Newspaper Page Text
The Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal
VOLUME XIV
ORDERS ISSUED TO SHOOT RUSSIAN DESERTERS
RUSSIA GIVES KERENSKY SUPREME POWER
KAISER FORCED TO GIVE UP ANNEXATION PLAN
SMB SMITH HAS
SUPPORTED PRESIDENT
IN Will LEGISLATION
Has Voted for All Administra
tion Measures, War Declara
tions, Selective Service, Es
pionage and Food Control
BT iALPH SMITH.
WASHINGTON. July 23.—Declaring
that their ••implication” are unjust and
false and that he might well suppose
they were “circulated by an unscrupu
lous political opponent whose object was
to influence an election.'* Senator Hoke
smith has written the officers of the
Georgia Historical association, taking
tfiem to task for their recent criticisms
of his course in Washington with re
spect to the war.
. Copies of the senator's letter were
given to the press today, following the
di spat el) of the comunication on Sat
urday to Messrs. Lucian L. Knight. At
lanta. Theodore H. Jack. Oxford, and
R. P. Brooks. Athens, president, vice
president, and secretary, respectively, of
the Historical, association.
Coincident with Senator Smith's let
ter to the officers of* the Historical as
sociation. Dr. A. J. McKelway, legisla
tive agent of the National Child Labor
association, made public the copy of a
letter he has written President Knight
concerning the historical society’s criti
cism of Senator Smith. Dr. McKelway
acted on his own initiative and without
the knowledge of Senafor .Smith. He
criticizes good naturedly the inaccuracy
of Mr. Knight's association, and sug
gests that above all an historical so
ciety should strive to be historically
correct
SENATOR SMITH’S LETTER.
The letter of Senator Smith follows:
•Washington. D. CL, July 20. 1917.
•"Mr. L. L. Knight. President. Atlanta.
"Mr. Theodore H Jack, vice president,
Oxford.
"Mr. R P. Brooks, secretary. Athena
'Georgia Historical asocfatlon.
"Gentlemen: I received today a cir
cular. dated July 14. 191". addressed “To
the members of the Georgia Historical
association.” with your namea printed
at tha close.
“Tn your circular your present a state
ment which you beg your members 'to
secure publication of in local papers.’
'The statement is headed: "flie
Georgia Historical association calls-on
the Georgia senators to support the
president ’
“The statement is so uruust and false
in the Implications it carries with refer
ence to myself, that I might well sup
pose it was circulated by an unscrupu
lous political opponent whose object was
to influence an election.
“I am astonished that it came from
you •
'You begin with an excellent presen
•ation of the justice and wisdom of the
course pursued by President Wilson in
•suspending diplomatic relations with
Germany and afterwards asking con
gress for a declaration of war.
“You should have followed this part
of your statement by giving to your
readers the further information that
the president consulted with senators,
myself among the number, before he
terminated diplomatic relations with
Germany, and that I fully approved and
advocated the course which he subse
quently pursued
"You might also have added that I
supported the declaration of war.
"Your next paragraph declares that:
" 'Germanophiles and pacificists pro
ceeded to use every resource at their
command to cripple the government in
the effective conduct of the war. The
main fight was made ara'nst selective
conscription.’
“You then go on to make an excel
lent argument in favor of conscription
or rhe draft system.
"Following this paragraph you
should have added that I was not among
the. number you were criticizing, for I
voted for the draft system
"You then declare that:
“ 'Defeated in the matter of con
scription. the disaffected among us . .
. . . are now blocking every measure In
tended to give the administration that
necessary power which our history
shows to be indispensable in such cir
cumstances Control over our ship
ping and transportation, over the out
put of our industrial plants, over the
production, prices and distribution of
food stuffs. Is being bitterly assailed.*
SMITH VOTED FOR CONSCRIPTION.
> "As accurate historians should you
not »hen have stated how I voted on
conscription? Had you done so. vou
would have ai once disconnected me
r mir< those referred to in this part of
your article
* "Vou are supposed to be acquainted
with the facts, and if you are you
sjmuld have add'd thnt I supported tha
-hinptng and. after helping
perfect it. th* »r insportation legisla
tion: tha» I supported the measures
ving control oxer the output of In
dustrial plants; and I actively support
ed th" bill for the increase of produc
ts ,» of food stuffs, and that i announc
ed wh*n in Atlanta on June 21st. that
I would support the legislation regu
lating prices and distribution of food
stuffs. If the outsid" matter were re
moved from the hill.
"The food control bill. as it first
made Its appearance, contained pro
visions that could no’ and ought not
to have become laws.
“It declared control of the farm from
rhe time the seed were planted until
the crops were gathered, and it also
declared control of the amount and
character of food that an individual
might consume.
**lt provided for fixing mfcxiir.um
(Continued on Pare 3, CoL 4.)
Full Associated Press Service
MASTER LISTS DE
SELECTIVE SERVICE
DRAWING COMPLETE
Perfected SJieets, Eleven in
All, Will Be Mailed Tonight
by General Crowder to Pa
cific Coast States
WASHINGTON. June 23 The flrat
•all for selected men to answer for
[ physical tests will come early next
week.
The corrected proofs of the "master
lists’’ went to the printing office today.
Before night General Crowder expects
to mail the first lists to, the coast
i states. Some delay was forced by find
ing several duplicate numbers which
1 had to be corrected.
• The “master lists” consist of ten
sheets containing 1,000 numbers each
1 and one sheet containing 500 numbers
in the exact order they wer# drawn
from the glass globe.
These sheets will be sent to all the
4.558 districts. There, the boards will
check off numbers not applying to their
districts and will proceed to fix the
lists for calling 200 per cent of the
first quota.
Men called for the first army will
be notified by mail, but the responsi
bility of knowing the order of the call
lies upon the man, hence officials advise
that each man check himself up in his
own district.
Inasmuch as it will take four or five
days to reach the farthest district, it Is
doubtful if the last checking can be
accomplished before early next week.
However, the 4_rst call is tentatively
fixed for that time. *
Boards will tighten up on exemptions.
Men who claim to have dependent rel
atives must prove the dependency; their
relatives must swear to the dependen
cy; and some one knowing the applicant
must certify to the man's situation.
Here in Washington there will be hun
dreds of exemptions of men in
the government service. Already one
room in the state, war and navy build-.
Ing is filled with certificates of bureau
chiefs for their subordinates.
However, these chiefs have been in
formed that they must not claim ex
emption for a man. unless that man is
' vitally needed in conduct of government
' business.
VOLUNTARY ENLISTMENT.
Registrants under the selective draft
law are not eligible for voluntary en
listment in the regular army or the na
tional guard after their names have
been posted by local exemption boards
as summoned for examination.
Brigadier General Crowder, provost
i marshal general, promulgated this rul
, ing today, to make definite the status
of men on the registration lists who
1 now may desire to join the regulars or
‘ the national guard. The ruling is sup
plementary to instructions sent to re
cruiting officers by Adjutant General
McCain aa follows;
Xfter a registered person has been
called for military service by his
local board and directed to appear
for physical examination he ceases
to be eligible for voluntary enlist
ment.
The ruling by General Crowder was
i necessary in order to establish definite
ly the time when a registered man Is to
be considered as falling within this
prohibition General Crowder held that
posting of the name of a registrant b>
the local board at its headquarters con
stituted notification to the registrant
that he was cafled for examination and
I thus set the period when he would be
I no longer eligible for voluntary service.
Prior to that time, even though his
name may be among those who will be
calleda/1n the first quota in any dis
trict. b registrant may be accepted for
the regular service as a volunteer.
WILL PLAY NO FAVORITES
President Wilson, “court of last re
sort” for those seeking exemptions from
the selective drawing, will grant no
nlea not specifically recommended by
the war department.
Already letters —pathetic ones—are
teaching the White House from motn
ers. fathers and sisters appealing for
exemption of their loved ones. Dif
ferent means are taken to reach the
president. Letters are sent to mem
bers of the cabinet and some write Mrs.
] Wilson, believing that through her the
> (message more quickly may receive at
■ tention.
But the president takes the position
i that war. cruel as it may seem to all.
i plays no favotltes. There can be no
i privileged exemptions under the selec
‘ live drawing.
’! His ,K>sitlon is difficult. As the one
man in the country who could liberate
1 a selected man, it is as If there were
a million pardons before him for con
-1 sideration. Pardon appeals he has been
accustomed to and man., times has
' yielded to a pathetic plea.
1 But pleas for exemption involve mli
' lions of homes The hearts of motn
’ era are affected alike, tne president
holds, and apneal of one cannot be
’ heard unless an ear is turned to tne
.oiee of all.
] Hence to all entreaties wf'.l go the
same answer from the White House—
tha> the president will use his exemp
tion powers only when directed by tnr
war department.
j SEPARATE DRAWINGS.
Regulations to govern the application
i of the master list by the local exetnp-,
I lion hoards have already heen promui
» gated. and include a method by whicn
| any difficulties arising from confusion
I of serial numbers are to be overcome.
The plan is ’o regard such registra
tion cards as additional to the number
(Continued on Page 3, Col. 2.)
k
S..
' / • RUSHIAJ"'f
J PETRO GRAP p
/ifi
£ F 2 >
i - wF
lIF T---a/ a -
M’CAIN EXPLAINS
WHY LOCAL CAMP
WAS ABANDONED
Not Sufficient Room at Fort
for Officers’ Training, Adju
tant*General Says—Will Not
Affect Atlanta
BY BALPH SMITH
WASHINGTON. July 23.—The aban
donment of Fort McPherson as a train
ing camp for student officers was made
upon the strength of a recent inspection
which showed that the post has not the
proper and adequate facilities, according
to General McCain, the adjutant general
of the army.
"Fort McPherson was Inspected thor-'
oughly and the inspectors reported that
it is lacking in adequate facilities for
an officers’ training camp," General Mc-
Cairf told The Journal this morning. "Os
course the present officers’ school willi
complete its course at McPherson, but I
no others will be established there.”
Asked io elaborate on the "lacking fa
cilities.” General McCain said:
"in the first place, the inspectors
found that a good part of Fort McPher
son is given over to war prison pur
poses. A large number of Germans are
interned in the post. The area of Mc-
Pherson. at best, is not large as army
posts go. The inspectors found that It
has not the acreage for maneuvers and
drilling, although the present officers’
school has contrived to get along ail
right.
"The fact is. however, that Fort Ogle
thorpe has a boundless-area and ean
easily meet the requirements."
General McCain declared that the sec
ond officers’ school will not be so large
as the first, and that in reality Atlanta
will lose little in the abandonment of
McPherson as a training camp for stu
dent officers.
"What disposition will be made of
McPherson?" was asked.
"The army activities In and around
Atlanta will be of such magnitude as to
utilize McPherson all the time." answer
ed General McCain. "Just at this time
no especial arrangement is in mind for
McPherson, but you may assure the peo
ple of Atlanta that the post will be one
of the most important in the country—a
general utility camp, as it were.
"The big cantonment at Atlanta, the
base hospital and other activities of the
army will more than offset the abandon
ment of McPherson as a camp for stu
dent officers.”
The first intimation that any one in
Washington of the abandonment of
Fort McPherson caane yesterday with
ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1917’
THE RUSHIN' RUSSIAN
HUKE SMITH IND LEE
FDDD BILL CONFEREES
Georgians Will Exert Every
Effort to Speed Measure
to President
BY RALPH SMITH.
WASHINGTON. July 23.—Two Geor
gians—Senator Hoke Smith and Repre
sentative Gordon Lee, of the Seventh
district—will have a big say in the
final perfection of the food legislation
that has occupied the time of congress
and absorbed the attention of the coun
try for the past several weeks. They
have,been appointed to serve as
bers of the conference committees rep
lresenting the two houses that will com
pose the difference relating to the pro
visions of both the food control and the
food production bills.
The food control measure lyiU be sent
to conference tomorrow. The food pro
-1 duction bill already is in conference.
Every effort will be made to expedite
| the work of the conferees in the hope :
that the legislation may be sent to the 1
president for his approval at the earliesi |
possible moment.
"No time should be lost in getting
both of these bills to the president,” j
said Senator Smith this morning. Con- |
gressman Lee echoed this sentiment.'
speaking for the house conferees.
"I think we should get these conefr
ence reports out of the way and give,
’ the bills to the president by the end of j
I the week," said Mr. Lee.
The Georgians apparently are in har-1
niony respecting the essential provisions;
of the food control measure. It is hoped :
iby the administration that the bond of]
‘sympathy between them is typical of:
Jother members of the conference com-1
■ mittees.
an official announcement from the war]
| department respecting the second of
i fleers’ training camps. The Georgia sen
] ators ami Congressman Howard were
| very much astonished when they read
the announcement in the Washington
i ,>apers this morning.
' Congressman Howard “double-quick
ed" to the war department for a con
ference with General McCain and a talk
with Secretary Baker, in the hope of]
having the order rescinded.
• "You are alarmed about Fort McPher-l
• son.” said General McCain anticipating]
■ the congressman as Howard entered his!
• office.
“No I am not.” interrupted Howard,
i "because 1 have every confidence in you
’ and your purpose to do the fair and
i square thing by us.” ,1
BRITISH DROP 40
TEUTON AIRPLANES
IN ONLY FIVE DAYS
✓
Germans Are in Nervous Fren
zy to Know When and Where
General Haig Is Planning to
Deliver Blow
BT WILLIAM PHILLIP SIMMS.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, July 23.—Forty German
airplanes brought down in five days is
one indication of the frenzy of nervous
ness with wnlch the Prussians are try
ing to find out what Field Marshal Haig
is preparing for them.
The complacency with which German
Chancellor Michaelis announced his sat-
with all things military is not
apparent today on the west front.
The curiosity of Boche planes is just
one indication of a deep-rooted appre
hension that Haig is preparing another
stroke. Just where this may come is
worrying the Germans.
All along the front the Germans are
lavishly using up their shells. Barrage
fire starts at the slightest movement in
I the British trenches. Big gun shells
I systematically but blindly search out
supposed depots back of the lines. Par
ticular apprehension is shown among the
sand dunes on the Belgian coast, where
Germany recently won a gain. But the
same apprehension shows in no neglect
] of fire through the Les. Loos, Armen-
I tiers. Wytschaete or Ypres sectors.
Every night the Germans attempt
i raids. The fact that their losses in
i these excursions are steady and large
i does not deter them.
Prisoners related today that one com
mander had ordered there would be no
further leave granted members of his
Bavarian division until nis men by raids
had fully identified the British troops
■ opposite. One other commander an
nounced a reward of the iron cross and
a fortnight’s leave with 20 marks as
a prize to any patrol which would bring
in a Britisher, dead or alive.
Up in the air the Boche planes keep
incessanl’.y busy. There is co-ordination
of curiosity by artillery, infantry and:
air forces.
The successful raiding operations re- ,
1 ported about Avion by Field Marshal
; Haig today were carried out by Cana-
I dlans.
Canada Open to Americans
WASHINGTON. July 23.—American 1
tourists are free to enter Canada with- ;
out passports, the state department was]
advised today.
BEICHSMffIin
REPORTED WIIEB IN
PEACE TERMS FIGHT
Germans Continue Violent As
saults Upon French on Aisne
Front and Have Scored
Some Gains
LOXDON, Toly 23—Occupation by the
Germane of the city of Taraopol in east
ern Galicia Is reported by Reuters lim
ited.
stag majority parties have forced the
German government to declare a re
nunciation of annexations and indemni
ties,” the Dutch newspaper, the
Nieuwe Courant, according to dis
patches received at the state depart
ment today.
This is the only word reaching the
department to indicate that there has
been any such step by the government.
Press reports have not mentioned any
such ’situation in Germany and au
thorities are doubtful.
NEW YORK. July 23.—(8v Foreign
Cables from European Capitals.)—The
war situation in Europe for the moment
consideration chiefly at the two
points where the Germans have con
centrated their main military efforts —
the yielding portion of the Russian
front in eastern Galicia and the section
of the Fjeach front near Craonne.
Ip the former war theater (here is
little sign as yet of a change in the
;emper of the disaffected Russian troops
sufficient to bring about an effective
resistance to the Teutonic progress,,
which" threatens disaster to the Rus
sian arms
On the western front there is a dif
ferent story to tell. The desperate on
slaughts of the crown prince’s forces
are being met with gallant resistance
by General Petain’s troops and such
small bits of territory us have been
gained by the Germans have been dear
ly paid for.
Last night the German assaults were
renewed on the Californie and Case
mates plateaux, for the mastery of
which colossal efforts are being put
forth. Some headway was made on
both these elevations, but General Pe
tain's men are clinging bravely to them
both, although driven out of first line
trenches. The Germans attacked the
support trench on the Californie
plateau, but it was retained by the
’ French in its entirety-
Todays official reports from the
Galician front are little if any more
encouraging than those of the last few
days. While efforts are being made
to restore order among the Russian
forces the Austro-German offensive be
tween the Stripa and the Zlota Lipa is
being pushed and additional villages
have been occupied by the Teutons.
Toward the northern end of the Rus
sian front the situation is different.
The Russians have taken the offen
sive and opened up a gap two miles
deep in an important sector of the
German line near Krevo and Vilna, inci
dentally capturing more than 1,000
Germans. Here, too, however, certain
detachments appear to have been work
ed upon bv the extremists and are
fighting so indifferently as to jeopardize
the development of the Russian suc
cess.
Germans Are Continuing
Violent Attacks* on French
PARIS, July '23.—Continuing their
violent attacks on the Aisne front the
Germans last night stormed French
trenches on the Casemates plateau, the
war office announces. On the California
i plateau the French maintained tfteir
■ supporting trenches.
The statement follows:
“German attacks, accompanied by vio
lent bombardments, continued last night
on the plateau in front of Craoone. On
the Chasemates plateau the enemy in
new efforts of extreme violence suc
j ceeded in penetrating our first line. An
’ immediate and vigorous French counter
attack resulted in the preservation of
> I only a small portion of this line. On
. the Californie plateau the fighting was
' not ended until late at night. In spite
l of all their efforts the Germans were
1 ! unable to dislodge us from the plateau
'Our troops repulsed all attacks’directed
’ i upon our supporting trench, which we
*! occupy in its entirety.
"There was intermittent canonading
’! at various points on the front.*’
- British Closing in On
Teutons in East Africa
LONDON. July 23.—German troops
.in German East Africa, attempted to,
make a stand last week against the
tallied forces which are gradually clos
, ing in on them. An official statement
. issued here today says heavy fighting
t l took place, in which the Germans suf
fered large losses. The announcement
follows:
"On July 17 the enemy evacuated
i Mount Shakama. A portion of his,
I forces retreated southwest toward Lika-,
wage and the main body fell back on i
Narongombe. Throughout the 17th j
and 18th our columns pressed the re-1
tiring enemy in a most difficult coun- :
i try, capturing a few prisoners and oc- j
cupying a ridge two miles north of i
■ Narongombe by nightfall of the 18th.
"On the 19th the main enemy post-I
tions irf the vicinity of Narongombe I
were attacked. Severe fighting ensued.
i the enemy offering stubborn resist
ance and making numerous counter
I attacks, in the course of which it is
! ascertained from prisoners, he sustained I
I heavy losses. Our casualties also were
j considerable.
NO. 84.
NEW PREMIER MADE '
VIRTDAL OIGTATOR TO
HANDLETREATCRISIS
Petrograd Riots Are Reported
Checked, but Desertions and
Army's Refusal to Fight
Threaten Ruin to Russia
NEW YORK, July 28.—8 y foreign
cables from European capitals.)—"Un
limited powers” have been granted tha
Russian provisional government under •
Premier Kerensky to grapple with tha.
sinister forces threatening to wreck tha
new Russia, born of the March revo
lution.
The grant comes from the most pow
erful representative body in the nation,
the council of soldiers’ and workmen’s
delegates and peasants of all Russia.'
assembled in Petrograd.
The title of the ruling body, tha
"Government of National Safety,” re
calls immediately the famous committee
of public safety of 1793, formed in the
critical period of the rFench revolu
tion. With Kerensky serving not only »
as premier but minister of war and ma
rine, it is apparent that vast powers
are thus lodged in the hands of this
one man, suggesting those of virtual
dictator.
The mandate of this committee is
to restore order, both at the front and
at home—admittedly a difficult task ii>
the face of the powerful Influence
both within and without the nation
working against the present regime. It
is evidently one, however, with which
Kerensky, concededly the strongest
man to be found for the task, is willing
• to grapple With all his widely recog
nized force and ability.
Russia Gives Kerensky
Full Power to Act
PETROGRAD, July 23.—The council
of soldiers’ and workmen’s delegates
and peasants of all Russia voted today
after an all night session to grant the
government of Premier Kerensky un
limited powers under the title "govern
ment of national safety” for the re-es
tablishment of public order, both at the
front and at home.
The chaotic conditions prevailing on
part of the Russian front are disclosed
in a telegram sent to Premier Kerensky,
the provisional government and the
coundil of workmen's and soldiers’ del
egates by the executive committee and.
the commissioner of the provisional
government with the second army on
the southwestern front. The telegram,
announced the inauguration of stern l
measures to combat disaffection.
"We unanimously recognize that the
situation demands extreme measures
and efforts, for everything must ba
risked to saVe the revolution from ca
tastrophe.” thh message reads. "The
commander in chief of the western
front and the commander of the second
army today have given orders to firs,
on deserters and runaways.
“Let the country know the truth. Let,
it act without mercy. Let it find!
enough courage to strike those who by
their cowardice are destroying Russia!
and the revolution.”
Referring to the threatened disaster*,
the telegram says:
“Most military units are in a state of
complete disorganization. Their spirit
for the offensive has utterly disappear
ed. The|' no longer listen to orders of
their leaders and they neglect all ex
planations of comrades, even replying
by threats and shots. Some elements
■ voluntarily evacuate positions without
i even waiting for the approach of ths
i enemy. <
“Cases are on record in which an.
i order given to proceed with all haste
to such and such a spot to assist com
rades in distress has been discussed for
several hours at meetings and reinforce
ments have been delayed
for several hours.
"These troops abandon their positions
at the first shots of the enemy. For a
distance of several hundred versts long
files of deserters, armed and unarmed,
men in good health and robust, who have
lost all shame and feel they can act al
together with impunity, are proceeding
to the rear. Frequently entire units
’ destert in this manner.
WASHINGTON. July 23.— Kerensky
i faces the almost superhuman task of
. I saving the entire Russian front in the
‘ face of strong German onslaughts by
•i picked regiments, the Russian embassy
stated today, frankly admitting the sit- .
I uation was very grave.
Germans are concentrating large
i forces at the ten mile break in the
Russian line in Galicia and are pre
paring t« follow up their advantage
' to the utmost, cables received at the
! embas'*y stated.*
“Tiiv fate of the Russian democracy
is in Kerensky’s hands." said an embassy
official, commenting on the new pre
mier’s dash to the front to plead with
the Russian troops.
While German secret agents continue
sowing dissension in the Russian armies
I the Twentieth. Thirtieth and Sixty
i eighth German infantry regiments have
been brought from the A osges front and
I thrown against the Russians at Kalush.
Also many Prussian guard regiments
have been thrown against the break
! in the Russian line as well as five
regiments of Hungarian cavalry, the
I embassy was advised.
I Meanwhile, conditions at Petrograd
are serious, the embassy stated. Al
though street rioting has been quelled,
snipers are at work in an effort to re
new general confusion, r Troops guard
the streets. The mutinous regiments
. tn the garrison have been disarmed and
j disbanded.