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[left side]
TODAY'S COTTON AND SEED
MARKETS.

	Cotton	Seed
Greenville	18 1-2	[$?]58
Greer	19	64
Taylors	18 1-2	54
Pelser	19	64
Fountain Inn	18 1-2	64
Piedmont	18 1-2	54
Simpsonville	18 1-2	54

[center]
THE PIEDMONT
WEATHER
Cloudy tonight rain; Thursday
fair, slightly colder moderate winds

[right side]
ALWAYS SOMETHING
In each issue of the Pied-
mont there is something ad-
vertised that you want. Read
the advertisements regularly
each day.

VOLUME 87—No. 92. TEN PAGES TODAY. GREENVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 21, 1917. HOME EDITION. PRICE 5 CENTS.

[headline, spans all columns]
CONGRESS CALLED FOR APRIL 2 TO DECLARE WAR

[column 1]

GREENVILLE MAN
TELLS EXPERIENCE
ON TORPEDO SHIP
----------o----------
Dr. G. C. Bristol, Who Has
Made 15 Trips Across At-
lantic and Been Submarined
Will Settle Here—Floated
on Door All Night on the
Seas.
----------o----------
WAR PRISONER IN A
GERMAN PRISON —
THINKS SUB A FAKE
----------o----------
Spent Seven Months as Prison-
er of War—Predicts Victory
For Allies—Tells How Ship
Was Torpedoed — Says
Woodrow Wilson is Wise in
Arming Merchantment —
Thinks the German Subma-
rine to be Nothing but a
Bluff and a Fake.
----------o----------
Making 15 trips across the At-
lantic ocean being [blurry]
on the last trip, captured and
held as prisoner of war by the
Germans after being rescued
from the torpedoed ship, ex-
changed for German prisoner by
the English and finally landed
back in the United States on the
23rd of December is the ex-
tremely unique experience of Dr.
B. C. Bristol of St. Louis, who
is in the city today and who has
decided to make his home in
Greenville.

Dr. Bristol is a veterinary surgeon
and is well known in his profession.
He has made 15 trips across the At-
lantic ocean with shiploads of horses
and it was not till the 16th trip that
the German submarine chanced to
pick out his particular ship to tor-
pedo.

When interviewed today, Dr. Bris-
tol said that the ship, the "Nancy
Howell," on which the last trip was
made left Key West on the 7th of
February, 1916, with 3,120 head of
horses on board. The load of horses
was bound for Liverpool.

"We were only five days out of
Liverpool when the eventful day
came," said Dr. Bristol. "It happened
on the 12th of February. About
half past six in the afternoon I was
coming down from the wireless sta-
tion and was going about my work on
shipboard when the cries of help and
warning came from the lookout that a
submarine was approaching.

"All was turmoil on the ship when
at [9?]:25, we were torpedoed by the
German submarine and the boat later
went down. As far as we have learn-
ed so far, about 300 of the crew were
drowned though over a hundred of us
survived. The boat was an Alas-
kan whaling boat turned into a steam-
er and was one of the largest of its
kind on the seas.

In Water All Night.

"All during the night," he contin-
ued, "we were fighting around in the
water. Some were in small boats
some clinging to pieces of the ship
and some with only life preservers.
I was floating on a state room door
of the ship which had been torpedoed
and it was not till next morning that
I was picked up by a submarine.

"The submarine transported me,
with others, to a German cruiser
who took us in charge and we were
later landed on a small island of a
group of islands between South
America and Africa as prisoners of
war. The crew put us on small boats
on February the 15th, as well as we
knew, and we landed in the German
prison half-starved and very tired.
I am not sure of the date we landed
on the islands for the crew on the
boat would tell us nothing.

Seven Months a Prisoner.

"For seven long months," said Dr.
Bristol, "we were prisoners on these
small islands, living on a small al-
lowance of four ounces of fish[?] and
(CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)
--------------------o--------------------
HAS DISMISSED
AMERICAN CONSUL
----------o----------
Was Adjudged Liable to Heavy
Penalty For Alleged Reex-
portation of Pork in Breach
of Contract.
----------o----------
London, March 21.—Joseph West-
erborg, American consul at Malmos,
Sweden, who was recently adjudged
liable for penalty of 119,000 crowns in
a civil action has been dismissed, ac-
cording to a Malmos dispatch to the
politico of Copenhagen, forwarded
by the Exchange Telegraph company.

The charges against Wasterborg
were that in a breach of contract he
reexported a quantity of American
pork, which he exported to Sweden,
ahough the company which brought
[cut off]

[column 2]

FRENCH CAPTURE
10 MORE TOWNS
----------o----------
Rapid Progress in Pursuit of
Germans—Bombs Thrown
by Bulgarians Kill Citizens
in City of Monastir.
----------o----------
Russians driving southward from
[Sukkis?], Persia have crossed the Meso-
potamian frontier into Turkish terri-
tory, according to a Russian an-
nouncement.

The French announced rapid pro-
gress in pursuit of the Germans with
important gains on both sides of
the Ison road and the capture of ten
villages, including Jussy, about nine
miles south of St. Quentin. The al-
so announced the repulse of a Ger-
man surprise attack in Champagne.

The French announced that south
of [Chancy?], the French are occupying
the general line of the [Ailletoe?] and thor-
oughly organizing all captured posi-
tions on the Verdan front. The
French penetrated the German trench
after the bombardment and found a
number of German dead. Last night
quiet on the remainder of the front.
----------o----------
Bombs Kill Citizens.

Corfu, Greece, March 21.—Asphy-
xiating gas bombs thrown into the
open in the city of Munastir by Bul-
garians in a violent bombardment on
March 17, killed more than sixty civi-
lians, including twenty-five women
and thirty-one children, according to
the Serbian [blurry] bureau. Small fire
killed nearly twenty others, mostly
women and children.
----------o----------
List of Americans Lost.

London, March 21.—Robert P.
[Skinner?], American consul general has
recieved a list of the following five
Americans lost on the Vigilancia;
Neils North, Third officer; F. Brown,
Joseph [Fiberta?], [Estphan?] Loger, C. F.
[Aderapold?]. The latter is from At-
talla, Alabama. The addresses of the
others are unknown.
--------------------o--------------------
EDMUND J. MURCH
KILLED IN FLA.
----------o----------
Capitalist is Shot by Negro
Restaurant Keeper in Jack-
sonville—Tells Wife Was
Injured in Automobile Acci-
dent.
----------o----------
Jacksonville, Fla., March 21—
The police announces that they are
convinced robbery was not the mo-
tive for killing Edmund J. Murch of
Bangor, Maine, capitalist, who was
shot yesterday in the home of George
Thompson, a negro restaurant
keeper.

Murch returned to the hotel where
he and his wife we staying, ac-
cording to the police and told her he
was injured in a automobile accident.
He died shortly afterward.

The police said the negro said he
shot Murch after following his own
wife to his home when Murch soon
arrived.
--------------------o--------------------
MULLINAX'S CONDITION
NOT IMPROVING NOW.
----------o----------
The many friends of Charles Mul-
linax, the young man who was in-
jured at the American Machine
company some time ago, will regret
to learn that his condition is not im-
proving and that it may be necessary
to amputate his foot.

Mullinax is at his home in City
View.
--------------------o--------------------
INVESTIGATE JAIL DELIVERY

Birmingham, March 21.—The Jef-
ferson county jury is investigating
yesterday's jail delivery in which
David Overton and six other prison-
ers escaped.

J. L. Latham, one of the escaped
prisoners is believed to be dying as a
result of last night's fight in which
Overton and Tony Malone were kill-
ed. The others got away.
--------------------o--------------------
S. C. WOODMEN PLEDGE
SUPPORT TO WILSON
----------o----------
Greenwood, S. C., March 21
—The support of more than
forty thousand South Caro-
lina Woodmen of the World
was pledged to President Wil-
son in case of war at the
state convention here.

[headline, spans cols. 2-5]
WILSON WILL ASK ACTION
ON CRISIS WITH GERMANY
----------o----------
[columns 3-5]

President Wilson Decides Upon Step in Crisis With Germany
After Long Conference With His Cabinet Yesterday,
When Opinion was Unanimously Expressed That Con-
gress Should be Summoned to Deal With Situation.
--------------------o--------------------
NAVY IS CONFIDENT COULD TAKE CARE OF
ATTACKS BY GERMAN SUBMARINES HERE
--------------------o--------------------
Declaration of a State of War Between the United States
and Germany Would Not Technically be a Declaration
of War on Germany, But Would Amount to Practically
the Same Thing—Navy and Army Both Rushing Prep-
arations to Meet Eventualities—Cabinet Understood to
Have Been United on Questions of Calling a special Ses-
sion of Congress—Date Set is Earliest Convenient Day
For Meeting.
--------------------o--------------------
"SHOULD KEEP SHIPS AT HOME"

Amsterdam, March 21.—Count von Raventlow, writing in the Deutsche
Tages Zeitung, says with reference to the sinking of the American steamers
the City of Memphis, the Illinois and the Vigilancia, "It is good that Ameri-
can ships have been obliged to learn that the German prohibition is effective,
and that there is NO question of distinctive treatment for the United
States."

He advises the United States to imitate the small European nations, and
keep their vessels in port until the war is over.

The Dusseldorfer General Anzeiger says the sinking of three American
ships is certain to produce especial satisfaction.

Washington, March 21—President Wilson this morning called an extra session
of congress for April second, to take action on the state of war which admittedly
exists between the United States and Germany.

Congress will probably be asked to declare that a state of war has existed since
the recent date when the German submarines began a series of warlike operations
against American commerce.

The president's proclamation states that he calls congress for it to receive a
communication from him concerning "Grave questions of national policy."

The proclamation does not state whether the president considers that a state
of war exists, but leaves the question for discussion in his address and for congre-
sional action.

The president's decision was made as a result of yesterday's cabinet meeting
at which practically unanimous opinion was expressed that while preparations
were going forward to put the nation in a state of armed neutrality, congress,
which alone has the war-making power, should be summoned.

The sentiment in congress is understood to be overwhelmingly in favor of a
declaration that as a result of Germany's acts a state of war already exists. In his
address to congress the president will recite Germany's overt acts and will prob-
ably discuss universal military training.

The foremost act which brought the president's decision was the unwarned
torpedoing of the American steamer Vigilancia, with the loss of fifteen lives. some
of them Americans.

He chose April 2nd because he thought it impossible for some congressmen to
get here earlier.

CONSIDERED ACTION CAREFULLY.

It is known that up to yesterday the president told close advisers that
his mind was open on the question of summoning congress immediately, but that
he leaned toward waiting for the extra session, which they believed the country
demanded. Those cabinet members who had been classed as pacifists or with pa-
cifist leanings, it was said, offered no objections of weight. The president lis-
tened to all, but gave no indication of his decision.

The principal arguments brought against taking another step towards war
were that practically all that could be done to protect American lives and ships
had been done by the arming of merchantmen and that an acknowledged state of
war would give Germany the opportunity to carry the submarine war to this side of
the Atlantic.

These arguments were swept aside when the opinion described as most unani-
mous in the president's official family, it was decided that Germany's ruthless acts
against the United States in violation of all the principles of law and humanity con-
stituted a state of war and that nothing was left to do but call congress to deal with
the situation.

The President is expected to go very fully into the situation in his address to
congress.

Quite aside from the task of protecting American lives and right on the high
seas, the president has considered the broader question of the preservation of civ-
ilization, the distribution of world power after the war, the natural arrangement of
the world's peoples by consent of the governed and the establishment of a league
of nations to prevent another cataclysm.

The influence of the United States in the peace conference is everywhere ad-
mitted NOT to be overestimated. There is not an entente diplomat here who does
not believe that the president's action means entry of the United States into the

(Continued on Page 2.)

[column 6]

DECLARE WAR, IS
SENATORS' ADVICE
----------o----------
Prevailing Sentiment Among
Senators in Washington is
That Special Session of Con-
gress Should be Called at
Once.
----------o----------
Washington, March 21.—The pre-
vailing sentiment among Senators
and members of Congress now in the
capital is that President Wilson
should convene Congress in extra ses-
sion at once and ask for a declaration
of war against Germany. It is also
the general opinion that he already
has power to deal with the situation
so as to protect American ships and
lives. Some of the comments follows:

Senator McCumber of North Dako-
ta, Republican—The sinking of
American ships is certainly an act of
war. The only thing for this Gov-
ernment to do is to reply in kind.

Senator Poindexter, Washington
Republican: "The American Navy
should go to sea at once and round
up all the German submarines it can.
War has been thrust upon us and we
should make war aggresively."

Senator Fletcher, Florida. Demo-
crat: "This has all the appearance
of an overt act. I don't see how we
can submit to it."

Gen. Sherwood, a Representative
from Ohio, Democrat, who voted
against the Armed Neutrality Bill
says he is willing to resign his seat
to fight against Germany.

Senator Norris, Nebraska, Repub-
lican, who helped defeat the Armed
Neutrality Bill: "It is quite likely
that Germany took the order to arm
merchant ships as a declaration of
war. If war comes I shall support
the President."

Senator Works, California, Repub-
lican—The overt act looked for by the
President has come. The President
should immediately call an extra ses-
sion of Congress.

Senator Townsend, Michigan, Re-
publican—Congress can act just as
well on April 16 as now and perhaps
a little more cooly.

Senator Stone, Chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee—First
reports are usually wrong. I shall
not discuss this matter until official
information is at hand.
--------------------o--------------------
COX-WILLINGHAM
CASE POSTPONED
----------o----------
Trial of J. R. Cox and C. C.
Willingham Did Not Come
Up Today—L. E. Cooper
Being Tried For Murder.
----------o----------
The trial of the two prominent Bel-
ton men, J. R. Cox and C. C.
Willingham for the shooting and kill-
ing of Lois Howard in the Central
hotel on Christmas eve night did not
come up today in the [session?] court.
It was thought that this case would
be called today but it has been post-
poned and will probably be called to-
morrow.

The trial of L. E. Cooper, former
deputy of Woodside mill, for the mur-
der of Mrs. Mary Fuller in 1916 con-
sumed the whole of the morning in
the court today.

The case was still being tried when
the court adjurned for dinner.
--------------------o--------------------
NO ANNOUNCEMENT YET
ON NEW FURNISHINGS
----------o----------
Court House Commission Still
Examining Samples Sub-
mitted by Bidders.
----------o----------
The contracts for the furnishings
for the new county court house had
not been let up to an early hour this
afternoon. The bids were opened
yesterday, and the court house com-
missioners have been in constant ses-
sion ever since examining the various
samples submitted by the bidders.
It is thought probable that the final de-
cision may not be made up until to-
morrow.
--------------------o--------------------
PLEAD GUILTY SENDING
SPIES INTO ENGLAND
----------o----------
New York, March 21—Albert O.
Sanders and Charles N. Wormen-
berg, pleaded guilty to an indictment
of engaging in military enterprise,
sending spies to England to get
information on German military au-
thorities. They will be sentenced to-
morrow.

[column 7]

GREAT PATRIOTIC
DEMONSTRATION BE
GIVEN BY LADIES
----------o----------
"Old Glory" Will be Unveiled
Tomorrow Night at Main
and Washington Streets
With Singing of Patriotic
Songs by Throngs
----------o----------
CITY'S FASHION SHOW
OPENS TONIGHT WITH
THE BAND PARADE
----------o----------
Local Suffragettes Plan to
Give Great Demonstration of
Patriotism in Unveiling of
Stars and Stripes Tomorrow
Night in Connection With
Automobile Parade—Crowd
Will Join in Singing "Star
Spangled Banner."
----------o----------
One of the greatest demonstrations
of patriotism ever seen in the city
and one that will thrill the heart of
every patriotic man, woman and
child at a time when our country
stands ready to respond as one man
to the red, white and blue as never
before, will be given by the Suffra-
gettes tomorrow night at the inter-
section of Main and Washington
Streets, when they will unveil a
great American flag and unfurl old
glory to the breeze as the band plays
the Star Spangled Banner and the
large mass of people on the street
join in the singing of this immortal
hymn by Francis Scott Key.

Promptly at seven-thirty tonight
the band parade will open the Fash-
ion Show. At seven fifty-five the
lights will be dimmed on Main Street
and at eight turned on again when
the many beautiful windows will be
viewed in all their splendor.

Following the band parade and the
exposure of the window exhibits, the
fire department will make an exhib-
ition run from the central head-
quarters. Headed by a powerful
Hudson Super Six loaned by the lo-
cal agency of R. H. Nesbitt company
for the occasion, in which Chief R.
E. Legon and Eugene O. Smith will
ride, the fire fighting apparatus of
the city will dash up Main street.
All intersecting streets will be roped
off to make sure that no accident
will mar the occasion.

Window Dressing Contest.

The committee of judges to [pass?]
upon the various window displays
will meet tonight at the Chamber of
Commerce at 7:35 - o'clock. This
committee is composed of the follow-
ing gentlemen: Joes. A. McCullough,
J. J. McSwain, W. C. Beacham, F. F.
Beattie, and W. B. Moore.

Today throughout the business
district many windows were veiled
and some of them have been so for
several days. Those on the inside
know that there will be some start-
ing activities unveiled at eight
o'clock when the curtains are re-
moved. Thirty or more of the enter-
prising Greenville business concerns
are in competition, and no one
will envy the judges their arduous
task. The classes of competition
are divided into five different groups,
and a blue, red and yellow ribbon
will be awarded each group. Re-
cent window dressing competitions
in Greenville have established a very
high scale of window displays such
as are no surpassed by the larger
cities in the country. The merchants
have gone into this fashion week con-
test with a powerful enthusiasm
and there is no question that tonight
will exhibit as fine artistic genius and
has ever been devoted to this import-
ant future of commercial advertis-
ing.

The prizes are well worth working
for and are presented complimentary
to Greenville merchants by the Inter-
national Correspondence School of
Scranton, Pa. locally represented by E.
D. Ricketson. The blue ribbon will win-

(CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)
--------------------o--------------------
PLAN TO SECURE
POLISH RECRUITS
----------o----------
New and Elaborate Recruiting
Campaign in Poland Has
Been Started by Germany
According to Dispatches.
----------o----------
Amsterdam, March 21—Germany
has started a new and elaborate re-
cruiting campaign in Poland, accord-
ing to Kenigsberg despatch in the
Frankfurter Zeitung, quoting Polish
report.

Under the new scheme seventeen
main recruiting offices, seventy-four
district offices, and four hundred lo-
cal bureaus are to be opened. An
appeal of the state council to the
Poles to enlist is soon to be issued.