Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 194, Decatur, Adams County, 22 August 1917 — Page 1

Volume XV. Number 191.

FAILS TO STOP ALLIED DRIVE Germans’ Desperate Coun-ter-attacks Meet With Failure Along Line. THE CASUALTY LIST Os Austrians is 35,000 — Italians Capture 13,000 Prisoners. London. Aug. 22—(Special to Daily | Democrat) —Germany's desperate at-1 tempt to stem the tremendous pressure of the concentrated British, French and Italian offensive failed today. All the allied armies not only held their initial gains but continued to advance in fiercly fought battles. On the west front Field Marshal Haig's two great blows were struck around Langemarck and Lens. At the latter point determined German resistance in powerful counter-, ' thrusts marked a night of violent ' fighting. 1 ■’ The Italians swept forward beyond ; 1 the Isonzo, capturing five villages with an estimated total Austrian cas- < ualty list of 35,000. i The French resisted successfully <’ the counter-attacks by the crown ' prince’s picked troops and drove f them back for further gains. |( BULLETIN. Washington, D. C., Aug. 22—(Spe- ( cial to Daily Democrat) —Advocates of conscription of the country’s wealth won a decisive victory when the senate today by a vote ot 74 to 0 f adopted Gerry’s amendment to the j war revenue bill, raising $40,000,000 t additional revenue from increases. j (By Henry Wood, United Press Staff 6 Correspondent) UJith the French Armies at Vere dun. Aug. 22 —(Special to Daily Dem- ( ocrat)—Fired with a zeal that made f their charges utterly irresistible, t French soldiers, victors in France’s t greatest blow out of Verdun, peti-j tioned their commanders today for r permission not to be limited to speci- d fled objectives in their advances. I 0 The poilus want to keep on going, g They fretted yesterday at stern orders limiting them to certain trenches over which they swarmed in unbeatable waves, when there were more German line just ahead 1 that they felt could just as well 1 have been captured. In some places ’ the troops did not restrain them- 1 selves from exceeding the limits of 1 the advance which had been estimated by the French headquarters. Reports from the various compo- ' nent armies participating in the offensive around Verdun established to- ( day the fact that the French artillery £ has destroyed scores of great Ger- f man guns brought up a year ago by infinite labor and fixed in elaborate emplacements for what was to be ■ Germany’s victorious assault on Verdun. Dead Man’s Hill, blackened by the blood of thousands on both sides, its slopes a gaunt spector of naked ■ ground, was entirely in French hands today. The myriad defenses on i which the crown prince, spent months were levelled into mere crumbled earth. The hill itself must remain a gigantic monument to lost hopes. It took the Germans months to capture it; more months to fortfy it and , still more months to hold it. "he took it in the first morning s advance. Cunningly devised tunnels which the Germans had dug in the hill with the idea of permitting instantaneous reinforcement of various lines by troops whose advance to front lines would be protected from barrage fire were found literally choked with dead. The fighting was bitterly intense last night and was still continuing in unceasing violence this morning. London, August 22 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—The war’s greatest concerted offensive movement went on fiercely, without abatement and with continued gains for the allies today. The French appeared to have made the most rapid strides forward in the most sanguinary fighting. The German horde that once clutched Verdun almost to the po(nt of suffocation was driven still further back. The bloody slopes of Cote L’ Oie, the villages of Regneville and Samogneux, with intervening fortifications, were ill swept clean of the enemy. Counter-

DECAT UR DAILY DEMOCRAT

attacks last night, made with a des peratlon born of German war chiefs , knowledge that ihe*'rcn<-h offensive i was only beginning brought the enemy > nothing but heavy losses. Next in violence of the fighting was the great battle over practically the 1 entire Italian-Austrian front. Rome reported continued success for General Cadorna's drive. Every sort of war machine has been called into action to pulverize the rocky fortifications <f the Austrians monitors shelling from the gulf of Trieste, huge siege guns. British and French artillery, new and highly developed bombing aeroplanes, trench motars and till arms of mankilling. The greatest gains so far attained are in the northern part of the line, above Goriza. Field Marshal Haig's Canadian troops once again are striking fiercely around Lens. They gained late yas- ■ terday and last night beat back powerfully organized German counter-at-tacks. Lens is nearly three-fourths encircled by the British today. It was marked today that all German counter-attacks have been made with extraordinary violence. The German high command is sparing nothing in men and munitions trying to push back the enroachlng allies waves. Dispatches from all the offensive fronts contain high praise for the tenacity of the Germans resistence and the strength of their picked troops counter thrusts. Os great interest here today was the official word from Petrograd indicating the Russian troops in the Volhynia and Rumanian theaters of the war were offering rock bound resistence to further German advances. Several German attacks failed. BULLETIN (By John H. Hearley. United Press Staff Correspondent.) With the Italian army in the field. August 22—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Austria's terrible toll of casualties in the continuing Italian advance today reached 35,000 in dead and wounded according to heedquarter’s estimates. Italians troops have swept the enemy from the villages of Descla. Britof Canale. Bomrez and Rosa. All were found smoking heaps of ruins, burned by the Austrians and shattered by artillery fire. The Italian poet and dramatist Gabriel D’ Annunzio. was among a hundred or more Italian aviators who cooperated with the land troops in Italys greatest offensive. .(By William Philip Simms. United Press Staff Correspondent) With the British Armies in the Feld, Aug. 22—(Special to Daily * Democrat)—British troops at 4:45 ' this morning resumed their drive between Langemarck and Freyenberg. Violent fighting is still in progress. At the time of cabling no details have yet been received at headquarters. q Rome, August 22—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Prisoners in General Cadorna’s offensive reached a total of more than 13,000 this afternoon. The war office announced 30 guns and a great quantity of supplies has been taken. —o —— ARRIVE AT CAMP SHELBY. (United Press Service) Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Miss., Aug. 22—(Special to Daily Democrat) —One hundred forty-five men and fhree officers, comprising Company B. Fourth Indiana infantry, of Rushville, arrived early today at Fort Shelby. So far as is known to offiguard troops to arrive at a permacers here these are the first natignal nent cantonment for training. Four hundred fifty Kentrucky troops arrived this afternoon and it is understood additional troops from both states will be arriving daily from now on. — o- —— COMPLETES CONTRACT. Frank Snyder, of this citv, who had I the contract for the excavation and foundation of the new high school building, completed the work today. The contract was to be completed within three weeks and was finished ! with one day to spare. There was ! 1000 yards of excavation and 500 yard of concrete put in during this time. COMPANY A DANCE . Company A wfiTgiTe a benefit dance Thursday night at the Masonic hall. . The proceeds of this dance '*ll be ad- . ded to the company fund. The price '. of admission will be 50c a couple. The i public is invited. MASONIC “meeting. r - f There will be a special meeting of - the Masonic lodge Friday evening of 1 ’ this week for the purpose of confer- - ring the Fellowcraft degree.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, August 22, 1917.

AT WAD PROFITS n Blow is Struck bv GovernH ment Officials Today—e Will Fix Coal Prices. r _ r AND OTHER PRODUCTS 11 I Arrival of Japanese Commission Today Opens Interesting Question. » ! (United I’reM Service) Vincennes, Ind., August 22—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Abrogation of .ill existing coal contracts, suspension of some mines and chaos in the coal business will be the result of the coal price fixing in Indian:-, according to a statement today by John P. Oliphant, of the Oliphant Johnson Coal company, the j largest producing mine in Indiana. “We mine coal as cheaply as anybody in the state." he said, “and our cost is $1.65 a ton. We have contracts at prices lower than the government fixed price. Mines operating at a greater cost than ours will be forced to shut down causing the government to commandeer them." Washington. D. C., Aug 22—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Events shaped rapidly today toward relieving the threatened coal shortage and high prices for fuel throughout the country. Tentative prices, averaging about $2.23 a ton for home sizes, fixed by President Wilson for coal at the mouth of every bituminous mine, went in effect. Prices to retailers and consumers will follow shortly. H. A. Garfield, president of Williams college, and now chairman of , the wheat price-fixing board, has ac- , cepted the post of fuel dictator, forecasted by the United Press. His installation will follow completion of ’ his present whßaf task. I The rates of profit to be fixed by ’ the president is expected to be 20 cents o ton for wholesalers and 50 j cents a ton for wholesalers and 50 . ded to the president’s prices at the , mouth of the mine in the twenty-nine ( coal districts of the country, together with railroad freight and expense (Continued on Page Two) NEW MAPS READY I R. L. Longshore, Deputy Surveyor, Completes City ’ and County Maps. I I ARE NOW ON HAND i County Maps Show Improv- i ed Highways, Towns, t Streams, Railways. ( Splendid new blue print maps of the 1 county and city of Decatur, drawn by R. L. Longshore, deputy county sur- 1 veyor, are on hand at this office and will no doubt be taken up quickly by 1 those who have been desiring one for a long time. The map of the county shows the 1 highways, the improved highways, railways and traction lines, the towns 1 and cities, churches, school houses, streams, section and township lines, yielding detailed information to the seeker at a moment’s notice. The city map also shows detailed particulars. They sell for a dollar each. ADD YOUR NAME TO LIST About three hundred and seventyfive dollars are needed in order to assure the thousand dollar Company A fund. Mr. A. J. Smith has volunteered to give the tenth hundred. Get your name on the list today and thus help the boys who will fight for and protect your homes. The total of the fund published yesterday was $524.00. Contributions reeceived today at this office were: A Friend $ 1.00 W. A. Lower 10.00 o SOME IRISH “TATERS.” Solomon Billman of 1134 West Madison street this morning brought us in a sample of Irish Cobler potatoes, ’ raised in his own back yard that are f certainly about as near perfect as - would be possible to get them. He says he has a good crop of them too.

| BLUFFTON MAN TREASONABLE F Sheriff Johnston summoned 1c Bluffton today a well known elderly farmer of Jefferson township and '.is . son, following reports of alleged disloyal utterances by the farmer and his son. Sheriff Johnston told them • i the complaints that had been made, and of the government warnings against such tall and it is said that i when the older of the two men openly expressed the belief to the sheriff that Germany would win and that Ger many would whip the entire world he was told plainly that the federal regulations would be observed, and if tiiere is any further complaint there probably will be charges filed. One of the reports that had boon made to the sheriff was that the younger of the two men had been advising drafted young men of this neighborhood to rebell when they reached the coast. Such teachings probably, if proven, would be held treasonable.- —Bluffton News. QUOTA IS NOW UP TO DISTRICT Local Board Certifies the Names of Twenty-nine More from County. MORE THAN ASKED Will be Ordered to Report in Order Examined— Supplies Received. Twenty-nine more names of Adams county men were certified to the district board this afternoon. This number Will exceed the quota and ten per cent asked from this county by ten, leaving that number to make good on. The board will also go over the last 101 names and make up the list therefrom, thus having on hands perhans thirty more than called at this time. These men will be drawn in the order certified. Exemption Refused. 93 —Jacob D. Mazelin, Berne (215) 856 — Elmer Liechty. Berne (250) 222 —Russell Christy. Pleasant Mills (258) 1337 —Wm. Neusbaum, Berne (260) 814 —Peter Stucky, Berne, R. R. 1 (281) 121 —Ira H. Sprunger, Berne (292) , 470 —John William Myers, Deca- ' tur (305) 1284 —Harvey H. Nessbaum. Berne (308) 130 —Adolph Reichart, Berne (315) 168 — Noah N. Soldner, Berne, R. R. 4 (317) 840 —Hiram Liechty, Berne (320) 300—Albert Beibrick. Magley, R. R. 1 (328) 272—Albert A. Buckmaster, Decatur, R. R. 2 (327) 212-—Emanuel Stauffer, Decatur, R. R. 2, (337) 1305—Samuel Mailer, Monroe, R. R. 1, (354) 857 — Marion Case, Pleasant Mills, (359) 878 —William Zurcher, Monroe, It. ' R. 3. (365) 501—Noah Zurcher, Berne, (388) 875 —John Lee Mailer, Monroe, R. R. 1, (391) 1606—Carl Victor Luginbill, Berne, R. R. 2, (401) 1588 — William Watson, Pleasant Mills, (411) 1272— William Peter Habegger, Eirne. (414) 113 —Wesley Roy Sprunger, Berne, (426) 806 —Oren Elmer Moser, Berne, (433) 169 — Dore Howard Parr, Berne, (446) 1376 —Robert A. Jaebker, Preble, (481) 58 —Carl Murphy, Monroe, (490) 1489 —August Weigman, • Decatur, (503) 96 —Joel Sprunger, Berne', (509) The exemption board resumed work at two p’clock this afternoon and expected today to complete the Adams county quota. From the first 212 men examined the names of 53 were certified to the district board and from the next 200, forty-six were certified and sixteen have not been decided. In yesterday's list of those exempted we omitted the name of Charles Zimmerman of First street, this city. The board this afternoon will take up the sixteen undecided cases and will then proceed with the selection of a sufficient number from (Continued on Page Two)

. A HALF INTEREST v f-r i s S. E. Hite Returns to Old <i r Stand—Buys Half Interest of M. E. Andrews in I SOUTH END GROCERY ; New Firm Will be Hite & f Andrews—To Enlarge and Remodel Building. i S. E. Hite has the grocery business so ingrained in him that it is impos- ’ sible for him to keep out of it. His many friends here will be pleased *oi hear that he has decided to return to his old place, having purchased a half interest in the south end grocery, recently taken over by M. E. Andrews The new firm will be known as Hite & Andrews. The building will be remodeled and enlarged and will make one of the largest groceries in the county. An addition will be bflilt to the store, there will be a new front installed, the exterior will be stuccoed and the interior re-deeorated, making it thoroughly modern and convenient. The store will be closed September 3 for the invoice, but will be opened September 4 again for business under the new management. Mr. Hite thus returns to the old stand where he has been for so many years, and with the addition of Mr. Andrews thereto, who has been sole proprietor for several months, the firm should lie a remarkably strong one. Mr. Hite who was here on business, returned this morning to Rome City where his family has been spending the summer at their cottage. They will return here next week. LIEUT. HOCKE°R TO REPORT. Mr. and Mrs.~C. W. Hocker and family of Elkhart are visiting their daughter, Mrs. E. B. Macy, and family. Their son, Augustus Stephen ' Hocker, who has been in training at ’ Fortress Monroe, Va., has been commissioned second lieutenant in the ' coast artillery service. Liqlutenant ‘ Hocker has been ordered to report for duty at Fort Williams, near Portland, Maine, August 29. THE COURT NEWS! . 1 4 September Term of Court s Will Open Soon—Three i New Cases Filed. < f THE LICENSE BUREAU ! Busy in Hunting and Fish- * ing Department—Quiet * Title Case Filed. i t William Sellemeyer vs. Robert Poling, et al. for foreclosure of mortgage, ' demand SI2OO, is a new suit filed by 1 Hooper & Lenhart. Edward Metzger has filed suit against Frank Stippich, et al. on note, demand S2OO. Peterson & Moran filed the case. A new quiet title case is that of James A. Engle vs. Julia Anna Gilby, et al. Schurger & Parrish are the plaintiff’s attorneys. Real estate transfers: Menno ,S. Liechty et al. to William L. Keller, 35 acres of Monro e township, $6,000; Jacob M. Heath to Isaac Rash, lot 4, Rivarre, S2OO. Hunting and fishing licenses were issued to Emerson Beavers, C. V. Connell and Raymond W. Yoder. The September term of court will .open Monday. September 3. This follows the long summer vacation of three months. ■ o — MAY MOVE TO FT. WAYNE Eli Myers, of North Fifth street is preparing to move his family to Fort Wayne, and their fine and modern residence here will be leased. Mr. Myers has been employed at the General Electric Works in Fort Way ie for some time. , — - Chief Melchi made a business visit to the country today. Sam Franks is taking his place as guardian of the peace today.

" PRINCIPAL CRAIGVILLE SCHOOL Lester Wisner, a well-known Wells county young man, a graduate of Taylor University, Upland, will be the I 1 new principal of the Craigville high school, having been selected for that position recently. He has had ex|>erlence as a teacher, and Craigville j school patrons will be glad to know he will be in charge there. He is employed this summer on a farm north of Bluffton. Mr. Wisner will succeed ; O. D. Rider, who made announcement Monday that he hud accepted a ikisltion as principal of the high school nt Macy. Miami county, Ind., where lie will have charge of a fine new building. He and his family will move to . Macy soon. o PRIZES OFFERED I I • I To Public School Teachers of Indiana for Best Essays ' ! Relative to the War. i i THE NATIONAL BOARD For Historical Service is ' Conducting the Contest —What it is. i Publis school teachers of Indiana are eligible to compete in the distribution of S3OO in prizes for the best , essays on the subpect, “Why the . United States is at War.” The National Boatd for Historical Service, (Il rough the various .state . educational departments Is conducting the contest. It is intended that , the subject matter be historical in ( character, bringing out facts irrespective of the time of their devel- , opment. . The competition is divided into j two groups. The first, or Group A. is for teachers in the public schools and the awards are, first $75, second t S3O, third S2O, fourth sls. and fifth, j $lO. Group B for teachers in the elementary public schools will be awarded, first, $75, second 25, and < five thirds, $lO each. j In making its awards the committee of judges will consider for pref- g erence essays in which the subject j is so set forth as to be interesting to , the class of pupils the writer is in- c structing. Each essay should cite <_ references attesting the historical accuracy of statements made, which should be in the form of foot notes. e The essays, unsigned but accom- g panied by the card and addres of the F writer should be submitted to Waldo g G. Leland, secretary, national board g for historical service, 1133 Woodward buolding, Washington, D. C„ not later than January 1, 1918. c On account of the conspicuous interest and activity of the education- j al section of the Indiana council of j defense, which has enrolled practically every availagle educator In the , state, it is expected that Indiana will , be very generously represented in the ( essay competition. Other states will conduct a similar competition and the national board will award two additional prizes of $75 each in an interstate contest. o MEN FOR HOSPITAL CORPS Dr. A. Hamilton, head of the Fort Wayne hospital unit which it is expected will soon be called into actual field service, was here today and said that he still needs about twenty-five yonug men for service in his corps. He cannot take any person who has been examined for the national army but any 1 one else can enlist in this service the i same as in any other branch of the < army. The experience will be a won- t derful one no. doubt. Any one desir- t ing further information should write a or call Mr. Hamilton at the Fort 6 Wayne office. a ■“FRACTURES KNEE-CAP. b John Clark, who was thrown to e the street yesterday when he at- a tempted to board a moving interur- a ban car, is walking on crutches to- n day as the result. An examination d showed that his knee-cap was fractured and he will be laid up for f, some time. v SON IS BORN o Mrs. Mary Myers and daughter, Mrs. p Lee Myers went to Fort Wayne to call t on Mrs. Ella Myers Borns, wife of Hen- t ry Morns, to whom a son was born t Sunday at the St. Joseph hospital. Mrs. < Borns is a daughter of Mrs. Mary i Myers.

Price, Two Cents

LOWER CITY TAX RATE TEN CENTS I j Total Tax on City Property j for the Year 1918 Will be $1.68 Per Hundred. ANNUAL BUDGET MADE Money Appropriated for Coining Year—Amend Water Ordinance. The city tax rate for the year 1918 will be ten cents lower than what It is today by the passage of an ordinance whereby twenty-six cents was appropriated to the sinking fund. $1.28 to the general fund and 14 cents to the special judgment fund, the net total on all projierty within the city corporate limits was fixed at $1.68. The tax rale this year is $1.78. In the ordinance were included the special tax of fifty cents on every male voter as poll tax, one dollar on male dogs and three dollars on female dogs. The ordinance was approved and adopted at roll call. The annual budget appropriating sums for the carrying on of the city was then passed and adopted. The budget included the following appropriations and amounts: For Expense of Mayor's Office. Salary of Mayor $ 600.00 Office expense and supplies. 25.00 For Expense of City Clerk. Salary of City Clerk 1200.00 Office expense and supplies. 50.00 Expense of City Treasurer. Salary of Treasurer 1000.00 Office expense and supplies. 50.00 For Expense of City Attorney. Salary of Attorney 400.00 Office expense 10.00 Payment of judgment and costs 3100.00 For City Engineer’s Office. Salary of Engineer 900.00 Pay of assistant 200.00 Office exepnse and supplies.. 25 00 For Expense of City Hall. Supplies and telephone .... 200.00 Rent of buildings & ground. 2425.00 For Expense of Streets. Salary street commissioner.. 780.00 Labor on streets 2000.00 Material and supplies 500.00 Street lighting 6280.00 Street intersections and assessments 2000.00 Expense of Sewers. Sewer construction under Sewer repairs 200.00 Protection to Persons and Property. Salary Marshal and deputies 2000.00 Supplies, marshal & deputies 25.00 Compensation, fire dept 2000.00 New fire equipment 200.00 Supplies and repairs, fire department 100.00 Hydrant rentals 4900.00 Meter supply 300.00. Health and Sanitation. Salary health officers 180.00 Supplies health office 25.00 Contagious diseases 200.00 Miscellaneous Expenses. Salary members of council.. 500.00 Printing and advertising ... 200.00 Examination public records.. 300.00 Traveling expenses 250.00 Pay special judges 50.00 Compensation Co. Auditor... 200.00 Compensation County Treas. 300.00 Expense parks 200.00 Insurance public /buildings.. 600.00 Donation to band 100.00 Appropriated from Sinking Funds. Payment of bonds 4000.00 Payment of interest 1900.00 The water rates were changed by the passage of an ordinance amending the first section of the water rate ordinance adopted March 23. 1915. The rates fixed in the ordinance are: For the first 15.000 gallons. 25c per thousand gallons; for any amount over 15,000 gallons a fiat rate or 20c per thousand. The state examiners report compiled by Messrs, Strait and Dailey was tiled, read and adopted. The report was an itemized account of the city’s financial condition and all transactions made by the different city officials or departments. City engineer filed the specifications for the Jackson street improvement which was approved. The engineer’s report of completion of the Ninth street Improvement w.m placed on file and approved. Resolutions adopting same and instructing the city engineer to file the preliminary assessment .roll in the matter and one approving the assessment sheet and setting Sept. 18 as the day on (Continued on Page Two)