Omaha Sunday Bee
PART ONE
NEWS SECTION
PAGES 1 TO 12
THE WEATHER
Fair; Warmer
VOL. XLVII NO. 41.
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH, 24, 1918 FIVE SECTIONS FORTY-FOUR PAGES.
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
in
UVJ
SI II II II I
JLJOJC
ICffiyjAiUVlS)
GERMANS SHELLJPARIS
FROM NEW WSSZFRONT
Ten Persons Killed and 15 Wounded in Con
tinued Bombardment Directed at French
Capital With Long-Range Guns.
Paris, March 23. The
gains.
Since 8 o'clock this morning shells of 240-millimeters have been reaching
the capital and suburbs at intervals of a quarter of an hour, killing 10 persons and
wounding 15. The shortest distance from Paris is over 100 kilometres (62 miles).
The announcement that Paris was being bombarded was made officially this
afternoon. Measures for counter-attacking the enemy's cannon are under execution.
An air raid alarm has just been given.
BRITISH DRIVE AT ENEY;
London, March 23 .-The Germans forced their way into Mory, but a dashing
counter-attack drove them out, Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters
telegraphs.
A large party was surrounded and probably was captured.
FIFTY GERMAN
Mory is on the northern battle front, 15 mile below Arras.
It is about four miles back of the line held by the British before
the Germans began their offensive.
There is reason to believe 50 German divisions are flowing
into the struggle, the correspondent states, and probably half
as many more are in close reserve.
Under the tremendous onslaught the British troops are
falling back very slowly and in excellent order. At many
places they are withdrawing voluntarily so as to maintain an
unbroken front.
The Germans this morning were pressing hard the British
forces defending Hermies (about two and one-half miles back
of the old line, in the region southwest bf Cambrai).
ARTILLERY PREPARATION TERRIFIC.
The scenes of activity behind the battle front baffle de
scription, but everywhere there
zation and ciuict confidence. -
The weather is wonderfully fine, although the visibility is
handicaped by local mists.
The artillery preparation of the Germans in the drive
against the British lines, which is now in progress, is described
by those who took part in it as the most violent they ever en
dured, according to the Daily Mail's correspondent on the
British front.
"The thing that stands out as characteristic of the fight
ing up to the present," says the correspondent, "is that we did
so well under the terrific impact." Continuing, the correspond
ent says:
GUN EVERY 15 YARDS.
"Upon one corps front there was a gun every 15 yards. The
strength of themortaro, which the enemy brought up in such
great numbers, sent over such an overwhelming weight of iron
and high explosives that in most parts of the front wire ceased
to be an obstacle and trenches were obliterated.
"At the same time all of our known battery positions were
drenched with gas, but their gas shells failed to reach all our
batteries, nor did they succeed anywhere in breaking down our
.wire.
"At one ooint where the
broken they set to work with scissors until they had made a way
through, an incident reminiscenfbf the methods of fighting in
culcated by Frederick the Great. All of this was done under
our machine gun fire.
"A curious fact reported by our air
men was that the Germans composing
the special assault divisions wore new
uniforms. 'Got on their best clothes
for a visit to Paris,' commented one of
our generals.
"Our relaying corps did valuable
work, despite adverse weather condi
tions. "One of our men in the early morn
ing reconnaissance spotted several
thousand Germans moving westward
south of Bullecourt and another re
ported 3,000 of the enemy in a sunken
road in this area waiting to advance.
Few enemy machines were seen and
they mostly flew low, peppering our
trenches with their machine guns.
GUNNERS WEAR MASKS.
"This is the first battle where Brit
ish gunners had to serve their guns
in gas masks and it was a difficult
task. Fortunately practices with gas
masks have been taking place fre
qufrttlv for an hour daily. I found
(Continued on Page Two, Column Six.)
The Weather
For Nebraska Fax and warmer.
Tempt, utures ut Omnha Yesterday.
Hour. v Deg
& F
6 a. m.. 41
6 a. m 39
7 a. m 38
8 a. ra 38
9 a. m 40
10 a. m 44
H a. :n 48
12 in 53
1 p. in 55
2 p. m 59
3 p. m 58
4 p. m 58
5 p. m 58
6 p. in 58
7 p. m 57
Loral Rreord.
1918. 1917 191 P. 1915.
60 56 51 48
37 35 30 27
48 4S 40 36
.00 .00 .03 .00
A
( ompurntlve
Jlllihryt yesterday
I,owi?t yesterday
Mean temperature
Prr-nitiltation
Teiiipira'ure nd precipitation departures
from the normal:
Normal ftnpf lature 40
Fxrpss for the day 8
Total cfs mce March 1 247
Normal precipitation 05 Inch
Deficiency for the day 05 Inch
Total rainfall since March 1 11 Inch
rrlclcmv since March 1 81 inch
k Eiceu for cor. period. 1917 37 inch
'Deficiency for cor. period, 1916.. .83 Inch
U A. WELSH, Meteorologist.
Germans have been firing
DIVISIONS.
is the same well ordered organi
" -- - - -
Germans found our wire un
BAKER VISITS
KING ALBERT ON
WESTERN FRONT
London, March 23. Newton D.
Baker, the American secretary of war,
visited King Albert of Belgiunr and
the Belgian front yesterday.
Mr. Baker has arrived at a British
port.
Gilbert Eldredge Leaves for
Training Camp at Fort Riley
Gilbert Eldredgeson of D. C. Eld
redge, vice president of the Harding
Creamery company and president, of
Benson & Thorne, leaves Omaha to
day for Fort Riley, Kan., where he
will enter the medical officers' train
ing school.
He has just completed a five-year
law course at the University of Ne
braska, where he was prominent in
many school activities. He won many
honors in debating contests.
Eldredge is 24 years old and has
lived in Omaha practically all of his
life.
George Mickel is Elected
Head of Seymour Lake Club
George Mickel was elected presi
dent of the Seymour Lake Cbuntry
club at the annual election Friday
night. George Francis was elected
vice president and John Bekins sec
retary. The finance committee reported a
gratifying balance in the dub treas
ury and the golf committee reported
work on the new links was progress
ing rapidly and that fourteen holes
would be available by Julj-
on Paris with long range
LONG RANGE OF
GERMAN GUNS IS
CAUSETOMARVEL
American Officers at Washing
ton Astounded by Report
That Teuton Cannon
Reach Paris.
(By Associated Tress.)
4jyasJiigtori, March .23. News that
raris was oemg qoraoaraea o uer
man guns at a range of about tsixty
two miles astonished American ord
nance officers beyond belief.
No such range of guns had fver
been dreamed of. they said. The
world's record for long distance h m
bardment was established by the Ger
mans some time ago when at a rmge
of 20 to 22 miles they dropped oc
casional shells into Dunkirk.
The greatest long range American
gun yet developed is the 16-inch ifle,
whickat the greatest possible eleva
tion, ir is estimated, would throw a
shell about 19 miles.
World-Surprising Weapon.
Evidently, ordnance officers tfeid,
the German artillerists had deve'oped
some new world-surprising 'weapon,
although it was thought possible they
might be using some sort of atrial
torpedo.
Entente allies' ordnance experts
said they could think of no pun
which might be employed at such
long range unless it was a develop
ment of the Skoda rifle made in Aus
tria. That is a tremendous enlarge
ment on the plan of the usual high
power rifle. These experts, however,
have no knowledge that the Skoda
has been developed to such an enor
mous range.
Another possibility discussed by
the experts is the development of a
great lon range shell-thrower oper
ating by centrifugal force. Theoret
ically, they say, such a device could
be geared up to throw a shell across
the ocean, but they have no knowl
edge of its ever being practically ap
plied. Ordnance officers were first in
clined to believe the Germans were
conducting their long range bom
bardment from some nearer point to
which they had broken through, but
(Contlnned on I'afe Two, Column Two.)
Gilder f Ureclgc
7 J ',: -
TEUTONS SAY
ENGLISH ARE
NOW BEATEN
Kaiser in Command of Forces;
Claim First Stages of Bat
tle Over; Won by
Germans.
Berlin (Via London), March 23.
The official statement from General
headquarters this evening says:
"The first stage of the great dp t tie
in France is ended. We have won
the engagements near Monchy, Cam
brai, St. Quentin and La Fere. A con
siderable part of the English army is
beaten."
"We are fighting approximately on
a line northeast of Bapaume, Peronne
and Ham." v " .
"Under trie command of the em
peror and king, the battle of attack
against the British front near A. ras,
Cambrai and St. Quentin has been
proceeding two days. Yesterday, also,
good progress was made.
"Divisions of Crown Prince Rup
precht stormed the heights north and
northwest of Croisilles. Between Fon-taine-Les
Croisilles and Moeuvres
they penetrated into the second enemy
position and captured the villages
there of Vaulx-Vraucourt and Mor
chies. Strong British counter artacks
failed.
"Between Gonnelieu and the Omig
non stream the .first two enemy posi
tions were penetrated. The heights
west of Gouzeaucourt, Heudecnurt
and Villers-Faucon were captured nd
in the valley of the Cologne st'eam
Roisel and Marquaix were stormed."
London. March 23. Torlav'n fr.
man official announcement received
here states that Emperor William is
in command on the western front
This announcement is regarded as
further evidence that the emperoi has
staked his nil nn an nftVnsiv hiviincr
. - ,
to win and go down in history as the
victor in tnis great ana decisive world
conflict.
DisDatches from Amsterdam ntrtnrn
the emperor at Spa, Belgium, wh:ch
is Deing Kept isolated on a radius of
15 kilometres.
The German crown prince, Field
Marshal von Hlndenburg, Genera.' von
Ludendorff and other nrnminenr Or.
mans also are reported there with
him.
Kansas. City Labor Leaders
Say All to Strike Monday
Kansas City. Mo.. March 23.
Labor leaders today asserted that the
threatened general sympathetic strike
for the laundry workers would be
effective Monday morning. Members
of the joint board of business agents
voted down the suggestion to change
the plans calling for the closing down
of the water plant fortv-eieht hours
after the general strike order became
enective. .
Mayor Edwards said that every
means necessary for the protection
of the city water nlant would be
taken.
Roumania Said to Seek
Alliance With Teutons
Amsterdam, March 23. Vienna
newspapers state that the new Rou
manian prcm.'er, Alexander Marghilo
man, is striving for an alliance be
tween Roumania and the central
powers. This idea is; being discussed
sympathetically in the Vienna press,
says a dispatch from that city.
Jassy, Rumania, March 23. The
newspapers announce that the Rou
manian Parliament is to be dissolved
and that new elections have been or
dered. Clemenceau Says British
War News !s Favorable
Paris, Friday, March 22. Premier
Clemenceau appeared for a few min
utes in the lobby of the chamber of
deputies tonight and told the depu
ties that the news he had received
from British headquarters gave him a
most satisfactory impression.
Iowa Congressman Will
Not Seek Re-Electiorf
Sioux City, la., March 23 George
C. Scott, representative of the Elev
enth Iowa ijstrict in congress, will
not seek re-election. Scott makes
the announcement in a message to
the Journal from Washington.
Take 25,000 Men is
Germans' Claim
Berlin, March 23. Between
Fontaine les Croiselleg and Moeu
vres, German forces penetrated into
the second enemy- position and
captured two villages, army head
quarters announced today.
British counter-attacks failed.
So far, the statement an
nounces, 25,000 prisoners, 400 guns
and 300 machine guns have been
taken.
The two villages taken on the
Fontaint - Moeuvres front were
Vaulx-Vraucourt and Morchies.
(The former village is about three
and one-half miles and the latter
about two and one-half .nilcs be
hind the former British front.
The announcement says the
Germans are standing before the
third enemy position. It reports
that the British evacuated their
positions in the bend south of
Cambrai and were pursued by the
Germans through Denicourt, Fles
quieres and Ribecourt.
TEUTONS RUSH 9 MILES
THROUGH BRITISH FROM
1 4
Drive Wedge Between English and French;
Attempting to Cross Somme in Direction
of Compeigne and Paris;
Cavalry Appears
(By Associated Press.)
The great German offensive on the western front has developed as its salient
feature an apparent desperate effort to break into the southwest of St. Quentin,
drive a wedge between the British and the French, and push on across the Somme
canal in the general direction of Compiegne and Paris.
Simultaneously Paris has oeen bombarded at quarter hour intervals, begin
ning Saturday forenoon, with shells of about 9-inch calibre. The source of the
bombardment has not been revealed.
SENATOR DECIDES
DEST STAY AWAY
FROM LEGISLATURE
Plan to Come Home Is Sud
denly Changed as a Result
of Premature Pub
licity. Plans for Senator Hitchcock's re
turn to Omaha to look after his
political fences seem to have been
suddenly changed as the result of
premature publicity in The Bee. A
member of the senator's newspaper
that Mr. Hitchcock would be home
by the end of the week by inquiries
at the office yesterday brought the
answer that the senator is still in
Washington, is not expected here
very soon and would not be back for
at least three or four weeks, if then.
The talk persists, that the subject
of Senator Hitchcock's pro-German
activities will be brought up in the
legislature in the form of a resolution
of censure. A group including well
known democptes from out in the
state, as well as from Omaha were
discussing the matter at the Paxton
hotel two evenings ago and speculated
on whether the senatorial influence
exercised through his part of the
federal brigade would succeed in
heading off the threatened uprising.
They seem to think it was up to Boss
Mullen to protect the senator.
"The democratic majority in the
legislature last winter took orders
from King Arthur without a whim
per," said one of them. "They just
ate out of his hand and did what he
told them to do. That late assault on
Bryan in the senator's paper, though,
may make it hard for King Arthur to
handle the situation for the friends of
Bryan are bound to resent it.
Arthur's shredness, and resource
fulness outwitted that bunch before
and in ml opinion ought to do so
again in this connection."
"The rumor that opposition is to
(Contlnurd on Pe Two, Column Three.)
U. S. WAR HEADS
TO PERSHING TO HASTEN NEWS
Officials Believe Germans Have Staked Lives of 300,000
Soldiers to Gain Objective by Literally Smother
ing Allies With Manpower; Expect End
To Conflict Within Few Days.
Washington, March 23. The War department cabled
General Pershing tonight to forward immediately definite infor
mation of the exact situation on the battle front where the Brit
ish troops are under the German onslaught.
The only official word at hand was containea in the official
statements issued from London and Berlin.
OFFICIALS STILL CONFIDENTS
American army officers would haz
ard no opinions lacking definite and
comprehensive advices. Privately,
however, their confidence in the even
tual repulse of the German thrust re
mained unshaken in the face of all re
ports received. (
Both American officers and those
attached to the British and French
military missions looked with confi
dence on the story unfolded from
hour to hour as the German effort
progressed. A review of the day's
events as told in Associated P.t ..
dispatches, they said, gave no ground
for assuming that allied resisting
power would prove unequal to its
EVERYTHING AT STAKE.
All reports were taken to prove
that the Germans had staked lives by
the hundred thousand upon a quick
blow, designed to be overpowering
both because of the masses of metv
used and also because of the abso
lute disregard of losses which marked
its delivery.
There was evidence that seemed to
bear out predictions that Germany
was prepared to sacrifice 300,000 men
USE AERIAL TORPEDO.
The nearest point on the front is 62 miles distant, more
khan twice as far as artillery
One theory suggested is that the Germans have developed an
aerial torpedo which can be fired from a long distance.
There was an admitted break in the British line in the St.
Quentin region late yesterday, the Germans forcing their way
through the defensive system and compelling a British retreat
to prepared positions within the area devastated by the Ger
mans in their retreat in the spring of 1917.
ADVANCE NINE MILES.
This new line also is now being attacked by the Germans,
and news dispatches filed from there late in the day indicate
that the fighting already was heavy in the vicinity of Ham,
which represents a penetration of some nine miles for the Ger
mans. Ham is approximately 11 miles southwest of St. Quentin.
A supreme effort by the Germans to cut the line in this
region is forecast in the dispatches. They have put cavalry
in the field to follow up the infantry and evidently intend to
throw the Uhlans into the fray when the infantry columns open
the breach the German high command is counting upon.
Further north the Brjtish line, while they have drawn back,
are holding well in their new positions. The maximum British
retrogression there seems to have been about four miles, at
Mory, which has changed bands several tlmesV
FRENCH jdlN BATTLE.
Reports the French have become Involved in the struggle seem credible as
the recession of the British right flank, which was resting approximately upon
La Fere, at the River Oise, would inevitably carry with it the French left,
which had rested upon the Oise.
The advance is being accompanied by a terrible slaughter of the Ger
mans, who in their massed formations are being cut to pieces by British
guns of all calibres. The British casualties, too, have been heavy, and Ber
line claims the taking of 21,000 British prisoners and 400 guns.
EMPEROR IN COMMAND.
Emperor William himself is in command of the German armies, fight
ing this battle, which he had previously declared would be the decisive one
of the war, and London commentators credit him with assuming this post
with the aim of going down in history as the victor in the greatest conflict
in the world's history, should the Germans win, as their leaders have boasted
they would.
Despite the advances made by the Germans no loss of confidence on the
allied side in the ultimate outcome is apparent. "Serious, but not alarming,"
is the view London takes of the situation. Attention is largely centered
now on the St. Quentine thrust, and the next big developments are looked
for to come from that sector.
FIRST DAYLIGHT RAID.
The great battle in the west has caused all other news to become of
minor importance by comparison, but considerable interest attaches to the
announcement of a further British success in Palestine, where General Al
lenby's troops have forced a crossing of the River Jordan, and are fighting
their way eastward after successfully bridging the stream.
Besides the mysterious bombardment of Paris the city was subjected
to its first daylight air raid, carried out shortly after 8 o'clock Saturday
morning. Bombs were dropped at several points by the few machines, flying
at an extremely high altitude, which succeeded in penetrating over the city.
A number of casualties resulted.
RUSH WORD
in the effort. It was with man nowet
in great masses, and not gun power
that the firs; lines of the British de
fenses were penetrated.
The greatest shock ever hurled at
an army appeared to observers here
to have been met by the British with
great skill. It appeared that the
British had stopped the rush where
they could; withdrawn slowly before
it where they could not. Their or
derly retirement, American officers
believe, means defeat for the Ger
mans in the end. There has been no
loss of British organization, it was
pointed out and every foot of ground
surrendered has been bought with
blood.
Military experts say such an effort
as the Germans are making cannot
be continued long. Every foot gained
means added difficulties of transpor
tation, and the consequent slowing up
of the forward movement. A day or
two more cf bitter resistance, even
including further British retirement,
it was thought would see the impetus
of the German thrust lost, and its
power diminished. Then would come
(Continued oa Fi Two, Colnmia Four.)
fire has ever reached previously.
Wheat Receipts Fall Off
Tremendously During Week
Washington, March 23. Wheat re
ceipts at mills have fallen from 8,000,
000 bushels to 3,000,000 bushed a
week within the last month, according
to figures received by government
agencies. The decline is ascribed to
the desire to hold wheat for higher
prices obtainable if congress increases
the price of wheat to $2.50 a bushel.
Corn owners have written the food
administration threatening to abandon
the planting of corn for the sowing of
wheat, unless the corn price also is
raised and fixed. Food administration
officials regard the stiuation as serious,
since a great decline in the corn acre
age possibly might result in a tre
mendous decrease in hogs and other
meat animals.
Woman Spy Suspect Under
Arrest at Willow Springs
Kansas City, Mo, March 23. Mrs.
Rose Pastor Stokes of New York was
arrested this morning at Willow
Springs, Mo., by federal officers, on a
charge of violati the espionage act,
it was announced here by Francis M.
Wilson, United States district attor
ney for Missouri. Mrs. Stokes will
be brought here tomorrow morning.
Trans-Siberian Road Gets
Its First Train Through
Harbin, Tuesday. March 19. Pas
sengers arriving here on the first ex
press train over the Trans-Siberian
railroad in three weeks report that
conditions along the route are much
improved. The train left Petrograd
carrying the American, Japanese, Chi
nese and Siamese embassies. All but
the Japanese got off at Vologda.
Ping Feels Relieved.
Ting Soille was a pretty sore
pastimer when he read that Connie
Mack had disposed of all his stars.
But that was before Ping had been
transferred from the Au,-:- to the
Yankees.
