davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
CARRANZA AND VILLA CRASH.
Armies In First Big Battle East oil
Torreon.

Ell Paso.-The first important battle
between the Carranza and Villa arm
les is in progress near San Pedro de
las Colonies, esst of Torreon. Several
columns of Carranza troops from Goa
hula Statet, aggregating about 5000
men under Colonel Ilifonse Vasquez,
are engaged by a slightly larger force
under General Villa.
Both sides have ample artillery and
the fighting Is described AS desperate.
The Carranza forces made a threat
ening movement to take Torreon and
to shut off Villas communication
with the North. Villa garrison in
Northern Mexico have been depleted
by the movement into Mexico City
and troops from the National Capital
probably will be sent to the northern
theater of TO-,
It appears that Carranza, from
Vera Cruz, has ordered a general
movement into the North. -Four hun
dred men from General Hills forces
in the extreme, east OF Sonora are
moving on Juarez. held by a small
Villa garrison. Five hundred Car
rama troops from Coahulla recently
passed below Sierra Blanca, Texas, on
their way toward Juarez.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Mountains of Rock Salt.

Near Jelfa, Algeria, is to be seen q
mountain Of rock salt, 900 feet in
height and nearly a mile in diameter.
Two other hills Of this character are
known in Algeria, both being near
Biskra, and in all cases the salt Is
surrounded by triassic marls and
clays. A curious feature Of the Jelfa
hill is the fact that in spite Of the
very soluble character Of the material
composing it it stands up in high re-
lief from the surrounding clay and
contains no valleys or other sign Of
erosion. 1t does, however, contain a
number Of sink holes, as in a lime
stone country. When the brief tor,
rental rains Of winter occur the water
sinks almost at once into these cayi.
ties and soaks through the permeable
salt, emerging at the margin Of the
hill in salt springs.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
ADVANCE MADE BY ALLIES
AUSTRo.GERMAN FORCES ADMIT
FALLING BACK TO OLD POSI-
TON IN WEST.
Repienished Supplies From the Aus
TRANS Driven Back From Borders
of the Little Country.

London,-The offensive movement
Of the French and the British has be-
come general and Is being pushed
with strong forces, particularly IN
Flanders, the Argonne, the WoeVre'
and Alsace. While the French claim
success at all points except Steinbach
in Alsace, the general official reports
from Berlin say the Allies attacks
have been unsuccessful at several
places.
On the whole, however, it would
appear that the Allies, who now have
a superiority in numbers as well as in
artillery, have made some progress
and have withstood vigorous German
couner-attacks.
In the Argonne region the French
say:
I'VE have. made progress and main
tanned our advance of the preceding
days."
The force which has been checked
at Steinbach is the left wing Of the
army which for some time has been
fighting it's way toward Muelhausen
and which has cleared a considerable
part of Alsace of Germans. 1t is evil
dent that while the Germans are pre-
pared to offer stubborn resistance to
attempted advances in the regions
mentioned in the official communica'
tons they expect the main attack OF
the Allies to be made in another d.
rect!on or themselves are preparing
for an offensive, for they have gath
cred considerable forces at Courtral,
from where they could be transferred
quickly either to Flanders or south
ward across the French frontier.
The Austrians again have crossed
the Carpathians, and, according to
their own account, are driving the
Russian left back toward the River
San. This Austrian army assisted
by German reinforcements, has under
taken to force the Russians to with
draw from in front OF Cracow and also
also to relieve Przemysl. The Aus
TRANS apparently have met with al
least partial success in the first pro
iect.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
RUSSIAN ARMY RETREATlNG.
Falling Back From Poland to Get
Better Base of Operations.

Falling Back From Poland to Get
Better Base of Operations.
London.-"The Russians are rettr-
ing along the entire front in Galicia
and Poland"
This statement officially issued at
Vienna is the. outstanding feature OF
news from the battle fronts. While
there is no confirmation from other
sources, such a nov on the part OF
the Russians would be in line with the
announcements in Petrrograd dis
patches that the Russians threatened
ON both tanks had decided to take up
new positions where they could better
meet the Austro-German onslaughts
from the Carpathians to the East
Prussian frontier.
The Russian delay in fulfilling ex-
pectations that they would prove a
serious menace to German territory
is Disappointing the peoples of the Al
lied countries, but military men ex-
press the view that it is better for
Russia to fight in her W territory,
where means Of communication would
be more on an equality.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
U. S. Navy short OF Plans.

Washington.-The navy is from
10000 to so, 0 0 men short Of Its needs
as laid down in the confidential war
plans of the war college," according
to Franklin D. Roosevelt, assistant
secretary of the navy, who testified at
the house naval committees hearings
on the naval appropriation bill. Mr..
Roosevelt explained that many addi-
tional men would be needed for pur-
poses other than manning ships now
in commission. Asked why service
able vessels were laid up in reserve,
he said no nation kept all of its ships
constantly in commission. Mr.. Roose-
Welt explained a table worked out
some months ago by the navy de-
partment, according to an established
formula, showing the strength in
navies in points" 1t placed the
armored fighting craft Of various
three leading powers as follows:
England, 7,768; Germany, 3,818;
United States, 1862.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
ADOPT COTTON LOAN FUND
MEN FROM THE SOUTH DISCUSS
ED PLANS FOR USE OF
LOAN FUND.
Estimated That s7o,ooo,ooo at Least
of the s1s5, 1000, 900 Pool viii Be
Applied for by Growers.

Washington.-The s135,000,O00 cot
ton loan fund plan to finance the sur
plus cotton crop, vas approved unanl-
mously by representatives Of commit
tee which will aid in handling the
fund in Southern States. The repres-
entatives held an all-day conference
with the cotton loan committee, which
has final supervision Of the fund.
Although no definite statements
were made at the meeting as to now
much cash will be drawn from the
fund to carry the surplus crop, estl-
mates ranged from $40, 0OO,O 900 to s7o,-
600, 900 and members of the cotton
loan committees we're confident hun
dreds Of applications for loans would
be forthcoming before January 1.
Most of those present believed that
between 1000, 900 and 100000 bales
Of cotton must be carried over until
lex year. 1t as estimated that about
$3.50, O0O, 900 would be needed to take
care of this cotton. and 1t was the
general opinion that unless there Is
a natural expansion of credit through
out the South the loan fund Will be
used to aid cotton producers.
There was evidence that many OF
the state committeeman agreed with
the idea advanced by officials here
that cotton producers next year must
cut their cotton production. The cot
ton loan committee will use every
means to convince growers Of the ne
cessity of curtailment.
The representatives from 10 states
included:
Moorhead Wright, Arkansas; R. F.
Maddox, Georgia; Sol Wexler, Louisi-
ana; 2. D. Davis, Mississippi; Joseph
G. Brown, North Carolina; A. G..
Trumbo, Oklahoma; R. G. Rhett,
South Carolina; Henry D. Lindsey,
Texas; E. l.. Rice, Tennessee; and
State Senator Milton, Florida.
The cotton loan committee was
represented by W. P. G. Harding ana
Paul M. Warburg, Of the Federal Re-
serve Board; j. P. Forgan \of Chica-
go, Festus J. Wade of st. Louis, A.
H. Wiggin, New York, and Levi Rue,
Philadelphia.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
UP AND AT Fem NOW.
England Rises in Anger-Would
ID, Ayenue Scarborough.

England Rises in Anger-Would
Avenqe Scarborough.
London.-Although there seems no
doubt the Russians are ~retreating, and
that for the present any expectation
the Allies may have held of an early
invasion Of Germany must be dis
missed, considerable mystery sur-
rounds the reported decisive German
victory which Berlin celebrated.
Vienna gives a few details of fight
ing in the East. The claim is made
that the Russians have been driven
from their positions north of the Car
pathian mountains from Krosno. to
'Zaklicyn which would indicate that
part of the Southern line of railway
in Galicia again is in the hands of
the Austrians and that Piotrkow and
another Central Poland town have
been stormed. but silence is main
tanned as to North Poland where the
German vicotry is said to have been
achieved.
"Avenge Scarborough! Up and at
'em now"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
GERMANS lombard
THE ENGLISH COAST
WHITLEY, SCARBOROUGH AND
HARTLEPooL ATTRACTED BY
SWIFT CRUISERS.
ESCAPE UNDERCOVER OF FOG
Casualty List Totals no, Dead 81;
Big Property Loss-Unusua!
Excitement.

London.-For the first time IN
centuries England has been struck
by a foreign foe. A squadron OF SWIFT
German cruisers crept through the
fog to the eastern coast and turned
their guns against the Britons.
When day broke they began DOM
bardment of three important towns
Hartlepool at the mouth of the Tees
Whitby, noted as a pleasure resort
Is miles beyond. Hartlepooa SUFFER-
ed most. There two battle cruisers
were engaged. The British wal office
fixes the number of dead at Hartle'
pool as sever soldiers and % civilians
At Scarborough, shelled by a battle
cruiser and an armored cruiser, IL
casualties are reported while al
Whitby two were killed and two
were wounded.
Men, women and children Of the
civilian population we're left dead OF
wounded struck without warning
while at work. In all the casualty
list totals ITO, according to the OF
fetal estimates, of whom 81 are
known to be dead. o..
At Hartlepool, churches were dam
aged and the gas works and lumber
yards were set aire, while the alb
hey at Whitby was struck. The Bal
moral Hotel at Scarborough received
the full effect of a shell. A number
Of houses and shops were shattered
and partly burned in each of the
towns. -. '
The hostile squadron escaped II
the mist after an encounter will
nnast pllard vessels
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
INCREASED FREIGHT
RATES ARE GRANTED
EASTERN RAILROADS ARE Al
LOWED INCREASE OF FIVE
PER CENT.
THE PRESIDENT IS PLEASED
Wilson Expects Decision to Have
Immediate Effect on business. Will
Add $780, 900.

Observation-Disclosures increases in
freight rates were granted to the
Eastern railroads by the Interstate
Commerce Commission in a decision
from which Chairman Italian and
Commissioner Clements dissented
vigorously.
Except on lake and rail traffic, coal,
coke, iron ore and certain other traf-
fc, upon which the commission here
tofore has fixed rates adjudicated
reasonable" all railroads operating
in the territory between the Atlantic
seaboard and the Mississippi, north
of the Potomac and Ohio rivers, were
allowed the fiat five per cent increase
for which they have been asking for
four years.
The railroads hoped to get increases
which would add to the annual rev.
enues some $50, 000, 900. The commits
sion's decision is expected to give
them additional revenue approximate
ing $50, OoO. 900.
The roads east of a North and South
line drawn through Buffalo, Pitts
burg and Charleston, w. Va, won by
today's decision from the increases
other than upon the traffic excepted
which were denied them in the COM
missioner's decision last August. The
roads west of this line, which got par
tial advances in the August decision,
received further advances; SO that
now all the roads in what is describ-
ed as official classification territory
will enjoy uniform advances in both
class and commodity rates.
The majority Of the commission held
that the roads had established in the
latest hearings a greater need of ad-
ditional net income than ever before.
This was due, the decision held, to ex-
igencies arising out of the war and to
an already existing necessity for addi-
tional revenues to maintain the rail-
road properties.
Chairman Harlan in his dissenting
opinion, held that sufficient aid had
been given the roads by the August
decision and that the findings of the
majority was morally wrong" Com
missioner Clements based his dissent
upon what he regarded as the inabil-
ity in law, of the commission to take
cognizance of anything in the making
of rates other than their justice and
reasonableness. g.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
MEXICAN ARMIES
STILL ON BORDER
GENERAL BLISS REPORTS THE
RESULT OF HIS DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS.
NO ULTIMATUM ISSUED YET
Denies to Secretary Garrison That He
Has Made Definite, Final Demands
on General Maytorena.

Washington. - Secretary Garrison
gave President Wilson the latest re-
ports from Brig. Gen. Bliss on the sit
uation at Naco, where the Mexican
generals have not yet moved thelr
forces to avoid firing into American
territory.
The reports showed that the situa-
ton had undergone no apparent
change, although little firing was IN
evidence. While the United States IS
determined, if necessary, to open fire
on the two Mexican forces to COM
pei them to stop shooting into the
State of Arizona, it "a feared that
no decisive action was planned, pend
ing efforts to Naco to influence the
two factions to adjust the situation.
The general belief in official quar-
tiers was that some satisfactory un-
derstanding would be reached.
Agents here of the Gutierrez Gov
eminent to which General Maytorena
is loyal, claims that he is preparing
to move his force down the railroad
south of Naco, so that he can con-
tinue to besiege the Carranza force
under General Hill with the Ameri'
can border out of the range OF fire.
While reports from General Bliss
to the War D%aprtpment were not
made public it is believed they indi-
Gated that he thought he had persuad-
ed General Maytorena to stop firing
across the line. Until there Is a def
mite understanding on the whole stu
alton, it is thought General Bliss has
warned General Hill not to take the
offensive, which would draw the fire
Of the Maytorena troops.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Gave II Up. ;

Two pickpockets were standing on
their trial, notorious thieves. None
the less, they contrived somehow to
put up a good defense, thanks mainly
to the cleverness of the lawyer whom
they employed. The detective who
had effected the arrest spent a miser-
able twenty minutes in the witness
box, contradicting himself repeatedly.
Then what made you suspect the
menu" asked the lawyer. "As said
before, one of them was wearing an
overcoat with a slit in the lining, so
that he might operate more easily"
Come, come" said the lawyer, would
you arrest me If you saw me wear
ing such an ~overcoat?" mo, sir. !
happen to know who you are. You're
a lawyer" well, what's the differ
ence between a lawyer and a pick,
pocket?" The detective shook his
head. II really don't know" he NUT
tered.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Teach Farmers to Sell.

Atlanta, Ga.-Establishment Of a
marketing agent" in every state
"who will instruct farmers in the
scientific marketing of their crops
was advocated by Judge E. R. Kone,
Texas commissioner of agriculture, in
an address to the final session of the
annual meeting of the Association
of Agricultural Commissioners of the
Southern States here. Judge Kone
said that "the most important work of
a state department of agriculture lies
in teaching farmers how to probably
market their crops"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Lions ESCAPE in New York.

New York-Six trained lions escap-
ed from their cage on the stage Of an
East Eighty-sith street theater and
bounding into the audience, consist
ing prir. cipally of women and child
rem. created a panic. One lioness,
Alice, largest of the pack, escaped
into a crowded street. Policemen
pursued her into the hallway Of an
apartment and shooting at her, prob
ably fatally wounded Sergeant Daniel
Glenn. Two other officers we're slight
" wounded by the claws of the beasts
in a battle at close range.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
SEND WARsHIPs TO CANAL.
To Enforce Regulations of Radio Sta
tions of United States,

To Enforce Regulations of Radio Sta
tions of United States,
Washington.-President Wilson and
his cabinet decided to send American
warships to the Canal Zone to guard
against neutrality violations by bel
ligerent ships. Just how many ships
will be dispatched will be determined
after a full report has been received
from Governor Goethals, Of the Canal
Zone and Captain Rodman, naval OFF,
Ger at the canal.
Both Secretary Garrison and Sec
tary Daniels made it clear that thu
delay in acting on Colonel Goethals
request for destroyers was due to a
lack of information. Mr.. Garrison ex-
planned that the colonel had asked for
destroyers without specifying the pur-
pose of their use. In reply to a mes
sage of inquiry, Colonel Goethals ex-
planned that wireless regulations were
being violated in canal waters and re-
ferred to the misuse Of the Canal Zone
as a base of supplies. G
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Methods Still Asunder.

Atlanta.-No definite action on the
proposed amalgamation of the North
ern and Southern branches of the
Methodist Church was taken by the
Church Commission on Federation,
which adjourned here after three days
of deiiberation. Three bishops from
the Southern Church, four bishops
Of the Northern Church, six ministers
and six laymen comprised the COM
mission. All sessions were strictly
executive, but it was slater that more
progress was made than at any time
previous.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Allies Advance at Arras,

Paris.-The French war office gave
out an official communication as fol-
lows: 1.-The day of December II was
marked, as we said recently, by an
advance on our part. in Belgium,
where every counter attack undertaken
by the enemy failed. In the region of
Arras a vigorous offensive made us
masters of several trenches. These
are located at Auchy La Gassee, st.
Laurent and Blangy. At this last
mentioned place we occupied a front
more than n kilometre, long almost
the first line trenches of the enemy"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
DANIELS FAvoRs NORFOLK.
Is Place for Dry Dock-Recommenda.
ton to the Committee.

Washington. - Formal announce
ment of successful naval tests of coal
from aforementioned fields in
Alaska was made by Secretary Dan
iels before the naval committee of the
house. Trials by the cruiser Mary
land about 10 days ago, Mr.. Daniels
said, had demonstrated that the Mat
anuska coal was as good as any to be
found.
Three recommendations were made
by Secretary Daniels. They were:
Appointment Of all second lieuten-
ants in the navy hereafter as "act-
ing second l~ieutenants" SO that those
who do not measure up to require
ments after appointment may be
dropped.
The secretary said the navy was
trying to put its yards on a business
basis with industrial managers, trying
the plan at New York, Norfolk and
perhaps some other plants.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Turkish Cruiser Torpedoed.

London.-A communication issued
by the official bureau announced the
Turkish battleship M%essudieh had
been torpedoed By a British sub
marine.
The Messudieh as a very old boat,
having been built at Blackwell, Eng
land, in 1874 and reconstructed in
Genoa in 1904. In the War with Greece
she WAS reported badly damaged in a
naval battle in the Dardanelles. She
carried a crew of 600 men when
last seen the Messudleh was sinking
by the stern"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23

Austria Admits Defeat.

London.-The most striking feature
of the days official news is the candid
admission by the Austrian Govern
ment of the defeat Of the Austrian
army in Servia and apparently the
abandonment Of its third attempt to
invade its small Slav neighbor.
While attributing the failure to the
enemy's superior force, as all Gov
eminent bulletins explain failures, the
Austrian War Office announces plain
ly an extended retirement and heavy
losses.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Ratified Safety Convention.

Washington. Tho international
convention for safety of life at sea,
signed at London January 9, 1914, by
many world powers was ratified by
the Senate after a resolution had
been adopted reserving the right to
enact higher standards than the
treaty prescribed for health and safe
ty on American vessels and to impose
them upon all foreign vessels within
it's territorial waters. Champions of
the pending seaman's bill insisted that
without the reservations the treaty
might nullify immigrant bill.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
For itching, Burning Skins.

Battle freely the affected surface
with Cuticura Soap and hot water.
Dry without irritation and apply Cuti-
cure Ointment with finger or hand.
This treatment affords immediate re-
Lief, permits rest and sleep and points
to speedy healment in most cases OF
eczemas, rashes, itchings and irrita-
lions Of the skin and scalp Of infants,
children and adults. Free sample each
with 32-p. Skin Book II you wish. Ad-
dress postcard: Cuticura, Dept. K,
Boston. Sold everywhere.-Adv.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Moore Troops to Naco.

Neutrality-suspicious. demonstra-
ton was made by the Un,ted States
government of it's determination not
to tolerate continued firing by the
Mexican factions at Naco. President
Wilson, after a brief discussion with
his cabinet, instructed Secretary Gar
rison to comply with the request of
Brig Gen. Tasker H. Bliss at Naco,
Ariz., for reinforcements to handle a
possible emergency situation. Three
regiments of infantry and three bat
teries of artillery were ordered to
Naco.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
GoethaIs Again Asks for Fleet.

Panama.-Governor Goethals has
again cabled to Secretary Garrison
setting forth need for destroyers in
canal ports to preserve neutrality.
Colonel Goethals says be has no
means of preventing the use of canal
or Panaman ports as a means of
communication and that these ports
apparently are being used to that end.
Colonel Goethals expressed opinion
that there was as much necessity for
destroyers at canal ports as at any
other American ports where they
were stationed to prevent breaches.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Send Ship to Belgium.

New York.-The commission for re-
lief in Belgium announced that in fu-
ture it would assign ships to each
state asking for them, and that when
ever donations of the states were not
quite sufficient to fill the ships the
commission would buy in that state
so far as practicable foodstuffs to
complete the cargo.
South Carolina, North Carolina and
Georgia are cooperating to load an
entire ship that will sail from Char
lesion early in January. Lindon w.
Bates is vice chairman.t
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-23
Fatal Disease.

A young painter who had just fin
ished a picture insisted upon a friend
calling to see it.
There now" enthused the artist,
you see my new picture. What's the
matter with that"
81 don't know" replied the bored
friend, "but 1 should say it was a case
Of art failure."-New York Evening
World