davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-06
RED CROSS BENEFIT.
Children Give Entertainment TO Raise
Funds.

A very unique entertainment in
that l. was both planned and pre-.
sented children from six to ten
years OF age, was .>.ven on last We'd
nesday afternoon for the benefit of
the Red Cross. This enjoyable event
consisted of patriotic songs and reci-
t"tions, and pretty dances, closing
with My Country Tis Of Thee" sung
under the Stars and Stripes, in Choir
lis, by all the participants, viz: Min
ME DesChamps, Harriet Wescott, Rosa
Lee DesChamps, Elizabeth Parrott.
Maitland Chase, Virginia Haynsworth.
The amount realized was $500,
which was brought in by the young
patriots and handed over with so
much pride and pleasure that the old
er people might we'll take q lesson
in cheerfully giving from these young
workers.
Another group Of little folks gave a
juvenile entertainment for the Red
Cross at the home of Mrs. jennings
on Church street, from which they
realized sixty-fivc cents, which they
turned over to the local chapter. This
group of little Red Cross workers was
composed of Elizabeth Jennings. Mary
Green, Annie Green, Margaret Yates.
Willie Yates and j. T ambert
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-06

During the market season. when
tobacco brought higher prices than
since the civil war; growers declared
thcy would set out Il larger acreage
than ever before. President Wilson's
message urging farmers to raise
more food crops is answered by farm
erS in this county, many of whom
have cut their tobacco fields down
One-half, and i'm some instances alto
gether, to plant food products. Louis
vile COurcr-Journal
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-06
The wind and rain storm that mas

The wind and rain storm that pass
ed over this city Sunday afternoon
was much more severe in the country
northeast of the city than it was in
town. In the vicinity of Mr. Joe Du-
rants place the wind blew with great
violence and the fall of hail was so
heavy that crops were considerably
damaged and fruit was stripped from
trees. ON Mr.. Durants place a num-
ber Of large trees were blown down
and the fruit crop was almost de-
stroyed by the hail. The storm seems
not to have been destructive generally
IN TINS county, as no reports have
been received of widespread damage.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-06
DRAFT MORE THAN MILLION.
Army Will COnscriptiOn Large Num-
Der to Allow for Exemptions.

Washington, June 4.-The plans OF
the war department to draft nine,
hundred thousand to million and a.
half men Of the ten million who it Isl
estimated will register tomorrow, was
disclosed to the senate military affairs
committee. Provost Marshal GeneraY
Crowder told the committee that
exemptions will probably reduce the,
number to six hundred and twenty
five thousand.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-06
SECOND TRAINING CAMPS.
NEXT SERIES FOR RESERVE
ARMY OFFICERS ORDERED.
Will be Held Between August 9th
and November 26th-Anothcr
Chance for Those Who Wish TO
Enter Army as Officers.

/ &AhAhy SIuCCfSs
washington, June "A second Sc
ries of officers training camps will be
held between August q and Novem-
Der 26 in eight locations, to develop
officers for the second increment of
100000 men to be called into service
by the selective draft, Adjt. Gen. Nc
Cain announced today. In general,
qualifications for admission to these
camps will be the same as for the
f1rst series, but strong effort will be
made to obtain men above thirty-on
years of age and the number admit
ted to training will be smaller.
Applications must be sent to the
commanding generals or the depart
ment in which the applicant lives be-
tween June Is and July Is.
Some of the present sixteen officers
training camps will be abandoned in
the second series and all selected for
the second training courses are located
IN the southern part of the country.
The camp sites chosen and the areas
from which applicants will be as
signed are as follows:
Fort Myer, Va: Vermont, Maine.
New Hampshire. Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jer-
sey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and
the District of Columbia.
Fort Mcpherson, Ca: New York
City and contiguous territory; Ala
pama, Georgia and Florida,
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga: The greater
part of New York State, the northern
part of Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North
Carolina and South Carolina.
Fort BENJAMIN Harrison, Ind: The
southern part of Pennsylvania, Ohio.
West Virginia, Indiana and Ken
lucky.
Fort Longan H. Roots, Ark, or 9TH
er place to be designated: Wiscon-
sin, Michigan. Mississippi, Louisiana
and Arkansas.
Fort Leon Springs, Texas: Illinois,
Texas. Arizona, New Mexico and Ok
lahoma. ..
Fort Riley, Kansas: Minnesota
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebras-
ka, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Colo
RADIO. ,.,
The Preside, San Francisco: Utah.
Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Nevada,
Oregon, Washington and California.
The announcement of the camps
says;
THE second series of officers train
ing camps will be held with the def
mite mission of producing a body of
line officers capable of filing all
places in the grades above lieutenant
and many of the places i'm the lieutcn-
ant grades Of the second 100000
troops.
"The minimum age limit for all is
twenty years and nine months. How
ever, in order to attain the experience
ed class Of men desired preference will
be given to men over thirty-one years
old. 1t will be difficult for men under
that age to qualify except in rare in
stances where the applicant has pre-
eminent qualifications or unusual mill
tary experience. Men certified as ac.
ceptable for the first series of camps
which now are in operation must re-
new their applications if they were
not directed to attend the first series
of camps.
"The application must be accompa-
MED with the names Of three respon-
sible citizens"
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-06
INSURANCE FOR SOLDIERS.
Plan Will Be Taken Up Coming Week
by Council of National Defense.

Washington, June p.-Plans for is
suing $4,000 free government insur-
ance on the life of every American
soldier and sailor during the war in
lieu of pension arrangements will be
taken up next week by the Council Of
National Defense. A report prepared
by Assistant Secretary Sweet of the
Department of Commerce, ready to
be submitted, urges that the insur-
ance be provided through legislation
before American troops are sent to
France.
The defense council took up the
question some weeks ago and turned
the whole subject over to the Depart
ment of Commerce for investigation.
The report ready offers a long list OF
arguments showing the advantage Of
working out compensation system
before American lives are lost in the
war.
The plans as prepared provide for O
fiat insurance Of $4,000 on the life of
every officer and private in the mill
tary and naval service to be paid to
his benefciaries without premiums.
There would be provision for a sys-
tenn of insurance by which officers and
men desiring to do so could take out
amounts higher than the $4,000 free
policy by paying premiums at peace
rates.
Insurance companies, it is said, are
ready to- approve the scheme il as
sured the government will not con-
tinue in the insurance business after
the war. War hazards are so great
that few companies are anxious to in
sure soldiers and sailors except at
high premiums.
At the end of the war the govern
ment, it is suggested. could turn over
to insurance companies its premium
war busir ess dropping the fiat $4,000
policies on all who leave the service,
but continuing it on men who remain
in the army or navy.
One argument advanced for the in
surance plan is that it would improve
the morals of the troops. The plan
would provide also insurance for
partial or total disability. In case
Of death the insurance would be paid
in instalments whose amount would
be determined by government board.
Government officials are convinced
the best way to dispose of the PEN
sion problem is to meet it before
hand.
Many officials hold that since many
will be drawn from occupations in
which government and State laws
compel compensation for injury or
death, the government cannot subject
man to more risk than he encoun-
ters in his usual occupation and not
make compensation if he is wounded
or killed
The success of the government war
risk insurance bureau, which has paid
out large sums for ship losses. is
pointed to as argument that the gov
ernment itself can bear the risk. The
$4,000 insurance given free would be
direct loss, but pensions, it is argu-
ed, would be much more costly in the
long run.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-06


to show that Sumter, Lee. Clarendon,
three sister counties ere going to
measure up fully to what they have
been called upon to do and are conf
IDENTIFY expected to do for our brave
soldiers who are going to the front.
hundreds Of them our own Sumter,
Lee and Clarendon. South Carolina
boys. our own flesh and blood.
He urged the Sumter County Public
Safety Committee members to get to
work as the business men. women,
boys and girls of this city are doing
day after day, hard work. continuous
and persistent work. sacrificing time,
money. and energy in this glorious
cause Of humanity. He felt that the
rural districts will show up in equal
ly as patriotic and humane manner
In every respect as Sumter city is
doing.
Mr.. S. A. IIarvin said that Privatcer
toWhShip mas already gone to work
and that he was satisfied that the
men, women. boys and girls of the
rural sections OF Sumter county were
not going to allow the men, women,
boys and girls of Sumter county to
carry the whole load or put up all
Of the money for the Re" ross work.
Bethel school house on Monday night,
June ith will be the scene of u big
community meeting of men and wo-
men and he hoped that the men and
women Of Sumter will go out and as
sist I'm forming a Privatcer and Bethel
community Red Cross working body.
Mr.. w. j. Ardis. of Manchester
township aud other members of the
The Washington herald., 1917-12-06
RUMANIA SEEKS
AN ARMISTICE
Menaced by Germans Coun-
try Said to Have Entered
Negotiations

London, Dec. 5.-Rumania has
Joined Russia and the central pow
ers in the negotiations for an ar
mistice. Official announcement to
this effect came from Berlin today.
Isolated from her western allies,
nlRe-tenths of her country occupied
by Teuton troops, and the remnant
OF her army. threatened with ami
hilation in case of a Russo-Teuton
truce, the little kingdom is believed
to have chosen this course not be-
cause 1t wished to, but because the
stern command of self-preservation
dictated it.
In Petrograd the Russian official
telegraph bureau today announced
that the Russo-German armistice is
now in effect.
Lenine's foreign minister, Trotzky,
mas reiterated his threat that allied
interference in Russian internal
aHairs" will bring about "grayest
complications" BY internal af-
fairs" he meant the armistice ne
EQUATIONS with the central powers.
- The threat was prompted, accord
ing to Petrograd dispatches, by al
leged negotiations between the
american and French military at
taches and General Dukhonin be-
Lore the latter was lynched by the
Bolsheviki mob that captured Rus
sian army headquarters.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-06
C. OF.C. BOARD
FOR employees
Move
ment to Give Workers
Increase.

Greater increases in the salaries of
government employees to meet the in
creased cost Of living and an increase
In the salaries Of teachers in the pub-
lie schools of the city were adyo-
Gated In resolutions adopted at the
meeting last night of the board of
directors of the Washington Chamber
of Commerce.
After discussion participated In by
Isaac Cans. John G. Capers. p #,
Moran and other members of the
board. in which they declared their
support of the existing rate of in
creases. and a resolution was adopted
declaring the board in favor of grant
ing a great increase when the present
year expired.
1t is proposed that the limit be ex-
tended to s2.4o0 year, employees re-
ceiving that amount to get a 5 per cent
increase. and those receiving less di-
yided into classes according to the
amount received.
The loss of public school teachers
who have gone to other work in
the government service, was brought
to the attention Of the board by Roy
c. Clafiin. - =
Discussion Of the campaign to OBJ
tain a representation in the Ma
tional House Of Representatives and
the Senate and Electoral College was
participated in by many Of the mem
bers. -.
John g. Capers and DIR. Lewis ].
Battle were named as representatives
OF the chamber to attend the Ma
tional Foreign Trade convention
which will be held February s k,d .
in Cincinnati.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-06
DIPLOMATS SAY
PRESIDENT HAS
SHORTENED WAR
Wilson Given Credit for
Clear, Definite Statement
of Allies Aims.

While eagerly awaiting press and
Official comment from Europe on
President Wilson's message, allied
and neutral diplomats were excep-
tionalIy frank in their informal dis
eussion OF the effect Of the message
yesterday
They were siSo extraordinarily
unanimous in predicting these re-
suits:
l. The war will end only when the
German armies are beaten in the
field, probably on the West front.
.. This defeat will come not so
much through allied superiority in
arms as through the superior ability
of the allied peoples to endure and
to back up their armies in the field.
3. President Wilson has materially
advanced the date of the wars con-
clusion by his words because they
have heartened the allied peoples and
will eventually show the Germans
that their leaders have deceived them
as TO the true aims of Germany's
enemies.
Enthusiastically unwilling to say
that their governments will adhere
to the principles laid down by Presi-
dent Wilson, diplomats here are yet
so frank in their general appreciation
of the message that 1t seemed clea.
last night that President Wilson has
once more taken his place in the lime
light as the spokesman OF the whole
of civilization fighting Prussian mill
tarism.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-06
.BRITONS QUIZ
HEADS OF Navy
The Members of Parliament
Want to Know Move =
ments Of Ships. !;
BY ARTHUR =. DRAPER.
Special Cable TO The WashiaEtoE
Herald and New York Tribune.


London, Dec. 5.-Several sharp CUES
tions regarding submarine convoys
were asked in Parliament today. One
OF the members asked whether most
OF the sinkings were in the Irish
channel Another inquired whether
better protection for Liverpool bay
could not be afforded by the admiral
ty.
A third wanted TO know whether
ZOO dock laborers were idle because
OF the uncertainty of convoys' ar
rivals. A fourth sought Information
whether delays and losses were not
due TO lack OF destroyers.
The admiralty ofiicials replied the
navy is doing all IL can with its re-
sources. Recently several ships, the
latest Of which was the passenger
steamer Apspa bound from West
Africa TO Liverpool, have been sunk
In what must be considered practical
ly home waters Among ship owners
there is naturally considerable dis
satisfaction with what they term ad-
miralty mismansgement and mover
are atoot for an Investigation OF the
whole question OF naval arranse-
ments.
As the movement toward compui-
sorry food rationing is growing rapIo-
ly, 1t iS likely fuller detsiis OF shin
ping VIII soon be made public.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-06
BRITISH views
ON PRESIDENT
Speech Arouses Some Dis
cussion in House of
Commons.
By ARTHUR $. DRAPER.

SPECIAL to The Washington Herald and the
New York Tibune.l
London. Dec. In the midst Of a
busy session. the House of Commons
took a keen interest in President
Wilson's address in anticipation of
which several proposed lively debates
had been marking time.
1t was reported in the House to-
night that the Premier will refer to
the Presidents address in a speech
Friday at Grays Inn. Asquith like
wise will give it attention at the war
aims meeting the first of the week.
Like the rest of the country, the
different parties in Parliament find
much to praise and something to
critise in the Presidents message.
The Conservative view was given
to me in the lobby by Admiral Sir
Hepworth Meux. who declared:
President Wilson's words will. as
usual, act as a tonic for all the allies,
particularly the British. Everybody
know is well pleased. but do
not think that there is as much diff
ference between the German people
and their rulers as Mr.. Wilson seems
to believe"
The other extreme viewpoint was
presented by Charles Trebelyn, the
pacifist and Liberal, who said:
"Mr. Wilson's speech Is an ex-
cellent statement Of the war aims
for which America is fighting, and,
also, expresses exactly the Russian
point of view. 1t is a stinging re-
buke to the jingoes in France and
England. The President is entirely
mistaken as regards the German peo-
ple's feeling toward the German rul-
ers. They are nearly ready to throw
oyer their jingoes. and IL Mr.. Wilson
would only force the allies to pre-
claim the same aims, this end could !
be attained in a very short time. |
II our Jingoes would adopt the Pres
dents ideas the war would be over |
IN six months"
The labor members declare that the |
words justify those who. |
for three years, have been urging the
British government to put into clear !
language Its own war aims and, they |
believe that the address comprises an
admission to the world that the cause
If the Russian failure can be found
In the fact that Britain and the /
allies refused to meet Russia in a
for the purpose of dis
,ussins and restating war aims.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-06
BUTCHER BOY PROVES
To Be GERMAN Spy
Eric Hoecker Interned by U. S.
Agents in New York.
Special to The Washington Herald.


New York, Dec. ga stolid youth
with round, rosy countenance and
a vacant look has been carrying meat
from a Whitestone butcher shop into
Fort Totten for several months. His
name is Eric Hoecker and he is a
German subject, but his outward ap-
pearance was so Indicative of space
to let above the ears that the au-
thorities had no hesitation in grant,
ing him a zone pass. And so he has
been pursuing his stolid way in and
out Of Fort Totten. day after day
always passing the telegraph office.
But he made some sort of a, false
move Yesterday and his room.was in
vaded by military intelligence officers.
what they discovered led them to
arrest Eric and he was interned to-
aay by the Brooklyn Federal au-
lnorities. Among other things dis
covered about the rosy-cheeked
butcher boy was that he is an expert
'eiesraph operator and map maker.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-06
FEAR RUSSIA
MAY DEFAULT
Owes Immense Sums to u.
S. and France with
Credit Shaky.

French finaRciers fear for the md
lions upon millions of francs in in
Yestments, placed by France and the
French people in Russian commercial
and industrial enterprises.
while 1t is extremely difficult to
arrive at any definite information as
70 large individual French holdings
IN Russia. owing to the reluctance of
banks and French financisrs to make
any disclosures. it was learned today,
that in Russian railroads alone, be-
tween twelve and fifteen billions of
francs have been invested by the
French,
The greater part OF this enormous
Investment was made at a consider
able period before the war, and II
was made. 1t is declared, with the
express understanding on the part
oI French that the railroads in which
the money was invested would be
feveioped not only in a commercial
ny: but with a speciaI'View to mob
-anon. not with any idea of ag-
,aon. but with a view to pro-
n LEON AGAINST JUST such a peril as
Sented itself when the Germans
fsan the present war.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-06
SAYS DRAWBACK
ON SUGAR AIDS
REFINERS ONLY
Charles Jarvis Explain S
Why Fight Is Made on
Tax Refund.
By CHARLES JARVIS.

While there is every indication OF
a temporary improvement OF the
American sugar supply. some Of the
men in Congress who represent States
where part of the domestic supplies
are grown are predicting that be-
fore the crop is harvested nextyear
there will be q repetition OF the sex-
fsting famine unless steps are taken
to conserve an adequate supply for
home consumption.
The American consumption is, rough
ly speaking, about 100000 tons. OF
This amount there will be produced
in continental United States this year
about $4,000 tons of beet sugar in
the Western States and 2SO, 900 tons
Of cane sugar in Louisiana and Texas.
Both of these domestic crops are
far short of what was expected at
the beginning of the harvest. The
beet manufacturers were calculating
on an output of !. 1.OO0. 900 tons, and the
cane sugar producers along the Gulf
Coast looked forward confidently to
making over 10000 tons.
But one Of the worst drouths In
the history of the Gulf region not
only destroyed thousands of acres
of grazing lands in the cattle coun-
try. but cut down the cane yield to
less than 81 per cent of a normal
crop.
Southern Crops Large.
The operations for the year in the
outlying insular possessions have been
far more successful. 1t is estimated
that Porto Rico will yield 475,COO
tons, Hawaii. $4,000. and the Philip
pines. 275.00O tons. The trouble about
these estimated l,275. COO tons of sugar
lies in their iDaccessibility. Not only
are they far removed from our coasts
but even in times Of peace the move
ment OF their sugar is difficult, ow-
ing to the operation of the coast
wise laws. These laws make them
closed to the bulk of the overseas
carrying trade. Now that the de-
mand for food, fuel and munitions
Tor American troops abroad, as we'll |
as FOR England, France, Italy and |
the other allies. has impressed every |
available ton of American shipping,
the problem of bringing. these in
'ular sugars to our shores will be
more difficult than ever. The fast
steamers have largely been COM
nandeered and their places taken by
slow sailing craft.
Cuba, the largest sugar produc-
ng country in the world, is closer
o US than any of these other in
uiar sources of supply. and being
IN Independent nation the move
nent Of its commerce has never
'een hampered or restrained by the
peration OF the coastwise shipping
avs. For this reason there are nu-
nerous we'll established steamship
Ines for moving the Cuban sugar
rop.
The United States has in the mast
cen the market for practically the
ntlre Cuban crop, and. at first blush
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO Il