Nebraska Newspapers

    D. H. CRONIN. Publisher.
O'NEILL.NEBRASKA
The most tragic thing to be seen by
Lord Bryce In China was, he said In
a recent address In London, the total
disregard of the people for their an
cient monuments. The revolution “car
ried out by a mere handful of students
trained In England, the United State*
and Japan," was a most remarkable
phenomenon—the most remarkable,
perhaps. In all history. China had
changed. The pigtail had gone, wom
en's feet were no longer compressed,
opium had ceased to be cultivated, and.
above and beyond all, the ancient sys
tem of examination for high official
positions was being swept away. Th£
most curious things In all China were
the long rows of examination colls, not
big enough to allow the occupants to
lie down, In which the competitor*
used to he interned for long periods
and allowed to come out once In two or
three days to stretch their legs. And
the test of their merit for adminis
trative position was the composition of
poems of Immense length.
In the report of the department of
■urveys and exhibits of the Russell
Sage foundation, New York City, lately
presented to the Topeka improvement
survey committee, the condition of de
linquency and correction agencies In
Topeka was considered. It was found
on investigation that more than 1.600
persons were arrested in Topeka
last year, and that there are only 28
members In Topeka's police force. To
peka is 16th on a list of 18 cities of about
the same size as far as police facilities
go, having 1,600 Inhabitants to one po
liceman. Methods of Improving the
efficiency of tho force was considered,
the bad condition of the courts and Jails
pointed out, and a municipal farm for
prisoners similar to that of Kansas
City was suggested as a remedy.
In a business men’s club in a west
ern town there sprang up two factions,
one which criticised the steward be
cause he did not provide the members
with good meals, und one which de
fended him hotly. The dispute got
fiercer and fiercer. Half the club
wanted to fire the steward at once. The
other half said he was efficient. Then,
without warning, the steward himself
decided the momentous question. One
day at lunch time a member of the club
asked a waiter: “Where's the stew
ard?” “Ho ain't here,” replied the wai
ter. “He said he was going down the
street to get something good to eat.”
The Alpine Benedictine abbey at Dis
entls (3,770 feet)—the oldest hi the
world, except that at Rome—recently
celebrated Its 13th centenary. It was
founded In 614 by an Irish priest, St.
Siglsbert, a disciple of St, Columbanus,
who collected around him all the wlso
men in the center of Europe, according
to the legend, ns well as the hunters
with bows and arrows In the Alps. Tho
Irishman went In search of the Alpine
warriors, It appears, and converted
them to Ohlatlunity. The cantonal
authorities of Orisons took an official
part in the celebration.
Professor Von Pfungen is engaged
with experiments In his laboratory at
Vienna upon the resistance which tho
human skin affords to tho electric cur
rent. He operates by passing the cur
rent through the body from ono hand
to the other, ami measuring the amount
by a sensitive) galvanometer. Ills re
searches bear upon the relation of the
state of the nervous system to the elec
tric resistance of the skin, and asserts
that the nervous excitement nr any
kind lowers the protecting power of tho
skin to a marked extent.
Of (111 the villages of Egypt, Knrnak
Is most noted for its architectural an
tiques. It Is situated on the Imnk of the
Nile, and built over the site of Thebes.
The buildings date from 1500 It. and
some contain mural decorations that
give interesting views of those ancient
times. Many Interesting colored marbles
were also used In the decoration of these
huge temples, und much sculpture is
still to be seen.
The grand prize of the international
exposition of safety and sanitation in
the electrical industry was awarded
recently to the New York Edison com
pany. for the lead It has taken in safe
guarding generating machinery and
tile handling of high tension current,
ns well as for the large number of
thoroughly tested devices with which
It has provided its employes.
The Commonwealth meteorologist,
who has been making a close -study of
Australian wheat areas, states that
the present production there or about
100.000. 000 bushels can he Increased to
1.000. 000.000 bushels. Only 30,000 square
miles in Australia are being used for
wheat, which could he Increased to 500.
000 square miles.
A large, rich deposit of phosphate has
been discovered in tho valley of the
Huaseo river, about 300 miles north of
Valparaiso. Government engineers are
preparing a report thereon, and it is be
lieved to be of much importance, since
the use of phosphate on the farms of
Chile Is increasing rapidly with good re
sults.
That the fishing industry is an im
portant one in British Columbia is evi
denced by the figures given in gov
ernment statistics. There are 100,000
men and boys engaged in tho fishing
Industry, while the annual catch is
valued at nearly *35.000,000. The
amount of capital invested in the boats
and otiler equipment exceeds *30,000.000.
The king of England la the first cous
in of both the kaiser and the czar of
Russia. TI)£ mother of tho latter the
Empress Dagmar. is a sister of the
dowager Queen Alexandra, while the
mother of the German kaiser was a
•ister of the late King Edward, the
father of King George.
The Stanberry-Owl Headlight says
that a new attachment for motor cars
Is announced. It Is a music box. and
whenever -he car is driven 30 miles an
hour or less it plays, "Home, Sweet
Home,” but whenever it is faster than
that, tho tune is "Nearer. .Mj God to
Thee.”
A tower higher than the Eiffel is in
course of construction at Brussels, and
la designed for use as a wireless tele
graph station, and for meteorological
purposes. It will he 1,093 feet in height
while the height of tho Eiffel tower is
#84 feet.
The Hudson river was named for
Henry Hudson. The Indians .ailed it
Maha-Keneghtue, "the flowing water”
and other appropriate names. Gomez
called It St. Anthony’s river, and to
the Dutch it was known as Mauritius
river, in honor of Prince Maurice of
Holland.
Dean Rleber. of the summer school of
the University of California, says sor
rowfully that "there ure more people
who believe they are qualified to teach
•ex hygiene in the summer school than
applicants for any other Job.” He adds
that fully half of them seem to be of
unbalanced mind. ——
1 JUDGE HOLDS PRISON
DOORS SHOULD SWING
EQUALLY, IN OR OUT
One Member Supreme Court
Takes Position Outward
Swing Is Easy These Days.
Lincoln, Neb.. C< t. 19.— 'The doors
of the state penitentiary should swing
evenly. The outward swing is easy
these days, and the inward swing
should not be made bard.” With these
caustic words Justice Fawcett, of the
supreme court, dissents from a ma
jority opinion that allowed Alfred E.
Hayward, formerly a police officer of
Omaha, to go free from a charge of
burglary.
Hayward was found In a telephone
booth with the money drawer open and
in his pockets marked coins. He was
charged with breaking and entering,
but the majority court opinion says
there is no evidence to prove that he
broke into the booth. The door mfty
have been open, for all that the testi
mony discloses. The court holds the
lower court was wrong In telling the
Jury that if It believed the accused
entered without unlocking a door it
should find him not guilty. The su
preme court says that it is not neces
sary to toll the jury to believe that
the defendant had not done a thing
to acquit him.
Judge Fawcett holds the evidence
disclosed beyond all reasonable doubt
that Hayward, who had formerly been
a booth colleetor for the telephone
company, had entered for the purpose
of larceny, and that he was not harmed
by the wrong Instructions.
——
COUNTIES TO FIGHT AGAINST
STATE’S INSANITY CLAIM
Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 19.—Dakota and
Stanton counties will Join with repre
sentatives of Boone, Burt and Gage
counties In lighting the attempt of the
stale auditor to collect large sums due
for the keep of Insane patients In state
Institutions. The five counties were rep
resented at a conference held here yes
terday and light was decided on. For
16 years, prior to 1911, the law re
quired counties to pay the expenses of
patients In Insane hospitals sent from
them. Nobody ever paid much atten
tion to the law, but after it was re
pealed and the state ran a little short
of money somebody thought of this
back law, and ail but five counties
have come across. These are object
ing principally to the payment of In
terest, which Is In several cases larger
than the principal. The five counties
owe a total of $50,000.
—♦—
CORRICK MAKES DENIAL OF
DEMOCRATIC ASSISTANCE
Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 19.—Chairman
Corrick, of the progressive state com
mittee, was so much wrought up by the
charge made iri a speech at Gibbon by
Former Governor Aldrich to the effect
that the progreslve committee was be
ing aided by democratic money that
he gave out u long statement of denial.
In this he took a swift poke at the late
executive. He said:
"While Mr. Aldrich is well known to
be given to exaggerated statement on
the stump. I am inclined to be charit
able and assume that the remarks at
tributed to him were given out by some
ambitious press agent connected with
the publicity department of the re
publican state committee. No such con
tributions as he speaks of have reached
anyone connected with the campaign.”
—•+—
SUPREME COURT ANNULS
KING RECALL PETITION
Lincoln, Neb.. Oct. 19.—The supreme
court has knocked out as Insufficient
the petition tiled with the Lincoln city
clerk asking for the recall of Commis
sioner King, In charge of the police
department. The court holds that only
registered voters can be counted by the
citv clerk to determine whether a suf
ficient number of signers have been se
cured. The court says that the right of
a citizen, whether a voter or not, to
petition for the removal of a public of
ficer is not a right guaranteed by the
constitution. It Is a privilege granted
by the legislature, and the legislature
may impose such conditions us It sees
fit.
_A_
STATE WINS CONTEST FOR
BRIDGE ACROSS PLATTE
Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 19.—The state
won In the suit on trial for the last
few (lays at Lexington, where a Daw
son county taxpayer was seeking to
prevent the building of a state bridge
across the river between Dawson and
Phelps counties. The tight against the
bridge Is believed to have been In
stigated by several big bridge build
ing companies, which were shut out
of the competition, and representatives
of these were present In court. The
protest was founded on a claim that
the contract had not been legally
awarded, but this was disproved.
U. S. IS SHORT ON
SUPPLY OF TORPEDOES
Washington, Oct. 19.—Exploits of
submarines in the European war have
put the naval ordnance experts on the
alert with respect to the submarine and
torpedo developments. The experts
say the United States is abreast of the
world In respect to torpeodes. These
are being made by the government
Itself at Newport and Washington. The
weakness of this country Is that It has
only a small number of torpedoes,
whereas other naval powers have them
by the thousands.
GERMAN RULE WEIGHS
HEAVILY ON ANTWERP
London. Oct., 19.—The Amsterdam
correspondent of Reuters Telegram
company sends a dispatch, in which lie
quotes Counselor Langnor, of Ant
werp. as describing the situation in
Antwerp as follows:
"Antwerp now has a garrison of 17.
000 marines and 200 officers, command
ed by an admiral. As a war contribu
tion the Germans demanded 201) hun
dredweight of potatoes daily. 2.000 bot
tles of wine, bread for the whole gar
rison. 85.000 cigars, 8,500 kilograms of
meat and pay for the officers and sol
diers, estimated at 810,000 daily."
MARCONI WIRELESS
COMPANY FORGIVEN
Washington. Oct. 17.—On receiving
from the Marconi company un expres
sion of regret and assurance that
greater caution would be exercised in
the. future. Secretary Daniels today or
dered that no further steps be taken
toward closing the Marconi wireless
station at Honolulu because It sent a
message announcing the arrival there
Thursday of the German cruiser Geier
PENDER REPUBLIC IS
DEFENDANT IN ACTION
FOR $10,000 DAMAGE
County Attorney Saxton Re
sents Newspaper Article—
Another Suit Probable.
Pender, Neb.. Oct. 17.—Howard Sax
ton, county attorney of Thurston coun
ty. yesterday filed papers in a JIO.OOQ
libel suit against the Pender Republic.
The suit is an outgrowth of an article
published in the Republic last week,
under the caption, "Failure of County
Officials to Act Causes Ruination of
Girl.”
Another county official is said to bo
preparing to bring a second damage
suit, based upon the same article.
The Republic issued a handbill "ex
tra” in honor of the libel suit and
shows symptoms of enjoying the situa
tion. The "extra” says: "This paper
will have more to say of this case and
of the divorce case of Squire Whitta
ker. in its regular Issue tomorrow.
Watch for it, because it is going to
be hot."
MANY MINISTERS WILL
LOSE RIGHT TO VOTE
Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 17.—According to
the ruling of Attorney General Martin
many Methodist ministers will lose
their right to vote in Nebraska this
fall. A conscientious clergyman out at
Grand Island Is responsible. He bad
but recently been transferred. He Is
tho Rev. J. G. Shlek and was appointed
by tho bl3hop on September 22, last. He
did not arrive in Grand Island until
October 2. He wanted to know If his
legal residence In Grand Island began
on September 22, when his appointment
took ..effect and when his relations with
his former church ceased, or when he
reached his new home. In the first
Instance he would be in time to register
and vote. In the second be would not.
Tho attorney general says that a
minister's legal residence begins at the
same time as any other man’s, when he
arrives In town to make his home there.
He cites a supreme court decision
which held that one’s home is where
he has established his permanent resi
dence, the place at which he is habitu
ally present and to which, when he
departs, ho intends to return.
The law requires that a man must
live 40 days In a county prior to elec
tion in order to qualify himself to veto.
Many of the Methodist ministers were
appointed to new charges in September
and did not remove to their new fields
until too late to get within the 40-day
line. Having abandoned their old homes
they can’t go back there to vote.
—
COUNTY COMMISSIONER
CARRIES “VELVET” CHECK
Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 17.—County Com
missioner Mitchell has a check for $15
In his pocket that he won’t cash. It
came from the agent of a road ma
chinery company which had sold the
county a grader. Mitchell is not sure
whether it was meant to bribe him or
whether it was part of a political
scheme to acquire his goat, he being
a candidate for re-election. Mitchell
has not got along with the other com
missioners, one of whom has sworn
to "get” Mitchell. This commissioner
knew about the existence of the check
before Mitchell said anything about it.
The check has been in the official’s
possession since February and he says
he has been keeping it, on the advice
of an attorney, to protect himself. The
other members have advised him to
turn it into the county treasury.
ERRONEOUS SAMPLE BALLOT
NOT AN OFFICIAL ISSUE
Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 17.—Angry and
excited republicans have been bom
barding the secretary of state with pro
tests because a sample ballot In circu
lation gives the democratic party tick
et first place on the ticket, with the
populists second. The ballot w'as got
out by a printing firm as an Indication
of its typographical ability and willing
ness to print ballots, and not by the
secretary. He had a difficult time ex
plaining It.
The official sample ballot will give
the democrats first place, the progres
sives second, the republicans third and
the populists last, there being no data
to determine how many populist votes
there are. The leading positions follow
the vote cast at presidential election.
RETURNS TO LINCOLN ON
WIFE DESERTION CHARGE
Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 17.—Frank Mc
Clellan. an automobile dealer of Mt.
Ayr, la., will speedily make a trip
from that town to Lincoln In company
with an officer of the law. McClellan
formerly lived in Lincoln, and when he
left he neglected to inform his wife
that he was going or where to send his
letters. Upon her complaint, charging
wife and child desertion. Governor
Morehead has Issued a requisition upon
the governor of Iowa for the man’s re
turn. Besides the wife and 6-year-old
son. there Is a babe that arrived since
his departure. McClellan was caught
through his writing to a commercial
agency for credit.
SOME COUNTIES OVERPAID
FOR SUPPORT OF INSANE
Lincoln. Neb., Oct. 17.—Thirty-six
counties in Nebraska have made the
mistake of paying the state auditor
more money than they should have
handed him in settlement of ancient
claims for the care at the state insane
asylums of patients from these coun
ties. The amounts overpuld range from
4 cents, in the case of Rock county,
to $201.15, by Merrick. Among the coun
ties that have so sadly erred are TMx
on. Antelq#o, Knox, Platte, Washing
ton. Thurston and Boyd. Action will
lii- begun by the state against the coun
ties of Dakota, Stanton. Burt and Gage.
ASK GIRLS TO GIVE
UP THEIR SORORITIES
Now York. Oct. 16.—Every American
high school girl who belongs to a Greek
letter sorority and does nut resign be
fore November 1 will be barred from
joining such sororities when she en
ters college, under a resolution adopted
here by the 13th congress of the Na
tional Pan-Hellenic society, represent
ing 70.000 college sorority women. The
congress will meet next year in San
Francisco. Mrs. J. H. Crann, of Iowa,
president, was in the chair.
BOSTON OPERATIC STAR
REPORTED KILLED IN WAR
Boston, Oct. 16.—From a source be
lieved t*» the authoritative word was re
ceived today that Vanni Marcoux. a
member of the Boston Opera company,
had been shot and killed while fighting
in the French army. He was a native
of Turin, Italy, but for many years
had been a citizen of France.
It is estimated that the population
uf the United States is increasing at
| th» raU of 4,000 ajLluy.
PROFESSOR'S FRIENDS
RESENT ALLUSIONS TO
CUT OF HIS WHISKERS
Tension at University, Due to
Anti-German Utterances,
Grows In Volume.
Lincoln. Neb., Oct. 17.—The vitriolic
attack of University Regent Haller
upon Prof. F. M. Fling, head of the
department of university history. has
set the professors at that institution
buzzing. Professor Fling, in a recent
convocation address, took a radical at
titude against the Germans. He de
clared that while the president was cor
rect in maintaining the neutrality of
the nation, his plea to the individual to
be neutral was bad ad' ice.
The Germans rose in anger and urged
the regents to discipline Fling. The re
gents said they did not agree with the
professor, hut would not interfere with
the academic freedom of the faculty
members.
Regent Haller, however, wrote a per
sona] letter to a protesting German in
which he called Fling brilliant but er
ratic, and said he was so French in his
tastes and tendencies that he talked
Frencli and wore a French Imperial.
With the general public urged to re
frain from prejudiced utterances In re
lation to the war situation, the general
Nebraska feeling, at least outside of
the university, Is that Professor Fling
exercised very bad taste in his radical
utterances. He was not presenting ab
solute historical statements, but merely
his own opinions.
—-4—
NEBRASKA TOWNS ARE
PUSHING RATE COMPLAINTS
Lincoln, Neb.. Oct. 17.—Complaint has
been filed with the Interstate Com
merce commission by attorneys repre
senting the cities of Grand Island and
Hastings that railroad rates on goods
shipped from the east into those cities
are higher in proportion on the Nebras
ka haul of 145 miles than on the 482
mile haul from Chicago to river cross
ing points.
On canned goods the Chioago-Hast
ings rate is 53 cents per 100, while the
Chlcago-Omnha tariff is 27 cents, or
abofit half. Similar disparities exist
in other tariffs. The chambers of com
merce of the two cities are backing the
complaints, rvhich charge discrimina
tion and excessive and unreasonable
tariffs. There is no physical reason for
charging as much for hauling the 143
miles in Nebraska as for the 482 miles
through Iowa and Illinois. A long list
of commodities which are dealt in at
wholesale or manufactured in the two
cities is appended, and it is charged
that these find it difficult to meet com
petition from the east because of the
discrimination.
—4—
MONUMENT WILL MARK
OLD “STEAM WAGON” ROAD
Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 17.—The state his
torical society will dedicate a monu
ment at Nebraska City on October 31,
at the starting point of the old steam
wagon road. In August, 1862, a steam
wagon that resembled the latter day
threshing engine started from Nebraska
City to Denver. The stage fare in those
days between the two points was $75,
and a man named Brown conceived the
idea that by building and using a steam
wagon to transport passengers the trip
could be made >n half the time and for
less cost. The wagon broke down on
the first trip out, and was abandoned
cn the road. Nobody ever rescued It, as
the railroad came through soon after
ward. The Inventor had built the ma
chine in New York. He went hack
there to get a part to replace that
which was broken, and never came
back.
FARMERS STORED WHEAT;
FIRM GOES BANKRUPT
Hastings, Neb., Oct. 17.—Fifty-six
Webster county farmers appeared In
United States district court here, de
manding pay for a total of more than
40,000 bushels of wheat which they
had stored in the Bladen elevator of
William Rundberg, now a bankrupt.
They allege the wheat was stored
with the understanding they would give
shipping orders as soon as the Euro
pean war had pushed the price suffi
ciently high. When Rundberg went
into bankruptcy they called to see about
the sales of their wheat. They allege
there remained but 10,000 bushels.
The referee will decide as to whether
the title to the wheat had been trans
ferred, making ’ It necessary for the
farmers to come in as other creditors,
also as to whose wheat yet remains in
the elevators.
ALASKA COAL LAND
BILL IS APPROVED
Washington, Oct. 17.—The Alaska
coal land leasing bill, in the form of a
second conference report, was approved
yesterday by the Senate. The first re
port was rejected on the ground the
conference had exceeded their author
ity. The second report struck out the
proviso limiting the regulatory power
of the interior department over coal
lands to actions through the courts for
cancellation of the lease to be tiled
with 90 days of notice to the defendant.
This provision had aroused opposition
in the Senate. The conference agreed
also to a Senate amendment in which
the government profits from leasing
contracts would he used in the con
struction of a railroad and in other
Alaska development.
RUSSIAN LEADERS OPEN
BIG FRENCH HOSPITAL
Bordeaux—Under the patronage of
the Dowager Empress Marie Feodor
ovna, tlie Russian embassy has opened
a hospital at Blanquefoit in the brand
new chateau of a famous chocolate
maker. The chateau has incompar
able grounds, with woods, a lake and
vineyards.
A visit has been paid by Madame
Poincare who was received by the wife
and daughter of the Russian ambas
sador. Mme. and Madamolselle Isvolsky,
both in tlie uniform of Red Cross nurs
es.
The hospital is the best equipped
seen here. All arrangements are per
fect. The young doctors, belonging to
the host Russian families, devoted
themselves heart and soul to that work.
PROTECTS DAUGHTER’S
ESCORT WITH SHOTGUN
Louisville, Ky.. Oct. 15.—Thomas
Shields, armed with a shotgun, tired in
to a erowd. wounding three men who.
he alleges, hat! threatened to whip
Irwin Quick, who acompunted Shield’s
daughter, Aline, home from a dance.
The injured are: Sidney J. Mills,
fatally hurt; William C. Murphy and
William Mills.
A rio. cell brought a patrol wagon
filled with policemen, who took the
men to a hospital and arrested Shields.
WITH OSTEND CAPTURED
GERMANS BEGIN MOVING
ON OTHER PORT CITIES
Great Battle Is Now Believed to Be In Progress Along French
Belgian Frontier In An Effort to Prevent the Germans
From Reaching Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne—Brief Of
ficial Statements Say Anglo-French Left Wing and German
Right Are Hotly Engaged All Along the Line.
PARIS WAR OFFICE REPORTS FURTHER GAINS
Claimed That Allied Troops Have Gained Ground In Region
of Ypres and Armentieres and at St. Mihiel In Eastern
France—Berlin General Staff Silent on Progress of Cam- «
paign—Rumored That Warships May Be Employed In De
fending Coast—Scout Invasion of England.
The German army that successfully besieged Antwerp ha*
swept victoriously westward along the Belgian coast until now,
with its right resting on Ostend, it forms the extreme right of the
German line stretching from the North sea to the Swiss frontier.
A great battle to determin whether the advancing German
hosts v be stopped in western Belgium or push into France, soiz«
ing 1) 'c and Calais on the Strait of Dover, must come soon, an ’
quite ibly is being fought today.
Official intelligence is markedly meager today, and this is ir*
variably the case when the belligerents are particularly active.
The official statement given out at the French war office th 4
afternoon is as follows:
“In Belgium, the German troops occupying western Belgiuaf
have not crossed the line running from Ostend to Thourout to Roa
lors to Menin. There is relative quiet along the greater part of th®
front.
“On our left wing there has been no change. In the region of.
Ypres, on the right bank of the Lys, the allied troops have occupied
Fleur Baix, as well as the immediate approaches to Armentieres.
“In the regie0 of Arras and also in the vicinity of St. Mihiel,
we have continued to gain ground.’’
An official French statement issued last night stated that the
allies had held their own everywhere and had occupied Lavenze, at
the east of Ataires, in the direction of Lille.
It was further stated that the French had successfully repelled a
German attack in the region of Malancourt, northeast of Verdun.
Ostend Falls: Germans Plan to
Take Dunkirk, Calais, Bolougne
London, Oct. 19.—German forces, as
tvas predicted, have occupied Ostend,
on the North sea, near where the Ger
man right wing and the allies’ left are
struggling in the latest phase of what
was once the battle of the Aisne.
Reports, reaching London, say that
German imagination has been fired by
the taking of Ostend, and the cry now
is not only “On to Calais,” but “On to
Boulogne.”
What progress, if any, the Germans
have made since they entered Ostend
Thursday morning, is not known here,
but their next objective, apparently, is
Dunkirk. Opinion in England seems to
differ as to what part the British fleet
would play should the battle continue
to skirt the coast line. Reports that
British dreadnoughts would back up
the French, British and Belgian forces
from the straits of Dover, seem to
originate in German sources.
London papers, generally, deprecate
the importance of the German occupa
tion of the Belgian coast, pointing out
that the British mine field prevents the
enemy from bringing ships to operate
from the none too spacious harbor of
Ostend. The fact remains, however,
that as the fighting gets geographical
ly nearer England, the public, hereto
fore discussing and speculating on a
Eeppelin raid, asks: "What will come
next?”
It is unquestionably true that if Ger
many is able to engineer submarine
attacks from a base further away, Os
! tend certainly would be of some stratc
getic value.
The allied left is holding its ground.
At some points it is even moving for
ward, having occupied Laventi, driving;
the Germans back toward Lille. One
report had it that the Germans had
been driven out of Lille, but this has
not been confirmed.
The presence of Uhlans has been re
ported recently within 40 miles of
Calais, but a glance at the map in tho
region of the cavalry clashes of the
last few days, which for a time ex
tended as far west as Hazebrouck,
shows that, notwithstanding the Ger
man claims of victories, the allies have
made steady progress, Laventlne being
considerably east of the town men
tioned.
—♦—
SAYS GERMANS ARE NOW
MOVING OUT OF OSTEND
London, Oct. 17.—The correspondent
of the Daily Mail, at Flushing, Nether
lands, sends the following regarding
German movements in northwestern
Belgium:
“The German troops are leaving Os
tend for the east. Approximately 5,000
are lodged in the public buildings of
Ostend. Two thousand have left Zee
brugges and there are no Germans be
tween Heyst and Sluis. The Germans
billeted at Bruges are behaving well,
but those at Maldeghem have caused
considerable damage.”
Most Important Battle of 'War
Raging In 100 Miles of London
London. Oct. 17.—Withtin 100 miles
It London the most critical battle—
Flowed from its effect in immediate
fortunes of the opposing armies—that
has marked this colossal campaign, it
it present ebbing and flowing along
t line stretching through Belgium and
further westward into the French de
partment of the north.
The Germans have prepared for a
renewal of their vigorous offensive by
joining their victorious troops from
Antwerp to the main army.
Much more is published in British
newspapers of German reinforcements
than of accessions to the ranks of the
allied armies.
Meantime the German offensive is
meeting Just as strenuous an offensive
from the allied left which remains the
most important position as it has been
throughout the campaign.
'Everywhether our ground has been
held and at some points ground has
been gained,” is the latest report from
General Joffre, commander in chief of
the French army on the operations in
this particular Held.
The war information bureau is
sphynx-like as to current events con
tenting itself with trying to amuse the
nation with trivial side lights having
no direct bearing on the campaign.
The only statement that has
emanated from the bureau up to 2
o’clock this afternoon, was a denial in
tended to lay the ghosts of the rumors
that followed the slking of the British
cruiser, Hawke. "There is no truth
whatever in rumors that any vessels
of his majesty’s navy have been sunk
or have otherwise met with disaster,
other than those about which announce
ments have already been made,” said
the official pronouncement.
♦ —
NOW FIGHTING ALONG COAST
THE BERLIN STAFFS REPORTS
Berlin, Oct. 17 (by wireless)— Accord
ing to announcement made In Berlin to
day German troops in the vicinity of
Ostend have reached the North sea. and
fighting is going on as far to the west
as Dunkirk.
Belgium today appears to be almost |
completely in German possession. The
French anil British troops are reported
as cut off on all sides particularly
around Y'pres.
German headquarters in Berlin lias
expressed the belief that large numbers
of Belgian soldiers, fleeing before the
Germans, have cast off their uniforms
and put on civilian clothes, preferring
to be captured in this attire. That the
men composing the garrison at Ant
werp fled in a great hurry is proved
by the quantities of cast off uniforms, ,
especially of the British royal naval
division found by the German soldiers.
Antwerp suffered little by the bom
bardment. The people are now quiet
ind glad that the days of terror are
aver. A mob already had begun plun
dering the city before the Germans ar
rived.
According to a dispatch from Zurich,
Switzerland, to the Cologne Gazette.
Ihe French are in a position to the east
nf Belfort. Since last Tuesday they
have been reaching in to Alsace sub
lected to heavy mortar fire. The Ger
mans are said to be gaining groumj
slowly.
DOES "POWER" MEAN
"MIGHT" OR "RIGHT?"
John Grier Hibben Says Amer
ica Must Uphold Standard
of Christian Contender.
New York. Oct. 17.—President John
Grier Hibbin, of Princeton, who was
In Europe late in July, speaking at a
laymen’s efficiency convention in the
Cathedral of St. John the Divine, last
night declared that the war was af
fecting the life of every person in
America, more vitally than any other
Influence ever encountered.
"The problem we Americans face in
passing judgment on this war, "said
Or Hibben, "is the definition of the
word 'power.' We must decide whether
it means 'right.' as Christians have
preached for 2,000 years, or whether it
means merely 'might.'
"We are fortunate in that a call has
not come to us for men who know how
to die. Almost ; lone we are safe from
war's actual conflict yet almost alone
we hold to the standard today that
fight and not might makes the greater
strength."