Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 193, Decatur, Adams County, 21 August 1917 — Page 1

Volume XV. Number 193.

THE MIGHTIEST BATTLE OF WAR IS IN PROGRESS •LONG FRONT OF FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE MILES—THOUSANDS FALL IN FIERCEST CONFLICT EVER KNOWN.

(United Press Service) New York, August 21—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Germany today was enduring the mightiest offensive blows yet struck by the allies. On every front sav e the Russian and Macedonian lines the allies were on the offensive. The great 435 mile line on the western front was a continuous battle line. Italy’s 100 miies of front from the Adriatic to the Alps was in General Cadorna's troops violently attacking everywhere. Rome dispatches estimated 10,000 dead and wounded and an equal number of prisoners as the Austrian casualties up to yesterday. On the French front along the Lady's Highway and north of Vrdun, German massed forces attempted tremendously powerful counter blows. Paris dispatches characterized them as of the most violent nature. The French repulsed all efforts to oust them from recently gained positions. The French official statement said that 5000 unwounded German prisoners were taken in yesterday’s victorious thrust north of Verdun. (By John H. Hearley, United Press Staff Correspondent) Rome, August 21—(Special to Dally Democrat) —Italy’s prisoners in the greatest drive her troops have made in the world war reached a total of 10,000 today. Semi-official estimates placed the Austrian losses in dead and wounded at the same figure. On three fronts today—the Julian Carso and Isonzo—General Cadorna’s , drive was continuing in a fierce combat of men and guns that resounded over nearly a 100 mile front. Paris, Aug., 21—(Special to Daily ' Democrat)*— German picked troops were flung violently but vainly against four fronts of French lines last night. At three places on the Lady’s Hignway special storming troops battled desparately to loose the French grip around Verdun. General Petain’s fighters repulsed assaults of the most Violent nature. All French ground was held, the official statement declared today. (By Henry Wood. United Press Staff I Correspondent.) With the French Armies in the Field * Auk., 21—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The greatest battle of the world war was being fought today. * From the sea coast to the Swiss frontier —over 435 miles —the allie.S forces were fighting a practically con tinuous offensive. France’s great assault at Verdun, still driving on today, completed the chain of battles which were welded in the forge of war into one gigantic ar tioh of unprecedented extent and power. . The great battle started with the | angio-Frencn offensive in Flanders, extended to the British offensive at Lens thence to the Frencli attacks around St. Quentin, then to the French offensives at Chemin Des Dames, MoronviiUers and Verdun, and concluded with heavy artillery fighting in Lorraine and Alsace, down to Switzerland. The western front has never seen such an extensive battle. Nor has the - nllies superiority everywhere been so asserted. With three more months of fighting weather, this year. Germany’s hold j. on the western front may become precarious before winter. Perfect and co-ordinated strategy [I underlies English and French attacks. They have been so timed as to convert || all the fighting into one great battle. Once before the allies timed such a ~ blow, but. not in the force of that , which was pushing with terrific power today. On April 16 the French attack ed the southern pivot of the Hindenburg line a week after the English attacked the northern pivot, ij) Today the French are attacking the if southern pivot where the German lines

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

hinge on their famous Mouse retreat position. The drive comes exactly two weeks after the English attack In Flanders threatened the German north ern hold on the coast. While these two huge offensives developed today, the battles around Arras, St. Quentin, along the Aisne and at Moronvilllers continued with unabated intensity. Germany made her supreme effort in concentration of men and of artillery in the 1916 assault on Verdun. No offensive had ever reached the intensity of this one. Rut the French assault of today in the identical sector, had surpassed it. The combined French and German artillery brought into the play of death is probably the greatest concentration of weapons for a single attack the whole war has yet seen. During Sunday night's final artillery preparation by the French, although it was cloudy and the French military rules strictly forbade the slightest glimmer of artificial light, T was able to leave Verdun at midnight and proceed to ar observation point a greaier distauct from the city than Douamant. becaust my w’ay was lighted by the countless thousands of gun flashes. Artillery kept the night continuous ly light. It was as though a million lightning flashes blended into one cat aclysmic shock. The artillery gave light enough for the French artillery to advance with every pockmarf of No Man’s Land visible. A roar of in credible Intensity shook the earth. The Germans brought into action giant 380-mm (15-inch) shrapnel shells High in the air they exploded with f great outburst of flame and their bril liance outshone even the flaming red of the countless other flashes. After each one of these dazzling bursts the whole air seemed filled with long dragon-shaped tails, puncturing the blackest sort of smoke —the exploding shrapnel bits. The French had taken the German first lines in an amazingly short time after leaping over the parapets. The* Germans sent out hurry calls and mas sed great reserves, but in vain. Latespecial stosstruppen units, (storming troops) were assembled for counter attacks —several at Beaumont alone. In all the hell of fire in the air, oiu picture stood out vividly. It was ar attack made by a German airplane or a French observation "sausage” ha loon. The French observer leaped ou' of his basket, but his parachute caugh on the edge, leaving him suspended hundreds of feet over the earth. The German flyer darted back and deluged the air with a hail of machine gun bul lets as Frencli soldiers down below pulled frantically to bring the sausage down. When the balloon was finally brought back to earth, the observe’ was disentangled—absolutely unharm ed- «. Washington. August 21—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Allied forces today discussed the Zurich report that Chan cellor Michaelis would announce grant ing of autonomy to Alsace,l>orraiae in his address to the reichstag. “Absolutely unacceptable,” was the response from high French officials here. "France would never have made Alsace-Lorraine the war issue of 1914" the French authority declared to the United Press today, “and now that Germany has invaded France the French nation will never consent to [seeing Alsace-Lorraine anything but .French province.” Washington, D. C„ Aug. 21— (Specials Daily Democrat)—While the world looked to President Wilson for the next peace move, quiet continued lin all belligerent countries on the subject of the pope’s peace proffer. The people of this country, busy with their daily chores, are silently leaving to the president solution of ' the problem. on Page Two)

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, August 21, 1917.

FORT WAYNE MAN • Frederick Horstmeyer, NaI tive of Adams County, Died at Hi# Home. I HAD AN OPERATION | Three Brothers Reside in I Adams County—FunerI al to be Thursday. Frederick Horstmoyet, aged 51 years, died at Ills home, 2143 Oakley street, Fort Wayne, Monday morning at 10:30 o’clock. Death was due to a complication of diseases. He had submitted to an operation several months ago and had never fully recovered. The deceased was born in Adams county, hut had lived in Fort Wayne nearly all his life. He was a carpenter by trade and was a member of the Carpenters’ union. He also belonged to the Kmmaus Lutheran church. Surviving relatives are the wife and three children—Mrs. Fred Scliaff, Paul and Fred Horstmeyer. One grandchild and three brothers, William. Henry and Charles, all of'Adams county, also survive. Funeral services Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the residence and at 2:30 from the Concordia Lutheran church: interment in Concordia cemetery.—Ft. Wayne Sentiuel. IN NEW QUARTERS Gay, Zwick & Myers Now in Weber Block Across from Old Location. LARGE FRAMED COPY — 0 Os Declaration of Independence in Show Window Attracts Attention. With mahogany and glass doors wide open to receive their customers with gracious hospitality; with plate glass display windows, gleaming a welcome to come closer and inspect the find display o f furniture within; with a patriotic air given all by the large mahogany framed copy of the Declaration of Independence, of July 4, 1876, shown in the window, the Gay, Zwick & Myers furniture and undertaking establishment is now located in its new quarters in the Weber block suite of rooms on No. Second street, just across from their former location. Basement, first and second floors and balconies of the double building block, with white glistening walls and white enameled woodwork make a fine setting for the furniture display, which is arranged in departments, furniture suitable for each room of the home, having its own section. Thp office division has a balcony of its own at the rear, and here also is a department of the music section. Th** undertaking department is also especially equiped for excellent service, and each department has characteristi-s peculiarly adapted to a fine and convenient display of the stock. While it will doubtless be a day or two before all the large stock is finally moved, and straightened around as desired, the firm is now at home to the public in its new quarters. Especial interest is shown by all who pass that way in the framed copy of the Declaration of Independence. This belongs to Will Chronister of near this city, but has been framed by Gay, Zwick £ Myers and is on display for awhile in their show window. They have open ed with a “Declaration of Independence.” BLOOD POISON IN FINGER 1 Mrs. Mary Wenihoff went to Fort 1 Wayne this morning to have her finger dressed, blood poison having developed from what is believed to have been a bite of an insect on the , middle finger of the right hand, three • or four weeks ago. An x-ray examinaI tion at the hospital revealed that no In- , jury was done to the bone, as at first . feared, from some cause. At first the r injury looked like a small sliver had r been embedded in the finger, hut closf er examination proved this false, and th bite of an insect was subsequently I believed to have caused the trouble.

I+++++++ + + + + + + 4 | + WHAT YOU WILL NEED. 4 4 ißy Geo. Martin, I’nltPd Press 4 + Correspondent) 4 - 4* Washington, D. C., Aug. 21— 4 4* (Special to Dally Democrat) — 4 4* Loving mothers, sweethearts, 4 4* and kind friends must not load 4 4* drufted men witli a lot of 4 4* clot ties and comforts when they 4 . 4* start to camp September 5, 4 1 4* Provost Marshal General Crow- 4 4* der ruled today. The 206,100 4 4* boys entraining for cantonments 4 * 4 on that day will be allowed to 4 4* take very lit tie. Trunks arc 4 + absolutely tabooed. Suit cases 4 4* and hang bags will be frowned 4 4* upon. + 4 The war department prefers 4 4 that each man bring only neces 4 4 sary toilet articles and one 4 4 change of linen and undercloth- 4 4 ing done up in a neat bundle. 4 4 Members of each mail’s local 4 4 board will inspect his kit just 4 4 before lie entrains, rejecting ev 4 4 erything that lias no place 4 4 therein and returning tin* the 4 4 surplus articles to his relatives, 4 4 According to the regulations 4 4 ail any man can take is a tooth- 4 4 brush, a piece of soap, collap- 4 4 sible drinking cups, a towel, a 4 4 few handkerchiefs, an extra 4 4 shirt and collar, a suit of un- 4 4 derwear and a pair of socks. 4 44444444444444 DIES ON TRACK NEAR CONVOY. Well Known Teacher of Van Wert County Struck by Electric Car. Van Wert, Ohio, Aug. 20—While crossing the Ohio Electric track in an automobile, about two miles west of Convoy Saturday afternoon about 3:45 o’clock, Vernon R. Shaner, well known young man of Tully township, and teacher in the Dixon school last year, was struck and instantly killed by the westbound limited Ohio Electric car which leaves Van Wert at 3:34. Mr. Shaner had been in Convoy and was returning to his home. He was within a short distance of his home when the accident occurred. FEASTED AN FETED And in the meantime the soldier boys are treated fairly well. A reporter passed along a side street this afternoon and there was a group of soldier boys sitting on the grass, ea*h with a large piece of browned, crisp, fried chicken, in his hand, such chicken the likes of which the reporter had not seen in a long time, fairly making the mouth water to look at it. Besides the piece each hoy had, there were others in the dishes which the motherly woman and daughter, who had just driven up, were getting ready to pass around to the boys. o SPOKE AT MAPLE GROVE. Seven automobiles filled with members of the Decatur Christian congregation left after the morning church hour Sunday for Maple Grove church, east of Berne, where they attended the open air service. There was a basket dinner and in the afternoon and evening religious services were held. The Rev. W. Paul Marsli of the local church preached on “Christian Patriotism.” REBEKAH SOCIAL The public is very cordially invited to the social which will be given by the Three Link club at the I. O. O. F. hall at 7:30 o’clock. A good time is promised. “attended FUNERAL Mrs. Will Hodgins and children have returned from Bay City, Mich., where they attended the funeral of Mrs. Hodgin’s mother, Mrs. Germaine. 4 + 444444444444 4 BOYS NOW IN UNIFORM. 4 4 * 4 Ft. Benj. Harrison, 9:05 p. m. 4 4 Sunday Eve. 4 4 Mr. John H. Heller and the 4 4 Folks Back Home. 4 4 We arrived here safe, and are 4 4in company headquarters at 4 4 present. Arrived here at 7:25 4 4 a. m. We didn’t do much today 4 4 but get fitted out in uniforms. 4 4 etc. Attended the’ Y. M. C. A 4 4 meeting tonight, and it sure was 4 4 fine. We have all kinds of 4 4 pleasures and plenty of atnuse- 4 4 ments, and would like to hear 4 4 from some of the folks. Our ad 4 4 dress is, Care Company Head- 4 4 quarters, First Indiana Field 4 4 Artillery, Fort Benjamin Harri 4 - 4 son, Indiana. + I 4 As ever, + 4 Your Friend, 4 I 4 FRANK SCHULTZ. 4 ■ 4 Answer Soon. 4 [4 + + + + + + + 444444

:GOSHEN STUDIO + , + Is Purchased by P. G. Wil- £ liams of This City—Left * This Morning 4 ITO TAKE CHARGE 4 * Buys Paschal Photograph *• Studio There—To Move 4 4 Family Soon. 4 4 I, Percy G. Williams, photographer, as--4 soeiated in business here with Elmer !• Moser for many yoars, left this mornUng for Goshen where he will take | charge of a studio which he recently . purchased from Mr. Paschal. ■ j He expects to move his family to ‘Goshen within the next few weeks to I I be there by the time of the opening of the schools for this fall. | Mr. Williams Is known as one of the . best photographers in this part of the state and with his excellent studio at I Goshen, will no doubt make a new record for that city in this line. The removal of the Williams family from the city, with their several members, all talented in music, and active in various band and orchestral work, both in the church and socially otherwise, will be the source of much regret to many. WILL HftVEYARN Mrs. Daniel Shows Business Ability by Placing Order at Right Price. WORK IS IMPORTANT Organization in the County is Best in the State— Have 235 Knitters. The women of Adams county who are knitting socks for the soldiers, under the supervision of Mrs. Emma L. Daniel, chairman of the committee of the state council of defense, to whom was assigned this very important duty, will be provided with pore yarn, within a tew days, owing to the business anility of Mrs. Daniel, who yesterday succeeded in closing a contract with a large concern for a hundred pounds of the yarn, at two dollars even, though the price quoted by the government agents today is $2.75. This make it possible to sell a hang of yarn, sufficient for knitting a pair of the socks to met the specifications of the government, for fifty-five cents. There was some dispute as to 1 whether the committee had the right to buy the yarn to provide home soldier boys, even when they pay for it themselves. In the meantime the price kept soaring and Mrs. Daniel decided to make her purchase and then discuss the various complications. She did so and made a good many dollars for the committee by doing so. Mrs. Daniel lias taken orders already for yarn for seventy-five pair for Company A. boys and national soldiers and will be glad to take further orders for yarn. If any of the soldiers want them and if mothers or sisters cannot knit the socks, Mrs. Daniel can probably tell the boys how to get the work done without cost. Mrs. Daniel and the ladies who 1 are asisting her have certainly made ’ good and they are deserving of the ’ very greatest of credit for their ’ splendid work. The county is said ’ to tie the best organized of any in • the state, which is a big statement. • Mrs. Daniel has the county divided 4 into ten sections with headquarters ► for each and within a short time can 4 call to her assistance the entire or--4 ganization of 235 women. Tiie quota 4 of socks for Indiana as made by the 4 government was for 4,000 pairs and 4 the Adams county quota was fixed 4 at 300 pairs. Mrs. Daniel lias work--4 ed sixteen hours a day in completing 4 her organization, has driven 1,100 4 miles in the county, given numerous 4 (talks, instructed the knitters, in--4 spected the socks and last week sent 4 in ninety pairs. This week 100 will 4 be sent in, and next week, 110 pairs, 4! completing the quota. When asked

I recently how many pairs of sock: Mrs. Daniel could guarantee from thb county, she replied, ”300 pairs a wee! and then have a reserve,” whict shows her fitness for her Importani • position. To do this, however, and to keep Adams county In the lead It is nee essary that the committee nnd the women have the support of the county. Each county is expected to 1 pay for their yarn and we have no 1 doubt that tills will be done here. Such appropriations while unusual are most necessary during times like these, when the men tnust be taken care of. These women are doing their Lit and deserve the boosting of the people of Adams rounty. Their work Is important. In Europe thousands or men have suffered <Continued on Page Two* ARE MOBILIZING Twenty Thousand American Boys of “Rainbow” Division in Preparation AT CAMP MILLS Health of the Boys Will be Safeguarded by Most Sanitary Methods. (By Hugh Baillie, United Press Staff Correspondent) Hempstead, N. Y„ Aug. 21—(Special to Daily Democrat) —On a rolling plain flanked by millionaires’ estates, with army aeropjanes constantly maneuvering high overhead. 20,000 American boys—the “Rainbow division”—are today mobilizing for war. They will he the first citizen soldiers to reach the trenches. Camp Mills, where this forty-sec-ond division of national guardsmen from ail parts of the country will be (quartered until it starts for France, is springing into existence like a magic city conjured up with Alladin’s lamp. A week ago the 400 acres over which it is spreading were pasture lands. Motor treneh diggers, devouring the ground at the rate of three feet a minute, cut ditches for two miles of water pipes. A thousand soldiers from the twenty-second infantry laid out streets, made roads and hundreds of civilian laborers, built 300 shower baths. Pits for the disposal of refuge were dug The vanguard of the troops now flocking here from all parts of the United States pitched their tents at one end of the reservation, temporary postoffices sprang up, the boys in khaki marched in, sentries were posted, women came running with buckets of lemonade, and Camp Mills was born. Today the camp routine is in full swing where the sixty-ninth regiment of New York is stationed and a mile and a half away, where ambulance corps, artillery and sanitary corps swill be placed, civilian workers are still hammering away at field kitchens and traverse streets. The place where division headquarters in to be is still a corn field. Tiie camp is oblong, with a broad avenue—called "Main street” —running the middle from end to end. A short distance westward lies the government aviation school at Mineola. French and British flying officers, instructing the young American eagles, scoot past in automobiles and motorcycles. In the wooded country nerby the roofs and towers of country mansions can be seen among the trees. This camp is in strangely peaceful surroundings Col. F. H. Lawton handled the construction work and is in charge of feeding the division. He estimated today that 125,000 pounds of food daily—counting boxes- and crates — would be necessary. Colonel Lawton has established headquarters in a little red brick railroad depot at Clinton Road. Everything possible has been done to safeguard the health of the soldiers. Roads are sprinkled with calcium chloride, reducing dust to the minimum. Great showers are constructed on a new plan—for the soldiers are showered in squads of 40 a steady procession marching under the water. Five cooks are provided for each company and the food is prepared in tents carefully screened against flies. A watch will be kept on neighbors who want to bring soft drinks and assorted tit-bits to the boys. Indiscriminate feeding out of hours, it is feared, will "ruin the men’s stomachs,” as one officer put it.

Price, Two Centa

E THESE EXEMPTED h 1 — -s Local Board Grants Ex--1 eniption of Eighty-six Who Had Filed Claim. : — ;» THREE IN DISTRICT ! Make Good Their Claims—--1 Local Exemptions Neart ly All for Dependents. 1 The military board today exempted the following men examined and I passed last week, all being because I of dependents, excepting one, Fr<-d Fuhrer, who was exempted because of being an alien: 1 Milton W. Chronister. Harvey F. Kitson. Art Baumgartner. Robert Habegger. Wm. J. Hunt. James W. Miller. ! Harvey F. Bovine. R. M. Gilbert. David N. Whitacre. , Grover C. Carver. George W. Simmers. Sylvester F. LaFountaine. Philip Strahm Adam Schafer. Harvey E. Butler. Earl Martin. R. E. Giendenniug. Adolph Marbaugh. Ira C. Marts. ’ Robert E. Shirk. Elmer R. Teeple. Herman F. Ehinger. 1 Fred M. Engle. Fred Ridenour. R. A. Worthman. 1 Virgil M. Kriek. Clarence A. Hunter. J. D. Sarig. Austin Earl McMlchael. James W. Hart. Albert Steiner Clinton Hart. Jos. L. Buyer O. L. Lindsey. A. C. Stoppenhagen. Rudolph H. Welland. Edgar H. Gerber. Russell Acker. Wilbert Beer. Emil Graft. Albert Beer. E. T. Pontius. ’ ' Norman S. Stalter. Fred Fuhrer. John A. Feasel. Frank A. Knittle. Leland L. Frank. Benj. C. Hoagland. Fred Gehres. Eli A. Girod. Martin Reinking. ~ James O. Darr. F. N. Fuhrman. H. F. Sprunger. Amos Heuser. Alva Vorhees. Wilber W. Woods. Frank Nussbaum. FTed Rickford. Francis E. Ninde. Lawrence Carver. Roy E. Heller. Wesley Nussbaum. Dan Hill. 1 Wm. D. Teeters. A. F. W. Thieme. 1 F. O. DeArmand. J F. Bright. O. S. Davis. Henry D. Rock wood. l ’ Charles W. Studler. John Zuereher. C. M. Laisure. Cyrus Lehman. e Erwin F’ox. Edw. Wittwer. Martin Bultemeier. B R. R. Bolinger. ’ John J. Ehrhart. Ohwald Hoffman. 1 Curt Frltzingor. Clifton Mathys. 1 Ernst 4’. Bebout. Harvey Gay. Orlando Clark. By District Board. According to the Fort Wayne News three Adams county men were exempted yesterday by the appeal board, though no definite word has been received by the local board. They were Rufus A. Bose, Berne; John R. Roth, Decatur, and Harvey S. Ineichen, Geneva. o AT PARKER CITY Rev. W. Paul Marsh, who has jvut returned from a two week’s vacation is "up to his ears” again in calls for patriotic addresses. He will go to • Parker City to give a patriotic address next Saturday afternoon.