Americus times-recorder. [volume], July 26, 1917, City Edition, Image 1

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The Times-Recorder is the ONLY paper
in the Third Congressional District with
Associated Press Service.
<HIRTY-NINTH TEAR.
HOPE OF EARLY PEACE
ABANDONEDBY ALLIES
Defection of Russia at Critical Moment
Frustrates Possibility of
Cessation
PLAN TO STRIKE AT GERMAN NAVAL
OASES PRESENTS HOGE DIFFICULTIES
America’s Transportation Problems
Increasing With Every
Development
'WASHINGTON, D. C„ July 26.
No attempt is made here to minimize
the seriousness of the situation in the
war theatres in Europe. The United
States is in the war and will go through
with it; but any hope of a short strug
gle has gone glimmering with the ap
parent almost complete collapse of the
Russian war machine.
The development was not unexpected
by many army officers. When the of
fensive of July 1 was started by the
Russian forces, the most frequent com
ment heard here was that it was prob
ably the dying kick of the old Rusisan
machine.
For the United States, the Russian
collapse may have an immediate and di
rect bearing. It will, if the German
general staff presses its advantage, re
lease additional German forces to bol
ster up the western front where Amer
ican troops are to be engaged. The
German line in the west has not been
seriously impaired at any point, officers
here believe. They do not claim to
know specifically the situation all along
the battle front, but they are unable
to see that the British and French have
wrested from the Germans any key
position of such importance that it can
be used next year to hurl the enemy
back toward the Rhine.
It has been noted, in fact, that the
one strategic advantage gained in re
cent fighting was gained by the Ger
mans. Many officers here believe that
when a small sector of the British line
in Belgium was overwhelmed the Ger
mans materially improved the situation
on their weakest front. That view is
based on the opinion that the only hope
.of decisive attainments for the Al
lies in the west lies in rolling up the
German right flank, where it reaches
the sea in Belgium.
To Strike at Bases.
If that could be done, it is argued
that the u-boat could be stamped out
and the only offensive instrument of the
(lermans be eliminated entirely or so
seriously impaired as to make it inef
fective.
The big question is whether it could
be done.
The price of a victory of this nature
against the u-boats and German shore
batteries probably would be appalling
and there is nothing to indicate that
the effort is being seriously considered
at present. It cannot be questioned,
however, that many army men, both
in Great Britain and the United States,
iavor some such desperate attempt.
Reports received from France, official
and unofficial, so far as known, give
no cheering picture of what must be
done. There appears to be no doubt
that the Allied line can stand against
;>.ny force Germany can bring against
it. But to gather the necessary strength
lor a successful offensive will take
time and ample sea transportation fa
cilities if the United States is to fur
nish the needed surplus of men, air
planes, munitions and food.
Problems Increasing.
American transportation problems,
both on land and sea. are constantly
increasing in scope. It seems to be
tertain now that whole railroad sys
tems will have to be set up in France
;-o give the American line the flow of
war materials and men to press home
m attack.
There is an old military rule that a
THE NE WS/WHILE IT IS NEWS-COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL AND TELEGRAPHIC SERVICE—THE HOME PAPER PAR EXCELLENCE
fortified position cannot be taken by
direct attack but most be turned or iso
lated entirely. Some observers here
say the Allied offensive has consisted
only of direct attacks against a line of
fortifications Strenger than any fort of
former days. The maze of trenches,
entanglements, armored strong posts
and fortified villages extends miles
back of the front on both sides, so that
in effect a fortified belt stretches from
the sea to the Swiss border that is per
haps mere than 100 miles wide.
It is the belief of some military men
here that no breach can be made for
many months through the German line
of sufficient width to permit rolling up
the entire German front.
Admitting all these points, however,
there is no sign of discouragement
among American officials. President
Wilson's declaration that the nation
not merely an army, must be made
ready for war, is being carried out de
terminedly and apparently with confi
dence that in time men and supplies
can be sent to France in sufficient force
to make victory certain.
8W INTOXICANTS IN
ZONE AROUND PLANTS
NEW YORK, July 26.-—Only soft
drinks are obtainable today in the
Brooklyn district near shipyards and
munitions plants. The sale of intoxi
cants in thirty-five saloons and three
hotels in the district was summarily
stopped by the state excise’beard, with
government approval.
ATTENTION. LIGHT GUARDS.
You are hereby ordered to appear
this Thursday, July 26th, 1917, at the
armory at 8 p. m., for business meet
ing and drill. E. A. NISBET.
T. C. TILLMAN, Capt, Comd? :
. First Sergeant.
AMERICUS PDSTOFFICE
TO BE USEO AS MODEL
Postmaster D. F. Davenport has
been notified by the chief inspector of
biuldings in this district that the
Americus postoffice grounds are to be
used as a model in the laying out ot
the premises of all postoffices con
structed in these latitudes..
The shrubbery which has formed a
particularly attractive feature of the
local postoffice, attracted the attention
of the chief inspector on a recent visit
to this city, and lie immediately took
the matter up with the post office de
partment at Washington to establish a
standard lay-out patterned directly af
ter the plan followed in Americus.
The department has signified its as
sent to the proposition and all post
offices hereafter built in the South will
bo surrounded, wherever possible, with
trees and shrubs suited to the climatic
ct nditions, as worked out by the
Americus postqffice.
AMERtBQS:BKES3RBEORDER
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ v -***-***-*
+ MARGARET ZELL. ALLEGED ♦
♦ SI Y TO FACE FIRING SQUAD ♦
♦ ♦
PARIS, July 26.—A military ♦
♦ court today condemned to death ♦
♦ the dancer known as Mata Hari, ♦
•* who before her marriage was Mar- ♦
♦ garet Zell. The woman was con- ♦
♦ victed of espionage. ▼
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ >♦♦♦•»♦♦■*
FORMEB fIESMT
CULLED 81 DEJITH
The death of Thomas Edgar Mayo, a
former resident of Americus, occurred
yesterday afternoon in Atlanta, after
an illness of many months’ duration.
Mr. Mayo was forty-five years old and
unmarried. He is survived by one
sister, Mrs. George Brunner, of At
lanta, and three brothers, Stanford A,
and Benjamin H. Mayo, of Atlanta, and
i William Mayo, of Montgomery, Ala. H.
E. Allen and Mrs. Etta May Nix, of
Americus, are first cousins.
Mr. Mayor was born and reared in
Americus, where he was esteemed by
hosts of friends for his integrity of
character and sterling worth. He was
a son of the late David A. Mayo, one
o" Americus’ pioneer citizens.
The funeral will be held from the
chapel of the Americus Undertaking
Company, Friday niorning at 10
o’clock, Rev. Alexis D. Kendrick offi
ciating, the deceased having been a
member of the Baptist church. In
terment will be made in Oak Grove
cemetery. The pallbearers are C. F.
Giddings, M. N. Edwards, J. B. Ans
ley, J. C. Speer, J. W. L. Daniel and
R A. Hogue.
GOETHALS MH CO
TO FREO FRONT
WASHINGTON, D. C„ July 26
The possibility that General Goethals
will go to France as head of United
States engineers there, is forecast to
day among developments following re
erganization of the shipping board.
General Goethals, it is known, had
asked to be assigned to active ser
vice when called to head the emerg
ency fleet corporation, which position
he i esigned after the row with Chair
man Denman of the shipping board had
resulted in delay in completion of the
task before them both.
ONLY FEW STATES
IET TO BE CALLED
WASHINGTON. D. C„ July 26.
The. entire National Guard of the coun
try, with the exception of troops from
California and the Southwestern states,
is in the federal service today under
President Wilson’s call.
The remaining units will be brought
in Au .-. 5, on which day the whole force
of probably 300,000 men, will be drafted
into the army of the United States and
will lose its status as militia. From
that day on the state troops can be
used for any duty required of the reg
ular army.
The first increment of the Guard was
called cut ten days ago. Those called
yesterday embrace New England, Mid
dle Western and Northwestern states
and several Southern states. Probably
more than 150,000 men went on the
federal payroll. New York, Pennsyl
vania and Ohio troops and those from
several other states were in the first
inclement.
With federalization of the entire
force after Aug. 5 the ranks of all regi
ments will be filled up to full war
strength with men from the selective
draft lists.
There have been many tihngs to indi
cate that Guard regiments which are
now fairly well equipped and have
the benefit of the border mobilization,
will not be held long at the divisional
training camps. If transportation is
available, the best of the state troops
may be hurried to France at once, step
ping only for final outfitting.
AMERICUS, GEORGIA, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 26, 1917
CONFERENCE ON
FOOD CONTROL IS
NOW UNDER WAY
WASHINGTON, D. C„ July 26
Sentiment among the food conferees
here today was said to be to dispose
■of prohibition first, so the finance com
mittee of the senate may know what
revenue to expect from liquor sources.
It was agreed that the committee will
hold night sessions in order to expe
dite passage of the measure, and the
conferees pledged themselves not to
make public proceedings of the com
mittee until the bill is virtually com
pleted.
The principal trouble in conference
doubtless will center around the sen
ate amendments for the war expendi
tures congressional committee for a
food control board of three members
for a $2 minimum price for wheat anu
to permit continuance of the use of
foodstuffs in the manufacture of light
wines and beer.
In view of President Wilson’s an
nounced opposition to the war expendi
tures committee, administration lead
ers are certain that they can elimin
ate it. The proposal to have three
food commissioners, instead of one pro
bably will lead to a very stubborn
fight, -since the president’s desire to
give Herbert Hoover a free hand has
many opponents in both houses.
Indications are that the senate prohi
bition provisions may be greatly
strengthened. At least five of the
seven senate conferees are said to favo
personally a dry bone country and
Chairman Lever, of the house con
ferees, has promised the prohibition
representatives that he will endeavor
strenuously to retain the house bone
dry plan.
A compromise plan would give the
president power to limit tfie use of
foodstuffs in light wines and beer when
he believes it necessary and provide for
the re-distillation of all spirits both
in and out of bond. Senate provisions
now in the bill contemplate the re-dis
tillation of bonded liquors.
The house conferees will make a
hard fight against the $2 a bushel
minimum wheat price.
The personnel of the conference com
mittee is virtually the same as that
named for the food survey.
The conferees on the control bill
are Senators Gore. Chamberlain, Smith,
ot South Carolina; Smith, of Georgia;
Kenyon, Warren and Page, and Rep
resentatives Lever. South Carolina;
Lee, Georgia; Candler, Mississippi;
Heflin, Alabama; Haugen. Iowa; Mc-
Laughlin Michigan, and Anderson,
Minnesota.
LOCH MINIS TO
ot si com™
Several Americus Masons are plan
ning to attend the Third District Ma-)
sonic convention to be held in Vienna.
on Tuesday and Wednesday of next:
week. Both Americus Lodge, No. 13. >
and M. B. Council Lodge, No. 95, will
send two delegates each, while several;
past masters who are ex-officio mem
bers of the convention, will journey
V the Dooly county capital for the
event.
An interesting program has been ar
ranged for the convention, work in the
Master’s degree being scheduled for
exemplification, while the business ses
sions will consume the balance of the
two-day gathering.
Grand Master F. O. Miller, of Fort
Valley, will be in attendance, as will
Grand Secretary F. F. Baker, of Ma
con, according to present indications.
A. B. Howard, of this city, is sec
retary-treasurer of the district conven
tion. while Dr. J. R. Statham holds the
station of Senior Deacon.
Americus Lodge, No. 13, has elected
B J. Harrison and Samuel McDaniel
as delegates to the convention, and M.
B Council Lodge, No. 95, will be rep
resented by E. F. Wilder and Harvey
Mathis.
OU er local Masons who will attend
the convention are J. E. Sheppard, L. J.
Blalock, F. J. Payne, .1. R. Statham and
I’. A. Fenimore.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
♦ WINE EXPLOSION (AUSED ♦
♦ DEATH OF SIXTY WORKERS ♦
♦ ♦
♦ SYDNEP, N. B„ July 26.—Offi- ♦
cials of the Dominion Coal Co., >
♦ saidtoday they had been unable ♦
♦ to determine the cause of the +
♦ explosion in their mine near here ♦
♦ yesterday. The explosion caused ♦
♦ sixty deaths. ♦
•-tTTv-t- ♦ ♦ * ♦
AMERTcUs’MfN II
STATE CONJEMTIDN
Several Americus members of the
Patriotic Order, Sons of America, at
tended the meeting of the state camp
of that order yesterday in Albany. In.
eluded in the delegation from this city
were E. J. McMath, president; J. N.
Collins, treasurer; A. M. Guerry, mas
ter of forms, and G. L- Williams, prom
inent in fraternal circles.
The meeting was held in Odd Fel
lows Hall, were three business
sions occurred, social functions having
been arranged in conjunction with the
regular business program. The visit
ing delegates and officers were enter
tained at dinner by the Albany camp
and were taken for an auto ride to
Blue Springs in the afternoon for a
watermelon cutting. In the evening
they were guests at a big barbecue.
One of the important features of the
business session was the reduction of
the per capita tax to one-half its pres
ent amount.
A particularly interesting feature of
the program was an address on
trictism,” by G. L. Williams.
AUDITOR ARRIVES TO
CHECK CLERK'S BOOKS
William H. James, of Atlanta, arriv
ed this morning and will immediately
begin the audit of the record books in
the office of City Clerk and Treasurer
E J. Eldridge.
Mr. James made the audit here last
year and the municipal authorities
again contracted with him to handle
the checking of the clerk’s office. It
is expected that the audit will require
about 10 days.
Mr. Eldridge rendered his annual
report fcr the fiscal year ending June
30, 1917, to the City Council on Tues
day night.
ODHSEY PROPOSES
BODGET_SYSTENI
ATLANTA, Ga„ July 26.—Gov. Hugh
M Dorsey yesterday afternoon sent to
both branches of the general assembly
bis first message, in which he recom-
I mends some important general legis
1 lation. While a great deal of ground ■
; is covered in the document, probably
I the most important feature is that
I wherein the governcr goes into the
• matter of taxation and appropriations,
on which he suggests the creation of
an efficiency commission for the state,
which shall put it on a budget system.
As a part of this program he would
have the appropriations made by the
legislature, when they exceed the in-1
come, scaled and pro rated in the seal-,
ing.
His suggestion of a rivers and har
bors commission for the state, which;
also shall take under advisement any;
development of extension of the West-j
frn and Atlantic railroad, is another)
important feature. On first reading
that feature of the message may be
viewed as visionary, but its study is
asked by the governor, who believes
there is a great deal of benefit to be
derived for the state in co-operative
effort over the present disjointed move
ments by individual localities in which
rivers and harbors are a concern.
On the question of ’axation he pre
sents the important suggestion that the
legislature ought to atten-
than they do to the annual tax
levy, indeed, that the legislature ought
to fix the tax rate instead of leaving
RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE
KILLED BY OWN GUNS
r ’ 1 ' |J
Commanders Taking Drastic Meas
ures to Whip Refractory Soldiers
Into Subjection
GERMAN INVADERS CAPTURE ENORMOUS QUANTITY
OF ARTILLERY AND SUPPLIES OF ALL KINDS
News Dispatches From Petrograd
Make No Attempt to Minimize
Seriousness of Situation
NO MORE CREDIT.GIVEN
FOR VOLUNTEER ENLISTMENTS
ATLANTA, Ga., July 26.—The ap
proaching posting and examination of
men called in the draft seems to have|
greatly stimulated recruiting not only;
here but in other Georgia cities, al
though volunteers at the present time
will not be credited on the quota the
state must furnish for the selective
rmy. Giving credit for volunteers was
stopped on the first of June, and all
the volunteers who now' enlist are sim
ply that much “velvet” for the govern
ment.
ENLISTS IN HOSPITAL
CORPS OF SECOND GEORGIA
E. McCord Prather, whose number,
255, was the first one drawn in the
military draft on Friday last, returned
last night from Macon, after enlisting
in the Hospital Corps of the Second
Georgia legiment. He will be called to
duty witihn the next day or two.
shippTnglosses
SBJllffl
LONDON, July 26. —Twenty-one Brit
ish vessels of more than 1,600 tons
each and three of less than 1,600 tons
each were sunk last week by mines or
submarines, according to the weekly,
admiralty report on shipping losses. I
One fishing vessel was also sunk.
The admiralty’s statement follows:
“Arrivals, 2,791; sailings, 2,791.
“British merchantmen sunk by mine l
or submarine, over 1,600 tons, includ
ing two previously, 21; under 1,600
tons, 2.
“British merchant ships unsuccess
fully attacked, including three previ
ously. 15.
“British fishing vessels sunk, 1.”
The announcement of the British
admiralty shows an increase ot seven
vessels of more than 1,600 tons as com
pared with fourteen the previous week.
In the smaller catagory the loss is one
less than that given in the report
of the previous week while there
was a falling off by seven in the
number of fishing vessels sunk.
SENATE IB VOTE BN
PROHIBITION WEDNESDAY
,
WASHINGTON, D? C„ July 26.
Leaders of both factions today agreed
to debate Tuesday and vote Wednes
day on Senator Sheppard's national
prohibition constitutional amendment.
A proposal fixing six years as the
limit within which the states must
act upon the proposal was offered to
day and accepted by Senator Sheppard
it to the comptroller general, inas
much as the legislature spends the
money.
citv
V editionl.
LONDON, July 26. —An appalling
blow is the description of the Rus
sian collapse given in Petrograd dis
patches to the London Post today.
Siever had the Russian army been so
j well equipped, some artillery being
I placed within three hundred yards of
the enemy trenches, although the big
guns were admirably placed. Infos’-
mation regarding the big guns of the
Eleventh army almost staggers belief.
Officers shot down their own gunners
to< get horses, or else shot horses
for revenge, when they retreated.
Practically all of the Eleventh army
corps is in enemy hands, with no
hope of saving the technical equip
ment of the Seventh and Eighth ar
mies, as the German lines have pass
ed the Russian big gun positions
There also exists some question as to
the ability of the Eighth army to es
cape capture.
Reports regarding the Russian re
treat in Eastern Galician available
this afternoon do not minimize the se
riousness of the situation there. News ,
dispatches say the loss of heavy artil
lery will be enormous, while doubt is
expressed that the Fifth and Eighth
armies will be able to make good their
retreat. There is nothing to show that
the Russian commanders are getting
refractory troops in hand, but they are
proceeding along the line of Gen, Korn
iloff’s drastic measures, which included
the blowing to pieces of one entire
division of traitorous soldiers of the
Eleventh army with their own artillery.
The Russian lines continue holding
north and south of the retreat area.
Berlin says ope of the greatest ar
tillery fights in history continues on
the Franco-Belgian front, while Lon
don reports nothing important trans
piring there.
Paris makes the striking announce
ment that no French ships were lost
last week as the result of submarine
activities of striking mines, and that
only two Italian vessels went down
during the same period.
Germans Punished .Severely.
PARIS. July 26. —German assaults
re-opened on a two-mile front last
night in the Aisne sector. The French
officially state the assaults penetrated
certain elements of the first line de
fenses, but at tremendous cost.
Retreating Toward Czernowitz.
BERLIN. July 26. —German forces
have captured Buchacz, Tlumacz, Ctty
nia and Delatyn. says the official state
ment. The Russians are retreating to
ward Czernowitz, the capital of Buko
wina.
Russo-Rumanian Offensive.
II ETROGRAD. July 26.—Russians and
‘ Rumanians have captured 2,000 pris
oners and many guns and much equip.
' ment on the Rumanian front during
the last two days, it is officially an
nounced.
Situation Believed Not So Bad.
I WASHINGTON, D. C., July 26. .
The Russian situation is believed at
the embassy here, not to be so bad as
reports indicate. The disorganization
I in the army is apparently confined to
'Galicia, while both ends, a thousand
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NUMBER 177.