Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 280, Decatur, Adams County, 24 November 1917 — Page 1

[ Volume XV. Number 280.

CITY IS IN FLAMES Fountaine Notre Dame is Burning—British Fight Around Cambrai. RUSSIANS LEAVE LINE To the Germans—Russia and Germany Declare Armistice, is Report. (United Press Service) |(By'Wm. P. Simms. United Press Staff Correspondent) With the British Armies in the Field, Nov. 24—(Special to Daily sDemocrat)—General Byng fought his way hack to within two miles of Cambrai. The Germans were hurllid bark upon Fountaine Notre Danw. BTlie town is now in flames. i [ The Germans aro fighting back Upon a suburb of Cambrai. I Fountaine Notre Dame is believed 1 to have been evacuated by the en- 1 W and is now No Man's Land. Desperate fighting has marked the advance of the British but they have itpushed the nose of the wedge driven .through the Hindenburg line to with- > in two miles of the city serving as a > German supply base. I Bourlou wood, where numerous and ’ valuable observation posts had been , established by the Germans, has ( Keen captured. I London. Nov. 24—(Special to Daily 1 Democrat)—Over nearly 15 miles of ' an arc around Cambrai British troops • were threatening the secondary defenses described as growing hourly tn ■ Violence. i | The Germans now have picked * storm troops, hurriedly drawn from ' half a dozen sectors of the west front, * in action bitterly contesting every ’ inch of the line. Presumably the Ger- 1 man depot city was under direct fire of British guns today. Byng has had sufficient time in which to bring up hi- big artillery, capable of bridging 1 the two and three-quarter mile gap between the most advanced British posi- < tions and tbe city. 1 ■ The Germans are concentrating < their counter-assaults on Moeuvres, I Bout lon wood and Crevecoeur, the < three points roughly forming the angle of the British wedge. ißy J. W. Pegler, United Press staff t correspondent.) • The American Field Headquarters. Fr ance, Nov. 24—(Special to Daily L Democrat)—Normal artillery and nor- ( mal patrol activity—but abnormal mud —expresses the trench conditions at the Aerican front today. I'The Sammies take nightly excursions into the weedy, muddy bottom of No Man’s Steady rains have made, everything slimy and slippery The trenches are veritable quagmires. (By Ralph Turner, United Press staff correspondent.) Tokio, Nov. 24—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Harbin, Russia, is in the midst of a reign of terror. Robberies occur almost hourly on the streets mobs of criminals parade and thr Russian police have completely lost their power. The city is still divided on its allegiance to the old provisional regime or the new bolshevik! faction. Paris, Nov. 24— (Special to Daily Democrat)—lll-health forced the res ftrnttinn of M Jonnart as minister of blockade today. President Lebrun, ci the budget commission was nominated jta his place. Amsterdam, Nov. 24—(Special to Daily Democrat) — Russian soldiers have already abandoned their advanced positions against German and. troops on various parts es the front according to the Frankfurter Zeittmg The newspaper today printed dispatches frori Tarnopol stating that the Russians w preparing com plots evacuation of Gt. «alow and Skaiat. Washington, "N< -. 24— 1 to Daily Democrat)—The Re n «“m'as ay broke off allegiance to bolshevik! government this afternoon. Li 1 message to Secretary Lansing, Embassador Bakhmentieff declaied that t would remain at his post but had a authorized other members of the staff to leave. Several attaches and Russian dip omats have resigned. The first secretary has applied for admission into the American army. Several other members. of the naval and military, staff will offer their services to the United States government. The embassador said, that 111 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

future he would continue in not recognizing the bolshevik! or tiny similar government which would break with tlje loyalty of the Russian allies. He will remain to look after tho interests of the Russian citizens in this country. Unless another rcyiresentative Is recognized by the United States government. YEGGMEN visiT OANA~ (United "'.ph.h Servlet) Dana, Ind., Nov. 24—(Specia 1 to Daily Democrat) Yeggmen procured between SB,OOO and 112.000 when they forced tbe safe of the First National hank here last night. The work, it Is believed, was done by a gang of bandits which has been operating in this territory. There was no explosion and nothing was known of the robbery until officials went to the bank this morning. Four gasoline tanks were used to burn tho vault to a crisp. It was then cooled with water which the robbers carried from a barrel behind a store several doors from the bank. With crow bars the men were then able to force open tho vault. Charles Parker, town marshal, stated that he believed the job was done in the early part of the night and the bandits had a good start.

TEACHERS IN SESSION The fifth annual convention of the Adams Comity Teachers' Association was held in this city, in the central school building this morning, witli President C. W. Hohnhaus in the chair W. S. Mills, of the Evangelical church conducted the devotionals and the community singing was lead by Miss Anne Rackstraw. O. L. Vance gave a fine talk on “Has Bible Study a Place in the Public Schools?” while Prof. L. J. Rettger, of Indianapolis talked on "Some New Demands." Miss Celia Andrews gave a fine piano solo. The institute was still in session at time of going to press, the election of officers being a closing feature. Teachers from the entire county, with several of the trustees, were in attendance. JUNIORS ARE HELPING In attending the meeting of the Fort Wayne College Club yesterday 1 was very much impressed by the report of Miss Faulkner, of Chicago, of the good work done by the Junior Branch of the Red Cross and I wondered why the Decatur public school children could not take up the same work. We have our domestic science, sewing and manual training hours, so why not devote them to something useful for the soldiers and orphans, made so by the present war. Other cities are taking it up. Fort Wayne has its organization almost completed and is just waiting for instructions from headquarters to begin, and as Decatur has a Red Cross chapter let us begin to think about the work, too. DR. ELIZABETH BURNS FIGHT PROHIBITION LAW (United Prfwa Service) Indianapolis, Nov. 24—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The tight of liquor interests of Indiana to prevent the prohibition law enacted by the last legislature from going into effect on April 2, 1918, was on in full force today. Three suits have been filed in superior court of A tinderburg count) asking that the law be declared unconstitutional and preparations are under way in Indianapolis to file similar suits here immediately. RULERS IN CONFERENCE (United Mess Service) Rome. Nov. 24—(Special to Daily Democrat)-Kaiser Wilhelm of Ger many, Emperor Charles of AustriaHungary, Czar Ferdinand of Bulgaria and Enver Pasha of Turkey, were reported in conference on the Italian front today in Swiss dispatches re ceived here. A new central powers agreement particularly as to Germany and Austria’s division of the spoils of war, was understood to be behind the meeting. . . -n — THANKSGIVING SERVICE Attention is again called to the union Thanksgiving service next Thursday morniflg at the ( hristian church, with sermon by the Rev. J. G. Butler, of the Baptist church. In the evening. Mrs. Fay Smith-Knapp will read "The Melting Pot” and offerings at both services will be for charity. AT THE HOSPITAL Mrs. Belle Knave) of Marshall street widow of Janies Knavel. is a patient ■ at the hospital in Fort Wayne. An in- ■ cision was made, showing that she ii f suffering from internal cancer, and no I operation was performed. She will probably he brought home in about i ten days.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, November 21, 1917.

CALL FOR HELP More Workers Are Needed at the Red Cross Headquarters. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE Total Pieces Completed Locally Number Number 2,878. The Decatur Red Cross workshop at the public library has turned in to the northern Indiana Red Cross warehouse the rollowing completed and inspected finished aritcles up to November 15. 1917: Pajamas. 124 suits; hospital shirts. 111; bath robes, 114; bed socks, 222 pairs; knitted sweaters, 15; knitted socks, 23 pairs; knitted wristlets. 16 pairs; knitted scarfs. 13; 4x4 gauze compresses. 974; 9x9 gauze compresses. 30; 12x36 gauze strips, 160; gauze sponges, 340; gauze rolls. 21; T bandages. 22; abdominal bandages. 26; triangular bandages. 52; drains. 127; head ban dages, 36; 18x18 compresses, 145; 18x36 compresses, 76; laparotomy pads, all sizes. 126; knitted sponges. 84; wasli cloths, knitted, 8. Total, 2,878 pieces. The Red Cross shop has a large shipment besides this of finished articles about ready for shipment. The groups of workers in surgical dressing department, garment and knitted goods departments are constantly increasing, yet many many more are needed. Every one who possibly can should call at the workshop at the librar any afternoon or evening and offer their services.

THE ENVIRONMENT Os the German People Responsible for What Is Called Prussianism. OBEY, SECOND NATURE To German People Brought Up Through Ages to Absolutely Obey Ruler. (By Edmund Vance Cooke) “But for the grace of God, there goes Isaac Wptts." The statement has been attributed to several theologians, but Watts will serve. The story is that the speaker saw a drunken vagabond pass by on his way to the gallows, and. though the speaker had never been accused of criminal tendencies, he recognized the essential unity of the human race in his charitable exclamation. Similarly, some charitable people are still excusing the heinous offenses of Prussian autocracy and militarism by saying that German civilization is as high as ours, and that therefore we would do the same the Germans have done had we been in the same situation as Germany was and is. Now, there is a deep (ruth in the assertion of Dr. Watts and of the German apologises. Given the heredity of the environment of the vagabond, and Dr. Watts might have been on his way to the gallows. Given an emperor “by divine right," a reichstag without any actual governing power, a bundesrath with the real governing power, and the kaiser in control of that, a militaristic training of generations until respect for authority and the impulse to obey were second nature; given a philosophy carefully fostered by every educatial influence (from primer class to university) that the state is supreme and is beyond all moral law, and that therefore the orders of the state expressed through its army are to be carried out implicitly; given the training of child, father, and grandfather that war is man’s natural state and is God’s way in the world, that our Kultur is supreme and must be enforced upon the world for its betterment and ours—given this background, there is no reasonable doubt that you and I would be Prussianized, that the kaiser would appear to us like the leading member > of the trinity, and that Schrecklichkoit would be his prophet and his instrument. The answer (o this is that Dr.

Watts was not tho vagabond and that wo are not, as yet, a Prussianized pooplo. If the Germans had had a struggle toward personal and political liberty, from the time of Magna Charta, a Declaration of Independence and a century and a third of self-expression in government, with an absence of militarism all the time except in rare cases of extreme notional peril, the Germans might very likely have surpassed us, for wo have been shamefully negligent of some of tho opportunities of democracy. Unfortunately for them and for us. this has not been their history, and so today. there is apparently no oath too solemn not to be disregarded, no barbarism too heartless not to be committed, no decency too established not to be violated by the German nation, provided only that it furthers the immediate aim of that nation. If you and 1 are walking down the street and a child obstructs our path and I thrust it into the gutter and trample upon it. shall 1 be allowed (Continued on Page Two) FIGHT FOR ROAD Preferred Stockholders of Bluffton, Geneva and Celina Road FILE AN INJUNCTION In Adams Circuit Court Against the Tearing Up of the Line. Preferred stockholders of the Bluffton, Geneva and Celina traction line, between Geneva and Bluffton, which was sold at receiver's sale to Thomas Flynn, recently for SIIB,OOO, who yes terday began tearing up the line, at Geneva, preparatory to junking the road, have put up a fight. Late thh afternoon they filed a suit in the Ad ams circuit court asking for an injunc tlon against the tearing up of the line, alleging that they still have :,t, interest in the road, and that the pu: chaser, Mr. Flynn is not the sole own er. Simons & Dailey, of Bluffton, ami Peterson & Moran, of this citty, are attorneys for the stockholders, or pc titioners. The dismantling of the road began at Geneva, with the purpose of allow ing tbe freight cars to operate west ward as long as possible. The pass enger service was discontinued Thins day. The injunction asked in the suit filed here, is asked to be made permanently. WAS BUSY WEEK Rev. W- Paul Marsh Returns from Indiana Tour Interest OF THE RED CROSS Is the Field Secretary in Connection With the War Fund. Rev. W. Paul Marsh has returned from a busy week spent in various counties of the state in the interest of tile Red Cross, he having been appoint ed field secretary in connection with tbe Red Cross war fund. Rev. Marsh lias been busy getting reports and in some places, gave addresses, and attended to other duties relating to the clean-up war fund campaign of tins Spring, some counties not yet having raised their quota. He has been at Portland, Muncie, Frankfort, Attica, Clinton, Terre Haute, Danville, Indianapolis and Martinsville the past week. EVERY BOY AND GIRL Is wanted to join the army of the junior league of the Methodist church, Sunday, November 25, 1917.

30 DAYS TO 2 HOP <I — , -—— - — - - — • • —• • — ~ u • ■ ■

8. P, RICE DEAD Well Known Resident of City Passed Away After Illness OF SEVERAL WEEKS Was a Native of Adams County and Long a Resident of the City. Benjamin Pendleton Rice, aged six ty-nine years, a life long resident es Adams county, < ,ie of the best know;) men of Decatur, e h >. •. he nas lived for nearly fifty years, passed away Friday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock al I is home on North s.?,■ n'h street. Death followed a gradual decline, the past six weeks ut whien his condi tion was such hat Im was confined to his home. A wcjltness of his heart with complication;, made his condition very serious and at several times during that time he was very near death. Mr. Rice was a member of one of the oldest families in the county. His father. Benjamin J. Rice, a native ol Virginia, and his mother, Mary Pillais Rice was born August 20. 1848. For settled on a farm in Root township It was there that Benjamin Pendleton Rice was born August 20. 1838. For some time after arriving at young manhood, he engaged in farming, un til in 1871, he purchased a sawmill in Decatur and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. loiter he became the owner of the stone quarry north of this city, and also became a dealer in building m i 'Continuers on Page Two)

BEET PRODUCTION For the Making of Sugar Must be Pushed to the Limit Next Year. SEASON WILL DRAIN Nation’s Supply of Sugar if Production is Not Increased. Indianapolis. Nov. 24— Although the announcement has come to the Indiana State Council of Defense, through the committee on food production and conservation and the food administrator, that Indiana sugar beet growers are unable to increase their acreage next year, they are urged by the United States department of Agriculture to maintain the acreage of that crop next year. While the soil and climatic conditions of the country are suitable for a much greater production of beet sugar than is now made, the production for next year is necessarily limited by the available seed supply' and to the relatively small areas where beet sugar mills now exist. Because of the impracticability of shipping beets very far. the effective sugar beet production is limited to the areas in the vicinity of the sugar mills, and it is in these areas that most of next year’s crop must be grown. Both from tbe point of view of the welfare of the farmers of those districts and of the national interest with regard to adequate supply of sugar, it is important that the crop shall be grown as efficiently and economically as possible. It is believed that this can best be accomplished by adhering somewhat closely to the methods of crop rotation that have been worked out and tested in most of these producing districts, and l.y avoiding the planting of an abnormally large acreage of competing crone at the expense of a reduction of the acreage of beets. The determination of the acreage to be planted needs to be made early so that the farmers can plan their work to best advantage and the sugar companies arrange in advance for the supplies necessary to operate tbe mills. The sugar requirements of this couu try and the allied nations during the next year or more will be such as to render it imperative from the stand point of national interest that our production of sugar be at least maintained at its present level. It will in fact

be highly desirable to enlarge it if the stocks ol' seed available for planting in 1918 shall permit of this. ATTEND ELZY CHILD'S FUNERAL Mr. and Mrs. Elias Sudduth and son, Ted, Mrs. Walter Sudduth, Gertrude Sudduth. Mrs. Aaron DeVinney, Elmer Tricker and two children, and Charles Braun have returned from Ossian where they attended the funeral of a relative. Edward, four years old son of Mr. and Mrs. Janies Elzey. The lad had been kicked in the forehead by a horse while at the barn, a great distance from the house. He walked Io the house, with the large hole in uis forehead, the skull having been crushed. He had lost ho much blood by the time that he was taken to the hospkal in Fort Wayne, that death ensued, the operation itself having been a success. He had regained consciousness and talked and was getting along very well his case having been a less serious one than many that had come to the attention of the physicans.

BROWN RELEASED Ft. Wayne Man Charged With Being Accessory to Criminal Operation. WAS BROUGHT HERE But Released, Awaiting Result of Monroe Girl’s Condition —A Sad CaseAn unfortunate girl, Emma Schlegel, elghtertn-ye.ar'-old daughter of the late Sam Schlegel, is lying at tho point of death at the home of Mrs. Nelson, at Monroe, where she has made her home for eight years. Her condition is believed to be the result of a criminal operation performed by a Fort Wayne physician. Tlie girl had been at Fort Wayne for a month and came to Monroe a few days ago. since which time she lias been quite ill. Yesterday a man was seen about ihe house peering into the windows. He was brought here last night by William Scherer, and with whom he made arrangements to bring the girl here this morning and put her on the eight o'clock car. Instead of doing this Scherer started an investigation which revealed the serious condition of the girl. This morning Bob Andrews and Mr. Scherer went to Fort Wayne on the ear which was supposed to take the girl there. The man, whose name is said to be Davis Brown, who is about forty years old. and said to have a wife and four children, got on the car just inside the city limits at Fort Wayne. He was brought back to Monroe by the officers and a charge of assault placed against him. He settled anxious to settle and as the offense if one. was committed in Allen county, it was decided that he could not he held here unless the girl should die and Brown was released this afternoon. Monroe people are greatly incensed over the affair and declare they will see that the man and the doctor are prosecuted. Brown paid the expenses of the men who brought him here and he returned to Fort Wayne this afternoon. SUNDAY EPWORTH LEAGUE With Miss Vera Powell, leader, the Ejworth league will have its seven!li of the series of "Win My Chum" week Sunday evening at the M. E. church The program follows: Song, page 1. Song, page 46. Prayer. Song, page 48. Talk—Mr. J. D. Sarig. Piano Solo —Ireta Beavers. Talk —Miss Cravens. Reading—Mr. Kneper. Announcements, j Song, page 134. Epworth League benediction. —o — NATIONAL BANKS MUST REPORT (United Tress Service) Washington, Nov. 24—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The comptroller of the currency today issued a call for reports of the condition ot all national banks at the close of business Tuesday, Nov. 20. o — AT THE HOSPITAL William Kukelhan. prominent Root township farmer, who has been in tbe hospital at Fort Wayne for several weeks, will return home soon, lie had a leg broken last winter and has been disabled since, not regaining the normal use of the limb.

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NEW OFFICIALS ARE APPOINTED Mayor-elect Yager Names Men Who Will Have Charge of Affairs AFTER JANUARY FIRST 'I — Bencher, Ernst, Boch, Costello and Dellinger Selected for City Positions. I Chief of Police- Fred Hencber. Street commissioner Charles (', , 1 Ernst. City engineer—Dick Bot h. Secretary Board of Health —Dr. If. F. Costello. Fire chief—Henry Dellinger. The above appointments were of. tidally announced this morning I y Mayor Elect Charles W. Yager and each has accepted the position. They will assume their places January Ist when the new administration takes over the city government. The appointments, mean a change of four ■ heads of city departments and ' wore selected by Air. Yager after careful consideration of the various applications for these places. The men are all well known and should make good. Fred Hencher. named chief of police is a clean and popular young man, who should prove an efficient and high ! class official. He is at present conI ducting a barber shop in the basement of the Odd Fellows block. He has , many friends who admire him for bis ' character and integrity and his appointment will please all who know him. Charles Ernst who win become ; street commissioner is well qualified. I having served four years as county surveyor and eight years as a deputy in that office. He understands well the duties of the commissioner and his services will prove of inestimable value to this city. Dick Boch who becomes city engineer is at present serving as a deputy in the county surveyor’s office where lie has been employed for six years. He is well qualified, thoroughly acquainted with the duties, I a clever and courteous young man i who will conduct the office in a splendid manner, we predict. Dr. Costello, the health officer, is the only member of tbe present corps pf appointive officials re-appoinsed. He has served four years with credit i and is able and qualified. He has I made a careful study of his duties j and it is beleived can enact a number of improvements that will prove of benefit to the city. Henry Dellinger, the fire chief selected. is < ertainly qualified. He has had active charge of the engine house 1 for several years, lives there twentyI lour hours a day and is the first man at every fire. He knows the game I and will prove efficient. The other appointments, including the night and extra police, the superintendent of the city plant and the other men employed in the conduct of the city, will be made by the council. Mayor Elect Yager said today that he will name his committees with in a short time, though this has not been done so far. Mr. Yager will leave today for a week or ten days' 1 trip through the south. RUSH SURGICAL DRESSINGS The demand for surgical dressings has become so great that local workers are being sent out by Mrs. F. M. Fauve, of the Northern Indiana warehouse. to start tlie work in chapters which are not already making the surgical dressings. Only 17 out of the ’.I chapters of this division are now making these dressings and an attempt will be made to start each chapter as soon as possible. I Miss Marie Connell, of Decatur, was sent out by the warehouse, and started classes Wednesday at the Angola chapter. On November 24 Miss Winifred Callahan will start classes at Plymouth. On December 3, Mrs. William Berger, of the warehouse, will start the work at Columbia City. Other teachers will be sent out soon —< Ft. Wayne Sentinel. THANKSGIVHMG BOX SOCIAL The Preble basket ball club will give a box social and entertainment at I the town hall on Thanksgiving evej ning. The public is invited, music I will be furnished and a good time is assured those who attend.