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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 1918)
" 'IWei'il i , v nignt me I '; ' The Al I f Cross es Perth An i amfmlanc r It i DEATH TOLL IN MUNITION PLANT EXPLOSIONS 50 Injured Number 150; Proper ty Loss Twenty Million;, Army Officers Inves tigating Disaster. Perth Amboy, N. J., Oct. 5. Army officers investigating the explosions which wrecked the great shell load ing plant of the T. A. Gillepsie com pany at Morgan, estimated tonight that the dead would number not more than 50 and the injured ISO. The property loss probably will ap proximate between $15,000,000 and $20,000,000. Late today it was believed danger I of greater devastation by the blow ' oing up of Itores of trinitrotoluol j was virtually over. All that sub- stance left unexploded is buried in underground caissons along the ? bank of Cheesequake creek, upon I which the plant is located or is j loaded on four barges tied up at the company docks along that : stream. : Army officers reported, after a re :', connaissance by airplane, that the ; location of the boats and store hous es is such that they believed there was slight probability it would be exploded either by fire or concus- sion. . South Amboy in Ruins. With the passing of the menace . bt an explosion around the plant i the problem of caring for the home j Irts became a serious one tonight. I South Amboy, a town of about 10,00 population, four miles north ' of Morgan, was virtually wrecked by ' the series of blasts. Scarcely a , building in it remains habitable. I .Many were unroofed and the walls Df others blown in, while every pane of glass was broken. More than t 400- citizens decided to spend the 1 v night there, however. ine Atlantic division ot the Ked stablished headquarters at Ambov this afternoon. Fifty ces from New York and Newark, with corps of doctors and nurses, arrived to take charge of the situation. Eight central depots were opened in churches, schools and other public buildings. Com mandeered automobiles and cars, driven by members of the women's motor corps from New York and New Jersey, were sent out to pick up fleeing refugees and bring them back to the depots for shelter. The Red Cross brought in from New York five motor trucks loaded with six tot.j of supplies. The city and all the territory around Morgan was under military control with the state guard in charge under the personal direction of Governor Edge. j , Women Panic-Striken Women who had been wandering about the streets all day many of them with children in their arms received the reassuring news with almost hysterical relief. The great est difficulty has been experienced, however, in quieting the fears of those who have been vainly seek ing news of husbands or relatives who had been at work in the plant when the first explosion occured. The cause of the first explosion lias not been definitely determined and probably will not be until the army completes its investigation which is already under way. Oft'i 'cers do not believe, however, that it resulted from over-heate4 T. N. T. They are equally positive it could not have been the work of Germans spies, for they declare the plant was ( the best guarded in the United States. All employes had been carefully investigated by the secret service and they have been constantly superfised. J. W Faust, assistant director of civilian relief of the Red Corss esti mated that more than 7,000 persons had been made homeless by the hail of shells and the force of the explo sions. He believed between 40.000 and 50,000 more had fled from their homes, fearing disaster, and would not return until all danger is over. They present almost as much of a problem as those who are actually homeless. Although South Amboy was hard est hit by the blasts, many farmers even nearer to the scene of the dis aster were heavy losers. The homes which had been theirs before the war began ,nd the shell loading plant was built, were demolished. Officers and enlisted x men had risked their lives for hours trying to determine whether the stores of explosivei,in the warehouse or on the barges were in danger from the flames which hmad swept through the hundreds of buildings of the plant which covers 2,700 acres, but they had failed. The iignal corps was asked to provide an airplane for observation purposes and one arrived late in the afternoon, manned by Major H. L. Armstrong and Captain W. W. Wat son. The machine circled around the big tract surrounded with barbed. wire to aid the scores of armed guards in keeping out trespassers. Promptly upon hearing that the .plant ' would be rebdilt at once, women employed in it and who came here to escape danger, held a meeting nd decided unanimously to return to work as soon as the call comes. "Many of us have boya over there," said the chairman, "and we are all anxious to do our part to aid In bringing the war to a speedy close. All of us know the danger to which we are almost constantly exposed, but it is nothing in com parison to that of our boys at the front. We want them to know there will be no delay as far as we are concerned Mrs. Coles Obtains Divorce from Husband in Prison i The fact that her husband, Wil liam Coles, was convicted of grand larceny in Iowa in December, 1917, and sentenced to the penitentiary for five years, won Mrs. Ruby Colea a divorce decree in district court .Friday. r Other divorce decreet granted were: Ruth Davis from Arthur, on 1 frrmitit Af tiAtloiftnnf RrtTis Wart C from Harold, cruelty and nonsup- lAort; Susie Wilson from William, V - Entente Allies Are Asked by Huns to State Peace Terms i (Continued From I'M One.) premier, it is added, possibly will be Professor Lammasch, with whom negotiations are under way to bring about a great pacifist manifestation. Dr. Eduard David, socialist leader of the reichstag, has been appointed German under secretary for foreign affairs, according to advices received by Dutch papers from Berlin. SAXON CROWN COUNCIL CONVENES. Basel, Switzerland, Oct. 5. A crown council for the kingdom of Saxony was convened in Dresden on Wednesday, according to German advices. The decisions taken are not known, but they are believed to be connected with new de velopments in the internal political situation in Germany. VISITS NEUTRAL AMBASSADORS Basel, Switzerland, Oct. S Prince Maximilian of Baden, the new German imperial chancellor, yesterday visited the Austro-Hungarian, Turkish and Spanish ambassadors at Ber lin, according to the German press. The Vossische Zeitung of Berlin says that the speech which Prince Maximilian will make today in the reichstag will be an important one. CONSTITUTION TO BE REVISED. Berne, Switzerland, Oct. 5. Baron Burian, the Austro Hungarian foreign minister, has declared to the deputies of the German nationilist group that the internal conditions of Austria demanded a revision of the constitution, according to the Nouvelle Presse Libre. The fundamental terms of the revised constitution, he declared, should be an agreement between the various Austrian nationalities. Thus far, the newspaper adds, the Czechs and Jugo-Slavs have refused to collaborate in the proposal to revise the constitution. WILHELM THANKS VON HERTLING. Amsterdam, Oct. 5. Emperor William, in his auto graphed letter accepting the resignation of Count von Hert ling as imperial chancellor and conferring upon him the dec oration of the order of the Black Eagle, wrote: "After accepting today your resignation I feel con strained once more to express to you my warmest thanks for the self-sacrificing faithfulness with which in grave times you responded to my call and, in the position of responsible leader of the government, rendered to me and the fatherland emi nent and successful service. "As an outward sign of my especial acknowledgment, I have conferred upon you the high order of the Black Eagle. Always your grateful and well disposed (Signed) "WILHELM, IR.'; ilt iTertion nd Gladys V. Dingnian ' .'ftoa Georg L, cruelty , NEW YORK CITY GIVEN SCARE BY POWOER BLAST (Continued From Page One.) thousand police reserves were hast ily summoned to their respective precincts and 89 hospital units of 125 persons each were notified to hold themselves in readiness for instant service. The explosion failed to material ize. Meanwhile, the subway and elevated terminals were jammed with seething masses of humanity which wanted to go home and could not understand why they were not allowed to do so. The confusion was increased by bewildered police who sent subway passengers to the elevated and visa versa. Various conflicting statemets were issued re garding the source of the report of the impending explosion in explana tion of the action of the authorities. Embargo Lifted After Two Hours. The confusion lasted two hours until the embargo was lifted. It was stated tonight that a re port had been received to the effect that 80,000 tons of trinitrotoluol were likely to explode at any mo ment. This was later reduced to 80, 000 pounds and then to 8,000. Fin ally, information was received that the wind had changed, enabling the firefighters to begin removal of the explosives. It was also stated that Mayor Hylan had acted on advices from authorities at Washington. The Washington officials, however, denied issuing any such warning. Then it was said that a fire guard in Brooklyn had notified the police that New Jersey officials had told him of the impending disaster. The extensive preparations for a catasthrophe were not without a beneficial result, however, for they caused the opening of- thousands of windows, and consequent airing of homes and offices, a step which had been urged by the health authorities in their fight against Spanish in fluenza. 71,000 Turks Takerf Prisoner by British in Palestine and Syria London, Oct. 3. Seventy-one thousand Turks have been taken prisoner by Genera! Allenby's forces since the commencement of the British operations in Palestine and Syria, according to an official state ment issued tonight by the war of fice. This is in addition to 8,000 prisoners claimed by the Arab army. Three hundred and fifty Turkish guns were taken. Teuton Allies Are Striving Hard to Save Constantinople Road London, Oct. 5. The Germans and Austrians, the Daily Mail says, are making great efforts to place a new army in Bulgaria in order to hold the railroad to Con stantinople. Men arc being drawn from 34 German and 12 Austrian divisions in Russia, tut the di visions generally are poor in qual ity and weak in numbers. Their chief aim, the paper adds, is to maintain land communications with Constantinople and to pre vent the allies from getting in touch with Roumania. Turkey, concludes the Daily Mail, will be the prize of the army which wins the race for the railroad. New Bulgarian King Demobilizes the Army In His First Decree Amsterdam, Oct. 5. The first decree signed by King Boris was one demobilizing the Bulgarian army, according to a dispatch from Sofia. Former King Ferdinand left Bulgaria Friday night. Before signing his declaration of abdica tion, he received the various par ty leaders, who all expressed ap proval of his decision. The Bulgarian government to day offered its resignation to the new king, who expressed his con fidence in the cabinet and asked the ministers to retain their port folios, according to a dispatch from Sofia. American Casualties Are Given to the Public As Soon as Received Washington, Oct. 5. Renewed assurance that American casualties are being made public as soon as received from General Pershing was given by General March today at a conference with the senate military committee. He said the War de partment is behind about 15,000 names in announcing minor casual ties, reports of which are brought over by courier, but the names of dead and seriously wounded are cabl ed and given to the public with the least possible delay. Discussion of the subject was brought up by Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, who insisted that the de partment was holding up the names unnecessarily. There was nothing, senators said, after the conference, to indicate the extent of the American casualties in battles now raging. YIELDING ONLY PATH TO PEACE (Continued From Psfe One.) garia. In the meantime every ef fort and suggestion is regarded as nothing more than a continuation of the long waged peace offensive, for the recent reorganization of the German cabinet is not regarded as indicating any real change of heart in Berlin or as making the actual masters of Germany any more worthy of trust. Prince Maximilian's predecessors, leading through -various shades of arrogance and concessions, down to von Hertling, could not humble themselves to the point of dealing with the enemy on the basis of con fessed defeat for the German arms. In the official view here Maximilian hopes to find a way to save Ger many from this abasement without completely abandoning the idea of a negotiated peace. Would Exact Guarantees. Analyzing the propositions which he is expected to make, officials find that they are in general a combina tion of the ideas set out in the Reichstag resolution of July 1917, with those of Count Burian, the Austrian foreign minister, and with some concessions demanded by the social democrat's at their latest meetings. Regarding the first, look ing to an immediate suspension of hostilities, it is suggested that an armistice might be granted, or rather a suspension of attack by the allies agreed to, long enough to per mit the central powers to effect withdrawal of their military forces from all occupied territory, but even in such case, adequate guarantees certainly would be exacted for the honest( performance of this obliga tion by Germany and Austria. Conference Inacceptable. Tne proposal tb send plenipoten tiaries in a neutral place to discuss questions of a league for interna tional arbitration and disarmament is regarded as a transparent effort to anticipate the peace council and probably would not be entertained for a moment for that reason. The same objection lies against discus sion of the federalization of Austria, the right of self-determination of the Russian border states.restitution and indemnification of Belgium, auto nomy of Alsace-Lorraine and the re turn of the German colonies. It is not doubted that the reference to Belgium attributed to Maximilian involves payment of an indemnity by joint contribution' of all the pow ers, an idea already scornfully re jected by the entente, and auto niony for Alsace-Lorraine in the German scheme probably means a plebescite, which would not return those provinces to France, now that nearly -all the adult male French population has been driven out. The reported intention of Ger many, Austria and Turkey to seek President's Wiison's good office to arrange an armistice, like the other I moves said to be impending would be received here is nothing more th-n a contiunance of the efforts in stituted by Count Burian as far back as last January, and repeated several times since, to t..p the entente into concess;.is by a professed accept ance by the central powers of the terms of settlement laid down by President Wilson. SOUTHERN WALL OF HON DEFENSE BEING CRUSHED Americans and French De liver Heavy Blows West of Rteims; Menace the German Lines. By Associated Press. American and French troops are crushing in the southern wall of the German defenses with heavy blows along the front from west of Rheims to the Meuse. In the north, under the menace of the British pressure from Flan den to north of St. Quentin, the enemy has set fire to Douai and other towns and villages in that area, evidently in preparation for a retirement to the French frontier. Heavy explosions also' have been heard. Closing Mouth of Pocket. With the French covering the western outlet of the Grandpre gap through the Argonne forest, the American1 in an advance of three miles between the Meuse and the Aire are rapidly closing up the eastern entrance to the pass. Gen eral Tershing's men in smashing blows Saturday realized a consider able advance all along the front and took additional villages and heights from the Germans. The enemy re sistance was most stubborn as on this front the Germans are standing on the Kreimhilde line, the last of their prepared defenses. The Americans are advancing to ward Sedan and the great communi cation line upon which German se curity on the present front depends. This important railway is only 18 miles from the American front. Drivs Foe Prom Heights On both sides of the Suippi the American and French troops under General Gouraud rapidly are driv ing the Germans from the heights dominating the Champagne region east of Rheims. The Germans are retiring to the river Ames, but the Americans al ready have reached that stream at St. Etienne. Northwest of Rheims the French have forced several crossings of the Aisne canal, en dangering the German rear in Cham pagne. A German retirement on a considerable front to a depth of at least five miles in Champagne is not unlikely as a result of the suc cesses of Generals Gouraud and Berthelot. British Exert Strong Pressure. From the St. Quentin north to the Lys on the front before the impor tant bases of Cambrai, Douai and Lille, the British are exerting strong pressure. The Germans are endeav oring to hold on to their positions until the work of (. astati n in their rear is completed. North of St. Quentin the British have driven fur ther eastward the apex of the salient at Beaurevoir and on Saturday cap tured 1,000 prisoners. Irish Mackerel Coming. Dublin, Oct. 3. Lord Robert Cecil, British under secretary for foreign affairs, has informed Thomas O'Donnell, member of Parliament for Kerry, that the em bargo on the export from Ireland to the United States of cured mackerel has been removed. Last' year the Dingle coast of Kerry alone export ed to the United States over 3,000 tons of mackerel. The removal of the embargo has given great satis faction in the Irish fishing districts. Physicians Diagnose Latest War Disease as the "Airplaneneck" Los Angeles, Cal., Oct. 3. A new "disease," alarming to parents, be cause they thought it was the mumps, but quite enjoyable to childish victims, because it kept them out of school, has been diag nosed here as "airplaneneck." In various sections of southern California, where there are several government aviation and balloon schools, the "disease" made its ap pearance with children as the prin cipal suffers. Swelling of glands in the neck caused parents to believe their offsprings to have the mumps. Physicians, however, soon diagnosed it probably as the result of looking up at the many airplanes and bal loons which continually dot the sky. Since the way the "disease" was caught was by looking at airplanes and balloons, physicians, promtly declared the .way not to get it was not to look at them or, if one were unable to resist, to lie on one's back while looking. Newspaper Man Injured -By Piece of Shell With the American Army North west of Verdun, Oct. 5. (By Asso ciated Press) Joseph Tinimons. correspondent for a Los Angeles, Cal., newspaper, while watching the battle from a hill in the region of Epinoville, was wounded in the right cheek by a shell fragment this after noon. Other correspondents assist ed Timmons to a field dressing sta tion. Later he went to a town back ot the battle area, where his wound, which is not serious, was dressed. ITALIAN TROOPS PURSUE FLEEING FOE IN ALBANIA Austro-Hungarian Forces Suf fer Defeat in Attack on Mountain Front of North eastern Italy. Rome, Oct. 5. Italian columns pusuing the retreating Austro-Hun- garians in Albania yesterday passed beyond the Lyushna river and reach ed the rivers Kavaya and Poloivin. The Italians are continuing their ad vance toward Elbasan, 30 miles northeast of Berat, according to an official statement issued by the war office today. More than 7,000 Bulgarian troops facing the Italian positions on the Monastir-Kechevor road surrender ed October 3. Much booty was cap tured by the Italians. Austro-Hungarian forces yester day launched an attack against th Italian lines north of the Grappa, on the mountain front of northeastern Italy. The war office says that the enemy was repulsed all along the front of attack except at one place where the Austro-Hungarians gained a footing. 10,500 Taken Prisoner Upon Flanders Line in Single Week Havre, Friday, Oct. 4. In the operations in Flanders since Sep tember 28 the Belgian, British and French forces have taken 10,500 prisoners, 350 guns and 600 machine guns, says the official statement from the Belgian war office tonight. 'St si H Airplane Bombs Hospital; Kills Many French Soldiers Paris- Oct, 5. Many French sol diers were killed or injured when a German airplane bombarded a hos pital at Chalons on the night of October 1-2. At the time of the raid German prisoners were being sheltered in the cellars of the hospitals. "Glad to Be Over Here, Help Y Fund," Writes Omaha Boy in- France Private Milton F. Eggen of the ii'edical corps has arrived safely in F ance, according to a letter written "within earshot of the big guns" to his mother, Mrs. O. N. Eggen of 3216 South Fourth Street The soldier said he had an event ful voyage across the "creek" and that he is glad to be over "here." He requested the Omaha papers sent to him. .cipating the coming Y. M. C. A. drive he urgeu that everyone con tribute "his bit" as that organization was "making good." Arrives Overseas. Lt. Carl A. Abrahamson, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Abrahamson, 1210 South Twenty-seventh street, has arrived safely overseas, accord ing to information received by his parents. He was formerly attached to the Omaha ambulance unit,' but has been transferred to the infantry. Comparative Local Kcord. IMS. 117. 1916. 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