English Take Eleven Thousand Germans
More Than Hundred Perish in Pennsylvania Munitions Mill Explosion
The Om$ha Daily Bee
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Tyler 1000
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OMAHAye' JiJAY MORNING, APRIL 11, 1917 TWELVE PAGES.
VOL. XLVI. NO. 254.
!:.rt::'..:.'il;!:''u. single copy two cents.
r
BRITISH ARMIES
AT ARRAS GATES
IN GREAT DRlVt
English Push Lines Within Five
Miles of City in Face of
Heavy Storm and Tierce
Resistance.
OVER 100 GUNS ARE TAKEN
Further Important Gains Made
Along the Vimy Ridge, Says
Official Report.
&
f ARBUS WOOD IS1 CLEARED
Berlin (Via London), April 10.
Thcevening official communication
says:
"British attacks delivered after
strong artillery fire on the southern
bank of the Scarpe failed. On the j
Aisne front the lively artillery duel"
continues."
London. April 10. In the face of
heavy snowstorms and in places
strong resistance by the Germans, the
British have pushed their lines as far
as Monehy-Le-Prex, five miles east
of Arras, and made further import
ant gains on Vimy ridge.
The official statmcnt from British
headquarters describing the opera
tions now in progress on the Arras
Lens line reports the capture up to
this evening of 11.000 prisoners, in
cluding 235 officers, more tln 100
guns, including heavy guns up to
eight inches; sixty trench mortars and
163 machine guns.
Text of Report.
The text reads:
"Our operations have been con
tinued energetically today in spite of
heavy snowstorms and generally un
favorable weather. We have reached
the outskirts of Monchy-Le-Prex,
five miles east of Arras, and have
cleared Farbus wood.
"Hard fighting took place again
this afternoon on the northern end
of Vimy Ridgerm which n 'gained
further important positions and took
a number of prisoners and machine
guns. ,, . '
"In the direction of Cambrai we ad
vanced our line north of the village
of Louveral. Such counter attacks
as the enemy attempted at different
points along our front met with no
success.
Take Over Hundred Guru.
"The number of prisoners taken
since the opening of our attack yes
terday morning now exceeds 11.000,
including 235 officers. We also cap
tured over 100 guns among" them a
number of heavy guns up to eight
inches caliber, sixty trench mortars
and 163 machine guns.
"Our airplanes performed valuable
work yesterday in co-operation with
our infantry and in a number ofrca'ses
inflicted casualties with machine gun
fire on hostile reinforcements. Bomb
ing expeditions also were tarried out
in which a number of hits were ob
tained upon a large railway station
utilized by the enemy.
"As a- result of the air fighting,
three German airships were destroyed
and four others were fought down.
One of our machines is missing."
Eastern Slope Cleared.
Heavy fighting took place last
night on4he northern end of the Vimy
ridge, from which the Germans wWe
driven. The eastern slope was also
cleared.
t Near St. Quentin the Germans have
been driven from the high ground be
tween Le Verguier and Hargicourt.
(Continued on Pure Two, Column One.)
The Weather
Fir Xelraska Cloudy; warmer.
TrmppraturtHi mt Otnnh Yesttrday
Hour.
Den.
, . 4
6 a. m.
7 a. m....
a. mw
9 a, m....
10 a. m....
11 a. m.. ..
12 m.
1 p. m...... 67
3 p. m 70
3 p. m....' 1i
4 p. m 75
5 p. m 76
6 p. m... 74
7 p. m..., 72
S p. m 61
Comparative Local Record.
1817. 1816. 1915. 114.
Hiirhest "yesterday... 76 71 70 SB
Iiowest yesterday ... 46 85 44 37
.Mean temperature .. 6t 63 67 46
rretlpltuiiun 00 .00 T .03
Temperature and precipitation departures
from the normal:
-Nrrnial temperature .....48
ltxreas for Hie day 3
Total excess since March 1 1 73
Normal precipitation lolnch
Iteftclcncy for the day 10 inch
Total salnfall since March 1.... 3.00 Inches
Dofli'lency since March 1........ .31 inch
Deficiency for cor. period, 1016,. 1.73 inches
IJi t k-lency ' for cor. period, 161S.. .28 Inch
Benorts front Stations at 1 P. M.
Station and State Temp. High- Ratn
of Weather. 7 p. m. est. fail.
Cheyenne, raining 36
l.aver.port, clear 60
IVnvcr. cloudy 43
lies Moines, clear 64
Iiodtto City. pt. cloudy 62
Tender, cloudy 38
North Platte, pt. cloudy 62
Omaha, part cloudy..., 73 '
Pueblo, cloudy 63
lisptd City, pt. cloudy. 42
Knit Lnke City, cloudy 46
?Anta Ke, cloudy...... 411
Sheridan, cloudy 43
Sl'ix Clly, clear ... 60
Valentine, cloudy.. .v. 40
60
64
.00
73
2
76
m i
oo !
nn
44
on j .
T Indicates trace of preeliilfttlon.
i. a. welsh, Meteoroiefiat. i
Our Flag
N
THIRTY MORE SIGH
DP WITHDNCLE SAM
Age Limit Extended for Army
Recruits and Minor Physi
cal Defects Waived.
ENLIST FOR HOME SERVICE
OMAHA'S MUSTER ROLL.
Today. Total.
Army , 16 225
National Guard 3 201
Navy
.10
. 1
,124
12
Marine Corps..
Total since the call 562
Although navy recruiters worked
until 1 a. in. Tuesday morning, and re
cruiters for all branches of the serv
ice had rolled up a total of enlist-
Kn,.,,., tl.nl- lnl. ill L, n
single day here, they were on the job
again, bright ,and early Tuesday
morning, and started enlisting men so
fast that a still bigger record may be
established by night.
On top of the grand total of eighty
six secured Monday in the various
branches, thirty more were enlisted
before noon Tuesday, and many more
"rookies" were waiting their turn to
be examined and sworn in at the
army and navy stations.
National Guard recruiting was
slack. Evidently the desire of the
government authorities to boost the
army and navy recruiting now, in
stead of the guard recruiting, is be
ing reflected here. By far the great
majority of recruits now are entering
the Tegular branches, instead of the
guard.
However, as the guard here draws
onlv from Omaha and closelyjdioin-
ing territory, while the army and
navy draws from all of Nebraska and
South Dakota and p-rt of Iowa, the
showing made by the Omaha bat
talion of the guard is considered
splendid.
Citizen Recruits Six.
At his own expense a citizen of
Crofton is sending six navy recruits
to Omaha, according to a phone mes
sage received Tuesday morning by
Lieutenant Waddell. The patriotic
citizen refused to give his name, and
said he was just "doing his bit" in
that way, because he was too old to
enlist himself. He rounded up the
prospective recruits himself, as no
canvassing party' visited his town. 1
Twelve, more recruits were reported
coming from' Sioux City to join the
navy here. Other points are also send
ing in men, as the result of the pa
triotic rallies and the efforts of travel
ing recruiting parties.
Results are also expected soon from
canvassing parties of army recruiters,
who began their special work Mon
day in Nebraska and Iowa.
Age Limit Extended.
The age limit of 35 years, in the
army, has been extended to 40 years
by orders from headquarters, which
also instructed that from now on, cer
tain minor physical defects should be
waived, in order to get more fighting
men.
Army applicants, who desire to en
list for the duration of the war, in
stead of for three years, are being ad
vised that under the present regula
tions they can arrange for transfer
to the reserve after one year, if the
wa? is over. They also can enlist
with the restriction that they shall
serve only within the United States,
if they are opposed to going abroad
to fight.
Army Bill Will Abolish"
Brigadier General Rank
Washington, April 9. The rank of
brigadier general in the regular army
of the United btates is abolished Dy a
provision of the army appropriation
bill taken up today by the senate. All
general officers after its enactment
would have no less rank than that of
major general. About thirty brigadier
generals now in active service would
become major generals. Committee
members said tne cnange was maae
in conformity with modern military
practice abroad. The chief of staff
r . t. -r . l ,j
15 given wc irtiin. ui gcuciai ouu
precedence over all other army of
ficers.
Discourage Rail Workers.
From Enlisting for War
Chicago. April 9. At meeting of
the presidents of the railroads en
tering Chicago today it was decided
not to encourage enlistment of em
ployes for war service at this time.
With the prospect of heavy movement
of munitions and supplies it was felt
that the need of experienced employes
to the railroad was greater than the
j 7i. .-
nccu oi recruits to ine government,
tur me present, at icaat. .
In discussing the relation of the
railways to war,1 it was pointed out
that England had called back men
I from the front because they were
needed to run the railroads..
BRAZILV-cAKS
OFF RELATIONS
WITH GERMANY
Switzerland Will Take Charge
of South American Coun
try's Interests at Kai
ser's Capital.
y
THIS REPORT CONFIRMED
Big South American Nation
Suspends Diplomatic Rela
tions With Kaiser.
SWISS TO ACT FOR BRAZIL
London, April 10. Diplomatic re
lations between Brazil and Germany
have been broken off, according to
the Evening News.
Rio Janeiro, April 10. Switzerland
will take charge of Brazilian interests
at Berlin.
The minister of marine has received
from the commander of the Brazilian
destroyer Alagoas, which is stationed
at Destcrro, a report that signals arc
being exchanged by means of lights
and wireless between Germans oh the
coast and ships cruising in Brazilian
waters. The minister will transmit
this report to President Braz.
Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic,
April 10. A (lispattli from Riu Jan
erio received by a newspaper here to
day, says that the Brazilian govern
ment has decided to break relations
with Germany.
Prominent Young
People Figure in
Double Wedding
Surprising even their families and
clasest friends, R. P. Hamilton, jr.,
and Miss Mary Jane Stroud, and Guy
Eldridge and Miss Klsie Pjerrou, well
known young Omaha people, were
the principlas in a double wedding
Monday afternoon, which has just
come to light. The mother of one of
the brides was notified just before the
wedding took place, while other rela
tives were advised of the sudden nup
tials by telegraph after the honey
moon had started.
After a western trip the young
couples will occupy the same house at
5103J3avenport street. Mr. Hamilton
and Miss Stroud had originally plan
ned to be married the coming
September, but Sunday they decided
on the double wedding with the other
young folks. Rev. Oliver D. Baltzly
performed the double ceremony at the'
Kountze Memorial church.
Mr. Hamilton is a son of Mr. and
Mrs. R. P. Hamilton, and his bride
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. F.
Stroud.
Miss Pjerrou is a daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. John F. Pjerrou.
Two Elevators at
Minneapolis Burn;
Loss is $500,000
Minneapolis, April 10. Two grain
elevators were destroyed by fires be
lieved to have been of incendiary ori
gin here early today. The total loss
will be nearly $500,000, it was esti
mated, fully insured. National Guards
men patroling the district reported
that in both instances several explo
sions were heard in the structures be
fore the flames were discovered.
Aviator Who Brought
'Down Zeppelin Missing
'London, Aprik 10. The Evening
News says that Lieutenant William
Leefe Robinson, the first aviator to
bring down a Zeppelin in England,
is reported missing.
Lieutenant Robinson earned the
Victoria Cross and became a' popular
hero in England last September by
shooting down a Zeppelin at a height
of 10,000 feet. The Zeppelin, which
was taking part in an attack on the
London area, was brought down in
flames at Cuffely. The lieutenant is
21 years old.
Martial Law Declared
Throughout Guatemala
Guatemala City, Guatemala, April
9. Martial law has been declared in
Guatemala. The action was taken on
information of disturbances along the
Mexican and Salvadorean frontiers,
supposed to have been created with
German assistance.
Would Stop Making
Ciquor from Foodstuffs
Leeds, England, April 10. At the
conference here of the independent
labor party a resolution was unani
mously adopted calling on the govern
ment to prohibit absolutely the use
of foodstuffs in the manufacture of
alcoholic liquors during the war.
Congressman from
North Dakota Dies
Washington, April 10. Representa
tive Henry T. Helgesen of North Da
kota, republican, and member of con
gress since 1911. died here today, after
an operation for appendicitis.
WAR COMES FIRST;
SUFFRAGE AFTER
Mrs. Minnie Boyer Davis Fa
vors Letting the. Question-Wait.
SEND SONS TO THE FRONT
(From a Staff Correapotlflent.)
Lincoln, Neb., April 10. (Special.)
Postp'onement of the fight for equal
suffrage until after the present war
is advocated by some of the leaders
nf the Knffrape movement, who be
lieve there are greater matters to bc
met than giving the women a chance
to vote.
Mrs. Minnie Boyer Davis has a
son who saw service on the border
and is now ready to go to the front
in any emergency which may arise.
"I believe that the women of the
country should drop everything else
and give all their energies to assist
ing the president in bringing about a
successful termination of the war if
we enter it," said Mrs. Davis today.
"We who are mothers have a great
duty to perform in giving our sons to
defend the honor of our flag and the
country on land and sea, and those
who are not can do a most noble
work in assisting in instilling in the
minds of others their duty to their
country.
"I have not lessened one whit in
my zeal for equal suffrage, but we arc
facing something; of more moment,
and every patriotic woman should
forget for the time the lesser things,
no matter how dear to their hearts
they may be, and rally to the more
and all important matter, so dear to
every American woman, the success
of our boys on land and sea and the
honor of our grand and noble flag."
Chile Will Be Neutral,
It Tells United States
Santiago, Chile, April 10. In reply
to notes from the United States and
Cuba regarding the existence of a
state of war with Germany, the Chil
ean government sent word today that
it would observe strict neutrality.
The Last Five Sundays
Advertising in The Bee.
(Wartleld Agency MeaauramenU)
First in Total Display
First in Foreign Display
First in Automobile Ads
t First in Grand Total
In Inches.
Sunday, March 11...
Sunday, March 18. . .
Sunday, March 25...
Sunday, April 1
Sunday, April 8
V
Totals 13,2541a
GAINS 3,438V INCHES.
Keep Your Eye on The Bee.
Getting in Shape
AMERICAN BOAT NEW
YORK STRIKES MINE
Big: Ship Is Damaged by
External Explosion Five
Miles of Liverpool Bay.
NONE OF CREW INJURED
Washington, April. 10. The Amer
ican liner New York stuck a mine
at 7:40 p. m. last night five miles off
Liverpool Bay. No casualties were
reported. The vessel later proceeded
to Liverpool.
Consul Washington at Liverpool,
reporting the incident to (he State
department today, said:
"The American liner New York
struck a mine, 7:40 p. m. last night,
five miles off Liverpool Bar. Com
pany reports passengers landed at
Liverpool except four, who are still
on the ship. No casualties. Vessel
proceeded under own steam and is
now (1 o'clock this morning) enter
ing its dock." ,
Fifty-eight Passengers.
New York, April 10. The Ameri
can line steamship New York left
this port on March 29 for Liverpool
with fifty-eight passengers and mail.
The passengers included seven Amer
ican citizens. It carried a naval crew
of gunners and was armed. The
ship's crew of 234 men included 144
Americans.
The American citizens who were
passengers on the New York, with
their addresses given when passage
was secured, were:
John M. Curtis, Mrs. Maude Au
gusta Dowling and K. H. Gamble,
New York City; Archer G. Jones and
Mrs. Jones, Richmond, Va.; Charles
K. Gale and Captain Lawrte, Eliza
beth, N. J.
The New York js commanded by
Captain W. J. Roberts. The gun crew
was in charge of a naval lieutenant.
The vessel, of 10,798 tons gross, was
the third American passenger ship to
leave armed from a United States
port.
The New York docked safely at
Liverpool at 1 p. m. (English time)
and all passengers are safe, according
to a cablegram received here today.
1916.
2,276
2,666'3
2,522
2,985
2,805
1917.
2,704
3,207
3,9221.
3,822
, 3,037 12
16,693
Jfi
PLAY BASE BALL
TODAYJH MAJORS
National Game Opens in Seven
of the Sixteen Big Leaf ue
Cities.
SHOW ON BOSTON FIELD
kew York, April 10. Preceded by
a forecast of generally fair weather,
but low temperatures, the major
league baseball season will be for
mally opened tomorrow In seven of
the sixteen cities composing the Na
tional and American- league circuits.
In the National league Pittsburg will
play at Chicago, St. Louis at Cincin
nati and Philadelphia at Brooklyn.
The opening game at Boston with
New York has been declared off be
cause the grounds are covered with
snow. On the American circuit Chi
cago'will open at St. Louis, Cleve
land at Detroit, Washington at Phila
delphia and Boston at New York.
The league executives and club
owners arajoath to predict the ef
fect of the present international com
plication upon the national game. In
a general way they believe that base
ball is facing a fairly prosperous sea
son, but expect the receipts and at
tendance to fall below estimates made
before the developments of the past
few weeks. Precedents upon which
to make calculations in the present
situation are few.
During the Spanish-American war
base hall experienced little, if any,
setback. Last summer the Interna
tional league club3 in Canada en
joyed marked prosperity notwith
standing that large proportion of
young Canadians were m or training
for the trenches.
Unusually close races are expected
in both leagues. The clubs of both
organizations have been strengthened
to a point where at least six teams in
each circuit are considered real pen
nant contenders.
War Museums in England
Filled With the War Relics
London, March 20, Local war
museums are being set up in cities and
towns of England. They are to be
filled with records and relics of the
great war which are to tell the people
of a future age ot tne deeds ot tne
irten of their own localities. There
is a plan afoot for a central museum
to be established in the Tower of
London. In it the evidence of the war
in London, from the flags of the flag
days to the fragments of fallen Zep
pelins, will be put on record.
White Sox Return
Hartford to Des Moines
Chicago, April 10. Bruce Hartford,
shortstop obtained by the Chicago
Americans from Des Moines of the
Western league, has been released to
Des Moines. The Chicago club re
tained no strings on the player.
British Make More
Gains Above Bagdad
London, April 10. The British
have made a further advance north of
Bagdad, . the war office announces.
Thef have captured the Balad station
on the Bagdad-Sainarah railway ami
the town of ilerbc - ' '
MOST OF SCORES
OF BLAST VICTIMS
ARE GIRL TOILERS
t
Two Hundred or More Injured
When Big Shell Plant at
Eddystone, Pennsylvania,
Blown Up.
TWO ARRESTS ARE MADE
Victims Are at Work Loading'
Shrapnel and Making Time
Fuses for Russia.
HOSPITALS ARE FILLEC
Chester, Pa., April 10. At least 100
persons, mostly girls, were killed and
.'00 or more injured by an explosion
today in the "great munitions plant at
Eddystone, Pa., near here, owned by
the Russian government. There is a
suspicion that the blast was not due
to accident.
Basil Green, a Russian inspector in
the billet department, who was in
jured, said there was no powder in
the loading room and no fire. "I was
standing near one of the tables, when
from under the door of the loading
room there came a bright glare. Then
instantly another bright light and
everybody fell to the floor. There
were nothing but cases of empty
shells in the loading room. There
was a heavy iron door between the
leading room and the billet room
and with the first glare the door was
blown oft' and then came the second
burst of light, just as I turned to see
vihat caused it. It was awful. Men
and women were falling all around
rpe. I tried to help, but was too
badly hurt."
Two Are Arrested.
There is an unconfirmed rumor of
two arrests.
Officials said the 'damage to the
plant was not serious and that work
would be resumed tomorrow in most
departments.
At one undertaker's establishment
there were eighty bodies, seventy,
nine being those of girls.
Thytsinds of girls WeiV employed
Ct the plant, most of them coming
from Philadelphia, ten miles away.
They were attracted by the wages
paid.
Explosion in Pellet Room.
The first explosion occurred soon
after 10 o'clock in the pellet room of
the shrapnel building, where about
100 girls were putting the finishing
touches on shells. In a building ad
joining approximately 30,000 shells
were stored. A second explosion de
molished this structure.
The ruins caught fire, but the fire
men, called from surrounding towns
extinguished the fire after two hours'
work. Meanwhile charred bodies
were being pulled from the wreckage
and injured persons taken to Chester, '
a mile away. The two main hos-'
pitals of te city were soon filled and
others injured were taken to an ar
mory and to a frame tabernacle re
cently erected here for religious serv
ices. Employs Ten Thousand.
The plant was originally construct
ed soon after the European wai
started by Baldwin Locomotive in
terests. Recently it was taken ovei
by the Russian government, which '
has been employing 10,000 workers.
The place has been thoroughly
guarded night and day and after dark
immense searchlights made every por
tion of the ground as light as day. In
addition secret service men and de
tectives' worked in the plant dis
guised as munition makers. There
have been whisperings of a plot to
destroy the plant.
Two Germans
Are Refused Final !
Papers by Court
Mitchell, S. D., April 10. Josef
Cermak and William Germscheid.
Germans, this morning were refused
final citizenship papers by Judge
Frank B. 'Smith at the opening of the
Davison county court here today. The
existence of a statu of war, between
the United States and Germany and
the law prohibiting the naturalization
of an alien enemy were given as the
basis of the refusal.
Final outcome of the case will
hinge upon a test case now being
tried in St. Paul to determine whether
the law affects the issuance of the
first or final naturalization papers, it
is said, as Germany and America were
at peace when the original proceed- :
lings were begun. . -
Real Estate Values ;
Always advance in a
growing city.
Invest vour money in
I
Omaha property and
let the growth of the
city increase your
capital.
For a complete list of
good bargains turn to
The Bee Want-Ad
pages now.
Phone Tyler 1000
1
