Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 295, Decatur, Adams County, 14 December 1917 — Page 1

Volume XV. Number 295.

BOMB FIGHTING DURING NIGHT Improved British Positions East of Bullecourt— Two Americans Escape FROM GERMANS LINES Russia on Verge of Civil Mar—Constituent Assembly Collapses. — (United Prr sg Service) (By Lowell Mellett, United Press stall ' correspondent) London. Dec. 14 (Special to Daily Democrat) Germany's much stiver- 1 Used forthcoming west trout drive i her first preliminary to another pea e offensive. She hopes to achieve a dent somewhere on the Franco-British line She wants to claim "Invincibility” tl , her military forces to the German pea- 1 , pie to steel them to the overwhelming' sacrifices which must come when ,

America throws her strength in the battle line. She wants to buck up Austria-Hungary to greater sacrifices against that day. She wants to accelerate growth of pacificist and peace without a victory sentiment from the allied nations. Above all she wants the war to end before America’s millions of men and of war machines can be arrayed against her and overwhelmingly turn the tide to a certain German defeat. This is the view of observers here. It is based on well defined developements of recent weeks in Germany. The kaiser and his military chiefs can ill-afford to sacrifice the thousands o f soldiers who must be thrown to slaughter in a west front offensive. That they are planning such a slaugnter is sufficient evidence in the view here of Germany's desperation. Germany is today at the summit of her strength. With every hour from now on, it oozes away. At home Chancellor Hertling has apparently cemented political ruptures. On the seas, bv speeding up methods. Germany's submarines are still taking a heavy toll of allied shipping. In the field Germany claims major credit for the strategy of the recent successful drive into Italy, and a great many German troops participated there. Russia has been definitely put out of the war mere than counter-balancing Turkey's utter collapse. Through cleverly ex erted but nevertheless relentless pressure, Germany is extorting food and metal supplies from her neutnl neighbors. London. Dec. 14 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —“We must expect half a million fresh German fighters on the west front and many more guns and aircraft" declared Colonel Repington. the Times military expert in an article today emphatically warning the nation that Germany is preparing her su preme military effort there “Owing to the Russians disintegration and the Italian defeats.” he declared. “the enemy is able to put larger forces than ever on the French front. “There has been much evidence already of intensive transport of troo > from the east. There are now I■" German divisions (about 2.250.000 men on the west front, and about 79 di i

,nm'nri?n«! h l“ HRISTMAS SPIRIT AND THE RED CROSS | i , n r the world today seem H The human evil P ;. apine , hunger. exposure g I triumphant. Bu ?*^ r \ p 1 '■ hie evil' seem to be dominating g | and multitudes of other te their ly talons to .. 3 half of ihe dohe and « a slands appalled Panic | I Hutch the <‘ ther , hal^ d ” d Good seems vanquished, (b- g | hreatens. Hearts go dea • ’ hope and without H | ilization totters. It > , > STILL REIGNS! g I God in the world. >'<• nier cv and service will save g | The Christ spirit °( ( ,0 ] , ae nVl v be powerless to stem the g I *he world. Humanity alone m<v e invincible, the g I Me"? hate. tai Chr. sl and ;«.(,; . d | g call from Calvary is ll* «shall perish Iron Ihe | 3 mercv and good will to " a ™ ' hirlh o f the ( hrist of Love n | eartL of he service that our Dear g ReX« SiS I ? p "® £• s 1 tt Christ illumine yoiu ni $ H with you.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

■ . .. . ,' n " lat,er ,u 'niber all those > "ntor service on the Franco-Brit-j loin. Perhaps some complete win tollov , )t • hat Austro-Hungarians will go ’-<> rrance.” Tendon. Dec. bTTspecial to Belly nemm-rat) Russia is in for a protnc- •' < 'il war in the opinion of Russiin . observers here today.

Hie utter collapse of the scheme for I .holding a constituent assembly re-’ j boned m latest Petrograd dispatches | removed practically the last hope here i-it the nation might work out it by amicable adjustment of the '■irmus political factions. Only handful of delegates to the assembly jhave appeared in Petrograd. Few ~f i'he cadet delegates are likely to attend. in view of the formal announcen.i nt by the bolshevik! government that all adherents of this political faith are "enemies of the people” subject to arrest. L Washington. De~l4-(Special to) Daily Democrat)- Today's casualty ' list among the American expeditionary forces gave five deaths from various causes as follows: « First Lieutenant George M. Anderson. Alexandria. Va. Sergeant Paul Jordan, Lavnonia Ga.

Private Harold Varner, marines, ’ emergency address not given. Able Seaman Jan N. Braafnart, U. S. ship Berwind, emergency address not given. Private Maurice I. Careon, coast artillery corps. Nashwauk. Minn. BULLETIN J Paris, Dec. 14 --(Special to Daily Democrat) —Lieut. Benjamin Walcott. ■ son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Walcott of Washington. D. (’., fell in his first air fight Tuesday and it is fear(ed was killed, according to word received here today from the front. BULLETIN London. Dec 14 —(Special to Daily Democrat)- Ixmdon newspapers today printed photographs of Sergeant McDonnell and Private McDonald, American prisoners who were captured at Cambrai by the Germans and who escaped and rejoined their unit later. A picture was also printed showing Sergeants Mclsaacs and Cairola. who brought a wounded officer through the barrage. BULLETIN London, Dec. 14—(Special to Daily Democrat)- Improvement of British local positions east of Bullecourt as a result of bomb fighting last night, was reported in Field Marshal Haigs statement today. South of Pronville he said the enemy raided a post and a few British were missing. * Paris, Dec. 14—(Special to Daily .Democrat) “Violent artillerying” in 1 the neighborhood of Maison De Chami pagne. east of Suippes and in Alsace, was reported in todays official statement. South of Cerny the statement ' detailed a French raid. BULLETIN I Amsterdam. Dec. 14-f Special to Daily Democrat)— Britian— not Germany started the peace feelers, of . | ilSt September, recently mentioned bv Balfour, foreign minister, accord- . ing to a German official statement received here today. The statement asserted that tne British feeler was a tentative one« but was never carried through to its conCl "At n the beginning of September, the tn

Decatur, Indiana,Friday Evening, December 14, 1917

SED CROSS THEME I . — Will Characterize the Union Meeting on Sunday Evening AT THE M. E. CHURCH

Program is Announced lor That Special Service. " Red Cross" will be the theme of the union service to be held at the Methodist church Sunday night at 7 o'clock preliminary to the great i < hristmas membership drive, to begin I Monday. Rev. W. S. Mills will preside and the following program will be given: Hymn, “The Son of God goes forth to war." Invocation—W. S. Mills. Scripture Reading, Luke 10:30-37, and Matt. 25:31-46—J. G. Butler. , Prayer—Jay C. Hanna. Special Music. Two ten minute addresses: “The Christ Spirit Manifesting itself to Others,”—Fred F. Thornburg. "The World Situation Calling for Work of Red Cross”—Dr. Beavers. Special Music. Two ten minute addresses:

"Progress and Prospects of the Red Cross in Indiana” —W. Paul Marsh, special field representative for Ind. "Womanhood and the Christ Spirit" —Mrs. John Niblick. Prayer. Hymn, “America.” Benediction. o K. OF C. NOTICE Every member is urged to attend the meeting Monday, Dec. 17th, ns business of great importance will come before the meeting. The Lecturer has arranged a |n-ogram that will be both entertaining and instructive. WAS SEA “SICK For a Few Days, But Frank Schultz Says He is GETTING ALONG WELL

Is Now in France—ln Barracks Until They Go to the Front. Frank Schultz, former employe if the Democrat, now “Somewhere in France" with the Rainbow Division, writes his mother, Mrs. Henry Schultz of this city: Somewhere in France, November sth, 1917 Dearest Mother and All: — I thought 1 would drop you a few lines to let you know 1 am all 0. K. and all the rest of the boys are too. At this time of writing we are in camp just moved in today and it sure is a dandy place, at the present time -ve are in barracks, and will be from now on until we go into the field. Well, how are you all by now? I have been thinking about you every day. Von will have to excuse this poor writing. 1 am a little nervous or can’t get the position of a pen yet, ait has been about 3 weeks since I have written a line to anyone. I will write you as often as I can, but we don't seal our mail here at all. I stood the trip across the Atlantic very well. I was sea sick for Iwo or three days, but after that I was just fine, it was sure a nice trip. I used to see the ocean in moving pictures and the “old country” but 1 never dreamed of seeing it myself in actual views but it sure is a real sight. It is surely a beautiful country around here and ■ there are some swell houses too. and several families live in some of them. I will tell you all about it when we return to U. S. A., if we ever do. Ha. Ha. I hope it will end soon, don’t you? We don't hear any more about the war here than we did in America. 1 was at New York one evening while we were there it was sure some sight, some big buildings I guess, and I also saw the statue of liberty as we left New York. It was sure a pretty sight. Well, 1 do not know of much to

tell you yet only to say we are ..'I well and wish you a happy Thanksgiving and "A Merry Xmas." It takes some time for mail to go across the water, I guess. I would like to see you all dear mother. I remain as every your loving son. GEORGE F. SCHULTZ November ‘th Dear Molher and All: 1 will drop you a line or two to let you know I uni all O. K. at present and hope you are all the same. How are you getting along these days? I suppose it is pretty cold in Decatur by this time. It rains here quite often and France is a damp county as a whole I guess. We are in France, somewhere, don't (Continued on Page Three)

STAR OF THE EAST The Beautiful Cantata by Searis Will be Rendered BY M. E. CHORUS Os Fifty Voices Sunday Evening, December Twenty-third. A choir of fifty voices is getting ready at the First Methodist Episcopal church of this city, to render the beautiful cantata, "Star of the East" by Searis. The choir is meeting three times a week under the direction of W. F. Beery and will give a splendid program on the evening of Sunday, December twenty-third, to which the public is cordially invited. Among the special solos, are those by Mrs. Arthur Ford, a talented singer In speaking of the cantata and extending an invitation to the public to come, one voiced the following: “In this time of strenuous endeavor and worry, lay aside your cares and give this evening to enjoyment of worship in song.”

CHANGE IN SHIFTS A change in the shifts of the Fort i Wayne-Decatur interurban force, mot ormen and conductors, was effective this week. On the first car and its subsequent runs, are Conductor Owen Davis and Motorman C. L. Meibers; on the second car and its runs, Conduc tor D. H. Hunsicker and Motornmn August Greisinger. On the afternoon beginning at 2:30 and the night runs, Conductor Dores Stalter and Motorman Jason Archbold; on the freight car. Conductor Charles Brodbeck and Motorman Ed Lewton. SCHOOLS CLOSE FOR MONTH (United Press Service) Cleveland, Dfec. 14 —(Special to Daily Democrat) ('losing of gramnu r schools because of lack of fuel was being seriously considered today by officials. Unless relief comes early next week Superintendent Spaulding declared all elementary schools will be closed next Friday for one month. Teachers will receive their pay. Five] schools were shut down today. High schools will be allowed to run. MEMBER OF “BATTERY A" DEAD Dispatches received by the Indian apolis News from W. H. Blodgett, staff correspondent at Camp Shelby Hattiesburg, state that Clarence D. Reiley, member of Battery A. 139th Field Artillery died yesterday as (ho result of pneumonia. Reiley was from Indiana and evidently a member of i the Rushville company.

TO PRESIDE AT MEETING Dr. I!. C. Henricks will go to Huntington tomorrow to attend an amalgamation association meeting of chiropractors, Sunday afternoon at two o'clock at the Commercial club rooms, at which he will preside. CHOIR PRACTICE AT SEVEN The M. E. choir will practice this evening at seven o’clock at the church. ’ you 1 BOUGHT youßS?] xZz cm.

A KITCHEN ARMY Housewives in Number of 4,000 Volunteered in the Housewives’ Army AT HARTFORD. CONN. Offensive Attack of Canning and Drying a First Move.

Not another Kitchener's army, but an army of the kitchen was mobilized in Hartford. Conn., and carried on a successful campaign for food cons >rivation there. In eight of the large [department stores in Hartford recruiting stations were established and 4000 housewives volunteered in this Housewives' Army. ' An offensive attack on canning and drying was one of the first moves of this army, and the stores and hotels of Hartford came valiantly to its aid by displaying canning and drying uten- | sils in their windows, having public demonstrations on canning and drying and distributing bulletins on food conservation. Canning squads were recruited from both mothers and daughters, and the school kitchens were thrown open for the use of these squads. One little eight-year-old volunteer had 50 shining jars of fruit and vegetables to her credit at the dose of the campaign. At the Connecticut State Fair 'he ■ Housewives’ Army had an attractive booth where they sold some of their canned product for the benefit of the French wounded. Os course all of this meant work, untiring, unselfish work on the part of every woman member of the food administration. But all of it was done gladly, eagerly. Patriotism to the women of Hartford means something more than just standing up when they hear the Star Spangled Banner played.

TO THE LAST MAN Italian Soldiers Will Shed Their Last Drop of Blood in Defense OF THE “QUEEN CITY” Venice is Being Converted Into an Unapproachable Island. (By Henry Wood, United Press stiff correspondent.) With the French Armies in Italy. Dei*. 14—(Special to Daily Democrat) —ltaly will defend Venice to the last drop of her blood. One needs only to talk to Italian soldiers and see the preparations for! defense of the queen city of the seas to understand this. The traditional[ Italian hatred of the Austrians has crystallized into a nation wide determination not to permit the city again to succumb to Austrian domination. The, city itself is being convert'd into an unapproachable island. It is callable now of standing an indefinite state of seige. Aside from its natural | lagoon defenses which encircle the city and completely cut it off from contact. with the mainland, the Venetian | plains for endless miles inland are be- ’ ing rapidly converted into a veritable labyrinth of defenses. There Itali in

soldiers are ready cheerfully to sell their lives defending every inch of the city's approaches. Venice is more, majestic than ever. The historic palaces lining the grand canal are closed. The Piazza of St. Marks is silent and deserted. The canals are vacant of gondolas. The Bridge of Sighs is unclosed by prisoners. Two-thirds of Venice’s population' has departed—but the pigeons around historic St. Marks refuse absolutely to abandon their beloved city. Hundreds and hundreds strut all day proudly back and forth on the piazza ( before the cathedral and the one third of the Venetian human population remaining attends mass daily and then religiously keeps up the century old custom of feeding corn to these (locks. The tranquility of the pigeon's lives is undisturbed except by the! IroaY of cannon on the Piave front — (

eighteen miles distant. Occasionally when that duel of guns reaches its maximum the pigeons sense the Mr vibrations and flutter in frightened docks flocks so dense that they cloud the sun. But they invariably come sweeping down again in magnificent circles across, back and forth above the piazza. As are treasurers have either hem carried to places of safety or else buried under mountains of sand bags, the few remaining guides now show In their places, the holes pierced in ancient palaces, churches and museums by Austrian airplane bombs. Owing to the departure of most of the city's population and complete absence of any tourists. Venice,s food surlily remains curiously intact. One immediate result is that a solitary restaurant the only one remaining open now serves meals of an excellent nature not to he obtained elsewhere in any European was zone. The queen city of the seas proudly and confidently waits the otucome of the battles of the Piave, the Monte Grappe and the Asiago plateau on which her fate depends.

V. P. BALL DEAD Well Known Resident of Line Street Died This Morning. DUE TO PNEUMONIA Had Been 111 Since Last Sunday—Maccabee and Red Man. Vachal Pinkerton Ball, of I.inej street, died this morning at lO:3o| o'clock at hrs tiome. Mr. Ball had' been in ill health for the past year,' from asthma and other ailments, out; death was due directly to pneumonia j from which he had been suffering since last Sunday. Mr. Ball had been eployed at the interurban car barns until last Sunday. I when he became ill and had been con fined to his home since. He was married in young manhood to Miss Elizabeth Railing. They have I two children. Charles Ball, of this! city; and Martha, wife of William; Frost, of Bay City, Mich. Mr. Ball was a member of the Mac caliees and Red Men orders. Mr. Ball was born in Root township. I February 27, 1861. being a son of Va< h-. el and Rebecca Johnson Ball, the parents dying when he was a very young boy. At death Mr. Ball was fifty-six years, nine months and seventeen days of age. The funeral will probably be held Monday, but definite arrangements will not be made until the return if i the son, Charles Ball, who left this, morning for Pittsburg, and to whom ■ word was sent of his father's death.) enroute there.

SOME WANT COALITION (United Press Service) Washington, Dec. 14 (Special to | Daily Democrat) Demand for a coal!-' I tion cabinet a big supply division stripped of red tape was in sight in! congress today. Sentiment for such I shifts in the present war mill crystallized as a result of General Crozier's amazing revelations of America's >vipreparedness for war. particularly in

’ ordnance. Proponents of the supply divisi iiP ( idea said Crozier’s evidence of how! I webs of red-tape clogged the war! I wheels proved the need for centraliza- ' tion of supply and for elimination of the unending routine (). K’s. debates and delays. Despite efforts to keep politics in the background, congressmen admitted partisanship is rearing its head.! They asserted that President Wilson.

I can obtain the highest efficiency and at the same time the greatest co-oper-ation only through a coalition cabinet WELCOMED INVESTIGATION <T»n|tnd ♦'reus Service) Washington. Dec. 14 —(Special to Daily Democrat)— President Wilson welcomed an investigation of his conduct of the war at the White House this afternoon. The senate military investigation and probe of naval affairs of tlie house committee. the president believes will develop into democracy. MEMBER ADVISORY BOARD Attorney J. T. Merryman was this morning appointed a member of the ! Adams county advisory board in conjiiectlon with the registration.

Price, Two Cent!

WORK FULLY EXPLAINED Enthusiastic Preliminary Meeting for the Red Cross Drivers HELD LAST NIGHT Plan is Explained—Adams County Must Push Forward Faster.

, Practically all the churchea and fraternal organizations in the city and ’ many from the country districts were represented at the meeting at the lik ! brary last evening preliminary to tne great Red Cross drive for 1918 memberships, to begin next Monday, the i 17th and closing Christmas Eve. 11 Chairman Quinn presided and stated i the need for greater interest and more I workers, after which he introduced ' Mrs. John Niblick, chairman of the membership organization committee for Adams county. How Organized. Both explained the plan of organization for the drive. Each church and fraternal order was called to attend to I the increasing of Red Cross membership within its own circles and also Ito do what they can to reach those who may not be identified with some church, fraternal or industrial organization. Each organization will attend to the membership drive within its own circles and reports will be sent 1 in each day of the drive to the city, [district, state and national (hairmen ) in turn, so that at the end of each day ' it may be known just how near the ) membership goal is. Service Flags. Every home that has a Red Cross member will be given a Red Cross service Hag. If all the members of the family are Red Cross members, a I white cross will be placed in the mididle; and a small cross for each member affixed to the service flags. I Churches, lodges and industries will : also be given service flags, designating jibe number of members. On Christmas night this flag, which I is placed in the window, will have an | illuminated back ground, sending forth the Red Cross spirit of mercy to I mingle with the Christmas spirit good cheer.

From Medical Point Following the talks, questions of chairmen were answered, making the matter of the proposed drive more plain. Dr. S. D. Beavers, a prominent Red Cross worker, one of those instrumental in making the local organization, was called upon to give a talk. His talk was of the need of the Red

Cross from the medical point of view. "Adams county.” he said, "has made good 100 per cent in comparison with the other ci unties of the state, but in 1 comparison with what she should do, I she has fallen short three or four . hundred per cent." "All the garments and dressings and supplies that Adams county has made, thus far. would not take care of the - boys she now has in service if they

were wounded in a single drive. ' He told of the great shortage of surgical dressings in the groat battles. , where it was necessary to use saw 'dust, old newspapers and dirty rags in staunching the blood and binding the wounds of the injured, simply because | there was not enough surgically clean, [or necessary dressings on the ground. It behooves the workers of every Red Cross chapter to push the making of surgical supplies to the utmost. To do

1 this, more members are needed, r.t ’ course, and not only more members, but more active workers. Not only is there danger from the wound itself, but the danger of infec- ' tion from non-surgically clean dressings, is even greater. Points to Remember. That the county must raise 4700 members in this campaign, whereas she has but 1350 at present] That Decatur has only 667 members ' and her quota at the. end of this campaign must be 2667. A co incident is that she has exactly 2,000 more mem- , bers to raise. . That those already members of the Red Cross may pay their subscription (Continued on rage 6.)