Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, March 27, 1918, Image 1
TTVb-hh aha Daily B THE WEATHER Cloudy Om 3 242. VOL. XLVII NO. OMAHA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 27, 1918 FOURTEEN PAGES. 0 Train, it Hold,. Newt Standi, Etc.. it. SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS'. wfroraM (Ire 5 mm MTOi ;- 'v 9 ; V.V visions BRITISH WILL LA CO UNTER THR U ST SOON Forty Reserve Divisions Rushed to Front to Fill Gaps Mowed in Teuton Lines by Haig's Terrific Artillery and Machine Gun Fire British Army Headquarters in France, March 26. -There is reason te Relieve important events will be recorded within the next few hours, which may lead to a betterment of the position of the armies which are stemming the German onslaught. v The enemy is fighting desperately .hard against time. In the first day his re serves were reduced to 52 divisions. At the end of the second day some 40 di- r.om the reserves had been put in. - BRITISH RETIREMENT VOLUNTARY. London, March 26. Exacting the heaviest toll for every foot of ground, the British line continues to withdraw slowly before the pressure of the German masses, Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters wires. Over a large part of the battle zone the retirement is being made voluntarily so as to maintain ari unbroken front. Prisoners say the advance of the Germans is behind their schedule. BRITISH RESISTANCE WONDERFUL. The tenacity ofHh'e British resistance, the prisoners say, exceeded anything the Germans deemed possible. They com plain of great privations on account of lack of supplies and ex treme weariness also is telling heavily. Owing t the dense masses of supporting troops, however, the enemy is able to re plenish his forward line with fresh units. , The weather remains dry, thus favoring the enemy. British airmen last night made veritable pandemonium of every center of concentration of "traffic behind the German front. Tens of thousands of rounds were fifed pynt blank into enemy formations, while airmen fulfilled effectively their role as eyes of the artillery. SMASH GERMAN ATTACK. A heavy German attack yesterday about Ervillers was completely smashed by the British artillery fire. The withdrawal was not due to pressure against this sector of the line, Reports from all along the front indicate that the German loss of life yesterday was heavy. The enemy advanced against allied gunners who were firing with open sights. Last night British airmen took heavy toll from the German infantry in Bapaume. FRENCH RUSH FRESH TROO PS,- UP; CAPTURE jfa xr tt n m ULKM ANS GUNS No official figures are at hand, but from compilations made .personally the correspondent is convinced that at least 130 Ger man airplanes have been brought down in the last five days. ' . , BRITISH GUNNERS SCORE. Yesterday was the supreme day for the British gunners. Attacking from north of Ervillers to the point of British contact with the French, the Germans were held up nearly everywhere by the ceaseless intensity of the British artillery fire. Masses of enemy troops which, coming forward in waves, again and again attempted to reach their objectives, met with the same fate as the Old Guard at Waterloo. 'In only one sec tor, near Sapignies, did they succeed in bending the British front back. It was to conform the front with this indentation that the British fell back during the night, straightening their line. , ( BRITISH FALL BACK SLIGHTLY. - During the night there was comparatively little change in the line. No heavy attack this morning had been reported up to 10 o'clock. The British were still holding the enemy strongly about half way between Combles and Albert. Further north some gains were achieved by the assaulting troops. ' The British during the night fell back somewhat from the line through Erviljers and Sapignies in order to straighten the front, which bulged inward just to the south. FRENCH EVACUATE NOYON. Paris, March, 26.- The battle continues with the greatest violence and the Germans are making still greater efforts along the whole front between Noyon and Chaulnesthe war office announces. . - . . Noyon was evacuated by the French during the night. The left bank of the Oise is being held firmly by the French. The statement issued by the war office says: ' . ENEMYV LOSES HEAVILY. "The battle continues with violence. During last evening and in the night the enemy multiplied his attacks on the whole front between Noyon and Chaulnes. "The French artillerv. well established in the recion of Noyon and supported effectively by our infantry, is retarding" ,the German thrust. Frequent counter-attacks have been made and heavy losses inflicted on the enemy. ' " , "Noyon was evacuated during the night in perfect order. The French are holding the left bank of the Oise firmly. GERMANS TAKE BRITISH TANKS. -Copenhagen, .March 26. German correspondents report that six British tanks have been captured. Still farther south the Germans were poundiner the front hard in an endeavor to push on and get a firm grip on Nesle and ' swing the Britjsh right fiank back, while the determined 'tie-; tnders were battling doggedly to force the enemy bach and ri1 ' tiaim the positions previously held by them along the river. I AWMAKERS L MEET AT CALL OF GOVERNOR Extra Session of Nebraska Leg islature Convenes at Lincoln; Listens to Message of Chief Executive. (From a Staff Correspodnent.) Lincoln, March 26. (Specials Governor Neville addressed the spe cial session of the Nebraska legisla ture this afternoon, advocating the enactment of a law providing for gathering the "soldier vote. He suggested that the Mockett law permitting instruction in foreign lan guages in common schools be re pealed, and was loudly applauded as he uttered the words. The joint session of house and sen ate convened at 2 o'clock and at 2:45 o'clock Lieutenant Governor Howard announced the members ready to lis ten to the chief executive. The governor was escorted to the hall by a committee composed of Sen ator Henry; Representative Taylor of Custer and Representative Osterman of Merrick. MESSAGE APPLAUDED., The message was received with marked attention, the first applause conyng when the executive urged the repeal of the Mockett lay permitting the teaching. foreign languages in the public schools. . " . The joint session adjourned after hearing the message. Both houses of the legislature were called to order at noon today, the sen ate by Lieutenant Governor Howard and the house by Speaker Jackson. Perfect Organization. Cbmmittees were appointed to no tify the governor that they wee ready for business and each branch appoint ed a committee to notify the otherl ti .i . j j . ooay mat u was reaay to transact business. Short addresses were made by the presiding officers of each body and adjournment was taken until 2 o'clock. When the roll of the senate was called 30 members were present, and in the house 78unembers answered to the call. Sandall of York. Douthelt of Buf falo and Howell of Douglars were the absent senators. ' Howard Chief Clerk. iThe house caucus, composed of both republicans and democrats, met this forenoon and agreed upon the foK lowing officers to till vacancies exist ing by reason of former employes having left the state: Chief clerk, Arthur JZ. Howard, Lincoln; first as sistant, Horace M. Davis, Ord; chap lain, Frank Mills. There was -considerable of a fight on the election of chief clerk and as sistant, Norton of Polk, nominating Howard, Auten of Bopne, Decker, and (Continued on rage Two, Column One.) Governor Neville's message to the special ' session of the legislature is printed in full on Page 4. . Kaiser's Official Statement Says More Than 100 British Tanks Captured; 93 Air planes Destroyed. ; (By Associated Press.) Berlin (Via-London), March 26. The number of guns captured by the Germans in the battle now in progress has increased to 963, army headquarters an nounced today. MoVe than 1 00 tanks were lying in captured positions, it is added. Biaches, Barleux and Etalon have been qaptured by the German forces The Germans are standing on the heights to the north of Noyon. They captured Bussy, Bihucourt, Biefeillers, previllers, Irles and Miraumont and crossed the river Ancre. ' ' Since the beginning of the battle, saysthe statement, 93 enemy airplanes and six captive balloons have been broughhdown. ; British troops just brought forward attacked trje Ger man lines violently from the direction of Albert. They were driven back, the reports state, after a bittef struggle. - ' Line Now Rujis: Bray, Albert, Beaumon.t, Hamel, Puissieux, Ayett, Boiry, Henin, Wan court, to. Scarpa (By Associated Press.) London, March 26. The war office tonight an nounced that the GermansNtook Roye at 10:30 o'clock this morning. - , .The enemy has been checked west of Roye and Noyon, the announcement adds. In the Roye area, British, French and American troops are fighting shoulder to shoulder, the official an nouncement states. French reinforcements are rapidly coming up. "The enemy made net further attacks during tne night of March 5-26 on our front north of the Som me," the announcement says. "During the afternoon -there have been local engagements on this part of the . battle front, in which the enemy has been repulsed, but he has attempted no serious attacks. "The line north of the Somme now runs: Bray, Al bert, Beaumont Hamel, Puissieux, Ayett, Boiry, Henin, Wancourt, just west of Monchy to the Scrape, and thence along our original front.'' GERMAN MYSTERY GUN IS GREATEST SURPRISE OF WAR Accuracy Impossible 'at Such Long Range; or Use Only for Enormous Target,' !. like Paris. v London, March 2fi. In the "niys tery gun," the name generally &iven to the Weapon with which the Ger mans are bombarding Paris frfjin a distance estimated at 75 miles, it is frankly conceded by experts, the enemy has sprung one of the gr:arrst surprises of the war. General Sir Desmond O'Calhgaan, formerly president f the army ord nance committee, says of the German gun: "The projectiles must liave been fired from longer and heavier gvns and with a more powerful propellant than we have ahy knowledge of" From Paris has come the sugges tion that the extraordinary ran ire of the gun is due to the'projectile he ng provided with a second charge, vhich explodes when the first stage ot the flight is completed, giving it a fresh impetus. This theory is scoutfu by General CyCallaghan, a is also the variant of it, hat the projectile is fitted with a propeller, enabling it to continue its journey when it is. no longer driven by the projecting f?rce fronv,the gun. v "It would seem, says General O'Callaghan, "that a new departure in ballistics can alone explain- the enor mous range, which is three times that of anything" hithfrto accomplished." One expert estimates that the weight of tile projectile is about 380 pounds and that it leaves the gun with a muzzle velocity of about 4,0110 feet per second, the gun having an eleva tion of about 65 degrees, which very quickly "takes the projectile iiito a stratum of rarified air in which resist ance is greatly minimized." The strain upon the gun, he says, must be enormous and probably it w6uld be unable to survive more than a hun dred rounds at the most, the cost of each being nearly 1,000. x All the experts agree that at such a tremendous range even approximate accuracy is out of the (iestion and therefore the gun is only of use when a target is presented on a vast scale, like Paris: The object aimed at is rather more moral than material. HAIG'S LINE STIFFENS WHEN FRENCH RESERVES RELIEVE WEARY BRITISH V Germans Gain LittleHln Advance Over War Devastated Country; Allied Withdrawals Made Voluntarily; English Fire Eats Into Enemy Divisions With Frightful Results. K French Front in France, Monday, March 25. Entire confi dence reigns that the Germans' last trump in the world battle will be over-trumped when the proper moment comes. The allied, military authorities were fully cognizant that the enemy's supreme effort would cause a retreat until, measures could be 'taken to check the irruption into the allied positions. As always, the attackers possessed the advantage of know ing exactly where they would launch their onslaught, while the defenders were compelled to await development of the' battle before meeting the onrush with counter measures. GREAT ATTACK SLACKENS. There is every sign in today's situation tSat the terrific attack, in which apparently somewhere in iyt neighborhood of 1,000,000 Germans of all arms are engaged, is being slackened. The resistance of the allies seems firmer and the arrival on the scene of French reserves, sent up to the southern flank, brought welcome support to the British, who sustained the first powerful rush. The German divisions, which began what evidently was in tended tot be an irresistible forward movement, were so cut up that they were replaced by fresh formations. It is these di visions which have been checked at the positions on which it was foreseen by the allied general that a stand would be made. GERMANS GAIN LITTLE. 1 The ground over which the fighting has taken place possesses small tac tical value, but it permitted the allies to retire in perfect order. It has been devastated by the G"rnanbefore they retreated las; year, and the inhabitants had not had time or means to build it up again While retiring across what was almost desert land, the Brit ish inflicted enormous losses on the enemy, who threw away thousands of lives in-an effort to overcome the re sistance he encountered. When the retiring British reached the Somme and the canal, they turned about and gave battle, meeting re peated and long-sustained endeavors of both infantry and cavalry. The initial rush of the enemy seems to have been stopped. Military opin ion generally is that this first phase of the srreat battle, in wjjich even mor troops were employed than in the bat tle of the Marne, gives no indication what the result will be. Nevertheless, developmentJ are awaited by the allies without anxiety. " RUSH FRESH TROOPS. London, March 26. The fighting died down during the night, the war office reports. The British established themselves in new positions east of Roye and Albert. The Germans this morning began new attacks against the combined French and British forces south of the Somme.' The German losses have been so great that the enemy has been obliged to bring reinforcements from all parts of the western front. The war office has established the fact that more than 70 German divisions (in the neighborhood of 840,000 men) have hern n ?a perl FRENCH ADVISE li. S. ALLIES WILL HOLDJERMANS Official Dispatch Quotes Gov ernment' Organ Declaring Teutons Have Not Gained Objective in Spring Drive. ..(Ily Amounted PrrM.) Washington, March 26. France's confidence that the1 great German of fensive is wasting its strength against the allied line, is voiced in an official dispatcli received here today from Paris? The"messagc quotes at ilcngth from today's . Petit Journal to show that the Gcr.mans, though suffering tremendous losses in massed advances, have failed to attain their objectives, and that the present situation is satis factory to the allies. The dispatch says: "The French press continues to view with calm confidence the de velopments of the gigantic battle which has been going on for five days. This confidence is based upon all the experience of this war. Each time that the Germans have attempted a movenient against the troops in the west the e(prt aftr a certain amount of success always of a temporary character has ended in being broken against the barrier of the allied armies. v "The great example, before all minds is that of- the Marne where Germany had every advantage on its side, thanks to its preparation to the superiority of its man power and jts ' heavy artillery -and its hidden ataclc across violated llefeimn, but it waa defeated. ' - "ToWay it is fighting against tl powerful Franco-British armies ac customed to war and well supplied; its effort will again be stopped. Such is the firm and calm conviction of French opinion the expression of which is seen this morniig in the press." British Start Recruiting To Fiil Gaps on Battle. Line London, March 26. To fill the gap! caused by the German advance in, France the authorities have decided to place the recruiting machinery in motion again throughout the country, The miners have placed the organiza tion of their unions at the disposal of the recruitin officeri , ; i a a it i it I i: it I i ir t it te .o if r .! i f S I u t I