About Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920 | View Entire Issue (April 24, 1917)
■' VOLUME Xl\ GERMAN LINE SHATTERED NORTH OF SCARPE FOOD. NOT SOLDIERS.! NEED OF ALLIES, SITS COMMISSION MEMBER First Day of Distinguished Visitors Is Spent in Paying Calls in Washington—Sim plicity Marks Greetings WASHINGTON* April 23.—What the. allies want from the United States more than anything else is food. There is no "immediate concern re garding the sending of troops to Europe." it .was officially stated.. This vital fact emerged above all oth ers from the trappings ot diplomatic courtesy attending tne initial reception i here today of Foreign Secretary Arthur J. Balfour and the British commission bv President Wilson and other Ameri- ; can officials. While today was apparently given over principally to surface courtesies and diplomatic greetings, the various experts of both England and America plunged unostentatiously and at once Into the consideration of the vital prob lems of shippings, munitions, finance, military and naval affairs confronting the allie« since the United States ha« declared i'setf in. * Mr. Balfour conferred with the presi dent. President Cunliffe. of the Bank of England, conferred with Treasury Sec retary McAdoo. Naval experts of both nations met with Secretary Daniels - Military experts of both countries talked with Secretary Baker Shipping and trade advisers with their corps of statistical and market experts got down , to details immediately with cominertf department officials. It was a pooling of British brains and bitter war experiences with Ameri can wealth and resourcefulness MUST HAVE FOOD. But it was made clear by a high of ficial of the commission that the thought uppermost in the minds of the Bnush representatives is: "The allies must have food.” "I wish to make it plain." said this spokesman, "that we are* not here to tell you what you must do. •Ws have our own Ideas as to how you can oe*i help, but we come equipped with facte, to tell you what mistakes we made and how you can avoid them; what price is paid for what we have accomplished, so you may determine whether you think the price Is worth paying to accomplish those things your selves. •‘The allies greatest problems—and the one which you can best aid our allied cause by helping solve—is that of food, which involves that of shipping. "Please remember that ’.here is’ no British food problem, no Fret, ch £ood problem, no Italian, nor Russian food problem. It is all one great question. At a recent allied conference the allied government agreed to pool their food supplies. "While England is not short ot food and probably could get along if she had Only herself to consider, all is not ’ well in France and Italy. ’Their food, shortage is acute. It is growing more, so." This attitude of. the British commis sion put the old allies and their new recruit in complete accord on the first move in the great international war con-, ference. The trend of all this government’s ac- 1 :ions eVer since and. in fact, weeks be fore war aas declared has been to stim ulate the production of food for our peo ple at homs and then for our allies in fighting Euroupe. NOT CONCERNED ABOUT TROOPS. The British commission is not imme diately concerned over the sending of roops, it was explained. Their man ;ower is sufficient for the moment, and the sending of great masses of men to Europe now would make the food prob-, em critical and out of all proportion to tj»e fighting strength gained. “I also want to make it clear." con-‘ tinued this authority, "that no step of importance is to be taken definitely un- • til the French commission has arrived. The French commission is not coming out of mere courtesy, but to take an ac- , tive part in the conferences.” ••Also.” the official went on. "allow me to make dear the etatus of the British commission "Secretary Balfour s word to in every respect absolute. All the experts with him are merely to answer questions di rected to them through Balfour. "Every question, military, naval, com mercial or otherwise, must finally be de cided between President Wilson and Sec retary Balfour. •The discussions and conferences be tween the other officials will be sub sidiary. "At a brief meeting of the British commission today the program for each division was roughly mapped out. "All we hope to do is to have the president and Secretary Balfour settle broad questions of principle, basing their decisions on the sub-conferences and their own discussions, then leave the carrying out of America's settled part in the war to the various departments. BALFOUR IS SPOKESMAN. "It is not. 1 believe. Mr. Balfour's in tention to broach any questions of inter national political policy. He is prepar ed t<y answer them should they be ask ed.’ And he will speak for alj the al ites. "But the allies do not desire to make use of this situation to hamper or coerce the United States in any of its Interna tional relations. All we want to do is to help. "As to the length of the commission’s stay, that all depends on how long it -s needed It may be days. weeks or "Should it i»e asked, a staff of experts will be left in the United States to co operate with the American government in carrying out the plans made by the two chiefs. "America’s part In the war is now be ing decided. Should an Italian and a Russian commission visit Washington later, it will be purely as a matter of courtesy. "The vital problems are now before (Oontinued ob Page T, Col. 4.) 'CONGRESS TO PUSS ARMY 1 CONSCfIIPTION BILL FRIDAY Administration Measure Cer tain to Be Accepted in Some Form WASHINGTON.' April 23.—After fin ally disposing of the great war loan, house and senate sho-tly after noon to day went into the final stages of the problem of raising an army of 2.000,000 men for defense of the nation. It was the first day of debate in the ; house, and the second day for the sen- ' ate. it’still was believed that both houses | will have acted by Thursday or Friday | by the latest. The conscription feature, in some form at least, will pass both houses. While house and senate debated, the j Roosevelt angle—the colonel’s plan to a volunteer division to the French | I trenches—was vigorously injected into j-the situation. And it was significant i that old line Republicans—Senators Harding and Ix>dge—are behind a wet! i laid campaign that has for its object the granting of permission for ex-Preaident Roosevelt to plant the American flag on Europe's battle front. Senator Harding. Ohio, started the Roosevelt fight by Introducing an amendment to the administration bill authorising the president to raise by voluntary enlistment four infantry di visions—about 130.000 men. The amend- ■ ment does not name Roosevelt. but > means him. In opening the senate debate Sena tor Weeks said the people demand con- I scription or would demand it if they were correctly informed. "When war was declared with Ger - 1 many.” said he. "the president was di rected to employ the entire naval and militia forces of the United States to bring it to a successful conclusion, and we pledged all the resources of our country for that purpose. The question we must now consider is how we are ' going to give the president what we ( I have directed him to employ. "Whenever we have engaged in a great j war it has been necessary to resort to | draft in order to bring it to a successful conclusion. "The question we now must consider is how we are going to give the presi dent what we have decided him to em ploy—an army. "Are we going to do it in a manner demonstrated over and over again as ill divlsed, ineffective and disastrous, or are we to turn, our attention to tne experience of other countries and take from the experiences those lessons which will enable us to steer clear Os the follies of ’he past? "That is really the dividing line be tween efficiency and inefficiency. “Whenever we have engaged in a great war it has been necessary to re sort to draft in order to bring it to a successful conclusion.” The senator drew attention to the failure of the volunteer system in the revolution and the war of 1812. Re ferring to the Mexican war he said: "It required almost the entire twelve months for which they enlisted to train the volunteers in the ways of war. and the training having been completed and the term of enlistment exhausted, prar- I tie-ally the entire force withdrew from the service although the war was not i over. “At the end of the Civil war. our ’volunteers had acquired a training ‘ which made them comparable to any army that ever existed but the cost of their preparation and the final accom plishment was simply appalling. “While our government has been most scrupulous in its efforts to fulfill i its obligation to its citizens, it has ben too lenient —even In times of great na tional peril—in calling upon its citizens to reciprocate. "It has been said in effect: ‘Those of you who desire to do your duty may do so: others may do as they please.’ and the result has been that most of I our wars have been unduly prolonged, and before victory has been assured it I ! has been necessary for us to employ at least two men to every one used by our > enemies. "The opposition to compulsory train ing is based upon the theory that it • is not necessary, but when we come to a great national crisis, we immediafe , ly discover that there is no time for I the preparation we should have mad" •Tyranny, not democracy, has always justified itself by suppressing discussion or action as unnecessary. •Opponents of universal military training have frequently charged that ' such a system Is undemocratic and un > American and should not be tolerated in this country. To that charge I reply that nothing is un-American which a majority of the American people, after mature deliberation, decide is good for the country. ’There is no doubt in my mind as to what the people demand in this in stance or what they would demand 11 they were correctly informed or given the’time to study the question.” When the house began debate no limit was fixed, hut it was agreed that it should run on today until <5 o’clock. •Chairman Dent, of the military com mittee. who favors a call for volunteers . while the conscription registration ma chinery is being made ready, opened the . debate He said that his difference with the administration- Over adding of the volunteer amendment to the straightout- Selective conscription bill . was most embarrassing to him. "I have been to the president and . to the secretary of war.** he said, "with . every proposition of compromise on the . theory that unity of action was more important than the method of raising ,an army. It ought to be made known > to the country that we will do what is . necessary.” i An extension of the draft to male cit izens not eligible to military conscrip i tion. to form a service army for food i production was demanded by Represen ■| tative Emerson, <»hio, in a resolution to- > day. J Boys from fifteen to nineteen years I while not at school and “vagrants, . i tramps and all persons found wandering I about the country without visible means J of support" would be drafted, as well ( as "all males unengaged in legitimate i 1 business.” , r .President Wilson kept in close touch wtih the procedure. His immediate ad , visers were said to be confident that the draft plan would pass. Meantime a group of Progressives had VROOMAN TAKES OFF HIS HAT TO THE SOUTH Assistant Secretary of Agri culture Says Section Does Its Bit for Food WASHINGTON. April 23.—Fresh from an extended tour of the south in the interest of agricultural prepared ness, Carl Vrooman, assistant secretary of agriculture, returned here today en thusiastic over the outlook. He issued a statement in which he declared th|t all clauses are patriotically responding to the government’s appeal for increased food crops and predicted that the south would contribute its “bit.” Mr. Vrooman’s statement follows: “The south is fully alive to the tre mendous importance of the duty of sup plying itself with its own food and feed. Moreover, the south has begun the work of organizing and mobilizing an army of food producers and food conservers which bids fair to contribute vitally to the part which the United States must play in furnishing food to its al lies. Wherever I went I found the most patriotic, prompt. and practical re sponse, and if the south continues as she has begun, she will 'do her bit’ in the furrows as energetically as in the' trenches. • “I wish the rest of the country could know as I now know the splendid spirit which is animating all classes in the south—not only the farmers, but the bankers, the business men. the trans portation, the men, the women and the school children. I take off my hat to the south. "For the next six or eight months this war is going to be a food war, and every citizen who contributes to the production of food or who prevents the wasting of food is doing something that counts. The sacrifices of labor which every class in the south will make in this great campaign to grow and to save food will be more effective in bringing this war to a victorious end than any other single thing that can be done. Luckily in this work financial sacrifices are not demanded as food crops probably will sell at higher rela tives prices than anv other crops. Our allies want food. We can supply food to them. But first we must make every section of this country as nearly as pos sible self-sustaining so far aa foodstuffs are concerned. “By now the south has planted most of her gardens. She should cultivate them well. The food that is not need ed immediately iriiould be put away in caps or jars, ot else dried for future use. Then the ground should be dug up and planted again. The federal gov ernment’s first demand on the south is for food. Her patriotism will be measured by her response to this de mand.” Caruso Triumphs With Barrientos In Opening Opera With a vast and brilliant audience, and with a triumph by Caruso. Scotti. Barientos and other stars, Atlanta’s eighth season of grand opera was open ed last night at the auditorium. •The Elixir of Love” was the opera, presented for the first time in Atlanta, and never has Caruso’s golden tenor swept an audience to greater heights ot enthusiasm than in Donizetti's splendid love songs. Another spring may find the United States as deeply involved in the Euro pean war as any of the allied nations but for the present Atlanta opera lovers and their friends and kinsmen from the four corners of the south are not permitting the uncertainties of the future to prevent the full enjoyment of music and social gaieties. Never has the auditorium seen a greater, a more brilliant, a more vivacious and happy throng than that which opened the season last night. Throngs of beautiful women filled the boxes, throngs of inen in evening dress poured in and out of the hall between the acts. The arena was filled, the boxes were all taken, the dress circle seats were a solid bank of humanity. Blood Transfusion May Save Life of Mme. Bernhardt NEW YORK. April 23.—Although Mme. Bernhardt passed a comfortable night at Mt. Sinai hospital, her physi cians today were considering the advis ability of a blood transfusion opera tion to strengthen the famous patient. She suffered a slight relapse yesterday but rallied quickly. It was stated no plans have been made to give Mme. Bernhardt more blood, but the indications are a call may be matfe for volunteers within a few days. Mme. Bernhardt has now been in the hospital more than a week since being operated 6n. She still Is in a serious condition, but her physicians stated, “her case is not hopeless Germans Use New Glass Bullets on Riga Front PETROGRAD. April 28.—German troops attacking Russians on the Aa river (Riga front) tried a new projec tile glass bullet, today's official state ment. i The war office also reported from the Caucasus front that on April 15, nt Cheraban, Arabs fell on a Russian squadron escorting a British military agent, but that the squadron forced its passage through the attack as far as Bakute. Indorsed a number of the administra tion measures including the military plan. The big bond issue is about ready for disposal, and Secretary of Treasury Mc- Adoo is -planning to utilize offers of advertising to boost the sale. ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1917. tent * • WT wk 1 /real A , /j ■ FZ 9. "FLAG . Qf7 J, .' (raising; v-x I 1 ’? . W"* | iA 1 lift IhE* j It M/ up’ .X 1/ Iji JsjsSEliSiijgf k SMS MEXICAN NEUTRALITY WILL BE MiINTIH Mexico City Paper Answers Report That U. S. Is Sus picious of Attitude MEXICO CITY, April 23.—The Ex celsior, one of the leading Mexican pa pers, discussing editorially reports from the United States that America is sus picious of Mexico’s attitude in the pres ent international crisis, asserts that Mexican neutrality will be maintained. It adds: “There is not much on which tnese suspicions are oased which has not been fostered by the American press and government. One reason for this, without going further, is the embargo on arms against Mexico, maintained in spite of the reception of our ambassa dor. The American government offers all nations a chance to buy the arms which it manufactures in vast quanti ties, except two. Germany and Mexico. It is easy to understand the attitude now against Germany, but what about Mexico? “What can we say to this and how interpret it? When the president elect, because of the great interest in the subject, referred to it in his speech to congress, the American press clam ored that the speech contained only painful worus. ’Vhy not, if the Mexican people have only painful feelings over the relations between the two coun tries? Shall we answer the attacks mentioned only with words sweet as fruit in season? The explanation of our state of mind should be sought by the United States in Its conduct toward us. We do not equivocate and the United States should not.” A bazar was held lest night for the benefit of digabied Mexican soldiers and the widows and orphans of those killed m battle. The German minister, von Eckhardt, contributed 5,000 pesos and his wife 150 Other members of the diplomatic corps, including United States Ambassador FleUher, also con tributed, but their gifts were over shadowed by that of von Eckhardt, vhich was over one-third of the total amount raised by the bazar. Les Darcy, Australian Pugilist, Enlists in U. S. Aviation Corps MEMPHIS, Tenn.. April 28.—Les Darcy, the Australian pugilist who has been unable to engage in any ring bat tles in this country because he was an alleged ’slacker,” today enlisted in the reserve aviation corps of the United States army at the Memphis training camp. According to Captain Christie, commanding the camp, Darcy passed a perfect physical examination. Since his arrival here several weeks ago Darcy has evinced a great inter est in the aviation camp, visiting the grounds several times before being permitted to take the examination to day, Captain Christie said. He was en listed with the rank of sergeant and now is subject to call of the war de partment. Until *he is called upon for war duty, the Australian is at liberty to do as much puglistic fighting as he sees fit. THE AMERICAN CROP! COMMITTEE SUSTAINS REJECTION OF WHIPPLE Sub-Committee Report o n Judgeship Adopted by Sen ate Judiciary BY kALPH SMITH WASHINGTON, April 23.—The senate Judiciary committee today agreed unan imously to sustain its subcommittee and reject the nomination of U. V. Whipple, of Cordele, as federal judge for the southern district of Georgia. The re port of the committee will be laid be fore the senate at tis first executive ses sion, and tha nomination will be formal ly rejected. The next move in the judgship mat ter will be awaited with eager inter est. It is regarded as doubtful whether Attorney General Gregory will attempt to fill the vacancy in the near future. It is understood that he keenly resents the action of the senate committee and is not disposed at this time to advise further wtlh the GeorgYa senators about another nomination. Judge Whipple Refuses To Withdraw His Name Judge U. V. Whipple, of Cordele, will not withdraw his name as tne nominee for judge of the United States district court for the southern district of Geor gia, notwithstanding the fact that the sub-committee of the judiciary com mittee of the senate has reported ad versely on his nomination. Judge Whipple gave out a statement to this effect on Sunday in Atlanta, where he stopped over en route to his home in Cordele, returning from Wash ington. Judge Whipple appeared before the sub-committee in support of his nomi nation, and was, Immediately followed by Senator Thomas W. Hardwick, of Georgia, who appeared before the Com mittee in opposition to the nomination. While SenAibr Hardwick was speaKing, Judge Whipple left the capitol and caught a train out of Washington. He did not know of the sub-committee’s ac tion until Sunday morning, when he re ceived the news on tfie train. In his statement Judge Whipple says that Senator Hoke Smith requested a release from his promise of support, and that “while they differed as to the related circumstanoes,” he readily granted the senator’s request. He concludes the statement by saying that he has determined not to withdraw his name for the reason that “the ob jection to my confirmation involves an imputation of improper conduct to At torney General Gregory, approved by President Wilson.” State Department Officially Advised Os Turkey’s Break WASHINGTON. April 23—Turkey has broken relations with the United States, the state department was offi cially advised today by Minister Sto ,<vall at Berne. FOOD CROP CAMPAIGN OPENED AT EISTMIN Dodge County Farmers Show Great Enthusiasm at Mass Meeting (Special, Dispatch to The Journal.) EASTMAN. April 23 Responding to the appeal made by President Wilson and the state anil federal departments of agriculture, and at the call of the Eastman chamber of commerce, a most enthusiastic meeting of some 500 rep resentative citizens and farmers of Dodge county met at the court house this morning for the purpose of launch ing a campaign which will insure the production of a sufficient quantity of foodstuffs during the present year to amply provide for local needs. The gathering was largely attended, not only by the white planters and busi ness interests of* the county, but by many of the leading colored farmers. The meeting was called to order by W. L. Jessup, president Eastman cham ber of commerce, followed with invoca tion by Dr, P. A. Jessup. Addresses urging an increase in the acreage of all grain and food crops were made by Prof. J. F. Hart, field agent exten sion work. State College of Agricul ture. Athens, and Assistant Commis sioner of Agriculture B. H. Groover, of Atlanta, while Dr. Peter F. Bahnsen made a strong appeal for the raising of more and better live stock. At the conclusion of the meeting reso lutions were adopted indorsing the course of the president and congress and- pledging the whole-hearted and earnest support and co-operation of the business and farming interests of Dodge county in meeting the emergency of a prospective food shortage and in any other contingency that might arise. A large committee of representative citi zens was also appointed to attend the state food conference in Macon on Tues day. Further to encourage the growing of food crops a delegation of prominent farmers and business men will visit every church in the county, both white and colored, on next Sunday and ap pear before the Congregations assem bled, explaining the situation which now confronts the nation, and urge that im mediate steps be taken to increase the production of foodstuffs before the planting season is too far advanced. Farmers who grow grain and food crops have been guaranteed by the com mercial interests of Eastman ample and convenient marketing and storage fa cilities for such commodities. To con serve a large number of articles of food which might otherwise be lost, it is quite probable that a canning plant will be established in this city within the next sixty days. Food Crops Will Be Urged in Ware County (Special Dispatch to The Journal.l WAYCROSS. Ga.. April 23.—Plans ard being formulated here for a series of meetings throughout Ware and adjoin ing counties next Sunday, at which the necessity of greater food production and conservation of food supplies will be stressed. Rav, R. »A. Brown, of the NUMBER 58. HARD BLOW STRUCK < BY BRITISH ON BOTH. SIDES OF THE RIVER X Two More Villages Captured and More Thag 1,000 Pris oners Taken in Gen. Haig’s New Offensive Monday NEW YORK. April 23.—(8y Fbrelgni Cables From European Capitals.)— ■ Ushered in by a prolonged artillery bombardment a renewed attack in force! has been begun by the British on the German lines in northern France. The new stroke, marking a tion after a week’s interval of trtiT British offensive begun April 9, was) given its initial impetus today “on; both sides of the River Scarpe,” as the official statement puts it. The stated ment issued at about noon, a report of "satisfactory progress,'** sent by General Haig. The extent of the attack has not! been clearly developed, but as it is an nounced to have launched “on a wide front” it probably reaches well toward! the Vlmy positions on the north and, beyond the Arras-Cambrai road to the south. Besides tending still further to|( encompass the city of Lens, the move* ment is directed toward both Douau the important German distributing point to the northeast, and the HinJ denburg line key point of Cambral tai the southeast. , Early details of the offensive report; the shattering of the last remaining) defense of the Hindenburg line north of the Scarpe. This was accomplished by the taking of the town of Gavrelle, on the Arras-Douai road, on the front between Fampoux £nd Bailleul. This capture marked a new advance of about a mile for the British. South of the Arras-Cambrai road the line has been straightened out by tne capture of the village of Guemappe. Already more than 1,000 additional Ger-» mans have been taken prisoner. Mean while the French infantry is being held in cheek along the Aisne front and in the Champagne by General Nievtlle while the work of consolidating the notable gains of the past week is in progress. The artillery is busy, now ever, and Paris reports the breaking up of German attacks at several points, notably east of Craonne on the French salient northeast of Mont Taut in the Champagne, and on the Moronvilliers ridges in the same sector. While momentous battles are being fought on the western front a new movement of possible vital importance may have been initiated by the Ger mans in the eastern theater of war. A news agency dispatch from Petro grad today reports the departure from Libau. on the Baltic south of the Gulf, of Riga of German transports ft>r an unknown destination. This may mean that the Germans have begun their threatened operation, of making a combined land and sea, movement against the Russians by, landing on the gulf of Finland in the! rear of the Russian northern flank,: fighting way inland and cutting off Petrograd. . In Mesopotamia the Turks are still; in retreat up the Tigris, northwest ofl before the victorious British. They have evacauted their Iztabllat* 1 position, ten miles below Samara, and moved to a position six miles nearer the town. General Maude, the -British commander, reports they are now bving' attacked there by his forces. British Capture 1,000 Men in New Assault: BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IM; FRANCE, April 23. —(Via London).—ln. their new offensive the British have cap tured the town of Gavelle, the last part of the defenses of the Hindenburg line north of the Scarpe. They have also taken the village of Gtiemappe, south ot the Scarpe. More than 1,000 prisoners have taken today. • The first phase of the battle of Arras*, which began Easter Monday, ended with; the British in possession of Monchy-le- Preux which, however, remained a dis-, tinct salient until today’s fighting was; taken up. Monchy. situated on a hill, commands, the country for forty miles eastward. During the last ten days the Germans delivered at least a score of country attacks against that position, against which they brought an ever-lncreasing ( gunfire. The desperate attempts to recapture, it show how highly Monchy was re garded as a key position protecting the, Drocourt switch line, which has not yet been fortified as strongly as the. Germans would desire. Monchy has been one of the bloodiest spots the Germans have known, and when the British advanced from it in the early dawn today they had to pick their way over thousands of German dead. It was estimated that 2,500 Ger mans were killed in one day’s counter attacks, so closely were tIM men massed. British Troops Repulsed Says German Statement BERLIN. April 22. —(Via London.) "Bdtween Txtos and the Arras-Cambrai railway artillery firing continued Sun day,” says the official statement issued today by the German army headquarters. “Northwest Os Lens, English thrusting troops penetrated our first line trenches on a width of 500 yards, but were driv en back by a counter-attack. The fire remained strong during the night. Early this morning after drum fire, infantry fighting recommenced on a wide front. “Along the river Aisne,” the state ment continues, “the artillery fire in creased in violence from the afternoon onward. The Germans set fire to eleven enemy balloons and brought down elevea airplanes on the western front.” Presbyterian church, is chairman of the sjiecial committee named by the public safety committee of Waycross. It is understood the movement will have the hearty Assistance of the vari ous ministers of the city and as a re— 4 suit of the meetings it is believed mucll good wili.be done.
