Nebraska Newspapers

    J;
t . ; : r 1
5 ' . .V.. '
...
1 ' '
he Omaha Daily ;
VOL. XLVII NO. 279.
OMAA, THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 9, 1918. 12 PAGES
rSEtTA. SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS.
MORE THAN HALF MILLION a S.
FIGHTING MEN NOW IN FRANCE
V
GERMANS RESUME
INFANTRY ATTACK
IN YPRES SECTOR
tfied Front Line Frenches Penetrated at Some Point,
-But Enemy is Repulsed Over Greater Part of
Five-Mile Battle Front and Fails 6
Attain Objective.
(By Associated Press.)
What possibly may prove to be the prelude to the long
expected resumption of hostilities by the Germans on the west
ern front is being played.
Southeast of Ypres from the region of Voormezeele to La
Clytte, the Germans have launched an attack against the Brit
ish and French troops holding the line and at certain points
over the five mile battle front they have met with some success
by penetrating front line trenches. Apparently, however, over
the greater part of the field of combat they met with repulse.
FT.ANKING MOVEMENT. 0
As usual, .he enemy began the at
tack after a heavy preliminary bomb
ardment. The ground gained is
south of Dickebusch lake and in
Ridgewood around which place hard
fighting was continuing at last ac
counts. The objective of the enemy seems
to be the pushing forward of his
line in this region in order still fur
ther to outflank Ypres on the south
west and press on toward Poeper
inghe and the railway line running
between that town and Ypres.
As yet o:ny meager advices have
come through concerning the nature
of the engagement, but unofficial re
ports indicate that it was made only
in divisional strength. Whether it
would develop later into another of
the great battles that have been
fought in this area could not be fore
told.
SHELL FIRE HEAVY.
On the remainder of the front in
Flanders and Picardy artillery duels
and small operations continue on
isolated sectors. The French .south
of La Clytte have penetrated Ger
man advanced positions and taken
prisoners and the Australians east of
Amiens have again pinched in and
taken over portions of the German
line.
The artillery activity has been par
ticularly heavy on both banks of the
Avre. southwest of Amiens, and on
the sector in Picardy held by
the
American in. ops. On the Toul sec
tor the Americans for the first time
have opened against the Germans
with their heavy artillery.
On the other battle fronts the op
erations continue of a minor charac
ter. In Mesopotamia the British
have advanced their line to within
80 miles of Mosul, capturing the town
of Kerkuk, which the Turks evacu
ated without giving battle.
Marine Dies of Wound;
Seven Others Injured
aslimgton, May 8, A
marine
corps casualty list today shows one
man dead from wounds and. seven
slightly wounded in action.
Private Ralph Clay Johnson of
Gdthrie, Okl., died from wounds. The
sligluly wounded were: Second lieu
tenant Vernon Lee Somers, Bloxon,
Va.; Corporal Herbert Roy Perkins,
Sumner, Tex.; Privates Joseph King
Clark, Walton, Ind.; John Edgar
Davidson, Detroit; Allen Melville
Schroeder, Cleveland; Royal Lee
Stokely, Crawford, Ga.; Harry Fink,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Weather
Fcr Nebraska Increasing cloudj
ness Thursday; followed by Showers
and cooler in afternoon or night; Fri
day cloudy and much cooler; probably
showers.
Temperatures at Omaha Yesterday.
Hour. Deg.
.. 65
.. 64
.. 66
.. 66
.. 65
.. 7
.. 7ft
.. so
1 j. m 84
3 p. m 87
3 p. m 8R
4 p. m 90
5 p. m 91'
p. m :
T p. m 91
8 p. m 88
Ixtral R"rnrd.
IMS. 1317. I9I. 131S.
93 68 77 69
64 43 .Ml 42
78 56 64 60
Comparative
Hijrhfst yenterday
Lowest yesterday
Moan temperatftre
Precipitation 1
(tQ1 .nn .oo
Temperature and precipitation departure!
from the normal:
Normal temperature 60
Excess for the day 18
Total excess since March 1 347
Normal precipitation 14 Inch
Excess for the day 01 Inch
Total rainfall since March 1, ... 1.83 inches
Deficiency since March 1 3.57 inches
Excess for cor. period, 1917 92 Inch
Deficiency for cor. period, 1915. .3.22 Inches
Reports From Stations at 7 P., M.,
Station and State Temp. High- Raln-
of Weather. 7 p. m est. fall.
Cheyenne, pt. cloudy... 70 73 .00
Davenport, cloudy .... 68 SO .04
Denver, clear V., 78 82 .00
Des Moines, clear 84 84 T
podge City, raining..,. 82 92 .03
Chicago, cloudy 66 66 T
North Platte, clear .... 86 90 .00
)maha, clear 91 92 .16
Pueblo, clear 80 86 .00
Japid City, pt cloudy.. 70 "o .oo
alt Lake City, cloudy. 60 70 T
tenta Fa, clear 70 74 .00
Sheridan, cloudy 56 62 .02
Sioux City clear .... 90 92 .00
Valentine, cloudy 80 88 .00
T Indicates trace of precipitation.
h. A. WELSH, Meteorologist
I
mi . 'I 5 a. m
Wm j:
. - , 9 a. m
13 m.m.
AMERICAN HEAVY
GUNS OPEN FIRE
IN TOUL SECTOR
Forty ' Big Shells Sent Over
Montsec at German Batteries;
Successes Scored by U. S.
Merin Picardy.
(By Aiuoctated Preti.)
With the American Army in France,
May 8. American heavy artillery was
fired today for the first time in the
sector northwest of Toul. After sev
eral weeks spent in preparation, the
American artillerists having picked
out targets in the rear of Montstc, re
ported that they were ready to open
fire a couple days ago, but for rea
sons not disclosed the guns were not
fred until today.
About 40 big shells were sent over
Montsec at the heavy German bat
teries Vomrbsed of 203s captured
from tlie Russians, which had been
"firing for some time, especially at the
American battery positions.
At least three npfa German squad
rons of pursuit airplanes have been
sent U'i to the American troops in the
Toul sector for the purpose of strafing
them, according to information re
ceived today. The exact composition
of the squadrons has not yet been
definitely ascertained.
Every day the Americans become
stronger in Picardy. Apparently they
are better entrenched than the Ger
mans, who are being continually har
assed, day and night. Despite the
enemy's heavy expenditure in gas he
has obtained no advantage in this
sector, the Americans discounting his
every move.
New Regulations Are Made
For Officers' Training School
Washington, May 8. Regulations
announced by Adjutant General Mc
Cain governing admission to the
fourth officers' training camps, tp open
May IS, provide that men of draft age
may enter the schools if they are
members of reserve officers' training
corps in accredited schools, who
either will complete the senior course
this year or who have had since
January 1, 1917, not less than 300
hours of military instruction under
an army officer. Graduates of educa
tional institutions giving military in
struction under an army officer also
may enter Jf they have had not .less
than one year's military training.
AMERICANS SHOW DARING
Small Party of Men in Lorraine See
tor Carries Out Brilliant Enterprise.
IN SCOUTING EXPEDITION
(By Associated Tress.)
With the American Forces on the
French Front, May 8. The official
French report of the patrol action in
which American troops in the Lor
raine sector of the battle front car
ried out a brilliant little operation
May 5, in the vicinity of the hamlet
of Anservillers, shows the wonder
fully enterprising spirit of the Ameri
can troops.
The report says the Americans!,
whose activity never relaxes and
whose audacity is remarkable, wanted
'to see what the Germans opposite
them were doing. At"3 o'clock in the
morning of May 5, without artillery
preparation, three American patrols
left the village of Anservillers, which
is in the entente allied lines.
Two of the patrols took a position
on the right and left flank while
the third, composed of eight men
under command of Lieutenant Cas
sidy, executed i clever turning move
ment and entered Anservillers hamlet
from the rear and fell upon the Ger
man advanced post.
The patrol fired only one shot and
TEUTONS FLAUNT FRIGHTFULNESS
AS WARNING TO NEUTRAL NA TIONS
SOLDIERS' VOTE
MAKES NO CHANGE
AMONG LEADERS
Dahlman and His Ticket Re
ceive Majority of Khaki Bal
lots, But Number Is Not
Sufficient.
COMPLETE RETURNS.
Army Total
Vote. Vote.
Dan B. Butler 236 13,342
Ed P. Smith.. . 86 13,081
Thomas Falconer 178 12,896
Roy N. Towl 72 12,776
W G. Ure.. 136 11,898
Harry B. Zimman 69 11,866
T. Dean Ringer 70 11,587
Joseoh B. Hummel. . . .256 11,189
Tom P. Reynolds 165 11,125
James C. Dahlman .... 266 10,926
George Parks 234 10,507
Charles H. Withnell . . .238 9,379
Henry F. Wulf 48 9,348
Walter S. Jardine 128 8,805
The soldier vote for city commis
sioners counted last flight, ran true
to tlie claims of the administration
but enough votes were not received
materially to change results.
More than 300 ballots were mailed
by soldiers. Camp Cody's votes were
as numerous as all other camps com
bined. Camp Funston was second,
while votes were received from Jack
sonville, Fla., Camp Dodge, Fort Lo
gan, Colo., and other camps.
More than 2,500 ballots had been
mailed to the soldiers. Had all been
returned Hummel and Dahlman
would have crowded the two low
"men.
Reports from Camp Cody estimated
500 votes cast and there is consid
erable speculation among politicians
whether the estimate was too high
or whether the ballots were delayed
in the mail.
Butler's Lead Increases.
The soldier vote increased the lead
of Butler over Smith for the high
est vote and replaced Zimman by Ure
for fifth pla Hummel now leads
the losers instead of Reynolds and
Wulf was shoved into next to the
cellar position by Withnell.
The soldier voting law provides
that all ballots must be in the hands
of the election commissioner 48 hours
after the polls close. The ballots
were mailed out about 10 days ago
and had they been returned promptly
all would have reached Omaha by
election day. Ballots from the far
(CoDtlnued on Page Two, Column Three.)
French War Workers to Speak
At University Club This Noon
Mine. Mary Lantes and M. William
Sandoz, French war workers, who
are in this country in the interest of
a fund jor crippled soldiers of
France, will tpeak at the University
club this noon.
Dr. F. J. Despecher will act as in
terpreter as neither of the French
visitors spean. English.
The engagement at the University
club will be under the direction of
N. H. Loomis and Judge W D. Mc
Hugh. Englishman Sets New Mark
In Rivet-Driving Contest
London, May . The record made
by Charles Schock, who at Baltimore
drove 2,720 rivets in nine hours, has
been beaten in London by a selected
squad under Robert Farrant. The
Fraser yard set out to do 2,850 rivets
in nine hours so as to beat Schock's fig
ures, but Farrant passed that total
in six hours. Going on, he hammered
in 4,267 rivets irj nine hours, an aver
age of slightly-less than 475 an hour,
or one rivet every 72 seconds.
then attacked the Germans
with
trench knives. A fierce struggle en
sued, the Germans using the butts of
their rifles against the American
knives. The fight ended with the
death of two Germans ani the
wounding of their corporal, who with
three other men, was brought back
to the American lines. There were
no casualties among the Americans.
A letter freshly written, found on
the body of a German killed by the
Americans in Picardy, discloses the
effectiveness of the American fire
against the enemy and the difficulties
the Germans are having in bringing
up supplies, ine letter toiiows:
"Here we lie in a village which has
been completely demolished by artil
lery fire. The village is near Mont
didirr. "We dare not show ourselves. We
live in the cellar. We have to no
ana get our iooq at nignt. i ne last
night I wenf out with a detail which
brought back food, a shell hit our
party, which killed some men and
wounded several. 1 hope we will soon
be taken from the western army." i
Looting, Levying Tribute Upon Stricken People, Destruc
tion of Churches and Mistreatment of Prisoners Re
cited Brazenly in Circular Spread Broadcast
in Spain by German Propagandists.
(By Associated Press.)
Washington, May 8. Teutonic (rightfulness as practiced
in France and Belgium has been made the subject of a German
warning to neutral nations of the fate which they may expect
if they take up arms against the central powers.
"If there are any still thinking of siding with the allies, let
them take warning from the fate of others," says the note.
It is in the form of a circular which recites the amount of
booty seized in France and Belgium, the number of churches
damaged and destroyed, the money wrjmg from the stricken
inhabitants, and, finally, the deliberate mistreatment of English
prisoners of war.
Spain Flooded With Document
By German Propagandists.
nrm9n nrnrtae3nr1ict fiav flnnrleH Srtain with 4-Vl drtrntnnf nrinterl in
Spanish, and copies have come into the possession of the State department.
Having established its German origin, the department tonight made it publ o
by translation:
Besides an untold amount of war material captured on the battle
. field, the Germans have taken possession of incalculable booty in
France, including:
High grade watches, 417; average watches, 5,016: underwear,
18,073; embroideries and women's handkerchiefs, 15,132; umbrellas
and parasols, 3,705; silver spoons, 1,876; bottles of champagne, 523,000.
These figures show a large increase over those of the campaign
against France in 1870-71.
Art Treasures Confiscated;
Houses of Worship Destroyed.
In Belgium, besides many art treasures, they have confiscated old
paintings valued at 3,000,000 pesetas.
Due to the treachery of Cardinal Mercier and other priests, who
did their utmost to stir the priests against the good-hearted German
soliders, they were forced to teach a severe lesson to the Belgian and
French Catholics.
Cathedrals destroyed, 4; rendered unserviceable, 8; churches de
stroyed, 27; rendered unserviceable, 34. Total, 73.
In Poland also a large number of churches have been destroyed
for military reasons. The figures concerning these have not yet been
published.
Enormous Tribute Levied Upon
Individuals and Cities of Belgium.
AS a result of the stupid stubbornness of the Belgian people in
continuing the struggle after their bloody and final defeat on the
battlefield the German Officers were forced, against their will, to im
pose punishments on many rich individuals and wealthy cities. This
has contributed the following amounts to the German treasury:
Punishments, 87,000,000 pesetas; security, 13,000,500 pesetas; re
prisals, 15,750,000 pesetas; forced contributions, 4,320,850 pesetas.
Total, 120,071,350 pesetas.
This amount includes a fine of 15,000 pesetas imposed on the
Alsatian children wbo insist on speaking the French language and
refuse to study the beautiful German language. These statistics are
a most useful warning to neutral countries.
If there are still any thinking of siding with the allies, let them
take warning from the fate of the of'er
Declare British Are Pledged
To Return German Colonies.
In connection with claims of the extent of territory occupied by German
troops the following footnote appears:
When it is held that the Germans have occupied no English
territory, and that on the contrary they have lost all their African
colonies, amounting to some 3,000,000 square kilometers, it must be
remembered that the English, according to the declaration of their
ministers, are not intending to secure any extensions of the British
empire, that they have entered the struggle with only the aim of
helping the Belgians. That is to say, the English have practically
pledged themselves to return the German colonies after the war in
exchange for the evacuation and indemnification of Belgium. The
, Germans, therefore, are to recover all that they have lost in Africa.
Regime of Extreme Rigor Is
Imposed on English Prisoners.
It is claimed in this document that more than 50,000 British have been
made prisoners and in this connection the following statement is made:
Although to these figures the English oppose 124,806 German
prisoners taken by them on the western front, it must be remem
bered the English treat their prisoners with notable kindness
(blandura notoria), while the regime imposed on the English pris
oners by the Germans is one of extreme rigor; so that the Germans,
with a small number of prisoners, have secured a much superior
' moral effect. Besides, to the 2,264 officers and 51,325 soldiers, must
be added the several thousand English prisoners that have died in
consequence of disease, scanty food and other accidents in German
concentration camps.
The figure regarding British prisoners, it is explained, refer to the total
prior to the recent drive in Picardy and Flanders.
TJ. S. SENDS GRAIN
TO SWITZERLAND
WITH BIG CONVOY
Washington, May 8. In defiance
of the German submarines, the
United States is sending grain to
Switzerland aboard armed ships un
der naval convoys prepared to fight
their way through the danger zones.
Two grain ships left an Atlantic port
some time ago, two more sailed last
week and others will go soon.
Butler Says He Will
Make Good on Promise
Dan Butler made a pre-election
pledge.
Now Dan has been re-elected city
commissioner of Omaha and his
friends and backers are wondering
'if he intends to live up to his
promise.
No, it wasn't a political promise.
But he did say that he would
hearken to the pleas of little Dan
Cupid, his namesake, and would be
come a benedict, if re-elected.
When asked Wednesday morning
who would be the lucky girl, the
"bridegroom - in - the - making," re
plied: "Give "ne time to get my second
-reath. To tell the truth, I haven't
icked her out yet. I'm going to
ook the field over first."
Dan is a bachelor and Dan is
still "on the market"
Nicaragua" Government Names
New Minister to United States
San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, May
8. Diego Manuel Chamorro, former
minister of foreign affairs has been
appointed Nicaraguan minister to the
United States.
Nicaragua yesterday declared war
on Germany. The government is now
represented at Washington by a
charge d'affairs.
Belgian Citizens Forced
To Enroll in Hun Army
Washington, May 8. Seven hun
dred young men of Brussels, born in
Belgium of German parentage, but
Belgian citizens by adoption, have
been taken to Germany to be enrolled
in the army, accoridng to an official
dispatch today from France.
Good for
The outcome of the city election furnishes inspiration
for a bigger and better Omaha.
In electing six out of seven new men to take charge of
the city hall for the next three years the voters have regis
tered' a demand for a housecleaning and a new deal.
While perhaps few ballots were marked for the exact
, seven who have won out, the community is entitled to self
congratulation on the character and caliber of the winners
as a whole and will rightfully look to them to set a higher
standard of efficiency and speed up the wheels of municipal
progress.
Regrets may be indulged for one or two of the de
feated, but such are the fortunes of political warfare.
; decisive majority of the people have voiced their de
sire for a change of control. It will be up to our new city
managers to make good.
MJLUIr.K.S
EQUIPPED BEFORE
rTIir17' r r 4 nn r r H A
inn I UU ALKUooW
Secretary Baker Announces
January as to Oversea Movement Has Been Sur- '
passed; Machine Guns Being Produced in
"Increasing and Substantial Numbers."
(By Associated Press.) 4
WashinghwyMay 8. More than half a million American
' liers have been sent to France.
Secretary Baker today dictated the following statement:
"In January I told the senate committee that there ' was'
strong likelihood that early in the present year 5OO,O0p Ameri
can troops would be dispatched to France. I cannot either now
or perhaps later discuss the number of American troops in
France; but I am glad to be able to say that the forecast I
made in January has been surpassed." ;
O MACHINE GUNS'REAnY.
MUTINOUS CREWS
MAKE TROUBLE IN
AUSTRIAN FLEET
Disturbances Result in Changes
in High Command; Internal J
Situation in Dual Empire
Greatly Strained.
(Br Aisoclitfd Trent.)
Washington, May 8. Serious dis
turbances in the Austro-Hungarian
fleet have caused changes in the
high command, a dispatch from
Switzerland said. The crews, com
posed largely of Slavs and men of
Italian descent, have made a great
deal of trouble and the disturbances
were put down with difficulty.
New State Planned.
London, May 8. The latest separ
atist program in Austria, according
to a dispatch to the Daily Mail from
The Hague, quoting advices from
Vienna, is to create a state to be
named Greater Moravia, which would ,
include Silesia and. the Slovene (lis-
tricts of Hungary, with the capital at
Olmutz.
Vienna newspapers of Saturday re
ceived at The lfague, it is added,
show that the internal situation in
Aiistria-Hungary is greatly strained.
Tlfe socialist Arbeiter Zeitung, whose
circulation in Germany has been
stopped, declares that the govern
ment cannot be aware of actual con
ditions in "Austria, or otherwise it
would not play with fire.
It says that the adjournment of
Parliament screwed down the last
safety valve at a moment when an
explosion of popular feeling was like
ly to be provoked by extreme eco
nomic pressure.
PEACE CANNOT BE
WON BY KNOCKOUT,
LANSDOWNE HOLDS
London, May 8. In the house of
lords today a debate arose on the
pacifist agitation, in the course of
which the Marquis of Lansdowne re
iterated his opinion that peace would
never come except by negotiations.
Those expecting that peace would
come through knockout blow, he
said, were unable to tell the country
how that blow c( uld be delivered or
the cost of delivering it.
There existed a great o&y of
opinion in Germany and Austria, con
tinued Lord Lansdown, which was
sick of the butchery and desirous of
stopping it. He who wished to en
courage that kind of opinion and ad
vocates of a knockout, should think
twice before driving the British peo
ple into a very dangerous mood.
Earl Curzon thought that too much
was being made of the pacifist propa
ganda. "Peace by negotiation," he contin
ued, "is utterly impossible at this
moment because this couptry is con
fronted with the greatest crisis in its
history."
Omaha
KIJI.1.Y
. , V-
That Forecast H- MJ l
As a resul; of a personal investiga.
tion of machine gun production dur' .
ing the past few days, the secretary.;
announced hat there is no present'
shortage of light or heavy types of
these weapons either in France or
America, and no shortage is in prosX
pect. T
Mr. Baker said there had been no .
question brought up as to the sup.1,
plies of light type Browning guns
which were coming forward in quan!
titles. He would not say whether
shipment of these guns to France had
been started. As to the heavy.
Brownings, he said: ' ,
"Early manufacturers' estimates; -as
to the production of the heavy
type perhaps were more optimistic, v
than was justified. The estimate of
the ordnance department in January
ban been mt and is being met. Some
ot these heavy guns have been pro
duced arid there is every indication,
of forthcomi.ig production in increase
ing and substantial numbers.". ; , 1
Words Chosen With Care. ' J
The secretary chose his .word i.
about the troops in France with the
utmost care. He would not amplify
the staftment in any way and es
pecially asked that the press refrain'
from speculation as to what precise
figures his guarded remarks "covered
or as to what possibilities of early
further increase in the force on the
other side there might be.
There lias been repeated official an
nouncements, however, that the gov
ernment is bending every energy to
rush men across to back up the allied (
lines in France and officers directly
in charge of the transportation hava
expressed siUsfaction with the pro
gress being made. There is no
doubt that the present force of '
American tioops there represents
only a small part of the total strength
that will bo available for employ--,
ment by General Foch before the ;
summer fighting ends. ,'
Men Equipped .Fully.
There arelndications, too, that
the War department has adhered
strictly to its policy of equipping,
fully before his departure every man ;
sent across That is the first con
sideration in checking off supplies of ,
clothing and arms. Mr. Baker's re
cent study of the whole ordnance pro
gram was founded on his desire to
see just what the situation was in '
this slowest element of the war pre
parations. .
His conclusions as to machine guns
follow on the heels of pessimistic
statements ty members of Jongress
in this regard. In discussion of -the
production cf Browning machine
guns, contracts for other types both
here and abroad apparently have
been lost sight of. These contracts
preceded the placing of orders for
the Brownings and that supply was
designed tj meet the emergency
until the new gun was available in
quantities. .
The present practice ot brigading
American umts with French and
British divisions, it is pointed out, ;
makes the artillery question less
pressing as an immediate independ
ent supply. . "
To date 1,227.000 1 Americans have
bten called to the colors under the
selective service act. Provost Marshal
General Crowder today gave this
figure as the approximate strength of
(lie national armv.
r.A.u r..it ij... i""!
r mii;ii ouiuayeues insist
On Right to Share of Tobacco
Paris, May 8. Leading French
suffragettes are protesting against th
new regulations under which wo'mei'
are excluded, from the privileges' ol s
the distribution of tobacco by card. s
Mme. Dwitt Schrumberger, al
though favoring prohibition of the uss
of tobacco by minors, considers the
application of the restrictive meas- '
ures to women exclusively as arbi
trary and unjust. Other leaders of the
feminist movement have expressed
themselves likewise.
Son of John W. Redick
Dies in New York City
William Redick, 6 years old, son of
Mr and Mrs. Jchn W. Redick and
grandson of Judge W. A. Redick I
this city, died in New York City last
nlht following an operation. The
boy's parents were with him at the .
time of his death. The funeral wal
tal e place in Omaha Saturday.