21 Aug 1917
Page 1
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Newspaper
Wilmington Dispatch
Location
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America
Date
Aug 21, 1917
Page
1
Soldiers from Wilmington prepare to join the Tar Heels in a new unit destined for the front lines. The town emphasizes their role as vanguard in the ongoing conflict as engineers and support troops mobilize for deployment.
Senator LaFollette urged conscription of wealth to fund the war in a Senate speech presenting finance committee plans for higher war profits and income taxes. He argued rich bonds inflate prices, warned of bread lines this winter, and claimed the masses are mortgaged to money lenders while loans to allies may not be repaid. He called wealthy “rich slackers” and faced opposition from Senator Weeks who dismissed the charge as libel.
Paris reports a Verdun front victory praised as proof of Entente unity with British Italian and French forces active on all fronts. German defenses delayed by 12 minutes after a 4:40 a m French assault allowing French troops to seize first lines with minimal losses, except Talou hill where a company held a subterranean fort, its junior lieutenant captured with his men.
Russian offensive meeting with success followed by Teutons launching a counter stroke against a French attack but being repulsed. British airmen continue to carry out a bombing campaign.
Washington reports the North Carolina Engineer Train of the Forty second Rainbow Division will ship to France immediately. New England units, forming the Twenty Sixth Division, will train near the Western Front. Generals Mann and Edwards will command the two divisions.
London Aug 21 Lord Robert Cecil announced in the House of Commons that the entente governments would hold a conference before replying to Pope Benedict's peace proposals. Washington Aug 21 the State Department noted Cecil's statement and said views would be exchanged, not a formal gathering of premiers or foreign ministers.
Washington August 23Freight rate reduction request filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission seeks lower waterway freight charges between Macon and Jacksonville Florida for all classes. The Macon Freight Bureau proposes a rate cut effective January 1 1916 and cites economic relief and utility goals.
In Junction City Connecticut an automobile owned by Robert H Rohlef was struck by a train as it crossed tracks at night. The crash killed the driver and three children while Louise W. surviving member. The accident involved the New Haven Hartford line and occurred as the party attempted to cross the rail junction.
Washington Aug 21 The government loaned fifty billion dollars to Great Britain bringing the Allied total to one billion nine hundred sixty six million four hundred thousand.
Macon authorities state the city and county will not host the anti draft state convention called by Thos E Watson. The police force will suppress any meeting, with deputies sworn in if needed, and the United States Marshal may deploy troops from Camp Harris. Hybrid threats and legal action loom as delegates gather from multiple counties.
The British steamship Mahana arrived at Gravesend from Bombay on August 13 with three convalescent bubonic plague cases. At one point nine cases existed on board. six victims died and were buried at sea. Another case later died in hospital. ship crew and cargo remain under guard.
Richmond Virginia August 21 John C Metcalf dean of Richmond College has accepted the Edgar Allen Poe chair of English at the University of Virginia succeeding Dr Alphonso Smith who resigned to take a professorship at the Naval Academy Annapolis Maryland.
Elihu Root and fellow members of the American mission return to Washington to conclude their Russia inquiry. Reports have been submitted to Secretary Lansing and referred to the State War and Navy departments, with plans to keep details private though some may influence war plans. Root advocates immediate relief measures for Russia including American locomotives and rolling stock to sustain Russian armies and supply lines.
New York Aug 21 Dr A S Bernfeld and Louis Cherrey two exemption board 99 members were sentenced to two years in the Federal penitentiary after pleading guilty to accepting bribes for granting exemptions. They will be allowed a week to wind up affairs before transfer to Atlanta prison and will be confined in the Tombs meanwhile. Kalman Gruber, listed as go between for the pair, resumes trial and declines to plead guilty. The district board reviewed 178 exemption cases with only 20 granted. A man claimed mental rupture to avoid service but was rejected.
The Federal Trade Commission reported that last year's advances in book paper prices were excessive and unwarranted. It ordered proceedings against certain manufacturer practices, noting increases were not justified by cost or demand changes and were driven in part by actions of Paper Manufacturers' Association members and a bureau statistics secretary.
Noah Bethea of South Carolina was shot and killed near the Virginia Box and Lumber Company plant in Goldsboro at 11 p.m. Oscar Welch, a local worker, fled the scene and remains at large as police search for him. The motive is unknown.
President Wilson canceled the usual Tuesday cabinet meeting to focus on the coal situation. He intends to appoint a coal administrator but has not yet chosen the candidate, stressing the need to lower coal prices while ensuring a highly qualified appointee.
John W. Garrett of Baltimore was nominated by President Wilson as minister to The Netherlands and Luxembourg. He succeeds Dr. Henry Van Dyke who resigned earlier. The Luxembourg post is unlikely to be served soon due to German control of the duchy.
In Raleigh Aug 21 court news reports Warden S J Busbee returned from New Jersey with a Rockingham prisoner serving a second degree murder sentence. Busbee posted a $100 bond to face charges of unmerciful beating, with a hearing set for August 28. The prisoner Henderson escaped en route, raising county versus state liability questions. Kate M Herring, publicity agent, studied journalism at Columbia University. New corporate filings include The Eastern Carolina Packing Plant of New Bern and Advance Manufacturing Company of Fayetteville with named backers and subscribers.
In Richmond the Skinner family of Highland Park suffers multiple malaria deaths after a mosquito is believed to have transmitted the disease. The last victim, John A. Skinner Jr., died this morning, following the deaths of Mrs. Skinner and Frank Skinner in quick succession. Doctors debate the exact mosquito species and origin, including marsh swamps in the Carolinas and Panama.
Associated Press reports Washington awaiting possible change to draft exemptions for married men. President Wilson holds authority to modify the provost marshal general rules, while the War Department maintains exemptions hinge on dependency rather than marital status and intends to press that interpretation.
The shipping board expects a request near one billion dollars from Congress to finish its eighteen month shipbuilding plan. Contracts for a large fleet of fabricated steel ships will be let, and costs of commandeering ships under construction add to the total, surpassing the previous estimate of 500 million. President Wilson will be asked to approve the appropriation at once.
Washington August 21 Judge J Crawford Biggs former North Carolina Superior Court Judge and recent special assistant to the Attorney General accepted the offer to fill the vacancy caused by the death of EBJ Justice of Greensboro. He will prosecute the Government's cases against the Southern Pacific Railway in California as part of the Justice Department assignment.
Italian forces advance on the Isonzo amid stubborn Austrian defenses with over 10,000 prisoners reported. Paris cites heavy French fighting north of Verdun with German counterattacks repulsed and 5,000 prisoners for France. British efforts near Epehy face flame thrower assaults repelled, while Southern Romanian front sees continued heavy action. German and Austro-Hungarian troops push near Ocna and along the railway, with Russo-Romanian positions restored after counterattacks. British airmen conduct a Lambing expedition in Belgium.
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