Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 283, Decatur, Adams County, 28 November 1917 — Page 1

Volume XV. Number 283.

ITALIANS SMASH German’s First and Second Lines —Enemy Sutlers Tremendous Losses. SEVERE FIGHTING Wrecks Cambrai and Bourlon Wood—Best Men Fed to British Steel. (United Press Service) (By John H. Bearley, United Press Staff Correspondent) Rome. Nov. 28—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Within the last 24 hours Italian troops, assuming the offensive. have smashed German first and second lines inflicting tremendous losses on the invader. The announcement was made here today. Details of the victory are withheld for the present. The news was cited as evidence of the growing strength of the Italian army, its complete rehabilitation and as an illustration that the enemy’s most powerful efforts to break the Piave mountain! line have been utterly fruitless. With French and British aid now rapidly approaching the front, Rome looks for a decisive strategic step of vast importance.

(By William Philip Simms, United Press staff correspondent.) With the British Armies in the field, Nov. 28—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Crown Prince Rupprecht fed thousands of his best men into the reeking maw of the British lion today. The Prussians seldom fought with such desperation as they battled last night and early today—vainly, bloodily, frantically striving to wrest Bourlon wood from the British. The wood is a mere bundle of sticks now. Its great trees have literally teen splintered by high explosives, smashed down by tanks, uprooted by shells. What used to be a pleasant grove, of grateful shade, is now a bare, scrawny hump, 3.000 by 2,500 yards out of the saliant. shoved forward Into the very vitals of the German line. Its very base must by now lie soaked with the blood of fighting that has raged over its top. This dispatch is written just after my return from a sight of Cambrai. The buildings of the prize city a’-e visible even in today’s thick weather, from where the British line stocks its steel menacingly forward. As this great artillery duel roared, there was a sudden cyclone blast cf rattling. We peered over No Man's Land to see six British planes swooping. swerving and careening, it seemed almost touching the heads of the Germansi just aorbss. "fiheir machine guns spat, venomously while they rak- ( ed the lines. They were far too low for the German anti-aircraft guns to touch them —and they moved too fa.-! for the surprised Germans to twist their machine guns upward and fire at them. Down along the line they zig-zagged, like angry hornets. Then, came more —three together, a couple —half a dozen — one lone one. Throughout the late afternoon they, kept it up until darkness erased the line of the enemy trenches. Near midnight, the Prussians flung themselves on the wood —then firmly held by the British. At the precise moment of their attempt. British flares illuminated every man in their massed ranks—transfixed them mo mentarily by the brilliance of the light Then came the roar of machine guns —literally as one voice of death, th.it sliced the massed shadows into quivering, twisting, groaning groups whße

» thanksgiving night program. I Program of (he 8 I qt %S hO pSSS. U Th h e Nun'S Hymn (lefebure Wely>- g I Mi % c ot«r-ft o „ bure . ..1 I Vo V “a C r'S7"A V Soig of Thanksgiving” (Frances A- g I ’“S “The MdSSp*" | « Faye Smith-Knapp. „ (H aro ld Vincent Milligan) -g 3 Vocal Solo, near my v . g •* —Miss Hope Hoffman. Offering. „ /Uarker)— Miss Celia Andrews, « Offertory. “Eventide (Harker I I <Roscrß> - § H Miss Celia Andrews. -

BEGAT Lit DAILY DEMOCRAT

| other k "'" back, vami, trying (, I oulspeed the searching shower of load. BULLETIN | , tnn(ln "’ Nov ' 28 t Special to Daily I Democrat) Artillerying was all Field Marshal Haig reported from the Camhrai front today. "In the neighborhood of Bourlon wood,” ho said, “there was hostile artillerying at night, but no infantry actions. “East and north of Ypres there was hostile artillerying."’ BULLETIN Tokio. Nov. 28—(Special to Daily Democrat) The Pacific Mail steamer riior. bound to Yokohoma from Sin Francisco, has been sunk, according to word reaching here today. No details wore given. BULLETIN Washington. Nov. 28—-‘(Special to! Daily Democrat)—Sixty-three men in! three lifeboats are still mising frontj the torpedoed American steamer Actaeon, according to navy department! messages today, one boat load of was landed at ('ape Finisterre. Press dispatches previously repot t-! ed 21 survivors landed in Spain but did ’not state how many were in the three missing boats. The crew of the Actaeon, formerly the German steamship Adamsturm seized at the opening 'of the war. was unofficially reported ' I to consist of 58 men including 31 Amer,: leans. There was a naval gun crew! of 13 men aboard and possibly others. 1 , London, Nov. 28—(Special to Daily] 1

Democrat) —“The Italian crisis is pas- ] sed.” declared Gen. Maurice, direc;or , of operations today. The credit is I due to tiie Italians alone. "The Cambrai attack," the general < continued, “resulted in our capture'I of 11,000 prisoners more than 100 guns! , and about 70 square miles. The t enemy was forced to use many more < of its divisions, we had no definite ob- 1 jective but merely intended to go as t far as ixissible. We gained more ( I than Haig expected. So far there t have been no appreciable withdrawal from the Russian front. Jerusalem j will not fall without another battle. < We must bring up scattered forces, fresh guns and munition, there are dit- ( Acuities in the advance and the sur , r rounding territory which will delay i the division, to enable the enemy to bring up their rear guard and make a | stand.” ■ With the British Armies in the field. , Nov. 28—(Special to Daily Democrat) * —The Germans uncorked a country full of gas, asphyxiating vapor was distributed ty German guns over a wide area immediately back of the , British position. No damage was done and the shell gave them no advantage As tliis dispatch is cabled the Britisli i line has aparently shifted west Fcuntaine Notre Dame but position: c in Bourlon wood are standing secure despite the enemies most desperate efforts. bulletin Amsterdam, Nov. 28-Peace demonstrations have occurred in Berlin and Budapest, according to reports reaching here today. Police in both cities, it was declared, had clashed with the < peace advocates. BULLETIN i ( By Joseph Shaplen. United Press staff correspondent.) ! Stockholm. Nov. 28-( Special to ,Dailv Democrat)-Six hundred killed , , lt Kleff and 150 Russian army officers slaughtered at Moscow were additions , t 0 the bloody deeds of violence by which the bolsheviki gained control in Russia according to word brought out of Petrograd by a credible Russian citizen today. The fighting at Kieff lasted over six , davs . It was a veritable reign of terror. The bolsheviki now have comolete control of the city. —__

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, November 28, 1917

IN FULL SWING i Is the Bazaar Being' Conducted by Ladies of St. Mary’s Church AT THE K. OF C. HALL M ill Close Tomorrow— Many Attractions Delight Big Crowds. The bazaar is on in full Iwing at the K. of (’. hall and great crowds arc Ln j evidence, enjoying the many pleasures ■of the country store, the fishing ponds, the doll, candy, refreshment booths. J the fancy work displays, and the milsj ic and many other attractions. The bazaar opened last evening I with a record breaking attendance and the stocks were sold out rapidly to be replaced with other attractive things from the great supply on hand. Today is children’s day, when the school children, in charge of the tea Iters. visited the hall, and its many attractions. Supper will again be served tonight and tomorrow night. The refreshments were so delicious last night, and so great was the demand, thaf more could have been sold. A bigger supply will be prepared for today and tomorrow. The doll popularity contest will close tomorrow, when a fine doll will be given to some little girl. Last evening several gifts were distributed. Richard Miller was given a quilt; Frances Deininger a knitting bag; a traveling salesman, some towels; Albert Colchin, a teddy bear combination suit. Several will be distributed tonight also. The parcels post department is a popular one, and another big “mail order” will be on for toffight. The public is cordially invited to come. There is no charge for admittance. ELECT OFFICERS I Mrs. Ralph Miller is Elected Noble Grand of i . 1 THE REBEKAH LODGE, I Staff is Named for the Half Year—Take Chairs First of the Year. ( t Officers to serve for a half year . were elected last evening by the local i Rebekah lodge. They will take the ' chair the first of the year. Other officers to be appointed, will be named later by the noble grand. 1 Those elected last evening are: Noble Grand—Mrs. Ralph Miller. Vice Grand—Mrs. Olen Raker. Financial secretary — Miss Della 1 Harruff. Recording secretary— Miss Nell 1 Winnes. Trustee —Mrs. Amos Yoder. Treasurer—Mrs. Burt Hunsicker. _o DR. HOFFMAN VERY ILL Dr. S. P. Hoffman who has been very seriously ill since. Sunday, is rest ing somewhat easier today, but is still very weak from the subsiding of his high fever, his temperature registering one hundred four and throefifths at one time. His attending physician gives as his opinion that he is suffering from sepsis poisoning, the result of an infection. Mrs. Scavenger is the nurse in charge. FUNERAL FRIDAY. The funeral of Mrs. Oscar Lankenati will be held Friday afternoon at two o’clock from the home on South Third street. Rev. F. F. Thornburg, of the Methodist church, will officiate and burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. The pall bearers will be selected from the Birthday club. — o THANKSGIVING VACATION. — The public schools will dismiss this evening tor the Thanksgiving vacation which will extend over the remainder of the week, school taking up again next Monday.

| FAKE ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS 1 Indianapolis, Nov. 28 The Indiana State Council of Defense hits been ask- < <1 by the federal farm loan board to ■ warn farmers of Indiana against the latest graft being attempted in various parts of the country. it is a fraudulent enterprise attempted by publishing houses, to sell the farmer “accounting systems" which are said to have the indorsement of the federal farm loan board, and to be required in cases where farm mortgages are car- . rled. "Some of these systems are elaborate and their execution would be useless and expensive to the farmers” says the federal board. The Indiana State Council of Defense will assist in the prosecution of any one caught attempting the sale o' any accounting system to farmers, on the assertion that such system is officially required. HAD FINE - TRIP Hattiesburg Excursionists Returned Yesterday Afternoon FROM CAMP SHELBY Spent Four Delightful Days With the Boys in Camp. Mrs. John Christen, Mrs. Anna Me Connell, Mrs. Joseph Andrews, Mis Dan Beery, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Ncucp sehwander, Mr. and Mrs. L H. Haile: and Ben Smith, who went from hen Tuesday, November 20, with the 14; people on the Hattiesburg special ou of Fort Wayne, returned home yeste: day at 3:22 on the G. R. & 1., aftei spending four days with their sons oi other relatives who are in training a Camp Shelby. They all report a very pleasant visit with not an accident to mar lhe liappi ness of the trip. They found all the boys well. They do not know hov long they will be stationed at Hattie*’ burg, nor where they will go if theare to leave there, but many, it is said are getting ready, that they may be prepared at any time they might re ceive a call. Thb special which left Fort Wayne Tuesday of last week, picked up th* passengers here at 1:05 in the after noon. They arrived at Hattiesburg the following Thursday morning al 7:30 o’clock, having stopped a day at Chattanooga. Tenn., on the way down where they visited Lookout Mountain Missionary Ridge, the National cento tery and other places of histori*m interest. At Fort Oglethorpe anothei stop was made and the members enjii ed an auto trip through the big camp also visiting the battlefields of Chick amauga. From here the train went direct to Hattiesburg. Four happy days were spent here for the boys were given freedom and were, allowed to go to the city for a short time ti visit their relatives. They enjoyed their meals together in the dining car and some stayed overnight in tin sleepers. This short but happy association ended Monday morning when the spe cial started on its return trip, leav ing Hattiesburg at 10:43. The train made a record run from Chattanooga to Cincinnati, leaving the former place two hours late and arriving in the Ohio city two minutes ahead of time passing three different trains on the way up. Ticket Agent J. E. Ross, of the Pennsylvania, at Fort Wayne, was in charge of the train. ~DISTRICT - CO NV E N TlO N Arrangements have been completed by the local Knights of Pythias for he district convention to be held here Friday. The afternoon opening session will be for the public a cordial invitation being extended to all. The evening session will be closed, when the regular business of the convention will be attended to and initiatory work given. SAY! , -■ r SHOPPING o | |®L C-J

, THE CHAIN LETTER System Not Endorsed by Red Cross Nor the War Council of Defense. — NEFARIOUS METHOD i Os Obtaining War Funds a Crime Against Postal Regulations. Indianapolis, Nov. 28 —Chain-letter requests for donations for war purposes are frauds. This unqualified 1 statement is authorized by the Indiana State Council of Defense, based upon the official statement from the po .t---office department that this form of so- i licitation is in violation of the postal' regulations, and invariably is attended by some marked waste or graft. The attention of the American Red Cross recently was called to a chain letter solicitation of funds in its behalf. Officials of the organization immediately branded the. letter as a fraud, without any official sanction, whatever. No chain letter projects ever have had or ever will have 'he approval of this organization. The Indiana State Council of Defense in endeavoring to co-ordinate the solicitation of funds for all war purposes finds in the chain letter system the most discouraging obstacle. Seldom can the responsibility for starting the “chain” be fixed and tsually those who continue it are innocent of any purpose to disobey the "ederal laws. The state council says: “The person who gives at the request es a chain-letter is giving blindly and unintelligently. In such times ns these our people can well afford to bo generous, but at the same time they ihould give wisely and where th* ir gift, will do a maximum of good. They nan prevent waste and graft and : t ’he same time assist the over-burden-ed postal service if they will ignore and discourage all chain- letter schemes. OLD SQUAD" NINE Getting Along Just Fine and the Boys Enjoy Doing Their Own Washing. PLENTY OF AIR I Boys Don’t Know What a Bad Cold is—Anxious to do Their “Bit.” The following letter is from Squad Nine of battery A, and with it came a t picture of a bunch of the boys busy ( over the wash tub: Camp Shelby, Miss., Nov. I’4 Dear Old Daily Democrat: Expect this picture will interest you. Mike Hower said he never dreamed lie would have to wash his own clothes, while Pete Gallogly replies, “That’s what makes a man out of you" But the people back in Decatur should not worry about our health down here. We have plenty of fresh air. can sit in our tents and look out of the top and can feel the wind blow in the sides. We wake up in the morning and rush to the bath house whore there is ice on the floor. Talk about health, the boys don't know what a bad cold is and are all eager to get a crack at the kaiser. Time for retreat and will have to close. SQUAD NINE, Battery A, 139th F. \. ERIE R. R. MEN “n T. S. SERVICE The Erie Railroad magazine issues with its December number a supplement beautifully printed in red, white and blue, containing the names of ••niployes of the Erie who have joined the colors. The list contains 974 names. The cover page is in imitation of a service flag and contains a star for every Erie employe in Uncle Sain's service. As the war progresses new stars will be added to the flag in subsequent editions. BAND WILL PLAY The Decatur band will play Friday afternoon at the K. of P. home. All members are requested to be at the hall at one o’clock Friday.

A COLLEGE MAN'S VIEWS I The International Is the stock mail's | school of efficiency. Never bus there | been a time when there was such need | of efficient methods in moat production. Never has there been such need of a marshalling of all resources and all forces for production on the farms cf the United States. The International will impress lessons of censor-1 : vat ion nml efficiency in production of I incalculable value. These lessons will' i have a special significance in view ol i the unusual conditions now existing. No man engaged in a great enterprise such as farming and food production, at a time when the best results are vital to the nation's existence, can afford to fail to secure information that will add to his efficiency and strengthen the service that he can render. | This is the meaning of the Internation al Live Stock Exposition at Chicago the first week in December. WAR ACTIVmES To Take Governor’s Attention First Upon Returning to OfficeVACANCIES IN ROSTER To be Secondary in Executive’s Program—Fuel and Food Work First. Indianapolis, Nov. 28—With the return yesterday of Governor James I . Goodrich to the executive office, after an absence of three months. All phases of war activity are expected i to feel a new inspiration. Although no feature of the work lias been permitted to lag in the absence of the governor, his absence in the state! house will serve to bring a new vigor’ and enthusiasm to every line of ae-| tivity. One of the first inquiries made by i the governor upon his return related to war preparations. During the long! weeks of his sickness and convalescence, except for tlie short period of! semi-consciousness, the governor eithI er read the daily newspapers or had them read to him and in this way kept in touch with what has been going on in the state house and over Indiana ! However, there are many important: details lacking in these accounts and I 1 it was upon such matters that Cover j nor Goodrich immediately made n j quiry and requested full information. I Members of the Indiana State Conn ( cil of Defense, committees and see ' I I tions engaged in war work welcomed ■ Governor Goodrich’s return. Before!, his serious sickness he was the fonn-l tain of inspiration for every war pre-L paration and he was sorely missed in many of the activities that had felt the magnetism of his presence, the wisdom of his counsel, and tlie example of his energy and enthusiasm. Notwithstanding existing vacanci“s in the roster of state officials are call i ing for immediate consideration from Hie chief executive, Governor Goodrich has let it be known that it is his j purpose, at once to familiarize himself i with the work of war preparation, in-1 eluding the control of food and fuel. f o| the end that he can encourage and co-! operate wherever possible. And those familiar with the governor’s activity and accomplishment prior to his sick-; ness, which were directly responsible fcr his breakdown, understand ju t what, this attitude means. They knew the entire state will immediately respond to the least suggestion of the executive, so happily restored to them j and to the nation. DR. NEPTUNE RETURNS Dr. J. Q. Neptune arrived home this morning from a throe weeks bunting tri|» to northern Michigan. The party included besides the doctor. Frank, Gideon and son. Glen, and Henry] Murnina of McGill. Ohio, Noah Poling ~ of Convoy, George Nettle of Union , township and Dr. Henry Redenbaugh _ of Payne, Ohio, the latter serving as ( cook. But six of the party had license _ and under the Michigan laws this on-1 titled them to but six deer, which th• yi secured and they were dandies. Dr. , Neptune brought one home with him I, and it is exhibited today at the Muts h -, ler butcher shop on Monroe street .i. They secured a lot of smaller game., and enjoyed the outing, though it was . a rather tough hunting month. One party of nine located near them secured but two deer.

Price, Two Cent*

GROUND TO DEATH Frank Roll e, Forty-five, Falls Under Wheels of B. G. & C. Car. i MEETS INSTANT DEATH Was With Contractor Wesley Hollman and Other Decatur Men. Linn Grove. Ind.. Nov. 28 (Special to Daily Democrat) Frank Reffe, (.*>, well known man of Linn Grove, was instantly killed last evening between four and five o'clock when he fell, or I jumped from tlie rear of tlie Wesley I Hoffman automobile truck, under the wheels cf a freight car on the Bluffton, Geneva A- Celina traction line, as it was backing down without a rear light, about two miles south of Lian Grove. The car ran over the body. cutting it in two across the lower abdomen, breaking ills neck, cutting off his left i leg and inflicting other wounds on the body. Mr. Reffe was employed by Wesley Hoffman, of Decatur, on the new school building two miles south of I.inn Grove, near the point of the accident. He. witli other workmen, ineluding Wesley Hoffman, Curley Elzey. Mr. Eckrote, Lew and Will Baker, of Decatur, were on the automobile truck, returning to their Hoarding place at Linn Grove, when the accident occurred. They had just crossed tlie interurban track, when the freight, car was seen backing down the track. Reffe, with another workman, was sitting in the rear of the truck, with their feet hanging down, and it was not known whetli er Reffe. who had probably seen the ! approaching car. and feared that the i auto would be struck, became excited r.nd decided to take chances by jumping or whether he. fell out under the wheels of the car. The body was removed to the Noah Schindler morgue at this place, where it was prepared for burial, t was later taken to the home of Reffe s cunt, Mrs. Tena Young, who kept house tor him. The deceased was unmarried. He was a son of the late Frederick Reffe. A brother. Emanuel Reffe. of near Geneva. Is the only surviving member of his immediate family. Coroner D. D. Clark, of Decatur, came out this morning, and viewed the body, and will hold the inquest the first of next week. The time of the accident is evidenced from the dead man’s watch which seems to have stopped at the time of the accident, registering 4:32 o’clock. CHILD BREAKS ARM Josephine, aged six, daughter of Deputy Auditor and Mrs. Martin jaberg, was placed under the influence of tin anasthetic. this morning, for the setting of a fracture of the left arm. a portion of the lower bones having been chipped off in a fall sustained Sunday evening when the little girl ! slipped as she was leaving the Re- | formed church The full extent of the j injury was not known until an X-ray I examination was made, showing Hie fracture. + +<.++*+ + + + + + + + + THEY READ IT IN FRANCE. ♦ ■f. -j. Somewhere in France. 4. November 4. 1917. + + Dear Mr Heller: + I certainly want you to know + my appreciation for tlie Demo- + •> crat. I have received every + + copy since you started sending + 4> ami you can bet it’s well worn + + out after we all read it. I here + * arc several boys from close + + around Decatur. Clelland Ball + + isn’t with me any more. He was + + sent to a different base. + + If it won't be any bother to + ■F you, Ms. Heller, please send me + + Ulen Neptune’s address. We + + came from Texas together, lint + + were separated when we landed + + and it’s been five months since 1 + + heard or saw anything of him. + + Well. I will close. Thanking + + you very much for the papers. + + and hoping to do you as great + •F a favor some day. 1 am + + Yours respect fully, + + PVT. JOHN D. CORBETT. + + American Forces. Dept I. M. C , + + Paris, France. . +++++++ + + + + + + ♦