Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-09-10
Straps and fats.

process VI lOTIldllOh 1ol LioiS Shoi
year, also were found today. Buttons
enclosed in the letters were inscribed
Land and Liberty"
Persons in a position to speak
with authority here, says a Berlin ca
BILE, assert positively their conviction
that the Hesperian was not ~torpedoed
by a German submarine, at least un-
der the conditions thus far described.
Although authorized quoted comment
is withheld for the time, the posi-
t~iveness of the opinions expressed in
formally by individuals who MAJ
be assumed to have authoritative IN
formation is noteworthy. In these
quarters it is believed the Hesperian
must have struck a mine, or possibly
was destroyed by some agency from
within; that it may be regarded as
certain she was not torpedoed by a
German submarine under the condi-
tions set forth in press dispatches and
in accounts given by passengers. 1t
is pointed out hat details given in
press reports such as the shock OF the
impact, the column of water thrown
up, and flying fragments of metal
may be adapted quite as well TO the
theory that the Hesperian struck a
mine as to the assumption that she
was t%orpedoed. The assurance with
which this theory is advanced seems
to be based on knowledge of addition
al instructions issued to submarine
commanders since the Arabic was
sunk.
-Germany's note to the United
States concerning the sinking of the
White Star Line steamer Arabic 6ya
German submarine, was delivered 10
American Ambassador Gerard last
Wednesday night in Berlin. The note
ascribes the destruction Of the liner
to an act of self-defense on the part
Of the submarine, expresses
deep regret hat American lives were
lost, and offers to refer the questions
of reparation and compensation to
The Hague for adjustment. The note
reveals in detail the instructions to
submarine commanders concerning
their treatment of liners. They are
ordered not to attack a passenger
steamer except in case OF an attempt
to escape after 1t Is ordered to halt
or unless its actions indicate an inten-
ton to attack the submarine. the
submarine commander, according 10
his report concerning the sinking OF
the Arabic, said he believed the Ara
bic was about to attack him. Ger
man naval experts declare submarines
cannot do otherwise than act In self
defense when every merchantmen,
from liner down to fishing smack, Is
a presumptive enemy and perhaps
carrying guns and ready to seize any
opportunity to attack the vulnerable
submarine by gunfire or by ramming.
Bumper grain crops this year now
seem assured. Basing predictions on a
canvass made September l, the agrl-
cultural department Of last Wednes-
day issued forecasts showing the pros
poets Of big yields generally had I'M
proved during August. The wheat
crop is placed at 9S1,0OO,OOO bushels;
80, 0O0, 900 more han last years record
crop. No change is made in the Au-
gust prediction Of $50, 900, 900 bushels
of winter wheat. Conditions for the
spring wheat crop have been ideal and
the production forecast for that crop
was increased is, 900, 900 bushels to a
total of 1922, 000, 900 bushels. When the
final canvass is made the entire Wneat
production probably will reach 1,00O,-
600, 900 bushels. Corn production pros
poets increased 1000, 900 during Au-
gust, the forecast now being 1885,
600, 444 bushels. Although that eX-
ceeds last years crop by more than
ITO, 900, 900 bushels, 1t falls 139, 900 900
short Of the record crop Of 1912. oats
may reach a record, the September
forecast being laos, 000,0 900 bushels
WHICH Is LOl,UUO,VOV ioi ioh "O
harvested last year, but 10000, 600
bushels below the record crop of 1872.
The condition Of white potatoes took
a decided drop. Indications point to
record crops Of barley, rye, sweet p'-
tatoes, tobacco. rice and hay. TIE
apple and peach crops also are far
above the average.
- United States troops on Wednes-
day took full control Of the lower
Texas-Mexican boundary, and accord
ing to reports received at Fort Brown,
Tex, Wednesday night, not a shot was
fired across the international line dur
ing the day. Reports from the inte.
rior of the border counties also stated
that the day passed without disorder.
The only disquieting incident report
ed was the finding Of circulars on the
streets Of Mercedes urging the Mexi-
cans to rise and conquer the states of
California, Arizona, Texas, New Mex
leo, Oklahoma and Mississippi and es-
tablish the republic of Texas" The
circulars declared that "outrages are
being daily committed on defenseless
women, old men and children Of your
race" and referred to American peace
officers as hungry tigers and nause-
Gus hyenas." The papers were sign
ed by Luis de la Rosa and Anciento
Piano, who now are said to be in
Matamoros, Mexico. The CarranZa
commander at Matamoros has been
asked to arrest the men. Relieved of
the duty Of guarding against the in
vasion of marauding MeXicanS, Texas
peace officers on Wednesday perfected
plans 10 compose the situation in the
interior the mayors Of BROWNSVILLE,
Harrington, San Benito, Donna and
Mercedes meeting in the latter city
and adopting plans for a systematic
campaign against the lawless Mexican
element in Texas.
Secretary Daniels on Wednesday,
announced a general reorganization of
the forces Of the Naval academy at
Annapolis. Heads Of nearly all de-
partments were ordered detached for
duty elsewhere, effective September
20. I'VE have changed most OF the
heads of departments who have been
on duty at the Naval academy two
years or more" Secretary Daniels
said. officers who have been there less
than two years have not been changed
except in the case Of Commander r.
A. Traut, who takes command OF the
battleShip Wisconsin. The secretary
declined to state whether h re-or
ganization was a direct result Of the
recent investigation Of cribbing at ex-
aminations and haZing. Capt. Eberle,
now commandant of the Washington
navy yard, will, as previously an
nounced, succeed Rear Admiral Full
am as superintendent Of the academy
Commander Louis M. Mutton, in charge
of the department Of ordnance, is or
dered to succeed Capt. l. II. Chandler,
now acting superintendent Of the
academy, who is detached. Other Of
ficers detached include: Commander
c. +. Preston, English department,
ordered to command the battleship
Missouri; Commander F. A. Traut,
language department, to command the
battleship Winconsin; Commander H.
b. Price, to command destroyer tender
Melville; Commander ]. T. Tompkins,
electrical engineering department, to
command battleship Ohio; Lieutenant
Commander Chauncey Shackford,
senior aid to commandment, to become
navigator Of battleship Wyoming;
Lieutenant NJ. E. Manly. aide to super
i%ntendent, to become aide to command
er-in-chief Of the Pacific fleet.
Russia, France and England at va
rious times since the war started, a
a New York dispatch of Wednesday,
have turned to New York to borrow