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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 1918)
"The Stars and Stripes forever." GET YOUR WANT-ADS IN FOR THE BIG S UNDAY BEE BEFORE 9 O'CLOCK TONIGHT The Omaha Daily Bee VOL. 48 NO. 58. SrSSSSV'M S&OMAHA, SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 24, 1918. 5U"S;.rfcsBi:?i.'S5Si ESjTWO CENTS. TOTWEATHER" Tbarmomttrr Raadlnffit For Nebraska Unsettled Saturday and Sunday; showers. Sa. m. 6 s. m. I a. m. II a. in. 9 . m. 10 a. m. It a. m. 13 m. . 71 I 1p.m. I .". ira p. m. M S3 71 78 , 75 4 p. m. S p. m. p. m. 7 p. m. I p. m. ....SO ....as .... .... ....ss ... .M ....8S ....81 mi is ibi . : 9 , o ' TWO BRITISH ARMIES - DRAFT AGE LIMITS OF 18 AND 45 YEARS UPHELD BY HOUSE Amendment to Man-Power Bill Directing Separate Classi fication and Delayed Call of Youths Rejected by Vote of 167 to 120 at Close of Day of Vigorous Debate. By Associated Press. Washington, Aug. 23. Champions of the house military committee's plan to direct the War department to defer calling of youths 18 and 19 years until older men have joined the colors under the man power bill extending draft ages limits to 18 and 45 years lost their initial fight in the house late today and the way was paved for the passage of the bill by the house to morrow. In the senate disposal of minor amendments caused leaders to hope that the measure could be passed there also before the week-end adjournment tomorrow, At the close of a day of Wgoroas de-9 bate the house rejected, 167 to 120, the amendment of Representative Mc Kenzie of Illinois, written into the hill hv the military committee direct ins seoarate classificaton and delayed call of vouths from 18 to 20. Amend ments by Representatives Johnson of Washington and Blackman of Ala bama to fix the draft age minimum at 19 and 21 years, respectively, also were defeated. Dramatic Touches Given Debate. Dramatic touches were given the debate in the house by Representative Tilson of Connecticut, who amid rheers called uoon four marines in the galleries to stand in evidence that youths of 18 make excellent soiaiers. This was after Representative John son of Washington had presentee a small 18-year-old page in a soldier's roat and trench helmet, to support his claim that 18-year-olds are mere children. Representative OIney ot Massachusetts aroused the patriot ism of the house members during the debate by declaring British and French officers conceded that it was the American marines who at Cha teau Thierry stopped the German rush in July and saved Taris. Wilson Opposes Changes. Plans for a final vote on the meas ure in the house tonight were lost in the midst of a wrangle over an amendment by Representative Mad den of Illinois, prohibiting deferred classification of government employes because of their employment Before a vote could be taken a motion to adjourn was carried and the amend ment with several others of a minor nature went over until tomorrow President Wilson in a conference with Senators Martin and Simmons exerted his influence to have the amendments placing restrictions on the calling of youths of 18 and 19 de feated. The president also was under stood to have informed the sen-itors that in his opinion the "work or fight" amendment as reported in the bill to the senate was unnecessary. Senators Lodge of Massachusetts and Thomas of Colorado made the principal speeches today in the sen ate in behalf of the bill, the latter sup porting his work or fight amend ment and saying it casts no reflec tion on organized labor but is aimed at industrial slackers. Representative Black of Texas gave notice in the house that he would introduce tomorrow a work or fight amendment similar to that incorpora ted in the senate draft of the bill. Congressmen Included. The house agreed to an amendment by Representative Gregg of Texas, which would make members of con gress and of state legislatures as well as state and federal executive officers (Continued on Page Two, Column One.) Corporal Brandes Of Omaha Wounded; One Nebraskan Dead Corp. Adolph H. Brandes of Oma ha is reported wounded severely in the casualty list issued for publication this morning. His residence is given as 916 South Twenty-fifth street. Corp. Buff E. Melton of North Bend. Neb., died of his wounds. Private Raymond A. Garland. Ger mantown, Neb., is reported as having died of disease. Private Henry S. Fisher. Hast ings. Neb., and Private Willima E. Patience, Imogene, la., are in the list of wounded. In the marine caualyt list are the names of Private George Chaffey, Hebron, Neb., and Private Alfred C. Vreim, Wilmot, S. D., wounded. California and Florida Tourist Fares Established Washington, Aug. 23. Round-trip tourist fares to California and Flor ida 10 per cent lower than double the one-way fare were ordered estab lished today by the railroAd administration. SWEEP BACK EMMY Wide Stretches Crossed Between Cojeul River and Lihons; Storms of Metal Mow Down Masses of Men Thrown in by Rupprecht in Vain Effort to Stem Onrush TOMMIES CAPTURE STRONGLY DEFENDED POSITIONS BY STORM Taking of Achiet and Bihucourt Gives Haig Domination Over Bapaume; Gains Made by French in Envelop ment of Noyon; German Lines in Somme Sal ient Put in Jeopardj. SEVEN INJURED FRIDAY NIGHT IN AUTO ACCIDENTS Cars of Harlan Weigel and Rob ert Storz Meet in Collision; Auto Hits Motorcycle; Another Smashup. Seven persons were Injured in auto accidents last night within a period of four hours. George Hayden, 140 South Thirty ninth street; Ruth Carson and Fred Hatcher, 2571 St. Mary's avenue, suffered severe bruises when an au tomobile driven by Robert Storz, 3708 Farnam street, collided with another car driven by Harlan Weigel, 423 North Thirty-fourth street, at the intersection of Twenty-seventh and Harney streets. The Storz motor was being driven east in Harney street, and Weigel's car was moving south on Twenty-seventh street. Three Seriously Hurt. Miss Carson suffered a deep lacera tion on the back ot her head and minor bruises about her body; Hatch er suffered a number of small abra sions on his arms and neck. Hayden was injured so seriously that he was taken to the Nicholas Senn hospital, (Continued on Faice Two, Column Four.) Germans Use Flame Throwers in Effort To Check Americans By Associated Press. With the American Army on the Vesle Front, Aug. 23. The Germans employed hand grenades and flame throwers against the Americans this morning in an endeavor to check a local attack west of Fismes. The Americans used their rifles effectively, killing a number of Germans and put ting others to flight, and straighten injg the line north of the Vesle, ac cording to plans. The American batteries put over a barrage before the infantrymen went forward. A detachment ot German infantry tried to head off the attack ing Americans, but the latter were too much for the enemy. About 12 prisoners were taken. By Associated Press. With the British Army in France, A ug. 23. Victorious on a battle front ex tending from the Cojeul river on the north, across the Ancre and Somme rivers al most to Lihons, the Third and Fourth British armies under Generals Byng and Kawlmson at mid-afternoon were vigorously following up their successes of today. which apparently has been one or the most disastrous days ever experienced by the Germans. The enemy has lost wide stretches of ground, numerous towns, thousands of men made prisoner and large quantities of materials and guns. He also again has had heavy casualties. Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, the German commander, has thrown his men in before the advancing British armies in an effort to stave off the inevi table, but only to have them mowed down again and again by storms of metal which poured from the British guns. One entire enemy battalion was annihilated. jjeaa ijrernsanrin great numbers are scat ?ish apparently hold Boiry-Becquerelle and Boyelles and have passed beyond the Arras- tered everywhere over the battlefield. As an example, 400 venemy dead were observed this morning on one small piece of ground over which the battle had swept. DISASTROUS FOR GERMANS. With all this fierce fighting and notwith standing the fact that the British at many places have fought over open ground against an enemy protected in "pot holes" and strong points of other kinds, the British losses every where seem to have been extraordinarily light. This probably is due to the ronfusion the Ger man? find reigning behind their lines as they are fighting a losing battle which for them hourly grows more disastrous. Crown Prince Rupprecht today had strengthened his line at many places, but this instead of stopping the British, simply meant that the Germans suffered bigger losses. During the night and this morning the front upon which the battle was being fought yester day was widened appreciably both to the north and the south, while the ground in the middle between Albert and Beaucourt-Sur-Ancre, which heretofore had been fairly quiet, sud denly was drawn into the whirl. PASS ARRAS-BAPAUME ROAD. From the northern edge of the battlefield to the south the situation at last reports seemed to be as follows: New attacks from the River i Cojeul and south carried the British across the Albert Arras railroad embankment. The Brit- Bapaume road. The troops just to the south, who for two days had been fighting for and afterwards from the embankment, stormed forward and reached Hamelincourt and are pushing on to ward Ervillers, St. Leger and Croisilles. Air planes reported that British tanks had crossed the road between Ervillers and St. Leger, while some irfantry was reported to be less than 1,000 yards west of Ervillers some hours ago. DOUBLE STRENGTH, BUT LOSE. At about that time an airplane reported the Germans had disappeared from their positions northwest of St. Leger and between that town and Hamelincourt and that the fighting British found time to cheer heartily. Apparently the Germans, rather than suf fer more here, where they have met with some of their heaviest losses, decided to get out. This locality was one of the places where the Ger mans had doubled their strength. CAPTURE 500 IN GOMMECOURT. The fighting south of this region began in the night, when strong British forces assailed Gommecourt just a few minutes before the Germans had anticipated launching an attack. Gommecourt was British at daylight. As it hap pened, the British upset all the enemy plans and, after killing many Germans and captur ing 500 in the town of Gommecourt alone, they went on They are pushing ahead steadily. (Continurd on Time Two, Column Three.) Eighty-three Americans in Canadian Casualties Lists Ottawa, Aug. 23. Names of 83 Americans appear in the Canadian casualties list issued here today. Of the 1,992 members of the Canadian expeditionary force listed, 249 were killed in action, 46 died of wounds, and 1,674 are wounded. American Troops May Be Concentrating for Attack Opinion at 'Washington Washington, Aug. 23. Almost un varying success described in today's dispatches telling of the great allied offensive on the SO-mile front stretch ing from Soissons northward to, the environs of Arras raised hopes in mil itary circles here for the most se vere defeat yet administered to the Germans. Observers were of the opinion that General Focb's whittling tactics of the past six weeks have been so effective that opportunity has come for a glorious harvest. Absence of any mention of Ameri can troops in the descriptions of the great fight led to interested specula tion as to the whereabouts of General Pershing's 30 divisions which, accord ing to recent announcement, are to be included in the first American field army. That practically all of these units have completed the training for which they were brigaded with the French and British has been known for some time. It has been 'thought a considerable number of the Americans are still with the British third and fourth ar mies and most military officers were at a loss to understand why they had not been identified in the capture of some of the important enemy po sitions overrun during the day. Re cent evidence of the mettle of Per shing's forces made it certain, it was believed, that if American divisions were with the allied troops their lo cality tonight would be the apex of the advance. Some advanced the theory the movement of American divisions to the sector assigned to the first American army is under way. Concentration at this time of the United State divisions on the all American Jront when the forward movement of the more northern ar mies promises so much might mean General Foch has assignee! to Per shing some important task closely linked with the major strategy. Young Men Twenty-one Since June 5 Register With Exemption Boards All men who have become 21 years of age since June 5, last, .must register for military service today. It is estimated that there are 200 of them. Draft board members say that most of the men who register today wjll be well qualified for army ser vice. The boys will be given their questionnaires immediately after registering and will fill them out at once. Those with dependants, and wishing to claim exemption, are urged to bring their dependants with them, as they will be needed in filling out the information blank. Registration will be at the six local exemption board headquarters. Lieutenant Verdier, American Aviator, Killed in Actio With the American Army on the Vesle Front, Aug. 23. Lieut. Louis Verdier, formerly head of the La fayette flying squadron, a brother of Paul Verdier of San Francisco, has been killed in action according to in formation received here. P'jpe Confers His Blessing On Knights of Columbus New York, Aug. 23. Pope Bene dict has conferred his blessing on the Knights of Columbus because of their war relief work, according to a tnes sagc from Rome received here today by James A. Flaherty, .supreme knight. ALL SIBERIA NOW VIRTUALLY UNDER ONE GOVERNMENT Regimes at Omsk and Vladivos tok Full Accord; Bolshe viki Control Only a Small District- By Associated Press. ' Washington, Aug. 23. Assurances reached the State department , today that the anti-bolshevik governments at Omsk and Vladivostok are in full accord, which, officials said, meant that all Siberia virtually is under one government with a small portion near Irkutsk controlled by bolshevik forces aided by former German and Austrian prisoners. The agreement between the two governments was considered by offi cials here one of the most important developments in the Russian tangle since the overthrow of the Kerensky government. The first difficulty the Siberian gov ernments have to face is the eradica tion of the bolshevik red guards and the Austro-Gernian prisoners of war now lighting side by side. They con trol the trans-Siberian railroad from Irktitz on Lake Baikal to Manchuria station about 200 miles from Karimskaya where t lie Amur river line branches off to the north. Troops of the allies aided by the Czecho slovaks control the Manchurian line from Vladivostok to Manchuria sta tion. The bolshevik! and prisoners on the Ussuri river are not considered here as formidable as they have little to gain even if victorious. Their hope is to get as far south as Nikolsk, about 40 miles west of Vladivostok, thus cutting off Vladivostok from the Manchurian railroad,, but even if they succeed in this it will not interfere with the sending of allied troops westward to aid the Czfcche and Japa nese in fighting the bolsheviki from Manchuriato Karimskaya, as the road from Port Arthur will still be open to them. When the allied troops reach Karimskaya, it is pointed out here, they will cut off the bolsheviki along the Amur river branch of the rail road from their comrades between Karimskaya and Irkutsk. Are You Reading Oh, Money! Money! By ELEANOR H. PORTER Author of "Pollyanna" and "Just David" Today's Installment on Page 7. "Everything Going Well" Word From Marshal Foch By Associated Press. With the American Army in France, Aug. 23. "Everything is going well. We have begun our ac tion and we shall continue," said Marshal Foch to the war correspon dents today. The marshal received the news paper men in the spacious salon of an old chateau, where there is more business than luxury. The most con spicuous objects in the room were the military maps on the wall. Ad vancing to meet his visitors with simple cordiality, the marshal said: "Realties are far better than any sort of promise. It is useless to make promises that may give rise to exaggerated hopes. Nothing but realties count." Reminded of a previous occasion when he said that the German wave had been broken. Marshal Foch re plied: "Well, now it is retiring; see for yourselves." Walking to a map on the wall he pointed out the prog ress made by the allies since the offensive began in July. By Associated Press. Over the 50-mile battlefront from the region of Arras to the north of Soissons the German Armies are meeting with de feats which apparently spell disaster. Everywhere the British and French forces have continued on the attack the enemy has been sanguinarily worsted. And the end of his trials is not yet in sight. i To the British, over the 30 miles of the fighting zone from the Cojeul river southeast of Arras to Lihons, south of the Somme, numerous towns have fallen. Enemy territory has been penetrated to a depth of several miles. O The French are fiorhtinar between the Matz river and the territory north of Soissons. Goodly gains have been made in the envelopment of Novon and in the general maneuver which seeks to crush or drive out the Ger mans from the salient between" the Somme and the Ailette and to put in to jeopardy the entire German line running to Rheims. Onrush Irresistible. The Germans brought tip large re inforcements to stay Haig's armies, but without avail. Where they were able momentarily to hold back their oncoming foes the Germans finally were forced to cede the ground. For their temerity they paid a terrible price in killed, wounded and men made prisoner, The entire Arras-Albert road has1 been crossed by the British. The strongly - held positions where the . Germans saw disaster facing them if they fell, were stormed and captured and the British passed them going eastward. Notable among these places were Achiet LeGrand, where bitter fighting has been in progress for several days; Boyelles and Gommecourt, notheast of Albert Closing in On Bapaume. The taking of Achiet and farther east of the town of Bihucourt gives Haig a dominating position over Bapamue from which the railway and highway runs eastward to Cambraj. Farther south the old fortress of ' Thiepvale is surrounded on three sides and its capitulation must fol low. Friday night saw the British stand ing well to the east of Albert, and south of the Somme they were hold- ing Chuignolles and Chuignes and had thrown out forces pastward to outflank Bray on the 'south and Chaulnes on the north. Midway of the battle, line south of the Somme around Roye, there has been little fighting the allied com mander evidently reasoning that with both wings of his offensive near Arras and Soissons working smooth ly in the movement which is likely to compel the Germans to seek refuge behind the old Hindenburg line, ground soon will have to be given here automatically in order to save , large numbers of men, guns and sup- ' t plies from capture. German Position Precarious. With the continuation of the French drive from the Matz river around the bend in the line to the north of Soissons, however, particu larly north of Soissons, the Germans still within the lower portion of the old salient apparently are on danger ous grounds. The French are en- ' gaged in their drive in this region. They have crossed the Divette river near Evricourt and at several other points have forded the Ailette and the Oise and north of Soissons are stand ing east of Bagneux and to the westS of Crecy Au Mont. A swift turning movement across the Oise from the latter region would be likely to work havoc. Although the Americans at the commencement of the Somme offen sive were brigaded with the British v along the northern bank of , the Somme, no mention of their having taken part in the fighting has been made. It is probable that they have been moved to some other fr$nt where Marshal Foch conterates another smash. One correspondent having referred to the French soldiers the marshal said: "You may say anything you like about them. Whatever you will say will never be too much. They are going on without respite, without re lief and without rest. We can ask anything of them; they are always ready to go-on." "You may tell the American peo ple that their soldiers are admirable." said Marshal Foch to the correspond ent ot the Associated Press: "They ask nothing better than to go to their death. They can be reproached only with rushing ahead too fast it is necessary to hold them back." Referring to the British troops, Marshal Foch turned again to the map, pointed out the recent gains of Field Marshal Haig's men and said: "You sec they are fighting well just now, in this burning heat. Their ardor is unfailing. They ask nothing better than to march ahead, as you may see from those black marks on the map which shows where they are today." Beet Growers Blame federal Food Head for Sugar Lack Salt Lake City, Aug. 23. Responsi bility for the sugar shortage in Utah and Idaho and for failure to establish a sugar beet commission in thost two states is placed upon the shoulders of W. W. Armstrong, federal tooJ ad ministrator for Utah; J. M. Brock, representative of the sueai divis't n of the federal food administration arid J. W. Jones, representing the United Stajes Department of Agriculture, in a volume authorized bv the (ntr- mountain Association of Sugar Beet Growers, which came off the Dmps yesterday.