Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, August 12, 1918, Image 1

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    THE BEST PAPER PUBLISHED IN THE BEST CITY IN THE" PROSPEROUS MIDDLE-WEST
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THE WEATHER .
For Nebraska j s Unsettled
weather Monday and Tuesday.
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"The Start and Stripe
Forever."
OL. 48-NO. 47. Ttt.ZT&ES&Z OMAHA, MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST 12, 1918.- X''ZtZZ SS' TWO CENTS.
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UW1L 11
EEING IN DISORDE
WITH
British Cavalry Six Miles Beyond
Chaulnes; Old Line Held by Ger
mans Before Retirement to Hin
denburg Line Passed.
London, Aug. 11. The allies continued to make splendid
progress today along the whole front between the region to
the south of Arras and the river Oise, according to reports
reaching London this afternoon. There have been large cap
tures of guns and materials and the number of prisoners is in
creasing. The fairof Chaulnes is said to have followed a des
perate struggle with strong forces rushed up to cover the re
treat. The British encountered fierce opposition north of the
Somme, but they are now advancing down the long slopes to
ward Braye, if they have not already succeeded in reaching
that town.
ENEMY SHOWS SIGNS OF ANXIETY.
Between Arras and Albert the enemy is showing signs of
great anxiety and apparently is anticipating a wide extension
of the fighting front to the north.
On the Soissons-Rheirris front the enemy is contesting every
inch of ground along the Vesle river with the Americans, who
are fighting with superb heroism. The struggle cannot last
long, however, and a German retreat to the river Aisne or be
yond is clearly imminent. " i ;
Reuter's correspondent at. British headquarters describes
the Anglo-American operations that cleared up the awkward
Chipilly triangle as a remarkable feat.
CHICAGOAtfS IN SUCCESSFUL ATTACK.
"The Americans were chiefly from Chicago," the corre
spondent says. "So successfully did they do their job that they
made over 500 prisoners and opened the road to the further
advance that has been made."
Strong German attacks delivered with fresh reserves
against the British at Lihons and north and south of that village
were repulsed today, and in the fighting the Germans suffered
great losses, according to the British official communication,
received from Field Marshal Haig this evening.
A German local attack north of Kemmel, on the Flanders
front, was repulsed after sharp fighting.
An official communication issued by the air ministry this
evening announces that an air raid has been made on Karls
ruhe and that there was an explosion in the Karlsruhe station.
SMASH STIFF RESISTANCE.
With the British Army in France, Aug. 11. The allied
forces continued their victorious advance all along the line last
night and today, pushing in the general direction of the upper
reaches of the Somme. They were smashing the stiff resistance
interposed by the rear guards of the retreating Germans, the
bulk of whom, according to reports considered reliable, are
fleeing in disorder. British cavalry are reported this afternoon
operating, close to the town of Nesles, six miles southeast of
Chaulnes.'
Many hours ago the British, French
and American troops had reached,
roughly, the old line held by the Ger
mans before their retirement to the
Hindenburg line. They have now
pushed beyond in many places.
Goyencourt, two miles northwest of
Roye, is reported to have fallen U
British troops four hours ago. Other
British forces were on the front of
Chaulnea-Hattencurt and Villers-le-Roy.
The Germans are retiring gradually
everywhere in the face of the fife from
the British guns,, rifles and machine
guns.
Push On Toward Braye.
The Americans and British north
ofhe Somme had further hard fight
ing, and with fine spirit pushed on
toward Braye. They have traversed
the northern spur east of Chipilly
and Etinehem as well is in their
hands. Gressaire wood had long
since been. cleared of the enemy, the
allied forces passing aroimd the wood,
which was reeking with gas from
many pockets.
Here both the British and Ameri
cans were helped on their way by
tanks. At one place a tank, contain
ing 12 volunteers, rushed a strong
enemy position. Scores of Germans
were killed and seven officers and 200
men were captured. This permitted
the infantry to get onto the line it
was holding this morning. The Amer
icans in the fighting the past 24 hours
have had further casualties, caused
. principally by machine gun bullets
But their casualties we're no more
than could be expected among troops
constantly delivering attacks 'against
the enemy, who here put up prob
ably the stiffest resistance of any
along the line.
A considerable number of addi
tional prisoners were taken here. Ten
divisions of Prince Rupprecht's re
serves have been identified in the
fighting.
Prisoners Disheartened.
r Large groups of prisoners, hungry,
thirsty and primy and appearing
Continued on face Two, Column Four.)
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ICHT'S SOLDIERS
V
ALLES PURSUING
Ex-Governor Colquitt
In Conference With
"Fatherland" Editor
New York, Aug. 11. Oscar B. Col
quitt, former governor of Texas; Dr.
Bernard Dernburg. German propa
gandist; Bernard H. Ridder, ' editor
of the New York Staats Zeitung, and
George Sylvester Viereck, formerly
editor of the Fatherland, conferred
at one time on the purchase of New
York newspapers, according to in
formation which Deputy State Attor
ney General Becker announced to
night he had obtained from Viereck,
during his investigation of the 'Ger
man propaganda movement in this
country.
"vlr'Becker said that Viereck told
him several papers were considered.
Viereck claimed he did not know
whether there was any connection
between these conferences and the
later purchase of the New York Even
ing Mail, by Dr. Edward A. Rumely.
Harder Knocks Expected
' By Hun Military Expert
Amsterdam, Aug. 11. The military
expert of the Frankfort Zeitung, a
copy of which has been received here,
commenting on the allied offensive,
says:
"It is certain that Field Marshal
Haig has employed only a restricted
number of his attacking divisions. It
also is certain that the German su
preme command will do all in its
power to hold together the main
body of his men and the reserves."
; Urges Use of Convicts.
Elberon, N. J., Aug. ll.A-Use of
convicts to help win the war was
strongly urged by Judge William H.
VVadhams of New York at the . first
war work meeting of the national
committee on prisons and prison
labor.
E FISHERS
TOLL OF HON
SUBMARINE
t
Enemy Craft Makes Raid Off
George's Banks and Sinks
Schooners; Survivors
Saved by Scout Ship.
Nantucket, Mass., Aug. 11. Nine
fishing schooners were sunk off
George's Banks today by a German
submarine, a naval scout boat which
put in here tonight reported.
The scout boat picked up word
of a raid from the auxiliary fishing
schooner Helen Murley which had
rescued four survivors and was taking
them to port.
George's Banks are 60 miles off this
island.
Sees Schooner Disappear.
An Atlantic Port, Aug. 11 The
auxiliary fishing schooner Gleaner
arrived late tonight and reported an
attack by a submarine on four other
fishing vessels off the southerly edge
of George's Banks Saturday after
noon. Capt. Edward A. Proctor of
the Gleaner, saw one two-masted
schooner disappear. That same morn
ing he said he heard gunfire, but
it was so far away he could see noth
ing of the vessel doing the firing.
Navy - Department Notified.
Washington, .Aug. 11. Coming to
the surface in the midst of a fleet of
fishiu gschooners off the Massachu
setts coast, a German submarine to
day sank nine vessels of the fleet,
the Navy deprtment tonight an
nounced. The schooners sunk in
clude the Kate Palmer, the Amita
May, the Reliance, the Star Buck and
the Progress. The names of the
other four ships were not contained in
the Navy department dispatches.
Four survivors from the crew of
the Kate Palmer were picked up by
the fishing schooner Helen Murley
and have reached port in safety. No
information had been obtained by the
Navy department tonight as to the
fate of the crews of the other schoon
ers. After the crew of the Kate Pal
mer had been taken aboard the sub
marine and held prisoner for one
hour, they were set adrift in a small
boat.
Finn Diet Rejects Bill
For Election of King
Amsterdam, Aug. 11. The bill pro
viding for the election of a king of
Finland was , rejected on the third
reading in the Finnish diet because it
failed to receive the necessary five
sixths majority vote, there being 75
votes against and 38 for the measure,
according to a telegram from Hel
singfors to the North German Ga
zette of Berlin. The bill cannot be
revived until after the general elec
tions. :
American WarlAorkers
To Be Known by Badge
Washington, Aug. 11. American
war workers after September 1 will
wear disc shaped badges slightly
larger than a quarter, with a red,
white and blue enameled bar at
tached. The Department of Labor
announced today that the design for
the war industries badge had been
completed by Jo Davidson of New
York and that the first of the medals
would be ready for award on time.
Reinstate Union Operators.
Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 11. The strike
of members of the Commercial Teleg
raphers' Union of America, employed
by the Western Union in Alabama.
Georgia and Florida, set for Monday,
was called off today by the south
eastern district executive committee,
which announced that it had received
advice from Postmaster General
Burleson that operators discharged
for wearing union badges would be
reinstated.
George Hill Disappears.
The police have been asked to lo
cate George Hill, 2119 Seward street.
He has been missing since Friday
night. Hill is a brown-skinned ne
gro, 6 feet tall and weighing 170
pounds.. He is 18 years old.
NN
President Wilson Raps
Candidacy of Senator
Hardwick of Georgia
Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 11. A letter
written by President Wilson to
Clark Howell, democratic national,
committeeman from Georgia, deal
ing with the senatorial race in this
state, was made public tonight.
The communication was in reply to
a letter written by Mr. Howell ask
ing the president to "take the
people into his confidence and give
them the benefit of your view of the
situation."
The president in his reply said
that he had supposed the people of
Georgia fully understood his atti
tude that he never would undertake
to dictate to the voters of any state
the choice they should make, but
would not hesitate to give his views
when they were sought.
"Senator Hardwick has been a
constant and active opponent of my
administration, Mr. William J. Har
ris has consistently and actively
supported it," says the president's
letter. "In my opinion the obvious
thing for all those to do who are
jealous of the reputation of the
party and the success of the gov
ernment in the present crisis is to
combine in support of Mr. Harris."
TEOTONS DIG
IN ALONG NEW
VESLEJRONT
Allied Airmen Discover Ger
mans Stringing Barbed
Wire Opposite Lines
Near Fismes,
With the American Army on
the Vesle, Aug. 11.- Allied
aviators have reported that
the Germans are digging in op
posite the Franco-American
line along the Vesle; The ob
servers also hdve reported that
the enemy is stringing barbed
wire along the hills northwest
of Fismes.
Allied officers express the
belief that the Germans will
not give ground here .unless
deliberately pushed off the
plateau.
It was learned from German prison
ers that an old quarry near Longue val,
large enough to conceal two regi
ments, was being used as a refuge
for troops at rest. The Franco-American
heavy artillery shelled the cave
all day Saturday and the Germans
were finally compelled to abandon it.
Fighting Continues at Fismes.
The Germans made two artillery at
tacks against the Franco-American
troops on the Vesle front, but the
allied troops counter attacked so vig
orously that the Germans did not
launch an infantry attack.
The struggle for the retention of
Fismette, on the northern bank of
the Vesle near Fismes, has developed
virtually into a continuous fight. Th?
Americans, however, are holding the
upper hand, nothwithstanding the
German attempts to dislodge them.
German Aids Americans.
In the region of Fismette the Amer
icans Friday captured a 23-year-old
German from a regiment that had
been in the front line for only a day.
He pointed out snipers and machine
gun nesfs and the artillery soon wiped
them out. This German assisted the
Americans in caring for the wounded,
on several occasions going into the
open and bringing in injured men de
snitp thm l.prman fir
The German was wounded this
ernoon by a German machine gun
bullet. He was taken to a hospital,
where the bullet hole in his hip was
attended to.
A wounded private from Fismette
said, about 50 German prisoners in a
cellar in Fismette were killed by a
German gas attack Friday nightVThey
had lost, their gas masks..
The Germans are using gas lavishly
in all their attacks and the French
and Americans are reciprocating with
gas projectiles in profusion.
The Americans hold the outskirts
of Fismette. Trftre also are many
troops within the village.
First Field Army Organized.
With the American Army in France,
Aug. 11. The first American field
army has been arganized. It is under
the direct command of Gen. John J.
Pershing, commander in chief of
the American forces. The corps com
manders thus far announced are Ma
jor Generals Liggett, Bullard, Bun,dy,
Reed and Wright,
This, does not-mean the immediate
withdrawal from the British and
French commands of all American
units, and it is probable that divi
sions will be used on the French and
British fronts for weeks yet.
It is understood, however, that the
policy of organizing other armieswill
be carried out steadily. "
3jS,000 PRISONERS AND
500 GUNS TAKEN SO FAR
! 1 PJCARDY OFFENSIVE
ALLIES KEEP
HONS MOVING
AT HOT PACE
r.pm,nr u:ttan oCoio J Peronne and Ham, a stretch of about-15 niiles, have been de
Germans Stiffen Resistance On stroyed by allied aviators. The Germans have been attempting
n : - - J. . V J. I L II I I . A 1 A. 1 ! i j a . i ... .
Picardy Front, but Are Unable
to Withstand Onslaughts
of Americans.
" By Associated Press.
The Germans have materially stif
fened their defense against the Brit
ish, American and French troops on
the Picardy battle front, but they
have been unable to stem the tide.
Although the forward push of the
allies has been slowed down, they
have made important progress from
the north of the Somme, where the
Americans and British are fighting
together, to the northern bank of the
f ' .... I .t T- ' I
vise iiciu oy.me r re n en. m.m m. m-
Americans and British are pressing
closely upon Braye-Sur-Somroc, aided
by tanks and armored cars,
Across the river the Germans heav
ily engaged the British at Lihons and
its vicinity, and at one point pierced
the British line and gained the out
skirts of Lihons. A counter attack
restored the British line and the en
emy retired to positions east and
north. Unofficial reports credit the
British with entering Chaulnes and
the British cavalry with a penetra
tion of the enemy's territory almost
to Nesles.
, French Are Pushing On.
The greater progress has been
made by the French from the region
immediately -southwest and south of
Roye to the Oise river. Here they
have driven their line well across the
Roye-Compiegne road and at Cam
bronne have reached the road lead
ing from Compiegne to Noyon.
Since the capture of Montdidier
the French have penetrated eastward
to Tillely, a distance of about seven
miles, and to Canny-Sur-Matz, more
than eight and one-half miles, and
through the hilly region southward
to the Oise have averaged gains ex
ceeding six miles over a front of 12
miles.
The stiffening of the German de
fense does not, in the minds of ob
servers on the battle front, indicate
that the retreat of the enemy has
ended. Rather it is assumed that
these maneuvers are similar .to those
carried out over the Marne front,
when strong rear guards covered the
retirement of the crown prince's
army northward.
Bridges Are Destroyed.
The smoke 6f large fires continues
to be seen far behind the enemy's
lines and the movement of long trans
port columns eastward is considered
evidence that it is the intention of
the enemy ultimately to retreat AO
new lines of defense. Aviaors have
destroyed all the bridges across the
aft-P01", from the region of Peronne
suuuiwara, ana witn the enemy s
communicating lines either in the
hands of the allies or dominated by
their guns the retrograde movement
necessarily must be slow.
The allied troops are encircling
Roye ancLits capture, which seems
imminent, will greatly heighten the
difficulties of the Germans.
Intensive air fighting is proceeding
over the battle line. In Friday's bat
tles 39 German machines were de
stroyed and 22 driven down out of
control. The British war office ac
knowledges that 23 British machines
are missing. Unofficial estimates
bring the number of prisoners taken
by the allies up to 36,000 and the
number of guns captured to more
than 500.
"On the Vesle front the Germans
on the northern side of the stream
are reported to be entrenching and
stringing barbed wires over the ter
ritory where they are facing the
French and Americans.
William H. Newman Dies.
New York, Aug. ll.-William H
Newman, former president and a
member of the board of directors of
the New York Central railroad, died
today at his apartment in the Hotel
Biltmore after a long illness. He was
71 years old.
French Overpower Resistance and
Gain Ground Between Avre and
Oise; Big Gun Bombarding
, Paris Silenced.
Paris, Aug. 11. All the bridges across the Somme between
to throw temporary bridges across the stream and the allied
nnuicii me uuvv ay SLCHlttUtaiiV UUIIlUlilJJ UltlHB lrnprOVlSea
structures.
The long range cannon with which the Germans have inter .
mittently bombarded Paris for more than four months, have ,
now been silent for two days. This fact may be explained by
the allied advance toward Noyon and Guiscard, six and one-half
miles north of Noyon, whence the recent firing is. Baid to-have J
been proceeding, as these localities are now endangered by the
French forward push. ,
The number of prisoners taken so far in the allied offensive ,
in Picardy is now estimated at 36,000, including more than 1,000
officers. More than 500 guns have been captured, according to
the latest advices.
; i FRENCH CONTINUE ADVANCE. i :
Continued progress was made last night by the French on
the, right flank of the allied front,
L - A - 1 r! A
me-fivers Avre ana uise, uie
rencn troops captured the entire Massif of Boulogne-Ia-Grasso
and penetrated to the east of Bus, six find one-half miles east
of Montdidier. J"
Notwithstanding the resistance of the Germans the French""
troops Sunday gained further ground between the Avre and '
the Oise rivers, taking several villages on the west and souths :
of Roye to the Oise, according to the official communication,
issued tonight. '
Further south on the line, the French have penetrated the
wooded area between the rivers lIatz and Oise, reaching in
this region the environs of La Berliere and Gury. Moreuil
LaMotte has been captured and the French line has been pushed
two miles to the north of Chevrincourt.
RESERVES COMING INTO ACTION.
The Germans tonight are holding the Chaulnes-Roye-Noyon
line, but the allies are making progress suth of Noyon.
The enemy's reserves are coming into the action and the de
fense is stiffening all along the battle front from Noyon to
Chaulnes. !
Desperate fighting is going on between the British army
of General Rawlinson and the German army of von Der Mar
witz. The enemy is counter attacking savagely west of Noyon
and seems determined to hold the town at all costs,
HUNS HARASSED IN RETREAT.
On the French Front in France, Aug.ll-French troops
today continued to follow up their successes, pushing far east
of Montdidier and taking many additional prisoners and enemy
ftuns. The retreat of the Germans has been disorderly, har
assed as they were by the French cavalry and armored cars
Sixty-One Enemy Air
Craft Are Shot Down
By British Aviators
London, Aug. 11. Sixty-one Ger
man airplanes were accounted for by
the British in the air fighting of Fri
day, August 9, the second day of the
allied offensive, it was officially an
nounced tonight.
Thirty-nine of these were destroyed
and 22 driven down out of control.
Twenty-three British machines are
misiing. The active work of the
British airmen was continued without
cessation Saturday.
Paris, Aug. 11. French aviators
again participated in the battle yes
terday in conjunction with the infan
try, harassing the enemy with shells
and machine guns, the French official
report relates. Our squadrons took
part in several battles in the air, in
the course of which 14 German air
planes were downed. Nine captive
balloons were set afire.
Heat Wave is Broken
In Omaha, When Inch
Of Rain Falls Sunday
Omaha lawns and gardens, as well
as the people, were given great relief
Saturday night and Sunday when rain
fell to the depth of an inch, or as the
weather man reportSk.97 inch.
While Omaha wasthreatened with
relief from the heated spell several
times during the week', the real goods
did not materialize,, until Saturday
night, when a thundershower was fol
lowed by considerable rain and a cool
spell.
North Platte reported .02 of an inch.
along the entire line between
w a . . : .
war omce announced toaay. -
s The German defense was stiffening
this morning in the region southwest
of Noyon, but the French neverthe
less gained a stronger foothold on
the heights of Thiescourt.
There are indications that von.
Hutier is organizing a line of resis
tance on the general front of Roye, .
Lassigny and Noyon to protect the
withdrawal of the great masses of
munitions and supplies gathered just 1
to the rear and to ease up a retreat,
which is becoming more difficult to
keep in hand. ' t ' '
How Allied Line Runs. - . v
At noon today the allied line was
as follows, starting from the north:
West of Meaulte, which, is still in
German hands; thence to Etinehem.
Framerville and Lihons .which' still
are German; Hallu station (the Ger
mans hold Hallu); Parvillers, L'Ech
elle and Armancourt, both of the laN
ter still being German; and thence -through
Tilleley Park and through
the station of Roye-sur-Matz to.
Moreuil-La Motte to Samson and
Machemont, from which it joins the
line on the Oise.
In the area before Vauvillers the
enemy had been supported by heavy'
artillery, but further southward the
French First and Third armies have
advanced slightly, and in this neigh
borhood the Germans do not appear
to be too well supplied with artillery.
Large fires and long transport Col
umns in the enemy's large back area .
tend to strengthen the belief that his
heavy counter attacks against the
British are intended to afford him
time to evacuate his stores.
The allied casualties in the last two
days of fighting were comparatively
light, because the allies virtually ran
through the German positions. But
since Saturday the fighting has bee l
of a more severe character.
Interest Centers on Massif.
Interest centers around struggle for
the Lassigny Massif, which is. high
ground in difficult country and affords
a considerable view ot tne surround-
ing neighborhood. Its southern edge
lionuauea m I'M in, ijmamn nn.
i
X
s.