Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 12, Number 189, Decatur, Adams County, 12 August 1914 — Page 1

■>p s Read By ~ Each Evening

Volume XII. Number 189.

FIRST GREAT BATTLE OF WAR IN PROGRESS Enormous German Army Moving Against Brussels And One Million Germans Are Investing Liege

LOCATING ENEMY German Aeroplanes Are Flying Above Brussels to Locate Position of Army • FIRING IS HEAVY Crack German Krupt Battery is Believed to be in Action Near Tongres (United Press Service.) LONDON, Aug. 1Z —(Special to Daily Democrat —The first great battle of the war is believed to be in progress today. The German enveloping movement directed against the Belgian center to give it a clear passage to Lille began with a cavalry movement. General von Emmich's 3 corps continue to invest Liege and are trying to reduce the fortifications by use of heavy[ siege guns. Meanwhile another German army has crossed the Meuse river near Tongres and is advancing toward Waterloo and Brussels. This army is believed to be trying to pass to the north of Namur iii order to trap the allied army there between two German armies, one operating in the north and another operating through Belgium Luxemburg. The French * office is admitting tne opening of the battle said the Germans are attacking Pirlemont. The Maestricht correspondent of the Amsterdam telegraph wired that heavy artillery firing had been heard throughout the day in the direction of Tongres. He added that the concussion was felt in Maestricht. This indicates that tlitf German artillery engaged is the crack Krupt battery on which it is known the Ger- * man general staff Is pinning its hope for victory. It is considered probable that the allied army heretofore reported as being massed at Namur has now moved forward to the aid of the defense at Brussels. The military experts here agree that the German army operating against the Belgians and French at the Belgium Luxumberg district number fully one million men. %t is accepted that the German general staff despite the repulse at Liege in the earlier stage is adhering to its original plan of capturing Paris. The censorship is vigidly enforced. Not a single word of the movements of the British army or navy is obtainable. While it seems certain that the British regulars are in action in the defense of Brussels . Official confirmation of the number is not obtainable. German air men have flown • over Brussels. This indicates that Germany has taken advantage of the lesson given by the Belgium aerial oerps which in a series of flights across the German lines at Liege located the position of the troops. The German air men were too high to be reached by the aerial guns and are believed to have located the position of the allied army.

ROTTERDAM, Aug. 12—(Special to Daily Democrat)— Advices from Maastricht says that a strong German column supported by much heavy artillery is moving against Namur and that an assault on this strong Beligium fortification is about to begin. A very strong allied army is in the vicinity of Namur and is expected to resist the German attack. VIENNA, Aug. 12—(Special to Daily Democrat)— Montenegro has formally declared war against Germany today. In accordance with instructions from his home government, the Montenegro minister in Berlin demanded his passports and served the German government with the declaration of war. Montenegro formally declared war on

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRvVT]

[Austria on August 7 and today's action was expected. [ PARIS, Aug. 12 —(Special to Daily [Democrat) —The German army of the Moselle is striking at the gap made in the French fortifications north of Verbun. It lias been checked at Longwy where severe fighting took place. Tlie army that is striking south thru Luxemburg is reported to be operating as far south as Conti in great strength. The entire front is being attacked by cavalry. This movement is planned it is believed, to divert attention from the army now moving west in Belgian territory toward Lille. The French war office has kept secret the whereabouts of its defense army. It is admitted however that serious fighting may be expected. WASHINGTON, D. C„ Aug. 12— (Special to Daily Democrat) —State department communications witli Berlin via Copenhagen have suddenly ceased without explanation. The cables may have b-en cut. BRUSSELS, Aug. 12—(Special to Daily Democrat)— The general German advance is in progress. The war office in admitting this today announced that a general cavalry engagement had begun. The fighting ts believed to be just west of Longres and south of Louvian. Experts believe that Germany has decided to try to carry out her original plans and to invade France through Brussels and Lille. The main German army is believed to have crossed the Meuse south of Liege and to be feeling out. the Belgian defense line. The Germans are reported to have attacked the forts at Liege at day break today with great vigor in order to divert attention from their general movement. LONDON, Aug. 12—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Dispatches from St. Petersburg state that the Russian fleet has captured 25 merchantmen vessels in the Baltic sea. Unconfirmed reports from Italy state that country has granted permission to Switzerland to gather reinforcements in Italy to enforce neutrality along the Swiss and German frontier. Lieutenant Skeem, a military aviator and his aid were accidentally killed today when they appeared in their machine over a British field. German artillery is believed to have seriously damaged the forts at Liege though they are still holding out.

Athens, Aug. 12—{Special to Daily Democrat)—Officials today admitted that the German cruiser Goeben had taken refuge In the Dardanelles yesterday. The commander must coal and leave within twenty-four hours or he must dismantle and leave the ship there until after the war. PARIS, Aug. 12—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The exact position of the French army of invasion which was forced to evacuate Muelhausen is not revealed. It is insisted at the war office that the withdrawal from Muelhausen was in perfect order and that they immediately entrenched at a position between that city and the Alsactian frontier. The German attack that followed was severe, all branches of the services being engaged. It is also admitted that there were heavy losses on botli sides but the war office insisted that the Germans were checked. The Germans brought into action the (Continneu on Page 1) GERMANS RETIRING BRUSSELS —(Special to Daily Dem-ocrat)—-3:30 —French troops fighting the Germans in Belgium are winning a decisive victory ts the claim of the war office tonight. Official statement does not locate the fighting> but says that the Garman’s retirement is becoming more Pronounced.

Decatur, Indiana. Wednesday Evening,August 12, 1914.

UPPITY IIP UP Sugar Takes Another Shoot Upward—Flour Also Advances Twenty Cents PER 100 POUNDS Meat Dealers Will be Forced to Follow Bluffton Butchers’ Example The housewife facing the fall canning season is feeling a still greater stab in her weekly household allowance. Sugar has taken another upward shoot. It is now selling at 7:05 wholesale and while local dealers still for 7 cents a pound, it will soon be eight cents. Two years ago sugar sold for eight cents, the highest in recent years. Flour has also shot up-ward-twenty cents a hundred pounds higher. A fifty pound sack that sold for $1.20 now sells for $1.30. Bluffton butchers announce a raise of three cents a pound on all meats except liver, which is only two cents' higher. A Decatur dealer interviewed this morning stated that they have not yet raised prices here yet, but the raise is inevitable with the higher price paid for stock. Go lightly on your automobile tires, too. They have advanced twenty per cent. Drugs are another product going skyward because of the war. A great many of the drugs are produced in Germany. This source lias been absolutely interrupted. Druggists say that there can be no safe prediction as to where the prices will stop if the war continues any length of time. It will take a long time to develop the chemical business tn this country to a point where it can meet the demand. Dry Goods supplies also are starting upward. o PLAYERS HURT Two Members of Ft. Wayne Dramatic Club to Play Here This Week Hurt

IN AUTO ACCIDENT Postpones Show Until Friday—Elmer Weil Meets Death The fatal automobile accident of last night in which Elmer Weil of Fort Wayne was killed; and five injured, two seriously, when their automobile turned turtle near “Devil’s Hollow” eleven miles west of Fort Wayne was brought closely home to Decatur people. Two of those seriously hurt, being Eugene Franks and Janet Bower, were members of the Fort Wayne Dramatic club billed to play here at the Bosse opera house Thursday ahii' Friday nights of this week. The play has consequently been postponed until Friday night, to allow others to get ready to take the parts assigned to the injured two. The club will be ( here Friday night without fail, as arrangements have been made for other talent. The automobile accident is another of a strange series of terrible fatalities. The dead boy is manager of the Weil Bros. Hide company, being only son of Isaac Weil. Miss Helen Bucket, Miss Carrie Stiefel and Gordon Eby were only slightly hurt. The party were enroute to a picnic and were going only twenty-five miles an hour. Failure of headlight is given as the cause. In making the turn the automobile turned completely over and alighted in the ditch ten feet from the roadway, pinning three occupants underneath. o —— ON EASTERN TRIP Mr. and Mrs. David Flanders will leave early tomorrow morning for a visit of six or eight weeks with relatives in Boston and points in Canada. They expect to have a fine trip and a delightful time.

“DECATUR CAN AND WILL”

MILK MEN FIGHT. Quarrel Over Milk Bottles Said To Be Cause. A quarrel over milk bottles is said to have been the cause of an encounter between F. W. Luttman and William Sleppy, city milk men at the latter’s place of business this morning. Sleppy is said to have struck Luttman across the hand atid then Luttman started out to find the prosecutor to file charges. Late today the charges had not been filed. — Bluffton Banner. o ARE STEALING CORN. For the past couple of weeks thieves have been helping themselves to the corn in the river hack of the sandpit and owned by J. W. Teeple. The corn is not ripe yet and not fit for roasting ears, and men who farm it are at a loss to know why it is being stolen. Drayton Hill is farming the place and threatens that it he catches anyone stealing the corn they will be apt to get a taste of the force of a good shot gun. o— — Os War, Says Dr. G. W. A. Luckey, Former Adams County Man Is THE GREAT SETBACK It Will Give Civilization-— Means Loss of Europe’s Best Manhood “Now comes this war that will steep another generation in blood. For another fifty years men will nourish hatred against one another and world peace will receive a lasting blow. One cannot forsee where this struggle will end.” —Dr. G. W. A. Luckey. The above is the statement of Prof. G. W. A. Luckey of the state university of Nebraska, former county superintendent of tile Adams county schools. It will be remembered that Prof. Luckey stopped off here a year or two ago enroute with his wife and children to Europe where he attended the international peace congress as a (Continues on Page 3) o

HAVE A FINE TRIP ■ '* E. B. Lenhart and Family Return From Six Hundred Mile Automobile Trip A WEEK’S VISIT With W. H. Johnson at Allendale, Ill.—Took Fine Route E. B. Lenhart and family have returned from a most delightful aitto--1 mobile trip of six hundred miles and 'a week’s visit with relatives in Illinois, The entire trip was made without accident or unpleasant circumstance, except for the puncturing of one tire, when near Muncie on the trip there. They went byway of Muncie, Anderson, Indianapolis, Brazil and Terre Haute, thence to Robinson, 111., where they visited with an uncle S. P. Lenhart before going to Lawrenceville, then to Allendale. At the last named place they visited with Mrs. Lenhart’s brother,. W. H. Johnson and family, formerly of near Peterson, this county. Returning home, they came to Indianapolis, byway of Vincennes and Sullivan. From Indianapolis to Marshal, 111., they road over the old National highway. Many scenes of interest along the way including the Wabash river were caught by camera and make a delightful memento of their trip. A ride over Illinois roads makes one appreciate the good roads of old I Indiana.

BOOST FOR PARK Matter Brought Up Before Business Men’s Meeting Last Night—All FAVOR THE PLAN Committee Delegated to Interest Woman’s City Improvement League At the meeting of the business men's association last evening, tlie matter of petitioning for tlie turning tlie old Adams county abandoned fair grounds in the soutli part of the city, into a city park, under the law of the Acts of 1905, of the state legislature, was brought up. Tlie business men were all in hearty accord with the proposed plan of getting a city park and stated that they were ready to do what they can for bringing about a favorable action. it was decided to enlist the aid of the Woman’s City improvement society in tlie matter, and a committee j was delegated to place the matter before Miss Anna Winnes, chairman of the landscape committee of the league. If the women take hold of the matter, the park is an assured tiling for the city. It will be necessary first to get the required number of signatures for the petition to present to the county commissioners asking that the use of tlie grounds be given the city for park purposes. After that, tlie city lias full power. The grounds can )>e mapped out, trees and shrubs planted and tlie park started at a very small cost. Tliis can be increased year by year until the city lias a fine park. Thomas West of Muncie, of the National Home Trade League spoke relative to the park, and stated that The city could be much benefited by it as every city of this size elsewhere, has a park. juMpHTAyTO

The Bus Horses Jump Into i F. H. Hubbard Auto While Car Was Standing 1,1 * 1 ON THIRD STREET i Started On A Gallop From l Murray Hotel Without Driver-One Horse Cut i i With a feeling of anxiety to get back to their home at the Holthouse ( Livery barn combined witli a little of ; the early morning hilarity which was ] within them the two big bus horses i ajter making their regular trip to 8:05 : Grand Rapids train and to the Murray 1 Hotel where they carried a number of * passengers, started down Third street at a wild gallop without the faithful fJ K ’ ( driver i\Jfaph Burrell and ended up ( their “joy sprint” about two minutes j later with crashing into the F. H. . Hubbard Reo automobile which was i standing along the east side of Third : street. The wind-shield, one lamp and the steering wheel were smashed and a few minor rods were bent and bro- , ken. The automobile was pushed forward to the middle of Monroe street where the horses broke loose from - the wreck and started for the livery barn, breaking loose from the bus also. They immediately ran to the livrey barn. The horse which Teceived the full amount of the smash up got a cut nose and when it got back to the livery barn suffered a hemorrhage. The tongue of the bus was also broken. The damage to the automobile will probably reach $30.00 while that to the bus will only be a few dollars. The horse of course will have to suffer from the results of the cut nose. Dr. Connell dressed the animal’s wounds and it is thought that it will get along alright. Wash Burrell the driver of the bus was in the Hotel when the horses started on their gallop, and no one I was in the Hubbard automobile when they made their “high dive."

WIECKINGS HEARD FROM. Mrs. Ernest Wiecking received a letter this afternoon from her husband who with Ills brother. Herman Wiecking, sailed for Germany about two weeks ago, stating that they made the voyage safely and enjoyed the ocean trip very much. The letter w’as written on July 31st on board the steamer when they were near the port of Boulogne, France, and was mailed at that port. The letter stated tiiat they still had a twelve-hour trip on board tlie steamer before they reached Rotterdam, Germany. Tlie letter also stated that they knew of the war hostilities in Europe, but that they were not in the least alarmed over the war conditions. —Bluffton Banner. IS DOING WELL Charles Spuller Writes From Scottville, Mich., Where He Now Lives A DECATUR BOY [Making Good In Our Sister State—Wejll Remember ed Here The Democrat is in receipt of the following letter from Charles Spuller, a former Decatur boy, now located at Scottville, Michigan, which his acquaintances here will be pleased to read: The Decatur Democrat. Decatur, Ind Dear Sir:- This letter conies from one of the old Decatur boys, it lias (been four years since I left Indiana and came to Michigan. I have had several letters from different people in and around Decatur this summer asking how I liked it here. I can honestly say I like it fully as well here as 1 did there. There are places here in Michigan I would not live at all and there are places where no body lives. These places are what we call tlie skims or Oak Grub country. It is no harder for a person to tell good land here than it is to tell good laud in Indiana, when you get where they have gravel or stone roads, big barns good houses, nice orchards, and a dozen and one other tilings tiiat go to the making of good farms. You don’t need

be scared. I have heard it said that one farm might be good and tlie one across the road good for nothing, this is not true, while the one across the the road might have had a poor farmer on it for a term of years tiiat don’t make it poor land. Os course there are just such places as these. You can buy laud here for from $lO to SI,OOO pre acre and even higher than this Summit. Tp. Mason Co. has land

that has sold in tlie past two years for more than SI,OOO per acre, but this is a fruit farm. I have nothing in the land line to sell or to do with the selling of farms, but if a man conies here and wants me to take him out and give him my opinion as to whether or not tlie farm is wortli what they are asking for it I would be glad to do so, or if any of my old acquaintances come up and want me to show them the country I can do that. I keep a horse and buggy in town to do my

driving, as you will see by the envelope that I am an auctioneer ajid get a good share of the sale business dur- • ing sale season. I am also selling . Silos and think I am pretty well acquainted with the country. I own an 0 acre farm here which I am renting I furnish one half and get one half, the farm is growing in value each year and with what rent 1 get and what sales I get and what Silos I sell I am getting along on easy street in fine shape. So if any one wants to know about Mason Co., come and see me. It only costs a $5 spot from Decatur to Scottville and their board and rooms won’t cost anything if too many don't come at once. I am not writing this for advertising purpose or any thing of that kind but there are a lot of boys that used to go to school when I did at the Central building that I should like to hear from, i such as Hugh Hite, Rex Adams, Russe ; Harruff, Dan Vail and a dozen and one others and from our old school s teacher, Mr. C. D. Kunkle, if you see 1 fit to publish this, good and well, if 3 not throw it in the waste basket. 1 Yours truly, CHAS. SPULLER.

! Reaches Every Nook Os County

Price Two Cents.

CHARGES DENIED I » « I I 111 , Democratic State Officials Preparing a Statement to Refute Charges , OF EXTRAVAGANCE _ ■ ■ By Marshall and Ralston Administration—General Tax Levy Lower Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 12 —(Special to Dail Democrat) —The Democratic State officials and members of the party organization are getting ready to reply to the wholesale charges of tlie Republicans tiiat tlie Democrats under Governors Marshall and Ralston have been unduly extravagant in their expenditure of tlie state’s lunds. The Republicans are sending out a great deal of matter purporting to show tiiat the Democratic administrations during tlie last six years have I been extravagant and that a great deal of money lias been wasted. While i Governor Ralston and other Democrat- ; ic leaders have no thought of attempting to answer all the wild stories that are being circulated they will submit the facts to the public for their judgment. Tlie Governor and other leaders of pits party are confident tiiat when the action of the last Legislature making a new tax levy for state purposes is I explained a majority of the people iwill agree that the action was taken wisely. Up to tlie present, however, :the Republicans have been circulating the report tiiat tlie taxes have been increased without attempting to show for what purpose tlie increases were made. | Tlie last Legislature passed a bill rearranging the levy for education and benevolent institutional purposes. The ! total increase in taxes for these purposes, including a levy for the vocational educational school bill was B>4c on the hundred dollars. The total I state tax levy now for all purposes is forty and ten-hundredths cents. Tliis levy is considerably less than tiiat of • Ohio, Wisconsin and other progressive [states which are supposed to have ideal tax systems. Tlie Legislature fixed tlie tax for ; educational purposes at. 7c on tlie .hundred dollars which was a slight increase over the old levy. However, all of this money is used for educational purposes and is not spent by

I the Democratic State officials at all. Indiana University, Purdue and j State Normal are non-political institutions, being managed by boards of trustees tiiat are supposed to be non- , partisan. In fact these institutions [have been managed for many years by Republicans. President Stone, of Puridue, is a Republican; President Parsons, of State Normal, is a Republican, and President Bryan, of Indiana University, is also a Republican. In fact tlie money obtained by increasing tlie tax for educational purlposes is being dispensed and managed • by men who do not belong to the Democratic party at all, yet the Republican State organization and party leaders continue to charge that this increase in tax action was made by [the Democratic administration in the

carrying out a policy of extravagance. Those facts are being mentioned by Democratic State officials merely for 'the purpose of showing that Republicans. in their zeal to charge the Democrats with extravagance, have failed to show that practically all the increase in taxes is being used for the purpose of improving the benevolent and educational institutions of Indiana and for giving them what it is necessary for them to have. One of the significent features of the ' situation that is being over-looked by the Republicans is that while the Ralston administration increased the tax levy for educational and benevolent 1 Institutions that it actually decreased - the levy for the general fund to the ex- ’ tent of 2%c on the hundred dollars. ’ It is the general fund that the Gov--3 ernor and the State officials have to • use for the payment of salaries of • state officials, state appointees and the B .members of the various bureau. 1 So, as a matter of fact, the Demo--1 cratic State administration has lowe ered the tax for the general fund ini' j stead of increasing it as the Republi'cans insist- The increase was wholly for the benefit of the schools and bene(ConnnueO on rags 3)