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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 ''•'•'•hx ''' illilslsif Hnj 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