Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, May 09, 1917, Image 1
The Omaha Daily Bee Use the telephone for Easiest Way BEE WANT-ADS Telephone Tyler 1000 THE WEATHER Fair 4- VOL. XLVT. NO. 278. OMAHA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 9, 1917. TWELVE PAGES. 1 Oo TrllH. ai Hum. orvT-'TE rfiDV Tivn PF.MTM BRITISH TROOPS ARE DRIVEN FROM FRESNOY; U. S. PLANS TemD BIG MERCHANT MARINE TEUTON ARMIES RECAPTURE LOST TOWN AND WOOD Two Fresh German Divisions Take Positions After Re. peated Failure to Dislodge English Troops. 1 LONDON ADHITS REVERSE Prussians Win Foothold in Trenches Northeast of Vil lage and Are Later Ejected, 'ALLIES RESIST ATTACKS London, May 8. The Germans lave retaken Fresnoy Tillage and jWood. They secured a foothold jn trenches iiortheast of the village earlier, but were driven out by a British counter attack. The Germans later returned to the attack with two fresh divisions and recaptured the town and wood. The British stubbornly resisted, but were compelled to withdraw. ' Still later in the morning east of Fresnoy the Germans returned to the attack with two fresh divisions. ' The British stubbornly resisted, but final ly were compelled to withdraw from the village and wood. . British Admit Loss. This 'information is contained in the official British communication: "Enemy made heavy counter at tacks this morning upon our positions in the neighborhood of Fresnoy. In the first of these they succeeded in gaining a foothold in our trenches northeast of the village, but the ground lost was shortly afterward re gained by our attacks "Later in the morning a second at tack in force was delivered by two fresh German divisions east of Fres noy. On the right of the front at tacked the enemy s troops were re- pulsed with heavy casualties and our positions successfully maintained,, y "On the left, after fierce resistance. our troops were compelled to wlth-i draw from 1' rcsnoy village and wood. " ; Fighting Continues. Fighting continued in and around the village of Bullecourt, Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters telegraphs today. A party of 300 Germans who suc ceeded in forcing their way through to the southwest corner of the village were held up and punished heavily. The British airmen have brought down seven of the enemy's observa tion balloons. ' Germans Retake Fresnoy. Berlin, May 8. (Via London.) German troops have recaptured Fres noy, says the official statement issued today by the German army headquar ters staff. , Attacks by the British near Roeux and on German positions between Fontain and Riencourt were repulsed, the statement says. The storming of Fresnoy took place this morning. The place was held, it is declared, against British attempts to recapture it Canadians Retake Point. Ottawa, Ont., May 8. A dispatch received here today from a corre spondent at Canadian army headquar ters says that the Canadian line was penetrated this morning by a German attack northeast or Fresnoy Village, but that the Canadians succeeded in re-establishing the line except at one small point. The fighting still con tinues, the dispatch adds. "After a heavy bombardment, in cluding the discharge of a large num ber of gas shells," the dispatch reads, "the enemy this morning launched an attack in force in the region north- (Con lontlnned on Pmre Two. Column Three.) The Weather For Nebraska Fair; not much change in temperature. Temperatures at Omaha Yesterday. uour, - Den. Highest yesterday . Lowest yesterday . Mean temperature . Precipitation 00 Temperature and precipitation departures from the normal: Normal temperature 60 Deficiency for the day , 4 Total deficiency since March 1 98 Normal precipitation .14 Inch Deficiency for the day.. H inch Total rainfall since March 1 6,83 Imrhes Exi ofs since March I 2 Inch Deficiency for cor. period. 1916. .3.33 Inches Deficiency for cor. period, 1916. .3.62 Inches Beporta from Stations at F.N, 'Station and State Tmp. High- Rain- of Weathr. est. Cheyenne, cloudy S Davenport, cloudy .... 52 Denver, cloudy 42 Dea Moines, cloudy .... 64 1,ander, cloudy 44 North Platte, clear.... 6J Omaha clear 65 Kansas City, clear.... 66 Sioux City, clear...... 64 Valentine, clear .' i'i 40 6: 6H 34 T Indicate trace of precipitation. h. A, WELSH, Mteorologlsi I " o a. m 48 I . M F 6 a- m W Jk jf I 7 a. m 48 lit 4Jj3 E A 8 a- m 62 lfcflF'y ' r & tn..,.. 57 2Sl M i 10 a- m M vi J!X I 11 m W Jt&KTw) A. 1 rn 63 tTJD D 1 p- m M 3 p. m 66 3 p. m.. 66 9 . 4 p. m 67 tfgM- - 6 p. m 6S VMOTft 0 p. in 67 , , I 7 p. m 66 8 p. m 62 Comparative lcal Record. 6S 77 19 & 43 0f 4: 4ft fi 64 60 it .00 .00 .00 Hoover Urges Food Dictator for the U.S. Washington, May 8. Herbert C. Hoover urgently recommended to the senate agriculture commit tee today a separate department of the government, to deal with the food question and absolute government control of certain staples, particularly wheat and sugar. Mr. Hoover did not believe it necessary to have the food de partment led by a member of of cabinet, but urged prompt action on, food legislation. He said Europe has found minimum I price fixing a failure, but mini mum price fixing has proved a success. BLAME HOLLWEG FOR FAILURE OF BIG CAMPAIGNS Pan-Germans Boldly Lay Re sponsibility for Loss of Battle of Marne at j . Door of Chancellor. CHANCES THROWN AWAY Tages Zeitung Says His Oppo sition Delayed the Subsea Campaign a Year. "NOT LIKE BISMARCK" Copenhagen, May 8. (Via London.) The conservatives and Pan-Germans have now brought up their heavy artillery in the battle against Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg and boldly lay the blame for the long duration of the war at his door. The conservative Deutsche Tages Zeitung explains that three or four day's delay in German mobilization at the outset of the war, due to the chancellor's hesitant policy, caused the loss of the battle of the Marne. . The- paper holds that the troops that were detached to stem the Rus sian invasion oi East Prussia would have been sufficient to change the de feat of General von Kluck's armv into a victory, and that in that case the war would nave ended .n a speeay and decisive German triumph. Second Chance Lost The Taees Zeitung goes on to de- clare that the chancellor threw awav a second chance of terminating the war by opposing ruthless submarine warfare. It cites Field Marshal Con rad von Hoetzendorf, Austrian coin- mander-in-chief, as saying recently: "The war would have been oyer long ago if the submarine campaign had begun a year earlier." ' The Pa -Germans and annexation ists arc also .jmparing the chancel lor to Bismarck and demanding his retirement because he does not meas ure up to Germany's "iron man." The agitation for the downfall of Von Bethmann-Hollwe. is uncon cealed in press and parliament and is reinforced by mass meetings or ganized byoimperialist leagues and the independent committee for German peace. T. - bitterness increa-es as the chances grow for a reform of political conditions in Germany. The chancellor's opponents couple their attacks with far from flattering remarks abjui tl. . Austro-Hungarian government for its declarations in favor of moderate peace. Hungarians Fight Tinr. The Hungarian opposition leaders have announced their intention to wage a sharp war against Count Tisza and will not desist until the premier's retirement is forced, accordin to a dispatch from Vienna. They will e.ei.tually resort to a parliamentary strike if necessary. Emperor Charles,1 accompanied by the Austrian premier, has -mbarked on a tour of Galicia, to which consid erable political importance is attrib uted. The plan to give Galicia a spe cial autonomoi.. -osition m the em pire,' incidentally killing the Polish strength in the Austria parliament and giving the German parties working control, has been dropped and the emperor and premier are endeavoring to nnd some other solution. Must Fight for Peace. London, May 8. A Copenhagen dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph company, says that in the Keichstag yesterday Dr. Karl Helfferich, the Uerman vice chancellor, spoke or the peace necessary for the German peo ple, adding: "We are not yet able to obtain it. We must still fight for it." Time to State Terms. Amsterdam. May 8. (Via London) In referring to the Russian govern ment's explanation of its war aims, the Berlin socialist newspaper, Vor waerts, insists that Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg has no reason to pestpone a definite statement of Ger many's aims in the war and asks what the chancellor is waiting for. If a frank, bold statement is made in the sense of the Russian peace for mula," it says, "Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary will stand together." Man in Ring With Lodge Enrolls to Fight Germans Boston, Mass., May 8. Alexander Bannwart, who engaged in a fistic en counter with Senator Lodge, while acting as a member of a peace dele gation -to Washington several weeks agi., enrolled today for the officer.' reserve training camp at Plattsburg. RATE QUESTION CHIEF TOPIC AT A.O.U.W. SESSION Many Delegates to Convention of Grand Lodge Voice Oppo sition to Increase in Insurance, OTHERS SUPPORT MEASURE Utica Man Says Higher Tariffs Necessary for the Life of the Order. INSURGENTS ARE STRONG Increased insurance rates was the chief topic of discussion by the Grand Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at the afternoon session at the Hotel Fontenelle yes terday. An effort was made to reach a vote before adjournment, but at 5 30 it be came necessary to take up the nomi nation ot officers in order to comply with the constitution and by-laws. These provide that nominations 6hall be made on the day previous to elec tion, Insurgents showed strength in the debate over increased rates. Broken Bow, Ord and other towns reported their locals against higher rates. Broken Bow delegates said that ap proval of the higher rates might sound the death knell of the order. An Ord delegate said that the local there had 257 members in good stand ing the first of the year, but since the new rate, voted in January, the num ber had dwindled to 174. Frank Cross of Utica defended the higher rates, saying they were neces sary for the life of the order. He is one of the older members of the or der. He told delegates to the" grand lodge he was willing to drop out if he found the burden too heavy, but said that -the higher rates were fa vored by him nevertheless. Says Absolutely Necessary. '. "If the higher rate forces mi out,1 Mrtwid.vTll b the fast to say that anybody arced me out. I'll say eondi tions forced me'out. I know that con ditions have changed and that the higher rate is absolutely necessary." The eligibility of John L. Sundean, insurgent leader, for office in the grand lodge came into question. Sun- dean lives in Minneapolis. He former ly lived in Nebraska. He is sitting in the grand lodge sessions now as a del egate from Wahoo. When he was nominated for erand recorder, one delegate asked if Sundean were really a member. "Certainly he is a delegate here, said Past Grand Master J. G. Tate. The gavel banged and the buzz of the meeting continued until Joseph Oberfelder of Sidney arose and took exception. "Mr. Sundean may be a delegate here," he said, "but he is not a resident of Nebraska. He lives in Minneapolis." Name Is Stricken. Thereupon Sundean's name was stricken from the list of candidates, and he is not to hold an office in Ne braska. , Same at All Ages. Actuary Miles A. Dawson of New York talked more than an hour in defense of the higher rates adopted at the special session last winter. Dawson threw himself open to in terrogation in the course of his lec ture, but Sundean ventured to ask but one or two questions, and after that remained silent. Dawson con tinued his discussion during the aft ernoon. "The rates adopted by the grand lodge at the special session," said Dawson, "were computed in accord ance with the National Fraternal con gress table of mortality and 4 per cent interest and were applied at the attained ages of the members. "This means that if the mortality was precisely the same at every age as is shown by that table and if mean time alh amounts collected, which are not immediately required to pay death (Continued on Fs Two, Column Two.) Solons Angry, Not Invited to Dinners for Allied Missions Washington, May 8. During the secret debate in the senate on the embargo section of the espionage bill criticism was made because no mem bers of the senate or house were in vited to participate in White House functions in honor of the visiting British and French missions. Mem bers also resented the attitude of members of the cabinet toward the legislators. Canadian Soldiers Defeated Eight German Divisions Ottawa, May 8. The Canadians de feated eight German divisions and captured nine villages and more than 5.000 prisoners between April 9 and May A, according to a dispatch re ceived here today from Canadian army headquarters in France. South Africa to Take Charge of Kaffir Beer Capetown, April 30. In an effort to solve the troublesome native drink problem, the South African govern ment has decided to take over the production and sale of all kaffir beer, as the drink consumed by the natives is popularly called. Gen. Provision, Nebraska's Food Mobilizer U.S. WHEAT CROP SMALLEST GROWN WITHIN 13 YEARS Estimates for Harvest Indi cate This Country Will Need. All of It for People's Consumption, NO BREAD FOR THE ALLIES Yield Short Sixty Million Bushels Owing to Acreage Being Cut Down. CONDITION IS IMPROVED Washington, May 5. Oflieial wheat crop estimates announced today show that with the world facing a bread shortage the United States, unless it cuts its present consumption, proh ably will produce only enough wheat this year to supply its own popular tion. The forecast compiled by tre De partment of Agriculture on conditions May l,.put this country's winter wheat yield at .'66,000,000 bushels, the smallest in thirteen years. There will be no estimate of spring wheat acreage until July 1. but with a crop of 250,000,000 bushels, which is higher than the average, this country would grow this year a total of 261,- 000,000 bushels. The normal Amer ican consumption with seed require ments is nut at slightly more than 600,000,000 bushels. More Than Million Short. The country's greatest soring wheat crop was 352,000,000 bushels, produced in 1915. The five-year aver age from 1910 to 1914, is 234,000,000. lac estimated production this vear of 366,000.000 bushels of winter wheat falls 116,000,000 bushels short of last year's poor crop and 308,000,000.below that ot 1915, a bumper crop. It is 129.000.000 bushels less than the aver age for the preceding five years. .Reserve stocks this year are said to be lower than at any previous time at this season. The visible suo- ply is out now at 30.000.000 bushels. with a somewhat larger invisible stock. The lowest visible stock ever re ported in the United States was 6,000, 000 bushels on July 1, two years ago. When harvesting of the new crop be gins in July of this year it is esti mated that the reserve will be even lower than that. What Allies Require. The allies' wheat requirements for the coming year are out at 500.000.000 bushels as a minimum. The United States will be asked to supply more than half that amount. Wheat crops in other parts of the world are poor. l ne Argentine crop tailed, and The department is making every effort to educate the American people to a greater use of com meal for bread. homey consumption will require the entire yield. Canada's production is confined chiefly to a spring crop of normally about 200,000,000 bushels, much of which is available for export. Since the war started America has exported to Europe vast quantities of wheat, reaching a high mark of 332, 000,000 bushels in 1915. Last year the total fell to 243,000,000 bushels. Be fore the war it ran slightly less than 100,000,000 bushels. STATE'S DEFENSE COUNCIL PLANS ITS ACTIVITIES Meeting inOovernor'i Office at Which Work is Divided . Up and Campaign . Mapped Out. RICHMOND IS SECRETARY Omaha House Member Elected to Carry Out Work of Bdard. WORD FROM WASHINGTON (From a Staff Correapondont.) Lincoln, May 8. jfSpecial Tele gramsWork of the State Council of Defense was arranged today at a meeting held in the office of Governor Neville. Eleven subdivisions were . agreed upon and members of the council were chosen to have them in charge as follows: Publicity Robert Joyce, Lin coln. Finance C. A. McCloudy, York. State Defense and Security General P. L. Hall, Lincoln. Food Production, Conservation and Distribution George Coup, lanr, Elgin. I Co-operating Agencies Miss Gertrude Keating, Columbus. Hygenie, Medicine and Sanita tion Dr. E. O. Weber, Wahoo. Labor T. P. Reynolds, Omahs. Industrial Survey George E. Johnson, Lincoln. Secret Service R. L. Met calfe, Omaha. Recruiting and Selective Draft General George H. Harries, Omaha. , Organization of County De fense Councils Robert Joyce and George CouplinA The committee was sworn into the ser vice by Chief Justice Morrissey of the supreme court. Selection of Henry C. Richmond of Omaha, a secretary, was made unani mously. The office carries a salary of $2,000 a year with traveling expenses. Governor Neville presided. K. M. Joyce of Lincoln was elected chair man; Ueorge Coupland ot I'.lgin, vice chairman, and C. A. McCloud of York, treasurer. Mr. Joyce, who with General Har ries of Omahi, a member of the com mittee, attended the national meeting in Washington, told what was to be expected of the state organization. Greek Steamship Worth Four Millions is Sunk New York, May 8. The Greek steamship Parthenon, which left New York on April 14 for Havre, has been sunk by a German submarine with a loss of $4,000,000 in vessel and cargo, according to a dispatch received here today by the owners. The Parthenon,. a ship of 2,934 tons gross, was under charier to the Roval Belgian Lloyd. It carried Greek of ficers and irew. The cablegram did not say whether they were saved. The vessel was destroyed April 30, presumably oil the trench coast, AMERICAN SHIPS CARRY FOOD TO GERMAN DIVERS Three Vessels of Trans-Atlan- tio Line Are Held at St. Thomas on Serious Charges. CREWS TELL THE STORY Food and Oil Hidden Under Coal Transferred to Sub seas in Mid-Atlantio. TWO DEPARTMENTS BUSY Washington, May 8. The government-is investigating the activities of the steamer Manitowoc and other vessels of the American Trans-Atlantic company which are said to have carried supplies to German subma rines in the Atlantic. This was disclosed at the Navy de partment today, but no details of the steps taken were given out. The American Trans-Atlantic com pany has offices in New York and Boston and its ships fly the American flag. Officials here will not say what had aroused their suspicions, but admit ted that the ships had been held for investigation at St. Thomas,. Virgin islands, by order of the Navy depart ment. Both the State and Justice depart ments have been taking part in the investigation. The Manitowoc, Muskegon and Allaguash, ell belonging to the same line, shortly.before the Danish islands became the Virgin Islands, U. S. A., put into the harbor of St Thomas, bound from Buenos Ayres to New York, supposedly to "await orders." They were still waiting for orders when the islands were transferred to the United States. According to their manifests, all three ships carried coal and other fuel supplies. Members of the crew of the Manitowoc say all the vessels were loaded witii contraband: 1 or German submarines. "Pood Hidden Under Coal. "When we left New York last we were supposed to have a cargo of coal exclusively," said one of the crew. "Underneath the coal were all sorts of fuel and food supplies. Supposedly the cargo was destined for Buenos Ayres. Between St. Thomas and Buenos Ayres we got rid of our cargo on the high seas to German submar ines. We had no cargo when we reached Buenos Ayres." At Buenos Avres that trio, the Mus kegon and Allaguash all took on gen eral food cargoes, oil an.0 -other fuel supplies, which were 'covered over with several hundred tons 'of coal, they said. On the Manitowoc there were also placed two iron chests filled with gold, each supposed to- contain $250,000. These, according to the men, also were hidden under the coal. Crew Demanded Pay. While waiting in St. Thoma for or ders, the Danish islands were trans ferred to the United States, and the ships, were not permitted to sail. The crew of the Manitowoc tried to get some of their pay while idle in the harbor, but Captain Hogstead re fused to make any payment. Three Ships Are Held. (Coireepondence of The Aesoclated Preae.) San Juan, .-Porto Rico. May 5. There are German submarines in the Atlantic and until very recently they have been supplied from the United States by ships flying the American flag, according to statements by members of the crew of the steamer Manitowoc, which for several weeks was detained in the harbor at St. Thomas. Twenty-one of the crew are returning to the United States after difficulties with Captain F. Hog stead, master of the ship. The men then made a complaint to Rear Admiral Oliver, governor of the islands, who required Captain Hog stead to guarantee that he would not supply any more enemy ships before being permitted to leave the harbor, presumably for Buenos Ayres. Cap tain Hogstead said he was unable to get any instructions from the owners in New York. One morning, according to the crew, the captain ordered he ship's flag hoisted upside down,ndicating that there was mutinv aboard. When officials from shore came on board to find out what the troub e was. the men insisted there was nothing wrong except for the fact they had refused to work unless their pay was guaran teed. . Men Arrive at San Juan. Finallv. thev said. - here Can lain Hogstead sinned such a guarantee. Shortly afterward, it was learned, the Manitowoc had been ordered to re turn to Buenos Ayres and they -were preparing to sail with it. when, thev assert. Captain Hogstead repudiated nis guarantee, lhe men demanded that they be returned to New York and they arrived here today enroute io tne states. Americans Working On Adonis Myth Site London, May 3. Americans con nected with the American Mining company's works on the island of Cy prus are defraying all the expenses of archaeological excavations of the Cyprus museum. The spot chosen is an interesting one, connected with the frreat Adonis myth. BILLION DOLLARS ASKED BY BOARD TO BUILD SHIPS Program Involves Rush Con struction of 5,000,000 Tons of Steel and Wooden Merchant Vessels. WILL TAKE OVER MILLS Damages Will Be Paid Private Consumers Whose Con tracts Are Canceled. TO MEET SUBSEA MENACE Washington, May 8; Congress will be asked to- appropriate $1,000,000,000 for the building of the great American merchant fleet which is to overcome the submarine menace. i , The program evolved by -the hip ping board contemplates the diversion to government uses of the products of every steel mill in the country, and the cancellation of existing contracts between those mills and private con sumers and where necessary payment of damages by the government to the partie whose contracts are canceled.. Estimates of the shipping board Are that 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 tons of steel and wooden vessels will be constructed by the government during the next two years. , The only manufacturers of steel to be exempted from the program will be those needed otherwise for nation al defense. Bills for introduction in congress have been prepared and the adminis tration hopes to get them under way so promptly that the first of the ship building operations may be in motion within two weeks. Just how the $1,000,000,000 will be provided is left to congress, but the tentative program calls for an addi tional issue of bonds. Co-operation of the labor organiza tions has already been pledged, it is understood, and there will be no leg islation, Bnleis thepKesent program-is changed, looking to the drafting of the labor necessary to carry out the plans. JChe only other exception to the general cancellations of private con tracts with steel mills will be those of - railroads. Steel mills, it is con templated will be permitted to supply them with the minimum amount of steel products with which the rail roads can get along, Will Rspay Private Losses. All other industries kindered to the steel trade or in which the use of -steel figures largely will be affected by the proposed legislation., To adjust equit ably their Tosses, the administration contemplates . the operation of a tribunal which probably wilt be des ignated a court of appraisers to de termine the extent of private losses due to cancellation of contracts. It may be unnecessary for the gov ernment actually-to take over the ship building yards of the country and they probably will be operated by their present owners under strict Gov ernmental supervision. . . 4 he program contemplates the use. to he maximum of every resource within the United States, speedily to design, and build the largest number of ships possible. Should the number of vessels thus turned out he inade quate to meet the German submarine menace ship building facilities will be increased. ' , Dutch to Build the Largest Port in Europe (Correipondenot of Ths Auoclattd Praia.) The Hague, April 30. The Dutch are making a determined effort to build the largest port of Europe. The Dutch parliament has in hand legislation for the improvement of the harbors at Amsterdam and Rot terdam with a view to increasing the depth of the water at the quays so that ships with a draught of forty six feet can be admitted for dis charging and loading. , Brest Prepares. To Welcome First American Warship (CorrMpondenco of The Associated Press.) Brest, France, April 25. Brest is laying in a supply of American flags to hang out when the first American warship steams up the "Goulet." There is about 10,008 acres of har bor Here, with from thirty-six j sixty feet of water and with all the dry docks, naval repair shops and ship building facilities that go with the principal naval port of France. Entrance is gained through the "Goulet," a channel about five miles long, 2,000 yards wide and with a dept.i of water of from twenty-seven to ,'ifty-seven feet It requires nine lighthouses to guide the pilot up this channel after he has dodged the reefs of the Iroise in the offing. There is a trade question allied to the proposed use of the port as an American naval base the old Brest trans-Atlantic project, , intended to shorten the route between the French and American coasts. Brest is forty three miles nearer New York than the Dearest English port, Plymouth. f