Newspaper Page Text
Vol I. No. 25
UNCLE SAM WINS FIRST BATTLE
City of Vera Cruz Practically Destroyed. Many Mexicans Killed. But Four Americans.
Mexicans Blow Up U. S. Battleship Arkansas?
Brunswick, Ga., April 22, Special—lt is unofficially reported that the Battleship
Arkansas has been destroyed by the Federals at Tampico.
Up until noon this report could not be confirmed.
IN ALL PROBABILITY A COM
PANY WILL BE FORMED HERE
Douglas Boys Are Ready and Desirous of Going
To the Front. Col. J. J. Willingham Will Be
Captain of the Company.
GRAHAM CASE IN THE
SUPREME COURT
SECOND CASE TO GO TO THE SU
PREME COCK!' UNDER 1911 LAW.
NEW POINT INVOLVED.
Clerk J. R. Overman forwarded on
Saturday night, the bill of exceptions
and record of the application for a
change of venue, in the case of Char
ley Graham, who is under indictment
for murder for killing M> Lewi once
Newbern at Broxton. Under the law
this case will have right of way over
allother cases in the Supreme court
and it will probably be decided by
that court within the next thirty days.
This is the second case to go to the
Supreme court under fhe act of 1911
for changing venues in criminal cases
and this case involves a new point cf
law that has never been passed on bv
the Suprenie court, and the result will
be watched with much interest by the
legal fraternity.
If Judge Quincey should be, sustain
ed, then he will likely call another
special term of court and try the case.
If a change of venue should be order
ed. then Graham will be taken to an
other county to be selected by Judge
Quincey for trial.
Later —Solicitor M. D. Dickerson re
ceived a telegram from the .Clerk of
the Supreme court advising him that
the Charley Graham case is set for
hearing in the Supreme-court on Mon
day, April 27.
DR. H. U. WHELCHEL
REMODELS HIS HOME
Dr. H. C. Whelchel has let the con
tract for remodeling his home on the
corner of Pearl and Sellars streets.
He is having his present residence
rolled back from Pearl street to the
center of his large lot, will turn it
around and face Sellars street, and
will add four new rooms on the front
facing Sellars street, two on the fi ,- st
floor and two on the second, besides
adding a new front veranda, which
will give the house a modern appear
ance. The portions of his old house
will be remodeled throughout, and
when completed will be one of the
modern homes of the city. Mark An
derson is the contractor.
MOVES TO HROXTON.
Mb. J. J. Williams, who has been in
the harness and shoe repairing busi
ness here for the past six years will
remove to Broxton today.
THE WAR NEWS WE GIVE
This issue of The Progress will tell 5,000 readers in Coffee
County the news of tfie war with Mexico complete up to 12
o’clock noon today.
The Progress is very proud of the fact that it can do a
stunt like this and believes that there is no other country week
ly published anywhere that can do better.
Watch the Progress prog.
(Bvffiet fhrxmms.
Typical of America as soon as it
became known that Uncle Sam was in
trouble men and young men galore
of Douglas said, “Well, I’m ready to
go and do what I can to help Uncle
Sammy win the fight.”
So it came about that there will in
all probability, be a company to go to
the front from this city, and the com
pany will be made, up of stalwart
Americans who love Old Glory well
enough to fight and fight hard for the
protection of the flag.
Col. J. J. Willingham, formerly cap
tain of the Jackson Guards, will prob
ably be the captain.
The above is true, not only of Doug
las and the South, it is true of the
East, the North and* the West. Every
hill and dale, every street and mart
at this time hold men who are ready
and willing to go to the front.
When a country is populated with
that sort of citizens, is there any reas
on why Old Glory should not be re
spected and the country feared?
BIG CAMP MEETING TO
BE AT GASKIN SPRINGS
One of the greatest camp meetings
ever held in this section will begin at
Gaskin Spring on the first Sunday in
August.
Several famous preachers will be
there to assist in the meetings, among
them are Dr. W. N. Ainsworth, of Ma
con; Rev. T. B. Stanford; of Savannah.
These two eminent divines will be the
principal speakers. To assist them
will be Presiding Elder I. P. Tyson,
and the old war horse, Rev. M. C.
Austin.
In speaking of the meeting, Rev.
M. A. Morgan, who is making the
arrangements, said:
“The great and good men who have
consented to preach at the camp
meeting constitute a strong force for
the good of this county and com
munity. It will be one of the greatest
gospel forces any camp meeting has
ever had or will have in Georgia.”
The meeting grounds are historic
and need no further mention at this
time and Rev. Morgan urges the peo
ple of Douglas and Coffee county to
begin at once to prepare for the
greatest camp meeting ever held
there.
CHANGE DATE OF MEETING.
Owing to the meeting of the Coun
ty Superintendents, which will be
held at St. Mary’s May 4, the local
Board of Education will meet on the
first Saturday in May instead of the
first Monday. ;
The average married man is the
kind of man that makes the neigh
bors feel sorry for his wife.
Douglas, Georgia, Wednesday, April, 22nd. 1914
PRINCIPAL CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
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Photo copyright, 1913, by American Press Association.
VtCTORI ANO HUERTA.
VOLUNTEER BILL
HAS BEEN PASSED
Provides For Prompt Organization
of Volunteer Army
Completely Changes Old Law and
Gives President Authority to
Appoint all Officers
Washington, D. C.,April 21—Prompt
organization of a volunteer army for
service in Mexico or in any other cri
sis was provided for in a House bill
passed Monday by the senate. Con
ferences on the measure were delayed
by a motion, by Senator- Reed, to re
consider the vote.
The bill would re l ise the law under
which a volunteer force was organiz
ed for the Spanish-American war in
1898. Its author claims that a volun
teer force could be raised more quick
ly than under the existing law-, that it
would prevent the payment of boun
ties, would do away with a short term
of enlistment, by making the term of
volunteers the same as that in the reg
ular army; would procure the neces
sary number of men at the beginning
of the w ar for a long period thus mak
ing drafting unnecessary, and would
decrease the pension list after the
war.
The law would give the President,
instead of the governors of the states,
the authority to appoint all officers
for the volunteer forces requiring him
to give preference in their selection
to those who have had military train
ing and instruction.
Insteadof the volunteer forces wait
j ing to be called into service until all
the organized militia of all arms has
been called it would permit the or
ganization of volunteers of a particu
lar arm as soonas the militia of that
particular arm had been put into ser
vice.
The present strength of the organ
ized militia, including both officers
and men, is approximately 120,000, ac
cording to the latest returns from ad
jutants general of the dffierent states
to the War Department.
MORE MARINES WANTED
FOR MEXICAN SERVICE
Washington, April 22. Major Gen
eral Barrett, commanding the marine
corps, today ordered another regiment
of marines to be assembled at Phila
delphia for Mexican service. They
will b drawn from Atlantic coast cit-
I is-
Installing New File
The County Commisioners have
just received a new steel filing outfit
for the office of clerk of Superior court
The new outfit is of the latest pat
tern and is being installed by Clerk
A. W. Haddock of the Commissioners.
The entire outfit, including a steel
table, are fireproof which means that
hereafter all the records will be fully
protected from fire. This new ar
rangement will greatly improve the
vault and at the same time leave more
working space. *
GEO. HcCRAME, JR., INJI RED
On Sunday Mr. Geo. McCranie, Jr.,
of Willacoochee, was severely injured
near Forsyth, when th< automobile in
which he and Mr. Dennis Peterson
were riding turned over. It seems
these young men left Willacoochee
early Sunday morning to go to For
syth to spend the day, just before they
reached their destination the accident
happened. Mr. McCranie wa3 brought
home on a stretcher, and Mr. Peterson
was considerably bruised.
It costs some peeple a lot to live
because their neighbors are afflcted
with the borrowing habit.
Federals Refuse to Heed Fletcher’s Warn
ing and Battleship Utah Opened up
on the City at Midnight Destroying
Much of it.
BIT FEW CASUALTIES AMONG THE AMERICANS
Mexican Losses Said to be Heavy. United States Has Ordered the Fed
erals to Desist Firing, Salute the American Flag, Declare an
Apology and Guarantee That Dignity of the United States Shall
Be Respected or Big Guns Will all be Turned Loose.
Atlanta, April 22, 11 a. m.—Hear Admiral Fletcher ordered
the battle ship Utah at midnight to open lire on Vera Cruz.
The battleship destroyed much of the city and more than 300
Mexicans were killed. Slight casualty among Americans.
Atlanta, April 22, 9:43 a. m.—Continued refusal on the part
of Huerta to salute the American Hag, caused the United States
to order Rear Admiral Fletcher to seize the customs house at
Vera Cruz and secure 2,000,000 rounds of amunition stored there
belonging to the Mexican Federals.
Marines landed Tuesday afternoon and were attacked by the
Mexican Federals. A bloody ttght lasting for two hours ensued
in the streets of the city, resulting in the retreat of the Federals
at nightfall.
Four United States marines were killed and twenty wounded.
The loss on the Mexican side was mold’ than 200.
Firing on the Americans from the housetops and other spots
of advantage to the Federals continued and Fletcher ordered the
Americans to shoot only to protect themselves at the same time
warning the Federals that the big guns of the American fleet
would open up on the city unless the tiring ceased. Fletcher also
demanded a declaration of apology as weli as salute and guaran
tee that the dignity of the United States would he respected.
This, Fletcher warned the Federals, can alone cause withdrawal
of American force.
Galveston, Texas, April 2*2.- More
than 200 Mexicans were killed at Vera
Cruz today in the light that followed
the landing of the United States sail
ors and marines, according to infor
mation received at the cable office
here.. ,
Vera Cruz, April 22. Rear Admiral
Badger, commander in chief of the At
lantic licet, has arrived here with five
ships.
Washington,‘April 22.—The American
flag tonight ties over Vera Cruz. Four
Americans were killed and twenty
wounded when a detachment of blue
jackets and marines from the Ameri
can licet seized the customs house,
raised the American Hag and skir
mished with the Mexican garrison.
Desultory tiring was in progress
late today, according to a dispatch
from Rear Admiral Fletcher, received
at <> p. m. At first the garrison had
appeared to be withdrawing. Ameri
can Consul Canada reported this to
the state department at ."» o’clock, but
when the American forces reached the
customs house, the Mexicans opened
with ritle and artilery fire.
The American forces have taken
possession of the cable office and hold
the American conciliate and the part
of the city in the vicinity of the wharv-
Secretary Daniels made public the
followin dispatch received from Ad
miral Fletcher at 6 ]». m.:
“Tuesday in the face of approaching
norther, landed marines and sailors
| from battleships Utah, Florida, and
' transport Prarie and siezed customs
[ house.
“The Mexican forces did not oppose
j landing but opened fire w ith rifle and
artilary after our seizure of customs
house. Prarie shelling Mexicans out
of their positions. Desultory firing
from housetops and streets.
“Hold customs house and section of
city in vicinity of wharves and consu
late. Casualties four dead and twen
ty wounded.’
When this statement had been is
sued. Secretaries" Daniel and Garri
son left the white house.
“I hope it is all over,”, said Mr. Gar
rison. “I think they -fired to save
their faces in retreat. I don't expect
any more.”
A dispatch from Admiral Fletcher
under date of 4 p. m. today, received
at 7:29 p. m., announced that desul
tory firing was still in progress. He
said he was holding that part of Vera
Cruz in the vicinity of the railroad
yard, the custom house and the coasu-
$1 Per Annum
late. All rolling stock of the railroad
he said, was safe.
Wilson Ordered Post Seized.
President Wilson ordered Rear Ad
miral Fletcher to seize the Vera Cruz
customs house and preven t Huerta
from getting several million rounds
of ammunition and 200 field guns now
on a German steamer bound for that
port.
The orders went out from Washing
ton early today when it became ap
parent that delay in congress was ac
cruing to Huerta’s advantage.
The orders, officials said, left to the
Admiral's discretion when and how to
act. As there is no blockade the Amer
ican forces could notinterfere with
the German steamer. The orders w r >re
to seize the guns and shells after they
had landed or to seize the customs
house to prevent their landing and
thus keep them from going to Mexico.
Oilicials declared that President
Wilson had ample authority for his
action with the approval of congress.
The orders went out to Admiral
Fletcher at daybreak after President
Wilson and cabinet officials had been
in conference since 4 a. m., mostly
over the telephone.
The orders to the Admiral, it was
said, conferred the broadest authority
upon him, and directing that if neces
sary he take the city of Vera Cruz as
well as the customs house to prevent
the landing of the munitions.
SCOUT SRUISER SALEM
ORDERED TO TAMPICO
Philadelphia, April 22. —Orders were
received at the Philadelphia navy yard
for the scout cruiser Salem to sail for
Tampico, Commandant Benson, of
the navy yard said theeruiser would
get away on Sunday. The Salem will
carry 354 men. It is one of the fast
est boats in the navy.
W orkmen and seamen began loading
provisions on the battleship Ohio and
the cruiser Tennessee. It was said
the Ohio would be the next vessel or-
Mexican waters. *
WARSHIP MISSISSIPPI
SAILS FOR VERA CRUZ
Pensacola, Fla., April 22.—The bat
tleship Mississippi, with six hundred
marines aboard, sailed this morning
for Vera Cruz. The warship also car
ried four aviators, with their hydro
aeroplanes.
The tender Dixie departed last night
for the Mexican port