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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 19, 1918)
Omaha Daily Bee THE WEATHER . Cloudy 4- HE 3L. . VOL. XLVII NQ. 262. M Ml Mill TEUTONS FAIL IN FIERCE ATTACKS ON LA BASSE E FRONT Reinforced By Freneh, British Hold Hard Against In cursions Which, if Successful, Would Jeopardize Entire Arras Sector, Embracing Famous Coal Mining Region About Lens. (By Associated Press.) 1 Reinforced by French troops, the allied line is holding 'vhard against further incursions by the Germans from the region of La Bassee to the north of Ypres. Everywhere the Germans have struck the line in an en deavor to press back the defenders they have been repulsed with heavy losses and have been successful nowhere in gaining further ground. RTPTHTINF. NOW OBIECTIVE. " Attacks of an extraordinary vio lent nature are being made by the f. Germans on the 10-mile front between , Givenchy and Robecq. where an en : deavor is being made to cross the La Bassee canal and bend southward the salient which now outflanks the im portant railroad town rf Bethune. A division of troops to each mile is being used by the Germans on this sector, .bit the British at last accounts were holding well and inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. WOITLD JEOPARDIZE ARRAS. If' successful the new attack of the Germans would jeopardize the entire 'Arras sector, which includes the fa mous French coaling region about Lens and the equally famous Vimy ; ridge, where the Canadians are hold ing forth. It seems evident that it is ' part Of the strategy of the German r high command to wipe out the salient by an enve'.oping move rather than again to give battle to the British . about Lens and Vimy, two regions that already have proved slaughter - houses for their men. Many Gas Shells Used. ' Following the usual custom prior to the launching of an attack, the Ger mans throughout Wednesday night literally rained shells' of all calibers between Givinchy and Robecq, the firing by daybreak having reached the intensity of drum fire. Large quan r tittcs of gas shells were intermingled with the high powered missiles. During Thursday midway between j Bailleul and Ypres, the Germans vig orously attacked the British positions south of Kemmel, which the British , had recaptured from them Wednes day, but were, unable to gain any ad vantage in the face of the strong de ' fense. Considerable fighting has devel oped along the front in northern Flanders between Langemarck and "Kippe, held by the Belgians. At one point the enemy penetrated the Bel- ' gian front line, but later was ex pelled, leaving 600 prisoners, among them numerous officers, in the hands of King Albert's men. French Succeed in Drive. East of Amiens, along the Avre river, the French have made success ful attacks against the Germans on "several sectors, capturing the greater part of the Senecat wood and also 1 advancing their line east and west of the stream. i On the Italian front artillery duels nd patrol encounters continue. In tense aerial activity prevails over the entire front Wednesday 17 enemy airplanes were brought down five by Italian aviators and 12 by British. The Weather Nebraska Partly cloudy Friday; colder in southeast portion; Saturday fair and warmer. Temperatures at Omaha Yesterday. Hour. beg. ...45 .. .44 .. .45 .. .46 ...4 .. .60 .. .52 5 a. m. 6 . m. 7 a. m. 8 a. m. 9 a. m. 19 a. m. 11 a. ni. 12 m 65 1 p. m. 2 p. m. 3 p. m. 4 p. in. 5 p. m. 6 p. in . 7 p. rn . 8 p. m. Comparative I .oral Record. 1918. 1317. 151 0. 1915. 81 57 C9 .00 .jTlTirhest yesterday, l.uwest yesterday.. 3 62 74 .0 .70 ..44 46 5S 1.10 IV nan temperature ....51 ' Precipitation .00 Temperature and precipitation departures from the normal: Jv'ormal temperature ........32 deficiency for the day 1 Total exces), since March 1 ,-,....353 Iv'ormal precipitation 10 inch ' Deficiency for the day --,10 inch -Total rainfall since March 1 ... .1.21 inches leficlency sine March 1, 1S18..1.81 inches Deficiency lor. cor. period, 1917.. .45 inch Deficiency for cor. period, 116. .1.34 inches .. sReportt From Station at 7 P. M. Station and .State temp. High- Baln of Weather. 7 p. TO est. fall. hyenpe. snowing .... ?8 28 Davenport, ciear 51 58 . iifflw. Knowing 30 - 4 0 Js Moines, clear .....54 CO odge City, rlear 52 52 t.anler, cloudy 38 .Vorlh Platte, cloudy .. 42 4 un-.ah.-i, part cloudy ..EH 68 Tueblo, cloudy .. 40 48 T indicate trace jf precipitation. i. A. WELSH. Meteorologist, I - I V" U-BOAT WARFARE WILL GO ON, SAYS GERMAN ADMIRAL Asserts Germany Is Building Submarines Faster Than They Are Sunk and Has Crews to Man Them. (Br Associated Press.) Amsterdam, April 18. Vice Ad miral von Capelle, German minuter of the navy, discussing submarine warfare before the main committee of the. reichstag, declared that the new U-boat construction exceeded the losses and that the effectiveness of the submarines had increased. He quoted figures to prove Ins conten tion that the U-boat sinkings were six-fold the tonnage of the new Brit ish construction. The minister declared that the American destroyers which had been so much talked about had failed in their object and he is quoted by the semi-official Wolff bureau of Berlin as saying with reference to ship building: Ridicules American Program. "For the carrying out of America's giant paper program, America must first lay down the shipyards. After prodigious promises, America in 1917 built 70,000 gross register tons of sea going ships. The large mercantile fleet placed on order America does not want for the war, but for the post-bellum period when, the ship ping program having been in the meantime carried out, America will become England's world, freight car rier." "The robbery of Dutch tonnage, whereby Anglo-Saxons had incurred the worst kind of odium for decades to come," he said, "was the best proof of how far the shipping shortage al ready had gone with the western powers." To the sinkings must be added, the admiral added, the big wear and tear in ships and the enor mous increase in marine accidents which Sir John Ellerman, in the Brit ish shipping chamber, recently had calculated to be three times the amount of peace losses. Admiral von Cappele admitted t'lat Germany's opponents had had some success 'with their anti-submanne measures, but, he declared, this suc cess. I Major General Clarence Edwards Now Commands Division in France Major General Clarence R. Edwards -vii vviiuiidiiu) VIIV V Vill.iV. UOIII 3 fighting divisions "Somewhere in Prance", according to Omaha friend5-v who have received letters from him. He left America several months ago in command of the divisipn which followed General Perishing. General Edwards' division is com posed mostly of boys from New Eng land, in which part of the country he has spent most of his life. Prior to his leaving for France, General Edwards was in charge of the north eastern department, with headquart ers at Boston. General Edwards has seen service in the Philippines, and for many months was on duty in the Panama canal zone. He brought General Lawton's body from the Philippines following the Spanish-American war. During recent years General Edwards has been prominently connected with the insular department at Washing ton. r naii county Raises Quota. Grand Island, Neb., April 18. (Spe cial Telegram.) Following Grand Island's tompletetion of its quota on Saturday. Hall county went over the too by $34,000 toda OMAHA, FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 19, Schwab Enters Upon His First Public Job With Zeal and Energy Washington, April 18. Charles M. Schwab today be gan his work as director gen eral of the emergency fleet cor poration with, as he expressed it, "optimism, enthusiasm and in perfect accord" with the shipping board, and determined to give no attention to his pri vate enterprises while in the government service. "The great burden of this program falls on the people in the yards," he declared. "If the ships are built in time to bring victory over Germany, no credit will belong to anybody in Washington, but to the men on the ground. "Our task here is to super vise, to encourage and to de vise methods." The iron master and practical ship builder showed his eager ness to get to work on the first big public job to which he was called, in discussing his new as signment later with newspaper men. "It is up to every man in this country to do the work to which he is assigned to win this war," he said. "I never saw a man able to work at his best except under the stimulus of praise and enthusiasm, fired with con fidence that he has the approval of the people for whom he is working. "We must appeal to the pride and the patriotism that is in all good Americans to speed up production in the yards." FRIDAY, APRIL 26, SET AS LIBERTY DAY BY WILSON Citizens Called by Proclama tion to Hold Rallies Every where and Give Impetus to Loan Drive. (Ky Associated Press.) Washington, April 18. Friday, April ?6, will be Liberty day through out the United States under a procla mation issued tonight by President Wilson calling on citizens of every community to hold Liberty loan ral lies and "liberally pledge anew their financial support to sustain the na tion's cause." Patriotic demonstrations similar to those of the opening day of the cam paign will be held and the day de voted to giving the race toward the $3,000,000,000 war credit goal a new impetus for the final week. Now with the loan campaign almost half over, $1,089,734,900 subscriptions have been reported to the treasury, or $136,811,650 representing yesterday's business, and committees in every dis trict heve received orders to make extraordinary efforts to gather in pledges faster, in the hopes of meet ing Secretary McAdoo's expressed hope for an oversubscription of the $3,000,000,000 minimum. Sunday, April 21, will be devoted by thousands of preachers to special Liberty loan 'sermons. Charges Administration With Playing Politics New York, April 18. Representa tive Frederick H. Gillett of Massa chusetts, acting republican floor lead er in the house of representatives, in an address before the republican county committee here tonight, charged the . present national ad ministration with extravagance, petty politics and delay in war prepara tions. t v tot Z. ',v,,v.wa -v d xs .... m&h- -IS" I GENEkAL CLARENCE P. EDWARDS. FRENCH ARMY ADVANCES EAST 0FAMIENS; MAKES GAIN ON BOTH SIDES OFAVRERIVER GERMANS MEET ' WALLS OF STEEL AT LA BASSEE ; Ten Divisions Cut Up in Efforts to Effect Crossing of Canal; Battle Continues at Wytschaete. (By Anoclated PreRP.) With the British Army in France, April 18, Ten divisions of German troops were driving today furiously against the British defenses betweea Givenchy-Les-La Bassee and-St. Ven ant in an attempt to effect a crossing of La Bassee canal. The British were holding well and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, according to the latest re port. Coincidentally with this assault, the Germans surged forward further north and again began hammering at the approaches of Kemmerl and the neigh boring high ground, , FIGHTING INTENSE IN FURY. The attack between Givenchy and St Venant began at 9 o'clock after a heavy bombardinertt by the enemy ar tillery, lasting five liours. Hard fight ing developed immediately along most of the line. It was especially intense about Givenchy and in the Robeeq Locon sector. The British were fac ing at least 75,000 riflemen, supported by great numbers of guns and from 50,000 to 60,000 other troops, who go to make up the complements for the infantry. The defending forces at Givenchy had sustained numerous desperate at tacks and had held their ground dur ing the early hours of the battle. East of Lacon, where the German line bulged out close to the canal, the enemy made a particularly i deter mined effort to get across the water way. Twice the German infantry at tacked here, each time coming for ward in four waves. In one of these drives they succeeded in srettine some nridges acros3 the canal, but the only Germans who crossed were those who ran over and surrendered. The British artillery and machine guns poured a deluge of steel about the frail bridges, and the slaughter of the opposing troops was heavy. One party of 200 Germans advanced at one time with hands over their heads to surrender. For some reason they changed their minds abruptly and fled. They were shot to pieces as they ran. There also was hard fighting about Pacaut wood, near the canal and be tween Robecq and St. Venant, where the Germans hoped to improve' their positions in order to facilitate opera tions to the north and south. The attacks in this region were repulsed completely. A concentration of enemy infantry in Calonne, west of St. Venant, was caught in -the British artillery bar rage and badly cut up. Wytschaete Invested. British troops in the neighborhood of Wytschaete this morning vere continuing their all-night battle with the Germans. A German attack yes terday resulted in pushing a salient out northwest of the place, but a sub sequent British counter attack again drew the British line close about the town and at one time a small body of British infantry penetrated to the southeastern section. The British lost a very small piece of territory between Baillau and Dranoutrex yesterday, but the Ger man attack here must be recorded as a failure. Further westward hard fighting continued about Mcteren, and this place today apparently was No Man's Land. A heavy Gentian attack east of Meteren was smashed. The Germans have been bringing up fresh divisions to the Bailleul sec tor, but the most promising sign is that they are beginning to use a sec ond time the troops which had such hard fighting the early days of the offensive. ' Man Power Measure Passes Final Stages London, April 18. All the re ' maining stages of the man power bill were concluded to day and the royal assent was given the measure. The leaders of the nationalists in Ireland, including the Red mondites, who now are led by John Dillon; the Sinn Feiners, O'Brienites, laborites and cler icals, are united in their deter mination to resist conscription "by the most effective means at our disposal," which is the wording of a resolution passed at a meeting of bishops at May npoth yesterday. 191814 PAGES. 1 ' Greater Part of Senecat Woods Captured and Line Carried to Outskirts of Castel and Slopes of Height's 7 Dominating Valley s (By Associated Press.) ' 7 Paris, April 1 8. The French forces in the region of Amiens have captured a portion of the Senecat wood and made advances against the Germans on sew eral other sectors, according to the official communication issued tonight, The text of the communication follows: "We have attacked various enemy positions on the Avre on a front offour kil ometers between Thennes and Mailly-Rainvail. "East of the Avre we have made progress and west of it we have taken the greater part of the Senecat woods and carried our line to the outskirts of Castel. Further south we reached the slop west of the heights dominating the Avre." v BELGIANS DEFEAT ATTACK BY HUNS IN YSER REGION Germans Driven Out of Ad vanced Positions Gained After Bombardment and Lose 600 Prisoners. (By AnnoHnted rre.) With the British Army in France, April 18. The Germans brought up fresh divisions for the hard thrusts which they made yesterday. Although the British were unable to hold Wyt schaete and Meteren, which they bad retaken by a brilliant counter attack, they beat off the enemy elsewhere. The British maintained their line throughout the night. A renewed heavy bombardment of the British front between the La Bassee canal, at Givenchy, and the Nieppe forest, suggests the Germans contemplate another drive in this region in the hope of taking Bethune and creating a new salient. BOMBARDMENT INTENSE. All the areas back of this sector of the front were sprinkled with gas shells throughout last night. At 3 o'clock this morning the bombard ment was nearly of drum fire intensity between Locon and Robecq, where the enemy has tried repeatedly to ad vance his line to the canal. An effort made by the Fourth Ger man army, which holds the enemy's right flank to the sea, to drive in the front of the allies from the coast was extended yesterday to the Yser re gion held by the Belgians. At 8:30 o'clock in the morning, after an all night bombardment, the Germans at tacked on a front of four miles, be tween Langemarck and Kippe. Fail to Hold Gain. The Germans gained a footing in the Belgian advanced positions, but they were thrown out after a fight lasting nearly all day. The Belgians tock 600 prisoners, including officers belonging to four different divisions. North Dakota and Montana Go Over Top in Loan Drive Minneapolis, April 18. Both North Dakota and Montana have over-subscribed their respective. quotas of ?6,5OO,0CK) and $19,000,000 by more than $1,000,000 each, according to word received at the Ninth district loan headquarters here tonight. "Shell-proof Mack" in Next Sunday Bee will tell you in plain language the real story of the Battle of Mes sines Ridge in which he took part How they captured the Pill Boxes and blew up Hill 60 are just a few of the many thrilling incidents de . picted by "Shell-Proof Mack." Read It in Next Sunday's Bee ffwawfii SINGLE COPY TWO CEN.TS. TAKE 500 PRISONERS. "The number of prisoners taken by us exceeds, up to the present, 500, of -whom 15 are officers. We captured several ma chine guns. "It is confirmed that an enemy raid last night east ol Caurieres wood was deadly for our assailants. We found about 40 dead German bodies on the ground. We took 20 prisoners including one officer. , V , ' "Eastern theater, April 17: There was great Activity ot the part of both artilleries along a section; of the front An Im portant surprise attack carried out by the British, and Hel lenic troops on the Struma, April 16, had most satisfactory re suits and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy." If OLD GERMANS ON LYS. London, April 18. Field Marshal Haig's report tonight says: ' "There has been severe fighting again today on the greatei part of the Lys battle front. From La Bassee canal at Givench) to the Lys river east of St. Venant, a bombardment was report ed this morning, followed by strong hostile attacks, all of which have been repulsed." , ' r "The leisses inflicted on the attacking German infantry by our fire are again reported to have been extremely heavy, and. more than 200 prisoners have been taken. ', "The struggle has been particularly fierce in the neighbor, hood of Givenchy, where the enemy made determined efforts, without success to retrieve his previous failures. The fighting in this locality has not yet ceased and the activity of the enemy' artillery is continuing on the whole of the front. Farm Organizations feet Soon to Talk War Work C. II. Gustafson, chairn an, presi dent State Farmers' union; O. G. Smith, president Nebraska Farmers' congress; E. R. Daniclson, secretary Nebraska State Board of Agriculture, and Charles Graff, president Improved Live Stock Breeders, have decided to call a meeting of farmcriof Nebraska at Lincoln as soon as arrangements can be completed to discuss patriotic questions. The announcement made yesterday sets forth that the loyalty of the farmer has been given much attention of late and the land owners want to take their full share in the wy ac tivities. Millner Named New War Secretary of Great Britain London, April 18. The carl of Derby has been appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary on a special mission to France, in suc cession to Lord Kerjie, says an of ficial announcement today. Viscount Milncr becomes secretary for war and J. Austin Chamberlain, a I member of the war cabinet. O BRITONS HOLD KEMMEL. . "Later in the day further sttacka accompanied by heavy shelling, dc veloped against our positions sout of Kemmel and were repulsed. "Beyond considerable , .. , artiller, activity in different sectors, particu larly south and north of the Soman there is nothing of especial interes to report from the British front." REPULSED, SAYS BERLIN. Berlin (Via London), April 18.' The official report from general head, quarters tonight says: , " . "Yesterday the enemy left to us s large part of the Flemish territory which had been gained by him after months of struggle at the price oi huge sacrifices. General Sixt von Ar nim took from the enemy, retreating step by step, Poelcapelle, Lange marck and Zonnebeke, and following him up closely, drove him back behind Strcenbrook. - ''South of Blankaert lake, an enemy counter thrust, checked our forward movement. "North of the Lys, under protection: of a vigorous fire, we gained grounfl and cleared some machine gun nests. "During the fighting of the last' few days over ,2,500 prisoners, some guns and numerous machine guns have bean brought in. I "On the other battle fronts on both sides of the Somme the firing duel is temporarily reviving; it was resumed with greater intensity near Moreuil and Mpntdidier. "On 'the eastern bank of the Meusa minor undertakings near Orncs and Watronville were completely success i'ul and sopie prisoners were brought in. . "To the north of Flirey, between the Meuse and Moselle, a strong French thrust failed with sanguinr" losses." Government Will Operate Great Lakes Steamship Line Washingtoii, April 18. To relieve railroads of much through traffic be tween the east and west Direitor General McAdoo today -ordered the establishment of a Great Lakes steamship line under the railrond ad ministration to operate 17 ships be tween Buffalo and Chicago and Mil waukee. Other vessels may be adde4 later . . 1 ''? if
