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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 1918)
The Omaha Daily Bee THE WEATHER Fair; Warmer v'QL. XL VII NO. 218. OMAHA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 27, 1918 SIXTEEN PAGES O TnlM. tl Hattt. Km Standi, Etc, it. SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. GERMANS C NON ROGRAD 0 9 i! AMERICAN RST 2i r i -4 jOSEI PFT REAL BA SAMMIES RAID GERMAN TRENCHES PROTECTED BY HOT BARRAGE FIRE United States Troops Chase Prussians at Chemin-des-Dames and Capture Large Number of Prisoners ; Guns of All Calibers Used in Terrific Bombardment. (By Associated Press.) With the American Army in France, Feb. 26. Details of the Franco-American raid in the Chemin-des-Dames Saturday show that 26 picked American soldiers participated, after every member of their battalion had volunteered. nit a eir TrTTCCT A XTCJ O The Americans moved forward eagerly to the attack behind a bar rage fire, the first time this has been done by our troops. Some of the Americans made captures and others chased Prussian troops through the trenches as far as 750 meters, going beyond the objectives sought. The raid had been planned care fully and rehearsals were held the day before. The barrage fire began at 5:30 o'clock in the morning and continued until 6:35, guns of all calibers taking part. The Americans among the 100 in the actacking party were surprised at the precision with which the French shells fell and went a little faster than they should have. They were within 30 yards of the dropping shells when they reached the enemy lines. -Relief had just been completed in the German trenches and officers were making the round3. The Germans took shelter in a dugout roofed with rails and sandbags. A French shell made a direct hit and the enemy scattered about the trench. At the same moment the American and French jumped in. Captured Enemy Pafty. ' 'There was some hand to hand fighting, but the entire enemy party at this point was captured. The raid ers chased the enemy out of other shelters and along communicating trenches without catching any. There was some criticism of the fact that the Americans were so enthusiastic that they went beyond the objectives. The raiders and prisoners started back across No Man's land on sched ule time, but were caught in a Ger man counter barrage. One enemy shell wounded five Germans and six Frenchmen, but no Americans. The prisoners were from 16 to 4U years old. All apparently were under nourished, but said food was plenti ful in the trenches. The similarity of their stories, however, aroused suspi lions. Most of the prisoners formerly worked in factories or on farms. Shelled Sammies Position. The artillery duel in the American sector north-northwest of Toul grows more intense daily. The Germans fired a hundred or more shells during the last 24 hours, and late this evening began to bombarded violently some of our batteries with gas and high ex plosive shells. The American artillery has replied constantly, doing most effective work against the enemy front line trenches, battery positions and wire entangle ments. Numerous enemy working parties also were shelled. Beyond ob servation by balloons, there 'has been no aerial activity, owing to the low clouds and rain. - American machine guns last night end this morning fired many thous and rounds in the rear of the German positions, where marked movement of men and material progresses. The enemy tried unsuccessfully to hinder tlie American patrol work by hurling new and powerful flares into the American wire entanglements. Postoffice Appointments Announced at Washington Washington. Feb. 26. (Special Tel egram.) Alice K. Keegan has been appointed clerk in the postoffice at Madison, S. D. The Weather TrmiH rat area at Omaha yesterday. o a. m -s 6 a. m 29 7 a. m 30 a. m 32 9 a. m 35 I 10 a. m 37 11 a. m 40 12 in 42 1 p. m 44 2 p. m 46 3 p. m 47 4 p. m 48 6 p. m 60 6 p. m 46 7 p. m 47 8 p. m Comparative Loral Record. 1918. 1917. 1916. 1915. Highest yesterday ....60 35 33 34 Lowest yesterday 26 17 19 29 Mean temperature ....38 26 26 32 Precipitation 00 T. T. .6S Temperature and precipitation departures from the normal: formal temperature 27 Excess for the day 11 tTotaV deficiency since March 1 624 Normal precipitation 02 Inch Deficiency for the day 02 Inch Total precipitation since Mar. 1 23.36 Inches Deficiency since March 1 '. 7.25 Inches Deficiency for cor. period, 14)16.13.11 inches Deficiency for cor. period, 1915. .96 inch Reports From Stations at 7 P. M. Nation and State Temp. High. Ealn- of weather. 7 p. m. est. fall. Davenport, cloudy 38 44 .00 Denver, clear 62 62 .00 Des Moines, cloudy 60 . 50 .00 Dodge City, part cloudy. 60 72 .00 Lander, ' clear 36 44 .06 North Platte, cloudy. ..48 58 .00 Omaha, cloudy 47 60 .00 Pueblo, clear 60 62 .00 Rapid City, cloudy 38 46 .00 Santa Fe, cloudy 44 48 .08 Sheridan, cloudy 3! 40 T (Sioux. City, cloudy...... 42 44 .00 "Valentine, cloudy 42 60 .00 "T ' Indicates tra-e of precipitation. " ' L. A. WELSH, Meteorologist. NEBRASKA LEADS ALL IN RETURNS FOR INCOME TAX In Many Instances Payment Accompanies Report, Al though Law Gives Until June 15. Nebraska now leads all the other -states of the union in promptness and completeness of its war income tax returns. This is a new jewel added to the already brilliant crown of the state for patriotism. United States Internal Revenue Collector Loomis for this state set his preliminary estimate of the num ber of Nebraskans who would have to pay the tax at 70,000. He thought that might be a little high. Now he has moved this up to fully 75,000 and a possible 80,000. . "The income tax returns are pour ing in to this office now at-ibe rate of about 3,000 a day," he said. "It is remarkable how promptly the people are responding and not waiting till the last moment, as we feared they might. "Another remarkable thing is that the greatest number of them come in accompanied by checks for immediate payment, although the law does not require them to be paid until June 15. This saves a lot of work as well as gives the government the use of the money from now till June 15 for noth ing. It is most commendable. Fully 80 per cent of the tax on incomes un der $3,000 is being paid when the re turn is made; and between 60 and 65 per cent of the taxes on higher in comes. "Still another thing that we note is the intelligence with which the somewhat complicated blanks are made out. It is a high compliment to the education of Nebraskans that so few mistakes are made. The news papers and banks of the state are to be thanked for helping in this matter." Mr. Loomis calls attention to the fact that all firms or individuals must make, a return , of the persons to whom they pay $800 or more per an num in salaries, wages, rents, interest, etc t Blanks for this purpose can be obtained at the collector's office in the federal building and the blanks, when filled out, must be sent to the commissioner of internal revenue at Washington. Visitor at Auto Show is Proud Father of Triplets $''w J&tKC jyy&Q photq l G. S. Gibbs, well known automobile man of Grand Island, a visitor at the auto show in Omaha this week, has other things than motor cars on his mind. The three chief worries con cern triplets, of which he is the proud army mw mm m m m m w . j. m mm m mmr m mm ,. - NIGHT AT MOTOR DISPLAY FRIDAY Beys Who Have Answered Call to Colors to Be Honored by Omaha Auto Men. The boys who have answered Un cle Sam's call to the colors will be honored at the Omaha auto show now being held at the Auditorium. Friday night has been named as "Army and Navy night" by Manager Clarke Pow ell and on that night any man in the service uniform of his country will be admitted to the exposition as the guest of the show association. "Army and Navy night" will be the big patriotic night of the week. Mu sical programs of patriotic numbers will be given by the three orchestras at the show and the quartet and spe cial singers. Announcement of "Army and Navy night" has been sent to the command ers of Forts Omaha and Crook and they have promisld to give the boys at these posts every opportunity to attend the show that night. Winch Attracts Attention. The exhibit which is attracting great interest at the show is the big "Delahaye winch" in the lower room where the truck displays are located. This "winch" is the property of Fort Omaha and is used in the training of soldiers for balloon work. The "winch" not only is an exact duplicate of the machines used all along the western front in France in captive balloon work, but this partic ular winch itself was Used by the French forces for eight full months before it was loaned to the United States for-training work over here. The Auditorium was taxed to its capacity Monday night to care for the (Continued on Page Ten, Column Two.) NORTHWESTERN ' TO DISCARD OIL BVRNINGENGINES For more than a year the North western has been operating oil burn ing engines on its Nebraska and Wyoming lines. They have proven a pronounced success, but nevertheless, they are going to the discard. Thirty five of the engines are being changed back to the coal burners. The reason for changing back from oil to coal burning engines is because the Northwestern is no longer able to get a sufficient supply of fuel oil. notwithstanding the fact that the Wyoming line, runs through one of the greatest oil fields in the United States. Originally from the crude oil there was taken out 45 per cent of gasoline. The balance of the well output went into fuel oil and by-products. By a new process that has ben installed in all the Wyoming oil refineries the quantity of gasoline taken from the crude oil has been raised to 95 per cent. With so little fuel oil remaining, the railroad people cannot get hold of enough to keep their engines running on this fuel. There are immense coal fields in close proximity to the Wyoming lines of the Northwestern and these will furnish fuel for the engines operated west of the Missouri river. One of the largest of the fields is at Hudson station and is reached by a switch from the Northwestern's main line. :saw0 $t40 father. The triplets were born to Mrs. Gibbs and the automobile man Feb ruary 2. They are healthy and already Mr. Gibbs plans an automobile career for them w Pot and i ?o(Oy WHOLESALE FRAUD LAID AT DOOR OF CHICAGO PACKERS IN FEDERAL MEAT HEARING "Dummy" Directors, Unfair Means, Strangulation of Little Poultry and Egg Dealers, and Many Other Charges Are Made by Francis Heney ; Iowa Firms Named in Plots. Chicago, Feb. 26. Testimony to substantiate charges that the big Chicago packers eliminated the little poultry and deal ers by underselling them, by setting up "dummy" firms, by use of specail railway facilities, and by other unfair means, was in troduced at the hearing conducted by Francis J. Heney before Samuel W. Tator, examiner for the federal trade commission today. U. S. AGENT ACCUSED. W. F. Priebe, who is said by Mr. Heney to be drawing a salary from Swift & Company, while serving the government on the food administra tion at )1 a year was accused of being especially active against the small dealers. . Mr. Heney also attempted to show that the packers lobbied in state capitals during the consideration of laws to better labor conditions, that they sought to increase negro help in the packing plants, and that in general fought against all legislation for the good of the working man and work ing woman. EVEN GAVE BAZAARS. In one instance, according to Mr. Heney, the packers had made a dona tion to be used at a church bazaar o Mrs. T. J. Healey, wife of an arbitrator for the Illinois Industrial board, be fore whom disputed cases of woking men's compensation were heard. "It might be advisable to make some kind of a contribution to Mrs. Healey. I would advise about $15 worth of our product," read a part of a letter written by H. A. Gembrich of the Wilson & Company legal depart ment to V. D. Skipworth, vice presi dent of the firm. In instructing the wholesale depart ment to deliver $15 worth of goods to Mrs. Healey, Mr. Skipworth wrote' that he wanted the donation to appear as large as possible. Sent Her Preserves. "I think an assortment of preserves would make up a larger package than anything else." he suggested in his memorandum. Mr. Heney charged that W. F. Priebe & Company of Chicago, which has been supposed to be the largest "independent'1 butter and egg dealer in the country and which is alleged to be owned by Swift & Company, con trolled a score of creameries and poultry, butter and egg plants in Mis souri, Illinois and Iowa, and operated them under "dummy" names. "This was done to fool the farmers and public, Attorney Heney said. "In reality all of the concerns are owned by Swift & Company. I want to put in evidence this statement of W. F. Priete & Company, giving a list of their plants and buying sta tions." Iowa Firms Named. The statement was seized by agent of the federal trade commission from the correspondence files after the of fice manager for Priebe & Company had denied any business affiations with (Continued on I'm Ten, Column One.) Kettle Jerry's Bill A Big Joke Chicago, 111.. Feb. 26. A let ter was read by Francis J. Heney, in the Chicago packers' case, before the court on Ne braska legislation, from the law offices of Albert H. and Henry Veeder addressed to L. F. Swift, president of Swift & Co. It related to a bill requiring packing houses toTay laborers for a full day and observes: "Mr. Selby reports that the bill was introduced by Repre sentative Howard, who is re garded as a joke, and whose bills have so far, with one or two exceptions, been dis posed of." The letter added that even if the house passed the bill, which was doubtful, "it cannot, in Mr. Selby's opinion, pass the senate." If necessary, he will take such action as will insure its defeat." THE BIG AUTO SHOW NUMBER OF THE BEE led all others in total Display Automobile advertising and showed by far the great est gain. Here are th,e figures in inches: (Haynes Advertising Company Measurements) Bee World-Herald News Bee Gains 588 Inches World-Herald Gains 280 Inches News' Loss . 165 Inches The Automobile Dealers of Omaha know the paper that gives them service and results. Keep Your Eye On The Bee Improving Every Day TEUTON POLICY IS TO FREE T WO RUSSIAN STATES Chancellor Von Hertling Declares in Address to Reichstag Central Powers' Sole Aim is to Secure Fruits of Peace With Ukraine; Will Not Occupy Livonia or Esthonia. BULLETIN. Washington, Feb. 26. The State department was advised by Ambassador Francis today that on Monday the German army was only eight hours' march from Petrograd and that he was preparing to leave the Russian capital with his staff. The message was sent by way of Peking. Mr. Francis will join the Chinese and. Japanese diplomats, also preparing to leave. It did not refer to plans of the European diplomats. Amsterdam, Feb. 26. The central powers intend to give self government to the provinces of Courland and Lithuania, Imperial Chancellor von Hertling declared in his address to the Reichstag yesterday. ' The operations of the central powers in the east, the chan cellor said, were being carried out with sole aim of securing the fruits of the peace with Ukraine. Von Hertling added: "We do not intend to establish ourselves in Esthonia or. Livonia." O The chancellor asserted the central GERMANS SEIZE 1,000 MILES OF RUSS TERRITORY Seaport of Reval and Town of Pskov Fall Before Teuton ' Invaders Marching' bit Petrograd. (Ry Amorlat'd Pnm.) Reval, on the Finnish gulf, together with its fortress, has been captured, as has Pskov on the railway 160 miles southwest of Petrograd. Southward the invaders everywhere are steadily pressing eastvard and have formed a junction with the Ukrainians 85 miles west of Kiev, which they intend to occupy. MANY MILES TAKEN. Since the renewal of hostilities the Germans have taken 1,000 additional square miles of Russian territory, the rapidity of their virtually unimpeded advance being remarkable. Especially rapid has been that through Volhynia, where efforts were directed to carry out the compact with Ukrainia to aid in expelling the Bol sheviki. The Russian delegates who are to treat with the Germans were to have left Petrograd Sunday night for Brest- Litovsk. Trotzky, bolshevik foreign minister, who bolted the original peace conference, will not represent the government, it having been de cided to send instead M. Zinovief, president of the Petrograd council of workmen s and soldiers delegates. Old Barons Reinstated. The German commander in the newly acquired Russian territory has informed the populace of Esinonia and Lavonia that they now are under German police power and the barons ot the old regime have been ordered released from imprisonment and dec larations have been made that the Germans will not permit their transfer to territory where they may again be made prisoner by the Bolsheviki. In Tetrograd the situation is criti cal. The Ameri:an and entente allied ambassadors have elected to remain in the capital pendincr further develop ments, but many attaches and civilians have departed by way of the trans- biberian railway. 1917. 3,691 3,934 3,157 1918. 4,279 4,214 2,993 powers had freed Poland with the in tention of calling an independent state into existence. The constitutional problem involved was still being dis cussed in its narrower sense, he said, by the three countries involved, "Our war aims from the beginning were the defense of the fatherland, maintenance of our territorial integ rity and freedom of our economic de velopment," said the chancellor, "Our warfare, even where it must be aggressive in action, is defensive in aim. I lay special stress upon thst just now in order that no misunder standings may arise in regard to our operations in the east." ' SAYS RUSS WILL FIGHT. , London, Feb. 26. The signing of a Russo-German peace will not be the final solution of the German problem on its eastern frontier and the final settlement will come when the peo ples of Courland, Esthonia, Livonia and Poland take matters into their own hands, according to M. Kamenert, one of the Bolsheviki delegates to the Brest-Litovsk negotiations, in an in terview in the Daily News. M. Kameneff arrived in London after a three weeks' journey from Pet rograd. He is on his way to Paris as the Bolsheviki plenipotentiary to France. With the handing over of the land and factories to the peasants and workers, M. Kameneff said, they had begun to realize, as they could not under the old regime, that a German invasion of Russia would injure their vital interests. Consequently the con sciousness of the necessity of defend ing the country was growing among the Russians. M. Kameneff said he was convinced the Germans would be unable to im port food from the Ukraine because the people, there would prevent th Rada from fulfilling the promise given Germany; The Rada's invocation of German fiiJ KittM. tiottr1 Qfnrinfl HIM ill. 1 UULll UlllVt IIULI - UIIIUll. the Ukrainian workers and peasants, who recognize only the authority ol the workmen's and soldiers' councils. That was the reason, he declared. that the Rada had to nee from the Ukraine to the protection of German bayonets. German occupation of Petrograd, M. Kameneff added, would not be enough to restore the monarchy. Any attempt at restoration would entail fighting in every town and village, for the peasants and workers were well aware that a restoration would in volve the loss of their land and poli tical rights. . Washington is Skeptical. Washington, Feb. 26. German Chancellor von Hertling's speech to the Reichstag was studied today by President Wilson and State depart ment officials without any official indi cation of how it was regarded or that if tuntilfl hp maHi th hacia fnr n further step in the president's cus tom of discussing the subject of peace before congress. Officials who read the address thought it served to emphasize a point recently made to President Wil son that while the central powers ap peared to accept the general broad altruistic principles for which the en tente allies and America were con tending, when it came to the arrange ment of details the central powers , appeared reluctant to apply those ' They noted Von Hertling's refer- and regarded thein as calculated to create discord between the entente al lies and continue a deception of the German people, who apparently be lieve the military party is willinir to make peace without annexations and indemnities. Small Battles Continue. - . On the battle fronts the fighting bv the infantry continues mainly in th nature of patrol encounters. On nu merous sectors in France, delgiuvr and Italy the big nuns are engaged in j heavy reciprocal duel
