Bee'
mam
DAILY
HE
THE WEATHER
' Fair, Warmer
VOL. XLVH.NO. 199.
OMAHA, TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 5, 1918. TEN PAGES.
Nm SUM, (to.. S CTMfirC rTVOTV TWrt ntTXTTCi .
Dm Inlu. at Hotel. UliAUUU VJWi A X Yl W 1U!
AMERICAN TROOPS HOLD BIG
4YS
SECTOR ON LORRAINE
HAS BEEN GIVEN COUNTRY
'". "T" : . : k . ' 1111 " : - ' n . ' tiTT .; ' - ' ' ' ' ... v'.
AS
FAME IMPRESSION
I
ENGAGE IN ARTILLERY
fiUEL With -enemy and
DESTROY FRONT TRENCH
Officers Elated at Steadiness of U. S. Batteries Under
Fire; Send Up Protecting Barrage for Infantry;
' Uerman Liugouts Wrecked cy Liestructive
Gun Fire, Which Male es Big Gaps
" In Their Line.
(By Associated Press.)
.With the American Army
American troops, which are now
'ing a wide sector on the Lorraine front, have fought their first
artillery duel with the enemy.
nWWTfTr.PS APR fc.T.ATim O
American officers are elated over the
results of the duel between American
and German gunners, which followed
a preliminary shelling by the Germans
Saturday evening.
In official reports the infantry com
manders today paid tribute to "the
promptness with which the artillery
responded to the call for a barrage
and to the effectiveness of thrtil
lery fire. ' . ,
' .DESTRUCTIVE GUNFIRE.
The aerial reconnaissances today
showed that the American gunfire had
had a. very destructive effect.
It will require several nights of hard
work under artillery fire for the Ger
mans to repair the first line trenches
caved in by the American 75s and to
patch the gaps in the barbed wire.
It is known that at least three en
emy dugouts were demolished, prob
ably with some casualties.
On the, other hand, the damage done
to the American trenches will be re
paired before tomorrow morning '
' '.' 'Ji, No.OffiwrsiaUed-i"..
In a regimental headquarters -vTl-
lage helled by the enemy many build
ings were wrecked:-;;. :vr-; ? l
There were -no casualties , among th!
officers- .'. ';'': . :' " V
The, "German artillery opened -with
a desultory, bdrfibardment ,of the
American trenches at a certain point,
firing many shrapnel shells. In the
midst of this a red -rocket calling for
a barrage ascended from, the German
firSt lines. ' 1 '
. Befbre the German artillery could
respond the American 75s laid a cur
tain of fire along the enemy first lines.
Americans Respond Qiuckly. '
Then began the battle of the gun
ners. .. - ;
The increased intensity of the Ger
man fire was met immediately by
, the Americans, who not only showered
shells ,on the original sector, but
quickly! .extended their activity' to a
wide front. f '
Within 20' minutes the 75s and
largef'pieces were booming all along
the vallev. the shelling finally spread
ing to a town in which regimental'
headquarters was located.
As darkness settled down the guns
were quiet. " - "
Heavy mists again overhung the
- Ajnerican sector today, consequently
there was", artillery work ad no aerial
activity. , ' . ; '
Aspirants For Senatorship
f Besiege Jersey Governor
Trenton, N. J., Feb, 4. Edward E
Grosscup, state democratic chairman,
issued a statement today, containing a
list of democrats, "any one of whonj,"
he declaredj would make a strong
candidate for the democratic nomina
tion for United States senator, a po
sition made vacant by the death of
Senator Hughes.
The list is headed by former Gov
ernor James F. Fielder. The name of
Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary to Pres
ident Wilson, is placed next. The
other men mentioned in the long list
are Prof. Stockton Axson of Prince
ton, Richard V. Lindabury of Ber
nardsville, Federal Judge J. Warren
Davis, Thomas G. Haight, Chancel
lor Edwin Robert Walker and Frank
5. Katzenbach, Jr., of Trenton.
Mr. Grossup in his statement says
the listTJs submitted for the purpose
of bringing about discussion and cen
tering, if possible, on a candidate for
the place.' -.; : '
New Traffic Tunnel Under
River to Cost $12,000,000
f "Trenton, N. J., Feb, 4. Construc
tion of a traffic tunnel under the Hud
son river to connect New. Jersey and
New York, is the object of negotia
tions, which, it was announced here
today, Governor ; Edge of this state
has begun with Governor Charles
Whitman of New York. The project
would require $12,000,000, it is esti
mated, and it is proposed each state
pay half.
To Bring Own Liquor Kot
Violating Bone Dry Law
Little Rock, Ark., Feb. 4. Bringing
liquor into the state is not a violation
of the bone dry law, according to the
state supreme court today, which
ruled that when liquor is personally
brought into the state to be sold, con-
vtctions tan be obtained under the
', state-wide, prohibition law. If for
personal use the act did not consti
tute an offense under either law.
in France, Sunday, Feb. 3.
definitely known to be occupy'
BAKER WARNS U.S.
AGAINST GERMAN
NEWS OF STRIKE
' . , II 111
Secretary of War Declares
That Allies Have Prepon
derance of Troops on
Western Front.
Washington, Feb. 4. Warning the
nation not to let reports of strikes and
other internal disturbances in Ger
many slacken "its war preparations,
Secretary Baker, in his weekiy mili
tary review, today also makes the of
ficial announcement thatv American
troops are at; last holding a. portion
of the 'actual battle front." " f .-. -J
For 'the- first ;iinie. also Secretary
Baker ' declares that it is Jullv be
lieved the allies have a preponderance
of men and guns oti the western front,
rieSnite the-fart-tht thi lertriaii line
has been strengthened by troops from
the -Russian held. . .
Secretary Baker declared the re
ports of numerical superiority have
been spread xby the enemy.
Americans Occupy Sector.
Reviewing operations for' the week
ending , February 2, Secretary Baker
says: . .....
- American troops which have now
completed their training are occupy
ing a portion of the actual battle front.
, On January 30 the Germans at
tempted a strongly pushed raid against
our line for purposes' of identifica
tion. Under cover of a heavy mist
the enemy was able to reach our ad
vanced positions.
Our patrols have been active in No
Man's land snd our scouts have made
themselves familiar with the details
of the hostile positions opposite them.
. Distrusts News From Germany.
-While dissatisfaction is no doubt
rife in Germany and strikes of in
creasing seriousness have occurred,
we must not allow any reported dis
turbance within the German empire
to affect the effectiveness or speed of
our preparations. ,
During the "week hostile concen
trations in the west continued. In
certain quarters the reports spread by
the enemy that he holds a preponder
ous numerical superiority in the west
have gained credence.
While positive proof has been re
ceived .hat the enemy has removed
troops from the. eastern theater, and
is stripping other fronts for the com
ing struggle in the west, neverthe
less the allies are b sieved still to
hold a very appreciable numerical su
periority both in men 2id guns.
In the British heater numerous
raids took place., British forces
sounded the enemy line, identifying
new units arriving in the west from
other theaters.
The French also raided the enemy
and kept a careful Jookout along their
(CeMfinaed Face Two, Column Two.)
Banker Says That Thrift Means
Earning, Saving, Spending, Giving
Thrift" was the subject upon
which W. W. Head, vice president of
the Omaha National bank, spoke at
a "thrift week" meeting at 'the Young
Men's Christian association j Sunday
afternoon.
Mr. Hes.d began his talk by giving
to the word "thrift" a rather peculiar
meaning. He interpreted it' to mean
not merely saving, but earning, sav
ing, spending and giving.'
1 "Ordinarily when s we speak of
thrift we mean saving," aid Mr.
Head, "but it is my idea that the word
contains ' more than just the one
thought It means earning because
upon that depends saving. It means
spending because if there were (no
spendirg there would be" no earning.
And it means giving because there
must be giving. I do not mean giving
in the tense that you should hand out
money to the first man who asks it,
but true giving.
"Saving, of ccfurse, is the principal
fundamental of thrift because every
man tries to earn and he does spend.
"Why should we saveP'continued
COL. IIERSEY'TO
BE SUCCEEDED IN
COMMAND AT FORT
Colonel John T. Nance to Arrive
at Omaha Balloon Post in
FewDays From Wash- ,
ington, D. C.
Lieutenant Colonel H. B. Hersey,
commanding officer, at Fort Omaha,
is to be succeeded in command of
the balloon post in a few days by
Colonel John T. Nance, at present
stationed in Washington, D. C;
Official announcement of the change
was made at Fort Omaha Monday
morning.
Colonel Nance at present is in
charge of balloon work all over the
United States. He has been in Oma
ha several times and is popular among
army officers.
He is a family man and it is under
stood he will bring his wife and child
ren with him to Fort Omaha.
Succeeded Major Lahm.
LietHenant Colonel Hersey has been
commanding officer at the balloon
fort since early last June. He suc
ceeded Major Lahm.
He was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant colonel while in command
at Fort Omaha, having previously
been a major. ,
Lieutenant Colonel Hersey, then a
major, was doing special work in the
Caribbean sea. He had an interna
tional reputation aS! a. balloonist and
weather expert when, he j came to
Omaha. ', :
WilU Go "Over There.'
It is said Lieutenant, Colonel Her
sey has several times asked the War
department to be -sent "over there,"
and the announcement I of . Colonel
Nance relieving him of command at
...
COLONEL H.'B. HERSEY.
Fort Omaha is believed to be prelimi
nary to that step. )
During his command at Fort Oma
ha Lieutenant Colonel Hersey has be
come exceedingly popular with offi
cers and men alike. His democratic
nature and optimistic attitude" toward
the problems met with every day in
the most important balloon post in
the country have made him "solid"
with everyone, from'the staff officers
to the greenest "buck private" or bal
loon school cadet. .. . , , '
, Colonel Nance is about 50 years old
and Lieutenant Colonel Hersey says
"everyone in Omaha will like him."
Qne Hour Sentence for ,
Failure to Register
The shortest sentence imposed
in federal court for some time was
that of Albert . Smentowski of
Grand Island, charged wifh, failure
to register for the draftyit was
"one hour in the custody of the mar.
sKaL"
Mr. Head. "The reasons are obvious.
We all know that we should save, that
we must save. ,
"When should we save? Right
now; there is no time like the pres
ent. Every man should save-during
the present no matter .what his earn
ings are. If he earns only $10 a week
there is no reason why he should not
save $1 or $2. If he earns more he
should save more. "X
"How should we save? --There are
scores of ways; savings banks, build
ing and loan associations, life insur
ance, safe investments, and, at this
time, Liberty bonds and thrift
stamps. The young man may save
by means of the sayings bantu, build
ing and loan associations and life in
surance. Later, of course, he must
turn to investments." When making
investments let me impress upon your
mind the necessity of making safe
investments. There are speculations
which promise large returns, but you
may or may not get yourprincipal
back. The ?afe investment the only
investment; ?. . ,.V
' -. p '' ' i
DECLARE HITCHCOCK
GAVE INFORMATION
VALUABLE TO ENEMY
Senator Williams in Fiery Fashion Answers Nebraska
Solon's Knocks at War Administration; "If His In-
. dictment Is True, We Are Defeated," Declares
Congressman From Mississippi.
Washington, Feb.. 4 In fiery fashion, Senator John Sharp
Williams of MississioDi this afternoon retried in the senate to
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, who had accused President
Wilson of beinf .ignorant of actual war conditions. ,
Senator Williams declared the Nebraska senator had made
"a very strong indictment'V against the executive departments
of the government. t
Referring to Senator Hitchcock's statement that he did not
tell all he knew because he might be charged with giving in-
formation to the enemy, the Missis-y
sippi senator ucciarcu; .
GAVE INFORMATION.
"He did tell almost all he knew and
he did give information very valuable
to the enemy."
Senator Williams referred to agita
tion tefore the war of legislation to
Plenty of Ships to Haul
Troops, Says Daniel
Washington, Feb. 4. Secretary
Daniels today authorized the
statement that the navy is assured
of enough transport facilities I to
make sure that there will be 500,
000 American , troops in France
early this year as was stated by
Secretary Baker recently before
the senate military committee.
1
prohibit shipment of munitions' to the
allies, -''v 1
. "That was' almost as foolish he
said, f"as this: war Cabinet -p ropossi."
'"That legislation to keep the allies
from having American munitions was
the German game then. V
"The German game now li muck
raking this administration.
"If what the senator from Nebraska
says is true we are out of the war. If
his indictment is true we . are de
feated."
The continental concress. he added.
came very near ruining General Wash-
ington "and all the asses that ever ex
isted came very near ruining Lincoln
and Grant in the crvil war. ,
Cannot Loan Brains.
"Congress or a ffouncil cannot carry
on the war and cannot furnish the
brains for anybody else to do it,'
said he.
"If the president hasn't brains
enough to perform the functions of
his great office, he can't be loaned
brains bv a council. .
"No other people ever turned from
a peace establishment and within nine
months converted themselves so near
ly complete into a war machine" Sen
ator Williams shouted.
"The senator says the president and
secretary of war don't know the, facts,
tan t find out. "
"In God's name, how is it possible
for him to know? ... . . ... ' .
"He is not Superior in native ability
or. brains." - n
United States Can Whip Germany.
''Here are 100,000,000 people ready
to fight Germany by themselves an l
can whip it by themselves," shouted
Senator Williams. We feel our met
tle; we still have the spirit and we
have the boys.
"What's the use of muck-raking the
administration?"
The Mississippi senator said the
charges reminded hinfof the manwh )
went to see a statue and. proclaimed
the head divine, the breast superb, the
legs those of an athlete, but found a
small defect on the right heel and!
iAf. . t. i .1.. n
"What's the use qf it; what'a the
sense of it?" he declared, "Aren't
we all doing our level best to win this
war?
"Isn't every republican trying to
help win the war, excepta few pa
cifists who have nearly cntted their
political lives?" - '
Would Veto Bill.
Senator Williams decfared the bill
an usurpation exeputive power and
unconstitutional.
If he were president, the senator
added, and it were passed, he would
veto it and if it passed again would
refuse to obey it on the erounds of
being in conflict with the constitution
Senator Williams " acl-e.l SpnXnt
Hitchcock for his authority for a
statement that 21,000,000 pairs of
shoes have been ordered. '
' Senator Hitchcock said it came
from civilian officials in high position.
All Hearsay Evidence.
"Then; it's mere hearsay after all,
Senator Williams replied. -
The Nebraska senator added he
understood 7,000,000 more pairs had
been ordered and he hoped the allies
"would take some of them off . our
hands." ,
When Senator Hitchcock said he
was advised that a large quantity ef
meat on a shin had spoiled by a
blunder in turning off the refrigera
tion plant, Democratic Leader Martin
asked the authority for the statement.
senator Hitchcock said it was wide
ly published and never denied.
Senator Weeks, republican, of the
(ConUoard oa Face Two, Column Six.)'
M'ADOO NAMES
STAFF TO AID
RAILCONTROL
Prominent Transportation Of
ficials Called on to Assist
Director; Gerrit Fort is
Named on Board
.Washington, Feb. 4.Director Gen
eral McAdoo today had fcboUj com
pleted the central staff which will as
sist thim ' in administrating govern
ment operation of railroads during
th'a war. ' - '."' ''" ' '::'.,. ,
Although no official announcement
was made, it was understood the stall
probably would be as follows:
General assistant, Walker D. Hjnps,
chairman and' general counsel of the
Santa -Fe. . ' '
Transportation, Carl R. Gray, Balti
more, president of the Western Mary
land; assistants, F. T. Bentley, Chi
cago, general superintendent of tao
tive power, Chicago & Nothwestern,
in charge of mechanical matters; W.
T. Tyler, St. Paul, assistant vice pres
ident of the Northern Pacific.
Law John Barton Payne of Chi
cago. Labor, W. S. Carter, chief of the
Brotherhood of Railway F'rcmen and
Enginemen.
Public service aod accounts, C. A.
Prouty, chief fthe Interstate Com
merce commission's bureau of valua
tion and accounts; assistant, Luther
M. Walter, Chicago attorney.
Traffic Officials.
Traffic, Edward Chambers, vice
president of the Santa Fe, until re
cently traffic director of the food
administration; assistants, C. B. Bux
ton of Philadelphia and Dallas, re
cently assistant di-ector of trancpor
tation of the food administration;
Robert C. Wright of Philadelphia,
traffic manager of the Pennsylvania,
in charge of freight matters; Gerrit
Fort, passer.ger traffic manager of
the Union Pacific, in , charge of pas
senger matters, and C. A. Kirtlery,
New York, assistant to Vice Presi
dent Stone of the Erit, in charge of
priorities. v ,
In addition, there will be a board
of traffic managers representing dif
ferent government departments to co
ordinate government shipments.
This board, will consist of J. . F.
Holden, Kansas City, "ice president
of the Kansas City Southern, repre
senting the shipping board; H, M.
Adams, St. Louis, vice president of
Missouri Pacific, representing the
War department; H; E. Anewalt, Los
Angeles, traffic manager of the Santa
Fe, representing the navy; J. A. Mil
dlcton, Kansas City, traffic manager
of the 'Frisco, representing the fuel
and oil administration's.
Mr, Chambers will represent the
food administration.
Another division, of purchases,
maintenance and construction, prob
ably will be created, but. it is under
stood, the assistant in charge of this
work .has not yet been selected.
Hitchcock Replies
Gov. Harding Knocks Camp Cody
; 7
Wli)nf ton Bnrau,
Otusht Bee, 1811 G Street.
Washington, D. C, Feb. 4. (Spec
ial Telegram.) Senator Hitchcock
had crowded salleries and a well filled
senate to listen to his charges of gross
mismanagement on the part of the
war dpartment and his reasons for
giving support to the war cabinet bill
now on the senate calendar.
The Nebraska senator was m wret
ched voice on account of a severe cold,
but nevertheless the array ot lacts ne
marshalled to prove how incompetent
the War department is, worried tne
administration senators not a little.
He was subject to an unmerciful
heckling at the hands of the demo
crats, who are against the bill, but
the Nebraskan was even stronger in
replying to his critics than in his set
speech.
U. S. SENATOR CHARGES
PRESIDENT IS IGNORANT
OF WAR CONDITIONS
Nebraskan Declares "Secretary Baker Has Been Misled;'
Contradicts "Statement That Half Million Troops .
Are In France; Denies America Has Plan
for War; Says Wilson is Like a King.
Washington, Feb. 4.- Secretary Baker's recent statement
to the senate military committee that the United States would
have half a million soldiers in France early this year and that
prospects were not unpromising for ships to carry a million
more who would be ready during the year, were characterized
by Senator Hitchcock in an address to the senate today as "ab
solutely preposterous and so exaggerated as to con
vey an entirely false impression as to what we can do and what
we are doing." . ' v
ST. LOUIS STREET v
CAR LINES TIED
TIGIITBY STRIKE
Violence Marks Second Day's
Paralysis of Traction Traffic;
Mayor Attempts to Bring
About Settlement.
St Louis, Feb. 4.The second day
of the street car strike was marked
by increasing violence, numerous- riot
calls and almost complete paralysis
of traction transportation. ' ; Efforts
also were made to bring about a set
tlement No cars were operated to
night. MayorKieV acting on advice of
thftfcity counsellor, .who assured him
that he had authority to intervene,
sent" formal summonses to the United
Railways company and to the offi
cials of the local union of the Amal
gamated, Association of Street and
Electric Railway Employes to' send
representatives to his office this eve
ning. Mayor Kiel, before the conference,
said he would suggest an immediate
resumption of car service and .that
the Question of waees and hours be
left to a later adjustment The labor
union obeyed the summons.
Roads Refuse Parley.
The plan of the mayor to bring the
two sides together in conference was
frustrated by the refusal of the United
Railway officials to participate in the
conference. Instead President Mc
Culloch of therstreet car company
sent a letter to the mayor saying that
the directors of the company would
meet Tuesday and decide on a course
of action.
He could say in advance, however,
according to the letter, that the di
rectors would be willing to submit to
the state public service commission
whether they could or should in
crease the wages of motormen and
conductors.
Only Eighty Cars Operated.
Not more than 80 cars were op
erated at any one time today though
normally more than 1,100 are oper
ated during the Monday rush hours.
Thousands walked to and from work,
other thousands failed to report at
factories and stores and hundreds of
service automobiles and auto trucks
did a rushing business. 1
The rioting, which began soon after
the company started its' cars, in
creased in intensity as the day wore
on. In the main the rioters con
tented themselves with damaging the
cars. y . '-
Billy Leet Discharged From v
Balloon School at Fort Omaha
Billv Leet. "millionaire sportsman"
and amateur race driver, has been dis
charged from Fort Omaha balloon
school "because of inefficiency." ac
cording to Lieutenant Golonel Her
sey, commanding omcer. Young Leet
is subject to the draft.
to Critics;
Governor William L.' Harding is
in Washington on a number of depart
mental matters growing out of theJ
war including the draft and the con
dition of the Iowa, troops at Camp
Cody. Governor. Harding is out
spoken in his opposition to the loca
tion of the camp at Deming, New
Mexico, and proposes to take up the
matter with- the Iowa delegation in
congress. ,
The governor is also interested In
the movement of corn and certain,
phases of the coal question. Gover
nor Harding was an interested list
ener to the debate on the-' war
cabinet bill between Senators Hitch
cock and Williams today, occupying
seats on the floor of the senate next
to Senator Cumings. The Iowa
governor will remain in Washington
until Thursday. ...
P NO CO-ORDINATION. ;
Supporting the committee's bills for '
a war cabinet and munitions director,
Senator Hitchcock declared that Sec
retary Baker was no doubt sincere,
but was misled, by lack of information
regarding scarcity of ships into mak
ing sanguine predictions.
He said President Wilson himself
"does not know the real situation,"
and cited this situation as an illus
tration of the absence of government
co-orditation.
SENATORS TO REPLY.
Administration leaders prepared to
reply to Senator Hitchcock, whose
speech launched the debate which has
been impending since Secretary Baker
made his statement and the president
made known his opposition to the
military committee's plans for reor
ganizing the government's war ma
chinery. . ! 'i
Conceding that much of t big task
ha been, creditably., done, the Ne ,
braska senator insisted that cen
tralized and co-ordinated war opera
tions through a"war Cabinet and cen
tralized purchasing through a muni
tions, director are imperative.
; He asserted that the president and
Secretary Baker had tried but failed
to attain the object, and that the gov
ernment's system was obsolete. The
committee's legislation, he argued,
would not embarrass or interfere with
the president's direction of the war.
Criticises War Department
Sharp criticism of many govern
ment war activities was made by the,
senator in illustrating his arguments,
but without attacking individuals.
"Blunders that almost surpass be
lief" have occurred in the War de
partment, he said, and the ship build
ing situation he described as a "farce
and almcfst a crime."
He declared the transportation ays-',
tem has "broken down" and is a
"gigantic wreck'' with 2,000,000 tons,
of freight piled up at New York with
out shipping facilities; that the fuel:
administration's orders have para
lyzed war and other industry and that;
food distribution also has been in
efficient. : "
, In flatly denying Secretary Baker's
statement that the government has a
plan for the war, the senator said the
military committee was thunderstruck
by the 'war secretary's optimistic as
sertions. "I am afraid to go too deeply into
shipping figures," he added, "for one
might be charged with giving in
formation to the enemy. Ail who are
informed as to ' the present supply
of our shipping were thunderstruck
at the statements of Secretary Baker.
"His sanguine predictions as to our
ability to ship men to Europe and
Supply them when there arc exagger
ations oi the wildest sort. 1 -
"To supply 1,000,000 . men v in
France, supposing we could get them
over there, it will require 5.000,000
(Conttnnrd on Pas Two, Column Three.).
GEDDES CALLED
BRAVE OPTIMIST
IN GERMAN
Amsterdam, Feb. 4. A dispatch re
ceived Aere today from Berlin gives
the German reply to the statement
hst week, of Sir Eric Gedaes, first
Jord of the British admiralty, who, in
reviewing the first year of unrestrict
ed submarine warfare, said the sub
marine menace was being held, that
the sinking of merchantmen was de-,
creasing and the destruction of U- i
boats' increasing, and that the morale
ot the aubroanne. crews was deterior-1
ating on account of the British pol- '
icy of secrecy in regard to the fate
of the men on submarines wntcn taii-
- d to returned to their basts
The German reply, in tb.t- form of
a semi-official statement. follows:
, "What Sir Eric Geddes s;.id is not
new. - -
"It is merely repetition cf familiar
assertions which are disproved , by
the facts and appear-periodically in"
the speeches of talkative wire pullers
in England. ;
."If that brave optimist Geddes ex
pects by. such means to lower the
morale and the power of resistance
of our U-boat crews he will have at
little success as has-been met with is
the attempts" to bluff the German
people, who long ago realized that
English secrecy was nothing but an
expression of consciousness of weak
ness." r - .
