The Daily Transcript (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 187, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 15, 1918 Page: 1 of 4
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1 he Daily 'Transcript
VOLUME V.
Carrying the Full United Press Telegraphic Report.
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, TUESDAY, JAMAKY 1.'-. It)!. .
NUMBER 1K7.
Important Capture Made o
YARMOUTH BOMBARDED I COAL HAULING GiVEN MEATLESS-WHEELESS REPORT OF PRflV h
RIGHT OF WAY MADE COMPULSORY DENT ASSOCIATION
BULLETIN.
(IIY UNITED PRESS)
Washington, Jan. 15.—Coal for
suffering families and war manufac-
turers has right of way over the Na j
tional Railroad today.
Priority orders issued by Directo:-
General McAdoio declare that fuel
Congress is Expected to Pass a law
Mi'Jlt to He
and House.
Taken l"p hy Senate
Washington, Jan. 15.—Administrn-
i must be supplied at critical points ticn bills empowering Herbert Hoover active, heart and soul interested.
(BY I'MTEI) 1-RKSS)
London. Jan. 15.—Yarmouth
was bombarded from the sea dur-
ing the night, Lord French, di-
rector of home defense, reported
today.
The bombardment continued for
five minutes.
Twenty shells were hurled into
the port.
Three were killed and ten in-
jured.
The damage was not serious,
French declared.
The fullisade was carried out with
extraordinary rapidity. Shells hurst
over various sectionsyof Yarmouth
am many roofs and chimneys were
,, , ... ' that wherever a 'shortage" in coai or ,,f mefle8,8 nt| ^heatless doys; 11-
The Germans carried out tneir ^ .t in ov|.Bf (|nmno<ij, cense hotels and restaurants; control
bombardment with careful system.
erman Spy
A Beautiful Woman and Many Prominent Society
Men and Women Are Implicated in the
Activities of Walter Sporemann, Alleged
German Spy.
[This report was handed in for pub- i
Making Observance of These "lavs1'ication some days ago, but was mis- j
Compulsory—other Matters of Mo- laid in some manner. We ask the coin- WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.—The trail of a beautiful woman, be
mittee s pardon for the delay. The! Heved to be the *hief accomplice of Walter Sporemann alleged
committee has done and ,s domg noble German spy lieutenant, now under arrest led government agent-
eveiJ 'through fields of social and military life in the east today.
Of nine persons now held for examination as possible ac-
! complices, it is known wealthy citizens of Baltimore and other
I food. munitions or anything else s 'lays and stpulate war bread, if nee- or anything you think will help them .'" SporenVanV,K Mmself, under federal guard at Richmond, re-
moved. I -vs an<l ^strtute war bread ,f m this righteous work do not forget. f d , information about his "friends," preferring to
| After the first vital needs tor coal necessary, for the country have been | the Provident Association — hditor
I have been supplied, then, his ord.'.r completed. 1 ranscript]
work in relieving distress,
member being earnest and thoroughly i
He will be sent to Balti-
states, food is to be given priority and
1 As drawn by Senator Pomrene and
thirdlv, bunker coal for 118 ships lied Representatives Lever at the sugges-
up in New York bv the lack of fuel. tion and wlth the aid of Foo(1 Admi"-
| All state administrators were noti- istrator Hoover- the measure provides
! i fied bv Fuel Administrator Garfield,1 "Authority to compel observation
The Provident committee wish to
coke is found to exist for domestic
use coal or coke may be diverted to
| the stricken districts, no matter what
;s previous routing may have been.
The action was deemed necessary
by Director McAdoo in the face of
•rrific congestion and increasing sul
■ring.
Freight traffic between Chicag
milling concerns to increase the flour
output; power to enforce substitution ! asueu
The first shell fired was a star shell, |
the light from which vividly showed .
« , ,r, _ .. „ its previous routing may have oeen.
the town below it. Then came the ....
hurtling salvo of shells.
The German craft was believed . .
either to be one of the largest and J*™'* congestion and increasing suf
newest types of German submarines
or a cruiser. .
! and St. Louis and eastern points is
Yarmouth is in the county of Nor-! practically suspended and passenger
folk on the east coast of England, 19 j traffic is limited to the moving of
miles east of Norwich. It is a popular stranded trains into terminals accord-
watering place and has extensive dock 1 ing to word from A. H. Smith, New against enactment of the legislation
yards. The official statement does York, assistant to director General jn houses. The old cry of gov-
not say whether the guns with which McAdoo, in charge of eastern terii- eminent usurpation of power is ex-
the seaport was bombarded were tory.'Fuel Administrator Garfield was pected and Senator Reed, original
those of a German cruiser or a sub-! expected momentarily to issue drastic anti-Hooverite, has stated he will
marine, but the latter appears most orders closing unessential industries have "something to say on the legis-
p.nd even others to obtain fuel for lation."
snow bound cities. j The Senate commerce committee.
Practically no freight has moved be- will hear William Denman, one of
tween Chicago and St. Louis, Buffalo those prominent in the recent Goeth-'
erwise wouiu lia\e tmu mile to make
the day uilierent irom an otner uuys.
.-viier so many conuioutions uau oeen
ioi uus iaii, tne response to
of greater quantities of rice flour and j bUe committee s ic-nue&t was remarn-
cornmeal for wheat flour; authority! aDly generous.
to compel use of locally manufactured illt lum)wlng- uinner was delivered
products with a view to eliminating Lu oacn ot tweuty-inree lununes:
cross hauling—and other measures iz pouncig 01 Ilour> j cana 0I VUiJe.
necessary for greater food regulation."
While the administration declares
the new steps are vital to successful-
ly feeding tlv; allies and prosecuting
the war there will be a violent
though probably not prolonged fight
lie rather than involve others, he said.
more later for examination.
Government agents under the navy and justice departments,
, have already followed for weeks the footsteps of alleged intriguing
express their thanks to the people oi up tQ Sporemann.s arrest afU.r an attempt, it is charged,
iNounan ioi ineii neip m uniting ^,.e ^ magazjne at the army aviation field near Norfolk. Toda\
Liirisinias to many nomes wnicn otn-1 « > . . tX ■ , • • 4 i> 4i 4
another name was added to the growing list of those swept int<
the net of justice officers when Maurice Asch was arrested at
Baltimore.
Just what the woman played in Sporemann's activities was.
kept a secret by the government today. The little information
allowed to leak indicated that the government detectives originally
learned of his alleged spying as a result of his association with,
the woman.
It was recalled that Former Ambassador von Bernstorff was
known to have manv women friends upon whom he depended for
uiuieo, o pouiiua oi sugar, i jar ul , , , - ,. ..
, ', . . .valuable information.
truit, A i-t, hail pounds ox beans, i j
peci\ oi potatoes, i. puuims 01 rice,1
une-nau pouuu coiiee, one-nail pounu' ' MIKD l'Kl.SS)
oi canu>, sniau caooage, Zo cents I Baltimore, Mr., .Ian. 15. Americas
spy hunting machinery was working
likely. German super-submarines car-
ry comparitivelj powerful guns.
GOAL SHORTAGE AC'JTE
Cb
(BY
f MTt •> "Rl-
and Pittsburg for
' , it'i stated,
over 24 hours,
Calumet and other big plants .working
on government munitions Attracts
were shut down today through lack of
material. Thousands of employes were
shoveling snow in an effort to permit
,the railroads to brin£ in the necessary
supplies.
While the city and adjacent coun-
try was just emerging from a win-
ning fight with the heaviest snowfall
of a generation, another storm was
threatening to strike today. Southern
Illinois and Indiana reported more
than a foot and half of snow early
today and indication! were that the
storm would strike Chicago within a
few hours. The mercury dropped rap-
idly here and at daybreak was hover-
ing around zero.
The big packing plants at the
Union Stock Yards, which closed yes-
terday afternoon because of the fuel
. shortage, expected to resume full op-
eration today. Thousands of employes
worked at clearing ralroad tracks in
the yards of snow.
In Gary, Ind., 25,000 employes of
steel mills and munition plants were
affected by the shut-down. The Illi-
nois Steel company, employing more
than eight thousand men, has been
idle since Saturday. The Inland Steel
company at Indiana Harbor, released
3,400 employes to shovel snow. The
Western Steel car and Founday com-
pany dismissed 3,500 employes until
coal can be obtained. The Wisconsis
Steel company's plant has been closed
since January 1.
Railroad traffic through the middle
west, except in the southern portion,
where the new storm is raging, was
practically normal today.
Later reports say the expected ad-
ditional blizzard did not strike Chica-
go, but swung to the east. The man-
facturing establishments, employing
over 100,000 men, expect to resume
work today.
Over 550 Sooner Men in Service
UtttMAN NtWofArtlii
ROW OVER MESSAGE
Amsterdam, Jan. 1-2.—The German
newspapers have begun violently to
quarrel among themselves regarding
their respective views of President
Wilson's recent address to Congress.
The Tagisliche Runschau of Ber-
lin. for instance, under the caption
"The Pied Piper of Washington," at-
tacks the comment of the Socialist
newspaper Vorwaerts, which it pil-
lories as despicable backboneless,
while the Rheinische Westfalische
Zeitung, under the head of "Wilson's
Last hope," turn fierce on the Ber-
liner Tageblatt, the Chemintz Volks
Zeitung and others, which it accuses
of having confirmed President Wil-
son in the belief that Germany some
day will "oblige the entente by sur-
rendering the fruits of victory."
i's-Denmar shipping board dispute.
ii'iraian v nts t( Jenv all blame for
, • . i. , • uie university urcsst:
de,iving .,ne si pbuildmg program.
In both Tiouses, the ralroad bill if
wortn boning ueet.
ine ouoai nuur sent a generous | at full speed today in the chase after
yift to two lamiiius, ana tne comnui- accomP^ces ^ alter Sporrmann, be-
tee knew tniee ome^ iamines were' heved leader in one of Germany s
neipeu irom uiner sources, so uu most spectacular plots against tlijis
lAvwueiu uiniitr was not tawen country.
tnose nomes 111 toarteen cases, a pit> | Sporrmann was in charge of a nav-
v\uo auueu to mu uiii. er. aooui seven- intelligence officer. 1 he search foi
-o\\o ciniQien receiveu a toy ana two his companions is on in Washington,
appies ana aii orange apiece, bomc York and other eastern cities.
Ui&cdiueu toys tnatfnau ueen uonateu' Sporrmann, arrested at Norfolk,
wore useu. x ne 1. . C. A. gins 01 ^ a., will face hearing here. The pre-
u tnirty uous lor I liminary charge against him is only
tne girls anu ±virs. L/ungan bougnt
1 that of being a dangerous ertemy alien
still in committee; it seems unlikely l°y' UOOK u' nanUKercmei lor the but from evidence at hand it is likely
that either committee will amend the Irom Lht Iuna lulsed "y tne he will be charged with spying, and
bill as the railroads desire-to make cm.dren s orcnestra. Anotner mucn 'f convic ed will doubtless be shot.
1917 the basis for computing pay- i "PP^ciated gift book, by the com- The alleged Teuton agent, who has
ments to the roads, instead of the
past three years.
The .Senate votes today on the
Smith bill, putting production and
distribution of print paper under
government control.
Meanwhile the senate is preparing
for another peace discussion. Many
senators are writing speeche
preparing resolutions.
These resolutions will express
nuttee and tne mothers of cniltlren caught trying to fire an army maga-
vv'as live uozen pairs ot black stock- zine within the important naval zone
ings from the same fuijd. ! at Hampton Roads, had been trailed
I he work the Proviuent Committee long by persistent naval intelligence
was trying to uo was brougnt to tne men and justice department agents,
attention ot tne Bioie classes oi live They followed him at social affairs
cnurcnes anu tne response was mo^t and in his journeys to < amp Meade,
liberal. In the Morth Methodist cnurcn | Maryland, and other military points.
I the plan was spoken of in the church Though he wore the uniform of the
service msteau of to the iiiole class, United States army, the men dogging
wnicn is tne reason the amount was him, penetrated the disguise and nev-
Four service flags, containing more
than 550 blue stars, one for every
University of Oklahoma man in mil-
itary service, have been completed
here. The names of the men are placed
under the stars, giving also the year
the man was graduated from the uni-
versity, or. if not a graduate, the
year he attended. If any Sooners are
wounded a small red star will be
placed beside the blue one: if killed
a gold flag will be substituted for
the blue star.
er letting him out of their sight fin-
ally trailed him to the magazine near
Newport News, Va., where it is claim-
ed he tried to blow it up.
A beautiful woman is said to have
been his undoing, though officials
gue to Sporrmann. He pretended
not to understand. But when the offi-
cer mentioned a social affair which
had occurred here, Sporrmann im-
mediately became friendly. The offi
oer, pulling a gun, arrested him.
Officials at Norfolk quizzed him in
the hope that they might ascertain
something of the fire in the business
section about two weeks ago, hut
Sporrman was silent. He is an intel-
ligent man who speaks English with-
out an acecnt as well as several other
languages.
The arrest of Marius Asch by de-
p'trti.ient of justice ;v..ents today
threw new light on the activities of
Sporrmann. A box of letters and an-
other box of bottles containing chemi-
cals were found in Asch's rooms.
With Asch's arrest, nine person>
one a woman, are understood to be
held by government authorities,
charged with being Sporrmann's ac-
complice*.
Federal agents have under sur\eil-
ance a Baltimore music teacher, whose
arrest is expected today. In their po-
session are photographs of this worn
an taken with Walter Sporrmann.
Frederick, brother of the man ar
rested in Norfolk, was taken from po
lice headquarters to the United States
marshal's office today. Here he w.i-
questioned and detained.
FREIGHT MOVING WEEK
America's sympathy for Ireland, so much larger than the others.
Greece, Poland, Lithurania, Russia, • Christian church, $3.52; Baptist
Serbia and any other countries that church, $10.00; M. K. North, ip^.j.OU;
occur to members of the senate. Presbyterian church, $4.50; Dr. Mc-
Li'urania, Russia and Serbia are l.auchiin, $4.50; Science club, $5.26;
to be sympathized with by Senators: .suweomers club, $5.80; Theta Sorori-
Knox and Penrxe, Pennsylvania, in ' ty, $4.30; Sigma Chi fraternity, $4.50;' here are reticent to reveal what part
whose state naturalise Lithuranians, Cash, $1.00 Y. M. C. A., $9.00; Mr. j she played in his detention. ' j yc^(|00 Director General on
The Vorwaerts in its comment de-' ?ussian8Itlanii Serbians H v Sena to- Stewart. $1.00; Mrs. Kuschan, $1.00;] Documents found on oporrmann,' he rai'|roa<1Si ^ issue(1 a statement
lured that compared with his pre- ^ewis Ilhnois; and Senator L..<irt,, Other contributions were four and when arrested in Virginia, indicated j s(,ttin(;. aai(le the week beginning Jan-
vjnus pronouncements the President's Jfas^cl[ussetts. "re likely to discus one-half bushels of potatoes, one bag that he had an alliance with the no-. ;]Hrv 14< and eni|inc the 2lst as
address seems "an example of states- * question. Eith Senator Cald- of flour, fourteen pies, one dinner and torious Boy-Ed, German military at-1 ..Freight Moving Week."
er or Senator Wndsworth, New ^ ork, twelve and one half boxes of candy taehe, that he was well supplied with I Director McAdoo urges all business
probably will cover the Greek situa- from the Junior high school of the (he kaiser's funds and that he worked ' organizations, shippers and business
University, one chicken, six glasses ^ y/ith tlle aj(| 0f prominent persons in- men in general and the railroad em-
we must be on guard u f,C.n,at°l.b as0 < iscus^ jelly and twenty jars fruit, eighteen ,;]uding one woman. Snorrmann's, ployees to cooperate in this movement,
we must UL 011 buaiu President Wilson s recent war aims nf wrpak twpntv-throe cans . , . , . n-L i , . ,
against too ready a confidence. h and Senator Lewis' resolution ^tabYes three Pecks apples nine ' ,r°th°r' I'redenck was arresU"' here lhese people are asked to make a su.
\egetables, three pecks apples, nine Jagt night as an enemy a,jen an(, jg |n.ome effort during this week to un
dozen oranges, many small contribu- j ^ to haye rovcaU,, important infor. load all freight cars, to remove ill
lions of sugar, rice, flour ete. | mation about Walter, whom he dis-j f'uieht from railroad stations and t
In addition to the cash irom the clean the deck for more efficient op-
manlike moderation."
"It is a beautiful alluring program ^jon
of world peace," continues the Social
organ, "but
1'iesbyterian Sunday school, the cer-
eals. two and one-haif bushels of the
potatoes, two pecks of apples, four
dozen oranges, sixteen cans vegeta-
bles, six pies and many small contri-
butions were given by the pupils in-
stead of their receiving the usual can-
; dy treat.
had delivered tin
"We never stood behind our states- pledging congress support to the
men for any other purpose than to ex- president in the achievement of these
ercise pressure from the rear in the ajms
direction of peace. We shall continue The date for "peace day" is indefi-
to do so and if the workers of othei njfe, because of the great number of
countries do the same, then a general speeches being prepared.
world peace will be. attained at no
distant date." _ Norman May Get Gas
The Frankurter Zeitung, while dis-
senting from many points in Presi- Oklahoma City, Ok., Jan. 13.—The
dent Wilson's message, says the whole Oklahoma Natural Gas Company,
document seems inspired by the de- which is the supplying company for
sire which also animated Germany, the Oklahoma Gas and Electric Com committee
namely, to avoid further bloodshed. ' pany, distributing gas to local con- " , u- i-
... • i. , , , . „nmp so t was thouirht advisable to nance his tierman work
If our enemies desire to convert sumers, through the company s attor- h0 • „.u __.tU
their words into deeds." the newspa- ney, "stated today that it is the inten- keep them unti atei w in
per continues, "and if President Wil- tion of the Oklahoma Natural Gas
son is able to induce the entente to Company to build a pipe line from
n groceries when this excellent offering J thousand of dollars
As officials pieced together the re-
markable tale surrounding Walter
Sporrmann's activities, it runs like
this:
"Coming here from Bremen in 1910
he established a residence in this city.
| Before the war he apparently estab-
; lished relations with Boy-Ed getting
from him to fi-
—Born: To Mr. and Mrs. Reed All-
sopp, a fine boy at their home in Lit-
tle Rock Monday. Mrs. Allsopp was
formerly Miss Gertrude Binford of
this city, and has many friends here
who extend congratulations.
there
I would be a greater need.
Ten families received a o00-pound
er will kindly see that it is delivered
deed, the basis for conversation with fields in the southern part of the |essary t0 draw, °" '^C p. "'
a view to ending the war is supplied." state next summer. This, it is claimed, .fund to which t e ri 10m e a
The newspaper dissents entirely would insure a sufficient amount of l'st Sunday sc oo iai ietn ■ 1 •
from the President's position regard- j^as for all purposes in Oklahoma City.
ing Alsace-Lorraine, possession of, it It is estimated that more than $1 ,-
asserts, is indispensable to Germany's 500,000 will be spent on the Healdton
national integrity and freedom. and For fields.
Most of the Berlin newspapers that
have reached here and also leading Should such a line be built, Norman w>" be doubly appreciated if the giv-
provincial papers, printed the Presi- would be on the direct line, or close cr will kindly see that it is declined
dent's address fully. Others printed enough to it so that it would be easy to one of the members of the corn-
only the fourteen points. to pipe it in. Maybe, if we possess mittee, otherwise it is unavailable.
our souls in patience, Norman will get
it in eight or ten years—but, judging
There are more families who need
i help this year than in the past," .** '*
to the war prices of fooa a,.d coal and
the committee can make use of any
clean out-grown garments. The gift
When war with Germany broke out,
Sporrmann gathered in several Amer-
ican uniforms, which with a German
army suit were found in his room
here.
But not until weeks ago did his
work attract particular attention.
the
eration of the railroads.
"Railroad cars cannot be used for
warehouses without serious injury to
the American people," reads the state
ment. "Railroad cars must be kept-
moving and they must be utilized ti •
their maximum capacity if the de
mands of the people for the necessi-
ties of life and the Army and Navy
for essential munitions and supplies
are to be met. It is an imperitive duty
of the hour for every citizen to do
his utmost to move freight from all!
cars and from railroad stations im-
mediately upon its arrival."
"Under the new demurrage order
just issued, heavy charges for deten-
tion of freight cars will go into ef-
—Musician William C. Quigg,
Headquarters Company 343rd F ield from the recent experiences of towns
Artillery at ( amp Travis, made a have it, it's not of great benefit.
satisfactory grade on the examination
for non-commissioned officers held re- Read The Daily Transcript for all
cently. he latest home and national news-
(Signed)
MR. L. J. EDWARDS.
MRS. JAS. I. TUCKER.
MRS. J. M. GRESHAM.
MRS. C. M. KEIGER.
MRS. W. H. SIX.
MRS. H. G. GOODRICH.
the statement.
FLOYD E. MILLER,
Publicity Mgr., United States Foo<f
Commission.
Then, it is claimed, his uniform and ( fect on and after January 21st," warn?
the woman with whom he associated,
formed a combination of circumstan-
ces which uncovered his real role. At
that time he was evidently gathering
data about Camp Meade and other
military stations. Detectives trailed
him constantly, finally tracing him
to Newport News. There he readily
found work at the aviation field and,
it is claimed, made one unsuccessful
! attempt to blast the magazine. Sen-
tries fired on him, but he returned
the following day.
An officer making his way past
-everal sentries spoke in German ton-' Subscribe for the Daily Transcript
NOTICE—TAXES.
The County Asessor's office will
open January 15th for the purpose of
taking personal property assessments
for the year 1918, and will remain
open until further notice.
W. E. BARNARD, Assessor
J. N. BROWN, Deputy.
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Burke, J. J. The Daily Transcript (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 187, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 15, 1918, newspaper, January 15, 1918; Norman, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc113646/m1/1/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.