Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 256, Decatur, Adams County, 6 November 1917 — Page 1

Volume XV. Number 256.

I THE ITALIANS ARE RETREATING i Emperor Karl of Austria Has Crossed Tagliamento and is Driving On. I FIRST HERO BURIED ■ Somewhere in France—The Story of First Engagement With Enemy. (United Press Service) | London, Nov. o—(Special to Daily ■ Democrat) —Germans have broken the • Italian line at another point according ■to word reaching here today. Dis■patches from Vienna stated that Empfeeror Karl of Austria had crossed the ■Tagliamento river with his troops. I The Italians are retreating on a front of nearly 100 miles, the Berlin ■office declared. “We have won the line," the statement de■c.iared. I Petrogrod, Nov. 6—(Special to ■Daily Democrat)- Full autonomy f>r ■•'inland was agreed upon by the Russian provincial government and Finnish representatives today. Finland “Mill have a republican government with its own executives but Russia i« to control its relation it was asserted. I Petrograd, Nov. 6—(Special to MX)aily Democrat) —General VerkhozBky was formally relieved of his offli eas minister of war. No explanation was made, lie was announced as having departed for the CaucasI |hns and it was reported that he would not return. One rumor in Circulation was that he had made tentative peace offers to Germany Without knowledge of other officials or the allies. - BULLETIN B London, Nov. 6 —(Special to Daily Democrat )-Field .Marshal Haig struck anmher tremedous blow at the German lines around Passchendaele ridge early today. 5 Satisfactory progress was reported in its early statement. ■ Field Marshal Haig also reported: ■ “In the Halim h neighborhood yesterday evening the Lincolnshires raided the Germans, taking a few prisonors." I The British commander in chief merely announced his latest drive was in the neighborhood of Passchendaele. It was his eighth smash forward since Sept. 20—and in this same general sector out of Ypres. BULLETIN ■ Rome. Nov. 6 —(Special to Daily ( Democrat) —Italian troops began evacuating part of the mountainous area included in the Tagliamento river, line today. E “Along the Tagliamento.” the war office stated, “the enemy pushed toward the middle and lower course. In order to establish our line we evacuated portions of the mountainous area. ■The German-Austrian thrust at th.' course of the Tagliamento is a new movement, reported for the first time today and would indicate that General von Mackensen is attempting a simultaneous flanking movement from the south as well as the north The mountainous area mentioned athat in which there was a withdrawal of Italian troops undoubtedly refers to the section around Pinzano. Pastelnovo and Sequale—on the right bank of the Tagliamento. Yesterday’s offiHcial report said the Germans had crossed the river somewhere north of Pinzano and the withdrawal motioned today is logically the result of this branch in the Italian defense line. | The foothills of the Carnic Alps come down to the plains of PrulU around Pinzano and the other cities mentioned. (By J. W. Pegler7”united Press staff correspondent.) With the American army at the front, Nov. 6-( Special to Daily Democrat)—They were making ready o ™, y In "--.nowrf «" »' the first American soldier to fight ai die to make the world safe for "’l" the narrw trenches, where there was no room for rifle shots the > Americans fought with their clubbed gun.,. X”r «>•'' their intrenching B P adeß hands. Flares and the sudden glar of exploding shells showed occasional rapid pictures of struggling groups

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

one or two American soldiers sur rounded by a solid mass of Gormans maelstrom of arms and • bands and kicking feet, flushing bay I oriets, muffled yells arid the sounds of pain wrung from the wounded. This was the story as survivors told I it. The Americans did not have a chance against such overpowering masses of the enemy. The fact that they didn't have a chance didn’t make them stop fighting however, until they had literally been smothered under I the Germans, 210 in all. The German raiding party was composed of picked and veteran "shock I I troops’’—specialists in attack. They charged in a powerful rush. The American troops had just entered this particular bit of trench. They fought back like wildcats until literally smothered in the weight of the superior attacking forces. Then the Germans scurried back to their own lines, dragging their own dead and wounded I with them, together with their American prisoners. A young reserve lieutenant with the detachment attacked, was puzzled immediately after he brought his men into the trench by the sudden acceleration of artillery fire. He decided to consult his superior officers and started carefully weaving his way back. He struck the German barrage. It , knocked him flat but he recovered and a second time tried to press along. Again he was flung down by exploding shells and for the third time he dauntlessly went on. Then he was completely “knocked out” by a narrow shave from a high explosive shell. After the German raiders had returned to their lines, the lieutenant was found unconscious. He was revived later and told his story. Today he was in tho base hospital recovering from shell shock. “The shelling began darn suddenly," said one of the wounded Sammies today. “A few minutes later I turned around and saw a big German standing in the trench beside me. The next thing I know he shot me—BANG!” FOR BIBLICAL STUDENTS A new set of Biblical books that will be invaluable for Biblical students and those of the Bible teachers’ train i ing classes have been received at the library. They include the following: Moulton, R. G., “The Literary Study of the Bible:" Farrar F. W., “The Messages of the Books of the New Testament”: Moulton, R. G., "The Modern Reader's Bible"; Smyth. J. Patterson, “Old Documents and New 'Bible": Dads, P. M., “The Expositor’s I Bible;” Dummelow, J. R-. “Bible Commentory;” Ersilen, F. C., "Prophecy and the Prophets;” Haig, M. M., “Analtytical Outlines of the Old Testament;” Sell. H. T„ “Bible Study by Books.” Smyth, J. P.. "How we got our Bible;" Nuelsen, J. L., “Martin Luther, the leader:” Kosthin, J., "Life of Martin Luther;” D'Aubigne, “History 'of the Reformation." Attention of Bible students is also called to the very excellent Hastings’ Enclyclopedia of the old and new ; testament in five volumes in the library. POSTAL SAVINGS WILL NOT BE SEIZED BY GOVERNMENT Some misapprehension seems to exist relative to the status under the trading-with-the-enemy act. of citizens or subjects of Germany or its allies ■ resident in this country. Such persons are not included within the term “enemy or ally of enemy” as employed in the act. Deposits in the postal sav- . ings banks of the united States be I longing to such persons are not liable t to seizure by the government, and - will not. therefore, be taken into the : possession of the alien property cus- - todlan or be interfered with in any I way whatever. — Official Bulletin, t Washington, D. C., Oct. 30, 1917- - -O' —” ELECTION DOUBTFUL (United Press ftervice) Gary, Nov. 6— (Specta Ito Daily ’ Democrat)—Doubt as to the outcome * of Gary’s three cornered fight lor ’ mayor was expressed by all neutral watchers at noon today. All three j candidates however claimed the victory with the chances in favor of 11. » J. Curtis, democrat candidate, on ac- ' count of the split in republican ranks. , R. O. Johnson, present mayor who was o defeated for republican nomination at j the primary is running independent ~ against Wm. F. Hoges, republican nominee. o p HAD AN OPERATION s, Mrs. Philips of South Seventh street i, was operated upon Sunday for chroa ric appendicitis and adhesions, hci e’casO being a serious one. Dr. McOs iLcar, Drs. (‘'lark and J. S. Niblick per - formed the operation.

Decatur, Indiana,Tuesday Evening, November 6, 1917.

MUST SPEED UP In the Making of Surgical Dressings—Large « Quantities. t ft vOF MATERIAL HERE r Gause and Muslin Received More Ladies Needed to Make Supplies. 3 t » t The local Red Cross shop has re- . ceived a large supply of gauze and . muslin to be made up into surgical , dressings and this is well. For a very I urgent call has come from Washing- - ton, asking for more hospital supplies and it is very necessary that the work > be speeded up in this department. Not only are the present workers i asked to speed up, but the call is - sounded locally for more workers in i the making of surgical dressings. The requirement for this is that the . worker be a member of the Red Cross Call at the Red Cross shop and there teachers in charge of the instruction and the making will direct. If one cannot devote a longer time, an hour 1 a day, or a fraction thereof, will be a great help. With the American soldiers now on the firing line, with some already wounded, it behooves the nation to awaken to the call for surgical dressings. a failure to provide which would be a national disgrace. MRS.BAXTER DEAD Harriet Jane Baxter, Wife of Reuben Baxter, of Monmouth DIED OF PNEUMONIA Was Fifty-two Years of Age—Funeral Will be Wednesday. Harriet Jane Baxter, wife of Reuben Baxter, one of the well known residents of Monmouth, died yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock after a short illness t of pneumonia. Mrs. Baxter had been in declining health all summer, but had been ill of pneumonia only since last Friday, since when the decline became most rapid. Mrs. Baxter was fifty-two years, three months and sixteen days of age. She was born July 19, 1865, in Allen county, being a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Dutcher Potts. The family later moved to this county. The husband, Reuben R. Baxter and two sons. Calvin and Curt, survive. There are also a number of brothers and sisters living, among them being i Mrs. Harve Sprague and Hiram Potts, i this city; Mrs. Minnie Crabiil, Peter, i Alvin and Samuel Potts, Fort Wayne; ■ Mrs. Eliza Voirol and Mrs. Carrie i Cully, of near Monroeville. I The funeral services will be Wed- - nesday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock from the home with the burial in the Decat tur cemetery. I —— , ; TO CHECK TUBERCULOSIS. Indianapolis, Nov. 6 —Far reaching f measures, according to advice receiv- • ed by the Indiana Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, are being taken by the Italian government to combat tuberculosis. Under the departs ment of the interior important meas--3 ures, looking to the segration of the ( . disease, are being initiated. Fore--1 most among these is the plan for dise pensary control of tuberculosis long .. advocated by Phillips of Edinb/ro, Scotland. Large subventions to dispensaries established and to be estab- . lished are being made by the Italian s government. t CITY ELECTION TODAY. t n The election in this city today was quiet and without any signs of disturbance, though indications at two o’clock were that a rather large vote would be cast. It is estimated that !t at least 1,100 votes will be cast, about '■ two-thirds of that number having ' r been cast. The returns will be re 8_ ceived at this office tonight up tc r- eleven o'clock. The local returns should be in by nine o’clock.

| FIND HEAD OF BODY (United Press Servin*) London, Nov. 6—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Scotland Yard operatives I today located the head to the dismembered trunk found last week wrapped iu a piece of sacking In exclusive regent square. It was found in a pickle jar on the shelf of the shop occupied by the suspect first arrested in connection with tho case—a butcher. i Paul Girourd, a French soldier, was enroute from the trenches here today to make positive the identification of I the body. The arms are the only part not yet located. CAMPAIGN OVER Democrats Closed With a Rousing Meeting and Smoker Last Night, BIG CROWD ATTENDED Mayor Christen Presided — Speeches Were Made by Moran and Coffee. The democrats closed the city campaign last evening with a smoker and political meeting at headquarters and it was a success in every way, with plenty of enthusiasm, cigars and good speeches. Voters came early, visited and talked politics while they smoked and at eight o’clock City Chairman Tom Durkins, announced that Mayor Chas. I N. Christen would preside as chair- I man of the meeting. The mayor, did his part just right, as usual, made a short talk in which he discussed the conditions of the city now and as they were a few years ago and about which he knows as much as any citizen of Decatur. Excellent speeches were also made by Hon. J. C. Moran and Former Mayor D. D. Coffee and ( the voters present were urged to vote early and to aid in getting out the vote. The meeting closed with more , cigars and was a happy event for every one present. Chairman Durkins Confident. T. J. Durkins, city chairman was very confident today concerning the result of today’s election and predicted that Charles W. Yager would be chosen by a handsome majority and i that every man on the democratic ticket would be elected. < FATHER IS DEAD . < ] James Stonerook Called to < i Roaring Springs, Penn- 1 sylvania, j A SUDDEN DEATH ( Came to His Father —Was t to Have Visited Here Next Week. The pleasant visit planned by M. B. 1 Stonerook, of Roaring Springs, Penna. 1 for next week with his son, James Stonerook, of this city, was anticipated yesterday by the sudden death of the father. This morning, the son is speeding east to attend the funeral. The telegram came last evening at 5:30 o’clock to the son who lives on W. Monroe street, and contained very meagre word, no details being known here. A brother of the deceased died three weeks ago of paralysis; anil , another died last May very suddenly, while sitting at the table, planning his day’s work in the morning. The fatii- , er died also of paralysis, and it is supposed that Mr. Stonerook’s death was very similar. He was sixty-two years of age, and 1 had visited here only last fall. At i prior visit alsb, he made many friends here who will be sorry to hear of his death. The widow and two sons survive. s o )■ SECOND-HAND CLOTHING 0 e A fine line of good second-hand ,t clothing is in the stock of the sale lt being held this week by the Christian g Ladies' Aid society in the Gregory or ?- Townsend building, corner of Madison o and Third streets. The sale opened s yesterday and will be hold all this week.

THE FIRST RANK ('onferred by Berne Knights of Pythias on Two Geneva Men at THE COUNTY MEETING At Geneva—Next Will be Held in This City— Many from Here. Messrs. Watson and Pyle, of Geneva, were given the first rank work by the Berne degree staff at the countv Kninghts of Pythias meeting at Geneva last evening. Grand Chancellor Frank J. Heller, of Columbia City; and Editor Wilev, of Warren, gave excellent addresses and committees* were named for the next county meeting which will be held in this city after the first of the year, this being one of three meetings held during the year, one at ►ich of the lodges of the county. O. E. Lesh. of Bluffton, who is district deputy, could not attend, on account of the rush of work, which he, as county treasurer experienced yesterday, the last day of tax paying. Il ls quite probable also that the district meeting will be held in this city. A banquet, the supper including chicken, sandwiches, pickles, fruit, cigars, coffee, etc., was served. About thirty from Decatur were present. ORDERED BUILT The Schug and Anderson Drains Were Ordered Established by THE COMMISSIONERS Wemhoff and the DavisonSchafer Roads Accepted Bridges Are Accepted. The board of commissioners this morning ordered Superintendent Laughlin, of the county farm, to sell calves and lambs owned by the county and to report the sales in his next quarterly report. Dismiss Claim. The claim of the Ohio Culvert and Pipe company against A. H. Fry, the contractor and builder of the Holthouse road for tile ordered was dismissed by the commissioners. Drains Ordered. The board having examined the petition and heard the evidence in the matter of the John B. Anderson drain, ordered same constructed, and also appointed James D. Brown the third drainage commissioner, he to meet with the other two commissioners. Orval Harruff and Noah Bieberstein, at the head of said drain on November 20th The Rudolph Schug drain was ordered established after the hearing of evidence and confirming the assessments. Orval Harruff was appointed superintendent of construction and ordered to proceed with the building of same. Accepted by Board. The Wemhoff and Schafer-Davison gravel roads were approved and accepted by the board. The Herman Reese and McKain bridges were also inspected and accepted by the commissioners. o COMMERCIAL CLASSES Beginning next Monday, November 12th, a public commercial class will be started by Miss Ruth Gay, commercial teacher of the Decatur high school. The classes will be held in the library and any one interested or desiring to join should see Miss Gay or Mr. Sarig for details. Lessons will be given in shorthand and typewriting and the classes will be held in the evenings, beginning at 7:30. MAIL MESSENGER. Sealed bids will be received byJohn W. Bosse, postmaster, for carrying mail from the postoffice to the different railroads, and transfer mail from Clover Leaf to G. R. & I railway, and from Chicago & Erie railway to G. R- & f- railway. All bids must be in November 27th.

WET AND DRY IN OHIO (United Press Service) Columbus. Ohio. Nov. 6—(Special | to Daily Democrat)—ldeal weather I was expected to Iving out an unusually heavy vote throughout Ohio today. The size of the vote may make returns late. Election officials here today believed the result of the prohibition and suffrage may not be accurately known until late. Wets and drys, suffragists and anti-suffiragists continued confident as the polls opened. L. 11. Gibson, wet campaign manager. predicts a wet majority of 200,000. J. A. White, Ohio Anti-Saloon League superintendent, says the state will go dry by 50,000. HELP ID RAISE IT The Big Drive for Y. M. C. A. Fund Will be Made During THE THIRD WEEK Os November—The Soldier Boys Find the “Y” Real Home-like. Indianapolis, Nov. 6 —The campaign to raise thirty-five million dollars for the War Work of the Young Men’s Christian Association (not for the regular association work) is the direct outcome of the Associations throughout the country organizing themselves on a war basis after the government declared the United States to be in a state of war with Germany. During the spring and summer calls from the great army camps, from France, from Russia, and from Italy came fast and furious and the association executives found themselves swan f rd. What to do. The calls from the warring countries were imperative. President Wilson at home. General Persuing in France and Major-General Hugh Scott in Russia looked to the Y. M. C. A. to provide for the comfort and entertainment of the soldiers as It has done in Mexico. Accordingly upwards of one hundred leading business men representing all the states in the union met in New- York on September 21 to hear reports from these army departments, from Great Britain, from France, from Russia, from Italy and from Mesopotamia. The call for service had cleared. Thousands of additional secretaries would he. needed. Tons of comforts and conveniences for the boys will be required, especially atheletic supplies, millions of letterheads, sweet chocolates, coffee, cocoa, tea, stoves for dugouts in the trenches, song books, etc. A budget of thirty-five million dollars for carrying on the work for nine months had been estimated after careful investigations by widely experienced men. Quick decision was made and on the same evening resolutions were passed wherebv a campaign was to be conducted in November for the purpose of raising the amount needed. The rough subdivisions were eleven million for work among the enlisted men in this country, nearly twelve million for work among the enlisted men to go overseas, over three million for work m the Russian army, over two and a half million for work in the French army, one million for work in the Italian array, one million for work in the Prisoner of War (’amps and nearly . four million for inevitable expansion. The military department will be the general division and the organization will go right down from state, county, r city and village. The people of the 1 country will be thoroughly informed and in the third week of November , the. great drive is to be ma,’e for the , full amount. Inasmuch as the first four million nsked for in May was • oversubscribed more than twenty’live , per cent, the Y. M. C. A. leaders feel confident that the full amount requirI ed in the present effort will be secured Indiana's share in this great drive is $1,000,000. The good citizens of the state have rolled up their sleeves and are going out to he first in this work, and it is expected the state will have its quota in less than a week’s tiiw . Every citizen who believes in buying Liberty Bonds, saving food and giving his boy for the trenches believes in this great cause and will help to put it over.

Price, Two Centfl

JAPAN PACT IS ANNOUNCED U. S. and Japan Agree on “Open Door’’ Policy,” It is Announced. ARE NOW FRIENDLY Though It is Admitted Each Game Near Being Led Into Trap of Enemies. (United Press Service.) (By Robert J. Bender. United Press Staff Correspondent) Washington, D. C., Nov. 6—(Special to Daily Democrat) —America and Japan have entered a formal agreement reaffirming the “open door" policy in China and recognizing Japan's "special interests" in that country. The momentous pact, confirmed by an exchange of notes between Secretary Lansing and Viscount Ishii of the Japanese mission, November 2 will go down in history as one of the great developements of the world war. In announcing the agreement today Secretary Lansing plainly indicated it would entirely remove an increasingly critical situation developing between the two countries. The pact recognizes Japan s special interests in China, avows that China’s sovereignty shall not be impaired. provides that there shall be no discrimination against the trade of other nations, denies any intention to infringe on China's territorial integrity, reaffirms the “open door" policy and avows opposition to acquisition by any government of special privileges which would affect China's independence. The United Press can state that the administration regards the new agreement as a great and important step in binding Japan and America with a bond of friendship and co-op-eration. It may be stated semi officially that the pact is designed as a blow' to Germany's efforts to alienate Japan and the United States. In addition to the agreement on China. Secretary Lansing announced that a complete understanding has been reached between the T'nited States and Japan regarding co-opera-tion in the war and that the question of joint naval operations in the Pacific has been satisfactorily settled. The China agreement first reached orally between the two governments was submitted by Secretary Lansing to Ishii for formal approval in writing November 2. It was confirmed by Ishii on behalf of his government the same day. The visit of Viscount Ishii and his colleagues has accomplished a great change of opinion in this country. They have cleared the diplomatic atmosphere of the suspicion which has been so carefully spread by our enemies and by misguided or overzealous people in both countries. In a few days the propaganda of years has been undone and both nations an now able to see how near they came to being led into the trap which had been skillfully set for them. WILL LEAVE TONIGHT. Herbert Ehinger. son of Mr. and t Mrs. E. H. Ehinger. received a notice - this morning from the commander of ] the headquarters surgical department flat Chicago ordering him to report at once at the medical officers training pi | camp. Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indi- (, anapolis. Ind. He will leave tonight over the G. R. & I for Indianapolis, and later will be assigned to the medical corp for intensive training. Th(s makes Mr. Ehingepfs second, ‘ bin first successful, attempt to join ' the colors, he having tried for the officers' reserve several months ago. Herb has a brother. Leo, now at Hattiesburg. being a member of Battery A. Ralph Jahn was also called. VOTING IN CHICAGO (Unlteu Service) Chicago. Nov. 6—(Special to Daily Democrat) "The sixth German city in the world”—so designated by its mayor. William Hale Thompson—was voting today on whether this is a popular war. At least that was the interpretation placed by democratic and republican leaders on the election of fourteen judges. To defeat the socialists, whom they accuse of lack of patriotism because of their pacifist attitude, the two major parties have arranged a fusion of their candidates.