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The Times-Recorder is the ONLY paper
in the Third Congressional District with
Associated Press Service.
<HIKT¥-M*TH TEAS.
TREMENDOUSDRIVELAIINCHEDBY
BRITISH ALONG 20 NILE FRONT
One of the Biggest Moves of
War Inaugurated This
Morning in Flanders
HUES' SDPEBIORIT!
IH AIR ESTABLISHED
Terrific Barrage of Artillery
Fire From British Batteries
Covering attack
i
NEW YORK, July 31. — (Compiled by
the Associated Press from European
cables during the day.)—One of the
big moves of the war is apparently un
der way in Flanders, where the Ger
man right flank rests on the North
Sea port supporting their submarine
bases at Zebrugge and Bruges.
After an unprecedented artillery fire
had raged for days, a combined Brit
ish and French attack was launched
this morning under, perhaps the most
terrific barrage fire of the war. The
exact purpose of the attack is not indi
cated but may be to turn the German
right flank.
Unofficial dispatches say the attack
directed over a frontal area of more
than twenty miles, with the allies suc
cessful in gaining their first objective
along the whole of this line. The Brit
ish artillery is now reported to be
moving in closer between Dixmude ami,
Bosinghe.
The attackers took the two first line
trenches only after fighting over most
difficult territory. The British captur
ed La Basseville, which they recently ,
relinquished to the Germans, but the
allies are now facing a large concen-]
tration of German artillery and fresh
troops which have been brought up in
anticipation of the attack. The allies
succeeded in establishing complete
periority in the air before the attack j
began.
The southern boundary of the attack
is on the river Lys. The French at-i
tacked last night on the Aisne front,'
carrying positions there on a front
c; fifteen hundred yards.
TO SEND NOTICES
OUT Oil THDRSDAYI
I
The notices to the men who are to J
be summoned on the first call for ex-1
jaghnination before the Sumter County j
Board, will not be sent out >
before Thursday, according to a state
ment made by Sheriff Lucius Harvey,
chairman of the* board.
The work of preparing the list of)
drafted men is going on rapidly, but |
the checking over of the master list!
containing 10,500 names or more, in j
order to eliminate all numbers not'
affecting this di. :rict, is proving a task'
of no mean proportions.
The numbers have all been selected, i
however, and today the members of the
board are busy checking the re-istra-|
ticn cards against this Sumter county!
list. |
The notices wHI be sent out proba
uly Thursday morning, although it was I
first thought that the list would be
ready on Wednesday. The 374 men
who will be summoned for examination
on the first call will be divided into
three sections, the first of which will
report five days after the notices are
sent out, and the other two-thirds on
the two succeeding days.
Til BE IN MIRTH GEORGIA
IH RING COMING SEASON
A. F. Holt, who far seve-tl years
past has been located in Americus
leaves tonight for north Georgia,
where he will remain during the com
ing cotton season.
I HE NEWS WHILE IT IS NEWS—COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL AND TELEGRAPHIC SERVICE—THE HOME PAPER PAR EXCELLENCE
LOCH MASONS ATTEND
DISTRICT CONVENTION
Several Amerious .Masons left this
morning to attend the 17th annual ses
sion of the Third Masonic District con
| vention which opened at 10 o'clock to
| day in Vienna, Ga.
I The convention will continue through
J today and will come to a close with the
session tomorrow morning.
In addition to the business sessions,
the ladies of the Eastern Star will
tender a banquet to the visiting Masons
tonight.
Several grand officers are expected to,
be present, among them Grand Master
F. O. Miller, of Fort Valley, and Grand
' Secretary F. F. •'taker, of Macon. The
■ | following officers will have charge of
■] the convention: Dr. F. E. Keefer, W.
• M.; Rev. J. T. Lee, S. W.; T. T. James,
! ! J. W.; A. B. Howard, Secretary.
Several thirty-second degree Masons
! i will be in attendance at the convention,
j among them being R. J. Travis, former
| potentate of Alee Temple, A. A. O. N. M.
S.
' Americus Lodge. No. 13, is sending
•as delegates Sam McDaniel and B. J.
Harrison, while M. B. Council Lodge,
I No. 95, will be represented by E. F.
| Wilder and Harvey Mathis.
J Among the other Masons from this
7 city attending the convention are J.'E.
■ | Sheppard, L. a. Blalock, Dr. J. H. Sta
| tb.am and Frank Payne.
THfIEUTEN STRIKE UNLESS
I.W.W, REFUGEES RETURN
■
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 31.
The main question in dispute between
I .forty thousand employees of South
| eastern railroads and the railroad man
j agers was settled today by the depart
j ment of labor, which rendered a decis
i ion acceptable to both sides.
I The settlement affects the hours o?
i labor as well as wages paid car in
spectors, train air-J>rake repairers,
safety appliance maintenance employes
and other persons employed in the car
departments of various railroads.
STILL otiora
OS FDOD CONTRDL
I WASHINGTON. D. C„ July 31
I The house and senate conferees on
the food control bill tailed at their
first session today to break the ex
isting deadlock on congressional war
• expenditures. The committee’s play of
I handling the food question continues
Ito be opposed by President Wilson.
I After the initial session had pro-
Jgressed some time without prospect of
coming to an agreement the committee
| recessed until later today on motion
|of Senator Hoke Smith, of Georgia.
I There is pending now a motion to
I strike out the committee provision
i
jobjtcticnable to the president.
CONTRACTS FBI! COTTON
ILLEGAL
FORT SMITH, Ark.. July Si.—Fed
eral Judge Yeomans decided today that
the present standard form contract us
ed cn both the New York and New Or
leans cotton exchanges does not com
ply with the federad cotton futures
act. and therefore, is illegal. The de
; cision was rendered in the I'nited
States district court here, and is of
. widespread interest because of its
■ effect upon cotton futures trading in
all parts of the country.
AMERSSMffiMSOROER
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
MKCIHIWLET
BHOffll BOARD
♦
At the regular meeting of the Sum
ter County Board of Education held
this morning at the courthouse, a
contract was entered into with J. E.
Hightower to act as the purchasing
and distributing agent for the school
books to be used in the county schools
this year.
This contract is authorized under
an act of the legislature approved last
year and taking effect on January 1, j
1917. It provides that the book con
cerns shall sell text books to the
county and city boards of education at
the lowest wholesale prices and in
order to handle the distribution of text
books in the most efficient manner,
the Sumter County Board of Educa
tion has designated Mr. Hi htower as
its official agent.
The ’terms of the contract provide
that the books shall be sold to stu
dents at net more than 15% advance
over the wholesale price and the Board i
of Education is absolved from all fl-,
nencial responsibility in the matter of
indebtedness for the books bought
from manufacturers. The contract is
ta run for five years, but may be ter
minated within that time after three
months notice has been given.
The same contract is in force- be
tween the Americus Board of Educa
tion and Mr. Hightower, having been
consummated in February.
A selected list of standard text books
to be used in the public schools of the
county was adopted at the meeting
yesterday. The members of the board
in attendance were J. E. Ranew A. J.
Logan, J. C. Carter. G. R. Simpson
and E. J. McMath, county school sup
erintendent.
GIVEN INTEREST IN
ftMERIGUS STEAM LAUNDRY
J. W. Holley. S. A. Perry and R. A.
Ri?sby, who for several years have
been employed at the Americus Stream
Laundry, have been given an interest
in the rpoflts of the business as a
t?ken cf appreciation on the part of
W. C. Carter, the owner, for their
laithful service.
The enterprise is one of the old
established concerns of the city and
both Messrs. Holley and Perry have
been identified with its operations for
a long period of time, while Mr. Rigs
by is a more recent acquisition.
All three men are well known in
this community and their good for
tune will be learned of with gratifica
tion by their friends.
MEASE TIKES
ONGDRIWIDNS
IND INDIVIDUALS
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 31.
To increase the pending war tax bill
to a total of $2,008,000,00(1 was decided
upon by the senate finance committee
today, the increased revenue is to be
derived by an increase in corporation
and income toxes. The tax increase on
individual incomes is to be so design
ed as to apply only to incomes of $15,-
000 annually and upwards, while a
sur-tax of SI.OO a gallon is to be laid
iupon ail distilled spirits, with 50 cents
la gallon additional upon beer. Other
minor increases are also to be made
by the committee in order to bring the
total revenue up to the amount need
ed.
AMERICUS, GEORGIA, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 31, 1917
AI.ANTA REGt LARS SENT
TO FORT OGLETHORPE, GA.
ATLANTA, Ga . July 31—Six com
panies of the Seventeenth Infantry, U.
S. A., which have bean stationed at
Fort. McPherson since the arrival of
the German prisoners several months
; go, have been ordered to Fort Ogle
thorpe. Ga., near Chattanooga ,Tenn,
to join the other companies of the regi
ment. which have been there the same
'ength of time. Fort McPherson is to
7e turned into a -great base hospital.
NEW YORK SWELTERS
IN HITOERffIE
NEW YORK, July 31—With the offi
cial temperature standing at 94 de
grees at 9:30 o’clock this morning,
New Yoik prepared to face another
period of sweltering heat. The temper
ature at the same hour yesterday was
four degrees lower than that regis
| tered this morning.
Many prostrations occurred in var
ious parts of the city during the morn
ing hours, but at noon the reported
presence of a cooi wave in the wase
promised some relief from the op
pressive weather probably tomorrow.
Little Hope of Early Relief.
AV ASHINGTON, D. C„ July 31.
The weather bureal today held out lit
tle hope of relief from the prevailing
heat wave, during the next two days.
' Reports to the bureau indicate the
I wave is extending over the whole of
■ the central valley, middle Atlantic and
New England states, as well as the
lower lakes region,
peichiult
VERf OPTIMISTIC
BERLIN. July 31.—The German offi
cial world is apparently not inclined
to share the optimism which Mathias
Erzber-er exhibited in the recent inter
view he ga,ve in Zurich, and which has
burst in upon Berlin.
As against the statements alleged to
have been made by the Centrist leader
to a Swiss editor, official circles here
today pointed to Chancellor Michaelis'
recent speech When the Associated
Press correspondent inquired whether
Herr Erzberger’s presence in Switzer
land and his announced ambition to sit
at the table opposite Premier Lloyd-
George for the purpose of arranging
a peace conference reflected the senti
ments or the authority of the German
I government, the foreign office replied
I that Herr Erzberger was traveling and
; talking in a private capacity.
“The German chancellor,” it stated
| “has demonstrated that he is a peace
'chancellor by his endorsement of the
■ reichstag’s peace resolution, and since
I then in the course of his address to
the German journalists.”
"The recent speeches of Messrs. Bo
rar Law, Lloyd-Gecrge, and Sir Ed
ward Carson, however, would not seem
to indicate that the foundation for a
I peace of reconciliation and compromise
| really exists. Other English and
I French utterances are equally incom
patible with such an assumption."
I Regarding the Erzberger interview
the Cologne Gazette observes:
j “After this Herr Erzberger cannot
longer be taken seriously. However, for
: the sake of the public interest we would
I urgently request him to discontinue
‘ playing the role of providence to the
' Jerman people.”
The Tages Zeitung says:
I “Herr Erzberger talks much, but in
the long run everything cannot be over-
I looked.”
The Germania continues to defen-:
I e Centrist leader against attacks from
IwP'nn the ranks of his own party.
71,000 OFFICERS ANU
MEN LOST BI BRITISH
I LONDON. July 31.—British casual
, lies in all theatres of war are publish
io today in London newspapers. The
' figures show that during July total
1 casualties numbered 71,000 officers and
i wen, the number of officers killed,
| r.ounded or missing totalled 2,500.
DIG INCOMES TO
REAR HEAVIEST
BURDEN OF TAXES
WASHINGTON, D. C„ July 31
Revision of the war tax bill to increase
its total from $1,670,000,000 to about
two billion dollars has been undertak
en by the senate finance committee,
while house leaders are discussing
measures to still further provide
against the increased estimates of this
year's war expenditures.
Final action has not been taken by;
the senate committee, but Chairman •
Simmons declares that the present con
census of committee opinion indicates
the following chances will be made in
the tax measure:
Imposition of most of the tax in
creases on corporations and individuals
having incomes of $20,000 and more.
To Modify Jones Amendment.
Material modification of the so-called
Jones amendment, which in its present
form levies 15 per cent, upon corpora
tions’ undistributed surplus.
No increase of the normal income
tax rate on individuals, but an in
crease probably of 6 per cent, on that
of corporations.
Additional taxes on intoxicating bev
erages, including whiskey, beer and
wines.
Increase of some of the consumption
taxes imposed in the bill on sugar, tea,
coffee and cocoa, and possibly addition
of a few new consumption taxes.
Addition of a few small taxes.
(I ver Half From Corporations
The exact divisions of the new tax
burden has not been decided, but in
creased corporation income taxes will
raise about $170,000,000 of the $300,-
000,000 to be added to the bill. The
normal rate probably will be made 6
per cent. It is 2 per cent under pres
ent law, and an increase to 4 per cent,
was provided in the bill as it passed
the house.
Committee sentiment has crystallized
decidedly against further increasing in
dividual income taxes, except on in
comes above $2,000. The additional
increase in rates on intoxicating bever
ages probably will not be large. As
drawn the bill would double the pres
ent rate on whisky and greatly in
crease that on beer.
To lux Petroleum Products.
Should consumption taxes be in
creased, it is expected that the propos
ed rate of 1-2 cent a pound on sugar
will be raised.
Among new revenue sources the com
mittee is considering a new taxe on
petroleum products, including gaso
line.
Whether the Jones amendment tax
ing corporate undivided surplus 15 per
cent, is to be reduced in its levy or
entirely eliminated was to amend the
prevision, Senator Simmons said, bas
.. I on the intention to levy increased
corporation income taxes.
The committee decided today to
chance the basis of war profits taxa
tion so as to include under the exemp
tion clause certain concerns in exist
ence before the war.
SITUATION NOW
IAAPBOVED AMONG
RUSSIAN TROOPS
LONDON, July 31—The London
Times special correspondent telegraph
ing early today from the headquarters
of the Seventh Russian army in Galicia
says the military situation there is
more hopeful than since the recent
debacle, resulting in the Teutonic ad
vance.
The correspondent states in his ar
ticle that hundreds of bodies are lying
unburied, with papers pinned to their
clothing, bearing this inscription:
“Here Lies a Traitor to His Country.”
The execution of spies and deserters
continues, the correspondent adds, and
Gen. Korniloff’s policy of ruling with
an iron hand is being strictly en
forced.
PROF. J.M. COLLUM
ATTENDS MEETING
J. M. Collum, principal of the Third
District A. & M. school left today for
Atlanta, where he goes to attend al
meeting of the presidents of boards,!
principals and members of faculties of
the district agricultural schools of
the state of Georgia, to be held at the
state capitol at three o’clock this af
ternoon, in the interest of the insti
tutions of this character throughout
the state.
An invitation has been extended tc>
each member of the legislature to at
tend this meeting and the needs of
these schools will be set forth, as
well as their importance in the great
educational plan of the Empire State
of the South. It is expected that much
good will come of this meeting, and
that a permanent organization will be
effected to >vo:k in the general inter
est of the schools.
VETS’ CONVENTION
IN THOMASVILLE
The Confederate Veterans of the
state are now turning their attention
to the state reunion to be held in
Thomasville on October 3rd. Gen.
James A. Thomas, commander of the
Georgia division of I'nited Confederate
Veterans, has made a visit to Thomas
ville and held a conference with the
W. D. Mitchell camp of that place, at
while time plans for the program and
other matters were gone into.
At this meeting it is expected thai :
resolutions will be passed disapprov
ing of the suggestion made recently
that the U. C. V. and the U. D. C.
should disband, as well as similar
resolutions to those passed in Macon
a the recent convention of the Child
ren of the Confederacy against the
“Hate Song,” "Marching Through
Georgia," urging its suppression and
elimination in all schools and on all
public occasions.
The question of larger pensions for
the veterans is probably the most im
portant one to come before the conven
tion in October. It is said that the
huh food prices prevailing and likely
to prevail for some time to come make
it a practical impossibility for the vet
erans to live on their present pensions'
of $60.00 per year, and it is generally
believed that if this fact is put before
the legislature in the right light, the
pensions of our heroes of the sixties
will be increased to meet the present
conditions.
MEOMTE I 5
SETTLED AMICABLY
CHICAGO. July 31.—Miners, harvest I
l ards and lumbermen throughout the
middle west are threatening to inaug- 1
urate a sympathetic strike unless the i
deported Industrial Workers of the!
World are allowed to return to their I
homes in Arizona. A telegram voic-1
ir g the intention of 250,000 men to in
augurate such a strike was sent to
President Wilson today by the secre
tary cf the Industrial Workers of the
World.
STILL DEPORTING I
BFLSi’H CITIZENS
HAVRE, France, July 31.—The de-,
portation of Belgian civilians by Ger-'
man military authorities continues, ac
cordin. to a statement issued by the'
foreign office of the Belgian govern
ment here today. Information reach
ing the Belgian authorities here is to
the effect that two small batches of
civilians were sent away from Belgian
points during June, and that the un
fortunate Belgians will probably be
compelled by the Germans to work
| along the military front in France.
/’•TT'V
V edition!
WATaON CROWD
JEERS SPEAKER
ON DRAFT LAW
ATHENS, Ga., July 31.—The CniteJ
States commissioner here, with half a
dozen deputies \ sited Bold Springs,
Franklin county yesterday to attend
the second mass imi .ing held there in
recent days to efitet an organization
to fight the draft a- 1 of the federal
government. No arrests were made,
but amid jeets and interruptions and
many efforts to embarrass him. Judge
C'.rt-f spoke to the crowd of several
aui'dred for r ire than an hour, out
lining the law a d warning against
acts which v.culd result disastrously
for the participants.
It was learned that a meeting was
held last Thursday similar to yester
day’s gathering. Another will be held
Saturday at Carnesville, the county
si at.
Been Raised.
That SBOO has been raised and $1,200
more will be raised to fight the draft
law through the courts was a state
ment made today, and the money it is
said, is to be sent to Tom Watson, who,
with two other lawyers, will handle the
fight in the courts.
There'was no violence evident in the
crowd, not more than 20 per cent,
of whom being of draft age, older men
composing the body of the assemblage,
it was freely declared the movement
was a Tom Watson movement.
One speaker, in heat, declared that
he considered Tom Watson the greatest
man of the age and "next to God Al
mighty Himself.”
This section of the state is much
wrought up over the demonstrations in
Franklin and interest was intensified
by a wild rumor circulated that, Watson
had been shot and seriously wodnded
at Thompton yesterday.
Meeting at Lincolnton.
LINCOLNTON,- Ga., July 31.—At a
mass meeting at the courthouse here
Monday more thon 300 citizens of Lin
coln county passed resolutions going
on record as opposed to the selective
draft law. as passed by congress, and
asking that same be repealed or
amended according to the Mason
amendment, on the ground that the law
was unconstitutional and taking awav
Jhe right guaranteed Americans as em
phasized by the limitation in the constl
' tution.
Deplore Military Debt.
The resolution also deplored the
placing upon the people of a debt of an
unlimited sum for military or other
purposes beyond constitutional rights.
The meeting was orderly throughout,
careful consideration being given each
move made, though a noticeable firm
ness was manifested.
J. H. Boyken presided, with B. F.
| Butler, vice chairman, and B. M. Banks,
secretary. Over S2OO was raised by
voluntary subscriptions to be added
to a fund being raised to test the legal
ity of the conscription law. “The
i meeting fully represented the senti-
I ment of the people of this county,”
I the leaders said, "who being objection
able. are not in any manner rebellious.”
S.H.KRESS STORE TB
BE REMODELED SOON
The S. H. Kress store on Jackson
street is to be thoroughly remodeled
and re-decorated, the operations be
gifining in about three weeks, as soon
I as the necessary material has been as
i sembled here. It is expected that about
■ one month will be consumed by the
workmen in completing the construc-
1 tion. according to Manager J. C. Elton.
I The entire interior of the store is to
jbe re-decorated, H. G. Stanfield hav-
- i ing secured the contract for this part
■ of the work, while the improvement
- and alteration of the lighting system
’ will be handled by the Levy-Morton
j Company, of Columbus, Ga. New drop
-i lights will be placed on the tables and
’ counters, which will be removed from
f the center of the main floor and ar
i ranged to form aisles.
A private stock room is to be ccn
e structed on the second floor, increas
< ing the storage capacity to a consider
able degree.
M MBFR 181,