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Newspaper
Pickens Sentinel
Location
Pickens, South Carolina, United States of America
Date
Feb 15, 1917
Page
2
Berlin expects possible war with the United States as submarine policy persists. Commands warned to sink neutral ships on sight while sparing others if deemed safe, signaling a fragile path to avoidance amid conflicting wartime aims.
A fire at the Union Switch and Signal Company machine shop in Swissdale, a Pittsburgh suburb, caused an estimated four million dollars in losses. Officials suspect spontaneous combustion in the packing department as the blaze spread with strong winds, drawing in fire crews from Braddock Wilkinsburg North Braddock Rankin and parts of Pittsburgh.
Washington reports a Senate caucus backing emergency and revenue actions. Measures include espionage and conspiracy bills, Porto Rican citizenship, post office rate hikes, one cent drop letter postage, and a revenue plan to raise about 50 million dollars to address a treasury deficit via inheritance and excess profits taxes and a 400 million bond issue for overseas and railroad expenses.
Washington reports after a Cabinet meeting that President Wilson may ask Congress to authorize means to protect American seamen and citizens if Germany forces action. The plan aims to keep ships free to travel and avoid war, with details on emergency legislation, merchant ship protection, and port operations under review.
Washington reports say Red Cross chapters can mobilize expert hospital forces within days to serve an army of 1,000,000 in war. Acting chairman Elia Wadsworth cites 1,250 nurses, 415 nurses aides, 25 nurses aides, and 120 surgical dressing instructors among ready units and detachments ready to treat 60,000 sick and wounded at once.
Washington reports an immediate postage hike from one to one and a half cents per pound for newspapers and periodicals in this year’s postoffice appropriation bill. The Senate committee also backed an amendment to rescind after July 1, 1917 the one cent per ounce drop letter rate in cities and on rural routes.
Washington moves to speed up warship construction at Newport News Shipbuilding Fore River Shipyard and Electric Boat Company plants. Doubled crews and accelerated timetables aim to complete battleships including the Mississippi by mid winter, with keel laid for one of four new battleships on a former Mississippi slip. Destroyers and submarines also prioritized to align with the pending navy bill.
London announces safe conduct for Count von Bernstorff, former German ambassador to the United States, within Britain’s power to grant. Foreign Office says Britain accedes to Washington’s request after a close meeting between A. J. Balfour and Ambassador Page. News notes Britain cannot guarantee safety against his countrymen.
Washington confirms Ambassador Gerard as a private citizen must refuse negotiations with the German Foreign Office. The State Department approves this as the only permissible path given his status. Any German communications on a treaty or subsect would go through Spanish or Swiss representatives in Berlin.
London report from Queenstown says the British steamer Turino was sunk by a submarine with the death of American fireman George Washington. Survivor Calvin Bay of Fillmore Utah is among the crew. the ship sailed from Norfolk January 19 bound for Liverpool.
Congress overrides President Wilson to enact the immigration bill with the literacy test despite Japanese protests. Senate 24 to 28 in favor of overruling. House 287 to 106 clears the bill. Debate centers on maintaining a pure homogenous American populace amid international tensions with Japan.
Washington on Tuesday February 13 the entire German official corps in the United States including Count and Countess von Bernstorff and the embassy suite will sail from New York for Germany. More than 200 reservations have been made on the liner Frederick VII leaving New York Feb 13 for Christiana. England and France have granted safe passage.
Washington reports Congress is paving the way for legislation in response to the international crisis. Leaders from both parties push rapid action while hoping break with Germany avoids war, with heightened activity in Senate naval military and revenue committees.
Survivors landed after the California disaster near Queenstown. One death and about 30 hospital cases are reported among two hundred aboard. An American crew member, John A. Lee of Montgomery Alabama, survived as the liner sank without warning after being torpedoed by a submarine 300 yards away.
Casper, Wyoming Mrs Alexander Cuthill a passenger on the liner California sailed two weeks ago to visit her parents in Scotland Mr Cuthill has filed for naturalization and has a homestead claim in the area
New York officials report no American citizens among US passengers on the California. Records show many aboard were British subjects. The sinking left 160 survivors of 215 aboard with 55 unaccounted for. The Anchor Line confirmed the loss from a cable message. The crew numbered 184.
The Senate adopted Chairman Stone's resolution by 78 to 5 confirming the President's withdrawal of the American ambassador from Berlin and the passport return to German Ambassador Bernstorff. Voters against the measure were Democrats Kirby and Vardaman and Republicans Kenna Works and La Follette.
Consul Frost at Queenstown reports the British liner California was torpedoed without warning with an American survivor. President Wilson, resting, must decide whether to ask Congress for authority to use any means to protect seamen and citizens, awaiting full details before action.
Ambassador Fletcher plans immediate departure for his post in Mexico by way of Laredo due to uncertain Vera Cruz to Mexico City rail conditions. Rebels have disrupted coastal rail lines and attacked trains, isolating Mexico City from Vera Cruz in the past two weeks.
E. Anderson, a Clemson graduate and U S Department of Agriculture expert, is elected to direct boll weevil campaigns in South Carolina with field labs in Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper, Barnwell, Aiken, and Edgefield counties. W M Riggs announces. David F Houston named Columbia farm loan bank treasurer and director, to relocate from Monroe North Carolina.
Seven large British steamers lie at Charleston Harbor anchored for coal yet seen as sheltering in port. A Matumet tramp is under steam with bunker filled awaiting orders to sail to an undisclosed destination. German submarine casualty talk and possible drydock repairs for a damaged ship hint at mounting wartime activity.
Columbia W I Atkinson of Ingeburg is named deputy house commissioner by Wattie Smith head of the state warehouse commission. Atkinson, a farmer with dairy interests, is appointed during a slack cotton season as no additional visitor is named at this time.
William Knox Tate former state supervisor of elementary rural schools in South Carolina died in Nashville after a chair length illness. Pneumonia caused his death. He was living in Nashville since May 1, 1916, and is survived by his wife and five children. Eric R. Payne, president of the institution, sent a telegram conveying condolences.
Lake City held its second sale of cattle and hogs with buyers pleased by the offerings and prices. Beef cattle ready for butchered sale brought 6 to 12 cents per pound and hogs topped near 9.95. The Chamber of Commerce helped organize a boys' 4 club.
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