GERMAN NATION
IN DEEP GLOOM
People Demand Truth Concerning Fate
Os German Army -Defeat
On Every Hand
RAY OF HOPE FOR TEUTONS
Their Main Army Is Intact—Lorraine
Provides Opportunity for Last
Desperate Stand
There appears at the present time
only one ray of hope for the fast re
treating German armies. The main
German army is still intact and it
must be crushed by the allies before
the victory is complete.
It is also noted by military experts
that on the German left lies Metz,
the capital of Lorraine and the chain
of forts lying between Metz and Did
enhofen. This, together with the
dense forests along the course of the
Moselle river and the strategic, roads,
provides an excellent location for a
defensive action on the part of the
Germans, should the French follow the
pursuit this far.
Germans Fleeing From France
From the news of the fighting in the
north of France, it appears that the
rout of the kaiser's army is complete.
The allied armies are steadily push
ing the Germans back, and within
a short time there will be no Germans
on French soil. The ranks of the
Germans are fast thinning and though
no accurate estimate can be obtained,
it is expected the casualties will reach
far into the thousands.
Gloom Hangs Over Germany
News of the reverses met by the
German troops in France have filtered
into Germany through Switzerland.
The entire nation Is in deep gloom.
“Tell us the truth!” is the cry that
is going up from the lips of the peo
ple of Germany. They have also heard
of the great victories of the Russians
In Galicia. This has added to their
despair.
Ranks of Germans Demoralized
The condition of the German army,
according to dispatches, is critical in
the extreme. The allied armies have
succeeded in destroying the last rem
nants of their cavalry and a large part
of their mobile artillery and ammuni
tion trains have been taken. It is
also reported that the German army Is
suffering greatly for lack of food. With
these conditions facing them, it is
hardly expected that they would be
able to do more than to reach Germany
in safety.
Three Million Men Fighting
This is the world’s greatest battle.
The fighting extends from within a
few miles of Paris to as far as Nancy
close to the Lorraine border, a dis
tance of nearly one hundred and twen
ty miles. It is estimated that nearly
three million men, both active and
those held as reserves, are engaged
in the conflict. So constant has been
the fighting that it has been impossi
ble to get any reliable information re
garding the casualties, but the num
bers are expected to reach far into
the thousands.
Allies Hold Favored Positions
This battle is being fought on the
same ground that Napoleon fought in
1814 with entrenched wings on both
sides and in the center. The odds
are in favor of the allies. It now ap
pears that their previous retreat be
fore the German hosts was purposely
planned in order to give them the op
portunity to choose their own ground
to fight on. Now that they are tak
ing the aggressive their armies occupy
the most favored positions. The lines
of the allies are unbroken. Their ranks
are strongly reinforced with fresh
troops.
Russian Victories in Galicia
The messages that come from the
other theaters of war in East Prussia,
Galicia and Russian Poland are no
more encouraging to the German peo
ple than the news that is filtering
through to them from. France. In Ga
licia, particularly, a great disappoint
ment was meted out to the Germans
when the Austrian forces failed to
hold the advance of the Russian hosts.
For a time the Austrians did keep the
Russians from Galicia, but this was
because of the poor railroad facilities
in Russia for transporting troops to
the border.
Exchange of Prisoners Arranged
London.—A Reuter’s Telegram com
pany’s dispatch from Amsterdam says
that au agreement has been reached
whereby France and Germany will ex
change an equal number of prisoners,
officers and men, who may rejoin their
respective armies.
German Fleet Is Located
Copenhagen. —A dispatch from Rau
mo, Finland, says that according to
statements by pilots and fishermen, a
German fleet has been cruising for the
Jast two days in the Aland Islands
WATER SUPPLY OF THE FRENCH FORCES
i 'Wisfesatnßßfw/ .
Motor trucks carrying tanks of pure drinking water follow in the wake
of the French army.
“Tell Us the Truth,” Cry the Germans
Geneva, Switzerland. —News of the
German retreat, despite every precau
tion, has passed through Switzerland
to the north and caused profound de
pression In Germany. According to
advices received here people have
gathered in the streets in various Ger
man towns, shouting: “Tell us the
truth! Give us the news!”
Newspaper offices at Munich have
been closed, as disorders are feared.
Along the Swiss-German frontier, the
full extent of the German retreat is
known. People are crying: “If the
French have beaten us, what will the
Russians do?”
Wilson Sends Peace Message
Washington.—The knowledge that
Emperor William for several days has
been considering a message from the
United States government inquiring,
in effect, if Germany desired to dis
cuss peace measures set official and
diplomatic Washington on the alert
for a possible exchange of peace
terms between the belligerents. No
reply from the emperor had reached
Washington.
it had not been a matter of general
knowledge that beginning with the
dinner in New York a week ago at
tended by Count Von Bernetoff, the
German ambassador, and Oscar
Strauss, American member of The
Hague peace tribunal, an informal
-movement was under way to learn
Germany’s attitude toward peace.
British Winning in Africa
London. A Reuter's dispatch from
Nairobi, British East Africa, says a
strong force of Germans from German
East Africa crossed the border at Mo
horn and occupied Karangu and are
advancing on Kisii.
"British "forces," the correspondent
says, “have been dispatched from Kis
nmpu and from Port Florence, on the
northfeastem shore of Lake Victoria.
Nyauza, to cheek them.
''The German force on the Tsaio riv
er is retreating and is in conflict
with troops sent from Bura and Mtoto
Andei. Full details of the fighting
are not obtainable, but the capture of
two German officers and some native
troops is confirmed. Another German
officer leas surrendered.
Austrian Situation Grave
London. —A Reuter dispatch from
Rome says: "News from the Austrian
frontier describes even in darker col
ors the situation of the Austrian army,
especially since Germany has notified
her ally that she is unable to send
more reinforcements into Galicia, ow
ing to graver conditions on the west
ern front.
“It even is asserted that the Ger
man contingents which reached Gro
dek to help the Austrians may be re
called to Germany, as Germany wishes
to center all her efforts against the
allies.”
Communication of Germans Cut
London.—A Bordeaux dispatch to
Lloyd's Weekly News says the line of
communications used by the Germans
has been cut and they cannot make
use of tiie lines east of the Argonne
forest, owing to the rapid advance of
the allies on the center and right.
They, therefore, must try the line
through the Meuse valley and Luxem
burg.
South Africa Loyal to England
Capetown, Union of Soutli Africa. —
The senate and assembly of the Union
of South Africa have adopted an ad
dress to King George in which the
express approval of the action taken
by Great Britain "in defense of the
principles of liberty and justice and of
the integrity and sanctity of interna
tional obligations.”
Japan Friendly to Russia
Petrograd.—Japanese officers have
told a Russian journalist that the
whole of Japan is in favor of an alli
ance with Russia.
Balkans Unite Against Turkey
London. —Telegraphing from Rome a
correspondent of the Daily Telegraph
declares he has learned from diplomat
ic sources that Roumania, Greece and
Bulgaria have signed an agreement
which may be regarded as a real alli
ance under the terms of which these
three nations engage to interfere
whenever necessary in order to pre
vent Turkey’s aiding Germany and.
Austria in the present war. If Turkey
remains neutral, however, those three
states will do the same.
WHEELER COUNTY EAGLE, ALAMO, GEORGIA.
London. —The sixth week of the war
between Germany and France, Great
Britain and Belgium has brought a
vast transformation. The pursued are
now the pursuers. The irresistible
sweep of seven German armies
through Belgium into France met an
immovable force at the river Marne.
The army of Gen. Von Kluck, which
so long battled to turn the allies’ west
flank, was slowly and steadily out
flanked. Its retirement before the
amall but hardy British army turned
the tide of battle.
Germans Retreating Rapidly
If French official reports are cor
rect, all the German armies except
that facing Verdun and a few miles
southwest, are retreating. Gen. Von
Kluck’s army, which a week ago was
a few miles southeast of Paris, has
retired more than sixty miles to the
northeast, while on the extreme right
the army of the Bavarian crown
prince, which was attacking the
French eastern line from Nancy to
Epinal, has fallen back to the fron
tiers of Lorraine, permitting the
French to reoccupy Luneville and sev
eral other towns.
General Joffre, French commander
in-chief, pictures the retreat as hur
ried. if not disorderly, with the Ger
mans abandoning prisoners, wounded
and supplies.
Victory of Allies Assured
Paris. —The following communica
tion from General Joffre, commander
in-chief of the French army, has been
made public:
"The battle of the last five days
has ended in an undeniable victory.
The retreat of the first, second and
third German armies is hastening be
fore our left and at our center, in
turn, the fourth German army is com
mencing to fall back to the north
from Vitry-le-Francois and from Ser
maize-Les-Bains—in the province of
Marne, seventeen miles east of Vitry
le-Francois.
"Moreover the enemy lias left upon
the battlefield many wounded and
quantities of munitions of war. Also
in gaining ground we have made many
prisoners. Our troops show evidences
of the intensify of the struggle and
the extraordinary efforts made by the
Germans In their attempt to resist
our vehemence.
"Our vigorous retaking of the of
fensive has determined the success.
Every officer, subaltern and soldier
has responded to my call. All merit
well from the fatherland.”
Austro-German Armies Crushed
New York. —A cablegram received
here by Col. Nicolai Golejewski, mili
tary attache of the Russian embassy,
from the Russian general staff in Pe
trograd, read as follows:
“Operations in the region of Kras
nik and Tomaszow have ended in our
complete victory over the northern
Austrian armies, which have been
driven beyond the river San. Great
successes also have been attained in
the fighting west of Lemberg, between
Rawa Russka and the river Dniester.
The capture of over two hundred of
ficers and 30,000 men and a great
number of guns and machine guns
has been reported* ,
Colonel Golejewski also received
from the imperial Russian general
staff an official account of the battles
in Galicia, including operations against
the Austrian and Austro-German ar
mies. It is dated from Petrograd, and
is as follows:
"The total strength of the Austrian
trdbps engaged in the east battle in
the region of Lublin and Tomaszow is
estimated as 1,000,000 men and 2,500
guns. The main force of the enemy,
about six hundred thousand strong, de
ployed on the line from Zavihost to
Tomaszow in order to advance the
front Lublin-Holm. The right flank
of these armies was protected by an
army of more than two hundred bat
talions in the region of Lwow
Three Million Men in Battle Line
London. —The crucial battle of the
war in France has not reached any
decisive result.
Field Marshal Sir John French, com
mander of the British forces, reported
that the Germans had been driven back
all along the line; that the British
had crossed the river Marne; that the
Germans had suffered severely, and
that their men were supposed to be in
an extremely exhausted condition.
Notwithstanding this report, military
experts do not rush to sweeping con.
elusions. "
KAISER’S ARMIES
FLEE FROM ALLIES
Great Lasses Are Inflicted On German
Armies In Retreat From
France
COMMUNICATION IN DANGER
Allies Will Attempt to Cut Off the
German Armies From Their
Provision Trains
Loudon. —Except for the army which
has been attacking Verdun, the Ger
man forces in France have Mien
back, all along the line, according to
the French official report.
From Nancy to the Vosges they
have withdrawn from French terri
tory, while on the extreme right Gen.
Von Kluck and Gen. Von Buelow con
tinue to retreat to the northeast be
fore the French and British, even
giving up their defensive position on
the river Aisne between Compiegne
and Soissons.
Further west the German detach
ments that held Amiens have moved
northeastward to try to rejoin the
German army of the right at St.
Quentin. It is possible ail the Ger
mans in northwest France have done
likewise; otherwise, they would be
in danger of being cut off in the cen
ter.
Another defensive position, behind
Rheims, has been given up and in
the Argonne region a general retreat
is taking place toward the forest of
Be-Inoue and Triancourt.
Allies Following Up Advantage
The alites are pushing their ad
vantage and doing their utmost to
turn the retreat into a disaster by
a stern pursuit, on perhaps the
broadest scale yet known in war. On
the right they are in good position to
continue the offensive, if the men and
horses are not too tired for further
effort. They are based on a strong
line running from the Marne to the
fortresses through the hilly country'
south of Argonne.
German Communication in Danger
While the allied left, composed
largely of fresh troops with a heavy
force of cavalry under General Pau, is
wheeling around so as to drive Gen.
Von Kluck and Gen. Von Buelow to
ward Ardennes and Luxemburg. Gen
eral Pau’s anny, by a few more ,
marches by LaFere and Laon, might
cut communications between the re
treating Germans and Belgium.
The British, who recently took
nearly all the crossings on the river
Aisne and captured many prisoners,
are north of that river and are push
ing the attack that would assist in
forcing the Germans to evacuate
Rheims. The center, somewhere be
tween Chalons and Rheims, is making
an effort to recapture the latter city,
which would be one of the most popu
lar victories that could be announced
to Frenchmen.
Should these movements be crown
ed with success and Laon and Rheims
again fall into the hands of the allies,
the Germans would have only one line
of communication with Germany —
through Rethel—and even that might
be cut.
Gen. Von Kluck, however, is looking
for reinforcements from Belgium if
they have not already reached him,
and s with these he might make an
other stands against his pursuers.
Fighting in Africa Significant
Washington.—Reports of fighting be
tween th% British and German forces
in Central Africa is regarded in dip
lomatic quarters here as having a
significance far beyond that of a lo
cal struggle in that remote quarter.
It is looked upon as a final test of the
-two rival policies—the German plan
of establishing her most extensive col
ony in East Africa and the British pol
icy of linking together her vast ter
ritory and Southern Africa, extending
from Cape Colony, through Rhodesia,
up to Lake Tanganyika — and her
equally large posesssions in Northern
Africa, extending from Egypt
through the Soudan, down to British
East Africa. These British posses
sions in the north and the south,
stretch almost continuously for five
thousand miles, giving the hope of real
izing Cecil Rhodes’ dream of a con
tinuous “Cairo to the Cape” route,
entirely under British — authorities.
Food Scarce in Hamburg
* Rome, Italy.—The Giornale dTtalia
declares Hamburg is in a serious sit
uation on account of lack of food and
unemployment. A returning traveler
brought the information, and says that
in Hamburg eggs were selling at ten
marks ($2.50) a dozen, while fresh
meat was priceless. All cattle have
been requisitioned. The smallest
quantity of fresh milk, butter and eggs
is reserved for hospitals. The remain
der. together with other available
food, is taken to the army storehous
es. Traffic has practically ceased.
MONEY FOR STATE BANKS
SENATE APPROVES MEASURE TO
INCLUDE STATE BANKS IN
CURRENCY ASSOCIATION
Distress of the South Was Emphasized
Before Congress—Believed This
Will Relieve Situation
Washington.—Pressed by Southern
Democratic senators who pictured viv
idly the dire stress which faces the
South unless the condition of the cot
ton trade improved, the senate approv
trust companies of srifte banks and
trust companies to membership under
the Aldrich-Vreeland act in national
currency associations.
If the measure passes the house and
is approved by the president, it will
permit state banks with $25,000 capital
and a surplus of 20 per cent to secure
emergency currency upon the deposit
of commercial paper at au average rate
of tax of 4 1-2 per cent a year.
The tax on this currency for the first
three months it is out will be 3 per
cent, and increases one-half per cent a
month until it reaches 6 per cent,
where it remains. The purpose of the
increasing tax which is levied against
the bank issuing the notes is to drive
the emergency currency out of exist
ence when no longer needed. The
Aldrich-Vreeland act terminates July 1
next By that time the federal reserve
system will be in full operation.
Currency Issue Increased
Originally the total amount of emer
gency currency which could be issued
was $500,000,000. This is increased to
$1,250,000,000.
Each individual bank joining a na
tional currency association can issue
a volume of currency equal to 75 per
cent of its capital and surplus on com
mercial paper as security, and issue
an additional 50 per cent on bonds.
During the debate in the senate the
most pessimistic predictions were made
as to what would happen unless the
national currency law’s were liberaliz
ed so that the cotton farmers could
see their crop as the basis for credit,
and secure currency to meet their
needs.
An amendment by Senator Overman
of North Carolina to limit the banks
in the cotton states to a charge of G
per cent on loans was attacked by both
the friends and the opponents of the
pending bill. It was lost, 10 to 38.
Georgia banks will be able to issue
under the senate amendment emergen
cy currency notes equal in amount to
125 per cent of the capital and surplus
of all its national banks and such of
its state banks as join the national cur
rency associations.
U. S. PEACE AGREEMENTS
Great Britain, France and China Have
Agreed to Sign Treaties
Washington.—ln the midst of the
European war, Great Britain, France,
Spain and China have agreed to sign
peace commission treaties with the
United States. One effect of the new
conventions would be to prevent the
United States from being drawn sud
denly into the conflict.
Germany, Russia and Japan have sig
nified their acceptance of the principle
of these treaties, though negotiations
have not advanced to the point of
drafting conventions. Similar agree
ments with Turkey and Greece are al
most ready for signature.
The first four treaties are ready for
signature and are regarded by Presi
dent Wilson and Secretary Byran of
far-reaching importance. While negoti
ations were begun before the European
war broke out, their consummation will
practicaly safeguard the United States
from being drawn in over-any question
of neutrality or other controversy.
With the signing of treaties with
Great Britain, France, Spain and Chi
na, the number of pacts of this kind
negotiated by Secretary Bryan will
number 2(J, Nineteen already have
been ratified by the senate, comprising
the principal countries of Central and
South America; Denmark, Norway,
Switzerland, Portugal, Italy and The
Netherlands. Secretary Bryan hopes
to have 30 treaties ratified by Christ
mas, which he believes will assure the
peace of the United States with the
entire world.
Earthquake Destroys City
Lima, Peru.—News has reached here
that a tremendous earthquake has de
stroyed the city of Caraveli, in the de
partment of Arequipa. The report says
the people are in a panic, but no men
tion is made of loss of lives.
Substitute Cotton for Jute
Atlanta, Ga. —The substitution of cot
ton for jute bagging, as a means of
consuming one million bales of cotton,
was the plan outlined here at a confer
ence of business men from Southern
states. The statement was made that
large" shipping concerns throughout the
South already have taken up the mat
ter on account of the increase in the
price of jute, an Indian product. It
was declared one fertilizer concern is
trying to place an order for fifty mil
lion yards of cotton bagging as a sub
stitute for jute.
