1
e Omaha Daily Bee
THE WEATHER
Fair
VOL. XLVII. NO. 246.
OMAHA," MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 1, 1918 TEN v PAGES.
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BRITISH RESTORE LINE
SOUTH OF SOMME; TAKE
OVER 230 HUN PRISONERS
Two Great Attacks By Germans From Marcelcave to
River Hurled Back By Allies Who Restore
Front'in Luce Valley Following
Great Counter Attack.
" London, March 3 1 -The British have restored their
line south of the Somme in the Luce valley after a vig
orous counter-attack, the war office announces. 7
Two strong attacks by the Germans against the Brit
ish front from Marcelcave to the Somme were repulsed
with heavy losses to the enemy. German attacks north
of the Somme were made with four waves of infantry,
which were beaten back at all points.
BRITISH ADVANCE LINE.
In the neighborhood of Serre (north of the Somme, seven
miles above Albert), the British advanced their line ,taking 230
prisoners and 40 machine guns. The statement follows:
"South of the Somme our line in the Luce valley was re-
stored yesterday after a vigorously executed counter-attack.
Two strong attacks made by the enemy in the course of the day
against our front from Marcelcave to the Somme were repulsed,
in each case with heavy loss to his troops.
GERMANS LOSE THOUSANDS.
"In his attacks delivered yesterday immediately north of the
Somme the enemy's infantry advanced to the assault in four
waves and were repulsed at all points by our outpost fine. The
enemy's casualties on this portion of the battle front alone are
estimated in the thousands. v
"Early yesterday afternoon a successful operation was
carried out by us in the neighborhood of Serre. Our line in this
locality was advanced a short distance and 230 prisoners and
40 machine guns were captured by us.
"Our line also was carried forward slightly on other parts
of the battle front and prisoners were taken.
"Hostile artillery was active early yesterday evening in
the neighborhood of Bucquoy."
BIG GERMAN GUN
OPENS FIRE ON
FRENCHCAPITAL
One Person Killed and One In
jured by Fire; Believe Weapon
Fired From Underneath
Ground.
Paris, March 31. The bombard,
ment of Paris by long range German
guns was resumed at 2:15 p. m. today.
An official note issued tonight says:
"The German long range cannon
continued during the day to bom
bard the Paris district. One person
was killed and one injured."
At, the services this morning the
churches were even more crowded
tTfan is usual on Easter Sunday.
No unexploded shell from a gun
bombarding Paris has thus far been
found. However, there have been ex
amined in the municipal laboratory
fragments of sufficient size to permit
the directors to reach certain con
clusions. Tbcyare of the, opinion
that a double fuse is used and that
the guns fire 210 millimeters (854
inch shells.) Apparently four guns
are being used, two on alternate days.
The tubes of the guns are more than
50 feet long. The installation and
adjustment of the guns must require
at least three months. Doubtless
they are concealed under mountains
of cement, rendering it most difficult
to locate and' destroy. them.
Farmer Unearths Old
Treasure on His Farm
Deshler,' Neb., March 31. (Spe
cial.) While boring a post hole on
his farm, located on the old Oregon
Trail., near the Little Blue river, Wil
liam iBeckman struck an obstacle
which proved to be an old kettle, in
which were a number of pieces of
money. How' much and of what de
nomination the finder refuses to state.
The old kettle and a few ai the coins
were brought to town and placed on
exhibition. The find is thought to
have been buried by Mr. Jules, who
owned the place years ago. He sold
to "Buffalo Bill," William Cody, and
Captain Lute North, and was after
ward killed ty the Indians.
Tradition says that before the In
dians raided the place Mr. Jules se
creted a large sum of money and
treasure hunters have searched the
place in vai.i for years for what Mr.
Beckman bored into lastweek.
Buffalo Farmer Says
Uncle Sam Can Have Wheat
Kearney, Neb., March 31. (Spe
cial.) Nels Merryman, indicted by
the federal grand jury for hoarding a
large quantity of wheat, in violation
of the food administration laws,
stated yesterday that he was willing
Uncle Sam take all of his grain, pro
vided he can furnish the cars for
transportation and the men for load
ing this wheat. He was unable to
state how much wheat his bins held,
the estimates made by others varying
from 17,000 to 20,000 bushels. Mr,
Merrymaa stated that he himself was
unable to load the grain now because
of his help being in the midst of plant
ing operations.
BATTLEFIELD STREWN WITH
BODIES; ODOR OF DEA TH IN AIR
1 (By Aawciated Frera.)
London, March 31. The Morning Post's correspondent in France
draws a gruesome picture of battlefield conditions.
"Prisoners state that the countryside is full of bodies and that the
air is horrible with the odor of death," he writes. "Wells cannot be
used. The ruined villages are impossible as billets because they are
strewn with German dead. - There are great piles of bodies along) the
roads and between them. The enemy has only recently found time to
bury any of his dead.
"The spectacle of the battlefield carpted with the bodies of their
comrades has affected fresh troops, who in this way, discovered Jto their
surprise, that the British are not too weak to fight Prisoners lay that
the British endurance and skill in fighting is delaying the progress of
the German army.
"Among the feats of this British endurance may be mentioned that
f a detachment which marched 18 hours, fought throughout the night
?nd half of the next day, repelled three attacks, twice recaptured a cer
tain village, and dug trenches."
PERSHING'S MEN TURNED
OVER TO ALLIES; MASS OF
SAMMIES MARCH ON FOE
. x
National Capital Thrills at Announcement
That Americans on Way to Fighting
Line to Stem the Germans.
With the American Army in France, Saturday, March 30. All the American
troops have been turned over to the allies.
- American troops soon may be fighting side by side with the French and British
in the battle raging in northern France.
Great activity of many sorts is underway in the whole American zone. Trains
of motor trucks miles long, loaded with Americans are passing through the towns.
On other roads miles after mile of marching Americans are on the move.
AMERICANS ARE HAPPY.
It is enough to say that great activity of many sorts is in progress in the en
tire American zone. Miles of nor trucks loaded with Americans have passed
through the towns, some going in one direction, some in another. Through a driv
ing rain the motor trucks ploughed their way along muddy roads, the Americans
singing. Many of the trucks had American flags fastened to their tailboards.
On other roads mile' after mile of marching Americans splashed through
me muA which came over their steaming from the wotlc
they had to do. All the men are working as hard as possible.
: ALL WASHINGTON THRILLED.
Washington, March 3 1 .The foregoing announcement that American sol
diers actually are on their way to the fighting lines to take places beside their hard
pressed British and French allies sent a thrill through the national capital.
It was the first positive statement that General Pershing's forces actually are on
their way to the battle lines to help stem the tide of the German drive.
U. S. ENGINEERS ENGAGED.
The Americans previously referred to in the official dispatches as being in the
fighting are believed to have been engineers or other auxiliary troops which probably
were caught at their work as they were a few months ago at Cambrai when the Ger
mans suddenly enveloped parties of British forces behind their lines in a swift turning
movement. j
The sending of General Pershing's fighting troops to places in the British- French
line has been expected by military experts to follow the creation of a unified command
under the French chief of staff, General Foch, and General Pershing's formal offer of
all the available American resources. ,
100,000 AMERICANS AVAILABLE.
Too much may not be said about the number and position of the American troops,
because of military reasons.
It is no violation of the censorship, however, to say that more than 100,000 fighting
men fully equipped and intensively trained in the school of actual battle conditions
are available at once to be thrown into plates to strengthen the British and French lines
wherever they threaten to buckle under the unheard-of ferocity of the German on
slaught. It is also no violation of censorship to say that the American government fully
realizes that the second battle of the Somme may continue for some time and that
American forces possibly might be the means of turning the scale.
CHEERS FROM EASTEFy CROWDS.
It does not necessarily mean that by sending American troops to the reinforce
ment of the British or French that the sectors they have been holding will be aban
doned. Other means of caring for the part of the line are available.
Every officer of the American staff and everv member of President Wilson's ad
ministration has been looking forward to the day when American troops would actu
ally taker their places in the big battle now raging. Easter crowds on parade on Penn
sylvania avenue, about the White House grounds and everywhere heard the news and
garnered about newspaper bulletin boards where the Associated Press dispatches
were posted and read the news. with greatest enthusiasm.
President Wilson read the dispatch from France almost immediately after it
arrived.
FRENCH RETAKE MOREUIL
AFTERFURI0US STRUGGLE;
BRING TEUTONS TO STOP
i i
German Battalions Renew Attack But Are Completely
Checked By Gallant Fighting; Troops Hurl
Themselves at Huns With Great Ferocity
And Stop Giant Drive of Teutons.
Paris, March 3 1 . The fighting continued last night
with undiminished violence, says today's official an
nouncement. German battalions, renewing the attack without ces
sation, were cut down by the French fire.
Moreuil, captured by the Germans, was regained by
the French in furious fighting.
Between Moreuil and Lassigny, the Germans were;
checked completely.
FRENCH TAKE PRISONERS.
tin the woods north of Moreuil the struggle was in
tense. The French took many prisoners in this region.
The official announcement follows:
"The struggle was continued withimdimimshed violence
during the night and the result was to emphasize the check
administered to the formidable German effort of yesterday to
break through the line;-
MOW DOWN GERMAN TROOPS.
28 AMERICANS ON
PERSKING'S LIST;
11 REPORTED DEAD
BULLETIN.
Washington, March 31. A casualty
list of 28 names was received todav
from the American exoeditionarv
forces in France, including one killed
in action, one died of wounds, nine'
dead of disease, one wounded severely
and 16 wounded slightly.
Lieutenants Walter L. Harden-
brook, Talbot T. Speer and Guy
Daniel Tibbetts were listed among
those slightly wounded.
Killed in action:
PRIVATE MARTIN O CON
NORS.
Died of wounds:
LAWRENCE E. REDMOND.
Wounded severely; Private Alfred
Speigle.
Died of diseases:
Corporals James Leopold Loehr,
meningitis; California True, abcess of
brain; Privates Clement Bason, pneu
monia; Charles Brown, pneumonia;
Dewey H. Douglas, meningitis; Her
man Hahn, odema of brain; Edward
Murphy, meningitis; Percy C. Seay,
meningitis; Robert Thill,' pneumonia.
Wounded slightly: Lieutenant
Walter L, Hardenbrook; Leiutenant
Talbot T. Speer; Lieutenant Guy
Daniel Tibbetts; Sergeant Alfred J.
Bergeron; Sergeant J. Hooper; Cor
poris Joe Ruben, John Wilson; Bugh
ler Joseph Kunz; Privates Frank J.
Bedrnicek. George N. Bell, Pelegrino
Cavazza, Walter Decelle, Jerry Frede,
Joe G. Grier, Wilbur L, Lawrence
and Ranzy L, Rutledge. .
Much Ceremony Marks 23
Hour Day in New York
Ntrw York, March 31. The "night
owls", of this city had a patriotic ex
cuse' f Or lingering in Madison square
until 2 o'clock this morning, for at
that hour Marcus M. Marks, presi
dent of the Nati -.ial Daylight Sav
ing association, officially advanced the
hands of the clock on the Metropoli
tan tower one hour, thereby ushering
in heje the first 23-hour day the coun
try has ever, known.
The city was determined to make
the inauguration of the daylight sav
ing plan as a "win the war" measure
a gala event. Madison square was
strung with lights and a patroitic
rally was held from 11 o'clock last
night until "3 oclock" this morning,
a period of three actual and one
theoretical hour, during which the
police band played or the Community
chorus sang.
Between Montdidier and Moreuil the fire of the French
infantry mowed down German battalions which renewed the
assault without ceasing. Moreuil, captured by the Germans,
was retaken by the French again, taken by the Germans and!
finally carried in a bayonet charge made with incomparable!
bravery by French and British troops mingled in tiie same
ranks. The woods north of Moreuil also were captured as the
result of valiant fighting. In this region the French took many
prisoners. ', ' ' ' :.' ' .' '. ' .
CAPTURE 700 GERMANS. V
"Between Moreuil and Lassigny the checking of the Ger
mans, it has been established, was complete. The French were
able to make progress as far as the vicinity of Canny-Sur-Matz.
A division of picked troops, which, as announced last night, re
captured Plemont and held it against all attacks, took 700!
prisoners. ' -
"On the remainder of the front there was intermittent can
nonading. Three German raids on the right bank of the Meuse
(Verdun front), were without result."
NEBRASKANS TO
COME HOME FOR
LIBERTY MARCH
One Hundred or Mere of the
Boys and Four Bands From
Camp Dodge to Be in Line
April 6 for Parade.
Many Omaha and Nebraska sol
dier boys at Camp Dodge are coming
to participate in the Liberty loan
parade. Probabfy between 100 and
lj0 will be here. They will leave Des
Moines on a special train Friday
night, arriving in Omaha early Satur
day morning.
Arrangements for bringing the Nc- 1
braskans to Omaha have been made,
but some of the minor details in con
nection with the movement of the
train that will carry them, have not
been worked out.
Not only are the Nebraskans com
ing home to give the Liberty loan a ,
boost, but they will bring music with
them. It was announced by Colonel.
Grant Sunday night, that four of the
best military bands in the United
States will come. These bands all
come from Camp Dodge and -are ths
best at the cantonment.
In the Liberty loan parade the plan
is" to give the Omaha and Nebraska
boys the post of honor. They will
take the head of the column and .keep
it during the march along the streets.
Business houses dh Farnam street,
between Tenth and Twenty-sixth
streets, have been asked, by the Lib
erty loan parade committee to deco
rate their fronts with American flags
and service flags on the day of the
parade, April 6. , . ,, (
THAT SAVES THE ALIEN
ENEMY x VOTE. PROVISO
It was supposedly as a war measure that the legislature was to
submit an amendment to the state constitution abolishing alien voting.
The legislature meets, the governor's bill is introduced, and lo, it
abolishes alien voting after the war!
At least in all reasonable expectations it will be after the war.
For the resolution provides that all, persons voting on first papers at
the time of adoption of the amendment may keep on voting for three
ears thereafter. That would bar no alien voter until the last month of
1921. It.would leave thft aliens to vote at the next presidential election.
Their disfranchisement would not actually take effect at a few municipal 4
elections, until the general election of 1922.
For aught this amendment would do, the matter could as well
have been left to the regular session next winter. Nebraska should
. have taken this step long ago. It owes the manipulators of its foreign ,
vote a lasting grudge for defeating such an amendment some years ago.
We are glad to have another such amendment submitted on almost any
terms. Probably the alien vote will do us no great harm In the. next
three years, though the delay might' conceivably give it one more shot
at prohibition.
..But why has the legislature been called upon to deal with a "war
measure" whose application is deferred until the war, as we all expect,
will be long over? Why not also provide that the sedition bill shall
take effect in 1925 and that the Mocket law is repealed to take effect at
the beginning of our next war or that soldiers shall have voting rights
auer xney get oacK nomc r iiintuin juyiuiu. , , ,'' i; ,
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