Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-08-07
Scraps and facts.

missioner of navigation, at Washing
ton. The question of insurance, al
though the rates may be thought eX-
cessive, can be settled after the shlps
are found, il is said. The most SUIT
able vessels for the transatlantic
trade are the Pacific liners now en-
gagged in the trade with Asia. These
might be brought through the Pana-
ma canal. OF vessels already in At
lantic waters the best for the trans
oceanic service would be 2S of the
southern Pacific line, all fit for over
ocean sailing. The vessels OF the
American line fly the flag of the Unit
ed States and can continue to cross the
ocean in safety. In addition there are
two Red Star steamers that are now
of American registry-the Finland
and the Kroonland. This makes six
ships of the International Mercantile
Marine which are immune. There are
besides available ships of the Red u
line, the World line, the Clyde, Old
Dominion and other lines in the
coastwise trade.
The vital Importance OF Belgium
in q war between France and Germany
lies in the fact that unless Germany
may move across Belgian territory,
neutralized by treaty, an invasion OF
heavily fortified French frontier prop
er. The entire northeastern frontier
Of France is, roughly, 44O miles in
length. For a distance of about ESQ
miles, this frontier line separates
France from Belgium and Luxembourg.
The remainder, about 100 miles, sep
arates France from German territory.
With the neutrality Of Belgium OBJ
served the scene of action would pe
reduced to the splendidly fortified
Franco-German frontier proper. This
line of defense runs, broadly speak
ing, from Verdun to Nancy, to Epln-
al, to Belfort, and to Besancon. Each
one of these cities is the centre or
group of Notifications extending
northwest and southeast and all racing
the German border. Each has It's
outposts and it's fianking protection
and the line is said to be virtually
continuous for the greater part OF the
entire distance between LuXemoerg
and the Swiss border. Behind this
line Of Notifications, France has a
second line of defense, broadly speak
ing, running parallel from Rheims TO
Chalons and to Verdun and from
Chalons to Langres to Dijon and 10
Besancon. This second line OF pro-
lection is from so to l2O miles from
Paris and the first frontier line OF for-
tifications is, roughly speaking, from
14O to 220 miles from the capital
and from IL to 20 miles from the
frontier.
Measures to relieve the cotton in
dustry of the United States from de-
preston threatened by the European
war have been planned by specially
appointed committee Of southern SEN
manned
an exhaustive investigation OF con-
ditions affecting the marketing and
consumption of cotton with a view
to securing such legislative and ad-
ministrative action as may be neces-
sary to safeguard American interests.
At a meeting presided over by SEN
ator Hoke Smith, chairman or the
committee, three subcommittee were
appointed to look into various phases
of the subject. Senators Smith. over
man and Bryan and Representatives
Underwood and Lea were named 10
confer with President Wilson with
reference to foreign relations general
ly in so far as they may affect the
cotton industry in this country. Repre-
sentative Lever chairman of the house
agricultural committee, will head
committee which will consult with
Secretary McAdoo with view to eX-
tension of government aid to farmers
who may find it necessary to store
their crop in case there is no foreign
market Another subcommittee Will
ask Secretary Redfield for informa-
ton as to transportation facilities and
get his advice relative to the erect
the European confagration may have
on cotton mills abroad. The problem
of providing transportation Tor the
1914 crop, now that trausoceanlc
commerce has been interrupted, was
conceded by those who participated In
today's conference to be a serious
one.
The North German Lloyd liner
Kronprinzessin Cecelie, laden with SlO'-
OO0, 900 in gold and $1,00O,OOO in silver
for French and English bankers, ana
valued at $5,000,000 herself, put in at
Bar Harbor. Maine, last Tuesday morn
ing at daylight. The Cecelie had left
New York the Tuesday previous with
$50 first class passengers, and 13O sec
ond class and 1876 steerage passengers
bound for Bremen by way of Plymouth
and Cherbourg. The war broke out
after she had been at sea four days,
and she was ordered by wireless TO
make the nearest neutral port. The
first intimation that the passengers
got of the trouble was when some OF
them noticed that the moon which
few minutes before was to be seen over
the bow of the vessel appeared over the
stern. Captain Pollock, the command
er, told the passengers that war had
broken out between Germany and Aus
tria on one side and Russia, England
and France on the other, and that he
had been ordered to make for a neu-
trail port to prevent his ship from fall
ing into the hands of the enemy.
There were on board a number Of rich
Americans who offered to buy the ship
and put it under American registry,
and when the captain advised them
that he was without authority, the
would-be purchasers suggested the use
of the wireless. Captain Pollock would
not stand for anything like that, for
the reason that hostile warships were
looking for him everywhere and he did
not care to betray his position. After
getting his orders from Germany, the
captain painted his smokestacks black
at the top, so as to resemble an Eng
lishman and covered every portfolio
from which light might show, with
canvas. There was thick fog over
the north Atlantic water, but notwith-
standing this and regardless of the
protest of the passengers, the Cecelie
was rushed through it at top speed.
Had it not been for the fog some one of
the numerous war vessels in the vicin-
ity would have caught him. Had the
vessel been captured, the money would
have gone as prize Of war to the ma
ton that captured it; but as the ship
is now in a neutral port, the owners of
the gold will get what belongs to them.
The passengers on the vessel were sent
back to New York on special trains.
After he was safe, the captain told how
his wireless operators had caught mes
sages from French and English vessels
telling them to be on the lookout for
the big prize.
- Washington, August 4: After
careful investigation of conditions
throughout the country, Secretary
McAdoo. in a formal statement to-
night, declared the financial situation
TO be excellent and announced there
will be sufficient currency to move
crops and meet all demands of busi
ness. The passage by the house and
senate this afternoon of the amend
ment of the Federal reserve act" the
statement says, 'veSting the secretary
of the treasury with the power to issue
additional national bank currency ex-
ceeding over $500,000,000 TO protect
the business situation in this country,