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The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09

BRITISH THINK APPAM SHOULD
BE RETURNED TO OWNERS.
No Chance for That-Washingto
Holds That Liner is Prize Under
Terms Of Old Prussian Treaty.

Washington. Feb. 4.--In the name
of the British owners Of the steam
ship Appam. Sir Cecil Spring Rice,
the British ambassador, today lodged
with the state department formal re.
quest that the ship be turned over to
the British consul under the terms
Of The Hague convention. Notice also
was served that it would be in vio-
lation Of international law If the Unit
ed States permitted the German prize
commander Of the Appam to increase
the efficiency Of that ship. add to her
offensive power to recruit his crew.
AS Lieut.. Berg has only % men in
his prize crew at present, q number
insufficient to navigate ship as large
as the Appam, a compliance with the
British suggestion only on the latter
point would effectually prevent the de-
parture Of the Appam from Newport
News
Citing the Appaln case as precedent
the British contention is that any
change either in equipment or per-
sonnel Of the Appam which would
even in a limited degree give her Of
fensive power and enable her to prey
on British commerce would be a vio-
lation of laws for which the United
States could be held responsible.
Although the British government
did not finally ratify The Hague treaty
governing the conduct Of neutrals in
maritime warfare. 1t is held that most
Of that convention, and especially the
|article under which the release Of the
Appam is demanded, Is only crys-
tallization Of principles Of interna-
tional law in existence before the con-
ventions were drawn and generally ac-
cepted since.
In evidence Of its observance on the
principle Of denial to .belligerents Of
the right Of sequestering prizes in neu-
trail ports. the British. government
points to the queens proclamation Of
June 1, 1851. issued at the outbreak
of the War Of Secession. when Con-
federate privateers were preying free
ly upon the commerce Of the North
ern States. The British government
refused such prizes entry into British
ports. which Secretary Seward con-
sidered "the death blow of pri-
Watering"
The British contention also is that
the old Prussian treaty of 1928 is
obsolete. Nevertheless there was no
indication today that the state depart
lment would alter its view that the
Prussian treatJ guarantees the prize
Ito Germany and Secretary Lansing
declared the only point to be cleared
lup was how long an Interpretation Of
the treaty would permit the Appam
to remain in an American port.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09
OFF FOR NI,W YORK.
British Prisoners from Appam Leave
Norfolk.

Newport News, Feb. 4.-The Old
Dominion liner. Jefferson, with 227
passengers and officers of the British
steamers which were sunk by Ger
man sea raiders. left here this morn
Ing In an attempt to reach New York
tonight. Lieut.. Berge and the Ger
man prize crew have been left in COM
piete charge Of the Appam. Lieut.
Berge admitted today that the Appam
carried almost two hundred thousand
dollars In bullion when captured,
which he transshipped on tho Moewe.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09
FIRE IN BROOKLYN.

SIX Women Burned to Death I'm Fash.
i0nable Residence.
New York. Feb. 4.-Six women were
burned to death when fire destroy.
ed the fashionable Tag residence. in
an exclusive residential section OF
Brooklyn this morning. Carolene
Tag. aged 25. and Helen Tag, aged
81. daughters Of the late Casimir Tag,
u wealthy tobacco magnate. were lost.
The others were servants and nurses
employed in the home. The fire is
thought to have been caused by a de-
fective insulation. 1t started at 3
o'clock.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09

Washington, Feb. 5.-Publicity
in the Gale case will be opened on
the appointment of Louis d. Brandeis
as associate justice of the Supreme
Court. The committee in charge of
the investigation announces that pub
lie hearings on the charges will be
held starting next Wednesday.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09

Berlin, Feb. 7.-High German off,
cials told the International News Ser
vice correspondent today that the
"Lusitania case is nearer settlement
than at any previous time"
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09
TARs HIGHLY PRAISED.
PLUNkETT AND BLUE. BEFORE
COMMITTEE. s.r
south Caoriina AdmiraFs Report on
Personnel Declares it is Very En-.
cient Now. r.

Washington, Feb. 4.@Conidential
Workmanship records on the navy
were detailed to the house naval COM
mittee behind closed doors today by
Capt. c. G. Plunkett. gunnery officer
OF the department. At an open ses.
sion he discussed the subject in gem
eral terms and said the appropriation
made last year to provide for gun
pointers would have. been insufficient
had the department not raised the
qualifications under which they were
earned.
Capt. + inkett said approximately
76 per cent. Of the enlisted force of
the navy. from ships cooks to chief
petty officers, had qualified as marks
men in rifle practice. He defined a
marksman, the lowest rifle rating, as
man able to nail anything at 200
yards" About 80 per cent, he said,
were sharpshooters. or 500 yard range
men. The department has asked for
$4,000 for rifle trophies.
Rear Admiral Blue. chief Of the bu.
rcau Of navigation, testified regarding
the status Of the navy personnel. COM
mittemen questioned him about re-
ports that more than 200 midshipmen
at Annapolis had failed at the half
yearly examinations. He said no off,
cial report had been received. AS the
departments bill asking for a big in
crease in the force at the academy Win
be up in the house for debate Monday
he promised to furnish the committee
with all possible information.
Admiral Blue said he did not believe
the investigation at the academy last
year and new regulations against OBJ
tanning examination papers in advance
had anything to do with the reported
failures.
| II do not believe any more mental
to graduate at the academy than fail
to graduate at any other institute in
proportion" said the admiral. 'us
Admiral Blue will be before the
committee again Monday when His
statement as to the present condition
Of the personnel Of the fleet will have
been printed for committee use. He
read it in part today, declaring thRt
the ships are better manned. betxSr
oficered and more efficient In per-
sonnel than at any time In the navy's
history. He stressed steps taken sur.
der Secretary Daniels administrator
to build up the personnel andtto prol
vide experienced officers for import
ant commands. e--a iyfs,rifs
The senate military committees di6
not close its hearings on the army sihg
crease bills today. 1t probably wfff
examine Gov. Goethals Of the canat
zone tomorrow on the question of pro-
posed additions to the canals dxSd-
defense works and on the mobile ARMY
aspect Of the canal defense problems. >
The house military COMMITTEES
agreed to close its hearings February
II. Tomorrow it will hear Brig. Gen. q
Edwards, commanding the Panama .
canal garrison. who was before the
senate committee yesterday. % T.
80 @fs
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09

Portland Maine. Feb. 7-Ernes,
Cove and wife, bridal couple, were
burned to death in a lodging house
nre this morning. Fourteen other,
were saved after they had been over
come by smoke.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09

must let no one invade the rights of
America"
The president ended his speech
amidst applause. The band played
America" He stood and sang.
There was great overflow crowd
on the outside of tho building
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09
ATLANTIC CrTk HOTEL BURNED.
IBls Hotel Destroyed ana . Number OF
GuestS Lost Their IAves.

IN 6uostS Ioet ThcR Lives. :
Atlantic City, N. J., Feb. 4.-Five
persons are known to be dead ( and
thirty injured and It is feared more
were lost in a fro which destroyed
the Overbrook Hotel this morning. The
hotel was In the heart Of the cottage
and hotel district along the board
walk. Eleven guests were missing
after the fire was extinguished,. ave OF
whom are known to have perished.
The cause OF the fire Is unknown. The
firemen were handicapped ~ a severe
gale which drove the flames into ad-
jaoent cottages. destroying several.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09

|. ||,-4. ~ ~ ftftf IA,
! r., I1euiA ysb. s.--Prssidsnt Wilson
(uc,v told IN audience Of $4,000
,vr1kk swavsa with . tumuit OF cheer
1nn ~ ~ United States nhould
INtNp ~ Ueatese navy In the world.
/, ~ beptevs ths navy OF the United
mooR shoul1 - unconousrable.'' he
-; NE GrsNtsst In the world"
~ : psssldsnt declared that SUBJ
q19rns sonnandsrs abroad have In
n(Dpofoons which for the most part
.@aOessn with International law. but
~ ~ 80 of one commander might
- - wtsaa anrs. including America.
. SQptu ne ocean there are hum
lfooa g casgoss Of American goods"
~, ,ea&1- Cotton. grain ana all the
unG1Anl supplies America II sending
~ ! - ~ world-and any one Of
'fhcw Wrooesv any one os those shlps.
1 nv - tps pelut Of contact that will
49, Anerisa into the war.
!. Xoe, ~ ara time during the tour
~ pgesldeat tolA how one sst of
>1lol1eseets was cut on from the
He said this kept the United
o19s ]eom hsaplng them ~ Il would
~ Re u,ads ths statsmsnt IN try
,;;c,,,e,s, ' ~ -
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The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09
TO RULE ON COMPETITION.
TRADE COMMISSION TO AN.
, NOUNCE DECISION.

Pronouncement OF Body
Includes Settlement Of Some Two
scoec Cases.
Washington. Feb. 2.-The federal
trade commission. created last year
with wide powers over commerce. will
issue within = few days a series Of
rulings defining unfair competition.
The rulings will cover some 40 cases
investigated under that section OF the
law empowering the commission to
prevent unfair trade methods.
Many cases have been settled. IL was
learned today. without formal action
by the commission.
When complaint Is made Of unfair
competition the commission issues q
formal complaint. II it considers pub
lie interest demands it. citing the con-
Germ complained against to appear
within 90 days and show why an order
should not be issued instructing it to
desist from unfair practices. II the
defendant nghts the case q hearing Is
held. The commissions decision then
ID subject to review on points Of law
by the circuit court Of appeals. An
appeal may be had to the United
States supreme court.
The commission IL making economic
investigations now In these industries.
Fertilizer. beet sugar. pipe lines and
lumber. Hi3
One report to be made soon will
cover an investigation Of laws relat.
ing to commerce a. enforced by the
nations Of the world. livery statute
regulating business methods, combina.
tions und competition in Ill civilized
countries ID given.
A report on competitive conditions
In foreign trade viii bs made 10 con:
grssS About April 1s. The com misaiSn
has hAd more tAeh 30 special agents
conductire this work in the Uhitsd
SteteS ana ABROAD. M gs :,
u ~ - ~ = - -
of his fellow citissns. He urged \
would b cruel to send untrainSd
men Into battle. tS'f
The plans nov before consreas
ars msrsly plans to bays the lives q
Americas Youths" he said. and
those plans VIII 80 through. ! am
not inzisting upon the details but
|ppor the prtncipls.
xnt modern heAtins ships the
modeft sublnArins and other instru-
msnts Of modern naval warfare. muS&
y hAn4led by sxpsrtA America has
|nsvsr dsbAtta Or dtSphtsd that posi-.
tious And All We hrs asking " Suf-
ncisht nufMbsr uf txpefts and shf-
ficisnt number Of vessels 1t their
disposal = a ss.y sls
"Becauss the vessels We have are
|commsnded BY experts there 10 not
a potter eeSv1ce IN the world than
that OF the American navy. But no
matter how skilled and how capable
tho of1icsrs. or how devoted the men
they must have ships enough and we
are going to have ships enough.
I'VE have been doing Il slowly and
and surely and good naturedly. as
we are accustomed to do everything
In times OF peace. but now we must
get down 70 business and do Il sys.
temat atically; We must Law down q
programme ana then steadfastlv. car.
nv it ont ana co,rr,.t. !. ~
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09
HAMILTON DEAD.
hc Was Vice President of Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad.

Petersburg. Feb 4.-Alexander
Hamilton. vice president and general
counsel for the Atlantic Coast Line.
died at his home here today following
a long illness.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09
lkll ILvY NEEDED.
lCDomUeT pEClAREs THAT MA.
VAL HoRCB or UNITED STATES
80 .0sOgIlD nE UNCON.
.'l. y 0UERABLE. =

49, e~npssas ships to Guard safely
/. 411g coase LAne Eroa AeAenpts OF
NFso1A EOe-PuanAs out Danger Of
|seanos VIII European Nations
q yvw - wsF. 4
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09

defend their homes and their secur-
ity aud not to serve any political
purpose whatever"
The president said there were MANY
people In the United States talking
about national defense who don't
know what they are talking about.
They should be encouraged to
hire q large hail." he said.
Some OF the newspaper editors who
opposed preparedness. the president
said, should see the crowds before
him.
They would be comforted." he
said. that what they saw would not
deceive ny one.
For every day have been away
from Washington have had Just
this feeling. The country IL up:
there Ia no man who Is not awake.
VINO does not realize what the situa-
ton Ia and what We should do to meet
the situation"
The president emphatically reiterat.
ed no believed tho United States was
with him. He said the living rooms
OF the White House do not face to-
ward the city of Washington but to-
ward Virginia and the open spaces
THAT Is where I listen for the voice
or America" he declared. I think
have heard that voice say that we
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09

VIC PoIht emphasized today Is that
any change Of whatever character in a.
diplomatic document of such far
reaching Importance not only to the
coming developments of the European
war, but possibly some time in the
future to the naval operations of the
United States, must be subjected to
the most thorough and painsta king
analysis with a full consideration of
Its consequences.
president Wilson is not insensible
that public opinion in Germany as
elsewhere must be considered. At
the same time officials dislike the in
timations that have come from Ber-
lin that the points for which the
American government is contendinp
are purely technical and hair split
ting and unnecessary of prosecution
In view Of Germany's concession of
liability for the loss of
American lives and her promise Of
future abstention from inhuman
methods Of submarine warfare.
That Is the reason given for the
insistence OF the state department
upon Its original confident expecta-
ton" laid down in the first Lusitania
note that the imperial government
Will disavow the acts Of which the
government of the United States COM
plains as we'll as mako reparation
The Raymer enterprise., 1916-06-08

tufts of feathers which serve to distinguish it
from a. less common but very much similar owl
OF which something will be written further on. Or
owls which are not described here at length.
among the most useful are the barred owl.
the long feared and the short-eared owls.
The screech owl Is OF the best mousers In
the world II also is a great destroyer OF insects
1t starts its hunting about sunset and 1t journeys
round and round the buildings in the country
looking for its favorite quarry. II kills thousands
upon thousands OF mice every year Dr. n
Fisher. the governments expert In all matters per-
tanning to hawks and owls, says OF the nttie
screech owls that their economic relations are OF
the greatest Importance. particularly on account
OF the abundance OF the species in farming dis
tricts: and whoever destroys them through ignor
ance or prejudice should be severely condemned
1t was the barn owl. or a species closely allied
TO IT, OF which Gray wrote In bis "Elegy. the
moping owl doth to the moon complain" Some
times the barn owl is called the monkeyfaced owl
because its countenance does look triae like that
Of the monkey In recent years the barn owls
have been decreasing in numbers because Of the
mistaken belief that they kill poultry. The
trouble ID that barn owls frequently live in barns
or In other structures reared by man, and because
they are seen therefore about the poultry
yards frequently the impression is given that they
are chicken thieves. The barn owl, however, is
one OF the most beneficial OF all our rapaeous
birds II dearly loves rats and mice, and one barn
owl is worth q dozen cats ratter and mouser.
There is n little owl commonly called the saw
whet," which is an interesting and beneficial crea-
ture. At first glance one might think that the
saw whst owl is q screech owl. but on taking a
second look It will be seen that the sawwhet
lacks the ear tufts or feathered horns that are
worn by its little cousin.
The saw-whet owl gets its name from the fact
that It's note sounds like the whetting of saw.
IL can be readily understood. therefore, that this
bird Is not much OF a musician. 1t is a great
mouser and like most OF the other owls. seems to
article OF diet
The saw-whet owl raises large family each
year II keeps the father and mother exceedingly
busy to get enough mice to feed the offspring but
they keep at the hunting work for hours at a
time and probably deny themselves many a mouse
morse in order that the young may get enough
to eat.
Ii is an easy matter for person to get from the
government full knowledge of the habits Of the
beneficial hawks and owls OF the United States
The biological survey OF the department OF agri
culture has the records In the case. and II will be
glad enough TO furnish information to persons
seeking 1t Uncle Sam wants to save most OF
his hawks and owls
Why not help him do II?
The Raymer enterprise., 1916-06-08
RULES EASILY UNDERSTOOD.

The Little Citizens committee Of the Bella
Vista playground In Oakland. Cal. asked to draw
up rules and regulations on conduct OF the
grounds. submitted the following series:
mo cigarettes. They're no good ANY boy
found smoking will be shown the gate.
You've got to keep paper and trash on the
grounds. II you eat here. do Il decent and take
the refuse away with you. II you don't. look out
for trouble.
Small children must be given chance all the
time. II any boy takes anything away from lit
tie kid. he'll get his
Say thanks II don't hurt you, and beine
polite amt crime"-From the Playground
The Raymer enterprise., 1916-06-08

mented the fact that he could not find more spe.
cies OF the little mammals than he did In the
White House yard | always have thought that
the reason was to be found back OF the eagle on
the state department front The two sparrow
hawks kept the lawns pretty well clear Of the
minor rodents
The marsh hawk, Circus hudsonius, is one OF the
most beautiful birds OF prey in the United States
and one of the most useful The adult male has
blush slate body, streaked with white and be
coming pure white Just above the tail and under.
meath. The underparts are lightly specked with
reddish brown. The adult female and the young
are rusty in color, with good many streaks
Marsh hawks. as their name suggests haunt the
wet places but frequently they are seen flying low
over the dry fields and the prairies Perhaps one
cannot do better than to quote Vernon Bailey on
the subject of the marsh hawk. He writes:
The intelligent farmer usually recognizes the
value OF this hawk and the fact that II almost
never touches his poultry. He sees il skimmng
over his meadows and diving into the grass for
mice and wisely lets its live. but nevertheless he
would be surprised II he could figure out now
many dollars II saves him during the year"
II is virtually impossible within the scope OF
comparatively short article to give anything like
full list with descriptions OF all the beneficial
hawks In the United States They form feath
cred legion, Let us. however. take one or more
OF these birds Of prey for a little advisory dis.
course. The Swanson hawk. Buteo swanson,, Is
distributed from the far arctic regions way south.
ward to the Argentine Republic In the United
States. II is fairly common from the western
ocean to Wisconsin and Illinois. and occasionally
II is found in the East.
Major Bendire. the army ornithologst, wrote Of
this hawk, which he studied for a long time:
The food of Swanson's hawk consists almost
entirely Of the smaller rodents principally striped
gophers and mice as well as grasshoppers and the
large black cricket which is very common as
well as destructive. in certain seasons and the
bane OF the farmers In eastern Oregon Washing
ton. Idaho. Nevada and other localities In the
Great Basin, destroying and eating up every green
thing as they move along | cannot recall a sin.
gle instance where one OF these birds visited a
poultry yard. From an economic point Of view
consider II by far the most useful and beneficial
OF all our hawks.
Now for something about few OF our bepe
fetal owls Everybody knows or ought to know
the little screeeh owl which sits at the entrance N
Its hole in hollow tree and u,ters its querulous
curious cry This little bird has two outstanding
The Raymer enterprise., 1916-06-08
TRAVEL MADE SAFE,

The terrors Of the desert will have no fears for
the transcontlnental tourist making the trip BY
auto over the Lincoln highway. II is planned to
run double copper telephone wire along the Lin.
coin highway from Salt Lake City to Ely. and
thence to Reno cutin stations will be established
one mile apart along the way and by means of
these stations no traveller could ever become
stranded at a greater distance than a half m,la
from telephone station from which he could
call for relief. traveller will be able to procure
an instrument at either end Of this route by nav
ing small deposit on II. Just sufficient to insure
its return in proper condition when he reaches
the station at the other end Of bis journey.