21 Mar 1918
Page 1
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Newspaper
The Mobile News Item
Location
Mobile, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Mar 21, 1918
Page
1
Five bombs with fuses weighing about a quarter pound each were taken from the Danish schooner Edekesmit after it left port for the West Indies. Police hold the devices in custody after government officials turned them over. The Edekesmit was detained for two hours by federal authorities before being allowed to sail.
Secretary Baker completes inspection tour of American military zones in France. He reviews a First Division brigade, praises their discipline, and notes the division's role as a model for allied troops. He also visits Jeanne d Arc’s birthplace and departs for further duties.
Petitions bearing signatures of nearly 175 000 residents from Louisiana North Dakota and Michigan circulated by the American Defense Society urged Congress to enact more drastic laws to punish pro German activities or disloyal utterances. Senator Ransdell of Louisiana presented one petition with about 60 000 signers from his state.
Alfred L. Staples president of Peoples Bank of Mobile chairs Third Liberty Loan Campaign in the district He reports April 6 launch for the new Liberty bonds and outlines promotions For the next night Battle House auditorium will host war speeches by James F Burke Verne Marshall Mrs Hallie Linn Hill and Bue who are part of the national Speakers bureau The event aims to mobilize public support for war finance with notable speakers drawing capacity crowds
American troops east of Luneville joined a raid on German trenches with FP troops. Hand to hand fighting followed as raiders penetrated enemy lines before withdrawing about forty minutes later. Germans answered with gas and high explosive shells on American batteries.
A brief report notes the only bachelor general in the Army, Major General Yotennes, is assigned to command his state troops in England. It mentions Biddle as a linguist with fluency in French, German, and English, tracing his line to an old English ally.
Customs officials discovered signaling bombs aboard a vessel. Captain Anderson, master, said the devices were for distress signaling and refused to explode one when asked by federal authorities. Two well known American captains denied catalogues containing such signaling appliances. Captain I T Newbury and H Solberg also denied knowledge of such devices.
Dr J B Gordon of the Jewish Board of Welfare Work will speak at the Jewish Temple Friday night at 8 after the regular service on The Jew in the War Zone He spent eighteen months in the war zone as a corpsman for the New York Tribune and will relate his experiences He is here to promote welfare work and is conferring with Dr A G Moses
The Smileage book drive proceeds today and Friday with a Friday afternoon report by General Chairman J. D. Andrews. No luncheon today. workers persist until Friday afternoon for final reports on books sold, with about $1,200 realized over two days.
The southern Alabama district exemption board reopened hearings today with several cases to be acted upon. John Russell, a member of the board, returned from Birmingham where he attended a war conference by the state council of defense amid ongoing deferment classification discussions.
The postal department reports about 30 000 letters intended for friends in the United States from France were lost when a ship sank. Parcel post packages were also lost at the same time.
The United States flags 77 Dutch ships totaling about 600000 tons as Wilson requisitions Dutch tonnage under the British American shipping agreement. Britain takes over Dutch vessels in British waters, adding 400000 tons to allied use. Armed guards aboard in American waters. ships operated by navy and shipping board with Dutch crews joined by American sailors and reservists. Owners will be compensated as required by law.
A late night package scam at Eb becke’s Pharmacy and Rutherford drug store used forged checks made out to Cen tral Pharmacy by J. O. Acree. A man about five seven, 150 pounds, light complexion and bushy hair, wearing no hat, collected $9 to $10 in change per delivery. Police chased leads through the night with no success.
A Metropolitan Life Insurance agent list shows 15 000 agents nationwide selling war savings stamps. L C Treadway of Mobile Kentucky Street ranks forty second, with the top seller having purchased one thousand dollars in stamps.
Fred Schaffer John H Jackson W J Potter and Aubrey Jackson were fined 260 dollars and 150 days plus 30 days more on arraignment for violating the prohibition law. Each plans to appeal to the circuit court and is released on bond. The case tied to Hotel St Andrew where a witness testified whiskey was sold in half pint bottles to guests.
The Mobile post office sold war saving stamps for Wednesday totaling $400. Sales have been falling for several days compared to the early March period.
Cass Alabama shows fair tonight with warmer interior and Friday rain to the south. Mississippi forecasts partly cloudy skies tonight and Friday with warmer temperatures.
Shortly after 11 o clock last night a fire on the east side of Booker street destroyed two houses. The homes at first and second south of Elliott street were owned by Bet Johnson and Katie Jackson and occupied by Katie Jackson and Rev Thompson. The blaze started in the Jackson interior and the cause was not learned. Firefighters arrived to find the two structures almost totally destroyed.
Four defendants J Brown R P Owen J J Sullivan and EK were arrested yesterday afternoon on the north side of Government Street between Royal and Water for gambling with cards. They pleaded guilty before the recorder and were fined five dollars each. Detectives Touart Desmond and Officers Minto Moody made the arrest on the complaint.
Wilmer Sims Mobley Muscat J Hiz bee George James Charles James B H Johnson Mitchell Joseph Charles Doherty S B Powe Mike White J W Shaw W H Yost Perry Browning Robbie Grant Jim Pernell paid four dollars each for lacking chauffeur state licenses when arraigned before the recorder. They were fined and required to obtain licenses.
A noted fortune scout will take charge of rebuilding Guatemala City after a severe earthquake. He will oversee sanitation and order as chief of restoration, guiding efforts to restore the city from ruins.
Frank Fair Farley and Edward Murray alleged roadhouse proprietors faced criminal court charges for violating the prohibition law. Hearings were postponed until Saturday with additional vagrancy charges tied to operating an illegal establishment.
U S government agents raided a location at 50 South Wilkinson street over distributing The Finished Mystery deemed dangerous propaganda. M J Eames warned that selling the book is illegal as copies seized. The work is by Pastor Russell, founder of the Russellites.
The court discharged G. M. Rose, E. Richard, C. W. Hempstead and F. H. Roos after ruling the amended traffic ordinance failed to specify the exact streets St. Joseph between Dauphin and St. Francis, where cars were held over ten minutes. Justice noted the clerical omissionvoided the arrest.
Major Rutledge Smith of Nashville, chairman of Tennessee’s Council of Defense, visits to confer with state leaders on war efforts. He travels with Mrs. Smith and plans to meet Alabama defense leaders to discuss mobilization and patriotic work across communities.
Gray, a boy described as negro, was run over by a taxi driven by L. E. Diehl this afternoon at 12 10. Diehl was docketed on charges of reckless driving and failing to stop and give his name and car number as required by law.
Patrolman A. Dmith was suspended for five days by the chief of police for arriving late to duty. The disciplinary action followed a review of the officer’s conduct and punctuality.
London reports a force of five British and French destroyers engaged off Dunkirk. Two German destroyers and two torpedo boats were sunk, one British destroyer damaged but reached harbor, and allied casualties were minimal. Survivors from two torpedo boats were picked up.
Amsterdam dispatch reports Germany seeks a 15,000,000,000 mark war credit for first reading. Count von Roedern, treasury secretary, notes monthly wartime costs rising from 2,000,000,000 to 3,750,000,000 marks in five months, and cites total war cost at 550,000,000,000 marks with Entente expenditure at 370,000,000,000.
Edmund Carre, longtime Mobilian and head of HK Carre & Company soda water, died today at Spring Hill after a prolonged illness. He had retired from active business years ago and was about 75 years old. His name in Mole’s business world has been known for forty years, and he is survived by a large family.
Max Tashis, seven, was docketed at the county jail after a juvenile court warrant charged illegal handling of a gun stemming from an accidental shooting. He allegedly shot and killed Clementine Stuart, fourteen, on Saturday after an undisclosed incident in March.
J Budd Smith a Newark Beneficial Loan Society representative and New Jersey citizen was released by a U S circuit court of appeals decision in New Orleans after weeks in a Panama Jail for contempt of court The court reversed a district court ruling and ordered him freed while his firm faced a sale of property proceeds totaling 3025 dollars and he must refund the sale proceeds if necessary
Bank clearings for the week ending March 21 rose by 416 253 99 dollars from the previous year. The total clearings reached 1 557 918 12 dollars, compared with 1 139 727 14 dollars in the same week of 1917.
Secret British admiralty figures published by the British embassy show allied and neutral ships lost from the war's start through January 1, 1918 totaling 11,827,567 gross tons, while non central powers shipyards produced 6,606,275 tons. The data, withheld to avoid aiding the enemy, note German losses and an overall net shipping loss of 2,632,297 tons when excluding Germany and allies.
Returns from backwoods districts show Lenroo holding a slim lead over James Thompson, La Follette candidate, with 22 counties reporting and results nearly complete in others. The AP dispatch from Milwaukee notes the tight race as Tuesday's primary figures firm up.
A jury in Raleigh North Carolina returned a not guilty verdict for Major George L Peterson on charges of embezzling state funds while paymaster general of the North Carolina National Guard. The jury deliberated about an hour and Peterson is now on the quartermaster's staff at Camp Jackson Columbia South Carolina.
In Richmond on March 21 the House of Delegates voted 61 to 20 to pass a workmen's compensation act over Governor Davis's veto. The Senate approved the measure and it is expected to become law despite the governor's opposition.
President Wilson signed a bill authorizing government operation of railroads, effecting major control over railway management and operations. The measure aims to stabilize transport, curb private interests, and ensure public service during a period of upheaval.
A telegram from Emperor Wilhelm expresses a defining moment in history as he addresses the Rheinish Provincial Council. The brief dispatch notes the message as a major pronouncement amid wartime events in London dated March 21.
London reports a heavy bombardment along the British front from Vendeuil to the Starpe as the enemy opened fire shortly before dawn. Dover and eastern towns felt the artillery with windows shaken and houses vibrated by the continuous bombardment starting at 3 am and lasting into the morning.
OCR fragment mentions a distance from Yeodeull north to the river about fifty units and indicates continuation on page seven. No clear event date or named entities beyond locations.
The weekly health report from Washington indicates troops at army camps are generally in good health. Sick and death rates in camps are higher than in the national average due to recently drafted men arriving, with total deaths across four camps rising to 180 from 166 the prior week.
Washington March 21 reports that the American Red Cross mission fleeing Jassy to escape German advances has arrived safely in Moscow. The unit, led by Henry W. Anderson of Virginia, includes about twenty eight members, primarily physicians and nurses, according to advices received here.
Madrid dispatch reports Antonio Maura former premier instructed by King Alfonso to form a cabinet. Marquis de Alhucemas named to a position on March 9. The Alhucemas cabinet agreed to continue despite the resignation of Roepe, with Bilbao dispatch noting the transition.
A man identified as Nearing of Toledo, formerly connected with the Pennsylvania board, was indicted today on charges of violating the federal propaganda act. The American Socialist, linked to him, faces the same charges for distributing a pamphlet.
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