About Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920 | View Entire Issue (July 24, 1917)
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.
