Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, July 02, 1916, NEWS SECTION, Image 1
Part One NEWS SECTION PAGES 1 TO 12. The Omaha Sunday Bee THE WEATHER FAIR VOL. XLVI NO. 3. OMAHA, SUNDAY WC?A ;NG, JULY 2, 1916 SEVEN SECTIONS FORTY PAGES. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS. MIGHTY ALLIED DRIVE SMASHES GERMAN LINES Huge Wedge Penetrates Teuton Army Nearly Five Miles as Eesult of Grand Offen sive Under Way. BOTH SIDES OF SOMME At Six O'clock the British Push Past Village of Albert Short Distance. FRENCH TAKE THIAUMONT Paris, July 1. The French have re taken the Thiaumont work, according to the official statement issued by the war office tonight. London, July 1. The grand offen sive on the western front begun by the British and French on both sides of tHe River Somme, sixty miles north of Paris, early this morning, has al ready resulted in a great wedge being driven into the German lines along a sixteen-mile front with its sharp point penetrating nearly five miles. At 6 o'clock tonight the British had rushed from a short distance east of Albert as far as Montauban, more than vfie miles away, and had re pulsed a German counter attack on that village. Number of Villages Taken. Both to the north and the south a number of other villages, including Hebusterne, Scrre La Boishelle and Mametz, had been swept out of Ger man hands, some them only after de termined resistance on the part of the three defenders. Fricourt, three miles east of Albert, was still in German possesion in the early evening, but with the capture of Montauban and Mametz to the east and southeast of it, and La Boishelle to the northeast, the place was nearly surrounded and its speedy surrender seemed inevitable. Farther south the French are co operating with the British and have taken the village of Curlu and scored other notable advances. Million Shots Daily. The entente allied drive was begun against German trenches leveled after a seven-day bombardment in which more than 1,000,000 shots daily had . ocen iircu. t. AHlMtwvRiiftKian frnnna rnntinnp trt drive back the Austro-Hungarian army in the region south of the Dneister river, in Galicia, says the Russian official statement. Many places south of Kolomea have been occupied by the forces of Em peror Nicholas. It is announced that oh June 28 and 29 General Letchitzky took prisoner 305 officers and 14,574 men, making a total of 317,000 Austro Hungarians captured since June 4. Take Mametz. British Headquarters in - France, July 1. (Via London.) In pushing their offensive against the Germans, the British have taken the village of Mametz. Friecourt, which has been held tenaciously by the Germans, has been nearly suroundcd. Under a pall ot smoke, with the un broken roar of artillery, the struggle over the longest line of any offensive yet undertaken on the western front, which began at 7:30 o'clock this morning, is continuing at this hour. From a hill the Associated Press correspondent watched the beginning of the battle. Notwithstanding the fact that troops have been moved to the front in immense- numbers for the attack, f there are still remaining billets in the 'i r.ar urhirh ar 9nn9r.nl v iinnrs- sary in working out the present plans. Whole Line Shelled. With deliberate and methodical precision, the gathering of human and mechanical material proceeded. The whole line was included in the preliminary bombardment for the f I to the point of attack. I . Overwhelming as was the power of fcp - the guns, the significant spectacle was oetacnmcnis 01 imaniry, in neia 6 - lighting equipment, moving forward r ...:i it.. .1.. ......... u:.. of khaki about to swarm forth to bat tle. Each of the officers had maps alid directions in detail of the part his unit was to play in the complicated scheme of attack. The men had sewn in their uni forms insignia to designate the dif ferent units amid the dust and smoke of action. As the battalions marched they sang the tunes they used to sing on the drill grounds at home. There were quiet and undemonstra tive English. There were brawny (Continued on Pago t, Column 1.) The Weather . For Nebraska Fair and continued warm. Temperature mi Omaha Yesterday. Hour. Def. , 5 a. m 74 N 6 a. m 7S 7 a. m 77 a. m. a. m 83 10 a. m 8ii 11 a. m 87 12 m S9 1 p. m 90 i p m... 91 5 p. m 92 4 p. m., 93 6 p. m., 92 t p. m 91 T p. m 9 Comparative Local Keord. 1916. 1916. 1914. 1913. Hlrheit yesterday.... 93 M 83 o Lowest yesterday.... 744 69 60 fid Mean temperature.... 64 79 71 79 Precipitation 00 .08 .00 T Temperature and precipitation departure from the normal: Normal temperature 76 Rxeesa for the day , 9 Total exeera since March 1 3 Normal Dreetoltatlon 16 inch Deficiency for the day 16 Inch Total rainfall Bines March 1 $.it lnchea Deficiency since March 1. 1916.. 418 Inrhea iJeriotenry for cor. period, 1915.. 3.74 lnchea Deficiency for ecr. period, 1914.. .11 Inch BRITONS TAKE 20 MILES OFTRENCHES General Offensive is Launched Against German Line North of River Somme. PENETRATE FIVE MILES British Headquarters in France, July 1. Reports received from the front up to 12:30, seven hours after the combined French and British of fensive was launched, showed that the allies had captured the towns of La Boiselle, Serre Montauban, Curlu and Faviere Woods. The main first line trenches oyer the entire front un der attack are reported to have been stormed, and at various points the fighting has reached the main second line. These reports show that the French and British at the points of their furthest advances have broken through a distance oi more than live miles beyond the first German trenches. Montauban is five and a half miles east of the old British front and Curlu Wood is six miles east-southeast of Albert. The British are endeavoring to sur round Thiepval, and at -other points an intense struggle is under way for towns and villages. Reports from the front indicate that the important German position at Fricourt may be cut off. General Attack Launched. After weeks of intense bombard ment with guns of every caliber, fir ing a million shells daily, the British, early today, launched a general offen sive against the German line along a front of twenty miles, north of the river Somme. They succeeded in taking the German tront line trenches and capturing many men. The Frencii, on the British right, co-operated in the attack. When the last despatch, thus far received, left British headquarters, the lighting was still progressing, and further suc cesses, it was said, were being re corded. The front selected for the British offensive was decided upon many weeks ago and the bombardment of the rest of the line as well as the fre quent raids which procured for Brit ish headquarters important informa- Ltion as to the disposition of the Ger mans, was designed to keep the Ger man generals uncertain as to the point at which they would be called upon to meet the brunt of the attack. Bombardment Is Intense. This is the first time since the out break Of the war that .the intention of an army to undertake an offensive has been so well advertised. A week ago, when the German attacks against Verdun began to make further head way and it was feared the army of the crown prince was getting within a distance of Verdun which was dan gerous for the allies, the British guns began to speak. Since then, except for the hours when British infantry men were raiding German trenches, a continual bombardment has been maintained. Batteries which now are innumer able, took turns at smashing the Ger man defenses,' destroying communica tion trenches and blowing up am munition depots. New trench mortars, particularly destructive, tore away wire entangelements, broke down parapets and generally opened the way for men with rifles and bayonets. Big guns of fifteen inches and other large calibers prevented the Germans from bringing up supports, wrecking everything within range. Two Towns Destroyed. The artillery fire was particularly intense on a stretch of the front north of the Somme and earlier dis patches told of the destruction of the towns of Thiepval and Beaucourt, where the Germans had concentrated ammunition. Early this morning more guns were brought into action on this twenty-mile sector and for an hour and a half the Germans were subjected to a bomhardment which is described as the fiercest experienced in this war of heavy artillery. Million Shells Fired Daily. The tremendous offensive which has been launched by the British army on the German front is the cul mination of a five days' bombardment which, in the amount of ammunition expended and in the territory involv ed, tcceeds 'anything of the kind that has been previously known in the world war. For some weeks reports have been current in England and France that the "big push" of the British was about to commence, it was stated that England had 2,000,000 men, fully equipped and trained, in preparation for the supreme effort to break the German lines. ,More than 1,000,000 shell; are declared to have been fired daily in the preliminary bombardment which extended over a front ninety miles in length. Offensive in All Fields. The allies are now on the offensive in practically every field of the war. The British assault comes on the heels of the great successes won by the Russians in Galicia and Buko wina, which have resulted in com pletely driving the Austrians from Bukowina, and are still continuing. On the Italian front the central pow ers have also met with severe re verses and for several days the Ital ians have been teadily driving the Austrians from position after position in the Trentino. The defense also of erdun by the French appears to have stiffened, and the balance of battle in that bitterly contested sector ap pear recently to have swayed in fa vor of the defenders. Cotton Market Breaks Two Dollars a Bale New York, July U A break of fully $2 a bale followed the publica tion of the government's crop report in the cotton market here today. Re cent private; reports had indicated a crop condition of about 79.6 per cent on the average, but the government report made it 81.1. DOUR? REPl ..uANS in SCRAPPYCONFAB Committee Finally Named to Recommend New Central Committee and Con vention Delegates. 'BOB' SMITH MAKES THREAT Tells Commjttee if Right Men Not Chosen' Candidates Will Not Contribute. PRECEDENT IS FOLLOWED By order registered in a "scrappy" meeting of the county committee the Douglas county republican convention is called for Saturday, July 22. The committee met in court room No. 1 of the county court house and the convention is to be held in the same place. Following precedent, each county central committeeman is to certify two republicans from his precinct as delegates. By resolution a subcommittee of seven was named to recommend the eligible republicans for service on a new central committee and for dele gates to the state convention, subject to the county convention. This committee consists of Harry Byrne, James E. Hammond, J. M. Calabria, Myron E. Learned, M. J. Greevy, George H. Brewer and T. P. Mahammit. Wanted Thomas to Choose. The fight of the afternoon came up over the resolution creating this com mittee and empowering it to recom mend the names of the new central committee. The opposition wanted to let Chairman Amos Thomas control the selection or give it over to the candidates on the ticket. Though not a member of the committee, "Bob" Smith charged that it was an effort of the old committee to perpetuate it self, and declared he and his fellow candidates ought to determine who the new committee should be. The resolution was introduced by T. J. McGuire, regular member of the committee, and "Bob" Smith, attend ing only as a candidate, immediately began a vigorous talk against it, being recognized just as though he had a right on the floor. Candidate "Bob's" Threat. Judge A. L. Sutton, likewise attend ing as candidate for governor, also argued against the resolution, and Smith threatened, in effect, to with hold contributions if the personnel of the neyt campaign committee was not to his liking. "The choice of the officers, at least, of this new committee," said Smith, "should be left to the candidates. You'll want campaign contributions and you'll come to the candidates for them. Certainly the candidates who give these contributions should have something to say as to the men to handle these campaign funds.- Colonel C. L. Mather, after a con ference with "Bob," introduced a sub stitute resolution ignoring the matter of selecting the new committee and providing for a committee of five to be appointed by Chairman Amos Thomas, with himself as chairman of the subcommittee, to report to the county convention the names of the state convention delegates. Would Consult Candidates. Both Byrne and Hammond got to their feet and declared that as their names wer proposed on the subcom mittee they desired to announce pub licly that they had no thought of act ing without consulting with the candi dates. But even this open promise did not satisfy "Bob." "If you don't trust us, you cannot expect us to trust you," he retorted. At this point Fred Hoye moved to table both resolutions and start all over, which motion was voted down; but after a little parliamentary squab ble, like a flash, the motion to table came up again and this time Chairman Thomas ruled the resolutions tabled on a viva voca vote. McGuire appealed from his decision and succeeded in getting a vote dver whelmincrlv overruling the chair, and when the count was taken it was found that the resolutions were by no means tabled. The Mather resolution was then voted down, and the McGuire resolu tion carried, 21 to 10. Treasury Figures On Bond Issue to Meet Mex. Expenses Washington, July 1. Treasury of ficials were today figuring the treas ury's net balance for the fiscal year, which ended last midnight, to de termine whether a bond issue, will be necessary to care for expenses caused by the Mexican crisis. There is an agreement among the administration leaders to ask congress to authorize such an isssue if ordinary resources of the treasury and the ad ditional $210,000,000 expected from the administration revenue bill are not sufficient. The expenses incident to the Mexi can emergency already provided for or estimated approximate $125,000, 000. This, as well as any further ex pense, would be covered in the pro posed bond issue. El Paso Saloons Reopen Until Six El Paso, Tex., July 1. The saloons of El Paso, ordered closed by Mayor Lea Thursday night when there were strong disturbances growing out of the carmen's strike, were allowed to reopen today. They must close at 6 p. m however. Representatives of the carmen and the car company arranged a confer ence today. UNCLE SAM'S "BELGIAN RATTLESNAKE" Great interest attached to the tests of the Lewis machine gun at Plattsburg camp. Two hundred and fifty of these guns, it is re ported, have just been purchased for the United States army. These guns, together with 6,000,000 cartridges, were manufactured for the British government and according to Brit ish specifications. fi, TiSr iilS VaiaaMM)asatfai VISITORS' DAY AT CAMPMOREHEAD Only Celebration of Fourth Will Be Open House for Friends of the Soldiers. FIFTH IS NEARLY READY Lincoln, Neb., July 1. There will be no Fourth of July celebration at Camp Morehead. Nebraska's mobiliza tion camp, according to he decision of a'tonference fjetween , Gowernor Morehead and the National Guard of ficers this morning. The day will be, however, designated as visitors' day and special arrangements will be made to welcome all who may come. With the exception of full equip ment, the Fourth regiment is ready to entrain for the border, upon call. The Fifth regiment will be fully mustered and examined by tomorrrow night, it was said. A strict eensorship has been established in accordance with orders from Secretary of War Baker. First Troops at El Paso. El Paso, July 1. Two batteries of the Fifth artillery, B and C, arrived here today from Fort Sill, Okl. One detrained down town and the other at Fort Bliss. Other troop trains bearing Na tional Guardsmen are Hearing El Paso, being due to arrive some time today. Illinois Boys Sleep in Street. Springfield, 111., July 1. After sleeping blankctless all night in the streets, the First cavalry, Illinois Na tiorlal Guard, entrained for the bor der early today after a delay of fif teen hours, caused by the railroads, failure to furnish equipment. Camp Douglas, Wis., July 1 Two batteries of artillery, Wisconsin Na tional Guard, entrained for the bor der today. Information regarding their destination was withheld. Kansas and Missouri Entrain. Fort Riley, Kan., July 1. The first section of the Second infantry, Kan sas National Guard, left here this morning for the south. Nevada, Mo., July 1. The artillery battalion and signal corps unit of the Missouri National Guard entrained to day. Argentina Denies Sale Of Guns to Carranza Buenos Ayrcs, July 1. Official de nial was given today to the report that the Argentine government had sold armament to General Carranza. A dispatch from El Paso June 28 said agents there of a Mexico City bank had received reports that Ar gentina had sold the Carranza gov ernment 1 WO machine guns. The Bee's Fund for Free Milk and Ice Here's $2.50 for The Bee milk and ice fund," said C. F. Bossie, city milk and dairy inspector, this morning, after he read the morning Bee with the announcement of the fund. "I believe," he continued, "this ij j splendid idea. I know a lot of good was accomplished last year. I hope everybody will help. It is one of the best ways to help the little ones this summer. Push it along." Every cent you give to this fund helps the helpless children of the wor thy poor. The money is expended through agencies already established, so that none is wasted in paying sal aries, etc. Send yours in now. Here are the subscribers to the fund already: Th IIMI ... II, (HI JoiMtliitn K4lwarfl A. 00 ('. K. lliwHlft. . '. 8. AO Ilalilniiin 1rmoriM,Jr 6.00 Dan H. Ililtlfr It. 00 ('. II. H'llhnrll. .' '. '. S 00 Klrhtml flrotla 1 .00 (Inirp PttrkH 5.00 A 'rlrn CI 1.00 Total 134.50'! RUSSIAN FORCES CAPTURE KOLOMEA Czar's Men Occupy Most Im portant Railway Center in Bukowina Region. MESSAGE TELLS THE STORY London, July 1. The announce ment that the Russians had captured Kolomea, Galicia, reached here early today in a laconic special communi cation from Fetrograd. This com munication merely said:"' "We have taken Kolomea, the most important railway center in the Bukowina region. Six Athletic Club Directors in Eace For New Members One of the sporting events in Oma ha this week will be the race of six of Omaha's big business men to get lifty members each for the Athletic club of Omaha. These men, A. W. Jefferis, F. W. Judson, George Brandeis, W. A. Fra ser, Nels B. Updike and George E. Haverstick, all directors of the club, Friday afternoon pledged themselves to do this work. The betting odds are on Nels Up dike as the man who will get his fifty members first. Thus far Mr. Updike is leading by several lengths the other directors in the member ship campaign. "We agreed to work half a day each week," President Fraser of the club said Friday after the meeting. "I can get fifty easily. "We want to get this membership work closed up and start on the new building. Some of the directors want to start the building before we get the membership campaign closed. We've got to get started pretty soon so we can have the club house com pleted before winter sets in." Cotton Production And Area Planted Show an Increase Washington, July 1. Present condi tions indicate a cotton crop of 14; 266,000 equivalent 500-pound bales this year. The Department of Agriculture forecasts this total production today in connection with its report announc ing the condition of the crop on June 25 and the preliminary estimate of this year's acreage. Last year's crop, the smallest since 1909, was 11,191, 820 bales, while two years ago it was 16,134,930 bales, the biggest crop ever grown. In 1913 it was 14.1 56,486 bales and in 1912 the production was 13, 703,421 bales. In its preliminary estimate of the area of cotton in cultivation this year the department places the figure at 33,994,000 acres. That compares with 32,107,000 acres, the revised estimate of acreage in cultivation a year ago, and with 36,832,000 acres harvested in 1914. The condition of the growing crop on June 25 was 81.1 per cent of a normal, as compared- with 77.5 per cent on May 25 this year, 80.2 per cent on June 25 last year and 80.2 per cent, the average condition for the last ten years on June 25. Bill for Relief of Guard's Families Passes the House Washington, July 1. The Hay bill, appropriating $2,000,000 for dependent families of National Guardsmen, called or drafted in the present emergency, was passed by the house today. The bill, which now goes to the senate, allows not exceeding $50 a month to the dependent families in the discre tion of the secretary of war. TRENCHES CHANGE HANDS TWICE IN DAY Battles for Possession of Posi tions in Verdun Arena Con tinue With Much Fury. FIGHTING LAST ALL NIGHT Paris, July 1. After four violent at tacks with liquid fire the Germans succeeded in capturing the position east of Hill No. 304, which was taken by the French yesterday. The French made a counter; attack and recaptured the position, according to an official statement issued by ths war office today. . After several furious assaults the Germans succeeded in penetrating the works around Thiaumont, which were captured by the French yesterday, ac cording to the officii! statement. The approaches to Thiaumont are still in the hands of the French. On the west of the Meuse fighting of great violence lasted throughout the night in the neighborhood of the Esnes-Avocourt road. The Germans attacked heavily both east and west of Hill No. 304, but most of their at tacks were repulsed. Nancy was bom barded by German long range guns. Option on Ralston Expires With No Trace of Schaeffer Option secured by S. E. Schaeffer, promoter of the so-called Rialto com panies, upon the Ralston townsite, ex pired at midnight TIrirsday without being exercised, and title to the prop erty reverts unclouded to the Ral ston Townsite company. Failure of Schaefler to exercise the option marks the end of his promo tion project to found a movie city at Ralston, it is believed. No investors placed their money in Schaeffer's scheme and the only losers are those who extended credit to Schaeffer. The whereabouts of the promoter is unknown here. Henry Pollock, a cousin, has returned to Omaha after visiting Milwaukee in search of Schaeffer, and says no trace of him can be found there. His wife and children are awaiting his return to Milwaukee. Rogers Departs And Court House Breathes Easier Everything is quiet at the county hospital. Fred Rogers, deposed superintendent, has quietly folded his tent and taken his departure, and Superintendent Woods, appointed last Monday, has already taken charge. The bombshell which Rogers threatened to burst in the county commission, which he intimated had something to do with the purchase of supplies, has failed to materialize. Breathing in the court house is again audible. Fanning to Put the Postoffice on a High Plane, Says Mayor "At last the rank and file of de mocracy has been recognized," re marked Mayor Dahlman when be learned of the appointment of Charles E. Fanning as postmaster. "There is a man of great executive ability. He will put the office en a high plane. The rank and file of lo cal democrats will be pleased," con tinued the mayor, still talking about Fanning. The mayor regards Colonel Fan ning as a simon-pure representative of the "plain people." DE FACTO CHIEF DOES NOT REPLY TO LANSING NOTE Defiant Statement to Mexican People is Not Followed by Answer to the United States. SITUATION MARKING TIME Little Probability of Definite Action Until Congress Re convenes Wednesday. FUNSTON KEEPS QUIET Washington, July 1. Unless Gen eral Carraiua's reply to , the last American note arrives today and is as defiant as private advices from Mex ico City have indicated, it is consid ered probable President Wilson will have to wait at least until next Wednesday before placing the Mex- -ican situation before congress, as the house planned to adjourn today over the Fourth. It was plain that administration officials were impatient at the failure to receive any word of when the Mex ican note might be expected, since the demand for a prompt reply went to Mexico City last Sunday. Strong assurances may be given in the Mexican reply, it is believed by officials here, of the de facto govern ment's ability to protect the border against further raids. The Mexican embassy stated fifty troops would be available for this service if the Amer ican force is withdrawn. Developments at a Standstill Developments in the Mexican crisis were at a standstill, while the United States government awaited impatient ly Carranza's reply. Messages received at the State de partment from Special Agent Rodg ers at Mexico City made no mention of the -Mexican answer. Mr. Rodg ers so far has been unable to forecast the action of General Carranza and the only intimations reaching here have been through diplomatic and private dispatches. These have in dicated that the de facto government -was preparing to stand by its attitude of hostility toward United States troops across the border. .... Upon his return 'from New York President Wilson went over all ths advices st hand, but learned virtually nothing he did not know when he left C0Dtlautf an Para t, Calnma Carlin Tells' of " v' Finding Bottle : Dropped by Orpet' WauWan, III., July A IHarry J. Carlin,) who one week after the death of Marion Lambert found the bottle of molasses and water which Will H. Orpet said he threw away when he fled from Marion's body, took the stand today in the trial of Orpet, charged with the murder of Miss Lambert. Attorney David Joslyn of the prosecution doubled and twisted, seeking to betray the witness into a damaging admission. Carlin usually replied with a grin. "When you came upon the bottle did it look the same to you as when first you saw it?" asked Joslyn. "I never saw it before in my life." The witness said he called ofher persons who were with him on the search and drew their attention to me Dome, josiyn asxca wny. . "Because I knew the bottle would . figure in the case and that they would be called as witnesses." In response to another query as to ,' the reason for his actions, Carlin . replied: I "I was working for the defense to . clear this boy to establish his itino-. cence." , ' . . Ida Grove Farmer ' 1 uommits suicide Ida Grove, la., July I. (Special Telegram.)--J. C. Phares, aged about 40, s prominent farmer living several , miles southwest of Ida Grove, com- , mitted suicide last evening, using a revolver ana snooting nimselt , through the head. He had gone out doors apparently to take a nap in the hammock, and in a few minutes his , wife was startled by the sound of the report. Phares had been suffering ' from cancer in his neck for several months and probably had only a few more weeks to live. He had gone about his farm work getting his crops out and putting everything in readi ness the last few days. He has been suffering terrible agonies and, real izing that death was inevitable, he de cided to put himself out of pain, al though he gave no intimation of hit plans to his family. PHENOMENAL SUCCESS For the 18th con secutive week Bee Want-Ads have made ' a gain of over 1,000 ' PAID ada over same period of 1915.' 1316 MORE PAID Want-Ada ' for . the Week just " ended ' 7-1, than same week one year ago.