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GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. The facility of the Japanese in turning successfully to the various forms of highly skilled manufactures is illustrated by samples received of their work in making sports reiiiisitics. They have made a beginning with tenuis racquets and footballs, but soon are expected to be able to provide the complete outfit for the golfer, the cricketer and the angler, says a Loudon dispatch. News of the new efforts of the Japanese in the latter lines is of especial interest to the English, who have regarded them as peculiarly their own. As one newspaper points out, however, in reflecting the general view here, "nothing calling for ingenuity and subtle craftsmanship seems to be impossible with our eastern ally." In the trade .some polite opposition to the new invasion, however, may be discerned. Thus one expert points to the fact that football is absolutely a British game and that British manufacturers are able to provide all that is required in the line. One dealer in sporting goods waxed enthusiastic over tennis racquet from Japan at .S2, declaring that the value and workmanship were marvelous. It was the highest-priced of the Japanese products, ranging from CO cents to ..S2. "They are going about it just as the Germans did, and their cleverness and cheap labor are fast bringing them to the top," he said. "There seems to be nothing they cannot copy, and copy well." The same dealer called attention to the fact that the Japanese sire getting away from the Japanese touch or earmark of their goods, pointing out that while formerly one could tell at a glance that a thing was Japanese, now the finish is such that it might be German, French or that of any other country. Scores of large industrial plants around Asheville lay idle today in the grip of the flood that followed last, weeks rainstorms and hurricane, which swept in from the Carolina coast and flooded portions of North and South Carolina and adjacent territory of Tennessee. Virginia and West Virginia, says a dispatch yesterday from Asheville, X. C. Five persons are known to have been drowned, fifty are missing and hundreds are homeless, while railroad service virtually is suspended in a large section on all sides of Asheville. The Swannanoa and French Broad rivers that rose out of their banks in this section yesterday, flooding the village of Kiltmorc and leaving Asheville without gas or electric light and power, were said to be receding early today, and it was thought that the greatest danger to this section had passed. Estimates of property damage already have been placed at from ,nou,000 to 0,000,000, -while the total loss to crops, lumber mills, cotton mills, highway and railroad bridges and miles of railroad tracks throughout the area that lias felt the flood was expected to grow as belated reports came in. The area afflicted by the flood extends from eastern Tennessee through southeastern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, across North Carolina roughly to Wilmington and embraces virtually all of South Carolina. Should the dam at Lake Toxaway yield to the flooded waters pressing against it. devastation in that section would lie followed by floods down the Savannah river watershed that would imperil Augusta, Ga. From London yesterday a dispatch said: A now chapter opened today in Sir Roger Casements legal fight against being executed for high treason for his activities in the Dublin revolt. Sir Rogers case readied the court of criminal appeal and although the new proceedings hardly compare, in point of public interest, with the trial, privileged spectators begun to take seats an hour before the court was called to order. Justice Darling, by reason of his seniority as kings bench judge, presided, with Justices Bray and Scrutton on his right and Justices Lawrence and At kin on his left. By special permission Sir Roger was present, lie was attired in a lounge suit. His face has assumed a pallor since he appeared for trial. Sir Rogers counsel immediately upon opening argument emphasized the technical point that the law governing treason does not include any offense of adhering to the kings enemies outside of the realm. Alexander Sullivan of Dublin, counsel for Sir Roger Casement, said the appeal would involve two questions first, whether the matter described in the charge was in truth an offense within the statute cited; second, whether he definition of the offense adhering to the kings enemies given at the reading of the trial, was an accurate definition or defective as an instruction to the jury. A sensational dispatch of yesterday from El Paso says, "An ultimatum to leave Mexico is to be presented to Sen. Carranza and Gen. Obrcgon by the Mexican generals of northern Mexico, according to further reports from Chihuahua City today by arrivals. With the ultimatum backed by almost the entire military forces of Mexico, the leaders are said to believe a simple ultimatum to Carranza and Obrcgon would be sufficient: that it would be a bloodless revolution, to be followed by a national election, at which Francisco de la P.ara probably would be chosen president, the -government would be refinanced and bandits would be completely exterminated, before the new government would ask the recognition of foreign nations. Rumors of the approaching coup are gaining wide circulation in Chichuahua City, said the arrivals and it generally seems to meet with popular favor. The masses realize that, under Carranza. they are starving, and they are willing to undertake any desperate enterprise for the sake of their families. The Russian official report of yesterday says: The Russians are continuing their successful advance in the region of the Lower Lipa, the war office announced today. The number of prisoners taken by the Russians in Volhynia yesterday was nearly 13,000. The announcement follows: In the region of the Lower Lipa our successful advance continues. The enemy is making a stubborn resistance. In battles in this region we took prisoner 22! officers and 5.S72 men. We also captured twenty-four guns, of which twelve were heavy pieces, together with fourteen machine guns, a few thousand rifles and other equipment. We also have captured in this vicinity fifty-one officers and 2.1S5 men. The total number of prisoners taken on July 10 in battles in Volhynia is approximately 314 officers and 12.037 men. We captured thirty guns, of which seventeen are heavy pieces; a great number of machine guns and much other material. The British report of military operations said, "German second line positions northwest of Bazcn-tin-le-Petit wood have been captured by the British in a stormy attack, tin; war office announced today. The positions captured in what the statement, characterizes as a "further important success," extended over a front of 1,500 yards. A strongly held position at Waterlot farm, east of Longuovnl, also was captured by the British, while the remaining strongholds of the Germans in Ovillers and La P.oisscllo were taken. The statement says A further important success has been gained by us. Northwest of Bazcntin-le-Petit wood we stormed and captured German second line positions on a front of 1,500 yards. East of Longu-oval, we widened the gap in the German second line by capturing the strongly defended position on the Waterlot farm. On our left flank, in Ovillers and La P.oisscllo, we captured the remaining strongholds of the enemy." At Berlin yesterday the war office report was: Army group of Field Marshal von Hindenburg: Increased fire west and south of Riga and on the Dvina front, preceded Russian enterprises. Near Katarinehof, south of Riga, considerable enemy forces attacked. Lively fighting developed here. Army group of General von Linsingen: Southwest of Lutsk, a Russian attack was arrested by a German counter attack. Thereupon, in order to strengthen the defense line, the troops were withdrawn behind the Lipa without being molested by the enemy. At other places the Russians were repulsed completely. Between the sea and the Ancre the British at many points increased their fire to great violence. In the Somme district, artillery activity has been very considerable on both sides. Ijocal enemy attacks followed, during which the British penetrated into Ovillers wood. Carranza is blamed for the continued presence of American troops on Mexican soil. The average Mexican believes, according to todays information, that a threat delivered to the United States before Sen. Pershing entered Mexico would have prevented the en tray of the American columns. The purpose of the new government will be, it is said, not only to allow the masses a voice in the administration of government and the promulgation if reforms, but also to call back the wealthy exiles and bring to bear the entire forces of the republic into action for the rebuilding of Mexico. Within a month of the launching of the new movement Carranza will be overthrown, is the forecast in Chihuahua City. The names coupled witll the alleged revolt are those of Generals Trevino, Murguia, Calles, Xafarratte, Gonzales and Her-rera. The French war statement of yesterday said: Between the Oise and the Aisne, before Moulin-Sous-Toutvent, a strong reconnoitering party of the enemy was dispersed by our fire, the statement says. In the Champagne, a surprise attack delivered br the Germans against a trench in the sector hold by Russian troops was broken up by a counter attack, which inflicted losses on the enemy. On the Verdun front the night was relatively calm except near hill 30-1. where there was spirited rifle firing. West of Fleury, detachments of our troops made some progress and captured three machine guns. After a rather long bombardment the Germans delivered two attacks against out positions in the region of Ham, in Lorraine, southeast of Xomeny. Both attacks were repulsed and prisoners remained iu our hands. News has been received at London that the Portuguese government has equipped an army with everything necessary to enable it to fight side by side witll the Anglo-French armies, and that this army is ready to answer the call whenever required. The force is estimated by experts at about 2.10, 000 men. The Russian army has joined the Anglo-French offensive on the west front. The French official report said Russian patrols had joined witll French patrols in "great activity" on the Champagne front. From this it is inferred here that soon the entire contingent, which was estimated at 250,000, will be in the trenches on the west front. Discussion of the relative value of battle cruisers and battleships, on which authorities differ, was renewed by publication of a letter written by Rear Admiral Knight of the naval war college, to Secretary Daniels, upholding the worth of the cruiser as brought out in the Jutland battle between the British and German fleets. The engagement said the admiral, as far as results are known, enhance the importance of the battle cruiser. Dreadiiaughts, iu the opinion of Admiral Knight, will continue to be the backbone of any fleet, but the United States, with its groat stretch of coasts, he thinks, needs battle cruisers most. Emperor William has decided to pension seven prominent generals holding important commands iu the Prussian army, according to the Berliner Tage-blatt. All the generals have tendered their resignations. Five of them, Generals von Brcdow, Von Wienskowski, Glokke, Cramer and Von Buer, will leave the army, while the other two Generals von Kliest and Krahmer have been given home commands. The newspaper says no reason for the retirement of the officers has been assigned. Dr. II. Rarringcr Cox, known in the world of electrical science as an inventive genius, announced at San Francisco yesterday that he had perfected a subterranean wireless telephone and that, incidentally, he had discovered a new law of physics that electrical energy can be transmitted over a single conductor. For the last five months Dr. Cox has been working in an effort to perfect a system of wireless signals for forest fires.
