adequate sup plies and replenishments it seems proo able that he will not rest content with holding Bagdad, but will attempt a fur ther move up the Tigris- This river is navigable for small steamers northward on its course as far as Mosul, nearly :50 miles away, favoring the transport arrangements of the British force. The measure of Turkish resistance along this line will be affected in no small meas ure by the rate of progress of the Rus sian columns moving towards Mesopo tamia from Persia. These columns, operating from Hatna dan and Sakktz are still far short of the points where they stood last Spring when the British halted at Kut-El-Amara by General Townshend’s surrender. Bag dad. however, is reported to be the point from which the Turkish defense in Per sia was supplied and its capture may weaken the Ottoman resistance and fa cilitate the Russian advance Linking up the Russian and British forces therefore, at a point considerably north of Bagdad, doea not seem an im possibility. The recuperative power of ch, Turks, repeatedly shown in this war. hag .to be uaken iwte consideration in ItMt lWiwi "Mnw •'■■■!’ Enver Pasha, the Turkish minister of war. is quoted as describing the Turkish retrograde movement In Mesopotamia as a strategic retreat and declaring that military reasons are likewise inducing a drawing in the Turkish front in Per sia toward Kermanshah. On the Franco-Belgian front virtually each day now brings news of some ac tive operation of more importance than • a mere patrol encounter or a raid .n < force. No sustained offensive on a large scale by either side, however, has been naugurated Today's report of inten sive fighting comes from Paris, record ing further French successes in the Champagne. where gains have been ef fected In the region of Maisons de Cham pagne. the acene of the recent activities , in this sector China has made another move toward possible entry Into the war Peking dispatches today report the house of representatives voting approval of the government’s policy, including a rup ture with Gerthany. French Gain Ground In Champagne Region ißy Aseociatad Press- 1 PARIS. March 12-—The French eon- • tinned their offensive operations in the Chafnpagne last night Further gains in the region of Maisons de Champagne are reported in today's official announce ment. Prisoners were taken in raids and ( patrol encounters at different points on the front- The statement follows. ’’Between Soissons and Rheims a sur prise attack directed by the enemy against one of our trenches in the re gion of Poissy was repulsed promptly by our fire. The enemy suffered losses and left prisoners in our hands. “Near Maisons de Champagne we made further progress last night by I grenade attacks. Patrol encounters oc-l curred in the sector of Auberive. The number of machine guns which we have; captured in the region ’of Maisons de 'Ttampagne has been increased to 12. "In the Woevre we made a successful; incursion into German trenches north of' Seicheprey. In the Lorraine there were natrol engagements We took prison-, ers near St. Martin, northwest of Ba donvillara. "Elsewhere the night passed in quiet." Much Turk Artillery Captured by British ! Bf Preai LONTjOX. March 13.—After announc ing the fall of Bagdad in the _house of oommons today Andrew Bon ar Law. •'►jancellor of the exchequer, eaid there vas every reason to believe that two-1 thirds of the Tacks’ artillery had fallen into the hands of the British or had >een thrown into the Tigris. The fair of Bagdad in the opinion ofi ’he London press, is of even greater sig- , • nldcance for the effect it is expected toi ha' e on German alms than for its value In • rest bring British prestige in the eyes I of the Mohammedan world and the east generally. While it is recognized that the British misfortunes in Mesopotamia have had a serious influence on the -nrestige of the ruling power tn India and Egypt, and while ft is claimed that the capture of Bagdad will restore the balance, tne chief gratification express ed is that the success of General Maude's expedition "has shattered the dream that Germans have indulged in for more than twenty years.” As one typical comment puts It: ’The I ’Germans' proud vision of an. eastern em-1 . pire is dissipated before their eyes, the ’ German route to the east is blocked, and I the existing terminus of Berlin to Bag-, dad railway has passed into British hands. To Orientals it will seem to, sound the knell of German aspirations.” I It also is contended that Turkey’s value as an ally of Germany now is weakened and that the fall of Bagdad crowns the disasters wh’ch have already U. S. ARMED VESSELS CAN OPEN EIRE ON U-BOATS AT SIGHT State Department Holds Mere U-Boat Justi fies All Possible Measures to Protect Ships From Attack (By Aaaociatad Brets.) WASHINGTON, March 10. —The mere appearance of a German submarine or its periscope in the presence of an Amer ican armed merchant vessel would entitle that ship, according to state department opinion today', to take all measures ofj protection on the presumption that the U-boat's purpose was hostile. Under this ruling an American armed merchantman could fire on a German submarine the moment it is sighted,! without being considered as taking ag gressive action. This view is based on I Germany's declared intention to sink on I sight within certain zones all vessels,! neutral as well as belligerent, and! whether passenger vessels, freighters or contraband carriers. The United States was said to stand flrtly on its armed merchantmen warn ing of March 27, last, in which it defi nitely recognized the “right to prevent capture" as part of the “right of self protection'* which could be exercised either by flight or resistance. The mere presence of a German submarine is de clared ground for assuming hostile intent because of the statement by Germany that all vessels are to be sunk on sight. Denial by Germany of the old rule of visit and search makes all its U-boats actually hostile. SITUATION NOW CLEAR. Whether the government will issue any general rules for the guidance of American armed ships commanders is uncertain at present. Oppposition to such action has been expressed on the ground that the situa tion is now entirely clear, that in all •vents the action of the commander must depend on his judgment and the actual conditions prevailing, and that the gov ernment does not wish to take any scsp » a>ea migtu bw eenstrded by Ger many as a deliberately hostile act. Reports that the state department was preparing a white book of Germa ny's plots and intrigues in this country for presentation shortly either to the press or to the senate were denied by Secretary Lansing today. He said that no such step was in contemplation and that no present end could be served by It. Navy yards ware ordered today' to equip the vessels as fast as possible, j and the action will put the United States , in the position of armed neutrality, the : next step beyond the severance of dip lomatic relations with Germany, and possibly the preliminary of war. What, ships are to be armed first, and when they will sail, will be kept secret to avoid endangering the lives of Ameri cans aboard them. , President Wilson issued the necessary orders yesterday, in the belief that he has ample executive power without spe- ■ vial authorization from congress. Simul taneously. however, he called congress to meet in special session April 16. to be in position to support him if neces sary. • Preparations for defending American merchant vessels had already been taken by the government and actual work of equipping them only awaited the navy department’s approval of applications from ship owners. In the various navy yards along the Atlantic coast are stored guns, ammunition and other necessary equipment ready for installation. APPEAL OF SECRECY. In official circles today confidence was expressed that Secretary' Daniels’ appeal to newspapers not to seek or publish specific news of the arming and sailings of American merchantmen would be observed. A similar appeal was made to telegraph and cable com panies. “The best news the readers can have," said the secretary, “is that the govern ment will protect the rights of Ameri ca to the freedom of the seas. The pub lication of details can serve no good purpose and might jeopardize human life." Mr.. Daniels has determined not to re veal any of the department's plans for carrying out the policy ordered by President Wilson He previously has stated, however, that the navy is pre pared to carry out the instructions. SEARCH CONTINUED OF NEGRO SLAYER 'Special Dispatch to The Journal • WA Y CROSS. Ga. March I’. —Despite a thorough search of the section in which Dan Taylor, popular young white man. was killed Sunday by Porter Willis, the negro today remained at large. Fair fax reports said the negro was under stood to have come to Maycross. City and county officers are searching Way cross in the hope of locating the negro. Taylor died Sunday night from the ef fects of the wound the negro inflicted. According to information given Sheriff Sweat. Taylor was not in any way to blame for the trouble with the negro, who at the time of the shooting was lighting with a white man named Henry Geiger. befallen Ottoman arms in other Asiatic theaters of the war. It is pointed out that Bagdad will be a difficult city to hold unde assault as It has neither natural nor artificial defenses and lies in an open plain. It Is believed, however, that the Turks are so thoroughly routed that there is no present cause for anxiety, although it is admitted they have shown in Armenia and elsewhere a considerable gift for bringing a victorious enemy to an eventual halt. Further developments are believed to depend upon the speed and effectiveness with which Anglo- Russian co-operation can be established 26 PERSONS KILLED AS BHIB AND INDIANA ARE HIT BY STORM Nineteen Meet Death in New castle, Four in Richmond and Three in Suburb of Cin cinnati (By Associated Press J NEWCASTLE. Ind., March 12.—With rescue work going steadily ahead, the number of dead In yesterday's vyclone had been reduced to nineteen today. The number of injured was estimated at ap proximately 200. while the property loss stood at $1,000,000. Fully 500 homes, most of them frame structures, were destroyed, while many other Buildings all in the southern part of the city were damaged. Several persons at first listed as killed were found among the injured, while others were not even hurt. Only a few of those Injured had to be cared for in hospitals. The city today was under police and military control approaching martial law. All saloons were closed, while fac tories wer* shut down and the work men were put to work clearing away debris. Mechanics began repairing damaged structures. A citizens' committee, sworn in by Mayor Watkins, patrolled the streets and guarded the wrecked homes until the arrival of Indiana national guards men, who were ordered here by Govern or Goodrich. ROLLING MILLS LEVELED. Th« tornadq struck me .city from the west, after leveling the rolling mills of Blue river valley. It swept through the entire width of the city, from Sixth to Twenty-fifth streets. The first homes in the path of the twister were leveled, after which the wind apparently raised slightly, taking the roofs from the houses from Tenth to Twentieth streets, where it again dipped, sweeping practi cally every house before It to Twenty fifth street. The greatest damage was done in the «outh section, where a great many of-the factory employes reside, Hn& several thousand were homeless throughout the night. Two hundred spe cial officers were sworn In by Mayor Watkins and a strict patrol of the stricken districts was maintained. The death loss was'all in the south eastern part where the wind apparently struck Mw. One fire occurred, M. M. Mintch losing his drug store and his home. The tornado cut a path from 300 to 500 feet in width through the city for a distance of eighteen blocks. It an-1 tered the city limits near the southwest ; boundary line and worked its way in a' zigzag manner north for two blocks and then east. It turned south near the I eastern limits and left the city in a southeasterly direction. The moans of dying and the screams of persons less injured who were pinned under the ruins of their homes was heard on every side. Most of the dead ; were taken from homes that were com-1 pletely demolished. Many escaped ln-| jury by rushing into cellars PLAYED MANY PRANKS The tornado played many freak acts. On a number of streets every house witii one exception was leveled to the ground and in one block every second house was wrecked and the other homes escaped untouched Entire roofs were torn from houses and carried for squares, and one house was picked up and carried a half square and set down again practically unharmed. The three Newcastle ambulances were supplemented a few hours after the catastrophe by three ambulances from Muncie. The Muncie machines were filled with doctors and medical supplies. Muncie also sent a large squad of police to assist in the rescue work. The state fire marshal wired the local gas plant to shut off its supply as a safeguard against fires from broken pipes in the ruins. The order threw most of the city into darkness as the electric current to all of the southern portion of the city was cut off. Communication with nearly all vil lages was broken off. but reports from persons coming into Newcastle in auto mobiles were that at least several per sons had been killed in the vicinity. It was reported three had been killed at New Lisbon. three at Moreland and three at Mount Summit. The entire city responded to Mayor I Watkins' appeal for assistance. Hotels, lodges and private homes and ' lodge rooms have been thrown open to | the homeless No church services were j held last night and all of the churches' were opened to eftr* for the unfor-l lunates. Freaks of the Monn and narrow es- , capes were numerous Th" Indiana! Rolling Mills was demolished. C. W. Mouch. president of the company, was in the offices at the time. He. with Mr. and Mrs Harry Newhouse, rushed into the large vault where the books and records were kept. They were uninjured Two freight cars loaded with iron were nn a track near the mills Roth were picked up by the wind and tossed about as if they were feathers, being dropped some distance I away. Mrs A. R Sligar was in bed when I th** wind hit her home The house was torn down, but the bed was picked up. carried to a street and dropped. A tree broke over the bed. but Mrs. Sligar was not injured seriously. Newcastle has a population of about 15,n00 and is know-h as “The City of Roses." because of its many green houses. JOHNSON ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION AS GOVERNOR SACRAMENTO? March 12—Governor Hlrant W, Johnson, senator elect, an nounced hfs resignation from the gov ernorship here today, effective March 15. ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1917. • / W? ©Lt> MAN . / tpltl BLISTERH A I IW F '< v • i ~ "ii \ f \ ''fez | <v. J' jMr ✓.ATT tPXifc/D-*■ TREMENDOUS VOTE GIVEN EMM FOR PRESIDENT Provisional Ruler Sweeps Mex ico in the Election Held on Sunday (3y AaaocUted PrMi.) MEXICO CITY. March 12.—General Venustiano Carranza was elected presi dent of Mexico Sunday by what Is be lieved to have been the largest vote evpr cast in the republic. Although the voters had the privilege b'f writing in or declaring any name they desired. General Carranza received all but a few scattering ballots. The estimated vote cast runs all Jhe way from several hundred thousand to a million. The presidential election was provided for in articles adopted by the constitu tional assembly which met at Queretaro. Many of the old residents declare this was the first real election ever held in the country. Reports from various parts of the republic indicate that there was no disturbance or intimidation. Although there was no opposition for the presidency, the congressional con tests were bitterly fought. Conditions at the polls throughout the federal dis trict were orderly and there was a steady stream M voters during the day. Troops were not in evidence, the soldiers cast ing their votes in thedr barracks. Mexico will now have a constitutional president for the first time since 1911. when Francisco Madero received more than 300.000 votes General Victoriano Huerta called an election in 1914 and declared himself elected, but later nulli fied the election on the ground that an insufficient number of votes had been cast. The election marks the climax of Carranza's efforts. He took the field against Huerta February 19, 1913. after Huerta had seized the executive power. The election was simplified by the fact that there is no vice president un der the new constitution. It will be some time, however, before the returns of the congressional elections are def initely known. althou»?h the candidates on the ticket of the constitutionalist liberal party, which first backed Car ranza. ate running Strongly in most of the districts. Death Calls Tallest Member of Congress By Associated Press.) WASHINGTON. March 12.—Repre sentative Cyrus Adams Sulloway, who has represented the First New Hamp shire district in congress for the past twenty-two years, died here Sunday of pneumonia. Representative Sulloway. who was seventy-eight years old. was stricken Wednesday. The congressional career of Mr. Sulloway. a Republican, was fea tured by his interest in pension legisla tion. He was one of the most pictur esque members of the house, and prided himself on being the tallest member. GAGGED! ATLANTA IS QUICK . TO PROVIDE JOBS ' FOR BATTERY BOYS As Result of Appeal in News papers, Nearly AIL Members of Battery B Already Have Positions Atlanta’s patriotic and civic spirit, which never has been known to fail, again has responded and as a result, practically every member of the Battery B, Atlanta's artillery company which re turned Friday night from the Mexican border, either has .secured a position or has prospects of a position very soon. As the result of articles published by The Journal and other Atlanta newspa pers requesting and urging employers to find positions for the members of the artillery who have spent the last nine months in the service of their country and flag, a quick and generous response has been made. Captain A. J. Mcßride, of the artil lery stated Monday to The Journal that practically every member of his com pany had obtained a position and would go to work as soon as the mustering out process was completed. •'I have talked to most every member of the company,” said Captain Mcßride, "and from what I can learn mere is no man who will not be provided with work. Most of them, I would say the great majority of them, will be restored to positions they held prior to their mobilization.” “Even the boys who quit their posi tions last June, in the belief that they had severed all connections with their former positions, are among those who will be reinstated. “The Journal has done a great serv ice. "And the response of Atlanta, in the same vein that always has character ized the Atlanta spirit, is something highly commendable.” The promptness and patriotism al ready demonstrated by Atlanta employ ers is accepted as a certain indication that the members of the Fifth infan try, on their return within the next two weeks from the border, will quickly be i provided with positions Mustering Out of Battery B Delayed Mustering out of Battery B. the At lanta artillery company, which was scheduled to have been begun Monday •norning at 9 o’clock, has been post poned until late Tuesday or .Wednes day on account of the delay in checking equipment of the company in the armory. Before the members are mus tered out, each man must check his equipment with the company command ers, and this task is quite a voluminous I one. Lieutenant Colonel G. H. Preston, of 'the UnPed States cavalry, is the senior mustering officer First Lieutenant O. IH. Saunders, of the First infantry, is the junior mustering out officer. Major Koerpper. of the United States medical oorp.-i, will supervise the medical inspec tion. while Captain John H Hammond, lof the field artillery of the regulars, will take charge of the Inspection. The inspection of the battery will take place Thursday or Friday. This In spection is the regular annual inspec tion which would have taken jflace even if the battery had not been ordered to the border. BOHMS PLAN FOR CONVENTION HERE Executive Committee in Ses sion at Hotel Ansley Monday Noon The executive committee of the Atlan ta Baptist churches which will have charge of the affairs pertaining to the convention of southern Baptista which begins in this city Tuesday night, met at a luncheon Monday at 1 o’clock at the Hotel Ansley to discuss the final plans for the reception of delegates and other matters pertaining to the convention. The first delegates are expected to ar rive in the city Monday night. The registration books’ for delegates will be open Tuesday morning at the First Bap tist church, with Dr. W. H. Majors in charge. All delegates are requested to register immediately upon their arrival. The convention will »last through Thursday night. There will be over 1,- 500 of the most prominent Baptists in the south present at the meeting, some of whom are Governor Sidney J. Oatts, of Florida; Dr. Len G. Broughton, of Knoxville, former pastor of the Taber nacle Baptist church of Atlanta; Lieu tenant Governor Betnea, of South Caro lina: Dr. E. J. Mullins, president of the Baptist Theological seminary at Louis ville, Ky.l Dr. W. L Poteat, president of Wake Forest college, at Wake Forest, N. C., and others. The delegates wrill come from all points east of the Mississippi. The Georgia delegation headed by J. P. Nichols, prominent Griffin banker, will be nearly one thousand strong. Their headquarters will be at the Kimball house, where they will hold sunrise prayer meetings. A special train, bearing 150 delegates comprising the east Tennessee delega tion. will leave Knoxville Tuesday at 1 o'clock and will arrive in Atlanta at 6. The convention will open at 7 o’clock Tuesday night with the following pro gram : 7:30 p m.—General topic. "Spiritual Welfare." “The Layman's Prayer Life”—T. O. Lawton. Greenville, S. C. ■'The. layman and Personal Soul Win ning'—George E Hays, Louisville, Ky. "Spiritual Dynamics”—Dr. Len G. ■ Broughton. The meetings will be held at the First Baptist church, on Peachtree street, of which Dr. C. W. Daniels is pastor. Memphis Judge Freed On Charge of Bribery MEMPHIS. Tenn.. March 12 —Jesse Edgington, former judge of the criminal court of Shelby county, was acquitted of the charge of having accepted a bribe in the report of the jury returned to 1 the court today. Edgington was Impeached and remov- j ed from office after a hearing before, the Tennessee senate last year. The in dictment on which he was tried charged that he accepted a bribe of SI,OOO from an agent for an out of town brewing company just before he signed a modi fication order in connection with an in junction affecting certain liquor inter ests. WILSON IS URGED TO MUSTER ALL POWER OF AMERICAON SEAS Naval Officials Would Assem ble Reserves and Naval Mi litia anad Release Officers on Shore Duty for Sea Service (By Asiocitted Frees. 1 WASHINGTON. March 13.—Mobiliza tion of the complete fighting strength of the navy has been recommended by naval officials. The approval of Presi dent Wilson is required before orders can be sent calling out the reserves, as sembling the naval militia, and releas ing all active officers now on shore duty for sea service. Immediate graduation of class of Annapolis w child be Included tn the plan to make up as far as possible the threatened shortage of officers. In addition to mobilization of forces already enrolled in the militia or re- • serve, an active recruiting campaign would be necessary to supply all «hips of military value with full comple ments. Officials believe they would have little difficulty in obtaining the /men if mobilization were ordered. Navy recruiting continues to show a great Increase. For the first eight daya in March the net gain was 716 men. On March 1, there were 59,037 enlisted men in the navy, and on March 8, 59.- 753. There are still needed _for mobili zation. including regulars and reserves 102,295. Purchase of sixteen non-rigid dirigi ble airships for coast and harbor patrol work at a total cost of $649,250 was an nounced today by the navy department. The Curtjdk Aeroplane company w'as awarded three for $122,250; the Con necticut Aircraft company, two for $84,000; the Goodyear Tire and Rubber company, nine for $360,000, and the P. ’ F. Goodrich company, two for $83,000. Deliveries will begin within 130 days. BIRST TO BE BOUGHT. The airships are the first of t; pe to be l>ought by the navy Tjh recent $5,000,000 appropriationjg! aeronautics. They will be 190 feßHm length. 31 1-2 feSt in diajneter or 50 JSet ~ high over all, will be equipped with ra dio communicaJioh, and 100 horsepower motors capable of making a continuous flight of sixteen hours at thirty-five miles each and a maximum speed of forty-five miles an hour for ten hours. The dirigibles will be able to operate from ’shore bases and alight on water j in good weather. Secretary Daniels today continued conferences with ship-builders and manufacturers in his efforts to speed naval construction to the maxi mum capacity of the American ehip yards Probably within a week a point will be reached under which present con struction can be hastened and new ships be laid down under the 10 per cent profit agreement. Motor boat builders also conferred at the department about building lubma rlne chasers. NOTICE OF ARMING SHIPS Formal notice. that American ships .traversing the German submarine zone are to carry "armed guard for the protection of the.' ves sel and the lives of the persons on board," was sent by the state depart ment today to embassies and in Washington of all foreign menta. ■ Following is the text of the communi-W cation as made public by the state de-H partment: ■ In view of the announcement of ■ the imperial German government on 1 January those of neutrals Included, met within certain zones of the high seas would be sunk without any precautions being taken for the safety of the persons on board, and without the exercise of visit and search, the government of the United States has determined to place upon all American merchant vessels sailing through the barred areas an armed guard for the pro tection of the vessels and the lives of the persons on board. TO NOTIFY GERMANY. The notification, it is expected, ■ will be sent to Germany by the Swiss lega tion here. Whether other neutral governments will admit American armed ships to their ports is a question for them to de cide. but it is not expected here that objections will be made. Holland is - the only neutral known to have barred armed merchantmen State department officials did hot wish to make it clear whether it was mandatory tor ail American vessels to have arms or whether they might sail without them if they so desired. Pre viously the navy department under its policy of silence as to such questions had also refused a ruling. The navy department’s position is that it will equip with arms all ships whose owners apply to it. Permission for clearance of the French liner Rochambeau from New’ York, the first belligerent merchantman to arrive in an American harbor with guns mounted fore as well as aft, wan today by the state department, which ruled that the Rochambeau as a passenger-carrying vessel plying usual routes was a peaceable merchantman, entitled to take adequate precautions against illegal attack. ... Undoubtedly the Rochambeau ruling will lead to a general policy of arming vessels to the fore. It was thought she was sent into port largely as a test of this government's policy and now that a wide armament is allowed, it is assumed that other entente merchant men will follow suit. Tobacco Habit Banished In 48 to 72 hours. No craving for tobacco in any form after completing treatment. Contains no habit-forming drugs Satisfactory results guaranteed in every case. Write Newell Pharmacal Co. Dept. 5. St. Louis. Mo., for FREE booklet. “TOBACCO REDEEMER" and positive proof.—(AdvL) NO. 46.